Charisma magazine recently published an article about some preachers who demand ‘rock star’ treatment when being asked to preach the Gospel or to be a guest speaker at a convention or church. J. Lee Grady, who writes a column (Fire In My Bones) for the magazine, was appalled by what he refers to as a “celebrity virus’  spreading into large segments of today’s church.

In his column he shared a fax he received that outlined a number of specific demands to be met if this particular preacher came to the event—and it included the following:

• a five-figure honorarium
• a $10,000 gasoline deposit for the private plane
• a manicurist and hairstylist for the speaker
• a suite in a five-star hotel
• a luxury car from the airport to the hotel (2004 model or newer)
• room-temperature Perrier  

Grady goes on in his column with even more astonishing news:

“At a charismatic conference in an East Coast city recently, a pastor stood on a stage in front of a large crowd and smugly announced that the guest speaker was “more than an apostle.” Then the host asked everyone to bow down to the person, claiming that this posture was necessary to release God’s power.

 “This is the only way you can receive this kind of anointing!” the host declared, bowing in front of the speaker. Immediately, about 80 percent of the audience fell prostrate on the floor. The few who were uncomfortable with the weird spiritual control in the room either walked out or stood in silent protest.

So today, I guess it’s not enough to feed a celebrity preacher’s ego by treating them like a rock star. We also are required to worship him.”
(J. Lee Grady, Charisma Magazine Aug ’07)

 Is it any wonder so many people are skeptical of church today, especially when it resembles Hollywood!  Stories and perceptions about Christianity and the church in general are magnified by a secular media just hungry for juicy stories often told in generalizations and half truths. But the sad fact is that the faith of the First Century church and the examples of what Christianity was intended to be is lost on an entire generation of Americans.

I know. I was a full blown agnostic and hard-hearted skeptic who used the stories of shame involving the PTL club and Robert Tilton and others for a cheap laugh or comedy bit on my radio show. I once did a whole show as a fake telethon for “Fallen Evangelists”.  When the program director looked at me and said it was funny but might have been funnier if I hadn’t broadcast it on Good Friday, I didn’t even cringe. I felt even more justified.

 Now, years later, when I meet fellow Christians who tell me they have a hard time sharing their faith, I understand what they are up against. I know they doubt their ability to witness to unbelievers in part because of those who use the pulpit for personal gain, and in part because the church has not equipped them to give a defense of the faith.

 Jesus said that we would face ridicule and persecution because of Him. Expect it, but don’t let that stop you from being bold in your faith. Two things you must do in order to be an effective Christian and be ready to defend the faith.

1. Read the Word and do it.

2. Learn about the evidence we have available to us from history, prophecy, archaeology, and science which will strengthen your core beliefs and understanding while preparing you to give a ready defense of the Truth we have in Jesus Christ!

 

DOUBTBUSTER  John  8: 31-32   Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

FAITHBUILDER  1 John 3:23-24  And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

 

 

 

 

It is easy for Christians to exhibit a strong faith when things are going well.  It’s usually when troubles pile up and frustration builds that we begin to wonder if God is really there watching over us and understanding of our needs. For Christians In Name Only (CINOs) and those of an underdeveloped faith (BABBUTS), doubt can quickly become the dominant mindset when the unfair circumstances of life come calling.

But Christians who are walking in the Spirit (BABBITS) understand what’s going on because they have digested the meat of God’s word. Jesus told those who would follow Him that in this world they would have many trials and tribulation.  Christians who walk by faith and not by sight are not defeated by the hard circumstances of life.

FAITHBUILDER  2 Cor 4:7-9  But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all‑surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

DOUBTBUSTER  2 Cor 4: 17-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

 

 

The Bible speaks of several different types of faith which increase from faith to faith (Romans 1:17): For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Saving faith - faith which gets you into Heaven
(Ephesians 2:8-9) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast.

Fruit of faith - faith which is borne out in the Spirit
(Galatians 5:22-23) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

Gift of faith - stems from saving faith and the fruit of faith; It is the ability to believe for the miraculous
(II Thessalonians 1:3) We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.
The gift of faith is the supernatural ability to believe God without doubt, to combat unbelief, and to visualize what God wants to accomplish in our lives. It is an inner conviction driven by an urgent and higher calling, and a supernatural ability to meet adverse circumstances through trusting God's word.

Before I became a Christian, I was a skeptic. I struggled with the whole idea of Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead. My doubt about the central point upon which Christianity rests was finally resolved through evidence that, when put together in a cohesive argument, made sense. But it still required a step of faith to truly be born again.

But I have discovered that many people who take the same step of faith and come to a personal relationship with Jesus are still vulnerable to struggles with doubt. The reasons for this range from not reading and applying God’s word to allowing the world to have a greater influence over us than the Holy Spirit.

Doubt is a constant enemy of our faith. The Gift of Faith from the Holy Spirit is the ability to trust God without any doubt. It enables the believer to overcome unbelief so as to carry out God’s will.
This is not ‘blind’ faith, but a special empowering of the Spirit to trust God’s word as well as act on the leading of the Spirit. While it is just one of the gifts the Holy Spirit may impart to the believer, it is one that we should especially ask for earnestly. When we overcome the crippling effects of doubt in our Christian walk, we become more effective in being ‘doers of the word’.

Seek the Gift of Faith and be diligent about staying in God’s word. Develop a consistent prayer life. Join a church and stay active in it—and above all, stand on God’s word! The more you trust Him, the less doubt has a chance to cripple your walk.

DOUBTBUSTER Matt 21: 21,22

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

 

The Bible tells us that out of the heart, the mouth speaks. How true that is. If you are constantly speaking of your fears and concerns, they are imbedded deep within your mind and are at the ‘heart’ of what you believe. Fear emanates from doubt. The surest way to guard your heart is to decide what you will allow to enter it. Hiding the word of God within your heart changes our very nature.

So many Christians neglect reading the Bible. Charles Spurgeon, the great English preacher, used to admonish his congregation by telling them that there was enough dust on some of their Bibles they could write the word ‘damnation’ on it.

The point is that what you put into your heart becomes a part of you. But it’s your choice whether you fill it with the garbage of this world or feed it with the nourishment of Godly writings and above all Scripture. When you are faithful to grow in the knowledge of the LORD through His word, your doubts and fears will cease being a factor in your life.

FaithBuilder: Jeremiah 29:13
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”