Real Talk – Page 2 – The Center City Christian

Real Talk – Made in America 🇺🇸

Matthew 17:20 NIV

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

What does it mean to be an American? I have always been patriotic, but have also had my moments of skepticism. And my notion of the meaning was weak.

I am a veteran; I served in the U.S. Army for three years. I was not a combat veteran; I served at a training duty station. But I imagine being deployed requires tremendous faith. Is faith the fabric of a soldier’s life?

Prior to, at the time of writing Real Talk – A Series of Unfortunate Events, and lately, my faith has been tested—”confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV)

How does our faith grow? “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Romans 10:17 NIV)

What does our faith produce? Knowing Christ, and the “power of his resurrection” (Philippians 3:10 NIV), the “peace of God, which transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7 NIV), and self-confidence that is reinforced by Scripture (Philippians 4:13).

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Real Talk – A Series of Unfortunate Events

People change due to circumstances in life. When I attempted suicide on New Year’s Day, 2024, in Los Angeles, CA, I was given an ESV Bible in the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, and I re-read some verses. Up until that point, my spiritual life had been pretty much dormant. I left my church, New Wine Fellowship in 2020, and immediately created this website. After that, I fell off spiritually, and slowly slipped away form the church. Recently, I have become a thief and a liar. Shoplifting because I do not have any money; getting on a train and flagrantly lying that I bought a NJ Transit ticket, but lost it; and I even stole a bicycle—trying to regain some former glory of a life I once had.

While I was charging my phone at the Moynihan Train Hall in New York City, I decided to scroll through this blog for the first time in years. I read some posts, and read about Jesus surrendering Himself in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46), because His spirit was troubled—and I started to tear up. I have been traveling often, most times not knowing where to go next, and homeless once again since 2023. I used to surrender my will to Jesus every night, kneeling on my bed; praying, protecting my knees from the cement floor and Berber carpet. At some point my life became so busy, that I drifted away from the Lord. I went to an Episcopalian church in Washington DC this summer, but mostly wept the entire time—reminiscing about New Wine Fellowship and how I served the Lord so fervently.

I was placed as Media Director in 2016 and served until I left. There was a rift between us that I never really healed from. I even attended therapy with a Christian counselor for two years, who tried tirelessly to get me to try another church, but I would not budge.

That was probably the last time I surrendered myself to God—becoming self-reliant instead. There are times when I feel a void in that place instead. Most nights I barely get any sleep, waking up early in the AM, if I had not already spent hours droning the street sidewalks instead; wandering tirelessly throughout the day, until it’s time to rest again.

When I think about the days of New Wine and the close relationship I once had with the Creator, I ask myself when will be the next time I surrender myself to my God? When will I reach my end?

Real Talk – Thorn in the Flesh

Saul, an esteemed Pharisee, trained under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3 NIV); an “honored” (Acts 5:34) member of the Sanhedrin whose influence was highly regarded; spoke of “a thorn in the flesh.” (2 Corinthians 12:7 NIV)

Scripture does not tell us what this thorn is, but I think it could have been the murder of Stephen—the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:54-60). As a Pharisee, Paul, whose name at the time was Saul, led a group of men in stoning Stephen for being a follower of Christ. The Pharisee’s were a religious group who did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God—fully human and fully divine (Matthew 22:41-46). Extremely legalistic, they were too close-minded to believe in faith, over the Law of Moses or the Ten Commandments—plus, many man-made laws added to such. The Law became stale, in need of new—a new covenant—grace by faith in Jesus Christ (John 12:42).

I also have thorn in the flesh—or maybe two. Something that would stop a pastor dead in his tracks on the pulpit—just tearing apart a witness to Christ. I sexually abused my cousin and got into a HMMWV in the Army that seriously injured someone else. The lieutenant in my truck had a brain hemorrhage and I did not even visit him in the hospital.

The purpose of this website is to package the gospel in a way that will easily spread it; it is not a business entity, nor does it earn revenue—I actually pay to have it published—in hopes that someone may find eternal life. Evangelism is a lot like sales—and I hate sales 🙂 Which is why a lot of churches use CRM software and other modern sales tactics to keep track of its parishioners. But if you look past it, what the difference for me as the evangelist for my former church (New Wine Fellowship) was bringing someone to Christ—which is a little different than earning a commission—its the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Maybe a glimmer of hope in someone’s eyes—someone going through something extremely difficult. A moment of epiphany—hold on, all it requires is “faith as small as a mustard seed” (Matthew 17:20 NIV) and God will deliver me from this?

These days I only have enough faith in God to get me through the day. But it works for me.

Real Talk – The Great Commission

Matthew 28:18-20 KJV

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The Great Commission: Jesus Christ; given all power in heaven and on earth by God, who died for the sins of all people from all nations, tells us to make more disciples—teaching the Good News, baptizing new believers in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

What is baptism? My Life Application® Study Bible says: “. . . immersion was the usual form of baptism—that is, new Christians were completely ‘buried’ in water. They understood this form of baptism to symbolize the death and burial of the old way of life. Coming up out of the water symbolized resurrection to new life with Christ.” (Note Romans 6:1-4) “Baptism symbolizes submission to Christ, a willingness to live God’s way, and identification with God’s covenant people.” (Note Matthew 28:19[2])

The Great Commission is not optional but a command for all believers. We are to obey and teach others to obey Christ. Each time we choose to take a step in obedience, it results in authenticity (Psalm 139:14-18)! God has designed us as disciples to share the gospel—use your talents! And walk in obedience knowing that Jesus will be with you always!

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Real Talk – Formula for Answered Prayer

John 14:13-15 KJV

13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Is John 14:13-15 a magical formula to get anything we want? The answer is no.

God has a will or desire for all of our lives. He has one for your life and my life.

Think of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46). He said to Peter, James, and John, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death” (Matthew 26:38 KJV). He then “went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39 KJV) And “went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.” (Matthew 26:42 KJV)

When Jesus says that we can ask for anything in His name, it means according to God’s character and will. One of God’s characteristics is His goodness. His goodness works together in all things for the believer (Romans 8:28). God is also omniscient—His understanding is infinite (Psalm 147:5). Could the reason we think our prayers are unanswered be because they are contrary to God’s nature and will?

For example, I could pray for a million dollars 💵 every night. But if God knows having a million dollars is not the best thing for me right now, is He going to grant that prayer request?

In other situations, a loved one or we may be going through something difficult. And we must ask ourselves—what is God’s will? Could God be bringing forth something in our lives that will bring us closer to Him or bring glory to His name, providing us with an opportunity to testify of His goodness? I encourage you to read the book of Job!

What becomes interesting is as we learn and grow in our faith, sincerely seeking God and His will, our prayers will align. And He will answer them because He is sovereign (Job 37:23)!

Interesting Fact: Something else that blew my mind is when we don’t have the words to pray, the Holy Spirit wordlessly groans for us (Romans 8:26)! And while Satan is accusing us before God day and night (Revelation 12:10), Jesus is our advocate, interceding for us at God’s right hand (Romans 8:34)!

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Real Talk – The Wellspring of Life

Each time I return to 1 John, I get punched. 🤛 God’s Word “judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 NIV) But the Good News is “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 NIV)!

While reading, I came across these verses:

1 John 2:15-16 KJV

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

These verses are crucial because the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life constitute the golden rule of satanism—”Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law” in other words, “Do what you want”—developed by Aleister Crowley.

These are the three areas used when the serpent tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-6), and Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13). Do you know how Jesus rebuked the devil? He used Scripture! Isn’t that interesting?

These are attitudes of the heart:

The lust of the flesh—do I have the mind of Christ (Philippians 4:8), or is my mind preoccupied with gratifying my physical desires?
The lust of the eyes—does the amount of material possessions I crave or accumulate figuratively outweigh the amount I give?
The pride of life—is how important I am what is most important to me?

The Wellspring of Life — Proverbs 4:23 NHEB

23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.

Proverbs 4:23 tells us to guard our hearts. How can we do that? In this post, we’re going to focus on knowledge of Scripture. We began by saying that God’s Word “judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” By reading the Bible, we can understand what God values—in this case, self-control, generosity, and humility. 1 John 2:15-16 speaks on what “is of the world.”

Lastly, Jesus was able to resist the devil’s temptations not only because He knew Scripture but also because He obeyed it—the devil knows Scripture too. The apostle Paul wrote Ephesians 6:10-18 about the armor of God; think of these verses as steps—equipping yourself with each piece of armor to walk in each day; to wear as protection against the enemy’s attacks. Ephesians 6:17 tells us that God’s Word is the sword of the Spirit.

Real Talk – What Is Sanctification?

I’ve wanted to write this post for a while now. In the Real Talk post titled The Way, the Truth, and the Life, we learned that God’s Word is sanctifying truth (John 17:17). John 17:19 and 2 Thessalonians 2:13 are other verses that relate sanctification with the truth.

Sanctified, sanctify(ing) is to cleanse or set apart for sacred use; to declare or make holy. Sanctification is becoming more and more like Jesus Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. And its meaning is described in Romans 6:1—8:39; submitting our flesh and thoughts to God’s Word and walking out our kingdom purpose through renewal and regeneration. I encourage you to read it!

What I would like to do for this post is make some connections between verses that use a form of the word sanctify:

For example, in Romans 15:16 and 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, sanctification has to do with the gospel.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 and 1 Peter 1:2 include the word peace; Acts 20:32, Hebrews 10:29, and 1 Peter 1:2 have the word grace.

According to 1 Corinthians 7:14, God regards marriage as sanctified through one believing husband or wife.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 states that it is God’s will, our sanctification: that we should avoid sexual immorality.

1 Corinthians 1:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, and 1 Peter 1:2 refer to being “called” or “chosen”—God’s foreknowledge of one’s salvation and purpose (Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:4).

Offerings are a theme of Romans 15:16, Hebrews 9:13, Hebrews 10:29, and 1 Peter 1:2; the blood of Christ as the perfect sacrifice, specifically, in Hebrews 10:29 and 1 Peter 1:2.

Jesus is speaking in Acts 26:18, when He appeared to Paul, telling us that we find sanctification by faith in Him; 1 Corinthians 1:2 and 1 Corinthians 6:11 tell us in Christ Jesus and His name.

Romans 15:16, 1 Corinthians 6:11, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, Hebrews 10:29, and 1 Peter 1:2 all point to the Holy Spirit as the source of sanctification.

Acts 20:32 focuses on how the message of God’s grace can build us up; 20:32 and 26:18 speak on the inheritance given us among those who are sanctified. Similarly, discipleship is the tutelage and teaching of biblical doctrine that leads to sanctification.

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Real Talk – Where Sin Abounded, Grace Did Much More Abound

When we speak about Jewish law, we refer to the old covenant—the law of God or the law of Moses. These are the Ten Commandments.

God gave us the Ten Commandments to reveal the law and justice of His nature and will. And as a guide for us to live lovingly and responsibly. There were three categories of law in the Old Testament. Some were ceremonial, some civil, and some moral.

By Jesus’ time, the Pharisees had added hundreds of religious traditions to the law. They often tried to accuse Him of breaking what had become more like a set of rules. Matthew 12:1-8 is one example that illustrates this.

Law-keeping became more important than God’s law of love. When Jesus spoke about a new way of understanding God’s law, He was trying to point people back to its original purpose—the moral and ceremonial laws given to help people love God with all their hearts and minds. Which Jesus later said were the greatest commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37 NIV) And “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31 NIV)

In Matthew 5:17, we see that Jesus did not come to destroy the law but fulfill it. And John 1:17 shows us that Christ revealed the grace and truth of God’s nature and will!

Galatians 2:15-19 tells us that obeying the law will not make us acceptable to God or save us. But it is holy, and just, and good (Romans 7:12) and still has an important role as a guide for us in the Christian life.

The Cross — ***Romans 5:20-21 KJV***

***20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:***

***21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.***

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we begin operating under the new covenant—grace by faith. Romans 3:25 shows us that the shedding of Christ’s blood on the cross paid the penalty of death for our sin—propitiation. Jesus stands in our place! And through faith in Him, we stand acquitted, or not guilty, before God (Romans 3:21-24).

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6)! Having been tempted in every way, He can sympathize with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:14-15). Through Him, we can come boldly unto God’s throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). By that same grace, we are raised in heavenly places with God in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-6). And He will always catch us when we fall!

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Real Talk – The Way, the Truth, and the Life

John 14:5-6 KJV

5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

As His disciple, Thomas asked, “how can we know the way?” Jesus replied that He is “the way” and that “no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” How many ways are there to God? If we believe that God’s Word is truth (John 17:17), the verses above tell us that Jesus is the only way. How so?

In the next verse, Jesus says, “If you really know me, you will know my Father as well.” (John 14:7 NIV) Mark 15:37-38 tells us that the curtain in front of the temple was torn in two when Jesus died on the cross, showing that His sacrificial death opened up the way to approach our holy God.

The following are some examples of a believer’s relationship before God the Father through Jesus Christ:

Jesus is their mediator (Romans 1:8; Hebrews 7:25); their advocate, interceding for them before the Father (Romans 8:34). Their lives are covered and safe with Christ in God. And that means their imperfections too (Colossians 3:3).

Is this path to God too narrow? In actuality, it’s wide enough for the entire world. Each person has a choice to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. If our perspective focuses on how limited it is, perhaps we should be praising God for giving his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16)!

As the way, giving our life to Jesus is how we come to God. As the truth, He is the fulfillment of God’s promises. As the life, He is the source of eternal life that begins now and lasts forever.

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Real Talk – Faith and Deeds

James 2:14-18 KJV

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

When I first read James, I thought to myself, oh snap, did I give misinformation!? I take that very seriously. I’m not a teacher. Nor am I ordained in any office of the five-fold ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12). But I do believe that just by posting this, I will be judged more strictly (James 3:1).

At first, it seems James’s teaching in the verses above and Paul’s in the following verse contradict each other:

Romans 3:28 KJV

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

But if we look more closely, we see that they complement each other.

Intellectual assent is an agreement with a set of Christian teachings. If we only agree with these truths, our faith is incomplete, and our lives will remain unchanged. Because if we truly believe, it will transform our conduct and our thoughts. That’s major!

It’s one thing to read God’s Word, to understand, and to agree. But it’s something else to believe faithfully and not waver (James 1:6).

Our good deeds will never earn our salvation. Instead, a changed life and good deeds are the results of true faith. Paul teaches to those who try to be saved by deeds instead of true faith. James warns not to confuse intellectual assent with true faith. “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19 KJV)

In summary, we cannot earn our salvation through acts of loving service or our obedience. However, these actions do demonstrate our real commitment to God. Good deeds do not replace but rather prove our faith in Christ.

Interesting Fact: Jesus’ brother James, a leader in the Jerusalem church, wrote this letter. Not the apostle James.

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