Ok, this might be longer, so we'll just get down to business. Take a moment and bomb through Acts 2. If you've come for exhortation today, what you're going to find instead is a brief overview of this chapter, bringing out the power of the Holy Spirit. It should realize our great need of the blessing of God for spiritual matters.
You notice a few things here, starting with how it was Pentecost, and the disciples had purposed to gather together in one place. God took this opportunity to sent His Holy Spirit to them. Finally, they knew the presence of God with them! The Lord showed them audibly and visually that there was Someone new coming to live inside of them. The sound of a rushing wind (John 3:8), although it wasn't windy. A tongue in the appearance of fire coming, splitting, and sitting on each of them as Christ promised in Acts 1:8 ("the Holy Ghost shall come upon you"). Literally, the Spirit of God sat on them so they could initially understand the fulfillment of the word of Christ.
Next thing is they have a sign unto themselves, and others around that the Holy Spirit was working through them. They were able to speak many dialects. These dialects would have been variations of the native language of Israel, that was slightly changed in different areas because the Jews had been scattered abroad in the years before because of persecutions and captivities.
Any reasonable answer to hearing these Galileans, a few being uneducated fishermen, speak in the different dialects that they had never spoke before would be that it is God working. We find they are all amazed, but no doubt once again the hardness of their hearts shows through, "They must be drunk!" I was baffled at this answer. How does that make any sense at all? It isn't as if these men are speaking jibberish; they are speaking in each person's dialect that is present from 17 regions mentioned. They weren't cursing, they were speaking "wonderful works of God" (Acts 2:11). It wasn't even night time, it was still 9am and these were accusing the disciples of being drunk?
As the disciples stand up to defend themselves, the Peter speaks up and the Holy Spirit works mightily through the word of God. Peter defends themselves, then shows them proof of the coming of the Holy Spirit through the prophetic statement of Joel. He then gets into the meat of his message that Jesus was the Christ and Lord (Acts 2:36). He presents, as I see it, nine different witnesses that Jesus was the Christ and Lord starting in verse 22 through 35.
1. Them v22- The scoffers had seen His miracles, signs and wonders. This shows that He must have been approved of God. Nicodemus came to Jesus and said, "Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him" (John 3:2b).
2. God v23- Jesus was the fufilment of the prophecy of God. It shows that Jesus is the Christ since it was according to foreknowledge of God.
3. Death v24- Death must have thought, "This is odd!" Firstly, one who had never sinned died by giving up His own life (John 19:30). The payment for sins is death (Romans 6:23), He had never sinned (2 Corinthians 5:21), so He never should have died. Since He never should have died, death had no right to keep Him and lost the battle when He was raised through the eternal Spirit of God (Romans 8:11).
4. David v25, 26 - He fortells of the Kingship of the Messiah, which will be proven by the rest of the witnesses.
5. Corruption v27 - Corruption has to witness because He is the only one to not see corruption. Death itself had no power over Him and declares, "this must be the Christ."
6. Incorruption v28 - In 1 Corinthians 15:20 tells us that He is "the firstfruits of them that slept." Since He is the first, and the Messiah needed to be first to enter heaven in the new body, He is the Christ. The Messiah had to be first because a image needed to be established for the saints to be conformed to when they gain their incorruptable body at the coming of Christ to the air (1 Corinthians 15:49)
7. We all v32 - The apostles were witnesses because they had seen Christ after the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:4-8).
8. Holy Spirit v33 - The coming of the Holy Spirit would attest to the fact that Jesus, the Christ, had come to His Father and to the right hand of God. Remember the promise of the Lord Jesus to His disciples concerning the Holy Spirit in John 14:20, "At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you." The coming of the Holy Spirit proves that Jesus is the Christ because He came as foretold since Jesus went to His Father in heaven.
9. Resurrection v34-35 - the fulfillment of David's Psalm could only take place in resurrection. Jesus had to raise from the dead in order to fulfill this (to get His incorruptible body). We also know from the coming of the Holy Spirit that He went to the Father. At the Father's presence, He takes His rightful place at the right hand of God because of resurrection. Resurrection declares, "He is Christ and Lord."
After all of this, we see the working of the Holy Spirit. How amazing it would have been for the apostles to behold the power of the Holy Spirit. A once somewhat hostile crowd is convicted in their hearts, and 3000 souls are saved, then baptized, then added. Those added followed the teaching of the apostles given them of Christ, fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
We should not expect another Pentecost. The Holy Spirit only will come in that way once and never again. The gift of tongues has passed away (1 Corinthians 13:8), and we know that the giving of that gift doesn't correspond with the giving of the Holy Spirit since one like Paul didn't have the gift.
There is a reason why Jesus told His disciples to stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came, because they had no power in Spiritual things without this help. We too have no power without the Holy Spirit. This is why the prayer meeting before gospel is important, to ask for help from God since we cannot convict souls. The Holy Spirit is the teacher. The Holy Spirit does the conviction. Without this help, we can do nothing. It was not Peter who saved 3000 souls; Peter was an instrument used, speaking the word of God with His voice, used by the Holy Spirit to convict souls, who intern repented and believed at their own free will. Without the Holy Spirit, Peter's words would have been empty. Without the Holy Spirit's work, our words will never convince the anxious or cold hearted sinner. We need Holy Ghost power to see any gain for the Kingdom of God.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
You Can't Survive Here on Your Own
It's freezing cold outside. Maybe I'm just soft, but I really don't like winter much. When I do go outside, I make sure to try to stay warm. Throw on the coat... gloves... toque... maybe even boots and long underwear. In a Saskatchewan winter, without these things you have no chance of survival out in the elements.
The Lord Jesus told His disciples that they needed to stay in until they had the tool necessary for them to survive in the elements. He would be ascending, and they would need divine help for their spiritual work. The Lord would send the Holy Spirit to do His work (Acts 1:2, 8).
The fact that the Lord didn't want the disciples to go out preaching without the Holy Spirit should make us understand the importance of Him. Without the Holy Spirit, we have no power at all. Our efforts would be wasted.
When Paul went to Corinth, we find that he was relying on the Spirit of God rather than himself (1 Corinthians 2:4). The Holy Spirit reveals things that are spiritual and of God to people (1 Corinthians 2:10). He also makes intercession for us in heaven, since we don't always know what we should pray (Romans 8:26). We should allow the Spirit to guide us where we would go with the word of God (Acts 8:29, 10:19-20, 11:12, 16:6-7, 21:4). He also dwells within and is our down payment by God that He was purchased us and will take us to be with Himself (2 Corinthians 1:22, 5:5). John 16:8-11 tells us of the great work He does through the word of God, "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." What a marvelous work He does that we are powerless to do.
Without a jacket outside in the -40 winter, people last maybe 5 minutes before they start having trouble with normal bodily functions and are in danger of soon death. Without help from the Holy Spirit, no matter what we told people or how convincing we are, people would be still in danger of eternal spiritual death because our message would have no power. Let us pray that as we proclaim the word of God, sharing with believers or with non-believers, that the Holy Spirit would go forth in power so that the word might be effective; warming the hearts of sinners that they might humble themselves and take God's salvation in Jesus Christ's work.
The Lord Jesus told His disciples that they needed to stay in until they had the tool necessary for them to survive in the elements. He would be ascending, and they would need divine help for their spiritual work. The Lord would send the Holy Spirit to do His work (Acts 1:2, 8).
The fact that the Lord didn't want the disciples to go out preaching without the Holy Spirit should make us understand the importance of Him. Without the Holy Spirit, we have no power at all. Our efforts would be wasted.
When Paul went to Corinth, we find that he was relying on the Spirit of God rather than himself (1 Corinthians 2:4). The Holy Spirit reveals things that are spiritual and of God to people (1 Corinthians 2:10). He also makes intercession for us in heaven, since we don't always know what we should pray (Romans 8:26). We should allow the Spirit to guide us where we would go with the word of God (Acts 8:29, 10:19-20, 11:12, 16:6-7, 21:4). He also dwells within and is our down payment by God that He was purchased us and will take us to be with Himself (2 Corinthians 1:22, 5:5). John 16:8-11 tells us of the great work He does through the word of God, "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." What a marvelous work He does that we are powerless to do.
Without a jacket outside in the -40 winter, people last maybe 5 minutes before they start having trouble with normal bodily functions and are in danger of soon death. Without help from the Holy Spirit, no matter what we told people or how convincing we are, people would be still in danger of eternal spiritual death because our message would have no power. Let us pray that as we proclaim the word of God, sharing with believers or with non-believers, that the Holy Spirit would go forth in power so that the word might be effective; warming the hearts of sinners that they might humble themselves and take God's salvation in Jesus Christ's work.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Famous Last Words
Sometimes I wonder what my last words to people might be. Of course we don't know what words will be our last, but some in history have been able to choose their last words wisely. Some people's last words are poetic, like Emily Dickinson who before her passing in 1886 said, "the fog is rising." Some words were of encouragement, as in 1715 when Louis XIV said, "Why are you weeping? Did you think that I was immortal?" In 1799, George Washington proclaimed boldly, "It is well, I die hard, but I am not afraid to go."
The beginning of the last conclusion that Paul would write to those in Corinth are ones that we should take to heart. 2 Corinthians 13:11 say, "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." His farewell is quite an encouragement.
The exhortation to be perfect, or be perfected, is one that we all should be striving for. We know that we cannot be perfectly like Christ until we are given incorruptible bodies at the resurrection of the saints in order to make us fit for heaven (1 Corinthians 15:53), but we ourselves can be made more perfect through love one for another and of God (1 John 2:5). We should also note the glorious fact that we in the eyes of God have already been perfected through the Lord Jesus Christ if we have accepted Him as our Offering for sin (Hebrews 10:14).
We would be comforted that we have a living Savior who will return to take us to be with Himself. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Paul comforts that believers in reminding them that the Lord will return in a coming day, uniting them with their lost loved ones. The assurance that Christ will return as He has promised (2 Peter 3:9) is a comfort to each one as we will be taken from a world of sin, to a dimension of absolute holiness.
Paul exhorts for unity. Unity begins with love, which is the basis of the proof of our salvation to those around us (1 John 3:14). A spirit of hate should never be seen in us. The Psalmist too would remind us in 133:1, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"
Finally Paul tells them to "live in peace." Each of these previous urgings of Paul would let them know that they can live in peace. Philippians 4:13 lets us know that the peace of God, which is beyond comprehension, will not only comfort us but guard us also. If we have seen the Lord Jesus as our substitute for sin, we should have such amazing peace in our heart.
These simple four things that Paul tells them about would no doubt cheered their hearts. We are unsure if Paul wrote again to those at Corinth, or whether he was able to visit them again after his third visit, so these very well could have been his last words to these believers. Hopefully since we never know what might be our last words, we are spreading the Fruit of the Spirit all around so that we might encourage everyone in what could be our last words to them.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
The beginning of the last conclusion that Paul would write to those in Corinth are ones that we should take to heart. 2 Corinthians 13:11 say, "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." His farewell is quite an encouragement.
The exhortation to be perfect, or be perfected, is one that we all should be striving for. We know that we cannot be perfectly like Christ until we are given incorruptible bodies at the resurrection of the saints in order to make us fit for heaven (1 Corinthians 15:53), but we ourselves can be made more perfect through love one for another and of God (1 John 2:5). We should also note the glorious fact that we in the eyes of God have already been perfected through the Lord Jesus Christ if we have accepted Him as our Offering for sin (Hebrews 10:14).
We would be comforted that we have a living Savior who will return to take us to be with Himself. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Paul comforts that believers in reminding them that the Lord will return in a coming day, uniting them with their lost loved ones. The assurance that Christ will return as He has promised (2 Peter 3:9) is a comfort to each one as we will be taken from a world of sin, to a dimension of absolute holiness.
Paul exhorts for unity. Unity begins with love, which is the basis of the proof of our salvation to those around us (1 John 3:14). A spirit of hate should never be seen in us. The Psalmist too would remind us in 133:1, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"
Finally Paul tells them to "live in peace." Each of these previous urgings of Paul would let them know that they can live in peace. Philippians 4:13 lets us know that the peace of God, which is beyond comprehension, will not only comfort us but guard us also. If we have seen the Lord Jesus as our substitute for sin, we should have such amazing peace in our heart.
These simple four things that Paul tells them about would no doubt cheered their hearts. We are unsure if Paul wrote again to those at Corinth, or whether he was able to visit them again after his third visit, so these very well could have been his last words to these believers. Hopefully since we never know what might be our last words, we are spreading the Fruit of the Spirit all around so that we might encourage everyone in what could be our last words to them.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Friday, February 20, 2009
Uncharted Territory
I've always admired explorers. There were so many dangers, but yet they were unphased in their adventures. People like Christopher Columbus set off across the Atlantic in search of India, when most people thought he would sail off the edge of the world. Henry Hudson in search of the Northwest Passage fell at the hand of his mutinous crew in Hudson's Bay. Ferdinand Magellan died in the Philippines in an attempt to circumnavigate the world. James Cook died in Hawaii on his third time around the world. Robert Scott's crew died on a return during their race to the south pole with Roald Amundsen. Going into uncharted territory is often dangerous, but usually rewarding.The Apostles were the first early explorers for Christ. Paul traveled the dangerous roads and seas going from Judea to Spain and everywhere in between. Secular sources have it that John Mark died in Egypt, Jude went into Libya and died in Asia Minor, Simon the Zealot went as far as Britain and Mauritania, and Thomas died in India. They took the commission of Christ and ran with it to the far reaches of the earth.
We should, as Paul did, take the words in Isaiah 52:15 personally, "To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand" (Romans 15:21). The Lord may have placed it in your heart the desire to be a missionary. Seek the Lord for His timing in going out that you might be the instrument for God to those that have not heard so that they might understand.
If you feel your role is to stay home and battle, this same scripture applies to you. Many people in today's world couldn't tell you what John 3:16 says. There are thousands in your local area that don't know the good news of God's salvation. There are hundreds of thousands in your state or province that don't know that when God sent His Son, it was for them. There are millions in your country that are confused by justification by works (James 2) and justification by faith (Galatians 2:16, Romans 5:1).
One of the reasons that the Lord has saved us is to spread His name to everyone. Do we have a good enough testimony for others to see that our salvation is real? Maybe you say that you don't have a gift for evangelism. God doesn't require this in order to save souls. We are to spread the word, the Lord will do the work through His Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10). Start with just telling your testimony. People flock to watch movies based on true stories, and watch Opera and Dr. Phil by the millions to see stories about things that have changed people's lives. How much greater is the change in our life on the day of salvation compared to anything that this world fabricate!
Let us go into uncharted territory. Find the people who have never known the way of salvation. Tell them about the gospel that they might have what we have. Let God work in the hearts of men and women that many more might be added unto the kingdom. Some seed will fall on good soil (Luke 8:15), and the word will not return unto the Lord void (Isaiah 55:11). It's up to us to get the message out into uncharted territory, then we can allow God to do the real work.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Three Easy Steps
It seems that in today's world, many things can be done in "Three Easy Steps." People are looking for a great result with relatively few and easy steps. In order to try to appeal to people, a certain three steps can help you write a legal will, get a six-pack, or even learn to blog. If you're looking for a shortcut in your Christian life, you aren't going to find it; but Romans provides us with three steps to staying encouraged in the renewing and transformation of the mind.
When reading this morning, this verse jumped off the page: "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer" (Romans 12:12). These three steps help breed great things for the Christian in their life.
What greater thing is there to rejoice in than our hope, which is in Christ? When we rejoice, the joy within our soul is overflowing in worship unto God. People see this and see a difference in us since our joy is not based on circumstance, but in hope. This hope is by no means an uncertainty, but rather something that you have confidence in. We can have confidence that the Lord will return to redeem us from this world, as He has given us the Holy Spirit of promise as a down payment (2 Corinthians 1:22, 5:5; Eph 1:13-14).
Solomon in Ecclesiastes 7:8 tells us that, "the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit." Patience is given to us as a qualification of an elder (1 Timothy 3:3) and the servant of the Lord (2 Timothy 2:24). James and Paul tells us to be patient and wait for the coming of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 3:5, James 5:7-8). We need to also be patient to others around us (1 Thessalonians 5:14). Patience is something that each one of us could have more of. If we had more patience with the people around us, we would be able to display more of the love of Christ and be a better testimony for God. It has been said that if you pray for patience you are praying dangerously. How are we to develop patience? "Tribulation worketh patience," Paul tells us (Romans 5:3). Learn to glory in tribulation rather than avoiding it, would do each of us well in order to develop more patience. Christ was the most patient of all for He went through the most severe tribulation in relation to what He deserved by continually taking the lowest position (Philippians 2:5).
Continuing instant in prayer a the best way to defeat temptation. Instant in prayer means to be constant in prayer. The Lord tells His disciples, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41). If prayer keeps us from temptation, then how can we enter into temptation if we are continually praying? Quite simply, we can't. We would continually pray not only for our benefit, but for others. Paul would let churches know that he was always praying for them (Colossians 1:9, 2 Thessalonians 1:11). Imagine if we all were continually committed to prayer. We know that we can do nothing without blessing from the Spirit, and imagine the revivals if we were committed to continual and constant prayer and intercession for saints and sinners (1 Corinthians 2:4).
The Christian life was never guarenteed to be easy. These three steps are far from the "Three Easy Steps" that are meant to appeal to the world. Through these things we can make considerable inroads in the battle against the Devil for condemned souls. In this spiritual warfare, we need to access our greatest spiritual weapons against the most powerful of spiritual adversaries. Rejoicing, Patience, and Prayer.
When reading this morning, this verse jumped off the page: "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer" (Romans 12:12). These three steps help breed great things for the Christian in their life.
What greater thing is there to rejoice in than our hope, which is in Christ? When we rejoice, the joy within our soul is overflowing in worship unto God. People see this and see a difference in us since our joy is not based on circumstance, but in hope. This hope is by no means an uncertainty, but rather something that you have confidence in. We can have confidence that the Lord will return to redeem us from this world, as He has given us the Holy Spirit of promise as a down payment (2 Corinthians 1:22, 5:5; Eph 1:13-14).
Solomon in Ecclesiastes 7:8 tells us that, "the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit." Patience is given to us as a qualification of an elder (1 Timothy 3:3) and the servant of the Lord (2 Timothy 2:24). James and Paul tells us to be patient and wait for the coming of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 3:5, James 5:7-8). We need to also be patient to others around us (1 Thessalonians 5:14). Patience is something that each one of us could have more of. If we had more patience with the people around us, we would be able to display more of the love of Christ and be a better testimony for God. It has been said that if you pray for patience you are praying dangerously. How are we to develop patience? "Tribulation worketh patience," Paul tells us (Romans 5:3). Learn to glory in tribulation rather than avoiding it, would do each of us well in order to develop more patience. Christ was the most patient of all for He went through the most severe tribulation in relation to what He deserved by continually taking the lowest position (Philippians 2:5).
Continuing instant in prayer a the best way to defeat temptation. Instant in prayer means to be constant in prayer. The Lord tells His disciples, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41). If prayer keeps us from temptation, then how can we enter into temptation if we are continually praying? Quite simply, we can't. We would continually pray not only for our benefit, but for others. Paul would let churches know that he was always praying for them (Colossians 1:9, 2 Thessalonians 1:11). Imagine if we all were continually committed to prayer. We know that we can do nothing without blessing from the Spirit, and imagine the revivals if we were committed to continual and constant prayer and intercession for saints and sinners (1 Corinthians 2:4).
The Christian life was never guarenteed to be easy. These three steps are far from the "Three Easy Steps" that are meant to appeal to the world. Through these things we can make considerable inroads in the battle against the Devil for condemned souls. In this spiritual warfare, we need to access our greatest spiritual weapons against the most powerful of spiritual adversaries. Rejoicing, Patience, and Prayer.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Buy Victory Bonds
Last night I was a birthday party. People we playing some cards, and then started looking at the pictures on the cards instead. They were war propaganda posters from the First World War. Many of them were encouraging citizens to support the war and invest in it through buying war bonds (Canada's version was victory bonds). Images of children encouraging you to buy bonds because their dad is at war, or an image of a Japanese solider telling people, "Go ahead please - take day off," from work. The images of children, women and of the enemy were common to get citizens on side to ration their money and spend it on the war. Am I spending money on the war?
A common theme through Paul's epistles is warfare and the soldier. 2 Timothy 2:3-4 says, "Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him." In Philippians 2:25 and Philemon 1:2, Paul refers to his fellow laborers as soldiers. Our passions are at war with us (James 4:1), we walk in the flesh but don't fight our war on the side of the flesh (2 Corinthians 10:2), and the flesh wars against our souls (1 Peter 2:11). No doubt about it, we are in a war.
Those who are at the home front still contribute to the war, as the propaganda posters make clear. There are some who are out full time on the front lines serving our Commander and Chief. Are we buying "victory bonds"?
A common excuse not to give is that I don't make enough money, "If only the Lord would give me more money, then I would give him more." I don't remember where I heard it, but the poorest state per capita in the US is Mississippi. Can you guess what state gave the most to charitable organization's per capita? When we show the Lord that we can be trusted with more, than He will give us more. When He gives us more, we should give more.
A great biblical example was those in Macedonia, Thessalonica and Philippi. 2 Corinthians 8:1, 9:1 and Philippians 4:15-19 shows us that the people from these areas, who were known for being poor, were the greatest givers. They were extremely poor and yet were the greatest givers to the poor!
How much do we give? How much is the Lord worth to us? Remember how much the Lord Jesus gave us! "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9). "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15). Giving is true worship when it costs us something. This is why the greatest gift of all is salvation because God had to give His only begotten Son and the Son had to give up His life, even through some wouldn't and won't take His propitiatory sacrifice for themselves (1 John 2:2, 2 Peter 2:1).
Truly everything that God gives us is His, how much are we paying Him back? The focus of this blog was more towards money, but also we need to be aware of how much time we are giving the Lord. We are living in a time of war and battle over souls against Satan and the power of darkness: Start living like it.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Ephesians 6:11-20
A common theme through Paul's epistles is warfare and the soldier. 2 Timothy 2:3-4 says, "Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him." In Philippians 2:25 and Philemon 1:2, Paul refers to his fellow laborers as soldiers. Our passions are at war with us (James 4:1), we walk in the flesh but don't fight our war on the side of the flesh (2 Corinthians 10:2), and the flesh wars against our souls (1 Peter 2:11). No doubt about it, we are in a war.
Those who are at the home front still contribute to the war, as the propaganda posters make clear. There are some who are out full time on the front lines serving our Commander and Chief. Are we buying "victory bonds"?
A common excuse not to give is that I don't make enough money, "If only the Lord would give me more money, then I would give him more." I don't remember where I heard it, but the poorest state per capita in the US is Mississippi. Can you guess what state gave the most to charitable organization's per capita? When we show the Lord that we can be trusted with more, than He will give us more. When He gives us more, we should give more.
A great biblical example was those in Macedonia, Thessalonica and Philippi. 2 Corinthians 8:1, 9:1 and Philippians 4:15-19 shows us that the people from these areas, who were known for being poor, were the greatest givers. They were extremely poor and yet were the greatest givers to the poor!
How much do we give? How much is the Lord worth to us? Remember how much the Lord Jesus gave us! "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9). "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15). Giving is true worship when it costs us something. This is why the greatest gift of all is salvation because God had to give His only begotten Son and the Son had to give up His life, even through some wouldn't and won't take His propitiatory sacrifice for themselves (1 John 2:2, 2 Peter 2:1).
Truly everything that God gives us is His, how much are we paying Him back? The focus of this blog was more towards money, but also we need to be aware of how much time we are giving the Lord. We are living in a time of war and battle over souls against Satan and the power of darkness: Start living like it.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Ephesians 6:11-20
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Troding Carefully
It's reading week. I've only seen a bit of snow recently, which was remnant of the epic snowfall earlier this winter on the west coast, but I was reminded in my thoughts today of walking through deep snow on the way to school. From the place where I park, you can either take the long way around to the Education Building, or you can cut through a small grassy area and walk about half the distance. A couple weeks ago we had a good dump of snow. I came to the shortcut path and it had been all covered over in about 6" of snow, all except for one set of footprints. I decided to try to follow the path by putting each step in the exact place as the trail blazer. If you don't quite step in the right spot, you get snow in your shoes... wet socks... and frustration for hours.
Through our lives we need to trod just as carefully. Psalm 128:1 tells us, "Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!" (ESV). It is an amazing thing for the believer to know that they will be blessed if they follow His ways. We know that His ways are righteousness, and thus we will always be walking according to the will of God (Psalms 23:3). If we are in the will of God then we know that whatever happens to us in this life is working together for good (Romans 8:28). Sorrows happen. Joy happens. Happiness happens. Sadness happens. Tragedy strikes. Whatever happens in the will of God, we know will work for good.
What an amazing thing it is to be blessed. In OT times especially, people were seeking blessing. The children sought the blessing of their father. Friends sought blessing from their friends. The righteous, as we should be, sought blessing from the Lord. We are blessed in Christ with spiritual blessing in the heavenlies (Eph 1:3).
That path through the snow begins to grow bigger and wider. People don't quite step right in the print of the last fellow, and break away more snow until the path is wide. We should be set on keeping that path in our life as only one set of prints. Tread carefully, stay close to the Lord in the paths of righteousness and we will find ourselves in a satisfied and righteous life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
I Love Your Ways - Newboys
They shine like dawn on an open Psalm
A knowing smile from something You said
I hunger for the daily bread of Your ways
Ah, the bread of Your ways
They glow like blue in a field of black
Illuminating the runway ahead
I love to follow the angel tread of Your ways
Ah, the tread of Your ways
Chorus:
I love Your ways (Your true, Your perfect ways)
I love Your ways (so beautiful to me)
Lovely always (and faithful to restore)
I love Your ways
And when I tire, they bring a second wind
A word in season, a gleam in Your eye
I love to feel the runner's high of Your ways
Ah, the high of Your ways
I lived so long under basement floors
The flickering lights, the windowless gloom
I'm here to stay in the upper room of Your ways
Ah, the room of Your ways
I need Your good word speaking
When there's nothing to say
I need Your Spirit here
Breathing on me every day
Every night I need Your love's pure light
And I've learned forever to trust
Ever to follow
Ever I'll praise Your everlasting ways
(Your everlasting ways
Your everlasting ways)
Through our lives we need to trod just as carefully. Psalm 128:1 tells us, "Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!" (ESV). It is an amazing thing for the believer to know that they will be blessed if they follow His ways. We know that His ways are righteousness, and thus we will always be walking according to the will of God (Psalms 23:3). If we are in the will of God then we know that whatever happens to us in this life is working together for good (Romans 8:28). Sorrows happen. Joy happens. Happiness happens. Sadness happens. Tragedy strikes. Whatever happens in the will of God, we know will work for good.
What an amazing thing it is to be blessed. In OT times especially, people were seeking blessing. The children sought the blessing of their father. Friends sought blessing from their friends. The righteous, as we should be, sought blessing from the Lord. We are blessed in Christ with spiritual blessing in the heavenlies (Eph 1:3).
That path through the snow begins to grow bigger and wider. People don't quite step right in the print of the last fellow, and break away more snow until the path is wide. We should be set on keeping that path in our life as only one set of prints. Tread carefully, stay close to the Lord in the paths of righteousness and we will find ourselves in a satisfied and righteous life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
I Love Your Ways - Newboys
They shine like dawn on an open Psalm
A knowing smile from something You said
I hunger for the daily bread of Your ways
Ah, the bread of Your ways
They glow like blue in a field of black
Illuminating the runway ahead
I love to follow the angel tread of Your ways
Ah, the tread of Your ways
Chorus:
I love Your ways (Your true, Your perfect ways)
I love Your ways (so beautiful to me)
Lovely always (and faithful to restore)
I love Your ways
And when I tire, they bring a second wind
A word in season, a gleam in Your eye
I love to feel the runner's high of Your ways
Ah, the high of Your ways
I lived so long under basement floors
The flickering lights, the windowless gloom
I'm here to stay in the upper room of Your ways
Ah, the room of Your ways
I need Your good word speaking
When there's nothing to say
I need Your Spirit here
Breathing on me every day
Every night I need Your love's pure light
And I've learned forever to trust
Ever to follow
Ever I'll praise Your everlasting ways
(Your everlasting ways
Your everlasting ways)
Friday, February 13, 2009
Building and Upkeep
Building a house isn't easy. First you need a contractor, unless you're going to do that on your own. Lay your foundation of concrete on solid ground. Frame the floor, walls and roof. Put on the siding and shingles. Then the ducts, wiring, plumbing, and insulation need to go in before you start to drywall. Finish the ceilings. Paint the walls. Then comes the major appliances and the list goes on. Very few people have the ability to do all those steps on their own. Even if they are able to do this, their work isn't done. Upkeep to make their home continually in good condition is as big a commitment as building it.
Building the house of God isn't easy, and neither is the upkeep. Some churches that are planted fail. Ravenous wolves sometimes come in and pull people out. Assemblies can have times of tribulation. Overseers work so hard to keep things going. Members do their best to find people to come out to meetings. Numbers get small and people start to be discouraged, "Where are all the people?"
Psalm 127:1 says, "Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain."
In the previous paragraph in only mentioned God once, which was to do with who's house we're talking about. We must always remember it is God's house and not our own. God will keep it so long as it is pleasing to Him. If we try to build and continue on with a church, without the Lord's blessing it will fail.
When I think of watchmen, the Disney cartoon "Robin Hood" comes to mind. Trigger and Nutsy are keeping watch. "One o'clock and alllllllllllllllls weeeelllllllllllllllllllll," he would shout. Is all well in our house?
Are the members of the body working together in unity? Do we all love one another? Perhaps we are an Ephesus who has left our first love (Revelation 2:4). Maybe more of a Pergamos who is sympathetic to the Laity, or luke warm as Laodicea (Revelation 2:15, 3:16). Will the lampstand of our local church stand in the end? Prayerfully look within the church. Ensure the teaching is sound and according to the word of God. Look at the believers and encourage them in Christ. Find ways of fellowshipping with the believers outside of the regular gatherings.
Always remember that without the blessing of the Lord, our lamp will go out. Some plant and some water, but God gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). All our efforts are futile without blessing from God.
"So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 7:11
Building the house of God isn't easy, and neither is the upkeep. Some churches that are planted fail. Ravenous wolves sometimes come in and pull people out. Assemblies can have times of tribulation. Overseers work so hard to keep things going. Members do their best to find people to come out to meetings. Numbers get small and people start to be discouraged, "Where are all the people?"
Psalm 127:1 says, "Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain."
In the previous paragraph in only mentioned God once, which was to do with who's house we're talking about. We must always remember it is God's house and not our own. God will keep it so long as it is pleasing to Him. If we try to build and continue on with a church, without the Lord's blessing it will fail.
When I think of watchmen, the Disney cartoon "Robin Hood" comes to mind. Trigger and Nutsy are keeping watch. "One o'clock and alllllllllllllllls weeeelllllllllllllllllllll," he would shout. Is all well in our house?
Are the members of the body working together in unity? Do we all love one another? Perhaps we are an Ephesus who has left our first love (Revelation 2:4). Maybe more of a Pergamos who is sympathetic to the Laity, or luke warm as Laodicea (Revelation 2:15, 3:16). Will the lampstand of our local church stand in the end? Prayerfully look within the church. Ensure the teaching is sound and according to the word of God. Look at the believers and encourage them in Christ. Find ways of fellowshipping with the believers outside of the regular gatherings.
Always remember that without the blessing of the Lord, our lamp will go out. Some plant and some water, but God gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). All our efforts are futile without blessing from God.
"So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 7:11
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Separate
Yesterday I wrote a couple of midterm exams. One of the classes is an Educational Administration class. On the exam, there was a question where we had to address the issue of separate schools. Separate schools are publicly funded, but teach religious along with regular curriculum. These schools are distinct and different from regular public schools. On the exam, the professor let us know that we would lose marks if were wrong about separate.
In the Christian life, we should regard not being separate as failure. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord..." Paul is encouraging the Corinthian believers to look different from the world. The world looks at the Christian and tries to pick apart his life. We are continually under a microscope and need to focus on being separate from the world in our actions and attitudes. The way to win those not saved to Christ is not through showing them that you are just like them (this is the mistake the Corinthians made), but rather being different and satisfied in Christ.
Recently a friend and I were talking about being different from the world around us. They mentioned to me about their grandpa who was a missionary and how he had served in the same country as Jim Elliot. Jim Elliot was a missionary in Ecuador to the Auca Indians where he was unexpectedly martyred at the hands of the natives he went to reach with the gospel. My friend's grandpa said of Jim Elliot (though he only met him once), "Jim was different." Jim was different? A group of Christians and Jim was different? A group of missionaries and Jim was different? He lived this verse out to the fullest and was separate even from the Christian missionaries with him in Ecuador.
To apply it practically, we should find things in our lives that we can do or impove on in order to be separate from the world. It isn't enough to look separate, but we need to be separate. Where are our priorities? Where do we place reading the Bible in a list of important events? How about prayer? Do we daily pray for ourselves, others, our church members, leaders, elders, shepherds, those we need to interceed for, and those in need? People should be able to just look at us and say that we are different. Different, holy, set apart, sanctified, and separate. Let us model our lives in such a way that we are separate, just as our Lord Jesus Christ.
"For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens." Hebrews 7:26
In the Christian life, we should regard not being separate as failure. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord..." Paul is encouraging the Corinthian believers to look different from the world. The world looks at the Christian and tries to pick apart his life. We are continually under a microscope and need to focus on being separate from the world in our actions and attitudes. The way to win those not saved to Christ is not through showing them that you are just like them (this is the mistake the Corinthians made), but rather being different and satisfied in Christ.
Recently a friend and I were talking about being different from the world around us. They mentioned to me about their grandpa who was a missionary and how he had served in the same country as Jim Elliot. Jim Elliot was a missionary in Ecuador to the Auca Indians where he was unexpectedly martyred at the hands of the natives he went to reach with the gospel. My friend's grandpa said of Jim Elliot (though he only met him once), "Jim was different." Jim was different? A group of Christians and Jim was different? A group of missionaries and Jim was different? He lived this verse out to the fullest and was separate even from the Christian missionaries with him in Ecuador.
To apply it practically, we should find things in our lives that we can do or impove on in order to be separate from the world. It isn't enough to look separate, but we need to be separate. Where are our priorities? Where do we place reading the Bible in a list of important events? How about prayer? Do we daily pray for ourselves, others, our church members, leaders, elders, shepherds, those we need to interceed for, and those in need? People should be able to just look at us and say that we are different. Different, holy, set apart, sanctified, and separate. Let us model our lives in such a way that we are separate, just as our Lord Jesus Christ.
"For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens." Hebrews 7:26
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Flying on Instruments
I’m about to board an airplane in about an hour. I remind myself often that there are more deaths because of donkeys than airplanes. Am I wrong in thinking that donkeys aren’t dangerous? We all have heard of stories about airplanes going down. Sometimes however, a pilot becomes a hero as he brings down a load of passengers safety. Weather can cause poor visibility and pilots sometimes have to learn to fly based on instruments alone. There is no time to wonder if the altimeter is correct, because futures are on the line.
2 Corinthians 5:7 jumped out today to me, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” In KJV and ESV the verse is placed in parenthesis, but this is far more than an after thought. Often times I have ideas in my mind of what is best. I think I can see into the future and determine what going to benefit me, and even God, most. In times like that I need to remind myself that I am just a sheep in need of a Shepherd. I don’t know much about sheep, but I do know that they like to wander and get into trouble. Paul reminds us that we need to walk my faith, not by sight. In this dark and dreary world, we need the word of God to be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalms 119:105). Walk in the word according to the will of God and move when He moves.
A picture of this is evident with the children of Israel in the wilderness. They would be lead by the Lord with fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day (Exodus 13:21-22, 40:38). When the cloud stopped, so would the people. When the pillar of fire moved on, so would the people. Traveling through the desert at the timing and will of God.
We need to constantly be reminded that God always has things in control. The Lord reminds Habakkuk of this in 2:4 when he is wondering why the Lord would have a wickeder nation than Israel capture them. The prospering of the wicked troubled him greatly. “The just shall live by his faith” is what the Lord told Habakkuk.
This is the same faith that we were saved by. Where does our faith go? It was so strong in salvation’s day, committing our souls and lives to the Lord (Romans 1:17). We know that the law didn’t justify our souls; it was by faith (Galatians 3:11). We need that same faith in our daily walk, trusting that He will meet our every need (Matthew 25:34).
If the skies are all clear and the weather beautiful, we still need to trust the Lord. Life is wonderful when the Lord has blessed us for trusting Him with everything. In stormy times we need to learn to fly on instruments. Unlike the products of man, what God has promised will never fail. We are never promised a smooth flight through Christian life, but what we are promised is that He will meet our needs through never leaving us or forsaking us (Hebrews 13:5).
2 Corinthians 5:7 jumped out today to me, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” In KJV and ESV the verse is placed in parenthesis, but this is far more than an after thought. Often times I have ideas in my mind of what is best. I think I can see into the future and determine what going to benefit me, and even God, most. In times like that I need to remind myself that I am just a sheep in need of a Shepherd. I don’t know much about sheep, but I do know that they like to wander and get into trouble. Paul reminds us that we need to walk my faith, not by sight. In this dark and dreary world, we need the word of God to be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalms 119:105). Walk in the word according to the will of God and move when He moves.
A picture of this is evident with the children of Israel in the wilderness. They would be lead by the Lord with fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day (Exodus 13:21-22, 40:38). When the cloud stopped, so would the people. When the pillar of fire moved on, so would the people. Traveling through the desert at the timing and will of God.
We need to constantly be reminded that God always has things in control. The Lord reminds Habakkuk of this in 2:4 when he is wondering why the Lord would have a wickeder nation than Israel capture them. The prospering of the wicked troubled him greatly. “The just shall live by his faith” is what the Lord told Habakkuk.
This is the same faith that we were saved by. Where does our faith go? It was so strong in salvation’s day, committing our souls and lives to the Lord (Romans 1:17). We know that the law didn’t justify our souls; it was by faith (Galatians 3:11). We need that same faith in our daily walk, trusting that He will meet our every need (Matthew 25:34).
If the skies are all clear and the weather beautiful, we still need to trust the Lord. Life is wonderful when the Lord has blessed us for trusting Him with everything. In stormy times we need to learn to fly on instruments. Unlike the products of man, what God has promised will never fail. We are never promised a smooth flight through Christian life, but what we are promised is that He will meet our needs through never leaving us or forsaking us (Hebrews 13:5).
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Make Your Renovations!
Recently the Canadian Government has passed legislation where tax refunds are given to people who are renovating their houses. With this now in place, people are taking advantage of the cheaper way to renovate. People are ripping out their old cupboards and putting in nice new oak ones. The old counter top is being replaced with marble. A basement is being transformed from just a dead storage area into living quarters for more people. People are taking advantage of their ability to make their home more valuable at a discounted price.
Do we take advantage of this ourselves? Christians, who will get a marvelous refund in eternity, should be renovating everyday: renovations of the mind. Paul commands us several times that we are to renovate our minds.
First in Romans 12:2, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." The word renewing would be better understood to us as renovating. People can see a house transformed from an old dump into a glorious mansion through renovations. How different are we? We are taken from a useless vessel headed straight down the road of destruction, when we are pulled off this broad street at the accepting of the Lord Jesus' blood as our payment for sin. We begin as infants, or a dumpy house if you will. Then the Lord through the Holy Spirit starts His work on us (Titus 3:5).
Ephesians 4:23 is placed in the middle of verses talking about how the person who we used to be is dead, and how we have a new person that we should be becoming. Nothing short of daily renewal of our mind will do this. Continually in the scripture, learning more about Christ and how to live our lives more like Him is the life blood of our personal renovations. The knowledge of the example of Christ needs to be instilled in our minds so that we can face even the fiercest temptation with the help of the Lord (Col 3:10).
The last verse is 2 Corinthians 4:16, "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." This verse is the emphasis on the importance of the daily renewal of the mind. Each day we need something that we can take with us, transforming us into a more beautiful house of the Holy Spirit in Christ. The daily need of the Lord is shown to us in the account of the children of Israel in the wilderness gathering manna (Exodus 16:14-21). The Israelite could not gather as much as they could and keep it for the rest of the week, they needed to go daily to gather the manna. If they did gather more than they could it than it would spoil. The same goes with the word of God. We need to daily gather and meditate so that it is at the forefront of our minds. A Christian who doesn't do this becomes cold and stale. They become run down and in need of cleaning. The carpet of their life needs vacuuming, and their windows need cleaning.
What kind of Christian are we? We need to continually be in fellowship with the Lord if we plan to succeed and be satisfied in God's blessings to us. We need to be continually working on our lives and making them more beautiful.
In this time of mass renovations, go ahead and put on the addition. Put in the new bath tub of relaxation in Christ. Make our lives more beautiful, so that when others see us they want what we have. I encourage each one to increase their market value; renovate your mind daily through prayer, meditation and the word of God.
Do we take advantage of this ourselves? Christians, who will get a marvelous refund in eternity, should be renovating everyday: renovations of the mind. Paul commands us several times that we are to renovate our minds.
First in Romans 12:2, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." The word renewing would be better understood to us as renovating. People can see a house transformed from an old dump into a glorious mansion through renovations. How different are we? We are taken from a useless vessel headed straight down the road of destruction, when we are pulled off this broad street at the accepting of the Lord Jesus' blood as our payment for sin. We begin as infants, or a dumpy house if you will. Then the Lord through the Holy Spirit starts His work on us (Titus 3:5).
Ephesians 4:23 is placed in the middle of verses talking about how the person who we used to be is dead, and how we have a new person that we should be becoming. Nothing short of daily renewal of our mind will do this. Continually in the scripture, learning more about Christ and how to live our lives more like Him is the life blood of our personal renovations. The knowledge of the example of Christ needs to be instilled in our minds so that we can face even the fiercest temptation with the help of the Lord (Col 3:10).
The last verse is 2 Corinthians 4:16, "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." This verse is the emphasis on the importance of the daily renewal of the mind. Each day we need something that we can take with us, transforming us into a more beautiful house of the Holy Spirit in Christ. The daily need of the Lord is shown to us in the account of the children of Israel in the wilderness gathering manna (Exodus 16:14-21). The Israelite could not gather as much as they could and keep it for the rest of the week, they needed to go daily to gather the manna. If they did gather more than they could it than it would spoil. The same goes with the word of God. We need to daily gather and meditate so that it is at the forefront of our minds. A Christian who doesn't do this becomes cold and stale. They become run down and in need of cleaning. The carpet of their life needs vacuuming, and their windows need cleaning.
What kind of Christian are we? We need to continually be in fellowship with the Lord if we plan to succeed and be satisfied in God's blessings to us. We need to be continually working on our lives and making them more beautiful.
In this time of mass renovations, go ahead and put on the addition. Put in the new bath tub of relaxation in Christ. Make our lives more beautiful, so that when others see us they want what we have. I encourage each one to increase their market value; renovate your mind daily through prayer, meditation and the word of God.
Martin Luther
Last night I watched an old black and white movie that I found in the Ronald's library. It was the story of Martin Luther. During the movie my mind continually rejoiced, "Praise the Lord for Martin Luther."
He was law student in search of peace within his soul. He sold all he had and joined the church. Where better to find peace than in the church of God he thought. He thought it was strange that he still had no peace, even after taking his vows and becoming an Augustinian Friar in 1505. His troubled soul caused him to be immersed in scripture studies and sent to Rome by his superior.
Soon he found God revealing to him through the scripture that what was taught in the Roman Catholic Church was not completely what was in the Bible. The RC church had its own doctrines and rules that were added. In the movie, he suggested to his superior that it would be a great day if everyone could read the Bible in their own language. The man replied, "This would be a terrible thing. For the Holy Bible is of one interpretation: that of the Roman Catholic Church." Luther found nothing about paying money to save your soul in the Bible. Nothing about praying for your relatives to release them from purgatory. Luther found nothing about purgatory. Nothing about Peter being the rock of the church. "This one and firm rock, which we call the doctrine of justification," he wrote, "is the chief article of the whole Christian doctrine, which comprehends the understanding of all godliness." He preached justification by faith.
One even that outraged him was when the pope needed to raise money for building St.Peter's Basilica in Rome. The pope proposed that payment could now be made to him and their soul would be saved from hell forever. The pope also said that they could even purchase their loved one's soul from purgatory. This prompted Luther to publish his 95 Thesis in 1517 and nail them to the door of the church at Wittenburg, Germany. These were 95 things that Luther found the RC's to be doing that was not scriptural. His intention was not to divide the church, but in the end that's what had to happen.
The last touching moment of the movie was where Luther was showing a young boy some scripture. The boy told Luther that he couldn't read it because it was Greek. Luther then reached over on his desk and gave the boy a paper with the Bible translated into the local language. The boy read out, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
We are blessed to have the Bible in our own language. We can read it and meditate on it whenever we want. We can also take what men have said and wrote, and test it against the Bible as Luther did. In a day where martyrs were produced in the millions, Luther was not afraid to stand up against the RC church for the truth which is the word of God.
He was law student in search of peace within his soul. He sold all he had and joined the church. Where better to find peace than in the church of God he thought. He thought it was strange that he still had no peace, even after taking his vows and becoming an Augustinian Friar in 1505. His troubled soul caused him to be immersed in scripture studies and sent to Rome by his superior.
Soon he found God revealing to him through the scripture that what was taught in the Roman Catholic Church was not completely what was in the Bible. The RC church had its own doctrines and rules that were added. In the movie, he suggested to his superior that it would be a great day if everyone could read the Bible in their own language. The man replied, "This would be a terrible thing. For the Holy Bible is of one interpretation: that of the Roman Catholic Church." Luther found nothing about paying money to save your soul in the Bible. Nothing about praying for your relatives to release them from purgatory. Luther found nothing about purgatory. Nothing about Peter being the rock of the church. "This one and firm rock, which we call the doctrine of justification," he wrote, "is the chief article of the whole Christian doctrine, which comprehends the understanding of all godliness." He preached justification by faith.
One even that outraged him was when the pope needed to raise money for building St.Peter's Basilica in Rome. The pope proposed that payment could now be made to him and their soul would be saved from hell forever. The pope also said that they could even purchase their loved one's soul from purgatory. This prompted Luther to publish his 95 Thesis in 1517 and nail them to the door of the church at Wittenburg, Germany. These were 95 things that Luther found the RC's to be doing that was not scriptural. His intention was not to divide the church, but in the end that's what had to happen.
The last touching moment of the movie was where Luther was showing a young boy some scripture. The boy told Luther that he couldn't read it because it was Greek. Luther then reached over on his desk and gave the boy a paper with the Bible translated into the local language. The boy read out, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
We are blessed to have the Bible in our own language. We can read it and meditate on it whenever we want. We can also take what men have said and wrote, and test it against the Bible as Luther did. In a day where martyrs were produced in the millions, Luther was not afraid to stand up against the RC church for the truth which is the word of God.
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