As we respond to the greatest commandment, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength ( Mark 12:30), which shows God's intense yearning for personal relationship with us, we find that our own sin separates us from Him. How do we overcome temptation and sin? Recently i received a message from India through a friend and brother in Christ. The first thing that this brother shared was to flee or run from temptation. Our pride causes us to think that we can embrace temptation but not succumb to it.
The Bible speaks differently. In 1 Timothy 6: 9-11 Timothy, a man so trusted by Paul that he left him in the major city of Ephesus to combat false teachers ( 1 Timothy 1:3), is told to flee the love of money. In 1 Corinthians 6:18 the Holy Spirit through Paul says to flee sexual immorality. Later in chapter 10 the Corinthians believers are told to flee from idolatry. (verse 14) Finally Timothy is told to flee youthful lusts. (2 Timothy 2:22) When confronted by the lascivious intent of Potiphar's wife Joseph fled. (Genesis 39:11)
Money, sex, idolatry and lusts are some of the most powerful drives known to humanity. God tells us to flee. We will not overcome them by our own unaided human efforts. As Jesus states clearly in John 15:5 "apart from Me you can do nothing." If Jesus needed to pray to the Father for strength and help then surely we do also. As the Indian author says we should look to the example of our Lord, "who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear..." ( Hebrews 5:7 NKJV)
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Living in a Pagan Society
"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!" ( 2 Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV) Thus the Bible predicted almost two thousand years ago.
There is disagreement about whether the US was ever a "Christian" nation. I can't imagine anyone making the claim today. One sign of a pagan society is a continual need for "victims," and these are paraded before us daily in the media. We learn about murder and rape and victimization.
Our society believes that animals are more important than people although only humans are made in the image of God. ( Genesis 1:26-28) We have rejected God's creation of marriage between one man and one woman. We glorify the sensual and the perverse. Children are held to be smarter than their parents. Consideration for others is lost. We have slaughtered about sixty million unborn children, creating a death toll beyond that of Hitler or Stalin or Mao. Our governments, designed to protect our freedoms, take more away each day. We Christians hide in our churches.
"For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will the end be of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now 'if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" (1 Peter 4:17-18 NKJV)
There is disagreement about whether the US was ever a "Christian" nation. I can't imagine anyone making the claim today. One sign of a pagan society is a continual need for "victims," and these are paraded before us daily in the media. We learn about murder and rape and victimization.
Our society believes that animals are more important than people although only humans are made in the image of God. ( Genesis 1:26-28) We have rejected God's creation of marriage between one man and one woman. We glorify the sensual and the perverse. Children are held to be smarter than their parents. Consideration for others is lost. We have slaughtered about sixty million unborn children, creating a death toll beyond that of Hitler or Stalin or Mao. Our governments, designed to protect our freedoms, take more away each day. We Christians hide in our churches.
"For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will the end be of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now 'if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" (1 Peter 4:17-18 NKJV)
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Persecution
In over forty years in the church in America, I have heard almost nothing preached or taught on the subject of persecution. Probably this is because we have not experienced the overt suffering and even death that many of our brothers and sisters around the world have had. Yet 2 Timothy 3:12 is clear. "All those who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." I suspect one reason why we have not had the same level of persecution as those in many countries is that we have not lived in a very godly way. We have allowed the society to push us into our church buildings. We have had little impact on the surrounding culture.
Yet persecution is coming nonetheless. Jesus said, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you." (John 15:18) The prince of this world hates Jesus and His followers. Persecution is a prominent theme of 1 Peter, for example. In chapter 2:21ff Peter writes that we have been called to follow the example of Christ in suffering. In chapter 4:16 he writes, "If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name." "Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good." ( 1 Peter 4:19 ESV)
Hebrews speaks of the same suffering for our faith. "But recall the former days when... you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated." ( Hebrews 10:32-33 ESV)
Paul was imprisoned for his faith, and he and all of the other original apostles except John were martyred. We see ever increasing prejudice and hostility against Christians in the US. A couple in Idaho face arrest, imprisonment, and loss of their wedding business for refusing to marry gay people. Pastors in Houston are facing the same punishment for refusing to give up their sermon notes and e-mails. This is just the tip of the iceberg of anti-Christians sentiment here. Don't kid yourself. If you live godly in Christ Jesus, you will suffer persecution.
Yet persecution is coming nonetheless. Jesus said, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you." (John 15:18) The prince of this world hates Jesus and His followers. Persecution is a prominent theme of 1 Peter, for example. In chapter 2:21ff Peter writes that we have been called to follow the example of Christ in suffering. In chapter 4:16 he writes, "If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name." "Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good." ( 1 Peter 4:19 ESV)
Hebrews speaks of the same suffering for our faith. "But recall the former days when... you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated." ( Hebrews 10:32-33 ESV)
Paul was imprisoned for his faith, and he and all of the other original apostles except John were martyred. We see ever increasing prejudice and hostility against Christians in the US. A couple in Idaho face arrest, imprisonment, and loss of their wedding business for refusing to marry gay people. Pastors in Houston are facing the same punishment for refusing to give up their sermon notes and e-mails. This is just the tip of the iceberg of anti-Christians sentiment here. Don't kid yourself. If you live godly in Christ Jesus, you will suffer persecution.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
This perennial question is particularly relevant in light of the current Ebola situation. Looking at this from a Biblical perspective will offend many but that is to be expected.
Apart from the goodness of Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, God's perspective is that we are not good people. The belief that people are inherently good and that their problems arise from their environment or some other outside source is a central tenet of secular humanism. The Bible does not agree.
In the time of Noah, God "saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:5) Romans 1:18 begins a long passage that reads as an indictment as a prosecuting attorney would bring charges in a court of law. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." Verse 29 relates specific charges. "They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless." Similar lists are found in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21 and 2 Timothy 3:1-4.
Titus 3:3 says "For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. In a similar passage in Romans 3: 10-18, the Bible says "None is righteous, no, not one... no one does good, not even one. The Scriptural view of reality is that we are not good people apart from the righteousness of Christ received through repentance and faith.
What about bad things? If a person who has steadfastly rejected Christ becomes infected with Ebola, for example, and as a result, repents of their sin, disobedience and independence from God, then even if they succumb and die, this represents God's mercy as that person will enjoy "pleasures at His right hand forevermore." (Psalm 16:11) Should a Christian contract this disease, their inner peace, steadfastness with Christ, and hope of the future with Jesus could influence some who do not believe to receive Christ.
From a Biblical perspective the question in the title above is invalid.
Apart from the goodness of Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, God's perspective is that we are not good people. The belief that people are inherently good and that their problems arise from their environment or some other outside source is a central tenet of secular humanism. The Bible does not agree.
In the time of Noah, God "saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:5) Romans 1:18 begins a long passage that reads as an indictment as a prosecuting attorney would bring charges in a court of law. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." Verse 29 relates specific charges. "They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless." Similar lists are found in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21 and 2 Timothy 3:1-4.
Titus 3:3 says "For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. In a similar passage in Romans 3: 10-18, the Bible says "None is righteous, no, not one... no one does good, not even one. The Scriptural view of reality is that we are not good people apart from the righteousness of Christ received through repentance and faith.
What about bad things? If a person who has steadfastly rejected Christ becomes infected with Ebola, for example, and as a result, repents of their sin, disobedience and independence from God, then even if they succumb and die, this represents God's mercy as that person will enjoy "pleasures at His right hand forevermore." (Psalm 16:11) Should a Christian contract this disease, their inner peace, steadfastness with Christ, and hope of the future with Jesus could influence some who do not believe to receive Christ.
From a Biblical perspective the question in the title above is invalid.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Tuesday Observations
One of the biggest problems with the current Ebola situation in the US is that neither the politicians or the media can be trusted to give us the truth. In all likelihood a lot of people (victims) will need to die before anything constructive is done. The ongoing need for victims is one of the hallmarks of a pagan society.
A different situation is the individual accused of killing a Pennsylvania State trooper. He has been on the loose for a month now despite the efforts of many hundreds of highly trained law enforcement personnel. If one person is so difficult to apprehend, what would happen with a dozen terrorists running around?
As I continue to interact with Christians from so-called Third World countries, I find that many of them are far more serious about their faith than most American Christians.
I find that walking for exercise is one of the best things that I can do for my health, both physical and spiritual. Yesterday I was able to recite all of my memory verses plus pray for a number of people during my jaunt. And i felt invigorated doing this.
New memory verses for today are Judges 21:25 and Proverbs 14:34. "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in their own eyes." "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." In the US everyone does whatever they want with little regard for others. Our sin is a reproach to us. May God have mercy on our disobedience.
A different situation is the individual accused of killing a Pennsylvania State trooper. He has been on the loose for a month now despite the efforts of many hundreds of highly trained law enforcement personnel. If one person is so difficult to apprehend, what would happen with a dozen terrorists running around?
As I continue to interact with Christians from so-called Third World countries, I find that many of them are far more serious about their faith than most American Christians.
I find that walking for exercise is one of the best things that I can do for my health, both physical and spiritual. Yesterday I was able to recite all of my memory verses plus pray for a number of people during my jaunt. And i felt invigorated doing this.
New memory verses for today are Judges 21:25 and Proverbs 14:34. "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in their own eyes." "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." In the US everyone does whatever they want with little regard for others. Our sin is a reproach to us. May God have mercy on our disobedience.
Monday, October 6, 2014
Observations about Peter and Paul
As readers of the Gospels know, Peter is the spokesman for the 12 disciples, the one who is always first to do things. But nowhere in the four accounts of the life of Jesus do we see Peter using Old Testament Scripture. Jesus did constantly but Peter did not follow His example until... the Day of Pentecost. Filled with the Holy Spirit we see Peter saturating his sermon with the Bible. He begins with the end of what we know as Joel chapter two, proceeds to the end of Psalm 16 and adds Psalm 110:1. And three thousand repent and are baptized. Hebrews 5:13 states "Everyone who partakes only of (spiritual) milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe." Verse 14 continues "But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (NKJV) What have they used to discern good and evil? The Word of God. What are they skilled in using; the word of righteousness. One way that we know that we are maturing is when we can minister the truth of the Word of God to ourselves and to others.
On another note the Lord showed me something about apostolic ministry this past week. Over time a handful of individuals have indicated that they thought i have an apostolic ministry. The primary reason seems to be my traveling around to encourage various churches. Some years ago i was led to do a study on the characteristics of those in apostolic ministry in the New Testament. This causes me to say that i simply do not have apostolic fruit.
However i do think about the nature of this ministry. I have only known two apostolic brothers personally. Both they and I have the same problem, one which Paul avoided. We spread ourselves too thin. The brother with whom i have relationship currently has fifty-five different congregations looking to him for guidance and covering. Even assuming that it was possible for him to travel every week, which it is not because he has a family and local responsibilities, this would mean visiting every group only once a year. When i was visiting twenty house churches i could see them about the same once a year. Even if this went on for a decade it would not be possible to develop strong relationship or train the Timothys of the next generation.
Paul avoided this by staying in one location for longer periods of time; eighteen months in Corinth and three years in Ephesus for example, so that he could develop these relationships and train younger leaders. This is much more difficult than flitting in for a day or a week.
On another note the Lord showed me something about apostolic ministry this past week. Over time a handful of individuals have indicated that they thought i have an apostolic ministry. The primary reason seems to be my traveling around to encourage various churches. Some years ago i was led to do a study on the characteristics of those in apostolic ministry in the New Testament. This causes me to say that i simply do not have apostolic fruit.
However i do think about the nature of this ministry. I have only known two apostolic brothers personally. Both they and I have the same problem, one which Paul avoided. We spread ourselves too thin. The brother with whom i have relationship currently has fifty-five different congregations looking to him for guidance and covering. Even assuming that it was possible for him to travel every week, which it is not because he has a family and local responsibilities, this would mean visiting every group only once a year. When i was visiting twenty house churches i could see them about the same once a year. Even if this went on for a decade it would not be possible to develop strong relationship or train the Timothys of the next generation.
Paul avoided this by staying in one location for longer periods of time; eighteen months in Corinth and three years in Ephesus for example, so that he could develop these relationships and train younger leaders. This is much more difficult than flitting in for a day or a week.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
What We Believe
After people have been in the "Church" for awhile they learn the "Christian" answers to the "Christian questions. They "know" that Jesus is God or that He is Lord. But do we believe? I can study the gospel, and explain it Biblically but if i do not actually present it to people do i believe the gospel or just know it?
Most Americans, including many who identify as Christians, seem to believe that if someone has enough money- whatever that amount is- that they will live a good life. The ever increasing number of lotteries and state sponsored gambling venues testify to this. Yet the Bible teaches something different.
"Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches make themselves wings, they fly away like an eagle toward heaven." (Proverbs 23:4-5 NKJV)
"He said to them, 'Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." ( Luke 12:15 NKJV)
"And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content." ( 1 Timothy 6:8 NKJV)
We live what we believe. If someone believes that "God helps those who help themselves," then we will rely upon our own personal abilities.
I knew a man who is a conspiracy theorist. The only topic that he ever wanted to talk about was how the government was responsible for the 9/11 attacks and related topics. His belief governed how he spoke and lived.
As "Christians" we can know many things but we show what we truly believe by what we live. Luke 6:45b says "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." We speak what we believe. Hebrews chapter 11 contains a summary of many Old Testament saints. Again and again we read that this person or that person by faith did something. Mental agreement did not keep Noah building an ark for a hundred years, or Abraham abandoning his city and relatives to go to an unknown destination. True faith produces obedience.
(Romans 1:5, 16:26)
Most Americans, including many who identify as Christians, seem to believe that if someone has enough money- whatever that amount is- that they will live a good life. The ever increasing number of lotteries and state sponsored gambling venues testify to this. Yet the Bible teaches something different.
"Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches make themselves wings, they fly away like an eagle toward heaven." (Proverbs 23:4-5 NKJV)
"He said to them, 'Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." ( Luke 12:15 NKJV)
"And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content." ( 1 Timothy 6:8 NKJV)
We live what we believe. If someone believes that "God helps those who help themselves," then we will rely upon our own personal abilities.
I knew a man who is a conspiracy theorist. The only topic that he ever wanted to talk about was how the government was responsible for the 9/11 attacks and related topics. His belief governed how he spoke and lived.
As "Christians" we can know many things but we show what we truly believe by what we live. Luke 6:45b says "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." We speak what we believe. Hebrews chapter 11 contains a summary of many Old Testament saints. Again and again we read that this person or that person by faith did something. Mental agreement did not keep Noah building an ark for a hundred years, or Abraham abandoning his city and relatives to go to an unknown destination. True faith produces obedience.
(Romans 1:5, 16:26)
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