Posts Tagged ‘Christian life’

The good word today friend’s is – Death!

Posted: June 5, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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“And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16).

If God intends on having One Flock under One Shepherd then we know that nothing belongs to any individual. Frequently we hear men speak of “my people”, “my flock”, or “my church”, as though they possessed something. Let us see instead that the undershepherd owns nothing, but is a steward over God’s possession. The Scripture plainly says that we are the sheep of His pasture.

Everything belongs to the Father, Who has committed all things into the care of His Son, the Good Shepherd. No undershepherd can claim anything or anyone as belonging to him personally. If we only realized this we would immediately begin treating the Lord’s sheep with greater respect and humility. How can a man lord over something that doesn’t belong to him? How can he abuse and mistreat what is not his?

I am very cautious of those who continuously speak of their ministry! When I look at the ministry that the Lord has called my wife and I too, that which He established in 2005 and gave us the name of Mighty Arm Ministries and assigned us as co-stewards it was as clear then as it is now that it is His ministry of which we are blessed to co-labor with our Lord to benefit the Kingdom. Yet we are fully aware that it does not belong to us – it is His.

This idea of it belonging to Him and not us was made even more clear when in the latter part of 2010, He called us to lay down the Ministry as it had become known more by my name than His – so with faith in trusting Holy Ghost as a true messenger of the Father, we laid it down – now we simply minister in the Name of Jesus Christ!

Even the teaching of “Your ministry which the Lord has called you too” in outward appearance seems innocent yet it is a breeding ground for pride. For there is no true Kingdom Ministry outside of the Lords ministry of which we His servants join into. This is do in large because of a lack of true Apostolic teaching on the meaning of “ministry”.

Let us strip all of our selfishness off and renounce all pride that we may walk in the path of righteousness with Holy hands and a pure heart. That as we walk the shadow of the Almighty is cast about us, the fragrance of the King fills every room we walk into, that the cloud of His Glory covers the villages, towns, Cites where we are speaking and releasing the Kingdom message for which the Father has assigned us to speak in this hour.

If the Lord stands against a prideful heart – do we for one moment believe that such a heart shall be a vessel for which the message of revival is released. For is not revival birthed from repentance? A prideful heart shall never truly repent admitting its wrong – many selfishly repent with not desire to change- just desiring to get rid of the guilt – this is not true repentance!

The good word today friend’s is Death! Death to pride and death to self – for once in our lives let us truly be baptized in the death of Christ that we may be raised with Him in His true nature walking in the fullness us our callings as sons and daughters of the King of Kings. For the true reality in the Christian walk is that in death to self – the birth of the New Man is born and this very act creates true vessels of revival. Just as the old man unchanged will hear the voice of its old master – the new man will hear the voice of its new Masters.

And today if we are truly hearing the Master Jesus Christ, we will hear Him clearly speaking as He did to Peter -Do you love Me?- Feed my Sheep! Not ” lord yourselves over my sheep – or establish your own kingdom.” Serve even as I have served is what the Jesus has taught us – wash the feet, tend to the needs of the lonely, minister to the sick, the needy and so on. Servants that serve – not prideful leaders that seek servants.

Today we have the choice – Death that we might live so we can begin reproducing life – or the same old life that we may continue producing dead things!

Those who are radical enough to lay everything down will choose death – those who desire to remain in the same old mundane religious life style will of course not choose death.

Jesus Christ presents us with a radical decision – we either choose all of His teachings and all of His commands or we choose none – there is no grey areas in the life of a Christian – if one is found having such, then the question must be asked, are they really a Christian or merely a religious person? Only the Father can see into ones heart – yet we have been given the gift of discernment and we ought to be able to discern by the fruits of the Kingdom in ones life as to whether they are truly in love with the Lord, or just in love with the idea of not going to Hell!

STANDING ON THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD !!!

Posted: June 1, 2011 in disciples life, teaching
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You are either with God or you are with the devil. The decision you are making concerning spiritual things will effect you now in this life and in the life to come. BE CAREFUL WITH THE DECISIONS YOU ARE MAKING.

Say NO to the devil. When you say NO, that’s all he can do. BE SURE YOU QUOTE THE WORD OF GOD TO him. Then begin to PRAISE & WORSHIP God. This will cause confusion to come on the enemy. REMEMBER YOU ARE MORE THAN A CONQUEROR IN CHRIST JESUS !!! Having done all to stand then stand.

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH !!! Have you ever had a midnight hour? What did you do? Acts 16:25 & 26 tells us that Paul & Silas prayed and sang praises unto God in their midnight hour. What song did you sing? When you learn to pray and sing in your midnight hour, you will discover that GRACE will start to work on your behalf. Just like Paul and Silas, you will see your prison doors open!!! Not only will the doors open, but the bands will be loosed. You will be set FREE!!! PRAISE THE NAME OF JESUS!!!

KEEP THE WORD OF GOD IN YOUR HEART AND IN YOUR MOUTH. If you don’t want, what you hear yourself saying, don’t plant the seed by speaking it. GUARD your mouth. God honors His word. If you want God to honor your words, you will have to start speaking His word over yourself.

The Spirit of God has been sent to:

1. Draw you to Jesus.

2. Redeem you by the Blood of the Lamb.

3. Fill you & empower you for service.

4. Prepare you and make you ready to meet God face to face!

5. Make you ready for Heaven.

LEARN TO COOPERATE WITH GOD

In order for you to be able to cooperate with God, you will have to become a person of the Word. ARE YOU READING YOUR BIBLE? ARE YOU PRAYING? DO YOU OBEY THE PROMPTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT? If you are, GOOD. If not, START TODAY!!!

When we study together the truths of God and His Word, don’t we have fun?

__________YES or __________NO ?

God has saved us for a purpose! We are not saved just to struggle and try to hold on until the grave or the rapture. When Jesus appears we are to be working for the Kingdom and occupying till He comes. We are called to invade the enemies influence. Are you being used by God to make a difference or are you standing by and watching the devil have his way?

Use God’s Word. Speak the Word out loud boldly. Don’t give the devil room to operate. The devil has been coming against us long enough. Let’s start standing on the Word with the whole armor of God on and fight the good fight of faith. Let’s PRAISE the GOD who is EL SHADDAI – the One who is more than enough!!!

In the book of Judges chapter 6, God talks to Gideon. He tells Gideon to go and save Israel. Gideon is like us, full of excuses. The family is poor, he was the least in the family, he was afraid and so forth. God did not except Gideon’s excuses. God gave Gideon a word. We need to get before God, until we get a word from Him!!!

Let’s get tired of just reading how someone in the past did a great work for God. Let’s start seeking God with our whole heart and discover what we can do for Him. I want to do something for God. Do you? It’s time we rise up and start to accomplish the will of God for our own lives. WE MUST shake ourselves out of the slump we are in and stand tall for the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is here to help us do and find the perfect will of God.

God knows where we are spiritually. The devil also knows where you are spiritually. Do you know where you are spiritually? Find your place. Know where you are, not where you think you are. You can’t fool God or the devil. So don’t fool yourself. If you are not reading your Bible and Praying you are not where you should be with God. Some where down the road, you will come face to face with where you really are and if you are not in the Word of God, you will be in BIG trouble. Do you want to win? Then prepare yourself. Be ready for battle.

The Lord will test your obedience. He will not tempt you, but He will test you. He will give you something to do and then watch to see if you will follow instructions. When we learn to obey, it will bring victory and blessings.

God wants to anoint you. The anointing is for ministry. The anointing is for service not for show. The anointing is important, but the most important thing in your life is your relationship with God. We need the anointing, but we also need to be strong in our inner man. We need to be strong for ourselves and for others. Our lives affect many. We need to be strong. The only way we can be strong and stay strong is to be committed to the Word of God. Are you committed?

HOW TO BUILD THE HUMAN SPIRIT

James 1:12-15

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation.”

(NAS) “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial.”

Enduring and persevering speak to us about going through and coming out victorious. The Lord does not want us to run from what we have to deal with. What makes you strong is what you do in your crises. Do you use the Word and pray, or cry and worry and make bad confessions?

You build your spirit by:

1. Staying in the Word of God

2. Praying fervently

3. Surrendering everything to God

4. Keeping correct associations

If we stay in the Word, we will bear fruit. The Word has life and power. It is a living Word. When you begin to apply the Word to your personal life, you will begin to see a change in yourself. You will notice the change. You will see your own desires will change. You will begin to want to be like Jesus and you will want to do the will of God.

IF YOU WANT TO WALK AND LIVE IN VICTORY, YOU MUST SURRENDER ALL OF YOU TO GOD. UNSURRENDERED AREAS IN YOUR LIFE BLOCK THE FLOW OF HIS POWER AND MAKE YOU UNFRUITFUL.

IT IS MY PRAYER THAT YOU HAVE BEEN Challenged TODAY. We are in this thing together. We must be faithful to God all the time.

Written by Shirley Oliver

Grace to increase in faith!

Posted: May 28, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching
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Because of this, make every effort to add integrity to your faith; and to integrity add knowledge; to knowledge add self-control; to self-control add endurance; to endurance add godliness; to godliness add Christian affection; and to Christian affection add love. If you have these qualities and they are increasing, it demonstrates that your knowledge about our Lord Jesus Christ is living and productive. If these qualities aren’t present in your life, you’re shortsighted and have forgotten that you were cleansed from your past sins. Therefore, brothers and sisters, use more effort to make God’s calling and choosing of you secure. If you keep doing this, you will never fall away. (2Peter 1:5-10)

Praise God, as we find that this passage builds on the implication of grace, that is, the gifts of God alluded to in the previous verses. Grace both enables or empowers us and makes demands on us by putting us under obligation. Titus 2:11-12 tells us that the grace of God teaches us that “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly.” Receiving the grace of God puts us under obligation to respond.

We find here that Peter is teaching that the grace of God demands diligence or effort. Verse 5 reads, “giving all diligence [effort].” In addition, it is helpful to understand that Peter is saying in the word translated as “add” that we are to bring this diligence, this effort, alongside or in cooperation with what God has already given. God freely extends His grace, but it obligates us to respond. We are then to do our part in cooperating with what He has given to us—and He inspired Peter to tell us to do it diligently and with a great deal of effort.

Messengers of the Lord almost constantly speak of growth. Yet, notice where Peter begins his list of traits we are to become fruitful in: He writes, “Add to your faith.” “Add” is woefully mistranslated into the English. Yes, it can mean “add,” but it is actually much more expansive than that. “Generously supplement” is a more literally correct rendering, which brings it into harmony with “diligence.” In other words, make great effort to supplement your faith generously.

The Apostle Peter sees faith as the starting point for all the other qualities or attributes. He does not mean to imply in any way that faith is elementary, but rather that it is fundamental or foundational—that the other things will not exist as aspects of godliness without faith undergirding them. In the Greek, it is written as though each one of these qualities flows from the previous ones. We could also say that faith is like the central or dominant theme in a symphony, and the other qualities amplify or embellish it.

How much and what we accomplish is dependent on the place from which we begin. Peter is showing us that there is a divine order for growth, and it begins with faith.

Friends, I pray that you each let your faith grow and increase today – Ask our Father in heaven to increase your faith – spend time in the Word and build yourselves up – remind yourself daily of the good things God has done in your own life – testimonies even when spoken unto yourself increase and builds up faith!!

A radical Christian living a life of radical Christianity is one who walks empowered by Grace to fulfill all that Father has set before them, having great faith in the knowledge that Holy Ghost will provide every provision necessary to full-fill the task at hand!

Are you radical enough in your faith to cry out and let His Grace supply all your needs today? For there are sick to be healed, blind eyes and deaf ears to be opened, imprisoned and oppressed to be liberated, dead to be raised – both in Spirit and in the physical.

The Highest rank is that of servant!

IHS,
Russ Welch

You Can Live Sin Free

Posted: May 26, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching
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The only real freedom is in the Lord Jesus Christ. If you’ve been born again, the old man inside you, the one that had been held captive by the devil and made a slave to sin, has died. The power of sin over you has been broken forever!

“[Your] old man is crucified with [Christ],” Romans 6:6 says, “that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth [you] should not serve sin” (KJV). And not only are you free from sin, but if you’ll walk in the righteousness Jesus has given you, you’ll rule over it.

In the kingdom of God, righteousness is the scepter (see Heb. 1:8). It’s what gives you authority. It is imputed to you the moment you’re born again, and it makes you victorious over the world, the flesh, the devil and every enemy that comes against you.

That’s why the devil will do anything to get you to lay righteousness down. He’ll do anything to convince you that you’re still under the bondage of sin.

He’ll tell you that it’s just not normal for a human being to live above sin. “Oh, everybody sins,” he’ll whisper. “After all, you’re only human.”

No, you’re not! You’re a reborn child of almighty God. You have God Himself inside you. Even though it’s normal for natural men to sin, it’s not normal for you.

I’ll tell you why the devil tries so hard to convince you that you’re still subject to sin. It’s the only way he can keep you under his control.

He’s not afraid of people (even believers) who are living in sin. But he shudders when a man or woman starts living day by day in obedient union with the Lord. When that kind of person speaks to the devil, he runs (see James 4:7).

Freedom from sin is the whole basis of the great salvation God has given us. “Salvation” is a very big word. It includes much more than going to heaven and missing hell. What it actually means is “health, wholeness, deliverance, well-being, safety and soundness.”

But without freedom from sin, we wouldn’t have any of those things. Sickness, poverty, death—all the curses of sin—would still be in force. It’s only because God has broken the power of sin over us that we can walk free.

If you’re shaking your head thinking: I don’t feel very free. It seems as if the devil still has his hooks in me and I don’t know how to get loose, listen to me. You are loose.

The Word says: “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:8-11, NKJV).

When this Scripture comes alive in you, you can lay down any sin and never go back to it again. Let the truth of it sink into your heart. Sin has lost its grip on you. It can’t come back unless you decide to let it come back.

Look at what Ephesians 2:5 says about you: “Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him]” (The Amplified Bible).

You’ve already experienced the greatest resurrection of all. You experienced it the day you were born again. That’s when you passed from death to life. That’s when sin and death lost their hold over you—the day the old man died and the new man came to life.

So if you’ve been living beneath your privileges, it’s time to pick up your scepter of righteousness and shake it in the devil’s face. It’s time to kick sin out of your life and start living free.
by Gloria Copeland

The Sons Are Free

Posted: May 25, 2011 in disciples life, teaching
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“The Sons Are Free” By John Piper
Matthew 17:22-27

And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; 23 and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” And they were deeply grieved. 24 When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?” 26 When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are exempt. 27 However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”

There are three reasons why I chose this text for our consideration this morning.

First is because today is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week when we look forward to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. Jesus says in verses 22-23, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” So the text begins with a prophecy of the Lord about what will happen in that last week which we call Holy Week.

Second, there is a conversation between Jesus and Peter that teaches something wonderful about the freedom that we have as Christians. Verse 26 ends, “Then the sons are exempt (literally “free”).” I want us to see what this freedom is and what a great thing it is to have it.

Third, the passage includes a miracle in verse 27, namely, the coin in the fish’s mouth. This shows that Jesus is worthy of our worship and relates the freedom we have as Christians to the way God provides for his free children when they willingly act for love’s sake, not under the constraint of law. This applies to the financial challenge we face in the Gideon Venture and the Isaac Factor (see the previous three sermons). Or, more personally, it applies to God’s care for you in your situation as a free child of God. Not that God will always work a miracle to get you out of some scrape you’re in, but that he will work with omnipotent power to meet all your needs on the path of freedom and love.

So let’s start with the second of these reasons and then go to the third and then end with the first, the prophecy of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
The Two-Drachma Tax

Verse 24: Jesus and his disciples are in Capernaum, Peter’s hometown (Mark 1:29). Some Jewish people, whose job was to collect the “two-drachma” temple tax, came to Peter and asked, “Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?” This was not a Roman tax, but a Jewish tax for the upkeep of the temple. It was based loosely on Exodus 30:11-16. So these folks were not your unpatriotic tax collectors that we usually read about who collected for the Romans; they were the very patriotic supporters of the temple who expected Israelites throughout the homeland and beyond to take part in supporting the temple service. So this question (“Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?”) was probably a test to see how supportive Jesus would be of the temple service in Jerusalem. Rumors were already circulating that he said disloyal things about the temple.

Peter answered in verse 25, “Yes.” When he and Jesus were in the house away from the crowd, Jesus asked Peter (in verse 25b), “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?” So Jesus is not going to let this go by without a lesson being taught.

He brings up a comparison – an analogy. There are kings on the earth who run their kingdoms with money raised from taxes. How are those taxes collected, Jesus asked, from the king’s own children or from the rest of the citizens and inhabitants? The analogy pictures God as the king and the temple service as the running of his kingdom and makes a comparison between some people who are the sons of the king and some who are not the sons of the king.
Who Are the Sons and How Are They Free?

Peter answers Jesus’ question in verse 26, “From strangers.” That is, kings collect taxes from the citizens and inhabitants that are not part of their family. That’s the right answer. So “Jesus said to him, ‘Then the sons are exempt (=free).'”

So what is the point Jesus is making? Who are the sons that are free and how are they free? Verse 27 gives us the decisive clue. Jesus says to Peter: “However [that is, even though the sons are free] . . . take that and give it to them for you and Me.” In other words, you are free, Peter, and I am free, but we will pay the two-drachma temple tax anyway.

So the comparisons are between the kings of the earth and God and between the king’s sons and Jesus with his disciples. Which raises a question: Who are the “strangers”? Who are the “citizens and inhabitants” that are not exempt – not free from the temple tax?

Keep in mind here: This temple tax has nothing to do with the Romans. This is a Jewish tax. So if Jesus makes a distinction between the sons who are free and another group who are not free, he is making a distinction within Israel – among two groups of Jews. This is what John the Baptist did before him. It is what Paul would do after him. John the Baptist called for Israel to repent and be a part of a new, true Israel, and not to boast, “We have Abraham as our father” (Matthew 3:9), as if mere Jewish descent made one a child of God. Then Paul said in Romans 9:6-8, “Not all Israel is Israel . .. It is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God.”

So the answer is that the “strangers” – the “citizens and inhabitants” who are not free are the Jewish people who are rejecting Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus is the Son of God, and those who trust him and follow him are sons of God because of their attachment to Jesus. Matthew 16:15-16: “[Jesus] said to [the disciples], ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And speaking to his disciples he said, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God'” (Matthew 5:9).

It’s true that Israel was called the son of God in the Old Testament (Exodus 4:22). So how can Jesus now say that some Jews are sons of God and free, and some are not sons of God and not free? The answer is that “sonship” has a new, personal, individual meaning with Jesus. There was a corporate sonship before, but now there is a new, personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This new, personal, individual relationship of sonship through Jesus is what Jesus has in mind when he says, “the sons are free.”

With the coming of Jesus Christ – the one and only divine, eternal, uncreated Son of God – into the world, a new way of relating to God is made possible. Now there is the real, experienced, conscious union with Jesus Christ that no one had known before the coming of Christ.

It is described in Romans 8:16-17, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.” This term, “fellow heirs with Christ,” shows how our sonship is connected to Christ’s. We are sons along with Jesus Christ when we are in Christ. Not that we are divine, like him, but that we share his inheritance, just as we share his righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).

That is what Jesus is pointing to here in Matthew 17:26, “The sons are exempt (free).” Those who are Jesus’ disciples are the true sons of God and are free from the temple tax, and those who reject him are not the true sons of God and are not free.

But that raises another question: Does this mean that God means for his temple to be supported by unbelievers? No. That is not the point. What, then, is the point?
Jesus the True Meeting Place with God

I think the point is twofold. One is that the temple is passing away and is going to be replaced by Jesus himself as the true meeting place with God; and the other is that Jesus does not say that the true children of God don’t pay the tax, but only that they are free not to. In fact, he sends Peter to pay it in verse 27.

The true children of God – the followers of Jesus – are free because Jesus himself is taking the place of the temple. “I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days” (Matthew 26:61). He was referring to his body. Jesus himself was the new meeting place with God. “Something greater than the temple is here” (Matthew 12:6). Place was giving way to Person. The sons are free because the sons are discovering that the age of the temple in Jerusalem is over. The age of coming to God through Jesus is here.

The other reason Jesus doesn’t mean that the temple is to be supported by unbelievers is that he sends the true children of God to support the temple, not because they have to support the temple, but because it might at times be good to for the sake of the gospel. Verse 27: “However, so that we do not offend them. . . . Take that and give it to them for you and Me.” In other words, you are free not to pay the tax, but pay it anyway for the sake of not putting an obstacle in the way of my message.

So here’s the main point of the passage: Those who trust and follow Jesus as the Son of God are the true children of God and are, therefore, free from the old system of temple worship with its “taxes.” This does not mean that we no longer care about the ministry of worship. It means we come to God through Jesus. And if there is, incidentally and culturally, a building involved, we are not forced or coerced to support that building. The sons are free.

The point of verse 27 (the payment of the “tax”) seems to be this: If you are a child of God, you decide how you will support a non-essential building (and all of them are now!) not by thinking of yourself as taxed by God, but by thinking of whether there are reasons the building will advance the cause of Jesus Christ – which is not building-oriented, but God-oriented, and kingdom-oriented, and ministry-oriented, and people-oriented.
A Miracle of Freedom and Provision

Now I turn very briefly to the miracle of the coin in the fish’s mouth and the introductory words of prophecy that Jesus’ death is just ahead.

Verse 27, again: “However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.” What’s the point of the miracle of the coin in the fish’s mouth?
Two things at least.

One is this: If Jesus is bringing the temple to an end for the true children of God, because “something greater than the temple is here” (Matthew 12:6), then it is fitting that he show that he is worthy of our worship. This miracle involves divine power and wisdom and knowledge. Someone had to be sure that a shekel (precisely worth four drachmas – two for Jesus and two for Peter) was dropped in the sea. Someone had to be sure that the fish scooped it up, but did not swallow it all the way. Someone had to be sure that the fish that scooped up the coin would be near where Peter drops his hook in the water. And Someone would have to be sure that the fish bites Peter’s hook, without swallowing the coin, and stays hooked till he gets the coin. When Jesus says that this is, in fact, all going to happen just as he says, he shows himself to be just what Peter confessed him to be: the Son of God worthy of worship and trust. You don’t have to go anywhere or pay anything to worship God. He has come to you. There he is. Here he is!

The other point of the miracle is that when you act in freedom and love -not under coercion or constraint – God himself works for you in ways you would never dream. It’s like the feeding of the five thousand. Jesus says to the disciples who have five loaves and two fish borrowed from a little boy, “You feed the five thousand.” When they set out to do that (just as when Peter sets out to pay the temple tax), God causes the five loaves and two fish to become enough to feed them all. And God causes a coin to be there in a fish’s mouth.

The point is not that God will always work a miracle to get you out of some scrape, but that he will do whatever he has to do to help you pursue the path of freedom and sacrificial love that may seem impossible to you.

So with regard to Education for Exultation, we could add “The Fish Factor” or “The Coin Component” to “The Gideon Venture” and “The Isaac Factor.” You are not bound to give, but love may compel you to give. And if it does, there will be a way -if God is in it, God will make a way. That’s the second point of the miracle. As Hudson Taylor said, “Depend upon it. God’s work, done in God’s way, will never lack for supplies” (www.gospelcom.net/chi/GLIMPSEF/Glimpses/glmps047.shtml, accessed 4/15/00).

“You might be luke-warm if…………………”

Posted: May 24, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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According to Francis Chan these are the 18 signs of a lukewarm Christian. OUCH!

1. Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe “good Christians” do, so they go. Isaiah 29:13

2. Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so, After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right? 1 Chronicles 21:24, Luke 21:1-4

3. Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives. Luke 6:26, Revelation 3:1, Matthew 23:5-7 4.

4: Lukewarm people don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don’t genuinely hate sin and aren’t truly sorry for it; they’re merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don’t really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one. John 10:10, Romans 6:1-2.

5. Lukewarm people are moved by stories of people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act. They assume such action is for “extreme” Christians, not average ones. Lukewarm people call “radical” what Jesus expected of all His followers. James 1:22, James 4:17, Matthew 21:28-31

6. Lukewarm people rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion. Matthew 10:32-33

7. Lukewarm people gauge their morality or “goodness” by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel satisfied that while they aren’t as hard-core for Jesus as so-and-so, they are nowhere as horrible as the guy down the street. Luke 18:11-12

8. Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives, their money, and their thoughts, but he isn’t allowed to control their lives. Luke 9:57-62

9. Lukewarm people love God, but they do not love Him all their heart, soul, and strength. They would be quick to assure you they try to love God that much, but that sort of total devotion isn’t really possible for the average person; its only for pastors and missionaries and radicals. Matthew 22:37-38

10. Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love for others is typically focused on those who love them in return, like family, friends, and other people they know and connect with. There is a little love left over for those who cannot love them back, much less for those who intentionally slight them, who kids are better athletes than theirs, or with whom conversations are awkward or uncomfortable. Their love is highly conditional and very selective, and generally comes with strings attached. Matthew 5:43-47, Luke 14:12-14

11. Lukewarm people will serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money, and energy they are willing to give. Luke 18:21-25

12. Lukewarm people think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven. Daily life is mostly focused on today’s to-do list, this week’s schedule, and next month’s vacation. Rarely, if ever do they intently consider the life to come. Philippians 3:18-20

13. Lukewarm people are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor. Matthew 25:34, 40, Isaiah 58:6-7

14. Lukewarm people do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty. They want to do the bare minimum, to be “good enough” without requiring too much of them. 1 Chronicles 29:14, Matthew 13:44-46

15. Lukewarm people are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This focus on safe living keeps them sacrificing and risking for God. Matthew 10:28

16. Lukewarm people feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote Republican, or live in America.

17. Luke warm people do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don’t have to trust God if something unexpected happens-they have their savings account. They don’t need God to help them—they have their retirement plan in place. They don’t genuinely seek out what life God would have them live—they have life figured and mapped out. They don’t depend on God on a daily basis-their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn’t look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God. Luke 12:16-21

18. Lukewarm people probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever. They equate their partially sanitized lives with holiness, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Matthew 23:25-28, Luke 14:34-35

Check this Video Out

KINGDOM DOMAIN – THE WORLD

Posted: May 23, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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Doctrines developed in the past apostate church age offered little or no hope for man or the world in this present life. The essence of these doctrines is that the world and its systems are hopelessly tainted with sin and, subsequently, evil. They, therefore, are fit only to be destroyed and replaced by a newly created planet. In this view there is no hope for the present world to be cleansed and restored. The only hope for the planet is total destruction by the judgmental fire of God melting and dissolving the very elements of the planet.

Some fruits from the essence of these teachings are:

1. A release of man’s responsibility to preserve and care for the natural systems of the planet. There is little or no incentive for man to cooperate with natural laws of God’s order. Short range, more immediately profitable actions are often chosen over those that align with God’s natural order, which are designed for the continued existence of the planet’s systems. The underlying rationale seems to be, “Why be concerned since it is all going to burn and be destroyed anyway, and probably soon”?

2. A lack of appreciation for the wonderful creation of the beautiful, life- supporting planet. The glorious essence of God can be seen in the beauty of His creation. The intense blue of mountain lakes reflect more than the breathtaking awesomeness of the magnificent mountain scenes. It also reflects something about our loving, great God. The unfathomable complexity of the chemical, physical, biological, zoological, meteorological, ecological, and other systems of the planet all speak of our God, who created them. They are all designed to intricately work together to support continuing life on the planet, and the continued life of the planet itself.

3. A lack of respect for life on earth and man’s awesome and exciting potential with God. Man is the only part of God’s creation designed to intimately relate to God, to actually experience knowing Him. Man is designed to rule and reign with Him now in this present age. A lack of appreciation for God’s natural creation leads to a lack of respect for the life of man himself. Man is linked to and a part of the world’s systems.

Do these fruits seem to line up with the words of Jesus and the nature of God? Jesus came that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. It is God’s nature to give life, to heal, and to deliver. Someone else desires to destroy. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy (John 10:10). It is not God’s plan or desire to destroy the earth, but rather to purify it. Jesus often spoke of the wicked being removed and the righteous shining forth on earth (Matt. 13:24-30, 37-43).

The scripture also speaks clearly of God destroying those who destroy the earth.
Rev. 11:18b: And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.

Since the essence of the teachings that the earth is bad and fit only to be despised and destroyed does not appear to line up with the words of Jesus and the nature of God, we need to reexamine the scriptures that seem to affirm these teachings.

Does God love the world’s systems or despise them? Are we to love the world or to despise it? Certainly, we know God loves man. However, God does not love man’s sin and evil nature. God loves the world, but does not love the evil in the world implanted by the devil. In our considerations, we must make a distinction in our consideration between the created planet and the two systems that seek to rule life on the planet.

One ruling system is the evil order of the enemy and the other ruling system is the order of God from heaven. Both of these systems are referred to as the “kosmos” in the Greek New Testament text.

One of the most well known scripture verses is John 3:16, which many Christians have taught to their small children. Many correctly use this verse to instill in children that God loves them so much that Jesus came to save them and everyone who will believe. We may read the verse, “For God so loved the world”, but think in our minds,

“For God so loved me or mankind”. Granted, the individual and mankind are the focus of what is being spoken of here, but more than mankind is being referred to as the world.

The word translated “world” here is the Greek word “kosmos,” which is generally interpreted as “world order”. Strong’s Concordance Greek Dictionary defines the word as orderly arrangement, and by implication, the world and its inhabitants.
[ “G2889. kosmos, kos’-mos; prob. from the base of G2865; orderly arrangement, i.e. decoration; by impl. the world (in a wide or narrow sense, includ. its inhabitants, lit. or fig. [mor.]):–adorning, world.” The root or base is: G2865. komizo, kom-id’-zo; from a prim. komeo (to tend, i.e. take care of); prop. to provide for, i.e. (by impl.) to carry off (as if from harm; gen. obtain):–bring, receive.]

Jesus came to save more than mankind; He came to save the world. God desires to redeem all the “kosmos,” all the adorning and decorative systems. Since God has given mankind authority and responsibility to have dominion on earth, man must first be redeemed and brought into order with God and His ways for the world to be saved or restored.

God chose to limit himself by ruling through man on earth and has never rescinded that position. Man has the free will to make decisions regarding the order of rule in the world. Therefore, God had to become a man to save the world. God became a man in Jesus Christ. His original created order is for man to have dominion in the world (Gen. 1:26-28).

The man Jesus, seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven, now rules in the world as he lives within believers on the earth by the Holy Spirit. As human beings receive Christ Jesus into their lives by the Holy Spirit and yield control of their lives to the Spirit of Christ within, the will of God is done from heaven on earth through man.

The kingdom of God from heaven rules in the world and the ways of God redeem and restore the kosmos.

The key to the redemption of the world is the salvation of man. Therefore, man’s redemption is the world’s only hope.

In every instance, the word translated world in John 3:16-17, is kosmos.
John 3:16-17: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

In these verses God speaks of man being saved in relation to the world being saved.

There is no distinction made between mankind and the rest of the world as the object of God’s saving love. The priority in these verses is that the kosmos be saved.
Mankind is a major part of the kosmos and is God’s caretaker for the planet. Even the root of the word kosmos, (komizo and komeo) means to tend or take care of, to provide for and keep from harm. Man is to carry out the order of God’s design on the earth. The kingdom of God, the will of God, is to come forth through redeemed man–more specifically by Christ Jesus within man.

Two Worlds On Planet Earth
Obviously, God loves the world (the world He created and its systems of life). Yet, other scriptures make it clear that we are not to love the world (evil world order) or the things of the world (evil works in the world).

In scripture, there is one planet but two worlds spoken of. First, there is the world system that God created and loves and that we are to love as well. Second there is the evil fallen world system that was released by Adam and that we are told not to love. These two world systems are kingdoms–the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. The kingdom of darkness is evil but offers attractive enticements that appeal to the lust of the flesh and seek to lure people under its influence and entrapment.

We are not to love this evil world system or the things it offers. Neither of these world systems is the physical planet but spirit-led systems working to guide and empower humans beings that have dominion on the planet. Human beings have the authority to decide which system is released into the world. Neither system will have dominion in the world without the will of mankind releasing it.

In every instance the word translated world in 1 John 2:15-17, is also kosmos.
1 John 2:15-17: Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; is not of the Father but is of the world.

And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Man is not being instructed not to have loving concern for the world, but is being told to not have the love of (from) the evil world system. The world has its own kind of selfish, lustful, greedy affection–the desires of the flesh. We are not to have that love of the world. We are not to lust after the things of the world. However, we are to be filled with the love of God for the world and desire its redemption.

The love of God satisfies.
The love of (from) God is a fully satisfying inner abundance. Individuals filled with the love from God feel no anxiety or frustrating need for anything else. Nothing further is required for their spirit and soul to be at perfect peace. From this inner abundance flows a great desire and potential to love the kosmos (the world and its inhabitants).

This leads to serving mankind and the world around us by seeking to make things better for everyone, which brings the peaceful, prosperous, order of God to the kosmos. Love from God is a giving kind of love.

The love of (from) the world is not really love at all, but lust for the kosmos. It is seeking to fill an inner need that exists because the love of (from) God is not filling the individual. In reality the world’s kind of love (lust) is not love at all. It stems from the lack of the presence of God’s love within. The inner need created by unlove leads to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. The inner need becomes like a great vacuum trying to fill the void with the kosmos (the world and the things in it, including people). The kosmos is consumed, used, and destroyed as the inner need drives the individual to get more, have more, be more, and experience more. The love of (from) the world is a taking kind of unlove.

The love of God is in Christ Jesus. The potential for the very love of God in your life and mine is in Jesus. If the Spirit of Christ rules our hearts, the love of God is manifest in our lives.

John 17:26: And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.

Christ in man is the practical method by which love from God fills one’s life until no room exists for the love (lust) from the world system for the things in the world.

There is a vast difference between having loving concern for the kosmos (as God also does) and seeking to possess or consume the kosmos from our lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of this life. The Spirit of Christ Jesus living and ruling within by the Holy Spirit guides and empowers individuals to walk in freedom from the lust of the flesh and to be filled with the love of (from) God. All people that do not have the love of God abiding within them by the Spirit will have lust for the things of the world. It is not possible for one in whom Christ Jesus does not dwell to be filled with the love of God and to be free of the love of (from) the world.

Gal 5:16-17: I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

Many Christians may need to rethink their worldview.
A belief that God does not love the kosmos may have led us to devalue much of what God loves, and sent His Son to save. Man is inseparably a part of the kosmos. To harm or destroy the world is to harm one’s self. To bless and redeem the world is to bless one’s self. As man takes care of the world, the world takes care of man. I’m reminded of an old saying that farmers once used, If you will take care of the land, the land will take care of you. This same wisdom applies to all of the kosmos.

The world is not inherently evil. It is a marvelous and wonderful creation of God. The systems and order of the world are awesomely grand beyond all we can think. The complex intricacy of biological systems, ecological systems, and the physical make up of all things is more than all the minds of man together could ever understand. Yet, it all fits and works together to perpetually sustain life. The beauty of the colors, shapes, and patterns of the mountains, lakes, forests, plains, and mighty oceans are marvelous beyond compare. The delicate, delightful fragrances of the rose, the flowers of the field, the spruce or fir tree, or the pine tree on a still spring evening, all speak of God’s love and provision for the world.

It is humbling to realize that God has put man in charge of caring for His marvelous creation. To not be concerned about caring for the people, animals, and the ecology of the world is to be apart from the plan of God. As man, by the power of the indwelling Christ, walks in accordance with God’s ways, the kosmos is healed. Mankind, seeking the kingdom of God and His righteous ways of being and doing, moves man and the world systems toward healing and restoration (Matt. 6:33) (Rom 8:19-22).

Mankind, seeking his own way apart from God, moves man and the world systems toward disorder and destruction. God has not planned the destruction of His creation. The power of Christ in man is sufficient to heal and restore the kosmos.

John 3:16a, 17b: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that the world through him might be saved.

John 1:29b: Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Keep on Pursuing Love
It Will Never Fail,
Ron McGatlin
http://www.openheaven.com
basileia@earthlink.net

Can a person really live a life free of sin?

Posted: May 20, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching
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The big question many people ask is, “Can I really live a sin free life on earth?” The answer is YES. If we abide in Christ we cannot sin. However, many theologians are teaching an abiding in Christ that is excusing sin. Most of us look at the norm, we look at sinful human beings as our example. Therefore, because we cannot see the exhibition of a triumphant life in the people around us, we then believe that it is just not possible. Many exclaim that sin is a normal part of everyday life. God forbid. That is the lie of the devil.

Friends, do not allow the truth in God’s word to depreciate before your minds because those who profess it do not live consistent lives. Jesus Christ and Him only is our example, and if He is telling us to go and sin no more, then it is possible. Let’s look at what the Bible has to say.

Do I have to live in sin everyday?
After Jesus explained the kingdom of God to His disciples they asked him this question…

Matthew 19:25-26
When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Our natural reaction in the flesh is like that of the disciples. When they added self effort in the equation of victory and did the math, the answer was defeat. Christ rightly said, it is impossible in our own strength to live a righteous life. However, Jesus is saying to us, just surrender and allow me to live out my sin free life that I lived in you. Let us examine Romans 6:3-11. I would like you to read those verses first, then move on to the scripture below.

Romans 6:6
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Therefore, at baptism the old man is crucified with him as a result of going under the watery grave of baptism symbolic of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ that can wash away every and any stain of sin. Henceforth we should not serve sin. Jesus expects us to remain in him so that we will not continue in sin.

Romans 6:1-2
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Now, this victorious life is dependent on our belief system and practice. We must believe that Jesus Christ can keep us from falling. We must suppress on a consistent basis, surrendering our will to God. When his words are crystallized upon our minds, then we will acknowledge Him in everything, so that he can direct our path. Paul found this out and he realized that self and Christ cannot co-exist. Upon that discovery he exclaims.

Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Paul was trying to fight a spiritual war with carnal weapons. He was trying to help God out. The Bible tells us, “It is not by might nor by power, but by my spirit.” Paul is saying, we must allow Christ to live out his life in us by reading his words and meditating on him on a moment by moment basis.

Galatians 5:16
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
What does the flesh do? It is subject to sin. But if we ask on a consistent basis, “What should I do to honor you Lord,” then we will be ok. If we sin, we are not in Jesus, we are of the devil. If we are in Christ we cannot sin.

1 John 3:8
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.
For this to happen, friends, we would have to walk out of the protective environment of Jesus Christ and follow the devil. It is a conscious decision, not ignorance nor is it an accident. If you are in Christ there is no room for sin. Did Christ accidentally sin or sin in ignorance? No, He did not, else he could not be our Savior.

1 John 3:9
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

That is beautiful. If we are in him, we cannot sin. But do we believe it? Friends, Satan cannot penetrate Jesus to get to you. Do you believe that? He cannot do it, it is impossible. Some will argue and say, “what about those things that I had no idea were sins. How can one protect themselves from those situations if they are ignorant of it?” Consider this analogy: Bank tellers study the genuine bill only and not all the counterfeit that they can get their hands on. Why? Because somebody will always come up with another counterfeit, and what are they going to compare that one with if they do not have an original? They would be lost. Remember, Jesus is doing it. He will let us know when the devil is coming.

Hebrews 4:15
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Christ was tempted in all points, but without sin. If you are in Christ, He will let you know when the devil is on his way. At that point we can cry out for Jesus and ask Him to do it for us or we can try to stand on our own. We have a decision to make. If we truly love Him, we will always choose to stick with Him. We do not need to know all sin and every temptation. The only thing we need to do is to know Jesus Christ. He will do the rest. Therefore, we will not accidentally sin. No. There are no accidents or sins of ignorance with Christ. He is doing it.

1 John 3:6
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

The Bible says that if you abide in Christ you cannot sin. There are no accident or sins of ignorance. The painful truth is that, if we sin we are of the devil. We are saying, “let me out of here Lord. I do not want to be with you. I like what the devil has to offer.” So we open the door from the inside (that protective environment in Christ) and we walk out to the devil. What we are saying is, “I really do not want to be with you Lord.” Many who are living in denial will say that is a pretty harsh statement. They will argue and say, “I did not stay with the devil, I asked for forgiveness and went right back to Jesus.” But friends, why would we want a high school relationship? Why would we want to break up to make up. We know that we can sin. At anytime we can always walk out of Christ and stand on our own (living by the flesh) and that’s why we fall into sin.

Sinning under law vs. sinning under grace

Many theologians trivialize and minimize the seriousness of sin by categorizing the transgression. How can we even attempt to make a case suggesting that there is a difference between the Christian that sins and the sinning of worldly? Sin is sin. He that sins is of the devil the bible says. Whether we are under grace or law the wage is the same. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death. Consequently, many are walking through this world managing their sins, living in sin, singing I’m pressing on the upward way while they are sinking further and further into degradation.

The law condemns and grace saves. Yes, but unconfessed sins are unforgiven sins. So if we do not ask for grace to cover our sins we will share the faith of the worldly. Consider this text.

And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
We will likewise perish with the homosexuals, murderers, rapists and Satanists if we do not repent. Unconfessed sins are unforgiven sins. Remember friends, no sin will enter heaven. We must be better than nice or good, we must be holy. He that is in Christ, stay in Christ. We do not have to fulfill the lust of the flesh if we stay in Christ. He is able to keep us from falling.(Luke 13:2-5)

Romans 6:1-2
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Why would we want to crucify Him afresh by living in sin?

Hebrews 6:6
If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Hypothetically speaking – Tom is married to Jane. He pays all the bills, provides for the family, helps with all the house work and helps with the training of the kids. He takes out Jane often and tells her how much he loves her. But once every two months he beats her. He is really sorry for what he did and he begs for forgiveness. Jane says if you do it again, I am going to leave you. Tom does it again in the next two months. Even though he seems to be such a good husband and father, do you think he really loves Jane if he beats her? No, how can he? Love protects, provides, and connects, it does not abuse. He that is in Christ, stays in Christ.

1 John 3:9
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Again, Christ is saying to us. If we abide in him, we cannot sin.

Who are we going to believe? The word of God or man?

What of those with a reprobate, corrupt mind?

Posted: May 18, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching
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What does the Word have to say about those who once followed Christ with all their hearts, experienced His presence yet now live a life entrenched in the wickedness of this world? The ones who know His word enough to use it as a defense but have no relationship with Him to experience His grace?

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient” (Romans 1:28)

“Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith.” (2Timothy 3:8)

“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” (Titus 1:16)

The fact is even if we don’t know what the definition of the word is, we can see from the context clues that it doesn’t mean anything of a complimentary nature! Someone didn’t like to retain God in their knowledge, so they became reprobate; men of corrupt minds are reprobate concerning the faith; someone denies God and is reprobate regarding good works. It sounds as if these people are not living the right way. They don’t seem to have a desire to please God. The result of their approach to life is this state of being reprobate.

If we dig deep enough we can often find more of what a verse means by comparing how other Bible translations render a word or sentence. For example, notice the same verses mentioned above taken from translations other than the KJV:

“Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind; to do what ought not to be done.” (Romans 1:28, NIV)

“Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;” (2Timothy 3:8, NKJV)

“They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.” (Titus 1:16, NASB)

The same Greek word translated reprobate in the KJV Bible (Greek: ἀδόκιμος or adokimos, Strong’s Concordance Number #G96) is translated as depraved in the NIV version of Romans 1:28, disapproved in the NKJV version of 2Timothy 3:8 and worthless in the NASB version of Titus 1:16.

Now back to the question of how are we to know about someone who has a reprobate mind? We know from Romans 1:28 that the people under discussion did not like to retain God in their knowledge. As a result, God gave them over to this reprobate, depraved, disapproved and virtually worthless state of mind.

It is clear here that the people Paul is discussing in Romans chapter one are godless and wicked men who suppress the truth by their wickedness (Romans 1:18). Paul states regarding these men:

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” (Romans 1:20-23, NKJV)

We can see here that Paul is railing against some vile people who crept into the early church and began to teach other things, other doctrines, other gospels, and were successful at leading many astray. It was a problem right from the start, and it has continued to be a problem down to this very day! Perhaps as we continue reading what Paul said in Romans chapter one, we might recognize some people or organizations in the news today!

As we study the history of Christianity we come to know some of the early heresies of the first century church. Among the leading heresies was Gnosticism, from “gnosis” (knowledge). These liars taught a special kind of “inside knowledge” that led many away from the truth they had recently learned from the apostles! May I recommend reading the article “Are We under Bondage to the Law?”

In understanding Paul and the writers of the epistles are written as a direct defense of “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3, NKJV) against the onslaught of Gnosticism and other heresies. Paul wasn’t pulling any punches when he railed against these enemies of the truth, whether you’re reading about it in Romans or any of his other epistles. Paul was very concerned about the danger these snakes could do to the church members. He rightly called them depraved, debased, and ultimately, rejected!

And what of this question in regard to you and me? Might we be reprobates? The good news is, truly converted followers of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ don’t have to worry that they will be found reprobate – disapproved and disqualified – as long as they remain on the narrow, difficult path leading to the narrow gate of salvation (Matthew 7:13-14).

by Russ G Welch on Monday, October 11, 2010 at 8:36pm

The Battle of Controlling our Tongue!

Posted: May 16, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Parents, teaching
Tags: , , , , ,
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Don’t say anything that would hurt [another person]. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you. (Eph 4:29)

When we accepted Christ as our Lord, did we not surrender our right in regard to how we speak to others. Especially when we desire our “right” to voice our opinion when it is nothing more than tearing down another?

I have often heard others make the statement and even had Holy Ghost convict me of such behavior that we have the right to voice our opinion at the cost of hurting another, after all it is our right!

This is so far from the Kingdom culture that we must submit this to the power of the cross to broken off from our lives. If we have been wronged by another we are to forgive them even as Jesus taught us rather than letting our carnal mind be expressed when it is in the state of fleshly thinking.

The opening scripture defines how we should respond even when others may be rubbing us the wrong way. There are several scriptures which reference this and we must put them into our hearts, allowing Holy Ghost to write them there as a weight against the way in which we deal with others. Scriptures such as Eph 4:29 mentioned above as well as Col 4:6 should be our compass when we are faced with a situation that we need to respond.

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Col 4:6)

For we can have a powerful testimony of God’s grace in our lives be torn apart in moment just because we believe we have a right to respond harshly in the face of being wronged.

I’m not sure about you but I often find myself saying the wrong thing. I’m often much more comfortable expressing myself through the written word so that I have an opportunity to take some time and be thoughtful concerning the points I would like to make. Unfortunately, we don’t always have that luxury in real-time conversation, and our emotions often take over.

James 3:3 states Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide the whole animal. When I was growing up I worked at a horse stable for a summer and I would watch as the trainer would place the bridle over his trail horse and then insert the bit into the animal’s mouth. I thought it was cruel, but in the end I saw how the bit could turn the horse on a dime. Just as we place a bit in the mouth of a horse to control it we should have a bit….of sorts…..to control our tongue so that when we are engaged in conversation we say the right things.

The tongue is a mighty weapon. We often use it to destroy someone else on purpose or unintentionally. What we think of as small little comment can actually wreak a bit of havoc with someone else……So too, though the tongue is a small part [of the body], it boasts great things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites (James 3:5).

James 3:6-7 continues the thought….And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our [bodies]; it pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell. For every creature—animal or bird, reptile or fish—is tamed and has been tamed by man. Our tongue can destroy what we love. Our tongue can get us into mischief. Our tongue can embarrass us greatly. Our tongue shapes our character and provides a method for others to view us. Unfortunately very few men learn to control their tongues even though we have learned to control many things of this world including various animals.

Many people live their lives by excelling as verbal arsonists setting fires everywhere they go. They berate their kids, their spouse, and their friends. They intimidate others with their arrogance and some even turn folks off by their constant comments of doom and gloom.

We must remember our tongues display who we are…..the true us….not that fake one we put on for company. Our words shape who we are.

The tongue is inconsistent……The words we utter often don’t make sense. James 3: 9 explains…With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in God’s likeness. How can this be?

How many people did you judge today? Curse today? Belittle today? Perhaps you are like me and you have explained your actions away because you didn’t speak your words….you just thought them. Perhaps you voiced your opinion to someone else and not to the person your words could destroy.

It doesn’t matter. Your words….spoken or unspoken…..delivered to the person they are about or to someone else are YOUR words from YOUR tongue. By allowing your tongue to flap in that manner you are belittling something…cursing something made in God’s image.

The true condition of your heart comes out through your tongue. Many, many years prior to Freud explaining why we have so many hang-ups Jesus had the answer as He said, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34).

It would seem then that the solution to control the tongue is not a bridle and bit…..not a rudder….., but a new heart. Rid yourself of all the offenses you have committed and get a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 18:31), and we need to continually ask God for help everyday…..Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord, keep watch over the door of my lips (Psalm 141:3).

I know in my own life, Holy Ghost has been teaching me to respond with the same Grace, Mercy and Love that the Father has used in my life. Above all things we must act in Love – for we can operate in many of the gifts of the Spirit, preach or sing before huge crowds, win hundreds of soul’s to the Kingdom, yet in our personal dealing’s with others if we allow what we consider to be our “right” to respond anyway we please and do not respond I n Love all the other thing matter not.

I’ll be asking Holy Ghost for His help everyday in my own walk…..will you?

HIS,
Russ Welch

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