Almost

Acts 26: 27 – 29, King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe." Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." And Paul said, "I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains." NKJV

Christians can find themselves in some challenging situations that often provide opportunities to witness to unbelievers. Even though Paul was the accused and had to defend himself to the King, it was King Agrippa, who ended up being witnessed to about Paul’s faith in Christ. Isn’t it interesting that Paul’s life was hanging in the balance, and yet God used this occasion to give King Agrippa an opportunity to believe in Jesus as the Christ?

 King Agrippa wasn’t a man of faith in the Jesus, whom Paul both believed in and testified about. Consequently, Paul seized the moment to share evidence and facts about Christ that could potentially lead the king to faith. In order to bring someone to faith, you have to give them sufficient creditable information that will assist them in making an educated decision based on the evidence. Remember, unbelievers only operate based on logic. Their hearts have been made hard by sin; trusting God isn’t something they're comfortable doing. Once there is sufficient evidence offered to the unbeliever, they may allow the Holy Spirit to bring them to a place of faith or trust in their heart. This process is called winning them over to Christ.

Paul not only spoke about his own encounter and experiences with Christ, but he also mentioned the writings of the prophets. We, too, must be able to share effectively our own testimony of how Christ has transformed our lives. We also need to have scriptures that we can share, which will bring them to faith in Jesus and His Word. One of the greatest truths that we can take away from Paul’s defense of himself, and of his faith in Christ is that he seemed more concerned about King Agrippa coming to faith than his own well-being.

Ultimately, it was up to King Agrippa to decide whether he would believe or reject Paul’s offer for him to believe in Christ… “Almost!” Apparently, Paul gave the king a sufficient argument; nevertheless, the king still decided he wasn’t quite ready to surrender his heart to Christ. Even though someone may have enough truth and facts to make an informed decision, they may not be willing to submit their lives to Christ. All we can do as a witness for Christ is to provide sufficient evidence and pray for the person. It is the Lord, who will give the increase.  

Sharing My Faith,
Pastor Asa Dockery

Love Activates Faith

John 3 : 16 – 17, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. NKJV

I cannot even begin to imagine what would have happened to mankind had God looked at the world and said, “I believe in you,” but, nonetheless, didn’t act on His faith. Likewise, God hasn’t called Christians just to believe; He requires us to mature in His love and become His disciples, indeed. The Apostle James warns us not to be hearers of the Word only. He exhorts us to be doers of the Word so that we will be blessed. Aren’t you eternally grateful that God loved the world so much that He GAVE His only-begotten Son?

In Christianity, we place a great deal of emphasis on faith and believing; nevertheless, this is only part of the work. Whenever we put our faith in the work that Jesus has already done for us on the cross, according to Ephesians 2:8, it saves us.  However, now that we are saved, is having faith all that it takes to be a child of God? When we become saved, we have only just entered the race. The writer of Hebrews tells us to run the race that is set before us with endurance while we keep our eyes on Jesus.

Now we must begin to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. When we decide to move forward in our faith and allow it to become a “walk of faith,” we have moved beyond faith and into love, or faith in action. James tells us that faith without obedient actions is dead. Consequently, there comes a time in every believer’s life when we must choose to love God more than ourselves. In other words, we take what we have read and learned from God’s Word, and we allow it to change our hearts and lives through “acts” of love toward our Savior.

Isn’t it interesting that after the gospels, God allows those who canonized the scriptures to place a book called, “Acts” after them? Acts is where we move on into a deeper commitment to Christ; it is where we will place Him before self. This is also the place where Christ begins the work of transformation in our hearts through our love and devotion to Him.

In John 15, Jesus told His disciples, who had believed on Him that if they loved Him, they would also keep His commandments; consequently, they would abide in His love as well. Through faith, we abide in Christ. Even so, when we decide to apply God’s Word to our lives through our love, do we begin to allow His love to abide in our hearts? Once we learn how to abide in God’s love by keeping His Word, it will give us the power to die to self and to live a sinless life. The psalmist wrote in Psalm 119, “Your Word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against it.” The psalmist understood something about spiritual maturity and how it is connected to submitting to the spiritual authority of God’s Word. Didn’t James teach us to first submit to God, and then resist the Devil, and he would flee? We, in and of ourselves, can’t quit sinning, but if we will seek to keep God’s Word through love, then we will abide in His love and defeat the power of sin.

God didn’t save our souls so that we would have to live in bondage to our flesh and to sin until Jesus returns, or until we go to meet Him. He saved us and gave us the Holy Spirit and His Word so that we might overcome the flesh and sin through our obedient faith and out of our love for God. We love God because He first loved us. Only when we begin to live the Word does God become glorified and honored in our lives. How serious are you about becoming a disciple of God’s Word? If you’ve never been poised with this question, then, please allow me to challenge you to get into the Word and put it into action in your life.

Growing in the Grace and Knowledge of God,
Pastor Asa Dockery

Do Not Be Ashamed Of The Gospel

2 Timothy 1: 7 – 12, For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. NKJV

The Holy Spirit has been dealing with my heart about the bondage that Christians are living in pertaining to fear. We must understand and realize that Satan is the author of fear, and he uses it to hold Christians (and all people) in bondage. The Lord has also revealed some powerful truths that will help His people overcome the spirit of bondage to fear that so we can step out in faith and please Him. One of these truths is found in today’s scripture.

Paul is encouraging Timothy, a young minister, to exercise his faith instead of allowing the spirit of fear to cause him to be ashamed of preaching the gospel. Paul reminds Timothy of the faith that was in his grandmother as well as in the heart of his mother, and he was certain that it was in Timothy. Paul was striving to divert young Timothy’s focus off the negative works of Satan; therefore, he asked him to remember the legacy of faith that resided in his family’s rich history. As Christians, we, too, must take our focus off of the “what if’s” of this world and the rejection of people toward our message of Christ, and, instead, concentrate on our faith walk.

Satan loves to get our attention off of Christ being in us and working through us, so that he can draw our attention to ourselves. When we look at ourselves instead of Christ, it will cause us to fall prey to either intimidation or self-exaltation. Being the elder minister, Paul understood this. He went on to tell Timothy that, although he had suffered much as a minister, he wasn’t ashamed to preach the gospel of Christ, whether it was in a church or in prison. Not only did Paul use the strong examples of Timothy’s family to direct his attention, he also used his own personal testimony of suffering to show Timothy that he needed to trust God with the circumstances and just preach the Word of God.

The Apostle John tells us in his epistle that it is our faith in Christ that gives us the victory over this world. Therefore, as believers in Christ, if we’re struggling with being ashamed of the gospel of Christ and sharing our faith with others, then we must make an important decision. We must choose to obey God’s will and to suffer for Christ’s sake so that the power of Christ will rest upon us. We’ve been called out of darkness to be salt and light to this world. As such, we are commanded to go into the entire world and declare the Good News of the kingdom.

It’s time for us as Christians to begin to set our heart’s attention on Christ and on fulfilling the Father’s will, instead of allowing fear to intimidate us so that we don’t speak God’s truth in love to this world. Will you join with me in prayer and ask God to grant to the body of Christ the courage that we need to proclaim His truth to this generation? In addition, pray that the Lord would give us a heart that is committed more to Christ than to ourselves or self-preservation. It’s time for us to reach the world for Christ.

In His Service,
Pastor Asa Dockery

Experiencing The Love Of God

Mark 10 : 17 – 22, Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'" And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth." Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "one thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. NKJV

We’re living in a very interesting time in history. There are many people in today’s society who are much like this rich young ruler. They come to Jesus asking Him to save them from their sin; nevertheless, they aren’t willing to trust Him with their whole heart. If salvation and the gift of eternal life were based on obedience alone wouldn’t you think this young man would have qualified? After all, he kept all the commandments that Jesus required of him, even from his youth.

However, in order to have a relationship with God through Christ, you must be willing to love and place God first. Salvation isn’t just about obedience; rather, it’s about obeying the Lord from a heart that is filled with His love. Anyone can appear to be “religious” and even have the semblance of being obedient to God. Nevertheless, they are not saved because they will only do those “things” that don’t require trust.

God is love, and when we are saved by His love, we, too, will be motivated by the love of God in our hearts. When we obey from a heart filled with God’s love, then we will have NO problem sacrificing whatever God requires of us in order to fulfill His will. Jesus wanted this man to move beyond his own abilities and strength over into trusting in the Lord so that love would fill his heart. As we trust God and obey Him, even when our flesh nature won’t, He will in turn fill our hearts with His love and grace that will enable us to accomplish the task.

The young man in today’s scripture knew all about religion. However, he was unwilling to allow Jesus to fill his heart with love for God so that he could experience eternal life in his soul. As a result of his unwillingness to trust God at that level, he decided that his wealth was of greater value to him than everlasting life. How difficult is it for you to trust God with your possessions? When the Lord requires something that seems impossible for you to give up do you obey or do you ignore His will? Love requires personal sacrifice. It isn’t that your sacrifice is “buying salvation.” Instead, it is showing God that you do trust Him with your whole heart.

As I stated at the onset, there are many people in today’s society that seem to be religious, but they don’t trust God; nor do they operate through His love. As a result, they tend to walk away from Christ when He gives them the opportunity to love and trust Him with their heart. You see; apart from Christ and His love residing in our hearts, we are powerless to obey His will fully. Without faith, no one can please God. Let us love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, strength and body.

Experiencing His Life,
Pastor Asa Dockery

Blessings Flow When We Honor God

Deuteronomy 28: 1 – 2, "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God: NKJV

Whenever Adam sinned against the Lord, he lost the blessing of the Lord on his life; you can read about that blessing in Genesis 1. As a result of Adam’s decision to dishonor God and His commandment, he had to live under the curse of sin. As a sinner, he discovered what hard-labor and sorrows were all about. There was something else that man inherited from the sin nature besides hard work, and that is a “works” based mindset. The fallout from living in sin and the neediness it develops in us and from being separated from the life of God is to feel “unworthy.”

It doesn’t matter how guilty we may feel when we choose to live in sin; nor does it matter how hard we may try to work to earn the blessing of God, it can’t be earned. People who refuse to submit to God’s will for their lives, but, instead, choose to live on their own terms will, likewise, try to compensate for the void of God’s life and blessing in their heart by working harder. It isn’t just about getting their needs and desires met; if someone who dishonors God in their heart becomes successful, then they will also seek to draw their identity and self-worth from their accomplishments. Too many times, we equate success with being blessed. However, blessing has everything to do with honoring God in our hearts and not in the riches or acceptance of this world.

 Through Adam’s decision and failed example, we can see more clearly that we shouldn’t try to earn what can only be freely given through honor. Once the Lord reveals to us that we struggle with a “performance” mentality, instead of trusting and honoring Him, He can then teach us how to learn the principle of honor… and, consequently, we will be blessed. As we honor God and His Word in our hearts, His favor will grant us entrance back into His blessing of increase, fruitfulness, and multiplication.

This new journey to spiritual liberation from dead works and to becoming blessed by God’s presence begins when we seek the Lord with our whole heart. As we endeavor to please Him and to live according to His Word and His will, then the blessing of the Lord will come upon us and overtake our lives. You see; the blessing of the Lord can’t be earned. Nevertheless, it surely will be given to those who live to please God.

Do you find that most of the things that you set out to accomplish are difficult and produce very little joy, peace, and contentment? If so, then stop seeking those things and begin to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all the rest will begin to follow you. It’s time to get our hearts in agreement with God’s heart, to get our lives in proper order, and to live the blessed life in Christ.

Honoring God,
Pastor Asa Dockery

Honor

Proverbs 3: 1 – 4, My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. NKJV

Do you suppose a Christian wakes up one morning and suddenly decides to commit a sin or a crime? Shouldn’t the power of the Holy Spirit be enough to prevent God’s children from committing the same wickedness as sinners? The Bible teaches us, “Greater is He (Jesus) that is in us than he (Satan) that is in the world?” So what is it that we need to know that can keep us, Christians, from falling from grace and doing the unthinkable?

I can tell you, today, that it can be summed up in one word, “honor”? If a person doesn’t honor God, then it limits what God can do for that person. In Matthew 13, we see where the Jews in Jesus’ hometown didn’t honor Him as the Son of God, and, therefore, He couldn’t perform many mighty miracles because of their unbelief. God calls dishonor of Jesus’ divinity in people’s hearts, unbelief. Consequently, we must guard our hearts from dishonoring God (unbelief), lest we open the door for sin to enter our lives.

I want to give you a couple of examples that will show you just how important it is for Christians to honor God, His Word, and His authority in our hearts…especially when we feel justified to resort to the flesh nature and ignore God’s Word in a situation.

King David is described in the Word of God as a man after the heart of God. David found great favor in God’s sight, and his throne has been forever established. How could such a mighty man of God fall from the pinnacle of spiritual success that was bestowed upon him, slip into the deepest recesses of hell’s power, and sin against God? The answer to this question is addressed in 2 Samuel 12: 8 – 9, I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? NKJV

Satan seized a moment in David’s life when he had turned his heart from the Lord and despised His commandment. David chose not to honor God’s Word in his heart, and it opened him up to the allure of temptation and sin. I must also point out that Satan sought this opportunity to get into David’s heart so that he might destroy the king’s family as well. If you read chapter 12 completely, you will discover what it cost David personally to dishonor God’s Word and to fall into sin. We’re told in Romans that the wages of sin is death.

Let’s look at an example of a king who was given an opportunity to commit adultery with another’s man’s wife, much like the sin of David. However, he was kept by the Lord from following through with it. Abraham had lied to the king and deceived him into believing that Sarah was Abraham’s sister.

Genesis 20: 6 – 7, And God said to him in a dream, "Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. Now therefore, restore the man's wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours." NKJV

Notice that the Word doesn’t describe King Abimelech as a man of God or of faith. It simply says that he was a man who had integrity, and he respected certain lines of morality. As a result of this king’s honor, God was allowed to keep him from sin and from bringing death into his family. Hopefully, through these two examples from the Bible, you can see more clearly the importance of honoring God’s Word and His will in our hearts.

In Galatians 5, Paul teaches us that if we walk in the Spirit, we won’t fulfill the lusts of the flesh. How do you respond to the Holy Spirit when He instructs you to do something, and it doesn’t agree with what you want to do in your heart? Do you submit your will to God, or do you ignore the Lord? Sin doesn’t just come on us suddenly. God gives us little nudges and warnings, and if we ignore those warnings and despise His conviction and command to relinquish, then we open the door for sin to rule over our hearts. We must remain submitted to God, and we must resist the Devil. Obeying this principle is the only way to keep ourselves from sin. Honor God first.

Praising God for Truth,
Pastor Asa Dockery

God Shall Give His Angels Charge over You

Psalms 91 : 9 – 12, Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. NKJV

In the day that we are living in, we should seriously take the words of this psalm to heart. In Psalm 103, we’re instructed not to forget all the benefits of being in a covenant with God. The Word of God is alive. Nevertheless, in order for it to have an impact on our lives and so that we reap the benefits of it, we must keep it living in our hearts. As we honor God’s Word by reading, obeying, and declaring its benefits over our lives, we are releasing the power that the Word of God contains into the atmosphere around us.

If this principle seems strange to you, let me remind you of what Jesus taught us to do when we are faced with seemingly impossible situations (Mark 11). He told us to speak to the mountain (or whatever the opposition) that may be hindering us from moving forward spiritually. As we proclaim God’s Word over our lives and the situations that we encounter, it releases the Lord to perform His good Word in our life. He is allowed to move on our behalf.

Notice that it says, “For He will give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” As we speak, God begins to release the forces of heaven to preserve and keep us safe on earth. He will also remove any spiritual stronghold that might be used by the enemy to prevent us from accomplishing our purpose in Christ.

If you read Jeremiah 1, you will see where God asked Jeremiah to speak what he saw. As Jeremiah recited the vision back to God, God said that He would watch over His Word to perform it. It wasn’t until after Jeremiah proclaimed God’s Word that the Lord could fulfill it in Jeremiah’s life, as well as in Israel.

It’s obvious that we are living in perilous times, and because we are, we must be proactive with the spiritual weapons that God has equipped us with in Christ. Many people begin to earnestly pray only after a problem has arisen. We should be diligent in praying the benefits of God over us and our family to keep the enemy from gaining an upper hand against us.

You may say, “Well, I’ve prayed for God’s protection, and bad things still happened anyway.” To this I would answer, “The weapon was formed against you. However, because you had already prayed and sought the Lord’s protection, the enemy’s plans weren’t able to prosper.”

As a pastor, I pray weekly over our members and their families. It doesn’t mean that they won’t have troubles and trials. Nevertheless, I have personally seen our members walk away from situations that have taken others out. Praying the Word of God over ourselves works. God has promised that if we honor Him and His Word, He will give His angels charge over us.

Protected under God’s Shadow,
Pastor Asa Dockery