Confession

A Confession and A Lesson

/ Troy Rogers / Leave a comment

confessionRecently, my children were exposed to something that I really wish they hadn’t been. There was an individual who started behaving very poorly in their presence. The details aren’t important, so I will leave them out. However, my children heard some things that were untrue, and were presented in a very ungodly way.

Confession: When I heard about the situation, Immediately I was angry. Not just angry, but so angry It felt like my blood was boiling. Maybe angrier than I have ever been. Not just because of what was said and done by this individual, but because it happened in the presence of my children. You have heard of “Mamma Bears” well, I was morphing into “Daddy Tyrannosaurus Rex”. I wanted to fly off the handle. I wanted to “fix” the situation by taking a “stand”. Never mind that whole, being slow to wrath thing (Proverbs 19:11, Proverbs 14:29, Proverbs 29:11, Proverbs 15:18). I must confess, I was not following these principles in my thinking.

            The Lesson: As I was putting my children to bed that evening, I told them that I was so sorry that they heard the things that they did. My daughter said, “Daddy, the Bible tells us that we should pray for those people. Can we pray for them together?” As she held out her hand towards mine.

Wait a second! That surely couldn’t have been what Jesus meant when He commanded His disciples to love their enemies, and to pray for those who persecuted them?!? (Matthew 5:44). Surely Jesus wouldn’t actually expect us to take a situation where someone behaves so poorly, and for us to not retaliate (Matthew 5:38-42). Surely all of those things are nice, well and good, but… Certainly are not principles to be applied when someone is being so incredibly rude. Surely then, we have a “right” to fight back… Then we turn our eyes to the cross, and we find Jesus praying for those who were literally, actively killing Him (Luke 23:34). I guess Jesus meant those things He said.

I thank God for my children daily. I also thank Him for the lessons that they teach me. Adults (like me) hear the teachings of Jesus, and we like them. They sound great in a book, but when we are faced with the situation in front of our face, we look to justify why that teaching really doesn’t apply here… Children, remind us that it does. It is no wonder that Jesus also said, “unless you become like children you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 18:3). I write this as a reminder to myself, Jesus meant what He taught, even when it hurts. He preached it, He practiced it, children understand it. It is time I do as well.

In Him,

Troy

I Need To Write This: Government Vs. My Mind

/ Troy Rogers / 2 Comments

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*I ask that if you start reading this, you read it all. I do not want anyone leaving this post without the full picture of what I am trying to say.*

 

I’ve been wrestling. Wrestling with myself on what to write, if I should write, in regard to the situation our nation is currently facing. I must confess, I’m having trouble sleeping. Anyone who knows me knows that I suffer from some sleeping problems anyways (average about 3-4 hours a night.) But something has really been eating at me. Our government.

When I was a child (not long ago) I knew that our government was ran by flawed individuals. I knew that many of them were scandalous in every sense of the word. However, I also knew that we lived in the greatest nation on earth. I knew that we had freedoms that most of the “outside world” could only dream about. I knew we had a document called the constitution that was not inspired by God, but was a good document that protected the citizens of this country on many levels.

I took comfort from the fact that I could attend worship services and Bible classes without fear. I took comfort in seeing so many great men such as my grandpa’s who fought and sacrificed for our country. I knew that as long as we had men like them, we would be ok.

Today we still have those brave men and women who serve our country (many of my friends) and I am forever grateful to them. However something is off, something is missing. You know as well as I that that “something” is Godly leaders. I emphasize Godly LEADERS, because you can not convince me that God is missing. Men and women who seek His face are what is missing.

Here is a confession that I must make. I have “preached” to many in recent months and years, about the importance of not getting too bogged down in politics, propaganda, and drama. Yet, I have found myself doing just that. Please hear me clearly, I am not saying that we should not vote, be informed, check sources, have discussions. I believe this to be a duty. What I am saying, is that I must not allow satan to steal my heart.

If I believe the Bible to be true (and I do) and if I believe every word to be true (and I do) then I must accept the fact that I have a genuine enemy. My enemy, is not our president. My enemy, is Satan. 1 Peter 5:8 tells me that Satan has one goal, he wants to destroy my soul. He wants to devour me, he wants to make sure that I won’t be in heaven.

Here are a few signs that Satan is leading me away from Heaven:

  • I’m not praying like I should.
  • I’m taking my frustrations with our culture out on my family.
  • I’m slandering the elected officials, instead of praying for them.
  • I’m worrying more about our nations debt, than the debt I owe my Jesus.
  • I’m more concerned with winning an argument, than winning a soul.
  • I’m rooting more for “my party” than what is right.
  • I’m asking church family what their thoughts are on the latest political unraveling, when I should be asking them about their physical/ spiritual health
  • I’m reading more CNN, FOX, NBC, or other articles than I am from my Bible

Please do not misunderstand, I am not so simple minded to think that if I, as an individual rectify all of the above issues that this will solve our nations problems. However, there does come a time when I need to look in the mirror and focus on my life, myself, my soul. Am I caught in Satan’s web? Are my priorities out of line?

As I write these words, I want you to know that I have no one in mind except for myself. I figure if I need a reminder, maybe there is someone else who does as well. Please take a moment to allow God’s Words to sink deep within your heart.

1 Peter 5:8- Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Romans 13:1- Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

5:16-Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

1 Timothy 2:1-4- 1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Philippians 3:20-But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

“Father, forgive me for failing to realize that you are in control of eternity. Father, you are great, powerful, majestic, and sustain me when nothing or no one else can. Forgive me for my lack of focus. Help me to focus upon You, Your Word, and Your will for my life. In Jesus name, Amen.”

Confession Time!

/ Troy Rogers / Leave a comment

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I want you to be in heaven. I want my children to be in heaven. I want every one to be in heaven! I understand based on the teachings of Christ, that this will not be the case (Matthew 7:13-14) but, it is my goal to continually be evaluating my walk with God, and challenging myself to live more like Jesus, and to make sure I am on the path to heaven. I simply want to share with you some of my recent personal thoughts.

Jesus reveals one very important piece of information as to how you and I can obtain our ultimate goal.

Matthew 10:32-33- Every one therefore who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Jesus says that if you confess Him before others, He will confess YOU before the heavenly Father! Earlier in the Matthew 10 passage, Jesus was telling His disciples that they were going to be persecuted for what they preach, and right after saying these things, He said

“What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.”

I’m afraid many times we are great at confessing in private. But, not so good, when in public, when around our peers, when on the job, when… Charles Hodge once said, “confessing Jesus is a daily activity and obligation”

How do I confess Jesus? I’m glad you asked 🙂

1. You confess Jesus by talking about Him.

Fishermen talk about fishing, golfers about golf, football players about football, hunters about hunting, farmers about farming… Christians talk about fishing, hunting golf, football, farming… not enough about Jesus.

I have often been troubled by this fact. Not just as I look at the lives of others, but, as I honestly examine myself. Why do I not talk about Jesus more than I do? Why is it easier for me to talk to my church family about my sooners than it is for me to talk about my savior? I believe Jesus has the answer for me/us.

Matthew 12;34- “…for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”
I am convinced that when we are struggling to talk about Jesus, it is because Jesus is not firmly seated in our hearts.

2. You confess Jesus by living a life of purity.

It breaks my heart that you have to be around “the world” . Because the world out there is tough. We live in a corrupt world, I promise you, if you live a life of purity, you will stand out

Phil 3:20- .But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Meaning, we not only belong to heaven, but we live as aliens while here on earth.

1. We don’t listen to the same music
2. We don’t watch the same tv shows
3. We don’t wear the same clothes
4. We don’t update the same status’s
5. We don’t have the same goals
6. We don’t have the same language.

The world says “if you follow all of the rules, you miss all of the fun.”— just a little sin is ok. Jesus says–
Matthew 5:8- “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”

The word that is used here for pure literally means- “to be clean, innocent, blameless, unstained by the guilt of anything”

What are you confessing by the purity in your life? Confessing that you believe in Jesus, or confessing that He is not that important to you.

3. You confess Jesus by changing your life!

When we think of “confess” we think of just simply saying “yes” when we are asked if we believe that Jesus is the Son of God

This is Vitally important! Matthew 16: Jesus is going about from place to place, then He just stops and asks His disciples… who do people say that I am? And they all gave Him various answers.. some say that you are a prophet, some say you are, John the Baptist, Elijah, Prophets. Then Jesus said… Who do YOU say that I am? And Peter replied you are the Christ, the son of the living God! Jesus praised Peter for this response.

But I must tell you, just saying those words, does not mean a thing.

I wonder how often Christ looks at me and says “Troy, who do you think that I am?” and when I say, you are the Son of God. He wonders, why aren’t you living like it? You see, if we believe Jesus is the Son of God, we will change our lives.

Brenan Manning was quoted as saying “The greatest leading cause of atheism in the world today, is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door, and deny him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds, unbelievable.”

Let me ask you… Are you proclaiming Christ? Or are you creating doubt in Christ?

How could anyone believe that there is a loving savior named Jesus Christ, if you and I claim His name, yet go on with our lives like nothing has changed?

In Mark 5 we read of the account of a demon possesed man who identifies himself as “legion”. He was a strong man, a violent man, a wild man. He was someone that everyone was afraid of, then something happened, something life changing, he met Jesus.

Jesus cast out the demons, tried to send him on his way, but this formerly possessed man begged Jesus to let him accompany Him (Wouldn’t you?)

But then we see the rest of the story in v. 20

Mark 5:20- And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

Let me ask you, why did everyone marvel? Sadly, I do not believe it was because of what he said. Think about it, many men before and after have stood before a large crowd and preached and the people…. sadly, many times, do not “marvel.” It is my belief that the reason for the people standing in amazement, is because there was a man that used to terrorize their area, and now he is a preacher?!?

He changed his life! He got attention of the people, it allowed him to further the message of Christ. The question is not, have you confessed? The question is…

Are you confessing Christ each day with your life?

So that one day… One beautiful day, Jesus will look at the Father, point to you and say.. He is one of mine…