It is a great irony that some parents who grew up with virtually nothing want their kids to have everything. Yet this fervent sacrifice to provide all their children desire creates in them a lack of appreciation for anything! I was raised by parents who loved me and my siblings and provided for our needs. Not only were we fed and provided with clothes and shelter, we received gifts for our birthdays. On very rare occasions we even took family trips to Disneyland. But we were not given whatever we wanted. Therefore it didn't take too much for us to greatly appreciate "treats" like eating out at McDonald's or receiving a gift of beef jerky. We never expected or felt entitled to have a Big Gulp at 7-11 or an ice cream when the truck came by. My parents showed their love first through being present with us, supported each of their children to meet our individual needs, established clear boundaries through consistent, rigid discipline, and most of all through their faith in God. The rod played a role in our raising, but it was outdone by kisses, hugs, and laughs.
Every good parent wants to see the needs of their children met. More than food, water, clothing, housing or gifts, the greatest need of a child is of a spiritual nature. My parents instilled in me the knowledge through scripture that I was a sinner in need of a Saviour. I came to understand that the God who created me desired to be my heavenly Father, and that I would be His child. One of the books of the Bible I loved to read from an early age was the book of Proverbs. The wise and the foolish are often contrasted. Proverbs 1:7 says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." The biblical definition of a fool is one who denies the existence of God, or lives as if God does not exist (Ps. 14:1). Unless children are instructed concerning their deep spiritual need, the success of their studies and career may more of a curse than a blessing. Interestingly enough, the one thing that is almost an eternal death sentence for a human being is security and prosperity. For what does the scripture say? Proverbs 1:32 reads, "For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them." The Hebrew word translated "complacency" in the NKJV is also translated at different times as "prosperity, peaceably, quietness, abundance." The Strong's Concordance conveys the meaning as a genuine or false security. If we find our temporal security in relationships, money, insurance, or anything other than God, we remain blind to our need for Him.
When a man or child without the fear of God has an abundance of goods, when they are prosperous and without threats, it works for their destruction. Jesus said is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a sewing needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. Yet in Christ there is hope for all. With men, it would be impossible: with God, all things are possible (Mark 10:27)! Satan seeks to destroy men, and one way he does it is through prosperity. It is good to give good gifts to our children, but may we not neglect their deepest need to fear God. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and He will supply all our needs.
11 September 2013
10 September 2013
Christ is Without Controversy
"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory."
1 Timothy 3:16
The world is full of controversy, but these basic tenets of godliness are not numbered among them. Paul plainly says the mystery of godliness - something once hidden that has now been revealed - is without any controversy, beyond any doubt or factually-founded opposition: God has been manifested through the person of Jesus Christ, justified in the Holy Spirit through His bodily resurrection, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up in glory. Paul speaks of these as ironclad facts.
Most of the attacks of scripture or Christianity do not come against these aspects, nor could they. It is easier to point out the flaws or hypocrisy of His followers than to lay such claims against Christ. Should someone try to debunk Christ's existence, His claims, deeds, resurrection, or ascension from even a secular historical basis, it is a futile exercise. Ask Josh McDowell about that approach! It is easier to try to create controversy through "oppositions of science falsely so called" (1 Timothy 6:20) than to refute the authenticity of Christ's words and deeds. These truths are made plain and evident through scripture for those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to understand what the Spirit is saying. But the reality is, many people have strong reasons not to believe. When the "reasons" not to believe are stripped bare, the aforementioned proofs are not the issue. As much as we humans love to tout our logical approach and emotional detachment in making decisions, and our ability to make an objective choice based solely on the facts, we have an inner bias favouring ourselves we cannot shake. Nearly every single thing we have learned through our senses, and our senses or ill-informed sources have failed us more than we know.
If we want to understand truth from God, we must be born again. We need the Holy Spirit to make new our minds, hearts, and will. We must lay down our prejudices and biases, and choose to bring God's Word to bear upon the parts of our lives that naturally oppose His rule. God became a man to relate to us, personally enduring rejection, physical pain, and hatred. He did not come to visit for the experience alone, however, because He came with the express purpose to seek and save the lost. He came to sacrifice Himself for man's redemption. Jesus came with great wisdom and the words of life, but people sought to trip Him up or trap Him with His own words. They questioned Christ and disputed with Him, and ultimately Jesus was accused and killed. But without controversy is the fact the Messiah Jesus Christ has come in fulfillment of scripture. Jesus rose from the dead, and it has been documented the great pains the Romans and Jewish leaders went through to make sure He was dead, buried, sealed in a tomb, and guarded. In doing so, they only furthered proved the validity of Christ's resurrection, and His ascension was viewed by eye-witnesses who went to their deaths professing the truth of it all. The man who wrote this passage inspired by the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul, was one of them.
This is the beauty of Christ and His Word. The world may ridicule and scorn; we will face unfounded personal attacks on our character; but regardless of whatever state we find ourselves or wherever we may be, we can be assured of these truths upon which our lives are founded. Our bodies will grow old and fail, yet our inner man is renewed day by day. The world can dissolve, but our faith will wax stronger through the Spirit's revelation. We know and are assured that our souls have been purchased with the precious blood of Christ, and He has reconciled us to God. The words of Jude 1:24-25 are our daily benediction and praise: "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, 25 to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen." Let us hold the high ground, looking to and rejoicing in our Saviour and Messiah Jesus Christ!
Jesus Still Speaks
The Bible is filled with many teachings of Christ to His disciples. Some have been recorded in great detail and have been named by scholars, like the Sermon on the Mount or the Olivet Discourse. But there are many times we aren't told exactly what Jesus said. When Jesus met with two men headed down on the road to Emmaus, we are told beginning at Moses and the prophets Jesus expounded on all the scriptures concerning Himself. No words from this enlightening sermon besides the initial words of rebuke are recorded.
Only a handful of verses later, Jesus appeared to the disciples as they gathered in secret. Luke 24:44-45 reads, "Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures." Again, we are not told precisely what He said. But I believe there is a reason that the words were not entirely recorded. The words Jesus spoke could have easily been penned, but they have been sealed. Why? Because Jesus has things He desires to teach us individually and corporately today we can only discover through the study of His Word empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Before Jesus went to the cross, He said to His disciples in John 16:12-13: "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." After Christ's resurrection and ascension, when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, the disciples who met in one accord were baptised with the Holy Spirit. Through Him, Jesus has revealed things previously unknown. We are not at a loss because all the sermons of Christ were not recorded for us because the Spirit will reveal to us personally all He desires to teach us. This is a wondrous truth! 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 says, "But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God."
Jesus has many things yet to teach us, and He has chosen in these last days to open our understanding that we might comprehend the scriptures through the power of the Holy Spirit. We live in a day of revelation, understanding, and fulfillment. Are you willing to walk with Christ and open up His Word so He can speak to you through it? How many things He will teach us if we will only walk with Him and listen!
Only a handful of verses later, Jesus appeared to the disciples as they gathered in secret. Luke 24:44-45 reads, "Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures." Again, we are not told precisely what He said. But I believe there is a reason that the words were not entirely recorded. The words Jesus spoke could have easily been penned, but they have been sealed. Why? Because Jesus has things He desires to teach us individually and corporately today we can only discover through the study of His Word empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Before Jesus went to the cross, He said to His disciples in John 16:12-13: "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." After Christ's resurrection and ascension, when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, the disciples who met in one accord were baptised with the Holy Spirit. Through Him, Jesus has revealed things previously unknown. We are not at a loss because all the sermons of Christ were not recorded for us because the Spirit will reveal to us personally all He desires to teach us. This is a wondrous truth! 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 says, "But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God."
Jesus has many things yet to teach us, and He has chosen in these last days to open our understanding that we might comprehend the scriptures through the power of the Holy Spirit. We live in a day of revelation, understanding, and fulfillment. Are you willing to walk with Christ and open up His Word so He can speak to you through it? How many things He will teach us if we will only walk with Him and listen!
05 September 2013
God Doesn't Change
People change, but God doesn't. This is one of the many aspects of God which is completely contrary to our experience on earth. He says in Malachi 3:6, "For I am the LORD, I change not..." The world changes with the advance of technology; philosophy, society, and economics change; the climate is constantly in a state of flux; even our bodies are always changing. Our thoughts change from one moment to the next, but God does not change. His righteous Laws do not "change with the times," for He has created time and it is subservient to His everlasting rule. He created this world, and someday He will end it.
During my lifetime, I have witnessed many changes. I have seen portable music devices go from oversized boom-boxes lugged on the shoulder to Walkman cassette players with headphones to portable CD players and MP3 players with ear buds to a phone that is a computer, camera, work and game station which oh yeah - also plays digital music downloaded from the internet without wires or cables and is stored in your pocket! With the advance of capitalism has come a massive increase in technology, increase of schools and universities, and convenience stores. Walk through a shop today and the range of products is staggering, and everywhere we are faced with choices. And with our freedoms and affluence, our foray into personal entitlement demands we "have it our way." As our independence grows so does our pride. It was not long ago that certain things were certainly right and wrong, but the poison of subjective truth has seeped into the very souls that comprise society - if a man has a soul at all. God has become unnecessary, and even to speak of Him is an ill omen. God, the Bible, the account of creation, and the person of Jesus Christ have been reduced to a grab-bag where people justify themselves to pick and choose what we want to believe - if we believe at all.
God has always given people the right to choose if we will believe Him or not. Remember, He doesn't change. He created man from the dust of the ground and breathed into Him a living soul. He created a mate for Him by removing a rib and fashioning a woman, for she was taken out of man. God established distinct sexes designed to provide companionship, procreate within marriage, a picture of the relationship He desires to have with man, one spurned on by His active, unfailing love. Because of sin, it was not long before the institution God made was under attack, with men divorcing their wives because of the hardness of their hearts. A ploy of Satan was to make Eve question the validity of God's Word, and he uses the same tactic masterfully to this day. When I was growing up, the Bible that gave unheard of protection and provision for women was blamed for their oppression. The God-ordained roles in the marriage relationship were questioned. The existence of sexual sin or illicit relationships was also questioned. Now it has come to a point where a genetically born man is free to choose if he is really a man or a woman. It has become all about us, and the phrase from the satanic bible "Do what thou wilt" has traction like never before. With the erosion of the fear of God has come great confusion. 1 Corinthians 14:33 says, "For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints." The word "confusion" in the Greek is defined as "instability, disorder, confusion." God is a God of order and He does not change. Sin has entered this world and death through sin. Satan opposes God and fights against Him, seeking to subvert his truth. Because we live in a day where men do not measure truth against God's unchanging Word and character, applauding whatever his heart believes is right, we add confusion to our guilt before God.
Today I was driving and caught something out of the corner of my eye. Near my house, several pairs of ducks can often be seen together: a male and his female. The heavens declare the glory of God, and nature itself speaks of order. I smiled to myself as I thought about the wisdom of God. There are very intelligent people who believe humans are descendants of sludge and there is no God. But there by the road, in a very quiet and lovely manner, those two ducks waddled along together. It spoke volumes to me: no matter what changes occur in society, no matter how far we stray from the truth of the scriptures, at least the ducks will keep being ducks. God created them to reproduce after their own kind. They will keep being male and female, and ducks will remain monogamous life-long partners long after the biblical definition of marriage is cast aside by humans, a testimony of God's plan and design. Ducks did not learn this "behaviour" from their parents or from their religious beliefs, but because God placed in them instincts to obey His rule. Is not the wisdom of God past finding out? God gave man the freedom to choose, and sadly most men choose to go their own way - and to their ultimate destruction. I guess you either believe this, or you don't.
Consider the objective wisdom offered in James 3:13-18: "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." I am called by God to be righteous, and I am a great sinner. God has provided a way for me to become righteous through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible says when we do this, our sins are washed away and we are clothed in Christ's righteousness. He is for us Wisdom (1 Cor. 1:30) and we are called to judge with righteous judgment. This does not mean to be judgmental of others, but to choose to agree to God's perfect judgments demonstrated by living accordingly. God's wisdom is the wisdom from above. Through Christ we can have peace with God, though we live in a fallen and confused world under the sway of Satan.
Let us show by good conduct - according to God's standards - that we walk in the meekness of wisdom. Does God need us to become defensive and furious against all who deny Him? No. Christ is our Peace, and let us sow the good seed of His Word in faith knowing it will not return to Him void. When we see attacks upon God's definition of marriage or Christians standing up for their beliefs, let us recall 2 Timothy 3:12-17 to mind: "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
During my lifetime, I have witnessed many changes. I have seen portable music devices go from oversized boom-boxes lugged on the shoulder to Walkman cassette players with headphones to portable CD players and MP3 players with ear buds to a phone that is a computer, camera, work and game station which oh yeah - also plays digital music downloaded from the internet without wires or cables and is stored in your pocket! With the advance of capitalism has come a massive increase in technology, increase of schools and universities, and convenience stores. Walk through a shop today and the range of products is staggering, and everywhere we are faced with choices. And with our freedoms and affluence, our foray into personal entitlement demands we "have it our way." As our independence grows so does our pride. It was not long ago that certain things were certainly right and wrong, but the poison of subjective truth has seeped into the very souls that comprise society - if a man has a soul at all. God has become unnecessary, and even to speak of Him is an ill omen. God, the Bible, the account of creation, and the person of Jesus Christ have been reduced to a grab-bag where people justify themselves to pick and choose what we want to believe - if we believe at all.
God has always given people the right to choose if we will believe Him or not. Remember, He doesn't change. He created man from the dust of the ground and breathed into Him a living soul. He created a mate for Him by removing a rib and fashioning a woman, for she was taken out of man. God established distinct sexes designed to provide companionship, procreate within marriage, a picture of the relationship He desires to have with man, one spurned on by His active, unfailing love. Because of sin, it was not long before the institution God made was under attack, with men divorcing their wives because of the hardness of their hearts. A ploy of Satan was to make Eve question the validity of God's Word, and he uses the same tactic masterfully to this day. When I was growing up, the Bible that gave unheard of protection and provision for women was blamed for their oppression. The God-ordained roles in the marriage relationship were questioned. The existence of sexual sin or illicit relationships was also questioned. Now it has come to a point where a genetically born man is free to choose if he is really a man or a woman. It has become all about us, and the phrase from the satanic bible "Do what thou wilt" has traction like never before. With the erosion of the fear of God has come great confusion. 1 Corinthians 14:33 says, "For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints." The word "confusion" in the Greek is defined as "instability, disorder, confusion." God is a God of order and He does not change. Sin has entered this world and death through sin. Satan opposes God and fights against Him, seeking to subvert his truth. Because we live in a day where men do not measure truth against God's unchanging Word and character, applauding whatever his heart believes is right, we add confusion to our guilt before God.
Today I was driving and caught something out of the corner of my eye. Near my house, several pairs of ducks can often be seen together: a male and his female. The heavens declare the glory of God, and nature itself speaks of order. I smiled to myself as I thought about the wisdom of God. There are very intelligent people who believe humans are descendants of sludge and there is no God. But there by the road, in a very quiet and lovely manner, those two ducks waddled along together. It spoke volumes to me: no matter what changes occur in society, no matter how far we stray from the truth of the scriptures, at least the ducks will keep being ducks. God created them to reproduce after their own kind. They will keep being male and female, and ducks will remain monogamous life-long partners long after the biblical definition of marriage is cast aside by humans, a testimony of God's plan and design. Ducks did not learn this "behaviour" from their parents or from their religious beliefs, but because God placed in them instincts to obey His rule. Is not the wisdom of God past finding out? God gave man the freedom to choose, and sadly most men choose to go their own way - and to their ultimate destruction. I guess you either believe this, or you don't.
Consider the objective wisdom offered in James 3:13-18: "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." I am called by God to be righteous, and I am a great sinner. God has provided a way for me to become righteous through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible says when we do this, our sins are washed away and we are clothed in Christ's righteousness. He is for us Wisdom (1 Cor. 1:30) and we are called to judge with righteous judgment. This does not mean to be judgmental of others, but to choose to agree to God's perfect judgments demonstrated by living accordingly. God's wisdom is the wisdom from above. Through Christ we can have peace with God, though we live in a fallen and confused world under the sway of Satan.
Let us show by good conduct - according to God's standards - that we walk in the meekness of wisdom. Does God need us to become defensive and furious against all who deny Him? No. Christ is our Peace, and let us sow the good seed of His Word in faith knowing it will not return to Him void. When we see attacks upon God's definition of marriage or Christians standing up for their beliefs, let us recall 2 Timothy 3:12-17 to mind: "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
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