Month: January 2011 Page 1 of 2

Not Me But Christ

On January 29, 2011

A seed is only as good as the bounty of its harvest. For anyone to know the true quality, nature, integrity of a man it will be evident in the legacy he leaves behind. It is my heart’s desire that “the love of Christ” be my legacy. Not me but Christ!

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not 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 have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. – (1 Corinthians 13, NIV)

Our lives serve only one purpose: “To glorify God through Jesus Christ!” Everything else is just vapor. A mist seen for a brief moment — then vanish. But – everything done through the love of Christ will remain. A little of His love can go a long way, but even better, a lot of His love can cause multitudes to stumble into eternal life. Let us serve our Lord by loving one another as He commanded. He was only with us for 33 years. His earthly ministry only lasted 3 years. Yet for two thousand years, the love He poured out from His sacrifice on the Cross has brought countless sons and daughters to glory. No name is more famous! No name is more glorious! No love more enduring! There is no greater love than His!

I hate lukewarm Christians!

By Marshall Mabry

On January 26, 2011

In Praise and Worship

I hate lukewarm Christians. I’d rather be in the company of the lost.

In Psalm 5, David speaks about the type of man God hates.

Psalms 5:4-9 (from KJVR)

For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulcher; they flatter with their tongue.

Psalms 5:4-9 (from The Message)

You don’t socialize with Wicked, or invite Evil over as your houseguest. Hot-Air-Boaster collapses in front of you; you shake your head over Mischief-Maker. GOD destroys Lie-Speaker; Blood-Thirsty and Truth-Bender disgust you. And here I am, your invited guest– it’s incredible! I enter your house; here I am, prostrate in your inner sanctum, Waiting for directions to get me safely through enemy lines. Every word they speak is a land mine; their lungs breathe out poison gas. Their throats are gaping graves, their tongues slick as mudslides.

Jesus loved the Pharisees but hated their self-righteousness, their restrictedness, and their double standards. They knew the Law and used it to elevate themselves in the sight of man, rather than humble themselves in the sight of our Holy God – the One who gave us the Law. Jesus makes it very clear concerning where “lukewarm Christians” will spend eternity. Apathy, indifference, laziness, lethargy, slothfulness, indolence, unexcited, unresponsive, half-hearted are all words that are synonymous to “lukewarm.” They are like vomit in the mouth of God. (Rev 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.)

I know we hear this all the time, but where is it written in God’s Word that He loves the Sinner as much as the humble, passionate, God-chasing believer? John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world…” God draws closer to those who seek Him with “all their heart.” (Jer 29:13 You will seek me, and you will find me because you will seek me with all your heart. 2Ch 15:2 … The LORD is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.) The world according to Isaiah 61 is the poor in spirit, the meek, the captives of sin, those made lame by sin, and the blind. The lost and the lukewarm are not the same.

We have allowed the current culture of comfort, tolerance, and luxury to mislead our perception of the holiness of God. Many churches and false prophets have deceived us in believing in these compromises. Our God is Holy! He is Love! He is Truth! He is Just! He is unchanging! He is the same God who destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and because of His unfailing love He will let you live a life without Him and choose the course to Hell. Where do think the residents of Sodom are going to spend eternity?

Christian integrity is a value that few people in Church have in today’s world. We still compromise our worship and obedience to our Lord’s commands due to fleshly desire, power and money. They are still our foremost temptations. Satan mercilessly uses them to regain his fatherhood and control over us. Today’s Christian integrity is what scars the beauty and purity of Christ. Bono, the lead singer of U2 said “I left church because of lukewarm Christians.”

Our faith is best demonstrated by our actions. We need to stop pointing fingers and blaming others for our failures (like Adam and Eve), and take personal responsibility for our disobedience. We need to pray for revival. We need to start repenting and praising God for His gift of salvation through belief in Jesus Christ! Humble yourselves before the Lord! Get on your face, get prostrate before the Lord – then get up and shout for joy then get face down again! In your pursuit of Christ, you will find the comfort that you truly seek and need to live an abundant life. You will find rest for your soul. You will realize that in our own strength we are frail and weak. We are poor reflections of His image and integrity. But when we faithfully love mercy, do justly, and walk humbly (Micah 6:8) we take on His image and we become the pure Bride of Christ.

Music is Special

By Marshall Mabry

On January 24, 2011

In Praise and Worship

Music is a special form of communication that allows the heart, soul, mind, and strength to be jointly engaged in an outwardly expression of inner emotions, thoughts, convictions, beliefs and feelings. Music is essential and necessary for the worship service because it is a unified expression of gratitude and love; it is an effective teaching tool for the congregation of Saints; it serves as an example of respect and honor to a tradition of hope and truth of the Church. Where else can Church unity be so vividly expressed by the believer and be an outward example for the seeker? Nonetheless, of all the praises and songs we could sing, our Holy Father always receives the sacrifice of a broken and repentant spirit.

Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Isa 57:15 For this is what the high and lofty One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Isa 66:2 Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the LORD. “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.”

The chief aim of all worship music should direct repentant saints to the Cross and place them at the feet of Jesus. (Amidst all the celebration, Mary’s place at Christ’s feet was the better place than toils of labor in this world.)

“All Creation Cries Glory to God! All, Except Man!”

By Marshall Mabry

On January 19, 2011

In Praise and Worship

John Piper wrote, “Do people go see the Grand Canyon to build self esteem?” Is it an attempt to develop their pride, to increase their personal ambitions and agendas? The stars and vastness of the universe amazes us. The wonder of God’s awesome and magnificent creation continually cries “Glory to God in the Highest!” We appreciate and enjoy His tangible splendor. However, I believe this is only scratching the surface of our inward desire to see Him, to know Him, and to love Him.

He gives us air to breathe, light to see, food to eat, clothes to wear, but more importantly, time to live, and the choice to obey His commands. Scripture says that He does not withhold any of His goodness from us. Yet, we withhold giving Him all our heart, mind, and soul to Him. This is a simple request for us to receive the goodness of God.

Laying down self is a daily battle — it is our cross to bear. In the midst of this confused and lost world we must realize that we are aliens. It is not God’s creation that alienates us. It is the destructive choices throughout man’s history that has corrupted the world. Yet, when we look at the vastness and power of His mighty oceans, the purity of a clear, blue sky, the grandeur of the Grand Canyon, we get a glimpse of the pristine beauty that God had intended for us to enjoy and sing with.

Christian Leadership

By Marshall Mabry

On January 10, 2011

In Praise and Worship

“He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 10:38 39)

My former Pastor, Dr. Jim Clemmons, once said to me, “Marshall! In 30 years of ministry, I have never had it my way.” He was gently telling me that being a Christian leader, a pastor, was a life of self-sacrifice. As Christians we are commanded (Phil 2:3-4) look to serve the needs of others over our own – no matter how great or pressing, demanding or sacrificial.

Do the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one? Martha was busy trying to serve the needs of the many, yet Christ said Mary had chosen the better thing. Sometimes we can make ourselves believe we are doing good work and ignore being at Jesus’ feet.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3 4).

Christ came to serve — not to be served. He came to humble Himself to “even death on a cross.” Have you ever thought about serving someone(s) so much it cost you your life? Dr. Clemmons was saying that in this very moment we are given God-opportunities to serve. Even if it’s just one! In God’s economy everything we do is “foolish and backward.” Leadership is being an example servant. Greatness is to be less, seeking to get underneath people – so you can lift them up. We may think we are doing gospel work to serve the needs of many, but in that busyness, many times we lose the moment to serve the critical need of the one. If you want to lead – serve! If you want to be lifted up – fall down! If you want to live – die!

As worship leaders, we are tempted to believe that our talents help bring people to the knowledge of the Truth, the Way, the Life – the Gospel. The truth is “No man comes unless he is called by the Spirit.” Furthermore, only God can draw you nearer to Himself. When a believer believes he/she had any part in their salvation – they are lost. Our all-powerful, omniscient God set things in motion at the foundation of the world and knew then – the names of His children. Be an empty vessel for Him to fill with His Spirit! Give cheerfully instead of take. Give cheerfully instead of want. Give cheerfully instead of need. An emptied life, void of self, will be filled by the Light of Christ and “bring many sons to Glory.” This is the true character of a Christian leader.

Praise the Father! We are delivered by His mighty right hand – Jesus Christ! Hallelujah!

Fear and Worship

By Marshall Mabry

On January 6, 2011

In Praise and Worship

Hypocrisy consists in an attempt to “imitate” the people of God, or to assume the “appearance” of religion, in whatever form it may be manifested. (Albert Barnes, “Notes on the Bible”)

We can not worship God without fear. Jesus commanded us not to fear man, but to fear God who can throw our eternal souls into hell. There is no magic formula to the definition or meaning of “worship.” It is certainly not limited to the praises we sing. Worship is simply – “obedience to God’s commandments.” Jesus said “if you love me you will obey my commands.” We all know the opposite of obedience is “sin.” Either you live a life of worship or you live a life of sin. Worship is our way of giving back to God out of a thankful heart for all He has done. A life of worship manifests out of loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.

We can not worship God and be disobedient. Our lives were created by Him for His pleasure. We can not worship Him in truth and spirit — if we have idols. Nothing should take our attention from pleasing our Holy Father.

If we are giving back to the Lord, our sacrifice must cost us something. I once heard it said that in order “to find divinity you must lose your dignity.” Worship must never get comfortable. If raising your hands causes you to feel undignified, raise your hands! Not out of fear for your soul, but in submission to your belief in His worthiness to be praised and honored. Furthermore, it signifies that your dignity in the sight of man means nothing compared to your humbleness in the sight of God. Be careful in your worship, raised holy hands are clean hands, washed by the blood of Jesus Christ. You must not worship or pray in public in a manner contrary to how you would worship or pray in private. Your worship must have integrity to be in “truth and spirit.”

Fasting is a way for man to deny the desires of his flesh, for the strengthening of his spirit. Undignified worship is a way for man to deny his own pride, to free his spirit to worship. Reckless abandonment may be the ultimate intimacy in worship for the prideful and arrogant.

It is a worship leader’s goal to know God’s heart. Comfort is not an option in the pursuit of this quest. To know God, we must forfeit all that we have gained and loved in order to devoutly follow after Him. We must learn that life is about giving and not receiving. The more we try to hold on to things in this world, the more we keep ourselves from getting closer to heaven and our King Jesus. A broken and contrite spirit is what God can use and honor. In the heart of an undignified worshipper with a passion to praise our Holy God is where He lives and He is blessed.

Worship requires a true humbled attitude in awesome reverence towards His holiness and blinding glory. We can not come into His sanctuary without reverent fear. It is a journey each of us must make alone. There in is His awesome presence; we will have no complaints, no excuses, and no plea. We will have no words at all. We will have a speechless heart of praise. We will be amazed and awed. But, we will be still and know that He is God!

The evolution of worship can be pictured like this: I tried to describe this process in terms of our attitude, our outward body posture, our inward feelings, and our spiritual position in relation to His holy sanctuary in our hearts. If you notice, this progression should resemble the pattern of a life of worship.

Praise (standing and singing, hands lifted, gladness and joy, outer/inner courts),
Prayer (on our knees, humbleness and humility, The Holy Place, offerings, supplication),
Stillness (prostrate, facedown, awed and amazed, Holy of Holies)

The Meaning of Discipleship

By Marshall Mabry

On January 5, 2011

In Praise and Worship

Manipulation is seen in many forms in the church in the guise of programs design to reach the lost. In so much that Christ is taken out in case of offending anyone. This is plainly an act of denying Christ in front of Man. God will give the increase. The pursuit of Holiness is not filled with programs that manipulate believers. It is filled with Truth, conviction, awe and amazement. There is no light other than Truth. We must be ready to give the answer for our joy.

Matthew 10: 32 -39 – “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35“For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; and A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.” – Jesus Christ

To Love Mercy

By Marshall Mabry

On January 4, 2011

In Praise and Worship

Mercy is a quality that many of us say we lack. However, it must be one of our main qualities as a coheir with Christ. In Micah 6:8 Our Lord says “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” What does He mean “to love mercy?” Mercy walks hand-in-hand with love. Is it mercy that triggers our compassion? Is it mercy that moves us to action? The fact that you are breathing and reading this message is because of God’s great mercy. (Titus 3:5) I don’t believe our Heavenly Father cares about our status in Man’s eyes. I don’t believe He hears or sees us when we are disobedient. Sin can not present itself in any form to our Holy God. But, when we take on the righteousness of Christ, when we walk in the power of His precious blood, when we truly understand that we are saved by His amazing grace – we become more like Him and His virtue to be merciful.

Pray for One Another

By Marshall Mabry

On January 4, 2011

In Praise and Worship

Praying for one another is a vital ingrediant to our Lord’s Great Commandment. In the book of Job, God tells us that this is essential to our restoration in Him. You could be struggling with you health, finances, courage, or faith. Fervently praying for someone else who is struggling (maybe with the same obstacles) is obeying Christ’s commandment. That’s worship!

God tells us in Job’s story that this led to restoration and forgiveness.

Job 42:7-10
After the LORD had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the LORD told them; and the LORD accepted Job’s prayer. After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.

Jesus said “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…” Praying for one another is vital to our spiritual journey to grow and get closer to one another and Christ.

We are Bond Servants to Christ

By Marshall Mabry

On January 3, 2011

In Praise and Worship

Pastor Dick Lintelman says “When your not at church you are missed.” We are all part of the Body of Christ. When someone is missing — the body suffers. Like it or not when you gave your life to Jesus you became a bond-servant, a slave, you no longer have the right to control your life. Something as simple as buying a pack of gum needs to be weighed against what Christ calls from you. All of us will need to decide between living a life of comfort or a life of sacrafice. Each of us walk our own narrow path to the Father with Christ as our guide – our Way. No one else can walk it for us. Some are called to suffer within the joy of service in Africa, some to follow our Lord right where they live. Needless to say, our calling takes us away from lives as we use to know it.

Our ministry is only as strong as our obediance to God. When our lives are in disarray and our families disfunctional, how can we be used by the Lord? Jesus said “Let the dead bury the dead…” Not everyone is called to suffer the life of a lonely Prophet or will everyone be called to be martyred for the cause of Christ. But we must be willing to follow any path as the Holy Spirit leads us. There is time and a season to everything. Following our Lord, to know God is Eternal Life! There is no ending season.