The people of God have discussed the concept of PERFECTION many times during the last two thousand years. In this dialogue, we will accept as fact that human perfection is never absolute. Sincerity is our best hope as we allow the Spirit of God to guide our imperfect life. Our over-all effort in life must be an attempt to conform to the will of God Almighty. Remember that attaining success with God is not primarily about his rules but the rule maker Himself. David was a man after God’s own heart but he did not always conduct himself properly. The implied goal of Christianity is to attain spiritual maturity. In Greek, the word for maturity is “complete.” This is important because the King James Bible uses the word perfect and maturity interchangeably for the concept of completeness. Look carefully, because God’s plan for excellence is not a path considered obvious by human reasoning.
God’s plan for our spiritual perfection goes something like this. A few people are willing to give up their natural life and strive to find a righteous life that is attuned to the Lord and Savior of humans. The Spirit of God will find these sincere folks and provide the power for there complete conversion. We have an unusual position, Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation… if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Rom 8:12-14) We all know that we are short of the perfection of God. However, Paul says we are obligated to leave everything possible behind in order to pursue the maturity of our new life. Jesus told his disciples to make no provision that would become an obstacle. We must have faith to make Jesus our Lord just as we did to make him Savior.
Knowing or even following all the “rules” is not Christian maturity. Scripture says, Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity,(completeness) not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. (Heb 6:1,2) To reach for perfection we must adopt some characteristics of spiritual completeness. One of them is steadfastness. You know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:3,4) In order to “hang in there” for a lifetime of service to God, we must have a good anchor. Jesus is the foundation of every success in spirituality. We must anchor firmly to the Foundation and become steadfast.
Another component of spiritual maturity is our participation utilizing the highest degree of ability possible. Unfortunately, many people on the Church pew make no effort to serve God the rest of the week. Their apathy has caused them to grow dangerously petrified. They sit like rows of clones made from Lots ex-wife. Some of the more knowledgeable believers sit back and say “I don’t worry because my perfection is in Christ." This is absolutely true and there is no other way of salvation. The problematic question these people will face is the motive behind their thinking. Paul claimed, My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me…He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. (1 Cor 4:4,5) Maturity does not shirk God given responsibilities.
We should also demonstrate the approved character of a Christian. It is obvious to even worldly people that a Christian must give up worldly activities. This will leave us plenty of time to embrace the new life that Jesus wants to live in each of us. Admitting that we are not perfect does not allow us to live under the “clay feet” excuse. The Spirit wants us to live in the state of striving to become perfect. Are we sincerely attempting to live a life that imitates our Savior? Since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator…Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Col 3:9-12) Paul goes on to say that love is the ultimate quality of excellence and maturity.
Spiritual maturity is not possible at all without the Spirit living in us. God has revealed it (everything) to us by his Spirit…No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us…The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned…But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor 2:10-16) We all have trusted in the Savior of the world but many among us do not trust the mind of Jesus to direct their lives. Proclaiming Jesus as the Lord of our life is the only way reach maturity. Paul said it this way, Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Ro 12:2) This means our mind is being renewed as we allow the mind of Christ to direct our life. Maturity is a gift that comes after we yield our control to the Spirit.
The perfecting action of the Spirit (maturity) is shown by our love. If anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. (1 John 2:5,6) Jesus commanded us to love others. The action of love is what binds us together in to the body of Christ. This unity promotes unbroken communion with God through our mediator. The focus of our maturity is not our sinless life but our love of others. At times we find loving difficult but Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:2) Love is the most important concept for Christianity. One writer said “Love is the badge of discipleship.”
Let us make every effort to attain the quality of excellence in our love.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
The Key to the Kingdom
There was a Man who walked among us two thousand years ago. No one in history is as well documented or as well known. This man spoke to us about a great kingdom that someday would make this world pale by any comparison. He liked to tell His followers that they could find the key to the door of this kingdom. Of course, all these years people have looked everywhere in this world to find the key. Today many people have learned that they key is the Man. That's right, the one that lived 2000 years ago. The problem is that just knowing that this man is the key is not enough. A believer must learn many truths about the key.
One day Jesus, the Man, went down by the lake to talk to his followers. So many gathered that He had to get into a boat and talk to the people from the calm waters edge. That day He spoke to the followers about seven principles that shape the key to the Kingdom. The overriding shape of the key was given before He arrived at the shore. Jesus said to the people "whoever does the will of my Father in heaven..." (Matt 12:50) Many times as Jesus walked this earth He would say that He and his followers were doing the will of God the Father. We can be sure that nothing in the key to the Kingdom is not approved by God. It could be said that all facets of the key are certified for Heaven.
The second principle has two sides to it. the first is positive but the last is negative. Jesus said, The knowledge of secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, (Matt 13:11) In other words, some people have the key. Then Jesus finished the thought by saying, Though hearing, they do not understand.(Matt 13:13) In fact, many people think they know the key, but only a few actually understand the hidden knowledge of the key. To be technical, without a revelation to a person's mind, there is no one who understands the key.
Jesus then said that their was a physical evidence that the key to the kingdom was understood by a follower. The man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. (Matt 13:23) Many people today claim " I am saved by my faith" but there is no crop being produced in their life. They are the ones that Jesus referred to as "though seeing, they do not see." many of them are highly intelligent but they are blind. Jesus plainly said that if someone understands the key to the kingdom they will produce a crop.
It is sad to say, but the Devil keeps many from finding the key. Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from? 'An enemy did this.' he replied. (Matt 13:27,28) We learn here that people can come to Jesus, the good seed, but then grow as a weed among the good crop. It is well known that the Devil has deceived many who originally wanted to serve God. Jesus also tells us here that it is not our job to separate the good and the bad. Only God is qualified and we are not to judge other people spiritually.
The word of the Kingdom of God, during 2000 years, will spread itself over the whole earth. This is the fifth principle Jesus taught on that day, The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough. (Matt 13:33) We see that the key to the kingdom has to power to reproduce itself. There is no way that Christianity could have grown the way it has considering that someone has always been trying to destroy the message. God's power has lived in people who had the key tot he kingdom. Many of these followers have even given their lives to persevere this great faith.
This brings us to the subject of dying. People usually do not want to die but they will if they have a strong enough reason. Jesus told us that to be his disciple was to be part of something with unbelievable value. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. (Matt 13:44) This verse only says that a man happily gave up everything he owned for this treasure. However, during the last 2000 years numerous people have given up their lives for Jesus Christ because they knew His value.
The seventh point Jesus made that day was to inform us that there are people among his children that are not true Christians. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the harvesters are angels. (Matt 13:38,39) Although the Devil has deceived many church people, God's children are to leave them alone. God knows who his children are and at the last day his angels will carry the weeds to the fire for burning.
Pray always and look up for His return.
One day Jesus, the Man, went down by the lake to talk to his followers. So many gathered that He had to get into a boat and talk to the people from the calm waters edge. That day He spoke to the followers about seven principles that shape the key to the Kingdom. The overriding shape of the key was given before He arrived at the shore. Jesus said to the people "whoever does the will of my Father in heaven..." (Matt 12:50) Many times as Jesus walked this earth He would say that He and his followers were doing the will of God the Father. We can be sure that nothing in the key to the Kingdom is not approved by God. It could be said that all facets of the key are certified for Heaven.
The second principle has two sides to it. the first is positive but the last is negative. Jesus said, The knowledge of secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, (Matt 13:11) In other words, some people have the key. Then Jesus finished the thought by saying, Though hearing, they do not understand.(Matt 13:13) In fact, many people think they know the key, but only a few actually understand the hidden knowledge of the key. To be technical, without a revelation to a person's mind, there is no one who understands the key.
Jesus then said that their was a physical evidence that the key to the kingdom was understood by a follower. The man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. (Matt 13:23) Many people today claim " I am saved by my faith" but there is no crop being produced in their life. They are the ones that Jesus referred to as "though seeing, they do not see." many of them are highly intelligent but they are blind. Jesus plainly said that if someone understands the key to the kingdom they will produce a crop.
It is sad to say, but the Devil keeps many from finding the key. Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from? 'An enemy did this.' he replied. (Matt 13:27,28) We learn here that people can come to Jesus, the good seed, but then grow as a weed among the good crop. It is well known that the Devil has deceived many who originally wanted to serve God. Jesus also tells us here that it is not our job to separate the good and the bad. Only God is qualified and we are not to judge other people spiritually.
The word of the Kingdom of God, during 2000 years, will spread itself over the whole earth. This is the fifth principle Jesus taught on that day, The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough. (Matt 13:33) We see that the key to the kingdom has to power to reproduce itself. There is no way that Christianity could have grown the way it has considering that someone has always been trying to destroy the message. God's power has lived in people who had the key tot he kingdom. Many of these followers have even given their lives to persevere this great faith.
This brings us to the subject of dying. People usually do not want to die but they will if they have a strong enough reason. Jesus told us that to be his disciple was to be part of something with unbelievable value. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. (Matt 13:44) This verse only says that a man happily gave up everything he owned for this treasure. However, during the last 2000 years numerous people have given up their lives for Jesus Christ because they knew His value.
The seventh point Jesus made that day was to inform us that there are people among his children that are not true Christians. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the harvesters are angels. (Matt 13:38,39) Although the Devil has deceived many church people, God's children are to leave them alone. God knows who his children are and at the last day his angels will carry the weeds to the fire for burning.
Pray always and look up for His return.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Seven Pillars of Christianity-Pillar Five-Light to the World-Part 2
It is great to represent the light of the world but we will find some people in the world who do not like Christians. There will be times when people blame their guilt on us in an attempt to rationalize their own lifestyle. Jesus gave us this warning, because ye are not of this world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15:19)
There are members of churches who will not gain heaven because they are afraid of what some people might say about them. Others worry that they will lose their position in the world or that they will lose some money. It is necessary that we find the courage to face all opposition and be willing to pay any price.
Even though the world "hates" us, we must go to them and tell them the truth of the gospel. It is easy to understand how we need the help of the Holy Spirit living in us, so that our behavior will always glorify our Lord. It is true that when the Spirit speaks through us, there are sometimes results that seem unfavorable to us personally. For example, before Stephen was stoned to death, he spoke very powerful words from God and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke. (Acts 6:10) Because the world hates the truth of God, they sometimes react violently in order to prove their way is better. We must not think of ourselves as we spread the Gospel, but of the benefits for a lost soul.
We must be sustained in our witness by what is called a "zeal", meaning enthusiasm and devotion. It is not necessary to become a zealot because it is not our own energy that provides the way for other souls. The Holy Spirit is the active person in accomplishing the Gospel of God. We may tell people about Jesus but the Spirit is the active power in their heart that reveals God's purpose to them.
Paul was known for his zeal and he commented to the Corinthians one time, your zeal hath provoked many." (2 Cor 9:2) he was talking about giving money at the time, but being enthusiastic about giving assets is a good way to strengthen our devotion. Every routine in our life should support our desire to serve God. (It should be noted that routines can become ritual therefore we must have the Spirit's help everyday to serve our Lord.)
The ultimate objective of a witness is to be a martyr for God. This does not mean that we spend our time wishing to die. It means that we must have the attitude that God owns our life. There is no other way to be totally selfless in our presentation of the gospel. Everything we do must be centered on Jesus and this is what we are to tell the world, in him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4) This profound message is what gives light to the darkness around us. The great apostle Paul said many times that we would face anything including death for the sake of bringing souls to God' kingdom. What a great feeling when we arrive in heaven and meet those who have been adopted into God's family.
There are members of churches who will not gain heaven because they are afraid of what some people might say about them. Others worry that they will lose their position in the world or that they will lose some money. It is necessary that we find the courage to face all opposition and be willing to pay any price.
Even though the world "hates" us, we must go to them and tell them the truth of the gospel. It is easy to understand how we need the help of the Holy Spirit living in us, so that our behavior will always glorify our Lord. It is true that when the Spirit speaks through us, there are sometimes results that seem unfavorable to us personally. For example, before Stephen was stoned to death, he spoke very powerful words from God and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke. (Acts 6:10) Because the world hates the truth of God, they sometimes react violently in order to prove their way is better. We must not think of ourselves as we spread the Gospel, but of the benefits for a lost soul.
We must be sustained in our witness by what is called a "zeal", meaning enthusiasm and devotion. It is not necessary to become a zealot because it is not our own energy that provides the way for other souls. The Holy Spirit is the active person in accomplishing the Gospel of God. We may tell people about Jesus but the Spirit is the active power in their heart that reveals God's purpose to them.
Paul was known for his zeal and he commented to the Corinthians one time, your zeal hath provoked many." (2 Cor 9:2) he was talking about giving money at the time, but being enthusiastic about giving assets is a good way to strengthen our devotion. Every routine in our life should support our desire to serve God. (It should be noted that routines can become ritual therefore we must have the Spirit's help everyday to serve our Lord.)
The ultimate objective of a witness is to be a martyr for God. This does not mean that we spend our time wishing to die. It means that we must have the attitude that God owns our life. There is no other way to be totally selfless in our presentation of the gospel. Everything we do must be centered on Jesus and this is what we are to tell the world, in him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4) This profound message is what gives light to the darkness around us. The great apostle Paul said many times that we would face anything including death for the sake of bringing souls to God' kingdom. What a great feeling when we arrive in heaven and meet those who have been adopted into God's family.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Harmony of the Trinity and You
Christians know that there is one God in three persons known as the Trinity: God, the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit. Each has their role and they work together in harmony. Along with the Trinity, a human must also do their part in order to live a Christian life leading to salvation.
It is God the Father who makes us eternally alive. I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself...For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. (John 5:19-21) We can see in this verse how the individual persons of God work together. The Father makes us alive through Jesus and we have spiritual existence in the Spirit of God.
In His love, the Father regards humans enough to continue their life forever. In His desire to save humans, God uses His two strong arms...Jesus and the Spirit. God is not rebuilding the old creation. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Cor 5:17-18) Everything we have comes from God and is far beyond our capabilities.
In some future day all things will be made new. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. (2 Pet 3:12, 13) How exciting to know that everything in eternity is available simply by our faith in God. Abraham is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed-- the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. (Rom 4:17)
Having faith that the Spirit can live in us and direct our new eternal life, is certainly "believing things as though they were." We are being offered victory in this life for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4) Our victory is certain because Jesus has already won it for us. All we have to do is continue in Jesus by our faith.
Jesus is the Son of God and all humans must go "through" him if they desire to reverse the death we are born into. Death reigned through that one man, (Adam) how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. (Rom 5:17) This verse also points out that saving grace does not stand alone. Salvation also includes the reign of righteousness in a person's life. Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation...and he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning (of our creation) and the firstborn from among the dead. (Col 1:15-18) We follow the Savior who was the first person to break free from the grip that death held on humans.
For some reason people tend to think there is nothing for them to be involved with concerning their salvation. Although Jesus provided everything for our salvation, we have a great responsibility to stand beside Him and render all cooperation. He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight without blemish and free from accusation -- if you continue in your faith, established and firm. (Col 1:22,23) Paul told us many times that we should be devoted to the work of Jesus. To make a long list of requirements short, the work of Jesus is Love.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. (Col 2:23-24) Most of us do not serve Jesus by thinking of the reward but it is certainly waiting for the faithful.
Paul said this in one of his letters, If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, (Phil 2:1) This connects the Savior with the Spirit in a loving way. Earlier mention was made of the individual persons of God working together. In this verse the Spirit brings us comfort from God as we serve. If we appreciate the love of Jesus then there will be spiritual fellowship in our life. If by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Rom 8:13,14)
You must allow all three persons of God to do their work in you.
It is God the Father who makes us eternally alive. I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself...For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. (John 5:19-21) We can see in this verse how the individual persons of God work together. The Father makes us alive through Jesus and we have spiritual existence in the Spirit of God.
In His love, the Father regards humans enough to continue their life forever. In His desire to save humans, God uses His two strong arms...Jesus and the Spirit. God is not rebuilding the old creation. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Cor 5:17-18) Everything we have comes from God and is far beyond our capabilities.
In some future day all things will be made new. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. (2 Pet 3:12, 13) How exciting to know that everything in eternity is available simply by our faith in God. Abraham is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed-- the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. (Rom 4:17)
Having faith that the Spirit can live in us and direct our new eternal life, is certainly "believing things as though they were." We are being offered victory in this life for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4) Our victory is certain because Jesus has already won it for us. All we have to do is continue in Jesus by our faith.
Jesus is the Son of God and all humans must go "through" him if they desire to reverse the death we are born into. Death reigned through that one man, (Adam) how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. (Rom 5:17) This verse also points out that saving grace does not stand alone. Salvation also includes the reign of righteousness in a person's life. Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation...and he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning (of our creation) and the firstborn from among the dead. (Col 1:15-18) We follow the Savior who was the first person to break free from the grip that death held on humans.
For some reason people tend to think there is nothing for them to be involved with concerning their salvation. Although Jesus provided everything for our salvation, we have a great responsibility to stand beside Him and render all cooperation. He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight without blemish and free from accusation -- if you continue in your faith, established and firm. (Col 1:22,23) Paul told us many times that we should be devoted to the work of Jesus. To make a long list of requirements short, the work of Jesus is Love.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. (Col 2:23-24) Most of us do not serve Jesus by thinking of the reward but it is certainly waiting for the faithful.
Paul said this in one of his letters, If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, (Phil 2:1) This connects the Savior with the Spirit in a loving way. Earlier mention was made of the individual persons of God working together. In this verse the Spirit brings us comfort from God as we serve. If we appreciate the love of Jesus then there will be spiritual fellowship in our life. If by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Rom 8:13,14)
You must allow all three persons of God to do their work in you.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Seven Pillars of Christianity-Pillar Five-Light to the World-Part 1
In this world of darkness, Jesus has given us the privilege of being a light which can witness to the truth of God. Our Lord said, let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven. (Matt 5:16) In the Scriptures, the light represents the presence of God and all life comes from his light. The light of God has ability to dispel darkness which depicts sin and death. As children of light we are ambassadors for the reconciliation of God who lives in us and appeal to others through us.
In a classic passage of Romans we are asked the question, how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? (Rom 10:14) We have been granted the responsibility of giving the gospel to everyone in conjunction with the Holy Spirit. The purpose of the Christian life is to become God's light to fallen mankind and to glorify Him in our walk.
People need Christians who will share the gospel because although natural man has the capacity to observe the existence of God, he does not have the ability to join the everlasting King. Some folks even have a spiritual yearning which if followed can only lead them to serve God in some unacceptable way. Sometimes people even attempt to be their own God. There are beautiful people who do good things here on earth but without the Lord these things have no eternal value. Somehow we must tell them that their involvement in the everyday details of life can easily lead to the destruction of their soul.
When people live in their own way, they can be unconsciously disobedient to God and will pay the price someday. Paul said that Jesus will come taking vengeance on them that know not God. (2 Thess 1:8) Just not knowing Him is all it takes to put a person in eternal Hell. The Almighty's ways are so far above us, that our wisdom is foolishness in His world. It is impossible for any person to relate with the Divine Creator until God's Spirit reveals himself to them personally. We must warn everyone of the danger.
The truth of God is the light that shines out from a Christian and alerts the world that there is a better path for man to follow. This was plainly shown to the disciples before Jesus left the earth, the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the father, he shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness.(John 15:26)
In a classic passage of Romans we are asked the question, how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? (Rom 10:14) We have been granted the responsibility of giving the gospel to everyone in conjunction with the Holy Spirit. The purpose of the Christian life is to become God's light to fallen mankind and to glorify Him in our walk.
People need Christians who will share the gospel because although natural man has the capacity to observe the existence of God, he does not have the ability to join the everlasting King. Some folks even have a spiritual yearning which if followed can only lead them to serve God in some unacceptable way. Sometimes people even attempt to be their own God. There are beautiful people who do good things here on earth but without the Lord these things have no eternal value. Somehow we must tell them that their involvement in the everyday details of life can easily lead to the destruction of their soul.
When people live in their own way, they can be unconsciously disobedient to God and will pay the price someday. Paul said that Jesus will come taking vengeance on them that know not God. (2 Thess 1:8) Just not knowing Him is all it takes to put a person in eternal Hell. The Almighty's ways are so far above us, that our wisdom is foolishness in His world. It is impossible for any person to relate with the Divine Creator until God's Spirit reveals himself to them personally. We must warn everyone of the danger.
The truth of God is the light that shines out from a Christian and alerts the world that there is a better path for man to follow. This was plainly shown to the disciples before Jesus left the earth, the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the father, he shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness.(John 15:26)
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Christian Perseverance
There is a great purpose for serving God. We are not discussing the purpose here, but part of believing in God is to share in his purpose. The idea that there is nothing we can do for God has caused much damage to Christian lives. The Bible gives us a whole new life full of things to do here on this earth.
Paul not only stayed busy for God but also he was looking for a reward for his work. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. (1 Cor 9:23-24) Some people think that they will enter Heaven simply because they have certain ideas in their head. God's Kingdom is not about our ideas. Only people who dedicate their life to His cause will enter. Yes, there is a thief on the cross but what makes you like him?
Although we are talking about pressing on of our own volition, it is usually necessary to point out to some believers that God actually requires that we work for Him. James tells us quite frankly that faith in Jesus alone is not enough. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made completeby what he did. (James 2:20-22)
If we have never stepped out in faith for God when everything was screaming don't do it, then we should go to God and ask him to forgive us. When we talk of perseverance, it is about people who have sold out their life for God.
One of the strongest places in the Word of God, highlighting the necessity of pressing on is the messages to the seven churches in Revelation. The word "overcome" is the only word repeated for all seven churches.
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life. (Rev 2:7)
He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. (Rev 2:11)
To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. (Rev 2:17)
To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations. (Rev 2:26)
He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life. (Rev 3:5)
Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. (Rev 3:12)
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne. (Rev 3:21)
He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. (Rev 21:7)
What a wonderful reward for overcoming. How do unclean humans ever reach such a clean place? We must hold fast to our hope because it is real.
This world is not our home and we must press on toward our heavenly home. Paul instructed us to be workmen; Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (2 Tim 2:15) Successful workers are those who finish the job. With the spirit living in us, we are capable of God's approval.
Paul not only stayed busy for God but also he was looking for a reward for his work. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. (1 Cor 9:23-24) Some people think that they will enter Heaven simply because they have certain ideas in their head. God's Kingdom is not about our ideas. Only people who dedicate their life to His cause will enter. Yes, there is a thief on the cross but what makes you like him?
Although we are talking about pressing on of our own volition, it is usually necessary to point out to some believers that God actually requires that we work for Him. James tells us quite frankly that faith in Jesus alone is not enough. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made completeby what he did. (James 2:20-22)
If we have never stepped out in faith for God when everything was screaming don't do it, then we should go to God and ask him to forgive us. When we talk of perseverance, it is about people who have sold out their life for God.
One of the strongest places in the Word of God, highlighting the necessity of pressing on is the messages to the seven churches in Revelation. The word "overcome" is the only word repeated for all seven churches.
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life. (Rev 2:7)
He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. (Rev 2:11)
To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. (Rev 2:17)
To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations. (Rev 2:26)
He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life. (Rev 3:5)
Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. (Rev 3:12)
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne. (Rev 3:21)
He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. (Rev 21:7)
What a wonderful reward for overcoming. How do unclean humans ever reach such a clean place? We must hold fast to our hope because it is real.
This world is not our home and we must press on toward our heavenly home. Paul instructed us to be workmen; Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (2 Tim 2:15) Successful workers are those who finish the job. With the spirit living in us, we are capable of God's approval.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Seven Pillars of Christianity-Pillar Four - Prayer - Part 3
In our culture there is very little time for meditation; but in the past it was an important part of life. Our lives would change if we cancelled some worldly activities and took the time to meditate.
King David had more to say about meditation than anyone else in the scriptures. He must have picked up the habit as a young shepherd with time on his hands. Samuel said that David was a man after God's own heart before he went to anoint him as king. With proper meditation we will find ourselves in agreement with the heart of God and love will flow through us. We can contemplate the deeds of God in the past and it will fill our hearts with assurance. Every day we should think of all the good deeds God is working in and around us. This strengthens our walk of righteousness and allows us to help others.
David also said that he meditated on the statutes and precepts of God and this kept him on the straight and narrow path. God never changes and we must pray that our meditations will be acceptable to Him.
In the book of Acts, we find several references to prayer and the part it plays in a victorious Christian life. The narratives about the first Christians show us how we are to love God and depend on Him for help in our everyday life. Sometimes we find barriers to prayer such as ridicule, fear, jealousy, pride, greed or many other things. The Lord wants us to continue to call out in prayer no matter what problems we face. the centurion was told, thy prayers and thy alms are come up for a memorial before God. (Acts 10:4) Some of the prayers in the Bible give us an idea of the power of the Holy Spirit has to reach out and save people, even with signs and wonders at times. When Paul's jailer saw how God's power had caused an earthquake, he fell down and cried out Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (Acts 16:30) Without prayer most people would never have heard the gospel of the good news about Jesus.
An important point to remember is that all prayers are to be said in the name of Jesus. Several times Jesus said, whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13) The main purpose Jesus had in coming to earth was to glorify his father by bringing fallen people into a relationship with the Almighty. God the Father is love and his generosity toward us is felt when we pray with a clean heart. During our communion with Him we reach the highest level of activity in which the human soul may participate. Jesus is the high priest of our covenant with God and He has granted us the privilege of approach to him at any time.
When our life is centered in Jesus, we will always have communication with Him because there is no way to please God with our own power. A Christian must believe that every prayer will be answered within the perfect plan of God.
King David had more to say about meditation than anyone else in the scriptures. He must have picked up the habit as a young shepherd with time on his hands. Samuel said that David was a man after God's own heart before he went to anoint him as king. With proper meditation we will find ourselves in agreement with the heart of God and love will flow through us. We can contemplate the deeds of God in the past and it will fill our hearts with assurance. Every day we should think of all the good deeds God is working in and around us. This strengthens our walk of righteousness and allows us to help others.
David also said that he meditated on the statutes and precepts of God and this kept him on the straight and narrow path. God never changes and we must pray that our meditations will be acceptable to Him.
In the book of Acts, we find several references to prayer and the part it plays in a victorious Christian life. The narratives about the first Christians show us how we are to love God and depend on Him for help in our everyday life. Sometimes we find barriers to prayer such as ridicule, fear, jealousy, pride, greed or many other things. The Lord wants us to continue to call out in prayer no matter what problems we face. the centurion was told, thy prayers and thy alms are come up for a memorial before God. (Acts 10:4) Some of the prayers in the Bible give us an idea of the power of the Holy Spirit has to reach out and save people, even with signs and wonders at times. When Paul's jailer saw how God's power had caused an earthquake, he fell down and cried out Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (Acts 16:30) Without prayer most people would never have heard the gospel of the good news about Jesus.
An important point to remember is that all prayers are to be said in the name of Jesus. Several times Jesus said, whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13) The main purpose Jesus had in coming to earth was to glorify his father by bringing fallen people into a relationship with the Almighty. God the Father is love and his generosity toward us is felt when we pray with a clean heart. During our communion with Him we reach the highest level of activity in which the human soul may participate. Jesus is the high priest of our covenant with God and He has granted us the privilege of approach to him at any time.
When our life is centered in Jesus, we will always have communication with Him because there is no way to please God with our own power. A Christian must believe that every prayer will be answered within the perfect plan of God.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Dying to Self
Some Christians have been taught that it is alright to participate in worldly activities if we simply dedicate them to God. This is dead wrong. Worldly activities always lead us away from God. This is one reason there is so much apathy in many Christians today. The Scripture tells us that we have been crucified with Jesus. A Christian is not part of this world.
Read what Paul said about a Christian life, For we who are alive (born again) are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. (2 Cor 4:11) This death in Jesus really upsets some believers who would like to serve God better but they cannot understand why death is important. However, the scripture does explain the two biggest reasons that we should die, our sin and the law.
We must first accept that our old self must die to make room for the new life brought into us by the Spirit. To explain the first part of our death we look at Romans chapter six. We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized in his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ as raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Rom 6:2-4) To put our sins in the proper place we must become involved with the new life that is available to a Christian. When we are active with the things of God we have not time for sin or our old lifestyle. Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Rom 6:11) This works until we begin to run our new life in Jesus with a set of rules that we feel will make us righteous. This will cause us to become self-righteous.
When a believer realizes they have become self-righteous it is time for the second part of our death. Romans chapter seven goes into great detail about how we must now die to the Law. Most people easily understand the need to die from sin but it is harder to recognize the need to die from the Law, because it is righteous. So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead. (Rom 7:4) Note that this verse says "also died" meaning that this is in addition to our death to sin. When we live by an Law we become self-righteous because we feel that we are strong. Our strength is not good enough so the answer is to live in Jesus who must be Lord of our life.
The wonder of our total freedom is a problem for humans. Of course, many people abuse this freedom by thinking their freedom is to be used any way they see fit. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our freedom is what we offer to God to be used as HE SEES FIT.
Now we understand Romans chapter eight, which spells out the final answer for us. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus is the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.(Rom 8:1-2) Here is our new Law that is brought in to our life when we yield to the Spirit of God. In other words, a servant of Christ must come out from under the Law of Sin (by death) and from under the Law (by death) in order to live under the Law of the Spirit.
It takes humility to live this new life directed by the Spirit of Love. Humility for a Christian is yielding to the ways of God. It is offensive to God when we live our new life with our own power. Learning to trust the Spirit to guide our lives is a full time job. However, this is the only way to reach God because He is great and we are so small.
Yield to the Spirit of Christ today and begin your life in His victory.
Read what Paul said about a Christian life, For we who are alive (born again) are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. (2 Cor 4:11) This death in Jesus really upsets some believers who would like to serve God better but they cannot understand why death is important. However, the scripture does explain the two biggest reasons that we should die, our sin and the law.
We must first accept that our old self must die to make room for the new life brought into us by the Spirit. To explain the first part of our death we look at Romans chapter six. We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized in his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ as raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Rom 6:2-4) To put our sins in the proper place we must become involved with the new life that is available to a Christian. When we are active with the things of God we have not time for sin or our old lifestyle. Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Rom 6:11) This works until we begin to run our new life in Jesus with a set of rules that we feel will make us righteous. This will cause us to become self-righteous.
When a believer realizes they have become self-righteous it is time for the second part of our death. Romans chapter seven goes into great detail about how we must now die to the Law. Most people easily understand the need to die from sin but it is harder to recognize the need to die from the Law, because it is righteous. So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead. (Rom 7:4) Note that this verse says "also died" meaning that this is in addition to our death to sin. When we live by an Law we become self-righteous because we feel that we are strong. Our strength is not good enough so the answer is to live in Jesus who must be Lord of our life.
The wonder of our total freedom is a problem for humans. Of course, many people abuse this freedom by thinking their freedom is to be used any way they see fit. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our freedom is what we offer to God to be used as HE SEES FIT.
Now we understand Romans chapter eight, which spells out the final answer for us. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus is the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.(Rom 8:1-2) Here is our new Law that is brought in to our life when we yield to the Spirit of God. In other words, a servant of Christ must come out from under the Law of Sin (by death) and from under the Law (by death) in order to live under the Law of the Spirit.
It takes humility to live this new life directed by the Spirit of Love. Humility for a Christian is yielding to the ways of God. It is offensive to God when we live our new life with our own power. Learning to trust the Spirit to guide our lives is a full time job. However, this is the only way to reach God because He is great and we are so small.
Yield to the Spirit of Christ today and begin your life in His victory.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Seven Pillars of Christianity-Pillar Four - Prayer - Part 2
Our prayers are directed to God every day and His spirit is talking to us continually yet Jesus gave us the concept of fasting. One way to think of this time without food is as if you were supercharging your prayers. When we don't eat we can be come humble and our reliance on God is much greater. This time of leaning on God will bring the response from Him that we need. It is easier to hear Him because we have temporarily set aside the things of the world. The fast also causes our soul to become more sensitive and we will receive God's guidance without our normal resistance. This self-control is sure to please God by showing our sincerity.
The subject of confession also has its place here in the pillar of prayer. One type of confession is for us to declare who we serve by giving Him praise and thanksgiving. This done in an outward expression so that other people will hear about the glory of our God.
Another type of confession happens when a sinner is repenting and seeking salvation. He will make his confession to other people by telling of his new revelation and faith in Jesus. There must be confession of wrong doings after conversion in order to receive forgiveness and this is ordinarily done in private prayer. John wrote, If we confess our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) Any hindrance of our prayers is a matter of concern and must not be allowed to stay an obstacle in communication with our heavenly father.
There are concepts the Bible teaches us about prayer that seem exceptional about our relationship God. In one parable that Jesus gave us, a woman went to an unjust judge repeatedly in order get what she wanted. The lesson being taught here is to have tenacity in our prayers. We usually have the idea that the Lord will do what He wants and we have no say at all. God has the ability to grant our urgent requests and at the same time He will accomplish His purpose.
Jesus introduced another interesting principle when the fig tree died after he cursed it. At the end of the story, Jesus said that a mountain will throw itself into the sea if we have real faith when we give our directions. Apparently it is possible to live a life of abandonment unto God, that our words will contain enough power to cause the things we say to come about. Jesus knew that each request he made would be granted by God and he tell us when we pray, believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them. (Mark 11:24)
Our need for faith is understandable but also said that we must forgive people who have wronged us. God will only heed our prayers after we have forgiven those who have wronged us, therefore forgiveness is equally important as our faith. When we forgive others a peace comes into our lives and Jesus came to earth as our example of forgiveness.
Jesus taught in the story of the publican and the Pharisee that even our attitude is important. If we are not humble and repentant, God will not listen to our prayers and we should not expect any answer. The Almighty has planned everything to work perfectly and we must strive to stay in step with Him. The Spirit will reveal anything to us as we do not understand, to show us the way of God.
The subject of confession also has its place here in the pillar of prayer. One type of confession is for us to declare who we serve by giving Him praise and thanksgiving. This done in an outward expression so that other people will hear about the glory of our God.
Another type of confession happens when a sinner is repenting and seeking salvation. He will make his confession to other people by telling of his new revelation and faith in Jesus. There must be confession of wrong doings after conversion in order to receive forgiveness and this is ordinarily done in private prayer. John wrote, If we confess our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) Any hindrance of our prayers is a matter of concern and must not be allowed to stay an obstacle in communication with our heavenly father.
There are concepts the Bible teaches us about prayer that seem exceptional about our relationship God. In one parable that Jesus gave us, a woman went to an unjust judge repeatedly in order get what she wanted. The lesson being taught here is to have tenacity in our prayers. We usually have the idea that the Lord will do what He wants and we have no say at all. God has the ability to grant our urgent requests and at the same time He will accomplish His purpose.
Jesus introduced another interesting principle when the fig tree died after he cursed it. At the end of the story, Jesus said that a mountain will throw itself into the sea if we have real faith when we give our directions. Apparently it is possible to live a life of abandonment unto God, that our words will contain enough power to cause the things we say to come about. Jesus knew that each request he made would be granted by God and he tell us when we pray, believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them. (Mark 11:24)
Our need for faith is understandable but also said that we must forgive people who have wronged us. God will only heed our prayers after we have forgiven those who have wronged us, therefore forgiveness is equally important as our faith. When we forgive others a peace comes into our lives and Jesus came to earth as our example of forgiveness.
Jesus taught in the story of the publican and the Pharisee that even our attitude is important. If we are not humble and repentant, God will not listen to our prayers and we should not expect any answer. The Almighty has planned everything to work perfectly and we must strive to stay in step with Him. The Spirit will reveal anything to us as we do not understand, to show us the way of God.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Know Ye Not
Men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. (1 Cor. 4:1,2) It is difficult to write about the fact of our responsibilities in this day and age. The American church has proclaimed God’s grace so loudly that no one can hear the quiet call of our duty. None of us wants to take anything away from grace but we do have responsibilities in our “contract” with God. Hard as it is to believe, God has faith in us. When Paul wrote to us in the book of Corinthians, he used the phrase “know ye not” to tell us something was a basic fact. Unfortunately, people have a predisposition to be cavalier with the truth of God. We must not allow our life in this world to outrank any instruction God has given us. Be faithful to Jesus.
A temple is usually a beautiful place where the worshipper is uplifted. Regardless of our appearance, we are to live as a beautiful person where the Spirit is without shame. Our clean life is the place where we are uplifted as God’s Spirit meets our needs. The Scripture says, Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body. (1 Cor 6:19,20) It is imperative that our physical life be kept clean because we have connected with God. Verse 17 says it, this way, But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Jesus became a human for the purpose of our connection with God Almighty.
In the clean temple of God there should be as little worldly talk as possible. It is a Holy place. When Christians get together, we should be rejoicing in what Jesus has done and is doing for us. Your boasting (about worldly things) is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Cor 5:6-8) The truth of a real Christian life is that we are no longer a part of this world. In our clean and uncluttered temple, let us eat of Jesus Christ and him only.
Because we are not living the correct way, Paul says to each of us, “know ye not.” This simple message deserves some response by every Christian. These are the last days of the “age of grace.” Please don’t be left without oil in your lamp.
A temple is usually a beautiful place where the worshipper is uplifted. Regardless of our appearance, we are to live as a beautiful person where the Spirit is without shame. Our clean life is the place where we are uplifted as God’s Spirit meets our needs. The Scripture says, Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body. (1 Cor 6:19,20) It is imperative that our physical life be kept clean because we have connected with God. Verse 17 says it, this way, But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Jesus became a human for the purpose of our connection with God Almighty.
In the clean temple of God there should be as little worldly talk as possible. It is a Holy place. When Christians get together, we should be rejoicing in what Jesus has done and is doing for us. Your boasting (about worldly things) is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Cor 5:6-8) The truth of a real Christian life is that we are no longer a part of this world. In our clean and uncluttered temple, let us eat of Jesus Christ and him only.
Because we are not living the correct way, Paul says to each of us, “know ye not.” This simple message deserves some response by every Christian. These are the last days of the “age of grace.” Please don’t be left without oil in your lamp.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Never Surrender
Life is a wonderful series of choices and decisions. Some of them are easy but most are difficult. The wonderful part is that we are allowed to make them all ourselves. Many people feel that something is choosing for them but these people are not accepting responsibility for their eternal life. It takes courage to make correct decisions. As believers, we must “not” let our choices be made under any influence of the Devil (the father of sin and death). If we do not make our own decisions, the Devil has already made them for us. In effect, the evil ruler of this earth is asking us every day if we are ready to surrender. The Devil even came to the Savior and asked him to surrender during his days of temptation. The scripture tells us to be like Jesus. He did not give-in to the Devil one single time. This means we can never surrender to our antagonist.
Surrendering is the voluntary act of giving up or walking away. There were Old Testament believers that wanted to give-up but sometimes it can be hard to surrender. So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long. But if I say, “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. (Jer 20:8,9) Poor old Jeremiah was tired of unpopularity and wanted to quit working for God. Later, God disclosed to Jeremiah that someday Israel would receive this unrelenting power of the Spirit in their life. I will make an everlasting covenant with them… and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. (Jer 32:40) The Lord tells us that when the Spirit is allowed to direct our life that we will never turn away.
Our battle is on more than one front. Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. (Jude 3) It is unpopular but our job is to teach about the blood of Jesus and a Holy life for all believers. Another struggle is apathy, a terrible plague that has spread among the churches of America. Materialism grips the church so tightly that our drive to fight has been anesthetized. Apathy must not win the war. It is time for us to wake-up and fight for the truth. Jesus said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. (Luke 13:24) Apathy is sending millions to Hell. We must learn that it does take effort to enter Heaven.
Hang on to the boat of salvation and do not surrender to the storm. See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—even eternal life. (I John 2:24,25) The Scriptures encourages Christians to persist in their faith by returning to the fundamental Gospel message. Intelligence can work against our belief at times so we must resolve to live totally by faith. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Mark 13:13) Do not surrender to the world. Those of us that refuse to give-up will have peace when we live with the Lord. The completion of our salvation will be the fulfillment of our dreams. Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 15:57).
Surrendering is the voluntary act of giving up or walking away. There were Old Testament believers that wanted to give-up but sometimes it can be hard to surrender. So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long. But if I say, “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. (Jer 20:8,9) Poor old Jeremiah was tired of unpopularity and wanted to quit working for God. Later, God disclosed to Jeremiah that someday Israel would receive this unrelenting power of the Spirit in their life. I will make an everlasting covenant with them… and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. (Jer 32:40) The Lord tells us that when the Spirit is allowed to direct our life that we will never turn away.
Our battle is on more than one front. Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. (Jude 3) It is unpopular but our job is to teach about the blood of Jesus and a Holy life for all believers. Another struggle is apathy, a terrible plague that has spread among the churches of America. Materialism grips the church so tightly that our drive to fight has been anesthetized. Apathy must not win the war. It is time for us to wake-up and fight for the truth. Jesus said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. (Luke 13:24) Apathy is sending millions to Hell. We must learn that it does take effort to enter Heaven.
Hang on to the boat of salvation and do not surrender to the storm. See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—even eternal life. (I John 2:24,25) The Scriptures encourages Christians to persist in their faith by returning to the fundamental Gospel message. Intelligence can work against our belief at times so we must resolve to live totally by faith. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Mark 13:13) Do not surrender to the world. Those of us that refuse to give-up will have peace when we live with the Lord. The completion of our salvation will be the fulfillment of our dreams. Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 15:57).
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Seven Pillars of Christianity-Pillar Four - Prayer - Part 1
Prayer is central to everything in our Christian life and we find the pillar of prayer located in the middle of the seven columns. If we persevere in prayer many things in our life will change and this is evidence that God is living in us. Paul commanded the people of "The Way" to continually pray, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. (Eph 6:18)
Our instructions are to make continual prayers and we are told of our responsibility to pray for others. Many times the word intercession is used when we pray on behalf of others. We should feel compassion when we seek God for others because both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are interceding on our behalf. In Romans chapter eight we read that the Spirit is praying for us and then it says, Christ...who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Ro 8:34) God has granted us the privilege of prayer and we should enjoy talking to Him about the people He lays on our heart.
One powerful effect of praying for others is that our love for the people around us will continue to grow as we present their problems to the Lord. Seeing changes in the lives of others will strengthen our own faith.
Worship is a part of prayer and many people in the Scriptures demonstrate how to exalt our Lord. The scholars tell us that the roots of the word "worship" are found in the master/servant relationship. In America we have a difficult time understanding the feelings a person will have in the presence of the king. Some people will lose the strength in their legs and fall to the floor. The greatness of a good master will bring a response of awe, reverence and adoring. Humble servants feel a need to express their gratitude and love. Worship is about praise for who God is and thanksgiving for what He has done.
As God's servants we can expect to feel worship in our souls and sometimes it will flow out into the physical. May we learn to worship our God for He is worthy.
Our instructions are to make continual prayers and we are told of our responsibility to pray for others. Many times the word intercession is used when we pray on behalf of others. We should feel compassion when we seek God for others because both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are interceding on our behalf. In Romans chapter eight we read that the Spirit is praying for us and then it says, Christ...who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Ro 8:34) God has granted us the privilege of prayer and we should enjoy talking to Him about the people He lays on our heart.
One powerful effect of praying for others is that our love for the people around us will continue to grow as we present their problems to the Lord. Seeing changes in the lives of others will strengthen our own faith.
Worship is a part of prayer and many people in the Scriptures demonstrate how to exalt our Lord. The scholars tell us that the roots of the word "worship" are found in the master/servant relationship. In America we have a difficult time understanding the feelings a person will have in the presence of the king. Some people will lose the strength in their legs and fall to the floor. The greatness of a good master will bring a response of awe, reverence and adoring. Humble servants feel a need to express their gratitude and love. Worship is about praise for who God is and thanksgiving for what He has done.
As God's servants we can expect to feel worship in our souls and sometimes it will flow out into the physical. May we learn to worship our God for He is worthy.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Seven Pillars of Christianity-Pillar Three-Holy Living-Part 3
Obedience to God will always lead to a strong desire for his righteousness. The light and peace that is brought into our lives will stay with us into eternity. When we obey God there is a consecration that effects our whole way of living and we will be occupied with an unbelievable purpose. Until a person walks with God they have no idea about the purpose of life. People of this world fill their lives with things that will all be burned up someday and they shall spend eternity possessing nothing.
We know that our job is to imitate Jesus so that our life will please God. Paul's statement about living in the Spirit has manifest meaning, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such things there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh. (Gal 5:24) Notice that the flesh must be crucified if we are going to produce good fruit.
It is possible to live a beautiful life of holiness and enjoy that life because the Holy Spirit dwells in us. There is sometimes a negative response from the people around you when this change in your life is observed. Jesus addressed this problem when He prayed for his disciples, these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them they word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world. (John 17:14) When the world does not like us, it is still feasible to have the joy of the Lord in our life every day. Believers must not say that living a holy life is too difficult because Jesus promised to help us, blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6) Our faith will give us access to the things God has for us. The new life we live is totally different from a life in this world. Paul said it this way, they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (Rom 8:5) We must trust our Lord to give us a holy life just as we trust Him for our salvation.
People in the world talk about obtaining a new lifestyle in order to revitalize themselves. That is certainly possible when a person accepts the holy life of Jesus, they not only enjoy a new life here but gain life forever. It is not possible to inform a new Christian what their life will look like because each person has an individual path to follow. There are some things Christians all have in common and we should attempt to comfort one another any way possible.
When we reach Heaven some day, there is a place of honor waiting for us. Most of us don't have any idea what a place of honor feels like but because we reflect God's glory here on earth, honor will be ours in eternity. We know that every good thing God has for us will last forever and this makes our holy life more valuable than we can imagine. The peace we receive as we walk with God is another part of this new life that has great worth. This gift of peace enables us to enjoy life here on earth under all conditions and it will carry over into eternity. In the book of Revelation we read about our new home town with streets of gold and this attests to the beauty we will enjoy. In addition to peace, beauty and honor we will have millions of friends who will never cause us any pain, but will always have our best interest at heart.
Our set apart life is the beginning of something beautiful that will take us into the next world and we will be prepared to dwell with God in eternity.
We know that our job is to imitate Jesus so that our life will please God. Paul's statement about living in the Spirit has manifest meaning, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such things there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh. (Gal 5:24) Notice that the flesh must be crucified if we are going to produce good fruit.
It is possible to live a beautiful life of holiness and enjoy that life because the Holy Spirit dwells in us. There is sometimes a negative response from the people around you when this change in your life is observed. Jesus addressed this problem when He prayed for his disciples, these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them they word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world. (John 17:14) When the world does not like us, it is still feasible to have the joy of the Lord in our life every day. Believers must not say that living a holy life is too difficult because Jesus promised to help us, blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6) Our faith will give us access to the things God has for us. The new life we live is totally different from a life in this world. Paul said it this way, they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (Rom 8:5) We must trust our Lord to give us a holy life just as we trust Him for our salvation.
People in the world talk about obtaining a new lifestyle in order to revitalize themselves. That is certainly possible when a person accepts the holy life of Jesus, they not only enjoy a new life here but gain life forever. It is not possible to inform a new Christian what their life will look like because each person has an individual path to follow. There are some things Christians all have in common and we should attempt to comfort one another any way possible.
When we reach Heaven some day, there is a place of honor waiting for us. Most of us don't have any idea what a place of honor feels like but because we reflect God's glory here on earth, honor will be ours in eternity. We know that every good thing God has for us will last forever and this makes our holy life more valuable than we can imagine. The peace we receive as we walk with God is another part of this new life that has great worth. This gift of peace enables us to enjoy life here on earth under all conditions and it will carry over into eternity. In the book of Revelation we read about our new home town with streets of gold and this attests to the beauty we will enjoy. In addition to peace, beauty and honor we will have millions of friends who will never cause us any pain, but will always have our best interest at heart.
Our set apart life is the beginning of something beautiful that will take us into the next world and we will be prepared to dwell with God in eternity.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Selected By God
There are humans that will someday leave this universe to live in a majestic new home. They are the privileged few that have been accepted for a life of beauty and love in a massive city called Heaven. The ruler of this grand metropolis is God the Father. His plans for this city were made long before the creation of our own world. God knew what kind of people would eventually become His family. Have you ever wondered what kind of a family you would have picked? Anyway, God knew exactly who he needed because only Holy beings can exist in His home. The English word “predestinate” does not exist in the original Bible. A translation of this Greek word is “I have set boundaries ahead of time”. We must understand that the main reason for our selection is to meet a standard.
Our language is creating some misunderstanding. Some folks like to say that God chooses his children. What is not being said, in this statement, is what kind of children. They are not little babies. Babies cannot live within boundaries. God is adopting people with cognitive powers who are willing to live a Holy life. The question now becomes, how can we accomplish this Holy life. The Scripture says, Those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many (Holy) brothers. (Ro 8:28,29) This verse plainly states that people who love God will be conformed to the likeness of God’s son. This is the boundary that was set for us.
A long time ago, God gave us Jesus Christ who gave his blood to redeem people from there sin. Our Savior is the tremendous act of grace that allowed the salvation process to proceed. Remember that we are not talking about walking to the front of a Church. What we need for Heaven is walking with God in a Holy life. This actually takes another act of incredible grace. After Jesus returned to heaven, God sent his Holy Spirit to live inside of us. This enables the children of God to conform to the likeness of Jesus. There is no other way to have the will God revealed to us. In order to live a godly life we must have this information available through the Spirit.
Many people misunderstand this plan of God and it is sad that the good news has been distorted. God’s will is to complete the creation age by receiving his family to Himself and judging all others that do not receive the truth. Out of all the creations of God, we are the Holy ones selected to be his family. We are selected to be a Glory to the Almighty forever. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Ro (8:30) The people that God knows will live within the set boundaries, God calls, and He makes them clean so they enter into the Glory of His Son. The Holy people who are the body of Christ are the inheritance of God. They are guaranteed a glorious eternity.
If this truth is difficult to understand it is because only a spirit filled person is given the meaning of it. Paul said it this way, We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”— but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. (1 Cor 2:9-9)
The Lord will bless those who trust in His truth.
Our language is creating some misunderstanding. Some folks like to say that God chooses his children. What is not being said, in this statement, is what kind of children. They are not little babies. Babies cannot live within boundaries. God is adopting people with cognitive powers who are willing to live a Holy life. The question now becomes, how can we accomplish this Holy life. The Scripture says, Those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many (Holy) brothers. (Ro 8:28,29) This verse plainly states that people who love God will be conformed to the likeness of God’s son. This is the boundary that was set for us.
A long time ago, God gave us Jesus Christ who gave his blood to redeem people from there sin. Our Savior is the tremendous act of grace that allowed the salvation process to proceed. Remember that we are not talking about walking to the front of a Church. What we need for Heaven is walking with God in a Holy life. This actually takes another act of incredible grace. After Jesus returned to heaven, God sent his Holy Spirit to live inside of us. This enables the children of God to conform to the likeness of Jesus. There is no other way to have the will God revealed to us. In order to live a godly life we must have this information available through the Spirit.
Many people misunderstand this plan of God and it is sad that the good news has been distorted. God’s will is to complete the creation age by receiving his family to Himself and judging all others that do not receive the truth. Out of all the creations of God, we are the Holy ones selected to be his family. We are selected to be a Glory to the Almighty forever. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Ro (8:30) The people that God knows will live within the set boundaries, God calls, and He makes them clean so they enter into the Glory of His Son. The Holy people who are the body of Christ are the inheritance of God. They are guaranteed a glorious eternity.
If this truth is difficult to understand it is because only a spirit filled person is given the meaning of it. Paul said it this way, We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”— but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. (1 Cor 2:9-9)
The Lord will bless those who trust in His truth.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Intellect and Faith
A mistake that religious people are making today is substituting their intellect and reason for the anointing of God. The fall of humans at the beginning of our age came with this promise You will be like God, knowing good and evil. This allows people to consider everything in their own conscience before acting on it. This may be good for our independence but we must make an effort not to be independent of God. When humans found out about the gospel plan, they began to believe that their comprehension of religion was what it takes to please with God. Nothing could be more wrong.
People are saved by faith, which means that intellect will only lead them in the opposite direction. Do you believe that the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom? Christians must live and experience God's truth in order to know it. A very long time ago, Augustine said, "I believe in order that I may understand." We must not believe that the Spirit will teach us spiritual truths by revealing the mysteries first to our intellect and then in our experience. God's way is contrary to this thinking. Following Jesus and His truth in simple faith always means we experience Him first. Our correct understanding will usually come later.
Faith in the truth of God is following Jesus Christ. Many people today are not following the truth of God but believe they are following Jesus. This is naturally a failure to reach God because obedience is required by the Creator of our life. We must realize that success is Jesus Christ living through our experiences of faith. Look at what has been said about the Christian life:
Receive what you do no comprehend.
Submit to what you do not understand.
Expect what is a mystery to your reason.
Believe what appears impossible.
Living in a way that most do not.
After we have shown our faith to God and others, the Spirit will begin to retrain our conscience in the ways of God and then we will understand the things of God. What a wonderful peace comes into our life when we yield to the Spirit in this way.
Staying in Christ for the rest of our life should be the cry of each prayer. Believe it or not, the secret is ceasing from our efforts. When we quit trying to live by our own reason and efforts, it leaves room for the Spirit to show us the way to live. This takes trust, which is exactly what the Savior is looking for in His family. the Holy Spirit is working toward this new life in Christ. The Spirit is silently but surely guiding us into communion with God. The faith we use in our experiences is rewarded by the Spirit's light, revealing what the Lord has done in our life. This is the power of God in our life.
If we want the Spirit to teach us about Jesus we should consider the following:
Believe that the Spirit can work in us continually.
Believe that the Spirit has the power we need to stay in Christ.
Believe that it is impossible to live without the Spirit's help.
Believe that the filling of the Spirit is our daily portion.
Believe that the Holy Spirit is the bond of fellowship.
Believe that your faith can deliver you into the water of the river of life.
It should be plain that unbelief is what displeases God the most.
Living this new life makes it easy to feel the hop of His return. John says that continuing in Jesus is how we will be confident and unashamed before Him at his coming. 1 John 2:28 A Christian easily gives up loving the world and the things of the world because we know that this world and everything in it will pass away someday. God has promised eternal life to those who overcome this world in the name of Jesus Christ.
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! and that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. (1 John 3:1-3)
People are saved by faith, which means that intellect will only lead them in the opposite direction. Do you believe that the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom? Christians must live and experience God's truth in order to know it. A very long time ago, Augustine said, "I believe in order that I may understand." We must not believe that the Spirit will teach us spiritual truths by revealing the mysteries first to our intellect and then in our experience. God's way is contrary to this thinking. Following Jesus and His truth in simple faith always means we experience Him first. Our correct understanding will usually come later.
Faith in the truth of God is following Jesus Christ. Many people today are not following the truth of God but believe they are following Jesus. This is naturally a failure to reach God because obedience is required by the Creator of our life. We must realize that success is Jesus Christ living through our experiences of faith. Look at what has been said about the Christian life:
Receive what you do no comprehend.
Submit to what you do not understand.
Expect what is a mystery to your reason.
Believe what appears impossible.
Living in a way that most do not.
After we have shown our faith to God and others, the Spirit will begin to retrain our conscience in the ways of God and then we will understand the things of God. What a wonderful peace comes into our life when we yield to the Spirit in this way.
Staying in Christ for the rest of our life should be the cry of each prayer. Believe it or not, the secret is ceasing from our efforts. When we quit trying to live by our own reason and efforts, it leaves room for the Spirit to show us the way to live. This takes trust, which is exactly what the Savior is looking for in His family. the Holy Spirit is working toward this new life in Christ. The Spirit is silently but surely guiding us into communion with God. The faith we use in our experiences is rewarded by the Spirit's light, revealing what the Lord has done in our life. This is the power of God in our life.
If we want the Spirit to teach us about Jesus we should consider the following:
Believe that the Spirit can work in us continually.
Believe that the Spirit has the power we need to stay in Christ.
Believe that it is impossible to live without the Spirit's help.
Believe that the filling of the Spirit is our daily portion.
Believe that the Holy Spirit is the bond of fellowship.
Believe that your faith can deliver you into the water of the river of life.
It should be plain that unbelief is what displeases God the most.
Living this new life makes it easy to feel the hop of His return. John says that continuing in Jesus is how we will be confident and unashamed before Him at his coming. 1 John 2:28 A Christian easily gives up loving the world and the things of the world because we know that this world and everything in it will pass away someday. God has promised eternal life to those who overcome this world in the name of Jesus Christ.
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! and that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. (1 John 3:1-3)
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Seven Pillars of Christianity-Pillar Three-Holy Living-Part 2
The wonder of God's spirit living in us is beyond our understanding but there is no other way to know Him personally. King David wrote about God's intimate knowledge of our innermost being. We are to understand that every detail of our lives was known before God made the earth. The Spirit works within us having full knowledge of our needs in each situation. With His knowledge we are protected from the Devil and a temple for our God is maintained. Jesus in us, makes our life fit for service in God's army. Our Lord has asked us to help bring in the harvest and there is no time to waste.
We must be serious about living for our Creator and never abandon the truth which the Lord has revealed to us. Christians must use the discipline they find in their love of Jesus to train themselves in a life of Godliness. Each of us should be devoted to love, faith and purity. Paul asked Timothy to take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for doing this thous shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.(1 Tim 4:16)
Although the Spirit lives in us and urges us into holiness, it is also necessary for us to have a working knowledge of the Scriptures. The problems of our daily life give us the opportunity to trust the Lord for a spiritual solution. The understanding of Biblical principles which we have assimilated during our Christian walk, is the foundation the Spirit builds upon. Looking back on a problem's solution usually gives a better understanding of the power contained in the scriptures.
The process of setting a person apart from the world to be a child of God is called "sanctification". Perfect sanctification is to care only about the desires of God and abandoning all our own natural ways. Peter refers to this process and mentions the Trinities involvement, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:2) This verse tells us that sanctification is brought to us by the Spirit just as everything else is our spiritual life is through Him.
You will observe in this address of Peter's that obedience is the one word of instruction that is directed to us. This word is always our part in a relationship with God, and it reveals how necessary it is to have the Holy Spirit in us to help us understand what God wants us to do. Holiness does not come to us naturally, therefore it is essential that we obey God and learn to walk with His help. The Old Testament speaks of the beauty of holiness and we should desire to have this beauty in our lives.
Some church people find that they do not really desire the holiness of God in their life. If we do not long for the Holiness of God; why do we believe He is our Father? The world today has a strong pull into its downward spiral and the children of the world enjoy drifting into its pleasures. It is different with Christians because we have spiritual bread to eat which gives us strength to go against the current each day. This bread is Jesus and he was broken to provide the food we need for spiritual victories.
We must be serious about living for our Creator and never abandon the truth which the Lord has revealed to us. Christians must use the discipline they find in their love of Jesus to train themselves in a life of Godliness. Each of us should be devoted to love, faith and purity. Paul asked Timothy to take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for doing this thous shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.(1 Tim 4:16)
Although the Spirit lives in us and urges us into holiness, it is also necessary for us to have a working knowledge of the Scriptures. The problems of our daily life give us the opportunity to trust the Lord for a spiritual solution. The understanding of Biblical principles which we have assimilated during our Christian walk, is the foundation the Spirit builds upon. Looking back on a problem's solution usually gives a better understanding of the power contained in the scriptures.
The process of setting a person apart from the world to be a child of God is called "sanctification". Perfect sanctification is to care only about the desires of God and abandoning all our own natural ways. Peter refers to this process and mentions the Trinities involvement, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:2) This verse tells us that sanctification is brought to us by the Spirit just as everything else is our spiritual life is through Him.
You will observe in this address of Peter's that obedience is the one word of instruction that is directed to us. This word is always our part in a relationship with God, and it reveals how necessary it is to have the Holy Spirit in us to help us understand what God wants us to do. Holiness does not come to us naturally, therefore it is essential that we obey God and learn to walk with His help. The Old Testament speaks of the beauty of holiness and we should desire to have this beauty in our lives.
Some church people find that they do not really desire the holiness of God in their life. If we do not long for the Holiness of God; why do we believe He is our Father? The world today has a strong pull into its downward spiral and the children of the world enjoy drifting into its pleasures. It is different with Christians because we have spiritual bread to eat which gives us strength to go against the current each day. This bread is Jesus and he was broken to provide the food we need for spiritual victories.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Knowing God
There are those who simply do not want a relationship with God. They are lost forever. However, some people do want to know God but the true path has been obscured with bad teaching for some time now. Many people in the church have been trained to think that their acknowledgement of what Jesus came to earth for, is all it takes to know God. It should be obvious that an introduction to or acknowledgement of someone is not enough to claim a relationship with that person. When Jesus was preparing to leave his followers, He told them not to be afraid of His absence. At that time he promised to send another one (the Holy Spirit) who was able to live inside a believer forever. The people around Jesus had the privilege to know Him and today we have a chance to know God. The Spirit can enable us to be friends with both the Father and the Son if we will dedicate ourselves to them by faith and obedience.
The following words are for those who want to know and live with God. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him. (1 Jn 2:27) This verse is about the truth of the gospel of God and the Spirit who places this light in your life. The anointing is an OT word used for the placing of someone in God's service. It was for a lifetime and not just part-time. This word also had the meaning that something was sent from God and then received by a human. The anointing of a Christian is their experience of a new life that is sent from Heaven to be lived on earth. This is what Jesus provided for everyone who really desires to know God. The experience is our opportunity for life.
If a person will remain in the truth and keep their faith in good condition, the anointing (relationship) will never leave them. This yielding allows the Holy Spirit to constantly be teaching us what the will of God is for our life. There is great purpose in this plan. When Jesus returns for His own, they must stand in righteousness and not shrink back before God. Jesus through the Spirit is persistently holding us in His own righteousness. This is the exalted plan that allows us to be born-again into Jesus. There are sometimes jokes made about the plan of God...but it is for real. We must tell people that their untreated, natural state, is leading them into eternal death. Making no decision about God has the same result as refusing Him.
The following words are for those who want to know and live with God. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him. (1 Jn 2:27) This verse is about the truth of the gospel of God and the Spirit who places this light in your life. The anointing is an OT word used for the placing of someone in God's service. It was for a lifetime and not just part-time. This word also had the meaning that something was sent from God and then received by a human. The anointing of a Christian is their experience of a new life that is sent from Heaven to be lived on earth. This is what Jesus provided for everyone who really desires to know God. The experience is our opportunity for life.
If a person will remain in the truth and keep their faith in good condition, the anointing (relationship) will never leave them. This yielding allows the Holy Spirit to constantly be teaching us what the will of God is for our life. There is great purpose in this plan. When Jesus returns for His own, they must stand in righteousness and not shrink back before God. Jesus through the Spirit is persistently holding us in His own righteousness. This is the exalted plan that allows us to be born-again into Jesus. There are sometimes jokes made about the plan of God...but it is for real. We must tell people that their untreated, natural state, is leading them into eternal death. Making no decision about God has the same result as refusing Him.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Seven Pillars of Christianity-Pillar Three - Holy Living - Part 1
We have finished a look at the first two pillars which are about Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Remember, the first two pillars, Life Everlasting and Death to the World, have been provided to us for our salvation. Within these two pillars we find the core of Christian doctrine and all Christian denominations (Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant) agree on them. The five doctrines are as follows: the Trinity, deity of Christ, bodily Resurrection, atoning work of Christ and salvation by grace through faith. We find Christian unity in these areas and thank God for it.
In Hebrews 6:1, the Bible adds a few things when it encourages us to leave the elementary teachings about Christ. This list includes: repentance from acts of sin, having faith in God, baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection and eternal judgment. The point is that we must move on to maturity which is living and teaching about righteousness. The next three pillars are things we do here on earth which are all about righteousness. Although we are doing the works, everything is still a gift of God. They which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17)
Paul told us about the holy life (pillar three) that follows our death to the world, put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Eph 4:24) This is our chance to return to righteousness which will recast us in the image of God. To live in holiness is the goal of a real disciple and living a life of righteousness becomes our joy. To remove the world from ourselves and not replace it with holiness would leave us in a pitiful condition. Our old nature would soon refill our life with sins and leave us in worse condition.
Just as baptism symbolizes our death with Jesus, it also illustrates how we are raised into a new holy life. God has told us in the scriptures I am Holy (1 Peter 1:16) and because of our fallen condition we are separated from Him. Every individual who desires to live with the Heavenly Father must find a new life of holiness. In the same verse it states be ye holy and it is therefore imperative that we become a holy person who is set aside for service in the Lord.
Many people do not believe it is possible to live this new consecrated life. Once again we see the importance of the Holy Spirit living in us, for we cannot live a Godly life without his direct assistance. The Scripture informs us that God has given us the gift of righteousness (Romans 5:17) and we must receive this gift, believing that it is ours. This pillar of Holiness is the backbone of the Christian life.
Here is what Paul said about the life of Jesus: He was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness. (Romans 1:4)
The power of Jesus' life here on earth was centered in holiness so it follows that the life of a Christian also finds its existence in holiness. You could say that we must build a new life for ourselves because the old life has been put to death. The Spirit brings into our life things which were never there before. In Isaiah 11:2 we are told some of the things the Spirit would bring into the life of Jesus including: wisdom, understanding counsel, might, knowledge and fear of the Lord. If we ask our Father to place these things in our lives, the resulting walk of righteousness will please God. The perfect life Jesus led on earth is the great example unveiled in the gospels.
In Hebrews 6:1, the Bible adds a few things when it encourages us to leave the elementary teachings about Christ. This list includes: repentance from acts of sin, having faith in God, baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection and eternal judgment. The point is that we must move on to maturity which is living and teaching about righteousness. The next three pillars are things we do here on earth which are all about righteousness. Although we are doing the works, everything is still a gift of God. They which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17)
Paul told us about the holy life (pillar three) that follows our death to the world, put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Eph 4:24) This is our chance to return to righteousness which will recast us in the image of God. To live in holiness is the goal of a real disciple and living a life of righteousness becomes our joy. To remove the world from ourselves and not replace it with holiness would leave us in a pitiful condition. Our old nature would soon refill our life with sins and leave us in worse condition.
Just as baptism symbolizes our death with Jesus, it also illustrates how we are raised into a new holy life. God has told us in the scriptures I am Holy (1 Peter 1:16) and because of our fallen condition we are separated from Him. Every individual who desires to live with the Heavenly Father must find a new life of holiness. In the same verse it states be ye holy and it is therefore imperative that we become a holy person who is set aside for service in the Lord.
Many people do not believe it is possible to live this new consecrated life. Once again we see the importance of the Holy Spirit living in us, for we cannot live a Godly life without his direct assistance. The Scripture informs us that God has given us the gift of righteousness (Romans 5:17) and we must receive this gift, believing that it is ours. This pillar of Holiness is the backbone of the Christian life.
Here is what Paul said about the life of Jesus: He was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness. (Romans 1:4)
The power of Jesus' life here on earth was centered in holiness so it follows that the life of a Christian also finds its existence in holiness. You could say that we must build a new life for ourselves because the old life has been put to death. The Spirit brings into our life things which were never there before. In Isaiah 11:2 we are told some of the things the Spirit would bring into the life of Jesus including: wisdom, understanding counsel, might, knowledge and fear of the Lord. If we ask our Father to place these things in our lives, the resulting walk of righteousness will please God. The perfect life Jesus led on earth is the great example unveiled in the gospels.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Greater Things
When the congregation needs to be motivated, we invite a rock star, dope dealer, sports figure, financial wizard, gang member or some previously ungodly winner into our church pulpit. Of course, they must denounce their old life while telling us all the juicy details of their exciting past. The church has been doing this for so many years that many of our children know that if they want attention they must do something terrible with their life.
The church is supposed to be in the image of Heaven. Do you think Heaven is a place where we will spend our days listening to braggarts tell how they lived in this nasty world? Deep down we must know that God has something greater for His people than having us tell each other how bad our lives used to be as a sinner. The church suffers from a lack of Godly lives and we should feel some responsibility to do better. It is a shame that we live any way we want after God sent His Son to rescue us from sin.
The church inappropriately honors these converted people along with anyone in the church that gives a lot of money. Folks always argue and say "it's not so". Be honest now and tell me the rich do not have their way in church business. Without doubt, God considers His business to be something greater than anything we consider important in this world. We should insist that the church seek God and make His work our work. The church is supposed to be the body of Jesus Christ and be entirely involved in God's work.
There is something even worse than honoring these worldly people. It is the way the church treats a Christian that has given over all his life to God. Honor is rare and many times they are not even encouraged. Many times, people call them foolish or stupid because they are not successful in the things of this world.
Jesus Christ came to earth for a purpose greater than dying for our sin. He came to create something that He could present to God as his eternal family. Everything on this earth is going to be burned up someday and this is the reason Jesus is building something new.
Oh, the beauty of a life walked worthy of our Lord. It should be obvious that we need our life to be in Jesus Christ. The Scripture says that Jesus was the image of the Father. We are to be in the image of Jesus and this will certainly require the help of the Spirit. The source of Jesus is the Lord God Almighty therefore our source must also be the Almighty. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being ---so that--- Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. (Eph 3:16) Paul says that power from God comes through the Spirit that lives in us and makes possible something greater than the normal. Many believers think that Jesus automatically dwells in your heart. The truth is that your heart must be "expanded" by the Spirit of power to make room for the life of Jesus.
God's will demands us to lay aside our own rights and place ourselves humbly in his control. To come to the Savior originally only takes a crises but to continue with Christ takes concern.
Pray to live in God's will by learning His ways,
that we will bear fruit and please God,
in love that God will give us his strength,
that we never fall away from hope in God.
And pray that we will find the desire to see the greater things that God has for us.
The church is supposed to be in the image of Heaven. Do you think Heaven is a place where we will spend our days listening to braggarts tell how they lived in this nasty world? Deep down we must know that God has something greater for His people than having us tell each other how bad our lives used to be as a sinner. The church suffers from a lack of Godly lives and we should feel some responsibility to do better. It is a shame that we live any way we want after God sent His Son to rescue us from sin.
The church inappropriately honors these converted people along with anyone in the church that gives a lot of money. Folks always argue and say "it's not so". Be honest now and tell me the rich do not have their way in church business. Without doubt, God considers His business to be something greater than anything we consider important in this world. We should insist that the church seek God and make His work our work. The church is supposed to be the body of Jesus Christ and be entirely involved in God's work.
There is something even worse than honoring these worldly people. It is the way the church treats a Christian that has given over all his life to God. Honor is rare and many times they are not even encouraged. Many times, people call them foolish or stupid because they are not successful in the things of this world.
Jesus Christ came to earth for a purpose greater than dying for our sin. He came to create something that He could present to God as his eternal family. Everything on this earth is going to be burned up someday and this is the reason Jesus is building something new.
Oh, the beauty of a life walked worthy of our Lord. It should be obvious that we need our life to be in Jesus Christ. The Scripture says that Jesus was the image of the Father. We are to be in the image of Jesus and this will certainly require the help of the Spirit. The source of Jesus is the Lord God Almighty therefore our source must also be the Almighty. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being ---so that--- Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. (Eph 3:16) Paul says that power from God comes through the Spirit that lives in us and makes possible something greater than the normal. Many believers think that Jesus automatically dwells in your heart. The truth is that your heart must be "expanded" by the Spirit of power to make room for the life of Jesus.
God's will demands us to lay aside our own rights and place ourselves humbly in his control. To come to the Savior originally only takes a crises but to continue with Christ takes concern.
Pray to live in God's will by learning His ways,
that we will bear fruit and please God,
in love that God will give us his strength,
that we never fall away from hope in God.
And pray that we will find the desire to see the greater things that God has for us.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Seven Pillars of Christianity-Pillar Two - Death to the World-Part 2
Jesus asked us to begin our Christian walk by being baptized, which says to the world we have been planted together in the likeness of his death. (Rom 6:5) When the church watches a believer lowered beneath the water, the are witnessing a promise that the Christian will die to this world. Sometimes this will cause panic in a person accustomed to the ways of the world but dying to the world is not as difficult as people would have you believe. Jesus has already died for us and we must only stay in Him and our death is accomplished knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him. (Rom 6:6)
The only possible explanation for people not dying to the world is that they take pleasure from the things of this world more than they honor their covenant with God. How hypocritical of these people to say with real believers I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me (Gal 2:20) but then to live their lives any way they please. When we die to the world it will bring a type of suffering into our life that the unsaved cannot understand.
Paul knew what it was to suffer in this world and when he wrote the God of all comfort (2 Cor 1:3) in his letters, it was not an empty greeting. These words came from a man who had known the comfort of God in his life many times. We will also receive a special comfort from the Spirit when we place ourselves into a position of suffering with our Lord. The average Believer of today is trying to keep from experiencing suffering of any kind. They strive to provide for their own comfort and spend as much time as possible in luxury. This is limiting their experience with God to accidental encounters and leaves them with no spiritual power.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus stated, Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Matt 5:4) There is no reason for anyone to mourn unless there has been a death of something they love. Some people say that we should mourn the coming death of our unsaved friends or family. That is a good reason to mourn but when people are told that they must die to the things of this world, we see real serious mourning. It will help to remember that this type of death is only for a short time here on earth. There is a promise about our death which says we will live with God someday; for if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall also live with Him. (Rom 6:5)
When a person is chosen to join their life with Jesus and become one with Him, they will feel the necessity to live a clean life as a representative of God. Jesus tells us now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. (John 15:3) When the scripture says that we are clean it means that Jesus has provided for our death to self and the world. It is the selfish activities of this world which are making us unclean before God. We may wash with water to clean ourselves from physical activities, but a spiritual fire must burn our heart into ashes before we are clean from our self-indulgence. The Bible teaches we must die in order to live.
The only possible explanation for people not dying to the world is that they take pleasure from the things of this world more than they honor their covenant with God. How hypocritical of these people to say with real believers I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me (Gal 2:20) but then to live their lives any way they please. When we die to the world it will bring a type of suffering into our life that the unsaved cannot understand.
Paul knew what it was to suffer in this world and when he wrote the God of all comfort (2 Cor 1:3) in his letters, it was not an empty greeting. These words came from a man who had known the comfort of God in his life many times. We will also receive a special comfort from the Spirit when we place ourselves into a position of suffering with our Lord. The average Believer of today is trying to keep from experiencing suffering of any kind. They strive to provide for their own comfort and spend as much time as possible in luxury. This is limiting their experience with God to accidental encounters and leaves them with no spiritual power.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus stated, Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Matt 5:4) There is no reason for anyone to mourn unless there has been a death of something they love. Some people say that we should mourn the coming death of our unsaved friends or family. That is a good reason to mourn but when people are told that they must die to the things of this world, we see real serious mourning. It will help to remember that this type of death is only for a short time here on earth. There is a promise about our death which says we will live with God someday; for if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall also live with Him. (Rom 6:5)
When a person is chosen to join their life with Jesus and become one with Him, they will feel the necessity to live a clean life as a representative of God. Jesus tells us now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. (John 15:3) When the scripture says that we are clean it means that Jesus has provided for our death to self and the world. It is the selfish activities of this world which are making us unclean before God. We may wash with water to clean ourselves from physical activities, but a spiritual fire must burn our heart into ashes before we are clean from our self-indulgence. The Bible teaches we must die in order to live.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The Christian Life - God Rescues Us
Rescuing humans is something God loves to do and He is good at it. Even if we are the least needy person on the earth, we must be rescued by the Savior. The great thing is that the Lord continues to rescue Christians all through their life.
In the following verse, it seems possible that Paul was preaching in a lion's den although it would be difficult to focus on the message. The message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it and I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. (2 Tim 4:17-18) He does tell us plainly that the Lord will rescue us from attacks. There is a wonderful feeling of gratitude that floods us when He does save us out of a situation that we could never handle.
One beautiful evening my wife and I were strolling down a long tree lined driveway when suddenly everything changed to "life-threatening." The neighbor owned a vicious guard dog that was chained to his storage building. This evening was different as the dog ran from behind the trees and started his attack. With teeth bared, he came down the middle of the lane running faster and faster. At about 200 feet, I pushed my wife behind myself and braced for the collision. At the distance where the dog was about to leap for the kill, the teeth disappeared and the ears stood up. A look of fright came over the animal and he veered off to the left just missing us. Without slowing, the dog headed straight for home and was never seen again. Immediately, everything returned to normal.
Trained killers are not usually frightened when attacking a target. Unfortunately, a killer is looking for each of us. The devil is the vicious killer and he wants to devour every Christian. Praise God, we can be assured that the Savior will rescue us from every attack just as He did Paul. There are times when we see trouble coming and we have time to pray. However, when trouble does come as a surprise we are secure because nothing can surprise our Savior. Thank the Lord, He watches over His children.
In the following verse, it seems possible that Paul was preaching in a lion's den although it would be difficult to focus on the message. The message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it and I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. (2 Tim 4:17-18) He does tell us plainly that the Lord will rescue us from attacks. There is a wonderful feeling of gratitude that floods us when He does save us out of a situation that we could never handle.
One beautiful evening my wife and I were strolling down a long tree lined driveway when suddenly everything changed to "life-threatening." The neighbor owned a vicious guard dog that was chained to his storage building. This evening was different as the dog ran from behind the trees and started his attack. With teeth bared, he came down the middle of the lane running faster and faster. At about 200 feet, I pushed my wife behind myself and braced for the collision. At the distance where the dog was about to leap for the kill, the teeth disappeared and the ears stood up. A look of fright came over the animal and he veered off to the left just missing us. Without slowing, the dog headed straight for home and was never seen again. Immediately, everything returned to normal.
Trained killers are not usually frightened when attacking a target. Unfortunately, a killer is looking for each of us. The devil is the vicious killer and he wants to devour every Christian. Praise God, we can be assured that the Savior will rescue us from every attack just as He did Paul. There are times when we see trouble coming and we have time to pray. However, when trouble does come as a surprise we are secure because nothing can surprise our Savior. Thank the Lord, He watches over His children.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Seven Pillars of Christianity-Pillar Two - Death to the World-Part 1
There is great joy when children return from summer camp and explain how Jesus has saved them from their sins. Unfortunately, many people live with the idea that the subject is closed and they do nothing else to please God with their life. We should enjoy telling sinners they can have eternal life, but we must also inform people that they must die to the ways of the world before they will partake of this new life.
Look at what scriptures say, Know ye not, that so many of use were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Even so,we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-4) Death to this world is the most overlooked truth in the Bible. Christians are being taught (whether outright or by apathy) that it is alright to participate in worldly activities if we simply dedicate them to God. This is wrong because Jesus tells us plainly that we are not to involve ourselves in worldly things, Ye cannot serve God and mammom. Therefore, I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat or drink, nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. (Matt 6:24) Our dedication to the world will always take us away from God and this explains the spiritual apathy in many church people today.
The Lord wants us either hot or cold, not lukewarm. When we give up the world it is a sign that Jesus lives in our heart and that we have been crucified with Him.
The Scripture tells us many times that we aer to consider ourselves dead to this world. This allows time for us to turn other people toward God and keep them from falling into Hell. Paul said, For we which are dead are delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. (2 Cor 4:11) Our naturally selfish nature is the reason we do not want to give up the things of this world. We desire anything that makes us feel comfortable or appeals to the five senses of flesh. Many treasures may be stored up in heaven if believers will use their resources to reach the lost.
Long ago, Eve disobeyed God simply because something was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise. (Genesis 3:6) This uncontrolled desire of hers led to the death of all mankind. Our uncontrolled desires will lead us to the same end. Paul stated that to be carnally minded is death. (Romans 8:6) It is essential that we give up the things of this world, in order to inherit the wonders of eternity.
The Lord has sent the Comforter to us and we find our peace in Him rather than in the things the world provides. Because we are in a position of nonconformity with the people around us, there is extra pressure placed on us. Jesus said it like this, if ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15:19) It should be clear to us that we will not be liked by some people because we behave like Jesus. This explains why may of the popular new church groups who look and act like the world do not suffer the rejection spoken of by Christ. When professional church people spend their time forming groups that are acceptable to the world, they make Jesus a liar because He said the world hateth you.
As we die to this world, we must remember that it is the Holy Spirit that guides us into all truth. The Holy Spirit will comfort us when the world hates us, lead us when we don't know where to turn, and show us the way to life through our dying to this world. Because of God's perfect plan when we give up things of this world, we will find a treasure trove of life beyond this world. All this is possible in order to honor God through our walk with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.
Look at what scriptures say, Know ye not, that so many of use were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Even so,we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-4) Death to this world is the most overlooked truth in the Bible. Christians are being taught (whether outright or by apathy) that it is alright to participate in worldly activities if we simply dedicate them to God. This is wrong because Jesus tells us plainly that we are not to involve ourselves in worldly things, Ye cannot serve God and mammom. Therefore, I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat or drink, nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. (Matt 6:24) Our dedication to the world will always take us away from God and this explains the spiritual apathy in many church people today.
The Lord wants us either hot or cold, not lukewarm. When we give up the world it is a sign that Jesus lives in our heart and that we have been crucified with Him.
The Scripture tells us many times that we aer to consider ourselves dead to this world. This allows time for us to turn other people toward God and keep them from falling into Hell. Paul said, For we which are dead are delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. (2 Cor 4:11) Our naturally selfish nature is the reason we do not want to give up the things of this world. We desire anything that makes us feel comfortable or appeals to the five senses of flesh. Many treasures may be stored up in heaven if believers will use their resources to reach the lost.
Long ago, Eve disobeyed God simply because something was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise. (Genesis 3:6) This uncontrolled desire of hers led to the death of all mankind. Our uncontrolled desires will lead us to the same end. Paul stated that to be carnally minded is death. (Romans 8:6) It is essential that we give up the things of this world, in order to inherit the wonders of eternity.
The Lord has sent the Comforter to us and we find our peace in Him rather than in the things the world provides. Because we are in a position of nonconformity with the people around us, there is extra pressure placed on us. Jesus said it like this, if ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15:19) It should be clear to us that we will not be liked by some people because we behave like Jesus. This explains why may of the popular new church groups who look and act like the world do not suffer the rejection spoken of by Christ. When professional church people spend their time forming groups that are acceptable to the world, they make Jesus a liar because He said the world hateth you.
As we die to this world, we must remember that it is the Holy Spirit that guides us into all truth. The Holy Spirit will comfort us when the world hates us, lead us when we don't know where to turn, and show us the way to life through our dying to this world. Because of God's perfect plan when we give up things of this world, we will find a treasure trove of life beyond this world. All this is possible in order to honor God through our walk with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Walking in the Light
It’s a wonderful feeling to walk in the light. Just staying out of the darkness makes us feel good but pleasing God is really great. Paul said, Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. (Eph 5:9,10) Walking in the light pleases our Lord but this verse says we can find other things that please Him. There is a fruit, that God loves, and we produce it when the Spirit directs our life in this old world.
The Old Testament writer knew this when he said, Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5,6) Every Christian can produce fruit by living a godly life and allowing the Spirit to have priority as He directs our path. We must trust what God is doing even without the specific details. Living a life that pleases God MUST be done with complete faith.
Learning about ourselves and others is a result of spiritual light. We will never really know about ourselves until Jesus lives in us. Most of us know that our fallen nature has two basic needs before the Almighty; we are talking about our sins and our daily walk with Jesus. John says it this way, But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:7) Jesus dealt with our sins long ago but walking in the light is accomplished as we continually yield to the Spirit of Jesus.
Remember that God’s light is different than the lights of this world. When we are in darkness on earth a light can be seen from a great distance. This is not true in the spiritual world. A person in spiritual darkness can be standing close to God’s light on earth but still be in total darkness. God’s children must have His light in their heart in order to see his light around them. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (2 Cor 4:6) It almost sounds like there is creation going on when we walk with our Savior.
Jesus is the light of our life. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. (John 1:4) The Lord talks to us through the Scriptures. The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. (Ps 119:130) The Spirit reveals the meaning of the Scriptures to us and we begin to understand the great Gospel plan. The light is never about comparing our life with others, it is about accepting the life of Jesus into ourselves. Jesus told His disciples to, put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light. (John 12:36)
It is surprising that more people are not seeking the Light of God. The real beauty of our life in the light is that God wants to help us succeed with our “Walk in the Light.”
The Old Testament writer knew this when he said, Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5,6) Every Christian can produce fruit by living a godly life and allowing the Spirit to have priority as He directs our path. We must trust what God is doing even without the specific details. Living a life that pleases God MUST be done with complete faith.
Learning about ourselves and others is a result of spiritual light. We will never really know about ourselves until Jesus lives in us. Most of us know that our fallen nature has two basic needs before the Almighty; we are talking about our sins and our daily walk with Jesus. John says it this way, But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:7) Jesus dealt with our sins long ago but walking in the light is accomplished as we continually yield to the Spirit of Jesus.
Remember that God’s light is different than the lights of this world. When we are in darkness on earth a light can be seen from a great distance. This is not true in the spiritual world. A person in spiritual darkness can be standing close to God’s light on earth but still be in total darkness. God’s children must have His light in their heart in order to see his light around them. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (2 Cor 4:6) It almost sounds like there is creation going on when we walk with our Savior.
Jesus is the light of our life. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. (John 1:4) The Lord talks to us through the Scriptures. The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. (Ps 119:130) The Spirit reveals the meaning of the Scriptures to us and we begin to understand the great Gospel plan. The light is never about comparing our life with others, it is about accepting the life of Jesus into ourselves. Jesus told His disciples to, put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light. (John 12:36)
It is surprising that more people are not seeking the Light of God. The real beauty of our life in the light is that God wants to help us succeed with our “Walk in the Light.”
Friday, October 15, 2010
The Christian Life - Suffering is Good for Christians
This is very difficult to explain to Americans because we enjoy such a wonderful life. Some poor cultures believe that suffering is necessary in order to please God. We know that God does not require our suffering but that does not mean it is not good for us. Suffering will make changes in our soul that nothing else can make. When you meet a person that has suffered greatly they are hard to forget.
Chen is a small Chinese man who was working in Israel for six months. His goal was to take some money back home to his family that was living in poverty. Only one person in the church was able to speak with him but he never missed a service.
Our church began a two month class to teach the basics of Christianity. Chen attended every class with his friend interpreting for him. During the last class, the subject was suffering with Christ when we witness to the unsaved. Everyone was asked to give an illustration from their own experience. When it became Chen's turn, the teacher stopped the class long enough to ask the interpreter if Chen was clear on the subject at hand. After quite an exchange of language, the interpreter looked up and paused. Finally, he said, yes he understands. He then went on to say that Chen had been beaten up, screamed at, whipped several times and put into jail for refusing to deny Jesus.
This little man brought tears to our eyes that day and he will be hard to forget. Although, we could not see it from the outside, Chen had decided to follow our Savior without any reservations. For a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith...may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6,7
Suffering can put steel in our soul if we sell out completely to the Gospel. If we want faith that has been proven genuine then suffering is good for us. No matter what kind of trial we face, remember to act in such a way as to bring honor to our Lord.
Chen is a small Chinese man who was working in Israel for six months. His goal was to take some money back home to his family that was living in poverty. Only one person in the church was able to speak with him but he never missed a service.
Our church began a two month class to teach the basics of Christianity. Chen attended every class with his friend interpreting for him. During the last class, the subject was suffering with Christ when we witness to the unsaved. Everyone was asked to give an illustration from their own experience. When it became Chen's turn, the teacher stopped the class long enough to ask the interpreter if Chen was clear on the subject at hand. After quite an exchange of language, the interpreter looked up and paused. Finally, he said, yes he understands. He then went on to say that Chen had been beaten up, screamed at, whipped several times and put into jail for refusing to deny Jesus.
This little man brought tears to our eyes that day and he will be hard to forget. Although, we could not see it from the outside, Chen had decided to follow our Savior without any reservations. For a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith...may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6,7
Suffering can put steel in our soul if we sell out completely to the Gospel. If we want faith that has been proven genuine then suffering is good for us. No matter what kind of trial we face, remember to act in such a way as to bring honor to our Lord.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Seven Pillars of Christianity-Pillar One-Life Everlasting-Part 3
As we begin the walk of a Christian life we become aware of a problem. When newly washed Christians resume their everyday life in this corrupt world, they usually find a few sins that are difficult to remove from their activities. If these sins are ignored they will gradually pull a person back into a worldly life.
Peter warned us when he said if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the latter end is worse. (2 Peter 2:20) It is very dangerous to allow any sin to stay unattended in your life because it will always detract from your walk with God. Our old nature is always with us and will cause problems until we die. These problems can be a reminder that we need the Lord's help. The same power that saved us will stay with us always if we just call on Him. Our faith in Jesus is the path that can lead us through this world and into heaven some day.
You can see why it should be a priority of the church to encourage us to stay clean from all sin. We do have a two part defense against falling back into sin. Our first line of resistance is the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us and is always alert to our problems. When something in our life is not right, He works tirelessly to urge us to clean it up. Usually we have no desire to commit immoral things, but there are always things like intolerance or selfishness that the Spirit wants to help us remove from our activities.
Another provision we have is going to God in prayer; asking Him to forgive us and to help us not to repeat the offense. Living a life for God has its own secure aspect being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Ro 5:10) Although our Savior lived a perfect life the Spirit will lead us to emulate the life of Jesus demonstrated while on earth. Of course our life is never without sin and that is why the Bible says we are "saved by His life."
Jesus is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25) and you have an opportunity to be saved today if you will give up your ways for His. Paul wrote that the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. (1 Cor 15:45) This means that Jesus has to power to restore mankind back to God one soul at a time. Only people that desire to know God and live his kind of life will be given the opportunity to enjoy God in a personal way.
One of the most controversial verses in the Bible says Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. (James 2:24) An old argument over-simplifies salvation when it says "faith alone" and nothing that man can do will bring anyone to salvation. This verse simply means that people who are really born again will always produce good works and that we do not have the ability to be saved without action on our faith. The scriptures tell us that even the devil's believe but they certainly will never enter heaven. Our salvation must include obedience if we wish to spend eternity with God. The power is in the life that Christ lived for us and His death on the cross. Oh! What a savior who has provided it all for us but we must have more than a head knowledge...our life must change.
Peter warned us when he said if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the latter end is worse. (2 Peter 2:20) It is very dangerous to allow any sin to stay unattended in your life because it will always detract from your walk with God. Our old nature is always with us and will cause problems until we die. These problems can be a reminder that we need the Lord's help. The same power that saved us will stay with us always if we just call on Him. Our faith in Jesus is the path that can lead us through this world and into heaven some day.
You can see why it should be a priority of the church to encourage us to stay clean from all sin. We do have a two part defense against falling back into sin. Our first line of resistance is the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us and is always alert to our problems. When something in our life is not right, He works tirelessly to urge us to clean it up. Usually we have no desire to commit immoral things, but there are always things like intolerance or selfishness that the Spirit wants to help us remove from our activities.
Another provision we have is going to God in prayer; asking Him to forgive us and to help us not to repeat the offense. Living a life for God has its own secure aspect being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Ro 5:10) Although our Savior lived a perfect life the Spirit will lead us to emulate the life of Jesus demonstrated while on earth. Of course our life is never without sin and that is why the Bible says we are "saved by His life."
Jesus is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25) and you have an opportunity to be saved today if you will give up your ways for His. Paul wrote that the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. (1 Cor 15:45) This means that Jesus has to power to restore mankind back to God one soul at a time. Only people that desire to know God and live his kind of life will be given the opportunity to enjoy God in a personal way.
One of the most controversial verses in the Bible says Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. (James 2:24) An old argument over-simplifies salvation when it says "faith alone" and nothing that man can do will bring anyone to salvation. This verse simply means that people who are really born again will always produce good works and that we do not have the ability to be saved without action on our faith. The scriptures tell us that even the devil's believe but they certainly will never enter heaven. Our salvation must include obedience if we wish to spend eternity with God. The power is in the life that Christ lived for us and His death on the cross. Oh! What a savior who has provided it all for us but we must have more than a head knowledge...our life must change.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
The Christian Life - Pleasing God
Anyone who is a Christian has a deep desire to please God. Sometimes it seems strange to us but people of other religions also want to please Him. Our heartfelt dilemma is that humans can never please God with their own energy. There must be a reason why God cannot fellowship with us. Paul says it this way, I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. (Rom 7:18)
There was a succesful middle aged American Jew from Chicago that decided to give up everything in his life for a cause. John's dream was to serve God, so he moved to Israel and began learning how to live a holy life. After three years in Israel and working every waking minute to make his dream come true, an opportunity for me to interact with John arose.
While standing on a jetty watching the waves of the Mediterranean wash against the rocks, my Gentile thoughts were interrupted by the banging of pots and pans behind me. It was a sight watching John, dressed all in black, standing on a rock attempting to "drown" his cookware. He did not look happy and his shoes were getting wet. John had a rope attached to a large net bag with about ten pots and pans in it. No matter which way he tossed the net full of pans onto the water, they refused to sink. In a kosher kitchen all the cookware must be made in Israel (The Holy Land). Any pans made in another country, must be taken to a body of water larger than 100 meters and submerged. When removed from the water, the "foreign" pans were considered purified for use.
John exlained that the pans were a small problem. For three years his failures to please God were becoming a weight that he could hardly carry. John was discouraged knowing that his three years of hard work had moved him no closer to God. When I asked him if a person became sanctified when pushed under the water, John thought for a minute. Finally he said that a soul was much more difficult to make righteous.
Many Christians are also working hard under their own strength to please God. If you are struggling to live a Christian life, let me tell you something that will change your life and make it a lot easier. If you believe the Spirit of Jesus can bring godliness into our lives, then ask Him to take the burden of pleasing God and allow the Holy Spirit to do it through you. If you will be still and know that He is God, you will most assuredly find peace.
There was a succesful middle aged American Jew from Chicago that decided to give up everything in his life for a cause. John's dream was to serve God, so he moved to Israel and began learning how to live a holy life. After three years in Israel and working every waking minute to make his dream come true, an opportunity for me to interact with John arose.
While standing on a jetty watching the waves of the Mediterranean wash against the rocks, my Gentile thoughts were interrupted by the banging of pots and pans behind me. It was a sight watching John, dressed all in black, standing on a rock attempting to "drown" his cookware. He did not look happy and his shoes were getting wet. John had a rope attached to a large net bag with about ten pots and pans in it. No matter which way he tossed the net full of pans onto the water, they refused to sink. In a kosher kitchen all the cookware must be made in Israel (The Holy Land). Any pans made in another country, must be taken to a body of water larger than 100 meters and submerged. When removed from the water, the "foreign" pans were considered purified for use.
John exlained that the pans were a small problem. For three years his failures to please God were becoming a weight that he could hardly carry. John was discouraged knowing that his three years of hard work had moved him no closer to God. When I asked him if a person became sanctified when pushed under the water, John thought for a minute. Finally he said that a soul was much more difficult to make righteous.
Many Christians are also working hard under their own strength to please God. If you are struggling to live a Christian life, let me tell you something that will change your life and make it a lot easier. If you believe the Spirit of Jesus can bring godliness into our lives, then ask Him to take the burden of pleasing God and allow the Holy Spirit to do it through you. If you will be still and know that He is God, you will most assuredly find peace.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Seven Pillars of Christianity-Pillar One-Life Everlasting-Part 2
Man has a sin problem in which he has a sin nature that keeps him from reconciling with God. Because God has requirements that man cannot meet through the law, what then is our resolution? How does man reconcile with God? Consider the following three words as a resolution to our sin problem.
First an atonement (to make amends for sin) is necessary and therefore Jesus died on the cross to provide it for fallen man. The scriptures tell us that without shedding of blood there is no remission. (Heb 9:22) and that Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. (Heb 9:28) This historic death of Christ was the blood sacrifice given for the atonement of mankind. His payment to God for the sins of man is the keystone which holds everything together and we remember the cross of Christ everyday of our life. A Christian will feel obligated to personally identify with the offering that was made on our behalf.
The second word is repentance, which is brought about by the sorrow we feel when the Holy Spirit shows us how far we are from the Kingdom of God. To repent means we will change our life in order to please the Lord. Paul tells us that godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation (2 Cor 7:10) When we have a radical change of attitude toward God it will cause a totally new life for us. Jesus tells us to repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The Holy Spirit regenerates us as we continue to maintain our grateful attitude and have faith in Jesus Christ. The turning from our natural ways of sin to the righteousness of God is called repentance.
The third word for a solution to our problem is justified, which means that God will accept us into his family just as if we had never sinned at all. Some people believe the Judge will set them free from their sins but it is really more than that, because we will never stand before the Judge at all if we are His child. Actually God repented from his wrath toward us and granted us his grace because of Jesus Christ. We now belong to Jesus and you could say that Christians are being judged during our service on earth. The Bible says, when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Cor 11:32)
We must never forget that our freedom came at a terribly high price and our liberty must be used for God's service. Now we can see the gift of Jesus Christ as the center of God's plan for us. Jesus has provided everything needed to regenerate the eternal life of mankind and this reconciliation to God is what gives a Christian their great hope for eternity.
First an atonement (to make amends for sin) is necessary and therefore Jesus died on the cross to provide it for fallen man. The scriptures tell us that without shedding of blood there is no remission. (Heb 9:22) and that Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. (Heb 9:28) This historic death of Christ was the blood sacrifice given for the atonement of mankind. His payment to God for the sins of man is the keystone which holds everything together and we remember the cross of Christ everyday of our life. A Christian will feel obligated to personally identify with the offering that was made on our behalf.
The second word is repentance, which is brought about by the sorrow we feel when the Holy Spirit shows us how far we are from the Kingdom of God. To repent means we will change our life in order to please the Lord. Paul tells us that godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation (2 Cor 7:10) When we have a radical change of attitude toward God it will cause a totally new life for us. Jesus tells us to repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The Holy Spirit regenerates us as we continue to maintain our grateful attitude and have faith in Jesus Christ. The turning from our natural ways of sin to the righteousness of God is called repentance.
The third word for a solution to our problem is justified, which means that God will accept us into his family just as if we had never sinned at all. Some people believe the Judge will set them free from their sins but it is really more than that, because we will never stand before the Judge at all if we are His child. Actually God repented from his wrath toward us and granted us his grace because of Jesus Christ. We now belong to Jesus and you could say that Christians are being judged during our service on earth. The Bible says, when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Cor 11:32)
We must never forget that our freedom came at a terribly high price and our liberty must be used for God's service. Now we can see the gift of Jesus Christ as the center of God's plan for us. Jesus has provided everything needed to regenerate the eternal life of mankind and this reconciliation to God is what gives a Christian their great hope for eternity.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Seven Pillars of Christianity-Pillar One-Life Everlasting-Part 1
In a dry and dusty land, a lone man dragged a wooden cross while bystanders laughed. This snapshot from two thousand years ago reminds us of Jesus Christ and how he shed His blood to become the Savior. The Son of God died here on earth, so a few people might live forever in heaven. There is no other fact in the history of the world to compare with the deliberate actions taken by God to provide salvation. As the creator of everything, He has the power to save us from our second death and provide eternal life. the Bible says "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ." (Ro 6:23)
God has provided everything needed to rid us of our sin problem if we obey His instructions. To live with God we need a savior because man does not have the ability to save himself. We all have a natural fear of death but there is peace in Jesus Christ. No one may be saved until they realize that to continue their life without Jesus will lead them to hell. If we ask the savior for his help and trust our life to Him, be assured that the Lord will do his part. God speaks through the Scriptures making it a vehicle to reach us. We must realize that the words in the book are "about" Jesus Christ the savior for He is the one who speaks life unto us. Only as we find Him "real" through the pages of the Bible will God consider us worthy in Him. Hebrews 1:2 says God has "spoken unto us by His son" and we must find a personal relationship with the Savior. This dependence on Jesus is brought about by the Holy Spirit and it must continue every day for the rest of our lives.
Each person has sin in them from the time of conception. David said, "in sin did my mother conceive me." (Psalm 51:5) Our sinful nature has been inherited from Adam because the father of mankind decided to do what he wanted rather than to follow the instructions of God. In other words, we have been given the birthright of death. This is made plain in the Scriptures, "by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." (Ro 5:12) The result of this death is hell forever. If only we repent of our sins so the Lord can bless with a new life or as Jesus said, "be born again."
Because all people are self-seeking, we are at the same time rejecting our master. The wrath of God is upon mankind and this will keep people in hell forever. We need a spiritual awakening to grip people and cause them to fear God and look for a savior.
The Bible tells us repeatedly that a man cannot obtain righteousness on his own and that he must have help. The people of Israel tried for years to become righteous but they failed every time. The "Law of Sin" means that every person will sin again and again unless some power intervenes to block the law of sin.
Our need for help was responded to when Jesus came to earth and accomplished everything that God required for our redemption.
God has provided everything needed to rid us of our sin problem if we obey His instructions. To live with God we need a savior because man does not have the ability to save himself. We all have a natural fear of death but there is peace in Jesus Christ. No one may be saved until they realize that to continue their life without Jesus will lead them to hell. If we ask the savior for his help and trust our life to Him, be assured that the Lord will do his part. God speaks through the Scriptures making it a vehicle to reach us. We must realize that the words in the book are "about" Jesus Christ the savior for He is the one who speaks life unto us. Only as we find Him "real" through the pages of the Bible will God consider us worthy in Him. Hebrews 1:2 says God has "spoken unto us by His son" and we must find a personal relationship with the Savior. This dependence on Jesus is brought about by the Holy Spirit and it must continue every day for the rest of our lives.
Each person has sin in them from the time of conception. David said, "in sin did my mother conceive me." (Psalm 51:5) Our sinful nature has been inherited from Adam because the father of mankind decided to do what he wanted rather than to follow the instructions of God. In other words, we have been given the birthright of death. This is made plain in the Scriptures, "by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." (Ro 5:12) The result of this death is hell forever. If only we repent of our sins so the Lord can bless with a new life or as Jesus said, "be born again."
Because all people are self-seeking, we are at the same time rejecting our master. The wrath of God is upon mankind and this will keep people in hell forever. We need a spiritual awakening to grip people and cause them to fear God and look for a savior.
The Bible tells us repeatedly that a man cannot obtain righteousness on his own and that he must have help. The people of Israel tried for years to become righteous but they failed every time. The "Law of Sin" means that every person will sin again and again unless some power intervenes to block the law of sin.
Our need for help was responded to when Jesus came to earth and accomplished everything that God required for our redemption.
Monday, September 27, 2010
The Christian Life - Love of Wonder
Everyone has at least one person in their past that makes them think about love. Not the boy/girl kind of love, but the kind of love that God has shed abroad unto all people. There is a lady from the Ukraine who married a Jew and moved to Israel, who makes my wife and I think of God's love. For years life has been difficult for Lena. When we moved to Israel we met Lena who was volunteering to work in the kitchen of the Christian lodge. God's love radiated from this vivacious Christian. All Lena's work was done in an attitude of enjoying the wonder of God. It was obvious that she had cast herself into the complete trust of her Savior no matter what happened.
Lena worked at the lodge in the true meaning of God's love. She had the ministry of loving others. Many people benefited from her quiet ministry of wonder. When people's stress was up she like to say, "God's love is so wonderful." We were blessed by Lena as she spent many hours saving their sanity.
During the next couple of years, we met and loved Lena's husband and daughter. There little family worked together to give hospitality to Christians, who, for the most part, are not welcome in Israel. The real wonder of God's love will never be seen or enjoyed until a Christian learns to reach out and help others.
One day Lena went with us to Joppa for a time of rest. It was mid-morning and overcast with rain clouds. We sat down to rest and order coffee at a small cafe. It was on a bluff about 300 feet above the Mediterranean shore. It was one of those rare times when everything seemed to be at peace. As we looked out over the dark blue sea, the power of God seemed absolutely immense. Going out onto the porch, we felt the slight breeze of God's comfort. Suddenly, as if turned on, a huge rainbow appeared to cross the Mediterranean Sea. The feeling of overwhelming love covered us. The understanding of what Lena had said many times became real to us. God's love is truly so wonderful!
Be imitators of God, therefore as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Eph 5:1-2)
Lena worked at the lodge in the true meaning of God's love. She had the ministry of loving others. Many people benefited from her quiet ministry of wonder. When people's stress was up she like to say, "God's love is so wonderful." We were blessed by Lena as she spent many hours saving their sanity.
During the next couple of years, we met and loved Lena's husband and daughter. There little family worked together to give hospitality to Christians, who, for the most part, are not welcome in Israel. The real wonder of God's love will never be seen or enjoyed until a Christian learns to reach out and help others.
One day Lena went with us to Joppa for a time of rest. It was mid-morning and overcast with rain clouds. We sat down to rest and order coffee at a small cafe. It was on a bluff about 300 feet above the Mediterranean shore. It was one of those rare times when everything seemed to be at peace. As we looked out over the dark blue sea, the power of God seemed absolutely immense. Going out onto the porch, we felt the slight breeze of God's comfort. Suddenly, as if turned on, a huge rainbow appeared to cross the Mediterranean Sea. The feeling of overwhelming love covered us. The understanding of what Lena had said many times became real to us. God's love is truly so wonderful!
Be imitators of God, therefore as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Eph 5:1-2)
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