That Which Leads To Disappointment

I have a question. If, according to scripture, God works all things together for my good, then why hasn't everything seemed that great? That's a question people can end up asking after someone quotes Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." I appreciate the encouragement, but I wonder if something is lost in translation. I mean, has everything always gone right for you? Is it really good that your parents got divorced? Is it good that my childhood friend was sexually abused or that my best friend lost her job? Is it good that my neighbor's girlfriend died in a car wreck? Is it really good that all this bad stuff has happened, and still happening? Do things always turn out good for you? Then what's happening?

Too often we pray for God to take away our suffering. We beg for difficult situations to be resolved. Most of us even believe God's promise is a trouble-free life. May I say, that path leads to disappointment in an unbiblical God! God isn't passionately orchestrating a pain-free life. He isn't rooting out problems so you can float through life. God is going after the sin in your life! His good purpose is to shape who you are. A good life isn't a trouble-free experience. It's a resolute character in a shaky world. Romans 8:29 continues this message from 8:28 when Paul reminds us of the original destiny for human beings: conformity to the image of God's son. We are to embody His faithfulness in a faithless world. Christ-followers persevere when others shrink under pressure. We return evil with love. We give while other people just demand. We reenact the way of Jesus. At least, that is what is required of us as we conform day by day to become more Christ-like.

We need to stop trying to escape from problems in life. Trying times have the power to break us down, however, in the same breath, we can be built back up like Christ. All things eventually do work together for our good though we may not see it at the time. Let's stop asking for tough times to end quickly when perseverance is what God wants. The easy life won't give us the good God is working toward. The good character God is forming in us takes shape in difficult circumstances. Learn from what's gone wrong. Consider disappointments and failures as life lessons in order to learn from them and make things better next time. Instead of losing control, learn, learn, and learn some more. BE PATIENT. Everything will eventually be okay. Sometimes it happens right then, but other times you may not understand for many years but when you do, you'll realize what you went through, regardless of how bad it was at the time, was actually a good thing that it took place.

Paul, who was beaten several times and imprisoned more than once said, “For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:11-12). But Finding contentment in difficult circumstances is difficult for even the most stouthearted believer. When times are tough and things aren’t going the way we plan, this is a fertile ground for frustration, despair, and discouragement to take root. That is why we need Christ's strength to teach us to be content in every condition. As believers, we have been given the specific ability to find contentment whatever the circumstance, which Paul argues can only come from Christ who gives him strength.

So the next time you quote Romans 8:28 (or any other verse for that matter), make sure you start with a statement about the context. Then you won't be giving people false hope that God is working to solve all their problems and prevent future tragedies. You'll give them the truth. God is working to form people in the middle of a broken world with all its problems and unresolved pain. That's good.

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

Control That Tongue!

In the 3rd chapter of the book of James, he describes the amazing power of our words—our tongues. This chapter of James is loaded with symbols and metaphorical language. He takes advantage of symbolic language to convey the importance of self-discipline in what we say. Like bits in the mouths of horses to control their direction (James 3:3), or rudders which control ships, or sparks which start a forest-leveling fire, our tiny tongues—through the words we say with them—can do huge things, many of them greatly destructive. Has anyone ever flown off the handle at you and said things in the heat of the moment that hurt you so deeply you have never forgotten how it made you feel? Twenty to thirty years may have passed but you can still recall what and how it was said. What about as a child? Were you ever called "stupid," fatso," "chicken," or "weirdo?" How did it make you feel? You didn’t want to let them know how deeply it hurt. I would bet some of my readers still carry emotional scars from the names you were called as children, or you mentally replay tapes of derogatory comments that were made about you in your youth. 

Instead of instructing us to “be careful of what you say,” in just a few short verses, James compares the tongue to eight different things: a bit in a horse’s mouth, a helm of a ship, a fire, a world of iniquity, an evil, a fountain, a fig tree, and a vine. The result is a host of doctrines, principles, and practices that can touch our hearts because of the symbolic language used. The tongue "sets on fire the course of nature."  What? Don't you find that intriguing? We all have tongues (language, voice) so to think the tongue is a world of iniquity that can actually defile the entire body, don't you want to know more? James describes the tongue itself as a fire, meaning it can burn whatever we touch with our words. This is a good perspective to keep in mind before we use our words on or against another person. The meaning is, that a great collection of iniquity proceeds from the tongue. Indeed “there is no iniquity which an unbridled tongue is not capable of producing; either by itself, when it curses, rails, teaches false doctrine, and speaks evil of God and man; or by means of others, whom it entices, commands, terrifies, and persuades, to commit murders, adulteries, and every evil work.” James is admonishing Jewish Christians and warns that "it (the tongue) defiles the whole body — The whole man, all our members, senses, and faculties."

James also describes the tongue as "a world of unrighteousness." In our natural, sinful state, our words don't just occasionally go bad. They come from a place that is completely bad in every way. The tongue isn't merely the one bad apple in the barrel. It is the member which corrupts all of the other parts of our bodies! Our tongue has power for both good and evil. An uncontrolled tongue is responsible for setting the course of our lives on fire, for burning down everything along the way. But our tongues don't burn with their own fire. That fire of reckless destruction didn't originate with us. Our tongues, James writes, are themselves set on fire by hell. The word "hell" here if you look it up in the original Greek is derived from the name of the Valley of Hinnom. Many of you might know what this is but for those that don't, the Valley of Hinnom was a well-known known place just outside of Jerusalem. Hinnom Valley had been used in the past for human sacrifice. At the time of Jesus' earthly ministry, it was a perpetually-blazing trash heap. Because it was associated with garbage, rejection, evil, destruction, and fire. The Valley of Hinnom was often held up as a picture of God's eternal judgment on sin: hell.

So what does all of this mean? Our tongues—the words we say with them in our lack of self-control—are powerfully evil and destructive. It's not a small problem. It's rooted in the fundamental spiritual problems all people have which sets on fire the course of nature (or the natural man): pride, envy, anger, jealousy, revenge, and lack of self-control. James makes it clear that the way we use our tongues reveals our true nature. As fallen people, our nature is now sinful and destructive. We must be changed. James is clear. If we’re going to behave as Christians ought to behave, then we have to learn to control our speech. We need to use our tongues for the positive things it can do: encourage, build-up, instruct, teach, guide, comfort, praise, etc. “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.  For out of the abundance of his heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). In other words, the expression of what you are down inside is what’s overflowing across your tongue. You can measure and judge yourself by what flows from your tongue. Basically, the mouth is the billboard of the heart. 

One of the best things you can do with the tongue is to speak words of encouragement to other people.  And everybody needs encouragement.  It doesn’t have to be elaborate or fancy, just a simple word of thanks or a boost. No wonder Solomon wrote in Proverbs 25:11, “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” To control our tongues, I think we need to ask for the help of God’s Holy Spirit.  James says, "no man can tame the tongue.” You can’t do it on your own.  You need to pray regularly, “Lord, help me today. Fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may control my speech with your help.”  David also prayed, “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips." You have more control than you realize! If it were not so, how do people control their language when they’re around people where it becomes important for them to do it? It can be done with your own restaints combined with the Holy Spirit's power within you. Let your conversation be full of grace.  Let it be seasoned with salt so that when anyone hears you talk it makes them thirsty for the things of God. God will bless you and you’ll know how to answer them. And when you’re full of that which is positive, your tongue will have the power of life. I guess it shouldn’t surprise us that when we give our lives to Christ it includes the use of our tongue. 

Until He comes,

-Pat-

 

Lust Of The Flesh

The Word of God tells us, "Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh." There are two points we must understand first before we can obey what God asks of us.

1. What does it mean to WALK in the Spirit?

2. Really, what is lust?

I'll start with the latter using a dictionary to keep it plain and simple. 

Lust: sexual desire, sexual appetite, sexual longing, sexual passion. There is not a human being who has not lusted in his or her flesh. It comes with our fallen nature. I know Christians at this very moment who struggle with forbidden sexual desires. If we are honest with ourselves, the only acceptable sexual desire, passion, libido, ardor, zeal is only acceptable within the context of marriage between a man and a woman regardless of what the world says it is! Anything outside of that is immoral in God's eyes. It is a sexual sin. Period. There is no getting around it. If you are lusting with your eyes or thoughts it is still sin. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5:27-28, "Whosoever looks upon a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery in his heart." So you see, this covers even thinking about it. John told us, "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" (1 John 2:16). Jesus told us, "Love not the world, neither the things in the world, for if any man loves the world the love of the Father is not in him."  What a tall order!! How are we supposed to keep ourselves from passion, lust, desire, longing to bed with someone outside of God's perimeter? We've all been guilty whether as a hormonal teenager, the easily aroused young adult, or a mature person without any self-control.

This is why I am writing this blog today. Specifically, for four Christians (however, anyone can learn from God's Word today). #1: To the one who has been living in fornication for years outside of the confines of marriage. #2: To the one who has asked for my help. You are tormented and driven to continue to fulfill your sexual appetite for a man you find attractive even though you admit it's wrong. #3: To the one whom I know struggling with her feelings for another woman. And finally #4: For the man I know that is currently cheating on his wife.

Even if any reader has no weakness in this area you may know someone that does. If you feel led, pass this blog onto them.

HOW DO YOU OVERCOME THE LUST OF THE FLESH? Jesus said by walking in the Spirit. So now let's tackle how we walk in the Spirit. Believers have the indwelling Spirit of Christ, the Comforter who proceeds from the Father (John 15:26). The Holy Spirit assists believers in prayer (Jude 1:20) and “intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (Romans 8:27). He also leads the believer into righteousness (Galatians 5:16–18) and produces His fruit in those yielded to Him (Galatians 5:22–23). Believers are to submit to the will of God and walk in the Spirit. A “walk” in the Bible is often a metaphor for practical daily living. The Christian life is a journey, and we are to walk it—we are to make consistent forward progress. The biblical norm for all believers is that they walk in the Spirit: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25, KJV; Romans 8:14). In other words, the Spirit gave us life in the new birth (John 3:6), and we must continue to live, day by day, in the Spirit. To walk in the Spirit means that we yield to His control (not what out flesh lusts), we follow His lead, and we allow Him to exert His influence over us. To walk in the Spirit is the opposite of resisting Him or grieving Him (Ephesians 4:30). When we ignore His commands, we make ourselves gods because we dictate and rule, excluding Almighty God from our thoughts, wants, desires, and choices. If you are truly a Christian, you desire HIS WILL, not your own.

Galatians 5 examines the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer.  Those who walk in the Spirit “will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (verse 16). The flesh—our fallen nature under the power of sin—is in direct conflict with the Spirit (verse 17). When the flesh is in charge, the results are obvious (verses 19–21). But when the Spirit is in control, He produces godly qualities within us, apart from the strictures of the Law (verses 22–23). Believers “have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (verse 24), and now we walk in the Spirit (verse 25). What does it mean to crucify the flesh? Obviously not to hang from a tree, but rather to denounce, condemn, censure, revile, and vilify what it wants. Then the Spirit will step in to help. You will be able to overcome the temptation to commit the very sin that torments you to fulfill. "When lust has conceived (as a thought in your mind), it brings forth sin (the action, the fulfilling), and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death" (James 1:15).

Those who walk in the Spirit are united with Him and the bearers of the fruit the Spirit produces. Thus, those who walk in the Spirit walk in love—they live in love for God and for their fellow man. Those who walk in the Spirit walk in joy—they exhibit gladness in what God has done, is doing and will do. Those who walk in the Spirit walk in peace—they live worry-free and refuse anxiety (Philippians 4:6). Those who walk in the Spirit walk in patience—they are known for having a “long fuse” and do not lose their temper. Those who walk in the Spirit walk in kindness—they show tender concern for the needs of others. Those who walk in the Spirit walk in goodness—their actions reflect virtue and holiness. Those who walk in the Spirit walk in faithfulness—they are steadfast in their trust of God and His Word. Those who walk in the Spirit walk in gentleness—their lives are characterized by humility, grace, and thankfulness to God. Those who walk in the Spirit walk in self-control—they display moderation, constraint, and the ability to say “no” to the flesh.

Those who walk in the Spirit rely on the Holy Spirit to guide them in thought, word, and deed (Romans 6:11–14). They show forth daily, moment-by-moment holiness, just as Jesus did when, “full of the Holy Spirit, [He] left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness” to be tempted (Luke 4:1). To walk in the Spirit is to be filled with the Spirit, and some results of the Spirit’s filling are thankfulness, singing, and joy (Ephesians 5:18–20; Colossians 3:16). Those who walk in the Spirit follow the Spirit’s lead. They “let the word of Christ dwell in [them] richly” (Colossians 3:16, ESV), and the Spirit uses the Word of God “for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). Their whole way of life is lived according to the rule of the gospel, as the Spirit moves them toward obedience. When we walk in the Spirit, we find that the sinful appetites of the flesh have no more dominion over us.  Our whole way of life is lived according to the rule of the gospel, as the Spirit moves us toward obedience. When we walk in the Spirit, we find that the sinful appetites of the flesh have no more dominion over us. This is the Word of God. Walk in the Spirit daily (read and pray) and you will have power over your flesh to resist temptation and carry out sin. None of this is possible unless you are truly serious about changing and not resisting God. Because when you give in to your flesh, you are defiantly resisting the Holy Spirit.

Until He comes, 

-Pat-

JESUS KILLS A FIG TREE (Matthew 21:18-22)

Out of all the scriptures contained within the Bible, I find the story of the fig tree to be the most uncomfortable. Jesus' actions surprise me and yet I know there is a reason for doing what He did. Here is a fig tree that happens to lack figs when Jesus walks by. Then He kills it. Literally! When you first consider His actions, they seem cruel. Was Jesus angry? Was Jesus showing off His power? Was Jesus drunk on wine? Well, of course, none of these are the reason. The disciples were caught up in amazement that by simply speaking, Jesus killed a fig tree. I was amazed simply believing His actions were simply contrary to everything I had heard about Him UNTIL you understand why. Jesus' miracles are usually beneficial. Why is this one different? People who adhere to the belief that God is so loving, that He would never destroy mankind have a very hard time with this passage. Matthew 21:19-20, "And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!" 

In Romans 11:17-22, God dealt severely with the Israelites. They were not obedient, so God cut them off. And we, the Gentiles, will not be treated any differently. John taught that the rejection of the Jews was fast approaching. (Matthew 3:7-10).

1. The Jews were no longer productive for God.

2. They were no longer obedient to God’s Will.

This is not usual. God had rejected the Jews before (Isaiah 5:1-7).

1. A vineyard that will not produce grapes is not worth cultivating.

2. A people who will not follow God is not worth saving.

3. Fig trees put on fruit before the leaves come out. In fact, did you know the presence of leaves is an indication that the figs are ripe?

4. This tree had leaves, but no figs, not even unripe ones.

**it was a type of the Jews of Jesus’ day. They looked righteous but were unproductive – they had no fruit!

God will not always be tolerant of our misdeeds (Luke 13:6-9.) The Jews thought they were something special because they were God’s chosen people. Unfortunately, Christians can fall into the same trap. We are specially protected from the wrath of God. But we too must be productive for our Lord.

1. We must bear fruit or we will be discarded. (John 15:1-8)

2. vine-dresser does feel sympathy for a dead branch. It is removed before diseases spread to healthy vines.

Some Christians look healthy, but they are not. Some have only a form of godliness - II Timothy 3:5 but are as whited sepulchers... white on the outside, defiled on the inside. Matthew 23:27, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity." Some claim to follow God, but their deeds show otherwise (Titus 1:16). It is not what you claim, but what you claim and do. Far too many Christians will talk about their faith, but their lives show that worldly things are far more important to them.

Are you productive for the Lord? It is imperative that if you are a Christian YOU MUST BEAR FRUIT! It is clear that bearing fruit—the fruit of the Spirit—is the calling of every Christian. Bearing the fruit of the Spirit is not optional in the Christian life. The fruit of the Spirit, found in Galatians 5:22-23, is made up of the following nine qualities or gifts: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Bearing fruit is a result of obedience to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit’s promptings. Indifference and willful disobedience to God’s will mean I am not truly a Christian—a follower of Christ—and this means I cannot have fellowship with Jesus Christ and the Father. (John 14:15-17; John 14:21,23-24; 1 John 1:6-7) Jesus Himself said that each branch that does not bear fruit is taken away by the Father. Such a thought should awaken all of us to seriousness, but should not lead to discouragement, hopelessness, or heaviness. Rather, it should be an inspiration that we should bear more fruit and have fellowship with Him! So how can you bear fruit? The fruit of the Spirit can only come forth in you by the power of the Spirit. No amount of self-effort will bear spiritual fruit. If you "try" to be good, you'll eventually fail. To bear fruit requires a total surrender of your self-will to God so that you can obey Jesus’ words in the daily situations of life, in order for the fruit of the Spirit to come forth instead of your own nature. Such a total surrender occurs when Jesus is your first love and reigns in your heart and mind. Then it is His will—His Word—that is done in your life, and not our own will. Then the bearing of fruit, the fruit of the Spirit, the fruit of obeying Jesus’ words—will come forth quite naturally.

Until He comes,

-Pat-

 

Wisdom & Knowledge

 According to the Lord, a wise man builds the house of his life on the Rock foundation which is Christ. The foolish man builds his house upon a foundation of  'sand'  which is representative of the foundation of man and is not stable. When the storms of life come by troubles or temptation, the house which the foolish man built will come falling down. There is no doubt that both men had knowledge that built their houses. However, it is very evident the knowledge was not of equal value. In fact, it can be observed the information which the foolish man followed was actually harmful.

The gathering of knowledge that sees an individual through his or her earthly life begins at birth and ends at death. Some lives end very early, others span more than 100 years. In a lifetime, fools of all ages will be encountered. There will be those who are exposed as fools by their disobedience to God, their unbridled tongue, their fits of anger, and even those whose unstable knowledge betrays them. The relationship of concern with fools and their knowledge is not age-specific, nor is it in the volume of knowledge that they gather. There are some fools who have a vast amount of knowledge gathered in short or long lifetimes. The first concern regarding their knowledge is: Does the fool have the right knowledge?

Jeremiah 4:22 says, "For my people are foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children (stupid/foolish), and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil but to do good they have no knowledge." Hosea 4:6 declares, "My people perish for a lack of knowledge." Many people believe they have knowledge when it comes to the Bible because they hear it preached in church, hear from a radio pastor, or parents quoted verses while the children were living at home. But have they really obtained knowledge? Look at this:

Back and neck pain is something a large number of people experience. When this occurs, a chiropractor may be utilized to correct the problem and relieve the pain. The individual does not go to a psychiatrist nor a foot doctor to relieve the back pain. The psychiatrist certainly has a great deal of knowledge about the mental processes of human beings and how to deal with them, however, in regard to issues regarding the skeletal and muscular system their knowledge will not be of use. Likewise, a computer can accomplish a great number of tasks, yet, it cannot accomplish those tasks until the knowledge to achieve them is programmed into it. Similarly, the fool may have lots of knowledge about the world; however, as pointed out in the passage from Jeremiah, they lack knowledge that would contribute to salvation and doing the good works which God desires of man (Ephesians 2:10). Fools need spiritual knowledge, the knowledge gained from God’s Word, the Bible. Knowledge at its basic level is being familiar with ideas, information, and truth. All healthy humans are capable of gathering knowledge, both for good and evil. They choose the types of knowledge with which they will fill their life (Philippians 4:8).

A second concern regarding the knowledge of fools relates to their use of the right knowledge when they encounter it. Fools do not engage the spiritual knowledge they have in their grasp. They lack wisdom. Wisdom is the understanding of knowledge and common sense to apply knowledge! For example, there are times furniture needing assembly is purchased. In the box in which the furniture is packed, there is often a paper with directions printed on it to aid the assembler. Such knowledge is very helpful. However, if the directions are only in Spanish and the assembler cannot read Spanish, there is a lack of understanding, a lack of wisdom. Proverbs 8:5 "O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart." Proverbs 10:21 – "The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom."

These passages make it clear that the fool lacks wisdom. However, our example of directions in Spanish doesn’t quite fit the situation of the fool. Why? Though the assembler has the knowledge in his grasp, he cannot understand and therefore cannot wisely apply it. This is not the case with Biblical knowledge. The apostle Paul established that man can understand the words given by God to direct his life (Ephesians 3:1-7). Despite the argument and beliefs that scriptures are too hard to understand, God proclaims you can understand His knowledge by obtaining His wisdom.

So why is it that fools lack understanding of the knowledge available to them to make them wise (outside of a lack of exposure)?

1 Corinthians 1:20 – "Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

1 Corinthians 3:19 – "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness."

Proverbs 18:2 – "A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself."

2 Corinthians 11:19 – "For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise."

1 Corinthians 2:14 – "But the natural man doesn't receive the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

These verses above give reasons why the fool lacks wisdom. First, the fool relies on the wisdom of the world which steers men wrong in many ways because it is based on immature and corrupt knowledge (Proverbs 16:22). Man tries to follow his own theories, emotions, experiences, and desires. Second, fools may see themselves as wise. The apostle Paul told the Corinthians they put up with the foolish because they saw themselves as wise rather than the fools they were. Third, the fool sees God’s wisdom as foolishness. 

Still, there is more:

Proverbs 1:7 – "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Proverbs 1:22 – "How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?"

Proverbs 15:5 – "A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent."

Proverbs 23:9 – "Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words."

Jeremiah 5:21 – Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not."

It is obvious from these verses that a fourth item that keeps a fool from wisdom is he does not want to hear it! He doesn’t have the common sense to hear it. He despises it. Do you know people like this? There are simply a great number of people in the world who get downright hostile when they are exposed to God, His son, or His Word. In some cases, it doesn’t matter if this is direct interaction with the fool (proselytizing, door knockers) or something they view indirectly (public prayer or posting of scripture). They don’t want anything to do with God. Their contempt is real. To attempt to share spiritual wisdom with them is like throwing pearls to swine (Matthew 7:6, Proverbs 26:9). Thus, from the furniture assembly example, it is as if the man received sound instructions he could read and understand, but he threw them out regardless of their wisdom.

While the Bible presents the shortcomings of fools, it does not leave those who would seek God’s wisdom without direction (Matthew 7:7). Consider these scriptures: 

Matthew 5:3 – "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

1 Corinthians 3:18 – "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise."

Proverbs 9:6 – "Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding."

The first two passages deal with humility, ego. To avoid being deceived by his own “wisdom”, man is to put himself aside. He will become a fool in the eyes of the world (I Corinthians 4:10), but the wisdom of God he follows will see him to the kingdom of heaven. In the last passage, those who would accept true wisdom are told to stay away from the foolish. There can be no good which will come by choosing association with those who would be fools (I Corinthians 15:33). The knowledge of a fool is not Godly knowledge. The wisdom of a fool is not wisdom at all. Psalms 111:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: His praise endureth forever." We can be educated or intelligent, but without wisdom, our education or intelligence may only be in vain. ... God's wisdom can make one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city (see Ecclesiastes 7:19). It also preserves the life of its possessor (see Ecclesiastes 7:12)! Wisdom is the ability to discern what’s right from what’s wrong. It is a gift that gives us the capability to make the right choice or decision. If knowledge is power, then wisdom is using that power the right way.

Finally, do your best to get wisdom. Free yourself from foolishness, arrogance, pride, envy, hatred, selfishness, and all the things that hinder wisdom from entering your body, mind, heart, and soul. Read your Bible! Let the pure wisdom of God dwell in you.

Until He comes,

-Pat-

What Is Your Weakness?

 

Look at the picture above. What if you were the arm wrestler shown on the left side. What do you think your chances would be of taking down the guy to the right? I think the odds would be against you. In the spiritual world, we fight against much stronger forces whose aim is to defeat our own strengths and place us in danger of hellfire. But what if there were a way to defeat something much bigger and much stronger than you? What if you could win the battle over your flesh which is always at war with your spirit? Galatians 5:17 confirms, "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. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."

Look, we all know life is tough. Temptations are difficult. It goes without saying that Satan, the great tempter, knows our weaknesses, for he knows that “… all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Yet, just as he knew that Jesus had fasted for forty days and nights and immediately hit Him with his first temptation to attack Him there, he knows our greatest weaknesses and hits us there. We do not like to think about our weaknesses—we accentuate our strengths and diminish our weaknesses. In a certain sense, this is not a bad thing; it is only human of us to do so. However, the difference is whether we are diminishing our weaknesses publicly while striving to deal with them, overcome and solve them, or whether we are simply hiding them while privately reveling in them. 

Consider how the Bible describes our weaknesses. What is your forbidden fruit? The weakness for Eve was that fruit: “And when she (Eve) saw that the tree was good for food and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat…” (Genesis 3:6). For her, it became a tremendous temptation. What is your forbidden fruit? What temptation seems to have a stronghold over you?  Is it alcohol? Is it the love of money? Is it the opposite sex, the same sex? What is your forbidden fruit? Where is your Sodom and Gomorrah? When Lot and Abraham separated, Lot saw the well-watered plains of the Jordan River Valley and moved his family “in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom” (Genesis 13:12). Yet, the very next verse states, “But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly” (Genesis 13:13). Later, God told Abraham what He would do to the cities of Sodom. Knowing that his nephew lived there,  Abraham pleaded with God to spare them if he could find ten righteous souls. Yet, it was to no avail. As Genesis 19 describes, Lot and his family fled from their home before God destroyed those wicked cities with fire and brimstone. Peter commented, "For if God…spared not the old world… and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly, and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished. (2 Peter 2:4-9)

What is your Sodom and Gomorrah? Is it uncontrollable gambling in casinos? Is it the bar where you meet singles for a one-night stand? Is it your girlfriend’s bedroom or the back of your car in a dimly lit area? Be brutally honest with yourself.  The prayer that ought to be on our lips is the one Jesus taught us: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13). Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God Himself, was tempted by Satan!  And He overcame those temptations!  He did not give in and sin!  Man, I can’t tell you how much that encourages me! Why?  Because I now know that Jesus understands what I or anyone else goes through. "Therefore He (Jesus) had to be made like his brothers in every respect so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2:14-15, 17-18). And again, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  (Hebrews 4:15-16).  Think about it! Jesus was tempted just like you and me!  He knows how it feels.  He understands the struggle.  He’s been there and done that.  BUT HE overcame those temptations by knowing and obeying God’s Word (Matthew 4:1-11), and so can we ... BY KNOWING AND OBEYING GOD'S WORD. Not only that, but when we fail and penitently cry out to God for forgiveness (1 John 1:7-10; Acts 8:22), Jesus – our High Priest, our Mediator – is at the right hand of the throne of God saying, “Father, I know what [insert your name] is going through.  I’ve been there.  I was tempted in the same way. Be merciful.  Be gracious.”  Jesus pleads for mercy on our behalf and knows that we, as His followers, try to do better because we love Him.  What comfort!  What love!  What hope this gives us in the struggle we face! 

The Scriptures tell us that we all face temptations. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man. ”God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." Satan will never be allowed to tempt you beyond what you can bear if you are in Christ Jesus according to the scripture above. Jesus has not left you defenseless! Did you hear that? Then why do we sometimes commit sin? James 1:14 tells us, "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." GOD HIMSELF, NEVER TEMPTS US!  So what happens if a Christian gives in to any kind of temptation? God turns His back and kicks them out of His Kingdom, right? No. You must be sorry for what you've done, you must ask for forgiveness, and you must keep running the race set before you! Don't give up. The key here is, don't make a habit of your sin! Don't practice your sin with the attitude or belief God will not be displeased with you. He will. Never use your "salvation" as a free ticket, or as a "pass" to continue sinning willy nilly. None of us is conformed to the image of Christ overnight. Sanctification is a moment-by-moment challenge. It’s a process that won’t be complete until we leave this world and see the Lord face to face. Until then, our responsibility is to trust God and walk with His Spirit (Galatians 5:16). Every sin is “willful sin.” If it weren’t, we wouldn’t be responsible; and if we’re not responsible for our own actions, sin can’t be sin at all. As James says, “Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is finished, it brings forth death” (James 1:14-15).  If someone is determined to live an unchristian life even after “receiving the knowledge of the truth” (Hebrews 10:26), we might assume that they never really accepted Christ in the first place. If they willfully commit the same sin over and over again without remorse and without showing any evidence of genuine desire to change, we would have every reason to doubt the sincerity of their profession of faith.

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

Discerning Truth From Lies

 

Society tells us that we gain wisdom by study, accumulation of knowledge, and application of common sense. These are fine and even good pursuits, but they won't result in spiritual discernment. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church and told them that man's wisdom was folly. His instruction on this can be found in 1 Corinthians 1, which includes this from verse 25: "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." I love that! Iyou you desire to gain spiritual discernment, that in itself shows a measure of spiritual discernment. Biblically, spiritual discernment, or wisdom, has to do with the capacity of knowing truth, and comes from saving relationship with Jesus Christ. To know Him better and grow in your relationship with Him, and you will also gain spiritual discernment—a growing ability to know the truth.

Jesus said it Himself: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'" (John 14:6). Paul relates wisdom directly with Jesus: "And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord'" (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Spiritual discernment is granted by God and grown by training in righteousness and prayer. In Hebrews, we read, "But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil" (Hebrews 5:14). Notice how Paul, who in the book of Philippians, identifies Jesus as the source of love, knowledge, discernment, and righteousness: "And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:9–11). However, the description of Satan as the "father of lies" comes from a passage in the Gospel of John. Jesus was addressing a group of religious leaders in Israel, who were accusing him of being from Satan. He responded by telling them that they were liars, and that proved that they, not He, were of the Devil. Jesus said: "When he (Satan) lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44c). He also told the group of accusers that they were the children of the Devil because they were spreading lies about Him and refusing to see the truth. So, Satan is not only the father of lies but of those who suppress the truth!

From the beginning, Satan has been a liar. He told his first lies to Eve, to deceive her and draw her away from God (Genesis 3:1, 4). He was the first liar, which makes him "the father of lies." God speaks the truth and Satan says the opposite, and man is confused. Ever since the garden of Eden, this has been happening. Satan uses the world system to disseminate his lies (1 John 5:19), and the lies are always growing in number and complexity.

We know that God speaks the only truth. John said, "We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this, we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error" (1 John 4:6). John was drawing a distinction between the teachings of Jesus' apostles and the contradictory teachings which were leading people astray. John and the other apostles suffered greatly, dedicating their lives to the truth. The majority of them died horrible deaths rather than deny the truth about Jesus—His life, His death, His return to life, and the way of salvation for all men through His resurrection (John 3:16). John was saying "We are speaking the truth. Anybody who says the opposite is a liar." Watch closely, this is how Satan operates: he takes God's truth and twists or contradicts it so that people are led away from Him. God is love (1 John 4:7–8). But Satan says "how can a loving God allow so much suffering?" God says Jesus is the only way to heaven (John 14:6). Satan says "a good person of any belief system can get there." Jesus spoke of everlasting torment for those who reject Him (Matthew 25:46). But Satan says "there's no hell." God claims to exist and to be a personal Being that interacts with us (Hebrews 11:6). But Satan says "God is dead." How many of Satan's lies listed here have ever reached your ears? Unfortunately, since we are finite and fallen, we are susceptible to these lies. So, Satan continues to use them, and rehash even the original lie he told in the garden ("Did God really say…?") in order to get us off track. The Bible is attacked often and viciously by false religions and worldly men who want us to think that the Bible is not literal, is not authoritative, is not reliable. Why do so many people put so much thought and effort into contradicting the Bible? Because Satan is working to convince us that God is the liar—and that is the ultimate lie.

To gain spiritual discernment, we must seek God. First, we are instructed to pray for wisdom. James 1:5–8 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." And, we must look for wisdom in God's Word. "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16–17). As we seek to know Jesus more, ask God for discernment, study God's Word to learn truth, put truth into practice in our lives, and rely on the Holy Spirit within us, we will grow in spiritual discernment.

Until He comes,

-Pat-

 The Monarch butterflies are beginning their Fall migration – have you seen the photos being shared on Facebook?  Apparently, there is a lot that even biologists don’t know about butterflies.  Have you ever wondered how butterflies emerge from their cocoons to know to delay their reproductive processes and instead prepare for a long journey?  Who tells them how to find enough nectar to sustain them in this strenuous flight, flapping their tiny wings to travel 100 miles each day?  What calendar guides them, as cold-blooded creatures, so they are not caught in weather that is too cold for them to fly?  What map are they given to find their way to the high mountains of Mexico? When in the caterpillar stage, do they understand what is going to happen when it weaves a cocoon around itself?  Does it have to work up the courage to let go of life?  Or is it driven by a deep hope toward a new life ahead, life in which it will not be earthbound, but will be given wings to fly?  Does it take courage to change, to be transformed?

Change is something we all need. It is an ongoing part of life. With its constant flux, life demands adjustments for our schedules and plans. Essentially, change is the new norm. But people’s spiritual lives call for more than slight changes to the calendar. Their lives are in need of transformation. As you know, transformation is not about trying harder or having a better life. The change people need is not simply about being a better person; that would be a gross misunderstanding of change and transformation. The gospel is bigger than simple moral "ism" and people need to understand the very nature of transformation. Sometimes, what we need is a universal translator that helps us understand words like “change” and “transformation.” The church can, at times, communicate the need for change in peoples’ lives, and it ends up understood as some low-level therapeutic, moralistic belief where a faraway God makes life better and makes you a better person. But that is not the gospel. We don’t want to produce good religious people. We see what becomes of good religious people from the encounters Jesus had with the Pharisees. God wants—as should we—to see people transformed at a spiritual level rather than a behavioral level. It's as simple as that. Though often thought of in the same sense as a New Year’s resolution, transformation does not come from decisions made on January 1. Instead, it comes from re-creation, the re-creation that comes from new life in Christ. The change people need most is not in their circumstances but in themselves. It is not the ability to try harder, but it is a life entrusted to Jesus.

So, when you think of “change,” translate it to mean “gospel change.” It is not the same thing as trying harder; in fact, there is no trying involved. Transformation occurs not because we "DO," but because Christ has “done.” There are three principles about the change we all need. 

1. Real change starts with new life, not just a new leaf. The apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17, HCSB). The very heart of the Christian faith revolves around change, but it is not turning over a new leaf—it is living out a new life! Christian transformation always involves something old passing away and something new taking its place. Spiritual change is needed by everyone. We are constantly in need of this change, no matter who we are. But too many people misunderstand the words. They believe, “If I change, then God will like me more.” The bid to be better accompanies the hope for divine blessing. But this is the false change that comes from religious idealism. It is a misunderstanding of the teaching of the gospel. Some seek change through obedience. “Religion says, ’I obey; therefore I am accepted.’ Christianity says, ‘I’m accepted, therefore I obey.’” And isn't this the very description of a true Christian? Because Jesus has accepted us we now WANT to obey Him! Our acceptance and subsequent change is affected by the work of Jesus Christ through his death and resurrection. His work causes my acceptance before God. Everything else leads to exasperation. Trying to “turn over a new leaf” is a temporary fix to an eternal problem and it leads to the frustrating, exasperating cycle of always looking for a new fix to our lives. Rules can modify behavior, but only the gospel can impart new life. We should never be satisfied with merely a 'new way' of life. Only a new life will suffice.

2. Real change is a process, not a destination. Nobody ever gets to a place of being everything God has called them to be on this side of eternity. It is part of why we yearn for eternal life with Him. Our life is one of growth, constant growth. The transformation we encounter because of the gospel is how God is shaping our lives to mirror Jesus. Paul wrote, “I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). God is starting and completing the work of transformation in us. Real change happens at the moment of our salvation. We are daily being changed to be like Christ in how we live. Day by day, God wants us to grow in our knowledge and connection with Him. Peter wrote, “By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires” (2 Peter 1:4). It is an overwhelming thought that God would share his “divine nature” with us. Honestly, when I do a quick evaluation of my life, I think, what a waste because I fail Him at times. God gets nothing out of this deal. But He is the giving, sending, sacrificing God who desires to root out my sinful nature and replace it with His own character. This humbles me so. By removing our wrongful human desires and replacing them with the divine nature of sacrifice, God sets our lives in a new direction. It is a new process we partake in that causes life to have true significance—reflecting God’s glory. To the Corinthian church, Paul wrote, “We all, with unveiled faces, are reflecting the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). When a believer sets their eyes on God, then life will be in the process of transformation. Transformation happens in a moment to secure a person eternally, but it is consistently happening moment by moment to change that person daily!

3. Change is letting go and grabbing hold. God doesn’t force anyone to change, but He calls us TO change. He says things like, “Be holy as I am holy,” and it sounds like an impossible task. But its possibility comes from the work of God and not the work of man. The transformation that comes to us spiritually empowers us to move from religious behavior to spiritual acceptance of God’s work. Paul put it this way: “But that is not how you learned about the Messiah, assuming you heard Him and were taught by Him because the truth is in Jesus: you took off your former way of life, the old man that is corrupted by deceitful desires; you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds; you put on the new man, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth" (Ephesians 4:20-24). We are called to put off the “old man” and take hold of the “new man.” But we all know that letting go of the familiar is difficult, even when the new that is offered is better. For some reason, it seems part of our psyche to resist change, even when it will help. We can choose whether to embrace it or resist it.” I believe it is critical to choose the kind of change that advances the work of God in us personally and in the world for the sake of his Kingdom.

Finally, the change we all need is the change offered by Christ and Christ alone. It is a transformation that we are privileged to serve as an ambassador for in this life. Though transformation is a process which works throughout our life, we will stumble and we will fall throughout the process, but if we keep our hearts dedicated to Jesus, ask the Holy Spirit to forgive our weaknesses and failures when we sin, I am confident of this very thing, that, "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).

The M Word

 

In this blog, I will attempt to address a question posed by a female believer. It is not a question I like to talk about, nonetheless, few will address it so here I am stepping forward outside my opinion, to share what the bible does or does not say about the subject. The question posed to me was, Is masturbation a sin." What a complicated issue. The bible does not mention the word masturbation but has clear warnings regarding adultery and fornication, even spelling out those two words we still use in our vocabulary today. But the M-word doesn't appear in scripture as these two words clearly do.  If the word masturbation isn't spoken of in the bible then it must be okay. Right? Many believe this to be true. Sometimes people will use the argument that masturbation is healthy to justify their inability to control themselves. Many doctors and psychologists will tell you, "Masturbation can actually be good for your health, both mentally and physically. And it's pretty much the safest sex out there — there's no risk of getting pregnant or getting an STD. When you have an orgasm, your body releases endorphins, which are hormones that block pain and make you feel good." I concur. Neurochemicals released during sex and orgasm reduce stress, help you sleep, and make you feel at peace. However, having sex outside of marriage or habitually masturbating is an abuse of the body's natural response to sex. As Christian, do we listen to man for spiritual guidance and instructions, or do we refer to our Father in heaven? I believe the correct answer is, we search all the scriptures for our answers. I'll do that here, I'll refer you to appropriate scriptures, then you decide the direction for your own life. I am condemning no one. I'm simply making the attempt to give a civil answer through God's Word.

It is well noted by the world that the word "homosexuality" is not recorded in the bible. This is true! However, anyone without a degree of any kind can interpret these words from scripture addressed to the male population, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination” and another verse: "And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet" (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:27) And there is also a caveat for women regarding lesbianism, "for even the women did change the natural use into that which is against nature" (Romans 1:26). So you see, even though words like homosexual, lesbian, gay, queer, etc. which we assign to these behaviors are not specifically used in the bible, it is clear scripture is addressing these actions. Likewise, the word "abortion" is not mentioned in the bible either, yet scripture points out one thing that God hates is the shedding of innocent blood (Proverbs 6:17), so much so He labels it an abomination. How innocent is the unborn?

So, how do we know if masturbation is right or wrong if the word itself is absent from scriptures? The same way we looked at the above scriptures that clearly point to homosexuality and lesbianism. The truth is, masturbation becomes a moral issue because it involves sexuality. How so? What is a person thinking of while in the act? I'm sure it never involves unicorns, lollipops, and rainbows! No, for stimulation one must think of a person, a movie scene, what they viewed in a pornographic magazine, etc. Sexual fantasies about someone you are not married to are, as Jesus stated, "adultery of the heart." If you're fantasizing about a married man or woman WHILE MARRIED, that is the same as adultery of the heart. If you're single and fantasizing about a woman or man, even if it's fictional, that's fornication of the heart (look up Matthew 5:28). "So what do we do then? I'm not so naive to think those who are committed to purity in mind and body don't have sexual hormones, dreams, and thoughts that impact their body. 

Paul taught us that nothing should master us. In other words, we shouldn't be controlled or addicted to anything. The ONLY WAY to overcome any addictions or vice is by renewing your mind and the only way to ever accomplish that is THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD! You must wash your mind with the gospel! Ephesians 5:26 specifically teaches that the church (believers) are sanctified and made holy (John 1:14) by the "washing of the Word." This is why I so often stress that Christians need to READ THE BIBLE! That very word will cleanse and transform your thinking and when that happens by the power of the Holy Spirit, your actions and behaviors will follow suit.

"Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). This verse can bring conviction regarding a lot of choices we make with our bodies, but it was written in the context of sexuality. If there is a "gold standard" question to ask, this is it. In some situations, the answer to whether you're glorifying God in your body may be yes, and in other situations, the answer is clearly no. I believe masturbation is an issue that each woman has to ask the Lord about. When God wanted to be clear about something, He inspired clear teaching in Scripture. The Bible is silent regarding using the term masturbation. What God did state definitely is that He wants to give us His wisdom. "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking" (James 1:5). God is the High Priest who understands our questions and struggles. Even in this most intimate (and perhaps embarrassing) issue, don't be afraid to pour out your heart to Him and ask for His specific direction and wisdom. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD! He parted the Red Sea for goodness sake, prevented Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from burning in the fiery furnace, and He created heavens and earth. What? Do you think it is too difficult for Him to take away misguided sexual cravings or compulsions? You'd be wrong.

In closing, the hardest prayer for me to pray is a variation of “Here I am, Lord; I come to do Your Will.” (Psalm 40:8-9) When you feel those controlling tendencies creeping in, try to catch yourself and pray-- 'Jesus, give me the desire to know and accept Your will. Give me the desire to want Your will more than what I want. When I try to control things in my life, I am unable to truly receive from You. Help me get out of Your way so that You reign more in my life.' Be honest and direct with Him. He will provide what you are unable to do because as He said, "Fear not, in this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have OVERCOME the world" (John 16:3). Jesus will extend His power to you through the Holy Spirit if you'll only submit.

Until He comes,

-Pat-

Walking Away

 

Imagine with me if you adopted a child. Several things would be involved in your decision from the get-go:

1. Your undying love for a child that didn't know you

2. You CHOSE the child because in your eyes they were special

3. Your intentions were to give the child the best life by directing his or her decisions based on your own knowledge about life

4. Your commitment to supply every need of the child according to all you have

5. Your absolute promise to clothe, feed and shelter the child under your care

6. Your promise to provide the child's emotional, mental, and physical health

7. Your pledge to die, if necessary, to save your child if ever in harm's way

So you adopt the child and throughout each year, you've made available every promise listed above. When the child is old enough to move out on their own you hear less and less from them. Phone calls are few and visits are rare. You realize they are losing interest in the relationship you had with them. Drifting from your love they call only when needing money or a favor. Your own child has become estranged! If you continually pursue them, it seems to serve to make it impossible for them to have a quality relationship with you. They may feel smothered, obligated, or even embarrassed to love you. Eventually, they resent you. What a tragedy!

The above scenario is no different than what many Christians do to their Father, God. In the beginning, we profess our love and are overjoyed to spend time with Him. We revel in all his promises and experience His undeserved blessings. When dwelling with Him our lives are a reflection of Psalm 91, "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him. He will rescue me from every trap and protect me from deadly diseases. He will cover me with his feathers. He will shelter me with his wings. His faithful promises are my armor and protection." As believer's God's promises are our armor against the world. Under His wing, we have protection UNLESS we walk out and away from underneath His protective wing. You see, God never leaves us, we walk away from Him.  If you look around you, many people are "Christianized," but not truly transformed (Matthew 7:21). God gave stern warnings to those who did not want to follow the Savior any longer. Notice the wording ANY LONGER? It is true that Christians are saved by grace, “for by grace you are saved” (Ephesians 2:8-9) however, we seem to overlook the verse (and meaning of) “you must hold fast to your confession of faith without wavering” (Hebrews 10:23). Paul, the author of Hebrews, brings stern warnings regarding the danger of choosing sin while walking away from Christ (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Consider these verses:

"For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins" – Hebrews 10:26

"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" – Hebrews 10:31

"But my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls" – Hebrews 10:38-39. 

I receive so many messages in my spirit to be exclusively directed to Christians that are lazy, slipping, or whose love for God has grown cold. This is yet another one. Insulting the Spirit of grace, who is trying to draw you back, but you do not care and refuse to walk away from your sin, is to trample underfoot the grace of God that can save you from the consequences of your stubbornness. You and I are tempted to sin every day. We are under pressure while suffering the ebb and flow of victory and defeat throughout our lives. I'm often tempted with thoughts of my former life that randomly invade my mind seemingly out of nowhere. We constantly fight thoughts, wishes, temptations, desires, lusts, you name it. That is the flesh warring against the spirit. Galatians 5:17 "For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other so that you are not to do whatever you want." No one, I repeat, NO ONE is exempt from the temptations to commit sin, whether from our hearts or from the world in which we live. To be tempted is not a sin, for even Jesus was tempted in Matthew 4:1-11 (Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil) BUT HE DID NOT GIVE INTO TEMPTATION. That's the difference. You can be tempted, and you will be, you must resist.

So today I ask you, have you lost interest in your first love, Jesus Christ? Do you call on Him to talk or revel in His presence and not only when you need or want something? Have the interests, cares, or troubles of life began to mount to such a degree that you decided to walk away from Christ? Do you secretly feel obligated to pray, constrained to talk to God, or embarrassed to admit you love Jesus? Have you walked away? Why is it so hard to take time to converse with God, motivate yourself to read His Word, or to fellowship with other Christians? Is the devil tempting you to fall back into the world and deliberately engage in sin you know God would not be pleased with? Please come back. I may say some of the sternest and most direct things you can say to a person, but please don't feel talked down to or verbally assaulted. Paul loved people enough to warn them about the possibilities of their actions, and so am I. He was like a father to them. Any good father would warn a son or daughter about the dangers in our world and the consequences of choosing those risks (Luke 11:11). May we all be warned. May we all respond by graciously seeking to change ourselves if indeed we have slipped away from our heavenly Father.

Until He comes,

-Pat-