Are We Responsible for Our Sins?

 October 1, 2024

Tuesday

Some people think that we are born absolutely innocent but become sinners through the influence in the world. That is a form of a heresy called Pelagianism. It denies that we have inherited a sin nature that originated in Adam. It denies that we are responsible for our own sins. How can we be held accountable if we were so influenced. It is the argument used in many trials. He robbed the bank because he was high on drugs. If he hadn't received the drugs, he wouldn't have done it. There is some rationality in this with the exception that he still did it even though he was on drugs. Blaming the drugs can't exonerate the law breaker.

Anyone who has children realizes that they are naturally manipulative. No one needs to teach them. It doesn't come from the influence of others. Sin is the natural direction of all of us. We choose it for ourselves.

The person who blames others for his sin does not see the need for salvation or forgiveness. This person sins because he has been influenced to sin. Therefore, it is the sin of those who influenced him that needs forgiveness. Surely it is not his own sin for that sin doesn't even belong to him. It came from someone else. I suppose you can chase this up the lineage of sinners and find that no one is responsible for his or her sins. Let chaos reign!

The need for salvation is only realized when a person knows that he or she has made the choice to sin. Yes, there may have been an environmental factor but it doesn't change the fact that each person makes their own choices. We all come into this world with a natural propensity to sin. We own our own sins and need personal forgiveness for them to be removed from us.

Though Pelagianism may deny it, Pelagianism removes the need for Christ's suffering, death and resurrection. Those who espouse it may want to stand before the Lord someday and say, "It wasn't my fault!" Justice will not accept this excuse.

So take these words to heart:

1 John 1:10 (ESV) ¹⁰  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Romans 5:12 (ESV) ¹²  Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

 

Is God Reliable?

September 30, 2024

Monday

It seems that heresies never go away. The problem isn't that they are so wrong. The problem is that they are so convincingly right. Just today, I saw an article on the internet lamenting the number of heresies that are currently taught and preached in churches. Some of these are hundreds of years old. I have personally heard some of these heresies preached. The average Christian didn't even know they were heresies. They, like the Greeks before them, love new teaching. However, its just old heresy given new life.

One of these that hits the Sunday School more than the pulpit is the idea that God doesn't really know the future. Therefore, He allows sin because He didn't know it would happen. Also, tragedies are a complete surprise to Him. These supporters of Open Theism believe they are defending God by giving Him a pass on the horrible events that sometimes happen in the world. They do not realize that they have also made Him very unreliable. This "theology" allows for the possibility that none of the things that are revealed in the Revelation of John may happen. God could simply get caught off-guard and have His plans completely changed.

Those who espouse this belief think they have solved the whole problem of evil. How did a holy God allow evil to enter His creation? Simple. He didn't see it coming. These heretics will use scriptures to prove their point. God asks where Adam is after the fall. Didn't He know? God asks Elijah why He was in such a funk. Didn't He know? They cannot understand what confession really is. I guess they think it is telling God the things they did without Him knowing. They think God is making up all that He does as He goes along through history.

Of course, they must deny scripture. In fact, they can deny scripture because a God-breathed scripture can't be relied upon when He isn't omniscient.

Thank God (literally), they are wrong! God does indeed know it all. He does indeed know what it going on in every heart. He does indeed know every word we say before we have uttered even one. He does indeed have plans for us that He can carry out. He does indeed use every event in our lives to bring about our good. He weaves the bad so that a good result occurs for those who love Him. He always tells the truth. He never is afraid of what might happen. He is the God who is reliable.

So, you can walk with Him today in your work, school, home activities and whatever else you do today knowing He is in control. He knows what will happen and has already made plans for it. 

Psalm 147:5 (ESV) ⁵  Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.

Isaiah 46:9-10 (ESV) ⁹  remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, ¹⁰  declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

Finding a New Church

 September 29, 2024

Sunday

Finding a your church is not as difficult as people make it. They make it difficult because they shop for a church rather than go where God has led. They seek a church with a good youth program or a great recreation program or a entertaining worship service. They compare one church against another. They look at the people and ask if these people could be their friends. Shopping for a church is difficult. The next church may have more stuff than the last one. People keep shopping until they are so tired of shopping that they settle on a church. Is that how God wants us to find a church?

If we were to look at the methods of many churches it would appear that this is exactly how a new church is found. They center or an exciting worship service. They have some of the best Christian music around. They do everything they can to draw in new people. That seems really great until someone realizes that the people they have "drawn in" came from other churches in the area. The baptisms these churches produce come from the children of those "drawn in" and people who didn't know they needed to be baptized by immersion. There is very little growth in God's kingdom.

No, finding a new church home should not be a shopping experience. It should be a "walking with God" experience. Finding a church is not merely finding one that preaches the word of God. It is finding one where we can serve. That service has to be more than casual service too. It must be one in which we are a part of bringing people into discipleship. Discipleship is more than attending worship services. It is seeing people mature in their faith. These churches are rare because it is much easier to get them to come through the church's revolving door (one where more people are coming in that going out) than it is to slowly mature people into Christians who can discern the will of God, understand the word of God, serve in the kingdom of God and grow others into the people of God who will do the very same thing.

Discipleship growth is generally slow for a long time. It puts down roots and it does not shop for a better deal at another church. It is the growth that Jesus sought for the church. While there is no doubt that the early church grew rapidly, they met in very small groups to hear and do the work of God's kingdom. They had no children's of youth programs. They probably had few instruments to play when they worshiped. They weren't thinking of starting satellite churches all over town. They were seeking to teach the people the story of the gospel. The Elders in each church taught without publishing any books or going on crusades. 

So, you will know your new church when you see that this church makes disciples for Jesus Christ. You will know this church is in God's will because making disciples is what Jesus taught the church to do.

Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Unexpected Blessings

 September 28, 2024

Saturday

When we speak of knowing and doing God's will or finding your purpose in life, we act as if we can predict all that will happen to us. We may even tell people that they need to stick with their purpose or God's will and not be distracted by anything else. Yet, this is exactly what God does to bring us even closer to Him. He is not seeing how we will react. Truthfully, there is no one answer why these things happen. We generally don't know why until it is all over.

As I write this, I am in Texas to do a funeral service. I didn't know I was going to do this until yesterday. I am doing it because Karen't aunt passed away and the family wanted someone who knew her to do the funeral. She was 92 and the pastor that knew her well is 90. So, it was either someone who really didn't know her or me. Naturally, I agreed. It is a very long way from Virginia Beach to Midland, TX. So, I am here for about 55 hours. Is God in this? I must believe that He is.

What will happen? I don't know. I need to be aware of a couple of things. I need to know that I am always on call to do what God wants me to do. I need to understand that if He is in this, it must be done in His power. 

This is not only my story. It is the story of everyone who walks with the Lord. Those who don't can't recognize that God is working because they aren't working with God. Walking with God is exciting. It is what we do day by day with God. Why would anyone want to live their lives for themselves when they could have a much more exciting meaningful life walking with God?

Christianity is the dullest faith in the world for those who are self-centered Christians. You just don't want to be one of those.

Psalm 84:11–12 (ESV) ¹¹ For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. ¹² O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!

Do I Really Need This Criticism?

 September 28, 2024

Saturday

We have all suffered through criticism. Most of us don't know how to handle it. We may know that the criticism is valid but it still stings. Some of us try to reject the criticisms we receive. We make excuses for our actions. We see the criticisms as a rejection of who we are. We would much rather have praises with which we could try to appear humble than have criticism that reveals our true self of pride.

Not all criticism is constructive. Those who merely criticize and leave are attempting to hurt us. They don't want us to recover. Recovering might reveal they are wrong. They want to hurt us. They probably succeeded.

There are some things that we can't change. We simply do not have the capability. The idea that we can do anything is not true. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us but we can do nothing apart from Christ. God did not call us to do everything. He called us to do what He called us to do. It is only here that we can claim His strength because He will not give us strength to work without Him.

Each criticism whether that which hurts or that which is intended to help must be evaluated. What can we take from it that will improve what we are doing? What changes need to be made? Where do we go from here? Is this really what God wants us to do?

Maybe we headed out on our own without God. Maybe we made promises without knowing that God would help fulfill those promises. Maybe we need to go to God and ask Him what we should do.

If all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purposes, then criticism can play an important part in the reshaping of what we do.

The point is: Stop and take a breath. Reevaluate. Turn what appears to be bad into the good that God can do through it. Start by thanking God for the criticism. It kept us humble if nothing else. It may have showed our faith for we may be criticized for something that God led us to do. Then, make a new commitment to the Lord. Rejoice for He is faithful.

Proverbs 27:6 (GW)⁶ Wounds made by a friend are intended to help,  but an enemy’s kisses are too much to bear. 

God's Most Hated Four-Letter Word

 September 27, 2024

Friday

If we hear that someone used four-letter words, we generally think the person used bad words. That isn't always the case. God uses four-letter words, too.

The first four-letter word that I think of God using is love. The scripture tells us that God is love. It tells us of His love for us. The greatest commandments have us loving God and others. The Apostle Paul tells us that nothing can separate us from God's love. Jesus said that we would obey His commandments if we loved Him. This one four-letter word binds all of our understanding of God together.

John 3:16 (ESV) ¹⁶  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

1 John 4:16 (ESV) ¹⁶  So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV) ³⁸  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The next four-letter word I think of is obey. Obedience seems to be a burden to some. That may be why they are so reluctant. It means that they must deny self to do what God has commanded. However, love makes no sense without obey. It is not love that allows a child to grow up with no parameters. It is not love that allows a child to do whatever he or she wants. Obey is a word that helps us understand love.

Exodus 20:6 (GW) ⁶  But I show mercy to thousands of generations of those who love me and obey my commandments.

 John 14:15 (GW) ¹⁵  “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.

John 15:10 (GW) ¹⁰  If you obey my commandments, you will live in my love. I have obeyed my Father's commandments, and in that way I live in his love. 

Some of God's four-letter words are misunderstood. The one that I think is disliked on the outside but loved on the inside is the word work. Work sounds so bad before you engage in it. It is fulfilling when it is done. It is work that completes the word obey. Work proves our faith. It doesn't accomplish our salvation but it proves that we have the faith of salvation. Thus, without work, we are lost. Work should be embraced. It reveals who we belong to.

James 2:17 (ESV) ¹⁷  So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Each of these words can be easily understood. As we mature, each of them will be embraced and relied upon. There is one word that maybe our most hated four-letter word that God uses. He uses it often. He uses it in love. However, only the truly mature understand why He uses it. What is that word? It is the word wait.

God has a time for everything. He sends His creation out for His glory. It will return in His timing to Him. He has made it infinitely grander than the making of a precision clock that must have each part move in its precise time. He has placed each of us with His time in mind. Yet, we often don't like it. It is what is best. It is best because God says it is so.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (ESV) ¹  For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: ²  a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; ³  a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; ⁴  a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; ⁵  a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; ⁶  a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; ⁷  a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; ⁸  a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

 

Where Will God Lead You Next?

 September 26, 2024

Thursday

We all know that we have a purpose. 

God is a creator. He creates with purpose. He created the water before the fish, the air before the birds and the vegetation before the animals. Each of these have a purpose. 

God never changes. Everything that was created provided for something else. Each creation provided for the next creation. Just think of it. Parents are needed to have and raise children. That is the order of things. One creation precedes another creation with purpose.

Thus, we too must have a purpose. However, many people think that God will take them into something that they have never connected with to do something they know nothing about. That isn't the way it is.

God gives smaller tasks and uses other experiences and skills to call people to do what He desires. When a person who walks with the Lord looks back, he will see God working in a relatively straight line to prepare that person for what he is doing now and what he will do later.

Let's look at Paul. 

Philippians 3:4–6 (NASB 2020)⁴ although I myself could boast as having confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he is confident in the flesh, I have more reason: ⁵ circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; ⁶ as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.

Paul was prepared through his life before he came to the Lord. He was a Jew of Jews, yet he would reject working for salvation. If anyone would have made it through works, Paul would have been able to claim it. He was prepared theologically for he knew the scriptures He was a Pharisee. At the time of Jesus crucifixion, Paul's stand as a Pharisee would have placed him with those who sought Jesus' death. Later, he had no trouble agreeing with Stephen's death He had no trouble persecuting the Christians.

God chose Paul because of his zeal. He did what he thought was right. When God revealed Himself to Paul, Paul became more zealous for the Lord than he had ever been as a Pharisee. If you connect the dots of Paul's life from the beginning to the end, you see someone who was prepared for each next step of his life.

So, when we are afraid of what God may ask us to do, we should look at the path that He has already led us through. Then, we look at what is in front of us. Is this God's will? The question is whether it lines up with where He has already led. Don't think it won't stretch you but it will be the next step.

Paul would say:

Philippians 2:13 (NASB 2020)¹³ for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.

Old Lesson Never Learned

 September 25, 2024

Wednesday

Some lessons need to be learned over and over. Such is my case. I can’t seem to keep from trying to help God out. Somehow, I am afraid that God will look bad if I do a poor job. So, I try to act better without God than I would have with Him. I know this doesn’t work but when I have a real time moment, I forget what I know and act on my own. The result is always less than God would have done through me.

I guess that’s why Spurgeon said that when we try to do things on our own instead of with God, all we will get is the opportunity to try. So, I try and fail one more time. I know what I have done. I know better and I say that maybe this time I will eventually learn. I do for a while but then return to trying again. The worse thing is that I really think it is going well until I stop and reflect. I know, then, that I am trying to produce my fruit rather than allowing God to produce it through me. No matter what the results are, I have failed for the fruit I produced was rotten. It does not produce the glory of God.

That’s exactly what sin is. It is missing God’s glory. So, it is easy to see that trying to do things on my own was sinful. The opportunity that was right before me is lost. It will never come again. Though God may give me another opportunity to walk in His strength, there is nothing that says He must. 

So, here I am again asking for God to forgive me. I sinned. I did things on my own. I got nothing to show for it. God did not receive the glory He could have. I am left with regrets even though He forgives me. How many times will it take before I will learn. If anything is accomplished, it won’t be because I took over from God and did what I could without Him.

John 15:5 (NASB 2020) I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me and I in him (the same) bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 

You Can't Blame God for Everything

September 25, 2024

Wednesday

Many people don't believe in the attributes of God. They can't reconcile God's holiness and sovereignty and the presence of sin. If God is all powerful and is in charge of the universe, He must either be very good but not holy or He isn't in charge. You will hear this in many ways by those who think they have proved the non-existence of God by openly opposing Him. They will say, "If God is real, then He should strike me dead because I curse His name." (Those words were actually hard for me to type.) They think that He will immediately bring retribution for sin if He exists. Think about it; if that were true where would any of us be?

Some will bring up the fact that there are two stories in the Bible that contradict who actually caused evil. 

2 Samuel 24:1 (NASB 2020) ¹ Now the anger of the Lord burned against Israel again, and He incited David against them to say, “Go, count Israel and Judah.”

1 Chronicles 21:1 (NASB 2020)¹ Then Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to count Israel.

These are telling the same story, yet one has God inciting David to number Israel and the other has Satan inciting David. This actually gives us clear insight (no pun intended) into how evil enters in. 

Many times we can see that God is addressed when He apparently had nothing to do with the tragedy that befalls those in the Bible. They come to Him because He has allowed it to happen. While God can never act evilly, He certainly can be said to have turned His face away from people. Each time He does, evil enters in.

God has never forced us out of an evil act. We are able to commit all sorts of evil when we want to. We run from Him. We escape from His day-to-day grace and do what we should never have done. He does not stop us. Could it be said that God caused us to sin because He let sin enter in? That's what a lot of people want to say. God, it is your fault because you didn't stop me. It is a weak argument but people still make it.

The Lord's Prayer certainly addresses this. It says, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Now why would it say this when we know that God will never tempt us into evil? In this prayer we are recognizing our own tendency to sin if we do not seek His face. We can easily turn toward sin and God will let us because He has removed Himself from our sin.

This is akin to blaming the chaos in the classroom on the teacher who left the room. Yes, it wouldn't have happened if he or she remained in the room but you can hardly blame the teacher for the students' rowdiness. It was actually in them before the teacher left.

So, God certainly allows evil by removing Himself. Satan uses this opportunity to act. I am just not one to blame God for this.

When People Leave Your Church

 September 24, 2024

Tuesday

Every pastor I have know, myself included, has seen members leave to go to other churches. I suppose it would be great if they were going to start a ministry there or be a part of church that needed revitalizing, but they aren't. They are going because others are going there. They are going to be "fed." They are going to join the excitement. They are going to get their kids in an exciting program. They are going because they don't want to be where they were.

Most pastors grieve over every person who leaves. It is discouraging. It isn't unusual. Even Jesus had people leave Him.

John 6:66–69 (NASB 2020) ⁶⁶ As a result of this many of His disciples left, and would no longer walk with Him. ⁶⁷ So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to leave also, do you?” ⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ And we have already believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”

Jesus had just delivered a message that was hard for these former disciples to swallow. Peter pointed out that they didn't realize what they were leaving. Pastor, if you are truly preaching the Word of God without shying away from the difficult passages, you should be encouraged because you have joined the ranks of Jesus who also had people leave Him when He preached the hard truth. Staying during the dry periods, when the truth hurts is the true test of a disciple. It matures the disciple because it causes him to appreciate what he has rather than simply looking for what he doesn't have.

I have been on the other end too. I have seen people come to my church because they were disgruntled about something in their former church. I have known that there was a pastor who grieved when they came to the church I pastored. I know these pastors preached the Word of God, too. Swapping members does nothing to grow the Kingdom of God.

There is no way I know that will keep people from leaving. It is inevitable. You can do things that will keep them and they will leave. You can do nothing to keep them and they will leave. The key is doing the right things no matter what they do. Keep preaching God's word. Keep being a disciple of Jesus and making disciples for Jesus. Keep your eyes on the Lord.

Yes, keep your eyes on the Lord.

Should Christians Set Boundaries to Keep from Sinning?

 September 23, 2024

Monday

I suppose I am a bit naive. I know that we are all sinners. I am just surprised at the egregious sins that people are pulled into. I suppose I wouldn't be so surprised if these people weren't raised in church. They should have known better. They should have been stopped by their faith because some sins are so consequential that there is no going back from them. They should have said, "I don't think Jesus wants me to do this." You see, these sins took many steps to commit. They weren't saying a bad word or getting angry or even harboring hatred against another person. No one who is close to the Lord would commit these sins. It bothers me that someone who was in church last week could.

I must ask the question. Is attending church making a difference? In some cases, I must say, No!

Evidently, singing songs and listening to sermons and the testimonies of others has little impact on some people. They can hear the word of God and still not recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit. They can know the evil that is possible and still cheat on their spouses. They can know the consequences and still steal from their employers. They can be teachers of the word of God and still act like they know nothing of God's word.

Everyone needs to know that they have the capacity to sin in any sin that is considered sin if they don't take precautions to avoid that sin. That's why boundaries are set up before running into the sin. That's why Billy Graham wouldn't meet privately with women. He knew what could happen. He wasn't blaming the women, he was setting up a boundary for himself. Many have criticized him for this. They take the negative attitude of thinking that he thought he could persuade others to do what he shouldn't do. They say that he was considering the women as having no virtues. That isn't the point. It didn't matter what the women would or wouldn't do if he didn't have the opportunity to do it. The boundaries were set to keep that from happening.

Yes, church men go to strip bars and assume that they aren't affected. They think they can fill themselves with filth and still be pure. They do not recognize that the lack of boundaries with alluring sin is a consuming fire. They aren't generally sorry until they get caught.

Boundaries are necessary. They make a more peaceful life for they stop sin before it starts going.

A friend of mine and I were filling a grain train car with maize in my home town. We used an auger to put the grain in the car but didn't have a means of moving the auger to the next car. So, we got a tractor and hooked it to all the cars and intended to pull them so that the next car would be in line with the auger. Before we started, we place some ten inches diameter logs on the tracks and released the brakes. The tractor started pulling the grain cars. We hadn't noticed that we were pulling the cars downhill. Soon, the cars built up a bit of speed. They were heavy even when they weren't loaded. The logs split like toothpicks when they reached the logs. I ran and got on the back car and turned the brake until the cars stopped. Yes, we set a boundary but it wasn't strong enough.

Sometimes we think that we have set boundaries that will keep us from sin that aren't strong enough. In fact, they were set too little, too late. So, we need to set boundaries that will keep us from sin. They need to be set a long way from when the sin has built up so much speed that we can't stop it. 

A whole lot more tears are going to come to those who have set no boundaries. A whole lot more Christians are going to regret the lives they are living if they don't set those boundaries. I beg you to set boundaries.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV) ²²  Abstain from all appearance of evil. 

Justice, Discipline and Punishment

 September 22, 2024

Sunday

We play with a lot of words and it sometimes causes needless arguments. Let's look at a few words and then their definitions. Let's take the words "punishment, discipline and justice." When we consider these three words we find that those outside our faith do not know what they mean. These words have a different meaning in this world than they do with God. The world interchanges these words and we must be careful that we don't.

Justice is exacting a price that equals a transgression. That is clearly outside this world. No one can pay the price for their own sins because the price of sin is death. It is impossible because the sinner is imperfect and cannot offer a perfect payment. Justice was met when Jesus died on the cross for us. The perfect must make the payment for the imperfect. The infinite God must pay the price for the finite man. The justice extracted was more than enough.

Punishment is often used with justice in this world. When it is used in God's relationship with His children, it more resembles discipline. Discipline is changing the behavior of someone. It depends upon the individual accepting the discipline to change the individual. Experiencing a crisis does not necessarily mean that we have sinned. God never lets a crisis go to waste but He also doesn't give them to us as punishment that would pay for our sins. That was what Jesus did. God disciplines us when we do right and when we do wrong. This is why James said that we should rejoice in our crises.

James 1:2-4 (NASB) ²  Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, ³  knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

God is producing something in us that could not happen without the trials we face. We may not have done anything wrong. However, God knew we were ready for more. A rocking chair never made a great athlete. Trials make us stronger and bring us into a closer relationship with the Lord. So, sometimes a crisis is a good thing brought on us to bring us to better things.

On the other hand, God may put us in a situation where we must turn from our wickedness. Our sins have undeniable consequences. We become estranged from God when there is unconfessed sin. We can't walk with Him in our sins. We know the discipline of being on our own. Our faith falters. God will let us go our own way. He will allow things in our lives that will bring us back to Him. Some people are more determined to live outside God's will than others. Some people don't realize that they do not have His face turned toward them. Sin blinds them from their own sin. Sin blinds them from the relationship that they could have with the Lord.

Hebrews 12:5-7 (NASB) ⁵  and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; ⁶  FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." ⁷  It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

Discipline feels the same regardless of the reason. Whether it is making the strong stronger or bringing the wayward home, the crisis may be the same. 

Let's sum this up. If you know Jesus in such a way that your faith changes who you are, you will never experience justice. Praise God. If you are a believer, you may experience punishment that will bring you back to an intimate relationship with the Lord. If you are a believer, you are assured to have trials that are intended to make you stronger in the Lord.

If you know that you are estranged from God so that you feel all alone, remember the words of John:

1 John 1:9 (NASB) ⁹  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Just come home.  

Should Preachers Be Told What to Preach?

 September 21, 2024

Saturday

This question was brought to me yesterday. My first reaction was , "|Absolutely not!" I have had some time to think about this since then.

Many of the things that preachers are presenting to the people today are heresy. This is especially true when there is no recognized and authorized authority in the church to correct these preachers. As I have stated in early blogs, people think that using the name of Jesus and reading a passage out of the Bible must always be followed with correct preaching. We can see from these heresies that these actions will not necessarily bring solid doctrine.

Remember what happened with Apollos:

Acts 18:24-26 (NASB) ²⁴  Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. ²⁵  This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; ²⁶  and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

Priscilla and Aquila corrected Apollos' preaching. They told him what to preach. It was effective because it made Apollos' messages much more powerful and correct. So, when a preacher begins to leave solid doctrine to find "new" teaching, someone must be there to correct him. That is seldom found among a populace of Christians who attend church irregularly and certainly do not study their Bibles. It must come from the mature.

Many denominations have an ecclesiastical structure that could oversee this. However, these heresies will often be preached for a good while before they come to the attention of these authorities. The church itself must have some who are noted as mature in the faith. These people are generally Elders in most church who have passed the requirements and can refute heresy. 

I ask: Who is qualified in your church to stop heresy from being preached? Most churches want a full building with money coming out the wahzoo and will approve heresy if that what it takes to get these things. They will say, "You can't argue with results!" O yes, you can! In fact, sometimes you should. You can't go the wrong road and end up at the right place. Someone needs to stop this before it gets out of hand.

So, yes, when a preacher preaches or teaches inaccurate or outright heresy, he needs to be told that he is wrong. That is, indeed, telling him what to preach. And if he is truly a godly person, he will welcome it.

Are We Worshiping the Rituals in the Church?

September 20, 2024

Friday

Isaiah 1:10-17 (NASB) ¹⁰  Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the instruction of our God, You people of Gomorrah. ¹¹  "What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?" Says the LORD. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. ¹²  "When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts? ¹³  "Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. ¹⁴  "I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. ¹⁵  "So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. ¹⁶  "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, ¹⁷  Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.

Churches follow patterns. We find something that has impact and meaning so we repeat it year after year. It doesn't take long before the ritual we observe becomes sacred. Then, we are worshiping the ritual rather than the God the ritual was meant to honor.

I recently heard a Youtube presenter (I don't know what to call them.) say that preachers today don't dress like preachers. For some reason, the way that people dress at church becomes important. Of course, I am not saying that people should dress lewdly but modestly with the clothes they have. Many times the preachers are trying to be modest without showing off expensive suits that would indicate that they are better than those to whom they preach. The preachers in the early church had one set of clothing. No one said, you aren't dressed like a preacher today. That would have been the clothes they had on the rest of the week. Yet, somehow we have made dressing up sacred.

Sometimes rituals can become so important that failing to do them is tantamount to heresy. Not playing a pipe organ in a church that is proud of that organ or even not saying the Lord's prayer or a creed could get some preachers fired. In one church, the pastor accidently served the wine before the bread when observing the Lord's Supper. Many members wanted him to make a public apology. While I observe the bread before the wine, I really don't think that the order was as important as that. I believe that people missed the main point if the order was that important.

This was a problem in the early church, too. Many of the Jewish Christians wanted to continue their rituals and thought the Gentile Christians should observe them as well. Their rituals had become sacred. They did not know what they had represented. It was more important to follow the rituals than to know why the rituals were performed.

Many long established churches are dying. They are continuing their rituals and wonder why they aren't having the impact they once did. Maybe it is because the ritual has become sacred. Worshiping the ritual will not bring life into a church. Only worshiping the Living Lord brings life.

The Practice of Christianity Built on Faith

 September 19, 2024

Thursday

Occasionally, you will find someone who has developed a biblical practice determined by what is not mentioned in the Bible. How could this be a biblical practice? It supposes one of two positions. It either says that anything not mentioned a prohibited in the Bible is fine to practice or it says that anything not mentioned in prohibited from practice. Each stand has a fundamental flaw.

For example, Jesus never mentioned homosexuality. Thus, it must be okay. He never mentioned pedophilia either. Is it okay? However, homosexuality is prohibited elsewhere in the Old and New Testaments. In fact, the Bible condemns all sex outside of marriage. Knowing what the Bible does say helps in understanding the things the Bible doesn't say.

On the other hand, the New Testament doesn't mention musical instruments. It also doesn't mention pews, three piece suits or praise bands. Should everything not mentioned be banned? Again, we must know what the rest of the Bible says. All sorts of instruments are mentioned in the Old Testament. It appears that just about anything that can make a tune or keep a beat was used to worship. Make no mistake. The human voice is the pinnacle of worship. It can express clearly the glories of the Lord. The instruments are merely supports for most musical expressions in the church. However, there is the beauty of a well-played instrumental. The instrumental can be akin to the glories seen in God's nature but it will not so clearly express His glory as the human voice.

So, what principle should be used? Do we approve everything not mentioned or do we ban it? The things no mentioned should be supported with the rest of the word of God. We should do things with a conviction that they are right rather than a "what's wrong with it attitude." We should be able to support it with the presence of the Holy Spirit revealing what is right and wrong. Is what we are doing making disciples? Is what we are doing bringing people to Christ? Is what we are doing bringing people into an experience with the Living God? This cannot be done with a self-approving attitude. Thus, we can't say that the church dance team that dresses like what is seen on TV is okay because it brings in the young people who are there to ogle the girls. Surely, there is plenty to say about these things in the Bible without mentioning them directly.

That which is not of conviction as being right is a sin. Maybe that seems harsh, but it is in the Bible. It should be our standard for what is permitted and what is not.

The church had problems with whether food sacrificed to idols could be eaten. They had no clear word on it. So, they had the principle of doing what comes from faith. Faith is knowing what is right.

Romans 14:23 (NASB 2020) ²³ But the one who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.

How Do You Spot a False Prophet?

 September 18, 2024

Wednesday

There are plenty of warnings in the scripture against false teachers. The problem is that we haven't taught people the truth. Thus, they don't know when they are listening to and supporting false teachers.

I worked in a bank without ever catching a counterfeit bill. That doesn't mean that the bank never got one. It just means that I never saw one. I literally handled hundreds of thousands of dollars each week. I knew what real US money felt like. Many times I could even pick up a banded group of bills and tell if it was short or over. Familiarity with the true money would make counterfeit money strange.

However, that's not what happens when we speak of Christianity. Christian magazines often report that certain celebrities are Christians with strong faith when their lifestyles don't live up to that faith. These magazines don't realize that saving faith makes a difference or it isn't saving faith. It changes the person. Simply agreeing that Jesus is the Son of God without a lifestyle that lives up to that agreement is not saving faith. Yes, people backslide but even the backsliders will show you that they are changed.

If we believe that unchanged people are Christians, we will also believe that anyone who says the name of Jesus and reads out of the Bible is a true teacher of the gospel. Instead of pointing out which teachers are false we should be teaching the truth. The truth should be known so that the false will be immediately seen as false.

Yet, teaching doctrine seems to be out of style in our churches. That wasn't always true. There was a time that members of Baptist churches met on Sunday nights for something they called training union. It involved people reading parts of the literature out loud. It seemed mundane but many of us got our theology out of reading those parts. It was boring. It was not well attended. Somehow we need something that does exactly that.

Having meetings that teach theology are as well attended as prayer meetings. Everyone knows that we need both of these but very few people will know that they need to be there to learn or pray. Coming to worship services alone will not teach us the theology we need to recognize false prophets. 

Therefore, it is the responsibility of the church and the individual Christians to learn biblical doctrine that will reveal false teaching. 

 

Matthew 7:15–20 (NASB 2020) ¹⁵ “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? ¹⁷ So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ So then, you will know them by their fruits.

Would God Have Flicked Hitler's Head Off?

 September 17, 2024

Tuesday

I saw the title but didn't watch the video. It said something like, "If God existed, He would have flicked Hitler's head off." When people say this, they don't realize that they are supporting the existence of God.

God created us in His image. That can't mean that we all look like Him physically because the Bible tells us that God is a Spirit. Anyone with a set of eyes knows that we don't all look alike. His image is found in the values He possesses. One of those is justice. Even though we have corrupted His image, we still possess the remnant of that image within each of us. We seek justice just as God seeks it.

Most people recognize the evil in Adolph Hitler. Most people will say that he deserved hell. They say that because they have established a moral standard that determines wrong from right. They may not have stopped to determine where that morality comes from. They think it stands on its own.

Let's assume that selfishness is the greatest virtue. If so, Hitler was just exercising selfishness in his attempt to rule a significant part of the world. Let's say pride was the greatest virtue. Then, Hitler was just feeding his pride as he had so many saluting him even while he committed atrocious acts of evil. Yet, I would say that most people would not consider either of these "virtues" as justifying the evil that Hitler committed.

So, the very fact that people can determine what evil is comes from their creation which endued values within them. Then, why didn't Hitler have these values too? He did.

Sin was introduced into God's creation and corrupted the image of God. Holiness was corrupted into self-righteousness. Justice was corrupted into revenge. Pride became something that puts the prideful person at the center of his or her own world. Hitler, like all of us, was responding to the corrupted image of God within him. He was responding more vociferously than most, but he was still responding.

The Bible says, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) This means that sin is defined as falling short of God's glory. God's glory is our clear reflection of who He is. It is living up to what God has intended for us. No one has done so. The image is blurred; the target is missed. Does it matter by how far a target is missed when the standard was a bullseye? 

A spacecraft returning to earth has a small re-entry window to return safely. Too shallow an approach results in skipping off the atmosphere and hurtling through space. Too steep and the spacecraft burns up from the friction of the atmosphere. Either of these will result in the death of the astronauts. It doesn't matter how far the window is missed if it is indeed missed. Skipping off the atmosphere will just mean that the astronauts die slower.

So, like everyone else, Hitler missed the target. He missed it farther than anyone we can think of. Does that really make a difference? 

Of course this also means that people expect justice to be served on earth. It is not. While there will be consequences on earth, ultimate justice is in God's hands. He is just and justice will definitely be served. Sure, a few people immediately receiving justice could go a long way on earth but even what we consider justice won't be justice. No, justice is far worse. The death that Jesus paid is far greater than any justice we could have imagined.

So, did Hitler receive justice? You can be assured that he did.

Exodus 34:7 (NASB) ⁷  who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations." 

Why Do Babies Die of Cancer If God Exists

 September 16, 2024

Monday

People who deny there is a God make some of the most ridiculous arguments. Take for example the "God can't exist because bad things happen" argument. One of the favorite examples of this is: Why do babies die of cancer if God exists? The argument stems from the idea that God must be good by their standard and prevent anything bad from happening. (Many of these same people support abortion, but let's leave that alone for now.) They surmise that the child is completely innocent and does not deserve to die so young. Life is good, then, right?

We say that this is a fallen world. This means that it falls short of God's glory because man invited sin into it. The corruption from this sin permeated all of creation. This does not mean that all of creation is bad. It means that all of creation has been affected by sin. Thus, bad things happen in the world that God created.

God set in motion the physical laws in this world. His interventions in these physical laws are called miracles. They are not the normal operation of the world. The physical laws generally prevail. Yet, even those laws have been corrupted. Bad things happen naturally. They are tragedies brought about by a corrupt world.

On the other hand, there is always a remnant of God's goodness in all of His creation. Thus, most people cry out for justice because mankind was created in the image of God. This means that the values of His character are present in mankind. God is love. Most people want to love and be loved. God is just. Most people want justice for themselves and others. God is giving. Most people who give have found it is more blessed to give than receive. Each of these values have been corrupted to some extent. Thus, we do not always love, want justice or give.

One of the dangers that face people is becoming self-righteous. People declare themselves and their corrupted values to be more righteous than others and their values. Some people will even determine themselves to be more righteous than God. Therefore, they can claim that He is not good because He didn't stop all the bad things from happening. If they had the power, they certainly would have. The question they should be asking is: Why are they still alive if a holy God exists? They have never seen themselves as fallen and a part of the evil that goes on in the world.

This is, also, a misunderstanding of holiness altogether. There is no such thing as "holier than thou." Holiness is a complete condition. It is completely separated from sin and evil. People can be better in their actions than others but they cannot be holy in their actions. We have all needed a Savior to pay the price for our sins to attain holiness. It does not stem from our actions but in the sacrifice from Christ. A person who believes in his own self-righteousness is determining his righteousness by his own understanding of righteousness. Thus, nothing is ever better that what a person has experienced for himself. I can only be self-righteous if I have never experienced anything better than my own self-righteousness.

Finally, the argument also presupposes that the questioner knows everything. (I suppose we can blame Google for this.) A simplistic example of this is in the child who has broken his arm. Setting the bone will be painful. The child can only see than an adult is hurting him. That must be bad. The moment determines the reasonableness and morality of the action. While I cannot think of any good coming from a child dying from cancer, I also must admit that I cannot truly see the big picture. I depend upon the values in God's character even in these tragedies. I know He loves that child. I know He carries that child into His arms. Yet, the pain the parents experience at the point of losing the child cannot be translated into words. I pray that they are reunited in heaven someday. Then, the joy can exceed the pain.

God Is Calling

September 15, 2024

Sunday

God seeks people who will proclaim Him. He seeks those who will bring others to Christ. He sees them not as we see them. He sees them in their futures. He sees their obedience. He sees their sufferings for Him. That is not how many see those who proclaim Christ. They see them as privileged. They see them with an easy life. Maybe that's why surveys reveal that 70% of preachers would do something else if they had something else they could do. 

When Christ confronted Saul (Paul) on the Damascus Road, He already knew what Saul would do. He already knew the impact that Saul would have. He already knew how much he needed to suffer. Saul, later called Paul, could not have known that. He is left blind for three days in which he neither ate nor drank. He was waiting for Ananias to lay hands on him. Why three days? Maybe that is the amount of time that Paul needed to be convinced that he wasn't making this up. He really did encounter the risen Christ.

God created a great testimony in Paul. He was breathing threats and was infamously known as an opposer of Christ. He was a real threat to Christianity. But instead of simply snuffing out Paul's life, Christ confronts him. He does so because Paul didn't do things halfway. When Paul believed, he would do something with it even if it cost him his life. 

Most of us might say that God needed Paul but the One who can make a donkey talk doesn't need any of us to do His work. Paul needed to become an apostle for Paul's sake. As hard as Paul's life would become, his conversion and calling to preach the gospel was God's grace to him. Yes, even the suffering is God's grace.

I suspect that Paul did not know the impact that he was having during his lifetime. He might have seen himself as being forgotten except for the letters that he wrote. Yet, his impact continues to grow each time the Bible is read. His recorded testimony says that God comes for us. He does so out of His love. He gives us His grace. Let's just read Paul's salvation story. What does his story mean for us? God is calling.Acts 9:1–20 (NASB 2020)

¹ Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, ² and asked for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them in shackles to Jerusalem. ³ Now as he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; ⁴ and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” ⁵ And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, ⁶ but get up and enter the city, and it will be told to you what you must do.” ⁷ The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. ⁹ And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. ¹⁰ Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”¹¹ And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, ¹² and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” ¹³ But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints in Jerusalem; ¹⁴and here he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.” ¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; ¹⁶ for I will show him how much he must suffer in behalf of My name.” ¹⁷ So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ And immediately something like fishscales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; ¹⁹ and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were in Damascus, ²⁰ and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

A Man in Christ

September 14, 2024

Saturday

Salvation has always been a mystery for me. I know that I needed it but I don’t really know how I got it. I know that saying a prayer by itself is not salvation. Lots of people are scared of going to hell and will repeat that prayer. They believe that saying it will keep them out of hell. They have neither repented nor committed their lives to the Lord. They feel better and may get baptized and attend church for a while. It is soon evident that they do not possess the Holy Spirit. Nothing changes. They simply say that they are going to heaven now even though they are on the same road they have always been on.

Paul has been keen to say that a believer is in Christ. He further tells us that we are so united with Christ that our baptism baptizes us into His death. That baptism must be the Spirit for water is just water. It symbolizes a new life but it is not the new life. So that salvation involves a baptism in the Spirit that unites us with Christ’s death. Understanding this is not necessary. Having this happen is absolutely necessary.

We often say that children have not come to an age of understanding and therefore cannot be saved before that happens. If that is the case, I could not be saved even now for I don’t really understand how this happens. I am united with Christ. I have been crucified with Christ. I am baptized into His death. I know it to be true. I know that I am united with Christ in all these things. I just don’t know how it happens.

My understanding is that faith causes a change in a person. Faith is more than being convinced that something is true. All of us know many things as true but we never act on them. We know that too much salt is bad for us. We know that exercise is good for us. We know that we should not sin. Unfortunately, some are better than others but no one is perfect. As believers we must be agreeable with God in our transformation but we cannot say we caused it. It comes from the Holy Spirit living in us. It comes from uniting with Christ. 

This morning I prayed about this. The Lord led me in my understanding of what some people are experiencing. There is a difference between seeing pictures or videos and actually going to a place. I have been to Israel five times. I cannot say that any virtual tour has ever been close to walking where Jesus walked. A virtual presence is an absolute absence. Sure, everyone can see what there is in Israel on a virtual tour. But being there is like uniting with the place. It is more than emotional. It is truly experiential. That is like the difference between a faith in Christ that believes that He is the Son of God and one that unites with Him that knows Him intimately. Some are just on a virtual tour. Others are there with Him.

Romans 6:3–6 (NASB 2020)

³ Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? ⁴Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. ⁵ For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, ⁶ knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;

Do You Have a Godly Preacher?

 September 13, 2024

Friday

What should be the prevailing characteristic of a godly preacher. Of this there is no doubt. A 

godly preacher or any truly godly person should exhibit humility. It should be one of the first characteristics noticed. It will and should stand out among so many who are full of pride. So, why do I say that humility should be the most prevailing characteristic of the godly preacher or person?

There is n o way to walk with God in pride. God demands humility from those who walk with Him. He will not share His glory with others.

It takes humility to confess sins. Each of us must know that we are more than capable of sin. We continue to commit sins. Humility places our lives next to holiness. Sin glares back. There is no self-righteousness. There is guilt from the sin we have committed that grieved the Holy Spirit. There is recognition that there is a separation between us and God for He will not walk with us in our sin. So, in our great need, we confess and repent. We admit that we acted apart from God. We know we left Him. Restoration emphasizes our humility. We are humbled byGod’s grace in returning us into His presence.

It takes humility to obey. Obedience always cost something. It may cost people around you too. So, we give up time, money and even our own desires to follow the Lord in obedience. Each one of these things may seem essential before we obey. But the obedience becomes a blessing. Full obedience requires extreme humility.

It takes humility to love others like Jesus loves them. “Greater love has no man than to give his life for another,” Jesus said. Jesus told us that we are to love others as He loved them. I am sure that you can connect the dots. But we are to love others to the point that we will lay down our lives for them. This can only be done with humility.

It takes humility to worship the Lord. No one can serve two masters. You and God can’t be master at the same time. Worship is declaring that God receives the glory and honor. It declares that no one else is worthy of it. It is more than saying the words. It is living the life after the words have been said. Life must be a worship to the Lord if the person seeks to walk with the Lord.

It takes humility to wait upon God. Most of us hate waiting. We want to make something happen. Waiting on the Lord humbles us because we can’t make things happen. God acts when God pleases. God acts at the proper time. God acts with His strength. Waiting on Him reminds us that we can’t make a god-sized thing happen on our own. Waiting on Him reminds us that these acts cannot be done as we please. Waiting on Him makes joining Him in His work make sense. We see His power and give Him the glory.

Self claimed success is the enemy of humility. It doesn’t matter how good it looks or how many people say that the person is godly when there is no humility. The Church will never have humility with proud preachers. She will never be the proper Bride of Christ either.

So, if you want to know if you have a godly preacher, ask others what they think is his overwhelming characteristic. Of course, you might ask others that about yourself while you are at it.

But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6

He has told you, O man what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to humble walk with your God. Micah 6:8

The Good and Bad News of the Gospel

 September 13, 2024

Friday

What is the gospel? It is good news. Yet, it is also bad news. The gospel tells us that each and every one of us has earned a place in hell. It tells us that we are eternally doomed without forgiveness. The gospel tells us that everyone is already condemned to hell without saving faith. It tells us that this is a place of eternal torment. It tells us that everyone is separated from God without Jesus. It tells us that Jesus came to Earth, lived among people, taught, healed and was sacrificed for our sins. The gospel  tells us that saving faith will unite us with Him so that His payment for sin becomes ours. The gospel tells us that saving faith is faith that changes us. We become a new creation. We are inhabited by the Holy Spirit.

The gospel is truly a mixture of good and bad news. There would be no need for the good news if there was no bad news. So, why are preachers telling only the good news without the bad? Without the bad news, there is no compelling reason to come to Jesus for salvation. Instead of Jesus healing our wounds, He has become more like a vitamin that makes us feel better. The Christian advantage becomes what we have on Earth without anything eternal being discussed.

A partial gospel is no gospel at all. The common sentiment today is that all people are good. The gospel says that all people are sinners. People want to believe they can absolved their own sins. The gospel says that Jesus paid for those sins without and help from us. Many preachers seem to be preaching what people want to believe. They tell the people how good they are. They tell people that by continuing to do good they will have salvation. Their mantra is that by believing in their own goodness the they will have salvation salvation. They stay away from the bad news and call it the good news.  But it isn't, not according to the gospel.

Romans 6:23 (NASB 2020)

²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The P's Are Keeping Us from God's Revival

 September 12, 2024

Thursday

This morning I was riding my bicycle to work very early (4:50 AM). I often speak to the Lord as I ride. There aren't that many people on the road and it is dark. I asked the Lord why we weren't seeing Him work in a mighty way. (Those aren't the words I used, but they do convey my question.) He told me that it is because we trust in our P's. If that won't get a follow up question; I don't know what will.

The first P is programs. We create elaborate programs that will revolutionize our churches. Surely, this will bring the people in. Surely, we will be looking for chairs to seat everyone after this program. We take that program to God and ask Him to bless it. He says, "O, that is a beautiful pie. I haven't seen a more beautiful pie, but it is a mud pie and I'm not going to eat it." But that doesn't stop us. We start the program and may even keep it even though we know it is just a creation of man.

The second P is preachers. Churches are depending upon their preachers to bring their churches to prosperity. They just need a young guy with incredible charisma who will wow the populace so greatly that they can't help but leave their churches and come to their church with the new preacher. If these preachers are successful, the people make him into an idol. God has always been in the business of tearing down idols. (Just ask Elijah.) They fall and the churches are devastated. The world laughs.

The third P is people. Churches sell their properties and move to a community that is being built. It's even better if they can get their church in place before the community is built. Churches are starting new franchises in areas that will take people away from other churches. It's all about the number of people who come. They wait until they have a critical number in attendance to convince those new people that they are not fools for coming to their new church. Attendance grows.  A mighty work of God is declared at that moment. 

The fourth P is purity. Many churches are declaring that they are pure. They have doctrinal purity. Thus, there is a plethora of Youtube channels that are pointing out the churches that are impure. Of course, they mix the truth with the lies. That is the only way to get people to believe a lie. You must tell them the truth first. Some groups are resorting to excommunication of churches who won't comply with their doctrinal purity. Remember, the Pharisees tried that and missed who Jesus was altogether. They thought they got rid of Him too.

Can God use each of these things for His kingdom? Absolutely! But they will not be created by man and empowered by man. He will need to be the author, builder and sustainer if it is of Him. God must be at the center. We must join Him where He is. We must trust in Him. Otherwise, we will only have the opportunity to try to do what God desires. 

Isaiah 31:1 (NASB) ¹  Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help And rely on horses, And trust in chariots because they are many And in horsemen because they are very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!

Coming into God's Presence

 September 11, 2024

Wednesday

Years ago I conducted a meeting with the leadership of a Single Adult Council in a church where I was the Singles Minister. I proposed something that would undoubtedly bring singles closer to God. Of course, they would need to alter what they were doing. To me, the payoff for a closer relationship with God far outweighed the output. One of the more cynical people on the Council huffed, "You act like they want to do that!" He was right. I was assuming that most people whether or not they were single would want the things that I wanted. I wanted a closer relationship with God.  I have found that most people don't.

After Moses delivers the Ten Commandments to the Israelites, they are invited to come closer to God but they refused to go.

Exodus 20:18–21 (NASB 2020) ¹⁸ And all the people were watching and hearing the thunder and the lightning flashes, and the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it all, they trembled and stood at a distance. ¹⁹ Then they said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but do not have God speak to us, or we will die!” ²⁰ However, Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you will not sin.” ²¹ So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

Would God have invited them closer just to kill them? I don't think so. I know something about coming closer to God, though. You can't just run into His presence without expecting to be significantly changed. It is far easier to let a preacher speak to God. Then, you can decide if you will obey. Getting that close and telling God no would have been a very dangerous act.

It appears that people want to get close enough for the benefits but not so close that it will cost them something. The rich young ruler was an example of this. He was willing to follow Jesus as long as he didn't need to give up his money. Getting closer to God means giving up some earthly love. In some cases, people become missionaries and rarely see their parents. In some cases, people live in obscurity serving the Lord. In some cases, they serve the Lord and lose their lives. Yes, getting truly close to God will cost some earthly treasure.

When Peter was said to have "little faith" I wondered about the rest of the disciples. He was the one who asked Jesus' to command him to walk on the water. The other disciples stayed in the boat. If Peter had only little faith what did the other disciples have? 

No one can honestly call Jesus Lord while clinging to something on this earth. What we will give up determines how close we will come to the Lord. We sing "I Surrender All" but most do not mean it. They think faith is something that doesn't change the way they live in this world. They don't realize that if what you have doesn't change how you live in this world, it isn't faith.

Today, I decided for the nth number of times that nothing will get between me and Jesus. I'll bet a bunch of you will decide that too. You will be rare, but you will also truly know what it is to come into the presence of an awesome God.