Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Time

One thing that I have learned over the years and that I have tried to teach others is that you cannot change your past but you can change your future. Regret is an awful thing to live with, and unless we determine now to obey the known will of God for today, tomorrow will most assuredly be something we regret. Take salvation for instance, God’s Word tells us that eternity is forever. So why do so many people give so little attention to it now? The Bible tells us in (James 4:14)“…For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” The Bible also tells us in (Luke 16:19-31) that not everybody is going to make it to heaven. We must never forget that hell is a real place, and that once you’re there, there’s no getting out! According to my Bible, Hell is full of people that regret for all eternity not caring about spiritual things while they were on earth. It is full of people who put money and the cares of this world before God. Who when they lived, lived for self and selfish pleasures, not realizing that this life is only a drop in the bucket when it comes to forever. Who now regret forever, and suffer the torture and agony of Hell’s Fire.  Even as Christians, somehow we fail to realize that we only have so much time to reach our relatives, our town, and our world for Christ. Why do we waste so much time on things of no value, when the valuable things of God, and the souls of men, get so little attention ?

“giving heed”

 “Now the Spirit speaketh 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 with a hot iron;” It’s interesting in the day in which we live how many of our beliefs and doctrines are affected by the seducing voices and persuasions of demons.  You might say, well how can demons affect my beliefs? By “giving heed” to them.  That means giving ear to the persuasive voices of anti-biblical and extra-biblical beliefs. The above verse is written to Christians, not the unsaved.  How can someone depart from a faith that they never had? Be careful in this world of many beliefs that you don’t pick up something that will cause you to depart from the faith of God’s Word. It’s just as wrong to add to the Word, as it is to take from it. Some Christians put so many demands upon a believer that their Christianity seems more like a burden than a blessing, and yet others pick and choose from God’s Word what they want to practice. Both are equally demonic. Satan’s cohorts are everywhere, speaking in our ears to follow such terrible beliefs as, skipping church, fornicating, gambling, gossiping, backbiting, not giving, drinking and illegal drug use, etc. The Holy Spirit’s voice would never take you in that direction, but damnable beliefs and practices will. Be careful when you here people tell you that you can do something, when God says don’t. The voices of the world are full of demonic influences, so be careful to use the Word as your guide and not men.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

How well do you stack up ?

In continuing in our theme, “How we ought to behave in the house of God,” I have chosen this week to look at the standards required of the office of Pastor and deacon in (1 Tim. 3:1). Here the Apostle Paul calls the ministry of a Pastor, a “good work,” and the deacon’s office, one of “good degree.” God desires that all men live up to this good degree, regardless if he has a title or not. As I have said before, we are not to wait till we hold such a position, but rather live these high standards regardless. (1Co 4:1-2) “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” What we need today are faithful men, more in love with God than they are this world. Men who have chosen to live up to these high standards, without being forced to. God asks that the Pastor and deacon be “blameless,” meaning that they are not guilty of disobeying God’s Word in practice. But aren’t all men commanded to be blameless as well ?  (2Pe 3:14) “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” Therefore men, the will of God for you is to be, “blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt. to teach, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy, patient, not a brawler, not covetous, one that rules well his own house,… of a good report…”  How well do you stack up ?

Fathers

Since Father’s Day is a day to honor Father’s, let us not forget to honor our Heavenly Father. In (Matt. 6:9) it says, “Hallowed be thy name.” We should both sanctify it, and honor it because God is honorable. 1)  Because of his Love. “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.”  God’s love is unconditional, meaning that his love is not based upon our performance but rather upon our worth to him. God sent his son to die even though we are sinful and wicked people, and yet in his eyes he sees something of worth in us, even though we may not feel worthy.  2) Because of his Mercy.  When a sinner repents of his sin and receives Jesus Christ as personal savior, at that very moment he is born again into the family of God, and the blood of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice washes away all sin , past,  present, and future. And not only that, but Jesus himself is seated at the right hand of God, interceding on our behalf, forgiving, & keeping us saved. His mercy, his forgiveness, and longsuffering endures forever. 4) Because of his Truth.  Every single word of the Bible is immutable (never changing), meaning that “it is impossible for God to lie.”(Heb. 6:13). I thank God that we serve a God who tells the truth & that keeps his promises. May we as earthly fathers pattern such an honorable and Hallowed, Heavenly Father.