The upward call

  The upward call.

The apostle Paul writes,

     “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:14.

Here Paul sets an example for us all. He presses toward “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

As believers in Christ Jesus it is important to “press into God’s word”, the Bible. We must endeavour to do all we can to learn about the God, and Christ Jesus.  

The apostle Paul writing to Timothy wrote,

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15.

The only way we can handle the word of truth is by knowing what the scriptures say. That means not just reading the Bible but studying what it says.

Question, do you just read the Bible or do you study what it says?

Please think about it.

Believers in Christ are to...

  Believers in Christ are to....

In the book of Colossians we read,

“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:12-17.

Here is a list of what true Christians. True believers in Christ Jesus should be doing.

We are to:

Clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Forgive whatever grievances we have with one another.

Forgive as the Lord forgives us.

We are to love.

Let the peace of Christ dwell in our hearts.

Let the word of Christ dwell richly in us.

We are to teach and admonish one another with all wisdom.

We are to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

We are to sing with gratitude in our hearts to God.

We are to do all this in word and in deed, to God in the name of the                     Lord Jesus.

So here’s a simple question:

So if you consider yourself a true believer in Christ Jesus are you doing what is listed above?

Please think about it.

Study for yourself

 Studying for yourself

The apostle Peter writes,

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  

Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  

In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:1-3. 

This is happening today. That is why as true believers in Christ Jesus we need to be not just reading the Bible but studying it. That we may know what we believe and why we believe it.

Sadly many within the Christian community believe everything that is being said from a preacher, evangelist or teacher. Their belief is since this person is in the position they are in they must be teaching the scriptures correctly. Or the preacher is saying the things they want to hear and thus follow him or her.

The apostle Paul tells us,

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15.

As Christians we have the right to judge others who claim to be Christians to see if they are teaching scripture correctly. The apostle Paul stating,

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.

But in order to know if someone is not teaching the word of God correctly like I said we must study the Scriptures for ourselves. 

Do you spend time regularly studying the Bible yourself?

Please think about it.

For evermore

For evermore

The Psalmist writes,

"Seek the Lord, and His strength: 

seek His face evermore." 

                                                Psalm 105:4.

Being a Christian not simply saying “I believe in God and that Jesus paid the price for my sins”.

Being a Christian is going before God continually to seek His wisdom and guidance. 

The late American evangelist Billy Graham,

“The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me.'” Billy Graham

In our lives we will have many ups and downs. 

The key however whether we are in one of the valleys of life or having a mountain top experience is to seek God continually.

We do this by studying the scriptures, praying, and praising God.

Do you seek The Lord continually in good times and in bad?

Please think about it.

Let us draw near to God

  Let us draw near to God

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“...let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:22,23.

Here we as believers are called to draw near to God. To my way of thinking that entails, 

going to God in prayer daily.

Studying the Bible daily, not just reading it. Studying it looking at what it means to us. We need to study with an open mind that God will show us what is truth and show us any misconceptions we may have about scripture.

For if we don’t do this we will never grow in our Christian faith.

Please think about it.

Correctly handling

  Correctly handling

The apostle Paul writes,

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15.

So the question is are you doing your best to present the word of God correctly?

Do you question the preachers, evangelist, or teachers you listen to?

Do you take their word that what they are saying is correct, inerrant? 

I firmly believe that there is only one way to know if what we are presenting as Gods word is correct and that is by prayer, bible study, and having a multitude of council.

We need not only to listen to those we agree with us but to listen to those we disagree with. When someone disagrees with what we believe we need to ask ourselves “why to they believe that way” “am I right in my beliefs or are they?”

We need also to gather around us study bibles. We also need study books that agree and disagree with what we believe. Again asking the question, is what I believe right or wrong?

But above all we need to realize the only true source of all Christian knowledge comes from the Bible and anyone who dose not agree with it is not a Christian.

So are you studying the Bible? 

Are you doing your best to correctly handle the word of God?

Please think about it.

Look to Jesus

  Look to Jesus

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“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” Hebrews 12:2.

I have sadly seen many people over the years turn away from God. They have had bad experiences with people calling themselves Christians who are not. And this doesn’t apply to people sitting in the pew. By far most of the people I see who have turned from God have done so because of a pastor, evangelist or other so called Christian leader.

Many follow a given Christian preacher only to fall when the preacher falls.

Christians should never follow unquestioning anyone claiming to be a Christian teacher. We should be keeping our eyes fixed firmly on Jesus.

In order to do this we need to not just read the Bible but rather pray and study it, carefully. It is only in doing so that we can learn what is right in the sight of God. 

By studying scripture we can steer away from false teachers and draw near to God.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it. 

Expel the wicked

  Expel the wicked

The apostle Paul writes,

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.

We are told by Jesus not to judge others. And as Christians other for our own personal safety we should not be judging others. Especially when it comes to where they will spend eternity.

I’ve also heard it said we should not judge Gods elect. That being said the apostle Paul makes it clear that we should not judge those outside the church. But we can judge those inside the church. Those who claim to be Christians who are teaching wrong doctrine. 

Sadly however here in North America the church is reluctant to do this. Even if they do the person expelled simply sets up his or her independent ministry.

It is for this reason we as individual Christians need to study the Bible for ourselves. Praying and asking God’s guidance as we do. That way we are less likely to be misled by false teachers.

When was the last time you studied the Bible for yourself? Studied the Bible not just read it.

Please think about it.

Do your best

  Do your best

The apostle Paul writes,

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2Timothy 2:15.

If you consider yourself a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus, are you following this advice from the apostle Paul?

Take a few minutes to look at your life as a Christian. Are you letting Evangelist, pastors, and teachers tell you what is in the Bible? Are you letting them interpret the Bible for you? OR are you taking time to pray and study the Bible for yourself?

I know it can be a daunting task. But if you pray asking for God’s guidance and use a good study Bible, you can learn the truths within the Bible. You can learn what it is to be a Christian.

Please think about it.

False Prophets and teachers

False Prophets and Teachers

The apostle Peter warns,

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  

  Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  

In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 2 Peter 2:1-3.

The Apostle Peter couldn’t have made it more clear. There were people in the past who were false prophets and just as then there will be false prophets in the church today.

Sadly many Christians don’t study the Bible for themselves. They rely on pastors evangelist and other teachers to teach them the scriptures. Relying on them to be preaching the truth all of the time.

Sadly as a result of this many people have been led astray. These false prophets and teachers will one day be judged by God. In the mean time however it is up to each believer to watchout for these men and women.

Thus the question is; Have you ever questioned if what a pastor, evangelist, or Christian teacher is teaching correct?

Do you even study the Bible for yourself?

Please think about it.

The day is here

  The day is here

Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman said,

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24.

That day is here. Today where I live in North America there are many calling themselves Christians who are not worshipping God in spirit and in truth.

These are men and women. Evangelist, pastors, deacons, even those sitting in the pews who are not worshipping God in spirit and in truth.

There are hundreds of reasons this is happening ranging I suppose from those who misuse Gods word for financial gain. To those who are following a particular pastor or evangelist rather than God.

It is easy to stray away from God. At times it can be difficult to remain faithful and worship in spirit and in truth.

The bottom line here however, I believe is at the very least we are closer to Christ’ return to this earth and Gods judgement on this earth than were believers in the time of the apostles.

We have no time to waste on debating things that are unimportant to our belief in Christ. We have no time to for lack of a better phrase, “do our own thing”.

We in 2022 need to be studying the word of God, praying and asking for Gods understanding of His word. We need to do all we can to draw closer to God in our everyday life.

And we at least in some way reach out with the Gospel message to those around us.

Please think about it.

Teach me

 Teach me

The Psalmist writes,

“Teach me to do your will, 

for you are my God; 

may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” 

                                                                 Psalm 143:10.

Here is a simple truth. In order to know the will of God we need to study the word of God. We need to read the Bible every day. Additionally we need to take sometime each day to pray and ask God for direction in our lives.

Question; If you claim to be a Christians. A follower of Christ Jesus are you doing this?

Please think about it.

False Christs

 False Christs 

Jesus said,

"For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible.  

See, I have told you ahead of time. 

"So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. Matthew 24:24-26

As Christians we need to be on guard against false prophets and teachers, whom Jesus said “will perform great signs and miracles”

In my lifetime which now spans in excess of sixty years many false teachers have arisen leading people astray. Many times with tragic consequences. This is also true throughout the history of the church.

Sadly many Christians are easily fooled. They tend to be trusting to the point that they give anyone who claims to be Christian the benefit of the doubt. As a result many are led astray. 

The best way for a believer in Christ Jesus to know who to follow is through prayer and bible study. 

Prayer brings us closer to God. While bible study fills us with knowledge about God. The two compliment each other.

  When we pray we should also ask God to give us wisdom about the scriptures and how it relates to us and the world around us. That way we will not be led astray.

Thus my question to you the reader is; do you pray and study the Bible at least daily? OR do you simply trust anyone who claims to be a Christian? 

Please think about it.

Not all are Christians

Not all are Christian
Jesus said,
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  
By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  
Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  
Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:15-23.
The apostle Peter warns,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.” 2Peter2:1,2 
Here both Jesus and Peter warn of false prophets and teachers entering the church. Peter telling us that many will follow their shameful ways.
This has been happening in the church since its earliest days and continue to this day. The difference between Peters time and now is we have a multi-media world that can spread false doctrine faster than ever before. Not only that we seldom have met or know the preacher in the media personally or know what his life is like.
It is therefor imperative that we as believers in Christ Jesus study the word of God for ourselves using a wide range of study aides. And not just study aids that agree with our point of view.
When we come across something others disagree with us on we need to ask ourselves why and look to see if what they say has merit.
They key however throughout all our studying should be to seek the truth found in the Bible. Not just what we want to hear.
St. Augustin said,
“If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.” St Augustine.
Thus my question to you. If you claim to be a Christian, a follower of Christ Jesus are you following the advise the apostle Paul give Timothy when he writes,
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15.
Please think about it.

Pray and Study

Pray and Study
Jude the half brother of Jesus writes,
“But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.  
They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”  
These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. 
But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.  
Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” Jude 1:17-21.
Jude’s message to believers in Christ Jesus is simple. He reminds believers that in the last days there will be scoffers who “Follow their own ungodly desires” That these men will divide believers.
He tells believers to build themselves up in “your most holy faith...” 
To “keep yourself in God’s love”, as they await the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is important that believers in Christ Jesus read at the very least the New Testament. It is the sole authority for the Christian faith. The New Testament tells the believer in Christ Jesus how they are to live.
Thus the more we study the scriptures the stronger our faith becomes.
When I was a young believer in Christ Jesus a pastor gave me some good advice. He told me to remember these three points,
1. Pray and study the Bible.
2. Study the Bible and Pray.
3. Never forget to Pray and Study the Bible.
It was sound advice when he gave it to me. It is sound advice today to all who would call themselves believers in Christ Jesus.
If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus ask yourself these questions.
How often do you sit down to pray and study the Bible?
Do you think you do it enough?
Please think about it.

A Message for Today

A Message for today
The book of Acts records a meeting between the apostle Paul and the elders of the Ephesian church at Miletus. While the meeting is recording Paul’s last visit with the elders from Ephesus, there is within it a warning we in the twenty-first century church need to heed.
The book of Acts states,
“Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again.  
Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men.  For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.  
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.  
I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.  
Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.  
So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. 
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Acts 20:25-32.
1/ Paul makes it clear that he is “innocent of the blood of all men” having not hesitated to proclaim the whole will of God.
This is something we must be certain of especially if you are a leader in the Church. Leaders in the church are, as is every believer in Christ Jesus responsible of proclaiming “the whole will of God”. The pure gospel. Not adding or changing God’s word in any way.
2/ Paul calls on those oversee the congregation pastors even board members and others in authority in the church to look after those in their congregation. I believe this means not only spiritually but physically also. Helping those in need. Helping the sick. Helping people to grow spiritually.
3/Paul notes “savage wolves will come” people determined to destroy the faith of individuals and use the word of God in ways that it was not meant to be used. Some of these people actually coming from within the church. Men and women who say they are followers of Christ but are not.
4/ Paul warns us to be on guard against those who would try to distort and destroy believers.
I firmly believe in order to do all of this believers in Christ Jesus must study for themselves, and with other believers, the scriptures both old and new Testaments. We must know what the word of God is saying. We must put the truths of the scriptures to work in our lives.
Above all I firmly believe we must pray. Asking God to guide us, protect us, lead us, and show us the truth that lies within His holy word.
Please think about it. 

Not Everyone Will

Not Everyone will
Jesus said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.
It has been said by many both inside and outside the church that if you want to find any kind of wrong doing all you have to do is look at the church.
I would agree. The church as an institution is an old and carries a lot of baggage. There has been many things done by the church that is wrong, everything from the crusades, to murder, to theft to child abuse.
Many calling themselves Christians have acted like hypocrites, bigots and worse.
While these people may say they are Christians, followers of Christ Jesus. They are not.
In the above scripture I quoted Jesus tells us “not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of Heaven.” many who call themselves Christians will find themselves cast into hell. It’s that plane and simple.
The Apostle Paul said,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4.
This happened in the time of the Apostles it is still happening today.
That is one of the many reasons the New Testament was written. It was inspired by God to show believers in Christ Jesus what God expects of them. To tell believers in Christ what is right and wrong before God.
And the only way we can know what God expects of a believer in Christ Jesus is to study the bible as a whole and the New Testament in particular.
We also need to make sure we are studying the word of God in the context of how it was written. We should never “cherry pick”. Listening to only what we want to hear.
St. Augustine wrote,

“If you believe what you like in the gospels, 

and reject what you don’t like, 

it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.” 

                                                     St Augustine.

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus are you truly studying the whole of the Bible or just the parts you like?
Please think about it.

Warning!

Warning!
The apostle Peter warns,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 2 Peter 2:1-3.
The apostle Paul echoes these words saying,
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Later in the same letter to Timothy Paul writes,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4.
This is happening today in the twenty-first century. Living here in North America I see evidence of people frequently claiming to be Christians who are not. They misquote scripture. They twist the holy scriptures to conform to what they believe. They choose to teach only what they want people to here.
They are as the apostle Paul puts it,
 “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”
Sadly it can be hard to tell who these people are when we see them in the media. We have no personal contact with them. Thus it’s hard to tell if they are living life the way they claim to be.
What Christians can however do is check every word they say from the scriptures. Find out for ones self if the way they are presenting scriptures is correct and not taken out of context.
One of the big things in North America is with evangelist and others in the media asking for money. Making the statements that if you give to God (usually meaning their ministry) God will give you back ten, a hundred or even a thousand times what you give. This is utter garbage. God is not a banker that gives super interest on your giving.
We should give to God’s work because we want to give. Not because we expect anything in return.
One pastor told me if you want to give to a specific Christian ministry ask to see where the money is going to. He even went as far as saying ask how much the evangelist salary is.
The purpose of giving to a ministry is to further the kingdom of God. To reach the lost and to help the poor. As a result a minister, or evangelist should get a good salary, but the bulk of the money given to any ministry should go directly to spreading the gospel.
Giving aside we should also be very careful about any teaching. We need to study the New Testament and indeed the whole bible for ourselves.
We need to become familiar with the scriptures for ourselves. We need to pray and ask God to show us the truths there in.
Remember the New Testament was written to ordinary people. Thus we can if we read carefully, understand them.
What I am trying to say here is what the apostles Peter and Paul are saying. Be careful. We are in a time when there is a lot being preached in the media and in some churches that are not of God.
You however as an individual are called to do as the apostle Paul told timothy,

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,

 a workman who does not need to be ashamed 

and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 

2 Timothy 2:15.

Please think about it.