this wed. 8/24, i invite all to my house to watch the Glenn Beck event "Restoring Courage" at 7pm. for those who go to His Place church, they would like any kids that are involved in certain activities to still go to church. we will arrange for a pick-up of the kids after church. the kids can hang out at our house in the kids rooms while we watch the event. maybe we will put a movie in for them. i do not know what time the event is over, but if it gets too late and you have to leave, we understand. if you want to bring snacks, drinks or deserts, feel free! for directions and more info, please call me at 996-5377.
this is going to be a historic event that you will not want to miss. the Restoring Courage event began on sunday with the Courage to Love. that event helped us realize that it may be easy to say "i love Israel" but may be hard to love the individual Jew. nevertheless, we still need to show love individually, not just as a whole. last night was the Courage to Remember, which reminded us of what happened with the Holocaust.... the result of the world NOT standing with Israel. and on wed, we will have the main event, the Courage to Stand, so we can learn our part in maintaining freedom for not only Israel, but also for us Christians and Americans.
concerning Glenn Beck. through the years i have had many conversations concerning Glenn's religious views that may not be "main stream" Christianity. i have struggled with this myself about 7 years ago. but i came to realize a few things:
1) i do not have to agree with his different religious beliefs (which he does not even talk about!) to agree with his ideas on how to fix this country and to help protect Israel.
2) God constantly uses people outside "our" comfortable Christian circle, to fulfill his purposes. dave ramsay and mother theresa -- Catholic. our founding fathers -- many were deists. mother magie -- Coptic Christian.
remember what is said in Mark 9:38-41 -- Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.” But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is on our side. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Israel
i certainly believe that we are living in the end times. the evil that is running rampant in these times is getting worse. can anyone disagree with that? sure, maybe they thought that evil was running rampant in the 60's compared to the 50's. were they right? was the 70's more evil than the 60's? was the 90's more evil than the 80's? how do you define evil? lets make a statement that no one can disagree with: ever since israel came back together in 1947/48, the world has been drifting in the opposite direction of Holiness, drifting away from God. although i contend that evil still ran its course before then -- it was just socially acceptable to hide it in those days -- after Israel was officially recongized in 1948, the devil really started to let loose. why? many people who study prophecy, including myself, believe that Israel is a KEY factor in the end times. the regathering of Israel is fulfilled prophecy -- '"I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone ... and bring them into their own land ..."' (Ezek 37.21) also -- '"Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles unitl the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled"' (Lk 21.24). in fact, when Jesus says "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place" (Matt 24:34), many of us believe the reference is concerning Israel as a fig tree beginning to grow leaves, which will then eventually grow fruit.
Israel is Gods chosen land and the Jews are indeed Gods chosen people. -"You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen" ... And what nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land ...' (Isa 43.10) (2 Sam 7.23). Israel is under attack now, just like they have been since the beginning and just like they will until the end of time. as Christians, do we have any stake in this battle? Israel may not be the God-fearing nation we wish it was (it will someday soon), but Israel, remember, is our home nation as well, even though we are not Jewish:
in the end times we are going to be forced to choose sides. we had a good run for the last few hundred years, did we not? we were free to do as we wanted. free to choose a side, free to remain neutral, free to relax, free to work hard...free, free, free. well, those days are numbered. no matter what you may think of America, the Bible is clear: there WILL be a one world government. there WILL be a one world currency. the question is not '"if" but "when". i believe we will see these days very soon. i believe the rapture will come after a bunch of this stuff happens, not before.
in the last few years, our own nation of America has become very split. in my opinion, this is another clear sign that we are living in the end times. the whole world now seems to be anti-Israel, and America -- and many Christians -- are on the wrong side. lets look at some FACTS concerning how God feels about Israel:
is this to say that we are to turn a blind eye to the evil ways of some of the Jews? without going into detail, we can agree that some Jews are involved in very bad activities. of course, we are not to condone sin, even if it is Gods people who are doing it. but that judgement, that issue is between God and the Jews. He will deal with them as He sees fit. what we do know is that in the end times:
let God do what He needs to do to soften their hearts. we need to do what we need to do -- God will judge Israel for her actions and God will judge us for ours. furthermore, why would Jews even want to be a part of Christianity if we Christians turn a blind eye to what the world is doing to them?
speaking of that, what exactly IS the world doing to them? simply put, they are trying to destroy Israel. the verbal threats are not new, but they are certainly increasing. the Muslim world is espically anit-Israel, even to the point where some countries are calling for Israel to be anialated from the face of the earth. even Israels long time friend, the USA, is activily taking steps against Israel. current sentiment towards Israel:
Jerry Fallwell said in 1981 "To stand against Israel is to stand against God. We believe that history and scripture prove that God deals with nations in relation to how they deal with Israel."
future sentiment towards Israel:
what happens to those who stand AGAINST Israel?
it is time to get on the right side of things. it is time to make a stand. the Bible shows that israel has a prominent standing in the end times. and as we know, Israel indeed stands in the spotlight -- this little tiny country about the size of Vermont. we as christians are only one step removed from the hate. whatever level the world hates israel, we are right behind. if Israel is public enemy #1, then Christians are public enemy #2. its already creeping all around us: teaching gay history in public schools (yes, here in USA); not allowing Bible studies in private homes (yes, here in USA); Sharia law (Islamic law based on the Koran) being considered in legal arguments in our American judicial system and being actually enforced in Canadian public schools; federal laws allowing children to get tax-payer funded abortions in secret without the parents consent or knowledge; Canadian pastors being arrested for reading Romans chapter 1 because it is anti-gay hate speach. i am not positive, but i believe all the things i mentioned all came about in the last 10 years or so. folks, we need to wake up! this is so BEYOND politics! we are not fighting flesh and blood, we are fighting a spiritual battle (Eph 6:12). time of indifference is over. lines have been drawn in the sand. the middle ground is disappearing FAST. the end times are at hand and the world is changing fast. the uninformed will not be able to make the right decisions when forced to. the uninformed will be decieved and tricked. yes, we all just want to be left alone, but thats not happening any more because as we sit, the world spins and makes regulations against us every day. we Christians and people with values are the target. we are the ones standing in the way of "their" agenda:
what type of people compose the Tea Party? right wing citizens who believe in limited government, controled taxation and basically hold on to the truth that you are responsible for your own actions and it is not the governments job to provide for you. whether or not all Tea Party people are Christians, these are certainly Christian values: God is our provider, NOT the government (so many verses and so indepth that this will be covered in another post); we have a right to our own money that we make and we should be able to distribute it as WE see fit, not the government; churches should NOT be taxed; we should be able to live as FREE PEOPLE -- the government should not be restricting what we can and cant eat, restricting how we raise our kids (some places in the US have laws against spanking, trying to make laws that you cant take your kids to church of they dont want to go, young girls are already allowed to have abortions without parental consent or knowledge -- paid with tax payer dollars), restrict how much food we can grow on our own land (YES, there are laws concerning this), how much food we can keep on hand (again, YES there are laws on this), etc, etc. whether or not you "label" yourself as Right Wing, Tea Party, Libertarian or Conservative, if any of these things strike a nerve with you, than YOU ARE A TARGET. you are NOT on the worlds side and they are moving as fast as they can to see to it that you are broken and converted into their way of thinking -- eventually by force if neccessary ("for the good of humanity", of course).
this september, the UN will vote on whether or not to make Palastine a "state". if they succeed, which they probably will, then the UN will decide where the bouderies are. this will obviously not go well with Israel and there will probably be much mayhem. to say the least, it will not be good. does the UN have the right to tell Israel where its borders are? it has been said that the first land deed ever written is recorded in Gen 15. the Bible also says: '"I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you ... I will give to you and your descendants ... all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."' (Gen 17.7,8). how does our President feel about this? he said a few months ago that negotiations should start with the "1967 borders". those lines put most of the holy places and half of Jerusalem into the hands of the Palastinians. these lines would make Israel indefensable and utterly open for military attacks and assults. the Bible is clear what land is Israels.
what can we do? on August 24, Glenn Beck is hosting a "Restoring Courage" event. "Restoring Courage is an opportunity to demonstrate to the world that Israel does not stand alone. Three events will take place as part of Restoring Courage to unite people around the world from all walks of life in standing with Israel, reminding us of the need to have faith, honor and courage in our own lives." i am going to host a viewing party, which is a local gatherings where we can view the Restoring Courage events. details will follow, but i ask all to attend this historic event. currently, there are viewing parties in all 50 states and several countries. in some countries, people are risking their lives to take this stand. this is not something to be taken lightly. remember, this is bigger than you and me...bigger than Israel. please join me and my family.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)
"First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me." Martin Niemöller, 1946
Israel is Gods chosen land and the Jews are indeed Gods chosen people. -"You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen" ... And what nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land ...' (Isa 43.10) (2 Sam 7.23). Israel is under attack now, just like they have been since the beginning and just like they will until the end of time. as Christians, do we have any stake in this battle? Israel may not be the God-fearing nation we wish it was (it will someday soon), but Israel, remember, is our home nation as well, even though we are not Jewish:
- Christianity is the wild olive branch that was grafted into the cultivated olive tree, which of course is Israel. (Romans 11:24)
- Jesus was a Jew. He taught as a Jewish Rabbi. He celebrated Jewish feasts and holy days.
- when Christ sets up his Millenial rule, (new) Jerusalem will be the center.
in the end times we are going to be forced to choose sides. we had a good run for the last few hundred years, did we not? we were free to do as we wanted. free to choose a side, free to remain neutral, free to relax, free to work hard...free, free, free. well, those days are numbered. no matter what you may think of America, the Bible is clear: there WILL be a one world government. there WILL be a one world currency. the question is not '"if" but "when". i believe we will see these days very soon. i believe the rapture will come after a bunch of this stuff happens, not before.
in the last few years, our own nation of America has become very split. in my opinion, this is another clear sign that we are living in the end times. the whole world now seems to be anti-Israel, and America -- and many Christians -- are on the wrong side. lets look at some FACTS concerning how God feels about Israel:
- FACT: God speaking to Abram, the father of Israel: "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:3
- FACT: and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies"' (Gen 22.17)
- FACT: '"Whoever assails you will fall because of you ... no weapon that is formed against you will prosper"' (Isa 54.15,17)
- FACT: '"I will be a wall of fire around her ... he who touches you, touches the apple of (the Lord's) eye"' (Zech 2.5,8)
is this to say that we are to turn a blind eye to the evil ways of some of the Jews? without going into detail, we can agree that some Jews are involved in very bad activities. of course, we are not to condone sin, even if it is Gods people who are doing it. but that judgement, that issue is between God and the Jews. He will deal with them as He sees fit. what we do know is that in the end times:
- the Jews will come to know Christ. Romans 11:26-27
- the 144,000 witnesses in Revelation 7 are not only Jews, but are 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel.
- Israel will be miraculously kept and saved throughout the age (Isaih 54:17)
- temple will be rebuilt (Matthew 24:15, II Thessalonians 2:4, Revelation 11:1)
let God do what He needs to do to soften their hearts. we need to do what we need to do -- God will judge Israel for her actions and God will judge us for ours. furthermore, why would Jews even want to be a part of Christianity if we Christians turn a blind eye to what the world is doing to them?
speaking of that, what exactly IS the world doing to them? simply put, they are trying to destroy Israel. the verbal threats are not new, but they are certainly increasing. the Muslim world is espically anit-Israel, even to the point where some countries are calling for Israel to be anialated from the face of the earth. even Israels long time friend, the USA, is activily taking steps against Israel. current sentiment towards Israel:
- Obama Sees ’67 Borders as Starting Point for Peace Deal (May 2011) -- more on this below.
- "Israel should be eliminated from the pages of history" ... President of Iran, 2006
- "In order to protect the security of our country, we have no option but ot have the Zionist regime wiped off the map" Irans cheif commander July 2011
- "Prepare Egyptians for war with Israel" -- (Feb 2011) Muslim Brotherhood, a political party that is very close to being the ruling party in Egypt
- Israel President: 'England Is Anti-Semitic' (Aug 2010)
Jerry Fallwell said in 1981 "To stand against Israel is to stand against God. We believe that history and scripture prove that God deals with nations in relation to how they deal with Israel."
future sentiment towards Israel:
- all the nations will be against Jerusalem to battle (Zech 14.2) (unfulfilled, so still to happen)
what happens to those who stand AGAINST Israel?
- "Whoever assails you will fall because of you ... no weapon that is formed against you will prosper"' (Isa 54.15,17)
- "And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, And their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths." (Zechariah 14:12)
- "It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem" (Zechariah 12:9)
it is time to get on the right side of things. it is time to make a stand. the Bible shows that israel has a prominent standing in the end times. and as we know, Israel indeed stands in the spotlight -- this little tiny country about the size of Vermont. we as christians are only one step removed from the hate. whatever level the world hates israel, we are right behind. if Israel is public enemy #1, then Christians are public enemy #2. its already creeping all around us: teaching gay history in public schools (yes, here in USA); not allowing Bible studies in private homes (yes, here in USA); Sharia law (Islamic law based on the Koran) being considered in legal arguments in our American judicial system and being actually enforced in Canadian public schools; federal laws allowing children to get tax-payer funded abortions in secret without the parents consent or knowledge; Canadian pastors being arrested for reading Romans chapter 1 because it is anti-gay hate speach. i am not positive, but i believe all the things i mentioned all came about in the last 10 years or so. folks, we need to wake up! this is so BEYOND politics! we are not fighting flesh and blood, we are fighting a spiritual battle (Eph 6:12). time of indifference is over. lines have been drawn in the sand. the middle ground is disappearing FAST. the end times are at hand and the world is changing fast. the uninformed will not be able to make the right decisions when forced to. the uninformed will be decieved and tricked. yes, we all just want to be left alone, but thats not happening any more because as we sit, the world spins and makes regulations against us every day. we Christians and people with values are the target. we are the ones standing in the way of "their" agenda:
- US Representative Sheila Jackson Lee to investigate Right Wing Extremists (July 2011). are you a "right wing extremist"? if you are a Christian that believes there is only one way to Heaven, than you are extreme. if you believe the Bible is 100%, you are extreme.
- the Media has been saying that the Norway shooter than killed 70 some people this summer was a right wing Christian, even though Norways "right wing" is not America's "right wing" and he certainly was not a Christian.
- in the Debt Ceiling debate, vice president Biden called Tea Partiers "terrorists".
what type of people compose the Tea Party? right wing citizens who believe in limited government, controled taxation and basically hold on to the truth that you are responsible for your own actions and it is not the governments job to provide for you. whether or not all Tea Party people are Christians, these are certainly Christian values: God is our provider, NOT the government (so many verses and so indepth that this will be covered in another post); we have a right to our own money that we make and we should be able to distribute it as WE see fit, not the government; churches should NOT be taxed; we should be able to live as FREE PEOPLE -- the government should not be restricting what we can and cant eat, restricting how we raise our kids (some places in the US have laws against spanking, trying to make laws that you cant take your kids to church of they dont want to go, young girls are already allowed to have abortions without parental consent or knowledge -- paid with tax payer dollars), restrict how much food we can grow on our own land (YES, there are laws concerning this), how much food we can keep on hand (again, YES there are laws on this), etc, etc. whether or not you "label" yourself as Right Wing, Tea Party, Libertarian or Conservative, if any of these things strike a nerve with you, than YOU ARE A TARGET. you are NOT on the worlds side and they are moving as fast as they can to see to it that you are broken and converted into their way of thinking -- eventually by force if neccessary ("for the good of humanity", of course).
this september, the UN will vote on whether or not to make Palastine a "state". if they succeed, which they probably will, then the UN will decide where the bouderies are. this will obviously not go well with Israel and there will probably be much mayhem. to say the least, it will not be good. does the UN have the right to tell Israel where its borders are? it has been said that the first land deed ever written is recorded in Gen 15. the Bible also says: '"I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you ... I will give to you and your descendants ... all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."' (Gen 17.7,8). how does our President feel about this? he said a few months ago that negotiations should start with the "1967 borders". those lines put most of the holy places and half of Jerusalem into the hands of the Palastinians. these lines would make Israel indefensable and utterly open for military attacks and assults. the Bible is clear what land is Israels.
what can we do? on August 24, Glenn Beck is hosting a "Restoring Courage" event. "Restoring Courage is an opportunity to demonstrate to the world that Israel does not stand alone. Three events will take place as part of Restoring Courage to unite people around the world from all walks of life in standing with Israel, reminding us of the need to have faith, honor and courage in our own lives." i am going to host a viewing party, which is a local gatherings where we can view the Restoring Courage events. details will follow, but i ask all to attend this historic event. currently, there are viewing parties in all 50 states and several countries. in some countries, people are risking their lives to take this stand. this is not something to be taken lightly. remember, this is bigger than you and me...bigger than Israel. please join me and my family.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)
"First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me." Martin Niemöller, 1946
Thursday, July 21, 2011
stewardship
today, i would like to take a look at stewardship, "the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care".
a good example of stewardship is this: we have somthing in our possession-say a rock-but that rock does not belong to us, it belongs to someone else...maybe a friend, maybe your spouse. you may not care about this dumb boring rock, but the person who gave it to you really does care about it. not only do they care about it, but they are also trusting that you will care about it too while it is in your possession.
we have lots of stuff in our possession. big things like a car, truck or a house...and little things like a garden hose, pot holders, socks. all this stuff in our possession, is it ours or does it belong to someone else? oh, how nice it is to own your car outright and not have a car payment...but is that car fully ours? even better to own your house outright...but again, is it ours? how about a little more basic -- our clothes, our food, our chewing gum? how about even MORE personal -- our hands, our feet, our teeth? is any of it ours?
no, it is not ours. we own nothing. car title? doesnt matter. house deed? pointless. kept your receipt when you bought your peanut butter? dont even try. all things belong to God -- not only all your stuff but also you yourself as well; body AND soul. lets look at the FACTS:
OK, now what? we established that all is Gods...we own NOTHING. do we have to take extra care of this stuff? the boy scouts have a motto: "Leave it better than you found it". in other words, take great care of it. so many of us have stuff that we are not taking care of. i dont know how it is in other countries, but here in america it is very easy not to take care of our stuff because it is very easy to go buy another one. broke the plate? who cares, buy another one. ran the hose over with the lawn mower? it was a cheapy anyway...i'll get another.
God has given us things in this life. where do we draw the line between the small little things that we need not be too concerned with and the big things that are really important? i dont think there is a line. i think we need to take very good care of everything in our possession from the big stuff to the small stuff. you heard it said "dont sweat the small stuff", but i hate to tell ya, God sweats the small stuff. He is VERY concerned about the details. in Matthew 5:18, Jesus says "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled." a "jot or tittle" is the smallest part of the hebrew written language, like a dot over top of a lower case i, or a the cross for a t. God cares about the little stuff. also, we all know Luke 16:10: "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much." please explain that verse to me in a way that tells me God does not care about the little things. and lets not forget the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 where the master takes away the money from the guy with the least amount because he did not use it properly -- and then calls him wicked and lazy. face it: God is in the details!
sometimes we need to temporarily make God more human to be able to put into perspective the relationship-ness that we share with Him. i know, relationship-ness is not a word, but you get the point. instead of thinking He is a big, vast cosmic Being, lets for a minute think of Him as a human -- i dont think this to be too sacraligous, for remember Jesus IS God and He WAS fully man, if only for a while. if God was our landlord (which He is) and He cares about the little things (that we just established), how would we feel if He came to visit and check on the property -- your house, trailer, farm, whatever you live in? what if He lent you all the stuff you have and He came to check on the car? the lawn mower? the fish tank? what if He lent you your body, your earthly tent, and He came to check on it to see how you are taking care of it? eating healthy? staying the right weight, brushing your teeth, etc? take an imaginary stroll around your life. pretend God is walking right next to you. "Well done, good and faithful servant" or "wicked and lazy servant"?
so far, we have only discussed the "stuff" in our possession, lets not forget time and money. both belong to Him -- both are expected to be used properly. are you using your time in a worthy manner or are you slothful and lazy spending your precious time watching TV? yes, we are stewards of time as well -- remember the phrase "we are on borrowed time"? it is true. are all of your dollars accounted for? do you have all of your needs met and bills paid? not relying or depending on anyone else or the government and have an emergency savings before you waste money on eating out and buying stuff you dont need? are you using your extra money to help others, as the Bible clearly states that we as the church family are to be supporting those who dont have enough? God does not give us extra money to just waste it on ourselves -- and we surly should not be throwing away any money before we have all of our own ducks in a row.
speaking of money management, too many Christians cry for financial help from others or the government but are in the boat they are in because they are poor stewards of their finances and poor stewards of their time. they dont make the most of their days and when they have a little bit extra money, they blow it. FOOLS! remember, God cannot be mocked: for whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap!! (Galatians 6:7) life is like a video game, you do not get to level 2 until you suceed at level 1. and you certainly do not get to level 5 without passing level 3. a man reaps what he sows...PERIOD! you dont take care of your little peice of junk shack, DONT ASK GOD FOR A NICER HOUSE! your wasteing your breath. you dont take care of your peice of junk car, DONT ASK GOD FOR A NICER ONE, your not going to get it. he who proves he can be faithful in little can THEN be givien the oppurtunity to prove he can be faithful in more. you have not because you ask not -- you ask but dont receive because you ask amiss. again, God will not be mocked, a man reaps what he sows. also, to ask God for something else when you did not take care of what He already gave you is indeed insulting to Him, for God says "if you love Me, you will listen to Me" (John 14:15). and if being a good steward is indeed a Biblical teaching, than it cant be honoring to God to ask for more.
why do you think that 75% of lottery winners are bankrupt within 5 years? because most people who play the lottery are BROKE. chances are, they are BROKE because they proved to be poor managers of their own money; and if they cant manage one dollar then they cant manage a million dollars! as dave ramsey, the money guru, says: winning at money is 80 percent behavior and being broke is usually a spending problem, not an income problem.
before we can even discuss how to use what God has given us to build His kingdom, we must first complete level one: know what you have and take great care of it, be wise with your time and resposible with every dollar you have. you may not have the means to buy this or that, but you almost certainly have the means to take care of what you already have. if you dont, get rid of it and let someone else have it who WILL take care of it.
your RIGHT as an american is to do whatever you want with your stuff, money and time. but your RESPONSIBILITY as a Christian, a son or daughter of the living God of the universe -- a prince or princess in the Kingdom of God, is to be a good steward of everything that your King has put under your authority.
where do you stand? good and faithful servant or lazy and wicked servant?
a good example of stewardship is this: we have somthing in our possession-say a rock-but that rock does not belong to us, it belongs to someone else...maybe a friend, maybe your spouse. you may not care about this dumb boring rock, but the person who gave it to you really does care about it. not only do they care about it, but they are also trusting that you will care about it too while it is in your possession.
we have lots of stuff in our possession. big things like a car, truck or a house...and little things like a garden hose, pot holders, socks. all this stuff in our possession, is it ours or does it belong to someone else? oh, how nice it is to own your car outright and not have a car payment...but is that car fully ours? even better to own your house outright...but again, is it ours? how about a little more basic -- our clothes, our food, our chewing gum? how about even MORE personal -- our hands, our feet, our teeth? is any of it ours?
no, it is not ours. we own nothing. car title? doesnt matter. house deed? pointless. kept your receipt when you bought your peanut butter? dont even try. all things belong to God -- not only all your stuff but also you yourself as well; body AND soul. lets look at the FACTS:
- the land is mine and you are foreigners—you're my tenants. (God speaking to the Jews, His chosen people as they are about to enter His chosen land, the land He is going to "give" them) lev: 25:23
- Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Cor 6: 19-20
- The silver is mine and the gold is mine, declares the LORD Almighty. Haggai 2:8
- And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.Deuteronomy 8:18
- Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it. Deuteronomy 10:14
- For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills. Psalm 50:10
- For all the world is mine and everything in it. Psalm 50:12
- For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours. 1 Chronicles 29:11
OK, now what? we established that all is Gods...we own NOTHING. do we have to take extra care of this stuff? the boy scouts have a motto: "Leave it better than you found it". in other words, take great care of it. so many of us have stuff that we are not taking care of. i dont know how it is in other countries, but here in america it is very easy not to take care of our stuff because it is very easy to go buy another one. broke the plate? who cares, buy another one. ran the hose over with the lawn mower? it was a cheapy anyway...i'll get another.
God has given us things in this life. where do we draw the line between the small little things that we need not be too concerned with and the big things that are really important? i dont think there is a line. i think we need to take very good care of everything in our possession from the big stuff to the small stuff. you heard it said "dont sweat the small stuff", but i hate to tell ya, God sweats the small stuff. He is VERY concerned about the details. in Matthew 5:18, Jesus says "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled." a "jot or tittle" is the smallest part of the hebrew written language, like a dot over top of a lower case i, or a the cross for a t. God cares about the little stuff. also, we all know Luke 16:10: "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much." please explain that verse to me in a way that tells me God does not care about the little things. and lets not forget the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 where the master takes away the money from the guy with the least amount because he did not use it properly -- and then calls him wicked and lazy. face it: God is in the details!
sometimes we need to temporarily make God more human to be able to put into perspective the relationship-ness that we share with Him. i know, relationship-ness is not a word, but you get the point. instead of thinking He is a big, vast cosmic Being, lets for a minute think of Him as a human -- i dont think this to be too sacraligous, for remember Jesus IS God and He WAS fully man, if only for a while. if God was our landlord (which He is) and He cares about the little things (that we just established), how would we feel if He came to visit and check on the property -- your house, trailer, farm, whatever you live in? what if He lent you all the stuff you have and He came to check on the car? the lawn mower? the fish tank? what if He lent you your body, your earthly tent, and He came to check on it to see how you are taking care of it? eating healthy? staying the right weight, brushing your teeth, etc? take an imaginary stroll around your life. pretend God is walking right next to you. "Well done, good and faithful servant" or "wicked and lazy servant"?
so far, we have only discussed the "stuff" in our possession, lets not forget time and money. both belong to Him -- both are expected to be used properly. are you using your time in a worthy manner or are you slothful and lazy spending your precious time watching TV? yes, we are stewards of time as well -- remember the phrase "we are on borrowed time"? it is true. are all of your dollars accounted for? do you have all of your needs met and bills paid? not relying or depending on anyone else or the government and have an emergency savings before you waste money on eating out and buying stuff you dont need? are you using your extra money to help others, as the Bible clearly states that we as the church family are to be supporting those who dont have enough? God does not give us extra money to just waste it on ourselves -- and we surly should not be throwing away any money before we have all of our own ducks in a row.
speaking of money management, too many Christians cry for financial help from others or the government but are in the boat they are in because they are poor stewards of their finances and poor stewards of their time. they dont make the most of their days and when they have a little bit extra money, they blow it. FOOLS! remember, God cannot be mocked: for whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap!! (Galatians 6:7) life is like a video game, you do not get to level 2 until you suceed at level 1. and you certainly do not get to level 5 without passing level 3. a man reaps what he sows...PERIOD! you dont take care of your little peice of junk shack, DONT ASK GOD FOR A NICER HOUSE! your wasteing your breath. you dont take care of your peice of junk car, DONT ASK GOD FOR A NICER ONE, your not going to get it. he who proves he can be faithful in little can THEN be givien the oppurtunity to prove he can be faithful in more. you have not because you ask not -- you ask but dont receive because you ask amiss. again, God will not be mocked, a man reaps what he sows. also, to ask God for something else when you did not take care of what He already gave you is indeed insulting to Him, for God says "if you love Me, you will listen to Me" (John 14:15). and if being a good steward is indeed a Biblical teaching, than it cant be honoring to God to ask for more.
why do you think that 75% of lottery winners are bankrupt within 5 years? because most people who play the lottery are BROKE. chances are, they are BROKE because they proved to be poor managers of their own money; and if they cant manage one dollar then they cant manage a million dollars! as dave ramsey, the money guru, says: winning at money is 80 percent behavior and being broke is usually a spending problem, not an income problem.
before we can even discuss how to use what God has given us to build His kingdom, we must first complete level one: know what you have and take great care of it, be wise with your time and resposible with every dollar you have. you may not have the means to buy this or that, but you almost certainly have the means to take care of what you already have. if you dont, get rid of it and let someone else have it who WILL take care of it.
your RIGHT as an american is to do whatever you want with your stuff, money and time. but your RESPONSIBILITY as a Christian, a son or daughter of the living God of the universe -- a prince or princess in the Kingdom of God, is to be a good steward of everything that your King has put under your authority.
where do you stand? good and faithful servant or lazy and wicked servant?
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
God helps those who help themselves
according to wikipedia, "The phrase "God helps those who help themselves" is a popular motto which emphasizes the importance of self-initiative". is this a Biblical principle? individual success can be a puzzling notion. how is that some people seem to naturally rise to the top and others seem to stay heavily weighted at the bottom -- like a boat anchor?
the "haves" verses the "have nots" have been pitted against each other since the beginning of time (Gen 4:3-8). this tension will never end and must be accepted as a fact of life. we will NEVER be all equal unless we are all, at some time, equally poor (Mark 14:7; Revelation 6:6).
how is it that one becomes successful? first, lets define success. like most words, there are more than one definition -- success has about 5 definitions. sadly, society conditioned us to use the first part of the second definition as the main defining factor: "the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like". for most of us, this version of the definition makes us believe that to be successful, we must have a great education, fantastic house, car, toys...money to burn. this mindset enables us to either not bother trying because the road looks too daunting or, on the completely opposite end of the spectrum, to only pursue riches (1 Timothy 6:10; Proverbs 28:20).
lets focus on the first definition: "the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors." or worded differently "the accomplishment of an aim or purpose". a few real world examples -- my wife and i aim to raise our kids to follow the Lord with all of their heart, soul and mind (Proverbs 22:6; Matt 22:37) and as young adults, they commit their lives to doing the Lords will out of their love for what He has done for them. this would be a success. we aim to be debt free (Romans 13:8) and achieve it -- success. what would success look like in your own personal life? in your family? in your group of friends? you can be successful no matter what your education or income -- and likewise, you can be wealthy and educated, yet terribly unsuccessful.
we as Christians need to DO before we can GET. success does not just happen. this concept may bother some of my brothers and sisters in the Lord, but lets stick to the Biblical facts:
lets turn this argument around 180 degrees: God DOES NOT help those who DO NOT help themselves. (i am not talking about the disabled, handicapped, widows, orphans and such -- we are commanded by Scripture to help those you cannot help themselves...this discussion is for the able bodied). is it true that God DOES NOT help those who DO NOT help themselves? if you have a family and are responsible to take care of them but instead you choose to stand outside and have "faith" that God will provide all your needs, ignore your bills and responsibilities, ignore the cries for help from your children, ignore the cries for help from your wife ...what will happen if we do nothing? NOTHING! THATS WHAT WILL HAPPEN! (Proverbs 6:6-8; 10:4; 12:24; 12:27; 13:4; 20:4; 21:25; 2 Thess 3:11-12; James 1:22; Proverbs 6:9-11; Matthew 25:25-27) the principles of faith only work in accordance to His will and purpose....and not doing anything violates about 15 thousand verses. namely no work, no eat (2 Thess. 3:10)-- worse than an unbeliever (I Timothy 5:8), etc -- no amount of "faith" can overcome Gods standards and commands. i should note that even if you do nothing, you still may, unfortunately, be able to "survive" through gov handouts -- which may seem like Gods "provision". but since we know that doing nothing is a violation of Scripture and we know that God will not be mocked (Galatians 6:7) nor shall God be tested (Luke 4:12), then where are those handouts really coming from? hmmm...
but this discussion is about success and prosperity....not simply surviving, so lets move on.
so is it right to say God helps those who helps themselves? the Bible makes it clear that God reacts to our actions and thoughts. do you want true success in your life? want God to bless your efforts? FIRST STEP: act -- do something! SECOND STEP: God blesses and provides the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-8). our actions and non-actions have consequences that affect our daily lives. we need to be lined up with Scripture FIRST AND FOREMOST...we cannot say that we will put Biblical affairs in order AFTER we get on our feet securely -- FOOL! we get on our feet securely BY putting our Biblical affairs in order first -- not the other way around! we dont get financial control BEFORE we tithe -- FOOL! you get financial control BY tithing first. cant afford to give God 10%?? you cant afford to NOT give God your 10%!
yes, God's love for us is never failing -- He loved us first (I John 4:19) and our salvation cannot be earned (Ephesians 2:8-9), but if it was Gods goal for salvation to be the climax or our Christian walk, than we would be escorted to heaven the moment we get saved. but salvation is not the end...it is the beginning!
are you successful?
the "haves" verses the "have nots" have been pitted against each other since the beginning of time (Gen 4:3-8). this tension will never end and must be accepted as a fact of life. we will NEVER be all equal unless we are all, at some time, equally poor (Mark 14:7; Revelation 6:6).
how is it that one becomes successful? first, lets define success. like most words, there are more than one definition -- success has about 5 definitions. sadly, society conditioned us to use the first part of the second definition as the main defining factor: "the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like". for most of us, this version of the definition makes us believe that to be successful, we must have a great education, fantastic house, car, toys...money to burn. this mindset enables us to either not bother trying because the road looks too daunting or, on the completely opposite end of the spectrum, to only pursue riches (1 Timothy 6:10; Proverbs 28:20).
lets focus on the first definition: "the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors." or worded differently "the accomplishment of an aim or purpose". a few real world examples -- my wife and i aim to raise our kids to follow the Lord with all of their heart, soul and mind (Proverbs 22:6; Matt 22:37) and as young adults, they commit their lives to doing the Lords will out of their love for what He has done for them. this would be a success. we aim to be debt free (Romans 13:8) and achieve it -- success. what would success look like in your own personal life? in your family? in your group of friends? you can be successful no matter what your education or income -- and likewise, you can be wealthy and educated, yet terribly unsuccessful.
we as Christians need to DO before we can GET. success does not just happen. this concept may bother some of my brothers and sisters in the Lord, but lets stick to the Biblical facts:
- fact: if a man does not work, he shall not eat -- 2 Thessalonians 3:10. self explanatory.
- fact: if you do not use the talents God gives you, He takes your talents away -- Matthew 25:14-30. what are you doing with the gifts He has given you? anything? what can you accomplish without a talent or skill? nothing! and that is what will mark your life if you dont use it because God will take it away and give it to someone who WILL use it.
- fact: God withholds blessings from those who do not put His kingdom FIRST -- Matthew 6:33. seek Kingdom first and THEN all added to you. write this verse down, take the word "then" and circle it, highlight it, underline it and circle it again -- its pretty important.
- fact: God withholds blessing from those who do not tithe -- Malachi 3:6-12. in Luke 6:38 -- the promise: you cant out give God; the curse: God will hold you to your own measurements. if you dont give God your (His, really) 10%, you will ALWAYS be broke. remember, it is all His anyway, all we have is just borrowed. we do not tithe because God needs our money to fund His kingdom (Psalm 50:10), but to actively demonstrate our trust that He is the provider for us (Philippians 4:19).
- fact: God punishes those who trust in sources other than God -- Jeremiah 2 (12-13 especially). did you grow impatient waiting on God and turn to the government to take care of your needs? are you relying in the Spring of Living Water or are you collecting the government's dirty, polluted, strings-attached water and putting it in broken containers? (hope your mixing that with a lot of Kool-Aid)
- fact: Jesus specifically says He is closer to those who do Gods will. (Mark 3:35)
- fact: you REAP what you SOW (Galatians 6:7)
lets turn this argument around 180 degrees: God DOES NOT help those who DO NOT help themselves. (i am not talking about the disabled, handicapped, widows, orphans and such -- we are commanded by Scripture to help those you cannot help themselves...this discussion is for the able bodied). is it true that God DOES NOT help those who DO NOT help themselves? if you have a family and are responsible to take care of them but instead you choose to stand outside and have "faith" that God will provide all your needs, ignore your bills and responsibilities, ignore the cries for help from your children, ignore the cries for help from your wife ...what will happen if we do nothing? NOTHING! THATS WHAT WILL HAPPEN! (Proverbs 6:6-8; 10:4; 12:24; 12:27; 13:4; 20:4; 21:25; 2 Thess 3:11-12; James 1:22; Proverbs 6:9-11; Matthew 25:25-27) the principles of faith only work in accordance to His will and purpose....and not doing anything violates about 15 thousand verses. namely no work, no eat (2 Thess. 3:10)-- worse than an unbeliever (I Timothy 5:8), etc -- no amount of "faith" can overcome Gods standards and commands. i should note that even if you do nothing, you still may, unfortunately, be able to "survive" through gov handouts -- which may seem like Gods "provision". but since we know that doing nothing is a violation of Scripture and we know that God will not be mocked (Galatians 6:7) nor shall God be tested (Luke 4:12), then where are those handouts really coming from? hmmm...
but this discussion is about success and prosperity....not simply surviving, so lets move on.
so is it right to say God helps those who helps themselves? the Bible makes it clear that God reacts to our actions and thoughts. do you want true success in your life? want God to bless your efforts? FIRST STEP: act -- do something! SECOND STEP: God blesses and provides the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-8). our actions and non-actions have consequences that affect our daily lives. we need to be lined up with Scripture FIRST AND FOREMOST...we cannot say that we will put Biblical affairs in order AFTER we get on our feet securely -- FOOL! we get on our feet securely BY putting our Biblical affairs in order first -- not the other way around! we dont get financial control BEFORE we tithe -- FOOL! you get financial control BY tithing first. cant afford to give God 10%?? you cant afford to NOT give God your 10%!
yes, God's love for us is never failing -- He loved us first (I John 4:19) and our salvation cannot be earned (Ephesians 2:8-9), but if it was Gods goal for salvation to be the climax or our Christian walk, than we would be escorted to heaven the moment we get saved. but salvation is not the end...it is the beginning!
are you successful?
Saturday, June 18, 2011
spiritual maturity
the moral difference between a born again Christian and a morally upright atheist is nothing. NOTHING. we have all sinned and fallen short of the kingdom of God (Romans 3:23). all of our works are like dirty rags before the Lord (Isaiah 64:6). what is man that You are mindful of him (Psalm 8:4)? the bar is set so high that we are morally not even close. the born again Christian deserves hell no less than the moral atheist. even cults do a better job of "earning" their salvation than some Christians. being an upright moral person is only half the battle!
knowledge of the Bible is great, but it has has limited growth potential. the Bible is clear that prayer should be the focus of our relationship with the Lord..."pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). it never says to read without ceasing (although reading is VERY important -- 2 Timothy 3:16), or memorize every verse of the Bible (although memorizing is VERY important -- Psalm 119:11), or do good works without ceasing (although doing good works is VERY important -- James 2:18). far more people can boast about memorized Scripture or memorized Jewish festival prayers than they can about their prayer time. whether it is popcorn prayers throughout the day or 30 min one on one, we need to draw close to God -- for as James 4:8 states "Come near to God and he will come near to you"
there are many things that make up a spiritually mature Christian, but for sure, one of them is a complete giving of oneself to God -- 100% -- and committing to do EVERYTHING His way. when it comes to the decisions you have to make and the problems you face, who are you trusting? your self? your spouse? your friends? your money? the government? spiritually mature Christians go to God with all problems, all desires, all dreams and all plans. they actively seek Him and hand it all over to God. if we want all of our dilemmas to be resolved God's way, then we need to not only include God in our dilemmas, we need to GIVE Him all our dilemmas. pretent God is the boss of a company and you are just a lowly secretary -- visualize putting your dilemma in a plain manila file folder and handing it to God for Him to take control over it. this should cover everything -- how we make our money, how we spend our money, family issues, job issues, etc., etc.
knowledge of the Bible is great, but it has has limited growth potential. the Bible is clear that prayer should be the focus of our relationship with the Lord..."pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). it never says to read without ceasing (although reading is VERY important -- 2 Timothy 3:16), or memorize every verse of the Bible (although memorizing is VERY important -- Psalm 119:11), or do good works without ceasing (although doing good works is VERY important -- James 2:18). far more people can boast about memorized Scripture or memorized Jewish festival prayers than they can about their prayer time. whether it is popcorn prayers throughout the day or 30 min one on one, we need to draw close to God -- for as James 4:8 states "Come near to God and he will come near to you"
we do not want to be said of us what the writer of Hebrews said as he chastised against spiritual immaturity:
Heb 5:12-14 -- For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
how do we become "skilled in the word of righteousness"? how do we "discern both good and evil"? we need to be praying and asking the Spirit to open our hearts and explain to us the Scriptures as we read them (Matthew 11:15; Rev 3:22). learning the Bible is much more than just knowledge. the Bible is the living, breathing Word of God. the Spirit speaks to us through the Scripture. if the apostles needed Jesus to open their eyes (Luke 24:27,32), how much more for us as well?
there are many things that make up a spiritually mature Christian, but for sure, one of them is a complete giving of oneself to God -- 100% -- and committing to do EVERYTHING His way. when it comes to the decisions you have to make and the problems you face, who are you trusting? your self? your spouse? your friends? your money? the government? spiritually mature Christians go to God with all problems, all desires, all dreams and all plans. they actively seek Him and hand it all over to God. if we want all of our dilemmas to be resolved God's way, then we need to not only include God in our dilemmas, we need to GIVE Him all our dilemmas. pretent God is the boss of a company and you are just a lowly secretary -- visualize putting your dilemma in a plain manila file folder and handing it to God for Him to take control over it. this should cover everything -- how we make our money, how we spend our money, family issues, job issues, etc., etc.
spiritually immature Christians, by contrast, go through life on their own power. they put themselves through a whole host of self inflicted trials and tribulations. holding back from God only hurts us. they miss out on all sorts of blessings, divine protections, divine provisions communion with God and peace in our lives. they go through life in survival mode, constantly looking for answers and help from sources other than the Trinity -- like friends, family, more money or more government handouts. simply trodding through life is NOT Gods plan for you. dont make God out to be a distant relative who cares for you from far away. another mark of a spiritually mature Christian is someone who uses their talants to build Gods kingdom. for some people when they got saved, they gave it all to God. but as the years went by, they start taking peisces back -- a little here, a little there. after a while, it is sometimes hard to tell what parts, if any, are still completey devoted to Him.
what have you done today, this week, this month....even this year to build Gods kingdom using the gifts He has given you? or are you so consumed by building your own little kingdom here on earth that you really just dont have the time and energy for His?
to the stagnant, luke warm Christian, God says in Revelation 3:16 -- "So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth."
as always, the choice is yours.
to the stagnant, luke warm Christian, God says in Revelation 3:16 -- "So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth."
as always, the choice is yours.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
morning devotions
what are devotions and why do we do them?
1) we need Gods guidance and direction each and every day. contrary to popular belief, our goal for the day is not just to survive it but instead to thrive in it.
4) there is always room for us to learn more of the Bible. throughout the day, we are going to be tempted. how will we know right from wrong if we do not know what IS right and what IS wrong? unfortunately, too much of this world falls in a gray area, yet we are to know what we believe and live by it. and the more we know the Bible, the more we can withstand the temptations and guide others with our actions and words. we cant teach others stuff that we ourselves dont know
for several reasons, i think the morning -- before anyone else is up -- is the best time for devotions. if done correctly, it can be a peaceful time to think about and pray about the day ahead with a clear mind and little outside distraction. we can ask guidance for the day ahead, asking God for direction and help to accomplish His will in our lives for the day. you cant ask for guidance for the day AFTER the day has ended; and there's no sense putting on the armor of God after you've already been hit all day long -- when you go out to battle, you put the armor on BEFORE you fight, not after you get shot.
so HOW do you do devotions? to get started, get up before anyone else in your house. (be awake and alert -- get a good night sleep, drink some coffee!) then, open the Bible and read it for 10 minutes. start right at the beginning in Genesis 1. after that, kneel down next to your couch or a chair and pray for 10 minutes. talk to Him about your feelings, your fears, ask for guidance and direction, ask for forgiveness, ask that He will show the things in your life that He disapproves of, ask for Him to help your friends that you know are hurting; be specific. for the last minute, be silent...ask Him to speak to you. do this routine for weeks to get into a habit. let the Spirit lead you. the 10 minutes is just somewhere to start -- maybe He wants you to read / pray for 20 minutes or maybe an hour. trust that He will guide you and He will.
1) we need Gods guidance and direction each and every day. contrary to popular belief, our goal for the day is not just to survive it but instead to thrive in it.
a) matt 6 33: seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. want peace in the marriage? seek the kingdom of God. want financial security? seek first the kingdom of God. want children that honor God? seek first the kingdom of God.2) we need Gods protection over us every day. each day the enemy shoots thousand's of arrows at us. remember -- we have an active enemy who is deliberately trying to hurt us EVERY DAY. one of the most effective tools of the devil is ruining the character of a professing Christian -- let alone the many other problems the devil causes for us.
b) psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
a) eph 6 13-18 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,3) God is not some distant character that created us, gave us a Bible and left us alone. He is here and with us. we as Christians are filled with the Holy Spirit and Jesus lives in our hearts. but at the same time, we need to build the relationship with God. this is never ending, we cannot be too close to God. i believe our relationship with God is the true foundation of our Christian walk, as i already mentioned. so much of the Bible talks about love and its hard to love someone you dont know (everything we do for God should be motivated out of love I Cor 13). its hard to trust someone you dont know. its hard to live for someone you dont know. countless Scriptures tell us of the times Jesus spend talking to His Father, Moses spending time with God, etc.
4) there is always room for us to learn more of the Bible. throughout the day, we are going to be tempted. how will we know right from wrong if we do not know what IS right and what IS wrong? unfortunately, too much of this world falls in a gray area, yet we are to know what we believe and live by it. and the more we know the Bible, the more we can withstand the temptations and guide others with our actions and words. we cant teach others stuff that we ourselves dont know
a) john 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.how can He teach if we do not read and how can He bring to remembrance those things which we have not learned? like i said, its never ending.
for several reasons, i think the morning -- before anyone else is up -- is the best time for devotions. if done correctly, it can be a peaceful time to think about and pray about the day ahead with a clear mind and little outside distraction. we can ask guidance for the day ahead, asking God for direction and help to accomplish His will in our lives for the day. you cant ask for guidance for the day AFTER the day has ended; and there's no sense putting on the armor of God after you've already been hit all day long -- when you go out to battle, you put the armor on BEFORE you fight, not after you get shot.
so HOW do you do devotions? to get started, get up before anyone else in your house. (be awake and alert -- get a good night sleep, drink some coffee!) then, open the Bible and read it for 10 minutes. start right at the beginning in Genesis 1. after that, kneel down next to your couch or a chair and pray for 10 minutes. talk to Him about your feelings, your fears, ask for guidance and direction, ask for forgiveness, ask that He will show the things in your life that He disapproves of, ask for Him to help your friends that you know are hurting; be specific. for the last minute, be silent...ask Him to speak to you. do this routine for weeks to get into a habit. let the Spirit lead you. the 10 minutes is just somewhere to start -- maybe He wants you to read / pray for 20 minutes or maybe an hour. trust that He will guide you and He will.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
building the foundation
the foundation of the christian faith is the relationship we have with God. "do this, dont do that" is very important, but it does not negate the need to develop and grow the relationship. going to church helps, but is not nearly enough. how well do you know the people you only see for an hour or so a week at church on sunday? not very, i can assure you! unfortunately, that is about the extent of many christians relationship with their Father.
a common thing to hear is "i try to pray, but i cant concentrate, i get sidetracked". well of course, what do you expect? for someone who has barely any relationship with their Lord, time in prayer is like being locked in a room for 10 minutes with your great aunt from Russia as she knits a new sweater in her rocking chair. you cant understand what she is saying so you end up talking about yourself. very awkward. now counter that with being locked in a room for 10 minutes with your best friend or a family member you really like & know. 10 min will go by in a heartbeat. the Holy Spirit is to be our guide, but many of us cannot understand the Spirit because we do not understand His "language". the more time spent with the Lord, the better we can understand what the Lord may be telling us. as Jesus says, "My sheep know My voice" (John 10:27).
i get a kick out of people who misuse the term "legalism". sadly, some Christians think that following the Bible "to the T" is legalistic. "the Bible says to tithe 10%, but i dont want to be legalistic, i can give 5%"; "the Bible teaches that sex before marriage is wrong, but i can live with my girlfriend, i dont want to be legalistic"; "the Bible says to honor the sabbath and keep it holy, but i can work on it, lets not be legalistic". the truth is, most of the time the "legalistic'" card is pulled is because someone wants a loophole around something the Bible teaches. dont want to do what the Bible says? no problem! we'll just say its legalistic and do what we want! so what then is legalism? it is thinking that you can earn a better status with God based on the sin you refrain from doing -- i.e., by being "good". the lesson here is two fold. #1) if the Bible teaches to do or dont do something, God expects us follow through! (John 14:15, Leviticus 22:3, Numbers 15:40) --and remember, He not only looks at our physical actions, He also looks at the hearts intention (Matt 5:22, 28). #2) we cannot earn a better status with God -- or grow our relationship with Him -- by simply avoiding sin. (Matthew 19:16-22).
so how to we build a relationship with the God of the universe? some make it seem so complex...they do, do, do, do, do...sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice. what is God saying? He is saying "you want a relationship with Me? how about you spend time with Me!" WOW, what a complex notion. why is the simplest solution the hardest? why is it EASIER to just give the church more money? why is it EASIER to help your poor friend fix his lawn mower? why is it EASIER to just refrain from evil? because it is back to being locked in the room with your aunt from russia. what you may not realize is that your russian aunt is actually quite friendly & interesting and has a great number of wise things to share with you -- but you just have to get to know her a little better and figure out what she is trying to tell you.
remember this: salvation is a gift, it cannot be earned...relationship is earned, it cannot be given.
a common thing to hear is "i try to pray, but i cant concentrate, i get sidetracked". well of course, what do you expect? for someone who has barely any relationship with their Lord, time in prayer is like being locked in a room for 10 minutes with your great aunt from Russia as she knits a new sweater in her rocking chair. you cant understand what she is saying so you end up talking about yourself. very awkward. now counter that with being locked in a room for 10 minutes with your best friend or a family member you really like & know. 10 min will go by in a heartbeat. the Holy Spirit is to be our guide, but many of us cannot understand the Spirit because we do not understand His "language". the more time spent with the Lord, the better we can understand what the Lord may be telling us. as Jesus says, "My sheep know My voice" (John 10:27).
i get a kick out of people who misuse the term "legalism". sadly, some Christians think that following the Bible "to the T" is legalistic. "the Bible says to tithe 10%, but i dont want to be legalistic, i can give 5%"; "the Bible teaches that sex before marriage is wrong, but i can live with my girlfriend, i dont want to be legalistic"; "the Bible says to honor the sabbath and keep it holy, but i can work on it, lets not be legalistic". the truth is, most of the time the "legalistic'" card is pulled is because someone wants a loophole around something the Bible teaches. dont want to do what the Bible says? no problem! we'll just say its legalistic and do what we want! so what then is legalism? it is thinking that you can earn a better status with God based on the sin you refrain from doing -- i.e., by being "good". the lesson here is two fold. #1) if the Bible teaches to do or dont do something, God expects us follow through! (John 14:15, Leviticus 22:3, Numbers 15:40) --and remember, He not only looks at our physical actions, He also looks at the hearts intention (Matt 5:22, 28). #2) we cannot earn a better status with God -- or grow our relationship with Him -- by simply avoiding sin. (Matthew 19:16-22).
so how to we build a relationship with the God of the universe? some make it seem so complex...they do, do, do, do, do...sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice. what is God saying? He is saying "you want a relationship with Me? how about you spend time with Me!" WOW, what a complex notion. why is the simplest solution the hardest? why is it EASIER to just give the church more money? why is it EASIER to help your poor friend fix his lawn mower? why is it EASIER to just refrain from evil? because it is back to being locked in the room with your aunt from russia. what you may not realize is that your russian aunt is actually quite friendly & interesting and has a great number of wise things to share with you -- but you just have to get to know her a little better and figure out what she is trying to tell you.
remember this: salvation is a gift, it cannot be earned...relationship is earned, it cannot be given.
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