Submitting to Authority

So many times I hear people complain about the Covenant, with comments everywhere from “I should be able to make those decisions on my own” to “They are making unmoral decisions into morals.” It doesn’t matter what you think, because the only truth is that which comes from the mouth of God and from his mouth came the Holy Bible for it is written, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Dear friends before I go on from there, I want to make sure that you know that I come before you in humility, for I am no better then the worse of sinners. I have been a hypocrite many times in my life and have called people to follow the covenant, infact rebuking them for not even knowing what it says. But the fact is that I am one of those people who have broken the covenant many times, for we all are all sinners and come before our most high God guilty unless we stand under the blood of Christ. For it is only in the blood of Christ that we are clean. It reminds me of a quote by Rich Mullens, “Whenever people say, 'Christians are hypocrites,' I say, 'duh, every time we come together we are confessing that we are hypocrites, weaklings in need of God and each other.” The truth is, to be a Christian is to be a hypocrite, because we stand in Church and agree to live by the standards of God, “Be perfect therefore as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” Who of us can live up to a standard like that, of course we are going to fall, but that does not mean that we should unless stop from giving our heart away to the effort of “walking as Jesus walked.” So as I say all these things I say them also to myself, as I point a figure at you I am pointing the rest strait back at me.
Now going back to 2 Timothy, I am coming to you in a effort to rebuke you of false thinking and correct you that you might be ready to be trained in righteousness by the Christian authority of Crown. The Bible makes it very clear that we need to summit to the authority that is placed above us. It is so important that it is restated three places and then elaborated in the third. First Paul addresses it in Romans 13, “EVERYONE must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is NO authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” Paul makes it very clear in the first two verses of the chapter that everyone needs to submit to the authorities because God put them there, for there is no authority that God has not placed there. For even the evil of nations that conquered Israel were put there by God. He is trying to make the point that because we are free in Christ doesn’t mean that we should be lawless, but rather law abiding. Then in verse two Paul makes a strong point for submission, for if you rebel against the authority it is the same as rebelling against God which brings judgment onto you!
The second passage is from Hebrews 13:17, “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” Here the writer of Hebrews is imploring them to obey so that they will not be burdened by the law that they are under. For when we rebel against a law or an authority above us, there is always a consequence fro our actions, even if we believe that the actions were justified or the rules unfair, the punishment still is there. So why not rather submit so that it will not be burdensome for us, because even if we rebel we now have the punishment and the rules to bear instead of only the rules to follow. For even Jesus talked to this, for in his time on earth the Roman empire was ruling over the Jewish culture imposing their laws upon the children of Israel, but did Jesus say that they should right against them as a zealot? Far from it, instead he said, “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” Jesus never wanted us to rebel, but instead show love in our service to that authority.
The final scripture that I want to bring to your attention is that of 1 Peter 2, here is a passage from the man that Jesus said, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Someone who has been given authority by God and Jesus for the building up of the Church, aka someone we should listen to. In his first letter he says this, “Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.” (1 Peter 2:13-14) Peter addresses the same issue that Paul addressed twice before, that we are to submit to authority, but he makes another statement in there, “for the Lord’s sake.” (is that like saying for Pete’s sake?) You are not doing this because you want to look good, but rather that you are doing this as unto the Lord. He continues on in this right after that on the issue of respect, “Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’” (1 Peter 2:17-22) Peter takes this to every part of life or social status, make sure that all who read understand that we are not to shun authority or be disrespectful to the cops or even the president, no matter how much we dislike them. He says show everyone proper respect, and not just the ones who are nice to you, but even to the ones who beat you or mistreat you. Slaves are not suppose to hate their masters, but rather show them respect and submission. But do not stop at only the outward, for out of the heart comes all things, just as you are to live the example of Jesus, who “no deceit was found in his mouth.”
I leave you with the words of John, “ We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:3-6)

Gospel Presentation

“In the beginning God created the heavens and earth” (Genesis 1:1). Then on the sixth day God created man, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground’" (Genesis 1:27-28). So in the beginning God created man to rule over the earth, to taking care of all that God had created from the plants and trees to the beast of the field and the birds of the air. But that was not the only reason that man was made, for God created man so that he might have a relationship with them for, “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” (Genesis 3:8-9). God was not some powerful force that sat in the heavens and just watched the world take its course like a TV sitcom, but rather He wanted a relationship with His creation. God would walk with man, showing that there was an intimate relationship between the two. He calls out to them, “where are you?” and engages with them.
But God had allowed for his creation to have free will, as seen in Genesis 2:16-17 when God tells man, “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Here you see that God clearly gave man a choice to obey what he was told or to disobey; free will. Again it is seen clearly in chapter 3 where the snake tempts the woman; God doesn’t stop them but allows her to make the choice. Finally it can be seen in the way that the devil has to tempt her to take the apple by giving her a twisted truth, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" (Genesis 3:1) He put doubt into the heart of the woman and she decided to eat of the tree that God had told them was forbidden, “she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked” (Genesis 3:6-7). When God came to them during the cool of the day He called out to man, but they hid from Him and when they had told him what they had done, he placed a curse on man and woman. To each he cursed them and their pain is ours to bear as well, for the Bible says, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). So because of the sins of the first man and woman, we have all sinned before God. We have been born into sin, completely unable to do anything about it, for it says in Psalms 51:5, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” Then also in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” clearly stating that we can’t make it to God’s glory on our own. Some will say that they are a good person, but no one is good enough to meet the standards that God has called us to, for it says in Leviticus 19:2, “Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.” The standard is set far beyond anything that we can match for it also says in Isaiah 64:6, “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” and so we know that we are completely effortless to do anything about our helpless state.
For the majority of my life I have tried to live a good life in the eyes of my church, parents, and friends, but because it was only in their eyes, behind closed doors, or when no one was looking my life was not the cleanest. I went to youth group, but there was nothing that could ever really help me get past the sins in my life. For I have always tried to live a good life, following the commandments in the Bible in an effort to be a good Christian, yet my life was still void and I couldn’t figure out why I was so empty. In my senior year of high school I was not walking with the LORD, but I had not walked away from him, so I knew that when I chose a college it had to be a Christian College so that I could grow with God. So when I finally found Crown College I knew that God was calling me to go there. I knew it was a calling to come here because I was challenged to a faith that was more then just my law abiding mentality that I had when I was younger, but instead I gained a relationship with the God. My faith and love for God and people has grown leaps and bounds since coming here and I praise His name. He set me free from a lifestyle that was fruitless and void of life with Him.
The change that happened to me while in college was due to one Man, and if it was not for Him, I would still be living a worthless life trying to serve God with my fruitless labor; with my “filthy rags.” But when I came to college I met Jesus for real, and this Man’s life changed mine. If you don’t know Him or if you think you know who He is, let me explain what the Bible really says about Him or even what He said about Himself. First, you have to understand that Jesus was a man yet fully God, for in John 1:1, 2 it says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning” and then in verse 14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus is the word of God and testifies to that in John 14:6 when “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” So we know that Jesus was God and man, stating that he was and is the only way to Heaven, the bridge to bring us back to a relationship with God. For it says in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
So how do we respond to all that? It may sound like the work is done and I don’t have to do anything, because Jesus already did it. This is only half true. For in Romans 5:8 it says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” We did nothing deserving God’s plan of salvation or restoration but God loved us enough to give His Son to bridge that gap so that we could come back. So yes, the work has been done for us to come back to a relationship with God, but you have to accept that hand that Jesus offers to come across the bridge. “For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13), because “if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Romans 10:9-10). Jesus did all the work for us to come back to God, but it is still up to us to accept that love. The first and hardest part is done, all that is left is for you to believe it and confess that Jesus is LORD.

Another Thought From the Book

The book defines the study of a book as “understanding,” “interpreting,” and finally “evaluation”; but as the author defined them, let me also. “Understanding” is asking, what is the author saying? What are the words used and what does that say? “Interpreting” is asking, what does the author mean? What is the meaning behind the words used? “Evaluating” is asking, is the author right or wrong? “Most of us tend to do the third reading right away and often never do the first and second readings at all. We give a critical analysis of the book before we understand what it says. We judge a book to be right or wrong before we interpret its meaning” (p. 67).
This is what I would call “listening,” for I know that the author is talking about reading a book yet I feel this could and should be applied to communication as a whole. So often I feel as though people are so quick to judge what I am saying before they even hear what I have to say. I don’t know how many time people have cut me off when I was talking to tell me that I am wrong. I know I am not an amazing public speaker, but yet at the same time, at least think about what I am saying before you throw your unthoughtfull words back at me.
Can we at least think before we speak? It just seems to me that in our American Culture those who are slow to speak and quick to listen are few and far between. (or as someone told me when I showed them this, “those who are slow to speak and quick to listen are never heard) Why is that though?!

Are you Lukewarm?

I wrote this when I was suppose to be sleeping for clinicals, but I couldn’t I felt this is what God would rather have me write, cause the last one was only tearing them down and God has been telling me edify… edify…. There is too much put downs and we need encouragement…
With what has happened this last week, there has been a lot of talk.

Crown we have become lukewarm Christians! We are neither hot nor cold and God will soon spit us out if we do not do something to change. The events of the past week have shown me that there is a lack of integrity in our walks, and please understand that I am just as much to blame as the next guy. So when you read this don’t be thinking about the log that I need to take out my own eye, I am asking Crown to help each other, help me, and help yourselves to take the crap out of our eyes so that we can see Christ. The sins of the flesh are not what I am talking about, for the simple fact that when we focus on Christ all worldly things will lose their glory and fade away as that focus becomes more constant. So Crown what I am talking about here is our walk with Christ. Our walks have strayed from the narrow path that leads to life, it has strayed to the “wide is the gate, and broad is the way” of destruction and that has already happened for a couple of us. Not saying that getting kicked out of Crown means your going to Hell, but it has destroyed so much that some have tried to build up. So what are we doing Crown? Let’s take heart and, “since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3) The directions are clear but just to make sure we don’t miss the point let me give you one more example of why fixing our eyes on Jesus is the most important; Peter walks on water. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
"Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?”
“I'm not trying to be a nuisance I just think we can do better than this That was simply my two cents You can, you can take it or leave it.”

Nuisance

To people who call themselves Christians:

I am a hypocrite, will you join with me and say that you are too? We are in a fallen world striving to be something more, we are striving to be Christ-like. I mean that is what the name Christian means right? We are followers of Christ right? But we are not, we are all being hypocrites, saying one thing and doing another. That is why the world hates us! Jesus was suppose to be the stumbling block, but not us! Myself included, I have been struggling for 21 years trying to get my life on track with what God has called me too, but I am no closer then I was back then... We have all fallen from the fire and have become lukewarm, and God doesn't want lukewarm, he wants hot! So what are we doing?

Come together with me! Please let us put off all the things that hinder and run the race with endurance. The race that was set out before us. Remember that the road that leads to destruction is wide and many find it, but the way to the kingdom of heaven is strait and the door is narrow, few find it. So why are we running this way or that, or stopping here and there? The Bible says to keep our eye on Jesus and the things of this world will fade away. What happened to Peter on the lake!? He took his eyes off the glory of Christ Jesus and he began to sink under the waves. The things of this world parish so why are we stopping our race to pick them up? They only hold us down from the race, but the Bible tells us to store up treasures in heaven and not here where moth and rust destroy! Finally the Bible says that friendship with the world puts a wall between you and God! So why would you want that?!

"I am not trying to be a nuisance, but I think that we can do better then this. That was simply my two cents, you can take it or leave it"

The Word of God

John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the word, the word was with God, the word was God." Continuing on in John 1:14 it states, "the word became flesh and dwelt among men." so we know that Jesus is the word of God. Then in Hebrews 4:12 the writer says it is, "living and active, sharper then any two edged sword." 2 Timothy 3:16 then states that, "all scripture is given by inspiration of God." Jesus agreed with that when he said that he only does what the father tells him and also proclaiming, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Saying that there is only one way to God that being through Jesus Christ. The word of God is perfect and to say that it is not would be questioning God himself. For if the bible has errors then Jesus was a liar, and if Jesus was a liar then he has no power to save. We are all then condemned to hell. Thus scriptures are living and forever, full of truth and without flaw.

2 Timothy 3:16-18
16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Peter 1:20-21
20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 4:12
12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Isaiah 55:10-11
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

John 5:39
39You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me,

1 Peter 1:23
23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

Psalm 33:9
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.

Proverbs 30:5
5 "Every word of God is flawless;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Psalm 119:89
89 Your word, O LORD, is eternal;
it stands firm in the heavens.

2 Corinthians 1:20
20For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.

1 Peter 1:24-25
24For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25but the word of the Lord stands forever."[a] And this is the word that was preached to you.

Mark 13:31
31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

John 1:1-2
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.

John 1:14
14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,[d] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Who is God?

God is the God of Justice, Love and Mercy. I put them in that order because God works in that order. God demands justice for every wrong doing (sin). All sin, no matter how small must be pain for in full. That payment is simple, death. Now death is not what the person would first think of when they think death. When the body ceases to pump blood, the brain fails to fire, and the lungs quit breathing. No, this death is something much more horrific. It is an eternal separation from God. Now God demands justice for all wrong doings and all wrong doings must be paid for in full. Thus unless you are a perfect man, you will never get into heaven… But because God is the God of love, he desires none to perish, but wants all to come to know him. It is not his will that anyone should parish in the eternal flames of hell… but being a just God…. He still has to make you pay for what you have done. So you still go to hell. Fortunately, God is a God of mercy. Now to define Mercy, “compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender” Now understand this, mercy is not your right. Justice is your right and that is what you will always get from God! You will pay for every sin you have ever done, that is justice, but mercy is God saying, “I am going to let you off the hook” There is no rule that says he has to do this! That is why it is mercy, but still God needs that sin to be paid for…so if not you, then who? That is why God sent his son to take your place. Jesus took your place and paid for your sins once and for all. You are no longer condemned to die for the sins of your life. You are free to go, but you have to go… The gift Jesus offers is just that… a gift. You have to receive the gift for it to be a gift. So people who say that they don’t need Jesus? Well Jesus died for their sins, but sense they didn’t accept the gift, they don’t receive the benefits from that gift and thus have to pay for their sins. An eternity in Hell. So God is loving, but he is just first.

Hypocrite, narrow-minded, my standards are too high?

"Whenever people say, 'Christians are hypocrites,' I say, 'duh, every time we come together we are confessing that we are hypocrites, weaklings in need of God and each other'" - Rick Mullens
We are who we are. Not one Christian among us is perfect and that is not going to change.
I have been called a hypocrite, narrow-minded, and that my standards are too high. Now ask me if I care? No, I don’t care. I am not here to try and please you, but my whole life is here to serve and love my LORD. The statements about me maybe true, but why are they?
First there is the statement that I am a hypocrite, and that is probably true. But then again who in this world is not a hypocrite in one way or another? I live my life in service to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but I have failed him many times. Even Jesus’ most trusted disciples have failed him, they have been hypocrites. Let’s first look at Peter. Peter loved Jesus with everything he had and was, saying that he would die for Jesus. He defended Jesus when they arrested him, cutting off the ear of one of the men. Not even fearing death, Peter followed Jesus to the trial, but when it mattered most Peter denied Jesus three times! What worse thing could man do to our LORD? But still Jesus came to Peter after his resurrection to reinstate him to his calling of being the Rock that the Church would be built on. (Luke 22, John 18, John 21) Second there is Paul who said this himself, “For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” And then he goes on to say, “And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.” We are men, far from the perfection that is Christ. Even Isaiah says that our best work is like filthy rags to the LORD. You live the life that I am trying to live and not be a hypocrite from time to time.
Why am I narrow-minded? For I know that I must "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14). The Bible calls us to walk the narrow path, not one that is wide allowing for any wayward thinking. For wide is the way that leads to destruction. The views of this world are not of God, “You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” (James 4:4-5) Then also in James 1 he talks about wisdom, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” If we want wisdom it should come from God, for God will give us the wisdom that we ask for. “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” (1 Cor. 3:19) So why would I want to change my mind for a mere man’s beliefs. I will look to the Lord for my wisdom and truth. I will sit and wait for the Lords council and not change my mind for any new idea that is passed before me. Liberal view points of this day are going to lead to destruction of the country. They say that what is true for you doesn’t have to be true for me, that it maybe ok for you but it doesn’t mean the same for me. Truth is what you make it and so on…. The Bible speaks of these people in Romans 1, “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen,” and then again in verse 32. “Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” But the truth is this, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) That is the truth that we can trust in, there is no truth, but that which comes from Jesus. So Jesus is not here on earth anymore, so how can we know what truth is? But He is, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1) and “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14). So Jesus is here, with us and in us. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). And also, “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.” (1 John 4:15)
I have chosen to live my life in a way that is pleasing to God my Father in Heaven. (I have not put try, for the same reason that I listed Romans 7. It is not me who sins, but the sin living in me, that is the flesh) “For it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’" (1 Peter 1:16) So I chose to walk as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6). For when he saved me and called me to a holy lifestyle, but it is nothing that I have done, that he has called me to do it, for it was of his own grace and purpose that He has called me (2 Timothy 1:9). So I have a purpose or calling on my life for in John 17:17 it says, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” Sanctify in Greek means, “set apart for sacred use” and when you need something for sacred use, it has to be clean and holy. 2 Corinthians 7:1 reiterates this, “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” And then in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.” That is why in 2 Corinthians 6:17 it says, “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." We are the temple of the Holy Spirit and are called by God to a holy lifestyle for he intends to use us, but can’t not if we are not holy. “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21). It is the desire of God that we become, “blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe” (Philippians 2:15). Also, God calls us to hold a higher standard, “Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)” The standards of this world are not those of God! They are “crooked and depraved” for it says in 2 Timothy4:3-4, “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine, in stead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears will want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” They have given up truth and holiness to do what they want and no longer follow God. I have chosen to not be one of those people, but who has answered the call of Holiness and purity for God.

references:
Isaiah 35:8-9; 1 john 2:6; 2 Timothy 1:9; John 17:17; 1 Peter 2:21; 2 Corinthians 6:17; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Philippians 2:15; 1 John 3:3; Ephesians 5:7-9;

The Clean Room

Luke 11:24-26

When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.

So as I read this when I was younger, I never really thought much of it. It was something that was little more then just another story to me. But then when I was reading another book I cam across this passage and I felt like I needed to go back and read it, and when I did God revealed something to me that I could have never seen on my own.

It could go one of two ways, but I believe that it really doesn't matter. Whether Jesus meant it to be a literal spirit or just a metaphorical idea, I don't believe that it matters. The idea here is where are hearts and minds need to be, because of this.

So the issues comes down to this. There is a sin in our lives (or a spirit) that we finally get deliverance from. It leaves our body, not finding rest, so it comes back to see the place he used to dwell. When he gets there he finds the house cleaned up, yet still empty. So he finds 7 more spirits that are worse then him and brings him to this place. Now instead of being clean and free from the spirit you are now stuck with more and harsher spirits. Here is what was reveled to me, those spirits are the strong sins in our life that we continually deal with. They are that one sin that we can not beat or get over, but needed deliverance from it. So now we are finally delivered from the evil, but the problem is this... We are only clean now, but still we have not filled that house with the goodness of God. Then when the spirit comes back, he can move back in. Now are problem is back and worse then ever! Deliverance is only the first step to our freedom in Christ. The second and just as important is that we fill ourselves with the goodness that comes from Christ. That the Spirit of the Most High God comes in and fills our lives in every space and corner so there is no room for the spirit to comes back. "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you" (Psalms 119:11) That is why it is so important to open our hearts to the word of God and be filled with it daily... hourly.... every minute.... Peter said, "pray without ceasing" (1 Thes 5:17) We are to be with God all the time, because when we are not with God his glory fades from our face (like it did on Moses face after coming down from the mountain)and when it fades... it allows the darkness to creep back into our lives.

Flee from evil and seek God and you will find Him.

To obey is better then sacrific

Before the Ten Commandments there were no laws, beside that you should not eat of the tree of good and evil. But it was still sin for Cain to kill Able. God knew it, Cain knew it and God told him, “Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." Even though there is no law before the fall there was still a right and wrong and people knew it. So why do you who know the law and have the Word of God at your finger tips not follow it?
You may say the law no longer applies because you are under the new covenant so you don’t have to follow it (Romans 6:14), but when you read on to the next verse Paul shoots that theory down! He says, “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? … You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” (Romans 6:15-16,18) Paul is very clear that we are no longer under the law so that we won’t be condemned by the law, but we are called to obedience to God from whom the law came. The thing that he is trying to get through to the reader is that we are saved by grace and don’t have to worry about our walk with Him being perfect, but that we live by faith. For earlier Paul says this, “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law” and then “And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.” (Romans 3:28;11:6) So it is not that we don’t have to follow the law, but that we cannot be saved by the law. “We then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.” (Romans 3:28,31)
Paul is not the only one that feels this way either; Peter, James and John all have the same message. Peter says it like this, “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter1:16 [yeah he quoted it, but he did repeat the scriptures thought]) James puts is this way, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17) Then finally John, “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:6)
Also Jesus is very clear in the matter. In John 6:29 Jesus answered the people, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” So there is no going to heaven through works, but just to believe in the one whom God sent, Jesus. Then Jesus in John 14:15 says, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” So what more can be said?
I guess just a conclusion. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) God has made the way to heaven free and not something you can earn, but that doesn’t mean that we can forsake the laws laid out for us. It is through the obedience of the laws that we show that we believe what we say we do. (James 2:17) Finally in 1 Samuel 15:22 it says, “But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”

Sex vs. Tobacco

So this week and last I have been wearing a hat that advertises Tobacco products. I have heard more then a few comments about it, but now it is my turn to say something about it. What I am wearing says what I support. So by me wearing this hat I am saying that I support this product, right? Can anyone disagree with this? So why should what I wear matter and what you wear be acceptable? I don’t think it should, or you’re just being a hypocrite. (don’t get me wrong, we all are one in one way or another. Peter is the biggest one, but Jesus choose him to build the church!) So let us look at some of the big name brands that we, as Christians, are wearing.
Abercrombie and Fitch. Their website says, “The highest quality, casual, All-American lifestyle clothing for aspirational men and women.” When I went to the site, well the first thing that I see is a man laying down with what looks like as no clothes on? What is this promoting? I don’t think it is promoting their “All-American lifestyle clothing” because I sure don’t see any clothing being advertised. So then I went to the Photo Gallery and what do I see… another guy half naked and what looks like… he is taking off his pants. So what is it they are selling? I don’t feel like they are selling me this “All-American lifestyle clothing,” do you?
Second they have had to pay over $40 million in a lawsuit for discrimination against, “Latino, African American, Asian American and female” So obviously they are not fair to the people that they have working for them.
Third , “The founder, David Abercrombie was a former trapper. First dedicated to camping, fishing and hunting gear ! His clientele consisted of hunter and explorers” and now “Their image has changed from a store for outdoorsman to the naked teenagers.” Then there is their catalog and this is what Kevin McCullough had this to say, “Forty-five specific portrayals of sexual imagery in the first 120 pages, advice to the readers ... this is how the new Abercrombie & Fitch Quarterly titled "The Christmas Field Guide" begins its new quarterly magazine that is targeted to your 10- to 13-year-olds. The 45 images include overt portrayals of group sex, lots of teen and young adult nudity, men kissing, and teens /young adults frolicking in a river engaging in sexual activity in multiple group settings. Did I mention that the actual clothing doesn't begin being advertised until page 120?”
So when I look at this company I see them marketing sex not clothes. So what is this telling people about you when you wear these things…. I mean a hat with tobacco advertised on it, I might say that this product is good. It may cause cancer, but why is that any different then the cancer that A & F cause to the minds of the minds of today’s youth? They are telling these kids that sex with anyone and everyone is good and that the more people the better!
How many other companies out there have been using child labor to make their clothes. Just take a minute and look at all the cases when you Google it!
Tell me this, would you support playboy? So why would you support this company when they are doing the same thing? So tell me why as Christians are we sitting back and buying products that come from these despicable companies? Shouldn’t we be doing everything for the glory of Christ ?