Bible Studies 7 (For newest Bible Study see "Bible Studies 19")
Are you proud? (Added 4/22/13)
Do you brag and boast and puff up your chest because of your accomplishments, your position, your possessions, and what you've done in your life?
In Philippians 3:4-6 (Amplified Bible) Paul gives his earthly credentials, "Though for myself I have [at least grounds] to rely on the flesh. If any other man considers that he has or seems to have reason to rely on the flesh and his physical and outward advantages, I have still more! Circumcised when I was eight days old, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew [and the son] of Hebrews; as to the observance of the Law I was of [the party of] the Pharisees, As to my zeal, I was a persecutor of the church, and by the Law’s standard of righteousness (supposed justice, uprightness, and right standing with God) I was proven to be blameless and no fault was found with me."
So, before Paul (Saul of Tarsus as he was known - Acts 9) was saved by Jesus and became a Christian he was the ultimate, supreme Jewish leader, scholar, and zealot. If anyone had a reason to be proud and boastful it was Paul. Then on top of all that, once he was called by Christ, he was given revelation of many things and he became the primary Apostle to the Gentiles (non-Jewish people) to spread the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. And He wrote 14 of the books in the New Testament!
Even with all his credentials, in 2 Corinthians 12:6-8 (Amplified Bible) Paul said, "Should I desire to boast, I shall not be a witless braggart, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I abstain [from it] so that no one may form a higher estimate of me than [is justified by] what he sees in me or hears from me. And to keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn ([a]a splinter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted.” Paul taught there is never a reason to be prideful and boast and brag. He knew what pride led to and how easily it is to puff yourself up.
Jesus said in Mark 7:21-23 (King James Version), "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."
So pride is a sin. Throughout the Bible man is instructed to be humble and not boast or brag. You see, pride takes away from the Glory, Honor, Exaltation, Worship, Praise, and Thankfulness we should have for God, and instead we worship ourselves and exalt ourselves above God. We should be thankful, humbled, and gracious for the blessings God has given us and for the Salvation we have through the Blood sacrifice of the Lord Jesus.
Pride was the original sin. It caused Satan to think he was greater than God, and because of pride, he tried to exalt himself above God. But God told us how he is going to meet his end. Revelation 20:10 describes his fate, "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." Remember Proverbs 16:18, (Amplified Bible), “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
The God of the Old Testament (Added 6/24/13)
Why does it seem that God in the Old Testament is a God of hate and wrath and destruction? Why did He command the Jews to wipe out all those living in the land when they moved into their Promised Land?
The book of Genesis tells how God created mankind (Adam and Eve). He created them to fellowship with Him; to have a relationship with Him. His desire was for mankind to live eternally in fellowship and perfect accord with Him. We were created with free will so that we would want to worship and honor God in His glory and righteousness. God did not want to make us like robots. He wanted us to desire to be in His presence. But with free will came the ability to make our own decisions. Unfortunately we all know how that turned out. Satan (by entering the serpent) enticed them to disobey God. They ate the fruit and entered into sin. When God confronted all three of them He told them what their punishment would be (Genesis 3). He told the serpent (Satan), “And I will put enmity (mutual hatred or ill will) between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Satan understood this to mean that he would be defeated by the offspring of Eve (this was the first prophecy concerning Jesus, the Messiah: the expected king and deliverer of the Jews).
Since he (Satan) did not know how, who, or when Eve’s offspring (meaning Adam’s bloodline since they were the only two people on the earth) would defeat him, he thought that if he could corrupt the bloodline of Adam’s descendants the one who would defeat him could not be born. He thought that if the bloodline of Adam was not pure then he could not be defeated. However, he failed to take into account God’s infinite, perfect knowledge and wisdom.
We know God knew this too, but He not only wanted to preserve the bloodline of Adam, He also wanted to raise up a nation (His chosen people) through Adam, Abram (later known as Abraham), Isaac, and Jacob (the patriarchs of the Jewish people). God wanted this nation to be pure in heritage and worship to be a light for the world and a blessing to the nations. All the other peoples of the land the Jews were to inherit intermarried and they worshipped other gods and idols. Their religious beliefs would corrupt the Jewish people and God also knew He had to protect the bloodline of Adam. God did not want His chosen people to intermarry nor did He want them to worship other gods.
Only God knew of His plans for Jesus. The Holy Spirit began to reveal certain prophesies concerning the Messiah through Moses and the Prophets. God announced very early that His plan for redemption involved the Messiah coming from the tribe of Judah and specifically from the line of David - a very distinct bloodline. As more and more prophesies were written by men of God who received these revelations through the Holy Spirit and wrote them down, Satan was able to more closely define his area of attack. God knew He had to preserve the bloodline of David (up to David’s birth and then up to the birth of Jesus).
These are the reasons why in the Old Testament God seemed cruel and harsh. He knew Satan would try to destroy Adam’s bloodline and He wanted to protect His chosen people and keep them set aside to be faithful to Him.
God knew Jesus would be the Messiah, the Savior of the world (born of a virgin, of the tribe of Judah, and a direct descendant of King David). God’s endgame all along has been to bring mankind back into perfect relationship and accord with Him. The whole Bible describes God’s love for mankind, pointing to Jesus as Redeemer and Savior, and the great lengths God was/is willing to go to in order to allow us to make the decision to love, honor, obey, revere, and cherish Him. It’s not about hate or destruction, but about love, reconciliation, and renewal.
God loves each of us so much He sacrificed His only Son on the cross for us. To bring us back to Him (John 3:16). That is the true, perfect, gracious love God has for us.
If you have problems reconciling the bloodlines of Jesus in your mind this is an excellent article which takes you through His ancestors on both sides of his family – Joseph’s (his adoptive father) and Mary: http://www.ldolphin.org/2adams.html
“I WILL” (Added 6/25/13)
“Lucifer is one of three archangels mentioned in Scripture. He was created by God just as all angels were, but his role was different from the other angelic hosts. Lucifer was referred to as the 'covering angel.' Just as the cherubim covered the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant, Lucifer was established by God to be the angel of worship, one whose ministry surrounded the heart of heaven. Lucifer was created to dwell eternally in the throne room of heaven, in the very presence of God (Ezekiel 28:14).
According to Ezekiel 28:13, a probable reference to Lucifer, we learn that he is an amazing being to behold: "You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created."
To dwell in the awesome presence of a perfect and holy God, Lucifer had to be perfect. There was nothing ordinary or plain about his appearance. Adorned with gold and precious stones, he truly fit the name, 'Son of the Morning.' He was a step above the other angels, not only in appearance but also in intellect. Lucifer's wisdom far exceeded that of other angelic beings. He understood the ways of God.
But Lucifer's splendor and beauty did not last forever. While ministering, he began to consider his own position of prominence. Lucifer became prideful, believing that he deserved more than what he already had. He wanted to become like the Most High.
Isaiah 14 reveals the fall of Lucifer from the heights of heaven, which resulted in his status as the creature that he is today:
"How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning...For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'" (The above was taken from Sharefaith.com)
Lucifer (Satan) became prideful and decided he would usurp God and he tried to exert his will. Notice the five “I Wills” above. Satan tried to be greater than his Creator. Do we do this too? Do we allow our pride to cause us to usurp God’s authority, His rightful place in our lives, our decisions, our desires, our thoughts? Do we relegate God to second fiddle in our lives?
Reverend Billy Graham said, "The sin of pride particularly has caused the downfall of Lucifer in heaven; most certainly it can bring mortal man down too." He sums it up by saying, "He (Satan) forever tries to discredit the truthfulness of the Word of God; he coaxes men to deny the authority of God, and persuades the world to wallow in the deluding comfort of sin."
A long time ago it was written that a King would be born. It was widely known and accepted by the Jewish scholars and religious men that this King would come and set up His kingdom and reign over the Jews. This would be the long-awaited Messiah, the Redeemer and the Savior of the World.
My dear friend Eric Pearson recently wrote these words to me: “I want to be wrong too. I only know that power does funny things to a person. I think the powerful in the times of Jesus knew who Jesus really was and they still crucified Him, to maintain their power and authority. Their fear of losing that power, in my opinion, was the real reason they did what they did. I'm far from a biblical scholar so if I'm wrong, let me know. A king heard the King of Kings had been born and out of fear of losing his power, ordered all male born children 2 and under to be put to death, in the entire area. The King of Kings should have been a thing to celebrate, not fear. He was willing to sacrifice all mankind to keep his power and control. It has been this way a very long time.”
The king Eric wrote about was King Herod. He was appointed King of Judea by the Roman Senate. He was the king at the time of the birth of Jesus Christ. Matthew 2 describes his actions when he heard the “King of the Jews” had been born. King Herod was willing to sacrifice all mankind to preserve his own power. The Jewish religious leaders knew Jesus was the Messiah prophesied throughout the Torah (the books of Moses) and the Prophets. Yet they were willing to sacrifice their King to remain in control of the people and to appease the Roman government. Because of their own desires they caused Jesus to be nailed to the cross and crucified.
I want to take Eric’s thought process one step further. I say these rulers let their pride get in the way of making the right decisions.
When we begin to think more highly of ourselves and rely more on our abilities, our rights, our desires, our wants, our needs than we rely on God we usurp His authority over our lives. We allow our pride to separate us from our Creator. That is what Satan did too.
Ask yourself this question: “Do I really know what’s best for me or does my Creator, the one who formed me in my mother’s womb.” I don’t know about you, but I sometimes struggle just deciding what to eat for lunch. Let alone knowing what’s best for my life. J God knows what’s best for us. He has plans for us. Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God sees the beginning from the end. Through Jesus we have, and can do, all things: salvation, peace, hope, strength, love, provision, mercy, grace, and victory (Psalm 8:6; Mark 9:12; John 14:26; Romans 8:28, 32; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 4:13; 1 Timothy 6:17; 2 Peter 1:3)! We need to accept that we do not know what’s best for us and submit to God and ask Him to guide us in all things.
Remember Billy Graham’s words, "He (Satan) forever tries to discredit the truthfulness of the Word of God; he coaxes men to deny the authority of God, and persuades the world to wallow in the deluding comfort of sin." You see if Satan can make us think that we know better than God how to live our lives, what decisions to make, which direction we should go, then we don’t rely on God – we begin to rely on ourselves. That is pride and that is the original sin.
I leave you with this:
Isaiah 55:6-9
Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Normally I don't add articles I did not write, but I felt this one is very important for our times. (Added 7/1/13)
Warning: Sugar-Coated ‘Ear Candy’ Gospel is Weakening Saints
STEVE HILL AND JENNIFER LECLAIRE
Look around and you’ll see the undeniable signs of the times. The Supreme Court that opened the door to murdering more than 55 million babies has failed to defend traditional marriage. The prince of the power of the air is propagating all manner of immorality over mass media. And all sorts of heresy is circulating in the body of Christ.
Despite the darkness of the hour, we are still believing for a revival—a great awakening. In fact, we believe we’re living in the greatest hour in church history. The true bride will arise in prayer to combat the forces of darkness and open the door to the salvation of many. Yet we must prepare for this outpouring.
What’s more, amid this stark contrast of light and dark lies a dangerous time for believers, as many are ill-equipped to face the challenges coming in the days ahead. Despite decades of teaching on the fivefold ministry, which aims to equip the saints for works of service and to stand firm despite various winds of doctrine (Eph. 4:11), the church is falling down on its job.
Indeed, the word coming from the pulpits is too often weakening, rather than empowering, God's people. Have you ever heard the phrase “eye candy”? It's a popular term that describes what is attractive and pleasant to the sight. Lots of lights. Lots of spectacle. Lots of fun. Appealing to the eyes. Well, we call the message coming from many pulpits in the West “ear candy.”
Just as Tootsie Rolls taste sweet to the lips, these gospel messages are sweet to the ears. They cause the hearers to feel good and want more but never challenge them or cause them to grow. Too often, ear candy messages have become the main course of our spiritual diets rather than strong meat that strengthens our souls.
False Doctrine: A Sour Trend
In New Testament times, the apostle Paul wrote to his young protégé, Timothy, warning him to do the things that will avoid the trend we are now seeing in the church:
“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Tim. 4:1-5).
The original Greek word translated fables here means “fiction” or “nonsense.” Paul issued the same type of warning to a group of believers in Corinth. False doctrine was slipping into this first-century church, threatening to weaken its spiritual foundation. Can you hear the cry of the apostle as he cautions the new believers against this subtle satanic spirit?
“For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!” (2 Cor. 11:2-4.)
The deception Paul warned about is rampant today in America and all over the world, and we are concerned for the family of God. People who need desperately to hear about the shed blood of Jesus and how God loves them and has a plan for their lives must first wade through piles of garbage and mucky polluted rivers before hearing just a morsel of truth. We are reminded of the prophet Amos when he bellowed out these words: “'They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, but shall not find it'” (Amos 8:12).
Lovers of the Truth
We've all heard the adage that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. That may be true. But today, in the spiritual sense, there is no medicine coming behind the ear candy. The doctors of the Word, the clergy, are afraid to prescribe the medicine that was made available from heaven's pharmacy 2,000 years ago. They see the disease but are afraid to properly treat it for fear of offending. They have become tolerant.
From God's perspective, the diagnosis and treatment have always been clear: Sin is the disease. The blood of Christ is the cure. Repentance is God's method for putting the two together.
That's not a sweet message. For Jesus, it was a bitter cup. It wasn't sweet when the crown of thorns was pressed upon His head and blood spilled into His eyes. It wasn't sweet when they took a whip of leather holding pieces of glass or stone and shredded His back like a farmer would plow a field. It wasn't sweet when they blindfolded Him, slapped His face and mocked His deity.
No, it wasn't sweet when they placed a beam on His raw, exposed shoulders and forced Him to carry His own cross. It wasn't sweet when He fell under the load.
It wasn't sweet when they laid His body on the beams and pierced His hands and feet. It wasn't sweet when the cross dropped in the hole and ripped even further the flesh that had just been pierced. It wasn't sweet when He lifted His voice and said, “Father, forgive them. They know not what they do.” It wasn't sweet when He pierced the heavens with these words: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
We’re speaking of the gospel story—the penetrating truth of what Jesus Christ had to endure so that we could be adopted into His family. Now, 2,000 years after His brutal death, we find pastors glossing over and sugarcoating this message in order to avoid offending society's delicate palates with the bitter truth. They have become tolerant.
Jesus was never motivated by how His message would be received. In fact, He reduced His congregation to just a faithful few after preaching a full-course meal on sacrifice. His command of “Eat My flesh and drink My blood” transformed His cheerleaders into cowards. They walked away.
He didn't chase after them. He didn't change His message to cheer them up. When they sought sweet words, He didn't give them tasty, sugary morsels. They needed truth.
The Danger of Eating Spiritual Junk Food
We all know the dangers of a physical diet containing too many sweets: diabetes, obesity, heart disease, hyperactivity, anxiety, depression. We should equally recognize the debilitating dangers of having our spiritual stomachs filled with junk-food jargon. Nevertheless, the enemy of our souls has entered into the pulpits of America in our day and is serving up a diet void of any nutritional value—and we are consuming it.
The devastating results of slipping away from proclaiming fundamental, doctrinal truths are already evident in our society. It is essential that we teach the whole counsel of God.
We must all feel the responsibility. We must carry the burden. We must share in the load if we are to successfully carry out our part of the Great Commission.
“But what about the good stuff,” you may be asking, “like the fact that God wants us to prosper and be in health?” Of course these spiritual benefits are in the Word. But those are the rewards of being saved. First, people must get saved! And after conversion, they must experience change. This life-altering gospel is summed up in the staunch words of Jesus: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matt. 16:24).
We believe one of the many reasons ministers in churches have become popular is simply because they've lost the sting of the story. It's as if everyone is lured to this gigantic, honey-laden beehive with no fear of being stung. Why? There are no warrior bees watching the hive. It's all sugar. Just scoop some in your hand and slop it down.
The “sound” doctrine Paul referred to is healthful, wholesome doctrine. He was not talking about sugar. He was talking about what encourages and contributes to the health of the soul. Paul said the time would come when some would not endure, or put up with, it. That time is now! Churches today are filled with people who seek instruction that is more in line with their lifestyles, their wishes and their desires than with the good of their own souls.
Even now, we are watching Pentecostal churches all over America slip into this abyss. Pastors who were at one time filled with the Holy Ghost—who spoke in tongues and prayed for the sick—now won't permit the Spirit of God to move. No more manifestations of the Spirit. No more encouraging prophecy. No more crying after God. Instead, they serve up silly sermonettes to Christianettes in bassinettes.
Why? Because they don't want their people to leave. They water down the message to keep them coming back. They defend their feel-good messages by claiming, “Oh, the money won't come in if you offend the givers,” “The coffers won't fill up unless you speak words they want to hear,” “The tithers will leave if you confront their sin. They want to be stroked, not stricken. They want to be pacified. They won't put up with the whole counsel of God.”
What ridiculous rhetoric! What rubbish! Since when are pastors supposed to allow the people in the pews to dictate what they preach in the pulpit?
No Repentance Required
If we want to be relevant, if we want to be effective, we must preach the cross, the blood, repentance and sacrifice. We must preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
What ever happened to these words of Paul that echo through the corridors of time? “Woe is me if I don't preach the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:16). And how about, “I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2)?
When Paul spoke of lusts, he was referring to anything people set their hearts on outside of Christ. Such people seek teaching that will gratify their carnal desires. They want leaders to deal gently with their evil ways. They want tolerance. They cry, “It's not really sin. All I did was make a mistake. I just slipped up a little bit. Don't tell me to repent. Don't make me come to an altar. Just gimme some sugar, Pastor. Gimme some sugar.”
Today's junk-filled jargon, all in the name of Jesus, reminds us of the trouble in Isaiah's day when the people said, “Do not prophesy to us right things; speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us” (Is. 30:10-11).
Paul said, “Because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers” (2 Tim. 4:3). The people are going after these teachers and bringing them together. They're gathering all the prophets, the teachers and the lukewarm pastors together. They're reading the same materials and agreeing with one another. Why? Because they want a message that's not offensive.
What is happening? We're allowing the people to decide what to eat for their spiritual dinner. Rather than toiling to prepare some fresh bread from heaven and offering them a clean, cool cup of water from God's fountain, we are letting their desires determine the meals we serve. What parent would allow their children to decide the evening's menu? Their plates would be full of cookies, cake and candy!
We believe the devil's favorite time of the week here in America is Sunday morning. We don't think he minds seeing people go to church. In fact, we think he wants to get as many people to church as possible because he knows they'll hear a sugar-coated, lukewarm, “relevant” message.
They'll go to a 50-minute service in which the sermon is barely 20 minutes long. They have a “religious itch,” and the pastor will scratch it by saying, “You're fine. Everything's wonderful. Everything's OK.” Then they'll walk out feeling good about themselves. All the while, they're living in sin and thinking nothing of it.
The people are never confronted—never challenged with a heart-to-heart, riveting message spoken in love that can change their lives. Rather, they receive some hollow message on how to cope, when 90 percent of their problems come from their sinful lifestyles.
Happily Ever After?
As Christians, we have “turned aside to fables.” We believe God wants us to live lives of popularity rather than suffer any kind of persecution. We believe God wants us to live lives of luxury rather than lives of sacrifice. We shouldn't worry about being holy, holy, holy. God wants us to be happy, happy, happy.
What nonsense! The central message of the cross has been traded for a soothing massage by the clergy!
John Wesley, George Whitefield and Charles Finney never preached soupy, self-centered, society-pleasing sermons. Their words challenged people to live a life of no compromise that included acknowledging and repenting of sin and receiving God's forgiveness.
We need to get back to offering this type of fare. There are hungry souls both inside and outside the church who need a fresh, cutting word from the heart of God. Let's stop giving them a soft, sweet substitute. No more sugar. It's time to start a detox program!
Steve Hill and his wife, Jeri, are evangelists and church planters. They are motivated in life by personal holiness and a passionate desire for lost souls to be saved.
You are the temple of God. (Added 7/14/13)
If you are a Christian (you asked for forgiveness for your sins and accepted Jesus as your Savior) the Holy Spirit (God’s Spirit) indwells you. That is what Paul means in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 when he said, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
In Ephesians 4:29-31 NIV we read, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” (On a side note this verse is where the Christian Contemporary Music group Building 429 got their name.)
So, if we are Christians and belong to Christ, and God’s Holy Spirit indwells each of us, are we “free” to live our lives as we choose or are we in-truth responsible to a “higher authority?” We are responsible to God and we should submit to the Holy Spirit as He leads us. Anything less is being disobedient to God and grieves the Holy Spirit. We should have a deep, unrelenting, unquenchable desire to follow Christ through the Holy Spirit. Anything less is unacceptable.
So, how do you get there? Through worship, prayer, fasting, and abiding in God’s presence. Read the Bible; spend time in prayer and worship; and do what Paul said in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
(I feel the need to emphasize that I am NOT a perfect Christian and I hope I don’t come across that way. ALL of us sin and fall short of the glory of God. But every time we stumble and make mistakes we must ask for forgiveness and immediately get back into the presence of God. Don’t let Satan condemn you for what you’ve already been forgiven for.) As Jeremy Camp sang in his song "Give Me Jesus"
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
Just give me Jesus.
When I am alone,
When I am alone,
When I am alone,
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
Just give me Jesus.
When I come to die,
When I come to die,
When I come to die,
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
Just give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
Just give me Jesus.
Are you proud? (Added 4/22/13)
Do you brag and boast and puff up your chest because of your accomplishments, your position, your possessions, and what you've done in your life?
In Philippians 3:4-6 (Amplified Bible) Paul gives his earthly credentials, "Though for myself I have [at least grounds] to rely on the flesh. If any other man considers that he has or seems to have reason to rely on the flesh and his physical and outward advantages, I have still more! Circumcised when I was eight days old, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew [and the son] of Hebrews; as to the observance of the Law I was of [the party of] the Pharisees, As to my zeal, I was a persecutor of the church, and by the Law’s standard of righteousness (supposed justice, uprightness, and right standing with God) I was proven to be blameless and no fault was found with me."
So, before Paul (Saul of Tarsus as he was known - Acts 9) was saved by Jesus and became a Christian he was the ultimate, supreme Jewish leader, scholar, and zealot. If anyone had a reason to be proud and boastful it was Paul. Then on top of all that, once he was called by Christ, he was given revelation of many things and he became the primary Apostle to the Gentiles (non-Jewish people) to spread the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. And He wrote 14 of the books in the New Testament!
Even with all his credentials, in 2 Corinthians 12:6-8 (Amplified Bible) Paul said, "Should I desire to boast, I shall not be a witless braggart, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I abstain [from it] so that no one may form a higher estimate of me than [is justified by] what he sees in me or hears from me. And to keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn ([a]a splinter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted.” Paul taught there is never a reason to be prideful and boast and brag. He knew what pride led to and how easily it is to puff yourself up.
Jesus said in Mark 7:21-23 (King James Version), "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."
So pride is a sin. Throughout the Bible man is instructed to be humble and not boast or brag. You see, pride takes away from the Glory, Honor, Exaltation, Worship, Praise, and Thankfulness we should have for God, and instead we worship ourselves and exalt ourselves above God. We should be thankful, humbled, and gracious for the blessings God has given us and for the Salvation we have through the Blood sacrifice of the Lord Jesus.
Pride was the original sin. It caused Satan to think he was greater than God, and because of pride, he tried to exalt himself above God. But God told us how he is going to meet his end. Revelation 20:10 describes his fate, "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." Remember Proverbs 16:18, (Amplified Bible), “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
The God of the Old Testament (Added 6/24/13)
Why does it seem that God in the Old Testament is a God of hate and wrath and destruction? Why did He command the Jews to wipe out all those living in the land when they moved into their Promised Land?
The book of Genesis tells how God created mankind (Adam and Eve). He created them to fellowship with Him; to have a relationship with Him. His desire was for mankind to live eternally in fellowship and perfect accord with Him. We were created with free will so that we would want to worship and honor God in His glory and righteousness. God did not want to make us like robots. He wanted us to desire to be in His presence. But with free will came the ability to make our own decisions. Unfortunately we all know how that turned out. Satan (by entering the serpent) enticed them to disobey God. They ate the fruit and entered into sin. When God confronted all three of them He told them what their punishment would be (Genesis 3). He told the serpent (Satan), “And I will put enmity (mutual hatred or ill will) between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Satan understood this to mean that he would be defeated by the offspring of Eve (this was the first prophecy concerning Jesus, the Messiah: the expected king and deliverer of the Jews).
Since he (Satan) did not know how, who, or when Eve’s offspring (meaning Adam’s bloodline since they were the only two people on the earth) would defeat him, he thought that if he could corrupt the bloodline of Adam’s descendants the one who would defeat him could not be born. He thought that if the bloodline of Adam was not pure then he could not be defeated. However, he failed to take into account God’s infinite, perfect knowledge and wisdom.
We know God knew this too, but He not only wanted to preserve the bloodline of Adam, He also wanted to raise up a nation (His chosen people) through Adam, Abram (later known as Abraham), Isaac, and Jacob (the patriarchs of the Jewish people). God wanted this nation to be pure in heritage and worship to be a light for the world and a blessing to the nations. All the other peoples of the land the Jews were to inherit intermarried and they worshipped other gods and idols. Their religious beliefs would corrupt the Jewish people and God also knew He had to protect the bloodline of Adam. God did not want His chosen people to intermarry nor did He want them to worship other gods.
Only God knew of His plans for Jesus. The Holy Spirit began to reveal certain prophesies concerning the Messiah through Moses and the Prophets. God announced very early that His plan for redemption involved the Messiah coming from the tribe of Judah and specifically from the line of David - a very distinct bloodline. As more and more prophesies were written by men of God who received these revelations through the Holy Spirit and wrote them down, Satan was able to more closely define his area of attack. God knew He had to preserve the bloodline of David (up to David’s birth and then up to the birth of Jesus).
These are the reasons why in the Old Testament God seemed cruel and harsh. He knew Satan would try to destroy Adam’s bloodline and He wanted to protect His chosen people and keep them set aside to be faithful to Him.
God knew Jesus would be the Messiah, the Savior of the world (born of a virgin, of the tribe of Judah, and a direct descendant of King David). God’s endgame all along has been to bring mankind back into perfect relationship and accord with Him. The whole Bible describes God’s love for mankind, pointing to Jesus as Redeemer and Savior, and the great lengths God was/is willing to go to in order to allow us to make the decision to love, honor, obey, revere, and cherish Him. It’s not about hate or destruction, but about love, reconciliation, and renewal.
God loves each of us so much He sacrificed His only Son on the cross for us. To bring us back to Him (John 3:16). That is the true, perfect, gracious love God has for us.
If you have problems reconciling the bloodlines of Jesus in your mind this is an excellent article which takes you through His ancestors on both sides of his family – Joseph’s (his adoptive father) and Mary: http://www.ldolphin.org/2adams.html
“I WILL” (Added 6/25/13)
“Lucifer is one of three archangels mentioned in Scripture. He was created by God just as all angels were, but his role was different from the other angelic hosts. Lucifer was referred to as the 'covering angel.' Just as the cherubim covered the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant, Lucifer was established by God to be the angel of worship, one whose ministry surrounded the heart of heaven. Lucifer was created to dwell eternally in the throne room of heaven, in the very presence of God (Ezekiel 28:14).
According to Ezekiel 28:13, a probable reference to Lucifer, we learn that he is an amazing being to behold: "You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created."
To dwell in the awesome presence of a perfect and holy God, Lucifer had to be perfect. There was nothing ordinary or plain about his appearance. Adorned with gold and precious stones, he truly fit the name, 'Son of the Morning.' He was a step above the other angels, not only in appearance but also in intellect. Lucifer's wisdom far exceeded that of other angelic beings. He understood the ways of God.
But Lucifer's splendor and beauty did not last forever. While ministering, he began to consider his own position of prominence. Lucifer became prideful, believing that he deserved more than what he already had. He wanted to become like the Most High.
Isaiah 14 reveals the fall of Lucifer from the heights of heaven, which resulted in his status as the creature that he is today:
"How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning...For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'" (The above was taken from Sharefaith.com)
Lucifer (Satan) became prideful and decided he would usurp God and he tried to exert his will. Notice the five “I Wills” above. Satan tried to be greater than his Creator. Do we do this too? Do we allow our pride to cause us to usurp God’s authority, His rightful place in our lives, our decisions, our desires, our thoughts? Do we relegate God to second fiddle in our lives?
Reverend Billy Graham said, "The sin of pride particularly has caused the downfall of Lucifer in heaven; most certainly it can bring mortal man down too." He sums it up by saying, "He (Satan) forever tries to discredit the truthfulness of the Word of God; he coaxes men to deny the authority of God, and persuades the world to wallow in the deluding comfort of sin."
A long time ago it was written that a King would be born. It was widely known and accepted by the Jewish scholars and religious men that this King would come and set up His kingdom and reign over the Jews. This would be the long-awaited Messiah, the Redeemer and the Savior of the World.
My dear friend Eric Pearson recently wrote these words to me: “I want to be wrong too. I only know that power does funny things to a person. I think the powerful in the times of Jesus knew who Jesus really was and they still crucified Him, to maintain their power and authority. Their fear of losing that power, in my opinion, was the real reason they did what they did. I'm far from a biblical scholar so if I'm wrong, let me know. A king heard the King of Kings had been born and out of fear of losing his power, ordered all male born children 2 and under to be put to death, in the entire area. The King of Kings should have been a thing to celebrate, not fear. He was willing to sacrifice all mankind to keep his power and control. It has been this way a very long time.”
The king Eric wrote about was King Herod. He was appointed King of Judea by the Roman Senate. He was the king at the time of the birth of Jesus Christ. Matthew 2 describes his actions when he heard the “King of the Jews” had been born. King Herod was willing to sacrifice all mankind to preserve his own power. The Jewish religious leaders knew Jesus was the Messiah prophesied throughout the Torah (the books of Moses) and the Prophets. Yet they were willing to sacrifice their King to remain in control of the people and to appease the Roman government. Because of their own desires they caused Jesus to be nailed to the cross and crucified.
I want to take Eric’s thought process one step further. I say these rulers let their pride get in the way of making the right decisions.
When we begin to think more highly of ourselves and rely more on our abilities, our rights, our desires, our wants, our needs than we rely on God we usurp His authority over our lives. We allow our pride to separate us from our Creator. That is what Satan did too.
Ask yourself this question: “Do I really know what’s best for me or does my Creator, the one who formed me in my mother’s womb.” I don’t know about you, but I sometimes struggle just deciding what to eat for lunch. Let alone knowing what’s best for my life. J God knows what’s best for us. He has plans for us. Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God sees the beginning from the end. Through Jesus we have, and can do, all things: salvation, peace, hope, strength, love, provision, mercy, grace, and victory (Psalm 8:6; Mark 9:12; John 14:26; Romans 8:28, 32; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 4:13; 1 Timothy 6:17; 2 Peter 1:3)! We need to accept that we do not know what’s best for us and submit to God and ask Him to guide us in all things.
Remember Billy Graham’s words, "He (Satan) forever tries to discredit the truthfulness of the Word of God; he coaxes men to deny the authority of God, and persuades the world to wallow in the deluding comfort of sin." You see if Satan can make us think that we know better than God how to live our lives, what decisions to make, which direction we should go, then we don’t rely on God – we begin to rely on ourselves. That is pride and that is the original sin.
I leave you with this:
Isaiah 55:6-9
Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Normally I don't add articles I did not write, but I felt this one is very important for our times. (Added 7/1/13)
Warning: Sugar-Coated ‘Ear Candy’ Gospel is Weakening Saints
STEVE HILL AND JENNIFER LECLAIRE
Look around and you’ll see the undeniable signs of the times. The Supreme Court that opened the door to murdering more than 55 million babies has failed to defend traditional marriage. The prince of the power of the air is propagating all manner of immorality over mass media. And all sorts of heresy is circulating in the body of Christ.
Despite the darkness of the hour, we are still believing for a revival—a great awakening. In fact, we believe we’re living in the greatest hour in church history. The true bride will arise in prayer to combat the forces of darkness and open the door to the salvation of many. Yet we must prepare for this outpouring.
What’s more, amid this stark contrast of light and dark lies a dangerous time for believers, as many are ill-equipped to face the challenges coming in the days ahead. Despite decades of teaching on the fivefold ministry, which aims to equip the saints for works of service and to stand firm despite various winds of doctrine (Eph. 4:11), the church is falling down on its job.
Indeed, the word coming from the pulpits is too often weakening, rather than empowering, God's people. Have you ever heard the phrase “eye candy”? It's a popular term that describes what is attractive and pleasant to the sight. Lots of lights. Lots of spectacle. Lots of fun. Appealing to the eyes. Well, we call the message coming from many pulpits in the West “ear candy.”
Just as Tootsie Rolls taste sweet to the lips, these gospel messages are sweet to the ears. They cause the hearers to feel good and want more but never challenge them or cause them to grow. Too often, ear candy messages have become the main course of our spiritual diets rather than strong meat that strengthens our souls.
False Doctrine: A Sour Trend
In New Testament times, the apostle Paul wrote to his young protégé, Timothy, warning him to do the things that will avoid the trend we are now seeing in the church:
“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Tim. 4:1-5).
The original Greek word translated fables here means “fiction” or “nonsense.” Paul issued the same type of warning to a group of believers in Corinth. False doctrine was slipping into this first-century church, threatening to weaken its spiritual foundation. Can you hear the cry of the apostle as he cautions the new believers against this subtle satanic spirit?
“For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!” (2 Cor. 11:2-4.)
The deception Paul warned about is rampant today in America and all over the world, and we are concerned for the family of God. People who need desperately to hear about the shed blood of Jesus and how God loves them and has a plan for their lives must first wade through piles of garbage and mucky polluted rivers before hearing just a morsel of truth. We are reminded of the prophet Amos when he bellowed out these words: “'They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, but shall not find it'” (Amos 8:12).
Lovers of the Truth
We've all heard the adage that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. That may be true. But today, in the spiritual sense, there is no medicine coming behind the ear candy. The doctors of the Word, the clergy, are afraid to prescribe the medicine that was made available from heaven's pharmacy 2,000 years ago. They see the disease but are afraid to properly treat it for fear of offending. They have become tolerant.
From God's perspective, the diagnosis and treatment have always been clear: Sin is the disease. The blood of Christ is the cure. Repentance is God's method for putting the two together.
That's not a sweet message. For Jesus, it was a bitter cup. It wasn't sweet when the crown of thorns was pressed upon His head and blood spilled into His eyes. It wasn't sweet when they took a whip of leather holding pieces of glass or stone and shredded His back like a farmer would plow a field. It wasn't sweet when they blindfolded Him, slapped His face and mocked His deity.
No, it wasn't sweet when they placed a beam on His raw, exposed shoulders and forced Him to carry His own cross. It wasn't sweet when He fell under the load.
It wasn't sweet when they laid His body on the beams and pierced His hands and feet. It wasn't sweet when the cross dropped in the hole and ripped even further the flesh that had just been pierced. It wasn't sweet when He lifted His voice and said, “Father, forgive them. They know not what they do.” It wasn't sweet when He pierced the heavens with these words: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
We’re speaking of the gospel story—the penetrating truth of what Jesus Christ had to endure so that we could be adopted into His family. Now, 2,000 years after His brutal death, we find pastors glossing over and sugarcoating this message in order to avoid offending society's delicate palates with the bitter truth. They have become tolerant.
Jesus was never motivated by how His message would be received. In fact, He reduced His congregation to just a faithful few after preaching a full-course meal on sacrifice. His command of “Eat My flesh and drink My blood” transformed His cheerleaders into cowards. They walked away.
He didn't chase after them. He didn't change His message to cheer them up. When they sought sweet words, He didn't give them tasty, sugary morsels. They needed truth.
The Danger of Eating Spiritual Junk Food
We all know the dangers of a physical diet containing too many sweets: diabetes, obesity, heart disease, hyperactivity, anxiety, depression. We should equally recognize the debilitating dangers of having our spiritual stomachs filled with junk-food jargon. Nevertheless, the enemy of our souls has entered into the pulpits of America in our day and is serving up a diet void of any nutritional value—and we are consuming it.
The devastating results of slipping away from proclaiming fundamental, doctrinal truths are already evident in our society. It is essential that we teach the whole counsel of God.
We must all feel the responsibility. We must carry the burden. We must share in the load if we are to successfully carry out our part of the Great Commission.
“But what about the good stuff,” you may be asking, “like the fact that God wants us to prosper and be in health?” Of course these spiritual benefits are in the Word. But those are the rewards of being saved. First, people must get saved! And after conversion, they must experience change. This life-altering gospel is summed up in the staunch words of Jesus: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matt. 16:24).
We believe one of the many reasons ministers in churches have become popular is simply because they've lost the sting of the story. It's as if everyone is lured to this gigantic, honey-laden beehive with no fear of being stung. Why? There are no warrior bees watching the hive. It's all sugar. Just scoop some in your hand and slop it down.
The “sound” doctrine Paul referred to is healthful, wholesome doctrine. He was not talking about sugar. He was talking about what encourages and contributes to the health of the soul. Paul said the time would come when some would not endure, or put up with, it. That time is now! Churches today are filled with people who seek instruction that is more in line with their lifestyles, their wishes and their desires than with the good of their own souls.
Even now, we are watching Pentecostal churches all over America slip into this abyss. Pastors who were at one time filled with the Holy Ghost—who spoke in tongues and prayed for the sick—now won't permit the Spirit of God to move. No more manifestations of the Spirit. No more encouraging prophecy. No more crying after God. Instead, they serve up silly sermonettes to Christianettes in bassinettes.
Why? Because they don't want their people to leave. They water down the message to keep them coming back. They defend their feel-good messages by claiming, “Oh, the money won't come in if you offend the givers,” “The coffers won't fill up unless you speak words they want to hear,” “The tithers will leave if you confront their sin. They want to be stroked, not stricken. They want to be pacified. They won't put up with the whole counsel of God.”
What ridiculous rhetoric! What rubbish! Since when are pastors supposed to allow the people in the pews to dictate what they preach in the pulpit?
No Repentance Required
If we want to be relevant, if we want to be effective, we must preach the cross, the blood, repentance and sacrifice. We must preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
What ever happened to these words of Paul that echo through the corridors of time? “Woe is me if I don't preach the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:16). And how about, “I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2)?
When Paul spoke of lusts, he was referring to anything people set their hearts on outside of Christ. Such people seek teaching that will gratify their carnal desires. They want leaders to deal gently with their evil ways. They want tolerance. They cry, “It's not really sin. All I did was make a mistake. I just slipped up a little bit. Don't tell me to repent. Don't make me come to an altar. Just gimme some sugar, Pastor. Gimme some sugar.”
Today's junk-filled jargon, all in the name of Jesus, reminds us of the trouble in Isaiah's day when the people said, “Do not prophesy to us right things; speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us” (Is. 30:10-11).
Paul said, “Because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers” (2 Tim. 4:3). The people are going after these teachers and bringing them together. They're gathering all the prophets, the teachers and the lukewarm pastors together. They're reading the same materials and agreeing with one another. Why? Because they want a message that's not offensive.
What is happening? We're allowing the people to decide what to eat for their spiritual dinner. Rather than toiling to prepare some fresh bread from heaven and offering them a clean, cool cup of water from God's fountain, we are letting their desires determine the meals we serve. What parent would allow their children to decide the evening's menu? Their plates would be full of cookies, cake and candy!
We believe the devil's favorite time of the week here in America is Sunday morning. We don't think he minds seeing people go to church. In fact, we think he wants to get as many people to church as possible because he knows they'll hear a sugar-coated, lukewarm, “relevant” message.
They'll go to a 50-minute service in which the sermon is barely 20 minutes long. They have a “religious itch,” and the pastor will scratch it by saying, “You're fine. Everything's wonderful. Everything's OK.” Then they'll walk out feeling good about themselves. All the while, they're living in sin and thinking nothing of it.
The people are never confronted—never challenged with a heart-to-heart, riveting message spoken in love that can change their lives. Rather, they receive some hollow message on how to cope, when 90 percent of their problems come from their sinful lifestyles.
Happily Ever After?
As Christians, we have “turned aside to fables.” We believe God wants us to live lives of popularity rather than suffer any kind of persecution. We believe God wants us to live lives of luxury rather than lives of sacrifice. We shouldn't worry about being holy, holy, holy. God wants us to be happy, happy, happy.
What nonsense! The central message of the cross has been traded for a soothing massage by the clergy!
John Wesley, George Whitefield and Charles Finney never preached soupy, self-centered, society-pleasing sermons. Their words challenged people to live a life of no compromise that included acknowledging and repenting of sin and receiving God's forgiveness.
We need to get back to offering this type of fare. There are hungry souls both inside and outside the church who need a fresh, cutting word from the heart of God. Let's stop giving them a soft, sweet substitute. No more sugar. It's time to start a detox program!
Steve Hill and his wife, Jeri, are evangelists and church planters. They are motivated in life by personal holiness and a passionate desire for lost souls to be saved.
You are the temple of God. (Added 7/14/13)
If you are a Christian (you asked for forgiveness for your sins and accepted Jesus as your Savior) the Holy Spirit (God’s Spirit) indwells you. That is what Paul means in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 when he said, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
In Ephesians 4:29-31 NIV we read, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” (On a side note this verse is where the Christian Contemporary Music group Building 429 got their name.)
So, if we are Christians and belong to Christ, and God’s Holy Spirit indwells each of us, are we “free” to live our lives as we choose or are we in-truth responsible to a “higher authority?” We are responsible to God and we should submit to the Holy Spirit as He leads us. Anything less is being disobedient to God and grieves the Holy Spirit. We should have a deep, unrelenting, unquenchable desire to follow Christ through the Holy Spirit. Anything less is unacceptable.
So, how do you get there? Through worship, prayer, fasting, and abiding in God’s presence. Read the Bible; spend time in prayer and worship; and do what Paul said in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
(I feel the need to emphasize that I am NOT a perfect Christian and I hope I don’t come across that way. ALL of us sin and fall short of the glory of God. But every time we stumble and make mistakes we must ask for forgiveness and immediately get back into the presence of God. Don’t let Satan condemn you for what you’ve already been forgiven for.) As Jeremy Camp sang in his song "Give Me Jesus"
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
Just give me Jesus.
When I am alone,
When I am alone,
When I am alone,
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
Just give me Jesus.
When I come to die,
When I come to die,
When I come to die,
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
Just give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
Just give me Jesus.
