If nothing in the Bible shocks us, then we're not reading it very carefully! It directly opposes the "wisdom" of this age, which is termed "foolishness" in God's eyes. One fundamental difference between the humanistic view of man and God's divine perspective is the condition of man. Man assumes he is naturally good, but God says there is none good, no, not one. All are condemned by sin. No one gets a free pass to willfully commit sin without eternal consequences.
2 Chronicles 36:9 is a real eye opener: "Jehoiachin was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD." Jehoiachin was eight years old - and evil! When I think of evil people, an "innocent" eight-year-old does not come to mind! But according to God's righteous judgments, Jehoiachin did evil in God's sight. Men, women, and even children must answer for a shred of evil found residing in his soul. Proverbs 20:11 reads, "Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right." A child's actions reveal his heart not only before man, but before God. There are manuscripts that support the view Jehoiachin was 18 years old when his reign ended and he was carried away to Babylon. But whether a person is eight, eighteen, or eighty, God looks upon him in light of God's holiness and righteousness. He looks upon all with love, desiring that none should perish but that all would come to repentance and salvation through Christ.
We see another example of God's piercing gaze of even the young in Ahijah's prophecy to the wife of King Jeroboam. When she visited the prophet of God to inquire concerning the failing health of her child, she disguised herself. Although Ahijah was blind, he knew to whom he spoke. Because Jeroboam had done much evil in the sight of God by leading all Israel into sin, Ahijah prophesied great doom upon him and his family. 1 Kings 14:10-13 reads, "...I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam every male in Israel, bond and free; I will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as one takes away refuse until it is all gone.
11
The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Jeroboam and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field; for the LORD has spoken!"
12
Arise therefore, go to your own house. When your feet enter the city, the child shall die.
13
And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he is the only one of Jeroboam who shall come to the grave, because in him there is found something good toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam." Though the child of Jeroboam was young, there was found in him something good towards the LORD. He would be the only one buried of Jeroboam's house as a sign of God's favour upon him. This highlights the devastating effects of sin: it is like manure which is shoveled into a heap and set on fire. I have no doubts that the soul of the young child, however, was joyfully ushered into eternal bliss in the presence of God.
Despite the wickedness of Jeroboam, God did not punish the son for the sins of his father. Should God do this, who would remain living? Ezekiel 18:20 states, "The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself." If any will repent and trust in Christ, all will be forgiven. Jesus has paid for all sin with His own blood. God's grace is revealed that the Son of God, Jesus Christ, bore upon Himself the sins of all flesh so sinners could be redeemed and reconciled with God. The Law only condemns a man, but the grace of God extends salvation to all who believe. John 3:16 tells us, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." This is good news for young and old alike!
25 May 2012
24 May 2012
Sword Control
Hosea 4:6 begins by saying, "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge..." Ignorance has contributed to much unnecessary suffering in the world, even through those who desired to do good. Before the discovery of dangerous germs, surgeons did not wash their hands or clothes between operations. The result of this lack of sanitation in hospitals led to the spread of disease, infections, and caused many preventable deaths. Even to this day in developing countries, people remain who do not understand the connection between drinking contaminated water and sickness. When a child is stricken with dysentery from drinking water containing sewage, village elders assume evil spirits are to be blamed. While the world is not without a spiritual dimension, ignorance of something as simple as the importance of clean drinking water can lead to disaster.
We live in a day when the world is experiencing a famine of hearing the Word of God. The world has placed science and scripture at odds with each other, though there is no conflict from a Christian perspective. Believing the Bible and reliance upon prayer are seen as archaic coping mechanisms of a superstitious day. Even in many "churches" there is a departure from viewing the scripture as absolute truth and that it would be foolish to take the scriptures literally. This is exactly according to the design of Satan. When the authority of the Bible as the perfect Word of God is undermined or removed, God's people are stranded without the necessary weapons to do battle against temptation, the world, or Satan. The Bible and God's promises are bazookas with unlimited ammo against our spiritual foes and temptations when discerned through the power of the Holy Spirit. But many of God's people have been inoculated with worldly philosophies and relativism, and by putting down their Bibles they have laid down their arms. When Satan tempted Jesus, how did He answer Him? With the Word of God, also called the "Sword of the Spirit" (Eph. 6:17). As the grip of the church on God's Word weakens, our inability to stand and fight against the spiritual forces of wickedness follows suit.
There is a thought provoking passage in 1 Samuel 13:19-22 which reads, "Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, "Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears." 20 But all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen each man's plowshare, his mattock, his ax, and his sickle; 21 and the charge for a sharpening was a pim for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to set the points of the goads. 22 So it came about, on the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan. But they were found with Saul and Jonathan his son." For many years the Philistines had occupied and oppressed much of the children of Israel. To prevent an uprising among the Jews, the Philistines prohibited blacksmiths in the land of Israel. They implemented a form of "sword control." The Israelites relied upon the Philistine blacksmiths who sharpened their farming tools for a price. In the whole nation of Israel there were only two swords owned: one by king Saul and the other by Jonathan his son. The end result was on the day of battle, there was a whopping two swords for the whole nation of Israel. Good thing it was God who fought their battles! Satan will blunt our blades and charge an exorbitant price.
Satan is crafty and subtle. He knows that against the Word of God he cannot fight and win. But if he can trick God's people to neglect the study of God's Word, it will rust in the sheath and be useless when the battle hits. Without being trained to rightly divide God's truth through the Holy Spirit by discipleship in the family and home groups, people are without adequate balance, strength, or coordination to stand up to the temptations of the world. God says, "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge." People die every day because they lack knowledge of God, His wisdom, and ways. Jesus says the Holy Spirit has been sent to John 16:8-10 to teach us all things: "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more." The primary way the Holy Spirit instructs us is through biblical truth. If the Holy Spirit also brings to remembrance whatever Jesus has said (John 14:26), how can we know what Jesus has said except we read it ourselves? No man but a thief would attempt to withdraw money from a bank at which he has no account. Man is foolish to think he can draw upon the wisdom of God without the Word.
The fact is, the Bible teaches we are in the midst of a spiritual battle of epic proportions. The destiny of the eternal souls of men and the glory of God are at stake. In giving us His Word, God has provided a sword for all those adopted into His family by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. How much value do you place on the Word of God? Do you believe it is 100% accurate and true? The demons believe and tremble! The devil knows the fearful things written concerning him and any who fight against God. Zechariah 14:12 is a good example: "And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths." If God should strike those who fight against His sanctuary with such fury, what rage shall be reserved for Satan and the rulers of wickedness? Take up the sword, children of God! Heaven and earth will pass away, but God's Word will never pass away (Matt. 24:35)!
We live in a day when the world is experiencing a famine of hearing the Word of God. The world has placed science and scripture at odds with each other, though there is no conflict from a Christian perspective. Believing the Bible and reliance upon prayer are seen as archaic coping mechanisms of a superstitious day. Even in many "churches" there is a departure from viewing the scripture as absolute truth and that it would be foolish to take the scriptures literally. This is exactly according to the design of Satan. When the authority of the Bible as the perfect Word of God is undermined or removed, God's people are stranded without the necessary weapons to do battle against temptation, the world, or Satan. The Bible and God's promises are bazookas with unlimited ammo against our spiritual foes and temptations when discerned through the power of the Holy Spirit. But many of God's people have been inoculated with worldly philosophies and relativism, and by putting down their Bibles they have laid down their arms. When Satan tempted Jesus, how did He answer Him? With the Word of God, also called the "Sword of the Spirit" (Eph. 6:17). As the grip of the church on God's Word weakens, our inability to stand and fight against the spiritual forces of wickedness follows suit.
There is a thought provoking passage in 1 Samuel 13:19-22 which reads, "Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, "Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears." 20 But all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen each man's plowshare, his mattock, his ax, and his sickle; 21 and the charge for a sharpening was a pim for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to set the points of the goads. 22 So it came about, on the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan. But they were found with Saul and Jonathan his son." For many years the Philistines had occupied and oppressed much of the children of Israel. To prevent an uprising among the Jews, the Philistines prohibited blacksmiths in the land of Israel. They implemented a form of "sword control." The Israelites relied upon the Philistine blacksmiths who sharpened their farming tools for a price. In the whole nation of Israel there were only two swords owned: one by king Saul and the other by Jonathan his son. The end result was on the day of battle, there was a whopping two swords for the whole nation of Israel. Good thing it was God who fought their battles! Satan will blunt our blades and charge an exorbitant price.
Satan is crafty and subtle. He knows that against the Word of God he cannot fight and win. But if he can trick God's people to neglect the study of God's Word, it will rust in the sheath and be useless when the battle hits. Without being trained to rightly divide God's truth through the Holy Spirit by discipleship in the family and home groups, people are without adequate balance, strength, or coordination to stand up to the temptations of the world. God says, "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge." People die every day because they lack knowledge of God, His wisdom, and ways. Jesus says the Holy Spirit has been sent to John 16:8-10 to teach us all things: "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more." The primary way the Holy Spirit instructs us is through biblical truth. If the Holy Spirit also brings to remembrance whatever Jesus has said (John 14:26), how can we know what Jesus has said except we read it ourselves? No man but a thief would attempt to withdraw money from a bank at which he has no account. Man is foolish to think he can draw upon the wisdom of God without the Word.
The fact is, the Bible teaches we are in the midst of a spiritual battle of epic proportions. The destiny of the eternal souls of men and the glory of God are at stake. In giving us His Word, God has provided a sword for all those adopted into His family by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. How much value do you place on the Word of God? Do you believe it is 100% accurate and true? The demons believe and tremble! The devil knows the fearful things written concerning him and any who fight against God. Zechariah 14:12 is a good example: "And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths." If God should strike those who fight against His sanctuary with such fury, what rage shall be reserved for Satan and the rulers of wickedness? Take up the sword, children of God! Heaven and earth will pass away, but God's Word will never pass away (Matt. 24:35)!
22 May 2012
Burdened No More!
We have had several delightful conversations about why the locker is not better utilised. The excuses have been plentiful: "I don't have time," "It's full of spiders," "I never know what books I'll need," or "There's always a bunch of girls blocking the way." So day after day, mile after mile, my son comes home with sagging shoulders under a heavy burden - a burden we've paid to have lifted. But this is something my wife and I cannot do for him. He must make a conscious decision to remove each book from the pack and carry only what he needs for the next class.
I can't see this picture without thinking of Pilgrim from Bunyan's classic, The Pilgrim's Progress. Loaded with a heavy burden, Pilgrim set out from the city of Destruction heading for eternal life in Celestial City. It was only when Pilgrim knelt at the cross that the weighty burden of sins fell from his back. It is the blood of Jesus that has shed His own blood so the sins of man could be forgiven by grace through faith. 1 John 1:9 reads, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Even as my son has all sorts of reasons to justify labouring under the heavy weight of his backpack, people can choose to bear burdens of guilt and sin Christ has already paid for with His own blood. It is not only the unbeliever who carries such a weight, but this is possible for God-fearing, Christ-trusting people as well.
A Christian's life is not a carefree existence. Our eyes have been opened to the spiritual plight of all people who remain dead in their sins. This is a burden all Christians are called to carry with joy, knowing that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life! We are called to bear one another's burdens, and carry our own load (Gal. 6:2-5). For example, when my wife was pregnant I could not physically carry the baby for her. She had to carry that baby for 9 months. That doesn't mean I was unable to help shoulder the burden. I could help out with cleaning the house, with cooking, or shopping. We all have responsibilities in this life for which we are all personally responsible and must be held accountable. But when it comes to sin, guilt, shame, and condemnation, those are burdens Christ has taken upon Himself on the cross. We sin in unbelief when we gather the memory and hurt of those sins for which Christ was wounded and carry them around with us.
Hebrews 10:14-18 tells us plainly of what Christ has offered to all who receive by faith: "For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,"17 then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin." God has chosen not to remember our sins, but Satan is happy to burden us with their memory. We can stew in guilt, bitterness, condemnation, regret, and despair over what we have done or what others have done to us. But that is a weight we need not carry. Love keeps no record of wrongs. When we have been born again by faith in Jesus Christ, our sins God chooses to remember no more. He has made a conscious effort to put them eternally away from His memory, every single one. We are forever free from the guilt and condemnation of any sin.
Psalm 103:8-12 reads, "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. 9 He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." If God has shown us mercy in removing our sins from us, why should we load down our consciences with the memory of them? Let us be partakers of the redemptive work now! The burden of Pilgrim fell from his shoulders long before entrance to the Celestial City! If God has made you free, you are free indeed. Jesus does not strengthen us to bear a burden only He can bear. Leave it at the foot of the cross, having been washing clean with His precious blood and clothed in a robe of righteousness.
Are you weighed down with the sin that so easily besets us? Enough with excuses! May we look to Jesus alone, not our history of unrighteousness. Jesus entreats all in Matthew 11:28-30: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
21 May 2012
No Middle Ground
We expend a lot of effort seeking balance in our lives. No one wants to be branded a "right" or "left" wing extremist. It seems like the demands of the world for everyone to conform is being heightened to levels unheard of in times past. With the ever-changing landscape of political correctness, the influence of media, and the growing power of minorities to influence and transform the majority, the middle ground is becoming increasingly narrow. It used to be that both conservatives and liberals shared some common ground. That ground is becoming more and more scarce as traditional beliefs based upon biblical morals continuously erodes in decay.
There is one questions that has never had middle ground: is Jesus God? This fundamental doctrine of Christianity has only a "yes" or "no" answer. It is impossible to "ride the fence" on this point because it is sharper than an obsidian knife. Jesus made many claims of deity. Jesus claimed to forgive sins, something only God can do (Mark 2:1-12). The Jewish leaders condemned Him because of this point. John 5:18 says, "Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God." Jesus was a man who was also God or He was among the worst liars. He cannot be both a good teacher and a chronic liar. If Jesus is truly God, then He is completely holy and good. Jesus proved His power through His resurrection from the dead and ascension to the Father in heaven. Because He is the righteous Lamb of God, death could not hold Him.
There are proofs of Christ's divinity in both the New and Old Testaments. The Bible teaches that God the Father is a spirit whom no man has seen at any time. Yet God sent the Son Jesus as the Saviour of the world to seek and save the lost. God the Father cannot bleed because He is not flesh. Jesus being God is the only way to reconcile verses like Acts 20:28 which reads, "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." Jesus shed His blood for the church which is His body of which He is the Head (Eph. 4:15).
When Jesus was pierced by nails, thorns, and a spear on the cross, John 19:36-37 states, "For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken." 37 And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced." John was an eyewitness of Christ's crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the scripture to which he refers is found in the Old Testament book of Zechariah 12:10: "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn." In context, God the Father is speaking through the prophet Zechariah. Notice how it says of the Jews and inhabitants of Jerusalem: "They will look on Me whom they pierced." If God was only revealed to man as a spirit, how could He be pierced? How could His blood be shed? The fact is this: God has revealed Himself to man as God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son who became flesh, and the Holy Spirit sent to indwell all believers after Christ ascended into heaven.
There is no middle ground concerning the deity of Jesus Christ. Either He is God, or He is an impostor. Everyone must make their decision and live accordingly. Jesus says in John 14:6-7, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." Praise God for this marvelous truth! There is salvation to all who repent and believe in Christ. After Peter performed a miracle by God's power, he told those who looked on in amazement in Acts 4:10-12, "...let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Where do you stand? Choose this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD Jesus Christ!
There is one questions that has never had middle ground: is Jesus God? This fundamental doctrine of Christianity has only a "yes" or "no" answer. It is impossible to "ride the fence" on this point because it is sharper than an obsidian knife. Jesus made many claims of deity. Jesus claimed to forgive sins, something only God can do (Mark 2:1-12). The Jewish leaders condemned Him because of this point. John 5:18 says, "Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God." Jesus was a man who was also God or He was among the worst liars. He cannot be both a good teacher and a chronic liar. If Jesus is truly God, then He is completely holy and good. Jesus proved His power through His resurrection from the dead and ascension to the Father in heaven. Because He is the righteous Lamb of God, death could not hold Him.
There are proofs of Christ's divinity in both the New and Old Testaments. The Bible teaches that God the Father is a spirit whom no man has seen at any time. Yet God sent the Son Jesus as the Saviour of the world to seek and save the lost. God the Father cannot bleed because He is not flesh. Jesus being God is the only way to reconcile verses like Acts 20:28 which reads, "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." Jesus shed His blood for the church which is His body of which He is the Head (Eph. 4:15).
When Jesus was pierced by nails, thorns, and a spear on the cross, John 19:36-37 states, "For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken." 37 And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced." John was an eyewitness of Christ's crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the scripture to which he refers is found in the Old Testament book of Zechariah 12:10: "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn." In context, God the Father is speaking through the prophet Zechariah. Notice how it says of the Jews and inhabitants of Jerusalem: "They will look on Me whom they pierced." If God was only revealed to man as a spirit, how could He be pierced? How could His blood be shed? The fact is this: God has revealed Himself to man as God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son who became flesh, and the Holy Spirit sent to indwell all believers after Christ ascended into heaven.
There is no middle ground concerning the deity of Jesus Christ. Either He is God, or He is an impostor. Everyone must make their decision and live accordingly. Jesus says in John 14:6-7, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." Praise God for this marvelous truth! There is salvation to all who repent and believe in Christ. After Peter performed a miracle by God's power, he told those who looked on in amazement in Acts 4:10-12, "...let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Where do you stand? Choose this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD Jesus Christ!
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