COVID19 is a difficult, but masterful teacher. On March 29th, my wife and I tested positive for the virus. When our doctors called us with our test results, we experienced a wide range of intense emotions: sadness, discouragement, and fear. As I brooded over my Coronavirus experience, God has taught several unexpected lessons.

When our middle son, Micah, came home from Wayne State, sick, we didn’t really think anything of it. We assumed he had a bad cold or was battling allergies. But, several days after his arrival and when Tonia fell ill, with what we thought was the flu – chills, high fever, body aches, and coughing – we sat up and paid closer attention. During this time, I was constantly checking myself for fever and for shortness of breath. No problems – 98.6 and still working out. It was all good. Then, four or five days after Tonia became sick and started to recover, I starting experiencing a low-grade fever (99.1), but no other symptoms – yet.

The COVID19 Test and Results

Curious about whether we had the Coronavirus, on March 26th, we decided to get tested. The test was no joke. I will spare you the details. Let me say, it was eight really really uncomfortable seconds. Seriously. Three days later, the doctors called us with the disruptive news: “You’ve tested positive for COVID19. Quarantine yourself for 14 days and if you begin to experience shortness of breath, go to the hospital immediately. Also, you will receive a call from the CDC the next day or so. In the meantime, stay hydrated and get rest.” No hand-holding. Just the facts. Suddenly, there were waves of emotions:

Sadness 
Discouragement 
Fear 
Guilt
Grief

… and a barrage of unanticipated questions:

When will we experience shortness of breath and have to be rushed to the hospital?
Am I going to die? Is somebody in my family going to die?
Will we die alone? 
God, why me? Why am I suffering? 
Why are the wicked prospering, but we’re sick?

You have to understand that all the reports we saw in the media were mostly negative. I figured someone or multiple people in our family were going to be part of the global map. I know that’s morbid and not super-spiritual, but it was our reality for this moment in time. Our night ended with our children coming to our room and praying with and for us. We went to sleep, trying to rest in God’s sovereign plan for our lives.

COVID19 disrupted our lives and forced us to invite God to go beneath the iceberg and begin a deep work there. When I gave him permission, he taught me some unexpected lessons.

I Can Be Sad and Afraid

When the doctor called with the results of my COVID19 test, I told myself that I couldn’t be sad or afraid. I’m a pastor. I’m supposed to always wear the armor of joy, encouragement, and courage. Never let them see you sweat, have all the answers, and be strong for everybody else, even if that’s not your reality. Image management. Us pastors are really good at this. I WAS afraid, discouraged, and sad. And, I felt guilty for having those emotions. But, I finally gave myself permission to be human. I didn’t have to manage an image. I could lament and introduce my fears to my Father.

I’m Not Special

COVID19 is indiscriminate. It attacks the old, young, all ethnicities, and yes, pastors. However, two of my fellow pastors in the Lansing area have died due to the Coronavirus. My heart breaks for their families and their congregations. Now, I don’t know why I survived and my fellow pastors died. But, I know that I’m not all that special. Yes, I know I am precious to my Heavenly Father. But, I don’t have some special anointing or righteousness that allowed me and my family to survive. It is all God’s grace. I receive it with humility and gratitude.

I Can Only Control the Controllable

Following Jesus is about surrendering control of our lives to him. I could not control our family contracting COVID19, but I could control my response to having the virus. It was difficult for me to control my symptoms – chills, fever, coughing, really bad diarrhea, nightmares, foggy brain, and the loss of taste and smell – but I could control my rhythms to rest, stay hydrated, and follow the recommendations from healthcare workers and governmental officials. I can’t control the length of the Governor’s stay at home orders, but I can control my attitude and the use of my time while quarantined. I surrendered my control to God. For, I can only control the controllable.

God Speaks Through Orange Juice

During my skirmish with COVID19, I lost my taste and smell for six days. This was the most frightening and discouraging part about having the virus. Like anybody else, I love to smell the aroma and taste the many flavors of my food. But, because I couldn’t taste or smell, I didn’t have an appetite. So, I didn’t eat much. But, around day six, at 3 a.m., God gave me a “little” gift. He gave me a craving for orange juice. This was weird because I hadn’t craved anything and I don’t drink much orange juice. I was too tired to go upstairs to the kitchen and get some. By faith, I received God’s gift of orange juice to me.  Later that morning, I went upstairs and drank some orange juice, and it never tasted so good. God gives gifts to his children, and his gifts don’t disappoint.

Needing Others Breaks Pride

I’m a pastor. I pray for people. I don’t need people to pray for me, right? How insidious to our souls and odious to God! So, when we tested positive for COVID19, I invited the Body of Jesus to pray for us. But, I felt guilty for doing so. If I haven’t told you, I’m the pastor. Similar to giving myself permission to feel, I needed to give myself permission to need others. A funny thing happened. God began to expose and break down the pride that I didn’t know was there. I don’t have to be strong all the time. It’s perfectly fine and quite biblical to need others and let them carry your burdens. Followers of Jesus all over the world carried our load and we felt the effects of their prayers.

I have recovered well and I feel strong. I am grateful for the COVID19 experience because God taught me some lessons about him and myself that deepened my transformation. The lessons I learned only came through the difficult and masterful teacher – COVID19.

What unexpected lessons is God teaching you and your family during this season?  

If you liked this post, you might also be interested in some of these previous posts on my site:

14 Proper Responses to Suffering

The post 5 Unexpected Lessons COVID19 Taught Me appeared first on Marvin Williams.

When God delays his answers to our prayers, it can be frustrating. If we don’t see immediate responses, we tend to lose heart and give up. I am convinced that our Father doesn’t want us to call it quits when we pray. But, what should we do when God delays his answers to our requests?

Though we know it’s not true, divine delays feel like God is playing cruel games with his children. Now, whether we say it or not, we think like this: “God knows my needs. Why doesn’t he answer my prayers and bless me with what I need.”

“ We don’t always agree with how God is running the world and our lives, but the truth is, He makes the rules, not us.

I know we might not like it, but it is futile for us to argue and complain about his plan for the world and our lives. It is wise to submit our lives to his agenda, rather than to fight his loving and perfect plan. Many times, we are too immature and blind to understand what God is doing.

Though we are content to accept God’s plan for our lives, it doesn’t mean we should stop praying. We should continue to press in and never quit – until we believe God has said no (Luke 18:1). The Father delights in us spending time with him and telling him our needs. He loves hearing and answering our prayers. God is a good, good Father and we must trust his plan for our lives. He loves us more than we can imagine.

Why God Delays His Answers

If God is so good and loves us so much, why are there so many delays? There are at least five reasons why God might delay his answers to our prayers.

• We have an enemy. The devil hates us and is against us receiving answers from God. Notice in Daniel 10:12-14 that God heard Daniel’s prayer, and dispatched the angel Gabriel with a message for him. But, Gabriel was hindered by a satanic adversary. Thus, the response was delayed. So, sometimes, the evil one causes havoc and chaos to delay the answers to our prayers.
• Some prayers involve other people. God does not force people to cooperate with his will, but he works with them patiently so they can see and do the right thing willingly. This takes time. Hence the delays.
• There are things that God is developing in us while we persevere in prayer. God’s plan is for us to grow up spiritually. He wants to enlarge our faith and encourage us to develop a closer relationship with him. If every answer came immediately, would we press in and spend time drawing closer to God? Probably not.
• God delays his answers to allow time for conviction, confession, and repentance. Sometimes, sin prevents answers to our prayers (Psalm 66:18) and God graciously and patiently wait for us (2 Peter 3:8-9).
• God delays his answers to our requests so that he can get maximum glory for our lives and our present situation (John 11:1-4).

Keep Praying During the Delays

What should we do when God delays his answers to our prayers?  We should not lose heart and quit praying. I believe God wants us to keep praying during the delays. When we pray, let’s make sure we are praying according to his will (1 John 5:14-15). Delays, even long ones, do not mean that God denies our requests. When we pray, let us not lose heart, but trust the heart of the One who loves us more than we can imagine.

While you wait on God, declare this: I will not give up in prayer!

If you enjoyed this post, you might find this post one helpful as well.

7 Rules of Prayer We Should Break Immediately

The post When God Delays His Answers To Our Prayers appeared first on Marvin Williams.

What is one way we can bless our children as they go back to school this week? This week marks the beginning of another school year for most of our children.  Consequently, the school year fills many of us with a hint of anxiety. We desire our children to make good and godly choices. So, parents, join me in covering our children with powerful prayers in several areas this school year.

We have done all we can to prepare our children for making wise decisions, but we still worry about them, right? Will they be safe? Apply themselves? Resist temptations? Develop positive friendships? When we find ourselves in the throes of worry and concern, then it is time to leave our children in God’s hands. God knows the plans he has for our children, and He knows what is best for them. So, let’s spend time, this school year, praying for our children in several areas.

The Father Knows Our Children

Trust that God knows our children better than we know our children and that he can do more with them than we ever could. Therefore, praying the following Scripture can bless you and your child. Where David uses the personal pronoun, insert your child’s name.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of (insert your child’s/children’s name) body and knit (insert your child’s/children’s name) together in the womb. Thank you for making (insert your child’s/children’s name) so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched (insert your child’s/children’s name) as (he/she) was being formed in utter seclusion, as (he/she) was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw (insert your child’s/children’s name) before (he/she) was born. Every day of (insert your child’s/children’s name) life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about (insert your child’s/children’s name), O God! They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand. And when (insert your child’s/children’s name) wake (s) up, you are still with (him/her)! Psalm 139: 13-18

Ask God to Bless Our Children’s Social Life

Having a social life is one of the best parts about school. With social interactions come all kinds of temptations. The evil one will tempt our children to use drugs, have sex, verbally and physically bully others, and to spend more time on social media than their academics. Praying the following verses over our children can bless us and our children.

If  (insert your child’s/children’s name) think he/she is standing strong, help him/her be careful not to fall. ¹³ The temptations in (insert your child’s/children’s name) life are no different from what others experience. And God, you are faithful. You will not allow the temptation to be more than (insert your child’s/children’s name) can stand. When (insert your child’s/children’s name) is tempted, please show (insert your child’s/children’s name) a way out so that (he/she) can endure. Lord, thank you for how you will strengthen and deliver (insert your child’s/children’s name). 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

Therefore, it was necessary for, you, Jesus, to be made in every respect like (insert your child’s/children’s name), your brothers and sisters, so that you could be his/her merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then you could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of (insert child’s/children’s name). Since you yourself have gone through suffering and testing, you are able to help (insert your child’s/children’s name) when (he/she) are being tested. Hebrews 2:17-18

Let’s pray that God would bless and strengthen our children to resist all kinds of social temptations this year. God is faithful trustworthy to assist our children in the heat of the most fierce tests and temptations.

Ask God to Bless Their Academic/School Life

The Bible encourages us the love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind. Let’s pray our children will exercise academic diligence this year.

The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. Luke 10:27

Let’s pray that our kids will dedicate their minds to knowing God and trusting him to help them think critically this academic school year. We desire our children to think critically and excel in their classes, for God’s glory. We need godly factory workers, teachers, doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists, accountants, and government leaders.

Ask God to Bless Their Spiritual Life

We want to see our children discover and live God’s will for their lives. Being living sacrifices for God is the only way to show God how much he is worth to them. So, let’s ask God to bless our children to discover his will and plan for their lives.

And so, God, help (insert your child’s/children’s name here), to give his/her body to you because of all you have done for him/her. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind you will find acceptable. I know this is truly the way for them to worship you. Please help (insert your child’s/children’s name), not to copy the behavior and customs of this world, but may they let you  transform them into a new person by changing the way they think. Then they will learn to know your will for their lives, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

Our kids can learn the will of God through prayer (Philippians 4:6-9), Bible study (Hebrews 4:12-13), and being in community with other believers (1 Corinthians 12:12-14).

A Prayer to Bless Our Children

Father, we release our children into your hands this academic school year. We ask that you give them the power to resist temptation and make godly choices for you. Help them to love you with their minds and excel academically, for your glory. Finally, help them to pursue you in everything they do this year. They were your children before they were ours. We believe you can do more with our kids than we ever could. So, we gladly and confidently release them in your hands this school year. By the authority of Jesus, we pray. Amen!

What kinds of prayers do you pray over your children at the beginning of and during the school year? 

If you appreciated this post, you might find this one helpful as well:

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The post How We Can Bless Our Children This Year appeared first on Marvin Williams.

Every day, we face the option of deciding which Jesus we prefer. I wish I could tell you I always want the right Jesus, but the truth is sometimes I ask for the wrong one.

While reading the gospel of Matthew, I came across something I hadn’t seen before.

“Now, it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time, they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. So, when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, ‘Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ ….Which of the two do you want me to release to you? Asked the governor. ‘Barabbas,’ they answered.” (Matthew 27 15-21)

Two Men

This account tells us that there are two men named Jesus – Barabbas and One who is the Messiah. Pilate asked a profound question. A question we face every day: Which Jesus will we choose?  Which one do we prefer? I wish I always desire the One who is called Messiah. Some days, like the crowd, I ask for Barabbas – the other Jesus. Give me Barabbas! Give me Barabbas!

Jesus Barabbas

Give me Barabbas!
Insurrection.
Rebellion.
Murder.
Darkness.
Selfish ambition.
Pride.
Self-promotion.
An undisturbed conscience.
Fellowship among the irreverent.
Give me Barabbas!

Please don’t give me Jesus, who is called the Messiah.
He disturbs my values.

Upsets my world.
He Challenges my lifestyle.
Quakes my equilibrium.
Calls me from comfort to sacrifice.
Pulls me from ease to pain.

Give me Barabbas!
I know he is the wrong one.
He doesn’t expect anything from me.
He wants to develop a subdivision in my soul.
Live there.
Hideout there.

Give me Barabbas!
Jesus, who is the Messiah, is too subversive.
His way is too costly.
His words are too hard.

Give me Barabbas!
Please give me my way, my selfish desires, and freedom from sacrifice.
Leave me to my own devices and vices.
I don’t want to change. But I need to change.
I don’t want Jesus, who is the Messiah. But I need Him.

Choose Jesus, the Messiah

I have spent way too much of my life choosing Barabbas. I am sure this is true of you as well. Today is a new day with a unique opportunity to choose Jesus, the One who is the Messiah. I commit to silencing, refusing and rejecting Barabbas. Today, I choose the One who became Barabbas and broke the grip of Barabbas. I prefer the One who forgives sins and sets people free. Today, I choose Jesus, who is called the Messiah. I invite you to place your trust in him as well.

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The One Time Sleep is Bad 

The post The Day People Preferred The Wrong Jesus appeared first on Marvin Williams.

We debate with ourselves as to whether we should. Something is telling us not to. But, we listen to our baser selves and do it anyway. We press post, send or tweet. And, all online hell breaks loose. But, we can avoid the firestorm and the carnage if we engage five essential practices for addressing social and cultural issues online.

Addressing social, political and cultural issues via social media platforms can be a useful avenue way to stay connected and even spark healthy conversation. I would not recommend that followers of Jesus weigh in or attempt to address every social, cultural or political issue online. Important issues are worthy of face-to-face conversations. But, if we decide to engage topics online, I recommend we use these five essential practices.

Maintain the Unity of the Spirit  

Practicing Christian civility online begins with recognizing that the Spirit has given us unity. Our job is to maintain unity in the body of Jesus. First, this means we should personally carry the burden for peace. As much as it depends on each of us, we should live at peace with all people (Romans 12:18). May we clothe ourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. We are to make allowances for one another’s faults and forgive anyone who offends us. Above everything else, we are to clothe ourselves in love, which binds us together in perfect harmony (Colossians 3:12-14).

Submit Our Hearts

Another way we can practice Christian civility before we press post, send, or tweet is to check our hearts. Jeremiah says that our hearts are desperately wicked. Nobody knows how bad it is (Jeremiah 17:9). A misaligned and divided heart will always lead to division in relationships, churches, and organizations. When our loyalty to a political party, gender, particular interest group, or even ethnic group supersedes our allegiance to Jesus, then conflicts that lead to division and incivility are inevitable. May we submit our hearts to the Resurrected Christ each day.

 Seek to Understand

A third essential in practicing Christian civility before we press post, send, or tweet is to seek to understand other people. Christians can and will have views on cultural issues. Brothers and sisters in Christ can hold different opinions on cultural issues and respect and honor one another. To dismiss them is to deny them as image-bearers and brothers and sisters in Christ. Therefore, it is crucial that we seek to understand the other person’s point of view. Not only should we attempt to understand the point of view of the other, but we should also represent that point of view fairly and correctly. When we fail to understand and describe the person and their opinions accurately, we do what G.K. Chesterton called setting up a “false demon.” Then it becomes easier to demonize and devalue the person and their position. May we, first, seek to understand others.

Check Our Motives

A fourth essential in practicing Christian civility before we press post, send, or tweet is to check our motives. The truth is, everyone has mixed motives. When responding to one another in healthy and robust disagreement, we should ask ourselves, “Why am I responding this way? Am I responding from biblical conviction, or from fear, hatred, anger or hurt? What is motivating me personally? Am I more obsessed with winning the argument than I am with winning and preserving the relationship?” As we engage cultural issues, we should pray like David: “Search me, O God, and know our hearts; test us and know our anxious thoughts. Point out anything to us that offends you, and lead us along the path of everlasting life.” (Psalm 139:23-24)

Fight for the Highest Good

A fifth essential in practicing Christian civility before we press post, send, or tweet is to fight for the highest good of our brothers and sisters. As image-bearers, we should honor and respect all people. Our common humanity connects us. Therefore, we should treat others with honor, dignity, and respect. However, when it comes to the followers of Jesus, we have an even stronger bond than our common humanity. We are united in and by his death and resurrection. The result should be an ever-deepening love for one another. In fact, the world will recognize that we follow Jesus by our love for one another (John 13:35).

Loving one another doesn’t mean we will always agree with one another. It does say we will maintain the unity of the Spirit, submit our hearts, seek to understand one another, check our motives and fight for the highest good.

What is your rule of life or best practice for engaging social and cultural issues online? 

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The post Before You Press Post, Send or Tweet appeared first on Marvin Williams.

A year ago, after a lengthy, invasive procedure, doctors fixed my heart. Guarding my heart has taken on a whole new meaning for me. Here are a few lessons I am learning from a recent cardiac procedure.

It’s easy to take your heart for granted. I mean, it beats, and you don’t think about it. You’re not supposed to think about that critical organ working. It just beats, right? But, recently, I couldn’t help but think about my heart beating, mainly because the beats were irregular.

Irregular Heartbeat

During an annual physical, a couple of years ago, my primary doctor detected an irregular heartbeat.  Concerned, but not overly worried, she recommended that I see a cardiologist for further observation. I went to see the cardiologist the same day. He did an EKG, but I was back in sinus rhythm (the standard or default rhythm of the heart). You know, it’s like hearing a knocking noise in your engine, but when you take your car to the mechanic, it becomes a phantom noise.

Anxious Thoughts About My Heart

My cardiologist recommended that we monitor it for the next several months. Over the next year, I went in and out of sinus rhythm more often than I cared to. It affected me physically and emotionally. I would lie awake in bed and listen to a nightly concert in my chest. It sounded like awful scenes from Drumline.  Many nights, this experience haunted me. I was afraid of having a heart attack or stroke in my sleep and not waking up.  Ironically, staying awake, worrying about my heart, actually was unhealthy for my heart.

Three Treatment Options

I needed to do something about this annoyance. Thus, my cardiologist suggested three options. First, I could take meds for the rest of my life, but the meds might or might not keep me in rhythm. Second, they could do something called cardioversion. This procedure shocks the heart into rhythm. Again, this didn’t guarantee that I would remain in rhythm. The last option and the most invasive, but also the most effective, was cardiac ablation. Therefore, after prayer and consultation with Tonia and the doctors, I opted for the third option. It has been a year since the procedure. Here are a few lessons I have and am learning.

Lessons I am Learning

God gives us tests every day. These tests are designed to shape us and conform us to the image of Jesus. As I have processed this last year, here are a few lessons God is teaching me, and I hope I am learning.

• Prioritize my health

Today, I am more conscious about prioritizing my health. I get one body. God cares about my body and has invited and commanded me to glorify him by being a good manager of it (1 Corinthians 6:13, 20). For me, this means eating sensibly and exercising regularly. I have cut a lot of process sugars from my diet, and I have committed to an eating rhythm called intermittent fasting. Each day, I begin eating between 12 and 1 in the afternoon and stop eating between 8 and 9 in the evening. These are sensible meals (I cheat now and then). With this eating rhythm, coupled with regular exercise, I have shredded about twenty-five pounds and four inches from my waist. I recently went for my annual physical, and my heart is healthy and all of my numbers – cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, etc. – are very good.

• Rest

The procedure is teaching me to rest – really rest. You see, for most of my ministry life, I have done a poor job living out the purposes of rest – to renew my strength and to know peace. I didn’t know how to take a vacation. For the last several years, to my chagrin, I had amassed many hours beyond my regular vacation time. More than that, when I did vacation, I checked and answered emails, took calls, and worst of all, worried about the things I could not control. Now, when I take a vacation, I do not check my email – work or personal, answer or make work calls, and I try to do things I genuinely love. Thus, all the things that don’t get done, I am learning to trust that God will make up what I don’t finish up. This practice has been a game changer for me.

• Be present, now.

I am learning to be fully present, now. If you are anything like me, you fight with and against distractions every day. These distractions keep us from appreciating the NOW of life. Life is too important to let the past and future rent space in our heads and stifle our presence in the present. I will not borrow trouble from tomorrow. Tomorrow has enough problems of its own (Matthew 6:33-34). I get one physical life, and I want to enjoy all God gives me. I want to turn my minutes into moments. So, I am paying more attention and enjoying my family, friends, and colleagues. I am admiring sunrises and sunsets, change of seasons, and even learning to almost enjoy winter. I am walking slower, observing more and laughing a lot louder.

Sovereign God

So, there are a lot of other lessons I am learning – drawing closer to God and letting the Holy Spirit produce joy, understanding my mortality, appreciating community and team, and so much more. I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I do know Who holds tomorrow. Therefore, I have decided to place my life in the hands of our sovereign and loving Father.

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Five Worthy Things We Should Pursue Every Day

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The post The Day My Doctor Fixed My Heart appeared first on Marvin Williams.

Every week, millions of people listen to men and women preach sermons – long, short, expositional, topical, content heavy, image rich. In order to experience spiritual transformation, I think we should ask a practical question: How should we listen to a sermon?  Here are eight questions we should ask ourselves before or as we listen to a sermon.

Each week someone prepares and delivers a message to their congregation. The preacher prays that the people hear and apply the message to their lives. Just as the preacher prepares to deliver the sermon, the congregation should be ready to receive and apply the message.

The Foolishness of the Sermon

Pastors preach sermons each week. They prepare messages in hopes of their words about the Word will jump start spiritual transformation in people’s lives. Preachers pore over the text and deliver a message from the Bible so that Christ might be formed in people. By anybody’s standards, this is foolishness. It’s foolish because we are using words to convey and express things that are too deep for words. Because God chose the foolishness of preaching (1 Corinthians 1:21), we should be ready to cooperate with the Spirit as we listen. So, here are eight questions we should ask before and as we listen to a sermon.

• Do I expect God to speak?

When we are preparing to listen to the sermon or message, we should expect God to say something that will intersect with our lives. One of the foundational truths of Christ-followers is that we believe God is a speaking God. He speaks through creation, through the Holy Spirit, in and through the community of faith, and through his word. He has spoken in the past, and he still speaks today. Therefore, do you approach the sermon expecting God to speak to you?

• Have I spent time confessing and repenting of known sin?

Listening to the sermon is ultimately a heart issue.

“ The condition of our hearts determines the depth of our hearing.

The condition of our hearts determines the depth of our hearing. Listening to the sermon requires bringing a whole heart to the moment, not one that is divided.

“ We cannot harbor sin and hide the Word in the same heart. One will eventually evict the other.

Someone has said the Word will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Word.

• Have I asked the Holy Spirit for effective listening?

Just because God speaks doesn’t mean we are ready to listen. We need the Holy Spirit to listen effectively to what God wants to say to us. Spend time praying, asking the Holy Spirit for effectively listening to the Word of God. As we pray for effectively listening, he will show us where we need to silence the distractions that keep us from listening.

• What is my plan to obey what I hear?

When we listen to a message, we should have some response plan. The plan can include some executable moves – focusing on one truth you heard for the next seven days, starting with practical and realistic steps of obedience, having someone hold you accountable for your response plan and journal your thoughts and successes and failures. Refuse to be a passive listener. Plan to hear AND obey.

• Have I prayed for the preacher?

Satan wants to distract you, but he intends to distract the preacher more. If he can distract and attack the preacher, he can cheat and defraud you from the truth that might set you free and give you breakthrough that day. Pray for the preacher’s study time, family time, personal prayer time, physical, emotional and spiritual health and transformation.

• Am I living the truth I already know?

God is willing to speak to us each time we open up the Scriptures. But, we must not become professional sermon listeners. Why would God keep revealing more truth when we are not willing to obey the truth he has already revealed?

• Am I willing to ask questions about what the preacher said?

The preacher’s job is to develop modern day Bereans. Luke, in the Book of Acts, tell us that the Bereans were students of the Word of God. When Paul came to Berea and preached, the Bereans checked to see if what Paul was saying was true. Now, they didn’t have a critical spirit, but a curious one. Therefore, when we listen to the sermon, we should ask a few questions: Is what the preacher is saying true? Is the preacher being faithful to the meaning of the text he or she is preaching? Does it mean what he says it means?

“ Idolizing the preacher prevents Spirit-led objective listening.

Idolizing the preacher prevents Spirit-led objective listening. If the preacher can do no wrong, you will think he or she is always right. Thus, you can easily be led astray.

• With whom will I share what I have heard?

One of the ways the sermon will last in our hearts is if we share what we have learned with one or two other people once the sermon is over. Pray about with whom you will share the sermon. Pray that the Holy Spirit will make them receptive to the truth you share. Then, over coffee, lunch, dinner, in a text, or in a private message, share the truth with them humbly and personally (how this Biblical reality intersected with your life).

So, before you come to the next worship service, spend time engaging these questions. You will view the preaching moment through a new lens and hear with new ears. In the end, I believe you will experience deeper and greater spiritual transformation.

What other questions can we ask or practical things can we do to better prepare ourselves to listen to the sermon? 

So, if you liked this post, then you might enjoy this one as well:

9 Compelling Reasons Why I Preach

The post 8 Questions to Ask Before We Listen To A Sermon appeared first on Marvin Williams.

It’s Labor Day! Today, we celebrate and honor the American labor movement and all the workers who have contributed to the prosperity and strength of this country. No doubt, many will have cookouts, spending time with family and simply relax. As we enjoy the unofficial end of summer, let’s remember the original Labor Day.

Most people do not have a healthy view of work. Consequently, many endure and tolerate Monday in order to finally get to Friday. We dread Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Then, we “Thank God It’s Friday” because it marks the beginning of the weekend. I am sure this is not a healthy way to think about labor/work. So, what does the Bible say about work?

The Original Labor Day

The original Labor Day began when God created humanity. One of the first things God did was ordain or inaugurate work. Therefore, work is a gift, not a curse. When God created Adam, he gave him a command to work (Genesis 2:15; Exodus 20:9). So, I believe God created work to be a normal rhythm of human existence (Psalm 104:23).  To refuse to work is immoral and sinful (Titus 3:14).

Violating God’s Labor Day Law

In creation, God has established a pattern of work and rest that is to be a model for his people (Genesis 2:1-3). Old Testament believers obeyed the Sabbath to balance work and rest. Jesus practiced a labor and rest rhythm (Mark 6:30-32). Therefore, we should supplement our work with regular rhythms of rest. So, when we work more than we rest or do not follow this divine pattern, we sin. Not only do we sin, we increase our chances of burning out.

Why Did God Give Us the Original Labor Day

Why did God give us work anyway? This is a big issue. I believe there are several reasons why God gave us the gift of work.

• God gave us work and the ability to make money so we could be free from being dependent on others (1 Thessalonians 4:12).
• God gave us work so we could find self-fulfillment in it (Ecclesiastes 2:24).
• We work and earn money so we can enjoy the life God has given us (1 Timothy 6:17).
• We work and earn money so we can share with others (Ephesians 4:28).
• God gave us work so we can partner with God for his glory.

The Consequences of Viewing the Original Labor Day as a Gift From God

When we view work from God’s perspective, we can draw some interesting and compelling conclusions.

• We have a moral duty to work. If we can work but choose not to work, we are sinning. There is a difference between being physically or emotionally incapable of working and refusing to work. The former is understandable; the second is inexcusable (Titus 3:14).
• Every legitimate job – menial or mundane – has intrinsic worth.
• Any legitimate job is a means of worshiping God (Colossians 3:17).
• Any legitimate job is God’s calling (Genesis 2:15).
• Work is empty apart from God (Psalm 127:1).
• We should acknowledge our dependence on God, not in our jobs and the money we make from them (Deuteronomy 8:18-19).

As you celebrate with family and friends, don’t forget to thank God for giving you the gift of work. Thus, no matter how menial or mundane your job, you can glorify God. If it is a dirty job, we are responsible for doing our best in every area every time. So, let’s do our jobs with excellence and with the right attitude. When we do, we glorify God and increase our chances of helping others do the same.

The post Reflections On The Original Labor Day appeared first on Marvin Williams.

Joel Osteen’s response to Hurricane Harvey created a social media firestorm. Lakewood Church’s response is problematic, for at least one significant reason.

Several days ago, Hurricane Harvey ravaged parts of the Texas Gulf Coast, including parts of Houston. The storm took the lives of some and displaced thousands. Many churches, mosques, and even furniture stores immediately opened their doors to shelter victims.

Joel Osteen’s Response

But, Lakewood Church, the largest church in the country, initially closed theirs. According to Lakewood officials, the church did not open its doors because the flood waters made it inaccessible. Based on pictures, the church did appear to have taken on a lot of water from the flood. But, then Pastor Osteen gave another fascinating reason why they did not immediately open their doors. They did not immediately become a refuge because the City of Houston didn’t ask them. Lakewood didn’t initiate compassion; they waited for Houston to ask them to show compassion. The fury of the social media onslaught was quick, ferocious, and unrelenting, making Pastor Osteen a walking meme. Probably, rightfully so. This explanation is unconscionable.

Let’s Be Gracious

With that said, because he is a brother in Christ, we are obligated to give grace to Pastor Osteen. To be fair to Joel Osteen and Lakewood Church, they did open their doors to shelter people who have been displaced by Hurricane Harvey, albeit after a boat load of pressure. Moreover, in 2016, Clay Walker, along with Joel Osteen and Lakewood, hosted a benefit concert when a flood displaced thousands in Houston. They raised and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the city of Houston. So, I think we should give him a little grace because God has been gracious to us. Also, when we make mistakes like this, we, too, will want and need grace. With that said, his response to Hurricane Harvey, however, was unGod-like and a major leadership mistake.

One Problem With Joel Osteen’s Response

His response and posture were very problematic, for at least one reason. Joel’s Osteen’s response is problematic because of the nature/character of God.

“ It is God’s nature to initiate compassion and rescue.

Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. Exodus 3:7-9

God doesn’t wait to be asked to show compassion; he lovingly responds to the suffering of his creation. Here is an additional sampling of Scriptures where God initiates.

Genesis 1:1, 26; 3:15, 21

John 1:14

John 3:16

Romans 5:8, 10

Ephesians 1:4

Ephesians 2:8-10

Waiting on Houston to ask Lakewood to become a shelter, rather than taking the initiative to be a haven, Joel Osteen was so unGod-like. Now, I am not saying Joel Osteen is not a believer. All I am saying is, in this instance, his initial response did not adequately reflect the nature of God.

Initiating Compassion

God initiates compassion, and he expects his kids to do likewise. In fact, the Father’s love for his children creates capacity in them to initiate compassion towards others.

“ Part of what it means to go further into the gospel is to initiate compassion toward the marginalized.

When we live under the reign and rule of God, we will reflect the nature of God through initiating compassion toward others. Matthew 25:31-46 is one of the clearest passages in the New Testament to highlight this truth. In the Kingdom of God, practicing mercy and justice on behalf of “the least of these,” is what ultimately separates those who enter life and those who do not.

“ The gospel gives us eyes to see needs and to initiate a compassionate response.

If we see needs and do not initiate a response, then it proves that we have not yet been gripped by this good news that renovates and revolutionizes the heart. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to make us sensitive to the cries and suffering of people in our world.

God Gives Second Chances

Yes, Joel Osteen’s response was a leadership mistake and his reputation is taking a big hit for it. If he had to do it over again, he probably would initiate compassion rather than waiting for someone to ask him to show compassion. Like Pastor Osteen, I will make mistakes – big and small – but I am glad God continues to initiate compassion toward me, giving me second, third, and fourth chances to get it right.

With what needs, in your sphere of influence, will you initiate a response? 

How Should Christians Respond To The Tragedy in Orlando

The post One Problem With Joel Osteen’s Response appeared first on Marvin Williams.

On Friday night, racism reared its ugly head once again. Eerily reminiscent of the dark days of the KKK, white nationalists and white supremacists wielded tiki torches – attempting to instill fear – as they marched through Charlottesville, Virginia. This was the face of pure evil. But, how should Christ-followers respond?

The Friday evening march and the Alt-Right rally taking place on Saturday came in response to Charlottesville’s decision to move a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from Emancipation Park to another park. As they marched, white nationalists and white supremacists shouted, “unite the right” and “we will not be replaced,” and called for the South to split from the United States.

Unambiguous Racism

Though the scene was appalling, visible racism is not new to our country. Millions of men and women lost their lives during the Middle Passage, slavery, Jim Crow, and fighting for Civil Rights in America. So, violence arising from racial tension is nothing new in our country. But, back then, people hid their racism under hoods and under cover of night. Now, it is bold and no longer hidden from public view. It is no longer hidden, partly because of the rhetoric emanating from the 2016 Presidential campaign.

David Duke, the former KKK grand wizard, was unambiguous about what Saturday’s alt-right and neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, meant to him:

It’s the fulfillment of President Trump’s vision for America. We are determined to take our country back. This is a “turning point.” We are going to fulfill the promises of Donald Trump. That’s what we believed in. That’s why we voted for Donald Trump, because he said he’s going to take our country back.”

Ed Stetzer, Executive Director of the Billy Graham Center and publishes church leadership resources, was right when he said:

We must be willing to acknowledge that they (Alt-Right) have been emboldened by the rise of Donald Trump and the values and rhetoric surrounding his 2016 Presidential campaign. Although the President seems to teeter-totter between silence and condemnation, the table has been set. The truth is, it is clear that many in the alt-right movement feel as though a door has been opened for their supremacist worldview, and that “Make America Great Again” was about their warped definition of a great nation. 

Yes.  Emboldened racial tension and hatred may stem from the rhetoric of the 2016 Presidential campaign, but the Bible says that it comes from a deeper place.

Hatred Comes from a Corrupt Nature

When we see the face of evil as we did on Friday and Saturday, we need to look no further than in our hearts. Our evil nature manifests evil actions (Romans 1:28-31; Galatians 5:19-20). We are not good people who occasionally do bad things; we are fundamentally flawed people who occasionally do good things. If left unregenerated and unchecked, hatred and cruelty will become intense hatred and cruelty. Therefore, people who have this kind of hatred and cruelty lie in wait, stir up conflict, assault, and kill – sometimes for no sensible or logical reason (Psalm 38:19).

Racism is Sin and Irrational

“ Racism is irrational and illogical.

How Christians Should Respond

How should Christ-followers respond to what happened in Charlottesville on Friday and Saturday? Here are a few ways we can respond.

• Cry out to God

Our first response to racial evil and violence is turning to and crying out to God. As I attempted to recover from the disturbing scenes from Friday night, I recognized that this burden is heavier than any of us can carry. The racial evil in our world sickens me, troubles me, saddens me, and makes me feel helpless. It causes me to cry out to God like Habakkuk:

How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save. Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted. Habakkuk 1:2-4

Our first response should be to fall on our face before a holy, righteous, and all-powerful God – individually and collectively. Only God can bring healing to our broken world.

• Love people who are filled with hatred

We overcome hatred with love – God’s love. In Luke 6:27-28, Jesus tells his followers to respond toward people filled with hate in four ways. He told his followers to love them – fight for the highest good of the individuals who do evil. Next, he tells his followers to do good to them – care and provide for them like we would our family. Third, he tells his followers to bless them – to speak well of them (find some positive to say about them). Finally, Jesus tells his followers to pray for them – ask God to intervene in their lives. The ultimate test of how close we are following Jesus is treating hatemongers like Jesus would treat them.

“ We silence the voice of racial hatred with the louder voice of redemptive love.

We silence the voice of racial hatred with the louder voice of redemptive love. Our love must be more robust than their hate.

• Hate the evil of racism

The Bible says that God hates (strongly dislikes) evil and wickedness (Psalm 5:4; Proverbs 6:16-19), of which white supremacy is one manifestation of this wickedness. For anyone who consistently practices evil actions that cause friction in the community of humanity, including racism, God renders an explicit moral judgment against them. Because God has an intense dislike for these evils, we should imitate God and hate sin and wickedness (Psalm 97:10; Proverbs 8:13; Romans 12:9). Rather than winking at evil or ignoring it around us, we should ask God for the capacity to hate the things he hates. The more we hate sin, the more we want His kingdom to come and his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

• Renounce and denounce racism.

We should publicly denounce all racism and white supremacy in our country. All people, especially Christ-followers, should speak out openly against and repudiate white nationalism and supremacy. Any claim that one group is superior to another is racism, pure and simple. It diametrically opposes the gospel of Jesus. Moreover, it denies human dignity and freedom in this country for which many died.

“ White supremacy is wrong. It is a sin. And, we must stand against it and not be silent about it.

Pastors – white and black – this is not a time for silence. The gospel demands that we vehemently reject white nationalism and white supremacy. For, “God sent his son – a brown Middle Eastern man – to save the whole world, including sinners of every race and ethnicity (John 3:16).” Biblical Christianity overcomes social, ethnic, and gender barriers. ” Any supremacy – racial, gender, ethnic – is spiritual bondage, and we need Jesus, the ultimate deliverer, to set us free (Galatians 3:26, 28).

Hating and renouncing violence in our world begins with hating and rejecting violence in our hearts.

“ Hating and renouncing violence in our world starts with hating and rejecting violence in our hearts.

It repudiates racism no matter where we find it. There is no place for white nationalism, white supremacy, and Neo-Nazis in America.

• Do more than cry and talk.

We cannot sit back and do nothing. We are responsible for confronting white supremacy when and where we see it. Our job is to:

Uproot the stubborn weeds of anger and fear.
Break the yoke of superiority and inferiority.
Smash the yoke of false assumptions.
Pulverize the yoke of incorrectly assumed hostility.
Demolish the yoke of misunderstood motives.
Dismantle the yoke of prejudicial judgment.

• Love One Another

We must love one another. Our God, who is love (1 John 4:8), calls us to love each other, grieve, and stand with each other. Let’s not wait for more suffering to occur. Let’s come together now. The world will know that we belong to Jesus because we fight for the highest good for one another. Thus, our love for one another will heal the festering wounds in our world.

We are facing a turning point in the history of our country. Will we rise and speak and live the gospel’s truth, or will we remain silent and be as guilty as the white supremacists who are spewing their hateful rhetoric and inciting racial violence? So, I believe how we respond in the coming days will define us as the Church of Jesus and the human community. I pray we will choose the former instead of the latter. 

What are some other ways Christians should respond to the racism in Charlottesville? 

See other relevant posts:

Four Biblical Reasons Why Racism is Irrational

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