No Compromise

“We are susceptible to heretical teachings because, in one form or another, they nurture and reflect the way that we would have it be, rather than the way God has provided, which is infinitely better for us. As they lead us into the blind alleys of self-indulgence and escape from life, heresies pander to the most unworthy tendencies of the human heart. ”
… C. FitzSimons Allison, The Cruelty of Heresy

So often the things that lead us from the Lord seem so harmless. We say to ourselves we can do this or that, believing that our faith and walk will not be affected. Devils whisper in our ear that we can watch this movie, listen to that music or spend our money on this thing. We are led away from the light so slowly and deliberately that our eyes adjust to the darkness without us even knowing it happened.

Paul writes in 2 Timothy. “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”

Remove the compromises from your life. Pray the Lord will adjust your eyes to the Light. Be noble. Be holy. Be useful.

Peace, Steve

No Faith? Or? Is it, they just don’t get it?

I’ve been thinking of things people have said to me that have left me scratching my head wondering where their faith was.

One person told me not to email them prayer requests, because, by the time they checked their email, the prayer was answered. Seems to me that God cares nothing about time. Just pray, He knows before you pray what you will pray for. Think of it this way, to Him a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. God, who made the sun stand still, is able to post date your prayers. Just say your prayer and have faith.

I was told that witnessing and handing out Bible tracts in the Bible belt doesn’t work because every one in the Bible belt thinks they are saved anyway. I suppose the person who said this, doesn’t believe the Holy Spirit works in the hearts of those who live in the Bible belt. HMMM, I’m certain the Holy Spirit is able to as He pleases. God spoke to Balaam through the ass he was riding, he can also use you, me and Bible tracts. Have faith.

How about those that visit a church, worship somewhere or go to a prayer meeting and then say “I didn’t feel the Spirit there!” I’m fairly certain God didn’t give us the Holy Spirit to make us high. If you’re looking for a feeling, smoke a joint. If you want to worship God, petition Him with prayer or gather at a church, then just do it. God is present, whether you feel Him or not. If you have been born again the Spirit dwells in you. When you stop being judgmental, the Spirit will flow and you’ll see the joy of the Lord was present the entire time. It’s not where you are at or who you are with, it’s you, have faith.

I guess my all time favorite example of no faith are the guys who think one Bible translation is from God and others are not. Using their mis-guided logic, shouldn’t we only pray in Hebrew and read the Greek text? I guess they don’t think God is powerful enough or loving enough to protect the meaning of His holy Word so that His children won’t be led astray. He leads us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake, and He will do it using whatever translation is available. Have faith.

Two people came to church one night and were allowed to teach on healing. They actually had booklets stating the exact prayers we must pray to to get healing for specific ailments. Again I must say, HMMM. Where in the Lord’s prayer did they find these prayer formulas? The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. He heals who He will and He doesn’t do it according to some man-made formula. Just pray, believe He is able, forgive others and have faith.  One more thing about this, the pastor who invited the formula healers loves to preach against legalism in the church.  What’s more legalistic than formula prayers?

Jesus said “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” To me it seems that we over-think things way to much. God is able to do anything. He’s the Creator of Heaven, earth the seas and everything in them. He loves us more than we have words to describe. He loves us more than we can even start to imagine. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” Why is it so hard for us to believe that He will use the most simple prayer, any Bible, any church, any person to do His pure and perfect will in our lives? Just have faith in our Father, like a child has faith in its mommy. “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.” Have Faith.

Be noble. Be holy. Be useful. Be relevant. Steve

WYSIWYG

WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) Any computer geek will recognize this acronym. Any older person will recognize the phrase from the old Laugh In comedy show as the catch phrase of Flip Wilson’s Geraldine character.

The Apostle Paul could have used this phrase in some of his writings. Paul wrote “Yes, when Christ died, he died to defeat the power of sin one time—enough for all time. He now has a new life, and his new life is with God. In the same way, you should see yourselves as being dead to the power of sin and alive with God through Christ Jesus.” Here the Holy Spirit of God directs Paul to tell us how we should view ourselves. Very clearly he’s saying that we should not see ourselves as an addicted person, a person who’s depressed, a person who can not forgive or as person who can not conquer any sin. We should instead see ourselves as we really are, and that is in Christ we are “more than conquerers”. What you see is what you get.

Many might say “I’ve tried that, it just doesn’t work for me”. Paul would tell you to keep at it. He said. “…brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” The many might still say “it just doesn’t work”. And to that Paul says “Those who live following their sinful selves think only about things that their sinful selves want. But those who live following the Spirit are thinking about the things the Spirit wants them to do.” In other words, are you really thinking about the high things or are you allowing your mind to wander into darkness. What you think is what you get.

Here’s an example, there are people I know who can’t seem to quit smoking. They can’t understand why they can’t, but if they would just listen to what they say, they might have a better insight. Here’s just a few of the things I’ve heard them say. “It’s just not that easy”. “Some people can easily quit, I’m not one of those people”. “I NEED a cigarette”. “I’ve tried, I can’t quit”. “It’s just the way that I am”. “I guess I’m not as strong as others”. Haven’t we all heard those word’s come from ourselves and those we love. It’s so easy to see that those who say these things have settled for defeat. This defeatist thought process can also be applied to anger, depression, addictions, negative attitude or any other sin. What you believe is what you get.

Don’t settle for less. Encourage those around you to expect more. We should all lift each other up. We do it by reading the Word of God and learning the way of the Spirit, by praying, by appreciating even the smallest blessings and by rejoicing in all the He has given us.

Be noble. Be holy. Be useful. Be relevant.
Peace, Steve

Inspired By The National Debt

As our country was celebrating its new found freedom, a man in England was pondering his countries national debt and made an amazing comparison. Think of how uncorrupted our country was at that moment in time. Zoom to the present, our government is morally bankrupt and has more debt than the entire planet has ever known. Peace, Steve

“As the young minister traveled through the rugged country near England’s Cheddar Gorge, the clouds burst and torrential sheets of rain pummeled the earth. The weary traveler was able to find shelter standing under a rocky overhang. There, protected from the buffeting wind and rain, Augustus Toplady conceived one of the most popular hymns ever written, “Rock of Ages, Cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.”

In March 1776 Toplady published the hymn as part of an article in The Gospel Magazine, which he edited. He wrote that just as England could never pay her national debt, so a man could never by his own merits satisfy the justice of God. In the middle of the article, he burst into song, printing for the first time the hymn “Rock of Ages”, which so ably describes Christ, the Rock of Ages, as the remedy for all our sin.

Augustus Toplady died of consumption at the age of 38. As he neared the end Toplady proclaimed, “My heart beats every day stronger and stronger for glory. Sickness is no affliction, pain no cause, death itself no dissolution…My prayers are now all converted into praise.”

( Quoted from Toplady’s Song in the Storm @ Glimpses of Christian History Christian History & Biography Copyright ©2008 Christianity Today International )

1. Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.

2. Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law’s commands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.

3. Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.

4. While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.

Check out this very cool Bob Dylan version