by Pastor James Bell

It’s a strong word, isn’t it? It might be kids breaking something they shouldn’t have been playing with, or the devastation of a tornado hitting a small town. It might be the mission of a platoon of soldiers, who “search and destroy”, or someone grieving a broken relationship tearfully saying, “I was just destroyed!”

But all destruction is not bad. Some things need to be torn down. The Apostle John wrote in his first letter to the churches, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil”. Before you lead the cheers for God’s demolition crew, you might consider if one of those destruction projects is planned for you!

The chosen people who crossed the Jordan saw immediately, right there in front of them, a city with huge walls. It was not that different from the doubts and fears that sometimes crowd into your consciousness. But when walls come down, the inhabitants hit the exits as fast as they can.

God had a strategy and He only needed obedient people to carry out the plan.  Just like God chose those people, He calls you to take charge of your life. Tear down what the enemy has built in your mind. Don’t accept the intimidation of difficult circumstances. You might say the destruction of Jericho was both impossible and inevitable. Or you could just say, “Miracles happen!”

The Bible says our weapons are not based on our human response to the crises in our lives. Instead, our weapons are powerful in a supernatural way. The Spirit of Christ in us destroys strongholds. Where is the Jericho in your life? Is it blocking your entrance to what God has promised you? Is there a temptation that you can’t seem to conquer? Are there circumstances that are holding you at bay? What is your personal Jericho? Let’s destroy it!

There was a reason why Jericho’s walls were so thick. The inhabitants didn’t want to be destroyed. If the Israelites would have used their own logic and stormed the walls, even with faith and vigor, they would have failed. But in the midst of victorious praise, in the strength of glorifying God…..the walls fell flat!

The powers of darkness fear the moments when God’s children hear Him and obey His voice. When that happens the enemy has to vacate the premises and you are victorious. No more Jericho. The path is now cleared.

Let’s destroy something!

by Pastor James Bell

“We decided to change churches because we just weren’t being fed.”

That’s what people often say when they decide to leave a church. That statement angers and frustrates  a lot of pastors because the feeding of the flock is our primary responsibility. But I’ve come to the realization that not being fed is a pretty good reason for people to make a change. Being fed is critically important to the true believer.

How the word of God feeds us has a lot to do with our spiritual appetites. If we desire the sincere “meat” of the word, we will not feel satisfied with clever, slick, shallow messages. If, on the other hand, we don’t see the Bible as the actual authority in our lives, we would rather hear something concise and entertaining, regardless of whether or not it is scripturally accurate. No matter what you are hearing, you don’t want it to be boring, dull and dry. But you are disturbed by self-embellishing flamboyance and lots of emotion for the sake of being emotional. You just want to be fed.

Just as an excellent presentation of an entree at a restaurant causes you to anticipate a wonderful meal, the truth, spoken with charisma and a little flair, does help us to receive it. But presentation is not enough. Being fed spiritually is all about truth.  Purveyors of good barbeque insist that you must have an outstanding brisket on the menu or nothing else really counts. Without truth, whatever you are being fed will not sustain you or satisfy you the way truth does.

How you answer two questions will determine your spiritual appetite. The first is “Do you really believe what the Bible says?” The second is “Are you willing to obey what the Bible says?” If your answers aren’t in the affirmative, then you will have some difficulty being fed spiritually. The milk of the word may be enough to get you in the door, but the meat is what will strengthen you for the journey ahead.A person would just about have to be a tourist from California to order blueberry pancakes at a Texas barbecue joint. Every taste can use a little education about what is appropriate and what is good!

I have been reduced to tears by a barefooted preacher’s message in a little mountain village in Mexico, and I remember being stirred and convicted by a testimony from one of our youth. I have also slipped out of a lavishly promoted conference, opting for some hot wings and iced tea over an eloquently expressed, never-ending sermon, being preached for the one hundred and tenth time.

Restaurant owners say it’s hard to find good servers. I know the Lord must feel that way about us at times. My goal this year is to emphasize the scripture text and rely on the Holy Spirit for words that will be the clearest and most effective in presenting truth. The people who join me in preaching and teaching at Hosanna feel the same. We hope you will continue to like hearing biblical truths.

We pray that you are being fed.

]]> http://hosannahouston.org/blog/holy_spirit/are-you-being-fed/feed/ 0 http://hosannahouston.org/blog/jesus/re-thinking-god/ http://hosannahouston.org/blog/jesus/re-thinking-god/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:20:36 +0000 webadmin http://hosannahouston.org/blog/?p=403

by Pastor James Bell

The title of our new sermon series might seem a little arrogant. Actually, it’s a reference to the sad truth that we get it wrong about God sometimes. Would you believe lots of times? Our culture’s concept of God seems a bit skewed, to say the least. Maybe that’s why the Bible tells us to be transformed, not conformed, in the way we think.

It’s pretty obvious that people create their own gods today. How often have you heard, “The god I serve doesn’t do (this or that, fill in the blanks).” We take the liberty of defining God according to our own personal moral standards and beliefs. We assume God is on our side because, after all, we’re right about practically everything. Some are even deluded enough that they pray to, and think they hear from, the one true God, not knowing that it’s really their own self-created “god”. This is often an over-active conscience or an egocentric imagination that has led many sincere Christians from true charismatic giftedness to an overstated (but spiritually insignificant) charismatic folly. Bottom line: It never was really God to begin with.

What is even more common, and is the focus of our series, happens when people of faith incorrectly understand the nature and character of God. We think He is mad at us. We aren’t sure He is always walking with us. We are intimidated by His holiness and our (sometimes gross) humanity. We anticipate His wrath and at times we hope He isn’t looking at us right now, at this very moment. We need to re-think our view of God.

The Bible is a real good place to look when re-thinking God. It is, after all, the ultimate resource for a definitive view of God. Jesus came to give us an understanding of God from a human perspective, which is, incidentally, the only perspective we are much good at understanding.

Intimacy with God is a blessed experience, a taste of eternity. This happens through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. But even intimacy with God is defined, as well as encouraged, by biblical principles about the wonder and majesty of God.

Remember the character who said, “Sometimes I sit and think. Other times I just sit”? Well, let’s not just sit! Re-thinking your concept of God might open some new doors of spiritual growth in your life.

Let’s do it together!

Thoughtfully,

James

by Pastor James Bell

Matthew, Mark and Luke all shared the phenomenal story of a demon-possessed man who lived among the tombs near the city of Gadara. No one could control this man. That is, until Jesus arrived on the scene. The spirits within the man cringed at the sight of Jesus and at his command they left the man free and sound of mind.

Among the graveyards of mainline Christianity toward the end of the last century, there emerged, not a maniac, but rather a charismaniac of sorts. It was known for it’s displays of power, it’s struggling against chains of restraint, and it’s habit of tearing itself (dividing) when frustrated in it’s purpose.

What is a charismaniac? I would call it “charisma-gone-bad”. It’s the perversion of something God-breathed. Charisma means “giftedness”, which is a blessed and good thing. But when gifts are not administered with scriptural authority and spiritual order, the word “mania” gets added to the equation.

So in the midst of a spiritual graveyard, charismania erupted. The roar of overzealous, out of order giftedness became unsettling and disturbing to many people who didn’t “get it” about the latest strain of hyped up, pseudo-prophetic power trips. From Baker to Bentley, from Hinn to Haggard, the idolatrous images of one-man shows crumbled to the ground. The faithful who followed now found themselves wandering through a graveyard, bound by the past, repeating words of proclamation that now seemed to fall powerless to the ground. Would this signal the end of an era?

Not at all. You see, there is no such thing as a counterfeit three dollar bill. There was once a spiritual reality and a scriptural authenticity in spiritual giftedness. That never died. It was just that ignorance screamed more loudly and was better financed than reason. But truth always triumphs in the end. We are at the end of charismania, but only growing stronger in genuine spiritual giftedness.

Okay, how does that play out in church services? Well, there is a list of things we probably will see a lot less of, and that list includes rhetorical, self-serving prophesies that are too vague to evaluate or are clearly and spectacularly wrong. The church has had it’s fill of both. Many of you could add to that list, but let’s not. Let’s talk instead about what we will see more of, or what’s being anticipated in the Spirit by many believers today.

The key phrase is “multiplicity of ministry”. We are finally excited about becoming Ephesians 4 churches. Spiritual gifts manifest in a way that glorifies God, not the gifted ones. Equipping happens on Sunday nights as we share spiritual insights with the passionate core of the church. Words are shared in our three Sunday daytime services as fresh, anointed direction from the Father, without appearing to be the second coming of Moses or Elijah. Healings happen during worship, even without the old healing- evangelist-type of prayer lines. We have exchanged production for presence. Sinners and saints alike now get the message that Jesus is Lord!

When the leaders and townspeople of Gadara visited the graveyard to see what happened, they found the “maniac” dressed nicely, smiling and sitting with Jesus. He now had the charisma, but that maniac phase was over.

Feeling the need for spiritual giftedness? Welcome to the new definition of “gifted”! The power has been there for a long time. It’s just that we’re learning how to glorify God in it’s use.

So more power to you! Use those gifts God has given you….for His glory!

by Pastor Kenny Innes

It’s been amazing to see the excitement and enthusiasm for the gospel that Hosanna has experienced so far in our Salvation sermon series. As Pastor James leads us through biblical truths about the work of God to save us, lights are being switched on in the hearts of long-time Christians as well as new-comers to the faith. Small groups are buzzing with conversation and discovery.

The truth we are discovering is that salvation is not a brick in the house of faith in which we live – it is the house itself. Every truth and element of our faith is dependent upon, and lived out, through our salvation. That’s why sermon series’ and continual reminders of the gospel truth of salvation are healthy for every church that wants to see its members living out the fullness of God’s call on their lives.

Here are some reasons we never get beyond salvation:

1. The Bible never does. The entire Old Testament leads us to Jesus‘ saving work on the cross, and the entire New Testament teaches us to live that salvation out. The apostle Paul continually returns to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and the implications of that for those who believe. When Paul talks about Christian faith, he can’t stop himself from wrapping everything in the context of salvation. Furthermore, he instructs Christians to, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…” (Phil 2:12, ESV). This suggests that our salvation is something we should constantly embrace, think through, talk and sing to God about, and search the scriptures for truth about.

2. Salvation was in the plan of God before the universe existed. Revelation tells us about, “everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain” (Rev 13:8, ESV). The cross was not plan b, but the original purpose of God in revealing His glory to us. God created the world with the intention that salvation would be the central point of history.

3. Salvation will be the focal point of eternity. The people of God will forever worship Jesus, and the reason is because He has saved them. Revelation 7 gives us a glimpse into the kind of adoration that will take place:

Rev 7:9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (ESV)

The central reason they worship Him is the glory of salvation. Their devotion, love, and worship are set alight by the God who saved them. We have an opportunity in this life to begin a passionate pursuit of Jesus based upon the grace, love and mercy that He has shown in saving us.

4. There are people who think they are saved, but are deceived. Jesus tells us that there will be many who are convinced they had a grasp on salvation, when in fact they did not:

Matt 7:22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (ESV)

Christians need regular reminding of the truth of the gospel of salvation so that the Holy Spirit can continue to convict and confirm to them that they are living in true relationship with God.

5. The preaching of the Word in a church is not just for the teaching of those who already know God, but also for those who do not. When Christians hear preaching about the gospel, they should be excited that the core of their faith is being explained to those among us who don’t yet have a relationship with Jesus.

1 Tim 2:3 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. (ESV)



Someone once said that God does not call us beyond the gospel, but deeper into the gospel. I am praying for myself and for our church that the impact of our sermon series on salvation will last far beyond the 5 weeks of its duration, inspiring us to bring our whole lives into the context of God’s saving power in our lives, and create a desire to see that same experience happen to those who don’t yet know Him.

Here’s to a lifetime (and beyond) of salvation.

One person’s top five might not be the same as someone else’s.  But practically every Christian you know can relate to hearing these five in some form of communication. Here goes:

Lie#1: The church is full of hypocrites.

Truth: Christians are being saved from the power of sin.
They are not perfect, but they are being perfected. What is hypocritical is your thinking that you’re not in the same boat! (Romans 7:21-25; 1 John 3:2)

Lie #2: Christianity is a good thing, but not to be the top of your priority list.

Truth: Putting Jesus first puts everything else in the proper order.
Is it worth it to have money and be lost for eternity? Is a great family life worth it all if one, or even some of you, end up in hell? (Matthew 10:37-39)

Lie #3: Be your own person. Don’t let people in authority have any say over you.

Truth: This leads to a life of rejection and bitterness.
This is the same lawlessness that got the devil and his angels cast out of heaven and God’s presence (Titus 1:10-11; Titus 1:16).

Lie #4: Be balanced. Not too radical for God, and not too far away from Him either.

Truth: God hates lukewarmness.
It makes Him want to vomit (Revelation 3:16). DO be radical for God. It is the most important cause on earth…with eternal consequences (Philippians 3:8).

Lie #5: Enjoy yourself while you can. Almost everyone has had a “season of sin”.

Truth: Even when the wounds of sin are healed, they leave scars.
Sin is progressive. You can open doors that never again shut. Wounds turn into scars, but the scars often remain in hearts and minds for many years (Romans 6).

What do you do when confronted with these “classic” lies from the father of all liars? Armed with God’s Word and the Spirit of truth that dwells in all believers, we can learn to say “no” to the devil and his attempts to steer is away from the will of God.

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7, NKJV)

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8, NKJV)

by James Bell

Religion is not really a bad word. Some consider that word to mean dead, dull, dry, boring church services and dead, dull, dry, boring people. That’s not really fair, especially if we are talking about authentic Christianity, but we have to admit there is a reason people feel that way.

I have to plead guilty to being bored silly at preachers conferences, irritated while standing in a prayer circle of sweaty palms and repetitious phrases, and listening to endless debates about complicated (and ridiculous) religious philosophical viewpoints. If it were not for chicken-fried steaks and Dr. Pepper, I would probably not have survived some of those long-winded discussions.

“Anyone who sets himself up as ‘religious’ by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air.” – The Apostle James (in the Message Bible)

We need religion we can use! Atheists say religion is a crutch. I say it is a vehicle. It gets us to where we need to be. Religion is doing the gospel. It is bringing together the needs of mankind and the purposes of God. It is a hybrid of faith and reality.

Now, if you choose to not believe in the power of prayer, or divine healing, or God’s intervention into the lives of men and women, then the religion you are embracing might well be a corpse. Being a Christian without acknowledging the power of the Holy Spirit is like a religious “Weekend at Bernie’s”.

Recently, we have heard from four different people in our church about going to the doctor to continue treatment on the diagnosed cancers in their bodies, only to be told that those cancers simply were not there anymore! That’s religion you can use.

People who were considering divorce are experiencing a new love for their spouse. They are rebuilding their marriages on the foundation of the word of God. They are learning that it is not “always right to be right”. Godly humility is saving relationships and families. Usable religion.

A widow finds her lawn mowed. A man is laid off of work, but food arrives to feed the kids. The deaf who need translation are put on the front row, not the back row.  A single mother gets back-to-school help. This is religion you can use.

I know some people have given religion such a bad name that we often feel we must put another word in front of it. Authentic religion, true religion, pure religion, etc. I would like to pick that word up from the gutter, dust it off, clean it up, and use it. Its use should result in lighter wallets, sore muscles, weightier prayers, and open hearts.

There may be some things you don’t like about the church. You might find some scripture that have to struggle to obey. You may not even like the pastor very much. That’s okay.

Just make sure your religion is religion you can use. You’re gonna need it. I do too.

It’s an old Southern phrase, meaning that a person had heard something so profound or shocking that he was rendered speechless.  It is also, quite often, a really good idea. Words can hurt much worse than you ever intended them to.  Words are like bullets. They can intimidate up close or even drop someone from a distance. One poor soul said,

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words…..can drive me straight to the therapist and pay for his next vacation.”

Now, you may say that you’re not a word person, and that you don’t care about all this. But the way you say it can be revealing.

“I reckon if a feller gets his shirt in a snit ’bout my words, he kin have the gumption to tell me or jest walk away from it.  I ain’t no Psachytrist.”  (simple, direct, frustrated)

“The complexity and confusion involved with word usage is derived from the multiple meanings assigned to words by different cultures and demographics.” (analytical)

“Words are like notes on a music sheet or strokes of the artist’s brush.  They create, inspire, and bring visions to life.”  (insightful, hopeful, perhaps a little naive)

“I say things I regret sometimes. But talking is the way I connect. My friends will sift what I say and overlook the stupid stuff, while hearing my heart.”  (honest, apathetic)

Parental words have messed up their kid’s lives. Children’s words have broken parent’s hearts. Doctor’s words can bring assurance or a cold wave of fear.  Loving words can warm a cold heart. Coaches’ words drive underdogs to victory. Ministering words can bring life back into perspective. What about your words?

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14, that prophetic words (words for others, given to you by God) will bless, comfort, and encourage.  Now, if that is what God will do through us, it tells me what He wants to do in us. The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus is the Word.  He is the essence of God speaking. When I am living with the awareness of being “in Christ”, it does affect my conversation. Words become life-giving, encouraging and even lots of fun.

But I have been known to slip.  Though I’m improving as I grow in this revelation, there have been times that the slip has become an avalanche.  I love to eat, but poorly chosen words don’t taste that good.  What Ike did to Galveston in one unfortunate night will take a long time to restore. Words can be like that.

A sagacious Old Testament writer wrote, ”Set a watch, Oh Lord, before my mouth.”  I know the feeling, but being a son of the south, I tend to respond to my verbose inclinations with something like,

“Well, shut my mouth!”

Hey, it works for me.  Or does it?

I enjoy strategizing, think tanks, roundtables, and even a bit of theological jousting. I love to read, and have challenged bookstore managers to update and upgrade their selections. My life experience includes stints as a Pentecostal, Charismatic, Methodist (only a year for not very good reasons), Baptist (ordained), and finally a non-denominational pastor.

Now, don’t you agree that these things should qualify me to be somewhat helpful to the Lord as one who could evaluate and explain the human condition? Actually, they are some of the many reasons God does not need or seek my advice. I am one of those poor souls who often just doesn’t “get it”.

In my prayers I have offered up some ways to: end wars (okay, it involved a lot of people being wiped out), eradicate poverty (similar to Egyptian slavery); end the AIDS epidemic (don’t even ask); and establish the Spirit-filled, non-denominational stream of Christianity as the only church choice (that one would make Nixon blush).

I didn’t even get answers to my thoughtful contributions. I felt a strangeness in my spiritual connection with the Savior. I began to sense a need to repent, hit the delete button on my Spiritual Depth file, and to fall once again at the foot of the cross.

After a few times, this cycle of events led me to a rather cynical conclusion about personal revelation. Most, or at least many, personal revelations and/or epiphanies are a result of a dangerously inflated ego.

“God showed me that my destiny is to impact multitudes who have been waiting for my ministry to emerge.”

“I received this word when I was a child, that I am to be a bright light seen by many, and that I will be sought out by the leaders of nations…”

“The Lord has singled me out from among my peers as one who is more sensitive and understanding of his purpose and plan than others”

If the person who received those words would listen very carefully to what God was actually saying, he might have heard,

“I am the Lord. It’s time for you to shut up about these words.”

You know why I can write these things, don’t you? Of course, it was me. People have given me words since I was a small boy. If all the words would have come true, I would:

1. be dead.
2. have been a jockey (at 6’3″?!?).
3. have married a really ugly girl.
4. have spoken to world leaders and preached to millions in huge arenas.
5. have given money to many who gave me the words.
6. have been one messed up, egocentric, bumbling, moronic pastor.
7. have written a few books on the “top list” of Christian bookstores.
8. have been all over TBN.

I do remember the “shut up” message that I heard directly from my Master. I know that he speaks in whatever words it takes to best communicate with those He loves. Words are nothing to God except vehicles for our limited understanding to utilize. He might never say such words to you. But they were perfect for me.

I quit trying to “discover” God and his secrets so I could share them and be spiritually deep to those I wanted to impress. I turned instead to the written word of God and was blown away with it’s beauty, truth and depth of expression. I simply fell in love with the Bible.

Then God began to speak to me (and sometimes through me) prophetically. I had a template against which to test those words. Giftedness would show up when I needed it most.

That’s my story. I don’t try to persuade or instruct God about our situations down here. Not any more. I seek instead to be obedient to every word He speaks. If He lets me understand why, that’s a blessing. If not, then that’s okay, too. Just glad to be part of the “big plan”.

As a result, I seem to be blessed with so many wonderful “little things”. Grandkids, dogs, hot wings, friends, and a great wife. Seeing people baptized, tears at the altar, marriages restored, and sicknesses healed. Those “little things” are a pretty big deal, actually.

So God doesn’t need my help, but He does want to utilize me in His plan. I’m good with that, and it seems like I feel His smile a lot more. I even have this little dance of joy I do for Him….

…but you’ll never see it.