One of the most memorable and probably misquoted words of a poet, come from Robert Burns.
“The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray”
Sometimes in life, even with the best laid plans and the best of intentions, the details of this life do not work out in the way that we thought they would.
As Israel was nearing the last days of their wilderness journey, a notable statement is recorded in Numbers 21:4.…”and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.” The word “way” in Hebrew implies “because of the distance, direction, and difficulty of the course.” In other words, the journey was harder and the burden was heavier than they had originally expected.
I read a story of two young boys who would approach those already shoveling snow and offer to finish the job for them for twenty dollars. When asked why they would go to those already shoveling snow they replied, “We make most of our money from those who are half finished and want to quit.”
Discouragement is both cancerous and contagious!
The negative report of the ten spies discouraged and defeated an entire generation.
In his discouragement, Peter went back to the old life of fishing and all of the other disciples followed along.
Until we can conquer discouragement, it is highly unlikely that we will ever conquer anything else.
Let us consider why this is so.
Discouragement distracts our purpose.
In Psalm 32:8, the Lord promises to…”instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go..” It would do us well to remember that when the path we walk becomes difficult, if the Lord is truly the one that has led us, there will always be something to learn, something to do, or something to gain.
Nineteenth century British hymn writer and theologian Frederick W. Faber said it this way,
“There are no disappointments to those whose wills are buried in the will of God.”
In his dying days, John the Baptist became so discouraged that he questioned if Jesus was really the long awaited Savior.
The response Jesus sent to John was a gentle reminder that the purposes of God were being fulfilled.
With the haze of discouragement lifted, John was able to peacefully and courageously glorify the Lord through his death.
Discouragement is a hazard to our service because it lowers our discernment and paralyzes our determination.
That is why Peter needed the reminder to “feed My sheep,” and Timothy needed the reminder to “Preach the Word.”
As we follow the Lord, there are times when the path makes no sense, and places where the path does not seem sure. However, the key to survival amidst discouragement is maintaining the resolve of Job 28:23, “God understands the way…”
Discouragement distorts our perceptions.
In Job 23:10, after assessing the path he was forced to walk, Job came to the conclusion, “But He knoweth the way that I take….”
Few things can dishearten a servant of God like the feeling that your work is going unnoticed or that your work seems futile.
When Elijah sat beneath the juniper tree in 1 Kings 19, it was these critical and condemning voices that drowned out Gods voice, and filled him with suicidal fear.
When they were young, I taught my sons as many things as they would allow. I would monitor the steps taken before they had mastered certain tasks, and discovered that my part in much of their learning process was only to stand back and be observant. Often I left them alone and went to a place where I could see them, yet they could not easily see me. I was there watching and listening , willing to offer help if only they needed it.
All of us have experienced times when the Lords presence seemed far away.
We need not fear that the Lord has completely withdrawn His presence, or is displaying a lack of interest in our endeavors, but rather we should see it as an exhibit of His heart trusting that we will do what is right during those times when we do not perceive His immediacy.
Nineteenth century minister DeWitt Talmage once said, “When omniscience has lost its eyesight, and omnipotence falls back to impotence.. Then the Church of Jesus Christ can afford to be despondent, but never until then.”
The very moment that we experience a loss of heart may be just the moment we are nearer to finding Gods heart than ever before!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Preach the power of the Cross
“The Message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)
To the person who rejects Christ and His death on the cross, the cross and its message seem simply foolish.
But this “foolishness”, as unbelievers see it, is precisely the power that changes lives and things. Yet, the “message of the cross” is the power, that is missing in the walk of an increasing number of proclaiming believers.
Jesus on the cross is not a picture of a defeated and misguided leader.
On the contrary, it is one of victory over sin and death…it is supernatural power in action….love.
Some of the same people who thought that Jesus and His death were foolishness were later “shaking in their boots” when “the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. And the earth did quake and the rocks were split. And the graves were opened and many bodies of the saints that slept were raised…” (Matthew 27:51-52).
Real power was evidenced in those moments, it is no wonder then, that, “the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus…feared greatly, saying, Truly, this was the Son of God.” (Matthew 27:54).
What then is the message of the cross?
It is the power that tore open the curtain of the temple that separated man from God and is still tearing down curtains and walls that separate us from God; the power that shook the earth and split the rocks is still shaking and crumbling the rock-like hearts of men and women today; the power that broke open the tombs and raised many of the dead to life and continues to do so today when people who are spiritually or emotionally dead respond to the message of the cross.
“it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:21).
Those who believe are saved, as it is, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ and His finished work alone.
In verse 22 of the same chapter we see that the “Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom.”
It is the same in many places today, with men applauding those who will teach them from a worldly wisdom of a promise of comfort, health, and wealth, and with others promoting glimpses of the supernatural that do not appear as promoted.
To the unbelieving, the message of the cross is foolishness, as they search for ways to come to God without His perfect sacrifice.
Many are led to believe that this power should manifest itself in them through supernatural signs and miracles; otherwise they have not experienced the power of God.
They stumble blindly along, impervious to the truth, unsatisfied, always looking for one more proof, until they open those blinded eyes and see the simplicity of the message of the cross.
There is the greatest of all miracles that takes place when you are touched by Gods power and you are born again.
Your broken life is exchanged for a new whole one.
Despair turns into hope, darkness becomes light, death is replaced by life! Chaos becomes order and there is harmony and beauty.
Yes the world looks for signs and wonders, but there will never be a more powerful sign that that of the cross. “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Gentiles foolishness”. (1 Corinthians 1:22).
To the person who rejects Christ and His death on the cross, the cross and its message seem simply foolish.
But this “foolishness”, as unbelievers see it, is precisely the power that changes lives and things. Yet, the “message of the cross” is the power, that is missing in the walk of an increasing number of proclaiming believers.
Jesus on the cross is not a picture of a defeated and misguided leader.
On the contrary, it is one of victory over sin and death…it is supernatural power in action….love.
Some of the same people who thought that Jesus and His death were foolishness were later “shaking in their boots” when “the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. And the earth did quake and the rocks were split. And the graves were opened and many bodies of the saints that slept were raised…” (Matthew 27:51-52).
Real power was evidenced in those moments, it is no wonder then, that, “the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus…feared greatly, saying, Truly, this was the Son of God.” (Matthew 27:54).
What then is the message of the cross?
It is the power that tore open the curtain of the temple that separated man from God and is still tearing down curtains and walls that separate us from God; the power that shook the earth and split the rocks is still shaking and crumbling the rock-like hearts of men and women today; the power that broke open the tombs and raised many of the dead to life and continues to do so today when people who are spiritually or emotionally dead respond to the message of the cross.
“it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:21).
Those who believe are saved, as it is, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ and His finished work alone.
In verse 22 of the same chapter we see that the “Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom.”
It is the same in many places today, with men applauding those who will teach them from a worldly wisdom of a promise of comfort, health, and wealth, and with others promoting glimpses of the supernatural that do not appear as promoted.
To the unbelieving, the message of the cross is foolishness, as they search for ways to come to God without His perfect sacrifice.
Many are led to believe that this power should manifest itself in them through supernatural signs and miracles; otherwise they have not experienced the power of God.
They stumble blindly along, impervious to the truth, unsatisfied, always looking for one more proof, until they open those blinded eyes and see the simplicity of the message of the cross.
There is the greatest of all miracles that takes place when you are touched by Gods power and you are born again.
Your broken life is exchanged for a new whole one.
Despair turns into hope, darkness becomes light, death is replaced by life! Chaos becomes order and there is harmony and beauty.
Yes the world looks for signs and wonders, but there will never be a more powerful sign that that of the cross. “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Gentiles foolishness”. (1 Corinthians 1:22).
Sunday, March 27, 2011
In the early morning hours of February 25 1956, future Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev stood before a closed session of the Twentieth Party Congress, in what has become known as the “Secret Speech.” During the speech, Khrushchev denounced the late Premier Joseph Stalin’s abuse of power and repressive style of leadership. For Khrushchev, who had played an intimate role in Stalin’s corruption, it was a moment of truth and cleansing. However, while he was speaking, a note was passed through the audience and up to Khrushchev which asked,” What were you doing when Stalin committed all these atrocities?” Khrushchev shouted again, “Who sent up this note?” Not a person moved or spoke a word. Khrushchev again shouted, “Ill give him one minute to stand up!” The one minute of time passed and no one stood. Khrushchev then said, “All right, Ill tell you what I was doing. I was doing exactly what the writer of this note was doing--nothing! I was afraid to be counted.” From time to time, flags are flown at half mast around our country. It is a reminder to us that someone important has died. Perhaps the reason our generation of Christians are flying there flags of profession so lowly is because something vitally important is dying within our ranks. When you compare our twenty first century brand of Christianity with that possessed by first century Christians you can easily see that courage is dying a slow death. Courage is no longer demanded from our leaders, and our leaders no longer demand courage from us. Our lack of courage is both our failure and our fault. As Joshua assumed the leadership role after Moses death, the Lord encouraged him in Joshua 1:9, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage…” God has the right to both command and demand courage from the lives of those who serve as His ambassadors. In our generation there are Pharaohs we must face, mighty giants that we must fight, and many steep mountains to be climbed for the sake of the Gospel. The challenges and struggles that lie ahead of us can only be met with “good courage.” Do you have the mettle it takes to keep standing tall when everyone else around you has already sat down? Courage is a trait that demands we hold no reserves. In Daniel 6, when Daniel defied the decree of King Darius and prayed, he not only exposed himself to the potential of peril and pain, but he also laid his position and popularity on the line. For Daniel, spiritual courage was never a risk because a man who has surrendered the whole of his life into the hands of God no longer has anything to lose! Several years ago a missionary in India watched as a woman approached the Ganges River with a crippled son in her arms and a healthy son by her side. To his amazement, she sacrificed her healthy son into the crocodile infested waters. When asked why she had not sacrificed her crippled son instead, she replied, “In our country we always give our gods our best.” If only more Christians exhibited such faith! Saul kept “the best of the sheep and of the oxen…and all that was good” for himself, but lost his courage, his mind, and ultimately his kingdom. Annanias and Sapphira “kept back part” of the offering for themselves, but lost their reward, their credibility, and ultimately their lives. Nineteenth century evangelist George Mueller said, “God judges what we give by what we keep.” Anytime we are holding back something from God, it might just surprise us what God is holding back from us! Courage is a trait that demands we honor no retreats. In Nehemiah 6:3, when enemy messengers tried to distract, discourage and defeat the project of rebuilding the wall, Nehemiah said, “I cannot come down..” He kept pressing forward and refused to back off, back up or back down! Spiritual progress is never achieved from hearts that are always moving backwards. During the heat of a difficult battle, Napoleon shouted to his drummer, “Beat a retreat!” Standing heroic and saluting loyally, the drummer said, “Sir, you never taught me to beat a retreat. I can only beat a charge!” With renewed courage, Napoleon then shouted ,”Then beat a charge, drummer boy!” Certain defeat, quickly was turned into a resounding victory. Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather a fixed resolve in the face of panic. Because David refused to run from the intimidating shadow of Goliath, he became the tallest man left on the battlefield. Because three Hebrew children would not budge on their conviction, they could not be beaten, blemished or burned. When his enemies demanded that he recant his writings, Martin Luther said, “Here I stand! I can do no other! God help me.” True faith does not commit in the face of confirmation, but rather it surrenders and presses forward in spite of consequence. Courage is a trait that demands we harbor no regrets. In Esther 4, Israel is facing annihilation and only Queen Esther is in a position to save them. After weighing out the consequences, Esther says in verse 16, “I will go into the king,…and if I perish, I perish.” That’s living with your mind made up! Twentieth century pastor and author Clarence McCartney once wroth, “Men who hesitate and linger are left behind by men who have decided and who bind what shall be to their will.” Life can often produce sudden and strategic moments that demand our courage. However, to delay or hesitate in that moment can leave you holding a lifetime of regret. Lot had the chance to leave Sodom courageously, but “while he lingered,” he lost the respect of his family. David had the chance to be courageous on the battlefield, but while he “tarried still in Jerusalem,” the enemy pierced his soul with a sword that ran throughout his family. Gifted preacher Tom Elliff recently reminded me of an old saying, “A man knows he is growing old when his regrets outnumber his dreams.” The courageous are never guaranteed fame and fortune, but cowards never have monuments erected in their honor either. In his 1978Harvard Commencement address, Russian novelist Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn said, “Must one point out that from ancient times a decline in courage has been considered the beginning of the end?” Jesus said in Matthew 12:30, “He that is not with Me is against Me..” The implication is clear that the position of neutrality is never given to us! Can the Lord count on us to be the courageous voices, faithful prayer warriors, and extravagant givers to His work in these final hours of the church age?
Friday, March 11, 2011
The Great Apostasy: Lost Forever
An apostate soul is lost forever.
There is an abundance of Biblical proof that shows anyone that apostatizes cannot repent – and even stronger – has been given a reprobate mind and will not repent.
The Greek word apostasion means a divorcement.
The apostate person has divorced the truth of God and has been divorced by the Holy Spirit. They are lost forever.
There is a multitude in today’s church, which are so captured by the watered down message that they refuse to even believe “plain truths” from the Holy Scripture.
Please consider what is evident in the very term apostate.
We are not discussing someone going back into sin or simply ceasing to walk with the Lord.
That is backsliding and we see a clear picture of that in the prodigal son in chapter fifteen of Luke. He left the Father’s House and wandered far from home, but he came to himself and returned.
I have often said that there is a little of the prodigal in every one of us. We have all had to repent because we failed to be fully obedient.
This state of a soul has no real kinship to apostasy.
Apostate people are more religious than the true saints.
They have departed from the great principles and established doctrines of the Holy Bible and are committed to guaranteeing that everybody else does the same.
Apostasy is a departure from truth while being convinced that they have discovered greater truths.
It is the replacement of the eternal truth with religious human imagination.
The book, The God Chasers, by Tommy Tenney is an excellent case in point. He states that the Bible is where God has been and the new revelation is where God is now at work. Rick Warren is clearly at the same point. He has replaced the Born Again life by the Holy Ghost with a “purpose driven life” of psychological relativisms.
In the apostate world there are many paths to God, and Jesus Christ is only one of them.
The absolute teaching of Jesus Christ about an eternal Hell and eternal Lake of Fire is now to simply lie in the grave and fail to enjoy God forever.
The Bible can be pen-knifed by the apostate church and almost every truth can have varied meanings.
Separated living is a relic of the past and the Christian is free of all restraints in the Ten Commandments, etc.
A ballgame on Sunday night is just as spiritual to this company as a great sermon from God’s eternal truth.
Romance music has replaced the music that lifts the spirit of man into the Holy of Holies, where God’s Spirit sanctifies and purifies the soul.
The Holy Bible warned us of this End Time phenomenon.
The most powerful Scripture about apostasy is in the great book of Hebrews.
This passage has been almost ignored by most Bible teachers because it upsets their weak theology. “And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall “Fall Away,” to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame” (Hebrews 6:3-6).
Apostle Paul does not just suggest the end results; he proclaims without question that this state of apostasy cannot repent.
Please note the words, “fall away,” which identifies the apostate person and states that they were once partakers of the Holy Ghost, were once enlightened, and had tasted the Word of God and the world to come.
But, now, they have turned from all of that great life and cannot return to their former spiritual state.
The term “fall away” is from a unique Greek word that applies to the person that is part of the “falling away” or “apostasia” we see in II Thessalonians chapter two, verse three.
The prophecy of II Thessalonians is a clear companion to the truth in Hebrews. As the apostle writes about the coming Antichrist and the Day of Christ, he warns us of the “falling away.” “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (II Thessalonians 2:3-4).
Again, we see “falling away” from the two Greek words, apostasia and apostasion.
These are very religious persons who have turned to “another gospel.” They did not love the pure word of God and were wise in the flesh to create their own theology.
They watered down the truth to draw the crowds into their great fold. And, then, they must keep compromising to keep the crowds.
The Holy Ghost takes the apostle right down to the fine point of what the results will be, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (II Thessalonians 2:7-12).
God’s omniscient Spirit warns them that He will give them “strong delusion,” and “that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned.”
It is not the truth that saves the soul.
The world is full of people that know the Bible.
Many souls study the Bible just to argue their deception more successfully.
It is the “love of the truth” that saves the soul.
Now, we are discovering the real heart of apostasy. It is to reject the truth for error and our highly intellectual church world is fulfilling this prophetic design to a tee.
There is clear evidence that this condition of apostasy is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.
The Spirit of Truth is absolutely the Holy Ghost.
To reject truth, to change truth, to water down truth is to grieve, quench, and blaspheme the Spirit. The whole matter of apostasy is the forsaking of truth.
The Holy Ghost inspired every Bible writer and they wrote as “they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (II Peter 1:21). There is no way you can blaspheme Him more readily than when you attack His revelation. From Moses, the writer of the Pentateuch, to John, the writer of the Book of Revelation, the Bible is the pure Word of God.
The final proof of apostasy is found in Revelation chapter twenty-two. The Spirit said, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19).
When you alter the Bible, you are an apostate person and will be eternally lost.
Joseph R. Chambers
An apostate soul is lost forever.
There is an abundance of Biblical proof that shows anyone that apostatizes cannot repent – and even stronger – has been given a reprobate mind and will not repent.
The Greek word apostasion means a divorcement.
The apostate person has divorced the truth of God and has been divorced by the Holy Spirit. They are lost forever.
There is a multitude in today’s church, which are so captured by the watered down message that they refuse to even believe “plain truths” from the Holy Scripture.
Please consider what is evident in the very term apostate.
We are not discussing someone going back into sin or simply ceasing to walk with the Lord.
That is backsliding and we see a clear picture of that in the prodigal son in chapter fifteen of Luke. He left the Father’s House and wandered far from home, but he came to himself and returned.
I have often said that there is a little of the prodigal in every one of us. We have all had to repent because we failed to be fully obedient.
This state of a soul has no real kinship to apostasy.
Apostate people are more religious than the true saints.
They have departed from the great principles and established doctrines of the Holy Bible and are committed to guaranteeing that everybody else does the same.
Apostasy is a departure from truth while being convinced that they have discovered greater truths.
It is the replacement of the eternal truth with religious human imagination.
The book, The God Chasers, by Tommy Tenney is an excellent case in point. He states that the Bible is where God has been and the new revelation is where God is now at work. Rick Warren is clearly at the same point. He has replaced the Born Again life by the Holy Ghost with a “purpose driven life” of psychological relativisms.
In the apostate world there are many paths to God, and Jesus Christ is only one of them.
The absolute teaching of Jesus Christ about an eternal Hell and eternal Lake of Fire is now to simply lie in the grave and fail to enjoy God forever.
The Bible can be pen-knifed by the apostate church and almost every truth can have varied meanings.
Separated living is a relic of the past and the Christian is free of all restraints in the Ten Commandments, etc.
A ballgame on Sunday night is just as spiritual to this company as a great sermon from God’s eternal truth.
Romance music has replaced the music that lifts the spirit of man into the Holy of Holies, where God’s Spirit sanctifies and purifies the soul.
The Holy Bible warned us of this End Time phenomenon.
The most powerful Scripture about apostasy is in the great book of Hebrews.
This passage has been almost ignored by most Bible teachers because it upsets their weak theology. “And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall “Fall Away,” to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame” (Hebrews 6:3-6).
Apostle Paul does not just suggest the end results; he proclaims without question that this state of apostasy cannot repent.
Please note the words, “fall away,” which identifies the apostate person and states that they were once partakers of the Holy Ghost, were once enlightened, and had tasted the Word of God and the world to come.
But, now, they have turned from all of that great life and cannot return to their former spiritual state.
The term “fall away” is from a unique Greek word that applies to the person that is part of the “falling away” or “apostasia” we see in II Thessalonians chapter two, verse three.
The prophecy of II Thessalonians is a clear companion to the truth in Hebrews. As the apostle writes about the coming Antichrist and the Day of Christ, he warns us of the “falling away.” “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (II Thessalonians 2:3-4).
Again, we see “falling away” from the two Greek words, apostasia and apostasion.
These are very religious persons who have turned to “another gospel.” They did not love the pure word of God and were wise in the flesh to create their own theology.
They watered down the truth to draw the crowds into their great fold. And, then, they must keep compromising to keep the crowds.
The Holy Ghost takes the apostle right down to the fine point of what the results will be, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (II Thessalonians 2:7-12).
God’s omniscient Spirit warns them that He will give them “strong delusion,” and “that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned.”
It is not the truth that saves the soul.
The world is full of people that know the Bible.
Many souls study the Bible just to argue their deception more successfully.
It is the “love of the truth” that saves the soul.
Now, we are discovering the real heart of apostasy. It is to reject the truth for error and our highly intellectual church world is fulfilling this prophetic design to a tee.
There is clear evidence that this condition of apostasy is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.
The Spirit of Truth is absolutely the Holy Ghost.
To reject truth, to change truth, to water down truth is to grieve, quench, and blaspheme the Spirit. The whole matter of apostasy is the forsaking of truth.
The Holy Ghost inspired every Bible writer and they wrote as “they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (II Peter 1:21). There is no way you can blaspheme Him more readily than when you attack His revelation. From Moses, the writer of the Pentateuch, to John, the writer of the Book of Revelation, the Bible is the pure Word of God.
The final proof of apostasy is found in Revelation chapter twenty-two. The Spirit said, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19).
When you alter the Bible, you are an apostate person and will be eternally lost.
Joseph R. Chambers
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Every Christian is called to successfully minister Jesus to this world and to the church.
To that end all of us, especially Christian leaders, should understand the difference between worldly and spiritual success.
Worldly success consists of the things highly valued in this present social order, such as power, position, wealth and fame. Prideful and selfish in spirit, it seeks popularity, financial increase, numerical growth, recognition and reputation. It is a crass outward show, not a noble inward state; a work of fleshly ability, not of the Spirits grace and power. Its products are visible, never spiritual. Its goals are immediate, never eternal. It focuses on this world, never the next.
Utterly ignoring the Bibles revelation of Gods desires, plans, methods and standards, worldly success is measured solely by human standards.
Too often Christians, churches and ministers judge success by these worldly standards instead of setting their sights on spiritual success.
Spiritual success focuses on receiving and retaining Gods favor.
It is measured by biblical, not popular, standards.
Succinctly, its goal is fulfilling Gods will.
To spiritually minded Christians, success is fully being and fully doing Gods will-being all He wants us to be and doing everything He charges us to do in life.
The components of spiritual success are simple things such as faithfulness, truthfulness, steadfastness in adversity and humility in victory.
These things are motivated by love for God and His people, never pride.
They move us to serve others for Christ’s sake, not use them for selfish ends. They prompt us to seek eternal rewards, not those of this passing world.
Spiritual success seeks to build permanent character in Gods people, not personal kingdoms in a passing world.
It covets more of the Spirit, not more mammon.
It dreams not of being blessed but of being a blessing.
Spiritual success occurs whenever God is honored. His truth is proclaimed, and His will is done in individuals, churches and ministries, irrespective of all other worldly measures of success.
The Apostle Paul was a spiritual success.
Yet when Paul’s execution day drew near in Rome, his life was a total failure, if measured by worldly standards.
He was unknown among the leaders of Roman high society.
He was not financially wealthy.
He was not politically influential.
He held no high office in any respected religious body. (The faith of Christianity was not legalized until 250 years after Paul’s execution.)
His achievements went unnoticed.
Though inspired and extensive, his writings were not acclaimed by the great philosophers and educators of the Greco-Roman world.
Though he planted many churches, he had not founded any great universities, libraries or religious institutions. Yet Paul’s last words to his prize student Timothy and to us, were not the sad concessions of failure, but the glad declarations of a successful soul.
Why?
He had fully seen and done Gods will.
Not tragically but triumphantly he wrote, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown [reward]…” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
And there is a reward laid up for you, too, if you follow Paul’s example.
Guard and nourish your faith, fight well your spiritual fight and finish the course of your calling.
Be a roaring spiritual success and have no fear of finding all of your efforts eaten by moths or covered in rust..
To that end all of us, especially Christian leaders, should understand the difference between worldly and spiritual success.
Worldly success consists of the things highly valued in this present social order, such as power, position, wealth and fame. Prideful and selfish in spirit, it seeks popularity, financial increase, numerical growth, recognition and reputation. It is a crass outward show, not a noble inward state; a work of fleshly ability, not of the Spirits grace and power. Its products are visible, never spiritual. Its goals are immediate, never eternal. It focuses on this world, never the next.
Utterly ignoring the Bibles revelation of Gods desires, plans, methods and standards, worldly success is measured solely by human standards.
Too often Christians, churches and ministers judge success by these worldly standards instead of setting their sights on spiritual success.
Spiritual success focuses on receiving and retaining Gods favor.
It is measured by biblical, not popular, standards.
Succinctly, its goal is fulfilling Gods will.
To spiritually minded Christians, success is fully being and fully doing Gods will-being all He wants us to be and doing everything He charges us to do in life.
The components of spiritual success are simple things such as faithfulness, truthfulness, steadfastness in adversity and humility in victory.
These things are motivated by love for God and His people, never pride.
They move us to serve others for Christ’s sake, not use them for selfish ends. They prompt us to seek eternal rewards, not those of this passing world.
Spiritual success seeks to build permanent character in Gods people, not personal kingdoms in a passing world.
It covets more of the Spirit, not more mammon.
It dreams not of being blessed but of being a blessing.
Spiritual success occurs whenever God is honored. His truth is proclaimed, and His will is done in individuals, churches and ministries, irrespective of all other worldly measures of success.
The Apostle Paul was a spiritual success.
Yet when Paul’s execution day drew near in Rome, his life was a total failure, if measured by worldly standards.
He was unknown among the leaders of Roman high society.
He was not financially wealthy.
He was not politically influential.
He held no high office in any respected religious body. (The faith of Christianity was not legalized until 250 years after Paul’s execution.)
His achievements went unnoticed.
Though inspired and extensive, his writings were not acclaimed by the great philosophers and educators of the Greco-Roman world.
Though he planted many churches, he had not founded any great universities, libraries or religious institutions. Yet Paul’s last words to his prize student Timothy and to us, were not the sad concessions of failure, but the glad declarations of a successful soul.
Why?
He had fully seen and done Gods will.
Not tragically but triumphantly he wrote, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown [reward]…” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
And there is a reward laid up for you, too, if you follow Paul’s example.
Guard and nourish your faith, fight well your spiritual fight and finish the course of your calling.
Be a roaring spiritual success and have no fear of finding all of your efforts eaten by moths or covered in rust..
Monday, January 10, 2011
WOULD YOU PRAY FOR THOSE YOU LOVE
One of the greatest stories ever told is the narrative Jesus gave of the prodigal son.
It is the tale of the young man who asked for his inheritance prematurely, then ran off and wasted it all, in wild living.
(The word prodigal comes from the word for “wasted”).
Finally he comes to his senses and goes home to his fathers house.
This story is a picture of the emptiness of running from God.
It tells of the wayward coming home to God.
How wonderful is the statement that Jesus made revealing the awesome love of the father.
He was watching, waiting, and willing for his prodigal child to come home.
“So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran toward him, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him.” Luke 15:20
Maybe you have loved ones who have wandered far from home.
Perhaps you have grown weary in your heart, from the burden of worry as they live in the “hog pen” of the world.
You can know for certain that prodigals do come home in response to prayer.
If you truly love them, pray for them daily using the following model if you wish.
Lord please;
Bring them to a place of famine and need (Luke 15:14)
Create within them a holy hunger and homesickness (15:16-17)
Cause them to come to their senses (15:17)
Draw them home (15:18)
Give them the desire to receive the gift of repentance (15:18-21)
Give us welcoming grace (15:20)
Hold fast to the truth that God wants none to perish in a lost state, but for all to come home, and has already paid the fare for the voyage to His house. (John 3:16)
It is the tale of the young man who asked for his inheritance prematurely, then ran off and wasted it all, in wild living.
(The word prodigal comes from the word for “wasted”).
Finally he comes to his senses and goes home to his fathers house.
This story is a picture of the emptiness of running from God.
It tells of the wayward coming home to God.
How wonderful is the statement that Jesus made revealing the awesome love of the father.
He was watching, waiting, and willing for his prodigal child to come home.
“So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran toward him, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him.” Luke 15:20
Maybe you have loved ones who have wandered far from home.
Perhaps you have grown weary in your heart, from the burden of worry as they live in the “hog pen” of the world.
You can know for certain that prodigals do come home in response to prayer.
If you truly love them, pray for them daily using the following model if you wish.
Lord please;
Bring them to a place of famine and need (Luke 15:14)
Create within them a holy hunger and homesickness (15:16-17)
Cause them to come to their senses (15:17)
Draw them home (15:18)
Give them the desire to receive the gift of repentance (15:18-21)
Give us welcoming grace (15:20)
Hold fast to the truth that God wants none to perish in a lost state, but for all to come home, and has already paid the fare for the voyage to His house. (John 3:16)
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