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Jesus Was Not White: He Was Brown Skinned. Here Is Why Recognizing That Matters

2018-04-01T03:23:00.000+01:00

I grew up in a Christian home, where a photo of Jesus hung on my bedroom wall. I still have it. It is schmaltzy and rather tacky in that 1970s kind of way, but as a little girl I loved it. In this picture, Jesus looks kind and gentle, he gazes down at me lovingly. He is also light-haired, blue-eyed, and very white.

The problem is, Jesus was not white. You’d be forgiven for thinking otherwise if you’ve ever entered a Western church or visited an art gallery. But while there is no physical description of him in the Bible, there is also no doubt that the historical Jesus, the man who was executed by the Roman State in the first century CE, was a brown-skinned, Middle Eastern Jew.

This is not controversial from a scholarly point of view, but somehow it is a forgotten detail for many of the millions of Christians who will gather to celebrate Easter this week.

On Good Friday, Christians attend churches to worship Jesus and, in particular, remember his death on a cross. In most of these churches, Jesus will be depicted as a white man, a guy that looks like Anglo-Australians, a guy easy for other Anglo-Australians to identify with.

Think for a moment of the rather dashing Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus in Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ. He is an Irish-American actor. Or call to mind some of the most famous artworks of Jesus’ crucifixion—Ruben, Grunewald, Giotto—and again we see the European bias in depicting a white-skinned Jesus.

Does any of this matter? Yes, it really does. As a society, we are well aware of the power of representation and the importance of diverse role models.

After winning the 2013 Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 12 Years a Slave, Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o shot to fame. In interviews since then, Nyong’o has repeatedly articulated her feelings of inferiority as a young woman because all the images of beauty she saw around her were of lighter-skinned women. It was only when she saw the fashion world embracing Sudanese model Alek Wek that she realised black could be beautiful too.

If we can recognise the importance of ethnically and physically diverse role models in our media, why can’t we do the same for faith? Why do we continue to allow images of a whitened Jesus to dominate?

Many churches and cultures do depict Jesus as a brown or black man. Orthodox Christians usually have a very different iconography to that of European art – if you enter a church in Africa, you’ll likely see an African Jesus on display.

But these are rarely the images we see in Australian Protestant and Catholic churches, and it is our loss. It allows the mainstream Christian community to separate their devotion to Jesus from compassionate regard for those who look different.

I would even go so far as to say it creates a cognitive disconnect, where one can feel deep affection for Jesus but little empathy for a Middle Eastern person. It likewise has implications for the theological claim that humans are made in God’s image. If God is always imaged as white, then the default human becomes white and such thinking undergirds racism.

Historically, the whitewashing of Jesus contributed to Christians being some of the worst perpetrators of anti-Semitism and it continues to manifest in the “othering” of non-Anglo Saxon Australians.

This Easter, I can’t help but wonder, what would our church and society look like if we just remembered that Jesus was brown? If we were confronted with the reality that the body hung on the cross was a brown body: one broken, tortured, and publicly executed by an oppressive regime.

How might it change our attitudes if we could see that the unjust imprisonment, abuse, and execution of the historical Jesus has more in common with the experience of Indigenous Australians or asylum seekers than it does with those who hold power in the church and usually represent Christ?

Perhaps most radical of all, I can’t help but wonder what might change if we were more mindful that the person Christians celebrate as God in the flesh and saviour of the entire world was not a white man, but a Middle Eastern Jew.

This originally appeared on The Conversation.
Robyn J. Whitaker, Bromby Senior Lecturer in Biblical Studies, Trinity College, University of Divinity.

Should We Really Trust The Bible and What It Says?

2017-12-04T03:46:00.000+01:00

One of the most important questions asked by non-Christians as they look into Christianity is whether or not the Bible is trustworthy. Can the Bible be trusted? If it has been corrupted, then we cannot trust what is attributed to Jesus' words and deeds. So, is the Bible reliable or not?

Yes, the Bible is reliable. The original writings of the Bible have been lost. But before they were lost, they were copied. These copies were incredibly accurate, very meticulous, and very precise. The people who copied them were extremely dedicated to God and their copying tasks. They took great care when copying the original manuscripts. This copying method is so exact, and so precise, that the New Testament alone is considered to be 99.5% textually pure. This means that of the 6000 Greek copies (the New Testament was written in Greek), and the additional 21,000 copies in other languages, there is only one half of 1% variation. Of this very slight number, the great majority of the variants are easily corrected by comparing them to other copies that don't have the "typos" or by simply reading the context. You should know that copying mistakes occur in such ways as word repetition, spelling, or a single word omission due to the copyist missing something when moving his eyes from one line to another. The variants are very minor. Nothing affects doctrinal truth and the words and deeds of Christ are superbly reliably transmitted to us.

The science of studying ancient literature and its accuracy of transmission to is called historicity. The Bible is so exceedingly accurate in its transmission from the originals to the present copies, that if you compare it to any other ancient writing, the Bible is light years ahead in terms of number of manuscripts and accuracy. If the Bible were to be discredited as being unreliable, then it would be necessary to discard the writings of Homer, Plato, and Aristotle as also unreliable since they are far far less well preserved than the Bible.

The Bible is the most widely printed and published book in the world. It is the source of the Christian religion and contains what Christians need to know about God, Jesus, salvation, and the Christian life. The Bible is a wonderful book of wisdom and revelation.

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work," (2 Tim. 3:16)

The Bible was written by those who were inspired by God, so it is accurate and true, and represents historical occurrences. When we look at the New Testament we realize that it was written by those who either knew Jesus personally, or were under the direction of those who did. They wrote what they saw. They wrote about the resurrection of Christ. They recorded His miracles and His sayings. It comes down to whether or not you believe what it says about Christ. Do you?

What Does Jesus Save Us From?

2017-11-11T19:39:00.002+01:00

Jesus is the most important figure in all of human history. He is God in flesh (John 1:1,14; Col. 2:9), physically risen from the dead (John 2:19-21), Lord (Luke 24:34), and Savior (Acts 5:30-32). He came to die for sinners (Rom. 5:8) and to deliver people from the righteous wrath of God upon us.

Are you a sinner?

I ask you, are you a sinner? Have you ever lied, stolen, lusted, coveted, or been angry with someone unjustly? If so, then you have broken the Law of God. God has said "You shall not steal; You shall not lie; You shall have no other gods before Me; You shall not murder, etc.," (Exodus 20). He has given the standard of righteousness and if you have broken any of God's commandments then you have fallen short of that standard and are under the inevitable judgment of God. When you die, you will face Him and on the Day of Judgment He will punish all sinners.

If you do not like this teaching, then throw away your Bible and turn from Christ, for this is the message of God's word — that Jesus came to die for sinners and to save them from the wrath to come.

Jesus is the One you need. Him alone. Not your works (Rom. 3:10-12; Isaiah 64:6). Not your sincerity. Not your goodness. You have nothing to offer God except your sinfulness. It is only by the love and grace of God found in Jesus and His sacrifice that you can be delivered from the righteous wrath of God upon all who have broken His law. Jesus saves you from God.

God's wrath on the Day of Judgment is upon sinners

On the Day of Judgment God will judge all people for their sins against Him. He will judge all who have lied, stolen, cheated, lusted, dishonored their parents, etc. He will do this because He is holy and righteous. God must punish the sinner. God cannot and will not ignore the person who has broken His righteous law. The Law is a reflection of the character of God. Therefore, to break God's law is to offend God and deny the holiness of His character. He will be vindicated. He will judge.

The Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). That means that your sins have caused a separation between you and God (Isaiah 59:2) and the result is death (Rom. 6:23) and wrath (Eph. 2:3). The only way to be saved from the wrath of God, is to be saved from it by faith in Christ (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 5:1). You must trust in what Jesus did on the cross to forgive you of your sins and not trust anything else, not even your own sincerity or works. It is Jesus and only Jesus who can turn away the righteous judgment of God upon the sinner.

The Gospel

The gospel is that Jesus died for sinners on the cross, was buried, and rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4). His death was a sacrifice that turns away the wrath of God (1 John 2:2). This is the only way to be saved.

Jesus is the one who died for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2). He is the only way to God the Father (John 14:6). He alone reveals God (Matt. 11:27). He has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18). It is only through Him that you can be saved from God's wrath (Eph. 2:3). He can forgive you of your sin (Luke 5:20; Matt. 9:2). He can remove the guilt that is upon your soul. Jesus can set you free from the bondage of sin that blinds your eyes, weakens your soul, and brings you to despair. He can do this because He bore sin in His body on the cross (1 Peter. 2:24) that those who trust in Him would be saved.

If you are not a Christian, and want to be delivered from the righteous judgment of God upon you due to your sin against Him, then come to the One who died for the sins of the world. Come to the One who died for sinners (Matt. 11:28). Turn from your sins. Believe and trust in Jesus. Receive Jesus, who is God in flesh, who died and rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4) as your Lord and Savior. Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins. Receive Christ (John 1:12). Only He can wash you clean from your sins and only Jesus can deliver you from the righteous judgment of a holy and infinite God. Pray to Jesus. Seek Him. Ask Him to save you.

He will.

I would like to note, that the Jesus of Mormonism (the brother of the devil), the Jesus of the Jehovah's Witnesses (an angel made into a man), the Jesus of the New Age (a man in tune with the divine consciousness), etc., cannot save you from your sins. Faith is only as good as the person in whom you put it... the Jesus of the Bible. Jesus is God in flesh, the creator. To reflect this, God is often referred to as a trinity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Jesus is the second person of that trinity, the Son.

Three Insightful Verses for Your Career

2017-10-24T00:09:00.000+01:00

The Bible is the bestselling book of all time. And this obvious fact is not in any dispute. Since it became possible, billions of copies of this bestselling classic have been printed or downloaded, and read. It is a God-inspired classic and every word of it is true.

From start to finish, the Bible is filled with many wonderful promises of God. More than that, every situation that you have encountered or will ever meet in your live, there is an answer, a solution or strategy by which you can overcome. Testimonies abound as to how the living powerful Word of God, has uplifted lives and turned into a guiding lamp for so many. Truly, God's Word is alive and powerful (Hebrews 4:12):
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Now, the Bible contains over 31,000 verses, and many of them would easily apply to the career path you have chosen in life. However, if I were constrained to choose only three verses (I would guess this would be for ease of remembrance) for you to apply to your career they would be the following:

Three Bible verses for your career

1). Genesis 2:15

In the book of Genesis, it is recorded:
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”

God created us, the work we do, and the world in which we perform it.

He ordained us to engage with his creation, and to take an active role in the use and development of His created order. We are designed to be active, productive, and creative. The Garden of Eden was never a place of idleness.

God still owns it all and we take care of it on His behalf. We guard, watch over, and manage the things God sends our way. We serve God with our daily labors while remaining obedient to Him.

Your everyday work is a high calling from God. Even Jesus Christ, God Incarnate, picked-up tools and made things. He worked as an example for you to follow.

2). Romans 8:28

Again in the book of Romans, Brother Paul had noted that:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Trials are inevitable. They are part of living and working in our fallen world. But, you will never face your trials alone. God promises to work good out of all things and this includes every trial you will ever experience.

You may not foresee how any good can possibly come from a particular job situation, but God guarantees He can bring good from it – somehow, somewhere, sometime.

This guarantee from God only applies to those who love him and that is you, the Christian. Your love for God is the fruit of your salvation in Jesus Christ.

You have been called according to his purpose, and He is sovereign over every aspect of your career, the good and the bad. God is always for you and never against you.

3). 1 Corinthians 10:31

Brother Paul went on to wisely note in the book of first Corinthians:
“Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

How do you know if you are successful in life if you don’t know the purpose of your life?

Success in the workplace is meaningful and important. But, what about success across the full spectrum of life including family, friends, and community – your well-being, values, and relationship with God? Is someone still successful if they are excelling at work yet failing God and others? What’s the standard?

God defines what is or is not a successful way to live your life, and this is what He is telling us in this verse: “whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

The truly successful person knows God, obeys God, and glorifies Him in every realm of life. Work hard, put in the hours, and achieve success in your career, but in the process don’t turn your back on God, others, or the rest of His creation.

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR MEDITATION
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread (Psalm 37:25; KJV)

To the person who please him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God (Ecclesiastes 2:26; NIV)

Six Steps to Godly and True Success in All You Do

2017-09-08T19:14:00.000+01:00

FOLLOW THESE FOR TRUE GODLY SUCCESS

"A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure" - Prov. 16:9 (Amplified Bible). Surely, the wise King Solomon could not have said anything but the truth when these words from him were written down. Success, that is true and godly, surely begins in a man's mind.

To some, this may sound ludicrous as they ask, how can godly success begin in a man's mind? Does man even have that capacity? Is the product of his mind not continually wicked? Will every plan of his mind not be geared towards ungodly and wicked gains and successes?

I too struggled with these questions for years because I doubted how man, with a heart that tends to drift away from godliness, could come up with any plan that could both pass the test of godliness and lead to sure success at the same time.

The truth, my friend, is that TRUE GODLY SUCCESS in everything we do begins in our mind, as a plan of man. Having first of all received Christ, and determined within us to follow Him always, God begins to continually work in us to bring our heart to love and do His Will always (Philippians 2:13; Hebrews 13:21; Ephesians 3:20). We may fall once in awhile, but our hearts will continue to yearn to love and obey Him (Ezekiel 36:26).

Praise God for His mighty plans for our never-ending success! To Him be all praise and all glory forever and ever.

(credit)

Over the years, I have tested several times, and have come to realize that for any plan to succeed, some 'basic ingredients' must be present. These simple, yet so powerful, ingredients are shared with you, dear reader, below to richly bless you and those around you.

The 6 steps to godly and sure success in life

1) Have a specific goal.

Know exactly what you want. You must be as specific as possible. For example, let's say you want to be successful in your career. So what exactly would this mean? First, to what exact level of success do you aspire? Second, when exactly do you plan to realistically reach that level? Being as specific as possible helps you move towards your goal. Successful people plan and design the details of what they want in life. Only when we know what we want specifically, are we then able to focus our energy and talents.

2) Plan a strategy.

This step is the hardest one when we refer about acquirements and experience that a person already has. There are many varieties of strategies that we can adopt, that go to the simplest to the most complex. Maybe you’ll work more hours, work harder, increase or decrease or stop habits that distract you, invest on studies and professional development and so on. It’s all your choice.

3) Take consistent action.

Taking action is what that separates the dreamers from the doers. That’s why many highly educated people often ended up working for successful entrepreneurs. Now you know why there are times when you see people who are less intelligent or talented than you achieving more than you, it’s because they tend to take more action. Our emotional state drives us into action. We may hold back due to emotions like uncertainty, anxiety and fear. Opposite emotions like motivation and enthusiasm gets us going and make things happen. And as the Lord's redeemed, we should believe His ever-present help and get going always.

4) Failure as Feedback.

If you take action there are two possibilities: failure or success. But will every one of us experience failure? Yes, we will! You don’t have to be a genius to see that the more action you take, the more likely you’ll experience failure. The great news is that successful people tend to achieve more because they take more action; and unsuccessful people tend to give up easily. The difference between the two groups is how they react and deal with failure. The response to failure makes a huge difference. There are 3 major behaviors with failure:

Give excuses, blame and give up;
Keep taking the same action again and again, and give up after some time.
Get feedback, change strategy and take action until you succeed. Never giving up.

Of course the last behavior is what we are searching for. Every time when we can’t get what we want, we get a learning experience. We can use this feedback to improve on our strategy and take action again. Taking action we never lose anything, because we can achieve success or we’ll learn a lesson.

5) Good belief system.

Without a right belief in place, we can’t take any step towards godly success. Our belief system determines what we want, where we want to be and what action we take when we don’t get what we want. Do you backbite just because your competitor succeeded where you failed? Do you pay back evil for evil, or good for evil? (Romans 12:17-21; 1 Peter 3:9). If you limit your belief system with negative and ungodly thoughts it’s unlikely that you’ll be setting inspiring god-fearing goals. The downside is this makes you give up rather than changing your strategy to take action again from a new perspective. Always remember that He who lives is in you is greater than anything or anyone out there in the world (1 John 4:4).

6) Values.

All of us rank values like freedom, success, love and happiness in a different way. The way we rank values affects how we decide, what we want and how to get where we want. In all situations, we must bear in mind that our values as Christians derive from the Scripture. Although it is very important that our values are aligned with our goals to achieve sure success, it is also necessary to ensure these values are godly. Your values must be aligned with your goals. Most people never achieve success because their values and goals are not aligned.

In summary...

To summarize, I have here borrowed a pictorial representation of a step by step scheme I saw on Hubpages in order to drive home what has been discussed on this page. The scheme below is of what is needed to achieve success. Putting these into practice will surely make your deepest dreams come true, and in a godly way.

BIBLE VERSE TO REMEMBER (KJV)
1). But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for [it is] he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as [it is] this day (Deuteronomy 8:18)

2). The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it (Proverbs 10:22)

3). But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33)

Who Is My Neighbor?

2017-09-02T16:24:00.000+01:00

YOUR NEIGHBOR - WHO IS S/HE?

A neighbor as a noun is "a person living next door to or very near to the speaker or person referred to" and as a verb is "(of a place or object) be situated next to or very near (another)" - (Google Search, Sept 2017). But is this Scripture's definition of who a neighbor is? Who does God want us to see as my/your neighbor? In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus gives the parable of the Good Samaritan, succinctly teaching us who our neighbor is.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

Luke 10:30-34 points out really important things we need to note and have in mind daily. A Jewish lawyer had asked Jesus who a neighbor is, to which Jesus replies. Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.”

After this show of selfless love for a complete stranger, Jesus asks the lawyer in verses 36-37, So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” 37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” Here we see our Scriptural definition of who a neighbor is - anyone you show compassion and mercy on is your neighbor. It was a 'certain man' who became a neighbor, meaning anyone we come across in our daily life. We must show godly love to everyone we come across. In addition, a 'certain Samaritan' is the one who 'had compassion' and tended to this man's needs. So it doesn't matter what your status in life is, we're all called to love our neighbor.

Prior to this, in Luke 10:27-28, this same lawyer intended to test Jesus on the issue of inheriting eternal life. He thereafter gave an answer to Jesus' question about what he understood from Scripture's teachings on how to inherit eternal life. So he answered and said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” So Jesus not only agreed that loving your neighbor is a character of those who inherit eternal life, but also agreed it is as weighty as loving God. Jesus then went on to teach who a neighbor is, using the Parable of the Good Samaritan which we already discussed above.

Jesus' definition of a neighbor - lessons for us

The Lord Jesus talks about a Priest and a Levite on the one hand, both greatly revered men amongst the Jews; and also of a Samaritan on the other hand, from Samaria - people the Jews regarded with disdain. He compares their attitude to a wounded, likely Jewish, man.

The Priest and the Levite did not consider the wounded man on the road, but went on their way. While the Samaritan went to him and cared for him as he could. Bear in mind that the wounded man was most likely a Jew, who were known to regard anyone from Samaria with disdain. Yet, this Samaritan was the one that truly cared.

Through the parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus tells us a message that our neighbor is the one who is in need – the broken, the wounded, and the worried around us. If we don’t consider those around us, we, in fact, are not loving them as God wants us to do. Matthew 22:36-40 (NKJV) puts it thus: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” This summarises it all: your LOVE of those hurting around you - family or non-family - is as weighty as your LOVE of God. You cannot separate one from the other. You show your love of God through your show of selfless love, mercy, and compassion on those who are hurting around you - the hungry, the naked, the widows, the orphans and all other sorrowful or hopeless around you who you have ability to reach out to and show some care for. You do NOT need to know them to be a neighbor. Neither do they need to live next door to you. Anybody in need anywhere around you, at home or at work or on transit or anywhere else you may be, is your neighbor.

The one who had mercy on the needy is the real neighbor.

God doesn’t want people to remain in problems; so He sends somebody to rescue them. His compassion is shown through people. His compassion is shown in YOU. And ME!

God wants to see those who act on seeing a need. Those who are willing to be good neighbors, they will find opportunities where they can help others. They are not forced to help someone, but willingly come forward to do it anyway.

When Jesus was here on earth, He did what He taught. In practical terms, time and again, He taught us through His actions how to be neighborly to people. He was willing to help those who came to Him and asked His help. He never ignored or rejected those who were wounded, hurting and broken. All the miracles that happened through Jesus are the results of His compassion. He did every miracle out of His love for the hurting. And the news spread through their testimonies.

God is searching for those who like to be good neighbors to those in need.

Are you a good neighbor? Yes, God wants you to be one!

Related: Jesus' Model on How to Deal With Difficult People

The Imputed Righteousness of Jesus Christ

2017-08-26T13:44:00.000+01:00

JESUS, OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

About this, what can we say? “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was COUNTED UNTO HIM for righteousness” (Romans 4:3). And a little further, it says, “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God IMPUTETH righteousness without works” (Romans 4:6). Righteousness without works! Is it possible to have right standing with God without consideration of our works (actions), good or bad? What does that word mean...IMPUTETH (or COUNTED UNTO) mean?

The word “impute” means “to pass to one’s account, to count over.” Used in Scripture, it means that Jesus places His righteousness upon our record when we trust upon Him for salvation.

“IMPUTE” as used in Scripture

What a beautiful truth! Abraham was not saved by good works; but rather, he believed God and was saved by Christ’s righteousness. Christ’s perfection was imputed (placed) on Abraham’s record in Heaven. God the Father viewed Abraham thereafter as having the righteousness of Christ. What a Savior! Abraham believed God concerning the coming Messiah who was to save His people from their sins...“And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6).

Why was Abraham able to simply believe God in place of merit or good works? Because Jesus paid the price for mankind's sins. You see, Abraham could NOT please God in his own self-righteousness, nor can we (Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 10:3,4; Titus 3:5).

No matter how much good we may do here on earth, our sins are still recorded in Heaven. Our sins must be dealt with. This is why Jesus came to earth to pay the price for our sins with His own precious blood - “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

All mankind is corrupt and destitute of God. Even in our sincerest efforts, humanity is tarnished with the curse of sin and rebellion. We need HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, i.e., the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. We are saved by Jesus' righteousness through faith: “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” - Romans 4:5.

We read in Romans 4:8, “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not IMPUTE sin.” Not only was Christ’s righteousness imputed (counted) to Abraham’s record, but Abraham’s sinful record was imputed to Christ. Literally, Jesus became as sin for us and died a sinner's death...“For HE HATH MADE HIM TO BE SIN FOR US, WHO KNEW NO SIN; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

We read concerning Abraham: “And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was IMPUTED to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be IMPUTED, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead” (Romans 4:22-24.)

This is a beautiful passage of Scripture, teaching that God is willing to IMPUTE Christ's righteousness to us as well, just as He did to Abraham, if we simply believe on the Lord...“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

Implications for us

Scriptures is written for us, that we might also have Christ’s righteousness imputed to our record, and our sins imputed to Christ’s record. He who knew no sin, became as sin, that we who knew no righteousness could be made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).

What a wonderful truth!

To think that Jesus would actually bear our sins upon Himself and sacrifice His precious blood for our sins, even while we were not worthy. God looked beyond our faults through His love and saw our need...“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Do you realize all that you will miss if you reject Christ as your Savior?

Eternal life is a free gift (Romans 5:15; 6:23), which anyone may have simply by acknowledging their guilt of sin and believing on the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness.

It is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ that we are saved, so that God the Father views us as having the righteousness of Christ which is imputed unto us at salvation: “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God IMPUTETH righteousness without works” (Romans 4:6). “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was IMPUTED unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God” (James 2:23).

A call to action

Would you like to be a friend of God? It all begins when you say yes to Jesus and let Him become your Savior. Jesus earnestly wants to impute your sin to His record and impute His righteousness to your record. All you must do to be saved is admit your guilty condition before God for violating His holy Law (Romans 3:19), and then trust upon the Son of God to wash away your sins with His shed blood.

Admit you’re a sinner deserving of Hell. Turn to Christ now in faith and trust Him to forgive your sins and cleanse you.

Are You Looking for God? This is the Only Way to Him

2017-08-26T13:05:00.000+01:00

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR GOD?

Some people know there is a God. They just know. They are aware of a calling, a presence, a special something about God that is in them. They want Him. They know they need to be connected to Him.

Are you like that? Is there a longing in your heart? Is there a soft but regular desire to be fulfilled, to be completed in a way that only being with God can accomplish? I know that feeling. I know it well.

As a child, I always knew that God existed. There was always a quality in my heart that desired Him, that "knew" He was there, that he was out there somewhere. I can't explain it. It was something I was born with. I needed God. I knew that I wouldn't be complete unless I was with Him and loving Him. I'm glad I've found Him, or should I say, I'm glad He found me.

Those who are looking for God know the echo in their hearts of God's voice calling them. They know it. They feel it. It is there. It is soft, yet persistent. It is gentle, yet constant. It echoes and draws us to Him, to find Him, to know Him, to touch Him.

Sometimes, we realize that everything in the world is ultimately meaningless unless we do what He wants, unless we are in His will. We can gain money and possession, but they don't satisfy. We know that when we die, it will all fall away and mean nothing. That is why we look up to the heavens. That is why we hear the voice of God calling us. Do you hear it? Do you feel its presence?

Are you looking for God? Is what you have in your life fulfilling, or do you feel empty. If these words resonate with you, then you need to encounter God by encountering Jesus. He is the good Shepherd of love and forgiveness. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand," (John 10:27-28).
Did you get what Jesus said? He said that His sheep hear HIS voice and they follow Him. Is He calling to you? Do you hear his voice in your heart?

Do you want forgiveness of sins? Jesus forgives sins (Matt. 9:1-7; Luke 5:20; 7:48).
Do you want to know God? Jesus reveals God (Matt. 11:27; Luke 10:22).
Do you want to have joy and peace? Jesus gives them (John 15:11, John 14:27).

You won't find God in man-made religions like Islam, Mormonism, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. You only find God through Jesus who said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me," (John 14:6). Trust Him. After all, He raised people from the dead, performed great miracles, died, and rose from the dead Himself. Who else has done that?

If you want to answer the call of God, read more about becoming a Christian, at How do I become a Christian? Also see Steps to Salvation and Peace with God and You Need His Righteousness!

What About Other Religions? Which Ones Are True and Which Are False?

2017-08-21T23:42:00.000+01:00

WHAT ABOUT OTHER RELIGIONS?

There are many religions in the world. They do not all teach the same thing. In fact, many of them contradict each other. So, they can't all be true and it cannot be said that each is a different path to God. What are we to say about all those other religions compared to Christianity? To get to the point, all other religions besides Christianity are false.

The testimony of Jesus Christ

If Jesus is who He said He is, God in flesh, then whatever He says is authoritative and true. He said that He is the way the truth and the life and that nobody comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). Right there we see that any other way, according to Jesus, is not true.

The testimony of witnesses

Besides the testimony of Jesus regarding Himself, other people who saw, interacted with and encountered Him as the risen Saviour have given testimonies of His divinity. All of their declarations cannot all be wrong at the same time. One such outstanding person is Paul who wrote much of the epistles of the New Testament. In regard to this testimony, the book of 1 Timothy 2:5-6 records that Paul while writing to Timothy clearly testifies: "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time" (NIV). In saying Jesus is very much the "...one mediator between God and mankind,..." Paul consolidates what we have just discussed above - Jesus is the way, the truth and the life - the ONLY door to GOD Almighty . This Scripture pretty much corroborates what Jesus Christ testified about Himself.

The conclusion of the matter

Christianity bases its truth and its doctrine on the word of God, the Bible. In the Word of God, Jesus claims to be the only way. Since He performed many miracles, raised people from the the dead, commanded a storm to be still and it obeyed, healed diseases, and rose from the dead, then we are forced to face the reality of His words. Is what He said true or not? Either Jesus is a liar, a lunatic, or He is Lord. No one else in history, except Jesus, has fulfilled detailed prophecies, performed many miracles before eyewitnesses, and risen from the dead. Jesus is unique.

Those of us who are Christians, have trusted what Christ has said. We believe in what He said and did. Like it or not, Jesus is the one who said He is the only way. It is not the Christians who are being "narrow-minded." It is Jesus. Therefore, to say that other religions can be true means that Jesus is false. To say that there are other ways to God, also means that Jesus is false. This is what it comes down to. Either Jesus is who He said He is and what He said is true, or He is false. This is the choice you must make: To trust what He said, or reject His words.

Also read: What Did Jesus Really Look Like? A Look at the Bible Facts

Why Are There Different Christian Denominations? Which Is The Better Denomination?

2017-08-20T15:24:00.000+01:00

WHAT ABOUT DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS?

The reason there are different denominations within Christianity is because the Bible allows for us to have differences of opinions. Within Christianity there are very few essential doctrines that define what it means to be a Christian, as enumerated below.

The core essential doctrines of Christianity are:

Jesus is both God and man (John 1:1, 14; 8:24; Col. 2:9; 1 John 4:1-4).
Jesus rose from the dead physically (John 2:19-21; 1 Cor. 15:14).
Salvation is by grace through faith (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 3:1-2).
The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Gal. 1:8-9).
There is only one God (Exodus 20:3; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6,8).
God exists as a Trinity of persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (See Trinity).
Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary (nature of incarnation).

As long as a church believes in these essential doctrines, then it is Christian. However, there are many things in the scriptures that have been interpreted in different ways. For example, on what day of the week should we worship, Saturday or Sunday? Should we baptize by sprinkling or baptize by immersion? Do we take communion every Sunday, once a month, or once a year? The answers to these questions do not affect whether or not someone is a Christian. It is in these issues, and others like them, that denominations are formed. It does not mean that one denomination contradicts another. It means that though they agree in the essentials, they differ in some nonessentials. This is permitted in Scripture:
"Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. One man has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. Let not him who eats regard with contempt him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and stand he will, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One man regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind," (Rom. 14:1-5).

Sadly, there is another reason for denominational differences and that is the failure of Christians to live according to the will of God. The truth is that we are all sinners and we do not see things eye-to-eye. It is an unfortunate truth that denominational differences are due to our shortsightedness and lack of love. But, the good thing is that God loves us so much that He puts up with our failures. There waits for us, in spite of our differences, a great reward in Heaven. Neither salvation nor damnation is dependent upon our differences. Our salvation is based on our relationship with Christ.

Also read: Who is Jesus Christ? Understanding Who He Is

What is salvation?

2017-08-17T09:02:00.000+01:00

WHAT IS SALVATION

Salvation is being saved from the righteous judgment of God upon the sinner.

A lot of people think that salvation means being saved from yourself or the devil. But that is not accurate. All who have sinned against God are under the judgment of God. This judgment is known as damnation where God condemns to eternal hell all those who have offended Him by breaking His Law.

This does not mean that God is unfair. It shows that God is holy. God must punish the sinner. But, He has provided a way of escape so that people will not face His righteous judgment. This means that God is both holy and loving. He must manifest each quality equally. So, being saved from the wrath of God is called salvation.

Salvation is found in Jesus, and only in Jesus, who is God in flesh (John 1:1, 14), and who died for our sins and rose from the dead. 1 Cor. 15:1-4 says...

"Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures"

This is how salvation works: All of us have sinned against God and deserve judgment. But Jesus never sinned (1 Pet. 2:22). He lived the Law of God perfectly. In this He has a perfectly righteous standing before God. When the corrupt Jewish leaders forced Rome's hand into crucifying Jesus, God used this crucifixion as the means to place the sins of the world upon Jesus (1 Pet. 2:24; 1 John 2:2). This is when Jesus became sin on our behalf. 2 Cor. 5:21 says,

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

The crucifixion became the place where Jesus bore our sins in His body and suffered in our place. "But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed," (Isaiah 53:5). Remember, no sinner could please God perfectly and no sinner could offer a perfect sacrifice to God. Only God in flesh, Jesus, could do that.

So, since there is nothing we can do that is righteous before God (Isaiah 64:6 says our righteous deeds are filthy rags), then we cannot please an infinitely holy and righteous God by anything we do. But, Jesus who is perfectly righteous before God the Father, died in our place. What we could not do, He did.

If you want to escape the righteous judgment of God, then you need to trust in the sacrifice of God. You need to be made right before God, by God. This righteousness of Christ is given to you if you accept him, trust in Him, and believe in what Jesus did. This is why the Bible says that we are saved by grace through faith. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Eph. 2:8).

When you trust in what Christ has done on the cross, and in no works of your own (since they aren't good enough anyway), then the righteousness of Christ is given to you -- even as your sins were "given" to Jesus. It's like a trade. He gets your sin. You get His righteousness. Carefully note that this is a "gift of God" and NOT through what you do. Nothing you do - in the past, now or in the future - could ever make you righteous in the sight of God.

Once you have trusted in what Christ has done, then you possess eternal life and you will never face the judgment of God.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand," (John 10:27-28).

Also read: Who is Jesus Christ?

What is sin?

2017-08-08T23:49:00.003+01:00

SIN--WHAT IS IT?

Sin is breaking of God's law. It is a transgression, an iniquity, an unrighteous act. Sin is a deviation from the will of God. It is a form of evildoing since it is in opposition to God's decrees and desires. It is not merely a deficiency. It is an open rebellion and disobedience to what God has declared is right. Sin can only be properly understood in relationship to God since God is the holy one (1 Peter 1:16) and all sin is unholy.

God's standard of moral perfection is what we are all obligated to obey and when we do not, we have sinned. God has revealed His moral character in the law as the standard of good and to violate that standard is sinful.

If God says "Do not lie" and you lie, then you have broken His law and sinned. When you sin, you offend God because it is His law that you have broken. Also, the reason God says to not lie, not cheat, etc., is because these laws reflect the moral purity of His nature. Therefore, the Law is a reflection of the character of God. It is wrong to lie because God cannot lie. It is wrong to steal because God cannot steal, etc. The moral law is not arbitrary. It is based on God's holiness.

"Evildoing is not only against humanity, society, others, or oneself, but against God. The concept of God, therefore, gives to the idea of sin its many-sided meaning. Other gods, conceived of as capricious and characterless, exercised unlimited power in unbridled behavior; they engendered no such sense of sin as did Israel’s one God, holy, righteous, and utterly good. This religious conception of wrongdoing with the terminology it created persists into the NT."^{1 (see note)}

The law, then, is a standard of moral purity. The Old Testament contains the Law of God. It is a perfect standard because it is God's standard. When we fail to keep the law, we sin. When we sin, we offend God. This offense against God results in a judgment. Laws are laws because they have penalties. There is no law without a penalty. Therefore, breaking God's law brings judgment which is separation from God. "But your sins have made a separation between you and your God," (Isaiah 59:2). And, "the wages of sin is death..." (Rom. 6:23). So, to sin, to break God's law, results in judgment. The judgment is known as damnation which is the righteous judgment of God upon the sinner. If God did not judge the sinner, then He is not upholding His holiness; and he would be allowing sinners to go unpunished.

Taking it a step further, sin includes when we decide to be neutral in the face a matter begging for our intervention, as pointed out in James 4:17 -- "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them" (NIV). In addition, whatever we do, be it for good or bad, but which does not stem out of faith in God is sin. This is clearly portrayed in Romans -- "...and everything that does not come from faith is sin" (Rom 14:23b); and also Brother Paul further talks about this in his epistle to the Hebrews -- "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Heb 11:6)

Of course, Jesus came to take our place and die for our sins (1 Pet. 2:24). This means that Jesus bore our sin in His body on the cross and paid for them. He took the judgment upon himself. This further means that anyone who trusts in what Jesus did on the cross will have his sins removed; he will be saved from God's future judgment.

So, replying to the question "What is sin?" is best answered by saying that it is breaking God's law. All people have sinned. Therefore, all people are under God's judgment - except for those who've trusted in God's provision to escape that judgment.

Where are you? Are you in the place of God's judgment or of salvation in Christ?

Note 1. Elwell, Walter A., and Philip Wesley Comfort. Tyndale Bible Dictionary. Tyndale Reference Library. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001.

Also read: What is Christianity?

Who is Jesus Christ? Understanding Who He Is

2017-07-30T14:48:00.000+01:00

WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?

Jesus is the central figure of Christianity. He said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me," (John 14:6). Also, Jesus claimed to be God in flesh. If you compare what God said to Moses in Exodus 3:14 ("And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”) with what Jesus said in John 8:58 (Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am,"), then you quickly see that Jesus was claiming to be God.

In fact, others testified that He is divine as well:

John 20:28, "Thomas answered and said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!'"
Col. 2:9, "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form."
Heb. 1:8, "But of the Son He says, “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever..."

Jesus is the second person of the Trinity. He is the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God... And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth," (John 1:1-2,14).

Because the word was with God and was God and became flesh, we then state that Jesus has two natures: divine and human. Therefore, Christianity teaches that Jesus is both God and man at the same time. The reason that he is God in flesh is because only God can atone for our sins; we can't do it on our own because we are finite, sinful beings and we cannot please an infinitely holy God. Jesus had to be a man to be able to die for humanity. This means that Jesus took our place on the cross; that is, He took our place and suffered the wrath of God the Father. If you trust in what Christ has done, then you will be saved from the righteous judgment of God. More on that next.

God is infinitely holy, sinless, and just. When we sin, when we do something contrary to God's will, then we have offended God. Since He is infinite, our offense against Him takes on an infinite quality -- because of who we have offended: an infinite God. Since no person can please an infinite God (because we are finite and sinners) then the only one left to remove our sins is God Himself. Therefore, Jesus is God in flesh, the one who died on the cross, bore our sin in his body (1 Pet. 2:24), and physically rose from the dead.

Right now, in heaven, Jesus is still in the form of a man: "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus," (1 Tim. 2:5). Jesus rose from the dead in the same body he died in: "Jesus answered and said to them, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.' The Jews therefore said, 'It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?' But He was speaking of the temple of His body. When therefore He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had spoken," (John 2:19-22). Also, He retained the wounds of His crucifixion after He rose from the dead: "Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing,” (John 20:27). Forty days after His resurrection He ascended into heaven bodily: "And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight," (Acts 1:9). He will return again from the heavens, and will judge the world and all people: "This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven," (Acts 1:11). Yet, at the same time, He is still divine, "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form," (Col. 2:9).

Jesus never did anything wrong. He performed many miracles such as healing, casting out demons, walking on water, calming a storm with the command, raising people from the dead, and rising from the dead himself. Though there have been many great teachers throughout history, none of them have performed such miracles and claimed to be divine as Jesus claimed. This is why we can believe Him when He says, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me," (John 14:6).

We trust what Jesus said. Therefore...

Jesus is prayed to - Acts 7:55-60; 1 Cor. 1:2 with Psalm 116:4; John 14:14
Jesus is worshipped - Matt. 2:2,11; 14:33; John 9:35-38; Heb. 1:6
Jesus cleanses from sin - 1 John 1:9
Jesus forgives sins - Matt. 9:1-7; Luke 5:20; 7:48

Also read: Did Jesus Rise From the Dead?

Who is God?

2017-07-23T14:11:00.000+01:00

WHO IS GOD?

The question "Who is God?" is a good question. It is better than asking "What is God?" This is because God exists, created us, loves us, is concerned for our being, desires to provide for us, and sent the Son to redeem us. If we were to ask "What is God?" we might be tempted to say that God is the infinite being, the creator, a presence, or something like that. In some respect, this would be true. But the first question brings us closer to understanding more of who God really is in His character and His love for us as revealed in the Bible (see What is the Bible?).

Looking into the Bible, we understand that the two questions "Who is God?" and "What is God?" can both be answered by a short simple sentence, "God is Spirit" as the Bible teaches in Jn 4:24: "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." However, God is much more than just being a Spirit.

The Bible teaches us that in all existence, from all eternity, there has been and always will be only one God. God was never created, is completely loving, completely just, completely holy, completely merciful, and that He desires the best for us. God is holy, and He can have nothing to do with sin as the Bible says, "His eyes are too pure to look upon evil," (Hab. 1:13). This does not mean that God cannot see what someone does that is wrong. It is a way of describing how holy God is. God cannot sin. He is perfect.

In Christianity, God is a Trinity. This means that God is three persons, NOT three gods. Technically, the doctrine of the Trinity states that in the one God is the person of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each is not the same person as the other, yet there are not three gods but one. This is similar in analogy to the nature of time. Time is past, present, and future. The past is not the same as the present, which is not the same as the future. But, there are not three times. There is only one thing called time.

The reason the word "person" is used in describing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is because each exhibits attributes of personhood -- not in a body of flesh and bones, but in personality. In other words, each has a will, loves, speaks, is aware of others, communicates with others, etc. These are attributes of personhood, and we see the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit each demonstrate these qualities.

Because of the Trinity, God can become flesh in the form of the Son and still exist in such a way so that He can run the universe. Therefore, the Son can communicate to us on our level.

Following are a couple verses that hint at the Trinity. Jesus tells his followers in Matt. 28:19, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." And Brother Paul concludes his epistle in 2 Cor. 13:14 thus: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all."

The Bible says there is only one God: "I am the Lord, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God," (Isaiah 45:5). Yet, the Bible teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each called God, and they are one.

Below is a very brief table that shows that each of the persons in the Trinity share the same attributes that only God shares. But remember, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each have wills and speak, etc. Therefore, we say there are three persons.

	FATHER	SON	HOLY SPIRIT
Called God	Phil. 1:2	John 1:1,14;	Acts 5:3-4
Creator	Isaiah 64:8	John 1:3;	Job 33:4, 26:13
Everywhere	1 Kings 8:27	Matt. 28:20	Psalm 139:7-10
All knowing	1 John 3:20	John 16:30; 21:17	1 Cor. 2:10-11
A Will	Luke 22:42	Luke 22:42	1 Cor. 12:11
Speaks	Matt. 3:17;	Luke 5:20; 7:48	Acts 13:2

Also read: What is the Name of God?

The Real Name of GOD - What is it?

2017-07-18T12:58:00.000+01:00

WHAT IS THE REAL NAME OF GOD? YHWH, Jehovah or Yahweh?

Have you ever wondered what God's real name is? Have you, like me, heard people call Him many different names and wondered which amongst all the name(s) is/are correct? If you have, then you are not alone.

In this article which discusses this important topic, we will be looking to the Holy Scriptures for direction, because who else would know the true and real name of GOD except GOD Himself. As 2nd Timothy 3:16 reminds us: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”. So you see there is no better place to turn for direction in this matter than in Scripture itself.

Evidence from Scripture reveal that the real name of God is YHWH, the four letters that make up His name found in Exodus 3:14. However, there is no correct pronunciation for the name of God because the letters are only consonants, no vowels. So we cannot tell what the "real" name of God is. However, in Exodus 3:13-14 it says, “Then Moses said to God, ‘Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I shall say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you.” Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

When God says "I AM” he is speaking his name. In the Hebrew language that this verse was written in, the letters are yod, he, vav, he, from which we get YHWH. These four letters were very loosely translated into the English ‘Jehovah.’ However, there is no ‘j’ sound in the Hebrew. So, a better approximation of the name of God would be Yahweh.

To reiterate, the pronunciation of God’s name is difficult because when the Jews wrote His name in Hebrew Scriptures, they did not use vowel designations. They only used consonants. Therefore, the phrase “The name of God is YHWH” would appear as “th nm f gd s yhwh.” This wasn’t a problem with the Hebrews because they knew what the words were and how to pronounce them.

It was not until many hundreds of years later that the Jews started to insert what was called ‘vowel points’ into the copied texts of the Hebrew Old Testament. But unfortunately for us, we still don't know exactly which vowel sounds are the correct ones.

Nevertheless, from the text above the proper name of God is "I AM," which we transliterate into the English YHWH.

Related: More articles related to similar Christian topics

What Is The Bible?

2017-07-02T11:18:00.000+01:00

WHAT IS THE BIBLE?

The Bible is a collection of 66 books written by about 40 authors, in three different languages, on three different continents, over approximately 1600 years. The Bible claims to be inspired and inerrant. This means that the Bible claims to be from God and that it is without error in everything it addresses.

The Bible contains many different styles of writing such as poetry, narration, fiction^{1 (see note)}, history, law, and prophecy and must be interpreted in context of those styles. It is the source of the Christian religion in that the Bible contains the words of God and how the Christian is to apply the words of God to his life.

Basically, the Bible describes the origin of man in the Garden of Eden along with his fall into sin and out of fellowship with God. It then describes how God called out a special people to Himself, the Israelites. He promised the Israelites a future Messiah who would restore mankind's relationship with God. The Bible is the account of the work of God in history bringing to fruition His prophetic declarations concerning Jesus. Jesus was born of the Virgin, died on the cross, and paid for sins, just as the Bible prophesied in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New. In short, the Bible points to Jesus, "You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me," (John 5:39).

Furthermore, the Bible teaches us that forgiveness of sins is found in Jesus alone, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved,” (Acts 4:12).

Some say that the Bible is nothing more than fairy tales. But this cannot be for it contains great wisdom and truth and it has been verified throughout history as being accurate. Its historical accounts are flawlessly accurate. In fact, archaeology routinely demonstrates the accuracy of the biblical records concerning locations and events recorded in the Bible.

The Books of the Bible

The Old Testament Books

The Old Testament Books were written by prophets such as Moses, David, Isaiah, etc.

Pentateuch - 5 books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
Historical Books - 12 books: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, First Samuel, Second Samuel, First Kings, Second Kings, First Chronicles, Second Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther.
Poetical - 5 books: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
Prophetical - 17 books:
a). Major Prophets - Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel;
b). Minor Prophets - Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

The New Testament Books

The New Testament Books were written by those who knew Jesus or were under the guidance of those who did

Historical Books - 5 books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts
Pauline Epistles - 13 books: Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians. 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon
Non-Pauline Epistles - 9 books: Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation

Note: Some authors attribute Hebrews to Paul.

Note 1:
In Ezekiel 23:1-4 it says, "1 The word of the Lord came to me again saying, 2 “Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother; 3 and they played the harlot in Egypt. They played the harlot in their youth; there their breasts were pressed, and there their virgin bosom was handled. 4 “And their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister. And they became Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem is Oholibah."
Some have called this a fictional account that represents Samaria and Jerusalem. Others have said it is imagery used as representation and some have referred to it as a parable.

Related: What is Christianity?

Did Jesus Rise From The Dead?

2017-06-29T13:05:00.000+01:00

DID JESUS RISE FROM THE DEAD? -- A human being cannot raise himself from death. Jesus rose again, because He is the author of life.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ has been a subject of debate in non Christian circles in the past. Strong and rich Jewish leaders spent money to propagate that the disciples had stolen the body from the grave and were telling lies about the resurrection. Even in the Bible we read that a stone was rolled over the grave as the Jews suspected some fraud. The Muslims too argue against the resurrection.

If Jesus had not risen from the dead, what would happen? The Church in the world will become irrelevant. The religious societies based on chastity and poverty and the missionary works will become meaningless and a cheat. If Jesus did not rise, the Gospel proclamation will be rendered meaningless. The Bible and its teachings become baseless. Churches will become empty; prayers will cease to be said. The foundation of the 2000 years old Christian civilization will crash. There will be confusion and darkness everywhere. The resurrection of Jesus is the basis for the world’s morality and expectations and values. The secret of the Christian life is His resurrection. The response for the Cross will no more exist. It will become a piece of cheap wood.

“The World in Darkness” is a cinema. In it is shown an archaeologist conducting investigations near Calvary. One day, he announced that he found a tomb where Jesus was buried and an undecomposed dead body in it. He exhibited the body covered with cloth and perfumes as a proof. The world received this shocking news. Many though with sorrow, left the faith. Priests and nuns came out in groups and left their churches and convents. In many places Bibles and Crucifixes were burnt. Heaven and hell became superstitions. The world plunged into darkness, morality and values are lost. By the time the archaeologist became old and was ill in bed. From his deathbed he announced his mistake “The tomb of Jesus was empty. The exhibited body was one stolen from another tomb.”

The story clearly depicts the status or place of resurrection in the history of the world. It is not the empty tomb that is the great proof of His resurrection. After 2000 years of the event, it is not wise to show the empty tomb as a proof.

Jesus who died on the cross and was buried, and appeared to those who were alive is the real proof. Not once but many times, in many places, before many. He had even appeared to Saul who was eagerly working for the destruction of His followers. Their later life revealed that their experience was neither a dream nor a vision. No one will place his life at risk of death, if it was a woven story. All the Lord's disciples who preached Jesus after his death and resurrection sacrificed their lives for their teacher Jesus Christ and their God.

James was put to death with the sword (Acts 12:2). Philip lost his life at the age of 87. He was crucified upside down, like Peter, in Hierapolis during a persecution of Domitian. Mathew was killed by the sword in A.D. 60 in Parthia. James the minor might have been killed in the persecution of Christians in the year 62. Mathias who was Judah’s replacement was, according to some traditions, stoned to death by a crowd of Jews around A.D. 51. Andrews was hung on a cross on the shores of Gulf of Patrae in Greece. Peter was crucified in Rome. Paul was beheaded in A.D. 72.

Simon and Juda Thaddeus were stoned by a crowd. Jude was killed with a spear and Simon was sown into pieces, according to legend, Thomas was stabbed in Mylapore, India. John was said to have been put in boiling oil by Emperor Domitian, but escaped unhurt. Then he was sent to Patmos island. According to a legend, John asked his disciples to dig his grave and to carry him to his grave. At the grave he wished them peace and died. Bartholomew incurred the wrath of the king and was skinned alive in A.D. 62. All these disciples stood testimony through their martyrdom as proof of Jesus Christ’s resurrection.

Jesus is the only one who is alive even after death and comes into the life of His people.

Sadhu Sunder Singh said he had seen Jesus in a vision and it changed him. He went about preaching Jesus. When we believe in Jesus, when we believe that Jesus is real and the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, when we believe that Jesus is with us, why fear a storyteller or any strong trend of hatred towards Christianity that is unleashed by the power of darkness?

Does anyone really think that all those martyrs who knew Jesus, who witnessed everything concerning him, went to their deaths without knowing the truth and having real faith in him? He told us, “And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b) Let us therefore rejoice and continue our journey.

Also read: Dangers Involved In Revenge: Reasons Why You Must Never Retaliate

What is Christianity?

2017-06-27T00:31:00.000+01:00

WHAT IS CHRISTIANITY?

Christianity is a religion based upon the teachings and miracles of Jesus. Jesus is the Christ. The word "christ" means anointed one. Christ is not Jesus' last name. Jesus is the anointed one from God the Father who came to this world, fulfilled the Old Testament laws and prophecies, died on the cross, and rose from the dead physically. He performed many miracles which were recorded in the Gospels by the eyewitnesses. He is divine in nature as well as human. Thus, He has two natures and is worthy of worship and prayer.

Christianity teaches that there is only one God in all existence, that God made the universe, the Earth, and created Adam and Eve. God created man in His image. This does not mean that God has a body of flesh and bones. Image means the likeness of God's character, rationality, etc. Because we are made in the image of God, every person is worthy of respect and honor. Furthermore, this means that we did not evolve through random processes from a single-celled organism into rational, emotional beings.

God created Adam and Eve and put them in the Garden of Eden and gave them the freedom to choose between right and wrong. They chose to sin. Sin is doing that which is contrary to the nature and will of God. For example, God cannot lie; therefore, lying is sin. The sin of disobeying God that Adam and Eve committed resulted in them being expelled from the Garden of Eden as well as suffering the effects of death.

As a result of their sin, their children and all of us inherited a sinful nature. In other words, our offspring are not perfect in nature. Think about it. We don't have to teach children to be selfish or how to lie. They know how to do these things naturally. This shows that we are born in a fallen state.

Christianity teaches that God is a Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, not three Gods), that Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity, that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead physically, and that all people are under the righteous judgment of God because all people have sinned against God. It teaches that Jesus is the only way to be saved from the coming judgment of God and that salvation is received by faith in the work of Christ on the cross and not by anything that we can do to please God.

Where all other religions in the world teach that we must do some sort of good in cooperation with God in order to achieve the right to be in God's presence, Christianity is the only religion that teaches salvation by grace. This means that we are not made right before God by our efforts, sincerity, or works. Instead, we are made right before God by faith in what Christ did on the cross.

Christianity further teaches that once a person is "born again" (becomes saved) that the Holy Spirit lives in that person and the person is changed: "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come," (2 Cor. 5:17). This means that God actually lives in the person and the Christian then experiences a true and living relationship with God.

Therefore, "What is Christianity?" is best answered by saying that it is a relationship with the true and living God through the person of Jesus Christ by whom we are forgiven of our sins and escape the righteous judgment of God.

Related: Undeniable proof that evolution is a hoax

Be Very Mindful Of These When Faced With Life Challenges

2017-06-21T22:58:00.000+01:00

MIND WHAT YOU PRAY FOR

A popular everyday expression admonishes us to “Be careful what you wish for.” You may or may not have heard it before, but I have. And thinking of it, I feel there is great wisdom in that statement when it concerns the prayers we offer to our Heavenly Father.

Of course, each time we pray, we mean well for ourselves and others. We may have the right intentions, but do we actually gauge the specifics (i.e. the when-where-how-and-why) of the response God may choose to answer us with?

Often times we pray to be more patient. We pray to love our enemies. We ask God to help us forgive. And we seek to grow our faith. All very noble prayers.

Yet it is not wrong to say we often make these requests when we are feeling strong, and more at peace with our situations and surroundings. We fail to consider that God could honor our prayers at a time and place that will really test us – greatly.

Mary Magdalene
by Ary Scheffer (1795–1858).
Image credit: Wikipedia

Have You Considered This In Your Situation?

Are you facing any challenging situation right now? Is (or are) there issues you are asking God to take out of your life now? Maybe you should first pause, take a deep breath and consider the next paragraph.

Is God simply answering your prayer to grow your faith and trust in Him? You are deeply hurt, heart-broken with tears streaming down your face and you now want to look upward to question God – “Why?” Now wait a minute, maybe you should remember how you prayed to be able to easily forgive. And when you are forced to endure a circumstance or situation for the umpteenth time, maybe you need to recall when you asked for grace to be more patient.

I think some of the very things we ask God to take out of our lives may be there because He put them there to answer our own prayer requests. They are there for our good. It doesn’t feel that way when we are uncomfortable or hurting, but it’s true. And often when we are on the other side of “it” we can see just how much we gained through the “hard” experience.

I do not often deal with my weaknesses and insecurities, as I ought to. But I know I have told God to help me become a better child of His, more obedient to His Spirit's leading and grace to trust Him completely at ALL times without wavering. I want to grow my faith and I am tired of falling back into my weaknesses.

I have asked Him to give me strength and courage and to help me become a worthy vessel and warrior. How better to do that than to put me in the battle? How can my strength or courage grow if it’s not tested? You see what I mean?

Ponder these verses of Scripture:
“Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool’s voice is known by his many words.

When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed. Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.” (Ecclesiastes 5:1-6)

“When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you. But if you abstain from vowing, it shall not be sin to you. That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth.” (Deuteronomy 23:21-23)

“Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.” (Numbers 30:1-2 (also read v.3-16)

CONCLUSION
It is not an easy “pill” to swallow, but I would prefer to go through the “hard” experience and become a stronger, better person than not go through anything at all.

I know and understand it may be difficult to say this during the moments of pressure, but if you do have this understanding, you will appreciate what you learnt when you come out on the other side.

I pray and hope that instead of lashing out at God and asking Him, “Why?” when we face challenges and difficulties, we will remember that He may simply just be placing something in our lives because of our own earlier request(s)

Also read: Articles on prayers and fasting

Christians Should Be Quick to Listen and Slow to Speak

2017-06-13T17:04:00.000+01:00

BE QUICK TO LISTEN BUT SLOW TO SPEAK

Christians Should Be Quick to Listen and Slow to Speak. In James 1:19 Christians are instructed: ‘My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry’(NIV). This is a great principle that every believer should be trying to follow.

All of us have surely fallen into the trap of not listening properly and speaking too soon at times, and for many I think this is a bad habit that needs some real attention.

When we speak before listening carefully enough, our words are probably going to be misguided to some degree and can often cause problems. This can happen in various situations.

In the verse itself, the instruction to be slow to speak is immediately followed by another that we must be slow to get angry. Being slow to get angry is a worthwhile thing to strive for in its own right, but it also ties in with one way in which being quick to listen and slow to speak is a good principle to live by. All too often someone can lose their temper with a person, only to find out later that they had rushed to judgement and that that person was not in the wrong in the way they first thought.

Getting angry with people when they don’t deserve it can often really damage relationships. Much of this can be avoided simply by being quick to listen and slow to speak.

Another area in which this principle is very helpful is when giving people advice. One of the marks of a good Christian counsellor is that they are good at listening and will not rush to give advice before taking on board and considering carefully all that the counsellee is saying. They will also often be cautious about the advice that they give, avoiding simplistic over-confidence about the benefit of what they are saying.

Going to someone for advice and being given a quick-fire solution that will supposedly solve the problem easily is usually just going to lead to disappointment. A carefully considered response is much more likely to be helpful.

When we are forming our views on things is another time that being quick to listen and slow to speak is an excellent principle to follow. For those of us who live in Western countries this means going against the grain of the culture, which encourages people to have views on things even when they have little knowledge of the matter in question.

There is a good side to this aspect of Western culture, insofar as people are encouraged not to blindly follow the views of others. But in the West it is seen as normal and appropriate for people to voice confident opinions on almost any matter they choose to, even if they have little knowledge of the subject, and this is very unhelpful.

TV news reports, as we know, often have interviews with members of the public, asking them what they think about various issues and airing their answers. I am in my 40s and I have always taken an interest in what goes on in the world, but on many occasions when I have felt that I don’t know enough about an issue to have much of an opinion on it, I have seen interviewees on TV, sometimes children, voicing confident opinions about that issue in a very simplistic way. And the interviewer always seems to give the impression that the opinion of the person who voices it is valid and worthwhile.

Of course, there are times when even the most unlearned people can have clear insight into the will of God on a subject, including when that subject is a moral issue. But nevertheless, Western culture encourages us to be quick to speak and slow to listen when giving our views on things, and this is something that Christians should resist.

Similarly, in forming our views on specifically Christian issues we should all be quick to listen and slow to speak. There are many Christians who always seem to have confident opinions on every area of Christian theology or practice and are not slow to say what they think.

I would suggest that if someone is confident about what is true in all or almost all aspects of Christian life and belief, something has probably gone wrong. The apostle Paul speaks of Christian insight in this life as being like seeing indistinctly in a mirror (1 Cor 13:12). In ancient times mirrors were made of polished metal, and when people looked into them the image they saw was a hazy one, just like the image we can see if we look at a piece of polished metal today. Paul is saying that here on earth we don’t see things clearly. This surely means that it is normal for Christians to be uncertain about many things.

I am well aware that this mustn’t be taken too far. The Bible is clear about many issues, and as we grow as Christians we should be growing in our insight into things. But in my experience, despite a lot of prayer and thinking about some matters, I have not been able to reach confident conclusions on them, although I have been a Christian for many years now. However, I don’t think this is unusual or contrary to the normal Christian life as it is found in Scripture.

Again, Western culture is unhelpful at this point, since this culture encourages us to think that holding strong opinions on things is a virtue. Someone who really knows what they believe is held in esteem in a Western value system.

I would suggest that this is sheer nonsense. What people believe is the all-important factor. It is much better not to have a clue about something than to have a firmly held belief that is opposed to the will of God. Even to cautiously hold a wrong belief is better than to firmly hold it.

In addition to the examples I have given, there are doubtless many other ways too in which being quick to listen and slow to speak is going to be beneficial. Whenever someone is slow to listen and quick to speak, in whatever situation, they are failing to act in humility. Something of that person is forcing itself onto the scene in a self-centred way. When we are listening, however, something other than ourselves has to be the focus.

The better we act out the principle of being quick to listen and slow to speak, the more Christ-like we will become and the more we will be able to help others.

Also read: Why You Must Never Retaliate

Written by Max Aplin

The Danger of Gossip in Christian Relationships

2017-05-31T21:26:00.003+01:00

THE DANGER OF GOSSIP IN CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIPS

Everyone will surely have witnessed the problems that gossip can cause. Relationships can be damaged, sometimes badly, by unkind words spoken about people behind their backs. And sadly, among Christians there is plenty of this that goes on too.

Worst of all is when the rumours that are spread aren't even true. Satan and his demonic followers are the masters of deception, and at one time or another we have all doubtless fallen into the trap of believing that someone has acted badly, only to find out later that the person was actually innocent of the matter in question all along. Some of us will also probably be able to think of times when we mistakenly passed on false information about people. Thus,

Even if there is no doubt that a bad report about someone is true, however, great harm can be caused by the unkind response of those who hear about it and fuel the gossip engine by passing on what they hear. If Christians learn that a person has acted badly, far too often they just tell others without considering whether that is actually the right thing to do. Ponder for awhile what Scripture admonishes in this regard, "A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends." (Proverbs 16:28)

We must all strive to love everyone, however, and that needs to include what we say about people when they are not present. There is obviously a sense in which people who are not there when others are talking about them are especially vulnerable. They can't defend themselves, and Jesus certainly wants us to be careful to treat vulnerable people well.

In my own life, so as to try to avoid saying anything inappropriate about anyone, I have set myself a little rule. This is never to say anything negative about someone who is not present unless I can think of at least one specific reason why I believe God would want me to. If I can't come up with a particular reason, then I won't say anything. At least, this is my intention, even if perhaps I don't succeed in following this rule all the time.

The Christian life, of course, is not about keeping lots of rules, but is about living in the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, living in the Spirit does not conflict with occasionally making ourselves a rule or two to try to live by, and this is one that I find helpful.

Even if Christians prefer not to make a rule in this respect, however, we must all strive in one way or another not to speak harmfully about people behind their backs. Scripture demands that of us: "Love is patient, love is kind...It does not dishonor others" (1 Corinthians 13:4-5; NIV). Love demands that of us.

It is true that there are times when we do need to speak negatively about people when they are not present. Even in the church, there are occasions when a Christian does something, perhaps commits a sin of some sort, and others really do need to become aware of what has happened. Or maybe a person might have hurt us by something they have said or done, and we feel that it would be helpful to let someone else know.

But unless there is a good a reason for passing on the negative information, then we shouldn't. As far as we are concerned, the tentacle of gossip that has reached us can be severed without reaching any further. The gossip engine can be switched off at this point.

Even if we have a close relationship to someone, that doesn't make it right to pass on gossip to them. Just because someone is meeting a close friend doesn't mean it is OK to tell them of the bad report about a person that they have heard. Or just because someone is married doesn't make it right for them to pass on gossip to their spouse. The top priority is to love the person who people are gossiping about, and love will not speak negatively about someone who is not present unless there is a good reason for doing so.

Let us all strive, then, to avoid spreading rumours and gossip about people. So much damage to relationships could be avoided if every Christian made the effort to do this.

Also read: Articles on practical daily Christian relationships

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
By Max Aplin. He has been a Christian for over 30 years. He has a Ph.D. in New Testament from the University of Edinburgh. He is a UK national and currently live in the south of Scotland. Check out his blog, The Orthotometist, at http://maxaplin.blogspot.co.uk/

Dangers Involved In Revenge: Reasons Why You Must Never Retaliate

2017-05-17T00:01:00.000+01:00

DANGERS INVOLVED IN REVENGE

Anger is a letter short of danger. Danger and anger are closely connected and they very much work together. Wrath is then a senior officer to anger; more fierce and violent. The Scriptures is right to reveal that the wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God.

Anytime you are wronged, the tendency is high that you will want to take your pound of flesh from the wrongdoer(s) to prove a point. However, dangers are involved in taking the law into your hands.

Let us examine a few of them.

Reasons why Christians must never retaliate

1. You will lock horns with your Maker, God.

How? Revenge amounts to an attempt to usurp God's exclusive right and responsibility. It means you want to take over God's assignment from Him. The Scriptures reveal:
"Vengeance is mine, and recompense,
for the time when their foot shall slip;
for the day of their calamity is at hand;
and their doom comes swiftly." Deuteronomy 32:35 (Revised Standard Version.)

These are words from your Maker. He knows His tasks and will never fail to perform them. Do you think He will cuddle you for snatching His duties from Him? Instead, you will magnetise His anger. So eschew revenge.

2. Negligence of duties.

This is very clear and understandable. If you do another person's work, your own assignments will suffer. This is settled. What are your duties when you are wronged? Let me mention two of them.

a). Forgive.
You need to do everything to forgive the wrongdoer. It is understandable that sometimes it may seem very difficult to do but this is what is expected of you by your Creator. Should you disappoint Him? God forbid! If you forgive your wrongdoer, you have already provided yourself a bridge that you will pass through one day, whether in this life or in the life hereafter. A part of the Lord's prayer reads:
"And forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors." (Matthew 6:12)

How often should you do this? Jesus counsels thus:
"Seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:22)
Go and do this. Or do you want to forfeit all the benefits attached to this?

b). Trust God.
It is also your duty to trust in the Lord your God to take appropriate steps at the right time, place and form. He never fails. So trusting in Him to take vengeance on those who have done you wrong is your duty. Therefore, go and do it.

3. You will miss the rewards attached to performing your task.

Each commandment of the Lord has its benefits. Great benefits indeed; do not lose them. No work, no pay. This is a simple principle. Anyone who fails to carry out his work has no rewards.

"Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will dwell in the land, and enjoy security." Psalm 37:3. (Revised Standard Version.)
Trust in the Lord to plead your cause.

4. You can be guilty of blood.

In your attempt to take your pound of flesh, you may shed innocent blood. Those who are very close to the wrongdoer may lose their lives in the process. Not only this, the wrongdoer may not be guilty of death but in wrath, you may kill him ending in "killing for wounding". Read more in-depth about this topic here: Killing for Wounding.

Even if he is guilty of death, you should not take the law into your hand. David almost made this mistake. His complaint was:
"Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow (Nabal) hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good." I Samuel 25:21 (King James Version.)

Do you know that there is a divine provision for those who reward evil for good? Proverbs 17:13 reveals:
"Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house."

This divine provision should satisfy you, I think.

The Lord sent Abigail, the wife of the evil doer, to restrain David from shedding blood. Innocent blood would have been destroyed with the offender because the plan of David was to kill every man in Nabal's household. Read I Samuel 25:22-26.

5. Perpetual grief.

Do you know that in an attempt to revenge, you may sow a seed of everlasting sorrow that anytime you remember it, grief will grip your heart? Is there any need for you to bear grief forever?

Abigail warned David,
"And it shall come to pass, when the Lord shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;
That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself :.." I Samuel 25-30-31.

As a result of the dangers mentioned above, do not engage in any revenge. Perform your task(s) and you will have peace and be rewarded now and in eternity.

Stay blessed and rapturable because the Lord is coming soon.

AUTHOR
By Olawale Ogunsola. He is the set man of CTFM(WORLD OUTREACH) and Presiding Pastor of Christ Restland Gospel Church. He is a Poet and author of many books. You may want to visit his blogsites at www.4thlink.wordpress.com and www.peacelink.wordpress.com for more quality contents.

Related: Faith is the answer, and knowledge can help

Financial Faithfulness— Can God Trust in You?

2017-04-10T00:24:00.003+01:00

Financial Faithfulness— Can God Trust in You? (Selected Scriptures)

Around the turn of the century a magazine editor needed a bit more copy for an issue. So the night before the deadline, he sat down and typed out an article. He ran it on the back page, without a title.

He didn’t think much more about it until a few weeks later, when requests for that issue of the magazine started to pour in. When he checked as to why that issue was so popular, he discovered that people wanted that titleless article he had hastily banged out the night before his deadline.

The trickle of requests turned into a stream and then a flood. He got requests for 10, 100, 1,000 copies. He was just a small-time operator, and soon it looked as if he would have to be running full-time just to meet the demands for the back issue with that particular article. Then he got a request for 100,000 copies from the president of a large railroad. The editor replied that it would take him two years to fill that order. The railroad president persisted until he obtained permission to have the article printed at his own expense.

Somehow the article found its way into the hands of a Russian army officer, who ordered copies for every member of the Russian army. The Russians were at war with the Japanese at the time, and the article found its way into the Japanese army, where again it was printed for every soldier. In the final analysis, millions of copies of this article were distributed around the world.

What subject could possibly elicit that kind of response? Why did so many leaders want that article for those who served under them?

The article subsequently gained the title, “A Message to Garcia.” It concerned an incident in the Spanish-American War. The President had wanted a particular message delivered personally to a general named Garcia who was in the interior of Cuba. A man under the President had just taken the message from the President and, without fanfare, without questioning why, without procrastination or complaining, had taken the message through enemy lines, into the difficult mountainous terrain, had found Garcia, and delivered the message. The article was simply an essay extolling the faithfulness of that unnamed man who did his job well without anyone needing to harangue him about it.

The reason there was such an overwhelming demand for the article on the part of leaders in business and in the military was because there is such a lack of people who are faithful enough to pick up a task they have been assigned, to do it well, and to follow through without complaint or harassment.

This rare quality--faithfulness-should not be rare among God’s people. It is, in fact, a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22); and, it applies directly to our handling of money. Not only do we need to trust in God; He should be able to trust in us because we have proven ourselves to be faithful. The testing ground for faithfulness is money:

Christians must be faithful in financial matters.

Here are four biblical facets of financial faithfulness:

1. To be faithful in finances, I must operate as the manager, not the owner.

The psalmist proclaims, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it” (Ps. 24:1). Jesus pointedly said that our money is not ours, but “that which is another’s” (Luke 16:12 in context), namely, God’s. God is the true owner of everything and everyone. Jesus said, “You cannot serve God and mammon” (= material possessions, riches; Matt. 6:24; Luke 16:13). He clearly means that either God or money is our master, but not both. There is no middle ground.

Thus one of the fundamental biblical principles in the realm of money is: I do not own anything; I only manage the money and possessions that God has entrusted to me. God does not own just ten percent, so that I’m free to spend the rest as I please. He owns it all, money and possessions. This concept has several ramifications:

A. AS MANAGER OF GOD’S ASSETS, I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE.

Paul said that it is required of stewards (managers) that one be found trustworthy (1 Cor. 4:2). I was taught that if I borrow or use something belonging to someone else, I should treat it more carefully than even my own things, so that I can return it to the owner in good condition. That is especially true if the owner is God!

Proverbs 27:23-24 exhorts us, “Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds; for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.” In other words, possessions do not manage themselves. You must take care of your money and possessions, even if you are a king, or you will lose them. To be irresponsible with money or things is to be an unfaithful manager.

I’m often shocked by the way that Christian parents fail to teach their children to respect both their own and others’ property. We built a new church building in California, and I once saw some boys having a contest to see who could put a scuff mark with their shoes the highest on the wall! Someone gave me several large bags full of “gummy bears” candy, which I thought the kids would enjoy. I ended up throwing most of it away, because instead of eating it, the kids used them for ammunition (so that they got trampled into the carpet) and for sticking to the walls.

One couple, who graciously let the high school group meet in their home, told me that the kids would often step onto their couch to climb over it in order to get to another part of the living room, rather than walk around! Why aren’t parents teaching kids respect for property? Church buildings and property as well as personal possessions and money do not belong to us, but to the Lord. We need to treat these things responsibly. The fact that we are not to live for money or things does not imply that we are free to be negligent or irresponsible.

B. AS MANAGER OF GOD’S ASSETS, I AM RELIEVED FROM PRESSURE.

As long as I’m being responsible and careful with what God has entrusted to me, when something beyond my control happens, it is not my problem. It’s God’s “problem”!

Many years ago, my office was at home. A woman from the church had been to see me. I watched out the window as she backed up her big car, and I winced as I saw my beautiful Mustang get bumped. Apparently she didn’t even realize what happened, because she just drove off. I went out and looked, and sure enough, there was a fresh crease in my fender. This woman had enough problems that I didn’t feel I should talk to her about what she had done. I remember feeling more grief than anger, because I thought, “Lord, this is Your car, and if that’s how You want to treat it, that’s Your business!” If it had been my car, I would have been a lot more bothered! Seeing it as God’s car relieved the pressure.

C. AS MANAGER OF GOD’S ASSETS, I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ADVANCEMENT.

Note Luke 16:10-12. Jesus’ point is not, if you’re faithful with a little money, God will give you more money to manage. Neither is His point that if you’re faithful in some trivial job, God will give you a more important job (although both statements may be true). To interpret this passage correctly you must see that money is the “little thing” and that the “much” is the “true riches,” namely, heavenly riches which can’t be taken away. In the context of the parable, true riches are the souls of people who have been won to Christ through your faithful and wise use of money.

In other words, God views our faithfulness in managing the money He entrusts to us as the practice game. Money is a “little thing” to God, although it’s not to us! If we goof off in the practice game with the little thing (money), God isn’t going to put us in the big game (entrusting us with spiritual oversight of the souls which Jesus purchased with His blood). That’s why one requirement for elders is that they be good managers of their households, which includes finances (1 Tim. 3:1-7). If they aren’t faithful with the little matter of money, they won’t be faithful with the big matter of souls.

This means that if you desire to be used of God in evangelism and discipling others, you need to get your financial life in order. It also means that God will not bless our church with converts and solid growth unless we, the members, get our financial houses in order. If you want to advance in terms of responsibility in God’s service, prove yourself faithful in money matters and the Lord will give you true riches. To be faithful in finances, I must operate as the manager of God’s resources, not as the owner.

2. To be faithful in finances, I must keep the Owner’s objectives in mind.

Managers must know and carry out the will of the owner. Managers are not free to take a business any way they choose, unless the owner has given them that prerogative. They must work closely with the owner, under his direction, to find out how he wants his business managed and then to carry out his purpose.

In Luke 16:1-8, Jesus tells the parable of the unrighteous manager (or steward). Many have puzzled over this story in that, at first glance, it seems that Jesus is praising a crook. But Jesus explains the point in verse 9: “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that when it fails, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.” In other words, use your money to win souls.

Jesus praised the shrewdness (not the crookedness) of the steward because he took the long-range view. He saw that his stewardship was quickly coming to an end. Thus he used what had been entrusted to him in the present to secure a comfortable living for himself in the future. Even so, our stewardship of this life is temporary; “unrighteous mammon” will fail. We will soon give an account of our stewardship. If we (“sons of light”) were as shrewd as the “sons of this age,” we would use “unrighteous mammon” (money and possessions), entrusted to us in the present, to win people to Jesus Christ, so that in the future when this earthly stewardship ends, we will be welcomed into heaven by all those who have been won through our wise use of money.

This means that a primary way that the Owner wants His managers to use their money is to further His kingdom. Years ago, Billy Graham received a copy of a letter sent by a young man to his fiancee, breaking off their engagement because he had become a Communist. It said in part:

We Communists ... live in virtual poverty. We turn back to the party every penny we make above what is absolutely necessary to keep us alive.

We Communists don’t have the time or the money for many movies or concerts or T-bone steaks or decent homes or new cars. We’ve been described as fanatics. We are fanatics. Our lives are dominated by one great overshadowing factor--the struggle for world Communism. We Communists have a philosophy of life, which no amount of money could buy. We have a cause to fight for, a definite purpose in life. We subordinate our petty, personal selves into a great movement of humanity, and if our personal lives seem hard or our egos appear to suffer through subordination to the Party, then we are adequately compensated by the thought that each of us in his small way is contributing to something new and true and better for mankind. (Billy Graham, Call to Commitment [Billy Graham Evangelistic Association], pp. 1-2, cited in Teacher’s Manual for the Ten Basic Steps Toward Christian Maturity [Campus Crusade for Christ], p. 389).

I wonder, could somebody tell by looking at your checkbook and the way you spend your money that you are a manager for the Owner who is not willing that any should perish, but wants some from every tongue and tribe and nation to come to faith in Jesus Christ? A faithful manager keeps the owner’s objectives in mind.

3. To be faithful in finances, I must be hard-working and obedient to the Owner.

No owner is pleased with a lazy manager who doesn’t follow directions. To please our Owner, we must work hard and follow the instructions He gives us in His Word about money. I touch briefly on four areas:

A. TO BE FAITHFUL, I MUST BE INDUSTRIOUS, NOT LAZY.

See 2 Thess. 3:8, 10-12; Acts 20:34-35; Prov. 6:6-11; 24:30-34. Hard work should not be mistaken for overwork! The Bible extols working hard; it condemns making a god out of your work. But so many people have never learned to work hard when they work. They play at their work, wasting time with unproductive things; and then they feel guilty when they take time off, so they don’t enjoy that.

B. TO BE FAITHFUL, I MUST PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY AND HAVE EXTRA TO GIVE TO THOSE IN NEED.

See 2 Thess. 3:6-12; Acts 20:34-35; 1 Tim. 5:8. We are responsible before God to work hard to provide for personal and family needs and to have extra for someone unable to work due to physical inability. If we do not provide for our families, Paul says that we’re worse than unbelievers, since even those who have never heard of Christ work to provide for their families.

C. TO BE FAITHFUL, I MUST BE ORDERLY WITH FINANCES.

See 2 Thess. 3:7, 11 (“undisciplined”); Luke 14:28-30 (building a tower, count the cost in advance); Prov. 27:23 (“know well”; “pay attention”). If you owned a company and your manager didn’t keep good records of business transactions, everything would soon be utter chaos. You wouldn’t know whether you were making a profit or a loss, whether money had been set aside for taxes, whether employees’ paychecks would bounce, or what inventory you had.

Yet many Christians are disorganized when it comes to personal finances. If they had to give account to the Owner, they’d get fired! Being orderly means having some sort of family budget, so that you’re not wondering where the money went; you’re telling it where to go. It means having a filing system for records (not a piling system!), so that you can give an account to the government at tax time. It means having a current will, so that your family is cared for in case of your death. It means giving in a systematic, planned way, not just when the impulse grabs you. It means saving for needs that will arise (like car repairs).

D. TO BE FAITHFUL, I MUST BE RESOURCEFUL.

The principle of not wasting God’s resources runs throughout the Bible, but is personified in the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31:10-31 (esp. vv. 13, 14, 16, 19, 24). By resourcefulness, I mean being thrifty and efficient, not wasting things, shopping carefully, getting the most for your money, and fixing things rather than throwing them away whenever you can. While it can be carried to extremes, Christians should be concerned about ecology. Wasting the earth is a violation of good management.

Thus financial faithfulness means operating as the manager, not the owner; keeping the owner’s objectives in mind; being hard-working and obedient.

4. To be faithful in finances, I must follow through with the Owner’s plan.

See Matt. 24:45-46. It doesn’t do any good to start as good managers if we get sloppy and don’t follow through. Setting up a budget is a start; sticking to it and making it work is financial faithfulness. Promising to give systematically is wonderful; doing it is faithfulness to the Owner. Jesus said that the faithful servant is the one whom his master found doing his job when he returned.

A pastor was asked to define “faithful church involvement.” He replied: All I ask is that we apply the same standards to our church activities that we apply to other areas of life. If your car started three out of four times, would you call it a faithful car? If your paper boy skipped Mondays and Thursdays, would you call him faithful? If you didn’t show up at work two or three times a month, would your boss call you faithful? If your refrigerator quit a day every now and then, would you say, “Oh well, it works most of the time”? If your water heater greeted you with cold water one or two mornings a week when you were in the shower, would you say it was faithful? If you miss a couple of mortgage payments in a year’s time, would your mortgage company say, “Ten out of twelve isn’t bad”? And yet we’re hit and miss about our giving, our involvement in ministry and worship, and we somehow think we’re being faithful!

When we talk about giving our life for Christ, it sounds glamorous. We think of something big, something dramatic, maybe like Corrie ten Boom’s story, or some adventurous missionary saga, maybe even martyrdom. Someone put it this way, “We think giving our all to the Lord is like taking a $1,000 bill and laying it on the table: Here’s my life, Lord. I’m giving it all.”

But the reality for most of us is that He sends us to the bank and has us cash in the $1,000 for quarters. We go through life putting out 25 cents here and 50 cents there: Listen to the hurting person’s troubles, rather than saying, “I’m too busy.” Going to a committee meeting when you’d rather stay home. Giving a cup of water to a shaky old man in a nursing home. It would be easy to go out in a flash of glory. Its harder to live faithfully little by little over the long haul (from Leadership [Fall, 1984], p. 47).

CONCLUSION
Your response to this message may be to feel overwhelmed. Your management of the finances God has entrusted to you is so bad that you don’t know where to begin. Don’t let the enormity of the task make you procrastinate. Ask God to help you pick the most important area first, and begin there. Perhaps you’ve been acting as the owner, squandering everything on yourself; you need to turn your finances over to the true Owner and start managing it for Him. Maybe you need to work on a budget that is in line with the Owner’s priorities. Perhaps you need to set up a filing system or a will. Maybe you’re sloppy about giving to the Owner’s cause.

Whatever the area, start being faithful there. Remember, if you’re not faithful in the use of unrighteous mammon, God will not entrust the true riches to you (Luke 16:11)! If you are faithful, you will someday hear the joyous words, “Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master” (Matt. 25:21).

Discussion Questions

How can we know where to draw the line on personal things, such as homes, cars, entertainment, etc.?
When does hard work become overwork? Is it wrong for Christians to aim at financial success?
If a Christian is financially successful, is it wrong to live “well”? Must he give away everything above basic needs to the cause of Christ?
In view of 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12, is welfare right? Should the church help those who don’t work?

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, © The Lockman Foundation

AUTHOR
By Steven J. Cole in his teachings on Money (1993). Steve has been the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship since May, 1992. From 1977-1992 he pastored Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and California State University, Long Beach (B.A., philosophy, 1968. You can visit his church website here: http://www.fcfonline.org/

When No One Is Looking — Integrity in Money Matters

2017-04-08T18:00:00.000+01:00

When No One Is Looking— Integrity in Money Matters (Selected Scriptures)

A story is told about a not-too-honest judge who was trying a case involving two railroads. When he received the briefs from the two lawyers, they both contained bribes. The first lawyer had sent a check for $10,000. The second lawyer’s check was for $15,000. The judge looked at the two checks, thought a moment, then called his secretary. “Make out a check for $5,000 and send it to the second lawyer,” he said. “We’re going to decide this case on its own merits.”

Integrity in money matters is a rare thing. But God wants His people marked by financial integrity. The English have a saying, “A gentleman is one who uses the butter knife when he is alone.” In other words, what someone does when no one is looking indicates their true character. Integrity in money matters has to do with being honest and upright when no one is looking. It means acting according to biblical principles, even if you think you’ll never get caught, because you know that God is watching and you want to please Him.

Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary ([Merriam-Webster], p. 589) states, “Integrity implies trustworthiness and incorruptibility to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a trust, responsibility, or pledge.” If you take that definition strictly, no one has integrity, because no one is incapable of being corrupted. We’re all susceptible to temptation. But we don’t need to yield. God’s Word is clear:

A Christian must act with integrity in financial dealings.

We live in a dishonest, corrupt world. In 1980, the IRS estimated that it lost up to $26 billion a year in unreported taxes. When I worked as a room service waiter, the other waiters told me not to report all my tips or it would tip off the IRS that all the other waiters were cheating! On more than one occasion I’ve been urged to falsify loan information on real estate deals, being assured, “Everyone does it.” Since we live in that kind of world, our financial integrity as Christians will stand out and give us opportunities to testify to the transforming power of the gospel.

I would like to share four aspects of financial integrity:

1. Integrity means having a clear conscience in all financial dealings.

This is foundational to all of life, including finances. Note Paul’s testimony (Acts 24:16): “In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.” In view of what? Verse 15: In view of having a hope in God and in view of the fact of the resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked! Because Paul kept in view the certainty of standing before God, he maintained a clear conscience.

The conscience is our inner warning system (“faults” alarm) that goes off when we violate our standards. A mother helping her son with his spelling words asked if he knew the difference between “conscious” and “conscience.” He said, “Sure, Mom, ‘conscious’ is when you’re aware of something; ‘conscience’ is when you wish you weren’t.”

The popular saying, “Let your conscience be your guide,” is not completely sound advice, because the conscience must be shaped by knowledge of and obedience to Scripture. If you violate your conscience and don’t repent, your conscience becomes hardened or calloused. If this continues unchecked, you reach a point where your conscience is seared--insensitive to right and wrong (1 Tim. 4:2). I read of a mafia hit man who said that he didn’t have the slightest twinge of conscience when he shot a man in the face at point blank range. And, although it is rare in our day, some people are on the other end of the spectrum with an over-sensitive conscience.

My associate pastor in California was standing in line at the 7-11 convenience store behind a man who had recently started attending our church. This guy was buying a six-pack of beer and $5 worth of lottery tickets. The cashier only charged him $1 for the lottery tickets. He told her that she had undercharged him and then turned and said to my associate, “After Steve’s sermon, what else could I do? I have to be honest!” His conscience wasn’t totally shaped by Scripture yet (with regard to drinking and gambling), but at least he’s was growing!

You can see Paul’s conscience in money matters in 2 Corinthians 8:19-21. He was appealing to the churches in Greece and Macedonia to raise money for the Christians in Judea who were hard hit by a famine. There were a lot of religious hucksters in Paul’s day (as in ours). It would have been much easier then than it is now to get away with unscrupulous practices. There were no laws governing contributions for charitable causes nor agencies to track down fraudulent operators. Paul easily could have skimmed from the collection for personal expenses.

But he was scrupulous to avoid any charge of profiteering from the gospel. He had the church appoint several respected men to travel with him and help administer the funds so that no one could accuse him of impropriety. He was concerned not only about what is honorable “in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men” (v. 21).

It is important not only what God thinks about your financial dealings, but also what people think, because it affects your testimony of the gospel. It saddens me, but I often hear comments like, “If a guy claims to be a Christian businessman, I take my business elsewhere!” Or, I’ll hear about Christians who don’t pay their bills. Integrity involves having a clear conscience before God and man in financial dealings. If you’ve done something wrong, you need to get it cleared up first with God, then by making it right with the ones you’ve wronged.

2. Integrity means total honesty in financial dealings.

Note Ephesians 4:25: “Therefore [because you are a new person in Christ, created in righteousness and holiness of the truth], laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.” Technically you could argue that this verse only applies to relationships between Christians. But in our relationships with the world, we represent the Lord Jesus who is the Truth (John 14:6); therefore we must be honest in all our financial dealings. Those in the world may never read the Gospel of John, but they read the gospel according to you!

There are at least three factors in total honesty:

A. TOTAL HONESTY MEANS TELLING THE TRUTH, EVEN WHEN IT HURTS.

I’ll tell you from personal experience, “It hurts!” It will cost you financially to be totally honest. It has cost me many times. Once I had some car repairs done and was charged for the parts but not the labor. I had to argue with the cashier to get her to see how she had undercharged me! But when she saw it, she thanked me profusely, because she would have been fired. Sometimes it will be just a few dollars you’ve been undercharged; sometimes it will be substantial. In each case it not only costs the money, but it’s inconvenient and time-consuming to have to go back and make it right. You’ll be tempted to think, “The Lord has provided this extra money for me!” But total honesty involves telling the truth, even when it costs you.

I try to use such occasions as opportunities to bear witness for Christ. People will often say, “My, you are an honest person!” I could say, “Aw, shucks, it’s nothing” and take the glory for myself. But I come back with, “No, I’m a greedy crook. But Jesus Christ is my Lord and He’s the reason I’m honest!” If I can I leave them with a gospel tract.

It’s easy to make true statements, but to omit part of the truth that would damage your cause. For example, you are selling a used car. The mechanic has informed you that a major transmission overhaul is imminent, and you have decided to unload it. The person who has come to look at it doesn’t know much about cars, and innocently asks, “Does it run well?” You reply, “The engine’s in great shape. It was rebuilt just 10,000 miles ago. And it has new tires!” But you don’t mention the transmission.

I’m not saying that you have to go out of your way to point out every minor flaw on the car. But it seems to me that Christian honesty would mean telling the prospective buyer, “Most likely the transmission is going to need an overhaul soon.”

B. TOTAL HONESTY MEANS NO CHEATING OR STEALING, EVEN IN SMALL THINGS.

(See Eph. 4:28). It’s easy, even for Christians, to cheat and steal. The opportunity to cheat brings out the “best” in the human ability to rationalize: At tax time we excuse our dishonesty with, “The government is so wasteful. And besides they’re ripping us off because inflation has pushed me into a higher tax bracket. And no one else reports everything, so why should I?” Or at work we think, “The company is so big, they won’t miss this little item. Besides, I work hard and they don’t pay me what I’m worth.” Or when we shop, if the checker fails to ring up an item, we excuse it by thinking, “I shop here a lot and give them a lot of business. And besides, their prices are too high anyway.”

With regard to taxes, I believe in taking every legitimate deduction. Otherwise you’re giving the Lord’s money to the government. But that does not mean knowingly cheating the government out of taxes we owe. The Bible is clear that we should render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s. And stealing pencils from work or small items from the store is still stealing. If you cheat or steal in little things, chances are you would succumb to bigger temptations if you thought you wouldn’t get caught.

C. TOTAL HONESTY MEANS RESISTING ALL BRIBERY.

It is wrong to take or make bribes. This may not be a problem for many of us because we’re not in a place where this sort of thing goes on. But some of you may be in such a place. In some jobs, bribery is almost standard operating procedure. It’s a problem for missionaries who live in countries where bribes to government official are expected.

God’s Word acknowledges that bribery often works (Prov. 17:8; 18:16; 21:14), but in the same context condemns it as evil (Prov. 15:27; 17:23; see also, Ex. 23:8; Ps. 15:5; Dan. 6:4). Integrity means maintaining a clear conscience and total honesty in all our financial dealings.

3. Integrity means not taking advantage of anyone in financial dealings.

This point stems from the many biblical injunctions to love our neighbor. “Love does no wrong to a neighbor” (Rom. 13:10). It also flows out of the quality of contentment regarding material things. If we are content with what we have, we will be less likely to take advantage of someone to make a profit than if we are greedy for gain. A godly man even “swears to his own hurt, and does not change” (Ps. 15:4). This principle means that if you can make a killing on a business deal, but you know that someone will be taken advantage of, you don’t do it. You can’t disregard the command to love others just because you can make a profit.

One way the modern church violates this principle (in my estimation) is by giving special honor or power to those who are large donors (see James 2:1-4). This passage means that if someone offered to give the church $500,000 to purchase a building, it would be wrong to treat him differently than anyone else in the church. That’s why I’m against naming buildings or rooms in honor of a donor. It’s wrong to cater to a big donor’s preferences so that he won’t take his money elsewhere. To do so would be to take advantage of him and to despise a poor donor, who may be just as faithful and generous in the Lord’s sight. I deliberately do not know what anybody gives to the church because I don’t want to play favorites. Each person should give as to the Lord, not to gain prestige or influence in the church.

Thus being a person of integrity in the financial realm means having a clear conscience, being totally honest, and not taking advantage of anyone.

4. Integrity means not being involved in gambling.

The Bible does not directly say much about gambling. But gambling violates a number of Scriptural principles and must, therefore, be avoided by Christians. According to a 1989 poll, 63 percent said they had placed at least one be in the past year; 23 percent reported playing the lottery weekly. More than half of all Protestants and nearly half of those who said religion is very important to them reported having gambled at least once in the last year (Christianity Today [7/14/89], p. 54). Here are five reasons gambling is wrong:

A. GAMBLING APPEALS TO AND FEEDS GREED.

The lure is, “Get something for almost nothing! Strike it rich! Today may be your lucky day!” This is opposed to the contentment which is to mark the Christian and it makes money the focus. But whenever material gain becomes uppermost in our minds, Jesus Christ has been dethroned.

Gambling feeds greed. You see somebody hit the jackpot at the slot machines or you hear about the guy who wins $1,000,000 in the lottery and you think, “That could be me! Think what I could do with all that money!” Your thoughts are seldom, “Think of all the missionaries I could support.” But Jesus said, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions” (Luke 12:15).

B. GAMBLING IS OPPOSED TO THE CHRISTIAN WORK ETHIC.

There is a principle in the Scriptures of work and of being rewarded for honest labor (1 Tim. 5:18). Gambling is the idea of getting something for nothing. It treats money lightly (“Easy come, easy go”) instead of attaching the value of labor and the responsibility of stewardship to money.

C. GAMBLING DENIES THE PRINCIPLE OF STEWARDSHIP.

Our money is not ours. All we have is entrusted to us by God, to be managed for Him. We must give an account to Him someday of how we have used the things He has entrusted to us. If I entrusted my funds to you to manage for me while I was on a lengthy trip, would you be a good steward if you gambled with it? Hopefully, you would take good care of it because it did not belong to you. Gambling is opposed to good stewardship.

D. GAMBLING GLORIFIES RISK AND CHANCE AND DENIES GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY.

Our God is not a God of chance. Evolutionists believe that we are the product of chance, but we believe that we are the product of divine choice. There is no such thing as luck for the Christian. To gamble is to deify luck and chance above the sovereign God and thus fall into idolatry.

E. GAMBLING TAKES ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE.

It takes advantage of those who lose. To attempt to make a profit out of somebody else’s loss is the antithesis of loving our neighbor. And gambling takes advantage of those who become enslaved to it. In 1980 there were already over 500 chapters of Gamblers Anonymous in our country. To be involved in a practice which enslaves so many and which potentially could enslave you is dangerous at best.

Thus for these reasons I believe that Christians, as people of financial integrity, should be opposed to all forms of gambling.

CONCLUSION
God wants us to be people of integrity in our financial dealings. Following God’s way will cost you financially. But it will give you a clear conscience before God and men. Your family will respect you because of your convictions and will follow your leadership in other areas as well because of that respect. Your children will see the reality of your faith and follow your example. And you will have true joy which money cannot buy.

Here are some practical steps of action:

Clear your conscience of any wrongs in this area. Confess your sin before God and appropriate His power to obey Him.
Discontinue any corrupt practices you are now engaged in. You can’t pray for God’s blessing and continue to do wrong.
Seek forgiveness and make restitution to any you have wronged. If you have stolen, you need to pay it back. Use your confession as an opportunity for witness.
Make a prior commitment to total honesty. You cannot wait until the situation arises to decide whether or not you’ll be honest. You must weigh in advance the cost of discipleship and commit yourself to it because you believe in the living God and His Word.
Make a prior commitment to abstain from gambling. You need to be ready when the office football pool hits you up for your share. If it’s a raffle for a good cause, then buy the ticket and view it as a donation. But I can’t understand why a committed Christian would want to go to a place like Las Vegas to gamble.
Develop a testimony to share when opportunities arise. Think it through in advance so that you aren’t tongue-tied when you take a stand for your convictions. Let people know that Jesus Christ is the reason for your behavior. People may be shocked and they may ridicule. They may test you to see whether you are true to your convictions. But if they see you as a person with convictions, they will ultimately respect you and perhaps be open to hearing about the God you serve.

An evangelist preached with great zeal on the text, “Thou shalt not steal.” He pressed upon his audience the necessity of absolute integrity in all things. The next morning he boarded a bus and gave the driver a dollar bill for his fare. Counting his change, he found that he had received an extra dime. He could have said, “No big deal, I’ll just forget it; anyway, it wasn’t my fault.”

But without hesitation he went to the driver and said, “You gave me a dime too much.” “Yes, I know,” was the reply. “I did it on purpose to see what you would do! Last night I was in your audience and heard your sermon. I’ve always been suspicious of Christians. So when I recognized you this morning, I said, ‘If he practices what he preaches, I’ll go hear him again, but if he keeps the dime, I’ll know he’s a fake.’” That man did go back to the meetings and yielded his life to Christ as Savior and Lord. He was won by a ten-cent testimony! (From “Our Daily Bread,” Fall, 1978.)

The world is often looking, even when we aren’t aware of it. And God always is looking. That’s why we must be people of integrity in all our financial dealings.

Discussion Questions

How can I know if my conscience on money matters is rightly “tuned” to God’s Word?
Is dishonesty always a sin? What about covering a friend’s wrong? What about lying for the boss?
If it’s okay to smuggle Bibles why isn’t it okay to bribe officials if it leads to the spread of the gospel?
What is the difference between gambling and playing the stock market (if any)?

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, © The Lockman Foundation

AUTHOR
By Steven J. Cole in his teachings on Money (1993). Steve has been the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship since May, 1992. From 1977-1992 he pastored Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and California State University, Long Beach (B.A., philosophy, 1968. You can visit his church website here: http://www.fcfonline.org/

Financial Freedom - biblical principles for freedom from greed and debt

2017-04-05T22:39:00.002+01:00

Financial Freedom (Selected Scriptures)

Preachers are notorious for preaching about money. Maybe it’s because their income depends on the generosity of God’s people. But I hope it’s for a different reason, namely, that they’re preaching the Bible, which has a lot to say about money. Of the 38 recorded parables of Jesus, 16 deal with money or possessions. In the Gospels, one out of ten verses (288 in all) deal directly with the subject of money. The Bible offers 500 verses on prayer, less than 500 on faith, but more than 2,000 verses on money and possessions.

Perhaps the reason the Bible puts such an emphasis on money is because, in Jesus’ words, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21). I would have thought He would have said, “Where your heart is, your treasure will be also.” But your heart follows your treasure. If you put your treasure in the things of this world, your heart will be in this world. If you put your treasure in the kingdom of God, your heart will be there. Since your heart and your money are so inextricably bound together, it is crucial to your spiritual life to study what Scripture teaches about money.

We begin today a brief series on “God, Money, and You.” In the next five articles, I want to develop four qualities which God wants to enlarge in the life of every believer. Each quality is in opposition to the world’s perspective:

Freedom (from bondage to greed and debt). The world says, “I want more and I’ll go in debt to get it.”
Integrity. The world winks at cheating and dishonesty.
Faithfulness. The world is marked by irresponsibility.
Generosity. The world says, “Hang onto it!”

Because your attitudes toward money are closely tied in with your heart, I’ll probably offend you at some point in this series! If I do, before you stomp out mad, please stop and consider that: (1) This stuff applies to me as well as to you, so I’m struggling to apply it just as I hope you are; (2) It may be God, not me, stepping on your toes. If it’s just me, I apologize. Feel free to disagree with me. But if I’m true to Scripture, please don’t shrug it off. God calls us all to be doers of the Word, and there are few of us who don’t have room to grow on this important topic.

Today I want to talk about financial freedom. God wants us to be free from bondage to money which takes two forms:

God wants us to be free from bondage to greed and debt.

Greed and debt are two main ways we become enslaved to money. God’s answer to greed is contentment; His answer to debt is control.

1. God wants us to be free from bondage to greed.

Greed is a major danger whether you are rich or poor. Many who are rich got that way because the love of money was the driving force in their lives. Many who are poor love money just as much as the rich do; the problem is, they don’t have any! Of course the root problem which causes both rich and poor to be greedy is the love of self. Money (including the power, prestige, and possessions it brings) is just the means through which the person who loves himself more than God and others thinks he can live comfortably. Since we all battle the love of self, we all must be on guard against greed.

A. GREED ENSLAVES ALL WHO DO NOT MASTER IT.

Jesus drew the line and put us all into one of two camps when He said (Matt. 6:24), “You cannot serve God and mammon.” (“Mammon” comes from an Aramaic word meaning “wealth” or “property” and refers to material riches.) If Jesus is not Lord of all your life, you are enslaved to money and greed! That sounds extreme, but Jesus didn’t allow for a middle camp, where God is sort of your Lord, where you can drop $10 in the plate whenever you feel generous, or even where you can give ten percent, but the rest is yours to spend as you please. Jesus was quite radical: “No one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions” (Luke 14:33). Either God or greed is your master; not both.

The main way greed enslaves us is through deception. If it marched up and diabolically said, “I am greed and I want to control your life,” few would fall for it. But Satan uses the desire for riches to appeal to our love of self and gradually entrap us. In the parable of the sower, Jesus explained the seed sown on the thorny ground as “the worries of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things” (Mark 4:19). The thorns of greed can choke out the seed of the Word and make you unfruitful. This deception operates in at least four ways:

(1) Greed can deceive us by gradually becoming our master. In Jesus’ parable, the thorns are different from the birds that stole the seed and the sun that scorched the plants in that thorns grow more gradually. The birds steal the seed immediately. The sun can scorch the young plants in a day or two. But it might take weeks for the thorns gradually to strangle the plant.

None of us would say, “I’m going to make money my master.” Rather, it is a gradual, subtle process. “As soon as I get the business on its feet, I’ll have more time for my family and for the Lord. But right now I need to give it some extra time.” Sure! Each one of us needs to ask ourselves honestly: Is God or is mammon my real master?

(2) Greed can deceive us by making money our focus for happiness. Paul said (1 Tim. 6:9-10), “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang.” Note the deception (“snare”; “pierced themselves”; “wandered away”). Nobody deliberately steps into a snare, pierces themselves through, or gets lost. They get trapped or pierced or lost before they know it.

The delusion is based on a desire--to get rich. People often want to get rich because they think that if they just had more, they’d be happy. But how much do you need for happiness?

One of the best modern parables on this is John Steinbeck’s The Pearl [Bantam Books]. A young man on a Pacific island dreams of finding the perfect pearl and of the happiness it will bring him and his family. One day he finds it, but he discovers that instead of happiness, it makes life miserable. Everyone is after him to steal his pearl. It almost costs him his life; it does cost him his son’s life. The pearl becomes the dominating thing in his life, his master, until ... (you’ll have to read it!).

(3) Greed can deceive us if we make money our present source of trust. (See Deut. 6:10-12; 8:11-14, 17-18.) When Israel was in the wilderness, they were forced to trust God. If the manna stopped, or if God didn’t bring water from the rock, they all would have died. The spiritual danger increased when their economic danger subsided. It’s easy when you have plenty to trust your plenty instead of the Lord who can give or take away your riches.

(4) Greed can deceive us if we make money our future hope for security. “As soon as I get enough for the future, then I’ll kick back a bit,” we say. “I just want myself and my family to be financially secure.” But what is financial security? How much is enough? Those are questions every Christian must ask honestly before God and in light of His Word.

It is not wrong, and, in fact, is quite right, to save for future contingencies and needs such as retirement, illness, emergencies, and death. But how much is enough? Larry Burkett reflects the balance when he writes, “Those who make no provision for their families are clearly outside of God’s plan and suffer as a result. Those who hoard and live lavishly are also outside of God’s plan and suffer accordingly” (Christian Financial Concepts, p. 67).

Jesus said, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). He then told the parable of the rich man who thought he would obtain financial security by building bigger barns to store his produce. But God required the man’s soul that very night and called him a fool because he didn’t plan for riches in heaven.

A modern version of that story is told, where a businessman had an angel visit him who promised to grant him one request. He asked for a copy of “The Wall Street Journal” one year in the future. As he was studying the stock prices and gloating over the killing he would make through his view into the future, his eye glanced across the page to the obituaries, where he saw his own name. Suddenly, that financial killing lost its significance.

The Lord is our only true source of security. With that in mind, we should prayerfully and prudently answer the question, “How much is enough?” Greed can enslave us through deceitfulness. You are either the servant of greed or of God. Be on guard!

What is God’s answer to the bondage of greed?

B. GOD WANTS US TO DEVELOP CONTENTMENT IN HIM.

After warning of those who think that godliness is a means of financial gain and before warning of the danger of pursuing wealth, Paul states (1 Tim. 6:6-8), “But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into this world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.” In Philippians 4, Paul says that he had learned to be content in all circumstances.

I must be brief, but contentment counters each of the four ways greed can subtly enslave us:

(1) Make God the master of all you are and have. We do not have the right to use anything as if it belongs to us. All our money and everything we have belongs to the Lord; we only manage it for Him. His Word gives us the wisdom we need to be faithful in managing His resources. If we constantly reaffirm God as the owner, we will avoid the gradual encroachment of mammon as master.

(2) Make God your focus for happiness. We are to rejoice in Him whether we have much or little (Phil. 4:4, 10-13). If we think, “I’ll be happy as soon as I get ____” (fill in the blank), we’re serving mammon, not God. If we rejoice daily in the Lord, then we can be happy with much or with little.

(3) Make God your present source of trust. If you are doing well financially, be especially careful! That’s when the danger is the greatest of shifting your trust to your bank account. If God is your trust, you won’t anxiously be seeking the things the world seeks (Matt. 6:25-34) nor will you be resting comfortably in your financial security.

(4) Make God your hope for the future. Hebrews 13:5 commands us, “Let your way of life be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you nor will I ever forsake you.’” Scripture directs us to make reasonable financial plans for the future (Prov. 6:6-11). I believe that providing for our family (1 Tim. 5:8) includes carrying a moderate amount of life insurance, having a will, and enough savings or liquid investments to cover normal emergencies. But God must be our hope for the future, not our investments or financial planning.

If we will develop contentment in the Lord, we can remain free from the bondage of greed. But there’s a second form of financial bondage:

2. God wants us to be free from bondage to debt.

A. DEBT ENSLAVES US TO THE LENDER AND HINDERS THE DEVELOPMENT OF KEY CHRISTIAN CHARACTER QUALITIES.

Proverbs 22:7 states, “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.” First Corinthians 7:23 instructs us not to become slaves of men. Romans 13:8 states, “Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another.” Going into debt puts you in bondage to pay off those debts. It makes you the tail, not the head (Deut. 28:43-44). While it would be too strong to say that the Bible forbids all debt, it does strongly caution against it.

There are a lot of definitions of debt (take your pick). I’m referring to spending more than you are taking in. If you are paying monthly installment interest on credit cards (half of American families do), in my book you’re in debt. A 1980 survey disclosed that the average American family in the 25-35 year-old bracket was spending $397 a month more than they earned. A 1975 Reader’s Digest article stated that one-sixth of married couples in the U.S. owed (apart from home mortgages) more than they earned in a year.

Debt goes hand-in-hand with greed, because it feeds off greed and self-gratification by giving us what we want now, rather than making us wait for it or work for it in advance. It reflects impulsiveness and hinders the development of discipline and self control (a fruit of the Spirit). Debt runs counter to waiting on the Lord in prayer and faith to provide what we need, reflecting a lack of patience. Debt presumes on the future (our ability to repay), which the Bible says is arrogance, since we don’t control the future (James 4:13-16). Debt often reflects mismanagement and irresponsibility with the Lord’s resources. And debt creates unnecessary tension in your life and marriage. It truly is a form of bondage!

Debt also prevents us from giving generously to the Lord’s work. Ten years ago Larry Burkett stated that the average American family paid $1,000 a year in interest (not counting their house mortgage). If they were out of debt, they could give that money to the church. If only 40 families in a church gave $1,000 more per year, that church could pay off the mortgage on the property next door the first year and then have more for ministry and mission needs every year after that!

If you get so far in debt that you can’t repay what you owe, it’s a bad testimony (Ps. 37:21). How can you default on your debt and tell your creditor about your Savior? Bankruptcy may be the easy way out (due to the American legal system), but it doesn’t honor the Lord. What is God’s answer to debt?

B. GOD’S ANSWER TO DEBT IS CONTROL.

Here’s a simple principle: You won’t get into debt if you don’t borrow! Control your spending habits so that you live within your means. I can’t go into detail on the pros and cons of borrowing for a home mortgage or other expensive purchases, such as a car. But on home loans, be very careful; on cars, avoid borrowing unless it’s absolutely necessary (which it seldom is). A lot of things we think are necessities are really luxuries. Christian financial counselor Ron Blue states, “Getting in debt is as easy as getting down an ice-covered mountain. Getting out of debt is just as difficult as climbing that same mountain” (Master Your Money [Thomas Nelson Publishers], p. 59).

If you’re already in debt, the only way out is to discipline yourself to spend less than you make and to use the difference to systematically meet your obligations until you’re free from debt. You can also sell off needless items and use the money to pay down your debts. Then you must continue living with self-control so that you can build up a surplus for expected future needs. If you can’t control credit card spending, do plastic surgery: Cut all your cards in half and throw them in separate trash cans so they can’t spontaneously reunite!

CONCLUSION
If you can get free from the bondage of greed and debt by developing contentment and control, you will realize a number of benefits. Here are three:

(1) Personally, you will be free from anxiety and pressure over money matters. Jesus showed the anxiety that results from living for things--worry about moths, rust, and thieves (Matt. 6:19-33). Debt and the pressure of how to hold off your creditors also causes anxiety. You don’t need that! It’s great to be free from money worries.

(2) Maritally, you will be free from strife and tension over money matters. Money is one of the leading causes of domestic unhappiness and divorce. There are enough pressures in marriage and the family without having money pressures.

(3) Spiritually, you will know that you are pleasing the Lord as His faithful steward. Pleasing God (not the other benefits) should be the primary motive for developing contentment and control in the financial realm. Also, you are free to give generously to the Lord’s work. There is the satisfaction of knowing that you are laying up treasures in heaven as you give. God promises to bless the effectual doer of the Word (James 1:25).

Are you financially free from the bondage of greed and debt? Do contentment and control characterize your financial life? If not, the only way to please God is to confess your sins, turn to His way, and begin to walk in obedience. It may take a long time and a lot of work, but you can commit yourself to begin the journey today.

Discussion Questions

Does being content mean that I shouldn’t work toward improving my financial condition? What does it mean?
How much is enough? At what point do we violate Jesus’ command not to lay up treasures on earth?
Is it wrong for Christians to live in luxury? How can we tell if we have a problem with greed?
Since God is to be our security, are things like insurance or investments wrong?
How can an impulsive spender develop self control?

Next Article: When No One Is Looking - Integrity in Money Matters>>

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, © The Lockman Foundation

AUTHOR
By Steven J. Cole in his teachings on Money (1993). Steve has been the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship since May, 1992. From 1977-1992 he pastored Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and California State University, Long Beach (B.A., philosophy, 1968. You can visit his church website here: http://www.fcfonline.org/

How You Should Give to Please God

2017-04-01T03:22:00.000+01:00

Giving God’s Way (Selected Scriptures)

In 1987, Chet Atkins and Margaret Archer wrote a song that was sung by country star, Ray Stevens, which went in part: “If he came back tomorrow, there’s something I’d like to know. Would Jesus wear a Rolex on his television show?”

That same year, a well-known religious personality told his TV audience that if they didn’t give $8 million to his fund-raising campaign, God would call him home. Folk singer Arlo Guthrie commented wisely on this when he said, “I firmly believe we shouldn’t negotiate with any terrorist on any level” (both of above in Newsweek [5/4/87], p. 17).

TV religious hucksters have given a bad name to Christian giving. Because of such abuse, pastors may be afraid to deal with this important subject. But we need to be clear on what Scripture teaches about giving. In my last article I answered the question, “How much should I give?” by saying that only giving a tenth is, in most cases, to fall short; rather, God wants us to give generously as He has prospered us (see previous article: Why You Should Not Tithe).

This week I want to conclude this series by answering five other questions that will help us give God’s way: (1) Who should give? (2) Why should I give? (3) How should I give? (4) To whom should I give? (5) What will happen when I give?

1. Who should give? All believers, but not unbelievers, should give to the Lord.

Giving is a privilege and responsibility for those who have received from God the gift of eternal life. But it is wrong for churches or other Christian ministries to appeal to unbelievers for funds. Third John 7 mentions Christian workers who “went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.” Unbelievers cannot offer good works to God. It is wrong to give an unbeliever any basis for thinking that he can gain merit before God by giving or any other good deed.

Unbelievers frequently gripe that the church is always after their money. They are right in one sense: God is after their money, because their hearts are bound up with their treasure, and God wants their hearts to be devoted to Him. The fact that they resent giving shows the condition of their hearts. But we need to make it clear that if a person has not given his heart to God in response to God’s giving His Son on the cross to pay the penalty for his sins (2 Cor. 8:5), then we do not want him to give to the Lord’s work. Giving should be a thank offering to God, and a person outside of Christ cannot properly give such an offering (Heb. 13:16).

Giving is for believers, and it should be done by all believers. Poor Christians as well as rich should give to the Lord (2 Cor. 8:2; Luke 21:1-4). That is one reason it is wrong to be in debt, because you aren’t free to give generously when you owe creditors. But even if you can’t give much, you aren’t exempt from giving. Those who are supported in Christian ministry are not exempt either. In fact, they should set the example (Acts 20:35).

2. Why should I give? I should give because God has first given to me and I want to please Him.

In giving, motivation is crucial. There are many...

A. WRONG MOTIVES FOR GIVING:

(1) Pride. If you give to be honored by men for your great generosity, you are giving for the wrong reason. Giving is to be done in secret before God (Matt. 6:1-4). Naming buildings or putting up plaques in honor of donors violates this principle.

(2) Guilt. We should not give because we feel guilty about having so much. If we’re not being good stewards of what God has entrusted to us, then we should repent and give from the right motivation.

(3) Greed. Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you,” is wrongly used to motivate people to give so that they will get. Jesus is not promising that if you give, God will give you more in return. He is stating the principle that if you are a generous person, others will be generous toward you. But you may give and be impoverished because you gave.

(4) Pressure. Responding to high-pressure tactics of Christian fund-raisers is another wrong motive. We are not to give “under compulsion” (2 Cor. 9:7).

(5) Gimmicks. This is related both to greed and pressure. All sorts of gimmicks are used to get people to give: “For your donation, I’ll send you my latest book.” I get fund-raising phone calls, where I’m told I can charge it on my Visa! I’ve been told that if I will give, the names of my loved ones will be entered in a special book to be placed in the lobby of the new building! Or, the worst is, “We’ll send you a special prayer cloth, blessed by brother so-and-so.” These are all worldly gimmicks, opposed to biblical giv-ing.

(6) Power. Money is power. Some people threaten to take their large gifts elsewhere if you don’t do what they want. That may be how politics operates, but that isn’t how God’s church operates. It’s wrong to show preference to the wealthy (James 2:1-9). It’s sin to use your money to try to buy spiritual influence (Acts 8:18-24).

B. RIGHT MOTIVES FOR GIVING:

(1) I give because God has given to me. I mentioned this last aricle, but it bears repeating because it is the prime motive in grace giving. God has given us everything (James 1:17). He gave His Son to provide for our salvation. He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph. 1:3). He “richly supplies us with all things to enjoy” (1 Tim. 6:17). Because He has given so abundantly to us, we should respond by giving generously back to Him.

(2) I give because I want to please God. Out of response to God’s grace in my life, I will want to please God by pursuing various spiritual goals:

I want God to be glorified. God is glorified when we give from the right motives and in the right way (2 Cor. 9:13). God’s glory is the overarching goal of the Christian life.
I want my heart to be right before God. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6:21). Your heart follows your treasure. If I want my heart concerned with the things of God, then I must invest in His work.
I want God to be my master. “You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matt. 6:24). Generous giving loosens your grasp on money.
I want my life to be used by God (2 Cor. 9:10). God could have chosen to work apart from us, but He did not. He could have used angels or loudspeakers from heaven to spread the gospel, but He chose to use us. And it takes money to further God’s work. If you don’t give, God will use someone else and you’ll miss the blessing of being used of God.
I want to lay up treasures in heaven. Investments on earth are insecure and transitory. Investments in heaven are secure and eternal. There is no more sound investment than that of reaching people with the good news of Christ. God credits money which we give to further His kingdom as fruit to our account, and He will reward us for it someday (Matt. 6:4; 19-20; 1 Tim. 6:19).
I want my faith to grow (2 Cor. 9:8-11). God will provide money for you to give if you will trust Him for it. If you are willing to be a channel for God’s resources, He will give you money to give. But if you bottle it up and keep it for your own comforts, the flow will dry up. Ask God to give you money to give. Then make sure you give it!
I want to be a compassionate person (1 John 3:17; James 2:15-16). In a day like ours, when we’re hit with so many needs from all over the world, it’s easy to close up your heart and not give at all. I know we can’t respond to every poor person around the world, but we need to do all we can to show compassion in the name of Christ (Matt. 25:31-46).
I want to be a worshiper of God. Giving is a sacrifice that pleases God (Phil. 4:18; Heb. 13:16). King David knew the connection between giving and worship. He said, “I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing” (2 Sam. 24:24). I like to give enough that it pinches our lifestyle. If it’s convenient, it’s not worship. Worship is costly.

Thus because God has given so abundantly to me, and because I want to please Him, I am motivated to give cheerfully and generously to His work.

3. How should I give? I should give in accordance with biblical principles.

There are several basic principles of giving:

A. I SHOULD GIVE IN A PRE-PLANNED, SYSTEMATIC WAY.

(1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:7). “As he may prosper” implies that whenever I receive income, I should give. “The first day of the week” implies regular giving as an act of worship. “Just as he has purposed” implies advance planning, not giving on impulse. In response to God’s grace, each household ought to sit down and determine a fixed amount they believe God wants them to give, and then follow through systematically. You should not wait until the offering plate is coming down the aisle and then think, “Oh no! I haven’t given for a while. I’d better drop something in.”

How do you arrive at the percentage? Pray about it and start with something above ten percent. Then trust God by increasing the percentage each year, especially if you get a raise. Warning: You’ll be tempted to spend the extra on yourself! Give it as the firstfruits, off the top, and trust God to meet your other needs.

B. I SHOULD GIVE IN SECRET TO THE LORD, NOT IN PUBLIC BEFORE MEN.

As I already mentioned, giving because of pride, power, or human recognition are wrong. Jesus says that we are to give in secret, but with the awareness that God is watching (Matt. 6:1-4). Every time you give, do it before the Lord.

C. I SHOULD GIVE SACRIFICIALLY AT TIMES.

The norm is, “as God has prospered.” But at times God wants us to give more than we think we can afford (2 Cor. 8:2-3, “beyond their ability”). Perhaps you systematically give 15% of your income. An opportunity to give comes along and the Lord says, “I want you to dip into your savings and give $2,000.” Or some extra money comes your way, and the Lord says, “Instead of 15%, I want you to give it all.”

I read of a church of 400 members in Thailand where every member tithes. In their case, tithing is sacrificial giving, because the members all make only the U.S. equivalent of 20 cents a week, plus their rice! But because they give sacrificially, they support their own pastor, they have sent two missionary families to other hard-to-reach areas, and they generously help other poor. One other fact: each member of this church has leprosy!

Thus all believers are to give from biblical motives in line with biblical principles.

4. To whom should I give? I should give to destitute family members, to spiritual ministries, and to the needy.

We’re all inundated with so many requests for giving. How do we sort them out and determine which ones to give to and which ones to ignore? I can’t answer that question completely, but I can give some guidelines:

A. GIVE TO DESTITUTE FAMILY MEMBERS.

This is your first priority in giving, since to fail to do it makes you worse than an unbeliever (1 Tim. 5:8). “Your own” refers to your immediate family: children, aged parents, grandparents, brothers, and sisters. This does not include a lazy, irresponsible family member who doesn’t work and who squanders money on alcohol and drugs (2 Thess. 3:10). A “widow indeed” (1 Tim. 5:3-16) refers to a godly woman without any family members to look after her. The church must help these, but widows with families were to be cared for by their families. It is not right to deprive your own family of the necessities of life in order to give to others.

B. GIVE TO SPIRITUAL MINISTRIES.

Since the local church is God’s ordained means for evangelism and discipleship, it ought to be next in priority for giving after destitute family members are cared for. Those who labor at preaching the Word are worthy of financial remuneration (Gal. 6:6; 1 Tim. 5:17-18). The church is also to support workers sent out to evangelize and plant new churches in places where the gospel has not penetrated (3 John 7; 1 Cor. 9:3-14).

You need to be wise about giving to Christian organizations. Here are some questions you can ask to get maximum effectiveness from your giving:

What does the organization believe? Do you know and agree with their statement of faith, their objectives, program, and methods? Is it strategic in completing the Great Commission?

Financial questions: Is there an audited financial statement available? Is the organization a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability? How much do they spend on program versus overhead? (More than 25% on administration and fund-raising is suspect.) Does your gift go where you intended? Is your gift tax-deductible? (This may affect the amount you can give.) Does the organization have a standard of excellence along with freedom from waste and extravagance?

What do you know about the people involved with the organization or the person you may support? Are they people of biblical conviction and integrity? Do they depend on the Lord for their ministry and support or do they use high-pressure appeals for money? Are they clear in their objectives? Are they accountable for their ministries?

C. GIVE TO NEEDY PERSONS.

We should give to help meet physical needs: food, shelter, medicine, etc. (Matt. 25:35-40; Luke 10:30-37; Rom. 12:13; 15:26-27; 1 John 3:17-18). There is an order of priority here (Gal 6:10): First we help believers, locally and in other areas. Second, we help others (“all men”) as a part of our witness, offering assistance in the name of Christ. If you want, you may designate part or all of your offering to your church “SOS” fund, which goes to help the needy. Churches who operate this fund use it almost every week.

Thus the general priority for giving moves outward from your immediate family, to your extended family, to the local church (including needy saints), to the outreach of the church through missions (including helping needy unbelievers).

5. What will happen when I give? When I give, God will bless with His results.

I cannot be exhaustive, but let me mention five results:

A. I and my family will be blessed. God blesses faith and obedience which are at the heart of biblical giving. If you give, God promises to supply your needs (not your wants!--Phil. 4:17-19).

B. Others’ needs will be met (Phil. 4:16, 18; 2 Cor. 8:13-14; 9:12). God’s work and workers will not be hindered. The needs of the poor will be met.

C. God will be thanked and glorified (2 Cor. 9:11-13, 15). He will get the praise if we give His way.

D. The Body of Christ will be united in prayer and fellowship (2 Cor. 9:14). Since your heart follows your treasure, you will be concerned about and will pray for those to whom you give.

E. People will spend eternity with God because of your giving. How can you put a price tag on that? What could possibly be more important?

CONCLUSION

If believers will give from biblical motives, in line with biblical principles and priorities, God will bless with His results.

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones tells the story of a farmer who reported happily to his wife that their best cow had given birth to twin calves, one red and one white. He said, “You know, I think we should dedicate one of these calves to the Lord. We’ll bring them up together, and when the time comes we’ll sell one and keep the proceeds and we’ll sell the other and give the proceeds to the Lord’s work.”

His wife asked him which one he was going to dedicate to the Lord’s work. “There’s no need to bother with that now,” he replied. “We’ll treat them both the same and when the time comes we’ll do as I say.” And off he went.

A few months later, the farmer came into the kitchen looking miserable and unhappy. When his wife asked what was wrong, he sadly said, “I have some bad news. The Lord’s calf died.” “But,” she said, “you had not decided which one was to be the Lord’s calf.” “Oh, yes,” he said, “I had always decided it was to be the white one and that’s the one that died. The Lord’s calf is dead.”

Lloyd-Jones observes, “It’s always the Lord’s calf that dies!” (Studies in the Sermon on the Mount [Eerdmans] 2:95-96). That story shows how easy it is to have good intentions about giving to the Lord’s work, but also how easy it is not to follow through.

There’s a story about a stingy Scotsman who accidentally tossed a crown into the collection plate thinking it was a penny. When he saw his mistake, he asked to have it back. The deacon refused, so the Scotsman consoled himself by saying, “Aweel, aweel, I’ll get credit for it in heaven.” The deacon responded, “Na, na, ye’ll get credit for the penny.”

May I ask, “How is your account in heaven?” Are you storing up many treasures there, so that you are rich toward God? Or, are you storing up treasures here on earth? If your account in heaven is meager, there’s still time. Begin now, even today, to sit down as God’s steward and get your financial house in order. Purpose to begin giving God’s way. And don’t let God’s calf die!

Discussion Questions

Should a Christian who is in debt give?
Is it wrong for a church or Christian organization to accept money from unbelievers (including foundations)?
Since the world has now become our neighbor, how can we know which needs to meet and which to ignore?
Is it wrong for American Christians to live in luxury when there are so many needy people around the world?

Previous Article: Why You Should NOT Tithe (Selected Scriptures)<<

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, © The Lockman Foundation

AUTHOR
By Steven J. Cole in his teachings on Money (1993). Steve has been the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship since May, 1992. From 1977-1992 he pastored Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and California State University, Long Beach (B.A., philosophy, 1968. You can visit his church website here: http://www.fcfonline.org/

Why You Should NOT Tithe As A Christian

2017-03-29T22:14:00.000+01:00

Why You Should NOT Tithe (Selected Scriptures)

"It would be political suicide to give that speech,” said an aide to his boss. “He’s right, Senator,” chimed in another aide. “It’s just one clear-cut statement after another” (Morrie Brickman, Reader’s Digest [4/83]).

It’s probably suicidal for a pastor to preach on why you should not tithe! It’s risky at best, because some may hear the part about not tithing and block out the rest of the message! I would guess that if everyone who came regularly to church gave ten percent to the church, the church income would probably triple, at least! So why am I not preaching instead on why you should tithe?

The answer is that tithing is not the New Testament standard for giving. Perhaps more than any other factor, giving reflects the condition of our hearts: “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6:21). You can fake some things, but you can’t fake giving your money! You may get mad at me, but I’m going to give it to you straight: If you give ten percent or less of your income to the Lord’s work, in most cases it reflects a lukewarm heart toward God. I used to give ten percent and thought I was doing fine. Then I made the mistake of preaching on giving! I discovered that God’s Word teaches that ...

We should not tithe because God wants us to give generously, and tithing is the bare minimum.

Our God is a generous, giving God who so loved the world that He gave that most precious gift, His only begotten Son. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). As God’s people who are to be like Jesus, we are to be generous givers.

The Bible teaches that God, who richly has supplied us with all good things, wants us “to be generous and ready to share” (1 Tim. 6:18). But what does generosity mean? Isn’t giving 10 percent of my income to the Lord’s work being generous? If not 10 percent, how much should I give?

1. Tithing is not the New Testament standard for giving.

Many churches promote a concept called “storehouse” tithing, based on Malachi 3:10, where God tells Israel to “bring the whole tithe into the storehouse.” They teach that the local church is the storehouse, the tithe belongs to God, and His blessing is conditioned upon faithfulness in tithing. One pastor in a church near me in California preached that if his people weren’t giving ten percent to that church, they were in sin and needed to go home and repent!

Before I critique this view, let me point out that there are some commendable points regarding tithing: (1) Those who tithe are often acting in obedience to what they believe God has commanded. (2) Tithing gets some to increase what they give. (3) Tithing helps consistency and discipline in giving. But consider these seven reasons why tithing is not God’s standard for Christians:

A. TITHING WAS A PART OF THE LAW OF MOSES; BELIEVERS ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW.

Romans, Galatians, and other New Testament passages make it clear that Christians are not under the law of Moses. That does not mean that we are lawless, because we are under the law of Christ (1 Cor. 9:20-21; James 1:25; 2:8, 12; Rom. 13:8-10). Those aspects of the Mosaic law that reflect the moral character of God are valid under the New Covenant and are repeated as commands in the New Testament. But the church is never commanded to tithe.

Those who argue for tithing point out that Abraham and Jacob both tithed prior to the Mosaic law (Gen. 14:20; 28:22). Thus tithing supersedes the law, they argue. If the New Testament gave no further guidelines, that might be a valid point. But it does, as I will show. But there are other practices, such as circumcision and sabbath-keeping which pre-date the Law and yet are not binding on us.

If you examine the references to Abraham’s and Jacob’s tithing, you will see that God did not command them to tithe and there is no indication that this was their regular practice. On one occasion after a victory in battle, Abraham tithed the spoils from that battle, but nothing is said regarding his other possessions or his regular income (Gen. 14:20). To follow Jacob’s example would be wrong, because he was making a conditional vow before God, promising that if God would keep him safe and provide for him, then he would give God a tenth (Gen. 28:20-22). That’s hardly a good example to follow in giving! Tithing was required under the Mosaic Law, but believers are not under the Law.

B. TITHING WAS AN INVOLUNTARY TAX TO SUPPORT ISRAEL; BELIEVERS ARE NOT A PART OF THE THEOCRATIC NATION.

In the Old Testament, there was both required and voluntary giving. The tithe was required. It was commanded for every Israelite to fund national worship and help the poor. In actuality, there was not just one tithe, but rather two or three ([1] Lev. 27:30-33, Num. 18:20-21; [2] Deut. 12:17-18; [3] Deut. 14:28-29), so that the total was not 10 percent, but more like 22 percent (see Charles Ryrie, Balancing the Christian Life [Moody Press], p. 86). Thus if we are required to bring the whole tithe into the storehouse today, we had better up the percentage from 10 to 22 percent!

C. TITHING IS NOT MENTIONED IN ANY INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CHURCH, ALTHOUGH MUCH IS SAID ABOUT GIVING.

G. F. Hawthorne writes (New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology [Zondervan], 3:854:

Since the tithe played such an important part in the OT and in Judaism contemporary with early Christianity, it is surprising to discover that never once is tithing mentioned in any instructions given to the church. Jesus mentions scribes and Pharisees who tithe ..., but he never commanded his disciples to tithe. The writer to the Hebrews refers to Abraham paying tithes to Melchizedek and Levi paying his tithe to Melchizedek through Abraham ..., but he never taught his readers to follow their example. Paul writes about sharing material possessions to care for the needs of the poor ... and to sustain the Christian ministry .... He urges and commends generosity ... but never once does he demand, as a command from God, that any specific amount be given.

If tithing is to be practiced by the Christian church, it seems strange that Paul did not mention it when he wrote of giving, especially to the predominately Gentile churches which would not be familiar with the Old Testament.

D. TITHING IS NOT MENTIONED IN ANY WRITINGS OF THE EARLY CHURCH FATHERS.

By itself this is not decisive, but it lends weight to the biblical arguments. If the early church practiced tithing, then the concept should surface somewhere in the writings of the church fathers of the second and third centuries. But it does not, even though giving was an important part of early Christian worship (see Hawthorne, pp. 854-855).

E. TITHING PUTS THE WRONG EMPHASIS UPON GIVING.

Tithing emphasizes your obligation to God; New Testament giving, as we shall see, emphasizes your willing, loving response to God’s grace. Furthermore, tithing limits giving by making a person feel that he has paid his dues (so to speak) and thus nothing more is required, when, in fact, much more could be done. Tithing has a tendency to put a person on a legal basis with God, rather than a love relationship. It’s the wrong emphasis.

F. TITHING LEADS TO A FALSE CONCEPT OF STEWARDSHIP.

It leads to the notion that 10 percent is God’s money and 90 percent is my money. In reality, 100 percent is God’s money, and He may want me to channel 90 percent into His work and live on 10 percent. Tithing can be a bad rut.

G. TITHING IS BURDENSOME FOR SOME AND TOO EASY FOR OTHERS.

If a man with a family of five makes $20,000 a year and tithes, he has $18,000 (apart from taxes) to support five people. If a childless couple makes $100,000 a year and tithes, they have $90,000 (apart from taxes) to support two people. That would be burdensome to the man with five mouths to feed, but ridiculously easy for the couple.

The above are seven reasons that argue against tithing. Then what is God’s standard for giving?

2. Generous grace giving is the New Testament standard.

When you say “grace,” a lot of people, unfortunately, connect it with hang-loose, undisciplined living. But that is not grace! Nor is grace the balance point between legalism and licentiousness. Rather grace (as a system) is totally opposed both to legalism and licentiousness, which are two sides of the same coin.

Legalism and licentiousness both operate on the principle of the flesh. Legalism is an attempt to earn standing with God through human effort and leads to pride or condemnation, depending on how well you do. Licentiousness casts off restraint and lives to gratify the flesh.

But God’s grace is His unmerited favor based on Christ’s sacrifice. The motivating power in grace is the indwelling Spirit of God. The person under grace responds out of love and gratitude to God and depends upon the indwelling Holy Spirit to conform his life to what God requires. With that basic understanding of grace, let me spell out some things that grace giving is not, and then some things that grace giving is.

A. GRACE GIVING IS NOT ...

(1) Random and irresponsible. It does not mean that you give every now and then, hit and miss; rather (as we shall see in the next article: Giving God's Way), it is planned and systematic (1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:7).

(2) Based on feelings. Being under grace does not mean living by feelings. Living under grace means walking by faith and obedience in response to God’s love. There are many commands under grace.

(3) Usually less than the requirement of the law. God’s grace should motivate us to excel far more than the minimum under the law (1 Cor. 15:10).

(4) Giving God the leftovers. God deserves the best, not just what is convenient. If we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, then we won’t just give Him what’s left over after the bills are paid. He deserves first place.

Thus grace giving is not sloppy, irresponsible, haphazard giving whenever we feel like it.

B. GRACE GIVING IS BASED ON ...

(1) God’s example in Christ (2 Cor. 8:9). Aren’t you glad that God did not just give a tenth! He gave all. The Lord Jesus Christ was infinitely rich. He dwelled in the unimaginable splendor of heaven, apart from the sin and corruption of this world. But He gave that up, laid aside His privileges, and took on human flesh. He could have chosen to be born as a prince in palatial splendor. But instead He was born and lived in poverty. He ultimately impoverished Himself to the maximum by taking upon Himself the sin of the human race in order that we might become rich (2 Cor. 5:21).

Grace giving looks to the nail-pierced hands of the Lord Jesus, who gave Himself so that we might be rescued from the wrath of God, and says, “Lord, You gave all for me! What can I give back to You?”

(2) The concept of stewardship. “You are not your own, for you have been bought with a price ...” (1 Cor. 6:19-20). All that we are and have belongs to God, not just a tenth. I am merely the manager of His resources. As a good manager, I use the Owner’s resources to further His work (see Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37; 11:27-30 for some examples).

(3) Inner motivation, not outward compulsion (2 Cor. 8:3-5; 9:7). Motive and attitude are crucial. It is better to give a small amount based on a loving response to God’s grace than it is to give a large amount based on outward pressure or pride. Note the attitude of the Macedonian believers: they had an abundance of joy (2 Cor. 8:2); they gave of their own accord (8:3); they begged with much entreaty for the favor (8:4!); first they gave themselves to the Lord (8:5); they had both the readiness and desire (8:10-12, 9:2); they gave cheerfully, not grudgingly or under compulsion (9:7).

We should not think, “How much do I have to give?” but rather, “How much can I give?” We should not wait for someone to pressure us with a need; we should look for needs that we can meet (8:4). I look for and give to Christian organizations or workers that do not pressure donors with desperate appeals for funds. You almost don’t notice these workers because there are so many pleading for your money so that they “won’t go off the air next week.” May I say, “Let them go off the air!” Christians ought to give based upon inner motivation, not outward pressure. Grace giving is based on ...

(4) A new relationship with the Holy Spirit, not the old dispensation of the Law. Romans 8:14 says, “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” Galatians 5:18 says, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.” The context of both passages shows that Paul is talking about the Holy Spirit leading the believer into righteous, godly living. In Galatians, such righteous living is spelled out in the context, in part, as sharing financial resources (6:6, 10).

It’s easier in some ways to follow a set of rules. Just give your 10 percent and that takes care of the matter. But God wants us to be led by the Holy Spirit. That’s kind of scary! The Holy Spirit might want me to give 35 percent or who knows how much! But the point is, I am not living by rules, but in a relationship with the living God.

(5) How much God has prospered you. How much should you give? How much has God prospered you? (Note 1 Cor. 16:2, “as he may prosper”; Acts 11:29, “in the proportion that [they] had means”; 2 Cor. 8:3, 11, 12). Generally, they gave according to their ability, and in some cases beyond their ability. Sometimes you should give sacrificially. (See the next article: Giving God’s Way.) But the general principle is, give as God has prospered you.

When God entrusts you with more money, instead of spending it on more junk that you have to protect from moths, rust, and thieves, you should ask, “Lord, how do you want this money used in Your kingdom?” As God gives you more, you should increase the percentage you give, not just the amount. If you have enough to live comfortably, then invest the rest where God pays guaranteed, eternal dividends.

But here’s the catch: we need to start giving where we’re at, and not put it off until someday when we’re rich. The Macedonians gave in the midst of a great ordeal of affliction, out of deep poverty (2 Cor. 8:2). Jesus commended the poor widow who gave all she had to live on, but He was not impressed with the large gifts of the rich, because they had much left over (Mark 12:41-44).

Ever heard of George Muller? George Muller is remembered as a man who received millions of dollars to support his orphanage, in response to secret prayer, without making any needs known to others. What many don’t know is that Muller gave away vast amounts to the Lord’s work out of funds that were given for his personal support. From 1870 on, he personally contributed the full support for about 20 missionaries with the China Inland Mission. From 1831-1885, he gave away 86 percent of his personal income! As the Lord prospered him, he could have lived in style. But he lived simply and gave away the rest.

CONCLUSION
Generosity and grace giving are built on the qualities of freedom from greed and debt. If you’re free from bondage to greed and debt, you won’t be enslaved to money. If you’re a person of integrity and if you’re faithful as a manager, not the owner, of your money, then when God supplies you with more, you will prayerfully channel anything above personal and family needs into His kingdom.

In church, we shouldn’t use pressure or gimmicks to get people to give. Your giving must be between you and God, based on your response to the love He has shown you at the cross. Also, I encourage everyone to refuse to give to any organization that uses pressure and fund-raising gimmicks. If you believe in the work of a church, then give generously as God has prospered you, out of love for Him.

Don’t assume that because a church doesn’t use pressure they don’t have needs. It is legitimate to inform the church family about needs so people can give wisely. The Church has needs: to meet its monthly budget; to get some better office equipment; to pay off the mortgage on the house next door so that it can use it and the house across the street for ministry; to buy more property for adequate parking; to pave the lot behind the church. Churches have to turn away missionaries who need support. The way to meet these needs is to help God’s people get their hearts right before Him and to teach what His Word says about money and giving. As we respond to God’s grace by giving generously, the needs will be met.

A farmer who was not much concerned with spiritual matters once went to hear John Wesley preach. Wesley was preaching about money and he soon had the farmer’s attention, because his first point was, “Get all you can.” The farmer nudged his neighbor and said, “This is unusual preaching! I’ve never heard the likes of this before. This is good!” Wesley talked about hard work and purposeful living.

His second main point was, “Save all you can.” The farmer became more excited. “Did you ever hear anything like this?” he exclaimed. Wesley denounced waste and extravagance. The farmer was quite happy, thinking, “I do all this.”

But then Wesley advanced to his third point, which was, “Give all you can.” “Oh, dear! Oh, dear!” moaned the farmer. “He has gone and spoiled his sermon.”

I hope you don’t think that I have spoiled this article by saying, “Give all you can.” God has given all for us; He wants us to be cheerful, generous givers who respond to His grace.

Discussion Questions

Agree/disagree: In most cases, not giving more than 10 percent reflects a lukewarm heart toward God?
What is the biggest hindrance to generous giving among Christians? In your own life?
Should we give out of obedience even if we don’t feel like it? Isn’t that legalism?
If 10 percent isn’t the standard for giving, how do we know when our giving pleases God?

Previous Article: Financial Faithfulness (Selected Scriptures)<<
Next Article: Giving God's Way (Selected Scriptures)>>

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, © The Lockman Foundation

AUTHOR
By Steven J. Cole in his teachings on Money (1993). Steve has been the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship since May, 1992. From 1977-1992 he pastored Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and California State University, Long Beach (B.A., philosophy, 1968. You can visit his church website here: http://www.fcfonline.org/

Two Important Keys To Sure Promotion In Your Workplace and Career

2017-03-08T00:21:00.002+01:00

TWO KEYS TO YOUR PROMOTION FOR SURE

Promotion is very important in the life of a person and a people. To remain on the same level for long is not a thing to be desired in that it becomes a routine and boring. In addition, it neither brings honor nor glory, instead it would appear to take them away.

Therefore, it is clear that there is nothing to celebrate in stagnation.

If you are promoted, your life will improve and it will bring along with it honor and glory, and many of the times, a sense of deep peace and satisfaction within.

One sure fact is that promotion does not come on a platter of gold. There are conditions that attract it. If you meet them, promotion will surely come your way. To save time and space, let me put them into two questions.

Essential keys (conditions) for promotion

Question One.

What do you work for?

I read a story many years ago that can help you to answer the above question and make necessary changes.

Now, the story.

Two Gardeners were employed on the same day in the same corporation. Twenty years after, one of them, named "B", became the Chief Executive Officer of that Corporation.

It was "A" who narrated the story; he was still working as a Gardner in that same place of work.

When his interviewer asked him the reasons for the promotion of "B" and his remaining as a Gardner twenty years later, his reply was, "B" worked for the corporation but I worked for my pay (wages) only."

Can you picture any difference between the two? Did "B" deserve his promotion? Did "A" deserve remaining on the same level?

Which one do you want, promotion or stagnation?

If you are the type who work for the money or gain, you are a hindrance to your own promotion. You refuse to be flexible and only strictly do that for which you are employed without any bit of innovation or ingenuity even when circumstances call for it. What do you want after your pay? Then, you must pay for it.

Imagine an employee who is sent out on a job errand and encounters a difficulty, he immediately takes an initiative outside his usual job scope but which solves the problem. Now, again imagine another employer in that same position, but who wouldn't take any initiative of his own, either because he isn't imaginative enough to come up with an ingenious solution to the problem, or he feels the extra time and effort he will commit to solving the issue is beyond his usual job designation, and so he simply reports back to the employer.

When it is time for promotion, who do you think will be promoted?

Every corporation will pay attention to an employee who works for it and takes good initiative when it is called for because such staff member loves his establishment and employer, and seek their welfare. Such employer will look for opportunities to compensate such an ingenious and hardwork staff.

A common complaint of a lazy or stagnant worker is "What is my salary or wages?" Or "What am I earning? The working hours are over, I cannot work any extra hours except they can convert it to cash."

These and other such complaints come from him. No wonder many workers agitate always for "a pay rise". A question that should be asked is "Do they deserve it?"

I am not against any demand for a pay increase. Certain employers are exploiters. They never think of compensating hardworking staff. Workers should agitate for their entitlements.

To be promoted, be ingenious, work hard for your employers and seek their good. Then compensation would naturally flow your way.

Question two.

Who do you work for?

Besides what you work for, you must iron out "who you work for". What am I saying? You must answer the question, are you working for man or the Lord God?

To work for man is to receive your rewards from man. You must note that man is limited, his resources are finite. His power is limited. Man also can easily forget your past and current good deeds. He may even appreciate them but lacks the means of rewarding you accordingly.

On the other hand, if you work in any capacity for the Lord, you stand a great chance to gain what you never planned or expected.

Reasons?

Read what the Scriptures reveal about the Lord,
"The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof ; the world, and they that dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1)

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." (Ephesians 3:20)

When you work for the Lord, you will have rest of mind. Your work becomes stress free. You will experience peace of God.

Register this in your heart as the Scriptures confirms,
"It is vain for you to rise up early to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows:
For so he giveth his beloved sleep." (Psalm 127:2)

Note that what obtains as an employee holds as a self-employed man. Be more interested in making a good name than in making money. Your goodwill will attract cash, sooner or later.

Do you desire promotion from the Lord? Do you want Him to elevate you? Now and forever, do everything "...as unto the Lord," and He will surely reward you with great promotions you never thought of.

Stay blessed and rapturable, the Lord is coming soon.

Related: How to Adjust to Your New Job Role and Optimize Productivity

Completely rewritten from an original by Olawale Ogunsola, the set man of CTFM (WORLD OUTREACH) and Presiding Pastor of Christ Restland Gospel Church

Learning the Jesus' Model on How to Deal With Difficult People

2016-12-20T23:32:00.001+01:00

CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIP HELP: JESUS MODEL TO DEAL WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE

This is the third article in a series of articles titled 'Christian relationship help' discussing ways to help strengthen the Christian relationship by offering advice, or bringing hitherto issues that escape our attention to generally help us relate better with people we come across. This particular Christian relationship help will look at three principles the Lord Jesus used in dealing with tricky and evil-minded people.

If you are looking for Christian relationship help, you are probably dealing with difficult people and wondering how God would want you to respond to them. Jesus dealt with many difficult people. Here are three principles he put into practice:

Jesus' ways to resolve difficult issues

1). Know the person.

Jesus always knew who he was dealing with. He was able to discern the thoughts and intent of the Pharisees and other people who were trying to trick him, kill him, and undermine him. John 2:24 says, "Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men" (NIV). When you are dealing with a difficult person, you can recognize the ways the person typically acts and expect more of the same: an angry person will get angrier, a sensitive person will take your words wrongly, a lazy person won't work, an abusive person will abuse the more, and an addict will engage more in the addiction. Expect it so you aren't surprised and thrown off track.

2). Detach from hooks.

Difficult people try to get you to bite their "hooks." They want to hook you into giving into their demands and taking over their responsibilities. They use anger, blame, guilt, threats, and moods to manipulate you. You need to recognize these hooks and choose not to be pulled into the game. You do this by separating yourself emotionally and mentally (and sometimes physically) from the person's actions. Jesus reminded us to be on guard against the schemes of men when he said, "Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues." (Matthew 10:17, NIV).

3). Choose your response.

Instead of reacting, you choose your response. Jesus was manipulated, despised, taunted, tricked, and abused, but he was always thoughtfully in control of his own reactions. He had boundaries and protected himself, until it was the appointed time for him to die and even then, he let himself be crucified. Regardless of what is done to you, you are responsible for choosing your reaction. It is your responsibility to set boundaries, say no, act respectfully, speak the truth, confront sin, refuse to enable, and love your enemies. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." (Matthew 5:38-42).

You may read the PREVIOUS article here: The Four Types of Emotional Manipulators In Our Relationships. The NEXT article will be published soon.

God bless!

Also read: Beware of Taking Genesis 1-3 Too Literally

Author Bio
Written by Karla Downing with editing and contributions from Ikenna Adimekwe.
Karla Downing offers relationship help as a speaker, author, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Bible study teacher, and mentor for women and men in difficult relationships. She grew up in a dysfunctional family and found herself in a difficult marriage. Through her personal struggles and professional experience, she discovered Biblical and practical principles that she now teaches to others to change their lives and relationships.

How to Deal With Alcoholism in a Loved One

2016-12-04T10:50:00.000+01:00

CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIP HELP: DEALING WITH ALCOHOLICS IN OUR LIVES

This is the very first article is a series of Christian article posts titled 'Christian Relationship Help' which will be discussing ways of building the Christian relationship by offering advice, and bringing hitherto unminded issues to our attention; therefore helping us to deal better and have better relations with our neighbors and fellow Christians.

This particular Christian relationship help article will discuss how to deal with alcoholism in a loved one. Proverbs 20:1 says, "Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise" (NIV), but you don't need a proverb to tell you that too much alcohol is a problem not only for the person who drinks but for the family members too.

Helping one another in love, as Christ loved us first

Medical experts have deduced that alcoholism directly resulted in 139,000 deaths in 2013 up from 112,000 deaths in 1990. A total of 3.3 million deaths (5.9% of all deaths) are believed to be due to alcohol. It often reduces a person's life expectancy by around ten years.

Principles to deal with alcoholism in a loved one

Here are some principles that will show you how to deal with a loved one whose drinking bothers you:

1). Face the Truth.

One of the common components of alcoholism is denial. The drinker denies there is a problem and the family often denies that alcohol is the problem. Facing the truth allows you to direct your emotional energy into figuring out how to respond to the drinking. You won't be making good choices about anything as long as you are in denial. And don't worry about whether your loved one is an alcoholic or just drinks too much. If it is a problem for you, then you need to deal with it.

2). Detach with Love.

It is easy to focus all your time and energy onto the drinker. You want to make the drinking stop by forcing your loved one to admit there is a problem and then to want to change. If it worked, it would be worth it; but it doesn't. It only robs you of the ability to enjoy your own life. Instead, you need to learn how to live your own life, while treating your loved one with dignity and kindness while allowing him/her to be self-responsible. You do this by recognizing that your loved one has the right to make personal choices, but also has the responsibility to deal with the consequences.

3). Set your Boundaries.

Once you admit there is a problem and then let go of trying to force your loved one to change, you will have to figure out what you will and will not do about the many difficult situations you are faced with as a result of your loved one's choices. It takes time to figure out what your bottom line is and even more courage to draw the line and then back it up with consequences, so be patient with yourself while you are trying to figure out your boundaries.

4). Seek medical help

Treatments are varied because there are multiple perspectives of alcoholism. Those who approach alcoholism as a medical condition or disease recommend differing treatments from, for instance, those who approach the condition as one of social choice. Most treatments focus on helping people discontinue their alcohol intake, followed up with life training and/or social support to help them resist a return to alcohol use.

Since alcoholism involves multiple factors which encourage a person to continue drinking, they must all be addressed to successfully prevent a relapse. An example of this kind of treatment is detoxification followed by a combination of supportive therapy, attendance at self-help groups, and ongoing development of coping mechanisms.

This Christian relationship help article offers you four principles that show you how to deal with alcoholism in a loved one. You may read the NEXT Christian relationship help article here: The Four Types of Emotional Manipulators.

God bless us all!

Also read: What Makes You A Christian? What Gives You That Right?

Author Bio
Written by Karla Downing with editing and contributions from Ikenna Adimekwe.
Karla Downing offers relationship help as a speaker, author, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Bible study teacher, and mentor for women and men in difficult relationships. She grew up in a dysfunctional family and found herself in a difficult marriage. Through her personal struggles and professional experience, she discovered Biblical and practical principles that she now teaches to others to change their lives and relationships.

Reference(s):
1). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Alcoholism. Retrieved 2.12.2016 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholism

The Four Types of Emotional Manipulators In Our Relationships

2016-11-30T00:31:00.002+01:00

CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIP HELP: THE 4 TYPES OF EMOTIONAL MANIPULATORS

This is the second article in a series of articles titled 'Christian relationship help' which will discuss ways of helping strengthen the Christian relationship by offering advice, or bringing hitherto unminded issues to our attention and generally helping us to have and relate better with neighbors and fellow Christians. This particular Christian relationship help will enable you recognize the four types of emotional manipulators.

When sin entered the human race through disobedience, relationships were affected because people became self-centered. [Gen 3:8-11 -- And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?] Rather than being transparent, cooperative, and honest, people began to cover up and hide their motives and their intentions to get what they wanted. Emotional manipulators do this on a regular basis because they have become adept at being able to exploit the weaknesses of other people to get their way.

Types of emotional manipulators

In this article, we will discuss the various types. Understanding them is essential to recognizing them, and resisting them. Here are four types of emotional manipulators:

1). Intimidators.

The Intimidators use their power and position to threaten you into compliance. They do this through threats, anger, withholding, and punishment. They know how to exploit your doubts and weaknesses to get you to give in. When people use their power to get you to give in to their demands, they are using intimidation.

2). Dependents.

These people project their helplessness onto you and make you feel responsible for them. When you try to hold them accountable for themselves, they make you feel guilty for expecting them to take care of themselves. They may try to make you feel sorry for them by reciting their bad luck, difficult circumstances, and a "woe is me" attitude. When you accept their incompetence and helplessness and let them get away with being irresponsible, you are being emotionally manipulated.

3). Pretenders.

These people pretend not to understand what you are saying or to hear your concerns. They may accuse you of saying and doing things you aren't saying or doing. They are experts at changing the subject, turning things against you, and making you the bad guy. They will call you a nag for bringing things up about them; call you selfish for asking for what you want; and call you controlling for confronting them. They are experts at using manipulation to convince you that they don't get your concerns, and as a result, will never deal with them.

4). Projectors.

The projectors accuse you of being emotionally manipulative and of having the characteristics that they have. An angry person will accuse you of being angry, an unfaithful person will accuse you of being unfaithful, a selfish person will accuse you of being selfish, a liar will accuse you of lying, an avoider will accuse you of avoiding, a controller will accuse you of being controlling, and a mean person will accuse you of being mean. When you find yourself being accused of something you aren't and recognize the person is actually that way instead, you are dealing with a projector.

WHAT THIS KNOWLEDGE WILL DO
Manipulation happens when humans take control of their own circumstances in order to have their own selfish needs met. In childhood, we see children throw tantrums to get their way. By adulthood, many have mastered the art of manipulation. In fact, you could be a manipulator, or the one being manipulated, and not even realize it!

Manipulation is not wrong only because it is dishonest and selfish, but also because it robs us of that needful dependence upon God Almighty, which is one core reason He created us in the first place.

Helping one another in love, as Christ loved us first

This Christian relationship help article will enable you to recognize these four types of emotional manipulators around you. By recognizing them and their style of manipulation, you will be empowered to resist their devices, and instead realize that they actually need help without giving in to their unwholesome acts.

On the other hand, if you have read through this article and discovered (to your shock) that you, knowingly or unknowingly, are one such person engaging in any one of these manipulative behaviors, you will need to thoroughly search yourself honestly and seek the help of God so that through His Holy Spirit, you may be empowered to overcome and live above this despicable habit.

You may read the PREVIOUS article here: How to Deal With Alcoholism in a Loved One. Or the NEXT article here: Learning Jesus' Model of Dealing With Difficult People.

God bless us all!

Also read: The Habits That Built King David's Faith

Author Bio
Written by Karla Downing with editing and contributions from Ikenna Adimekwe.
Karla Downing offers relationship help as a speaker, author, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Bible study teacher, and mentor for women and men in difficult relationships. She grew up in a dysfunctional family and found herself in a difficult marriage. Through her personal struggles and professional experience, she discovered Biblical and practical principles that she now teaches to others to change their lives and relationships.

The Habits That Built King David's Faith

2016-11-29T15:13:00.000+01:00

KING DAVID'S FAITH HABITS

"David would leave a record for unborn ages to read. He thought the Lord's power so worthy of praise, that he would make the ages ring with it till time should be no more." -- Charles Spurgeon

I love the positive feedback I receive through the King David Project. Hearing how David has blessed other people's lives, blesses me! One comment which comes up quite often is "I wish I was like David!" I understand, as I feel that way too.

David was one of the few people in the Old Testament to be filled with the Spirit of the Lord, so we are actually able to be like David, in all matters of faith. It's good news and I reply to people with: "you can do it; it will take time, as David's own faith took a long time to build, but it can be done, if you are willing to invest your time in a deep relationship with the Lord."

If you look at the details in between the most often quoted verses in the Psalms, you find references to David's mother being a strong role model and you'll also find that David worshipped and obeyed the Lord, from the earliest age a child is able (Psalm 71:5). The Psalms constantly reflect the values and teachings of the Laws which were set down by God through Moses, and David is an observant Jew (Hebrew to be precise. References to David's mother are Psalms 116:16 and 86:16 and his righteousness is stated in 1 Kings 15:5.)

As they appear in the Scriptures, here are the habits that made David a strong man of God:

Prayer
Study / Meditation on the Word of God (In David's time, that was the Torah.)
Praise and Worship
Seeking and submitting to the Will of God
Fasting
Awe and Wonder

The first five are self-explanatory, but what do I mean by awe and wonder? This, aside from prayer, is my personal favourite, as it's a characteristic I share with David. Awe and wonder is when you see what the Lord is doing in your life, in the people around you and through nature, and you are captivated. It's when everything speaks of the majesty and love of the Lord, and it builds you.

"I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendour and your wonderful miracles." (Psalm 145:5)

We are commanded by God to remember His deeds to keep our faith level high, as David knew from the Torah (which is the first five books of the Old Testament.) Deuteronomy 4:9 says: "But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren."

David does this in Psalm 66, which speaks of the Lord's deliverance and care of Isra'el. In verse 6 he makes a direct reference to the nation's history, as it was recorded in the Torah. (See also Psalm 103 as another example.)

"Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!
Your enemies cringe before your mighty power.
Everything on earth will worship you;
they will sing your praises,
shouting your name in glorious songs." Interlude
Come and see what our God has done,
what awesome miracles he performs for people!
He made a dry path through the Red Sea,
and his people went across on foot.
There we rejoiced in him." (Psalm 66:3-6)

A beautiful example of awe and wonder as acts of faith and worship is seen in the popular Psalm 8.
"O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
You have taught children and infants
to tell of your strength,
silencing your enemies
and all who oppose you.
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers
the moon and the stars you set in place
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honour.
You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority
the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,
the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.
O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!"

Similar Psalms include number 29, 33, 65, 66, 103, 139 145 and 2 Samuel 22 and 23:1-7.

Another aspect of David's success, came from his repeated requests to have God judge him, in order that he would stay on the right path. It's a beneficial habit for all of us to adopt and one that, to my own detriment, I neglect.

"How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
Don't let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
and innocent of great sin.
May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." (Psalm 19:12-14)

As David diligently sought God's judgement and was very rarely judged, he was able to declare his righteousness before the Lord in defence, when he was threatened and persecuted. He often states his position when grappling with his (and Israel's) need for deliverance. (e.g. Psalm 41:12 "You have preserved my life because I am innocent; you have brought me into your presence forever." See also Psalm 139.)

I encourage you to follow David's example. Meditate on what God has done for you; the wonders you see in creation and the testimonies of others that give you hope. Tell someone else, tell your children and enjoy living in awe and wonder.

"Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts;
let them proclaim your power.
I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendour
and your wonderful miracles.
Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;
I will proclaim your greatness.
Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness;
they will sing with joy about your righteousness." (Psalm 145:4-7)

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For more information on King David, please have a meander through the King David Project Facebook page, our web site and our blog, "Masada Rain." The blog houses many useful resources on studying, David plus bits and pieces of information which don't neatly fit into article form. Please ignore dates and use the search feature to find what you want. The web site has resources on David's family tree, life and the Psalms. All content is creative commons and non-profit. Sharing of the project's work would be deeply appreciated.

Masada Rain Blog: https://masadarain.wordpress.com
The project web site: http://cateartios.wix.com/kingdavidproject
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/fromdespairtodeliverance
Twitter: @Masada_Rain

"From Despair to Deliverance: the King David Project," is a non-profit ministry, that seeks to make the life of King David easy to understand and relevant, so that believers gain inspiration and comfort from the life of King David. The project is run by Cate Russell-Cole, a Christian writer from Brisbane, Australia.

Also read: How You Can Develop and Maintain the Right Attitude for Your Daily Life

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About the author
This article by Cate Russell-Cole is under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The free King David Project ebook is available from: https://archive.org/details/FromDespairToDeliveranceTheKingDavidProject.pages

The Perfect Match: A Job 31 Husband and a Proverbs 31 Wife

2016-10-03T13:10:00.000+01:00

PLACING JOB 31 AND PROVERBS 31 SIDE BY SIDE

Many of us have envisioned an ideal marriage prior to our wedding day based on role definitive bible teaching. But in addition, many - both men and women - have found Proverbs 31 very helpful for practical understanding of how the Godly woman's role plays out. It is a guide of the good, hard-working wife and mother that women in all walks of life can aspire to. But what is a practical guide for men to aspire to? What does that look like? What is helpful to both men and women to gain a practical understanding of how the Godly man's role plays out? Let's first look at the woman's role.

A Proverbs 31 Wife

Pastors have long preached on Proverbs 31 to describe the character and duties of an excellent wife and mother. At least they used to. Some, to the dismay of others, have used this passage to try and convince women to remain stay-at-home moms until the last child has finished high-school. Others have broadened the passage to mean that although this woman was gifted in sales and craft abilities, other women should adapt the passage to mean whatever their God-given talents are; that such gifts are to be used to bless others. But regardless of how it has been interpreted down through the ages, believers see it as a gauge of what to expect of Christian women in general.

Just what does Proverbs 31 say concerning the woman's role? Let's take a refresher course. Verses 10 through 31, listed below, are an oracle that King Lemuel's mother taught him. An oracle was the spoken word of a priest concerning a divine revelation from God to the people. The oracle is this (Proverbs 31:10-31):

An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.
She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.
She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all."
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.

What I love most about Proverbs 31 is that it encourages each and every woman to develop her unique identity as a person, which finds expression in the product she produces and the joy she brings to those on the receiving end. Proverbs 31 also shows us how the woman benefits by conforming to the biblical standard, provided of course that it is God's standard and not a false interpretation of His standard that she is conforming to. For it states, "She senses that her gain is good, She smiles at the future, Her children rise up and bless her. Her husband praises her, Her works praise her in the gates." These are great blessings. And I believe she is blessed mainly because she is engaging in work she has the talent and ability to do, and/or sells her products, or volunteers her services not just to help herself, but to help others. Do you see the difference? Other women have made the mistake of living totally for themselves and their families to the detriment of others; self-centered rather than other-centered. And on the extreme end, some women fit the description mentioned in Ezekiel 16:49-50:

"Behold this was the guilt of your sister, Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them"

They were women of folly.

Yes, these benefits mentioned in Proverbs 31 are a byproduct of a Godly woman of wisdom. She does not praise herself for her accomplishments. Others are praising her.

Are you experiencing these kinds of blessings?

Now of course there are exceptions to this behind-the scenes, stay-at-home, tireless woman. Deborah, a prophetess and judge, ruled Israel for 40 years (Judges 4:4). She, not her husband, was "in the gate" (place of authority) with the elders. But I'm sure when the day was done she went home to her husband, Lappidoth, to resume her wifely duties. There were other female leaders mentioned in scripture as well, such as Hilkiah, wife of Shallum (2 Chron. 34:22, 2 Kings 22:14), and Priscilla, a teacher along with her husband Aquila. And in modern times, most men do not dispute the role Golda Meir played in the years 1969 to 1974 as prime minister in Israel. Others would also include Margaret Thatcher when she was prime minister of Great Britain. And of course there are numerous others.

Today we do need to factor in some cultural differences like fewer children and modern conveniences making it possible for more women to have spare time to explore their creative gifts. But the woman of Proverbs 31 also had maids to help with the tasks at hand enabling her to accomplish so much. Others are not so fortunate.

Proverbs 31 not only shows women how to live out the practicality of loving their husbands and their children; but should cause them to realize the importance of maintaining their own identity formulated when putting their talents and abilities to good use, such as buying and selling what their hands have made, purchasing land and developing it, helping their neighbors in need, etc.

Some women have made the mistake of living totally for their husbands and children, never developing a sense of self. However, they eventually reach a point where they lose their unique identity and feel they are taken for granted. This is not God's blueprint for God's women. But devoting your time to God, husband, children, and outside interests is always a balancing act that must be maintained by wisdom.

A Job 31 Husband

Now let's look at the male role. Such a character sketch as that found in Proverbs 31 for women would truly be useful when it comes to identifying the character and duties of a husband and father. A male biblical role model would give us a clear picture not only of his responsibilities within his home and community, but the Godly character it entails. This would give him a yardstick so to speak, whereby he could gauge his progress along kingdom-living principles in the midst of a fallen world. He would be able to sense that his conduct toward his wife, his employees, the poor, the widow, the orphan, or the immigrant was helpful, not hurtful to them not only from his perspective, but also from theirs. Because his focus, you see, would not be on him. Kingdom-living standards are unlike the world's standards.

So how can the new groom gauge his progress upon assuming the role of head of household? Is he truly thinking of the welfare of those directly under his care and others within his sphere of influence? How does he know whether he is truly giving of himself or simply lording it over them like those of this world's system do? What does an excellent man look like?

One day, while reading the scriptures, I was surprised to find just such a passage that sent my feminine heart soaring. There it was in black and white, one man who fit the description of an excellent husband, a description that any Godly woman would admire. No, it wasn't King David. Yes, he truly was a man after God's own heart. And for this he shall forever be remembered and honored by God Almighty. But from what I read of him in scripture, although he was a man after God's own heart, he wasn't necessarily a man after one woman's heart. And I'm a one man one woman kind of woman. Married couples of his day were not taught by Moses that the husband represented Christ and his wife represented Christ's bride. That would come later. Nor was he instructed by the Levitical priests that he could not hold a leadership position within the congregation if he had more than one wife, because then he could not represent Christ. But under the new covenant, such is the case. And I, and most Christian women I know, are interested in what the bible defines as an excellent husband who truly represents Christ in his faithfulness to his bride.

Solomon, whose Godly wisdom I find astonishing, did not use wisdom when it came to women either. He loved their outward beauty and charm. But I don't believe he ever knew a true, deep oneness that comes with the one man-one woman dynamic. Moses loved Zippphora. And then God called him to perform a difficult, time-consuming task. After that, we don't hear much of anything concerning his thoughts or affections for his wife. We don't know how deep their relationship was. Despite his having to send his Moabite wife away along with their two sons to remain with her father while he attended to his own people, it may have been a terrific marriage. It's just that the bible is silent regarding it. No, the man I am thinking of that most describes an excellent husband is the man Job. And the passage I am referring to is the 31st chapter of the book of Job. His true character shows itself here. It is a description of how an excellent husband, father and leader behaves both in private and in public life.

Below are portions of the Book of Job, Chapter 31. These verses are direct quotes from Job, a wealthy man: He says this:

(v1) I have made a covenant with my eyes;
How then could I gaze at a virgin?

(v9) If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
Or I have lurked at my neighbor's doorway,
(v10) May my wife grind for another,
And let others kneel down over her.
(v11) For that would be a lustful crime;
Moreover, it would be an iniquity punishable by judges.
(v12) For it would be fire that consumes to Abaddon,
And would uproot all my increase.
(v13) If I have despised the claim of my male or female slaves
When they filed a complaint against me,
(v14) What then could I do when God arises?
And when He calls me to account, what will I answer Him?
(v15) Did not He who made me in the womb make him,
And the same one fashion us in the womb?
(v16) If I have kept the poor from their desire,
Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
(v17) Or have eaten my morsel alone,
And the orphan has not shared it
(v18) (But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father,
And from infancy I guided her),
(v19) If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
Or that the needy had no covering,
(v20) If his loins have not thanked me,
And if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
(v21) If I have lifted up my hand against the orphan,
Because I saw I had support in the gate,
(v22) Let my shoulder fall from the socket,
And my arm be broken off at the elbow.
(v23) For calamity from God is a terror to me,
And because of His majesty I can do nothing.

(v24) If I have put my confidence in gold,
And called fine gold my trust,
(v25) If I have gloated because my wealth was great,
And because my hand had secured so much;

(v29) Have I rejoiced at the extinction of my enemy,
Or exulted when evil befell him?
(v30) No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin
By asking for his life in a curse.
(v31) Have the men of my tent not said,
'Who can find one who has not been satisfied with his meat?'
(v32) The alien has not lodged outside,
For I have opened my doors to the traveler.
(v33) Have I covered my transgressions like Adam,
By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,

(v34) Because I feared the great multitude,
And the contempt of families terrified me,
And kept silent and did not go out of doors?

It says a lot, doesn't it? Yes, from the above scripture verses, what makes me proud of Job is this:

He resolved to remain faithful to his wife by holding himself accountable for his thoughts and actions toward other women. He would not gaze lustfully at a virgin, nor allow a woman to entice him, nor covet another man's wife. Most interesting, he cared what his wife thought. (vs. 1,9,10-11)
He understood and respected the rights of slaves. No, this is not an oxymoron. His slaves had rights! Colossians 4:1 states, "Grant to your slaves justice and fairness." (vs. 13-15)
He treated his hired workers with fairness. (v.31)
He helped the poor by giving bread to the hungry and covered the naked with clothing (vs. 16-20) as Ezekiel 18:7 prophesies (" a man who is righteous gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing").
He did not trust in riches. (vs. 24-25)
He served one God. (vs. 14-15)
He did not curse his enemy. (vs. 29-30)
He was hospitable to strangers. (v. 32)
He did not cover his transgressions like Adam, fearing God more than men. (vs. 33-34)

Number nine is my favorite because it encapsulates (encompasses) all the others. The tendency of all humans is to fear man more than God. And yet it is the fear of God that is the beginning of wisdom, Godly wisdom that is. The pressure from outside forces can be so great that most do capitulate. Few there be that take the high road.

Job was seeking the high road. And these are precisely the things I can see our bridegroom Yeshua/Jesus doing. Can't you! And yet, Job probably lived thousands of years before Jesus came to earth. While here, Jesus told us per Matthew 20:25-28:

You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

I don't know how Job came to know how to live so righteously. I just know he did because the scriptures inform us of this. And so we can indeed use him as our example of an excellent man.

Job made a covenant with his eyes that he, a married man, would not gaze with lust at a virgin. He had made up his mind (like Joseph, an unmarried man, during his captivity) that when times of temptation presented themselves, he would guard his heart with all diligence: he would chose to resist the enticements of a woman, nor would he ever covet another man's wife. He determined to remain steadfast in his commitment to be faithful to his wife. And it was not conditional upon whether or not his wife was deserving of such love. Job did not site loss of honor of a virgin's father or a husband's fury as his rational; he mentions only his wife's grief and the sympathy she would receive from those around her, and how the judicial system would move swiftly to judge him on her behalf. He did not want to sin against his wife because he feared God, and believed God's ways were best for both he and his family.

Yet he had slaves. Many believe scripture outlaws slavery. But that is not so. Slavery did exist in the Old Testament under the Mosaic Law. (And in reading the book of Revelation, it looks like it will be returning in the last days upon earth, but not because it is God-sanctioned.) But under the Mosaic Law there were God-given rules regulating who was or who could become a slave, how long they were to remain a slave, and how they were to be treated. (Additional laws were made for foreigners acquired during war and forced into slavery.) Job was a wealthy man who had slaves, and yet he says this about them:
If I have despised the claim of my male or female slaves
When they filed a complaint against me,
What then could I do when God arises?
And when He calls me to account, what will I answer Him?
Did not He who made me in the womb make him,
And the same one fashion us in the womb? (Job 31:13-15).

We see from Job's words that in his eyes slaves had a right to be treated fairly. He did not want to sin against them causing them to cry out to God because of his inhumane conduct.

Job goes on to talk about how he would not oppress the orphan or widow even if the judicial system would support him in this regard, and of how he cared for the poor, his hired workers, and the foreigner - regardless of how it looked to the multitudes who thought it was bad for business, and even though he saw the contempt in the eyes of rich neighbors who gained their wealth on the backs of them. He did not want to sin against them even though they were powerless against him. He didn't want to hurt them causing them to cry out to God on account of him. Yes, this is a man of integrity, a man worthy of double honor.

Job was wealthy, but he did not gloat. Nor did he curse his enemy or rejoice when his enemy was defeated. Not an easy thing to do.

Yes, Job knew what most of us will probably never realize in our lifetime, that the fear of God is truly the beginning of wisdom. He learned that many times he would be asked to make a choice regarding whom he would fear: God or man. And that each time he succumbed to choosing man over God, it would become that much easier to choose man again the next time. He also knew that by obeying God's commands, including never lying or deceiving, he might encounter the ridicule of others:

"Yes, truth is lacking, and he who turns aside from evil makes himself a prey." [Isa. 59:15]

He was well aware of what most of us try to forget, that God does see everything. He knew that God literally looks down upon each one of us as if we were the only one on earth. This all-knowing God has given us His rulebook. Why would Job choose to veer from it?

Was Job married to a Proverbs 31 wife? I don't know. Scripture doesn't tell us anything concerning her, except that after they both lost their ten children all in one day and realizing she was about to become a widow as well from watching her husband grow seriously ill to the point of death, she decried, "Curse God and die!" Under such circumstances, I would hope I wouldn't respond in such a manner, but I can certainly understand why she might say such a rash thing out of utter desperation to her husband who suffered unimaginably. Job's children were also her children. I'll let God be her judge.

And then a shift occurred in Job's circumstances. He ended up receiving double of everything he lost of value in this life except his children. He did father seven more handsome sons and three more beautiful daughters, and he knew he would see his original ten children again after the resurrection. (However scripture is silent as to whether Job's wife lived long enough to give birth to the next ten.)

That's quite a tall order, isn't it, becoming a Job 31 man? Now after reading this, some of you men may realize how some of us women feel when reading Proverbs 31. That's a tall order too! It should be emphasized however that we should not use these biblical models to criticize our mates on how they are falling short. This is the temptation that must be avoided. Instead, we need to see it as a tool to encourage and admire our mates when they show any of these honorable characteristics such as diligence, perseverance, hospitality, selfless giving, hard work, etc.

So what if you didn't marry a Job 31 man (or a Proverbs 31 woman)? Then what?
There is a good possibility that you probably are not what you should be either. Become what you should be first. That way, by taking the log out of your own eye, you can then help get the speck out of your spouse's eye. Catch my drift.

What do these two role models, the unnamed woman of Proverbs 31 and the man Job in Job 31 have in common? The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Related: How to Find the Right Man from God

Author
By Janet Truelsch

The 3 Ps' for Success in Your Career and Work

2016-09-26T00:55:00.000+01:00

THE 3 Ps' FOR SUCCESS

In our careers and at the workplace, we as Christians must continue to be the shining light that God meant for us all to be after our encounter with and knowledge of Christ. This article is essentially an inspirational piece that seeks to place in the hands of christian workers and professionals vital information that when actualized, have the capacity to ensure success.

As we continue to grow in Christ, our light cannot afford to be covered up, especially at our workplace but also in our personal lives, rather our lives must shine brightly through like a lamp kept on a stand. According to Napoleon Hill, "Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success".

What is success?

While a Marketing student about a decade ago, we were taught the 4 P's in our first year and later taught the 7 P's. This categorization made it much easier to remember the variables of what in Marketing parlance is termed the Marketing mix. Akin to the 4 P's of the marketing mix is what the world renowned Best-selling motivational author, Napoleon Hill considers "an unbeatable combination for success" and which I prefer to term "the 3 P's for success". These include patience, persistence and perspiration as itemized by Napoleon Hill in the quote above. It is my candid opinion that the 3 P's for success are non-negotiable and are an absolute necessity on the route to success.

Success may mean different things to different people. However, for the purpose of clarity and in the context of this write-up, I wish to define success as completing an objective or reaching a goal. A young person who aims at becoming a millionaire at age forty and who eventually achieves it within the specified period of time may be considered to have succeeded. Another who dreams of graduating from the university with a degree in Law and who in time graduates with a degree in Law has in essence succeeded in reaching his or her goal. Success simply has to do with accomplishing ones dreams, goals and aspirations.

The 3 Ps' for Success

1). Patience

It was Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the Genevan philosopher, writer and composer who once rightly noted: "Patience is bitter, but its fruits are sweet." This is exemplified in vivid terms in the occupation of farming. Farmers plant their crops with expectation of a harvest but also with the understanding that they will have to wait for weeks, months or even years, depending on the kind of crops planted. They thus plant their crops and provide the necessary care while they wait patiently for harvest time. It will be mission aborted and certainly a misnomer should a cultivator of Chinese bamboo trees destroy what he or she has planted (while still below the earth surface) with the pretext that the trees he or she planted are not growing or that they are taking too long to grow. It is common knowledge that the Chinese bamboo takes a couple of years to as much as shot out of the ground, let alone grow into maturity. The point of this illustration is to drum home the fact that in life, any accomplishment of significance takes time; sometimes longer than one may expect. This makes patience a necessity, less great dreams are aborted.

Thomas Alva Edison once noted: "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." If only they had been a little more patient. Anold H. Glasow made an insightful and brilliant observation when he stated: "The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it."

2). Persistence

The value of persistence on the route to success cannot be overemphasized. It simply is a must-have if one is to go far in life. Thomas Alva Edison, the prolific inventor and entrepreneur once stated: "Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." Similarly, Elbert Hubbard, American writer, publisher, artist and philosopher stated thus: "A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success." Samuel Johnson, English poet, essayist, editor and lexicographer caps it up when he observed thus: "Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance."

The struggles of Abraham Lincoln, the famed and revered former United States president epitomizes the virtue of persistence in the pursuit of ones dreams and aspirations. In 1831, Abraham Lincoln failed in business. In 1832, he was defeated for State legislator. In 1833, Abraham Lincoln tried a new business, and failed. In 1835, his fiancee died. In 1836, Abraham Lincoln had a nervous breakdown. In 1843, Abraham Lincoln ran for Congress and was defeated. In 1848, Lincoln ran again, and was defeated. In 1855, Lincoln ran for the Senate, and lost. In 1856, he ran for vice president and lost. In 1859, Lincoln ran again for the Senate. He was defeated. In spite of such a long streak of humiliating failures, he incessantly chose the path of persistence. It eventually paid off when in 1860; Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States. A perceptive mind wisely noted:"What matters most is not how many times you fail, but that you never stop trying."

3). Perspiration

Perspiration essentially connotes hard work as against slothfulness. It was Thomas Alva Edison who retorted thus: "Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration." He further noted: "There is no substitute for hard work." This observation ought not be taken lightly especially when it comes from one credited with numerous inventions, the first industrial research laboratory, and one who held over 1,093 patents in his name across the United States, United Kingdom, France and Germany. His phenomenal accomplishments are well documented and speak for themselves. Hard work obviously pays. If you doubt this, observe the ways of the ant, which even the Bible concurs: Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest (Proverbs 6:6-8). Even when people speak of working smart, it still boils down to hard work; thinking is hard work and thinking is a necessary route to working smart.

One of my all-time favourite inspirational quotes comes from the pen of the renowned poet, scholar and novelist, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He creatively underscored the value of hard work when he once stated: "The heights that great men reached were not by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night." A similar train of thought can be inferred from a statement attributed to Ray Bradbury, an American novelist, essayist, playwright, screen writer and poet when he sought to give some encouragement to persons who aspired to be writers. He noted: "Any man who keeps working is not a failure. He may not be a great writer but if he applies the old-fashioned virtue of hard, constant labour, he'll eventually make some kind of a career for himself."

CONCLUSION
For as many as desire to succeed in one area or the other, the ball is in your court. Go ahead, play it and play it well fully armed with the 3 P's of success and you have it made. Patience, persistence and perspiration most certainly make an indefatigable and indomitable mishmash for success.

Also read: Six Steps to Godly and True Success in All You Do

About the author
Written by Daniel Dela Dunoo. Daniel is a Freelance writer, Theologian and the founder of Top-notch Writing Solutions, Ghana. He has written for several websites, blogs, newspapers and magazines including HR Focus Magazine, MM Focus Magazine and Optimum Magazine. You can contact him via email: dudelda3@yahoo.com. His Blog: danieldeladunoo.blogspot.com

Bible verse(s) for meditation
1). A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men (Proverbs 18:16)
2). Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house (Proverbs 24:27)

Discerning the Voice of God and Winning the Mind Battle

2016-09-18T18:29:00.000+01:00

DISCERNING THE VOICE OF GOD

The success of any Christian's life heavily depends on seeking out and following the Will of the Almighty God for his life and calling. Sure, it's well-known and established that His Will is as revealed in the Scriptures, in circumstances around us and in the voice that witnesses within us.

Although we may know His Will through the afore-mentioned channels, yet we tend to hear several voices within us, and we are bombarded daily with thoughts that come into our minds.

How then can we know when it is God speaking to us? There may be no hard and fast rule here, but a very good place to start is to consider the truths in the stark comparisons below.

Comparisons of God's voice and the enemy's voice:

God speaks in a still, small voice.
The enemy speaks loudly, intrusively, and obsessively.

God's voice is heard through our spirit or deep within us.
The enemy's voice is heard through our soul or our mind, will, emotions, and intellect.

God leads gently.
The enemy leads with urgency and impulsiveness.

God's voice brings peace.
The enemy's voice brings confusion, anxiousness, and worry.

God directs us to repentance that brings restoration and hope.
The enemy speaks condemnation and hopelessness over our sin and weakness.

God gives clear direction.
The enemy speaks a problem to us but does not show how to solve or rectify the problem.

God speaks life to us and things that bring life.
The enemy speaks destruction, discouragement, despair, defeat, and death.

What God speaks to us can be verified in scripture.
The enemy speaks half-truths and lies that cannot be supported by God's Word.

When God speaks we always see a way out of our problems or circumstances.
When the enemy speaks he brings pressure and we feel backed into a corner.

When God speaks to us we will be encouraged, inspired, and motivated.
When the enemy speaks we feel burdened, weighed down, and lack creativity.

Win the battle for your mind and soul

God speaks to our spirits, deep within us, but when the enemy speaks we can hear that voice in our minds or our souls. Have you ever had an intrusive thought just pop up in your mind? Next thing you know you are obsessing over that thought. That thought originated in your mind or soul, not in your spirit and most likely if you feed that thought by coming into agreement with it, you will lose your peace and joy.

For our own good, Scripture clearly admonishes:
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

Battle from the enemy

When thoughts are put into our minds by the enemy and they are not submitted to Christ and we mull over them and entertain those thoughts, we can feel pretty emotionally unbalanced. If the enemy can get us to believe the thoughts that he sends us, we will eventually begin to act on these thoughts.

►Thoughts precede emotions (behavior). If the enemy can get you to think his thoughts, it will not be long before you begin acting them out.

Discipline your mind to take every thought captive and submit them to Christ immediately. Not every thought that comes into your mind is good or from God. The battlefield is in the mind. You can CHOOSE the thoughts that come into your mind, but you must know where those thoughts have originated from. It is almost like you need a filing system in your mind. Here is how it goes:

►Filing system for your thoughts.

When a thought comes into your mind, immediately check it. Does it sound like it is coming from God? If you are unsure, go back and review the above checklist for knowing God's voice. If the thought is from God, keep it in your mind and then store it in your "filing system," to bring back later to encourage you and remind you of what God spoke to you. Keep in mind that God does discipline us when we need it, BUT you will never feel condemned or that your sin is just too great for God to forgive. God makes our sins aware to us and areas that need to be discarded to restore and heal us.

If you have a thought that is causing you to worry, stress, fear, doubt, bringing temptation, condemnation, discouragement, despair, defeat, or any other negative, death-producing thought; immediately submit it to Christ. Do not "file" that thought in your mind or store it for later to mull over. DELETE.DELETE.DELETE. Then REPLACE and mediate upon what God says. Don't just have an "empty file system" in your mind, you must not have a passive mind. A passive mind that does not think good thoughts and thoughts of God is an open area for the enemy to place his thoughts into your mind.

Think of your thoughts as a filing system that has to be maintained, with thoughts that you will file and store for later, and thoughts you will not file and store away for later use. Some thoughts are useful to us, and others must be discarded immediately.

Battle from our own flesh

Our flesh has thoughts as well. Let's face it, our flesh is weak and it wants what it wants. We can hear our flesh speaking through our minds. All fleshly thoughts must also be brought under submission to Christ. Why? Because our flesh may not totally sanctified and our flesh can be weak. The devil does not always make us sin, sometimes our flesh wants what it wants. There can be an open door to the enemy's thoughts and suggestions even more if we are not taking our fleshly thoughts captive. Fleshy thoughts can be those areas of addiction, sexual immorality, greed, lust, and perversion.

God speaks life and you will feel hopeful, peaceful, forgiven, more than a conqueror, loved, valuable, motivated, creative, inspired, encouraged, uplifted, strong, confident, equipped, empowered, and worthy.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27

Also read: The Power Of Love In the Christian's Life

Author
Stephanie Reck, LMSW, LBT,BCCC. Christian counselor, author, speaker, and teacher. Stephanie has a passion to bring hope and encouragement and to see people made whole.

The Times Have Changed But God Hasn’t

2016-09-11T23:17:00.000+01:00

GOD'S ANCIENT PATH IS AS RELEVANT TODAY AS CENTURIES AGO

There is no church on earth that has the authority to declare something as “good” when God, and the Bible, have declared it as evil. By the same token no individual, acting in any capacity, religious or otherwise, can represent God as giving approval to that which God abhors.

Let us be honest and tell it truthfully. God does not speak with a fork tongue, neither does He blitz us with fuzzy hints and subtle nuances. Weasel words and plausible deniability are not part of what God is about. Not now, never has been and never will.

That is not the God I know, neither is it the God of Holy Scripture.

God is the utmost moral authority, and every true believer not only understands this, but takes guidance from Him on all matters pertaining to morality.

When you buy a new motor car, the manufacturer gives you a proper handbook specifically for your car, so that you can maintain your car in pristine condition to function at its best. In fact, most manufacturers will base their warranty on compliance with the terms of that handbook.

Way back in time our maker, Almighty God, gave us the greatest living document imaginable, The Holy Bible, so that we may live our life to please him yes, but to live it to the full potential of its earthly sojourn.

No matter how much the world around us changes, you can be assured that God and the Holy Bible never will.

Yes, the language of the Bible can be modernised. It is true that language can become outdated and needs to be revised to suit current usage, but the divine principles and doctrines are not to be tampered with; they are applicable to all, for all time.

God speaks very clearly on this subject and tells us:

“For I am the LORD, I change not.” (Malachi 3:6)

“God is not a man; he will not lie. God is not a human being; his decisions will not change. If he says he will do something, then he will do it. If he makes a promise, then he will do what he promised.” (Numbers 23:19 Easy-to-Read Version)

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)

The world comes up with lifestyles and mores that grabs the fancy of many, but that does not make what they are offering wholesome, morally acceptable or spiritually gratifying.

The United States Supreme Court declared on 26th June 2015 that same sex marriage is legal in all 50 states, and many believers find themselves in a quandary.

They should not be.

In the United States, and many other countries as well, many things have been legalised that are patently immoral and spiritually degrading. Things like prostitution, gambling, pornography and profanity.

In most countries in the world fornication and adultery are legal.

It was only recently that slavery was declared a crime against humanity; for many countries slavery was not only legal but highly desirable, and having slaves were regarded as a status symbol.

The truth that cannot be ignored

The WORLD is at EMNITY and war with God.

You CANNOT serve God and mammon – (Matthew 6:24)
You CANNOT love the world and love God – (1 John 2:15)
You CANNOT be a true disciple (believer) and live contrary – (1 John 2:6)

EVERYTHING God stands for is opposed by the world, and therefore it should surprise no one that all the moral and religious landmarks are being assaulted and destroyed one by one.

One of the alarming things that is currently very puzzling is that many in the church are being hoodwinked into accepting evil as being good; and among the number are some professional clergy.

Okay, we know that some of the professional clergy are false teachers and demons masquerading as servants of Jesus Christ (the numbers that have been defrocked and in prisons for their criminal acts bear testimony to this fact), but the clergy has no authority to contradict God’s clear teaching.

When they do so, they are showing quite clearly that they are no longer part of the Christian church, has lost faith in God and their holy calling and are speaking and acting for themselves only.

They have backslide, lost their mandate to represent Jesus Christ and should do the decent thing and exit Christian ministry. The Apostle Paul tells us about these people in a must-read passage on apostasy (1 Timothy 4:1-2)

Believers everywhere need to come back to Christian basics and double check everything said and taught and verify if the Bible teaches it.

It is YOUR responsibility to accept truth and reject error.

Because some doctrine, or concept, or conjecture is popular, and taught by someone who appears sincere and charismatic, does not make it true and acceptable.

Matin Luther King Jr., once said, “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

People who are serious believers do not allow anyone to cloud their vision of Almighty God, nor allow themselves to be diverted from the path God has set them by lack of care and diligence.

Serious believers do what the Bereans did, even with so mighty a stalwart preacher and teacher as the Apostle Paul, as told to us here: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

So because God does not change, what he requires of us are clearly spelled out in the Bible, and faithful teachers and preachers constantly remind us, so that we keep along the true path.

Our duty as Christians

It is OUR responsibility therefore:

1. To walk in the light that God has shed on our pathway and not let the world delude us in doing otherwise, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7).

2. To look after our beliefs and doctrines, have an uncorrupted mind, and make sure we are standing on the solid Word of God, and not the popular opinions of others, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

3. To take great care of our Christian heritage, the holy faith that is entrusted to us, that our children and grand-children may benefit and that we might pass it on to future generations, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 1:3)

Because God does not change, He expects us to be somewhat like him, in that we are not to be tossed about by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14), but hold fast to our faith and trust him fully and stand firm; just like the Apostle Paul, “...But none of these things moved me.” (Acts 20:24)

Enough said.

Also read: The Secret Power Of Prayer To Influence Forgiveness

Books by this author you may wish to read.

BASTARD: A STORY OF REDEMPTION(e-book fiction)
http://amzn.to/2c4Tju7

ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT ON GOD'S CLOCK (Hard copy)
http://amzn.to/2bPxwc6

THINGS EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW (e-book)
Volume 1 Five tough facts to be faced
http://amzn.to/2c4Tplx

ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT ON GOD'S CLOCK (e-book)
http://tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-60799-630-9

STAND UP TO THE DEVIL (e-book)
Volume 1 - You must first identify him
http://amzn.to/2cr9bpb

Author
Dr. Henderson Ward received his Doctor of Divinity in theology, with distinction, from Masters International School of Divinity, USA, where he is currently a post-doctoral fellow. Dr. Ward's career involved pastoring, evangelism, and teaching. You may email him at drhendersonward@yahoo.com

What Makes You A Christian? What Gives You That Right?

2016-09-10T22:12:00.000+01:00

WHAT MAKES YOU A CHRISTIAN?

What makes you a Christian? No, this is not an academic inquiry, as if I am asking you a non-controversial question like how tall are you, or what primary school did you attend or if you had a good breakfast this morning. No, I am neither seeking a quotation of Bible verses nor some fancy theological explanation. I am not seeking information as regards the elements that come together to produce a Christian for, in truth, that is very well known.

Everyone who knows anything about Christianity knows that being a Christian is about believing in Jesus Christ, and his redemptive work on the cross, and committing to him through the grace of Almighty God. Sometimes these persons are referred to as born again Christians, or committed Christians, or merely saved or converted.

That's fine. That is what makes anyone a true follower of Jesus Christ, but the question is not what makes someone a Christian. The question is more pointed, hence more delicate. What makes you a Christian? What gives you the right, the boldness to stand up and say, "I am a Christian."

Some years ago I carried out a year-long evangelical campaign in a certain area of Barbados, and during the campaign I visited a certain house and spoke to a woman. During our conversation I asked her if she was a Christian, and she said yes, she attends church every Sunday, and some days in the week as well; and she sings in the church choir.

To be truthful, that was like music to my ears, and then I asked her another question. Have you ever accepted Jesus Christ as your personal saviour? And she answered promptly. No.

The good news is that this woman did accept Jesus Christ, then and there, found peace with God, and was happily converted.

All these situations do not end as well, some people would argue that they are as much Christian as you are, even though they have not been converted, and who are you or anybody else to judge them.

True, we sometimes become very judgmental, and judge people harshly for even minor indiscretions, and sometimes we do even greater foolishness without the slightest hesitation. But that is not the issue here.

The real issue to consider

That woman thought she was a Christian by going to church regularly and singing in the church choir. The rich man who questioned Jesus in Matthew 19:16 thought he had eternal life and lacked nothing, and the five foolish virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 thought they were just fine. But all these people suffered from the same problem.

Misconception, self-delusion, mistaken belief.

In church, I have often wondered how many of us in the congregation would go with Jesus if he appeared now. Not because I question someone's, or my own, standing in Christ, but because I know that the warning to "give diligence to make your calling and election sure" (2 Peter 1:10) is often not taken with due gravity.

Personally, I would rather you judge me harshly, and point out to me what you think I am doing wrong, and at least give me a chance to consider my ways, rather that you not saying anything, and I wake up in eternity facing the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20: 11-13.

Christianity is pure religion, consisting of nothing that is inappropriate or unacceptable to God. Pure religion has God's approval, is what true worship is about, and in all of its manifestations you see that which is uplifting to humanity.

So what is pure religion, and how do Christians exemplify it for the world to see?

Let us start with Brother James and his amazing, crystal-clear definition:
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27)

Let us break down what James is saying to its essential core, for this helps us to get to the heart of the matter. James said that pure religion was about caring for people and living morally upright.

Now let us turn to Micah as he addressed God's requirement for social justice:
"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah 6:8)

Micah and James are saying the very same thing but in a different way. Micah was about caring for people (do justly, and to love mercy) and living morally upright (walk humbly with thy God).

And then Jesus summed it all up beautifully when dealing with a lawyer:
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)

Jesus said here quite clearly that it comes down to two things. First "love the Lord thy God" and second "love thy neighbour as thyself" and if we are honest, we have to accept that many people still do not get it, among these are people who claim to be Christian.

It is impossible for someone to be a Christian and not love God, or do not have compassion towards fellow humans. That is what Jesus was saying, and what James was saying, and what Micah was saying.

If it is one thing that loving God does, and be assured that loving God inspires and impels Christians to do many things, then know for sure that loving God generates true compassion.

How do you feel when you see something that is awful; like a thug punching an old lady into unconsciousness because she would not let him snatch her handbag?

How do you feel when you see a hand-cuffed youth on the ground being brutalised by a police officer?

What is your reaction when you witness or hear of a young boy being abandoned in a forest by his parents because he was naughty?

How do you feel when you hear of an injured, poor man being refused treatment at a hospital because he had no medical insurance?

How do you feel when you hear of a hungry lad who took a slice of bread from the fridge and was subsequently whipped by his dad until his skin was bleeding all over.

The big question is this. How would Jesus feel or act in each of these situations?

The problem we have, and alas, some people who call themselves Christians are just as guilty, is that our minds are corrupt and we see people as white people, black people, brown people, red people, immigrants, indigenous, rich people, poor people and such like.

Jesus sees people as God's children in need of salvation, and for whom he died.

True Christians see individuals as our brothers and sisters; faulty, sinful, even criminal at times, wayward and rebellious, but to the last someone who is capable of living a transformed life in Christ. If you have not transitioned to this level of spirituality, if your hope is not for their salvation, then you are not in sync with Jesus Christ. Can you then describe yourself as a Christian?

Enough said.

Also read: How You Can Develop and Maintain the Right Attitude for Your Daily Life

Books by this author you may wish to read.

THINGS EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW (e-book)
Volume 1 Five tough facts to be faced
http://amzn.to/2c4Tplx

STAND UP TO THE DEVIL (e-book)
Volume 1 You must first identify him
http://amzn.to/2cr9bpb

BASTARD: A STORY OF REDEMPTION(e-book fiction)
http://amzn.to/2c4Tju7

ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT ON GOD'S CLOCK (Hard copy)
http://amzn.to/2bPxwc6

ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT ON GOD'S CLOCK (e-book)
http://tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-60799-630-9

Author
Dr. Henderson Ward received his Doctor of Divinity in theology, with distinction, from Masters International School of Divinity, USA, where he is currently a post-doctoral fellow. Dr. Ward's career involved pastoring, evangelism, and teaching. You may email him at drhendersonward@yahoo.com

Lies and Deceits: The Truth of Today's Modern World

2016-09-05T02:06:00.000+01:00

THEY TELL YOU LIES: DARE YOU BELIEVE THEM?

Every rational person likes to know the truth. This is a no-brainer, and from our youth our parents drilled into us the absolute necessity to tell them the truth, because it is only by knowing the truth that they, our parents, can act sagaciously on our behalf. Truth is often the precursor to correct action, whereas lies, in its many permutations, are designed to deceive, mislead and eventually obfuscate right decision making.

Life is a gamble we say, and correctly so, and even if we were always given the truth, correct decision making would still be ferociously difficult. But when lies are added to the mix, we arrive at a juncture that resembles the world we inhabit today.

Today, you can't believe your elected representatives, nearly all politicians are chronic liars; you can't believe your financial advisers, or the banks, for you have seen how these charlatans mislead the public as per the 2008 financial crash, you can't believe the mainstream media, for they are lackeys of the rich and powerful and deception is their stock in trade, you can't believe your government, for it is only after 30/40/50 years that you might get to learn the truth (remember how President Kennedy lied about the Cuban missile crisis).

The truth is that you can't even believe your doctor, for he/she wants to keep you returning for treatment, or medication, or whatever and because they deceive you, (some doctors exaggerate your ailments, and some are known for prescribing unnecessary medications or costly procedures to enhance their earnings) you should consider the need to seek a second opinion.

And I would not say much about lawyers, for if the truth kept them alive, some of them would be on life support with no hope of recovery.

Even simple, routine things, like boy meet girl and dating, are nothing more than a farrago of lies and distortions. How many relationships/marriages have collapsed because one of the partners acknowledged, "I didn't know that or else I wouln't..." Vile murders have been committed because spouses were deceived into marriage.

So why all the lies, all the deceit, all the misdirections and distortions? Why is truth the casuality of everyday discourse, and everything you see and hear may have a double meaning, and you better be extremely skeptical or even veer towards cynicism.

Have we now reached the point where truth is so disfigured and corrupted that it can no longer be separated from ruinous lies; and it is all down to presentation and interpretation? More pointedly, have we degenerated to a new norm, not seen before, and is humanity at its lowest ebb?

Some will answer yes, but I am not too convinced.

Remember that it was Soloman who said, "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun." (Eclessiastes 1:9)

The society that existed prior to the flood had reached a level of decadence that God could not tolerate. Defiance of God and the total decline of meaningful living invoked God's ultimate sanction; and the flood did the rest.

The flood occurred around 2300 BC and approximately 350 years later, around 1950 BC, Sodom and Gomorrah were burnt to oblivion when they too prompted God to act. God suspended his grace, and the retributive forces of providence did the rest.

The Truth of the Matter

The plain truth is that the society that existed prior to the flood, the societies of Sodom and Gomorrah, and others (possibly Pompei, Troy and Herculaneum that were wiped out) were rotten to the core. They all had one thing in common with our present world; they worshipped Satan.

Societies that worship Satan may pursue different avenues, but ultimately they reach the same goal: defiance of Almighty God. While methods may vary, outcomes do not.

Here is what the Bible tells us, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach (discredit, or disgrace) to any people." (Proverbs 14:34)

The unadorned truth, is that anyone outside of Christ is worshipping Satan, anyone whose fallen nature that is controlled by the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eye and the pride of life, and has not been transformed, is Satan's loyal acolytes.

Satan's acolytes of today's vintage do one thing, above all, exceptionally well; they lie.

Jesus Christ was right when he nailed it, as to the degenerate Jews, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." (John 8:44)

Satan is the father of lies, and his followers are unashamed, blatant peddlers of them.

It does not matter what field they are in, all Satan's acolytes peddle lies, and they reinforce and support each other in their perfidy.

Never forget that a thousand lies cannot drown a single truth, just like a lighted candle cannot be snuffed out by the whole universe of darkness.

But that does not stop the liars from trying.

It is a lie to live, or encourage others to live, a debauched life and expect that there will be no consequences. The homosexual and lesbian communities are proof of that perfidy. Their abominable lifestyles have brought moral decay to nations, brought toxic diseases that were little known to humanity like HIV/Aids, and Satan's acolytes in high places are pushing that perfidious agenda as if their lives depend on it. The Bible says, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." (Psalm 9:17)

It is a lie to teach that humans are worthless apes, emanating from some muddy swamp in prehistory and therefore are to be exploited, terminated as fancied, or used and abused by those who have the power. This perfidy has laid the foundation for ill-treatment of people from Hitler's unconscionable atrocities to the detestable gulags of the Soviet Union. The Bible says, "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." (Luke 6:31)

It is a lie to believe that the poor, the underprivileged, and the lowly in society are not worthy of living and the sooner they are gone the better. Because of this perfidy Governments everywhere are willing to sacrifice and punish the weak while pandering to every whim of the powerful and elites. It was this perfidy that drove the prophets of old, especially Amos and Micah, to such severe condemnation of ancient Israel. The Bible says, "He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor." (Proverbs 22:9)

It is a lie to peddle unbridled consumerism as the foundation for contentment and true happiness. This perfidy, that follows on from capitalism, leads to greed, egocentricity and strife. Unfortunately this unbridled consumerism has entered the church, in part, through the "prosperity gospel" advocates, and serious harm is resulting in people's spirituality; just what Satan's acolytes intended all along. The Bible says, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36)

It is a lie to believe, teach, preach or live as if all religions are the same, and we are all going to end up in the same place. The most grotesque lie of all in this context is this; who is to know or judge but God? The Bible says, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12)

This is really at the heart of Satan's acolytes agenda. If they blow enough smoke, create much confusion everywhere, befuddle the minds of the youth, play mind games with the weak and can tempt true believers to equivocate, then they feel that they are winning the war against God.

They are wrong. At the White Throne Judgment of Rev 20:11 they will find out.

True believers, born from above, who are children of God by adoption, through the influence of the Holy Spirit, will endure to the very end, not because they have obtained perfection in their human nature but because their faith is in the perfect God of heaven who is able. "He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber." (Psalm 121:3)

Enough said.

Books by this author you may wish to read.

THINGS EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW (e-book)
Volume 1 Five tough facts to be faced
http://amzn.to/2c4Tplx

STAND UP TO THE DEVIL (e-book)
Volume 1 You must first identify him
http://amzn.to/2cr9bpb

BASTARD: A STORY OF REDEMPTION(e-book fiction)
http://amzn.to/2c4Tju7

ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT ON GOD'S CLOCK (Hard copy)
http://amzn.to/2bPxwc6

ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT ON GOD'S CLOCK (e-book)
http://tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-60799-630-9

Author
Dr. Henderson Ward received his Doctor of Divinity in theology, with distinction, from Masters International School of Divinity, USA, where he is currently a post-doctoral fellow. Dr. Ward's career involved pastoring, evangelism, and teaching. You may email him at drhendersonward@yahoo.com

How You Can Develop and Maintain the Right Attitude for Your Daily Life

2016-08-28T13:35:00.000+01:00

THE RIGHT CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE

Attitude may mean different things to different people, but the common undeniable factor is that it refers to a person's own perspective toward a specified target, a person's way of saying and doing things. According to Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary, it is "...the way you think and feel about someone or something, a feeling or way of thinking that affects a person's behavior, a way of thinking and behaving that people regard as unfriendly, rude, etc."

As Christians, what kind of attitude should we have? Do you realize your attitude defines who you are? So, what should your attitude to people around you be? What is your attitude toward your self, and toward your brethren? Do you realize your attitude determines how your non-Christian neighbors perceive Christianity? And do you know it may also impact on where you spend eternity?

In trying to answer the question on the right attitude for a Christian, I am quickly reminded of the Lord's Sermon on the Mount, and firmly persuaded that this was answered by the Lord Jesus during that Sermon when He literally told us, "Show more love everyday to everyone around you; above all, love even your enemies." A Christian's attitude must exude LOVE. God's type of Love.

Jesus Sits by the Seashore and Preaches (Image credit: James Tissot - 1836–1902)

Matthew 5 describes the bulk of it, and I have in mind where He says: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” This advice is exactly how and what the attitude of a true Christian should be about - sharing godly love, without any pre-attached conditions, to everyone we come in contact with, especially to those who 'hate, curse, spite' and have probably 'hurt' us most.

Also read: Think on These Things to Embrace What is Good

10 suggestions to develop a healthy self-image and attitude

Based on this advice by the LORD Himself, 10 suggestions naturally turn up which I believe will help us to develop and maintain a healthy self-image and attitude. Please read them slowly. Meditate on them regularly. And above all, pray to the Lord for grace.

1. Hate sin, but never hate yourself or someone else.

When you do sin, go before God confessing your sins, and ask His grace to overcome such and similar sins in future (1 Jn 1:8-10). Be sincere about this and make up your mind.

2. Be quick to repent.

As you ask God for grace to overcome, sincerely resolve to repent of your sin. Ask God to give you, not only grace, but wisdom to live your life daily in victory over sin, and for Him. And He will!

3. When God gives you light, walk in it.

The Holy Spirit is the One who was sent to show us true light and guide our paths, after Jesus went back into heaven. He is the ONLY true vicar of Christ on earth at these perilous times (Jn 14:25-26; 16:7-14). Learn to allow Him lead you always. Trust Him as He leads you in your daily affairs. That is the secret to constant triumph. You cannot do it on your own.

4. Stop saying negative things about yourself.

Take every negative thought that comes into your mind, and subject them to the lordship of Christ (2 Cor 10:5). God loves you and it is wrong to hate what He loves. He has great plans for you, so you are in conflict with Him when you speak negatively concerning your future.

5. Never be afraid to admit that you have made a mistake

Be quick to own up to your own blunders, and do not always assume that when things go wrong, it must be ‘that person's fault’. Be humble enough to admit your mistakes when you make them, and wise enough to learn from them always and never to repeat them.

6. Do not dwell excessively on the wrongs of yesterday.

I used to err in this a lot in the past, but thank God, I now know better. Yes, it is wise to learn from past mistakes; but meditating excessively on them distracts us from the rich life that God wants for us. He has forgiven you. Leave the past things, and run the race of faith before you! Center your thoughts on Christ (Phil 3:13-14).

7. Take good care of yourself physically.

Make the best of what God gave you to work with, but do not be obsessed with your appearance (1 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 3:3-4).

8. Never stop learning

Continue at every opportunity to increase your learning but do not allow your education to become a point of pride. God does not use you because of what is in your head: He uses you because of what is in your heart (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).

9. Realize that your talents are a gift

Everything you are and possess are a gift from the Almighty, not something you have manufactured yourself; never look down on people who cannot do what you do. “Not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.” (Phil. 2:4)

10. Do not despise your weaknesses.

They keep you dependent on God. “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” (Philippians 2:14-15)

Also read: Who is my neighbor?

Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots - J C Ryle (1816-1900)

2016-08-22T02:08:00.000+01:00

HOLINESS -- A BOOK REVIEW

John Ryle had his beginnings at Oxford, where he was an athlete and first class student of the Greats. He was headed for a career in politics, but then was called to the ministry. He became the first Anglican bishop of Liverpool and a well read Christian writer. Ryle's most famous book is Holiness which is considered an inspiration for good Christian living. This work is a study of holiness, or Christian perfection.

"The twenty papers contained in this volume are a humble contribution to a cause which is exciting much interest in the present day - I mean the cause of scriptural holiness. It is a cause which everyone who loves Christ, and desires to advance His kingdom in the world, should endeavor to help forward. Everyone can do something and I wish to add my mite. The reader will find little that is directly controversial in these papers. I have carefully abstained from naming modern teachers and modern books...If in anything I am still in error, I hope I shall be shown it before I leave the world. We all see in part, and have a treasure in earthen vessels. I trust I am willing to learn." - J.C Ryle (1816 - 1900)

These are the opening remarks of J.C Ryle, who lived between 1816-1900, in his introduction of his book 'Holiness'. The book is a volume considered to be one of, if not the best book, on the Christian life that has EVER been written.

John Charles Ryle (1816-1900)
(credit)

It pierces one's heart today at the total and absolute lack of holiness which predominates our society and is blatantly seen all around us in everything today's modern man seeks to concern himself with: from music and movies to schools and business, right up to the churches.

Worse still are those who falsely call themselves Christians simply because they attend Sunday church service.

There just seem to be so much apostasy, uncleanness of thought, and unrepentant sinfulness which clearly demonstrates the level of godlessness and hardheartedness to which many hearts have sunk and been seared with.

No wonder, for Scripture clearly says in 1Timothy 4:1-2: "NOW the [Holy] Spirit speaks expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared as with a hot iron." - (KJV).
It is clear that millions, possibly billions, of people have completely lost any awareness of the holiness of God. Nor of His command for us to be holy, because He is holy and can make us holy (1 Peter 1:16). Do we dare to assume that He will accept us when we have chosen our will and ways over His?

Many fool themselves, to think that this is not rebellion. Just consider what Scripture says in 1Samuel 15:23: "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king" - (KJV). What makes a man think he can get away with all this?

John Charles Ryle
By Carlo Pellegrini, 1881.

The answer is simple. He has lost all fear of the LORD, that ability to stand in awe of who He is, out of pride and rebellion. There is no more humility, nor any earnest desire to truly know nor please Him.

What we MUST URGENTLY do

Unless we humble ourselves, and turn from our wicked ways, and seek the face of GOD, we constantly stand the risk of losing our souls for all eternity.

Besides, we will have to answer for every soul that ends up in hell, whom we were meant to have ministered to with the gospel of salvation, but did not due to our rebellion, apathy, and pride.

It is time to step up to God’s standard of Holiness, and let His truth shine through us, to give Him the glory due Him. Indeed, the Scripture did not mince words when it declared that we all are the salt and light of this bitter and dark world (Matthew 5:13-16).

We should strive for only the very best, and have the heart to be concerned over others who live in spiritual darkness. If we strive for holiness, then other problems we see in the body of Christ will start to disappear.

Though I am in no way affiliated to the book 'Holiness', I strongly recommend it to anyone and everyone who has the desire and the burden to know the LORD more, to please Him better and to grow in our wonderful Christian faith.

To read the FREE online version of 'Holiness', click here. To buy the book 'Holiness' from Amazon Bookstore, click here. To see Bishop John C Ryle's collection of books, click here.

Also read: How To Become A Leader Following The Steps Of Christ

The Power Of Love In the Christian's Life

2016-02-26T08:23:00.000+01:00

THE POWER OF LOVE

"And above all things have fervent love for one another, 'for love will cover a multitude of sins.'" - 1 Peter 4:8.

Christian living is synonymous with love. Every Christian must possess and exercise the power of love. It is most crucial in your Christian life because it determines both your earthly and eternal benefits. He who does not love does not and never did know God, for God is love.

The Implications of love and the great love command

To appreciate the enormous importance of love to the Christian and to living as a Christian, prayerfully and meditatively consider the following scriptures:

"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." - John 3:16.

"Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others]" - 1 Peter 4:8 (AMP)

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."(emphasis mine) - John 13:34-35

God exercised the power of love when He gave Jesus, His only son (who knew no sin) for humanity. He freely gives us all things since He was able to give up His only son for us all. That means He will never withhold any good thing from us since He did not withhold sacrificing Jesus for us.

Jesus Himself also manifested the power of love by accepting to die the most shameful death on the cross for mankind. And He left a commandment that we should love even as He had shown us. Jesus would never ask us to do the impossible if it was so.

From the foregoing therefore, and as regards our Christian life, it becomes very obvious to conclude that the Lord Jesus expects us to walk in true love towards one another.

What really is love

To do and live a life of love, we must first understand what love means and then apply it. As one would expect, and thanks to God, He has in the Scriptures clearly defined exactly what love is. According to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (AMP):

"Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth]."

The above scripture passage clearly describes love and the power of love. It is also very easy for us to see from this same passage that love is not a "FEELING", as erroneously believed and practiced by the world, but rather it is a firm and definite "DECISION" giving rise to actions.

The power of love in the Christian's life

Your Christian living is summed up in one commandment: "love your neighbour as yourself." Love demands that you do good to your neighbour and never do anything to hurt him/her.

Yes, some people are "unlovable" but this is where love exercises its magnificent power. Love is not based on how you feel but on what is right. It is a DECISION coupled with ACTION. You decide to love and you take steps to carry it out no matter the circumstances surrounding the issue.

Love transforms and saves lives. A person at the verge of giving up can make a comeback when shown love. Love wipes off tears and puts smiles on faces. It gives people reason and strength to face tomorrow. Also, it snatches people from the jaws of the enemy. When you show love to people you show them Jesus.

The best way to preach Jesus is to show love. When people encounter love they are convicted of their sins and they want a change, leading to the salvation of their souls.

How can people know you are a disciple of Jesus if you do not exercise the power of love in your Christian life? Unconditional love is the symbol of Christianity. Christian living entails walking in love.

"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." - 1 John 3:16

There is a call from God to humanity: to love one another, to cease from self gratifications and embrace selfless love. And to reach out to the hurting, insecure and confused and show them the right way forward. Love when shown to another has the power to set things right in the person's life.

In conclusion, we ought to love people with the love of God, no matter who they may be, even as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us all.

Daily Bible Verse for Meditation

"Hatred stirs up strife,
But love covers all sins." - Proverbs 10:12

How To Spend Valentine’s Day If You Are Single

2016-02-14T01:27:00.000+01:00

ARE YOU ALONE ON VALENTINE? READ ON...

Saint Valentine's Day, also known as the Feast of Saint Valentine or simply Valentine's Day, is observed on February 14 each year. It is celebrated in many countries around the world, although it remains a working day in most of them.

According to popular belief, Valentine’s Day celebration is not a favorite among singles. Thus, over the years, an explosion of advice columns and guides have been written attempting to inform singles on how best to spend Valentine’s Day without a date. The downside is many of these tend to be self-centered, only focusing on ways to treat yourself (such as taking yourself out or buying yourself a 'gift') or coping strategies to deal with your singleness “problem.”

Valentine's Day can be a time of building-up for your future happiness irrespective of whether you have a date or not. It can be a time and season of building a foundation for that very special person whom you are yet to see and let into your life.

Image credit: activ8me

Loving That Person You’re Yet To Meet

If being alone and lonely is your problem, rest assured that the advise of 'dating' yourself (i.e. taking yourself out or buying yourself a gift) is a poor solution. What you and everyone else really want is to love someone, and have them love you back in return. That is the only natural and gratifying way to go.

It is good for you to know you can actually work toward loving someone and having them love you back this Valentine, even if you are alone. According to 1 Corinthians 13, LOVE clearly is an action, and not a feeling, and you can do things this season to actively love and serve your future spouse — even if you have yet to meet them.

How can you do this, you ask? You must intentionally and selflessly do things this Valentine season to make yourself a better future husband or wife — a gift that, by the way, is vastly more important than chocolates, more loving than flowers, and more valuable than jewels (Proverbs 31:10).

While going over a great website, The Porch, I found 5 wonderful ways discussed there through which you could honor and love your future spouse as a single person on Valentine's day, and I have decided to share those tips here with you.

Below are the 5 ways to cherish your future husband or wife this Valentine:

1). Pray for your future spouse

If you are going to be married someday, the person you will marry is out there right now, perhaps also spending Valentine’s Day alone. Pray that they are walking closely with Christ and growing in their relationship with Him. Pray that each of you would become a more godly man or woman during this season. God is in control, so praying to Him is the single most powerful thing we can do.

2). Study the Bible

You will never have more time than right now to study and learn the Bible. Build up your knowledge now, while you are single, so that you are ready to apply it when you are dating, married, or raising a family.

3). Be financially responsible

Being single on Valentine’s Day gives you a head start here, since the people who do celebrate the holiday spend an average of $126 per person on gifts and dates. Though common advice often includes going shopping for yourself or taking the day off, a better idea would be to work and save money for future gifts or expenses.

4). Take care of yourself physically

Just be healthy. Again, being single provides an advantage: no boxes of chocolate or fancy, sedentary dinners. Instead plenty of exercises with adequate rest in between add a lot of health benefits if we can afford the time to indulge in them.

5). Guard your heart and mind

Don’t follow your heart; inform your heart. Avoid indulgence of the flesh, such as sitting and sobbing your way through a romantic movie marathon, or looking at porn. Honor your future spouse by not lusting over someone else’s or setting up unrealistic expectations. And instead of envying someone else’s relationship, the healthiest way to spend Valentine’s Day is to focus on your relationship with the One who already loves you unconditionally.

Adding it all together

Put another way, you can love them best by striving to be content in your singleness, and not turning marriage or romance into an idol. It is natural to want a spouse, and fine to pray that you will find one. Just be careful not to make that desire ultimate. Ask God for help in balancing contentment in singleness and the pursuit of a spouse.

And remember that love is not limited to just Valentine’s Day. You can do these things every day, and in the process become more the type of man or woman that others should look for. Hopefully that certain someone is out there doing the same, and therefore already loving you in return.

Now you must ask yourself pertinent questions at this stage:
How am I spending my Valentine’s Day? Have I planned to do the right and honorable thing(s)? Am I loving my future spouse with what I have lined up for today or what I am doing right now?

Make haste to ruminate over these questions, and if you find you have erred at any point, correct yourself and ask the Lord Himself for strength. He is ALWAYS faithful to forgive, comfort and strengthen us whenever we turn to seek sincerely from Him.

Do have a wonderful and honorable Valentine!

Also see: How to Find the Right Man from God

The Secret Power Of Prayer To Influence Forgiveness

2016-02-13T07:03:00.003+01:00

THE 3 CONSEQUENCES OF PRAYER OVER FORGIVENESS

Forgiveness is the intentional and voluntary process by which a victim undergoes a change in feelings and attitude regarding an offense, lets go of negative emotions such as vengefulness, with an increased ability to wish the offender well (Wikipedia).

Jesus expressly admonished us to forgive, not only friends who offend us, but also enemies who wish us ill-will. For many, that is a tall order. And as obvious as it is, for us as Christians, to forgive others who offend us as we have been forgiven through the blood of Christ, many still find the process unpalatable, and would rather not go through with it.

Lack of forgiveness carries with it some unfavorable consequences, including:

1). Unwillingness of God to forgive those who refuse to forgive people that offend them.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matthew 6:14-15).

2). Documented harmful effects on the body's health.
Current evidence in the field of medicine show that individuals with forgiveness as a personality trait or who make a decision to genuinely forgive have overall better physical health compared to those who don't. This has been explained as the relationship between forgiveness and stress reduction. The evidence shows that forgiveness helps prevent, and also, manage poor physical health. It also contributed to better mental health (Wikipedia on Forgiveness and Physical Health).

3 Effects of prayer on forgiveness

God the all-knowing creator must have known these unfavorable consequences and thus demanded that all men forgive their fellow men. Jesus added more insight into this by asking we go a step further to pray for our enemies.

Pray for your enemies? Who prays for their enemies? Only those who have forgiven them can do that! Praying is a great gauge of our forgiveness or the lack thereof. Praying for those who have offended us can be a great litmus test on three levels. In this article, we look at those levels, and even beyond to the power and effects that prayer can have on the ability of a man, even with an unforgiving heart, to forgive.

1. Praying for our offender implies that we have truly forgiven

First, if we have truly forgiven, then we would have no problem praying for the one we have forgiven. Actually being capable of asking God to bless them in all sincerity is a great indication that we no longer feel anger or malice towards them. Jesus said to pray for those who abuse us; it is only possible to obey this request through forgiveness.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:44)

Jesus is preaching forgiveness right here. If we do not think twice about praying for an offender, then we have most likely forgiven them.

2. Reluctance to pray for our offender shows we have not truly forgiven

On the other hand, if we cannot or refuse to pray for our offender, then we know we have not forgiven them. Our refusal or inability to pray shows we still hold something against them. We are not yet appeased, as it were. Realizing this is a good thing, for it allows us to realize that we still must forgive them. Deciding that we are reluctant to pray for an offender is a form of diagnosis that evidences our forgiveness was shallow.

Stephen, the first martyr of the church, was not reluctant to pray for his murderers because he did not hold their transgressions against them.

And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep (Acts 7:60).

Our Lord Jesus Christ was not reluctant to pray for those who were crucifying Him.

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots (Luke 23:34).

Reluctance and refusal to pray for our offenders is the hallmark of an unforgiving heart. When we realize we haven't forgiven an offender, we go back to the drawing table, as it were, and we persist in our decision to forgive them. We ask God, our loving guide, to help us forgive, and then we go on to the next step.

3. Praying for our offender softens our heart towards forgiveness

Thirdly, the act of prayer that determines the level of our forgiveness is equally effective in enabling us to forgive. In praying for our offenders, a beautiful transformation begins to take place within us: our hearts begin to soften. While we may not mean the prayer in the beginning, we still expose our mind, our will, and our emotions to God, allowing him to better carry out His work.

Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou [art] the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day (Psalms 25:5).

What prayer does in us to forgive

Dr. Tai Ikomi, the female author of over 30 books and a conference speaker, who conducts seminars on the Names of God and forgiveness after forgiving the drunk man who killed her entire family, talked about the man who forgave his wife in one of her articles. Hear her:

I once counseled a man whose wife took his children from him without leaving a sign as to where they would be. He was so hurt. He loved his children dearly and now he could not find them. I told him to pray for her. At first, he could not do it. He said he felt hypocritical, because he did not mean the words that came out of his mouth. I told him not to stop; he should continue praying even if he did not mean it. He followed my advice and began praying for her again.

One day, he called me. He was on top of the world. He was so happy. He said he was healed. It was as if praying for his wife who had taken their children from him was the miracle drug he had always needed. No counseling could have achieved this. No medication could have ever been so effective. But forgiveness was up to the task!

Continuing in Dr. Tai Ikomi's words:

Before our Father in Heaven who commanded us to forgive, we pour out our pain, our anger, and our hurts. Yes, we may writhe in pain from the consequences of our offender's actions. As we pray, our emotions cry out, and we become even more aware of them. They may go into convulsions, so to speak. We do not want to pray for this person who has hurt us so much. But we must continue. We are fighting on the grounds of a battlefield. At the end of the warfare is victory. We would never want to go back to unforgiveness after we have tasted victory that can be found in forgiveness.

In conclusion, carrying out the commandment of the Lord by praying for those who hate us, or have offended us, or have hurt us on various levels has proved to be most useful. The God of grace is always there to strengthen us in all areas.

Also see: Why We Pray and How To Pray Right

This article was written using some materials from one of Dr. Tai Ikomi's works, '3 effects of prayer on forgiveness'. She is the founder of Forgiveness Discipleship.

Vatican Panel Commences Meeting on Sexual Abuse by Watching 'Spotlight'

2016-02-11T03:26:00.000+01:00

CATHOLIC COMMISSION SEES THE MOVIE, SPOTLIGHT

A Vatican commission on clerical sex abuse gathered Thursday last week for a private screening of “Spotlight,” the Oscar-nominated film about abuse by Boston priests, even as Pope Francis came under fire for failing to act on the crisis.

The extraordinary screening was held on the eve of a three-day meeting by the commission, and was shown in the same church residence in central Rome where Francis — then Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio — stayed before his election as pope in 2013.

“The film is extremely worrying about the cover-up of abuse in the Catholic Church, and I think it would be a good moment for the pope to see it,” said Peter Saunders, a British anti-abuse campaigner who is a member of the commission. He was abused by a Catholic priest as a child growing up in London.

Spotlight, follows The Boston Globe exposé of the Roman Catholic Church’s cover-up of sexual abuse by priests

Francis set up the abuse commission in 2014, appointing clergy and abuse survivors as members, and handing leadership to Cardinal Sean O’Malley, who took over the Boston archdiocese after The Boston Globe exposed rampant abuse by priests — events portrayed in “Spotlight.” The commission was charged with finding ways to better protect children from abuse by priests.

The pope was not reported to have been at the screening, which was closed to reporters. The Vatican has not officially commented on “Spotlight,” but Vatican Radio praised it last fall as “honest” and “compelling.”

Last year, Francis also set up a new Vatican tribunal to prosecute bishops accused of covering up for abusive priests.

Saunders, however, said he believes Francis’ good intentions were undone by his appointment last year of Chilean Bishop Juan Barros to the diocese of Osorno in Chile, despite “very credible” accusations that Barros covered up for a predator priest, Father Fernando Karadima, who was punished by the Vatican.

Last May, Francis told a group of Chileans to ignore Barros’ critics, who include survivors of abuse by Karadima.

“Think with your heads and do not be led by the noses by the lefties who orchestrated this whole thing,” Francis said.

“Francis has said phenomenally damaging and painful things about survivors,” said Saunders. “People in Chile now see the commission as a laughing stock, and I cannot pretend the commission means anything unless he sacks Barros.”

Pope Francis, shown here days after his election as Pope in 2013, shaking Jose Manuel Barroso, the EU President at the time. The Pope is now under fire from those who say he has not done enough on the clerical sexual-abuse crisis. A commission he set up met Thursday last week to view the film "Spotlight," about a Boston Globe investigation into the sex abuse scandal.

Marie Collins, an Irish abuse survivor and fellow panel member, has also criticized the Barros appointment. After Francis' disparaging remarks about “lefties,” she tweeted that she was “discouraged and saddened” by what he said.

In an interview last month with the National Catholic Reporter, Collins said it was “wonderful” the church had become more humble under Pope Francis, but added there was “still resistance” in the Vatican to fighting abuse.

Saunders said he had met the pope in October and asked him to attend the commission meeting, which will be held Friday through Sunday in Rome.

“It will be outrageous if he doesn’t attend, and I will say so — it will be the end of the honeymoon for Pope Francis,” he said.

Looking ahead to the three-day commission meeting, which follows two held last year, Saunders said he was not optimistic the experts would be able to change the way the church handles abuse.

“The last meeting in October was a non-event. I was told that Rome was not built in a day, but the problem is that it takes seconds to rape a child,” he said.

Also see: "Spotlight" - The True Story Behind The Scandal That Shook The World

Source: Los Angeles Times

10 Things Every Christian Man Should Look For In A Woman

2016-02-10T08:49:00.000+01:00

WHAT SHOULD A CHRISTIAN MAN SEEK IN A WOMAN?

In my quest for a wife, with emphasis to find the right woman according to God's Will for me, I have prayed, attended several Christian Singles' seminars, listened to countless messages, and talked with many seniors (both Spirit-filled and the plain religious) who have been happily married for upwards of 10-30 years and still counting. And I have found one constant - none concentrated on beauty only.

In all my quest, I am constantly reminded of Proverbs 31:30 - Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Time and time again, I am reminded of that simple, factual truth that we have a really hard time accepting - beauty is fleeting and can be deceptive. It is hard to accept for a young man because most young men want 'shining' damsels for a wife.

I have found out that although it is important that a man should cherish his wife, that he should look at her and see her as an incredible 'gift', it is equally important that he should love her sacrificially - Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25), and treat her with respect - Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. (1 Peter 3:7).

Beyond her beauty, a woman of “noble character” or “priceless character” (depending on your Bible version) as described in Proverbs 31, will hold you spell-bound long after her physical beauty loses its appeal. Pastor Jonathan of Watermark Community Church says this of his wife, Monica:

Monica is the standard of beauty to me. She has become even more beautiful than when I first met her. However, when we’re staying up all night with sick kids, getting thrown up on, and being on mission in an increasingly hostile world, her “good looks” are her least important qualities.

In the end, it is wise (and indeed Christians are as wise as the Spirit of Christ in them) to want to look for a wife who is “noble” and “priceless”, and who is the prize the Scripture defines. Let us now look at how to find the right woman for a man by studying important Scriptural qualities every Christian man must look out for in a woman to marry.

10 Things a Man Should Look For (And a Woman Should Be)

The kind of woman you, as a Christian man, should want to marry ought to be a girl who is:

1). Trustworthy

Is she dependable? Can you trust her? Can you be confident she is going to do what she commits to do? In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything (1 Timothy 3:11)

2). Modest

Fear of God means being more concerned about what He thinks and says than what people think or say. A God-fearing woman understands her beauty is from the inside. Out of reverence for God, and love for her fellow man, she dresses modestly rather than show extra skin to get attention from (the wrong kind of) men. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes (1 Peter 3:3)

3). Peaceful

A peaceful woman is not about drama, or picking fights, but about pursuing and preserving unity. A woman who fears God preserves unity to maintain peace always. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight (1 Peter 3:4)

4). Diligent

That is actually what much of Proverbs 31 is about: being a hard worker and taking care of what needs to be done, when it needs to be done. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night (Proverbs 31:13-18)

5). Compassionate

Does she care for those in need? Does she have a heart for the less-privileged around her? Does she support you when you are moved to share with the poor? She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy (Proverbs 31:20)

6). Respectful

It has been said that whereas women need love, men need respect. A woman of true respect will not only be respectful to you, she will equally show respect to those around her. This is displayed in the way she talks to and about others. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband (Ephesians 5:33)

7). Submissive to authority

In today's world where there's much talk about equal partnerships, some women, and unfortunately Christian women, get upset with submitting to male authority. This is unfortunate because Scripture is clear about this, just as it tells men to show sacrificial love in their authority. True women have no issues about this (note that men are also to submit to certain authority, see #1 on the list of things to look for in a man.) Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, (1 Peter 3:1)

8). Responsible

Does she plan ahead? Does she handle resources wisely? This idea is all throughout Scripture referring to a wife from The Lord. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet (Proverbs 31:21)

9). Wise

Wisdom is simply putting the knowledge you have to work, or sharing it in such a way to achieve a good end. Having knowledge without using or sharing it is very 'unwise'. A wise person makes good decisions and gives good instruction. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue (Proverbs 31:26)

10). Committed to Christ

Christ should be the focus of her life. This means yielding to His Word, being prayerful, being committed to a body of believers, and living a life filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit. If this is there, #1-9 will be there, too. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25)

In conclusion

“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.” (Proverbs 31:10) That’s a trophy wife. That’s the true prize. “Give her the reward she has earned.” (Proverbs 31:31a). At this point, it is good to note there is no perfect woman, however, there are women committed to and striving to be Christlike (see #10 above). This is the kind of woman I have set my sight on to find.

Lastly, single men, if you are pursuing God yourself and are ready for marriage, find the most godly woman you know and ask her out. Single girls, if a godly man asks you out and you are open to dating, say yes. If you say no, be honest as to why. Men, be intentional; women, be honest. If you are walking closely with Jesus and dating a girl you can cherish who exemplifies the above qualities, then “put a ring on it.”

Also read: 10 Things Every Christian Woman Should Seek In A Man

All Bible quotations in this article have been taken from the New International Version® (NIV®)

"Spotlight" - A Movie Of The True Story Behind The Scandal That Shook The World

2016-02-09T07:03:00.004+01:00

SPOTLIGHT, THE TRUE STORY

Spotlight is a very intriguing 2015 American biographical drama film directed by Tom McCarthy and written by McCarthy and Josh Singer. The film follows The Boston Globe's "Spotlight" team, the oldest continuously operating newspaper investigative unit in the United States, and its investigation into cases of widespread and systemic child sex abuse in the Boston area by numerous Roman Catholic Priests.

It is based on a series of stories by the real Spotlight Team that earned The Globe the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.

Spotlight was shown in the Out of Competition section of the 72nd Venice International Film Festival. It was shown as well as at the Telluride Film Festival and the Special Presentations section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.

Plot of the movie, Spotlight

In 2001, The Boston Globe hires a new editor, Marty Baron. Baron meets Walter "Robby" Robinson, the editor of the Spotlight team, a small group of journalists writing investigative articles that take months to research and publish. After Baron reads a Globe column about a lawyer, Mitchell Garabedian, who says that Cardinal Law (the Archbishop of Boston) knew that the priest John Geoghan was sexually abusing children and did nothing to stop him, he urges the Spotlight team to investigate. Journalist Michael Rezendes contacts Garabedian, who initially declines interview. Though he is told not to, Rezendes reveals that he is on the Spotlight team, persuading Garabedian to talk.

Initially believing that they are following the story of one priest who was moved around several times, the Spotlight Team begin to uncover a pattern of sexual abuse of children by Roman Catholic priests in Massachusetts, and an ongoing cover-up by the Boston Archdiocese. Through a man who heads a victim's rights organization, they widen their search to thirteen priests. They learn through an ex-priest who worked trying to rehabilitate pedophile priests that there should be approximately ninety abusive priests in Boston. Through their research, they develop a list of eighty-seven names, and begin to find their victims to back up their suspicions. When the September 11 attacks occur, the team is forced to deprioritize the story. They regain momentum when Rezendes learns from Garabedian that there are publicly available documents that confirm Cardinal Law was aware of the problem and ignored it. After The Boston Globe wins a case to have even more legal documents unsealed, the Spotlight Team finally begins to write the story, and plan to publish their findings in early 2002.

As they are about to go to print, Robinson confesses to the team that he was sent a list of twenty pedophile priests in 1993 in a story he never followed up on. Baron, nevertheless, tells Robinson and the team that the work they are doing is important. The story goes to print with a link leading to the documents that expose Cardinal Law, and a phone number requesting victims of pedophile priests to come forward. The following morning, the Spotlight Team is inundated with phone calls from victims coming forward to tell their stories.

Spotlight, the movie

The movie, Spotlight was directed by Tom McCarthy, and produced by Blye Pagon Faust, Steve Golin, Nicole Rocklin, and Michael Sugar. It was written by Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer. The movie stars Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci, Brian d'Arcy James, Liev Schreiber, and Billy Crudup. It was edited by Tom McArdle.

The movie's release dates were September 3, 2015 (in Venice) and November 6, 2015 (in the United States). Running time is 129 minutes.

It's won numerous guilds and critics' association awards, and was named one of the finest films of 2015 by various publications. It is nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Film Editing, Best Supporting Actor: Mark Ruffalo, Best Supporting Actress: Rachel McAdams, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture.

Also read: 12 Years a Slave - the authoritative slavery film

10 Things Every Christian Woman Should Look For In A Man

2016-02-08T06:37:00.000+01:00

WHAT SHOULD A CHRISTIAN WOMAN SEEK IN A MAN?

When it comes to relationships, some issues are certainly important in our partners. And these important issues cannot be glossed over, neither should they be vague in our minds regarding our partners. In fact, we must be so clear about them that there should not be a shred of doubt in our minds.

Unfortunately, even as adults, many of us struggle to know what is important in a significant other. I certainly did. Like so many young adults, I chased the experience of dating, grew addicted to the highs and lows of dysfunctional relationships, and suffered the risk of bringing these bad habits into my marriage. Thank goodness, and by God's grace, I have come to the realization of separating the chaff from the substance.

In many young couples, the patterns of what will work, and what will end terribly is often clear but they ever so often either are ignorant of it, or simply turn a blind eye to it. Many awful compromises of morals and logic are made when strong feelings get in the way. On the other hand, some go about dating in such a calculated way that no one can ever meet their “standards.” These are all totally wrong.

Asking the Right Question

One of the biggest problems, if not the only problem, is that most singles try to answer the same recurring question: “Who should I date?” But the problem is that’s the wrong question. Rather the question you should be asking is “Who should I marry?” Lift your eyes above the here and now—above the fun of dating a stranger, the emotional rush of a long phone conversation, or the pursuit of premarital intimacy—and start to think about dating with the end in mind.

Ladies, sometimes it seems that when a guy “finally” gives you attention everything else goes out the window. But if you focus your attention on finding the traits that make a good husband—and not simply a good date—you’ll be much more likely to end up with “happily ever after” instead of a heartbreak.

10 Things a Woman Should Look For (And a Man Should Be)

In answering that all-important question, “Who should I marry?”, every woman should consciously look for and follow that man with the following ten attributes (or habits). Women should seek to want to marry a guy who is:

1). Submissive to authority

Rebellious guys might grab your heart for a moment, but they will not lead you or themselves well. You want someone who will admit that he is not always right, and be willing to change when others point that out to him. Does he listen to others and yield to wisdom?
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:17)

2). Honest

Does he say what he means and do what he says? Does he go out of his way to speak with whole, complete, and concentrated truth? Without honesty, you cannot trust what he says—including when he says he will commit to you in marriage.
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; (1 Corinthians 13:6)

3). Kind

Is he nice to others around him? Don’t expect him to be consistently kind to you long-term if he is not kind to others.
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, (2 Timothy 2:24)

4). Selfless

Does he think of your needs, and the needs of others, ahead of his own? Is he generous and willing to share his possessions and time with others? Husbands are called to love their wives selflessly and sacrificially, “just as Christ loved the church”
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:25).

5). Patient

Is he willing to wait for good things? Does he value you enough to wait for you? “Patient” is the very first word used to describe love in the famous “love chapter”
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. (1 Corinthians 13:4; NIV).

6). Courageous

Will he stand for what is right when it is difficult, embarrassing, or unpopular? Will he stand up to protect you?
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13; NIV)

7). Gentle

Can he control his strength, and balance it with grace?
Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. (1 Timothy 3:2-3; NIV)

8). Diligent

A diligent person can be counted on to provide. Does he work hard?
Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor. (Proverbs 12:24; NIV)

9). Faithful

This insinuates a reputation. Anyone can fake the things on this list when trying to impress a girl. Does he have a reputation consistent with these character traits?
Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find? (Proverbs 20:6; NIV)

10). Committed to Christ

Christ should be the focus of his life. This looks like yielding to His word, being prayerful, living in community, and being committed to a body of believers. If this is there, #1-9 will be too.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25)

In Conclusion

These issues are as important to a man as they are to a woman. Men should strive to develop these qualities, and there is no short cut to developing them except by trusting fully in Christ and submitting to His Holy Spirit. On the other hand, women should look for a man with these qualities because such a man is the kind that would bring gladness and sweetness into their lives. Of course, bear in mind that no man is going to be perfect — you can’t marry Jesus — but choose someone who is striving to be like Him.

Also read: How to Find the Right Man from God

All Bible quotations in this article have been taken from the New International Version® (NIV®)

How To Become A Leader Following The Steps Of Christ

2016-02-07T23:44:00.000+01:00

TOP 3 STEPS TO BECOME A LEADER PEOPLE WOULD FOLLOW

All Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God; God who became a man. He is the way, the truth, and the life. But even from a purely human perspective, Jesus was the greatest leader in the history of the world. Or would you think otherwise? If you do, then let us look at the facts.

Business experts say it takes 3-5 years to establish a new business. Jesus began his ministry with no start-up funding, no political or business power connections, no team, coming from the backwoods of Palestine (regarded as backwards by the Jerusalem elite), the son of a blue collar laborer, in an occupied country started a movement that has lasted and grown for over 2,000 years.

He did this in JUST 3 ½ years!

Of all the billions of people who have ever lived in all of history, no one else has done anything close to this. It is the greatest example of “human” leadership ever. Do you still doubt He was the greatest leader in the history of the world? In our quest on how to become a good leader, it is good that we look at Jesus' example.

3 Steps to Becoming a Leader

We can learn a lot about entrepreneurial leadership from Jesus, but here are three steps He took, that we can take as well, to build something great for God and good.

1. Step into and Live in Your Authentic Authority Zone (AAZ)

Jesus knew who He was. He knew God’s big purposes and His role in those purposes. He realized not everyone would like Him or receive His message, so He did not freak out when some chose not to follow Him. He was comfortable in His own skin and did His work in a way that worked best for Him. Jesus stood out for His unique leadership authority for those reasons.

You too have a Zone of Authentic Authority. When you align your unique strengths and passions with God’s big purposes, you have taken an important step in finding your AAZ. When you get clear on who it is you are called to reach and realize not everyone will want to connect with you or follow you, and you’re good with it, you have taken another big step. When you discover your best work and communication style that will help you live in your AAZ. When you take these steps, you are well on your way to becoming an Authentic Authority that the right people will want to connect with and follow.

2. Build a Team to Serve a Tribe

Jesus, as do many entrepreneurial leaders, started alone, but He did not leave it that way very long. He knew that to serve a larger number and to leave a lasting legacy He would need to build a strong team. So, as Jesus was traveling and speaking, sowing kingdom seed and plowing the soil for the growth that would come, He was also building a strong team.

It has been rightly said that any group or organization that exists just for itself will eventually die. Businesses and ministries exist to help people; they have a clear outwardly focused mission and vision which they are dedicated to fulfilling. But to serve that tribe well, the senior leader (entrepreneur) needs to invest strongly in the team. If the team feels loved, supported, and valued they are much more likely to treat their customers and clients the same way.

As an entrepreneurial leader: build a strong team that will serve your tribe with joy and excellence.

3. Change that Counts

There are many definitions of leadership but all of them have at least one idea in common. Leadership changes things. Jesus came to change the world. He saw the needs of the world and came to do something about it. How did He do that? It was much more deliberate and intentional than most Christians realize. Jesus used the same pattern the Father did when He created the world and has continued to use while working out His will on earth. It goes like this:

Clear Purpose, vision, mission. (Dream)
A well thought-out plan (Design)
Intentional, committed Action (Do)

When you study how God created the earth, you’ll see those three steps. When you study the life and ministry of Jesus you’ll see He took those three steps. He knew what He was called to do, developed an inspired plan, and took intentional, committed action. What worked for Him will work for you too as you seek God and draw on His strength.

credit

In summary...

Let’s review with you 2 sets of 3 simple phrases:

A = Authentic Authority Zone
B = Build a Team to Serve a Tribe
C = Change that Counts

To produce change that counts:

Dream It
Design it
Do it

Keep those in mind, follow through, and you will see great impact through your life, business, and ministry.

About the Author
Mark Furlong has been a missionary, pastor, and now a Purpose Achieving Leadership coach and trainer. For leadership help go to www.MarkFurlongCoaching.com; and for spiritual growth help go to www.TruVineMission.com.

BIBLE VERSE FOR MEDITATION
If anyone wants to provide leadership in the church, good! But there are preconditions: A leader must be well-thought-of, committed to his wife, cool and collected, accessible, and hospitable. He must know what he’s talking about, not be overfond of wine, not pushy but gentle, not thin-skinned, not money-hungry. He must handle his own affairs well, attentive to his own children and having their respect. For if someone is unable to handle his own affairs, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a new believer, lest the position go to his head and the Devil trip him up. Outsiders must think well of him, or else the Devil will figure out a way to lure him into his trap (1 Timothy 3:1-7, MSG).

There is Hope!

2016-02-06T20:42:00.000+01:00

FOR ALL, THERE IS HOPE

For any person who is aware that they are dying, there must be some measure of wondering what comes next? That question would no doubt apply to the next minute, and day, and the day when death does finally take us from the scene with which we are so familiar.

What comes next?

Of course we are all engaged in the dying process! From the moment of birth to the date of death we are all progressing to the day when death will take us from the only home we have consciously known.

It is no wonder that we experience insecure feelings about it, and that we are apprehensive about that new experience. Of course we are; that is normal.

I have heard, and I know it to be a truth, that when death is known to be near for a person, they are not so much concerned about the things they have done, but are most concerned about the things they did not do. There is a message in this fact!

God created us for a purpose, He has in mind something for each one of us to accomplish and that purpose fulfills our need. God is all about us and our needs.

God has placed into the fiber of our beings gifts and talents that are pieces of Himself, and He intends us to use them. He intends that we develop them, and then those gifts, and the way we use them, will give comfort to those around us. They will bring pleasure and glory for Him, and a sense of fulfillment to us.

God is not a loner, He greatly desires fellowship with us. He did not create us to be a loner. We help and encourage one another; we love one another, and we share with each other and also enjoy God's Presence in the things we do to serve Him and fellow human beings.

I have been a medical professional most of my life so I have witnessed much sickness and many deaths, and I have witnessed miraculous healings for which there was no known, explainable, medical reason.

So if any reader has been told they will absolutely die in so many days or months, I would like to say the doctors are not always right.

I recall the elderly gentleman who came to the Surgical Unit in which I was working; he had cancer but had undergone surgery for a different purpose.

The physician attending him told us his story: the man had been told 6 years before that he would not live six more months. The gent decided he would then walk six miles, six days a week, and six years later the cancer had not taken him out.

The Doctor, who was an Oncology Specialist, told us that he personally would never tell a patient how long they would live because, he said, no one knows but God; and God might not think it is time to go.

It is a fact, according to the Scriptures, that we can shorten our lives. We can be abusive to our bodies and not cooperate with God for the blessings of health. But if we confess that erroneous behavior to God, and start doing the things that are healthy for us, who knows but that God may not do for us as He did for King Hezekiah.

God sent the Prophet to Hezekiah to tell him to prepare to die; but Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed for longer life, and God said, "Yes!" God gave Hezekiah fifteen years longer to live. Read Isaiah 38:1 - 20

Sometimes it is not our self that we hold fears and concerns about, sometimes it is a loved one whose loss we are grieving before it happens. We cannot imagine life without them; the burden is seemingly too heavy. There is no soft soap with which to coat the pain, but there is a God to Whom we can call and know that there are no limitations in His power. Perhaps He will grant our desire.

Those of us who have lost our loved one or loved ones to death, know the deep silence that seems to be unyielding. We want to call out to them, knowing there will be no answer.

Mealtime comes and the seat is empty. We turn around and expect to see them coming through the door, but they are not there. Even with God in our lives, death is not easy. Death is our enemy, but God has taken away the hopelessness of death; only we have to accept God's Plan, we must agree with God.

I know from my own dying experience that the thing we fear worst is that death is dark and fearful. It is not that way for the one who is trusting Jesus. To such a person who has died, they continue to see and to think, and in fact they do not feel different than they normally feel.

This body in which we live is not the real person that we are; it is the earth house in which we live. If we take this body into space we must wear a Space Suit. If we live on earth then we must wear an Earth Suit. But whatever we wear on the outside, we are a "spirit being" on the inside of it.

So, when we leave the Earth Suit, called dying, the house in which we lived is empty, but our spirits and souls are very much alive. Our family and friends look upon our lifeless body and seldom have the understanding that we remain alive in a different realm. It is a trip everyone of us will take and there is preparation required for the journey.

It is unfortunate that much of the Church has remained silent to the point that many people do not know why it is necessary to ask Jesus to be our Savior.

Many do not understand the terminology of, "Asking Jesus to come into our hearts."

Our hearts are the Pump of Life taking nutrients and oxygen to every cell of our bodies.

When we ask Jesus into our hearts, and He always comes in when asked, we have asked Him to flow throughout our bodies and our lives with His righteousness and power. He gives to us a new life to replace the one that our first parents defiled and which we inherit from our genetic parents.

There are not multiple families on the earth! There is one family in that everyone of us are the offspring of Adam and Eve. The Bible declares that, "All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God." (or the perfection that God requires.) Since God is, "The same yesterday, today and forever," He cannot change, so He provided Jesus as a Savior for us so that we could be changed; and that is exactly what happens when we ask Jesus to come into our hearts and lives. Jesus gives us real LIFE that never ends.

The results are a better life while we live here and the promise of beautiful Heaven when we leave these Earth Suits.

We sometimes do not understand that no one's life really ends, those who do not ask Jesus, The Life Giver, into their hearts, still live forever, but not in a happy place, not in a place of light.

I had to finally come to the realization that my sons deaths were going to happen someday, but I felt it was too soon. Nothing happened to them that was not going to happen someday. It was not as though they were unfortunate, it is something that is a fact of life.

Fortunately, they had both asked Jesus into their hearts and were verbal about it. I know that they are now happy and safe, and that they are waiting for me and for the rest of the family to get there, and we will, if we are trusting Jesus.

Yes, we all want to live a long life! God calls a long life "a blessing," and we also want to fulfill the "thing" which we were assigned by God to do, that is of major importance, especially when it comes time to die, but nothing, nothing is as important as being ready.

Being ready is not a thing to put off since we do not know when the time of death will come.
Jesus said in Revelation 3:20, "Look, I am standing at the door (of your heart) knocking!"

Why does anyone knock on a door? Isn't it because they want to come in? He continues, "If any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with Me." It is only that the inside you, or inside me, must go over and open the door to Him. Why don't you do that right now?

When you do you will have prepared for the trip we will all take at some point in time, a time unknown to each of us.

Also read: Now, About Your Future, And Mine

About the author
Ramona, Master in Ministry Arts, BA in Biblical Studies, I am an Ordained Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Now, About Your Future, And Mine

2016-02-05T22:14:00.001+01:00

NOW, ABOUT THE FUTURE

Have you had one of those moments of enlightenment when suddenly you know a thing to be truth, but you have always thought of it in a different way?

That recently happened to me. Just seemingly out of nowhere came this thought, "There is nothing for me but future." You know, that is the very truth. It is a beautiful truth for me, at my age.

"Oh," you may be thinking, "Like you think you are not going to die?" But don't you see, physical death does not end me? It only ends this phase of living, and there is no end to my life. The only thing that happens is that I drop off the earth suit, required to live on earth, and move on over into the spirit realm where earth suits are not required for living.

There is nothing for us but future. This our earth trip is but a part of a forever journey

Death is certainly not something any of us like to think about, and at some point in time there will be Jesus worshippers who do not die because they will be "caught up" to be with Jesus in the air. Until then, people die, but only once (First Thessalonians 4: 13 -18).

1 Thess 4: 13-18
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The Bible has never taught us to view our life here as, "an experience only for the earth;" this earth trip is but a part of a forever journey. Once we are launched, we just keep going. In this time spent on earth, we prepare for our destination in the next phase of our lives.

Some may think that they are not preparing, but there is no way to live and not be making preparation for our future destination; we either prepare to live with God, or we prepare to live without God.

It is kind of like refusing to make a decision. Oops! You just did.

There are so many things our cultures have taught us to believe that steal from us truths and therefore, wisdom to make good decisions.

We live most of our lives wondering, "Where God is?" We fail to see His hand in everything we observe, such as the trees, and birds, and lakes of water, and the sea; we don't know Him by the people we touch, and love. We should, but we have been taught to call these things the processes of Mother Nature, and we therefore, do not recognize, or appreciate the handiwork of our Father God.

We work and eat, and think of it as a simple, daily thing. The truth is that our bodies are a work of art, an amazingly complex work of art.

The individual organ systems of our bodies are regulated by the tiniest pea size systems. The process of digestion is necessary to our lives and we fail to realize that the God Who made us, has graciously and wondrously also made the food to grow on the earth that is just right for us.

How different our life experiences would be if we constantly recognized God's Presence with and about us at all times!

God is all around us. God, not only the things He has made. God, the Bible says is a Spirit. You cannot see The Spirit or a spirit; well, most of the time; occasionally there are some people God has gifted to see into that realm, but mostly, we don't see the spirit beings. They are all around us, but because we don't see them we reject that they are there.

"I don't believe in God because I don't see Him," I have been told by some folks. " I can't believe in what I cannot see."

Hum, that is interesting. You just took a gulp of air to get your vocal chords to say that, and you cannot see the air, not even with a microscope.

"The Bible is an old book and is not relevant to this day." That is just another deception to keep us from reading it. The truth is that the Bible is relevant to today, and tomorrow as well, because prophesies are being fulfilled one right after the other, even as we live and breathe. God told us, thousands of years ago, things that would happen today, and in the future here on the earth. Tell me, who could do that except an all knowing God, a powerful God?

Why would God bother to tell us about Himself and to show us things about Himself? What does He need from us? The truth is that God needs nothing from us, but He greatly desires something of us, our fellowship and love for Him, just like any parent wants fellowship and love from their child.

God is a good God and He loves all that He made, yes, even the animals, and all of His creation, and He wants us to know Him, to love Him, and He wants to bless our socks off, so to speak.

The biggest and best gift He has for us is called salvation, meaning that He wants us to be happy while here on earth and then when we drop off the earth suit and walk into the existence that does not require an earth suit for living, He wants us to be with Him forever and forever.

Also read: Steps to Salvation and Peace with God

There is nothing for us, but future. We will, everyone of us, live forever; but the question is , "Where will we live our forever?" Will it be with God in Heaven? Will it be without God in Hell?"

You may be one of those persons who says you do not believe that a loving God sends people to Hell. Well, I agree with you! God made Hell for Satan and the former angels who revolted against Him; God did not make Hell for humans, but humans may use their free-will to choose to go there. Why would anyone do that?

The way one spends forever in Heaven is to ask Jesus to save them, forgive their sin and to come live in their heart and life (John 3:16 -17 and Romans 10: 9 -10).

John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Romans 10:9-10
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

The way to spend forever in that cursed place away from God is to say "No" I do not want it, or to make the decision to not decide; and oops! you just did decide.

You and I are eternal beings, and all there is for us is future. There is for us future; forever future --->

A Promise from Jesus: John 14: 1 -6
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Also read:
Living the Holy Life as Commanded by Our God and Father

About the author
By Ramona, Master in Ministry Arts, BA in Biblical Studies, I am an Ordained Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.