WORSHIP INCLUDES FEAR?

WORSHIP INCLUDES FEAR?

Sunday, February 9, 2014

  Does fear have any part in worshipping God? Is it essential to worshipping God?

  For me, the answer is yes, it is; but not as terror that discombobulates, confusing and disconcerting, but the respectful reverence for authority.

  I close this morning with a personalized passage of Scripture that continues to exercise (exorcise?) this anti-authoritarian old man: I am receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, gaining and enjoying my Lord’s  grace that I may serve Him acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For Almighty Sovereign God is a consuming fire. (Heb.12:28-29)  EBB4 

AS DEITY HAS DONE?

AS DEITY HAS DONE??

Friday, February 7, 2014

  I believe that God at times miraculously swoops in and intercedes in life’s issues, but that he rarely does so. I believe all life issues have Biblical solutions that alleviate or deliver from. God’s remedies do however require effort; our searching, discovery, and trusting diligent application. I observe we too often deny ourselves help, alleviation, deliverance by:

·         Not considering God’s Word as first source to be considered.

·         Relying on man rather than the Redeemer.

·         Accepting our identity according to man’s definition.

  I’ve seen results. Individuals helped, realized alleviation, or have been delivered from labels man affixed them with – ADHD and bipolar in particular. I’m not saying these diagnoses are never real, but that I don’t believe God wants us to identify ourselves or filter all of life thru “I am ADHD.” “I am bipolar.” any more than “I am handsome.” “I am ugly.” “I have a high/low IQ.”

  One of my goals in providing DTs is to provide God’s answers to life’s issues. I want us to see that His Word is not just about how to escape hell, but that He gives direction from and to in all areas of living this side of eternity. Again to that end I share an essay from GotQuestions.org.

  Read it carefully. Read it well. (Especially if you are ADHD; repeatedly read.) Definitely work at looking up all the Bible references, reading in context, prayerfully pondering . . . and then daily consistently apply what you’ve learned.

Sincerely,

EBB4

 

Question: "How should a Christian view ADD and ADHD?"

Answer: ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) are terms which describe conditions associated with particular sets of behaviors. There are generally both physical and spiritual implications associated with those who have been diagnosed with either of these conditions. Much of the research and debate on this issue centers around the physical cause and potential cure or care for the conditions. However, in that the essence of the conditions involves behavior that the Bible addresses, it is very important for Christians to consider the spiritual impact on those diagnosed with ADD or ADHD.
  ADD tends to describe those individuals wrestling with inattention. Inattention is described as possessing some or all of the following: often makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work or other activities; often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities; often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly; often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace; often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities; often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort; often loses things necessary for tasks or activities; is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli; is often forgetful in daily activities.
  ADHD tends to describe those individuals wrestling with inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. The individual may have some of the above characteristics along with some of the following: often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat; often leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected; often runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate; often has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly; is often "on the go" or often acts as if "driven by a motor"; often talks excessively; often blurts out answers before questions have been completed; often has difficulty awaiting turn; often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations or games).
  Undoubtedly, there are various reasons why individuals are diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. However, in cases where the evidence rests primarily on the behavior of the individual, the Supreme Authority should be consulted. The Bible is not silent on many of the above behaviors.
The following are biblical teachings concerning the issue of attentiveness:

1. God recognizes that some tasks are hard, yet it is good for us to be faithful with our tasks – Proverbs 6:6-8; Colossians 3:23.
2. God recognizes that it is hard to stay focused, yet there are rewards for staying focused – Proverbs 12:11.
3. God recognizes that it is hard to develop priorities, yet there are rewards for making good choices – Proverbs 24:27.
4. God recognizes that it is hard to listen to instruction, yet there are rewards for listening to those who are teaching – Proverbs 7:24; James 1:19.
5. God recognizes that it is hard to remember things; that is why He tells us to develop reminders – Proverbs 6:20-21; Deuteronomy 6:6-8; 2 Peter 1:12-15.

The following are biblical teachings concerning the issue of self-control:

1. We typically do not exhibit self-control; it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:23), as well as that which we add to our faith (2 Peter 1:6).
2. The Apostle Paul described bringing his body under control as a battle (1 Corinthians 9:27).
3. The Bible even encourages controlling the use of our words (Proverbs 10:19; Matthew 12:36).
4. We are encouraged that control of our lives begins with control over our minds (Proverbs 25:28; Philippians 4:8).

The following are biblical teachings concerning impulsivity:

1. God states that there are consequences to being hasty (Proverbs 21:5).
2. There is value in listening before speaking (James 1:19).
3. It is wise to listen to a matter before answering (Proverbs 18:13).
4. Patience and longsuffering (holding back passion) are signs of spiritual maturity (Galatians 5:22; James 1:2-4).

  Typically, one focuses on the negative behavior without realizing that there are positive traits behind those behaviors. The day-dreamer or forgetful one tends to be quite imaginative. The impulsive one tends to have a burden to get things done. The hyperactive person tends to have ample energy that can be turned to benefit others. Therefore, it is important that such individuals be considered for what part they play in the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:11-26).
  The behaviors above are considered signs of wisdom and maturity, or the lack thereof. Therefore, it is the role of the church and parents to help redirect the attention and energy of individuals with ADD and ADHD. Disciplining such individuals will involve the following:
       1) Helping the individual develop a servant’s heart. Many of the behaviors listed above reflect a rather selfish motive in life. Learning to serve others helps individuals push through unpleasant tasks and to be more patient (Philippians 2:3-4).
       2) Helping the individuals control their own thinking. The Bible talks of renewing the mind (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23). God instructs us to focus on eight attributes in Philippians 4:8. Those who wrestle with fantasy can be encouraged to think on those things that are true.
       3) Helping the individuals to renew their minds as to what God teaches about their behaviors (note the above examples).
       4) Helping the individuals to establish structure. The Bible describes the Christian life as being a “one another” experience. They met daily in the early church (Acts 2) and we are encouraged to motivate and encourage one another (Hebrews 10:24-25). Too often we give people a “pass” on their behaviors when what they need is help in changing them.
       5) Helping the individuals by modeling proper behavior. Paul modeled for Timothy (2 Timothy 3:10-11). Undoubtedly, many individuals learn better by seeing than by hearing. It is extra work, but patiently helping such individuals turn the corner will have dividends in the long run.
       6) By embracing the special place they fulfill in the body of Christ, we can tap into the gift they have to offer.

  There are certainly other things that can help those diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. However, parents, pastors, and those who work with children and adults with ADD and/or ADHD should not be discouraged from utilizing the Word of God, which is profitable for teaching, reproving, correcting, and instructing (2 Timothy 3:16).

Recommended Resources: Competent to Counsel by Jay Adams and Logos Bible Software.

While he is not the author of every article on GotQuestions.org, for citation purposes, you may reference our CEO, S. Michael Houdmann.

---

Related Topics:

How should a Christian view Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

What does the Bible say about codependency?

What does the Bible say about being bipolar / manic depression?

Does the Bible mention schizophrenia?

What effects do conditions like autism, attachment disorder, ADHD, etc., have on the Christian life?

Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/ADD-ADHD-Christian.html#ixzz2se3jlqFV

BEFORE THE GOLDEN BOWL IS BROKEN

ACTION BEFORE THE GOLDEN BOWL IS BROKEN

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Ecclesiastes ESV 12:1-14 [King Solomon wrote] Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, "I have no pleasure in them"; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4 and the doors on the street are shut--when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low-- 5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets-- 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity. 9 Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. 10 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. 13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

  Life includes problems, some writ in our past, presently active, others yet to come.

  I know of a family where one adult member is with deliberation a vigorous destroyer.

  Problems, including human destroyers, should not, must not dominate our thinking, for ours is the much higher calling.

  Paul made this point well; His past history was as a destroyer. He afterward often dealt with destroyers within the the church. His life involved much persecution. His known future was death by execution. All were hues on his life canvas, but by his submissive determination none framed his life picture.

  In submission within God’s redemption ours, let us not be dominated by the dark colorings of life.

  I pray this be so in my life and yours this day of our Lord . . . and forever forward, never forgetting that once the silver cord is broken, the golden bowl shattered, opportunity to obtain things of everlasting value will cease.  EBB4

 

JUDGING SPIRITS

JUDGING RIGHTLY: TESTING SPIRITS

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

2John [NLT] 1:5-11 I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. 6 Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning. 7 I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. 9 Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. 11 Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.

  Examining the above Scripture we learn several critical points in properly judging whether to trust men or not:

·         Vs. 5 & 6 emphasizes Christ’ example and teaching on loving one another; without godly love involving discipleship we can’t have true righteous discernment. Jn.14:13-15.

·         Vs. 7 tells us to beware, for there are many deceivers. Jer.14:14; Mt.7:15; 24:11, 24; Mk.13:22; Lk.6:26; 2Pt.2:1; 1Jn.4:1;Tit.1:10.

·         Vs. 7 presents the essential test to judge by; who and what do they say of Jesus? (Two of the large Christian groups in world consider Him other than God-incarnate. Jn1:1, 14; Heb.2:17; 1Jn.4:2.

·         Vs. 8 explains that we are primary responsible party to profile these deceivers. 2Tim.2:15-16.

·         Vs. 9 broadens basis to judge by; what did Lord Jesus Christ teach?

·         Vs. 10 orders the taking of action following judgment: We are not to endorse or support them in any way, shape, or form that will further their ministry. This is not to say however that we’re not to speak to them of Truth.

·         Vs. 11 is dire warning to those that support deceivers. This includes wishing them well in their efforts. Mt.10:14; Mk.6:11; Lk.9:5.

  In summation: If and when we are living The Way (Jn.14:6), as followers of Christ we are capable of and responsible to judge all things. (1Cor.2:9-16) Doing so takes work. Not fulfilling this responsibility is a serious infraction.

EBB4

WEIGHING PRIORITIES

OFFSETTING JUDGMENT: WEIGHING PRIORITIES

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

  Don’t know about you, but I’m bombarded with solicitations for supporting donations and/or requests to sign petitions having to do with political, public, business immorality issues. I’m not saying flat out to not participate in such efforts. The problem may be balance in weighing priorities.

  If the graphic above does not show, please envision an old fashioned scale that looks like a seesaw. Put the guiding exhortations of 2Corinthians 13:5; 1Peter 4:17; 1John:4:1-3; 2 John 1:6-11 having to do with the body of Christ on one side. Now put all the outside-the-church political and social issues on the opposite side.

  Which way does the scale tip?  EBB4

DISCIPLESHIP JOURNEY - PARTNERING IN TRUTH

DISCIPLESHIP JOURNEY – PARTNERING IN TRUTH

Monday, February 3, 2014

The following is from notes taken, thoughts provoked then and further study this morning, from Pastor Paul Marine’s sermon yesterday. EBB4 

              Proverbs [NLT] 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Ephesians [NIV] 4:12-25 [1-25 God’s provision is] to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. 17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. 20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

  As followers of Christ are one body (Rom.12:5; Cor.10:17; 12:27; Eph.4:12; 5:23; Col.1:24; Heb.13:3), and are to not walk alone but to partner with one another in truth. One way God says we’re to do this is accountability partnering with one or more individuals. (Unless married to her/him, then preferably of the same sex.)

  As we partner in truth we are to Biblically encourage, sustain, and build one another up. I find it helpful to see myself as upon Christ as the one foundation, I’m in and by His love a builder, and a building under construction; with our goal being pleasing God as constructing takes place.

  This pursuit of righteousness cannot be facilitated without the direction and help of The Carpenter. We must submit to His authority! Indeed we know our building’s flaws, anger, lust, narcissism, whatever . . . but only Christ sees our frame.

  With our trusted discipleship partner in truth we should:

·         Check in, assume nothing, actually communicate.  

·         Pray, but not pry.

·         Be examples to each other.

·         Share personal revelations.

·         Work together to discover Biblical spiritual and ministry gifts.

·         Work together to find where best to apply/exercise those gifts.

  Now, the challenge for this week is: Fast again. Seeking God’s direction in who your trusted discipleship partner in truth should be.  

 

RIGHTLY JUDGING

JUDGING RIGHTLY

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Luke MKJV] 7:36-48 … one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And going into the Pharisee's house, He reclined. 37 And behold, a woman, a sinner in the city, knowing that He reclined in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster vial of ointment. 38 And she stood behind Him, weeping at His feet, and she began to wash His feet with tears and wipe them with the hair of her head. And she ardently kissed His feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 But seeing this, the Pharisee who had invited Him, spoke within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, for she is a sinner. 40 And answering, Jesus said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. And he said, Teacher, speak. 41 There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And they having nothing to pay, he freely forgave both. Then which of them do you say will love him most? 43 And answering, Simon said, I suppose that one to whom he forgave most. And He said to him, You have judged rightly. 44 And He turned to the woman and said to Simon, Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, yet you gave Me no water for My feet. But she has washed My feet with tears, and has wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I say to you, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, he loves little. 48 And He said to her, Your sins are forgiven.

  Many are hoodwinked by wolves in sheep’s clothing, wicked lambs promising spiritual, physical, financial, political prosperity and security. And then there’s the blindness that sometimes comes with affection; not wanting to believe and accept the truth about those we love.

  Indeed we are required, if and when free of log jammed eyes, to judge. (Mt.7:1-20; 1Cor.2:15a)

  Exercising Biblical judgment is not for the faint-hearted, the spiritually, mentally, or emotionally dilatory, and especially not for those proudly grounded in self.

  First please understand judgmentalism is not a Holy Spirit gift. It is however a holy spirit mannerism; this latter easily identified by gleeful feelings.

  So what is required when it is necessary to judge?

·         Knowing The Truth so as to discern untruth; equipping to recognize good or bad trees, fruit, and sheep. 1Cor.2:14; 2Tim.2:15-16; 3:16-17; Heb.4:12.

·         Understanding and functioning within our temporal ambassadorial position. Eccl.12:9-14; Prov.1:1-7; 2Cor. chapter 5.

·         A compassionate attitude. Jonah chapters 3 & 4; Rom.12:9; Jam.3:17.

·         Understanding the end hope is always redemption and reconciliation. 2Cor.5:18-19; Eph.5:14-21.

  In light of several rereading of the above, including the numerous references from God’s Word, I am left knowing I have much more to learn and appropriate in order to facilitate proper balanced judgment. Consequently I’ve decided to close today’s thoughts with words of a psalmist as my prayer. I invite you to join me … “Deal with your servant according to your love and teach me your decrees. I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.” (NLT Ps.119:124-125)  EBB4