DEMONSTRATING TRUTH WORKS

DEMONSTRATING TRUTH WORKS

Thursday, July 31, 2014

 

       1Timothy [GW] 4:10-15 [Paul exhorting Timothy] Certainly, we work hard and struggle to live a godly life, because we place our confidence in the living God. He is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. Insist on these things and teach them. Don't let anyone look down on you for being young. Instead, make your speech, behavior, love, faith, and purity an example for other believers. Until I get there, concentrate on reading Scripture in worship, giving encouraging messages, and teaching people.

Don't neglect the gift which you received through prophecy when the spiritual leaders placed their hands on you to ordain you. Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress.

       2Timothy [GW] 2:1-2 [Paul’s 2^nd letter to Timothy] My child, find your source of strength in the

kindness of Christ Jesus. You've heard my message, and it's been confirmed by many witnesses. Entrust

this message to faithful individuals who will be competent to teach others.

 

  Jonah was an angry resentful believer resisting the will of God for the people of Niniveh. Under severe duress, with great reluctance he delivered God’s Truth. Those hearing repented. Was it because of Jonah’s eloquence and friendly orations? Not at all, for regardless of whom or how delivered “… the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight, but all things are naked and opened to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” (MKJV Heb.4:12-13; also note 1Cor.2:4)

  This is not however to say demeanor doesn’t matter in or relationship with the Lord. It does.

  Yesterday on Facebook Keith Jenkins shared something that addresses the need for mature Christian demeanor for those who tell the Good News. It was, as with Paul to young Timothy, written by an older pastor to a new young pastor. Here it is as spoken to my heart.

1. Let God speak to me through His Book.
2. Lead by precept and example.
3. Have a thick skin.
4. Have a tender heart.
5. Be teachable.
6. Strong backbone matters.
7. Be of diplomatic manner.
8. Be willing to be corrected.
9. Have and show reverent respect for the things of God.
10. Recognize my inadequacies and deny them not.
      Need we officially be a pastor on staff in a church for this list to matter for us before God? I think not. For “After all, Christ will judge each of us for the good or the bad that we do while living in these bodies.” (CEV 2Cor.5:10)  EBB4

ME, YOU, AND PHILIPPIANS TOO

ME, YOU, AND PHILIPPIANS TOO

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

 

Philippians 2:-3 [Paul wrote] Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. . . . [having earlier encouraged Thessalonican believers] 1Th 5:8  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. (1Thes.5:8-13)

 

  Normally I do my best to provide proper exegesis (explanation or interpretation of texts, especially Biblical writings) and therein application. I’m not a fan of great preaching, lectures, books, essays involving poor exegesis. Having stated this, I now deviate.

  There at times when I note that if Scripture works in primary application within the Body of Christ (1Cor.12:27), it also works in other areas. For instance stewardship: If I manage property and time as He directs, it not only pleases Him, I and others benefit financially and largely in portion of communal peace. When I esteemed/esteem the wisdom, opinions, experience of others they realize respect, and I gain in sorting direction and application, and we all gain in synergy of body, soul, and spirit.

  A recent personal instance for the record is no driving for 6 months and then only if no further strokes or symptoms (dizziness, nausea, balance, et al) and that I should now wear alarm jewelry. Compliance makes me far more a dependent than I ever included in my life plan. And it requires much more organization on my part and THE TEAM.

  I said “deviate”, but on second thought isn’t the Biblical principle of humbling oneself and esteeming others above self applicable in all areas of life? Seems I remember Grandmother McGee repeatedly telling me something about God resisting those that refuse to respect.  EBB4

GOD IS DIFFERENT THAN US

GOD IS DIFFERENT THAN US

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

 

Genesis 1:26-27 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

 

  One of the hindrances to maturation is always thinking of God in human terms. It’s not that He has our attributes and characteristics. He is not made in our image. We are made in His image; endowed with His traits body, soul, and spirit.

  This not to say we are gods as some religions and/or individuals believe and teach. Though we very much resemble God, we are not Omnipotent, Omnipresent, or Omniscience. Indeed we are like Him by His design, but we are not as He is for there are enormous differences in magnitude. The first example that came to mind: Though having the capacity to love, we are not love embodied; though with capacity to forgive, we are not forgiveness personified.

 

1John 4:1-11 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but try the spirits to see if they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God; and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the antichrist you heard is coming, and even now is already in the world. You are of God, little children, and you have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world, therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us. The one who is not of God does not hear us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God. The one who does not love has not known God. For God is love. In this the love of God was revealed in us, because God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation concerning our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. [Gal.5:26]

 

  How does imaging God as being like us rather than see we as like Him effect maturation in this life and preparation for eternity? I see the bias being about self; thereby seriously effecting my affection for Him and others, chiefly so in the area of forgiveness; thereby seriously contaminating fellowship with Him, family, coworkers, community et al.

  Let us beware thinking of God inadequately, for doing so exalts self over and against the true knowledge of God. (Ps.77:13; 99:9; Jn.4:24; 2Cor.10:5; Heb.12:29)  EBB4

FREE WILL?

FREE WILL?

Monday, July 28, 2014

 

  In this morning readings of Scripture, various magazines, essays, while mulling over today’s known, possible, and unknown choices, I decided to reread GotQuestions.org (http://www.gotquestions.org/about.html ) excellent essay summarizing free will and try as I have, I couldn’t decide how to make this too-long sentence shorter. (I hope this isn’t indicator of day to be!)

Considering the time and that I have no other theme in mind for DT, here it is. If it pleases you to, let me know what you decide if you will.  EBB4

 

Question: "Do human beings truly have a free will?"

Answer: If “free will” means that God gives humans the opportunity to make choices that genuinely affect their destiny, then yes, human beings do have a free will. The world’s current sinful state is directly linked to choices made by Adam and Eve. God created mankind in His own image, and that included the ability to choose.
  However, free will does not mean that mankind can do anything he pleases. Our choices are limited to what is in keeping with our nature. For example, a man may choose to walk across a bridge or not to walk across it; what he may not choose is to fly over the bridge—his nature prevents him from flying. In a similar way, a man cannot choose to make himself righteous—his (sin) nature prevents him from canceling his guilt (Romans 3:23). So, free will is limited by nature.
  This limitation does not mitigate our accountability. The Bible is clear that we not only have the ability to choose, we also have the responsibility to choose wisely. In the Old Testament, God chose a nation (Israel), but individuals within that nation still bore an obligation to choose obedience to God. And individuals outside of Israel were able to choose to believe and follow God as well (e.g., Ruth and Rahab).
  In the New Testament, sinners are commanded over and over to “repent” and “believe” (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Acts 3:19; 1 John 3:23). Every call to repent is a call to choose. The command to believe assumes that the hearer can choose to obey the command.
  Jesus identified the problem of some unbelievers when He told them, “You refuse to come to me to have life” (John 5:40). Clearly, they could have come if they wanted to; their problem was they chose not to. “A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7), and those who are outside of salvation are “without excuse” (Romans 1:20-21).
  But how can man, limited by a sin nature, ever choose what is good? It is only through the grace and power of God that free will truly becomes “free” in the sense of being able to choose salvation (John 15:16). It is the Holy Spirit who works in and through a person’s will to regenerate that person (John 1:12-13) and give him/her a new nature “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24). Salvation is God’s work. At the same time, our motives, desires, and actions are voluntary, and we are rightly held responsible for them.

Recommended Resources: Chosen But Free, revised edition: A Balanced View of God's Sovereignty and Free Will by Norm Geisler and The Potter's Freedom by James White and Logos Bible Software.

Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/free-will.html#ixzz38lxwzK00

THIS DAY WE PRAY

THIS DAY WE PRAY

Sunday, July 27, 2014

 

Deuteronomy [MKJV] 7:6-8 [Moses addressing the Jewish nation] … you are a holy people to Jehovah your God. Jehovah your God has chosen you to be a special people to Himself above all people that are upon the face of the earth. Jehovah did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people, for you were the fewest of all people. But because Jehovah loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn to your fathers, Jehovah has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of slaves, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

 

 

Edwin,

Thought I'd send you a pic of my nephew, Adin. He and his brother Shaun are in the Israeli Army. They moved to Israel a few years ago, where their father resides, upon the passing of my stepsister....

 Tonda L Tavernier