The world we live in is a fast paced one. We have everything in an instant don’t we? We have definitely spoiled ourselves on wanting it now and getting it. The biggest accomplice to this is a fast food restaurant. It is way too convenient to drive up to a speaker, order a meal and it is ready in minutes at the next window you drive up to. Vending machines are the same. We put in our money; type in the number and our hand is already in the receiving position before the item has even dropped in the tray.
 
A McGod combo comes with a Big God, a large Jesus and a Holy Spirit all conveniently wrapped for our use and disposal. We feast on God’s grace and run away from the table when we’ve had our fill. Only to find ourselves back for more a short time later with little or no awareness of what we’re really doing because of being blinded by ourselves. The Gospel According To What I Want And When I Want It. Kind of an unappealing title isn’t it?
 
With this lifestyle we live, we often try to use God in that very same way. “Oh Lord, give it to me now”, “God, right now I need this”. The interesting thing about this is that the “right now and gimme prayers aren’t when we’re really facing any real trials. Most of these come in moments of selfish, self-seeking, self-centered prayers. If that’s the case, how do we act when we’re really facing a battle? James 1:2 says to count it all joy when we face trials because the testing of our faith produces perseverance.
 
Sometimes I think we’d rather God be in a little bottle that we rub and get 3 wishes. When you think about it, we’re demanding God to move in our lives for things that will eventually cause us more harm than good. Other times we might be praying for God to move in a certain situation but already have “plan B” in our back pocket if He doesn’t act in a specific amount of time.
 
Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (NKJV). God has given us the gift of salvation through his son Jesus Christ. Everything else that he gives us is a gift. The air we breathe, a gift. What we hear, feel and see, a gift.  So, how can we be so foolish to think we can demand God for things that we think we need.
 
We can ask God to change our heart. Spend real, honest time with God and truly speak your heart to Him. Read his word and think on what he’s shown you. Act on what you’ve learned with the right attitude and mindset. Put away selfish desires and see how God blesses you. Trust me, the end result will be much better.
 
Stay away from the “Instant Gimme Gimmick” and allow God to bring you up in character and strength, perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

James 4:3
And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong - you want only what will give you pleasure.

The words we use often influence others. We can use our words to change someone’s mind. They can cause someone to think about something in a different way. Our words can be encouraging or they can be discouraging.
 
We can manipulate a situation to our own advantage by the “way” we use our words. Our words carry a lot of weight and yet we toss them around like a feathers.
 
How many times have our words crushed someone’s spirit just because we were having a bad day? Our choice of words either starts fires or puts them out. They can in fact start a war or defuse one.
 
In James chapter 3 it talks about taming the tongue. No man can do this. If there is a man that can do this, he is “a perfect man”. With our tongue we praise God but curse people who are made in His likeness.
 
Every one of us can think of the multitude of times we have used our words in a negative or hurtful way. I’m sure there are moments we all wish we could take back what we said. Once the word is spoken, it’s out there doing what it does best. For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Meaning, whatever is stored up in your heart, that’s what will come out.
 
How can we get a handle on this issue? James tells us in chapter 1 verse 19 “everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
 
How do we do that? We can achieve that only by the power of God through reading His word, seeking His face and applying these things to our lives. We can’t accomplish any of this on our own. If we think we can, we are deceiving ourselves.
 
So, before we unleash the payload from our heart through our mouth, let’s remember to check the baggage that each word carries. If the words are heavy and damaging, maybe we ought to be a little slower to speak.
 
Ask God for the right words to say. You may just be surprised at what comes out of your mouth.  

Take a look at James 3:1-12. Reading it is one thing, applying it is a game changer.               
 

Well, it’s that time of year again for college basketball. Soon 64 teams will be hitting the court and only one will be victorious. Many of us will be glued to the television either watching the games live or just the ones we recorded on our DVR.

The most exciting games are the ones that come down to the last second shot. The crowd on their feet screaming, the shot clock winding down, the best players in foul trouble, adrenaline rushing through our bodies. I can’t help but get a little excited just thinking about the scenario.
 
It’s in those moments when the camera pans to the coach on the sidelines and all he can do is pace back and forth speaking encouragement to his team and maybe chew on a towel if he had one handy. The opposing team puts the shot up with time running out but misses. His team gets the rebound and begin heading down the court. This is when the coach yells at his team, with his hands doing the motion, “slow down!”… “be patient!"... "wait!"...
 
Wow! I love games like that. When I think of these scenarios, I often think of our lives out on the court and Jesus as our coach saying, “slow down”, “be patient”, “don’t rush”. Many times in our lives we have a tendency to out run God with something he’s leading us to do. We can’t help but get excited and the adrenaline starts to rush and we begin to just take off. All the while He’s giving us encouragement and then begins to say, “slow down”, “be patient”, “don’t rush”.
 
It’s easy to do isn’t it? It’s so easy to just take off ahead of God. Before you know it, you’re doing it all on your own, running and gunning, and God is shut out on the sidelines. Instead of being able to hear Him yell out the game plan, all you hear is the roar of the crowd and the chanting of your name ringing in your ears. It's now all on you to win the game, or so you think.

The next time the Lord leads you to do something, be aware of when to slow down and be patient. Don’t rush it and wait for the opportunity to present itself. When the open lane is there, take it. The obstacles will move out of the way if you slow down, be patient and don’t rush.  

Ephesians 4:1-2
 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love

When I was in high school, my friends and I would take off to cruise the main drag in town. After we got bored with that, we’d head over to a certain bank parking lot and hang out. We’d get there sometimes 2 trucks at a time but mainly it would start at 1 with a couple guys. We’d drop the tailgate to sit on and just start talking. Not long after that, another group with more of our buddies would show up and back their truck over to us. They’d drop their tailgate and join the conversation. It wouldn’t be long before we had a small circle of pick ups backed in together, tailgates down and a close number of true friends sharing hearts with one another.

 This went on almost every night during summer vacation and during school it was at least 2 to 3 nights a week. We’d stay all hours of the night talking and laughing together. It would only seem like a few minutes when hours would pass. I miss those times. They were good for me.
 
 Every one of us in the tailgate circle new everything about each other. That’s how close of a relationship we had. We knew not just what was public knowledge, but the deep things; faults, insecurities, dreams, deepest darkest secrets. We confided in one another with full trust; best friends.

 While we sat there, other people would drive by and swing their vehicle in the parking lot to see what we were talking about and sometimes join the conversation or start a conversation with one of the guys in the core group. The others that would show up were ones that we knew but didn’t really know. We didn’t know them like we knew each other; their heart. Sometimes, people would show up and I’d hear one of my buddies ask, “who is that?”. Another would reply, “oh, that’s so and so”. Someone else would chime in with, “what’s their story?”. “I don’t really know” would be the popular response. Not that we were stuck up or not willing to let anyone else in to our circle, we just didn’t really know who they were cause we never took the time to get to know them.

 Matthew Chapter 7, verse 21-23 is probably one of THE scariest passages in the Bible, if not the most frightening. In this passage, Jesus is saying that not everyone who says to Him “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven. Only the ones who does the will of His Father will enter.
 Let’s take a look really quick at the word “Lord” in this passage. The word Lord in this verse is defined as someone of ultimate authority. It is said submissively by the speaker. It describes acknowledging Jesus as Master. Merely saying that Jesus is Lord is meaningless; those who do so must also demonstrate obedience to His Father’s will. Just as Jesus did what God required, His followers should as well.

Now, lets look at the end of verse 21 where it says “but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven”. What is "the will of The Father"? John 6:40 says (this is Jesus speaking), “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on that last day.” (ESV) How many times do we hear others or even ourselves say “I believe” and yet, may not realize exactly what it means to truly believe. See, James 2:19 says that even the demons believe. The only difference is that at the end of the verse it states “and shudder”. They know who Jesus is and what awaits them in the end. How many of us realize that? The true definition of believe in  John 6:40 is: believe to the extent of complete trust and reliance.

 What if our relationship with Jesus was that of a “tailgate buddy”? You see, we didn’t just hang out like “guys hang out”. We celebrated with each other, we cried with each other, we carried burdens for each other. We were best friends.

 The will of the Father is for us to know Jesus like this. To have such a love for Him that He is involved in our every moment; celebrating with us, crying with us, and even carrying our burdens. He should be the one we are sharing a tailgate with. To be the one who shows up and stands outside along the bed of the truck is unfortunate.

 Where are you? Is your relationship with Jesus like this? Let the Holy Spirit search your heart and reveal it to you. If you discover that it is not this way, it’s not too late. The foot of the cross is broad enough for everyone. Surrender your heart to the Lord, fully. Delight yourself in His Word. Commit yourself in this relationship. Caution is then thrown into the wind. Hesitation is cast aside. Complete love, trust and reliance will soon follow.

 Jesus is waiting. He has a spot saved on the tailgate just for you.

I saw a clip not long ago regarding the House of Commons in Canada. The topic that they were addressing is the concern of a “zombie apocalypse”. As the people in the House listened to the concerns, many of them began to laugh and cheer. As I watched the clip and heard the concerns, it came to my mind that we are and have been involved in a sort of “zombie apocalypse” for quite some time now.

 One of the most popular shows on television right now is called “The Walking Dead”. It is based on a small group of survivors living in the aftermath of a “zombie apocalypse”. The zombies show all signs of life on the outside but inside they are dead in mind and spirit.

 Jesus speaks clearly and to the point regarding those who take on the appearance of having life but are truly dead. On the outside, everything looks like normal just like it would on anyone else. On the inside however, it’s a totally different story.

 He spoke of the scribes and Pharisees in this way and often refers to them as hypocrites. In Matthew 23:27-28 Jesus says that they are like white washed tombs. They appear beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones. In Revelation 3 Jesus addresses the church of Sardis and tells them that they have the reputation of being alive but are dead on the inside.
 Are we, who were once alive in Christ, in a “zombie” mode now? Do we find ourselves walking around with the “look” of Christianity? We have it all together on the outside but inside we are dying or are already dead. We know all the right things to do in a ritual aspect and can play church like a professional but inside our heart is far from the things of the Lord. If that’s the case, maybe we were never alive in the first place.

 Ezekiel 37 is the story of “The Valley of Dry Bones”. God showed Ezekiel a valley full of dry bones. He told him to prophesy to the bones. In verse 4 and 5 it says, “Then He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. (5) Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.”

Are you tired of feeling like you’re dragging around a body full of dead, dry bones? Are you tired of playing church but have done it so long that you are embarrassed what other people might think if you confess that Jesus has never been Lord of your life?

 Step out in faith. God will meet you right where you are and bring you back to life. Ask Him for forgiveness. Leave the “old” you behind and take hold of the new. Live for Jesus, don’t just be a billboard for Him.

Colossians 2:6-15 (NLT)
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.  For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.  For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.  He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.  In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

When I was young, I remember The Trading Post would come on the local radio station every day at noon. There was always someone selling something at a reasonable price. In fact, some of the items that were called in were hard to pass up.

Along with The Trading Post, my dad would take us boys to the Flea Market. There we would find the cool things; swords, knives, chinese stars and crazy sunglasses. We'd find what we wanted and try to negotiate a price. Sometimes the seller would give in and take our offer and sometimes we would give in and pay the price he asked for. Either way we were satisfied in the end since we both got what we wanted.

Whether it's The Trading Post, Flea Market, Bargain Barn or Swap Shop, there was always something there for everyone. If you had your heart set on something, your chances were pretty good that you find it there.

Believe it or not, there was something similar to that in the Bible. It's recorded in all 4 gospels. In these passages, Jesus makes His way to the temple only to find people buying and selling in there. Filled with anger he drives the men out with a whip he made, flips the tables over and says "My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers".

I've read this time and time again and one day while driving down the road, I saw a church sign and it said, "My house shall be a house of prayer". Then it hit me and I didn't like what I had to face. From that moment, The Lord began to deal with me heavily. You see, the word "house" is also defined as "property". Well, we read that if we are a follower of Christ, we are not our own; we are bought at a price. So, if I'm bought and paid for, and my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells within me, my heart should be a heart of surrender to God. But, there lies the issue we're talking about. You see, The Lord showed me that I set up shop in my own heart. A Trading Post, a Flea Market, a Bargain Barn, a Swap Shop if you will. I could see myself hard at work wheeling and dealing to compromise on this and that and settle in this area to get what I wanted.

In Jeremiah 17:9 it says "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" In John, Jesus chose not to reveal himself to some because He knew what was in their hearts. Since He's the same yesterday, today and forever, He still knows what's in a man's heart today.

With this revelation standing before me, I was faced with having to make a decision and had no choice but to close up shop and hang up my "out of business" sign. This, my friends, is something that I have to revisit often. God knows my heart better than I do so I have to surrender it daily to Him. Otherwise, I go back to peddling.

What about you? Have you set up shop in your heart? Have you turned it into a thriving market place of buying and selling to your heart's desire? If so, it's time to close up shop and give The Lord the key to the door. I know it's hard, but with second by second, minute by minute surrender, it can be done.

Remember, with true surrender comes true obedience.