Monday, January 25, 2010

Haiti

The recent devastation in Haiti has not only shocked the world; with its scenes of desolation, which though deeply distressing, have stirred up one of the largest humanitarian relief efforts seen in recent memory. For those nations, NGO’s and individuals who are committing not only resources, but segments of their lives to this most pressing need, we are all truly grateful. The outpouring of generosity and compassion shown by both Christian and non-Christian alike is truly heartwarming.

Now in light of growing cataclysmic climatic events around the globe one is tempted to speculate on the Lord’s return. For the Lord Jesus said as the end draws near, these kinds of events will increase, both in number and in severity. Yet knowing that was not His point, rather that we should all be prepared. Since truly no one knows the day or the hour of Jesus Christ's return. We can then miss God’s call to us to be ready by speculating about these kinds of things, and thus never truly come to a saving knowledge of God, or even put that knowledge of God into practical use. Therefore throughout the gospels, Jesus warns us over and over again, to be ready for either His Second Coming, or our going to stand before Him and be judged by Him (Matt. 24:36-51, 25:1-46; Luke 12:13-21, 13:1-5; 23-30; 35-48, 14:15-24, 16:9-12; 19-31 etc.). Now this being prepared begins by having a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, for that is the only way into the Kingdom of God (John 14:6). By having a grace based relationship with God the Father through Christ the Son (Eph. 2:8-9). Everything else then that is done in Christ's Name, is in reality, just an outworking of one's relationship with Jesus Christ and His life working in and through us (Gal. 2:21). Good works then are not a means to salvation, but are the fruits of it. And thus our faith in Jesus Christ is largely exemplified, and will be eternally rewarded, by the use of our talents and resources here and now; both inside and outside the house of faith. 45 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47 “Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48 “But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ 49 “and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 “the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 “and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matt. 24:45-51

Now 
in the thirteenth chapter of Luke, Jesus gives a brief exposition on two horrific events that had recently taken place in Jerusalem. His point though was not to point the finger at those whom tragedy befalls, but to point us to God, and our need to get right with Him while we can. For to die whether by tragedy, or just natural causes, and not be to God the Father, is to suffer the greatest and most agonizing tragedy of all. In the first instance, Pilate the then ruling governor; had desecrated the Jews sacrifices at the Temple by mixing the blood of the Galileans he murdered with it. Now this crime was viewed by those non-Galilean Jews who heard of it, as an act of judgment on those particular Galileans. Yet Jesus’ response to their news about these Galilean worshippers death’s at the hand of Pilate is quick and to the point. “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:2-3
Now Jesus follows up that by immediately recalling an event that was familiar to them, saying: 4 “Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:4-5
Again a tragic event, yet unlike the first which was an act of an evil man, this is an act of God, or so it is assumed by those who were familiar with it as a judgment against those eighteen. Yet Jesus in His use of it makes it clear that this tragic event, like the first, is not due to these individuals being worse sinners than anyone else in Jerusalem. Instead He again makes it clear: 5 “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:5
Again Jesus’ rebuke of those who brought Him news of Pilate’s heinous crime clearly demonstrates that assuming another’s guilt based on their lives circumstances is simply a dangerous presumption, not only of God’s dealings with the parities in question, but also one’s own standing before Him (See Luke 18:9-14).


Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Keep Christ's Sabbath!

Please Read The Book of Hebrews Chapters 3-4

You may ask how do we keep Christ’s Sabbath? Do we observe a certain day of the week? Do we refrain from eating certain kinds of foods, or doing certain things? If you follow the Old Covenant stipulations God gave to the Israelites then, yes indeed Sabbath observance under the Law required a great deal from the Israelites. Not the least of which was refraining from work. More than any other aspect, that is at the heart of Sabbath; the refraining from work (Ex. 20:8-11; 31:12-17). “...That you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.” Ex. 21:13 Now this theme of refraining from work is carried through into the New Testament. In the Book of Hebrews we read that the day of rest that Moses commanded the Israelites, and Joshua observed when he entered the Promised Land, was not the final day of rest God intended for His creation. “For if Joshua had given them rest, then He (the Holy Spirit; see Heb. 3:7) would not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.” Hebrews 4:8-10

Therefore we see that the works that we are commanded to cease from here by the Holy Spirit are our own works done for salvation. Whether these are done by our trying to keep the Law to be saved by it, (Acts 15:24-28) or by some other rational. For when we place or have our confidence in our own works, we put ourselves in a perilous place of potentially not having entered God’s commanded rest; a commanded Sabbath rest which is observed by putting our whole faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Not in our observances of days, or fasts, or foods etc., or any other stipulation or preference of man; but in the Lord Jesus Christ who is Lord of Sabbath. Not Moses; Not Joshua. But Christ Jesus the Lord who is every believers Sabbath Rest before God (Luke 6:1-5).

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:
“Today, if you will hear His voice,
8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
In the day of trial in the wilderness,
9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me,
And saw My works forty years.
10 Therefore I was angry with that generation,
And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart,
And they have not known My ways.’
11 So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ” Heb. 3:7-11

Where is your hope? Where is your rejoicing? In other words where is your faith? Is it in Christ Jesus crucified and Risen from the dead for your sins forgiveness? Or is it in your own works or righteousness? That is the deciding factor, of a person’s acceptance or rejection by God (Gal. 2:21). Will you then enter His rest by faith In Jesus Christ; or will you disobey God as those O.T. Israelites did who in their sins and unbelief perished in the wilderness because they refused to obey God’s command to enter the Promise Land, and thus partake of God’s promised rest. “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.” Heb. 4:11

Friend, today is the day of Salvation; today is the day to enter God’s commanded rest. For the Lord Jesus Christ is not commanding religious observances as the way into a personal relationship with God, but a simple repentance towards God, and faith in Himself (Matt. 9:9-13). For Jesus invites us all to enter into His rest to be saved by Him alone. 28 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matt. 11:28-30

That is what the Lord Jesus Christ offers everyone; not judgment; not shame; but life. Liberated from sin; freed from death; shielded from God’s judgment to come (John 11:25; Rom. 5:1, 6:14; 8:1). Jesus Christ through His death on the cross for our sins forgiveness offers everyone life; new and everlasting the moment they believe, as well as life abundant here and now (John 10:10). All because of God’s love freely given to us all. 16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16-17

If you have not made a decision to trust in Jesus Christ why not do that now? All it takes is for you to open your heart to God through Him. Jesus says: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." Rev. 3:20

By faith then you can say a simple prayer inviting the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart and life. Why not pray something like this: Dear Lord Jesus I know that I have sinned and I am sorry for my sins. I want to repent of my sins and begin a new life with You. I now invite You into my heart and life, to be my Lord and Savior, in Your Precious Name Lord Jesus, amen.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Mark 1:14-18

14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” 16 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

Devotional
The gospel is and has always been an urgent call from God to all people to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved from the coming Judgment. For God has appointed a day when He will Judge the world in Righteousness by His Son (John 5:24-30), and He has given full assurance of this by raising His Son Jesus Christ from the dead (Acts 17:31). Therefore God requires our repentance towards Him and our faith in Jesus Christ to be saved by Him. That is what is required of every individual; to turn away from their sins and turn in faith to God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Acts 20:21). For it is then that we are saved by the grace of God. Thus having been saved by the grace of God we must learn to become fishers of men. In our own way, and in our own style. We who believe must all learn to share the Good News of first God's love for all humanity exemplified by His Son Jesus Christ's death on the cross for us all (John 3:16). Then God’s grace given freely to all who believe in Jesus Christ's crucifixion death and resurrection from the dead to save them, and thus in faith call upon the Name of the Lord (Rom. 10:9-10, 13). For that is why the church exists; to not only bear witness to the truth, but also to build up the Body of Christ in faith and love, that we all might become not only better Christians as we strive to follow Christ, but better equipped to be witnesses of God’s grace given freely through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. For the Christian’s primary purpose for being in this world is that the gospel be lived out and proclaimed through our lives. Which is not only our involvement in the local church; it is us both individually and collectively going out into the world, so that by words and deeds the Lord Jesus Christ might be made known and people saved. What are your priorities? Is it taking the gospel where it is not heard? Highways and byways abound with both good and bad that haven’t yet been invited (Matt. 22:8-9; 20:6-7). Invitation or Isolation? What defines you as a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ? Bearing the reproach of Jesus Christ “outside the camp” (Heb. 13:11-13) is a commanded part of following Him.

Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Proverbs 10:18

"Whoever hides hatred has lying lips,
And whoever spreads slander is a fool."

Devotional
Ruining another’s reputation (whether openly or secretly) is not only unwise in that it marks you a fool, and ultimately ruins your own reputation, but it leaves you liable to civil litigation; and more ominously it makes you accountable to God (Lev. 19:16-17; Ps. 15:1-3; 50:21-21; Matt. 5:22-23 etc.). While on the Spiritual side of the ledger, when you defame another’s character you align yourself with the diabolos; i.e. the Devil who himself is Biblically described as a slanderer and Accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10). Therefore the Scripture warns that not only those who speak such things, but also those who delight in hearing such things, will bear the consequences that such things bring (Prov. 18:8; 26:22). Therefore the Apostle Peters exhortation to us all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and have chosen to follow him in righteousness is that we should not speak evil of anyone; especially fellow believers (Titus 3:2; James 4:11).

10 For “He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:10-12

Want to follow Jesus? Want to be a fisher of men? Don’t gossip about, or speak evil of people and certainly not other Christians. For not only is it hurtful to them, which is not walking in love, but it is clearly dishonoring to God. Therefore it is sin. And it will undermine your own witness and effectiveness in Christ’s service. Since grieving the Holy Spirit is neither the way to evangelize, nor make disciples, or build church unity in love (Eph. 4:29-31). Therefore don’t justify it! Confess it as sin and repent of it! The Apostle James said of our often misused tongues: “ 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. James 3:9-12

Related Proverbs

Proverbs 11:9
The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.

Proverbs 11:13
A talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.

Proverbs 13:2
A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence

Proverbs 18:20
A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth,
From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.

Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 20:19
He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.

Proverbs 25:23
The north wind brings forth rain,
And a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Monday, January 4, 2010

John 8:1-12


John 8:1-12
“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12

Devotional:
Two things the Lord Jesus Christ promises to all who receive the grace of God through Him. The first is that those who follow Him shall not walk in darkness. Now the sphere of darkness Jesus is referring to is the realm of sins darkness. Including not only ignorance of God and His ways of dealing with sin; but also the shame and guilt and bondage found in it. For Jesus Christ came not to condemn the world but that world through Him might be saved (John 3:17). Now this saving work by God we receive, by the grace of God, when we believe in Jesus Christ the Lord (John 3:16; Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 10:9-10). For Jesus Christ is the light of world who illuminates the way of life for us. Now this way of life is through grace and truth, not the law. “For the law was given through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17

For though the law is holy, and just and good, mankind is not. Mankind is universally sinful sold under sin (Rom. 7). That is we are not only born in sin; that is Adam's sin. We have all committed sins and thus we are incapable of being justified by our own obedience to the the law, which requires sinless perfection if one were to stand approved before God by it (Lev. 18:5). Yet there is nothing inherently in the law that will liberate anyone from sin. The law only reveals our sin, then passes judgment on it, but in no way does the law liberate anyone from sin (1 Cor. 15:56; Rom 6:14; Gal. 3:19-24). Neither sins power over the flesh or God’s universal judgment against it, does the law in of itself bring. The law then does not liberate sinners from sin nor God's wrath against us because of it. Therefore since the law cannot save us, and thus by default, we cannot save ourselves by our own obedience to it. Therefore we are all commanded by God to look to the Lord Jesus Christ's crucifixion death where God out of His great love for us all had His Sinless Son suffer and die in our place to pay our sins penalty. So that if anyone looks to Jesus Christ's suffering death to pay for their sins they will not only be saved from God's judgment but they shall have everlasting life (John 3:15). “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

That is God's promise to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ crucified and risen from the dead (Rom. 10:9-10, 13). For it is by Christ's resurrection from the dead and ascension back to the Father that we receive not only remission of our sins but the Holy Spirit for new and everlasting life when we believe in Him (Eph. 1:13-14). Now this way of life is not devoid of living Godly lives. Those who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and have experienced new life through Him by Holy Spirit rebirth are to be walking in newness of life with Him (Rom. 6:4-6). For it is through Christ’s cross that God “…has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Col. 1:13-14 Therefore believing in Jesus Christ through the grace of God (Eph. 2:8-9) and walking in newness of life with Him means the progressive sanctification of one’s life here and now (1 John 3:1-3). For it is through the Lord Jesus Christ that God has given us both a new standing (Rom. 5:1) and nature within Himself (2 Cor. 5:17).

Now in stating these things our sin nature is not eliminated while we live on in the flesh. Our sinful nature is not eliminated it is crucified with Christ (Rom. 6:6). Therefore those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will not walk in darkness as their life’s pattern as the Lord Jesus has said (1 John 1:6-7). Therefore there will be both victories and set backs in this life as we are being conformed to the image of Christ. So don’t confuse being born-again; that is born from on High (John 3:3-5) with sinless perfection (1 John 1:8-10). For only One is sinless in the sight of God and that is Jesus Christ the Lord, which is why we need God’s grace and Christ’s Righteousness to make us approved in His sight (2 Cor. 5:21).

Therefore this way of life is not the pursuit of righteousness as the Pharisees are often noted for, which only produces self-righteousness (Luke 18:9-14), hypocrisy (Luke 12:1), and or bondage in those who hold to their ways (Matt. 16:11-12). Strict religious observances devoid of justice, mercy, and faith, which pass by the love of God, is not the way of life the Lord Jesus Christ brings and commands (Matt. 23:11; Luke 11:42). Therefore believers are not commended to those ways rather to the fruits of the Spirit of God which is in accord with the new nature every believer has and must live out rather then the sinful passions of the flesh (Gal. 5:16-23). Our lives then as Christ’s followers must also then reflect a desire for repentance yes; but also an active outreach of grace by which repentance is genuinely embraced. And clearly Jesus was an agent for that when He sought a means to pardon the woman in John 8:1-12 rather than condemn her for her sin. In many ways then Jesus through this event not only reveals Himself Savior of all who stand condemned under the Law (Rom. 3:19-28). But in so doing He demonstrates to us just what He intends for us to do after He liberates us from the judgment of it. For though this woman was a transgressor of the Law, the Pharisees by their very actions show themselves no friends of it. Indeed the Law for them was a means to wrest privilege and power out of it, while exercising authority over the people through it. Their way of life then is not Christ’s (Matt. 23). For Jesus commands His disciples to be both merciful and service orientated in their lives (Matt. 5:7; Mark 10:42-45) as His ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-19); and that we can only do through the gospel. For the law makes no provisions for mercy as Jesus demonstrated when He tactfully used it to prevent the Pharisees employing it to condemn the women caught in adultery. While Jesus’ command to the woman was go and sin no more (vs. 11). For when Jesus liberates anyone from sin and its judgment. He does not want us to return to it.

Therefore Jesus’ Person and Life brings the way of life for all to believe, for everyone who sees their need. Jesus Christ is God’s Everlasting Light to the world. Pointing the way to God through Himself, by faith, which is the only way out of sins darkness and God’s judgment against it (Luke 1:79; 2:32). That is why the Scripture declares: “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” Matt. 4:16

We must all then Look to Jesus Christ as the Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2). For that is where our only hope is found. Obedience to God must be born out of knowing Jesus Christ personally through the grace of God, not the Law. “For the law was given through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17 Therefore following the Lord Jesus Christ means not only trusting in Him for salvation but also keeping His commands. That is what God requires of everyone (Deut. 18:18-19). For that is how we abide in Christ's love. For Jesus Christ the Lord brings everlasting life to all whose hearts are open to believe it (Luke 2:32; John 1:4-5) and thus receive it (Rev. 3:21). As the Lord Jesus Christ has declared: “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” John 12:46

Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.