quinta-feira, 28 de agosto de 2008

Humble Body

Christians form a body. The Bible calls this the body of Christ or in simple terms, the Church. The body of Christ is not a building and neither is the church, it is believers of Christ. So anything that is good for the Body is good for the church and what is good for the church, is good for the Body.

Compare this now to the human body. The human body has many parts. However if these parts do not work together, nothing can be accompished to its fill potential or at all. In fact if body parts dont work together, serious injury and even death can occur. The same is true if we in the body of Christ dont work together with each other, but that is not what I am talking about today.

What happens to a persons physical body if they do not live a humble life? What happens to people's health when they live a life of pride? Illness, injury, drug abuse, obesity, weakness, tiredness, depression, jobless, no quality relationships with other people, suicide and even death just to name a few. The same things occure in the body of Christ (The Church) without humility.

Philippians 2:1-4

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

A church cannot grow, cannot be effective, and cannot bring glory to God unless it is full of humble believers. So how should we think?

5-11

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Even thought Jesus was equal with God in all ways (and we, not in any way) He still was humble and put everyone else in front of Him. He cared more about our needs than his own. However it can be argued that Jesus' most powerful need is to love us and He certainly showed that on the cross. If Jesus is our Saviour, and the Holy Spirit is in us, then shouldn't that be our most basic and strongest need, to please God and love others the way He loves us?

Ultimately, our motivation to be humble should not come from reward, but when we are humble, God is exalted and being the giving and loving God that He is, He will always lift us up and bless us beyond belief for putting Him and putting others before us.

J O Y ......Jesus Others Yourself

If you want JOY, put Jesus first in your life, then other people, and lastly.. yourself

The Bible says that if you put yourself last, He will put you first. This promise is not just for the church, but for as as individuals.

terça-feira, 19 de agosto de 2008

YOUR LOVE IS LIKE COFFEE

My day cannot start without it

So rich and bold

The aroma is addictive

Warms me deep in my soul


Energizes me when I am tired

Helps me face the day

Sweet and Satisfying

Unique flavor in every way


Dark like your hair

Creamy like your skin

Hot with passion

Satisfying without and within


I can hear the water getting hot

The steam rises up

Time to chill together

Baby pour me up a cup


I LOVE YOU MY JAVA GIGI! MWAH mmmm mmmmm mmmm delicious

Satan, Publicity, & Advertising

Perhaps I am not the best one to write this blog and should leave this to my girlfriend who is in college for this topic, but I had some thoughts I would like to share about Publicity and Advertising and how it relates to a Christian in perhaps a way you have not thought about it before.

P & A id often referred to as Marketing and indeed marketing is all a form of manipulation. Some forms of marketing are very clear in their intent to try to get you to react in a certain way whether it is to or not to buy, vote or not vote, do or not to do, day or not to say, think or not to think, etc.

Other forms of marketing are more manipulative and although the intent is not obvious, the marketing is designed to subconsciously force you to react in a way that you perhaps did not even know the marketing was causing.

Marketing is mainly visual, and auditory causing you to react based on what you see and or hear. These senses create a feeling within you that the marketing hopes pushes you react in the way that they intend you to react.

The scary thing about marketing is that you cannot escape it. Signs on the side of the road, calls to your phone, TV, radio, internet, on vehicles, in the sky, on the ground, on clothes, anything that an advertisement or publicity message can be put on and I do mean anything!

So, is marketing sinful? Of course to advertise is not a sin, but it seems that the concept itself has become very corrupt and you can make clear connections between the way marketing works and the way Satan works. In the same way that marketing constantly strives to get into your mine to force a reaction, Satan takes every opportunity to do the same. In the same way Satan will try to tempt you without even knowing it, so does many marketing schemes.

How come some of the most clever and attractive marketing strategies are for ungodly products and services such as, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, and unwholesome activities? Even product and services that are not ungodly by themselves use ungodly marketing strategies that are sexual and vulgar. You have all heard the phrase “sex sells” and indeed it does. Many marketing strategies with no shame and hiding nothing will openly use sex and naked or nearly naked attractive models. While other marketing schemes may not be so bold, they still hint at sexuality to get your attention and keep your mind on their “message”.

So what can we do?! The problem for us Christians is that even if we succeed in not looking and thinking much about sinful influence, it still sticks in our minds and will make us more susceptible to thinking in ways and about things we shouldn’t each inevitably leads to sin. To battle an extreme enemy who uses extreme methods, we must have an extreme faith. Rest assured Satan is taking every opportunity to defeat you, so we must take every opportunity to fight back. What are some extreme things we have to do if we hope to stand against this attack?


We must avoid the following areas where marketing can turn into temptation to sin, while being honest with ourselves about what we know tempts us:

Ø Websites that contain content or ads
Ø TV shows or channels that contain commercials
Ø Magazines with articles or ads
Ø People who talk about things that lead you astray
Ø Songs that suggest ungodly behavior
Ø Ungodly radio stations
Ø Ungodly Literature
Ø Choosing to turn your head and not look at images you know tempt you


Isn’t this silly though? I mean this is just not realistic or Biblical to take such precautions is it?

Philippians 4:8-9

Finally, brethren,
whatever things are
true,
whatever things are
noble,
whatever things are
just,
whatever things are
pure,
whatever things are
lovely,
whatever things are
of good report,
if there is any virtue and
if there is anything praiseworthy
meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.


1Thessalonians 4:1-8

Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.

1Thessalonians 5:22
Abstain from every form of evil.

1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul

We have fooled ourselves into thinking that it is ok to watch the TV shows we watch, to listen to the music we listen to and to read the things we commonly read, yet we struggle with sin and wonder why. Most of Satans attacks through advertising are sexual in nature since (sex sells), and we have to be honest enough to admit that suggestions of sexual activity and even seeing more skin or tighter clothing of a member of the opposite (and sometimes same) sex will begin the temptation that leads to sin.

segunda-feira, 18 de agosto de 2008

FOOTPRINTS part 3 of 3

Footprints part 3

Ephesians 5:15-21

The final words in Ephesians 5 give us great insight on how we should walk in a way that shows people we are following God. We have all heard the familiar saying,” What would Jesus do?” and now that saying has seemingly become a joke to most people. Perhaps a better question is,” How would Jesus walk?”

15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,

Every 20 minutes someone is injured or killed by stepping on a land mine. It is a sad and scary fact. In places where land mines are every where, people must be very careful. Landmines are not visual evident and if one is found, it is marked with a white flag so that no one steps on it. Sadly, when land mines are found, it is usually by the foot of a helpless victim. Satan has traps set for us in every direction and he knows the traps that we will most likely step on. We must walk carefully and live our lives with extreme caution and not foolishly as if nothing bad can happen by the choices we make. Stepping wisely will keep you in the footprints of Jesus and will help others walk safe behind you.

16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Have you ever been to the shopping mall and you knew what you had to get and you did not have a lot of time to get it? When you have a goal and not a lot of time to accomplish it, you must hurry, you must not take unnecessary stops or steps, you must make the most of the time you have. Sure if you have plenty of time you may take it easy, look around, and go places you did not plan on. This life on earth is short and Satan is busy at work. Now is not the time to walk selfishly or aimlessly.

17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

What is God’s will for my life? Perhaps the most asked question among Christians, often in frustration. For most Christians, they never find God’s ultimate will for their life because they don’t read and obey His will that he has already written down in the Bible!
Once you show wisdom by getting in and living by God’s Word, he Will grant you more wisdom in the specific direction he wants you to go.

18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

I could create an entire devotion on this one verse because many Christians use this verse in a manner opposite of the its meaning. The contrast is the key them of this verse. We should be filled with, controlled by, under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Consistent studies prove that even small amount of (weak) alcoholic beverages cause slower reaction time and alter a person’s normal personality. No matter how you justify, you have begun giving control to a substance and not the Holy Spirit of God. Hmmm, sounds like idolatry. Studies also prove the casual or minimal drinkers are the most dangerous because they have a false sense of confidence and do not think their decision making skills are at all affected. Things are said and done that would not normally be even when only a few ounces of alcohol are drank. For sake of time I will not pile on the other verses in the Bible the forbid not just the consumption of alcohol, but even to look at it. Just as God warns that the sin of lust is just as bad as the actual sin you are lusting over, looking at alcohol wishing you could have some is just as bad as drinking it. A Christian has no business drinking if they wish to stay in control of the Holy Spirit. Many Christians argue that the word (dissipation sometimes translated excess) means that you can have some as long as you don’t have to much. The Greek word here actually means indulgence and unwise, the opposite of being spiritually upright. It also refers to how much alcohol consumption can cost, money, health, and spiritually. We are to indulge ourselves in the things of God, not this world, which gets back to the contrast this verse is showing.

19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

Paul always seems to give you some (do’s) after he spell out some (do not’s) after all, what good it is to stop bad things when you don’t start doing the right things? So here we see that instead of walking foolishly which includes wasting time, drinking, and other unwise actions, we should be praising God and letting our words and actions point to and praise Him!

20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Another truth abundant in Gods Word is that we should be thankful for everything.
As far as I know, I have never heard this said, but it struck me one day….. “A thankful heart NEVER sins!” It is true, when you are thankful to God for what you have, you don’t sin, you have no desire to and your heart is set on God. In an instant when we become unthankful, then we are tempted, and we sin.

21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Although this is the smallest verse out of all we have looked at, it is probably the most packed with wisdom and the hardest to do. Submitting to other Christians can be one of the most difficult things you can do. Perhaps the key to understanding submission is that it is unconditional. It does not matter what another Christian does or says about you, we should always have a submissive attitude. How many battles, disagreements, arguments, and troubles between Christians would never start or end quickly if we all had a submissive attitude about each other. Just like a Pastor is submissive to God as well as the church, the church is to be submissive to the Pastor, the wife is to be submissive to the husband, the children submissive to the parents, etc, all Christians should have a submissive spirit to each other.

Why though should we submit to a Christian who we think does not deserve it? It is because we don’t do it for them. Why should we be nice to other people we do not have respect and reverence for? It is because we don’t do it for them. We do it for God which should be our motivation for all we do. In this way, our footprints will point to Jesus whom we should desire to follow because of our love for Him. Not that we loved him so much, but that he loved us first!!!

sexta-feira, 15 de agosto de 2008

FOOTPRINTS part 2

Footprints > > > > >
> > > >


Part 2 Ephesians 5:8-14


A. WHO ARE WE? > > > > >

If we are going to walk in Gods footsteps and leave a path for others to see and follow, we must fully understand who we are. Look at the first verse of our text in Ephesians 5.

1. What we were….

Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

There was a time that we were totally in sin. We were controlled by it, without forgiveness from it, and having no power from God to fight it. We were not just in sin, we were sin. Ephesians 5:8 tells us this….. another 5:8 tells us this in Romans 5:8.

Romans 5:8 But
God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

2 Corinthians 5:21
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.


Jesus Christ allowed sin to be put on him, our sin! He paid for it all with his own blood as he died on the cross. He had to do it because he was the only one who could. We cannot pay for sin because we are sinners. That would be like trying to pay off debt with more debt. An angel cannot pay for our sin because angels are not human and neither are they capable of sin. A human being who is able to be tempted with sin just like us is the only person who could pay for our sin. This is why God became a human and lived a sinless life.

John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Hebrews 4:15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.


2. What we are now….

Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Now we are to be a light to shine for others to see Jesus through us. This is what Jesus tells us in…

Matthew 5:13-16
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.


Paul tells us this in

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore“Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “ I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.”


B. WHAT IS NATURAL FOR US? > > > >

Is it natural for a rabbit to leave dog tracks, or is it natural for a duck to leave moose tracks? Of course you would laugh and say,” Of course not, that is crazy to even think it.”
Is it natural for a Christian to leave ungodly tracks? Of course a Christian can still sin, but the sin is no longer the dominant force in our lives, and is quickly confessed the closer we are to God. Christians should have certain fruit in their lives, just like certain animals leave certain footprints.

Ephesians 5:9-10
(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

These fruits (footprints) of the spirit are given in more detail by Paul in Galatians chapter 5 and contrasted with what are not fruits (footprints) of a Christian. Hmmm, same author, same topic, same chapter number (Paul, footprints. Chapter 5 of Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians) coincidence?…. Not with God!

Galatians 5:16-26

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.


1. Footprints of a Christian > > > > > > >

Goodness
Righteousness
Truth
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Faithfulness to God and people
Self Control
Gentleness
Humility
A life dedicated to Christ

2. Footprints of someone without Jesus, lost, unsaved > > > > > > >

Evil
Unrighteousness
Lies
Hate
Sorrow
Strife
Bad Temper
Anger
Meanness
No care about God and people
Out of control
Harsh
Prideful
Nasty
Unkind
Cruel
Callous
Spiteful
Heatless
Malicious



Ephesians 5:11-14

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

WHAT DO YOUR FOOTPRINTS SAY ABOUT YOU?

quinta-feira, 14 de agosto de 2008

FOOTPRINTS part 1 of 3

Footprints
> > > > >
> > > >

Part 1 of 3

A father opens the front door one cold morning and looks out into his snow covered yard. Everything was coated with a fresh lower of snow. His attention quickly was diverted to something interesting right near the front door. He called his young son to come look at the discovery. There is the snow was footprints. The little boy came to his daddy’s side as the dad told him that a rabbit had been around the front door while they slept. The young boy asked his dad how he knew. The father pointed down at the footprints and described to his son how you can tell a rabbit print from other animals. Later that day, father and son adventured out into the yard identifying other footprints and which animals it belonged to. The footprints that impressed the boy the most were that of his father and every time the father would walk, the boy would try as hard as he could to walk in the footprints of his father.

There are two truths I want to bring out from this simple illustration. During this 3 part series on footprints, we will take Ephesians 5:1-21 and relate it back to these two truths

#1. We are known by our footprints (just like the animals were known by theirs).

Everything we do and say and anything that people can observe about our lives leaves some form of impression. People can detect what we are about by what kind of footprint we leave.

#2. We should desire to follow the footprints of our Heavenly Father.

Just like that little boy loved to walk in the footprints of his father, we should desire to walk in the footprints of Jesus. What is it that made the little boy want to walk in the footprints of his father? Because he loves his father and wants to be like him in every way he can.


~Ephesians 5:1-7~



Eph.5 V.1-2 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma
.

It is only natural for a Christian (Child of God) to want to imitate our Heavenly Father.
We love Him because he loved us first. We love others because he loves us.

1 John 4:7-11

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

V.19-21 We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

YOU CANNOT SAY YOU LOVE GOD IF YOU DON’T LOVE OTHER CHRISTIANS! Sure we can say that Christians are hard to love sometime, but aren’t we hard to love sometimes to yet God still loves us? God loves us in two ways. First he loves us because he created us. A father and mother look at their newborn baby in so much love that it brings them to tears and changes their life. Now why do they love the baby? The baby has not done anything for them, has not been good to them, has not bought things for them, and has not shown them any respect or honor. The parents love the baby because they created it. God loves us first because he created us. Then He not only loves us as His creation but also as Children who have placed their faith and trust in Him. Do you love God enough to want to follow Him and do others see His love and your devotion to follow Him in your life?


Eph.5 V.3-6 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

What would happen if you were looking for a rabbit and began following its tracks and then found an elephant!? That obviously is not what you were expecting. It is confusing when someone says they are one thing, but their footprints tell a different story. There are things a Christian should not be doing because it is things Jesus has commanded against and He Himself would never do. Of course it is wrong to commit the obviously bad sins mentioned here, but what about the ones we see as not so bad? Filthiness in speech and actions, foolish talking, inappropriate and hurtful joking leaves footprints that don’t match a Christian and confuse anyone who observes. The world has a pretty good idea of what God would and would not approve of even if they do not believe in God. We cannot really fool the world, we don’t fool as many Christians as we think, and we certainly do not fool God. Sure you can be a Christian and not follow God’s footprints, but how can you say you love God, and don’t expect to have many rewards once you arrive through those pearly gates.


Eph.5 V.6-7 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Lastly, don’t be thrown off and stray from God footprints by the deceitful speaking of others. I am not just talking about lost people but even Christians out of the will of God will try to pull other Christians down with them. God will punish them for their sins; don’t get punished to because you go along with them. God’s footprints are your path.
Paul, the author of Ephesians also said,” Follow me as I follow Christ.” The only time you should follow the footprints of another Christian is when you see that they are following the Lord’s. In this way, you have not ceased to follow God’s footprints; you are merely walking them with someone else.

Pray for me as I pray for you that we follow Gods footprints and leave our own that point people to Christ.

To Gi

I just wanted to take this time away from all the chaos of this life and the hustle and bustle of every day to say something special about someone special.

Only a few months ago...

I thought I had true friends
I thought I had true love
I thought I had true happiness
I thought my Faith was as it should be

Then my world came crashing down and shortly after, I met her

She became...

The best friend I ever had
The most true love I have ever known
Happiness that I never could have dreamed of
A strong foundation to help me become closer to God than I have ever been

How can I thank her? What can I do? What can I say?

Because of her...

I dont have to fight anymore
I dont have to fear anymore
I dont have to hurt anymore
I dont have to cry anymore (well except for the happy tears she causes)

Gisley, my sweet, precious Gisley. Your charm, humour, and soft radiant beauty
constantly warm my heart. However your strength, morals, convictions, and love set my
soul on fire. Sometimes I see you as my girl, but then I see that you are more of a woman
than any woman I have ever known. I see a dedicated wife and a strong mother.

I love you, and need you so that I can be the complete man God intends for me to be.

quarta-feira, 13 de agosto de 2008

Can you hurt God?

Can you hurt God?


The obvious answer that most people would give is, “no.” How can you hurt God? He is God right, and we are just humans. However, we did hurt God. He was bruised, beaten, pierced, bled, and suffered mental torments that we cannot imagine all because of our sin. Not only did he suffer physically on the cross for our sins, but he suffers daily when we sin. There is one sin in that the Bible states which particularly hurts Him, saddens Him, and grieves Him.

It is how we speak to other Christians.

Surprised? Something as simple as how we speak to other Christians can hurt God that much? How can it be?

Jesus died for us, and those who have accepted Jesus death as payment for their sins are washed clean by the blood of Christ. By his pain and by his wounds, we are healed, saved, and Heaven bound. So to speak evil against someone that Jesus died for and someone that loves the same Lord you do, is nothing more than utter blaspheme!

Yes I said blaspheme! Jesus speaks in Matthew Chapter 25 about what it will be like when we all stand before Him in Heaven. He speaks about things that we can do to help or hurt people, look what he says in verse 40.

Matthew 25:40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Matthew 12:50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

This is why when we speak evil about Jesus brothers and sisters (Christians), it is just like we are insulting Jesus himself straight to His Divine face and that is blaspheme no matter how you look at it. But…. What if a fellow believer does you wrong? Well, they must answer to God for that sin, but what rights to do you have to attack them back? If you sin in return then you have to answer to God for that sin. (See the devotion on UNITY that preceded this one.) We all must answer to God for our own sin, not anyone else’s.

Matthew 12:36-37 Jesus says:

But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Romans 14:12-13

So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.




Now let’s look at our text for this devotion in Ephesians 4:25-30

25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.

We are all Christians. Don’t lie to and about each other, and by the way, isn’t this so easy to do? Sure we may not tell a huge outright lie but instead we twist the truth a little, or enhance something that was true until it is no longer true. We distort and change the truth just a little so we don’t feel like we are lying but indeed we are just as guilty.

26-27. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.


Wait a minute. Why is anger mentioned? We were talking about lying about our fellow Christians. Pay close attention to this. It is no accident that Paul talked about anger here. It is because God knows that we talk bad about people and we lie about people when we are angry. God lets us know that anger is a good emotion that can bring about positive change, however uncontrolled anger is destructive. Uncontrolled anger causes people to lash out at each other; usually not physically but verbally. It is easier to speak evil than to speak love, and when people are angry, that is when they lie and seek to verbally attack others. Don’t let the day pass without settling your anger because God knows it will rip you apart emotionally and then you will loose control later on. What happens when we have anger in our heart? We just laid out cookies and milk for the devil to come and take residence in our heart and since we know darkness cannot have fellowship with light, the Holy Spirit cannot have control of your heart when you invite Satan in through the welcome mat of anger.

28-29 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

To be honest, these verses perplexed me. The verses we are studying speak about how you speak and then out of nowhere, Paul talks about stealing. I think Paul is giving a contrast or comparison. Instead of living and sin and stealing from people and taking advantage of people, do something productive with yourself so that you may help people and not hurt people. This makes perfect sense with the rest of the verses about speech. Stop spending your time hurting people and trying to get your way with your harmful words and speak productively in a way that leads people to Jesus, improves your testimony, and builds up other Christians.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Speaking against each other grieves God!

31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Paul is merely repeating was Jesus said in Matthew 6:14-15.

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.





Remember the old rhyme we heard as kids growing up?

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me”

It is not true… words cause great harm, and not just to people, but more importantly, to God. Be careful what you say.


Pray for me as I pray for you that our speech would follow Colossians 4:5-6

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

And what Jesus said in Luke 6:45

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Matthew Scott

segunda-feira, 11 de agosto de 2008

To Gisley my Love

I will waste no time allowing something to come between us my love. I knew some things were potential problems and that removing them would cost some pain but it had to be done. I feel very good about this change in our life. Only God and us should have the power to impact out relationship because at the end of the day we are always here for each other.I am still bothered by the fact someone could intentionally set out to ruin what we have but as Jesus said,"Dont be suprised if the world hates you, it hates me before it hated you." Anytime we do something that is God's will, Satan hates it and will use all he can and whomever he can do destroy it. It is ashamed the enemy can use people who (call themselves) Christians to do it.After the smoke settles and the fires die, you will find that I am still here. Ready to love you, ready to lead you, ready to give anything I can for you.I love you Gisley, please never stop loving me. Keep my heart, I dont want it back.

UNITY

UNITY

United we stand and divided we fall. We have all heard these words before and nothing could be truer in the Christian faith. Christian should be the most united group of individuals on the planet, but sadly, this is not so. To create a study on all the places in the Bible that God stresses unity among believers would span many pages and many devotions. For sake of time and ease of reading, we will stay in a few verses in the book of Ephesians. Let’s start by giving you a little background of this book of the Bible. Paul wrote a letter to the church at Ephesus. Like al Paul’s letters to the churches, he addressed specific issues that related to the need of that church. In result, we find Paul tackling issues that are in our churches today since sin is always sin, people are always people, and most importantly, God is always God. The church at Ephesus was big and successful so it became easy for them to forget what Jesus has done for them. The people at Ephesus likely became like many Christians today: shallow, and misguided, thinking that God exists for them and not the other way around. One common area that arises when people forget what Jesus has done for them is that they become selfish, prideful, and un-unified.

Have you ever seen a Christian intentionally cause pain and dissention among fellow believers? Have you ever seen a Christian intentionally set out to cause damage in another Christian’s life? Sure, we all have, and perhaps, we have been guilty of such actions. Show me one place, just one, in the Bible where God gives a Christian permission to attack and harm another Christian.
Even in my life right at this moment I am in a situation where many Christians (or people who claim to be Christians) are maliciously and intentionally trying to ruin my life and my testimony, and anything that brings me happiness. They even take advantage of my good nature knowing that I have plenty of hurtful and true things I could say about them and damage their reputation yet I hold my peace……. Why?
There is no passage of Scripture giving you the green light to attack even if you yourself have been attacked. In fact we are told quite the opposite in Romans 12:9-21

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”says the Lord. Therefore“ If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

God is in control, and he will punish those who sin against you. Indeed, Gods punishment will be much more severe than anything we could dish out. In fact, we should feel sorry for people who sin against us because if they are acting outside of Christian unity, God will punish them.
We could end this devotion with those scriptures in Romans if we wanted to. You cannot get more clear than that, but lets look at what Paul (the man who wrote Romans and Ephesians) says to the church of Ephesus about this matter. Apparently this is a problem among Christians because he had to address it more than once. I encourage you to read all of Ephesians Chapter 4 but for sake of time I will pull out a few key verses on this topic.

v. 1-6
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

There is one God and one way to Heaven (Through faith in Jesus). There is one way to live as a Christian. Of course God has different plans for each of us but the Word of God contains truths that every Christian must follow. Because of this, if any Christian is living the way they should be, their life should be one of unity with other believers.

v. 11-16
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

God gave us all different talents and different positions but every thing God gives to us is given so that we may use it in unity. You may be wondering what this term (body of Christ) means. The body of Christ is Christians and all of us have talents and abilities different from each other but we all work in unity as one body. Just as the eyes can see but cannot walk, the legs can walk but cannot see. All of our physical body parts must work together in order for us to be safe, healthy, and productive. The same is true in the body of Christ. Some Christians can pray very well and very often but are not able to teach the Bible. Some Christians can preach the Bible but are not good at counseling people in need one-on-one. Some Christians can sing and some cannot. You see we all have different abilities and must use them together to perform God's will. We must be in unity. What would happen if in our physical body, if the hand attacked the ears, or even if one foot attacked the other? Well, utter chaos would ensue. The same happens when Christians attack each other and don’t work together. Unfortunately when we do attack each other, the person who suffers the most is Jesus. We fail him and hurt him more than the people we are trying to hurt.

v.17-24
This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

In these verses, Paul talks about the way the Gentiles (non-believers in Christ) live their lives and how we as Christians should not live that way. Sadly, this is exactly the way many people who call themselves Christians live. At a different time we could talk much about whether or not someone is truly a Christian, but it is a topic we must be careful of because even though there are certain things the Bible is clear about that a true Christian will and wont do, we all still have a nature to sin and will make mistakes, yet someone who repeatedly shows no love for the Bible and no love for fellow Christians would certainly indicate that they have never repented (admitted their sin in remorse to our Most Holy God) and accepted Jesus as the Lord of their life and Savior from their sins. These verses show us that someone without Jesus in their lives will live according to their own human lust, in futility, selfishness, pride, greed, separate from the truth in God's Word, dirty and sinful, and with no understanding of spiritual wisdom. Yes you can be a Christian and live this way, but why would you want to? This type of Christian will cause division, dissention, trouble, and pain in the body of Christ and will destroy unity.

v.31-32
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Pray for me as I pray for you on this matter of Christian unity. If you have any questions or comments, please email me and I will be glad to talk to you. If you are not sure if you have Unity with even Jesus himself, dont hesitate to contact me because this is the most important topic you or anyone else will ever face in their life.

Love in Christ
Matthew

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