"Guilty or NOT"

Written by Rob Bailes

Free to be me!

Haven't we heard these words many times in recent years. It all seemed to start way back in the 60's when the hippie movement began and people flocked to Washington DC to camp out in the parks living in tents and showing the world that they were not ashamed of their choice to live without rules or structure. The thing that came to the surface real quick was that no one was taking responsibility of cleaning up the mess that was beginning to pile up and nobody was planning any way to accommodate the personal needs for their families. I remember as a young child, seeing on TV in black in white, as a matter of fact, the parks littered with trash and debris. I never forgot that because I, even at a very young age had learned to revere the place that we called the capitol of the United States. It seemed to me that these people had no interest in what other people thought about them and it was true, they didn't! That was actually their message to the world.

About forty years later, our country is still being impacted by people who do not revere or honour the laws that have been laid down by those in authority. Almost every day we see a headline that tells a story about murder, terrorism, drugs or looting. In each of these cases there is one common thread that weaves them all together. The common factor is freedom. In every single case of violence and oppression, somebody or a group of people felt that they had the right or the freedom to do what they did to harm others and disrespect their fellow man. "Why do people act this way today?" , we may ask ourselves. If the truth be known, men and women have been acting this way since the first man and woman was created.

Let's take a look at a passage in 1Peter where Peter is addressing the Jews and the Gentiles alike in a letter. He is telling them how to conduct themselves in a way that people will know that they believe in God.

1Peter 2:11-12
11. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whenever they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

When Peter says that there will be times when people will say that you are evil doers. We would call those people criminals today, right? So his point is that the Gentiles were accusing the Christians of being criminals and breaking the laws. Isn't that the thing that we have the hardest time with in our own time and day? Have you ever been pulled over or scrutinized by a police officer when you knew you hadn't intentionally done anything wrong? Boy, does that ever get our blood pressure up and we feel like telling that young officer just how wrong they were and how much they have disrupted our day! It seems to always happen when we are running late too, doesn't it? How about having an accident and then getting blamed by the other driver when they actually caused the accident in the first place? Those are fighting words in many cases and I have seen people physically threaten each other over this! Peter is telling us to prevent this by abstaining. Did you realize that abstinence was so popular even back in those days? Peter was a pretty knowledgeable man too! So let's consider his advice to the believers and do just this, but why did he say this? He says in the next verse to speak honestly to the unbeliever so that they will see that you aren't a criminal and that they will even glorify God too when someone is sent by God to visit them. I want to look at the next five verses with you and then I'll be finish with this message;

1Peter 2:13-17
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of them that do well.
For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
Honour all men.
Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

What a passage full of wisdom for us today! According to Peter's advice, we are to submit ourselves to the authority that rules our government such as judges, governors and presidents. This is the will of God that those who lack knowledge will have nothing bad to say about our own personal lives. Then we see where he talks about being free and not using your freedom to unleash your anger and as the Greek word kakia used here means, to express your badness or subjectively, your depravity. Then we are told to honour humanity. The Greek word timao used here means to prize or fix a valuation upon; to revere. Interesting perspective that Peter expresses here for avoiding mistreatment by those who wished to oppress the believer.

Last of all Peter says in the Greek language to agapaō; to love in a social or moral sense the adelphotēs which is Greek for brotherhood (feeling of brotherliness), that is the Christian fraternity: - brethren.

Next Peter says, "Phobeō Theos" meaning to be in awe and reverence the Divine Trinity of God!
Then, the very last thing he says in verse seventeen is to Honour the king. The word used in the Greek for honour is the same exact word used when we were told to honour all men; "timaō hē basileus." The Greek translation would be to prize, fix a valuation upon; by implication to revere the sovereign: -king.

How do those who would like to call us criminals see believers today? Are we going to be honest and control our anger and our actions when we are falsely accused? I know it isn't easy! I have been there! Peter even sat in prison for two years at one time during his ministry and he had such a Godly spirit that he could still give us very wise advice, to honour the king. Why? So that the One true Divine God could be glorified when the Gentiles were visited by God's messengers.

I encourage you today, "Let's live our lives so that we cannot be used as an excuse by those who see us and are watching us every day from a distance. Stay pure in deeds and stay true in spirit so that God will be glorified!"

Psalm 118:8 It is better to put your trust in God than to put your confidence in man.

"Trust Like A Child"

Written by Rob Bailes

But why do children trust?

When I was a child, I had a very special physical attribute! I was always the smallest guy on the team. You could always look for the shortest little blond haired guy in the picture and that was sure to be me!(8th grade soccer-second from the left)

I remember the girls thinking it made me cute to be so small but I didn't think that at all. I really just wanted to be accepted by all the guys on the team. I used to try anything anyone told me to do that might add an inch or two to my height. What I came to realize was that there wasn't anything that I could do to change the way I was made and it was so hard for me to accept that in my youth. Inside of me there was a spirit that wanted to play and compete in sports! I loved competing and I was pretty fast too. Well, I always got picked last or was on the second string.

But one day my father recognized something that was holding me back in try outs for soccer in my eighth grade year. He saw that I had the desire but I didn't have the confidence in myself. My father took some time from his busy schedule to sit down and talk with me about my abilities and my strong points and I heard what he said. The problem was that I kept hearing a word pop up in my mind every time he said something. "BUT!" Every time he said something I would think, "BUT I am too short!"

Then the day came when, being my father, he understood my predicament and saw how incapable I felt based on my size. So he tried talking to me about how I felt; something that only someone who is close and trustworthy can successfully do to help us.
He told me that he believed in me! He told me that he knew I could do whatever I wanted to do and that no one could stop me! He told me that he believed I could play and become a first string player on the high school soccer team or any sport that I decided to play. It was then, my friend, that I trusted my dad's confidence in me! No longer would I be playing on my own confidence, but rather on his confidence in my abilities and I saw myself through his eyes instead of mine. Guess what else happened; I began to see those other guys that I was competing with through his eyes too! Yes sir! They no longer looked like giants, but instead I saw their weak points and not their size and used it to win the game. When all of this started happening, the next thing I saw was that the team celebrated with me and I felt like a team member! I went on to play baseball and lettered my junior and senior years in soccer and baseball. Even more amazing, I went out for the Tennessee Temple University soccer team my freshman year and made the team! Looking back it seems unbelievable that little Bailes, as they called me, even made the college team. But, I don't remember ever doubting for a minute that I would make the team. I didn't see myself through my eyes any longer! I had the confidence of my father in me and that brings me to today's message.

Well, life isn't always so exciting and doesn't always work out quite this way, but I do know a man who was able to keep his fathers confidence no matter how bad things got in his life. He was able to keep his fathers attitude toward others even when they tried to knock him down and treat him bad. His attitude was an attitude of love towards others no matter how bad they treated him and it was this love that encouraged his fellow team members on to live a victorious life in Christ. Thia man was Paul and the passage I want you to read with me was written by Paul while in a prison for doing what was right. He was in prison for being the man that God had told him to be, but he didn't lack confidence that his father was right all along.

In Ephesians 3:13-21 Paul writes;
Wherefore I desire that you faint not at my tribulations (in prison) for you, which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.(confidence in God)That He would grant you according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;(Seeing through God's eyes)That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints(the whole team) what is the breadth and length and depth and height(Understanding through His eyes how great the love is that we have in us) And to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge that you may be filled with ALL the fullness of God. Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly(beyond) abundantly(more and more) above all(greater) that we ask(with our mouth) or think(with our mind) according to(confidently) the power that works in us.(Jesus)
Unto Him be glory in the church(believers) by Christ Jesus throughout all ages(even today!) world without end. Amen.

You see, His love and confidence in our love will never end and that is why Paul could write this while sitting in a prison cell. He may have been imprisoned in the flesh, but he had the confidence of his Father inside and THAT changed the way he saw everything around him! We too must trust our Father in Heaven like a child all the time and we will believe and put our trust in our Father's infinite love.

The next time you see a child holding their father's hand, remember the confidence we have in our Father and smile.

"WHAT IS GUILT?"

Written by Rob Bailes

Where Does Guilt Come From?

Have you ever had to sneak around to enjoy something you knew that you weren't suppose to be doing? Most of us that spend our lives in church and related activities would probably not admit to doing this, but chances are you have. Right? Still don't want to admit it, do you? Ok.

I can see you now, either grinning with guilt or maybe your acting surprised that I would even suggest such an idea! Then some of you could be reading through wrinkled brows right now and thinking, "You don't have a clue as to what I'm doing and need to just keep your opinion about my life to yourself!

I can't help findng this a bit humorous; because the fact is, my friend, that we all have temptations and none of us are perfect and I'll be the first to admit this fact! As a matter of fact, it is when I pretend not to have any problems with temptation that I find myself feeling the most guilt and that guilt is what causes me to become spiritually unproductive.

What I didn't realize, while growing up in the church and then attending church each week when I had my own my family, was that I had been trying so hard to appear perfect like most everyone else in the church. So I had to suppress my need to ask questions that had to do with my daily struggles with temptation. I even felt as though noone else had these struggles and this made me feel even worse about myself. You are probably wondering what I could have been involved in to be feeling sooo guilty.

The fact is that I was oppressed by guilt over the temptations of every day things I experienced as a typical carnal teenager and in reality, I had learned about guilt but didn't understand the freedom of God's forgiveness. Satan had the upper hand on me and was using my past by making me feel guilty for even thinking about it. Think for a second about how guilt makes you feel. Is it a free feeling, close to God, victorious, productive or clean?

Of course it is the opposite of all of those things, yet the Word of God tells us over and over that those things decribe the very way that Jesus wanted us to live our lives. Living a life that is free, in communion with God, overcoming and victorious against satan, producing fruit of righteousness and remaining pure in your hearts!

If that is what Jesus wants in our lives then why don't we live life this way? Where are the people in the church who are claiming freedom in Christ in the church services? Why are people who have real life testimonies of much time spent in commnunion with God only talked about in church libraries or in messages by the minister? I know I'm stepping on some toes right now, but just hang with me!
Why aren't people interested in starting new groups to share stories of victorious living in Christ and producing more believers? I have offered to help people start groups for this purpose for the past two weeks on facebook through my ministry and have only had two people show any interest out of about 600 people who have received this message! Why have the people in the church today lost an interest in living the life God meant for us to live?

Could it be because we do not feel worthy? Maybe we feel that our battles with temptation and the past are too great to be able to actually step out and do something for the Lord and be productive for Christ. Guess what! I felt this way too before I stepped forward to start this ministry! That is right and I was no different than any other person out there today! What I'm saying to you today, my friend, is that satan is the source of guilt and God is the source of freedom in our lives!

James says in chapter one of the book of James and verses 2-4,
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

The word perfect doesn't mean totally without fault, but rather it means maturing spiritually. You know the old phrase, "Practice makes perfect"? That would apply to Jame's lesson here and He tells them to be joyful, not sad and oppressed by guilt! Why? Because it is this test that will help them to grow stronger in their faith and trust in God preparing them for a time when larger situations and responcibilities come their way. Any athelete knows that they only build strength by exercising in their field of interest, so how will we ever grow stronger if we don't go through temptations?

Back to my first question about sneaking around to enjoy the forbidden things! Uhuh, you thought I had forgotten all about that, didn't you? Not quite! For those of you who felt like you had us all fooled, I'd like to ask you if you have ever slipped in a donut between work or the house without a word or maybe a bag of chips? Have you caught yourself staring at the woman wearing the really short skirt in the grocery line? How about the time when the person in front of you at the light didn't pull out quite fast enough? Maybe it's the strong desire to get drunk when you pass the wine and beer section when you are out of town and alone after a long hard week? Is there times when you see someone who is poor and dirty and you just walk past without a care? Does that still cause us to feel guilty? What about those who have conditions and diets that require no salt or sugar, but you just can't resist when you stop by the conveinent store on the way home to get gas?

What if someone followed you around with a video camera for a solid week? Would you find yourself on video doing some things that you knew you should avoid doing? OK then, not to worry! haha! We all have those moments and as long as we never admit them to anyone, guess what; satan has us trapped into the guilt barrel! We can't fully live our lives if we feel like we are hiding something that someone may find out about. Satan loves for us to live like that and remain unproductive.

You see my friend, it was in satan's plan all along that we would get caught and feel the guilt and embarrassment! That's why satan waits until great men of God have been in the ministry long enough to build a large congregation before he reveals their weaknesses many times! Satan knows that, if he can create a ripple, that it will weaken the faith of some who were following that man of God whose hidden sin was publicly exposed. We have all seen it repeatedly in the news and on the internet. As a matter of fact, there was a King who was called a man after God's own heart, that was high in power when satan revealed his hiden secrets and sins. Churches have sang many of the songs that he wrote in the book of Psalm before he became a King. Yes, I'm talking about King david! You see, God uses us all regardless of our weaknesses and our failures. My friend, as a man in this flesh, it is normal for you to stumble; just grow stronger by talking to your Christian brother or sister, repent to God and spend more time in the Word.

The Bible does tell us how to prevent yeilding to temptation and I want you to give it a try! I won't pick on you and your temptations, if you'll promise to try what I am going to tell you right now! Ok?

Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

The psalmist, David makes it so easy for us to understand. We all can avoid falling to temptation and sin by reading the word of God! It was the word of his God that kept him from sin; from falling to temptations destructive grasp.
Most of us know though, that David, known as a man after God's own heart, gave in to his temptations after becoming a King. Yes, he too experienced the oppression of satan's guilt in his mind and his spirit. He too had to repent and through this he grew in his faith! Just remember that it isn't you or I that build our spiritual strength; it is the trust we put in Christ each time we are tempted and that strengthens our faith in God through spiritual maturity!

Philippians 4;13 - I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST which strengthens me!

"Hope Beyond Your Suffering"

Written by Rob Bailes

Hope That Rises Above Oppression

There was a letter written once that was encouraging a large group of people that had been ran off of their land, out of their homes and separated from their friends and families. You probably think I am talking about the Jews that were persecuted and killed by the Nazi army, but the letter I am referring to was long before this time.

I am referring to a letter written by Peter to the people that are called aliens, who were scattered throughout Pontius, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. They were people who were not just homeless and who had lost everything they had in the world but they were also people who were chosen according to the preexistant knowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit. In IPeter 1:1-2 Peter addresses these aliens and makes it known to us today by his address that they were chosen to be sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ.

You see, Peter reminded them also in this greeting that the grace and peace of God may be theirs in fullest measure. I would say that would mean filled up and over flowing. It's hard for us to feel that way when we have been stripped of our possessions and lost the only place we called home; isn't it?

I see many aliens wondering the streets and sidewalks of our cities today all across America! People who have been displaced from their jobs, their relationships, their families, their possessions and suffering in some form or another. Well, Peter understood this and that is why he mentions the word suffering fifteen times in his letter and he used eight different Greek words to do so. Was his message about "Good Times"? Was Peter trying to get a message out to the "Blessed" of the church and the world? No, Peter was writing with compassion to a people who were beginning to suffer the persecution of the true believer in his time.

In chapter thirteen of Revelations we see a time spoken of that may be in the future of the life of those who are on the earth today. Many of the signs that the Bible speaks of are now taking place that represent a time of tribulation that is prophesied. In this chapter there is a time coming when those who do not follow the rule of the church and the government will become as aliens in their own land. This chapter talks about the rule over the people and the deception of false miracles by the use of a spirit that is not of God, but rather of satan. How can one maintain hope during a time such as this? It comes to life when we see the potential of actually experiencing this in our own lives, doesn't it?

While most of us are not afflicted by horrible persecution for our faith, we do know what it means to face various forms of suffering, pain, disappointment, and grief. Fortunately in the letter of IPeter we can find comfort and consolation for our own brand of suffering. As this treasured letter spoke to the believers in Pontius or Galatia or Cappadocia or Asia, so it speaks to us in Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and Maine. It applies to us all, no matter what state you are in.

Yes, the good news is that you are "chosen by God". You aren't just thrown onto the earth like dice tossed across a table! We are lovingly and by His sovereignty placed here for a purpose, having been chosen by God.

"Oppressed and Mistreated?"

Written by Rob Bailes

Do Not Lose Hope!

There was a time when Samaria and Jerusalem were living under extreme oppression and it seemed as though all hope was gone. Their oppressors would lay awake at night thinking of evil that they could do to torment them and rise the next day to exercise it. Why? Because they had the power to do it! Isn't it true that past governments have been guilty of this very action on the people who they ruled over?

Let's zoom in a little and look at other times this has taken place. There was a time when the church found it within their power to control the people as well and demand things of them by the power and authority that the government gave them. We even have some churches in our own country that try to dominate over their members by telling them what they can and can't do for God, even though they may feel God calling them into an area of service. I believe it is wrong to take away the blessings of God from a person's life just because you have the power to do this. Man is free under the grace and mercy of God by the sacrifice of His Son to freely worship, praise and proclaim the message of truth to a lost and hurting world today!

It is now in the past that we were lost in our trespasses and sins. Today we are forgiven and we must believe this and that His Son, Jesus rose from the dead to live.

Why must we resist the power of Jesus that is here for our own good and blessing? It is because we have a human nature and as long as we worship the things that we find pleasing in this world, rather than worship our heavenly Father, we will resist the source of love and grace that frees us. I was reading in Micah about the bondage of Samaria and Jerusalem and I could see how we can apply it to our lives today in many ways. Let's read a few verses from chapter two,

Micah 2:1-3
1. Woe to them that devise iniquity and work evil upon their beds! When the morning is light they perform and practise it because it is in their power.
2. They covet fields and seize them, and houses and take them away; they oppress and crush a person and their house, even a man and his inheritance.
3. Because of this says the Lord: Behold, against this family do I devise an disaster from which you cannot remove your necks, nor will you be able to walk proudly, for it will be an evil time.

When I read this, I began to think about the families across our globe who hve been divided by divorce and I thought about how it is by one evil or another that these relationships have been severed. Then I thought about how many people are arguing and fighting over the possessions that they desire to claim for their own. It is true that we should not let someone get away with everything we have but I was thinking about how some people want it all.

That is the kind of person that Micah is talking about here to the Samaritans and the Jews. Do you hate someone so much that you would love to take all that they have and see them ruined? Does someone feel that way about you? Have you felt like someone is laying awake at night devising evil against you? If so, don't loose hope!

There is a day coming when this will change and when it does, Micah doesn't just say that the person will be under the avenge of God but he says in verse three that God says He would devise a disaster against their "family". Did you realize that what you do effects your family as well? That's right and it says that there will be no way to escape or get their necks out of His hand. That's a bad feeling when you can't break free, if you've ever played a sport where someone grabs you and you aren't able to free yourself. This passage describes their disaster in this way.

I look around today and can see people treating other this way and I also see families that are suffering the powerful hand of God reigning revenge on those who have made this their choice!

If you have been through this kind of oppression or treatment yourself, don't loose hope! God knows about it already and has a plan for those who are doing this to you. That's why it says in verse one, "Woe to those that devise iniquity and work evil plans while laying in their bed." The word "Woa" is used when riding a horse to tell the horse to "stop".

It's a command to cease from this type of treatment and turn from these wicked ways, so let's stop and surrender our thoughts to God each moment. Let's not hold revenge or hatred in our hearts, but rather turn it over to God, who says He will one day take them by their necks and not turn them loose.