vs. 20a – So he got up and went to his father…

The prodigal left home because sin promises freedom.  However, sin’s promise of freedom actually leads to slavery.  Sin always makes a promise it can’t deliver.  As one of my friends from AA says all of the time, “Sin will always take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you’re willing to pay.”   That’s the story of the Prodigal Son.

BUT…we are getting close to the first BUT.  As the story continues Jesus says the son decides to come back home because he comes to his senses.  The lost son realizes the servants of his Father’s house have it better than he does.  It takes him awhile to come to that realization and probably even longer to humble himself to actually come back home.  Why?  Because the lies of the enemy get you to leave and the enemy’s lies keep you from coming back home.

Satan convinces us that living life our way is the best way.  He’s a LIAR.  When we realize our life is in shambles Satan convinces us God doesn’t want us back.  He’s a LIAR.  Once we realize God wants to restore a relationship with us Satan lies once more.  He tries to convince us we need to get our act together before coming back to God.  He’s a LIAR.  The Prodigal finally stopped listening to the LIAR and came back home.  Now for the first BUT…

vs. 20b – “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

BUT the Father was waiting for the son to return.  Morning and evening the Father was on the lookout for the Prodigal to return home.  What a picture of grace!  God is on the lookout for his lost children to return home.  BUT the story doesn’t stop there.  Here comes the next BIG BUT…

vs. 22-24 – “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.  For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.“

The Prodigal tells his Father that he’s not worthy to be called a son, BUT the Father disagrees.  He asked the servants to get the robe and the ring, to kill the cow and throw a party.  The very thing the Prodigal was looking for when he left home is the very thing he found when he returned.  We can search to fill the void in our lives, but it’s only found in a relationship with God.  And the BUTS continue…

vs. 32 – ^“But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

After the Prodigal returns home the older brother (who never left) gets his panties in a wad.  He complains to the Father about how unfair it is that the younger brother gets thrown a party after everything the Prodigal has done to disgrace the family.  I address this more in the message so let me simply address the Father’s reaction and final words.  By the way, God always gets the final word.

The Father says, BUT we had to celebrate…

Why?  Because Heaven throws a party every time a Prodigal returns home. 

If you’re far from God you’re not too far for the Father’s forgiveness!

If you’re running from God you can’t outrun His grace and mercy!

If you’re tired of listening to the LIAR then return home to the Father!

God is waiting for you with open arms.  There’s no sin too great that He won’t forgive you and bring you back into the family.  Don’t wait any longer because the Father is waiting for YOU…no if’s, and’s or BUT’S about it!

(click here to listen to THE BEST BIG BUTS message from Bobby Hawk at EPIC Church)

“When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape.  For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

Now that’s a big but.  In order to understand how big a but this is you must understand the background.  So here it is…

The book of Esther starts out with King Xerxes throwing a six month party to honor himself.  At the end of the party he decides to add another week to the festivities.  On the last day he asks his wife Vashti to come and display her beauty wearing her crown (most likely that’s all he wanted he to wear) and she declines.  Queen Vashti decides not to show off her butt and then her butt is banished for disobedience.

Enter Esther.  The King gets lonely and decides to create The Bachelor – OT Edition.  The most beautiful women throughout the land are selected to participate and the King picks Esther.  She’s beautiful, stunning, sweet, kind, and JEWISH.  The King has no idea she’s a Jew and Esther doesn’t tell him.

Now Esther was not only Jewish, but she was also an orphan living in a foreign land.  Her parents had died and she was adopted by her cousin Mordecai.  Life started out very rough for young Esther.  However, she’s chosen to become the Queen and moves into the palace.  And they live happily ever after…right?  Not exactly!

Esther’s cousin Mordecai refuses to bow down before Haman who serves as one of the King’s top aides.  Haman convinces the King to issue an edict to kill all of the Jews since their beliefs conflicted with Haman’s selfish desires.  The King agrees (not realizing Esther is Jewish).  According to the decree the Jews will be put to death starting with Esther’s cousin Mordecai.  This is where the big BUT comes in.  It’s actually Mordecai’s big BUT.

Mordecai pleads with Esther to approach the King on behalf of her people.  Esther reminds Mordecai that if she approaches the King without being summoned she could die.  That’s when Mordecai says those powerful and life altering words to his cousin Esther.  He says, “who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

Mordecai was right.  Esther’s time had come.  She could save her people if she would speak up…and she did.  You can read the remaining six chapters of Esther to see how the Jews were saved and the evil Haman was killed instead.  God placed Esther in the palace to preserve her people.

There are three takeaways to remember from this story:

1. Remember who you were – Esther had been a Jewish orphan in a foreign land before she lived in the palace.  God doesn’t use perfect people; He uses broken people. 

2. Remember who you are – Esther was no longer an orphan, but she was still Jewish.  God created you just like you are for a purpose.  You’re His child created in His image.  Nothing will change that.

3. Remember why you’re here – Esther was positioned in the palace for a purpose…to save her people.  You’ve been positioned for His purpose.  You’re right where God needs you to be to make a difference.

The biggest reminder from Esther’s Big BUT (or Mordecai’s Big BUT) is that I am who I am and I am where I am for such a time as this.

God has positioned me for a purpose. 

He didn’t just save me from something; He saved me for something. 

I’m not just a trophy of God’s grace because trophies sit on shelves.  I’ve been placed and positioned to make a difference.

No if’s, and’s, or BUT’S about it!

Click here to listen to Esther’s Big But

Joseph’s Big But – Part 2 is a continuation from the week before and the second message of our BIG BUTS OF THE BIBLE series (click here to listen).  I thought I would share a couple of thoughts here.  Let me remind you of two big buts from the end of Genesis.

¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. ²¹ So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

If you’ve read Genesis chapters 37-50 then you know Joseph had a difficult journey in life.  As a teenager he discovered God’s dream for his life, BUT that dream would take Joseph through a pit and a prison before arriving at a palace. BUT he held on to the dream.  As a result his family was spared from famine and Joseph was able to save many lives.

Last week I talked about the first destructive tool to God given dreams: DESERTION.  This week I want to mention two additional tools of the enemy that destroy dreams: DISTRACTION & DISCOURAGEMENT.  Joseph was faced with both in Genesis 39-40.

He is sold into slavery by his brothers and ends up serving Potipher, captain of the guard in Egypt.  He finds favor with Potipher and is placed in charge of the estate.  Then Joseph is faced with a potential distraction when Potipher’s wife asked him to have sex with her.  After all, it could be their little secret, right?  WRONG!

The enemy always tries to convince us that our sinful distractions can be “our little secrets.”  What the enemy fails to tell us is that a temporary distraction can turn into the permanent destruction of our God-birthed dreams.   If Joseph gives in the story could have ended in Genesis 39.  BUT he didn’t.

Joseph ends up falsely accused by Potipher’s wife and lands in prison anyway.  It seems like he is paying the price for making the right choice.  Then Joseph has a ray of hope.  God gives him favor in prison and uses Joseph to interpret a couple of dreams.  He tells Pharaoh’s cup-bearer that he will be restored to the palace.  He then asked the cup-bearer to remember him…BUT the cup-bearer forgets.

Two years pass.  I can’t imagine how Joseph must have felt by this time.  He’s been abandoned by his family, wrongfully accused of a crime, and completely forgotten by someone he helped out while in prison.  I think it is fair to say Joseph was faced with DISCOURAGEMENT.

At this point, he probably wrestled with the thought of letting his dream finally die.  After all, prison seemed permanent.  BUT God had a plan.  After two years of freedom the cup-bearer mentions Joseph to Pharaoh.  You can read the full account here from Genesis 41.  Joseph is released from prison and put second in command in all of Egypt.  He went from the pit to the prison to the palace. 

His DREAM led to his DESTINY…the saving of many lives.  BUT first Joseph had to overcome DESERTION, DISTRACTION and DISCOURAGEMENT.  Your dream is no different.  The destination of your dream is ahead, BUT so are the destructive tools of the enemy.  The path to fulfilling your dream will be filled with dream destroyers so…

don’t desert your dream…

don’t become distracted…

don’t get discouraged…

just keep the dream…

no if’s, and’s or BUT’S about it!

(click here to listen to JOSEPH’S BIG BUT – part 2)

¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. ²¹ So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

If you’ve read Genesis chapters 37-50 then you know Joseph had a difficult journey in life.  As a teenager he discovered God’s dream for his life, BUT that dream would take Joseph through a pit and a prison before arriving at a palace. BUT he held on to the dream.  As a result his family was spared from famine and Joseph was able to save many lives.

I’ve found that God ordained dreams always lead to the saving of many lives.  BUT I’ve also learned that these dreams are often tried and tested before they come true.  Often times God-sized dreams are never fully realized because we give up too soon.  BUT look back at what Joseph had to endure before his dream became a reality.

His first test was one of desertion.  His own brothers threw him in a pit with the intention to kill him and his dream.  After discussing this they decided they could do one better.  Instead of killing him they could sell him into slavery.  They could still destroy his dream, BUT this way they profit in the process.

It’s hard for me to imagine being sold by my own family.  BUT it’s not hard for me to understand feeling deserted by a family member.  My own father left when I was nine years old and I didn’t see him for several years.  Even after seeing him again I never felt like He believed in my dream.  Instead it felt like he believed in his dreams for my life.  I know many who can relate to a close friend or family member not understanding God-sized dreams.

Joseph experienced desertion, BUT he kept his dream.  What dream has God given you that others may not understand?  Have you deserted the dream because others have deserted you?  If so, pray for God to revive the dream in your heart.  Then keep the dream no matter what happens.  For Joseph things got worse before getting better.  BUT he held on to the dream!

So keep the dream…no if’s, and’s or BUT’S about it!

(click here to listen to JOSEPH’S BIG BUT – part 1)

So please allow me the opportunity to introduce to you my 2012 Blogger of the Year…

(drum roll please)

VANESSA HAWK

(click here to read for yourself)

Every year I set goals to get in SHAPE.  I use the word SHAPE as an acronym to focus on the following five areas of my life:

S – Spiritual Growth

• Spiritual growth is at the top of the list because it’s the most important.  I set Bible reading goals and focus on areas of my devotional life that need improvement.

H – Health & Fitness

• The older I get the more I realize how much I need to take care of my physical body.  This year I have set some weight loss goals as well as workout goals.

A – Activities & Relaxation

• I am a very driven person (with a type A personality) that thrives on the challenges of a busy schedule.  However, I realize I need to set some goals to relax and refresh doing things I enjoy.

P – Personal Growth

• I think it’s extremely important as a leader to focus on personal growth in addition to spiritual growth.  One of my personal growth goals is to read 52 books this year.

E – Expenses & Giving

• Creating financial goals through a budgeting process is important for everyone.  However, I like to take it a step further and set giving goals above and beyond my tithe.

What goals have you set for this new year?  If you haven’t set any goals yet then try this pattern and get in SHAPE in 2012!

So this Christmas season let me share with you the following quote from Dick Foth that reminds me of both of my favorite holidays and why they mean so much to me.

“Jesus left His place to come to my place.  He then took my place so I could go back to His place.”

WOW…that’s the gospel summed up into a few words.  That’s Christmas and Easter together.

Jesus left His place to come to my place…that’s Christmas!

Jesus then took my place so I could go back to His place…that’s Easter!

Never forget why Jesus came and take the time to celebrate Jesus during one of my two favorite holidays!

“Baptism gives believers the opportunity to communicate to the world their heart-felt commitment to christ!”–I read this and everything fell into place, the missing puzzle piece to my life was the Lord, and he is no longer absent from my life! I could never be more thankful for a second chance as I am by the one given to me from our father, God. I am so thankful to all of you at Epic for the opportunity you have given to me to find myself and to begin my Journey with God! I look forward to the future with great hope and I am so happy to have met you all. and to Pastor Bobby, thank you for changing my life.

I’m so happy for Kendra and all of the others that went public with their faith last night through the act of water baptism. 

This is exactly why we do what we do…and we will keep doing it to see others like Kendra find the missing puzzle piece of life!

Motivation and Mobilization must be Married!

motivate – stimulate interest in or enthusiasm for doing something.

mobilize – organize and encourage people to act in a concerted way in order to bring about a particular objective.

Leaders must both motivate people to action and mobilize people for action. The two must be married for the end result to be accomplished.

If we motivate without mobilizing we generate passion without a product.

If we mobilize without motivating then we create a team without a target.

Our team tries to evaluate our efforts by comparing the two side by side. We know we are striking the balance when the plan becomes the product through a team of people with a targeted purpose.

Are you motivating and mobilizing your team for success?

The rate of moral failure in my denomination has not increased over the last 25 years.  The percentage is actually less than 1% according to national statistics.  As grateful as I am for a small percentage of moral failures, I agree with our General Superintendent Dr. George Wood that “one is one too many.”

Over the past two weeks I have heard the disturbing news regarding two of my ministry friends.  Each has succumbed to a personal moral failure that has brought great reproach to both of these men.  My prayers extend to them, their churches and their families.  I don’t condone their behavior, but I do believe in God’s redemptive power.

With that said, times like this cause me to check my own heart and ask myself some tough questions.  Am I guarding my heart?  Do I have any habits or behaviors that are potentially destructive to my life, family or ministry?  If so, after true repentance what do I need to do to protect myself from the destructive nature of my sin?

As I said from the outset, one is one too many!  Whether you are a full-time minister of the Gospel or not, let me share the following principles from God’s Word that will help us avoid being the one.

To avoid being the one we must be:

• Accountable not Secretive (Heb. 4:13, James 5:16)

Accountability is a voluntary relational means by which I invite God to stand me face to face with myself, so I can see and acknowledge who I really am.  It seeks no escape, makes no excuses, accepts no compromise, and entertains no backsliding.  Commitment, confidentiality, compatibility, truthfulness, trust, and initiative are essential.  Herein I confront the issues of my life, the consequences of my choices, and the options for my future. (definition from Ron Bradley)

• Attached not Isolated (Prov. 27:17, Mark 6:7, Ecc. 4:12)

This goes hand in hand with accountability.  Jesus never intended that you become isolated in ministry (Mark 6:7).  Isolation leads to destruction.

None of us can do it alone.  We are not the sole solution to the world’s problems.  We all need each other (Prov. 27:17).

Jesus never isolated himself except to pray.  Jesus had the twelve with him, and the three that made up the inner circle.  Jesus understood the importance of attachment.  Paul needed Silus, Barnabas needed John Mark.  You and I need each other (Ecc. 4:12).

• Alert not Oblivious (1 Pet. 5:8-9, Eph. 6:10-18, 1 Cor. 10:12)

Satan attacks where passion is strongest and principle is weakest!

The enemy of our soul knows our weak points.  Not because he is omniscient, but because he has seen our track record.  If I knew your entire past, then I would know your areas of weakness and vulnerability.  Satan knows the areas where we are weak and will attack in these areas.  We must be alert to the enemy’s schemes.

• Active not Stagnant (Judg. 16:20-21, 2 Sam. 11:1)

Faith without faithfulness ends in failure (Jud. 16:20-21).

Of course we can all say that will never happen to me.  Samson probably thought that before Delilah in the book of Judges.  David probably said that before he ended up committing adultery and murder in 2 Samuel 11.

When a brook is in motion its waters are pure.  But if there flow is stopped they become stagnant.  So there are men who cannot pass from a life of activity to one of repose without degenerating in character. (quote from Matthew Henry’s Commentary)

• Authentic not Counterfeit (1 Tim. 3:2, 2 Tim. 1:8-9)

You cannot go out to do the will of God without going out with the character of God. (quote from Dick Foth)

Jesus never equated activity with authenticity. (quote from H. Maurice Lednicky)

If your desire is to live a life worthy of the calling you have received, and you desire to avoid being the one, please pray this prayer with me.

God help me to avoid being another casualty in this war.  Help me to guard my heart for it is the wellspring of life.  Help me to cover my blind spots with genuine accountability and to eliminate destructive secrets.  Help me to attach myself to the right people to avoid isolation.  Help me to live alert to the schemes of the enemy.  Help me to have an active prayer and devotional life to avoid stagnation.  Help me to live an authentic life before you and those around me.  Forgive me for my pride in thinking it can’t happen to me and help me to always walk humbly before you.  In Jesus name, amen.