Ironbridge Church | Pastor’s Corner

Today, more than one-hundred ladies from the Ironbridge family and beyond will be gathering for their annual spiritual-retreat weekend. (Bachelor dads, hang in there—Sunday’s coming when mom will be back!)

The theme verse for the weekend is one of my favorite’s, Isaiah 40:31, “Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”

The ladies were the first ones at the tomb of our resurrected Lord! Ladies, do it again. Let the updraft of the Spirit carry you higher than you ever thought imaginable. As you soar above the clamor and clutter of your earth-bound life, may the Lord use you to usher in a glorious season of spiritual refreshment throughout our Ironbridge family and beyond!

As you begin this new day, pray this prayer inspired by the writings of Anne Graham Lotz…

Gracious, Lord, I long for…
… the wind of Your Spirit to breathe calmness
into the chaos of my life.
… the fullness of Your wisdom to order the thoughts in my mind.
… the sufficiency of Your strength to undergird
the weakness of my body.
… the abundance of Your blessing to saturate
the poverty of my spirit.
… the joy of Your will to give rich pleasure to my journey.
… the refuge of Your arms to shield me from my fears.
… the gentleness of Your touch to reawaken the feelings of my heart.
… the compassion of Your heart to enfold me and hold me close.
I long to see You, Jesus … again. Amen and Amen.

Today’s Scripture Promise: “Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.” (Psalm 103:5)

Great quotes stay with you through the years. Over twenty-five years ago, a pastor spoke in chapel at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas and I’ve never gotten over it. He said something that day that I have never forgotten, “If anything in your life brings you more joy than seeing the lost get saved, then your heart is far from the heart of God.” It was only my fifth week at seminary in the fall of 1980 and the pastor was Dr. Richard Jackson of the North Phoenix Baptist Church in Phoenix, Arizona.

Jesus summed it up beautifully in Luke, chapter 15 when he told a story about a lost sheep. “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7)

It’s so easy to get distracted as a follower of Christ. So many competing demands made on our precious time. When you boil it all down, it comes down to this—simply share Jesus! He is the answer to every question. It’s all about Jesus. It’s all about people—men, women, boys and girls–coming to truly know Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord.

As you serve Christ, ask a simple question of every activity, every event, and every investment of your spiritual time and energy. The question is simply this: “Are people being saved?” To phrase it another way, “Are people coming to know the Lord?”

As you live for Christ today, is your heart beating in sync with the heart of God?

Today’s Scripture Promise: “By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” (John 15:8)

Is it possible for us to go through life thinking like Jesus? As we make our way through this crazy, mixed-up culture, is there any possibility that we can truly have “the mind of Christ”?

The answer is a resounding “Yes!” found in the pages of God’s Holy Word. As followers of Jesus, we can have the mind of Christ. James 3:17 describes the mind of Christ in this way, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”

This wonderful verse identifies for us eight (8) discernable characteristics of God’s wisdom. Notice that all eight of these distinctives are adjectives—they describe something! Unlike our thoughts that are often in conflict with one another and incompatible with God’s ways, these eight aspects of God’s mind are beautifully and wonderfully harmonious. There is absolutely no tension nor disharmony among them!

Galatians 5:22, 23 marvelously describes the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is the perfect embodiment of a Christ-like character. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” Notice that every facet of the fruit is a noun. To have the mind of Christ means living a life permeated by both the wisdom of God (James 3:17) and the spiritual character of God. (Gal. 5:22, 23)

Start this day by claiming the mind of Christ that is your rightful possession as a child of the King. Remember, Philippians 2:5 says that the mind of Christ…”is yours”…in Christ Jesus!

Start thinking like Jesus today!

Today’s Scripture Promise: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5)

Revival conjures up images of fiery preachers and flashy musicians that roar into town for a few days of high-octane preaching and singing. People weep, altar calls last for an eternity, the offering plates go by, and after a few days, we wave goodbye as the evangelist and singer head to their next scheduled meeting.

I’m sorry to be the one to break the news, but this is not revival. Revival is far more than fancy preachers and revved up emotionalism. Tom Landry, the legendary coach of the Dallas Cowboys made an interesting observation about the difference between a good athlete and a great one. He said the difference was 18 inches—the distance from the head to the heart. Good athletes, he said, had skills and knew the game. Great athletes, however, had the skills, the knowledge of the game, and they had something more—a passion, a drive, and “a heart” for the game that only a select few possess.

True revival is the 18-inch difference between your head and your heart—a heart passion for Jesus! Revival in your life is Jesus in you, around you, through you, under you, over you, before you, and behind you. Personal revival is just Jesus—Jesus on your mind, filling your heart, and Jesus overflowing from your lips.

I like the way Anne Graham Lotz, (Billy’s daughter) described it. “Revival is breathing the breath of God, God purifying His Church, People saturated with God, the in-rush of the Spirit into a body that threatens to become a corpse, a work of God’s Spirit among His own people…what we call revival is simply New Testament Christianity, the saints getting back to normal.”

Today’s Scripture Promise: “Will You not Yourself revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” (Psalm 85:6)

The Scriptures clearly teach that we will reap what we sow. It’s true in the financial realm, and it’s true in the spiritual realm as well. Colossians 3:15 says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” God’s will for our lives is joy, prayer, and a contagious thankfulness. God does not intend for His people to be held captive to anger, gossip, slander, and negativism.

Live each day intentionally letting the world know your faith in Christ by your joy and gratitude. For those things that need remedy, turn them over to the Lord in intercession and prayer. Within the body of Christ, every need, every challenge, and every issue that arises in our fellowship is an opportunity for us to turn it over to the Lord for His supernatural intervention.

In every situation, strive to remain thankful. That’s why God’s Word says, “…in everything give thanks…” (I Thes. 5:18) Thanksgiving is the language of faith and trust in God.

The enemy has been far too effective in sowing seeds of ingratitude, discontent and grumbling within the body of Christ. An upbeat, positive, confident disposition is more than just what the world calls “positive thinking.” The Psalmist wrote, “What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.” (Ps. 34:12, 13)

Make the most of this new day. Be an ambassador of God’s goodness by living out your joy and thankfulness. A positive disposition born of a spiritual gratitude is the gateway through which God’s blessings enter our lives.

Today’s Scripture Promise: “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you.” (I Thes. 5:16-18)

The Lord’s House, the Church, is the very gate of Heaven!

When we gather with our brothers and sisters in Christ at God’s House on the Lord’s Day, we are assembling ourselves in the place where heaven and earth meet! It was Jacob who first brought this amazing truth to light.

Jacob had just tricked his brother Esau out of his birthright. On his way to find a bride from his own kinsmen, he had a divine encounter with God. “…he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And behold, the Lord stood above it…” (Genesis 28:12, 13) When Jacob awoke, he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” (v.16) He called the name of that place, Bethel, which means, “house of God.” (v.19)

Brothers and sisters, what Jacob declared long ago still defines who and what we are to this present day! When the Church of the living Lord Jesus Christ is filled with humble, prayerful, believing, holy and united believers, there is absolutely no place like it on earth! It truly is the gate of heaven. One wise writer has rightly said, “We will never succeed in toppling the gates of hell until we first unite and become the gate of heaven.”

Jesus said that His Father’s house was intended to be a house of prayer which would open the “gate of heaven” for all the nations. In this place, sacrifices are brought, forgiveness found, praise lifted, and thanksgiving offered!

Today’s Scripture Promise: “…How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” (Genesis 28:17)

Jason McElwain is a senior who never played a single second of high school basketball—until last week. Jason is autistic. Despite his disability, in two years on the team, Jason never missed a game, practice, or workout. As a reward for all his hard work, the coach let Jason play the last four minutes of the last game of the season. You won’t believe what happened next. Jason hit six—three-point shots and ended up being the game’s high scorer with 20 points!

Jason’s exploits on the basketball court remind me of a simple Biblical principle—you reap what you sow. Think of how negative the coach could have been—“Jason, you’re autistic, you can’t play, and you can’t even be on the team.” Instead, this amazingly positive coach let him suit up and the result was what one sportswriter called, “as perfect a sports moment [as] . . . any of us will ever know about.”

As brothers and sisters in Christ, our words have power. Scripture reveals a vitally important truth, “…death and life are in the power of the tongue…” (Proverbs 18:21) As believers, if we are incessantly negative and critical about things, it gives Satan a foothold in our lives, our families, and yes—our church family.

A brother in Christ much wiser than I has said, “Satan gains access to our world, to destroy all that is good and holy in it, through our tongues…If we talk negatively about someone [or something] or maliciously gossip, the destructive fire of hell itself is released through our words.”

Choose your words carefully today, because we do indeed—reap what we sow.

Today’s Scripture Promise: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)

I hope you’re wearing something green because today is St. Patrick’s Day. Long before everyone focused on wearing green, leprechauns, good luck charms and green beer, there really was something spiritually significant to celebrate—a bold believer letting his light shine for Christ in a pagan land.

5th Century Ireland was a pagan land shrouded in spiritual darkness and superstition ruled by warlords and druids. Around 400 A.D., Patrick was abducted and carried away to Ireland as a slave. Amidst the horrors of slavery, Patrick came to know the risen Christ as his Savior. Patrick escaped and returned to his homeland where he studied for the ministry.

One night Patrick had a dream. A man came to him with letters and a voice from the letters said, “Holy boy, please return to us. We need you.”

Once in Ireland, Patrick faced down the chieftains and their druid priests. Part of their pagan worship celebrating the coming of spring involved lighting a bonfire on the hill of Tara. No other lights were allowed. In defiance, Patrick lit a forbidden fire on top of a high hill. When the pagan king demanded an explanation, Patrick said he was bringing the new light, the light of Christ, the Savior of the World, the light of the World.

During 29 years of ministry, Patrick baptized over 120,000 converts and planted 300 churches. There is even a story that Patrick used the shamrock to teach the doctrine of the Trinity.

On this St. Patrick’s Day, are you willing to let the light of Christ shine forth from you life into the darkness around you?

Today’s Scripture Promise: “…Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Click here for more info on St. Patrick.

Satan is relentless. He never gives up, and his ability to deceive and distort the truth is beyond what we could ever imagine. Satan seduced one third of the angels in heaven to revolt against God. And these angels lived in the very presence of the glory of God—and still Satan convinced them to rebel! If Satan can accomplish that with angels in heaven, imagine the damage he can do in the minds and hearts of believers here on planet earth. Rightly did Hal Lindsay write, “Satan is alive and well on planet earth.” What’s a believer to do?

In a single word—encourage! Live your life as an ambassador of the encouragement found in Christ Jesus. One of my favorite characters in the New Testament is a man named Barnabas. In the book of Acts, he is described in this way, “Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement).” (Acts 4:36)

Barnabas lived up to his name in marvelous ways. When Saul first got saved, it was Barnabas who single-handedly took him to meet the other believers—even though they were scared to meet with him. (Acts 9:26, 27) Later, a young believer named John Mark left Paul & Barnabas on their first missionary journey. (Acts 13:13) Barnabas sought to restore John Mark and take him along on the next missionary venture. Paul was strongly opposed to this idea. Paul had given up on John Mark, but not Barnabas! (Acts 15:36-39)

Live like Barnabas today—be an enthusiastic encourager in Christ! Find a brother or sister that you can encourage today!

Today’s Scripture Promise: “…encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25b)

We are fortunate to live in Virginia. We’re in the direct flight path of Canadian geese that make their way to and from warmer climates in the south. We can observe these amazing creatures as they make their way on an incredibly exhausting migration.

As they rest and feed in our area, it’s correct to refer to them as a “flock” of geese. You can refer to them as a “skein” of geese while they are in flight. However, their most majestic flying formation, the V formation, is appropriately called a “wedge” of geese.

God’s wonderful creation is a marvelous discipleship tool for believers. A wedge of geese teaches us about the importance of every member of the body of Christ supporting and encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ.

The three most exhausting flight positions in the wedge are the “point of the V” and the last position on each of the two ends of the V. The middle flight positions on each side of the V are the least tiring. As the wedge of geese makes its way in flight, they constantly switch positions within the V to make sure that every member of the wedge maximizes their endurance. Scientists who study aerodynamics say that this wedge formation increases their range by 71%. Isn’t that amazing? By sharing the work load, and taking turns, the wedge can go seventy-one percent farther by cooperating and encouraging. The “honking” sound you hear is coming from those geese in the middle positions. They’re cheering their comrades on!

What’s the lesson for our earth-bound lives? Share the load, get out in front from time to time, and keep honking if you love Jesus.

Today’s Scripture Promise: “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)