Simplicity in The Gospel- Christ Resurrected - All you need is to take Jesus by His Words

Thursday, 7 June 2012

Faith - I need more faith

Faith is like flying gracefully against the wind.

Let Faith Do The Work

Watching over the bay on a windy day, I observed how easy it was for a seagull to glide against the strong wind without flapping its wings. I saw other birds vigorously flapping their wings in an attempt to move against the wind. The wind was too strong for them in some instances, so instead of gaining ground, they lost some. Observing the seagull gracefully glide compared to the awkward attempt by the other birds flying against the wind brought faith into my mind.

So many Christians attempt to apply faith to their lives in a time of difficulties. However, some end up struggling to the point of discouragement and fall short of rising above. The emotional feeling is more of a battle to make faith work rather than to let faith do the work.

"Believe me when I tell you, if your faith is only as big as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. You will be able to do anything,” Matthew 17:20 ERV

Some Christians are like birds that flap their wings hard and vigorously yet become tired and lose ground instead. I was one of those birds and still am on occasion. My mind was full of anxiety, doubts, and fear. I wanted to believe, yet I failed miserably. I would not write this commentary unless I’ve learned an important lesson. This is not to put down Christians but primarily an exhortation. I share freely, as God intended all Christians to do.

Once in a while, we see a Christian going through life as if the wind was behind his/her back when, in fact, the wind is strongly against him/her. He/she mastered flying like a seagull going through all obstacles life throws at him/her. How does he/she do that? What makes this seagull so different from the other birds?

What makes some Christians face life so differently than any other Christians? Is it all in the technique?

Ray Stedman explained it this way:

“Some seem able to learn it, and from time to time we see someone virtually come alive and their Christian life is simply transformed by learning to operate on this principle. They lose their egotism, as extroverts; or they lose their introverted feeling of self-consciousness...They begin to do things and to enjoy them, experiencing the blessing and excitement of Christian living. Others say, "I see all this, and I want to do it too. I know what is said about how to rest, but I try it and it doesn't work. Why? Why do we fail?”

What principles have they learned to apply? They learned to rest in the Lord, but how? This is where most Christians hit a hurdle. It is like an athlete who practices improving his/her skill yet has shown no improvement, no gain in performance. Why? Is it because he/she practices under the same principle and the same technique?

In (1 Timothy 6:12(a)), we received this analogy: "Keeping your faith is like running a race. (b) Try as hard as you can to win that race,"(ERV). What does it consist of? An athlete is up early in the morning practicing all day long, putting great effort to follow precisely the instruction given, yet by the end of the day no gain, no personal record broken. So many athletes believe they have reached their full potential and accept the status quo. But then, this one athlete refuses the status quo and will question the technique and look elsewhere for resources.

This is why some Christians fall into a rut. They keep applying the same principle taught over and over again without showing any improvement in their Christian lives, living a defeated life as if it was intended to be, according to God’s will. I myself experience being stuck in a rut.

Some are exemplary Christians; nonetheless, they are not at rest. When life conditions challenge them, they feel defeated, and some burn out. The feeling of abandonment is great, and rejection from God sinks in. They question everything, and many doubt their salvation status and seek answers. They consult, only to be told to keep on going, double the effort, and blame Satan for causing these defeated feelings.

James described these Christians has to be like waves of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. They are double-minded Christians, unstable in all their ways (James 1:5-8). Doubts cause them to be unstable. I know! I was exactly like that and still am on some occasions.

What caused me to doubt? I doubted due to the principles that I lived by.

Ray Stedman described a Christian living a defeated life:

“I'm afraid most of us fit the self-description of someone who said he was a mouse studying to be a rat. By our best efforts we can rise to a high level of mediocrity -- inadequate, unable. Why? Simply because we are depending on our effort. We are either extroverts, confident that we can do things and therefore frequently falling flat on our face; or we are introverts, so afraid to try anything that we don't even dare show our face. It is all because we are looking to ourselves as our resource; our background, our training, our gifts, our talents, our education, etc. It either results in feeling that we have what it takes and can be confident, able, and powerful; or, as we look at ourselves we say, we don't have what it takes and therefore we can't take it and we won't even try. So, we become either over-confident and under-equipped, or under-confident and overworked, trying constantly to make up by activity what we lack in results.”

Does this describe a bird attempting to fly against the wind? Is this what life is to you, a constant struggle? Is it time that you question the principles you are constantly applying daily? Some of those principles are taught in some churches (not all). This is one of the reasons I am so against some church denominations' “Statement of Belief.” It’s served its purpose to guide its members; unfortunately, the “Statement of Belief” becomes a cap to further understanding God’s word. Most “Statement of Belief” has never been reviewed since the church's foundation.

A messenger from God instructed Daniel that knowledge will increase at the end of time (Daniel 12:4). We are instructed to seek God and learn from Him. Doesn't the bible teach that we wrestle against principalities, (Ephesians 6:12), against the wrong technique that we were made to believe that if applied correctly we will have victory over all hurdles? Wrong principalities have crept into the body of Christ- its foundation nonetheless; many are unchallenged.

In many cases, it is not the church leaders' fault but the members who are benchwarmers and refuse to apply the good teachings of their ministers or pastors.

In my commentary title, “What kind of truth do you want God’s word to be?” I point out that most Christians are victims of their own demise. Most Christians do not question what is being taught or live by. What principalities and beliefs had they accepted as God’s word when actually it is not? For example, “God helps those who help themselves” is not in the bible. Another one is, “Faith and obey to keep your salvation,” which is also not in the bible. Both statements implied that work (a condition) is needed either to gain and keep your salvation or work is required to have your prayers answered. How many pay tithes to buy favour from God? How many people promise to do something for God if their prayers are answered?

Some Christians will even quote you that “faith by itself if it does not have works, is dead,” (James 2:17). What is misunderstood is that it is a faith that produces work, not the other way around; works that produces faith. As pointed out in (1 Thessalonians 1:3), “We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Even with this understanding, most of us will pray and ask God for His intervention, yet do not wait. Most of us will act like Sarah, Abraham's wife, taking the matter into her own hands, guessing God’s will. This is where the wrong principle, “God helps those who help themselves,” is applied. The Bible is specific. It instructs us to wait on the Lord. “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him,” (Lamentations 3:25) and “Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him,” (Isaiah 30:18).

The specific reason why God wants all Christians to wait is so that no one can boast of their own works that they received His blessing. To wait on the Lord is to show the world, your friends, and family members that it is God who did all the work. God wants you to testify by doing nothing but wait on Him. “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith,” Romans 3:27

The Perfect Law of Faith

To see the perfect law of faith at work, we are to go to the Old Testament, in the Book of 1 Samuel, chapter 17. David, son of Jesse of Bethlehem, was the youngest of all his sons. Let us take the time to read the whole story. This is a commentary. It is not a daily devotional study. This is for Christians who seriously want to make a difference in their life. Therefore, it is important to view this lesson from all perspectives. The ERV will be used to make it easy to read. As you read, please look for David's motive in battling Goliath and what gives him the assurance of victory.

1 Samuel 17 - Goliath vs. David

1 The Philistines gathered their armies together for war. They met at Socoh in Judah. Their camp was between Socoh and Azekah, at a town called Ephes Dammim.

2 Saul and the Israelite soldiers also gathered together. Their camp was in the Valley of Elah. Saul’s soldiers were lined up and ready to fight the Philistines.

3 The Philistines were on one hill. The Israelites were on the other hill. The valley was between them.

4 The Philistines had a champion fighter named Goliath, who was from Gath. He was over 9 feet tall. Goliath came out of the Philistine camp.

5 He had a bronze helmet on his head. He wore a coat of armor that was made like the scales on a fish. This armor was made of bronze and weighed about 125 pounds.

6 Goliath wore bronze protectors on his legs. He had a bronze javelin tied on his back.

7 The wooden part of his spear was as big as a weaver’s rod. The spear’s blade weighed 15 pounds. Goliath’s helper walked in front of him, carrying Goliath’s shield.

8 Each day Goliath would come out and shout a challenge to the Israelite soldiers. He would say, “Why are all of your soldiers lined up ready for battle? You are Saul’s servants. I am a Philistine. So choose one man and send him to fight me.
9 If that man kills me, he wins and we Philistines will become your slaves. But if I kill your man, then I win, and you will become our slaves. You will have to serve us.”

10 The Philistine also said, “Today I stand and make fun of the army of Israel. I dare you to send me one of your men and let us fight.”

11 Saul and the Israelite soldiers heard what Goliath said, and they were very afraid.

12 David was the son of Jesse. Jesse was from the Ephrathah family in Bethlehem, Judah. Jesse had eight sons. In Saul’s time Jesse was an old man.

13 Jesse’s three oldest sons went with Saul to the war. The first son was Eliab, the second was Abinadab, and the third was Shammah.

14 David was the youngest son. The three oldest sons were in Saul’s army,

15 but David left Saul from time to time to take care of his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.

16 The Philistine came out every morning and evening and stood before the Israelite army. Goliath insulted Israel like this for 40 days.

17 One day Jesse said to his son David, “Take this basket of cooked grain and these ten loaves of bread to your brothers in the camp.

18 Also take these ten pieces of cheese for the officer who commands your brothers’ group of 1000 soldiers. See how your brothers are doing. Bring back something to show me your brothers are all right.

19 Your brothers are with Saul and all the Israelite soldiers in the Valley of Elah. They are there to fight against the Philistines.”

20 Early in the morning, David had another shepherd take care of the sheep while he took the food and left as Jesse had told him to. David drove their wagon to the camp. The soldiers were going out to their battle positions just as David arrived. The soldiers began shouting their war cry.

21 The Israelites and Philistines were lined up and ready for battle.

22 David left the food with the man who kept supplies. Then he ran to the place where the Israelite soldiers were and asked about his brothers.

23 While David was talking with his brothers, the Philistine champion fighter came out from the Philistine army. This was Goliath, the Philistine from Gath. Goliath shouted things against Israel as usual. David heard what he said.

24 The Israelite soldiers saw Goliath and ran away. They were all afraid of him.

25 One of the Israelite men said, “Did you see that man? Look at him! He comes out each day and makes fun of Israel. Whoever kills him will get rich. King Saul will give him a lot of money. Saul will also let his daughter marry the man who kills Goliath. He will also make that man’s family free from taxes in Israel.”

26 David asked the men standing near him, “What did he say? What is the reward for killing this Philistine and taking away this shame from Israel? Who is this Goliath anyway? He is only some foreigner, nothing but a Philistine. Why does he think he can speak against the army of the living God?”

27 So the Israelite told David about the reward for killing Goliath.

28 David’s oldest brother Eliab heard David talking with the soldiers and became angry. Eliab asked David, “Why did you come here? Who did you leave those few sheep with in the desert? I know why you came down here. You didn’t want to do what you were told to do. You just wanted to come down here to watch the battle.”

29 David said, “What did I do now? I didn’t do anything wrong! I was only talking.”

30 He turned to some other people and asked them the same questions. They gave him the same answers as before.

31 Some men heard David talking. They took David to Saul and told him what David had said.

32 David said to Saul, “People shouldn't let Goliath discourage them. I am your servant. I will go fight this Philistine.”

33 Saul answered, “You can’t go out and fight against this Philistine. You’re not even a soldier! Goliath has been fighting in wars since he was a boy.”

34 But David said to Saul, “There were times when I was taking care of my father’s sheep that wild animals came to take some sheep from the flock. Once there was a lion and another time, a bear.

35 I chased that wild animal, attacked it, and took the sheep from its mouth. The wild animal jumped on me, but I caught it by the fur under its mouth. And I hit it and killed it.

36 I killed both a lion and a bear like that! And I will kill that foreigner, Goliath, just like them. Goliath will die because he made fun of the army of the living God.

37 The LORD saved me from the lion and the bear. He will also save me from this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go and may the LORD be with you.”

38 Saul put his own clothes on David. He put a bronze helmet on David’s head and armor on his body.

39 David put on the sword and tried to walk around. He tried to wear Saul’s uniform, but David was not used to all those heavy things. David said to Saul, “I can’t fight in these things. I’m not used to them.” So David took them all off.

40 He took his walking stick in his hand and went to find five smooth stones from the stream. He put the five stones in his shepherd’s bag and held his sling in his hand. Then he went out to meet the Philistine.

41 The Philistine slowly walked closer and closer to David. Goliath’s helper walked in front of him, carrying a large shield.

42 Goliath looked at David with disgust. He saw that David was only a handsome, healthy boy.

43 Goliath said to David, “What is that stick for? Did you come to chase me away like a dog?” Then Goliath used the names of his gods to say curses against David.
44 He said to David, “Come here, and I’ll feed your body to the birds and wild animals.”

45 David said to the Philistine, “You come to me using sword, spear, and javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD All-Powerful, the God of the armies of Israel. You have said bad things about him.

46 Today the LORD will let me defeat you. I will kill you. I will cut off your head and feed your body to the birds and wild animals. And we will do the same thing to all the other Philistines too. Then all the world will know there is a God in Israel.

47 All the people gathered here will know that the LORD doesn’t need swords or spears to save people. The battle belongs to the LORD, and he will help us defeat all of you.”

48 Goliath the Philistine started to attack David. He slowly walked closer and closer toward David, but David ran out to meet Goliath.

49 David took out a stone from his bag. He put it in his sling and swung the sling. The stone flew from the sling and hit Goliath right between the eyes. The stone sank deep into his head, and Goliath fell to the ground—face down.

50 So David defeated the Philistine with only a sling and one stone! He hit the Philistine and killed him. David didn’t have a sword,

51 so he ran and stood beside the Philistine. Then David took Goliath’s own sword out of its sheath and used it to cut off his head. That is how David killed the Philistine.

When the other Philistines saw their hero was dead, they turned and ran.

52 The soldiers of Israel and Judah shouted and started chasing the Philistines. The Israelites chased them all the way to the city limits of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. They killed many of the Philistines. Their bodies were scattered along the Shaaraim road all the way to Gath and Ekron.

53 After chasing the Philistines, the Israelites came back to the Philistine camp and took many things from that camp.

54 David took the Philistine’s head to Jerusalem, but he kept the Philistine’s weapons at home.

What made David so different in the Israeli army under Saul’s command? To David's brother Eliah, David was cocky, snotty, and full of himself. David kept asking the same question concerning the reward given to the one who would defeat Goliath. The king would offer his daughter to marry, the highest position of command within his army, and the victor’s parent would be exempted from all taxes. Wow! That last one would make a daddy proud.

Sources: MGB

What was David’s motive behind questioning the men facing the Philistine? Was David interested in the reward and receiving honor and glory? Let's read that verse 26 again: David asked the men standing near him, “What did he say? What is the reward for killing this Philistine and taking away this shame from Israel? Who is this Goliath anyway? He is only some foreigner, nothing but a Philistine. Why does he think he can speak against the army of the living God?”

As you can see, David was not interested in the reward. David was offended to hear Goliath insulting his God and God’s people. He loved so much the Lord that hearing Goliath speaking against the God of Israel made his blood boil in his veins. You should know how it felt to David. It felt the same as you feel when you hear someone swearing and using God's name in vain, doesn't it? Why did David keep questioning the men? I believe that is because David saw the fear in Saul’s army, the hopelessness, and the lack of conviction toward God of Israel.

Of the thousands of Saul soldiers, only David had the audacity to confront Goliath. David's faith was exceptional. Why was David's faith so different than all other soldiers? Did they not hear the same stories of what their God did to the Egyptians and to the inhabitants of the land promised to Abraham and his descendants? Yet these stories did not give any of them the courage to confront Goliath. Jack Kelly from gracetrufaith.com hit the nail right on the head. David had a purpose. This is how Jack explains it in his commentary titled David’s Story Part 1 by impersonating David:

“ Now before you accuse me of an excessive dose of youthful bravado, consider this. The Lord had sent Samuel to anoint me as Israel’s next king. Then he empowered me to kill a lion and a bear, showing me that he wouldn’t let anything happen to me before His promise came true.”

http://gracethrufaith.com/the-bible-thru-the-eyes-of-its-writers/davids-story-part-1/

David's faith was based on God’s promise. He believed that he had a purpose in life ordained by God. David believes in God’s words. He literally took God by His words. He chose to believe. He took the decision to believe. That is the principle that Christians are to apply. It is to make a commitment to trust in the Lord as He commanded in (Pr 3:5-6):

Sources: www.biblebios.com

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

This is not a suggestion. It is a commandment to believe. It offended our Lord when the Israelites refused to enter the Promised Land. The consequence was 40 years in the desert until the unbelief generation died.

God’s mercy never fails.

His grace endures forever. Although they refused to trust the Lord, the Lord cared for all their needs for those 40 years. The same Jesus is with His Church. He takes care of each individual, no matter what level of faith each is experiencing. He will never forsake His own. Once saved, we are always saved. Inasmuch Israel is God’s people to perpetual, so is anyone who, by an act of faith, believed that Jesus is the one sent by God to forgive our sins and believed that Jesus is God, that He died and bodily resurrected.

We are sealed with the presence of God’s spirit in us. (2 Cor 1:22, Eph 1:13). The Oxford Dictionary defines a seal as a device or substance that is used to join two things together to prevent them from coming apart, a design resembling a seal embossed in the paper as a guarantee of authenticity, and a thing regarded as a confirmation or guarantee of something.

Only Jesus has the heavenly authority to remove any seal (Revelation 5:5) or to ascribe a seal (Revelation 7:3, John 20:22). Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). We are at one with Jesus.

So, as much as Saul’s soldiers were of God’s army, no one trusted God. So it is among Christians where few commit by faith to trust Jesus in all parts of their life. A seagull was taught young to fly gracefully against a strong wind. Few Christians, once born again, learned to trust in the Lord. Jesus commands us to learn from Him early in our Christian life so that we might be prepared to face the difficulties that life challenges us (Matthew 11:29). We are not like a seagull who learns by instinct. Yet, we have been given a teacher named the Holy Spirit to help us along the way (John 16:13). Enoch lived 365 years. He walked with the Lord for 300 years. It took him 65 years to learn to trust God. Do you have 365 years to live? No, life is much shorter.

What is the wrong principle you are living by that keeps you from trusting God? What causes you to doubt? The consequences are that when a storm shows up in your life, you are too weak to fly in faith and, therefore, fail. In your feeling of failure, you asked why God allowed difficulties in your life. You can’t have one foot in the church and the other in the secular society. The teaching principle of the secular society is 180 degrees opposite to Jesus' teaching.

Christians live with a purpose: We are the beacon of hope.

Yes, Jesus is merciful, yet He commands us to grow in trusting Him, to let Him live through us, and that is for a purpose, which is so that we may be a beacon of hope to this world, to let our light shine so that whoever sees us may ask us what make us so different. That is how we can give glory and honour to Jesus. Not by attending church service once a week but by letting Jesus live in us daily. That, my Christian friend, is what we called 'bearing fruits'. The promise made to David also applied to us. God will never forsake us, for we have a purpose, even to death.

Sources

As long as we fulfill God’s purpose in our lives, God will bless us, even when living in poverty. James explained that “if a believer is poor, he should be proud because God has made him spiritually rich,” (James 1:9). It is not your lack of faith that makes you poor, for it is God's purpose to make you spiritually rich in the knowledge of His words. Wealthy or poor, God has a purpose for each one of us, and that is to bear fruit no matter what the circumstances and conditions we find ourselves in. No matter what life throws at us, we learn to fly like a seagull gracefully against the wind. How do we do that? By letting Christ live in us (Gal 2:20). Did we not die in Christ (Romans 6:8)?

By Jim Richardson

Therefore, ask the Lord to show you the wrong principles, the false teachings, and the myths that cause you to struggle in your life. Please read my article titled, "What kind of truth do you want God’s word to be? I promise you that God will answer your prayer. I encourage you to read my commentary titled “Rest”.

Everything that I have written I personally experienced; therefore, be assured that this is a testimony of God working in my life. Everything I share is free. It is my way of sharing God’s blessing with you. As my commentary titled “Faith applied is faith invested “ suggests, it is my goal to live by what I preach. Growing in faith is continuous (Romans 1:17, Romans 10:17).

LET FAITH DO THE WORK

Sources:

What type of Christian are you? http://www.lamblion.com/articles/articles_questions3.php

Late Ray Stedman, at http://www.raystedman.org. His library is full of commentaries, available in audio also.

Lambert Dolphin, at http://www.ldolphin.org/. Very resourceful website. I suggest that you download a free book titled, “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done”

Jack Kelley, at http://gracethrufaith.com/, offers a question-and-answer session. He will reply to any scriptures that you have difficulty understanding. He also offers Bible study in MP3 format and ebooks. I recommend that you read this excellent commentary, "Cognitive Dissonance."

Sunday, 8 April 2012

Satan Lies. Is It That Simple To Detect?

It all depends: What kind of truth do you want God’s word to be?

"The Berean were more fair-minded than most Christians in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so," Acts 17:10-11

Commun statement that I hear: God is Unjust

Why would God just stand by and do nothing? I mean when you read stories in the bible; it is one injustice after another. God stand by allowing Satan to deceive Adam and letting Cain kill Abel. Cain got angry because God dislike Cain' offering compared to Abel’s. What wrong with God? If someone gave me a gift even if it wasn't a nice gift I surely would show some appreciation! And what about the deluge? I mean just because of a few outcasts from heaven, everybody, including children was eradicated. What about the people of Israel, when they entered into the so-called promise land, they were commanded by God to kill everyone, including innocent woman and children? God is so unjust don’t you think? Please watch: "The Noah Movie Deception"

Satan Lies

It is true; Satan is God’s adversary. Satan twisted the truth around. Satan makes God look like the bad guy. Satan is a deceiver, a liar and a murderer, John 8:44. He has only one motto, that is “they must not believe.” We all fall for his lies, all with no exception, 1 Jn 5:19b. In addition, we are of our own demise. We keep believing in his lies, and the whole world by choice is under Satan’s lies.

What do you want to believe? - You are what you believe.

If you find God unfair, like it or not you believe in Satan lies. He made you believe either that God does not excite, or if He does excite you are to blame God anyway. This is what I constantly hear: ‘If’ there was a just God, why does He allow wars? ‘If’ there were a loving God, why would He allow suffering and not intervene? If there would be a just God, if God really exist, if God was a good God, this world would be a better world. Atheist, how can you blame God, since you don’t believe in god? However, you blame Him with all the injustice of this world with “IF GOD” statement to prove his non-existence.

What kind of truth do you want to believe?

‘I was once in an antique store. There was a table that interested me, so I call out to the storekeeper, “what kind of wood is it made out of?” He replied, “what kind of wood would you like it to be?”

What do you want to believe? So you see, it is not always Satan doing. Are you really looking for the truth or are you looking for an excuse to refuse the truth? What do you want to believe? Satan will tell you whatever you want to hear. Come on now, do you want the truth? Replying with, “what is the truth” to avoid answering the question only shows that you want to stay in the lies, the lies that you have accepted from Satan. You are guilty as charged, a sinner and your destiny is hell. Oh yes, choosing to believe in the non-existence of hell is another lie you accepted to believe. It is your choice.

What kind of wood do you want the table to be? What kind of truth do you want God’s word to be?

Even Christians are divided among themselves because of tradition and of different interpretation of God’s word. The secular loved to point that out. Christians do a very good job to stay divided and keep on dividing. Jesus stated that by loving each other the world would know Him, John 13:35. For denominations to respect their boundaries is not what Jesus called loving one another. Tradition is one aspect that causes division between Christian. So please take the time to read my commentary title “Christianity is like the menu of an ice cream parlor.” There is nothing wrong with different taste in music and service format. It is when we put down and belittle another church that is wrong. Do we not have the same God, and the same word? We are seen by the secular society as being hypocrite, and they are right, we are hypocrite. What is worst? We know it. We choose to ignore the causes and choose to do nothing about it. Did you ever stop thinking what Jesus really thinks about division? For a start, Jesus hates divorce, Malachi 2:16. So how would Jesus react seeing His Church divided? Paul instructed “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment,” 1 Corinthians 1:10. In Jesus’ eyes, there is only one body. He doesn’t see church building and denominations

Diversity of opinion in Theology is the main cause for division, Colossians 2:16. Same Bible or not quit. There are so many versions, 1 Corinthians 3:4-6. Theologians have our best interest of serving Jesus by studying God’s word on our behalf. Does it unite us? No, not necessarily, and quite the opposite, it divides us even more. A pastor, minister and/or teacher all state the same statement: “don’t take my word for it, look it up for yourself.” Nevertheless when challenged, some stick to their gun like their job depends on it. Then there are followers who do not care less about the message and the teaching but are present religiously every Sunday just for the tradition sake. In reality, in a small community, who wants to rock the boat? Surely, not for a tiny discrepancy in the interpretation! Nevertheless, all these tiny discrepancies are accumulative and gradually the truth drift away farther, farther away. Who wants to confront the establishment and risk losing their entire Christian friends?

Come on now, lets be realistic, Most Christians choose what they want to believe. If the table is made of pine, many will prefer to believe that it is made of cherry, oak, or maple.

Majority shows up as a custom each Sunday or Saturday, (that too is a tradition), sit in their pew, quietly listen to a sermon only to drift away without questioning that what they heard was of sound doctrine or not. Alternatively, when it does sound suspicious they just brush it of like dust off the jacket, and comment, ‘Oh what a nice day to be at church’. We all did that, myself included. But then I was stirred up from inside like a burning fire to find the truth. I was raised as a catholic. I was forbidden to read the Bible. The clergies told me that only they knew the truth. I joined another denomination, which encouraged me to study God’s world, yet to follow diligently their interpretation of the truth without intrusion.

How can I tell whether I am choosing my truth? I really do not want to fall into the trap in which the Pharisees fell into. The Pharisees choose to believe that their table made of pine was made of oak. This is what Jesus replied to the Pharisees after they accused His disciples of not walking according to the tradition of the elders: “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. “For laying aside the commandments of God, you hold the tradition of men,” Mark 7:6-8 and proceeding to verse 9, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.” They reject the truth for lies.

It is obvious that Jesus had observed that the Pharisees were placing more importance to tradition than God’s commandments. Jesus went on to explained to the disciple the reason why the Pharisees did so. In Mark 7:21-23, He explained that it was because the Pharisees did not want to deal with the issue of sin. Same with some Christians, by adapting to a secular view of sin, and that is, it is no longer sin but human nature, which are part of man evolution. Some Christians avoid the issues of sin; rather prefer to twist the scripture to fulfill their personal agenda and financial gain by the name of Jesus.

“as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures,” 2 Peter 3:16.

Many Christians view Christianity as a code of conduct, as a tradition. Yes, I agree that we are to be the light of the world and we are to answer to a higher code of conduct, yet it is no longer a result of our repentance but rather a tradition just like the Pharisees view their religion. How to know the difference? We know when we put more emphasize toward the law then saving souls, pointing at people’s sin, rather than point them to the redeemer. They quote 1 Jn 5:18, “We know that whoever is born of God does not sins,” Paul explained this well in Rom 7:17-20 that it is no longer us who sinned but sin that dwells in us. And besides the light is supposed to draw people to salvation not to scare them away from it, unless you are children of disobedience, Satan’s children who hate the light.

The lies

Bottom line, we are responsible for our own choice, even when we were deceived, since Jesus reveals the truth, and we are the one who chooses to reject or to accept the truth. Jesus warns us “many will come in My name saying I am and deceived the many.” We were told to watch, to question, and to discern. Jesus teaches His disciples to instruct us, to guide us, and to rebuke Christians, who are going for another gospel than the one, He instructed. It is all in the Books of the Epistle, and to the letters to the seven churches mention in the Book of Revelation. “Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead,” 1Timothy 4:1-2 NLT.

So we were deceived to believe that the table was made of oak when actually, it was made of pine. So what are you going to do about it? Keep the table and pretend that nothing happened and keep hiding the truth to your friend. No? Keep the table and tell your friend you were deceived, and although it is the wrong type of wood, it looks good and you got use for it. This is what I would do: get rite of the table, acquire a table made of real oak, be proud to show case it and warn my friend not to believe in that particular salesman who deceived me. Look for and keep the truth. We are to look diligently for the truth to the last one. Take the example of the woman who lost a coin in Luke 15:8. Even though this parable relates to the joy over one sinner saved, we are to share the joy in a truth that had been lost and now found.

In a resent commentary I’ve read titled “The Best Kind of Bible Study” from Joe McKeever, he quoted Eugene Peterson in his book title "Eat This Book,"

“Peterson thought of a dog of his which had dragged out of the woods where they lived a large bone, probably from a moose. Day after day, that little dog gnawed at that bone until he had consumed it. The sounds (grunting, growling, purring) the animal made as he "worked" the bone called to mind this word from the Hebrew. That, says Peterson, is how we are to approach Holy Scripture: working at it, meditating upon it, gnawing and chewing until we have consumed it.”

Christians are to have the same reaction as the king of Judas had when the Book of Moses was discovered in the House of the Lord in 2 Chronicles 34:29-33. He not only read it, but he re-instituted it. The truth may be disturbing, because it requires that we do something with it, and change is hard sometimes. Yet are we to please God or man? “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God,” Colossians 3:22. Although this is a commandment for a servant toward his earthly master, we Christians have a new master call Jesus.

When we find a new truth, long ignored and forgotten we rejoice. We become astonish, and maybe resentful. With courage, we then accept the truth by applying it in our lives. Satan had created mountains of lies that we have received as truth. We are to seek the truth to replace the lies. Why? Satan lies have only one purpose, and that is to keep us away from God. Although we have accepted Jesus to pay for the penalty of our sin, one single lie will hinder our relationship with God because there are no lies in God. As a father who corrects his children so is God as a Father will correct us. Why? We are to become more and more like Him, like-minded, “Be holy, for I Am Holy,” 1 Peter 1:16. Why? It is to prepare us to reign with Jesus, Revelation 20:6. Why? It is because it is our inheritance to who ever accept Jesus, Hebrews 9:15, Colossians 3:24. It is our goal in this lifetime to get ready for our destiny prepared by God, as sons of God, Romans 8:19, Galatians 3:26. What a mighty God we have! Why? Just because He wants too, Romans 5:17. We will fall into God righteous justice if we do not repent. Prayer will not be answered. Would you be favorable to a child of disobedience?

Are You Sleeping At Your School Desk?

God wants us to grow in His knowledge so that we become more and more like him. God is preparing us to be like Christ minded for the purpose to reign with Him for eternity, and we are sleeping on our school desk. Lessons to learn from The Parable of the Sower. The seeds represent the word of the kingdom of God, the truth.

Therefore hear the parable of the sower: Matthew 13;18-23

When anyone hears the word about the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. (God’s word, the truth rejected)

However, he who received the seed into stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; nevertheless, he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. (Refusing to repent and to change after receiving the truth, the pressure from the secular society is great)

Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. (The truth accepted doesn’t bring joy, after repentance, change is a burden, more mindful on earthly goal then on the kingdom of God, therefore, his light doesn’t shine, sadly many Christians are in that category)

But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” It does not need an explanation.

So you see, when a truth is revealed to you, and you apply it with joy, you will constantly bear fruit, you will influence people. It is like an olive tree that produces oil, and abundance of it, the oil that represents God’s Spirit that flows through you. When Jesus states, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you,” Matthew 6:33, He admonishes to learn from Him, to be teachable, and to look for the truth. Do not take your salvation for granted as some do and never show up for class. There is much more after salvation that meets the eyes. We are not just saved from a horrible destiny in hell, but we are chosen to reign with Jesus. There is a purpose for Jesus to invite you to rest in Him, and that is to concentrate in your study. Please read my commentary title, “To Rest In The Lord Is Simple."

Fellow Student Let Me Introduce You To Your Teacher – Holy Spirit

Source: The Latter Days Ministry

“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit,” 1 Corinthians 12:13

No matter what are the present condition and circumstance that you find yourself in today; sick or healthy, rich or poor, free or slave, Jews or gentiles, man or woman, we are in the same class room and we have also a common teacher, Holy Spirit. In the Upper room discourse, Jesus said to His disciples, "I will not leave you orphans; I will not leave you alone. If I go away I will send another Comforter to you, and he will guide you into all the truth. He will take of the things of mine and show them unto you, and he will say to you the things that I have not been able to say," John 14:16-18. Focus on what he said, "I have many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them yet. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth," John 16:13.

What a mighty God we have indeed! He thought of everything. It took approximately 1600 years to put the Bible together, as we know it today. God’s word, and His truth are in the palms of your hands. Yes, there are many versions, and guess what, they all have flaws. I use the New King James and the International Children Bible. A concordance is a great tool to understand the meaning of a word from it original translation. However most importantly count on your teacher, Spirit of Truth to teach you and guide you.

Tutors are very important. You need someone of experience to help you. It is not easy to find and to trust. Nevertheless it is important. Do you have someone in mind, well for you? If not, I’ll share with you some web site that helped me a great deal, and I am talking by experience.

Late Ray Stedman, at http://www.raystedman.org. His library is full of commentaries, available in audio also. I suggest that you read or listen to his teaching on 1 Corinthians 2:10-13, title “God’s Teacher” as a starter.

Lambert Dolphin, at http://www.ldolphin.org/. Very resourceful web site. I suggest that you download a free book title, “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done”

Jack Kelley, at http://gracethrufaith.com/. Question and answer. He will reply pertaining to any scriptures that you have difficulty understanding. He also has available, Bible study in MP3 format and ebooks

Conclusion – The Truth is "God is Just"

Adam was not deceived. Eve was. Adam deliberately disobeyed and blames the woman. Cain was instructed by God the proper offering he was to do. Cain disobeyed, and in envy murdered his brother. The deluge was God way of cleansing the whole world since the cruelty of man was great. “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually,” God commanded Israel to kill everyone of every tribe when they entered the promise land, Deut. 7:1-6, because the tribe’s religion was an abomination to God, sacrificing children as burned offering, conducting sexual immoralities as a religious ritual, and giving no justice toward the poor and the needy, Deut. 18:9-13. God gave them 400 years to repent, and they did not. The Promised Land to the children of Israel needed cleansing before its occupation.

“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness,” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12.

So, what kind of wood did you want the table to be? What kind of truth did you want God’s word to be? It is up to you and nobody else. If I have encourage some of you to search for the truth, so that you can let go of one lie, I will rejoice with you inasmuch as our Lord rejoices.

Please watch this video presentation: Strange Fire, part of Grace to You's Truth Matters conference series, evaluates the doctrines, claims, and practices of the modern charismatic movement, and affirms the true Person and ministry of the Holy Spirit. Published on Oct 30, 2013, http://www.gty.org/resources/sermon-series/325

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