A Witness to the Trinity

But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children…For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God…we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children… 1 Thessalonians 2:7, 9, 11

Family

Teaching by example, the Apostle Paul shares how the Thessalonians could effectively witness to a non-believer by reminding them of how God used him to nurture their faith. Paul shares with us as well. As we read today’s Bible passage, three familiar roles leap from the text: motherhood, brotherhood, and fatherhood. What might not be as apparent is the allusion that connects them symbolically to the Holy Trinity.  Paul is expressing that as the Christian effectively displays motherly, brotherly, and fatherly characteristics, he or she is simultaneously exhibiting attributes of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The Nursing Mother

Paul’s illustration of a nurturing mom with her child and the guidance, protection, and comfort that she brings, is a picture of the Holy Spirit who works in our hearts to reprove us and lead us to repentance and salvation. He lovingly reveals our condition and guides us to our only hope in Christ Jesus. He comforts us, He teaches us, and He brings us to a place of remembrance. The Holy Spirit is our seal, our very assurance of eternity and our persistent intercessor who prays for us. As we express this mother’s love, we emulate the Holy Spirit.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:26

The Working Brother

A working brother is one we can relate to and have respect for. He is consistent, faithful, and reliable. Jesus our Brother finished the work on the cross, but yet He always lives to make intercession for us — Jesus loves us so much, He just won’t stop! When in gratitude it is our labor of love to do the will of the One who was sent, we mirror the best qualities of this working brother, a picture of Jesus Christ.

I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work…He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. John 9:4 + 1 John 2:6

The Challenging Father

A loving father desires for his child the very best and the very best requires nurturing, guidance, and correction—all flavored with love, grace, and mercy. Training up a child (or a new disciple) in the way he should go is a full time vocation and it is the father’s duty to ensure the effort is put forth and to supply the materials to get the job done. The person who exemplifies this kind of daddliness, desiring to do the best he or she is equipped to do, is a reflection of our Father in Heaven.

Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, And teach out of Your law My son…do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights. Psalm 94:12 + Proverbs 3:11-12

The First Thessalonian passage demonstrates the balance required to be an effective tool in God’s hand. We cannot be overly focused on admonishment to the point we forget to comfort.  We should not be so caught up in teaching  that we ignore the message of the instruction. Nor can we wink at sin or intervene when the trials come lest we jeopardize the refining process, while remembering always that the work and the power belong to God and we are but His conveyance.

…For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 

1. What did these verses tell you about God?
2. What did they reveal about you?
3. How would God have you change?
4. What is your prayer?

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The Best Stuff

And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

It’s True

God gave us freewill and therefore we can do whatever we like.

If we need counsel, if we need advice, if we need instruction for the kind of things that really matter in life — you know, the spiritual and the sustentative things, God says we are free to choose and to listen to whoever we desire or admire. However, and in light of today’s Bible verse, the question is are we making the best possible choice.

Wonderful

Your counselor could be reputable and by worldly standards he might even be brilliant, but is he wonderful? Can you truly and accurately declare that the information or guidance which you have received is extraordinary and marvelous and the one who provided it is extraordinary and marvelous as well? Is all of his counsel exceptional or just certain parts of it?  Is what he proffers in every situation perfect?

But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. James 1:25

Divine

Yes, my counselor is wonderful. He is extraordinary and marvelous too!

Okay, but is your counselor God? After all you want the best counsel that’s available, don’t you? Why settle for second best when the Supreme choice is both accessible and free? Have you considered that counselors (even God), often give instruction and advice that’s difficult or unpleasant to fulfill — can your counselor also give you the power to do what he is asking of you?

Only God can do that.

Everlasting

What’s the source of your counselor’s information?  Is it ageless? Does the advice have any eternal significance or is it merely a temporary fix? Have others taken this counsel? Is their focus on things temporal, material, and earthly or on things eternal, enduring, and perpetual? Are you looking for permanence from the actions you ultimately take?

Peace

At the end of the day, what have you actually gleaned? Has your counselor resource for your spiritual development provided you peace?  If he has and if your counselor is not God, then the peace you have acquired will not last for very long.  Peace that does not last will guide you away from the peace that does.

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21

God’s counsel from the beginning of time as we know it has always been that we’re free to choose what we want, but to choose Him if we want the best.  Doesn’t it make sense?  He created us, doesn’t it stand to reason that He has the best counsel for us?  Would we buy a new Ford and consult the old Chevy owners manual?  Of course not.  Does the old book have some good stuff in it?

It certainly does, but is it the best stuff?

So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified . Acts 20:32

1. What did the Bible verse(s) say about God?
2. What did the verse(s) reveal about you?
3. What changes could you make?
4. What is your prayer?

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Cowboy God

Woe to those who join house to house; They add field to field, Till there is no place Where they may dwell alone in the midst of the land…Woe to those who rise early in the morning, That they may follow intoxicating drink; Who continue until night, till wine inflames them…to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity, And sin as if with a cart rope; That say, “Let Him make speed and hasten His work, That we may see it; And let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, That we may know it.” Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight! Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink, Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away justice from the righteous man! Isaiah 5:8, 11, 18-23

Woe vs. Whoa

The word woe in the ancient Hebrew, means ‘alas’ or ‘lo,’ however in today’s Bible passage we can also appreciate the overt interpretation of ‘a passionate cry of grief or despair’ as spoken by God through His prophet Isaiah — we can say without a doubt our wicked behavior grieves our Lord.

Whoa, take ‘er easy there, Pilgrim.

That of course is not an excerpt from the book of Isaiah, but a quote from the character Tom Doniphon, as portrayed by John Wayne in the 1962 classic, ‘The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.’ The quotation reminded me that although God grieves for His children, He also lovingly warns us to whoa; that is to stop those behaviors that will ultimately lead to our harm and destruction. For that reason this section of Isaiah, at its core, is a call to repentance, not just for historical Israel, but for us today.

The Six Woes

This might be an over simplification of the six woes, but essentially we get a glimpse of the aberrant social activities that were prevalent in those days. Take note that we haven’t changed much as a society in the three thousand years since this prophesy was given.

1. Piggish Capitalism: consumptive hoarding at the expense and oppression of others.
2. Hedonism: the excessive pursuit of selfish and perverse pleasure, rejecting all moral values.
3. Spiritual Apathy: the false notion that God doesn’t care about sin or that He winks at our sin.
4. Relativism: a concept that maintains there are no absolute truths; what’s wrong for you may be right for me.
5. Intellectualism: the notion that man is wiser than God; evolution of species is our prime example.
6. Substance Abuse: the addiction that always follows unrestrained perversity.

The Warnings

God is not mocked and (it’s a promise of God), we will reap that which we sow — those who practice these things and similar will suffer greatly – ancient Israel suffered and we will also suffer. We are already feeling the birth pangs of consequence. Corporately and individually, the unrepentive have these things to look forward to:

Desolate homes
Scant vineyards
Captivity
Famine
Drought
Humiliation
Theft
Spiritual isolation
Spiritual blindness
Moral bankruptcy
Disease
Fruitlessness

Therefore the anger of the Lord is aroused against His people; He has stretched out His hand against them And stricken them, And the hills trembled. Their carcasses were as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still. Isaiah 5:25

Our Hope

But His hand is stretched out still. Isaiah 5:25

To those who would say that our God is a condemning God, we share this hope – the God who warns is the God who also saves. He came with outstretched arms to provide our escape and His hand He has never retracted. Ours is Jesus who willingly endured the cross for all humanity, for all who would confess, repent, and believe to receive His gracious gift of salvation and submit themselves to His loving and refining authority.

“…If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

1. How does this relate to the United States?
2. How does this relate to you individually?
3. Do you see the way of escape?
4. What is your prayer today?

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It Could Just Be Heartburn

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts…” Colossians 3:15                                                                                                                

“I just have a peace about it in my heart.”

That’s what he said of his big-screen TV purchase and she said of her body-augmenting procedure.

Really?

Followers of Jesus Christ should always question the source of their peace. Innately, Holy Spirit-filled Christians know that some activities (under normal circumstances) are wrong, but yet too frequently we sense a perception-swaying tranquility that seems genuine and we allow it the privilege of casting decisive votes in our lives.

Remember Jonah

He had a peace in his heart as well. So peaceful was Jonah that he was able to sleep in the bowels of a sinking ship in the midst of a violent storm! How could he have such calm when he knew he was fleeing the very presence of the Lord? Was it because Jonah thought that the ship waiting in port that would carry him in the opposite direction, was a sign from God he was doing the right thing? Did Jonah misidentify the open door he plainly saw?

Yes, apparently he did.

Since we know that Jonah’s interpretation was flawed, we easily see that the peace he had experienced was flawed as well. Consequently we can glean from the story that it is a ploy of satan to supply escape vehicles when it is our desire to defy God. We will always find a boat waiting for us when it is our intention to journey in the opposite direction of God’s will. Let us remember that these ship-sightings bring into our hearts a simulated peace that if we’re not cautious —  if we’re not prepared, if we don’t investigate, we will mistake for the real thing.

The prophet Jeremiah warned:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked;Who can know it? We cannot trust in our hearts alone.” Jeremiah 17:9

The Apostle Paul expounds upon that doctrine when he cites, “We cannot rely on our hearts alone.” The peace in our hearts is not of God unless it can be confirmed and authenticated in God’s Word, which is why Paul pairs the former verse with this one:

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing …” Colossians 3:16a

Our hearts are vulnerable to deception therefore we need the guidance of the Bible for it proclaims His truth and accuracy in regard to the way in which He would have us go. Coupled with that we need the wise counsel of men and women who are steeped and grounded in the Word of God; i.e., mature believers who have consistently demonstrated that their Christian walk is in step with God’s word. We will know them by the fruit they produce and their love for others.

Fact:

God’s peace will never contradict God’s Word. God’s peace never endangers, but always protects. If Jonah had been in the Word he would not have boarded that ship. If we are in the Word, we won’t either.

The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:5a-7

1. Did these Bible verses minister to you?
2. Have you ever been led astray by your heart?
3. What did you do to correct the error?
4. What are you doing to avoid it from recurring?

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What God Hates (*Religion is Not on the List)

The list of things that God hates (below) is borrowed from (Joel) ‘Meredith’s Book of Bible Lists.’  I looked through it and I can’t find anywhere where God says that He hates, abhors, or considers the Christian religion to be an abomination.  What the list does reveal is that God hates false religions that lead men to their destruction, man-made components added to the Christian religion, and religious hypocrisy (e.g., Christians who preach one thing, but then continue to do sinful things).

Jesus doesn’t hate religion, nor did He come to abolish it. That notion can’t be found anywhere in God’s Word. To suggest otherwise is to add words to the Bible (a practice God despises). To say Jesus hates religion and He came to abolish it is a lie.  God hates lying.

Here’s what God hates according to the Bible.

 The List

1. Homosexual acts (Leviticus 18:22).

2. Bestiality (Leviticus 18:23)

3. Idols, and the materials used to make idols (Deuteronomy 7:25)

4. Blemished sacrifices (Deuteronomy 17:1)

5. Worshipping the sun, moon or stars (Deuteronomy 17:3-4)

6. Divination (Deuteronomy 18:10)

7. Astrology (Deuteronomy 18:10)

8. Enchanters (Deuteronomy 18:10)

9. Witches (Deuteronomy 18:10)

10. Charmers (Deuteronomy 18:11)

11. Wizards (Deuteronomy 18:11)

12. Necromancers (Deuteronomy 18:11)

13. Transvestitism (Deuteronomy 22:5)

14. The hire of a whore (Deuteronomy 23:18)

15. Remarriage to a former wife after she has been married to another man (Deuteronomy 24:4)

16. Dishonest scales (Deuteronomy 25:13-16)

17. Workers of iniquity (Psalm 5:5)

18. The wicked (Psalm 11:5)

19. Those who love violence (Psalm 11:5)

20. The froward [perverse] (Proverbs 3:32)

21. A proud look (Proverbs 6:16-17)

22. A lying tongue (Proverbs 6:17)

23. Hands that shed innocent blood (Proverbs 6:17)

24. A heart that devises wicked imaginations (Proverbs 6:18)

25. Feet that are swift in running to mischief (Proverbs 6:18)

26. A false witness who speaks lies (Proverbs 6:19)

27. Anyone who sows discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:19)

28. Lying lips (Proverbs 12:22)

29. The sacrifices of the wicked (Proverbs 15:8)

30. The ways of the wicked (Proverbs 15:9)

31. The thoughts of the wicked (Proverbs 15:26)

32. The proud in heart (Proverbs 16:5)

33. Those who justify the wicked (Proverbs 17:15)

34. Those who condemn the just (Proverbs 17:15)

35. Vain sacrifices (Isaiah 1:13)

36. Feasts as Israel celebrated them (Isaiah 1:14)

37. Robbery for burnt offering (Isaiah 61:8)

38. Idolatry (Jeremiah 44:2-4)

39. Evil plans against neighbors (Zechariah 8:17)

40. False oaths (Zechariah 8:17)

41. Esau (Malachi 1:1-3; Romans 9:13)

42. Divorce (Malachi 2:14-16)

43. The deeds of the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:6, 15)

44. Sacred pillars (Deuteronomy 16:22).

45. “I hate, I despise, your feast days” (Amos 5:21).

46. “Your new moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates.” ( Isaiah 1:14)

What is the Christian Religion?

Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines religion this way:

Religion, in its most comprehensive sense, includes a belief in the being and perfections of God, in the revelation of his will to man, in man’s obligation to obey his commands, in a state of reward and punishment, and in man’s accountableness to God; and also true godliness or piety of life, with the practice of all moral duties…Religion…is godliness or real piety in practice, consisting in the performance of all known duties to God and our fellow men, in obedience to divine command, or from love to God and his law.

I have gone through that definition word by word and I cannot find anything therein that God said He hates or would desire to abolish. What I like about the definition is that it points out that the Christian religion is in obedience to God’s commands, implying the components of our faith are not man-made.  So if you’re in a church that says you must do works to be saved, or you must attend that denomination to get to Heaven, or you must recite these words to Mary ten times, your religion has man-made parts that need to be rejected.

God’s Mandates for Religion

As we already pointed out, people do not have to do works in order to earn their salvation.  The Bible tells us that it’s by faith we are saved.  ’For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation.’ (2 Corinthians 7-10)  Jesus finished all the work at the cross. In love and gratitude, we willing submit ourselves to the only One who could have saved us.  It is our desire to obey, not because some cleric said we had to, but because we desire to; it blesses our Lord and Savior. Therefore, we utilize the components of the Christian religion that God has established — they serve to bring us closer to Jesus and to equip us for ministry.

What are some of those religious elements of God we practice?

Praying, reading our Bibles, meditating on His word, going to church, fellowship with other believers, communion, worship, baptism, and marriage, are a few that top my list.

Here are a few others:

Keeping God’s word (John 14:23 )

Feeding God’s sheep (John 21:15-17 )

Heal the sick (Matthew 10:8)

Teaching (Matthew 28:20)

Preaching repentance and remission of sins (Luke 24:46-47 )

Preaching the gospel (Mark 16:15)

Doing good to those who hate you (Luke 6:27-28)

Not being hypocrites (Luke 12:1)

Giving (Matthew 5:42)

Loving God (Mark 12:30)

Loving one another (John 13:35)

Not being deceived (Mark 13:5-6 )

Being ready in season and out (2 Timothy 4:2)

Making disciples (Matthew 28:19)

Letting our light shine (Matthew 5:16)

And there are plenty more.

…Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.           Ephesians 4:1-6

There is a bottom line here. While I might call the adherence to God’s mandates religion, you might call them your steps of faith.  Someone else might call them the elements of their relationship.  It doesn’t matter.  What matters is that we’ve committed our lives to Jesus Christ and that we’re submitted to His authority…because we want to, not because we have to.

What’s not okay is for one Christian to suggest or imply that another Christian is not saved because they’re not using the same vocabulary as them.  Frankly, that practice wreaks of the kind of man-made dogma that God hates. So if you want to say that Christianity isn’t a religion, but a relationship, that’s fine.  If I want to say I practice the components of my religion religiously, that’s fines too. But let neither one of us ever say the other is wrong based solely on semantics.

1. What are your thoughts?
2. How did God speak to you?
3. What is your prayer?

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Honey I’m Home…and I Brought Some Friends

Awake, O north wind, And come, O south! Blow upon my garden, That its spices may flow out. Let my beloved come to his garden And eat its pleasant fruits…I have come to my garden, my sister, my spouse; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. (To His Friends) Eat, O friends! Drink, yes, drink deeply, O beloved ones! Song of Solomon 4:16 + 5:1

I’m Selfish

When I’m alone, I want to be left alone. When I’m with my wife or kids, I don’t want any intruders. When I’m communing with Jesus, I don’t want to be disturbed. When somebody talks or coughs during church service, I’m irritated. When I’m having an awesome time of fellowship with a friend or two or three, I’m not fond of others butting in and changing the topic.

The list could go on and on.

You and I are within our rights when it is our desire to maintain these cherished bonds, especially when the activities are both wholesome and pleasing to the Lord, aren’t we? After all, Jesus would be pleased that we wouldn’t want these moments with Him interrupted, right?

Not necessarily according to this portion of the Song of Solomon.

Song of Solomon

You may know that there are several ways we can analysis the *Song of Solomon, but I feel it’s most beneficial to see the entire eight chapters of the book as an allegory, that is a symbolic narrative that depicts Jesus Christ as the Groom and His subsequent love and purpose for the church, His bride.

With that…

“Awake, O north wind, And come, O south! Blow upon my garden, That its spices may flow out. Let my beloved come to his garden And eat its pleasant fruits.” Song of Solomon 4:16

Here, the bride speaks first and we see in her an attitude of eager and loyal submission to her Husband. Her first sentence is an invitation for His scrutiny. She effectively says to her Lord to let the revealing and sanctifying winds of adversity blow – she is subject to His ownership, authority, and redemptive power.

She further recognizes that not only does she belong to the King, but the garden and the fruit therein belongs to Him as well. Her confidence comes in knowing she is robed in His righteousness, that He alone is good, and that He creates good things for His good pleasure. The fruit she bears under His covering was produced by Him and for Him and as she freely brings Him blessing she is essentially fulfilling her God-given objective. As a result, she is filled with joy realizing her true purpose in the world.

“…For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure…You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” Philippians 2:13 + Revelation 4:11

Later on in the New Testament, Jesus Himself builds on that doctrine when while walking with His disciples He hungrily comes across a fig tree and curses it for being barren. We need to know that Jesus was not being cruel, but rather He was taking the occasion to illustrate a critical point to the church: fruitlessness is worthlessness and it defies the purpose of a Christian’s mission.

This cursed tree is for our example, but remember, Jesus knows the beginning from the end and whether-or-not a tree (or an alleged disciple) will ever in their lifetime produce. I personally find comfort in the parable He shares in Luke’s Gospel, as it reminds me that Jesus is the God of second chances and restoration.

“A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ” Luke 13:6-9

Back to the Song

Her Beloved Lord now speaks…

“I have come to my garden, my sister, my spouse; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. (To His Friends) Eat, O friends! Drink, yes, drink deeply, O beloved ones!  Song of Solomon 5:1

He comes to the garden, again making the distinction that it and all within belongs to Him. He communes, He partakes, He is blessed, and He brings home unexpected guests to His new bride.

I recall a time when my dad did that.

He was late for dinner, the food was getting cold, and mom couldn’t wait any longer; we were instructed to sit down at the table. In walked dad and it appeared that perhaps he had a little too much wine…without the milk. Right behind him walked his buddy Head-gear (whose real name was Edgar).

Honey, I brought home a dinner guest!

Let’s just say my Mom was not pleased, but in her defense her reaction was slightly influenced by my dad’s pre-dinner indulgences that day. Be that as it may…

God is saying here in the Bible text that He doesn’t always travel alone — His bride is representative of His corporate body, the Church. And not only that — sometimes He brings home some folks He loves that are not of the church in order that they too might be blessed, fed, and subsequently led into His family. Jesus is not just in love with us individually, He’s in love with the body entirely and those who might become His followers. Jesus is proclaiming that when we’re submitted to Him, we’re also submitted to His directives towards those He loves. What Jesus implies here in the Old Testament He  later affirms in the New.

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35

Some Questions:

1. Are you submitted to both Jesus and to His doctrine?
2. Do you see yourself and your stuff as belonging to Him?
3. If not, are you submitted to sanctification and being refined?

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*I selected the Kings James Version of the text because it omits the explanatory notations that were not a part of the original text. Labels such as: The Beloved, The Shulamite, and The Daughters of Jerusalem aren’t inspired words of God and occasionally they are inaccurately placed within the text.

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Where Can Wisdom Be Found?

Should Christians seek to acquire direction and doctrine from non-Christian sources for the purpose of spiritual development, missional advancement, or Church growth and is the practice a violation of God’s will for His children?

I recently observed this quote posted on Facebook by a Christian:

Everything else can wait, but your search for god cannot.  Paramahansa Yogananda

Is that a true and valid statement?

The accuracy of the remark is not the issue. The problem is with Mr. Yogananda. He is not a follower of Jesus Christ; he is a Hindu.  It isn’t that his citation is wisdom-less, but rather that it is tainted beyond usability because of his direct link to a perilously false and deceptive teaching. An unsuspecting public sees this smidgen of wisdom, takes note that it was posted by a Christian, and then falsely assumes that Mr. Yogananda is a valid source of information.

God Says…

In the Bible, God warns us repeatedly to not blend the wisdom of this world with His truth. There is light and there is darkness — there is no gray area.  When we attempt to blur the lines between these two realms, we run the risk of leading people to their destruction.  God has supplied all our needs; we have the Holy Spirit, the Bible, the Church, and qualified Christian leadership. These are the resources for our spiritual growth and this is the tenet that will keep us on the straight and narrow path.

Legalist

If you are a Christian and you don’t agree, then I lovingly ask you…

Have you read your Bible?

The reality is that many believers have fallen prey to seeker-friendly, overtly tolerant, culturally over-adjusted, churches where the Word of God has either been altered, adapted, reformed, or abandoned.

For that reason I’ve listed several Bible verses (NKJV) and cues pertaining directly and indirectly to the issue. If you are one who would disagree on the matter, please take the time to mediate on these words, asking the Holy Spirit for clarification and guidance.

The way of the world often seems right, but it is tainted — that which sustains us is from God alone…

1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

We were once of the world and did as the world did; why would we want to go back…

Ephesians 2:1-3, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”

The world has their way and we have our Way…

Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

When we draw on worldly devices for our spiritual growth, we are at great odds with the Father…

James 4:4-8, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Abstain from worldly values; Jesus is our provider…

1 Thessalonians 5:22-24, “Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”

We came out of darkness, why would we think we could garner anything of value there.  God says have no fellowship…

Ephesians 5:6-11, “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”

God does not want worldly things and ideas in His house…

John 2:16b, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”

The worldly have rejected God; their techniques are steeped in sin…

Romans 1:28-32, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

What the world offers seems so good, but the price they will ultimately pay far outweighs their profit…

Psalm 73:3; 16-20, “For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked… When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me–Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end. Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.  As a dream when one awakes, So, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image.”

The wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and wise counsel we grow by is of God…

Proverbs 24:1-6, “Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them; For their heart devises violence, And their lips talk of troublemaking. Through wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; By knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong, Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength; For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.

Did you know the worldly system hates Christians…

John 15:19-20, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”

The worldly system seems prosperous, but at the end of the day it is vanity…

Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”

We’re not just talking marriage folks…

2 Corinthians 6:14-17, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”

We know the where truth is found, let us not cast if off…

Job 28:12-13, 28, “But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its value, Nor is it found in the land of the living… ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.’ ” 

But Didn’t Jesus Eat with Whores and Tax Collectors?

Yes He did, but take note that He never engaged in their sinful nonsense. His purpose in being amongst the sinners was to give, not to glean. For that reason we have not been called to shun the world, after all, they are our mission field. Not only are we free to shop in their stores, partake of their services, and purchase their wares, we are encouraged to do so. However when it comes to our spiritual growth, we must reject their counsel.

In light of the scripture references, what are you thoughts?

1. Are you challenged by God’s mandates?
2. Having read the Bible passages, do you agree or disagree?
3. Why?

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A Word on Fire Extinguishers

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

The local newspaper gave this account…

Nikki  _____ usually wore a black leather motorcycle jacket, boots and jeans. Chicken soup and pasta fagioli were among her specialties. One friend said the 54-year-old Long Branch woman was a jockey years ago, while another said it was more likely that she simply worked with horses at the racetrack. She spoke her mind, often tried to help those in need and had a good heart, friends said. ’She was a tough broad, ’ said one neighbor, Denise, who did not want her last name published. ’I can tell you that, and that’s how you can describe her — as a tough broad.’ Asbury Park Press, August 2008

Nikki was found dead, brutally murdered in her apartment; the alleged assailant was arrested.

Nikki was not a friend, but back in the day we hung out and drank excessively in the same filthy places. That was over thirty years ago. Perhaps six years later I met Jesus. In that time, and in the decades since, I never thought to introduce Nikki to Jesus. I supposed, having been in and out of trouble (and jail) through her life, others likely shared the Gospel with her. My hope is that somewhere prior to her last gulp of air one of those seeds germinated, yet I cannot help but think I had squandered an opportunity or two to speak the truth to her.

Now don’t get me wrong; I am not taking on the burden (of the possibility) of her not being saved. That choice was always hers. I’m confident if she didn’t hear the Gospel from me, God would have sent someone else. What troubles me, in a ‘I-have-a-chance-to-learn-from-my-mistakes’ kind of way, is that I quenched the work of the Holy Spirit when I opted to do or say nothing—in that sense I denied Jesus Christ. It would seem that I failed to see the urgency of the situation.

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies.

1 Thessalonians 5:14-20

I am not proud of it, but when I read that Nikki died, I chuckled. Oh not at the fact that she had been brutally murdered, but because I had assumed (because of her hazardous life style) she was probably already dead. Girls like Nikki tend to have short lives. I confess that it got me thinking that the only real difference between Nikki and me is that I made one good choice in my life and she did not, that good choice of course being to accept God’s free gift of grace.

In Nikki’s passing a few years ago, I re-concluded I needed to step it up a notch, oh not to overreact in my flesh, but to be more in tune to the Lord’s promptings and when He is guiding me to open my mouth on His behalf. Life is short and people are dying in their sin. Yes it’s true, God will send somebody; His will will be done, but shame on us if we’re chosen and we say no.

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Having a Bad Day

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

I am continually using things for purposes other than what they were designed. Hammering a nail with half a brick, cleaning my ears with any sharp object, or my personal favorite — driving my vehicle backwards and slamming on the brakes in order to close the passenger side door or empty the truck bed. It’s no wonder why I have bruised thumbs, infected ears, and dented doors.

Having a Bad Day?

If you are having a bad day, then there is a good chance you’re not using it for what it was intended. Have you ever stopped to consider that God made this day and that He designed it for a very specific purpose? Well He did; and you know what else? He designed you in the same fashion. This day, you, and everything else for that matter, were made by God and for His purpose. Don’t believe it? Check out this verse:

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16

So the likelihood of your having a rotten day is magnified if you are working outside of the will of the One who created it. How can any person possibly feel fulfilled if they are striving to please themselves and not the Creator? Show me an individual who only recognizes God as Creator for one hour on Sunday morning and I will show you a despondent and confused person. Fulfilled Christians are those who are seeking to fulfill the will of Christ Jesus.

Consult Your Owner’s Manual

I once ruined a transmission because I towed a camper that was beyond what the vehicle was capable of pulling. I’d like to say that I didn’t read the owners manual, but the sad truth is that I did read it — I just chose to ignore the instruction that it provided.

The Bible tells us all things, including mankind, were made by Christ Jesus and because our Lord is so loving, so faithful, and so providing, that He gave us an owner’s manual, His Word, the Bible. It stands to reason that if we are not running well; if we are hesitating, stalling, or just stuck in park on the side of the road, then we are not following the instruction He has supplied. Smooth performance comes as a result of operating within the Makers mandated (not recommended) specifications.

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35

We are blessed by God not for our pleasure, but for His.

1. Are you depressed?
2. Have you identified the root causes?
3. Is Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior?
4. What have you done today to satisfy His will?

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Jesus Christ, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and My Dad

His work is honorable and glorious, And His righteousness endures forever. He has made His wonderful works to be remembered…He has declared to His people the power of His works, In giving them the heritage of the nations…He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name. Psalms 111:3-4a, 6, 9

I’ve always been a snoop. I’m not proud. I suppose it’s just one more aspect of my sin-nature in which I was (am) proficient. When I was a kid for example, I’d stay home sick from (of) school and go through the house top to bottom just looking for interesting stuff to get into. I cannot begin to tell you of all the discoveries I made – some wonderful and some dreadful.

Anyway, one of the more fascinating times involved finding my dad’s scrapbook from when he was in high school. The very first entry was a May 12, 1940 Asbury Park Press Newspaper clipping recounting his baseball team’s state conference loss – their third straight. However, in that same game my dad hit a home run. The account read:

Russ Wells led off the fourth inning and tied the score for Asbury Park by parking one of Horvath’s fastballs in Deal Lake. It was a tremendous drive that carried into deep left center field and even if it hadn’t gone into the lake would have been a round tripper.

The lake must have been pretty far away because on the next page there was a May 9, 1940 account of another game where my dad hit an inside the park home run that didn’t reach the lake, but was so far out in left field he practically walked around all four bases.

Here’s an aerial shot of the Asbury Park High School as it looks today. By my rough estimate the map scale puts dead left field at about 400 feet.

Cool.

Years went by and I had essentially forgotten the story, when in a bar (I think) I heard a tale of when Babe Ruth had come to Asbury Park High School for some kind of exhibition baseball game and he hit a home run into Deal Lake on the same field my dad did. The person telling the story summed up with,

Nobody had ever hit a baseball into Deal Lake before and nobody has ever done it since.

Of course I chimed in with my fuzzy account of the 1940 newspaper clipping I had allegedly seen as a lad, but nobody believed that my dad had achieved such an inconceivable feat. I actually began to wonder myself.

Yesterday, while going through some of my dad’s things, I stumbled upon the old scrapbook and wouldn’t you know it, there were the articles, just as I remembered. Now all I needed to do was to verify the legendary saloon narrative I had heard years before. Searching the internet I soon found a couple of resources that helped solve the mystery.

According to two books: ‘The Big Bam: the life and times of Babe Ruth,’ by Leigh Montville and ‘Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig,’ by Jonathan Eig, the year was 1927 and Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig were playing exhibition baseball games across the country. On this particular day in Asbury Park, they were playing the Royal Giants, a Negro League team. The game was bizarre in that spectators were continually streaming onto the field to acquire autographs from Ruth and Gehrig and to steal the baseballs as they were batted into play. Three dozen baseballs were brought to the game by the promoter and the game was called in the sixth inning when Lou Gehrig (not Babe Ruth) blasted the 36th (and last) ball into Deal Lake for a home run.

After a prolonged search, I could find no reference to this being the only home run to ever land in Deal Lake. At the end of my research, the only two facts I could confirm is that my dad, Russell Van Kirk Wells Jr. and Lou Gehrig both hit home runs into Deal Lake from the same baseball field at the Asbury Park High School, thirteen years apart.

What if…

Imagine for a moment if someone had come along, before the birth of these two great men and predicted the time and location of those events. The likelihood of that having happened would be like one in a gazillion, right? Oh well, even without a prediction or the verification of all the details, it’s still a nice fact-based memory to cling to. It just makes me grateful that God took the time and effort to authenticate all His facts, through fulfilled prophesies and documentation, so there would be absolutely no doubt as to who Jesus is, what He had accomplished, and what He continues to do.

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

Amazingly, the Bible records over three hundred and sixty prophecies that pertain directly to Jesus Christ and so far Jesus has fulfilled over three hundred of them. In ‘The Case for Christ,’ the author Lee Strobel, (quoting mathematician Peter W. Stoner), reports that the odds of fulfilling just eight of the three hundred would be astronomical; the equivalent being one chance in one hundred, million, billion (that’s a one with seventeen zeroes after it). The odds for fulfilling forty-eight prophecies jump to a whopping 1 in 10 to the 157th power.

To help visualize the probability of one person fulfilling eight prophesies, Professor Stoner imagined secreting a marked coin in a pile of silver dollars two feet deep and covering the entire state of Texas. The odds would be likened to selecting the marked silver dollar on the very first try.

If we want an illustration for the odds of one person fulfilling forty-eight prophecies, Professor Stoner maintains that the silver dollar is now too large to make such a comparison; we would need to use electrons. Envision five hundred solid balls of electrons extending in all directions from the earth to the distance of 6 billion light years. Now put a check on one single electron and find it on the first attempt.

When we contend with these prophetic odds, appreciating that no fulfilled Bible prophesy has ever been successfully disaffirmed, we can logically accept the details as facts. The reality is that Christ fulfilled the predictions of His own birth, the place of His nativity, the time and manner of His death, the reactions of the people, the piercing of His side, His burial, His Resurrection, plus three hundred more. No proof has ever been proffered to dispute any of these claims. In fact, and according to all probability research, it would be impossible for anyone but God to accomplish this extraordinary accomplishment.

“The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” Luke 18:27

Did my dad do what no other man, other than Lou Gehrig, had ever done? I’m thinking probably not – the facts just don’t substantiate that claim. But on the other hand, did Jesus fulfill the three hundred plus things that were prophesied about Him?

Without a doubt He did.

Will He fulfill them all?

Without a doubt He will.

Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24:40-44

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Here is a list of 365 Bible prophesies concerning Jesus Christ

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