It takes FAITH to Listen to God!

As it is written, I have made you the father of many nations. [He was appointed our father] in the sight of God in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the dead and speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed.

Rom.4:17

One of the hardest things to realize is that God is in control of things when those things are going south and fast. It is also hard to maintain faith, when things like cancer, divorce, bankruptcy, infertility, and unemployment seem to be invading your life on a regular and persistent basis. These types of things get out of your control and you can’t do anything about it. They leave you feeling helpless, and if you're not careful, evil and evil influences can cause you to think that God has abandoned you. 

Something to remember, is that the situation you are in may be out of your control, but it’s not out of God’s control.  

Romans 4:17 reminds us of that. There are two things God does that you can’t do: 

1. He can give life to the dead
2. He can create something out of nothing.

Those are some very awesome things. If God can give life to a dead man, the God can can give life to a dead career, a dying marriage, a fading dream or a financial dead-end. There is a lot of motivational speakers that talk about the power of positive thinking, and positive thinking is a needed thing in life. However, it wasn't just positive thinking that Abraham believed in. Positive thinking beats negative thinking because negative doesn't work! But understand that positive thinking is not faith in God. They are two very different things. Positive thinking works fine in situations you have control over because you can move within the circumstances to change them. It takes faith in God to be in something totally out of your control, beyond your ability, and outside of your means to do anything to get through those things. You need faith in God, because He can control a situation, when you can’t. In fact, most of life is beyond your control, and there is very little that you can manipulate. 

Jesus reminds us in Lke 18:27, “What is impossible with man is possible with God” Throughout the Bible's history, God has specialized in the impossible. We call them miracles and you need to know that God is ready to turn your dead-end into deliverance.

So, here are some good questions to consider on this subject:

• What issues are you facing today that are straining your faith?
• Do you still believe that God is in control and can work with you to change those things?
• Why is it sometimes difficult to admit that something is out of your control?
• Do you feel evil or evil influence whispering in your ear that God has abandoned you?

Maybe it is time today, to quit struggling with life and its circumstances. Positive thinking not working for you? Maybe it is time to understand that it takes more than a positive attitude and thought to get through the turmoil. Perhaps you should try talking to, listening to, and trusting that God has not abandoned you. He's just waiting for you to stop "Kicking against the pricks (Acts 9:5)."

Jim

It isn't HAVE TO!

"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."

 Rom 12:9-15

This is good advice given by Paul that we are all familiar with. However, there is part of this that we often either overlook or maybe we even downright ignore. In the application of abhorring evil, loving one another, being patient in tribulation; did you notice the part about contributing to the needs of the saints?

We all apply this to money, and any time we use our money in service to God, it draws us closer to God. However, this is not all that it applies to like we want to make it. Any time send a card and write a note of encouragement, I've just invested in the plan of God’s will. When another believer is discouraged and needs somebody to talk to and I buy give a shoulder or an ear, I've done God's will. John writes, "Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God."

When we invest our money in developing relationships within the Church, it points others to God and gets us closer to one another and to Him. In other words, when you invest in the fellowship of God's house, it helps everyone involved and helps bring people to Christ. Heb.10:24,25 teaches, "encourage one another and provoke one another unto love and good works,  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Don't get caught up in "the day," that's another discussion. Pay attention to two things in this passage, encouraging and not neglecting meeting together. Many have been taught that "not neglecting meeting together" is like attendance at school. They make it a "have to" thing and this isn't what God wants at all. It should be a "want to" in our lives as Christians to not only invest in our own spirituality, but to want to do everything that I can, every time that I can to contribute to the needs of others. To not do this is to be self serving and not to consider the will of God above your own.

Do you see a need in God's house?  What are you rising up to do about it? Are you afraid to reach out to others, to invest in their lives? Ask God for help to overcome your fears and trust him with your efforts. Remember, "Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality."

Jim 

Spiritual Gifts - How to Grow Them

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Gal.5:22,23

As we spoke about this last Sunday, I thought it expedient to write about it for this article, as well as the fact that it is a time of the year that we are considering gifts to each other and other people that we know. Spiritual gifts are gifts of yourself, which God’s Spirit has brought about in you and your heart.  Gifts like this require us to dig deep within our hearts and cultivate the right atmosphere for them to grow.  When there are no roots, or in shallow soil, it may initially sprout and look good, but it doesn't last. The plants wither quickly because they don’t have roots. This is readily seen in Jesus’ statement regarding the parable of the sower.

“The seeds that fell on rocky ground are the people who gladly hear the message and accept it. But they don’t have deep roots, and they believe only for a little while. As soon as life gets hard, they give up”

 Luke 8:13

Many times we hear God’s Word and may even get excited about it, but we don’t allow it to change us. But we don’t take the time to let it sink in. How do you develop spiritual roots? There are two ways that I am aware of 

1. Taking daily time with God and His Word 
2. A weekly (or even more often) small group time with other believers.

These are the only ways that the roots can reach your spirit and at the same time find the nurturing food required to produce the fruits that the Spirit can bring forth.

If you’re not spending time with God on a daily basis, you’re going to dry up and blow away when Satan comes around and applies pressure. Satan knows your weak points and targets them with stealth - you won’t be able to handle it. You've got to make a daily time with God to listen for Him and His voice. Whatever it takes to keep the focus on God, do it! Crucial to this is spending time with people who Love God! Nobody has a complete perspective on life. Every one of us has blinders on. The people in your weekly gathering can see things in your life you can’t see. That’s why we need each other! You learn from the people God’s family as you encourage each other and your roots go deeper. You want to be a person with deep spiritual roots so that when a spiritual recession comes and lasts several years, you’re able to keep bearing fruit and people will find in you a reason for hope.  

So, some questions to ask yourself may be:

• How does your schedule need to change so that you can spend more time with God?
• What things do you need to follow through with that will help you not only grow deeper but grow richer in God’s Spirit?

Jim

Herding Cats and Managing Chaos

I had a fun discussion this past week, with someone about their position in management. Their summation of their job was "trying to manage chaos."  A most interesting description, almost like one I heard just recently when a person muttered that what they did was like trying to herd cats.

Life is a confusing thing and definitely not for wimps. It has many challenges and sometimes the directions are not certain.  And sometimes, reading the manual doesn't help.  I got an item just recently that came with "assembly" instructions, that may as well have bee written by someone trying to create a crossword puzzle. I had chaos in front of me and part 2A looked almost identical to part 10c and the diagram was so small, that you couldn't tell what went where.

We all face dead ends at times, whether financial, emotional, or everyday life. We're not certain where to turn, what decision to make, etc.  Prov.3:5,6 states, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”  We must learn that trusting God is the best way, even if we cannot always see the outcome and are not sure within ourselves.  We must stick to what we know to be true (1 Pet.3:13) and trust God to reveal to us the rest in His own time and according to His own will.

Sometimes, understanding is not a requirement for us to start down the path God lays out for us. Proverbs 4:18 says, “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter till the full light of day.” (NIV)  We may not even understand until we make it to eternity. But the events, circumstances, and happenings in my life are not coincidence, chance or "luck." We are where we are, doing what we are doing for a reason. One day you will stand in the full light of eternity and view the big picture. You’ll see God’s purpose behind the path he specifically chose for you and then state, "ah...now I understand."

In the meantime, be patient. God knows what He’s doing and part of your circumstance is to see if you trust God in this. God knows what is best for you. He can see the end result, you cannot. All those problems, heartaches, difficulties and delays—all the things that make you ask “why”—one day will all be clear in the light of God’s love. Until then, "Psa 23:4  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

Jim 

Jesus on HELL!

This entry is prompted by some research I did as a result of a recent interview done on with an Evangelical preacher. The interview was streamlined as "There is NO HELL." In this interview, there was no scripture referenced, but the gentleman postulated something that is not new at all, but all too familiar - "..a loving God would never sentence human souls to eternal suffering..”

There are many who make such statements. Some would have us believe that HELL is just a fable made up by the Roman Catholic Church in its infancy in order to keep its parishioners inline, or so says one priest. Another man states, "It only stands to reason, then, that this same Jesus, who was completely appalled at the very idea of burning a few people, for a few horrific minutes until they were dead, could never, ever burn billions of people for an eternity!"

So....I asked myself (with no bias in mind to defend anything accept what the scripture itself teaches) if this could be true? I know the following things to start off with:

1. 1Jn 4:1 "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." -- So we will put these thoughts to test with the scripture since they say this is not taught in the scripture.
2. Rom 3:4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged." God's word stands the test of time, men and proclamations of men. God will prevail, and His word will prevail after men and the words they speak are long gone!
3. John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. God's word is the truth. Men can flap their gums all they want, but unless God says it, it is not spiritual truth!

When speaking of "eternal hell" there are a couple of things that we must enter the discussion being aware of. First is that the older versions, especially the KJV or "authorized" version uses the word "hell" indiscriminately to refer to the grave, the place where the spirit goes upon death, and the eternal destination of the wicked. Most modern versions correct this, especially in the American Standard and New American Standard versions. For the purposes of our discussion and study, our focus will be on "eternal hell" the eternal abode of the wicked.

So, let's let Jesus speak on Hell. Does He confirm or deny its existence? This research then will be limited to the gospels, since this is where Jesus speaks personally - that is He is in person speaking, no one is saying it for Him.

The term HELL in the sense of eternal hell, is referenced by the greek word "Gehenna." This word occurs 15 times in the New Testament and 11 of those times, it us used by Jesus personally. The word is taken from the Hebrew term that means "the valley of Hinnom." This referred to a literal place outside of the city of Jerusalem, that was basically the city dump or landfill of the day. It was the place where all trash within the city, all carrion, dead bodies of criminals or paupers who had no one to claim them were taken and thrown. It gained infamy in Old Testament history and thus became absolute anathema to the Jewish people, when children were sacrificed to the god Moloch there (Josh. 15:8; II Kings 33:10; Jer.2:23; 7:31-32; 19:6,13-14). For this reason the valley was thereafter deemed to be accursed, and "Gehenna" therefore became a figurative equivalent for "hell."

Jesus uses THIS term in the following Mt.5:29,30; Mk.9:43; Lk.12:5

Now, a couple of notes on these passages that reflect upon the same instance. Jesus is teaching in the Sermon on the Mount regarding adultery and how that to "look upon a woman so as to lust after her, he has committed adultery already in his heart." He then states, that it is better to pluck out an eye or cut off a hand and go through life maimed, than for "your whole body be thrown into hell" Let's now make some observations on this statement.

• The term HELL here is our term GEHENNA. Thus, there is no mistaking what Jesus is referencing.
• Jesus uses the word "cast" here, which means to throw. It is actually a gardening term, stating what one does when one finds a weed growing in a garden. The weed is plucked and "cast" or thrown out of the garden because the gardener does not want it growing there. Noticed here, Jesus says "the whole body be cast into hell."
• INTO - means to take from one place and put into another. This same term is used in Col.1:13, where it states we are transferred FROM the kingdom of darkness INTO the kingdom of God's dear Son. So, Jesus is stating that the "whole body" because of the sin it carries in an unrepentant person, will be cast or thrown INTO Hell! It will be taken out of God's garden and thrown into this place.
• THE WHOLE BODY - It is obvious, that the physical body decays and goes back to the dust from which it came (Gen.3:19) or "sheol" the grave. But, we are told that the spirit does not have flesh and blood as human bodies do (Lk.24:39), thus it does not decay but continues to exist (Lk.16:19-31). Jesus here states that a spirit of evil, is plucked from God's garden and cast INTO - Hell - Gehenna!

Mt.23:23 Jesus speaking to the Jewish Pharisees and scribes of His day, states to them, "You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?"

• HELL here is our familiar term again, Gehenna
• “damnation” here comes from the greek word "crisis" which means to meter judgment
• He is stating that because of their teaching, judgment would be metered to them and that judgment was HELL! Why? Is Jesus judging them? No...He did not come to judge. He came to proclaim God's truth. It is the truth that is judging them (Jn.12:48) and their refusal to heed that word or walk according to it. Thus, they judge themselves!

FURTHER ON Mt.5:22; Mk.9:43,44,46,48; Lk.12:5

• In Matt.5:22 and Mk.9:43 the descriptive phrase accompanying HELL or Gehenna is used --> Fire. Whether literal or figurative this word only has one meaning - FIRE. You cannot get around it. And, this makes sense, as in Lk.16:24 the rich man stated that he was tormented in the “flame.” What is the flame? If this is a spiritual place with something that is not flesh and bone, how can it burn? I DON'T KNOW! All I know is that Jesus states this, uses these words to describe it. Whatever it is - the associative idea being put with it is THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO GO THERE!
• In Mk.9:43,44,46 and 48, Jesus uses a further designation to describe this fire one that is "never quenched." The word used for this, is a familiar word to us “asbestos,” and means perpetual, unending. We use asbestos to retard flame to protect. There it is the flame that is asbestos - or never stops burning!
• Mark 9:48 - Jesus uses a peculiar phrase in a continuing description of this place. He states, "where their worm does not die." The term "worm" here its primary and first definition is maggot. Notice again the eternal descriptor that THEIR worm does not die! If something does not die it is eternal. What is THEIR WORM? Maggots, eat infectious, diseased materials. In the physical world, their life cycle is short, after they eat their fill, they go on to become flies. But there, they do not die, they do not get their fill, they continually feed and eat. What are they feeding on? The souls infected with sin and cast into the place where these worms abide for eternity and the flame or torment does not end.

Now, if you wish to argue with this, be my guest. These are Jesus' words, not mine. But, before I end this post, let me share one more thought. Jesus makes this statement in Luke 12:4,5 "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!"

There are those who state, "..a loving God would never sentence human souls to eternal suffering..” Is that what Jesus says?

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

CRUELTY!

CRUELTY!

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up,

as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

Eph 4:29

Cruelty is a deliberate infliction of pain or suffering, an action that displays a quality or characteristic of being cruel. We associate cruelty with people that are evil and void of conscience, someone with malicious intent. Murder is a cruel act in and of itself but in certain circumstances can be even more heinous and cruel by things that take the act itself to the extent of torture. We don't often associate godly things with cruelty, because of the negative its nature.

We have the truth, God's word that can set us free! Its wisdom can show us the paths to walk, and its pages testify to the grace that God gives. You and I are told to study it, examine it, search it, and live it. We are told in 2 Tim.3;16,17 "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." Yes! -- reproof (to convict) - we're going to slap them in chains! Correction - we're going to take a stick to them! Instruction in righteousness - for all that evil living that they are doing, we're going to rake them over the coals of God's word! But -- is this the attitude that Jesus tells us to have? I agree, that there is a time and place for all things. There is a time, when someone is doing wrong, that we need to convict them of the wrong, sometimes more sternly than others. Yes, there is a time to correct, again sometimes more sternly than others. And....there are times to rake people over the pointed edges of the word of God! But, I find these times few.

We wax bold with God's word because it makes us righteous, but we should take care to heed Paul's warning in 1 Cor.8:1, that"..knowledge puffs up.." The same word that tells us to do the things that we mentioned above also warn you and I as followers of Christ

1. Eph 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
2. Col 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
3. Jas 3:10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
   

Just because we "have" the truth, does not mean we can use it indiscriminately. Again, God's word itself reminds us, Heb 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." It is two edged, meaning that what I use, can come back and cut me as well. If I use God's word in judgmental, harsh, and cruel ways, I may be speaking truth, but what does God's word reveal of my own intention?

Let's take care in our zeal to defend the word of God, that we do not under the guise of proclaiming "righteous judgment" inflict with our voices, actions, and mannerisms a cruelty that God does not. It is true that we must let the Bible speak for itself, and it does so very clearly. But it does not need our emotional embellishment, nor does it need our baggage attached. This is why Jesus warned the Pharisees, Matt. 7:5 "You hypocrite! First, take the log out of your own eye; then you will see clearly, so that you can remove the splinter from your brother's eye! "

Jim