My Heart's Desire

Paul said his heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites (his own people) was that they may be saved. I concur with him, in that is my desire, as well, for my family members, friends, neighbors and the people of this world to come to know Christ Jesus as Lord and as Savior of their lives, and for them to walk with him in faith and obedience to his commands.

There are many who profess Christ as Savior who are zealous to do good works. Yet, there are others who profess Christ who are just busy living to please themselves. Whether living to please self with little to no concern for others, or fully zealous for good works and Christian service, it is possible to believe you are a Christian and yet not be, because you seek to establish your own righteousness instead of submitting to God’s.

Jesus said that if anyone would come after him, he must deny (disallow) himself, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin and self) and follow (obey) him. He said if we hold on to our old lives of living in sin and to please self, we will lose them for eternity, but if we willingly die to sin and self, we will gain eternal life with God in heaven (See Lu. 9:23-26). And, the Apostle Paul, in the Spirit, said that the way we come to know Christ is by forsaking our old lives of sin and self, by being transformed in heart and mind (via the Spirit of God), and by putting on our new lives in Christ Jesus, “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (See Ep. 4:17-24). So, when we declare with our mouths that Jesus is our Lord, this is what we are declaring, and we agree with this in our hearts. Then, we are saved.

My Heart’s Desire / An Original Work / June 29, 2013

Based off Rm. 10; Lu. 9:23-26; Ep. 4:20-24

Loved Ones, Oh, my heart’s desire

Is that you might come to Jesus.

Many appear zealous for God,

But they do not trust in Him.

They have not submitted to the One

Who saved them from their sins;

Not forsaken their sins,

Nor have they obeyed their King.

The word of the Lord is near you:

The word of faith we’re proclaiming:

That you must confess your faith

In Jesus as your Lord and King:

Believe in Him as your Lord,

And follow Him where’er He leads.

Share the gospel; be a witness,

And meet others’ needs.

Beautiful are the feet of those

Who bring the good news of Jesus:

Anyone who would come to Him

Must deny himself today;

Die to sin and self, and

Let the Spirit transform you in heart;

Put on your new self in Jesus,

Yielding to the cross.

http://originalworks.info/my-hearts-desire/

http://youtu.be/598pTudaT5g

How Can We?

Thursday, June 27, 2013, 8:30 a.m. – the Lord Jesus woke me with the song “My Jesus, I Love Thee” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Romans 6 (NIV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%206&version=NIV

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Christ died for us

In Romans 5 we read that “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The passage also tells us that Christ’s righteous act in dying on the cross for our sins resulted in justification and life for all people, not that all people are saved, but that salvation was provided for and made available to all people via Jesus’ blood sacrifice for sins on the cross, and is appropriated to all who come to Christ by faith. Then, it states that “…But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

So, shall we go on sinning?

… so that grace may increase? “By no means!”

It appears that, even in the early church, they struggled with this whole issue of understanding the meaning of God’s grace, and with using God’s grace as an excuse for continued and willful sin. I think it was Solomon who said there is nothing new under the sun. We may have different ways of sinning these days, and the excuses may vary, but the underlying issue is still the same, and that is, it would appear, professing followers of Christ looking for any loopholes that might give us an “out” for continued and willful sin. If we can convince ourselves that being under grace requires nothing of us at all, because Christ paid the price for our sin so we could go free, so that means we are free, and if we can convince ourselves that freedom in Christ is a “carte blanche,” i.e. complete freedom to act as we think best, then we can continue in willful sin without guilt and still claim God’s grace.

Yet, that isn’t how it works. Not only can we not continue in willful sin (lifestyle) and still be in relationship with Christ (see 1 John), but if we have truly been born again of the Spirit of God, and our Lord Jesus has freed us from slavery to sin, how can we, in good conscience, and out of love for Christ and appreciation for what he did for us, and out of the true experience of being set free from slavery to sin, live in sin any longer? Jesus Christ did not go to the cross and die a horrible death and take upon himself the sins of the entire world just so we could go to heaven one day, as wonderful as that will be. He died so that we would be free from the control of, and bondage and slavery to sin on a day-to-day basis. We no longer have to yield to sin’s control! Amen! Hallelujah! Praise Jesus! We can say “NO!” to sin because Jesus set us free from the power of sin over our lives.

So many people, though, are preaching a different gospel today of a false grace, absent of our need to die to sin and to walk in obedience to Christ. Romans, chapter 6, alone blows that theory out of the water! Those of us who have truly made Christ our Lord and Savior have died to sin, meaning that we have made a conscious decision of our will to allow Christ to cleanse us of sin and to transform us in heart and mind away from a life given over to sin and toward a walk of faithful obedience to Christ. So, how can we live in sin any longer? And, yet, many of us do. It is illogical, and yet it is our natural bent. So, why do it? Sin only harms us and hurts others. So, why continue in something that only brings harm, that injures our relationship with God and others, and that ultimately could cost us eternal life with God in heaven? It makes no sense. Why continue in slavery when you’ve been set free? I know what it is like to be in slavery, and I know freedom, and I know I never want to go back! That doesn’t mean I’m perfect. It just means I have decided to live for Christ, to obey his commands, and to not continue in willful sin, because I love my Lord.

Slaves to Righteousness

Christ not only died that we might be free from slavery to sin, and so we may have the hope of eternal life with God in heaven, but he died in order to give us new lives in him while we still walk the face of this earth. I can tell you that there is no better place to be ever than to be in the center of his will, obeying his commands, walking in his light, being daily in fellowship with him, and living to please him in all I do and say. Yet, like Paul, I have not arrived nor have I already been made perfect, but “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me;” “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (See Ph. 3:12-14).

This new life in Christ involves daily dying to self and sin (See Lu. 9:23-25). We are to count ourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. This means that the life we live is no longer our own to do what we want, but we have new lives in which the “I” no longer exists but Christ lives in us and the life we now live, we live by faith in him (see Gl. 2:20). So, we should no longer give way to sin, i.e. to let it take hold in our lives and in our bodies. Sin should no longer be our master, because we are under grace. This is the true meaning of grace! A “grace” that teaches you that you don’t have to turn from your life of sin, or that tells you that obedience to Christ is not necessary, is no grace at all, for it leaves you still in your sin. And, it gives you a false hope of eternity with God in heaven, which is the meanest trick of all!

In Ephesians chapter 4 we learn the principle of the put offs and the put ons. In other words, coming to Christ means we put off our old lives of sin and living for self, being transformed in heart and mind of the Spirit of God, and putting on our new lives in Christ, created to be like Christ/God in true righteousness and holiness (Ep. 4:17-24). As well, the grace of God “teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…” (See Tit. 2:11-13). We can’t just put off sin or try to live good lives. We have to cease being slaves of sin, and we have to become slaves of righteousness. This means that daily we have to die to sin and self and we have to choose to put on Christ and to walk in his love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness in obedience to his commands, and in surrender to his will for our lives.

And, this is key!

When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

My Jesus, I Love Thee / William R. Featherstone / Adoniram J. Gordon

My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine;

for thee all the follies of sin I resign. 

My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou;

if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now. 

I love thee because thou hast first loved me,

and purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree;

I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow;

if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now. 

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,

And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;

And say, when the death-dew lies cold on my brow,

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now. 

Of the Heart

Tuesday, June 25, 2013, 8:37 a.m. – the Lord Jesus put the song “As the Deer” in my mind this morning, and then just before I sat down to have my QT with the Lord, he put the song “Have Thine Own Way” in my mind.

As the Deer / Martin J. Nystrom

Based off Psalm 42:1

As the deer panteth for the water

So my soul longeth after You

You alone are my heart's desire

And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield

To You alone may my spirit yield..

Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Romans 2 (NIV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%202&version=NIV

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.

All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

Judging

The term “judgment” is used in scripture in various contexts, some of which involve a prohibition to judge, and others of which do not. To judge merely means “to form an opinion of somebody or something, especially after thought or consideration” (Encarta); or to consider, assess, ascertain or to evaluate something, usually drawing some type of conclusion or a possible thought or opinion on something. For instance, we make judgments every day as to what to wear, what to eat, what order in which to do our work, whether to go here or there, buy this or that, etc. Scripture teaches that we are to judge (discern) good and bad (evil), and the church is supposed to judge unrepentant sin within the church.

The kinds of judging we are warned against are hypocritical, which is the context here, and false judgments based upon lies, hearsay, personal prejudice and opinion, and/or the values, standards and thinking of humans, and/or gossip, etc. These types of judgment often end up condemning others, or result in slanderous remarks intended to cause harm to others, rather than for the purpose of correction and/or education, with the goal or hope of truth being revealed and the transformation of human lives away from sin to God.

Hypocrisy

In the first chapter of Romans we learned that, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to obedience coming from our faith, we are called to be God’s holy people, set apart for him and for his work, and we are called to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to encourage (inspire, hearten, urge, support, foster, and persuade) one another in the true faith. We also learned that the righteous will live (as their daily way of living) by faith.

In contrast to those who are living by faith in Jesus Christ, the passage of scripture then describes the wicked, who I believe can include those who profess Christ as Savior, or even those who once made Christ their Lord, but have since drifted away from pure devotion to their Lord back to living sinful lifestyles. These are people who know about God, and who can see his divine nature, and perhaps have even made a profession of faith and are well-versed in scripture and Biblical doctrine, and yet have suppressed the truth they know in order to follow after their own sinful and fleshly desires. They are not honoring, valuing, revering, respecting and obeying their Lord who created them for a purpose. Instead, they exchange the truth of God for a lie and they worship and serve created things instead of their creator. So, at some point, God gives them over to do what they want to do.

The implication here, to me, is that many who are truly among the wicked and godless, yet think they are righteous, are guilty of condemning other wicked and godless people for doing the same things that they do, only while trying to pretend that they are somehow more righteous. Not only that, but they think they are guides for the blind and lights for those who are in the dark, and yet they do the very things they teach others not to do. We who are teachers of the word must be so careful to daily examine our own hearts and minds so that we are not guilty of not teaching ourselves. The Pharisees were particularly guilty of this during the time of Jesus and the early church. So, this is a warning, not only against hypocritical judging, but also against partaking in wickedness when we claim to know Christ.

A True Follower

All throughout the New Testament God makes it clear that being a follower of Christ, though not implying a life of perfection, is a life that is devoted to God/Christ and to doing his will, that turns away from sin, and that follows Christ in obedience. And here, again, we read that for those who are self-seeking, who reject the truth and who follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. Yet for those who persist in following Christ in obedience, and who seek after the things of God, they will have eternal life. This is not legalism and it is not works-based salvation. Jesus said that coming to him means death to sin and self (daily), and it means a walk of obedience and surrender to his will for our lives (See Lu. 9:23-25).

Following our Lord in obedience is not the same as trying to earn our way to heaven by following a set of rules. Salvation is not attained through following a list of external rules and requirements. Salvation is attained by God’s grace, through Jesus’ blood sacrifice for sins, and through faith, all of which are gifts from God. Yet, two primary components of faith, according to scripture, are turning from sin and walking in obedience to God. This is circumcision of the heart, and it is by the Spirit, yet it requires that we cooperate fully with that work (see Lu. 9:23-25; Ep. 4:17-24; Gl. 2:20; Rm. 6; Ac. 26:16-18). May we all be true followers of Christ, and not be guilty of being hypocritical liars who falsely judge others.

Have Thine Own Way, Lord / Adelaide A. Pollard, 1862-1934

George C. Stebbins, 1846-1945 / Tune: ADELAIDE, Meter: 54.54 D

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!

Thou art the potter, I am the clay.

Mold me and make me after Thy will,

While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!

Search me and try me, Master, today!

Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,

As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!

Wounded and weary, help me I pray!

Power, all power, surely is Thine!

Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!

Hold o'er my being absolute sway.

Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see

Christ only, always, living in me! 

Depravity

Monday, June 24, 2013, 6:30 a.m. – the Lord Jesus put this song in my mind this morning:

Give Thanks / Don Moen / Henry Smith

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son…

Then, as I sat down to type up what he taught me through his word today, he put the song “Above All” in my mind. Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Romans 1:18-32 (NIV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201&version=NIV

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

God has made it plain

The Bible teaches us that all people have been given, by God, the knowledge of God. He has made himself plain to us through all his created works, which include ourselves as his creations. It also teaches us in John 1 that Jesus Christ is our creator, and that he is God and was with God from the beginning. So, although all people throughout the world may not know the name “Jesus,” though God has revealed him to many people through dreams, I am told, they have God-given knowledge of him through his created works. So, all people are without excuse.

The problem is not that people, including those who claim to know him, don’t know that God exists, or that they are unfamiliar with his divine attributes, but rather that they don’t acknowledge, honor, value, respect, revere, adhere to, and/or show allegiance, loyalty, commitment, faithfulness and fidelity to God. And, it isn’t as if they don’t know the truth about God, either, because God has made it plain to them, but rather that they choose to suppress what knowledge (truth) they do have by their wickedness. By their choice to suppress what truth they do know and understand from creation, in order to follow after their own sinful desires, they show their ingratitude, as well, for all that God has done for them, and for all he has provided for them - most importantly the provision of their salvation.

Seared Consciences

The Lord Jesus gave me a pictorial illustration of this concept this morning. He gave me a vision of the globe spinning around and stopping at a place that looked as though it had been burned. On this side of the globe were two ears, one above the other, and both were burned. I pictured in my mind that these two ears represented the U.S. government in D.C. and the U.N. in New York, yet they could represent any governments throughout the world or any peoples throughout the world, including those who claim to know Christ/God, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron (See 1 Tm. 4:1-2), and whose ears refuse to hear and whose eyes refuse to see what God is saying, and what he requires of his followers (see Is. 42:19-20; Mt. 13:15; Ac. 7:51; 2 Tm. 4:4; et al).

These with seared consciences and with deaf ears, who have ears to hear but who refuse to listen to God, could be well-versed in the scriptures, full of knowledge of God and his word, and of the teachings of Christ. They may even boast of their knowledge, as did the Pharisees of old, and they may even believe they possess great wisdom from above, and yet turn away from pure devotion to God/Christ in order to follow after the idols of mankind.

This situation exists even today, and even among church people and church leaders and those who claim to know Christ, in which people exchange (trade) the truth of God and of his word for a lie, and they end up worshiping and serving created things (even other humans) rather than the creator. In fact, this is a HUGE problem in today’s church and among God’s people, or among those who profess to be God’s people. The church in America, in particular, has traded the truth of God, of Jesus Christ and of his gospel of salvation, for lies of men, false teaching (half-truths), and man-made religion designed to appeal to the flesh of mankind in order to attract the world to the worldly church (institution of man). So, there is little distinction, if any, between the church and the world anymore. Instead of the church going out to the world in preaching the true gospel of salvation, they are attracting the world into the church via worldly methods. Instead of bringing the sinner to the cross, they are entertaining him so he will want to come back and have more fun.

God gives them over

The wrath of God, thus, is actively and progressively being revealed against such wickedness and godlessness of the people of this earth. His wrath (judgment) comes in many forms. One of the forms of God’s judgments against mankind (humans) is to just hand them over to what their evil hearts desire, and to no longer convict them of sin or to try to persuade them to change. At least this is my understanding of God giving people over to their own sinful desires. And, I believe this includes handing his own children over, as well, allowing their hearts to be hardened, just like he has done before in history, removing his hand of protection and just letting them suffer the natural consequences of their own devices, I believe in hopes that they will soon return to the Lord of their own accord, so that God might heal them, restore them and renew their faith in him.

In this teaching here on this handing over of humans, who refuse to honor and obey their creator, to what these humans’ hearts and minds desire, there is a long list provided for us as to what all things God hands people over to. The list includes homosexual relations, adultery, fornication, no fidelity (unfaithfulness) and immoral and corrupt minds (it all begins in the mind anyway), yet the list does not end there. The list also includes greed, envy, hatred (murder), deceit (lies), malice, gossip, slander, and arrogance (pride), etc.

Also Approve

“Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”

This, to me, is where the “rubber meets the road,” i.e. this is the moment of truth, I believe. Not one of us is perfect, and not one of us will live a perfect sinless life as long as we walk the face of this earth, and as long as we live in these flesh bodies. Yet, that is never an excuse for willful continued sin. God knows the difference, even though we may try to fool ourselves or others. The Bible teaches us (see 1 John, for one) that if we say we have fellowship with God, or we claim to know God, and yet we continue in a lifestyle of willful and unrepentant sin, then we are liars and we do not live by the truth. Or, if we claim to know and to love God, and yet we hate our fellow humans and we refuse to obey God’s commands, or we think we don’t have to obey, then we are also liars and we do not live by the truth. The truth of the gospel is that we must leave our lives of sin behind us, be transformed in heart and mind of the Spirit of God, and we must follow Jesus Christ in obedience, and put on our new lives in him, “created to be like Christ in true righteousness and holiness.” (See Lu. 9:23-25; Ep. 4:17-24; Rm. 6; Gl. 2:20; and Ac. 26:16-18).

The other half of this sin issue presented here is just as bad as the first half, I believe. Instead of weeping and grieving over our own sins and the sins of the world, we are entertained by them and we applaud (clap), laugh out loud, and enjoy partaking in the sins of others via TV shows, the news, movies, video games, books, magazines, and/or pornography (light and heavy), et al. God has a holy disgust against what stands in opposition to his word, to his divine nature, and to his revealed will for our lives.

He hates sin because of what sin does to people. That is why Jesus Christ left his throne in heaven, came to earth, took on human flesh, was tempted and suffered as we are tempted and suffer, and then went to the cross to die a painful death for our sins so we could go free, not only from eternity in hell, but also from slavery (bondage) to sin day-to-day. His desire for us is that we leave our lives of sin behind us, and that we live lives holy and pleasing to him, because that is what is best for us and for our relationship with him.

Above All /Artist: Michael W. Smith

Crucified laid behind the stone
You lived to die rejected and alone
Like a Rose trampled on the ground
You took the fall and thought of me
Above all

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjYiEyu8Si8

What is Grace?

Sunday, June 23, 2013, 7:30 a.m. – When I sat down to have my quiet time with the Lord Jesus this morning, he put the song “More About Jesus” in my mind. Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Romans 1:1-17 (NIV):

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.

I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

This is not a thorough study on the subject of God’s grace. Rather, I am sharing some thoughts from my quiet time with the Lord Jesus this morning from this first chapter in Romans on the subject of God’s grace, and how it is realized and lived out through our lives.

As I read through the words to the song “More About Jesus” this morning, I was stopped by the Spirit of God, I believe, at the second line: “More of His grace to others show.” So, I asked myself the question, “What is His grace? And, how do I show it to others?” And, then I read in Romans 1 where Paul said he had received God’s grace to call the Gentiles to obedience that comes from faith. So, if it is God’s grace (undeserved favor) which saves us, and it is his grace which calls us to be his holy people, then it is also his grace which empowers, strengthens, encourages, calls, and excites us to show his grace to others. So, how do we do that? First we need to understand what his grace is, and then we can learn how to show it to others. His grace (in Romans 1) is:

A Call to Obedience

Because Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, was resurrected from the dead in conquering sin, death, hell and Satan, and because his death on the cross meant life for us, through faith in him we have grace to call others to obedience that comes from faith. Jesus commissioned all of his disciples to go and to make disciples of Christ of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all that Christ commanded us (see Mt. 28:18-20). Jesus also said that if anyone would come after him, he must deny (disallow) himself (his self-life), take up his cross daily (die daily to sin and self) and follow (obey) him (see Lu. 9:23-25).

As well, he said that to love him means to obey him, and that if we don’t obey him, that means we don’t love him. Not only that but he also equates obedience with our eternal life in Christ and with our relationship with God. God the Father and the Son will make their home with those who love God and who obey his commands (See Jn. 8:51; and 14:23-24; cf. 1 Jn. 2:4-6). No one will do this perfectly. Yet, that is never to be an excuse for continued willful sin. This, I believe, is speaking of lifestyle (our walk of faith), intent, will of the heart, belief and purpose. Do we believe we must obey? Do we purpose to do so? Is it our intent to obey? And, does our lifestyle reflect an attitude of and actions toward full obedience to Christ and to his commands? Or, do we think obedience is not necessary?

A Call to be Saints

God’s grace not only saves us from slavery (bondage) to sin on a day-to-day basis, and from eternal punishment in hell, providing for us eternal life with God in heaven, but it gives us full and abundant lives in Christ Jesus while we still live on the face of this earth. We are called of God by his grace to be his saints; his holy people, set apart for him, for his righteousness and for his service. In other words, our lives are no longer our own to live however we want to please ourselves, but we are God’s people, called of God to live holy lives pleasing to him, which is our reasonable service of worship to him, no longer conformed to the pattern (ways) of this world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds and hearts in Christ Jesus our Lord (boss) and Savior (see Rm. 12:1-2; Ep. 4:17-24).

Mutually Encouraging One Another

God’s grace within each one of his followers, because Jesus Christ, by his Spirit, is now living in and through us, gives us the desire, knowledge, discernment and spiritual wisdom and understanding in order to mutually encourage one another in the faith. This word “encourage” is often diluted, though, to give only a sense of saying to others what makes them feel good about themselves. Yet, to mutually encourage one another in the faith means to inspire, urge, incite, hearten, nurture, aid, persuade, push, advise, counsel and insist on the same things Jesus taught and the apostles taught that we must do to live godly and holy lives pleasing to our Lord. This type of encouragement should not only be uplifting, helpful, inspiring and heartening, but it should also spur us on to obedience, faithfulness, holiness, the forsaking of sin, idols, and sinful pleasure; and to making Christ our only Lord.

Unashamed Sharing of the Gospel

Paul was all about sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ wherever he went. The gospel is not only the gospel of our salvation, but also of God’s grace. Yet, it was God’s grace which also called him, equipped him, inspired and strengthened him to share the gospel of Jesus Christ unashamedly. We cannot do this in our own willpower or in our own strength. This has to be the working of the Holy Spirit of God in and through us for it to be effective. Yet, even if we share the words of Christ with the wrong motives, the Bible teaches, what is important is the gospel is going forth, providing it is the true gospel, because God’s holy word will not return empty (unfulfilled), for only it has the power to convict hearts of sin and to show the way to Jesus Christ. Our job is just to be obedient to sharing the true gospel of salvation to the people in our lives, or to those whom God would send us, and to do so unashamedly.

A Desire for a Spiritual Harvest

Paul longed to visit these young churches in order that they and he might be mutually encouraged by one another’s faith, and also that he might have a spiritual harvest among them. A harvest is the result that comes from seeds that were planted in people’s hearts and lives, and from the nurturing and watering of those seeds, i.e. this mutual encouraging of one another’s faith. The harvest, thus, could be new believers in Jesus Christ and/or it could be the spiritual growth and development of those who had already believed. Yet, what I see here is not only God’s grace in providing this harvest of souls, but in giving his servants and witnesses the desire to see others come to know Christ, and to grow and to walk in their faith. This desire for a harvest of souls comes from God’s grace within us, and it is yet another way in which we demonstrate God’s grace to others – not only in the desire, but in the sharing of the gospel and in the mutual encouragement of one another.

Living by Faith

The only way in which any of us can live by faith in Christ Jesus is by God’s grace working in and through us for his glory. Only through the Spirit of God are we even drawn to Christ, are we saved by grace, and are we given the gift of salvation (including repentance and obedience). And, it is God’s grace within us which empowers, strengthens and inspires us to live holy lives pleasing to God. Faith in Christ, according to scripture, involves death to sin and to our old way of living to please self, being transformed in heart and mind of the Spirit of God away from sin and toward Christ, and putting on our new lives in Christ, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (see Lu. 9:23-25; Ep. 4:17-24; Gl. 2:20; Rm. 6; and Ac. 26:16-18). It involves daily communion with our Lord in prayer and in the study of his word, listening to what he teaches us, and doing what his word says. And, it involves showing his grace to others through sharing the gospel, mutual encouragement in our walks of faith and obedience, and a desire to see a spiritual harvest in other’s lives, teaching others to obey Christ, and encouraging them away from sin and toward holy living in Christ.

More About Jesus / Hewitt / Sweney

More about Jesus would I know,

More of His grace to others show;

More of His saving fullness see,

More of His love Who died for me.

More about Jesus let me learn,

More of His holy will discern;

Spirit of God, my teacher be,

Showing the things of Christ to me.

More about Jesus; in His Word,

Holding communion with my Lord;

Hearing His voice in every line,

Making each faithful saying mine.

More about Jesus; on His throne,

Riches in glory all His own;

More of His kingdom’s sure increase;

More of His coming, Prince of Peace.

More, more about Jesus,

More, more about Jesus;

More of His saving fullness see,

More of His love Who died for me.

Not Disobedient

Friday, June 21, 2013, 6:00 a.m. – the Lord Jesus woke me with the song “Come and See” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Acts 25-26 (NIV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2025&version=NIV; http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2026&version=NIV

Compelled by the Spirit

Paul was compelled by the Spirit of God to go to Jerusalem, not knowing what would happen to him there. He said, “I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (See Acts 20). Amen! Praise Jesus!

So, Paul went to Jerusalem. Some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple, so they stirred up a crowd against him. They dragged him from the temple, and they tried to kill him. Then, he was arrested and was bound with chains (See Acts 21).

On his way to the barracks he asked permission to speak. With permission he then addressed the crowd. He shared with them his testimony concerning how he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, and of Jesus’ calling upon his life. Paul told them the Lord Jesus had told him the Jews in Jerusalem would not accept his testimony about Christ, so he was to leave Jerusalem and to go far away to the Gentiles. Then the crowd raised their voices against him. “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!” they shouted (See Acts 22).

Paul was brought before the Sanhedrin. Paul said to them, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” That meeting ended in an argument between the Pharisees and the Sadducees concerning the resurrection of the dead. The following night the Lord Jesus spoke to Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” Then, there was a conspiracy to form a lynch mob and to set Paul up to be killed. Paul’s nephew overheard the plot, he told Paul, and Paul told him to go and tell the commander, who then transferred Paul to Caesarea (See Acts 23).

Paul then appeared before Governor Felix. The high priest Ananias and some elders brought their charges against Paul. Paul was given the opportunity to speak in his own defense. So, Paul refuted the charges, based upon his public activities in Jerusalem, which could be verified. He said, “And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.” And, then Paul shared his testimony of his faith in Jesus Christ. He said, “I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man” (See Acts 24).

Felix listened to Paul to a point, and then he adjourned the proceedings. “He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.” Felix, hoping Paul would offer him a bribe, sent for Paul frequently and listened to him and talked with him. This happened over the course of two years. Paul spoke about his faith in Jesus Christ, and about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come (See Acts 24).

Two years passed, and then Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. Paul then appeared before Festus. The Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove. Paul then made his defense before Festus. “Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, ‘Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?’” Paul, knowing this was a trap to kill him, appealed to Caesar, so Festus said that to Caesar Paul would go (See Acts 25).

A few days later King Agrippa arrived in Caesarea, along with his wife Bernice. Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king, so King Agrippa said he would like to hear Paul. So, the next day Paul appeared before the king, his wife, high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city. King Agrippa gave Paul permission to speak (See Acts 26).

Paul’s Testimony

Paul told the king that it was because of his hope in what God had promised the ancestors of the Jewish people, namely their promised Messiah, fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ, that he was standing before him on trial. And, then he told him how he, too, at one time was convinced that he should do everything possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Paul said, “And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.”

And, then Paul shared with the king how, on one of his journeys when he was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, Jesus met him via a light from heaven and asked him why he persecuted him. Then Jesus gave him his commission:

‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Paul then said, “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”

Festus interrupted Paul’s defense, accusing him of being out of his mind (crazy; loony). Jesus Christ was also accused of being crazy, in fact by his own family members, who went to take charge of him, so Paul was in good company. King Agrippa told Paul that his great learning was driving him insane. Yet, Paul did not succumb to this charge. He refuted the accusation strongly, stating that what he was saying to the king was true and reasonable (not insane). He asked the king, “Do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

“Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’ Paul replied, ‘Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.’”

Encouragement to Me

What I take away from this is that I should see every interruption, every change in my life’s circumstances, every difficult circumstance and/or persecution and rejection as an opportunity for the advancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Rather than getting upset over any difficult situations in my life, I should pray, asking the Lord Jesus to reveal to me how I can demonstrate his love, grace, and mercy, and how I can share his gospel in spite of or because of whatever I am going through. Because of what Paul went through, the gospel of Jesus Christ was advanced, and many people came to know Christ as Savior.

Come and See / An Original Work / May 20, 2013

Based off John 1:35-51

John, the Baptist, called of God to

Make straight the way for the Lord,

Told his disciples about Jesus,

So two of them followed Him.

One of them who followed Jesus

Told his brother, Simon Peter,

Who then he brought to the Savior,

Who had told them, “Come and see.”

Jesus Christ, our Lord, Messiah,

On his way to Galilee found a man, Philip,

So he told him, “I want you to follow Me.”

Philip then found his friend,

And he told him, “We have found the one

The prophets spoke of – He is Jesus!”

Philip then said, “Come and see.”

Jesus saw the man, Nathanael,

While he sat beneath a fig tree,

Even before Philip called him,

So Nathanael did believe.

Nonetheless the Lord said,

“You believe because of what I told you.

You will see much greater things than these

If you will Come and see.”

Jesus’ calling to each one of us.

He tells us to believe in Him

As our Lord and Messiah,

And to follow where He leads.

He says we must turn from our sins,

Die to sin and self each day,

And put on our new lives in Jesus;

Bow before Him; humbly pray.

http://originalworks.info/come-and-see/

Fully Ready!

Paul said that he was compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, not knowing what would happen to him there. He said, “I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (See Ac. 20). Awesome!

A prophet named Agabus prophesied that the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem would bind Paul and would hand him over to the Gentiles. So, Paul’s friends and fellow believers in Jesus Christ pleaded with Paul not to go. And, that is when Paul said, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (See Ac. 21). And, Paul was indeed seized, beaten and they tried to kill him. He was bound with chains and was taken to the barracks. On the way there he asked the commander if he could speak to him. And, he was given permission to speak.

So, he took the opportunity to share his testimony of how he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, and of Jesus’ calling upon his life. Acts 26 expands on this more when Paul again shared his testimony, at which time he shared specifically what God had called him to do – to open the eyes of the spiritually blind, turning them from darkness (sin) to the light of Christ, and from the power of Satan to God, so they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ. And, that truly is the calling of every disciple of Christ, as Christ commanded us to go and to make disciples of Christ of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything Jesus’ commanded us.

I find great encouragement in this story, as well as a challenge to my own personal life to be truly ready to suffer and to die for my testimony for Jesus Christ, as well as to share the attitude of Paul that my life is worth nothing to me, but my only aim is to finish the race and to complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Amen! I pray I will always keep this focus in mind.

Fully Ready! / An Original Work / June 19, 2013

Based off Acts 20-22, 26; Mt. 28:18-20; Ac. 1:8

Why are you weeping and breaking my heart?

I’m fully ready to suffer for Christ.

If I must die for the sake of His name,

I am convinced it will not be in vain.

Glory to God and to His Son Jesus,

Who has redeemed us; bought with His blood.

May I speak to you? Jesus came to me;

Asked of me, “Why do you persecute me?”

He said, “Now get up and stand on your feet.

Go, and you’ll be told all I have for you.

I have appointed you as a servant,

And as a witness; you have been sent.”

“Go into the world and preach the gospel.

Open the blind eyes. They will receive sight.

Turn them from darkness to the light of Christ;

From power of the evil one to God,

So they may receive forgiveness of sins,

And a place among those who’re in heav’n.”

http://originalworks.info/fully-ready/ 

http://youtu.be/5-49hO1P9Q4

Such Opposition

Tuesday, June 18, 2013, 7:08 a.m. – the Lord Jesus woke me with the song “As the Deer” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Acts 20:13-38 (NIV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2020&version=NIV

As the Deer / Martin J. Nystrom

Based off Psalm 42:1

As the deer panteth for the water

 So my soul longeth after You

 You alone are my heart's desire

 And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield

 To You alone may my spirit yield

 You alone are my heart's desire

 And I long to worship You

The Opposition

After the Lord Jesus met Saul (Paul) on the road to Damascus, and Saul had now gone into the city blinded, the Lord Jesus visited a disciple named Ananias in a vision. He sent Ananias to Saul to restore his sight, and so Saul might be filled with the Holy Spirit for the work to which God had called him. The Lord Jesus told Ananias: “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name” (Acts 9:15-16).

All throughout Paul’s ministry he knew the blessings of lives transformed by the power and working of the Holy Spirit, by God’s grace, and through the faith of those who believed in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives. Yet, he also knew much suffering, persecution, and opposition to the message of the gospel, and thus to himself as one of its messengers.

The Defense

Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.

From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

“Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

Dedication & Commitment

Paul was dedicated to Jesus Christ and committed to the task of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ despite all opposition and whatever he had to suffer for the sake of the gospel. Yet, he did so, not out of some type of religious obligation, nor out of some sense of moral duty, nor out of some desire for negative attention, nor because he was narcissistic, but because he loved Jesus Christ with his whole heart, and because he believed in what he taught, and thus he did so, as well, out of love for his fellow human beings. Even if it cost him his reputation, friendships, respect, honor, and the praise of man, he was willing to go the distance for Jesus Christ so that others may come to know Christ, too. Amen!

The reason Paul faced such opposition was not just because he taught that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah and Savior of the people, though for that period of time and culture that would have been enough. I believe he suffered much persecution because he taught the true gospel of Jesus Christ, i.e. that we must turn to God in repentance and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was persecuted for the same reasons. He told his physical brothers, who did not believe in him, “The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.” And, Jesus Christ said his followers would be hated, too, for the same reasons Jesus was hated (See Mt. 10:22; 24:9; Lu. 6:22, et al).

That word “repentance” is a dirty word in many evangelical circles today. And, its meaning is frequently debated. Encarta defines it as: “to feel regret about a sin or past actions and change your ways or habits.” Gospeltranslations.org defines it as: “a change of mind about sin and about God, which results in turning from sin to God.” The Bible frequently couples the word repent with the word “turn,” or with the understanding of the word “turn,” meaning to turn from our sins to God (See Ac. 3:19; 20:21; 26:17b-18). As well, the Bible teaches that we must turn from our sins and turn to following Jesus/God in obedience and faith if we want to have eternal life (See Jm. 5:19-20; Ac. 26:18; 2 Ti. 2:19; Ac. 3:19). Jesus said that if anyone wants to come after him, he must deny (disallow) himself (his self-life), take up his cross daily (die daily to sin and self) and follow (obey) Jesus (Lu. 9:23-25).

Paul was on his way to Jerusalem, even though he knew that such a trip could cost him his life, yet he was willing to die for the cause of Christ and the sake of the gospel, if need be, in order to see other people come to faith in Jesus Christ. He went because the Spirit of God compelled him to go. And, he went with the full knowledge given by the Holy Spirit that prison and hardships awaited him wherever he went. Now, that is dedication! Yet, his attitude was that he considered his life worth nothing to him. His only aim was to finish the race God had assigned for him, and to complete the task the Lord Jesus had given him of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. His life was completely dedicated to Jesus Christ and committed to obeying his Lord in doing whatever Jesus Christ asked him to do. The Lord Jesus was his heart’s desire. He alone was Paul’s strength and shield, and to HIM alone did he yield his life in complete surrender to God’s will for his life. May it be so with us!!

Keep Watch

Although Paul was addressing his thoughts to the elders of the church, still there is application here for each and every follower of Jesus Christ. First of all, I believe we should all take encouragement from the life of Paul and his love for and dedication to the Lord Jesus Christ and to the sharing of the gospel for the salvation of souls, despite all opposition and/or persecution. May we all follow his example in sharing the “whole” will of God.

Many have gone the way of diluting the gospel of Jesus Christ in order to make it more pleasing and more palatable to its listeners, and in order to not offend, but to make people more comfortable with “accepting” Jesus Christ. Yet, that is not the true gospel. It is a lie, and it gives people a false hope of salvation. The Bible teaches the cross as an offense, and that salvation requires death to sin and self. And, that is why those who share the “whole” will of God are often persecuted, hated, rejected and cast aside. Yet, the true gospel teaches the need of turning from our sin and turning to walk in obedience to our Lord and to his teachings as critical elements of true and abiding faith; faith that brings about salvation.

Paul said that he knew that after he left that savage wolves would come in among them and would not spare the flock. He said that even from among their own numbers men would arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. And, this is what is happening in evangelical Christianity in America today. A movement has swept across the church in America which denies the need for repentance, turning from sin, and walking in obedience to Jesus Christ as is necessary for salvation, and as taught in scripture. It focuses on the teachings of man, and often will even deny the teachings of scripture in favor of the teachings of man. And, it markets the church just like a business, using worldly methods to attract the world to their man-made institutions, frequently using gimmicks, lies and deceptions in order to draw in large crowds of people. We are to be on guard against this!

Then, Paul encouraged the believers in what was true. He committed these followers of Christ to God and to the word of his grace, which saves us from slavery to and the ultimate punishment of sin in hell for eternity. This grace will encourage and build us up in our most sincere faith through the knowledge of the truth. True grace slays the sinner. It does not entertain him or her. If we are not being taught that we need to turn away from (die to) our sins and self, and that we need to follow Jesus Christ in obedience, then that is not true grace, for it leaves us still dead in our sin. Our only hope of eternal life with God among those who are sanctified (made holy in Christ Jesus) is in our understanding of and our application of the true gospel to our lives via the grace of God and the working of the Holy Spirit within us in transforming our hearts and minds away from sin and to God. May we take this to heart, and apply its truths to our lives today.

As the Deer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZv3jzOTE70

For I Am With You

Monday, June 17, 2013, 7:30 a.m. – the Lord Jesus woke me with the song “In Faithfulness He Leads Me” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. Yesterday I read Acts 18:1-17. I felt the Lord leading me back to that passage today. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2018&version=NIV

Keep on Speaking

After Paul left Athens, he went to Corinth. There he met Aquila and his wife Priscilla. They were fellow tentmakers, so Paul stayed and worked with them. “Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.” Yet, when Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia and joined him, Paul was then able to devote himself exclusively to preaching, “testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.”

Yet, not all was rosy. The Jews in Corinth strongly opposed Paul, and they became abusive, so he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” So, he “left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus,” a Gentile, and a worshiper of God.” And, then the passage reads that “Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.” Amen!

Acts 18:9-11 (NIV): One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

These are such encouraging words! Yet we can’t all claim the last part of this encouragement to Paul, i.e. the Lord’s promise that Paul would not be attacked and that no harm would come to him, for it was for him specifically, and it was temporary, i.e. for a specific period of time in Paul’s ministry. Yet, these words – Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent – should encourage us all, for truly our Lord is with us, and he will lead and guide us every step of the way. He will comfort and encourage us, and he will protect us from giving in to the evil one, and from discouragement and defeat if we will allow him. He knows everything that is happening to us even before it happens. He has a plan and a purpose for it, and he will bring us through it if we will but put our trust in him.

Scene Change

That specific time of protection from attacks and harm had now passed, apparently, because during the time that Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, “the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. ‘This man,’ they charged, ‘is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.’” Yet, Gallio dismissed Paul’s accusers, stating that their issue with Paul was a matter of their Jewish law, so they should settle the matter for themselves.

As we read through the book of Acts, we realize that there were many times when the message of the gospel was received with joy, and numerous people believed and were saved. Yet, we also know that Paul faced many obstacles, persecutions, troubles, hardships, beatings, etc. for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and because of his testimony for his Lord. Yet, he still was not to be afraid, he was to keep on speaking and not be silent, for whether in good times or bad, the Lord was still with him giving comfort, direction, counsel, encouragement, strength, hope and healing, etc. And, that is a promise we can all count on!

But This Happened

2 Co. 1:8-11 (NIV): We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

There is always a purpose for our suffering, though. God does not just arbitrarily decide to pour out persecution and suffering upon us for no reason at all. Sometimes, when things are going well in our lives, it is easy to become self-reliant, complacent or even to drift away from our pure devotion to our Lord Jesus. When we go through times of difficulty, we realize more our need for our Lord, we depend on him more, if we respond correctly to suffering, and we are less likely to feel as though we can run our own lives or that we can just live how we want and it doesn’t matter. Suffering also has the potential to humble us, to make us more Christ-like, to make us more sensitive to the needs and hurts of others, and to make us more God and others conscious, and less self-conscious or self-absorbed.

Ph. 1:12-14 (NIV): Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

When we go through times of great hardship, persecution, opposition, trouble, and/or affliction, if we respond correctly to these times, and we do rely on God and not ourselves, and we grow in our faith and our determination to follow our Lord in obedience, and to share with the others the gospel of Jesus Christ, persecution can actually serve to advance the gospel as it did in the times of the early church and throughout history all over the globe. When all is well and the church is not suffering any kind of persecution, there is a great danger of complacency setting in and the church becoming lukewarm. I believe that is where the church, for the most part, is presently in these United States of America.

More than Conquerors!

Ro. 8:31-39 (NIV): What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;

    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

These, too, are such awesome words of encouragement which we, who have chosen to follow our Lord Jesus Christ in obedience, can all claim. There is not anyone or anything or any circumstance, trouble, hardship or persecution that our Lord can’t handle, that he did not allow in our lives for a purpose, and for which he will not give us the strength and wisdom to go through it, to grow from it, and to become more Christ-like because of it. No matter what we are going through, his love will always be there for those who love him, and who have made him Lord of their lives (see all of Ro. 8).

In Faithfulness He Leads Me / An Original Work / March 20, 2013

Based off Various Scriptures

(Ps. 26:3; 86:11; 91:4-5; 111:7-8; 119:73-76;

Is. 25:1,4&9; 42:6-7; Hos. 2:16-20)

Teach me Your ways, Lord, and I’ll walk in them.

Give me a pure heart. I’ll fear Your name.

Your love is always, ever before me.

Continually I’ll walk in Your truth.

You will cover me with feathers.

Under Your wings I’ll find refuge.

My Lord’s faithfulness will be my

Comfort and my shield.

The works of His hands are faithful and just.

Trustworthy are all of His precepts.

Your hands have made me, and they have formed me.

Give understanding of Your commands.

I have put my hope, O Lord, in Your word.

Your teachings, O Lord, are righteousness.

Lord, in faithfulness You have

Afflicted me so I may learn of

Your unfailing love and comfort

And Your truthfulness.

You are my husband; You have betrothed me

In love, compassion and faithfulness.

O Lord, You are my God, I’ll exalt You.

In faithfulness You’ve done wondrous things.

You’ve been a refuge for those who’re needy;

A shelter in storms; shade from the heat.

This is the Lord, we trusted in Him,

Let us be glad and rejoice

In His salvation which He

Provided through the Lamb.

Open the blind eyes; free all the captives.

Tell them of Jesus: “Be born again!”

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