Cutting In

Saturday, September 8, 2012, 5:45 a.m. – the Lord woke me this morning with this song playing in my mind:

Near the Cross / Fanny J. Crosby / William H. Doane

Jesus, keep me near the cross;

There a precious fountain,

Free to all, a healing stream,

Flows from Calvary's mountain.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,

Bring its scenes before me;

Help me walk from day to day

With its shadow o'er me.

In the cross, in the cross,

Be my glory ever,

Till my raptured soul shall find

Rest beyond the river.

Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read Galatians 5:1-17 (NIV 1984):

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.

True Freedom

Christ set us free so that we would be free and no longer under a burden of the yoke of slavery. Now, in this particular instance, Paul was speaking of slavery under the law, yet Christ set us free from other things, as well, such as slavery to sin, to legalism, to idolatry, to man-made religion and to works-based salvation (trying to earn our salvation by following a set of external rules, regulations or religious rituals). If we think we can earn our salvation by following a set of external rules and religious practices, then we are alienated from Christ and we have fallen away from grace. Likewise, if we think Christ does it all and nothing is required of us and that we can continue in sin, idolatry and man-made religion of any sort and still claim to know Christ, then we are, as well, alienated from Christ and have fallen away from true grace.

In contrast, Paul said that “by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.” Externals have no value at all, whether partakers or abstainers. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. In other words, faith is not stagnant, it is not an emotional one-time experience or decision, it is not acceptance of or adherence to a particular set of rules, doctrines or religious practices, etc. Even the demons believe, and they shudder. True faith proves itself genuine through obedience to Christ and through action resulting from the faith, i.e. faith expressing itself through love for God and love for others (see Hebrews 11 and 1 John).

If you are inside your house, it is on fire, and I tell you that it is on fire and the only way out is to jump out the window into a safety net (representing salvation by grace), will you:

·         Remain in the building?

·         Try to reach the safety net while still holding on to the building?

·         Crawl down the side of the building slowly and gradually toward the safety net?

·         Or, jump?

These four choices represent four approaches to the gospel and to salvation, but only the fourth one is the correct choice (see Matthew 13:1-23 – Parable of the Sower). We can reject the gospel entirely, nothing changes, and we will burn up in hell. Or, we can make a pretense of acceptance or buy into a false gospel that does not require death to your old life (jumping out of the building into the net) by trying to grab hold of the safety net while still holding on to the burning building, and we will burn up in hell. Or, we can buy into the false gospel that requires no death to the old life and gives us the impression that we can kind of grow into letting go of our old lives of sin (the crawling down the building slowly and gradually toward the safety net), and still burn up in hell. Or, we can let go of our old lives of sin, and jump into the arms of Jesus (the safety net), totally abandoned to him, trusting our lives now into his hands with full surrender and obedience to his commands, will and purpose for our lives, and we will live with him in eternity.

Running a Good Race

Paul often used the image of a race to describe the Christian life (faith that is not stagnant). He said we should run in such a way as to get the prize (1 Co. 9). The author of Hebrews said that we should throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and run with perseverance the race marked out for us. How? – By fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy (of our salvation) set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame (Hebrews 12). And, Paul said that we, as soldiers of Jesus Christ, should want to please our commanding officer, Jesus Christ. We should compete as an athlete according to the rules, and we should serve Christ like a hardworking farmer (2 Tim. 2). Again, true faith is not stagnant. Christ does not do it all and require nothing of us. There are rules we must follow, which include turning from our sin (repentance – jumping out of the building), obedience (jumping into the safety net), loving God and loving others. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Who cut in on you? What came to mind here is a couple (you and Jesus) dancing together and another person interrupting your dance with Jesus and claiming you as his or her partner. You are not dancing with Jesus and the other person, too, in other words. This other person has interrupted your dance with Jesus through lies and deception and has convinced you to dance with him (or her) instead. What a picture! This other person can be a legalizer who convinces you that you have to follow a set of external rules, such as religious rituals and practices in order to be right with God. For instance, someone may tell you that you have to give a tithe or follow the Sabbath or go to a building called a church on a Sunday morning and go through a particular set of religious practices for you to be in a right standing with God. You do not! We are free from the law!

Yet, the person who cuts in on your dance with Jesus may also be a libertine, i.e. one who teaches all-grace, i.e. that Christ does it all and that nothing is required from us. He may tell you that Christ does not require repentance and obedience for salvation and thus he would give you the license to continue in your sin. This is a lie! Christ died so we would be free, not only from the ultimate penalty of sin (eternal damnation), but so we would be free from slavery of sin day-to-day. Notice this person who cuts in keeps you from “obeying” the truth. This kind of persuasion does not come from God, but from Satan. So, if anyone is telling you that you do not have to turn from your sin and you do not have to obey Christ, realize they have “cut in” on your dance with Jesus and that their persuasion does not come from God, but from Satan.

Offense of the Cross

Paul said, “If I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?” In other words, his persecution was the result of him preaching freedom in Christ and that we are no longer under the law. Jesus faced the same kind of persecution and for many of the same reasons. Paul also strongly taught that we must leave our lives of sin behind us and we must follow Jesus Christ in full obedience and surrender to him and to his will for our lives, and they persecuted him for that, too. Salvation by grace is neither legalistic nor libertine. We are set free both from the strict adherence to a set of external requirements and we are set free from slavery to (the mastery of) sin. True grace; the true gospel teaches both.

So, I have another question to pose: “If you are preaching the true gospel (the offense of the cross), then why are you not being persecuted, hated and/or rejected for the message?” Perhaps it is because you are not preaching the true gospel, which is supposed to be an offense and the smell of death to those who are perishing in their sin (see Ro. 9:32-33; 1 Co. 1:23). Paul (speaking God’s God-breathed words) said that we are called to be free but that we should not use our freedom to indulge in the sinful nature. When we teach that repentance is not necessary for salvation, then we are giving people a free license to continue in their sin. Rather, we are to serve one another in love. In other words, if we truly love people, we will not sin against them in any way.

Live by the Spirit

Instead of gratifying our sinful natures, we are to live by the Spirit of God, because the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. I wish we would get this! You can’t hold on to the burning building and try to hold on to Christ, too! We can’t have it both ways. The only way out of the burning building is to jump, i.e. to let go of our old lives of sin and to trust Christ Jesus completely with our lives (to trust in his Lordship).

We can’t please ourselves and Christ, too. Jesus wants us totally abandoned to him; fully surrendered. This is how we are to live day-by-day and moment-by-moment. This is a radical change of lifestyle from what we lived outside of faith in Christ. It is not something we just gradually and slowly grow into, like growing into fidelity in a marriage, though we certainly grow in our faith and obedience to Christ, just as a husband and wife grow together. Yet, if we begin with Christ thinking we can just sort of roll our way into obedience and kind of take it in increments, then we have begun with the wrong attitude in mind, just like if we begin a marriage thinking we can slowly and gradually work toward faithfulness and fidelity. The sinful nature is contrary to the Spirit and the Spirit is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other and cannot coexist. We can’t dance with Christ (be his partner) if we allow someone else to “cut in” and leave Christ out.

Jesus, Lead Me / An Original Work / July 22, 2011

Jesus, lead me all the way.

Be my hope and be my stay.

Gently lead me where I should go,

So Your Spirit, I want to know.

Open up my heart to You.

Fill me with Your love and truth.

Make my heart want to obey.

Be my Lord today. Gently lead always.

Jesus, lover of my soul,

Cleanse my heart, and make me whole;

Be transformed in my heart today,

As I turn from my sin and pray.

Make Your will known to my heart.

May I not from You depart.

How I long to hear You now,

As I humbly bow. Jesus, hear me now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTIM16o9ldg

Harmony in Christ

Thursday, September 6, 2012, 6:27 a.m. – the Lord woke me with the song “In Harmony” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read Galatians 2 (quoting vv. 4-5, 11-21 NIV 1984):

This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you...

When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?

“We who are Jews by birth and not ‘Gentile sinners’ know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

“If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

False Brothers

Paul said that “false brothers” had infiltrated (penetrated; intruded; crept into) their ranks to “spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.” Now, Paul was speaking of the Judaizers who tried to force Gentile believers in Christ to be circumcised and to obey the Law of Moses. Christ Jesus had set them free from slavery to the law, i.e. he had set them free from following a strict set of rules that were mainly external in nature, i.e. circumcision, and ceremonial and purification laws, etc. These could not save them.

Yet, he did not free them from the law of God entirely, i.e. the law of Christ is now written in our hearts. They were not to abolish the law, but to uphold it. I know this can be confusing to us who did not live during that time, but, simply put, Jesus summarized the law and the prophets into two commands – Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. If we do all that, which is a tall order, we will not lie, cheat, steal, commit adultery, or dishonor God or our fellow man (or woman). Yet, now we have Christ living within us to give us all we need to live holy lives for God. He will help us flee temptation to sin and to draw near to God, so that we can walk in obedience to him.

Freedom Vs. Slavery

To truly understand what Paul was talking about here with regard to our “freedom in Christ” vs. this slavery to the law, we need to understand what “freedom in Christ” entails. Christ came to set us free from sin, but not just the ultimate punishment of sin (eternity in hell), but he set us free from the mastery, control of and slavery to sin at the moment we believe and throughout our Christian lives on a day-to-day basis. That is why repentance, as a part of what it means to have faith in Christ, is required for salvation. Our faith and ability to repent are gifts from God, yet we must appropriate those gifts to our lives through full cooperation with the Holy Spirit in his work within us. We must willingly die to our old lives of sin, allow the Holy Spirit to change us in heart and mind, and to be reborn into Christ as new creatures, created to be like Christ in all his purity, holiness and righteousness.

False Brothers 2

So, understanding what our freedom in Christ truly means, we must know and understand that there are other “false brothers” besides legalists who spy on our freedom in Christ to try to make us slaves again, only slaves to sin, not to the law. How do they do this? They do this by teaching that repentance and obedience to Christ are not necessary for salvation. True freedom in Christ is freedom NOT to sin. We are to no longer be slaves of sin (our fleshly desires), but we are to be slaves of righteousness. When we are controlled by the sinful nature, we are free from the control of righteousness. So, if we teach that turning away from our lives of sin and walking in obedience to Christ is NOT required for salvation, then we are leaving people still in slavery to sin, for they have not truly been set free.

Truth of the Gospel

Paul said he did not give in to these “false brothers” for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain in those who believed. There is a lot of teaching these days being passed off as “the gospel,” which is not the gospel at all, although it may have a slight resemblance to the true gospel. The truth of the gospel is summarized for us here in v. 20:

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Salvation means death, and not just Christ’s death on the cross for our sins, but our death to our self-life, our fleshly desires, our wants, our sin nature, and the control of sin over our lives. Jesus’ death and resurrection paved the way (made it possible) for us to die with him (be crucified with him) in death to sin and to be resurrected to new life everlasting with God, free from the control of sin, and free to yield to the control of righteousness! Amen! “I” no longer live, i.e. my flesh nature, my selfish desires and wants, the lust of my flesh and the pride of my life are gone, dead and buried with Christ so that Christ and his nature, character, will and purpose can live in and out through me. Amen!

Set aside Grace

Paul said he did not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing! The same principle applies to this “all grace” teaching where Christ does it all and nothing is required of us (no repentance; no obedience; no death to our old lives of sin). In other words, true grace frees us from the control of sin over our lives and makes us (obedient) slaves of righteousness. So, if we think Christ died just so we could go to heaven but nothing is required of us as far as a changed life here on the earth, then we, too, are guilty of setting aside the grace of God, and then it is true that Christ died for nothing, if Christ requires that nothing changes in our lives, but we continue as usual. We make a mockery of Christ’s death on the cross for our sins when we take the attitude that God’s grace means Christ does it all but nothing is required of us in response.

In the Wrong

Paul had to publicly confront Peter face-to-face with his hypocrisy, because he had allowed the influence of the Judaizers to pressure him into backing down from what he knew was right with regard to the truth of the gospel, and he was withdrawing from fellowship with his Gentile brothers and sisters in Christ out of fear of the Judaizers. He used to eat with the uncircumcised believers, but now he did not. Not only was he being hypocritical in living and acting in a way contrary to what he espoused, but he was being unloving and was acting in disobedience to God in following the rules of men over Christ’s commands and teachings.

And, there are numerous preachers and teachers of the word who are doing the same today, whether of the legalistic mindset or of the all-grace mindset. They know the truth of the gospel, for they went through training, and they have studied the word. They know what it teaches, and many of them have previously taught the truth of the gospel. Yet, they have gone the way of man now, instead, and have gone to “a different gospel” which is no gospel at all. They are following men’s leadership in how to build big churches (or plant churches), how to grow churches, get large numbers of salvations and baptisms, and how to attract the world to the church using worldly methods, marketing schemes, etc. They have gone the way of “Big Business” and the world in order to attract the world, but to what?

They may be attracting the world to an earthly organization, an incorporation of men, and/or a social club, etc., but that is not Christ’s design for how to win souls for Jesus Christ. The gospel is supposed to be an offense and the smell of death to those who are perishing. It should not appeal to their flesh. And, the road should not be broad and easy to travel. In other words, the way to heaven is narrow, and there are few who find it, whereas the road to destruction is broad and many travel that road. Today’s evangelical churches, for the most part, have reversed that to make the road to heaven broad so that many find it, but what are they really and truly finding? - A false hope? The way to heaven is restricted (narrow) because the way of faith is the path of repentance and obedience to Christ and to his ways. It is the way of the cross; the way of death, but also the way of life everlasting.

Harmony and Love

We hear much talk in today’s churches about the importance of “unity,” which is a Biblical teaching, if understood in the right context. Unity with man is not the same as unity with God. If we sacrifice unity (oneness; harmony) with God to be in harmony (oneness) with man, as did Peter, then we are following the wrong concept of “unity” or “harmony.” We need to be so careful that when the church teaches “unity” that they mean unity with God - with his will and purposes, with his desires, and not unity with the will and purposes of men.

We also hear much about the word “love,” and we are taught to “love on one another,” yet is the “love” being taught in today’s church the same “love” that Christ taught? - Maybe “Yes,” and maybe “No”. Paul exemplified true love when he rebuked Peter for his hypocrisy. Many would not think that to be “love” today. Paul was acting in love when he held on to the truth of the gospel and he confronted those and exposed those who taught “a different gospel.” Many today would not consider that “love,” either. We get this idea of love from men that never confronts sin, never says anything “negative” and never makes anyone feel uncomfortable about how they are living, but only makes them “feel good” about themselves, whether they are living righteously or like hell. Remember that true love gives of oneself to see others go free from the power of sin. That is what Christ exemplified.

In Harmony / An Original Work / September 2, 2012

Based off Ro. 12:9-21; 1 Pet. 3:8-15

Love each other truly.

Cling to what is good.

Hate all that is evil.

Never lack in zeal.

Serve the Lord with fervor.

Joyful in hope be;

Patient in affliction;

Praying faithfully.

Honor one another.

Live in harmony.

Share with all God’s people

Who are found in need.

Do not be conceited.

Sympathetic be.

Love, and show compassion

In humility.

Keep your tongue from evil.

Peaceful you must be.

Honor one another.

Live in harmony.

God sees who are righteous;

Listens to their prayers.

But He’s against evil –

Is His to avenge.

Do not fear what they fear.

Suffer patiently.

In your hearts, make Christ Lord.

Serve Him faithfully.

Honor one another.

Live in harmony.

http://youtu.be/inttFEHW_Eg

A Different Gospel

Wednesday, September 05, 2012, 4:10 a.m. – the Lord woke me this morning with the song “I’m Not Ashamed” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read Galatians 1 (quoting vv. 1-17 NIV 1984):

Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— and all the brothers with me,

To the churches in Galatia:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.

Legalism and Liberalism

Legalism and liberalism have one main thing in common. They are both gospels of men. In other words, they are both something men made up, and they are both perversions of the true gospel. Many of today’s churches and church leaders have gone the way of liberalism in order to combat legalism, but in both cases it is still man-made religion, just on opposite ends of the spectrum.

One is loaded down with all kinds of rules of men restricting its adherents’ freedoms in Christ, while often times not restraining true sinful behavior. The rules, thus, are often Pharisaical in nature in that they focus on externals while ignoring true heart (sin) issues. On the flip side of that, the other focuses so much on freedom in Christ, that it is often absent of any kind of rules and regulations, even those expressly taught in scripture for the life of the believer. Yet, in reality, they are really much the same for they both have rules, traditions or teachings of men they follow, they both have the potential to restrict true God-ordained freedom in Christ, they both focus much on externals (outward appearance), they both have a tendency to center their religious practices and meetings on pleasing man, and they both lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence (see Col. 2:23).

The one teaches a list of externals one must abide by in addition to grace and thus teaches a works-based salvation, i.e. the earning of one’s salvation through adherence to a set of man-made rules. The other teaches, on the other end of the spectrum, an all-grace philosophy that completely removes the follower’s need to do anything to secure his eternal inheritance. True, it is by grace we are saved, and it is not of ourselves or our own works, so that none of us can boast, but it is also by a conscious choice of our will to have faith in Christ and what he did for us in dying on the cross for our sins that we are saved, yet even the faith to believe is a gift from God – a gift we must receive and appropriate to our lives.

Man-made Religion

Man-made religion, whether legalistic in nature or liberal (libertine) in nature, has several common characteristics, some of which Paul touched on in his letter to the Galatian church. Man-made religion:

·         Perverts (distorts; misrepresents) the true gospel of Jesus Christ

·         Presents only half the truth of the gospel; purposefully removes essential parts

·         Has its origin in mankind (man-made)

·         Is not based in the whole counsel (the whole will and purpose) of God

·         Tries to gain the acceptance of men; tries to please men

·         Based in traditions or religious practices of men

·         Blends in with present culture in order to be “relevant”

·         Primary teaching comes out of books written by men (not Scripture)

This is essential that we get this! Whether we are in what some would term a legalistic church or we are in an all-grace church that teaches God does it all and nothing is required of us, we are still sitting underneath, are listening to, and are buying into a false gospel of men. Does your pastor teach the word? I mean, does he teach chapter-by-chapter and verse-by-verse and try to teach what the word is teaching, or does he teach more topically using multiple scriptures to illustrate his points? There is nothing wrong with topical studies, mind you, but there is a danger inherent in taking scriptures out of context to make them say what we want them to say. So, we have to watch for that and check out what we hear against Scripture (comparing scripture with scripture) and look up the passages in context to see what they are really saying. It is easier to distort the word (and the gospel) when we use scripture to illustrate or support our points rather than teaching them in context.

Are your “Bible” studies based out of books written by men, or do you study the Bible straight out of the Bible? There is nothing wrong with reading Christian authors, commentaries, etc. to help us to better understand God’s word, but we must be so careful that we don’t just accept man’s interpretation of scripture without checking out what the scriptures really say. So many people take the easy way out and just accept whatever they hear from the pastor, Bible study leader or book being studied in their “Bible” study class as though it is the word of God or the gospel when it may or may not be. So much is being passed off as truth that is not truth in our churches (legalistic and all-grace alike). Our pastors, Bible study leaders or books we study written by men (not God-breathed) are not God and they are not the very words of God, so we must be discerning and be diligent in examining what we hear against the word of God to make sure what we are hearing is true.

Do our times together as the church in corporate worship, Bible study, prayer, praise, fellowship, etc. reflect the character and nature of what God originally designed his church to be? Do we understand that the church is the people of God, not the building, not the incorporation, not the organization, not the programs and not the forms of religion or worship we follow? The true church can meet in a parking lot, a garage, a store or a restaurant, etc. And, the only forms set out for us to follow are the ones laid down for us in scripture. The church met daily, from house to house, and in the temple courts. They met for the purpose of the teaching of the word, prayer, the breaking of bread (communion), and fellowship (true spiritual fellowship in the Lord). The church is a body and we are made up of various parts and we each have a God-ordained (not man-ordained) function to fill within the body (not within the organization or incorporation). And, it is God who chooses what gifts we have, how they are to be used and what part in the body we are to serve.

If we want to know the truth of the gospel (the truth of God’s word) so that we are obeying what God’s will and purpose is for our lives individually and corporately as the body of Christ, then we need to stop listening just to men, and we need to spend time each and every day in God’s word, seeking his face, and asking for understanding of what his word teaches us with regard to our salvation, our lives in Christ on this earth, our eternal security in heaven, and the life of the church here on this earth. We need to not accept everything man says, but we need to check it out against the word of God so we know what is true.

The True Gospel

In contrast to this “different gospel” of men (both legalistic and libertine in nature) is the true gospel of Jesus Christ which Jesus and the apostles taught. Paul only touched a little in this chapter on the nature of the true gospel, but what he said is profound. The true gospel is not based in the acceptance of man nor is it concerned with pleasing man (making it pleasing or acceptable to the listener), for the true gospel is supposed to be an offense to those outside of Christ and the fragrance of death to those who are perishing. If Paul, in preaching the gospel, was trying to please or gain acceptance from man, then he would not be a true servant of Christ and of the true gospel.

The true gospel does not find its origins in men nor are the ministers of the gospel called of men. Instead, the true gospel has its origins in God and His Spirit as spiritually revealed to the writers of the New Testament who wrote God’s God-breathed and living words.

The true gospel is concerned with the heart of man, not with externals of religion or with entertaining people into acceptance of the “gospel.” It is not about just getting people “saved” so they can go to heaven one day, without giving any kind of guidance or instruction in how, in all practicality, this salvation works in our lives on a day-to-day basis. Paul said here that Jesus Christ gave himself for our sins (on the cross) “to rescue us from the present evil age.” This is essential that we get this! Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins so that we would no longer be under the control of (or slavery to) sin while we still live on the face of this earth. We aren’t supposed to be like the world.

The true gospel requires repentance (a complete transformation of heart and mind away from sin) and obedience to Christ (and toward following Christ in full obedience and surrender to his will for our lives). Don’t believe me? Look it up! If someone is telling you that you don’t have to repent, that you don’t have to obey Christ and that God is pleased with you no matter what you do, know that you are listening to a gospel of men (a different gospel other than what Christ and the apostles taught). What you are hearing is a “carte blanche” approach to the gospel that is not of God! When we accept Christ as Savior and Lord, we die to our old lives of sin, we are transformed in heart and mind, and we live new lives in Christ in purity, holiness, and in Christ’s righteousness (see Eph. 4:17-24). We are no longer slaves of sin, but we are now slaves of righteousness to do the will of God. Amen!

I’m Not Ashamed / An Original Work / February 15, 2012

Based off Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Rom. 1:16-17

Go into all the world,

And tell them the Good News,

Making disciples of all the nations,

Baptizing them in the name of the Father

And of the Holy Spirit,

And of the Son,

Teaching them to obey

Ev’rything I have commanded you,

And surely I am with you,

E’en to the end of the age.

You will receive power

When the Holy Spirit

Comes on you;

My witnesses you will be

In Samaria, Judea, and Jerusalem,

And to the ends of the earth, amen!

You will receive power

When the Holy Spirit comes on you,

My witnesses you will be

Unto the ends of the earth.

I’m not ashamed of the

Gospel of my Jesus.

For salvation, it’s the power of God.

For in the gospel a righteousness

From God is made known,

A righteousness that is by faith.

I’m not ashamed of the

Gospel of my Jesus.

For salvation, it’s the power of God.

The righteous will live by faith.

http://youtu.be/HwLRP5rCJ5s

The Test

Tuesday, September 4, 2012, 4:04 a.m. – the Lord woke me with the song “In Harmony” playing in my mind. After I had recorded some thoughts, prior to reading the passage of Scripture, and while I was praying for wisdom and understanding, the Lord brought this song to mind:

Trust Him / An Original Work / August 15, 2012

Based off Psalm 27:14

Wait for the Lord; be of courage;

Be strong and take heart today.

Do not fear when foes attack you.

Trust in God always.

He will rescue you in times

Of trouble and distress,

He’ll comfort you in all ways

As you trust Him with your life today.

Trust in Him always.

God is with you; He’ll not leave you.

You can always count on Him.

He will fulfill all He promised

Before you began.

His word teaches you

All that you need for this life.

Let Him lead you. Open your heart;

Let his truth envelope you today.

Listen and obey.

Love your Lord God; follow Jesus.

Repent of your sins today.

Make Him your Lord and your master;

Trust Him and obey.

Follow Him where’er He leads you

In His service; be His witness,

Telling others about Jesus’

Price that He did pay

For your sins always.

http://youtu.be/ZMz-qAqocQM

Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read 2 Corinthians 13 (NIV 1984):

This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you.

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints send their greetings.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Sin Issues

God does not wink at our sin. He takes our sin seriously, and he expects us to do the same. Jesus Christ died on the cross so we could be free from sin, not to give us a free license to continue in sin now that we are under grace. Paul was Christ’s representative to the people. As an apostle of Jesus Christ, he had God-given authority to act on the behalf of Jesus Christ in addressing serious sin issues within the church. Since Jesus Christ is not weak in dealing with sin among his chosen ones, but is powerful among us, so Paul, acting as Christ’s representative, was also not weak when it came to the discipline of Christ’s body for the purpose of bringing folks back into a right relationship with Jesus Christ, and with a goal of purifying the body of Christ of the yeast of unrighteousness.

Examine Yourselves

Upon Paul instructing the church that he would not be weak among them in dealing with sin, he asked them to examine themselves to see whether or not they were truly in the faith. They were to test themselves. He asked them to realize that Christ was in them, unless they failed the test.

We don’t hear much in today’s church about self-examination and tests to see if we are truly in the faith. In fact, we often hear just the opposite. We often get this “carte” (ticket) “blanche” (blank), i.e. “unrestricted power to act at one's own discretion; unconditional authority” (www.thefreedictionary.com) idea concerning salvation by grace. In other words, it is often taught that all we have to do is to invite Jesus Christ into our hearts to be our Lord and Savior, with little to no more explanation than that, and then we are told that we have our ticket into heaven (our carte blanche or blank check) and no one can take it away from us. If that is the case, then why take the examination?

So, what is this test? Paul didn’t really say what the test entailed or how they were to go about examining themselves. Yet, he did give us a few hints. He said he prayed that they would not do anything wrong (sin), but that they would do what is right. So, it appears that a life exemplified by not doing wrong (actively and continually) and doing what is right (actively and continually) might be one of the requirements on this test. Paul also stated that he and the other apostles could not do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. So, again it appears that in this self-examination we might ask ourselves if this speaks of our daily walks with Christ. Paul also said that he prayed for their perfection. So, this, as well, may be a question on the test, asking us if we are striving toward perfection in Christ, not in our flesh, and not with a “perfectionist” attitude about everything, but “Are we striving to be like Jesus in the power and working of the Holy Spirit within us?”

Although Paul did not go into great detail in this specific part of his letter to the Corinthian church as to how this examination was to be conducted or what types of questions might be on the test, the New Testament, as a whole, serves as our test.

The Exam

Q: Have I turned from (died to) my life of sin?

·         2 Co. 4:2 – We have renounced secret and shameful ways.

·         Eph. 4:22 – Come to Christ? - You were taught to put off your old self (life of sin).

·         Rom. 6 – Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

·         Luke 9:23 – Want to come after Christ? Must deny self (humble oneself), take up cross daily (die daily to sin) and follow (obey) Christ.

·         Luke 9:24 – Want to hold on to your old life of sin? You will lose your life for eternity.

·         1 John 1:6 – Claim to have fellowship with God but you continue in sin? You lie and do not live by the truth.

·         1 John 3:6-9 – No one who lives in Christ keeps on sinning (continues in sin).

Q: Is it my goal to obey (follow; please) God in every way?

·         Ro. 6:22 – Been set free from sin? - Now slaves to God, offering bodies in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

·         Eph. 4:22-23 – You were taught (concerning the way to come to Christ) to put off old self (life of sin); to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

·         Luke 9:23 – Want to come after Christ? You must deny self, take up your cross daily and follow (obey) Jesus Christ.

·         1 John 2:3-4 – We know we have come to know Christ if we obey his commands.

·         1 John 2:17 – the person who does the will of God lives forever.

·         1 John 3:18 – Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions & in truth.

·         John 10:25-29 – Jesus’ sheep 1) listen to (heed; pay attention to) His voice, 2) He knows them, and 3) they follow (obey) Him. These are the ones who have the promise of eternal life, and no one can snatch them out of God’s hand.

Q: Do I love my fellow man (or woman) or fellow believers in Jesus Christ?

·         1 John 2:9-11 – Claim to be in the light and yet hate your brother? You are still in darkness. Whoever loves his fellow man (or woman) lives in the light.

·         1 John 4:20 - If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar.

·         1 John 4:8 – Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love.

Q: Do I truly love God?

·         1 John 3:18 – Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions & in truth.

·         1 John 4:20 – If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar.

·         1 John 2:15-16 – Do not love the world (cravings of sin; lust of eyes; boasting about possessions or self-accomplishments). Love world? Love of Father not in you.

·         1 John 3:17 – See your brother in need (legitimate need) & have no pity? Love of Father not in you.

·         1 John 5:3 – This is love for God: to obey his commands.

How did you (I) do? Did you (I) pass the test? If not, I pray you will turn from your sin and choose to follow Jesus Christ in obedience and surrender to his will for your life today. None of us will live perfect lives, yet we are to aim for perfection (completion in Christ), i.e. we should make it our goal to please Christ Jesus in every way, and we should strive, in the power of the Holy Spirit within us, to die daily to sin and to choose daily to walk in faithful obedience to Jesus Christ. Then, we will be of one mind and we will be able to live peacefully with one another. “And the God of love and peace will be with you.”

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

In Harmony / An Original Work / September 2, 2012

Based off Ro. 12:9-21; 1 Pet. 3:8-15

Love each other truly.

Cling to what is good.

Hate all that is evil.

Never lack in zeal.

Serve the Lord with fervor.

Joyful in hope be;

Patient in affliction;

Praying faithfully.

Honor one another.

Live in harmony.

Share with all God’s people

Who are found in need.

Do not be conceited.

Sympathetic be.

Love, and show compassion

In humility.

Keep your tongue from evil.

Peaceful you must be.

Honor one another.

Live in harmony.

God sees who are righteous;

Listens to their prayers.

But He’s against evil –

Is His to avenge.

Do not fear what they fear.

Suffer patiently.

In your hearts, make Christ Lord.

Serve Him faithfully.

Honor one another.

Live in harmony.

http://youtu.be/inttFEHW_Eg

Three Times

Monday, September 03, 2012, 4:30 a.m. – the Lord woke me with the song “In Harmony” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV 1984):

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The Thorn

Paul was an apostle (sent out one) of Jesus Christ, called of God and appointed to the ministry of the gospel, yet he also had God-given authority over the church, as he spoke the very words of God, which is now included in our Bible, God’s God-breathed (living) word to us. He heard God speak, and he spoke and wrote God’s exact words to the people. What an awesome responsibility that must have been for him. Yet, he was human. God put this ministry into a clay vessel. So, to keep him from becoming conceited because of all these great revelations God was giving him, he was given a thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment him.

Now, there has been much discussion among theologians, clergy and laity alike as to what this thorn in the flesh entailed. First of all, we must understand that it was God who gave this to him, for only God would have the concern that Paul not become conceited, and only God had the power to give it or to take it away. Whatever it was, it was annoying and troublesome to Paul so much that he pleaded with God three times to take it away. Some people have suggested it was a physical ailment of some type, such as blindness, while others have suggested that it was a particular signature sin. Since “flesh” can mean either physical flesh or our sin nature (in English), we have these two types of possibilities.

Yet, Paul spoke much of his exemplary life and even asked that people become like him in his pure devotion to Jesus Christ. He spoke often of his commitment to Christ, his purity, and all that he endured for the sake of the gospel. This was not a man given to sin. He spoke often of how we cannot please God if we are being led by our flesh, and how the flesh is in contrast to the Spirit, and how if we are being controlled by the sinful nature we are free from the control of the Spirit. So, Paul’s thorn could not have been a signature sin. It could have been a temptation to a particular sin that tormented him, though, and we all know how tormenting temptation can be.

It is pure conjecture, thus, to come up with any definitive “thorn” for Paul’s “flesh,” but what we do know is that God gave him this thorn to keep him from becoming conceited, that it was very troublesome to Paul, and it had to do with a messenger of Satan tormenting him. I would like to suggest that the thorn could have been as simple as what the Scripture says. A messenger is an envoy, a go-between, or a herald (proclaimer; announcer). Messengers generally speak, though not always. To torment means to be a nuisance; to plague; pest; annoy, etc. What if his thorn in the flesh truly was a messenger (voice) of Satan speaking to him in his ear with taunts to provoke, ridicule, tease, and/or mock Paul continuously? That would definitely send him to his knees and would keep him humble before God.

All Sufficient Grace

Three times Paul pleaded with the Lord (God; Jesus Christ) to take the thorn away from him. Yet, each time Jesus Christ (God) replied: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I am often encouraged by Jesus’ response to Paul, because I definitely got the weakness part down pat! And, it regularly sends me to my knees in prayer and humbleness before God. And, I, as well, have found God’s grace to be all sufficient in my times of weakness or when Satan whispers his taunts into my ears. Sometimes all I can pray is “HELP!” And, God hears, and he answers. Sometimes I am able to lay my requests before God more fluently, and often with tears. Yet, my Lord’s comfort and encouragement fill me to overflowing as he reminds me often that he is with me, and that he can handle what I cannot handle in my weakness.

As well, I have often experienced God’s power being perfected in my weakness (not sin). Paul was not talking about weakness as sin here. He was speaking of physical, mental or emotional weakness that hindered him from being able to do what God had called him to do, or to endure what persecutions, beatings, etc. that God allowed him to endure. He was a clay vessel so that God’s all-surpassing power would be credited to God and not to man. God does his best work through us, I believe, when there is no way we can do this in our own flesh and it is so obvious that only God could do this. God shows this to me in my life every day. God chose the weak things, and the despised things, etc. to show that it is God doing the work, and not us.

I think a great deception has swept through today’s church that demands physical, emotional, or mental perfection, and again I am not making reference to sin. I am speaking of how we have this idea that everything should be done to perfection according to man’s standards in our service to the Lord so that it becomes more about performance and about us than it is about the Lord. Spiritual gifts get confused with natural talents, and so we get this idea that singers, preachers, musicians, etc. need to be entertaining, have good stage presence, and be attractive to the world so the world will want to come into our churches. Yet, the church is the body of Christ, and we are supposed to meet together to edify and build one another up in the faith, and then go out into the world to reach people for Jesus Christ. We aren’t supposed to entertain the world. We are supposed to offend them with the truth of the gospel – the cross – death to self; death to our flesh; death to sin, but alive to Christ! Amen!

God uses weak people who know they cannot do what God wants them to do on their own, and who recognize their total and absolute dependency upon God for everything. Then, the Spirit of God can work through us in ways we would have never imagined as we are yielded to him in complete surrender. So, we should be thankful for our weaknesses (not sin), because then God is able to do amazing things through us, though not amazing by human standards, but he is able to work through us in ways that are beyond human understanding. And, it is so obvious that only in the power and working of the Holy Spirit are we able to do what God has given us to do. Amen!

A year ago this past April the Lord gave me a new gift – the gift of writing simple songs of faith. These songs are not for entertainment purposes. They are not perfectly executed. God gave me this gift at the age of 62. My voice is not what it was when I was much younger. Sometimes it cracks. Sometimes I may not hit the notes right on. Yet, this is what God gave me, and this is the voice he gave me. So, I share with you what I have been given. “Speak to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs,” the word says. And, I trust the Lord will use this for his glory and his purposes. “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

In Harmony / An Original Work / September 2, 2012

Based off Ro. 12:9-21; 1 Pet. 3:8-15

Love each other truly.

Cling to what is good.

Hate all that is evil.

Never lack in zeal.

Serve the Lord with fervor.

Joyful in hope be;

Patient in affliction;

Praying faithfully.

Honor one another.

Live in harmony.

Share with all God’s people

Who are found in need.

Do not be conceited.

Sympathetic be.

Love, and show compassion

In humility.

Keep your tongue from evil.

Peaceful you must be.

Honor one another.

Live in harmony.

God sees who are righteous;

Listens to their prayers.

But He’s against evil –

Is His to avenge.

Do not fear what they fear.

Suffer patiently.

In your hearts, make Christ Lord.

Serve Him faithfully.

Honor one another.

Live in harmony.

Song lyrics and sheet music (free):

https://sites.google.com/site/psalmshymnssongs2/home/songs/in-harmony

Song on video:

http://youtu.be/inttFEHW_Eg

In Harmony

This is the third song in a row the Lord has given to me on the subject of love for God and love for others. I pray I will learn from these messages in song (Scripture put to music) the lessons he wants me to learn on the subject of loving God and loving others.

In Harmony / An Original Work / September 2, 2012

Based off Ro. 12:9-21; 1 Pet. 3:8-15

Love each other truly.

Cling to what is good.

Hate all that is evil.

Never lack in zeal.

Serve the Lord with fervor.

Joyful in hope be;

Patient in affliction;

Praying faithfully.

Honor one another.

Live in harmony.

Share with all God’s people

Who are found in need.

Do not be conceited.

Sympathetic be.

Love, and show compassion

In humility.

Keep your tongue from evil.

Peaceful you must be.

Honor one another.

Live in harmony.

God sees who are righteous;

Listens to their prayers.

But He’s against evil –

Is His to avenge.

Do not fear what they fear.

Suffer patiently.

In your hearts, make Christ Lord.

Serve Him faithfully.

Honor one another.

Live in harmony.

Song lyrics @ Public Domain

Song lyrics and sheet music (free):

https://sites.google.com/site/psalmshymnssongs2/home/songs/in-harmony

Song on video:

http://youtu.be/inttFEHW_Eg

Demolishing Strongholds

Saturday, September 01, 2012, 5:44 a.m. – the Lord woke me again with the song “Blessed Are You” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read 2 Corinthians 10 (NIV 1984):

By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” when away! I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

You are looking only on the surface of things. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as he. For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it. I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you. We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in another man’s territory. But, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

God-given Authority

Paul had the respect and admiration of many of the followers of Jesus Christ who accepted his calling in Christ and his God-given authority in the church. Yet, not everyone accepted Paul for who he was in Christ, nor did everyone accept his God-give authority in the church. He had those who stood in strong opposition to him, and who looked for opportunities to accuse him at every turn. So, frequently Paul found it necessary to defend his ministry in Christ, and this was one of those occasions.

Paul’s accusers were saying of him that he was bold in his letters, or bold when he was physically absent from the people, but that he was, or else he would be timid with them face to face. They were basically saying that he was breathing out false threats, but they did not believe he would carry them through. So, Paul defended himself on that account, i.e. he disputed the lies and he reaffirmed the truth that he had the authority of God to carry through in person what he had said when he was away from them, that he was a man of his word, and that he would, in fact, do what he said he would do.

A Loving Parent

Paul was like a loving parent, and the churches were like his children. He had the God-given authority and responsibility to parent these “children” and to train them to be godly. He did not make false threats. If the children did not change their behavior, he would provide the necessary discipline (or correction). Yet, Paul was not to be seen as a tyrant or as an abuser of the people. His goal and purpose was always to build up the believers in the faith, never to tear them down. Yet, to build up may require some necessary tearing or cutting away of what is rotten first. For instance, when a dentist builds up a tooth to prepare it for a crown, he first of all removes any decay. To build, we must first of all remove all obstacles in the way that might hinder that building process.

Not as the World Does

The people who were misjudging and accusing Paul were judging from worldly standards and from their own lives and experiences and ways of thinking and behaving. And, we will face these same types of false judgments from people, even in the church, and even among church leaders, when we are truly following God’s calling upon our lives and are obeying him to the best of our understanding.

We will, too, be judged by human standards. For instance, we may be judged by the culture of the people with whom we live, yet following Christ does not always comply with the culture of a society, especially if what that culture deems as important directly conflicts with the word of God. They also may measure us by themselves, i.e. if what we do reminds them of something they did, but they did it for the wrong reasons and with incorrect motives, they may decide we are just like them. They may also judge us by religious practices and instructions that have been passed down from generation to generation as something sacred when it is, in fact, of men and not of God.

Paul said that he and his fellow apostles lived in the world, but they did not wage war as the world does. The weapons they fought with were spiritual weapons (see the Armor of God in Ephesians 6), not the weapons of this world.

Paul, I believe, was not speaking of physical weapons of war here such as guns, knives, etc., but of the kind of weapons Satan uses against us to accuse us and to try to discredit us or to shake our faith and to try to get us to give up. The weapons of this world include lies, false accusations, treachery, willfully misleading people, gossip, slander, judging by human standards, etc. Jesus Christ faced the same kinds of judging of himself and his ministry when he was on this earth. Yet, God has a different standard than what this world does. He doesn’t think like we, mere mortals, think. He doesn’t judge by outward appearance, but he judges the heart. Humans get things all backwards, even in the church, when they think we have to look and act like the world in order to appeal to the world to come to Christ. And, in the process they misjudge and often exclude those among them who are truly listening to God’s voice.

By putting on the armor of God each day, i.e. by choosing to tell the truth instead of lies, by choosing to exercise faith over fear, by choosing to fight off Satan’s lies with the word of God, by choosing to share the gospel of salvation, and by choosing to listen and to follow the voice of God over the voices of men, etc., we can fight off the strongholds (grips) Satan has over our own minds and hearts and/or over the church.

One of Satan’s greatest tools against us is his lies and deceptions which he will whisper in our ears, or else he will use human messengers to try to convince us of what is not true in order to try to keep us down, discouraged, unfruitful, complacent, and not doing the will of God. So, not only do we need to use our spiritual weapons of warfare against Satan in demolishing his strongholds in our lives and in the church, but we need to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. In other words, as soon as we realize we are having a straying thought we need to pray, we need to reject those thoughts, and we need to put on the right way of thinking. The Holy Spirit will help us by gently prompting us when our minds begin to stray, if we will ask him.

We Are Blessed

Even though we may be going through similar persecutions and false judgments as Jesus and the apostles faced, we should be encouraged, because we have been found worthy to suffer for the sake of Christ and of his gospel. We are blessed (favored; cared for; provided for; protected; and/or gifted) of God when we are poor (humble) in spirit, when we hunger and thirst after righteousness, when we have sorrow and anguish in our hearts over lost sinners or wandering Christians, and when we are hated and rejected because of our faith in and our testimony for Jesus Christ.

Yet, we must be careful to love those who hate us by praying for them, by doing good (what is beneficial) for them, and by saying kind things about them. We should always treat others the way in which we want to be treated. It is of no credit to us if we love only those who love us. We must show the love and mercy of Christ even to those who despise and mistreat us.

Blessed Are You / An Original Work / August 29, 2012

Based off Luke 6:20-49 NIV 1984

“Blessed are you;

Blessed are you who are poor

For God’s kingdom is yours.

(Kingdom is yours)

Blessed are you;

Blessed are you who are hungry,

You’ll be satisfied.

(Be satisfied)

Blessed are you;

Blessed are you who weep now,

For you will laugh with joy.

(Will laugh with joy)

Blessed are you;

Blessed are you when men hate

And reject you because of Christ.”

(Because of Christ)

“Rejoice in that;

Rejoice in that day and

Leap for joy; great your reward.

(Great your reward)

But I tell you;

But I tell you to love those

Who hate you; do them good.

(Do good to them)

Pray for those who;

Pray for those who treat you wrong

And say kind things of them.

(Kind things of them)

Do to others;

Do to others as you would have

Them do; have them do to you.”

(Them do to you)

“If you love those;

If you love those who love you,

What praise is there for you?

(What praise for you?)

Because Christ is;

Because Christ is kind,

Be merciful, just like He is.

(Just like He is)

Forgive others;

Forgive others their offense

Against you; be ye kind.

(Be kind to them)

Hear My words and;

Hear My words and put them

Into practice, then you’ll be fulfilled.”

(You’ll be fulfilled)

http://youtu.be/y31ouWaLdSU