Gratefulness is a feeling of deep and warm appreciation for kindness received, or gratitude or thankfulness. It can also be defined as an acknowledgment of having received something good from another person.  Some people just ain’t grateful. They think the world owes them a living. They believe everyone should be serving them and if they ain’t, then the complain about how mistreated they are. It’s always puzzled me how it pains some people to simply say thank you. They are perpetual VICTIMS!

Ole Ernest Lee was once rebuked by his boss for thanking one of his subordinates for doing a good job. “Don’t thank someone for doing what they are supposed to do,” the boss said. Ernest Lee was shocked- how insensitive and uncaring can you get?

But thanking people who are doing what they are supposed to be doing has benefits. Ernest Lee used to work with John Maxwell- yep that John Maxwell- and John says thanking people for doing their job has at least four benefits:

(1) Shows appreciation: Saying thank you shows that you appreciate the person’s time, generosity, and support. 

(2) Strengthens relationships: Thanking people can strengthen your professional and personal relationship. 

(3) Motivates people: Research shows that saying thank you motivates people to help others and to do a better job. 

(4) Improves morale: Employees feel valued when they are thanked, which can lead to lower turnover, less conflict, and more positive attitudes. 

But dealing with the ungrateful can be frustrating. When the ingrates don’t reciprocate or show appreciation, it can led to bitterness and conflict. When people don’t thank you, (1) reframe your feelings and recognize you didn’t do nice things for the recognition, (2) recognize the ungrateful may be going through some difficult times and that may be impacting their judgment, (3) acknowledge that God will handle it- both those who are ungrateful and the reward to those for doing nice things. The principle of sowing and reaping remains intact.

Believers are to be GRATEFUL! The Bible has many verses that emphasize the importance of being thankful. Here are five Bible verses about gratitude:

1 Thessalonians 5:18, Psalm 100:4, Philippians 4:6, Colossians 3:15, Colossians 3:17

Is there someone in your life you need to thank? Have you neglected to be grateful to someone who did something for you? Do you take for granted people who regularly serve you? Don’t be an INGRATE! Be THANKFUL and GRATEFUL for them!

Ole Ernest hears people comfort other people who are struggling with sickness and burdens by telling them God will not give you more than you can handle . The notion “God won’t give you more than you can handle” is a flat out misinterpretation of 1 Corinthians 10:13. ¹³ There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The verse actually states, “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide a way of escape.

Some say that the Greek word for “temptation” in this verse can refer to suffering, sin, or a trial. They say that this verse doesn’t mean that God will never give us more than we can handle, but rather that God will always be with us during suffering and trials.  That part is true- God is always there for believers, but the idea God limits man’s suffering to only what they can endure is not a Biblical principle.

In 2 Corinthians 1, Paul describes how he and his companions were so burdened by their circumstances that they felt they had received a sentence of death. Paul says that God gave them this suffering so that they would rely on God instead of themselves. 

God does demand more of us than we are able to do. He requires absolute holiness- man is unholy. He demands absolute righteousness- man is unrighteousness. He demands sacrifice and service and man is selfish and lazy. The list goes on and on. What God does provide is the answer- His Son who gave His life so man can be holy, righteous through Christ. What He demanded from man on Mt. Sinai, he gave to him on Mt. Calvary!

The next time someone tells you that God doesn’t give you more than you can handle, correct them. That statement is works based and it gets ole Ernest Lee’s hackles up!

The other day, ole Ernest Lee heard a youth pastor pray before a worship service and ask God to SHOW UP & SHOW OUT! Ole Ernest ain’t up on this new jargon, so he looked it up on the Internet and found the definition:

“Show up and show out” is an expression that means to be fully present and to be the best version of yourself. 

Show up and show out don’t square with Scripture. God is omnipresent, meaning He is present everywhere at all times. He is always FULLY PRESENT. God is holy, meaning He is absolutely morally pure. He is always the best version of Himself. To pray and ask a Holy, Omnipresent God to SHOW UP borders on blasphemy and heresy!

Blasphemy refers to great disrespect shown to God ; Heresy refers a belief or opinion that does not agree with the revealed Word of God.

Words mean something! Latching onto some catch phrase may be trendy, but if it conflicts with God’s Word, it shouldn’t be used. Ernest Lee’s late friend J.I. Packer wrote ‘Knowing God,’ back in 1973. It is a great book. In it, Packer said:

“All my knowledge of Him depends on His sustained initiative in knowing me.”
― J.I. Packer, Knowing God

Those who pray and ask God to show up and show out reveal their ignorance of who God is. They need to study more and shout less!

It’s been a spell since Ernest Lee wrote anything and after some prodding, he has decided to try and write some drivel down.

Old Ernest Lee was taught to never discuss POLITICS and RELIGION. “It stirs people up,” Ernest Lee’s late dad would say. For years, I didn’t. I avoided talking about the two things that defined my values, my belief system, and what was important to me. Why did the Greatest Generation not discuss Politics and Religion? Here is my take:

(1) NOBODY WANTED TO OFFEND ANOTHER PERSON. That is a really worthy goal- to try and live as peaceably with your fellow man as you can. Paul told the church at Rome in Romans 12:18: If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Too many people now want to intentionally offend anyone who doesn’t agree with them. They pick fights. They view those who don’t as cowards. That attitude is a direct violation of Scripture.

(2) THEY RECOGNIZED THE TEMPORAL NATURE OF POLITICS! People who take politics so serious and get so riled up believe they can change the eternal decree of God by knocking one more door or making one more phone call. Those old timers in Ernest Lee’s day recognized they had a responsibility to be involved in their government, but GOD WAS IN CONTROL. The ‘works’ based crowd today think if they pray hard enough and work hard enough, they can change the mind of God. If they could, then He wouldn’t be God. Ernest Lee has heard political types talk about their activism as though it was changing eternity. Careful, there- God made one eternal DECREE and He hasn’t had to make adjustments because some politician won or lost an election. For more on the eternal decrees of God, go to: https://www.the-highway.com/decrees.html

(3) RELIGION AND THE GOSPEL ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS! Religion is defined as: the belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods. Many of the old timers in Ernest Lee’s day didn’t have a clue there was difference between the divine redemptive plan (the Gospel) and religion. James says in 1:27:  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. That is a result of the working of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life after regeneration- pure religion. John MacArthur has a three part series on Belief that Behaves that would benefit every believers. Here is the link: https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/59-9/the-belief-that-behaves-part-1

Ernest Lee discusses both politics and religion with a variety of people. Some he agrees with- others he doesn’t. In each exchange he attempts to exercise respect for a differing opinion. Ernest Lee doesn’t know everything, but he knows who does and it ain’t any human being on this earth today. No true believer should avoid discussing their values and personal convictions. While keeping quite might keep the peace, it doesn’t reveal to a lost world why a believer holds those convictions.

Networking is defined as the action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts. In and of itself, networking is not a bad thing. Networking can involve like-minded believers to interact around the Word of God and spiritually grow. It can involve exchanging practical applications of scripture in a way that challenges other believers. But it can also be using the church body to further one’s business or career. It can involve using the Lord’s church to advance a secular cause- no matter how just. Politicians use their church affiliation to gain votes. Deacons use their church to increase their business. Sunday school teachers use their church to expand their notoriety. Pastors use their church to advance their ministerial career. Those motives are selfish and covetous. How does the discerning believer spot those who are using the Lord’s church just to further their temporal goals? Here is ole Ernest Lee’s list of attributes of those who wrongly use the church for networking :

(1) Unfaithfulness. When lay leaders(Deacons, Sunday School teachers) are careless about their attendance for church services, they are probably not in it for the right motive.

(2) Shallowness. When lay leaders(Deacons, Sunday School teachers) show little interest in God’s Word and have little knowledge of fundamental theological truths, then they are probably not in it for the right motive.

(3) Smugness. When lay leaders(Deacons, Sunday School teachers) are not friendly, welcoming and hospitable, and are selective with their associations at church, then they are probably not in it for the right motive.

(4) Self-promoting. When lay leaders(Deacons, Sunday School teachers) are only interested in positions and jobs that are high profile and brings their attention and praise, then they are probably not in it for the right motive.

The Bible records two instances of Jesus dealing with money changers and those selling sacrificial animals. Jesus’ first encounter with them was in John 2:14-16. He made a whip of cords and drove them out. The second time He confronted the money changers was in Matthew 21:13- the week before His trial and crucifixion. Seeing that the money changers had come back, He again drove them out, saying, “It is written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’

Because Jewish law required a temple tax of a half-shekel, Jews and visitors from other nations came to pay their taxes when they offered their sacrifices. But foreign coins with the likeness of pagan emperors were not accepted in God’s temple. The money changers exchanged those foreign coins for Jewish money, but they did so at an exorbitant profit. Rather than provide this service as a business in another part of town, they did their business on temple grounds. Because they determined their own exchange rate, money changers easily took advantage of the poor and the foreigners pouring into Jerusalem for Passover.

The networking types at church who misuse the Lord’s church for a secular/temporal purpose are not as blatant as the money changers, but their heart/motive is the same- to further themselves and to ignore those at church who can’t further their goals. Their narcissistic, grandiose, exaggerated self important attitude hurts the cause of the Gospel.

The way ole Ernest sees it- networking at church is great if it furthers the spread and cause of the Gospel. It’s bad when it is done to further anything other than that. The mission/purpose of the church is the Gospel!

A.H. Strong defines a brawler as someone who roars, is boisterous- a growler-a murmurer, a contentious person. John MacArthur says, “Brawlers aren’t qualified to serve as elders in the church (1 Timothy 3:3), because a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but be able to collaborate and work with the sheep.”

In 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Paul lays out the qualifications of an Elder/Pastor/Bishop. He enumerates 15 total qualities they must have. Ole Ernest Lee has enumerated them in the passage:

This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. ² A bishop then must be (1) blameless, (2) the husband of one wife, (3) vigilant, (4) sober, (5) of good behaviour, (6) given to hospitality, (7) apt to teach; ³ (8) Not given to wine, (9) no striker, (10) not greedy of filthy lucre; but (11) patient, (12) not a brawler, (13) not covetous; ⁴ (14) One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; ⁵ (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) ⁶ Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. ⁷ Moreover he must have a (15) good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Not being a brawler is the 12th qualification Paul mentions on the list. Many think a brawler is someone who physically fights or is confrontational, and that is a type of brawler, but the order in which Paul lists their qualities is not random. Not being a brawler comes immediately after patience and just before not being covetous.

Brawlers are not patient and they are covetous. Brawlers can be loud, mouthy and arrogant, or they can be quietly stubborn, rebellious and selfish. The first type of brawler is easily identified- the second are like the serpent in the garden- subtle and deceitful. The first are much easier to deal with because they fight in the light of day. The second are careful to not tip their hand and therefore fool some believers.

Quite brawlers are narcissistic and believe their own lies. They play the victim. They engage in destructive behavior/gossiping under the guise of ‘concerned about a fellow believer.’ The quite brawler is not likely to change. The brawler has to move often from pastorate to pastorate because they are impatient and covetous. They rationalize their frequent moves because it is always someone else’s fault. They are just the victim. They have a martyr complex. They destroy churches. They disrupt friendships. And they delight in it. They get a kick out of chaos

Take some advise from Ernest Lee- AVOID a brawler, especially the quite ones. The scripture is clear they are not qualified to be in the ministry.

Romans 16:17 says: Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Ernest Lee is often called a troublemaker, because he confronts those who cause division and teach doctrines that are contrary to the scripture. Does speaking truth to authority, not being blindly loyal to an overseer or questioning leadership make you a troublemaker?

(1) In the secular world, those who hold authorities accountable and question their votes, decisions, or judgment provide a great service. They force those in authority to justify their decisions. Good leaders need that. Good leaders desire that. Proverbs 27:17 says “Iron sharpens iron” which means both parties benefit from healthy dialogue and interaction. That should be the case in a church, but more often than not it isn’t.

(2) There are boundaries and reasonable limits to questioning authority. Someone who attempts to ‘micromanage’ a leader is out of bounds. Leaders must be allowed to do their job. Constantly harassing or badgering authorities accomplishes little. Nit picking a leader is counterproductive. The questioning of authority must be clear, precise and scriptural.

(3) There should never be a victim. When leaders are questioned, they shouldn’t play the victim card. When those questioning leaders are called ‘troublemakers,’ they shouldn’t declare themselves a sufferer. Ernest Lee is not a victim. He understands that God is in control and ole Ernest Lee should just do what he is supposed to do in a right spirit.

(4) REAL troublemakers cause division. They might be theologically sound, but their style of leadership divides. Real troublemakers don’t work and play well with others. REAL troublemakers are always the victim. Someone is always picking on them. They claim to never know why there is division in organizations or churches they lead. They point to anyone disagreeing with them or questioning them as a troublemaker, when they in fact are the instigator and the mischief maker. Their ultimate goal is to purge, to extract, to remove anyone or anybody who is a possible threat to their autocratic style of leadership.

Ernest Lee proudly wears the title of troublemaker. Troublemakers don’t go along to get along. They rightly divide the word of truth. They earnestly contend for the faith. They aren’t blindly loyal. They are diligent to hold leaders accountable.

How do you know when God is moving you from a church? When should you consider leaving a church? Ernest Lee has six reasons to leave a church:

(1) There is abuse of power in church leadership. That can be anything from lack of collaboration with the congregation to tyrannical, dictatorial behavior. Abuse of power is often demonstrated in degrees and involves ‘change for change’ sake. Ernest Lee has seen it dozens of times in churches with an authoritarian, domineering person in charge. It makes a case for the ‘plurality of elders’ form of church government spoken of in scripture. When confronted with the abuse, the leadership ignores other’s concern. A member is either ‘on the team’ or targeted for expulsion.

(2) There is no outreach. The church simply holds worship services and evangelistic outreach becomes non-existent. There is no burden for the lost. There is no caring of the sick, the grieving within the congregation. There is no concern/burden for fellow church members.

(3) There is no COMMUNITY. A church is a called out assembly of believers. That assembly should be united in their passion for the Gospel. They should be committed to caring for one another. They shouldn’t shun those who disagree with them or those who question leadership. They should pray for one another and love one another. They should cultivate a culture of grace.

(4) There is no VISION. Ernest Lee has been a member of churches where there is no vision- no direction- no goal. The vision should always be to spread the Gospel. It should be the main thing- all the time. When a church exists to exist and fails to have a direction or vision, it’s time to hit the door.

(5) The Church can’t be trusted with the tithe. When there is a lack of transparency in the finances or an abuse of the use of God’s money, it’s time for leadership to be confronted. Misuse of God’s money is a fundamental reason to walk away from a church. God will not bless a church or church leadership who abuse His money.

(6) There are theological differences. How can people walk together expect they be agreed? When differences in doctrine exist, it’s next to impossible to co-exist- especially if those differences involve the Gospel.

There are probably other reasons to leave a church, but a believer should never apologize for leaving a church body when led by God to leave. Those who stay may not understand, but that matters little if God is leading.

Hebrews 13:17 says “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

Ole Ernest has seen this verse used all his life to ‘keep the flock’ in submission/subjection to a pastor. The passage has been used like a cattle prod to goad a rebellious layman to fear the spiritual/eternal consequences of ‘disobeying a ruler’s orders.’ Another verse that is used for that same purpose is Psalm 105:15- Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. Lay people are taught a pastor is not to be questioned, challenged or quizzed and to do so is rebelling against God, because God put them in that position. God does set up rulers and brings them down, but is unconditional submission to a spiritual leader biblical?

Within the context of the passage, submission to a spiritual authority is based on two things- truthfulness and trustworthiness. Hebrews 13:7, “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.” Believers are to follow those who walk the walk, not just talk the talk. Spiritual leaders should be trustworthy and truthful.

The Apostle Paul provides the model on how spiritual authority should be exercised. Paul was an apostle, but he NEVER used that position to browbeat those around him. He (1) emphasized the message(Gospel) and (2) lived out the Gospel in his life. He worked with those who God had put in his path. He communicated and collaborated with them. He used other people in his ministry. It wasn’t the “Apostle Paul’ show. Paul used words like urge and appeal to persuade his followers to follow him. His success was based on the truth of the Gospel and Paul’s own trustworthiness.

A very wise pastor once told Ernest Lee; “It isn’t about us, Ernest Lee.” All too often we forget that and make it about us. We can use it as justification to rebel against authority or to misuse our authority. May God give us the grace to see that it ain’t about us. We need to proclaim the truth and be trustworthy.

Acts was written by Luke around 65AD. It is addressed to Theophilus. Not much is known about Theophilus, but most Bible scholars believe he to be a real person, probably a prominent person in Jewish society. Acts is important to us for us because it gives us the early history of the New Testament church. Most people outline it like this:

Prologue (1:1–8)

I. The Witness to Jerusalem (1:9–8:3)

A. The Anticipation of the Church (1:9–26)

B. The Day of Pentecost (2:1–47)

C. The Growth of the Church (3:1–8:3)

1. Apostles: Preaching, healing, and enduring persecution (3:1–5:42)

2. Deacons: Praying, teaching, and enduring persecution (6:1–8:3)

II. The Witness to Judea and Samaria (8:4–12:25)

A. The Gospel to the Samaritans (8:4–25)

B. The Conversion of a Gentile (8:26–40)

C. The Conversion of Saul (9:1–31)

D. The Gospel to Judea (9:32–43)

E. The Gospel to the Gentiles (10:1–11:30)

F. The Persecution by Herod (12:1–25)

III. The Witness to the Ends of the Earth (13:1–28:31)

A. Paul’s First Missionary Journey (13:1–14:28)

B. The Jerusalem Council (15:1–35)

C. Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (15:36–18:22)

D. Paul’s Third Missionary Journey (18:23–21:16)

E. Paul’s Jerusalem and Caesarean Trials (21:17–26:32)

F. Paul’s Journey to Rome (27:1–28:31)

John MacArthur says this about Acts: “Acts abounds with transitions: from the ministry of Jesus to that of the apostles; from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant; from Israel as God’s witness nation to the church (composed of both Jews and Gentiles) as God’s witness people. The book of Hebrews sets forth the theology of the transition from the Old Covenant to the New; Acts depicts the New Covenant’s practical outworking in the life of the church.“

Acts is a book of action. It gives the present day church a pattern for for to do missions- sending authority through the local assembly. It provides a model for church government- local control/no hierarchy. It provides the timing for baptism- after salvation. While not a theological book, requiring great interpretative and exposition skills, Acts is not lean on doctrinal truth. The Gospel is presented no less than 20 times in the 28 chapters. Numerous conversions are recorded.

Acts is a book of instruction. Because it gives us a history of the practices of the early Christian church, it should be viewed as a model for today’s churches. It provides instruction is how to govern the church, how to do outreach, how to deal with contention and disagreement and how to respond to persecution.

Acts is a book of the GOSPEL. As mentioned above, the Gospel is its message. Preachers like Peter, Paul, Stephen and Philip present the gospel in a clear, concise way. They do it in front of crowds of educated people and to a single individuals traveling in a chariot. The common theme is the need of man for a Saviour.