God's Talking: Are you listening?

Often in the hectic paces of life, it may seem that God isn't talking to us. We read the Bible, but it doesn't have the same effect. We pray and find ourselves wondering if we were heard.  We try to stay faithful, but find doubts creeping in. We know that God speaks through His word and answers prayers. But how do we know God’s will? How do we know if it is not expressed specifically in black and white scripture what God is saying to us?

  "Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God." 

Job 37:14     

We may have our issues, that Job’s friends weren't such good friends to comfort a suffering man. Yet, that doesn't make everything that they say erroneous. The statement above is a good case in point, as it offers some very good advice. When we’ve tried everything else and we still don’t think we can hear God, you often have to be quiet in order to hear God speak. This means sitting down – you and God – and you listening quietly. Turn off the cell phone! Turn off the TV!  

One of the reasons why God may never speak to you could be because you’re never quiet. Cultivating a quiet mind takes practice and has to become a habit. God may actually be revealing His will to you, lighting your path, enlightening your wisdom, you’re not hearing because He’s getting a busy signal from you. You've got to reserve time alone with God. So, here are some things to think about....

• Is getting God’s dream for your life, voice in your life, will in your life worth one day of your life? 
• Have you ever taken an entire day and done nothing but be alone with God? 
• Have you taken advantage of Sunday worship, to get yourself in tune with the Spirit of God? Let God talk to you through the Bible. Relax. Think. 
• Have you tried writing down the thoughts God puts in your mind? 
• Have you determined to set spiritual goals that you know that God wants you to achieve? 
• Look through your schedule for the week – is God there? We work, do things that we consider important – is God there in your priorities?

Recently, someone determined to spend one day saying nothing negative about anyone or anything. They found this to be a great challenge, yet in doing so they heard God’s voice telling them that they had let their lives become controlled by this type of thinking. We go here..go there – have you ever asked God, “God, where do you want me to go? What direction do you want me to go?”

God speaks to people who take the time to listen — not just for a day, but also on a regular

basis. This is called a quiet time. We exercise it best, when The Lord’s Day is the most important day for us and we wouldn't miss it for anything.  You think you don’t have time for this? We’re talking about figuring out why you’re here on Earth, so you've got to make the time.

• Do you want to hear God speak to you? What are you willing to do about it?
• How much time do you actually spend being quiet and waiting on God to speak to you?
• What distractions need to eliminated so that you can spend more time with God?

          "Hear this, O ; stop and consider the wondrous works of God." 

Jim

Prepared to Answer

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Pet.3:15)

This advice is given by Peter in his encouragement to the Christians of his day as they came in contact with people on a day to day basis. Many read this scripture and experience fear. Fear that they have to become bible scholars in order to teach someone.  Unfortunately, this is a fear that has been instilled into believers for over 1800 years, when religious leaders told people like you and me that we could not do this because we were not “professionals,” or part of what became known as the “Clergy.” This however is NOT biblical teaching.  Paul considered himself a “brother” and “fellow servant” with Tychicus (Col. 4:7). The same was true for Paul and Epaphras (Col.1:7). Ephroditus was Paul’s “brother, co-worker and fellow soldier” (Ph’p.2:25). Paul and Timothy called themselves the “servants” of the Corinthian church (1 Cor.4:5). Peter viewed Silas as his “faithful brother” (1 Pet. 5:12). The apostles never talked in terms of “us” and “them” in the context of serving Christ. They considered themselves to be fellow laborers with all believers in the church.

The truth is, that everyone you come in contact with needs a reason for hope.  We all want the world to be a better place, yet, few do anything about it to make it better for someone other than themselves. That is why Peter states what he does. Christians should be and appear in public to be people that look beyond life and its drudgery to something better.  A happiness in their step, a smile on their face, an encouragement in their talk.  The hope that best helps people is the hope from somebody who says, “Been there, done that.”

Most think “give an answer to every man” in Peter’s passage means they have to explain why Jesus died on the cross, quote Scripture verses from memory, and know a bunch of Greek or Hebrew. We are not Lawgivers – there is only one with that authority – Christ (Jas.4:12).  We are not Attorneys or Lawyers of the Bible, again, that role belongs only to Jesus (1 Tim.2:5).  It’s not your job to convince people to accept Christ, and try as you can you cannot convert anyone (1 Cor.3:7). God does that. So what does this mean? It means simply that you tell others what has given you hope, a reason to smile, an outlook that today is good even though it has evil things in it.  He wants you to say, “Pain really got my attention. Let me tell you what I learned. I learned that God is all I need. You don’t know God is all you need until God is all you’ve got. I learned that God’s going to hang with me no matter what.” You simply share what you have learned through your own difficulty and experience. You tell people what changed you!

We all recognize others that have difficulties by the looks on their faces, the demeanor they carry – that “aura” that says “I need a friend right now.” What are the good and bad experiences in your life that God can use to impart hope with someone else? That’s what God wants you to do.

Can you think of one person in your life that you can share experience from your life with this week?  

Jim

TEACH ME!

 Psalm 119:12 "Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes!"

Paul told Timothy to "be diligent to present yourself approve unto God (2 Tm.2:15)."  The King James Version translates this "Study to show yourself approved unto God." We take the KJV side of things a lot of times and use this to prove that we need to study (as in school work) God's word.  While this is not a wrong concept, this is not what Paul intended Timothy to understand. He wanted him to understand that being approved of God could come only from being diligent to present yourself everyday as God's workman.  With diligence in approaching God's Word, we also need an attitude of dependence.   Proverbs 2:2-5 states, "making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God."  Notice the statement in this..."call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding..."   This is an attitude far different from a more usual perfunctory prayer for God to teach us as we go to weekly Bible study.

Do we really believe we're dependent on the Holy Spirit to enlighten our understanding or do we  depend on our own intellectual ability in our study of Scripture?   I suspect that many of us, while giving lip service to dependence on the Spirit, actually depend on our own intellect.

It's difficult to maintain an attitude of diligence to be coupled with dependence. Yet, we must do this if we want to learn of God. He does not reward laziness, yet, neither does he reward a sinful self-confidence. Diligence when it is pursued with a sincere attitude and a reflection of total dependence on God. What we're talking about here is not just acquiring more knowledge of biblical truth. We have that.  Rather, we need to develop Bible-based convictions by which we are to live.  You might say, "Well...I have that." Unfortunately, too many Christians seem to approach Bible study in the same way they would approach academic subjects. We go to church, get our assignments, do our homework and move on to the next. When we do this, we're more apt to become proud over our "superior" knowledge of biblical truth"  than be humbled by what God would reveal to us. Our prayers should be to pray for knowledge of truth that will change our lives rather than simply inform our minds. Paul warned the Corinthians in 1 Cor.8:1, "we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up." 

We need to pray with the psalmist, "Teach me, o Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end" (Psalm 119:33).

Jim

"The Church"

I have entered a study that I wish to share, concerning "the church." A number of things pass my mind as I think of this term, that I know a lot of people think.  I remember growing up, there wasn't much emphasis put on "church." It was a place to go to socialize, dress up, hear someone speak (sometimes rant) and watch them always with emphasis among the circles I attended - pass the collection plate. After a while, especially in my teen years, I saw a lot of hypocrisy and branded "the church" at large (the group I was attending or otherwise) as hypocrites.  I quit going.  It wasn't until I met my wife, that I began going again, and this particular little group seemed different.  It was the first "church" I attended that emphasized what the bible actually taught, and the collection wasn't emphasized over everything, especially the teaching.

I am now 33+ years on the other side of that day, and once again questions come up about "the church" and what God intended it to be.  I have seen a lot of what God has not wanted it to be. So, I decided to chuck everything I had learned and start afresh on the subject to see what God says and has in mind when He thought of the church. 

Let's get a couple of preliminary things out of the way.  Paul says in Col.1:13 "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son..."  In vs.18 in continuation of this thought of being in God's Kingdom, Paul here refers to this Kingdom over which Jesus is the Head as "the church."  God's Kingdom, God's Church are one in the same thing.   The term "church" is an interesting term, because it is not a "biblical" word.  Yes, it occurs in many Bibles, but the term "church" is neither part of the Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek that the Bible is written in.  If you look up the term "church" as it is used in the New Testament, you will discover that it is the greek word "ekklesia."  This term is actually a combination of two words in greek  “ek”  meaning "out of" and “kaleo” meaning "I call."  The intent of the term is to describe God's people as those "called out of" the world as intended by Paul in Col.1:13,18. The term "church" is actually an English term of Middle English derivation,  of the Dutch/German/Slavic terms of the greek “kuriokos” meaning “belonging to the Lord.”  It was a term used to identify those who belonged to the Lord, which is not an incorrect use or identification. "Kuriokos" became shortened to "kurioch" which then later became shortened to  "kurch" which then became our modern English "church."  Still initially with the same original meaning intended, which as we have said, is not an incorrect application.  However,  men will do as men will do, and abuse of this term "church" has occurred where where men have craved power that belonged only to the Lord.  So, over history, men have made God's "church" into things that God never meant for it to be.  Men have made the church a philosophy, a culture, a Civil Government and ultimately a Business.  Confusing -- needless to say. But, this is not God's way (1 Cor.14:33), it is the world's and ultimately evil (1 Jn.2:16). 

Probably with that statement, you wish to shoot me to a wall with arrows. But before you do, I ask you to consider with me the question - What did God mean..what did God have in mind when He first mentioned "the church?"

Would it surprise you to note, that Jesus - who is the head of and author of the "church" only mentions it twice while He is living upon this planet?  Matt.16:18 and Matt 18:17 are the only places that Jesus mentions "the church." In the remainder of this post, we will look at Matt.16:18 and the context of it to see what Jesus meant when He said what began this all, "I will build my church."

1. "I will build" - tells us that He and no one else is the builder of His church. It is not left to men to build, to plant, or to possess. He will build it - period. It is already planted BY Him, all I can do is cultivate what He has given.  It is not mine to possess in any way shape or form. It is His!   
2. "and the gates of Hades (see footnote 1 below) will not overpower it" -  If death or the realm of death (Hades) cannot overpower it, then it is not an "earthly" thing (2 Pet.3:7). It is a Spiritual place subject only to the rule of God and Christ. No earthly realm can rule over it, no earthly influence shall have dominion in it and it still be called Christ's. 
3. "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."  This tells us that Jesus' church is a spiritual place guided by heavenly and spiritual values that were decreed or loosened in Heaven before ever so here in this realm.  The decrees and values of God's Kingdom are God's. If not revealed within the context of His word (Jude vs.3; Heb.1:1-3; Jn

All of this brings us back now to our question, "When Jesus said He would build His church, what was He going to build? How would it be different than anything else that men have seen?" 

 The answer is found in what we have studied above, and in a statement made by Paul in Eph.3:10 "so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places."  Men have looked to government and human institutions of every kind, trying to find solace and peace. They have sought lauded rulers only to be disappointed. They have sought social and political institutions, only to find them as corrupt as everything else. And many have sought to find solace in "churches" - governed by man, and full of the same corruption that they find in every other human institution. 

God's church on the other hand (not men's) is the place where God's wisdom rules, where God's wisdom can be seen, and where the peace and solace that people yearn for can be found in God's Son (Mt.11:28-30). It is the place to which rulers, governments, authorities and other institutions look, when they want to see something of TRUE value!  THAT is what Jesus built!

We will look further into this subject in future posts.

Jim

MORE ON GOD’S WIFE

Further addressing the issue of “God’s Wife” it is interesting to hear the comments going back and forth on this. All stemming from comments like those of J. Edward Wright, president of both The Arizona Center for Judaic Studies and The Albright Institute for Archaeological Research, who state, "Asherah was not entirely edited out of the Bible by its male editors," he added. "Traces of her remain, and based on those traces, archaeological evidence and references to her in texts from nations bordering Israel and Judah; we can reconstruct her role in the religions of the Southern Levant." Scholars have found mentions of Asherah in ancient scrolls, on pottery, in the Books of the Kings and other things which is claimed that she is "The Real Housewife of Heaven."

Claims state, “Asherah's connection to Yahweh, according to Francesca Stavrakopoulou[1], is spelled out in both the Bible and an 8th-century B.C. inscription on pottery found in the Sinai desert at a site called Kuntillet Ajrud[2].” The discovery in the early 20th Century of an ancient Canaanite coastal city called Ugarit in what is now modern-day Syria, very little was known about the goddess Asherah. But ancient texts, amulets and figurines unearthed here reveal the Asherah was a powerful fertility goddess Asherah and also the wife of El, the high god at Ugarit. Articles state, “Strikingly, Yahweh is often called 'El' in the Bible and he performs many of the same roles.” Famous drama here with very opens ended accusation with very little examination to determine authenticity. It is interesting that no BIBLICAL CITATIONS are made for further examination contextually or grammatically. Another statement is made, “In the Book of Kings, we're told that a statue of Asherah was housed in the temple and that female temple personnel wove ritual textiles for her[3]." Again, no specific citation is made for critical examination or analysis.

Aaron Brody, Director of the Bade Museum and Associate Professor of Bible and archaeology at the Pacific School of Religion, states, “The ancient Israelites were polytheists, Brody told Discovery News, "with only a small minority worshiping Yahweh alone before the historic events of 586 B.C." In that year, an elite community within Judea was exiled to Babylon and the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. This, according to Brody, led to "a more universal vision of strict monotheism: one god not only for Judah, but for all of the nations."

Ok…now – this is interesting. Let’s then consider something.To say that all Israelites were polytheists because of this is an incorrect assumption, and such reveals that these people have not read the Bible. To say that because there is a god called “El” in one place means this is “El” in the Bible. “But that’s reasonable,” one might say. Only if you’re not interested in what the BIBLE, History, AND Archaeology have to say.

Let’s consider some documented history here. Incest was NOT an acceptable thing among the Eastern people. The famous Laws of Hammurabi contain several sections on this particular issue[4]. The only external data about Canaanite practice we have here comes from the religious myths and the 'role models' of their gods[5]. In the Ugaritic writings (Canaanite), there is the story of an incestuous El: "The second myth is often called 'The Birth of the Good and Gracious God.' It opens with a banquet at which wine flows freely. The text is divided into sections, the tenth being the last and most crucial. El is about to create two women who will become either his wives or daughters, depending on his ability to impregnate them. He creates these females and seduces them, and they both become pregnant. One bears a child called Dawn (Shahar) and the other a child called Dusk (Shalim). Later, El makes love to these same women and they produce seven sons between them. These sons are 'the good and gracious gods.' They are destined to be gods of fertility, and are first suckled at the breasts of 'the Lady' (Asherah, wife of El?)[5]." With such deities to emulate, there is little wonder that God described this Canaanite practice as being very, very real, and VERY VERY FORBIDDEN in His society and people (Ex.20:3-6; Lev.26:1;Deut.16:21)!

Cultic prostitution--both male and female was also attested and clearly so in Canaanite sanctuaries[6] . The Bible and the Canaanite texts at Ugarit use the words qadesh and qedesha which mean 'holy one'--the first masculine, the second feminine. At Ugarit these 'holy ones' were homosexual priests and priestesses who acted as prostitutes. There is STRONG reaction against this 'cultic prostitution' in passages such as Leviticus 19:29, 'Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore,' and Deuteronomy 23:17, 'There shall be no whore (qedesha) of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite (qadesh) of the sons of Israel.' Josiah's initial reforms in returning to the Law of God, was 'to break down the houses of the sodomites' (2 Kings 23:7)." The Canaanite culture TOTALLY SOLD OUT to religious prostitution. This was why God’s instructions in Deut.7:1-11 were for them to remain faithful to Him and not to become like the nations around them. Because in doing so, they would bring about their own destruction.

One might ask what about the Israelites coming out of Egypt, didn’t they make the golden calf (Ex.32:4)? Didn’t they engage in debauchery (Ex.32:6)? Yes – they did – and WERE REPROVED BY GOD for it (Ex.32:8-10). God then explicitly tells them and the next generation to come after them, that they were not to have ANYTHING that represented Him or anything else and call it a “god” (Ex.34:17; Lev.19:4; 26:1; Deut.4:15-19, 23-25; 5:8, 27:15). Does this mean that they did not ever corrupt what God told them? NO! The Bible, history, and archaeology all confirm that they did. The Bible itself tells us that they did. 1Ki 15:13 “He also deposed Ma`akhah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a disgusting image as an asherah. Asa cut down this image of hers and burned it in Vadi Kidron.” Ahab and Jezebel are perhaps the most notorious in biblical literature for introducing this to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and it most certainly was not sanctioned by God ( 1 Ki.16:33). It was for this cause that God had the Northern Kingdom to be taken captive into Assyria (Dt.28:64, 65; 2 Ki.15:29; Isa.1:7; 7:20).

In the Southern Kingdom, it was Manasseh that introduced and even placed an Asherah in the Temple (2 Ki.21:7). Some may argue that Solomon started this, and indeed he paved the way for this to happen. But it is Manasseh that desecrates the Temple dedicated to God by placing the Asherah in it. During the last 25 years of the prophet Jeremiah’s life, the nation’s decay of moral and spiritual values had reaped its harvest. The reason for the exile is plainly stated (2 Chron. 36:14-16). “They mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people until there was no remedy.”

Even the inscriptions of the kings Merodachbaladan II and Nabonidus of Babylonia, as well as the Erra myth, contain references to a type of revolution in Uruk around 765, during the reign of the king Eriba-marduk. This revolution was not caused by social conditions alone, but rather was directed AGAINST the cultic practices of the temple of Eanna and the cult prostitutes there; it had only temporary success." In the return of the people of Israel to the land under Zerubabbel, Ezra, and Nehemiah, shows the influence that this idolatry had (Ezra 10:2) and knew that this was the reason for the captivities of their ancestors. So, he sets out to make sure that this does not happen again.

Someone may say that Abraham was polytheistic; after all, he came from Mesopotamia the region that engaged in these practices. Yet one, who would make a claim as this, again has not read the Bible itself. Abraham’s expressions of God are centered in his faith in one God, who, because believed by him to be possessor of heaven and earth (Gen.14:22;24:3), sovereign judge of the nations (Gen.15:14) of all the earth (Gen.18:25), disposer of the forces of Nature (Gen_18:14;19:24; 20:17), exalted (Gen_14:22) and eternal (Gen_21:33), was for Abraham at least the only God.

It is always interesting to me, that when people want to sway thinking, they always present things as one sided. They do not divulge all of the facts, lest it skew their theories. Yet, as we have seen – when brought together the evidence is clear. What is the lesson in this? Not everything stated is true! Only from careful examination, study, and gathering of all the facts can one then claim the truth. So - be careful! Just because someone claims to be a Doctor of this, or Professor of that, does not mean that what they are saying should be taken as "gospel."

Did or does God have a wife? Not if we let the Bible speak for itself and let history and archaeology speak their facts.

Is this in anyway female bashing, a conspiracy to cover up, or eradicate anything? No. No more than saying that our own historical documents of our own times do so. They are what they are and should be understood in that context. What of archaeology? DIG ON! I believe it is exciting! Just be sure to interpret things in the context of the whole, rather than making presumptions.

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[1] Francesca Stavrakopoulou (born Bromley, 1975) is a senior lecturer in the University of Exeter's department of Theology and Religion. The main focus of her research is Israelite and Judahite history and religion. She is noted for her academic and media roles: presenting a three-part television series on the BBC The Bible's Buried Secrets (2011; not to be confused with the 2008 NOVA program of the same name), and for contributions to series The Bible: A History. She describes herself as 'an atheist with huge respect for religion' and regards her work as 'a branch of history like any other’ Her PhD from the University of Oxford, which examined the creation of an imagined past within the Hebrew Bible, was subsequently published with the title King Manasseh and Child Sacrifice: Biblical Distortions of Historical Realities. Her second book was Land of our Fathers: The Roles of Ancestor Veneration in Biblical Land Claims. She has also co-edited Religious Diversity in Ancient Israel and Judah and Ecological Hermeneutics: Biblical, Historical and Theological Perspectives. She was a junior research fellow at Worcester College, Oxford, before moving to Exeter. She is the secretary of the British-based Society for Old Testament Study, and a member of the European Association of Biblical Studies and of the US-based Society of Biblical Literature

[2] http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42154769/ns/technology_and_science-science

[3] Ibid

[4] Law Collections from Mesopotamia and Asia Minor Para 154-158;110-111 as do the Hittite law codes (laws 189-191; Law Collections from Mesopotamia and Asia:236)

[5] It must be remembered that the religious rituals of ancient cultures were generally 'reenactments' of divine activities. For example, when a religious myth would have one god impregnating another--producing "spring"--the humans would "re-enact" this with the cultic prostitutes.

[6] Nelson's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Bible Facts: 130

[7] The Semitic root qdsh means "sacred, holy, set-apart, or tabooed." Thus, qedesh (masc.) and qedeshah or qedeshet (fem.), both of which occur in the Hebrew Bible (Christian Old Testament) in singular and plural forms, mean "Sacred or Set-apart One," almost certainly referring to religious functionaries, though usually translated into English as "sacred prostitute." Keel and Uelinger 1998: 68 state that she had "a Canaanite origin."

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Handling THE TRUTH!

Handling THE TRUTH!

"Don't believe everything you hear just because someone says it is a message from God;

test it first to see if it really is!"

1 John 4:1 (LB)

When we get an idea in our mind, how do you know if it’s from God? How do you know it’s not your own desire or even a lie from Satan? The answer is given in the scripture itself - "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1Jn 4:1"

So how can I tell if something is from God or not?

• The first test - “Does it agree with the Bible?” God’s truth is consistent. He is not going to tell you one thing in the Bible and then tell you something different somewhere else. This is where we must be careful, because of several things:
• First - 2 Co 11:13,14 "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." We must be aware that even though the scripture is God's word, there are men that will wrest and twist the scripture to their own devices (2 Pet.3:16). Satan himself, quotes scripture in the tempting of people (Mt.4:1-10).
• Second, it is MY responsibility to make sure that what is being said is in agreement with God's word (Acts.17:11). Just because someone quotes the Bible or says that the Bible says or teaches something does not mean that it does. It is up to me to search it out and make sure that it does.
• Second - Pro 12:19 "Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment." Truth stands the test of time. At the time that Jesus spoke it, more than 2000+ years or more had passed from the time of creation to that point. Yet, Jesus points out that what was true in the beginning of creation regarding marriage, was true in His time and continues to be true today (Mt.19:8). TRUTH in God's word DOES NOT CHANGE! Mal 3:6 "For I the LORD do not change.."

If you want to know God’s voice, the only book you need to read is the Bible - PERIOD! You do not need priests, people, magazines, or anything else. All you need is God, His word, yourself and time - to know for certainty what God has said. You need to memorize the scripture, study it, and meditate on it. John 5:39 "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me..."

When you know God’s Word you will not be fooled by lies (Heb.4:12). But you will always get into trouble when you doubt the Bible.Paul reminded the Galatians as well as us, Galatians 1:8 "Even if an angel comes from heaven and preaches any other message, let him be forever cursed" (NLT). So if anyone ever comes up to you and says you need the Bible plus another book to find truth, they are wrong. Rom. 3:4 "No, indeed! God tells the truth, even if everyone else is a liar. The Scriptures say about God, "Your words will be proven true, and in court you will win your case."

Jim

"Lord..what about.."

"Lord...what about...?"

"Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."

James 4:15

Even if we do not understand what God’s will is, we need to respond to that direction. In fact, when we don’t understand it is even more imperative that we do exactly what he directs us to do in the scriptures. This though can become hard, because it seems repetitive and feels at times like we have to wait forever for an answer. Sometimes, God asks us to make the choice to do his will before we know the specific details of his plan. That’s because part of God’s plan is to develop trust. This is where many of us get into a battle of wills with God, wanting him to reveal his plan to us first and then will we decide whether or not to do what he tells us to do. But this isn't the way it works.

One reason God doesn't give us the full picture of his plans for your life is that you may actually be overwhelmed by what you would see. Peter records, "Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully..(1 Pet.1:10)." We do not know why it was not revealed to them, but it wasn't. Perhaps it may have been difficult for them to complete what God had in mind, if they had known. Perhaps God simply wanted their faith and trust. But that’s the point—there’s no way you can fulfill what God asks without God empowering us to do so. Even Peter was in a constant battle with Jesus over what to do. Just knowing Jesus what he did of Jesus at the time, the one time that Jesus begins to reveal some of what is about to happen to Him, Peter jumps in and says, "Not so Lord." Satan took occasion of Peter's not knowing and desire to anticipate, to try to stop through Peter what Jesus had just revealed was the will of God! Jesus states then, "But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man (Matt 16:23)."

It is a wondrous thing to know without doubt, what God's will is! That is why on some things, we have the Bible - so that we can "the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work (2 Tim 3:17)." Yet, we must also be content with what God has revealed to us, and learn to leave to the will of God in trust that He knows and is preparing what is best for us those things that have not been made known. On another occasion after the resurrection, Jesus was talking with his chosen apostles, Jesus revealed to Peter a portion of what his future would behold (Jn.21:18). Yet, Peter as impetuous as ever, wants to know what is not meant for him to know - "Lord, what about this man?" Jesus responds to Peter, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me! (Jn.21:22)"

These then, are the things that we must remember. What is written in God's word, is there for my learning, my faith, and to DO! Outside of this, we must simply revert back to one principle - "YOU FOLLOW ME." Don't worry about what you do not know, don't fret because you do not know where certain things are going to lead you in your life.

Where ever you go, whatever you are doing - FOLLOW the Lord and trust that God will bring about His will in your life in His own way and own time.

Jim

The MADE-UP Jesus

There has arisen a lot of debate in recent years, over what is referred to as the "historical" Jesus and posed by some as being in opposition to the biblical Jesus. The question then becomes, what do we believe? John Dominic Crossan in an article February 27, 2011 states in an overarching message is that you don't have to accept the Jesus of dogma. That there's another Jesus hidden in Scripture and history who has been ignored. Crossnan is a modern reputed scholar and former catholic priest and touted modern "authority" on the "Historical Jesus." So, what do we believe? Who do we believe?

Why is a real relationship with Jesus so difficult? Why is it so challenging? It is because we tend to create a quasi-relationship with a "made-up Jesus." Since the world presents to us a conflicting view of what we see in the gospels, people then tend to create their own version of Jesus in their minds, one who makes few demands on us. This made-up Jesus basically does what we expect, and then leaves us alone. After all, if He's just a historical figure and "an exploited "peasant with an attitude who didn't perform many miracles, physically rise from the dead or die as punishment for humanity's sins ( John Dominic Crossan's 'blasphemous' portrait of Jesus February 27, 2011 By John Blake, CNN)."

Here’s the problem, this made-up Jesus doesn’t care if we succeed or fail, if we’re blind or able to see, if we live or die. We have done what Paul has warned us not to do,

• "But even if we — or, for that matter, an angel from heaven! — were to announce to you some so-called "Good News" contrary to the Good News we did announce to you, let him be under a curse forever! (Gal.1:8 CJB)"
• "They have exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, by worshipping and serving created things, rather than the Creator — praised be he for ever. (Rom.1:25)."

There we have it. People such as Crossnan - or the Bible! What is the truth?

Here's the rub! If we accept the view of people like Crossnan, then we have a version of Jesus who makes few or no demands on us. This made-up Jesus basically does what we expect, and then leaves us alone. But, here’s the problem - this made-up Jesus doesn’t care about us. He doesn’t care if we succeed or fail, if we’re blind or able to see, if we live or die. Is that the truth? do you believe that? is that what YOU want to accept?

Jesus says in Revelation 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (NIV). That doesn't sound like someone who doesn't care to me. It sounds to me like the real Jesus cares deeply about us. That He loves us passionately and has been pursuing us since the day we were born. The Jesus of the Bible, doesn’t want a relationship of rote prayers, rule keeping and formulas. Paul wrote, "that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.(Eph.3:16-19)."

This is a rich and deep and ultimately fulfilling relationship. Sometimes, it will be messy, uncomfortable, and a passionate relationship. That’s why the Jesus of the Bible won’t leave you alone, because He wants you to experience real and eternal life. This is a real relationship with the real Jesus who hung on a cross for you. Picture him there, looking across through time and into your eyes saying, “I love you. I’m willing to die for you. I’m willing to give everything so that you can know me and have a real life of passion, love and eternal life.”

You can ignore him; you can curse him; you can refuse to believe He exists. But regardless of what you think or what you choose to believe, there is a fact that remains true throughout time. "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Pet.3:9)."

Where are you at? Are you content to live the life that you’ve lived? Are you content to continue deluding yourself that Jesus isn't real, doesn't' care, or that he's just some historical being that was a peasant with an attitude? Or are you ready to cross that line to live a passionate and real relationship with a real Jesus who loves you?

"The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!"

Everyone who hears this should say, "Come!"

If you are thirsty, come! If you want life-giving water, come and take it. It's free!"

Rev.22:17

Jim

BOOK REVIEW: 66 Love Letters by: Dr. Larry Crabb

66 Love Letters

by Dr. Larry Crabb

http://www.amazon.com/66-Love-Letters-Conversation-Invites/dp/1598596861

I have mixed reviews of this book, mainly because I love most or Larry Crabb's books. I found this book to be inviting and intriguing, especially in the Old Testament books. It opened up some things that I had not considered before and has helped me to see a lot of the things in a new light. In particular how that God, is the same in the Old Testament as in the New Testament. This book is excellent for those struggling with what seems to be the "staunch" God of the Old Testament versus the "loving" God of the New Testament. It definitely gives you a challenge to look at things from God's point of view and not just your own. For that I give definite KUDOS. Dr.Crabb is a masterful writer and I thought it warm to write it from his current perspective. It gives us an inside look and let's us know that its not just you or I that have problems understanding things. If you have not read Dr.Crabb's other books, I heartily recommend them as they will enlighten you to the human psyche, especially INSIDE OUT.

However, for the good I have to give this book (that outweighs the negative by the way), I must say that I am disappointed that Dr.Crabb thrust some of his personal doctrine on us in the New Testament and did not continue the objectivity which he started with. I found that disappointing and it has made me now hesitant to recommend this book to struggling readers with whom I would have to get into a quagmire of explanation on what this is and what that is. While I will be keeping this book for my personal library and will recommend it to those more mature, I'm afraid it just doesn't have the punch that Inside Out had.

Overall, I liked the book and the style of writing. I liked the double takes that I had to take because I had not seen things in that light before. Take a look. You won't be disappointed - but, read with some caution.

Resolutions

RESOLUTIONS – Is Reading the Bible One of Yours?

Started thinking about New Year’s resolutions yet? Something that we resolve many times is that I want to be a “better Christian.” Yet, do we spend the time doing the things that help facilitate being a better Christian? Have you ever read the Bible through? Have you ever spent time just studying some of what the Bible says, in depth – just you and God?

· Nothing will foster interest in the Bible more than reading it. It is exciting, stimulating and challenging, nourishing the soul as nothing else can! (John 8:31f; 10:10; 15:1-8,10) To live it, we must read it. Make your aim to spend quality time in God’s Word each day this year!

· The Bereans in Acts really something. Receiving the message they examined the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul said was true (Acts 17:11). Their desire for truth reflected a genuine interest on their part in God’s Word and what God had to say on a subject! We should not simply pass over those hard to understand passages. We should study them out! Dust off the dictionaries and look up those obscure words. Make comparisons of translations. Ask questions—lots of questions. Most importantly, pray that God will give you wisdom and spiritual insight so that you might see wonderful things in His word (Psalm 119:18). The deeper we dig the more engrossed we become and the more interested we are.

· Reading the Bible through is certainly a worthwhile goal. As we’ve seen in our study of the Post Exile return and rebuilding of the Temple, the manner in which the books are arranged can be confusing. One way to see the biblical story unfold is to read The Bible in Chronological Order. If you need help with this, get with me and I can get you recommendations on Daily Reading Lists, or Chronological Bibles that can help with understanding.

· Application of the Bible to our lives is our primary reason for reading. It is much better to read, study and apply one verse than to skim through chapter after chapter for the umpteenth time. The Word of God serves as the lamp to our feet and light to our path. (Psalm 119:105.) Each time we open our Bibles, we should be asking: What has God revealed about Himself in this text? What does God require of me? We should read the Bible with keen interest and a firm resolve to live into God’s will!

Let one of your resolutions this year be to become a diligent reader of God’s word. You won’t be sorry that you did (2 Tim.2:15).

Jim