I'm Nick Kipp and I approve this message

I don't know about anyone else, but I am really tired of political adds. So even though I am not a republican or a democrat, I am a Christian (and I believe that being a disciple of Jesus Christ should defines every thought and action I make). I do not believe that any party or candidate is the answer to our problem. I also believe before we can fix the problem we must define the problem. Here are my thoughts on the problem: America is MORALLY and SPIRITUALLY BANKRUPT. The Divorce rate is somewhere between 40-60% (the numbers varied between ,Barna, Gallop, and a few other divorce stat sites I looked at) Here is what God says about divorce :“For the Lord God of Israel says That He hates divorce,..." Malachi 2:16 or "So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” Matt 19:6 (yes I know God gives 2 acceptable reasons in Scripture sexual immorality Matt 5:31, and unbelieving spouse departing 1 Cor 7:15 {sorry rather than debating the validity of this second exception I just want to say if we are honest most divorces, even in the church do not have either of these 2 reasons}) Secondly as a nation we are okay with something God HATES "These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood," Proverbs 6:16-17 (emphasis mine) again statistics vary but between 2500 and 3700 innocent babies are killed annually and since Roe vs Wade appropriately 45-50 million babies have lost their lives. "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb." Psalm 139:13 and again in Isaiah 44:24 "Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: “I am the Lord, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;" (or Job 31:15, Isaiah 44:2, Jeremiah 1:5) God (the only one truly qualified to define truth) considers them Babies and works of His hands! (additionally the whole rape argument doesn't hold up most of those babies were NOT the result of rape, secondly 2 wrongs don't make a right). Thirdly we have this whole "same sex marriage" issue I just hate when I get the question "do I think it is wrong for 2 people who love each other to get married simply because they are the same sex?" What I think does NOT matter what GOD thinks is the only thing that matters! Romans 1:26-28 "For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;" (I want to be very clear here Biblically (in Gods eyes) the sin of homosexuality is NOT worse than any other sexual sin yes all those heterosexuals living and sleeping together outside of marriage just as guilty in God's eyes) And here I believe is the crux of the matter: these problems are just as prevalent in the "church" it should not be surprising when the world acts like the world, but it should be UNIMAGINABLE for the blood bought, redeemed of the Lord, sanctified and set apart, Bride of Christ to do these things or be okay with these things " who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them." Romans 1:32 The problem in America is the CHURCH! and the problem in the church is that we have compromised and diluted the Glorious Gospel until it is no longer the Gospel at all. We have taught by our words and lives that you can love Jesus without obeying him! ("If you love Me, keep My commandments..." John 14:15 or John 14:21,1 John 3:22, 1 John 5:2-3) this concept is completely foreign to Biblical Christianity. We have also diminished how despicably wicked sin is (Sin is infinitely wicked in the sight of a infinitely holy God) When a Holy and Just God made his perfect and sinless Son the atoning sacrifice for sin, God poured out the full fury of his righteous wrath on sin and Jesus willingly drank the full cup of Gods wrath in our place! (See Isaiah 53, 2 Cor 5:21, Matt 26:39) to quote Dietrich Bonhoeffer"we should never make cheap what was so costly to God". I know there are Godly men who are a lot smarter than I am who believe it is too late, that we have already lost the chance of returning America back to a "Biblical Worldview" Honestly I have no idea if it is too late (and to be completely honest my concern is not whether America will return to a Biblical Worldview but rather if the "professing church" will) Billy Graham shared a comment from his late wife a while back in which she said "If God doesn’t punish America, He’ll have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.” Again I am not smart enough to tell God what he has to do (in due respect I believe Ruth Graham was making this comment based on the character of God and not as a order) but I do know that I have responsibility as the head of my household to make the stand that "And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15) I firmly believe that battle for America is happening in our homes today! Will we in our homes and in our churches Pray, Humble ourselves, Turn from our wicked ways and back to God's ways, will we live and teach that being a Disciple of Jesus Christ means "Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:20 emphasis mine) Will we believe, live out and boldly proclaim the Glorious Truth of the Gospel: that the Just and Gracious God of the universe the one who will judge the living and the dead looked upon a hopelessly wicked and sinful people and chose to send His Son, who willingly and obediently came and took our place on Cavalry's cruel cross, That the Glory of God demanded that the sins I/we have committed against a Holy God be paid for, That Jesus drinking the full fury of Gods wrath satisfied the justice of God and made a way for sinners to be forgiven without justice being shortchanged. That in the death, burial and resurrection the penalty and power of sin was broken! Now we have been offered the GIFT of Salvation, when we accept this gift we are Justified in Christ, we are bought with a price we are no longer our own but rather have been adopted into the family of God, and now the life we live we now in faith is one of OBEDIENCE. That we are NOT saved by works but we are saved TO work and that our lives should now be a new creation in Christ Jesus, no longer conformed to the pattern of this world but continually being renewed by the Holy Spirit, as we are being sanctified!So in conclusion as for me and my house we will fight to represent Gods view of marriage in our home, we will value all life, ultimately we will strive to be obedient in all things so when people see our life it will be clear that we are "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy" 1 Peter 2:9-10 While I believe this is the only hope for our nation, I KNOW this is the only way for my family and home! May God be forever glorified in my life, my home, and my family!! (Gospel references, 2 Timothy 4:1, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, Romans 3:25-26, Ephesians 2:8-10, 1 Peter 1:18-19, John 1:12, 1 John 5:1-3, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 12:1-2)

Confession and Accountability

Over the past few months God has been dealing with me a lot about my lukewarmness. Scripture says "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is." Eph 5:15-17 (NIV) I have been disobedient to this passage too many times to count. I have failed to make the most of every opportunity so many times. I may not know exactly what God's will is for my life in regards to ministry and a job, but I do know that His will for my life is to be like Jesus "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher." Luke 6:40 (ESV) And here is the truth of the matter I want to be like Jesus, the American Jesus, the one who is easy and comfortable, the one who would waste His time on movies and video games not necessarily on bad things just trivial things. I want to be like Jesus minus the cross. Honestly I want to experience the "deeper life" to live like the book of Acts in all the good stuff, the miracles and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but I want to avoid the suffering if at all possible. I am convinced to live life the way Jesus called us to live it the cross is not optional it is a requirement. "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23 (KJV) Scripture tells us to confess our faults one to another (James 5:16) And so I am confessing that I have been disobedient to God's Word instead of living worthy of the high calling of Christ Jesus I have wasted countless hours on the trivial, I did not lay aside the weight that so EASILY entangles me (Heb 12:1) I don't want to continue to waste my life. I want to live totally and completely for the Glory of God. I want to live a life radically abandoned to, and for, Jesus Christ! Last night I watched "the passion of the Christ" and I cannot stop thinking of the Leonard Ravenhill quote "Are the things you're living for worth Christ dying for?" After watching the movie and taking time to examine myself before taking communion I repented of wasting my time (along with a lot of other things) Now I want to in obedience make the most of every opportunity. I want to be able to say in truth "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) So here is my second reason for writing this, not only to confess my faults but to ask for accountability. I know its easy to talk about living radically for the Lord, not always so easy to live it out. Hebrews 3:13 says "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Hebrews 10:24-25 "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."(KJV) I want my life, my marriage, my parenting, my words, my actions, my thoughts, to all be pleasing in God's sight. And I have asked God for his grace and His strength to live like this. so while "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" Philippians 1:6 I am in obedience to Hebrews 3:13, 10:24-25 asking for my brothers and sisters to challenge, encourage and hold me accountable. I not only welcome this I NEED this.
His Servant
Nick

Too Long

It has been a really long time since I posted on here. It has been on my heart for a while to get back to it, and I admit I have been lazy about it. As I read over some older posts I am truly amazed at what God has done in my life over the past almost 2 years. Yet with all He has taught me I realize more than ever how little I know. I don't know if anyone will ever read these posts but this is something God has again laid on my heart so I want to be obedient. And maybe one day when my children are older, if the Lord tarries they will read this and see the journey God has taken me on, and the work He is doing in my life. So much has changed since the last time I posted on here, it's hard to know where to start. God has entrusted us with another Son, yes that makes #3.(a daughter and 2 sons) I am still completely overwhelmed by this amazing responsibility and am leaning on, and trusting completely in Gods amazing grace to walk me through this. We are no longer serving at Ninth Street Christian Center, although I am extremely grateful for all that God taught me in my time there. However by far the greatest difference in my life is how God has and is continuing to adjust my doctrine. He has opened my eyes to a much clearer and more Biblical understanding of the Gospel.And now I want to live every moment of everyday radically for God's glory! In the past I had a few friends who used to read my blog and they commented that there was a lot of stuff to read when I was posting daily (yes, I know I can be a "little" long winded at times) so I don't know if I will post daily, but I will try to post regularly and we will see where God leads.

His Servant
Nick

He's My Only Son

He's My Only Son
Author Unknown


The day is over, you are driving home. You tune in your radio.You hear a little blurb about a little village in India where some villagers have died suddenly, strangely, of a flu that has never been seen before. Its not influenza, but three of four people are dead, and its kind of interesting, and they are sending some doctors over there to investigate it.

You don't think much about it, but on Sunday, coming home from church, you hear another radio spot. Only they say its not three villagers, its 30,000 villagers in the back hills of this particular area of India, and it's on TV that night. CNN runs a little blurb. People are heading there from the disease center in Atlanta because this disease strain has never been seen before.

By Monday morning when you get up, its the lead story. For its not just India. Its Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and before you know it, you're hearing this story everywhere and they have coined it now as "the mystery flu." The President has made some comment that he and everyone are praying and hoping that all will go well over there. But everyone is wondering, "How are we going to contain it?" That's when the President of France makes an announcement that shocks Europe. He is closing their borders. No flights from India, Pakistan, or any of the countries where this thing has been seen.

And that's why that night you are watching a little bit of CNN before going to bed. Your jaw hits your chest when a weeping woman is translated from a French news program into English. There's a man lying in a hospital in Paris dying of the mystery flu. It has come to Europe. Panic strikes. As best they can tell, once you get it you have it for a week before you know it. Then you have four days of unbelievable symptoms. And then you die.

Britain closes its borders, but its too late. South Hampton, Liverpool, North Hampton and it's Tuesday morning when the President of the United States makes the following announcement. "Due to a national security risk, all flights to and from Europe and Asia have been canceled. If your loved ones are overseas, I'm sorry. They cannot come back until we find a cure for this thing." Within four days our nation has been plunged into an unbelievable fear. People are talking about "What if it comes to this country"? And preachers on Tuesday are saying "It's the scourge of God."

It's Wednesday night and you are at a church prayer meeting when somebody runs if from the parking lot and yells, "Turn on a radio, turn on a radio!" And while the church listens to a little transistor radio with a microphone stuck up to it, the announcement is made. Two women are lying in a Long Island hospital dying from the mystery flu. Within hours it seems, this thing just sweeps across the country.

People are working around the clock trying to find an antidote. Nothing is working. California, Oregon, Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts. It's as though it's just sweeping in from the borders. And then all of a sudden the news comes out. The code has been broken. A cure can be found. A vaccine can be made. It's going to take the blood of somebody who hasn't been infected and so, sure enough, all through the Midwest, through all those channels of emergency broadcasting, everyone is asked to do one simple thing. Go to your downtown hospital and have your blood type taken. That's all we ask of you. When you hear the sirens go off in your neighborhood, please make your way quickly, quietly and safely, to the hospitals.

Sure enough, when you and your family get down there late on that Friday night, there is a long line and they've got nurses and doctors coming out and pricking fingers and taking blood and putting labels on it. Your spouse and your kids are out there, and they take your blood type and they say, "wait here in the parking lot and if we call your name you can be dismissed and go home." You stand around, scared, with your neighbors, wondering what in the world is going on and if this is the end of the World.

Suddenly a young man comes running out of the hospital screaming. He's yelling a name and waving a clipboard. What? He yells it again! And your son tugs on your jacket and says," Daddy, that's me."

Before you know it, they have grabbed your boy. "Wait a minute. Hold on!" And they say, Its okay, his blood is clean. His blood is pure. We want to make sure he doesn't have the disease. We think he has got the right type. Five tense minutes later, out come the doctors and nurses crying and hugging one another-some are even laughing. It's the first time you have seen anybody laugh in a week, and an old doctor walks up to you and says, "Thank you sir. Your son's blood type is perfect. It's clean, it is pure, and we can make the vaccine."

As the word begins to spread all across that parking lot full of folks, people are screaming and praying and laughing and crying. But then the gray-haired doctor pulls you and your wife aside and says, "May we see you for a moment? We didn't realize that the donor would be a minor and we need.....we need you to sign a consent form."

You begin to sign and then you see that the number of pints of blood to be taken is empty. "H-h-h-ow many pints?" And that is when the old doctor's smile fades and he says, "We had no idea it would be a little child. We weren't prepared. We need it all!"

"But-but. . . .I don't understand. He's my only son!"

"We are talking about the world here. Please sign. We-We need it all!"

"But can't you give him a transfusion?"
"If we had clean blood we would. Please, will you please sign?"

In numb silence you do. Then they say, "would you like to have a moment with him before we begin?" Could you walk back? Could you walk back to that room where he sits on a table saying, "Daddy? Mommy? What's going on?" Could you take his hands and say, "Son, your mommy and I love you and we would never ever let anything happen to you that didn't just have to be. Do you understand that?"

And when that old doctor comes back in and says, "I'm sorry, we've got to get started. People all over the world are dying." Could you leave? Could you walk out while he is saying, "Dad? Mom? Dad? Why. . . .why have you forsaken me?"

And then next week, when they have the ceremony to honor your son, and some folks sleep through it, and some folks don't even bother to come because they have better things to do, and some folks come with just a pretentious smile and just pretend to care. Would you want to jump up and say, "EXCUSE ME! MY SON DIED FOR YOU! MY ONLY SON! DON'T YOU EVEN CARE? DOES IT MEAN NOTHING TO YOU?"

I wonder, is that what God wants to say?





I used this story as the opening for my last sermon, lately God has really been dealing with me on my view of the cross. I will share more in my next post, but I wanted to post this because it really challenged me.

Worship

Worship, what is worship? I've heard people say worship is the slow songs we sing, but honestly worship has nothing to do with the tempo of the song and very little to do with the words of the song, because worship is not a song it's a lifestyle. And not merely a lifestyle filled with music and singing but rather a life filled with obedience "He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. (Mark 7:6) I read a analogy this week in a book by John Bevere that really challenged me, he asked what would happen if a wife asked her husband for help with supper and he said no I'm too busy, then later she asked with help cleaning up and he said no he wanted to watch the baseball game, and later yet she asked for help giving the kids bath and he said no yet again. Then after the kids were all in bed he comes up to his wife and says how much he loves her and asks if she wants to go to bed early *wink, wink*, what do you think her response will be? (John Bevere uses this analogy in his book drawing near although I put it in my own words here) Is this any different from how we treat God? We ignore his words all week, at times living lives of blatant disobedience then we come to church on Sunday and sing about how he is "all we ever wanted". Do we really think God is fooled? Amos 5:23-24 says "Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living." (NLT). Lets look at the first place the word worship appears in scripture Genesis 22:15 "And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.". Abraham was not going to go sing a slow song, he was going to obey God and offer his son. I am convinced many of us have never been asked by God to do anything as hard as what God asked of abraham, and yet many of us are not nearly as obedient. I believe with my whole heart that God is looking for people totally sold out to Him, that He is calling all of us to lives of worship, lives of total obedience to Him. John 14:21 "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." and verse 23 "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." we can live in intimate fellowship with the father through obedience this is a life of worship! And God is looking for worshipers John 4:23 "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him." Lord please forgive me for the times I've made worship just a slow song, for the times I have ignored and disobeyed you. Holy Spirit please help me to live a life of total obedience, forgive me for the times I've grieved you. Father I want to dwell in your presence, for better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere. In Jesus Name, Amen

Truth or Not?

I've been told I preach hard, a friend of mine likes to tell me I'll never have crowds following me to hear me preach. And to be honest that's okay with me, my concern isn't with whether people are going to like what I say, or if they will come back but with whether what I say is in line with scripture. I believe, truth is truth, and when we listen to someone preaching or teaching the question we have to ask ourselves is this, "does what they are saying line up with God's word?" and if it doesn't reject it, if it does then if we are truly His disciples the only choice we have is to listen and obey it, not because some preacher said so but because Gods word said so. I want to be, and I want everyone who ever listens to me to be like the Bereans who Scripture says "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (Acts 17:11) way to often we go to church and listen to a sermon, maybe even say amen to it, but then leave church and forget all about it, sadly we even do this when reading Gods word. Even worse many people don't even open there bibles accept on rare occasions and at church (if there churches don't have PowerPoint, otherwise they don't even open them at church). Now most of us who call ourselves Christians would say we love Jesus but He says John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. (see also John 14:21, 1 John 2:4, 1John 5:3) yet many people don't even know what His commandment are or worse know them but don't think He meant them. Jesus said "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46) I think Jesus would ask most of us the same question, I know it is a question He has been asking me a lot lately. And yes He does tell us to study scripture 2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." or Psalm 1:1-2 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." so today I want to challenge you, have you been spending time in God's word are you hiding God's word in your heart (Psalm 119:11) are you allowing God's word to be the light for your path (Psalm 119:35) when you hear someone talk about the things of God, do you ask "does scripture support this?" and if it does do you take it as if God said it, or do you shrug it off as something some preacher or fellow Christian said?

Living In The Days Ahead

There is a song that has really been challenging and encouraging me a lot lately, it's by a group called 33 Miles and the song is "What Could Be Better" if you haven't heard it yet I encourage you to go to YouTube and check it out. (33 Miles - What Could Be Better) for the past two weeks I've been reading and re-reading Philippians and there have been a few things God has been teaching. I heard this song for the first time in the car a few weeks ago and I knew God was speaking to me that I needed to start living in the days ahead, that I need to live with a eternal mindset. And then as I was reading Philippians 3:18-19 "(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)" look at who the Holy Spirit says are enemies of the cross those "who mind earthly things". As I read Philippians these words seemed to jump off the page at me and instantly God brought Colosians 3:1-3 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." to mind. There are times when you read Gods word and something catches your attention, a answer to a question or confirmation and there are times God shows you something and we give our assent to it but it stops there as head knowledge, but then there are times when God just has you keep reading and re-reading the same thing. (at least for me) As I kept reading these verses something happened it went from a head knowledge to heart knowledge, as I read it the first few times I was nodding my head and thinking this is so true, but as I kept reading it became more than a simple truth to be agreed with it was as if this truth flooded my heart. My treasure is in heaven, and it's the greatest treasure in the world, yet so many times I have put my affections on the things of this world. I have chased the American dream "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" so many times instead of chasing the high calling of Christ Jesus. We make jokes about Christians looking like they sucked on a pickle or drank lemon juice for communion because there is so many Christians without joy, and i believe a big reason for this is our affections are in the wrong place. When our treasure is Knowing Jesus (Jeremiah 9:24) when we look forward with earnest expectation to the day we will see Him face to face what joy should fill our soul. Jesus put it this way Matthew 6:19-21 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.". So many times we struggle to give up the cares of this world, the movies or music we like, the unforgiveness or anger we hold unto, the fear that keeps us from obedience. All because we have put our affections on our popularity, our money, our comfort, and our pleasure, but when we have truly put our affections on Jesus we can give up anything for Him and feel like we are making a good deal. And this is precisely where many of us miss it we give stuff up for Jesus but we don't really believe we made a good deal and so it's hard to have a real joy about it. Matthew 13:44 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." So from now on I'm living in the days ahead, and I can't stop celebrating in my soul, nothing on earth could ever compare, I can't wait for the day I get there, when I see Jesus face to face, tell me WHAT COULD BE BETTER!!!!!!