Tag: Paul

What is it that we should prove?

I wish that I could say that the political season we are in is the reason for this thought, but it is not. There are many people who are alive today thinking pretty highly of themselves. So many, it is fruitless to list. I was reading these verses and thought that God was speaking to me about this very day.

As I spoke with the LORD, I was blessed to be led to read a couple of verses from this chapter. I am not one who likes to pick out one liners to prove a point because I believe if I am truly representing a point that is actually God’s point, which is what we are to do, then I like to read a few verses before and after the chosen verse. As I did that here, I kept saying wait, that’s good, let me go up a couple more, and let me read down a couple more.

I could not stop reading because I feel like these instructions are abandoned today, not only by the lost and dying world, but by Christians. Do we even know what it means to present our bodies as a ‘sacrifice’ and ‘holy’? Do we really know what it means to be transformed in the mind and to not conform to the world? And what is it that we should prove, our thoughts and desires? According to the scripture we are to prove God’s will, not ours. Yet, I look around and big churches are letting the smaller things go in the name of attendance. I don’t see that as an acceptable exception here. In fact, that looks more like man trying to save man. That looks like man doing what it takes to bring people to a building rather than just speaking the truth and letting the spirit bring people to the His house. In one case, it is man’s house, in the latter it is God’s house, and I fear man will not learn the difference until judgment day.

It is up to you; you read and you tell me, are we doing it God’s way, or are we doing it our way? That’s my thought, my question to you.

Romans

12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

First we see Paul almost begging his brothers in Christ, whom he loves, to remember that we are to give our bodies over to Christ. We are to hold onto nothing for ourselves. We are to sacrifice the sins of our flesh that we loved and that we enjoyed. We are to give that up by not belonging to the worldly activities that promote and celebrate these activities. We are to be transformed in our mind, thinking of God and the things that are His and not the worldly lies satan tells us. Once ‘transformation’ takes place, it is no longer about our thoughts and our will, but the Father’s. As hard as it is, we are to speak His word to the world, and that includes people we love. We do not hold His truth back because we are afraid of hurting our loved ones. Which one is worse, you hurt them now for a season and possible save them, or you let them the live in sin and enjoy your relationship on earth and never see them for all of eternity because you are in heaven and they are in hell? Our minds are to be focused on God (Sober). We are to prove that the Holy Ghost is in us by doing these things. We cannot prove that the Holy Ghost is in us if we are not separate from the world; we cannot prove that we are different if we are the same. We cannot prove the sin saving blood of Christ if we are no different as a saved child of God than we were as a lost sinner. Where is the Glory of God in that?

We see Paul talking, and expounding on the fact that we, believers in Christ, are all members of the same body, when we believe in Jesus. There is one church, no matter how many names we put on the denominations. There is the church of God and we are all members who believe in God. Now that last part is very important. I know there are groups of people who have taken the bible away, and who do not follow the LORD’s commands and are calling themselves a church. Often I am asked, “What should I look for in a church?” My personal answer to that is that you are looking for a church where the message that is being delivered matches the words you read in your bible. If you don’t talk about sin, and the blood, and redemption through that blood, and if you don’t love people and want to see people saved from the consequences of sin, then I would find another church.

Paul talks about not hating or cursing those who persecute you, but rather you bless them, you pray for them. We did not accept the beautiful gift of salvation without the understanding that we were going to be persecuted for being different. We knew that was coming. He tells us that we cannot let this stop us from using the gifts that we have. Some are given the beautiful gift of service. For some reason doing the work of helping, the labor of giving, is a gift that is heaped upon some people. Meanwhile others are called to preach, to teach. Some are called to work with children, and others are called to help organize the church. We tell our members all the time that the job of the pastor is no more or less important than the member who cuts the grass, cleans the sanctuary, pays the church bills, sends in the news articles, organizes the extracurricular ministries, and even offers the wisdom of experience. In our church we love our elders for the wisdom that blesses us all whenever they speak. He tells us here to do what we are led to do. But he also tells us to remember that we do not do it to bring people to us, but to bless God with our service. Everything we do should be for the Glory of our God!!

This whole chapter is just beautiful in its instruction. I feel that in this chapter Paul is not preaching but rather teaching. I feel like this these words are more of a lesson, and we are the student who should hear and then apply. Application is so important in the life of a Christian. We do not need to lean to our own understanding when we look at this as a lesson. Nothing here needs interpreted. Of course, as a Sunday School Teacher, my favorite verse is verse number 9. Our love should not be hidden but exposed, not camouflage but clearly identified, not suppressed but it should be freely given to all. In the process of giving that love we are to hate that which is evil. We are not to like sin. This is another example of love the sinner, but hate the sin. It does seem like we forget that second part these days. We want to love the sinner, and that’s it. We are to do both.

Finally we are to overcome evil. We cannot do that on our own. We can only overcome by way of the truth. That is the only power that is strong enough to overcome evil. That is why we have to be filled with it, in order that we will not succumb to it. Christ has already won. I believe satan knows that. So many people act as though satan has your best interest at heart. I feel like people believe that satan is an advocate wanting them to enjoy life. Satan does not care one tittle about any of us. He is angry that God threw him out of heaven and he knows he is going to lose. He does not want to simply pull you away from rewards in heaven; he wants to keep you from going there all together. Why? He wants to hurt God. That is the only way. God wants us in heaven with Him. He created us to have that relationship with Him. When we worship satan and not God, it hurts God. I believe that. For God so loved the world…… When we love someone so much and they betray us, does it not hurt you? If we are made in His image, is it too far out there to believe that God has feelings too? I say His feelings are pure. His love is more pure than any love we could possibly know. So yes, I believe disobedient children hurt the Father.

If you stand in the mirror, what will the reflection tell you about your relationship with God and what are you going to do about it? May the peace of God be abundantly heaped upon you and your home, straight from the cross to the Christian!

Do not mistake God’s love for tolerance

I love you so much that I will not lie to you. I love you so much that I will not withhold from you the truth that set me free, because I want you to be free from the consequence of sin too. I will love you so much that I will not quit or give in just because you say God’s truthful love is hateful. Because I know that no one really wants to endure correction, even me. I will love you so much that I will not hoard salvation all to myself, but rather share with you the truths you need to know so you can make the best choice in your life, to receive Christ into your mind and share His greatest gift of all, the cleansing love of the blood of Christ.

Galatians 5
16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

John 15
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

John 14
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

Love abounds in Jesus. God’s love is so great, no human has yet to experience in its full splendor. I look forward to the day when I travel over Jordan, and get to experience His love forever.

In the few verses from Galatians we see it declared that if you do not have God’s love in you, meaning if you commit those acts without repentance, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. These are not my words, but the words of God. You cannot willingly and happily live in sin and think you are saved. To sin and seek forgiveness is one thing. But to sin and think that you are covered by God’s love and do not need to seek forgiveness, well….that’s what we are talking about here.

Please note in the second block of scriptures that Christ himself is talking and he is telling you that if you do not have his love in you, you are like a dead vine that is ripped off and cast into the fire. The fire is a symbol of judgement in the bible. Make no mistake about it, Jesus is saying if you do not accept Him as your savior, you will not receive everlasting life. Notice again, Jesus says that if you do have his love in you, you will obey; you will do as He commands. He tells us to love each other as He has loved us. What does that look like. Did Jesus ever encourage anyone to live in sin? I don’t think so, and I would need to be led to that scripture if you would say He did. Jesus has always freed people from their sin and told people to sin no more. So if we tell people that it is okay to live in sin, are we actually doing what Jesus did? Do we really love our neighbor the way Christ loves him? Do we love him as much as we love ourselves? Salvation is not just good enough for us, it is good enough for all. So why do we understand that sin has no part in our lives, but we will stand by and allow others to live in sin just because they are our mom or dad, brother or sister, best friend or co-worker? I would challenge anyone who would say, “Well, I would never do that but live and let live.” Or “To each to his own”. No….I am sorry; you are far off the mark of what Christ says here. In fact, Jesus says that if you do not do as He has commanded; he is not with you. That is why it is dangerous to claim to be a Christian and then walk around telling people who live in sin that everything is going to be okay because God loves them. That is not the whole truth! It is a half truth that is told deceitfully, and that is not the message of Christ. Yes, god loves us. He loved Hitler and Manson and Dahmer as much as He loves us. But there is an expectation that we all share as much as we share His divine love. That is to obey. Whether your disobedience is as gross as these men, or as simple as being a great person who simply does not believe, it is all the same to our God.

Please note the final block of scripture. Christ says that he who does not do as Christ says, that person is listening to another word, and it is not the word of God. Whose word do you think Jesus is talking about. Right, I thought the same thing, Satan!

God’s love is real, and it is wonderful. Do not mistake God’s love for tolerance. We are to be obedient children to the Father. You must repent from your sin. That word means to “change your mind” If you like being drunk you are to hate it. If you like being a liar, you are to hate it. If you like being an adulterer, you are to hate it. All manners of sin. I really want to stop talking about just the issue of same sex marriage and homosexuality. It is a sin, and it does qualify here. However, there are many who point fingers and don’t understand that God hates ALL sin. Not just one, but all of it. And although we are weak in our flesh, we are to repent, and seek forgiveness for our daily failures. But we certainly are not to enjoy the sin, or live in it with some form of earthly peace. We are to hate sin, and to turn away from it. That is the fruit of God’s true love, and it should be the message of our brotherly and neighborly love.

May the divine peace from the great comforter be with you today!!

We love people to heaven, not to hell.

What do you think would happen if a person was hired to do a job, and after being hired, that person not only decided to do the job the way they wanted to, but told the boss that his ways are wrong, and the employee’s way was the right way because his ways make the other employees happy? What would you do if you were that boss? Some might say, I would evaluate the employee’s actions to see if it is time to bring my business into a new and updated age. And some might say, I would fire that employee for not upholding the mission and work ethic of my company.

There was this employee once who worked as a representative of a political group. He was very good at his job, very well respected by his peers, and very feared by those on the other side. He had a mission, and his work ethic was to complete that mission at all cost. But one day something happened and he switched sides. It was total shock to everyone. His peers thought he had lost his mind. Those who once were his adversaries refused to accept him because they did not trust him. He evaluated this dilemma, and decided that the reason he switched sides was not because of him, but because of platform that he stood on and believed in. He figured if he stuck as true as he could to the political group’s core beliefs and acted as closely to its ethical standards as humanly possible, his behavior and devotion would be all he needed to gain favor from the people in the platform that was once his enemy. Who is this employee? His name is the Apostle Paul.

It’s a hard thing to look at someone who used to represent a certain brand or team and then watch them leave for another. Don’t you always wonder what that person is thinking on the inside? Do they truly like it there? Are they giving it their best or too busy trying to get back home? In the book if Galatians we see, shortly after Paul’s conversion, Paul writes to the people of that area and is acutely aware of this very position. In the first several verses he writes all about God, convincing them that he is speaking to them about the Father’s business, and not his own. He gives the Father all the credit, taking NONE for himself. He pointed to God in all ways. When your job is to represent God, and you have spent your life in sin, which is all of us, the only thing we can do is point our friends and loved ones to the almighty Father. Trying to bring someone to ourselves makes us idolaters in the eyes of others, as well as God, because that means we are the center of our universe. Paul would have never been able to gain the trust of anyone had he done that. However, Paul accepted Christ, and because he did a change happened in his actions, and his platform. He was no longer on the platform of Rabbinical Law, He was on the platform of Christ.

Key Verse- Galatians 1:10  8But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Biblical Scholar and Commentator John Trapp has an excellent note on this the tenth verse.

Men pleasers, that curry favour with all, and covet to be counted no meddlers. These lose a friend of God. Neither do they long hold in with those whom for present they do so much please.

In my opening, the employee took a job, and then made it all about himself and his ideas. He made it about doing what he thought was best to accomplish the job. The same thing has happened in this world. When we accept Christ into our heart, we are now workers for Christ. We are told, however, that a true conversion will bring about a change. We can no longer serve the world, which we were once a slave to. But we also cannot come into the fold of the redeemed and say to Christ that His platform is no good and that you have a better one. What you are now saying is that my God is totally insufficient and that you are the all knowing and the all powerful. We do not get to water down the gospel, we do not get to minimize sin so greatly as to tell people it is okay to live in it while serving God. That is not the Gospel at all. It may be your idea, but it is not that of God. Verse 11 in the ‘key verse’quote shows that Paul believed this too. He knew what he did, and he knew that people were not going to just blindly follow him in the name of Christ. He simply could not preach his own message, he had to Preach Christ, and he had to do it in such a manner that not only showed loved, but also showed truth. The truth being that sin is not accepted by God.

I have said here that I have seen people act this way. I have indeed seen people dismiss sin who say they believe in Christ, all manners of sin. I have seen people who leave Christ at home while they go to the home of a flat out sinner and socialize. They are not preaching the gospel and trying to win souls for Christ. They are partaking in the activity. So much so that they proclaim the lost worldly sinner a close friend. How is that being a peculiar people? It isn’t, it is being a friend of the worldly and God has already denied you because you are denying Him.Who did Christ surround himself with in His inner circle. Sinners yes, but sinners who upon hearing His call, left everything, and followed Christ. None of them continued in their worldly life. They traveled right by his side. But the truth is that churches are doing it as whole denominations. “We have to get these pews filled.” “We can’t preach anything that will lose members.” Women can come and sit in the holy sanctuary with mini-skirts on and cleavage all over the place and no one will even bother to address how that grieves the spirit. Like wise, men come to church with a hang over. I go to churches where people will wear suits for work, for weddings, for funerals, but when it comes to going to church its jeans and a t-shirt. Why shouldn’t they take the holiness of God seriously, the pastor is leading the way! God wants the best we have. I used to say that God doesn’t care what we wear as long as we are they. I have corrected that lie. I now say, God wants our best. You know why? Because He gave us the best He had. He gave His only begotten son. Why does the boss deserve the suit, but Christ doesn’t. Since when have we minimized going to church as just another activity that we have to do, so we might as well do it our way. I am afraid that there are a lot of church leaders who are going to find themselves fired when it comes time for the heavenly board meeting with the CEO.

I wonder who this world would compare Paul today? Today we compare Donald Trump to the most evil of all men. The liberals are painting a picture of evil, all the while not really believing in evil. What does that comparison mean? I take it that it actually means that you agree there is a hell, and there really is evil behavior, and that certain people like Hitler, Manson, Mussolini, and Donald Trump are going there because God will not take them into heaven. The word evil is used so that means people believe in evil. But what I am finding is that evil is only to a certain point and evil only offends a certain moral code. So there are a lot of people out there making up their own rules to life. They have the corner on morals, because they are the Supreme Being that can say what is moral and what is not. Again, I am afraid that there are many who will not see heaven right along with Hitler and they are going to be some pretty nice people.

John 14 is a wonderful chapter to read, and I encourage you to read it in its entirety. For now, I would like to draw you attention to a few verses from that chapter.

John 14  22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Many go right to love. Jesus said we are to love first. I agree, obviously. But I call your attention to the fact that the emotional love of humans is not at all the divine love of the Father. His truth will prevail because He loves us. He loves us so much, He allowed His only begotten son to be murdered by man in order that man might be saved. That translates to you loving the enemy, and your neighbor and all of man kind enough to tell them the truth. Living in your sin will result in eternal damnation according to God’s love for man! That is the truth. We cannot say of an unrepentant sinner, after his death, that we will pray for his soul. It is too late for his soul. The best you can pray for is that in the last minutes of his life he had a changed of mind and truly repented before almighty God. But we don’t want to pray for salvation because that means something or someone else is the keeper of the morals.

James 1- 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

2 Timothy 3  1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Luke 6 43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. 46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Acts 5 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

John 8 42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 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. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

Matthew 22 37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 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. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

Matthew 22 is pretty amazing to me. First even Jesus puts God first. Not His will, but thine. Jesus asked to be spared off the cross, but it was the Almighty’s will. And Jesus was obedient to His Father. Then Jesus tells them the truth; that they want to kill him because He spoke the truth. This should clear up all the lies told about how it is okay to let the drunk be drunk, the liar to be a liar, the thief to be a thief, the adulterer to be the adulterer, the homosexual to be the homosexual, and so on. People who wish not to witness the truth say they will bring the lost to the cross through behavior. Well behavior is evidence of the spirit in you. It may be helpful for a sinner to think you are a nice person, but a sinner needs to know what he is going to be saved from, and why. That means you actually need to speak about the sin in his life. Doesn’t matter if he is your brother or a stranger. We love people to heaven, not to hell. When Jesus sat with them He was teaching the gospel. He did not take part in their sin, nor did he allow them to feel comfortable in it. He told the truth, and free will allowed them to be saved like the Harlot, or allowed them to walk away like the rich man who refused to give up his possessions. He spoke and they listened. It is all about hearing the gospel and examining your life. But it is not about you making a decision for Christ and then telling Christ that you are going to do it your way. It is not about a church putting a cross on the facade of the building, bibles in the pews, and then saying we are going to teach things our way, and we are going to let people walk into the sanctuary and dishonor God. No Sir!!!! It is about you searching your soul for the power of the Holy Spirit and asking yourself in the courtroom of the unforgivable lie detector called the mirror, “Do I want to live for Christ, or do I want to die for me?

If you stand in the mirror, what will the reflection tell you about your relationship with God and what are you going to do about it? May the peace of God be abundantly heaped upon you and your home, straight from the cross to the Christian!

Lesser of two evils

Election year is in full swing. Right now the party primaries are dwindling down to the front runners. As a result of that, many are looking forward to who will be running for president in November. For a Christian this can be such an important act, especially since some of our views and values do not seem to be so common anymore.

Over the years I have been in the position to live by the theory, “The lesser of two evils”. I have, just like everyone else, been in a spot where I only had a couple of choices and I was not thrilled with any of them. So what did I do, I pick the best one for the time. I chose the one that might not have been ideal for me, but that choice would get me somewhere closer to where I wanted to be. Is that the Christian thing to do when it comes to choosing for God? Notice the quote below. Where is our commitment to God? I think her quote is quite accurate, even among devout Christians. We remove God from our practice of voting because putting people in power to give us laws that satisfy our flesh or who are not of God, but get us closer to the rules and way of life we want to live in is more important that being Pro God, and only Pro God.

Voting is the expression of our commitment to ourselves, one another, this country and this world. Sharon Salzberg

Is it okay to look at, support, and vote for a candidate who talks about God or being a Christian but behaves in a manner that is clearly unbiblical just so someone else who is even more unbiblical doesn’t get into office? That is the heavenly question.

Does the bible address voting for President of the United States? I say that it does, AND it doesn’t. I say that it doesn’t because the U.S. wasn’t even here at the time of its writing. How then would Paul or anyone else know about how we elect out officials? But this would be the case in the issue of abortion too. There were no abortion clinics and Roe v Wade was not the law of the land back in Paul’s day. So how then does the bible address abortion? I believe that it does address voting the same way it addresses abortion. The U.S. may not have existed at the time, but people were still murdering each other, including babies. People were also still electing or selecting leaders of their tribes. So it is the practice that we must look at in the bible. We cannot dismiss it just because we are not talking about POTUS. The same qualifications that God gave us for leaders of the church, are the same qualifications that we need to be looking at for leaders of the community. If a man is not good enough to be the pastor of your church, why would you vote for him to be president of the United States? I have had people say, “We are not voting for a pastor to lead a church. We are voting for POTUS!” I agree, we are voting for a president of our country!! But my question is if he is not good enough to be a pastor, than why president? The only way you can answer that with an affirmative answer is if you look at POTUS as a godless position. Otherwise, our answer has to be, “He is not good enough.”I say that sternly because as a Christian I don’t think you should be voting for a person that you would not have in the pulpit AND at the head of your dinner table in your own home. I believe that wholeheartedly. Before we talk about those qualifications, let’s look at a common scripture often used to direct Christians to follow the leader, or so we think.

Matthew 22- 21 They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

Many shorten this up and just say, “render unto Caesar”, as if we all know what it means. But just like some other areas of scripture, people only THINK they know what they are talking about. This rendering idea comes from people trying to trap Jesus into talking defiantly against Caesar. In a lot of places in the world you are not allowed to defy the government. If you do, you will be imprisoned or killed. If you talk about Christ, the same thing.  So the pharisees asked Christ what he thought about paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus asked to see the money being paid. It had an image on it, and that was an image of Caesar’s face. So Jesus simply said that if it belongs to Caesar, then give it back to him. What Christ did NOT say was give Caesar your worship, or your salvation, or your Christianity. Caesar cannot have that because it is not his, that belong’s to God. If you have Godly morals, this phrase does not support you bowing down to a leader who does not share your Christian morals.

Now that we have established that, lets look at a lesser referred to scripture on this subject.

Romans 13 1Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

Any Christian who thinks that earthly authority comes independent of God’s authority is not reading the holy word correctly. Even the pastors, or whatever name you call the leader of your church, are leaders because they are called by God. Today the churches are failing, in my opinion, because man is taking over the ordination process. You have to be elected, or voted for, or in some way approved by man no matter how you may feel called by God. Some churches say you cannot lead our church unless you have a degree. This is no where in the scripture and, in fact, we might as well throw the bible out on that standard since Paul certainly did not have a degree and God used him to record more books of the bible than anyone. The same is true for Peter, and James, and so on. This is man making up his own rules. God issues the authority. God made Christ the head of the church, then he made Christ the head of man, then man the head of woman, then woman over the children. He made that organizational chart, not me. God is the source of power and authority. He is the only one who can distribute it. I think that Christians have been convinced that they are the ones with the power and authority and so they are the ones who determine what is Godly and what is not. Wrong answer!!! Why is this important? Because of the next verse.

1 Corinthians 1- 10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers and sisters, some from chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas still another, “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized in my name.

So let’s collect our thoughts here. First, if you are a Christian voting for God then the “render unto Caesar” verse does not work because voting is not about giving back to man that which is man’s. It is about electing a representative of God to do God’s work from any office of authority. Second, man does not declare the power and authority, God does. No matter what office you vote for that man must be under the authority of God, not his own and certainly not any special interest. Third, there is only one standard for God’s authority and that is the Holy Scriptures. In this Verse Paul is clearly saying that we, as followers of Christ, cannot go off and set our own standards, even if we think we are doing it in the name of God. Paul clearly is saying that is not right. The Church of Christ must be one in thought and deed. Paul is fighting the multiple standards that are being followed by different people. He clearly sets the standard of Christ as the only standard to follow.

1 Timothy 2- 1I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Here Timothy clearly identifies Kings and how they are to be Godly people. We live in a country that allows us to pick that Godly man. How do we know that a man is godly?

Titus 1- 5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

Yes, these are the qualifications of the leader of the church. But the reason there are very few verses in the bible about how a man is to act is because all men are leaders. Whether they lead at church, home, or work, these qualifications for the men in the church are also the qualifications of being a man period. This is what a Godly man looks like, and when running for office, exercises these qualifications of God? Because he exercises them, you, having the spirit of God in you, will recognize the spirit of God in him, and when it is not in him. Is the spirit of God in a man who does not exercise sound doctrine?

Titus 1- 15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

I added this last part of Titus:1 because of verse 16. I was having a debate with a person and I stated that I did not believe one of the presidential candidates, in the 2016 primary, who said he was a Christian. Although I was accused of judging, which means to condemn, I did not condemn him, I simply said I don’t believe it. Again, we all better understand that we are to form opinions and judgments that help us be better Christians and make better God centered decisions. Not doing so means we’re making man centered decisions and that is very dangerous. We also better know where that line is that takes us from making good decisions to condemning people. I did not condemn him. Rather, I compared his visible behavior to Titus 1. Clearly, on so many levels, this man lacks these Godly characteristics. He is not slow to anger, he is given to wine, he is a lover of money (self-proclaimed), not holy, not temperate, definitely a vain talker, and so on. In Titus two we see that we are not to speak evil of no man, yet this candidate speaks evil of many. It does not take much to the person who reads the holy word, IN MY OPINION, to see that a Christian cannot vote for anyone who does not meet God’s standard.

The problem is that we become idolaters who say to God that His rules interfere with what we want. We say things like, “if I vote for a Godly man that is not in one of the two major parties, then I am taking my vote away from the party that best fits my beliefs.” Where in all the scriptures that I just cited here, or anywhere in the whole bible, does it say that we are allowed to do that? God does not care what we think; he only cares about us being obedient. God has used the word “wicked” to describe the thoughts in a man’s mind. Even if the other side wins, did God not say that we would be persecuted in His name? So again, we are saying I am going to do things my way God, and not your way because you have no idea what you are doing. I do not want to suffer for you, or your way. I want to control as much as I can by doing things my way. I caution anyone who thinks that they can vote for the lesser of two evils and think that theirs is a vote for Godliness. Godliness is spotless; there is no evil in it. We cannot have light and darkness at that same time, yet we are trying to figure out a way when we adopt the lesser of two evil theology. And even if our vote is 9 parts light and 1 part dark, God says it’s still dark. We cannot serve two masters. We cannot turn our head to the evil and see only the good. We cannot say, “I only vote for the good in him, but the evil, no I ignore that.” No, our vote is for the evil too. And if there be even one measure of evil, it is all evil because it is not spotless. I had a person tell me that she would accept the bad parts of a candidate just because one of the good parts of the candidate is that he proclaims to be against abortion, and she cannot have the blood of children on her hands. She obviously feels that voting for this candidate will get her closer to minimizing abortion, and that is a Godly position. She feels that he is a Christian, in spite of his ungodly behavior, just because he says he is a Christian. We cannot ignore the fruit. We are not only told to look for it, but we are told what it looks like so we can see it, both in others and in ourselves. I know pastors who believe that voting for the lesser of the two evils is better than a vote straight for God because they are fearful of the other party winning, which would be the more of the two evils. But I challenge all who share that view that while you vote to avoid having the blood on your hands you still turn your back to Christ and vote for darkness even if it is in only some SMALL part. I say that confidently because I do not believe Christ believes in the lesser of two evil theology. I am absolutely confident of that, and therefore, we should NOT subscribe to that as well. In fact, I believe we need to recognize that this idea is straight from the mouth of satan!!!! Who does more damage, the devil you can plainly see, or the wolf in sheep’s clothing? We are told to watch them both, are we not? Who do we think we are that we can stop the world from its destiny according to Christ? Again, you are worried about the blood on your hands; I am worried about the blood of Christ. I vote for Christ and let him worry about the babies. Christ is in a much better place than me to be in charge of that, and no matter how much you think of yourself, He is in a much better place than you to deal with that as well. I think I am rewarded for voting for Christ and putting faith in Him. Will it get better, probably not. The bible says not. So why sell Christ out for the lesser of two evils when the end is already foretold? Our country has gotten to the spiritually deprived place that it is because of the compromise of Christ. I hate it, and I refuse to participate in it any further. I stop and represent Christ immediately, and on His terms not mine.

I should close by saying recognizing that fallen man is a sinner, all of us. Even the minister who was my most favorite pick and was out of the race early on. He is a sinner too. But he is a repentant sinner, and a man who puts God first. There is a difference between being a saved creature who is living Titus:1 and a man who cries LORD LORD, and then attacks women, and has contention in his mouth. No one is perfect, but use your eyes and compare to the LORD’s admonition to these people seeking to be our leader, not mine. Read his expectations and and hold each candidate to the LORD’s example. Does he fit? If not explore options. When it comes to president, I ask for a write in ballot. I vote for myself because I know I, and my entire cabinet, will serve God!

If you stand in the mirror, what will the reflection tell you about your relationship with God, and what are you going to do about it? May the peace of God be abundantly heaped upon you and your home, straight from the cross to the Christian!

Kick back and relax

About the photo– I have been in a lot of church houses in my life, both protestant and catholic. I have been in churches with roles that exceed 600 members. This small little church house has more love, and from what I seen and felt, more people striving to live a Godly life than any other church house I have ever been in. There is no show, no theatrics, just the Spirit and His children!

So this past week I spent a lot of time thinking about what “deny yourself” really means. I found out that the meaning is hard core. So hard core that most Christians just like me say we do it, but really we don’t. The meaning is so hard core that understanding what it really means makes some not even want to follow Christ. The meaning is very simple; it is very black and white, it is very clear. There is no watering it down, and there is no manipulation, no wiggle room. Either you deny yourself and follow Christ or you choose to follow yourself and not Christ.

Luke 9- 23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Mark 8- 34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Matthew 16- 24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Jesus himself said that in order to be a true follower of Him, we must deny ourselves. The bible offers a definition of what this means.

Galatians 2- 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

“I have been crucified” means I have died. Before Christ, I was an unrepentant sinner. Either you were too, or you still are, only you and God know which. We were doomed. We lived for ourselves and through ourselves. When Christ went to the cross, His perfect sacrifice gave us a way to repent and be redeemed for all eternity. In the act of salvation, we- the old unrepentant sinners that we were or are- is crucified, we die to our self.

“It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” After Christ enters in, we are now alive IN CHRIST. This is the meaning of rebirth. The old man dies and a new man is reborn in an instant. We are now alive because of Christ and for Christ. This means that you and I are to take on the characteristics of Christ. If we were a drunkard before, we are to be no more. If we had hate in our heart, we are to love instead. If we were sexually immoral, in ANY way, we are to stop and cherish our body as the priceless gift that it is. If we were proud and boastful, we are to be meek and humble until our second death. If we think about the NT, Christ spoke about the Father all the time. He wanted to lead people to God the Father. Jesus was obedient to His Father. Christ not only spoke these words, but He lived them as well. He was the model of the life He requires of His followers. No, it is not an option. He has said so over and over.

John 14- 15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

Jesus expects those who chose to follow Him to obey Him. “If you love me, you will keep My commandments.” Notice this is written in the plural. And notice that ‘My” is capitalized. That means the commandments that are spoke of here are the LORD’s commands, not yours, not mine, and not satan’s. Many think this means love everyone and you will be okay because love is the greatest gift, or because it is the command above all commands. But that theology negates that there are more than just that one command. There are hundreds of commands in the NT that we are to live out. They are not hard, they are not complicated. They are all wrapped around Christ and His agape love for us. We are to live according to His will, not our own. When we do that, Jesus says that He will advocate on our behalf to the Father. The Father will send the spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit, to us. The world does not know the truth, because they do not have the spirit. But because we live according to Christ, we have the spirit and we know the truth.

The truth is we are a fallen man, and sometimes we hold on to the parts of us which are dead, or at least are supposed to be dead. Hate, fornication, murder, lying, idolatry and such are not behaviors of Jesus, but of the devil. If you are the center of your universe, Christ is not in you. You simply have not denied yourself. That is simple and it is the truth. I don’t need to be Christ to make that call. Christ has left the word here for all of us to know what the fruit of the spirit looks like, and that rotten fruit of idolatry, man centered anything, tells all who know the truth, and have the spirit so that we can recognize it that the  spirit is not in that man centered person. It is not hard really. In fact, it is more simple and plain than most people think. People only think these words are complicated or have more complicated meanings because they want to feel comfortable in their sin.

We must become a people who are in submission, that is, submitted completely to the mission of the Church, ‘in statu missionis.’ Thus, living fully within the mainstream of grace, under the mantle of God’s divine authority, and by uniting ourselves to the obedience of Christ on the cross, we participate in the reversal of Adam’s sin.

Michael O’Brien

For many years I refused to go to church. I had a number of bad experiences and ended up saying that Church is not for me. I used to say, all the time, “I can have a relationship with God without having to go to church.” Even after I went back to church, I used to say; “nowhere in the bible does it say you ‘HAVE’ to go to church.” Let me tell you, I was wrong and so is everyone who is saying what I used to say.

Hebrews 10- 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

These verses indicate that not only are we to go to church, but we are to urge and encourage others to go to church. It also indicates that not going to church is not a new idea. There were people thinking what I thought long before I thought it. These verses tell me it wasn’t right then and it isn’t right now. Finally, as it states, we should be gathering even more as the end times approach. No, this is not a quatrain declaring the end date! But my eyes work, do yours?

John Gills comments, “Now to “forsake” such assembling, signifies a great infrequency in attending with the saints, a rambling from place to place, and takes in an entire apostasy. It is the duty of saints to assemble together for public worship, on the account of God, who has appointed it, who approves of it, and whose glory is concerned in it; and on the account of the saints themselves, that they may be delighted, refreshed, comforted, instructed, edified, and perfected; and on account of others, that they may be convinced, converted, and brought to the knowledge and faith of Christ; and in imitation of the primitive saints. And an assembling together ought not to be forsaken; for it is a forsaking God, and their own mercies, and such are like to be forsaken of God; nor is it known what is lost hereby; and it is the first outward visible step to apostasy, and often issues in it.”

The great King David proclaimed that we need to Praise God in His house.

Psalm 150- 1Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament!

Apostle Paul said we need to get together for the purpose of learning and growing.

Colossians 3- 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

How do you teach and admonish one another if you are at home alone? This is a command that we do this. Today, people want to accuse others of judging because they don’t like what’s being said. Funny connection, the devil doesn’t like the truth too! Sometimes people are wrong, that’s why the mirror is an important piece of equipment. That’s why brothers and sisters need to be more honest with each other. On brother says another brother said I should stopped swearing. He is at home, who does he ask. If he is at church he can ask other brothers, is it true, should I stop. Everyone who loves this brother should tell him the truth. Yes, you swear too much and you need to stop. If you have numerous brothers and sisters agreeing that this something amiss in your worship, then a wise person should be convicted to check himself. People don’t go to church anymore, at least the churches that still preach the truth, because they want to remain comfortably in sin. People want to kick back and relax. They do not want to be corrected because they do not want to deny themselves. There is just too much fun in sin. Isn’t that some sad short term thinking?

Christlike communications are expressions of affection and not anger, truth and not fabrication, compassion and not contention, respect and not ridicule, counsel and not criticism, correction and not condemnation. They are spoken with clarity and not with confusion. They may be tender or they may be tough, but they must always be tempered.

Lionel Kendrick

 

I will conclude with the parable of the rich young ruler

Key Verses

Luke 18- 18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ 21 And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” 22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.

And this is the truth more often than not. The idea of hell scares people, so they seek Christ. The idea of heaven is so comforting. A lot of people want Christ right up until Christ starts to infringe on one’s health, wealth, loves of entertainment and happiness, idea of fairness, and so on. God is good as long as the sinner comes first and God comes last. People, there shouldn’t even be balance. It is ALL for God, nothing for you. This ruler had power and possessions and wealth. To him, Jesus told him to deny himself because Jesus knew the ruler had a love for that stronger than his love of Christ. Christ new He was not first in this ruler’s life. But that ruler wanted it all. He wanted all he had on earth, and he wanted heaven, and he wanted it for him, not for Christ. When Jesus infringed on that, when Jesus told him to put Christ first and deny himself, that was too much to bear. He walked away sad. But he could not stay sad forever, right? So what did he do? Probably the same thing we do. We start saying there is no God, and there is no heaven and hell because I have to do something with this fear of hell. So if I negate the truth, and everything that reminds me that this is the truth, I can remain comfortably in my sin. That is why there are fake Christians in the world, and people who walk away. Everything is great until God asks us to sacrifice that which we love. Here is a plain and easy example. God tells me to love my wife like Jesus loves the church. Now, I don’t know about all husbands out there, but there are times when I do not want to love my wife. Sometimes I want to walk out that door. That would be a bad choice. Why? Because that is a choice made under extreme emotion, where I am lacking a God grip on my life. That would be Mike’s will, not God’s. God wants me to stay there and love her enough to let Christ take care of the devil who is trying to destroy my marriage. I have to love God enough to love my wife even when my flesh is screaming not to. I have to deny myself. What God may be asking you to do, or not to do, can be different than this. And knowing it is easy. Are you doing it, or do you have it for God, or for yourself. Deny yourself, die to your flesh. Life is not about you!

If you stand in the mirror, what will the reflection tell you about your relationship with God, and what are you going to do about it? May the peace of God be abundantly heaped upon you and your home, straight from the cross to the Christian!