Seven things
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13
The Bible does not attempt to argue the existence of God. Instead it emphasise God’s love.
The above quoted Scripture written by the apostle Paul to my mind defines God’s love. The kind of love we all should be showing to even our enemies.
The bible asks of man to do seven important things. The first two are spoken of by Jesus, Matthew recording,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40
Matthew also records Jesus as saying,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Matthew 5:43-45
In these two quotes from Jesus we are told the important things in life, to love God, Love our neighbour, and even love our enemy.
The fourth thing the Bible asks us to have is faith. The writer of Hebrews stating,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6.
Faith being defined in the book of Hebrews as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
The fifth thing the Bible asks is to believe the word of Jesus when he said,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
The sixth thing we are asked to believe is, believe God loved the world and gives each and every person a choice where they will spend eternity. The apostle John recording Jesus as saying,
“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.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
John 3:16-18
Finally the seventh thing the Bible and Jesus asks you to believe is,
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25,26
Do you believe these things?
Please think about it.
Monday 20 July 2015
Sunday 19 July 2015
Salvation, Eternity, and the Christian
Salvation, Eternity and the Christian
“That 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.
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:9-13
Here in his letter to the Romans the apostle Paul makes it clear how we are saved. How we get to heaven. He states,
“...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.”
This is the message Christians need to be taking to the world today.
Salvation is first of all an act of faith. It is believing Jesus is Lord, the Son of God, God incarnate. That Jesus is the Saviour of man and that God raised Him from the dead. That is what gets us to heaven.
Each person in their hearts must believe in their heart the words of Jesus who said,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6.
Each person must answer the question Jesus asked Martha,
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25,26
It doesn’t matter who we are Jew or Gentile we have the same Lord, the same God. God loves all mankind equally.
All we have to do is call on the name of the Lord to be saved. God couldn’t have made things any easier.
Since the dawn of time mankind has know there is life after death. As a result he has devised various way he thought you got to God. Mankind tried to reach up to God. Reaching up to God cannot be done.
God realized this and instead God chose to reach down to mankind in the form of Jesus Christ.
He made getting into heaven is as simple as believing on Him.
The book of acts records the apostle Paul as telling the Greeks the way to heaven. It is the same today. The book of Acts records,
“Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”
At that, Paul left the Council.
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others"
Acts 17:17-34
This is the message we as Christians need to be presenting to the world.
We need to be asking people to answer Christ’s question to Martha when He said,
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25,26
Please think about it.
“That 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.
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:9-13
Here in his letter to the Romans the apostle Paul makes it clear how we are saved. How we get to heaven. He states,
“...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.”
This is the message Christians need to be taking to the world today.
Salvation is first of all an act of faith. It is believing Jesus is Lord, the Son of God, God incarnate. That Jesus is the Saviour of man and that God raised Him from the dead. That is what gets us to heaven.
Each person in their hearts must believe in their heart the words of Jesus who said,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6.
Each person must answer the question Jesus asked Martha,
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25,26
It doesn’t matter who we are Jew or Gentile we have the same Lord, the same God. God loves all mankind equally.
All we have to do is call on the name of the Lord to be saved. God couldn’t have made things any easier.
Since the dawn of time mankind has know there is life after death. As a result he has devised various way he thought you got to God. Mankind tried to reach up to God. Reaching up to God cannot be done.
God realized this and instead God chose to reach down to mankind in the form of Jesus Christ.
He made getting into heaven is as simple as believing on Him.
The book of acts records the apostle Paul as telling the Greeks the way to heaven. It is the same today. The book of Acts records,
“Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”
At that, Paul left the Council.
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others"
Acts 17:17-34
This is the message we as Christians need to be presenting to the world.
We need to be asking people to answer Christ’s question to Martha when He said,
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25,26
Please think about it.
Friday 17 July 2015
Do not Judge
Do not Judge
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2
“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
Here is a simple Christian truth. Christians are only allowed to judge those who call themselves Christians. We are allowed to judge them because they claim to be proclaiming the word of God.
Those outside the church should be of no concern to the Christian with respect to judgement.
As Christians our job is to reach out to the world in love not judge them. We are to present the salvation message of Jesus Christ. Jesus makes it clear when he said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20.
The apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians said,
“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.
Put simply Christians are to keep our own house in order. We are to remove from the body of believers those who are not following the teachings of Christ.
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy 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
Paul also said,
“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"
2 Timothy 3:1-4
These are the people within our church congregations, denominations and in the media we need to watch out for. We need to expel them from among us.
Please think about it.
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2
“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
Here is a simple Christian truth. Christians are only allowed to judge those who call themselves Christians. We are allowed to judge them because they claim to be proclaiming the word of God.
Those outside the church should be of no concern to the Christian with respect to judgement.
As Christians our job is to reach out to the world in love not judge them. We are to present the salvation message of Jesus Christ. Jesus makes it clear when he said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20.
The apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians said,
“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.
Put simply Christians are to keep our own house in order. We are to remove from the body of believers those who are not following the teachings of Christ.
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy 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
Paul also said,
“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"
2 Timothy 3:1-4
These are the people within our church congregations, denominations and in the media we need to watch out for. We need to expel them from among us.
Please think about it.
Signs
Signs
"Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.
For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
All these are the beginning of birth pains.
“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.”
Matthew 24:4-9.
I don’t know when Jesus will return to this earth no one does. Anyone who says they do are deluding themselves.
I see in the media many preachers that are trying to predict when Christ will return.
They look at every minute bit of scripture and say it could be soon. Perhaps they are right perhaps not. I believe that Christ will one day return to this earth. When I haven’t a clue.
I look to the above scripture quote Matthew 24:4-9 and can see these things happening now. Christians all over the world are being persecuted. We Christians are now the most persecuted group in the world.
Christians are being put to death for simply being Christians. At the rate of one every eleven minutes.
There are wars all over the place and there are people trying to deceive the individual Christian into believing wrong things.
Still a look back at history shows this kind of thing has been happening for centuries. It just seems that now in the twenty-first century it is happening globally on an industrial scale.
If we are in the so called end times, I as a Christian have nothing to fear. I know where I will spend eternity. Do you?
Remember just because your parents were Christians, or your going to church each week, going to a Bible study, attending a prayer meeting makes you no more a Christian than standing in a fire station makes you a fire truck.
Still there is a way of knowing where you will spend eternity.
Knowing where you will spend eternity is simple it comes from a choice you make here in this world.
Here is what I believe you must do to have eternal life,
First you must believe by faith there is a God. The writer of Hebrews stating,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6
Second we must believe Jesus when he said,
“....I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
Thirdly we must admit we fall far short of what God wants for our life. That we are sinners and that it is only through his grace that we are able to get into heaven.
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:23,24
Finally we must exercise our faith and accept Jesus into our hearts and lives,
“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.
Part of exercising that faith is humbly bowing in pray and saying a prayer like this,
Dear Heavenly Father,
I know I believe in you and your One and Only Son Jesus Christ.
I admit I am a sinner and fall short of what you want for my life. Please forgive my sins.
Dear Jesus please come into my heart and life today. Make me into the person you want me to be.
Amen.
If you prayed this prayer then I believe if you truly meant it you have eternal life.
Now it is up to you to study the Bible, pray and ask God to direct you to a bible believing Church.
One where you can grow in God’s wisdom and truth.
I always recommend a Baptist church for most places in the world. In North America I also recommend an Assemblies of God church in the United States or a Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Church in Canada.
They are churches I know stand on the word of God.
I even recommend people, even if they don’t know Christ to go to these churches and ask questions of the pastors.
Any good pastor will freely meet with you and answer your questions.
Think about it.
"Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.
For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
All these are the beginning of birth pains.
“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.”
Matthew 24:4-9.
I don’t know when Jesus will return to this earth no one does. Anyone who says they do are deluding themselves.
I see in the media many preachers that are trying to predict when Christ will return.
They look at every minute bit of scripture and say it could be soon. Perhaps they are right perhaps not. I believe that Christ will one day return to this earth. When I haven’t a clue.
I look to the above scripture quote Matthew 24:4-9 and can see these things happening now. Christians all over the world are being persecuted. We Christians are now the most persecuted group in the world.
Christians are being put to death for simply being Christians. At the rate of one every eleven minutes.
There are wars all over the place and there are people trying to deceive the individual Christian into believing wrong things.
Still a look back at history shows this kind of thing has been happening for centuries. It just seems that now in the twenty-first century it is happening globally on an industrial scale.
If we are in the so called end times, I as a Christian have nothing to fear. I know where I will spend eternity. Do you?
Remember just because your parents were Christians, or your going to church each week, going to a Bible study, attending a prayer meeting makes you no more a Christian than standing in a fire station makes you a fire truck.
Still there is a way of knowing where you will spend eternity.
Knowing where you will spend eternity is simple it comes from a choice you make here in this world.
Here is what I believe you must do to have eternal life,
First you must believe by faith there is a God. The writer of Hebrews stating,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6
Second we must believe Jesus when he said,
“....I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
Thirdly we must admit we fall far short of what God wants for our life. That we are sinners and that it is only through his grace that we are able to get into heaven.
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:23,24
Finally we must exercise our faith and accept Jesus into our hearts and lives,
“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.
Part of exercising that faith is humbly bowing in pray and saying a prayer like this,
Dear Heavenly Father,
I know I believe in you and your One and Only Son Jesus Christ.
I admit I am a sinner and fall short of what you want for my life. Please forgive my sins.
Dear Jesus please come into my heart and life today. Make me into the person you want me to be.
Amen.
If you prayed this prayer then I believe if you truly meant it you have eternal life.
Now it is up to you to study the Bible, pray and ask God to direct you to a bible believing Church.
One where you can grow in God’s wisdom and truth.
I always recommend a Baptist church for most places in the world. In North America I also recommend an Assemblies of God church in the United States or a Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Church in Canada.
They are churches I know stand on the word of God.
I even recommend people, even if they don’t know Christ to go to these churches and ask questions of the pastors.
Any good pastor will freely meet with you and answer your questions.
Think about it.
Thursday 16 July 2015
Perseverance
Perseverance
Matthew records,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20.
Dear Christian, do you put limitations on your witnessing? Do you refuse to witness to certain groups of people? Is there a limitation on how long you present the Gospel to people? The answer to all the preceding questions should be no.
You should never put limitations on your witnessing. You should look for an opportunity to present the good news of Jesus Christ to all who come into your life. There should be no limitations on how long you witness.
The Talmud may not be a Christian book but it is a book of Jewish wisdom and it makes a point all Christians should be able to relate to when it states,
“An aged man, whom Abraham hospitality invited to his tent, refused to join him in prayer to the one spiritual God. Learning that he was a fire-worshipper. Abraham drove him from his door. That night God appeared to Abraham in a vision and said: ‘I have borne with that ignorant man for seventy years: could you not have patiently suffered him one night?”
The Talmud.
As Christians we cannot afford to turn anyone away. We cannot afford to limit who here’s our message simply because the eternal resting place of those who need to here that message may rest on what we have to say.
Please think about it.
Matthew records,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20.
Dear Christian, do you put limitations on your witnessing? Do you refuse to witness to certain groups of people? Is there a limitation on how long you present the Gospel to people? The answer to all the preceding questions should be no.
You should never put limitations on your witnessing. You should look for an opportunity to present the good news of Jesus Christ to all who come into your life. There should be no limitations on how long you witness.
The Talmud may not be a Christian book but it is a book of Jewish wisdom and it makes a point all Christians should be able to relate to when it states,
“An aged man, whom Abraham hospitality invited to his tent, refused to join him in prayer to the one spiritual God. Learning that he was a fire-worshipper. Abraham drove him from his door. That night God appeared to Abraham in a vision and said: ‘I have borne with that ignorant man for seventy years: could you not have patiently suffered him one night?”
The Talmud.
As Christians we cannot afford to turn anyone away. We cannot afford to limit who here’s our message simply because the eternal resting place of those who need to here that message may rest on what we have to say.
Please think about it.
Wednesday 15 July 2015
Christians Beware
Beware
“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.
Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”
Jude 1:17-23.
Throughout the New Testament there is a call to beware of those who divide the church. Those who to quote Jude, “follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.”
From my earliest days as a Christian I was taught to pray and read the Bible. To ask God to show me the truths there in.
I was taught by very good pastors to question what was being taught to make sure it was the truth.
There are many out there calling themselves Christians today who are not. They are following their own desires to either deliberately lead people the wrong way, to obtain wealth, or to gain power and prestige or all of the above.
The apostles warned about such men and women that is why we need to be cautious about who we support.
Jude tells us,
“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...”
The only way we can build ourselves up in the Holy Faith is to first pray, then study the world of God both on our own and with other believers. We need to be around other Christians and discussing the word of God. This helps us grow and keep on track.
You can’t grow effectively if you are not around other believers. Watching a televangelist as good as the person may be shouldn’t keep us away from assembling with other believers.
The other thing Jude calls us to do is,
“Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”
Put simply we are to help those who may have doubts about their faith. Additionally we are to reach out to the lost to save them from a Christless eternity.
Please think about it.
“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.
Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”
Jude 1:17-23.
Throughout the New Testament there is a call to beware of those who divide the church. Those who to quote Jude, “follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.”
From my earliest days as a Christian I was taught to pray and read the Bible. To ask God to show me the truths there in.
I was taught by very good pastors to question what was being taught to make sure it was the truth.
There are many out there calling themselves Christians today who are not. They are following their own desires to either deliberately lead people the wrong way, to obtain wealth, or to gain power and prestige or all of the above.
The apostles warned about such men and women that is why we need to be cautious about who we support.
Jude tells us,
“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...”
The only way we can build ourselves up in the Holy Faith is to first pray, then study the world of God both on our own and with other believers. We need to be around other Christians and discussing the word of God. This helps us grow and keep on track.
You can’t grow effectively if you are not around other believers. Watching a televangelist as good as the person may be shouldn’t keep us away from assembling with other believers.
The other thing Jude calls us to do is,
“Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”
Put simply we are to help those who may have doubts about their faith. Additionally we are to reach out to the lost to save them from a Christless eternity.
Please think about it.
Tuesday 14 July 2015
Rights and Freedoms and the Christian
Rights and Freedoms
Tony Campolo the American evangelist wrote,
“I contend the state ought to do its thing and provide legal rights for all couples who want to be joined together for life. The church should bless unions that it sees fit to bless, and they should be called marriages.”
Tony Campolo.
Campolo makes a compelling point, after all we live in a secular democracy. And it is the government and people of that democracy that choose what is called what under the law.
The democracies we live in, in the west are at least as diverse as the Roman Empire.
The Roman Empire had things going on that Christians and Jews would have found contrary to their moral and ethical standards. Yet the Bible does not mention anywhere that the disciples or Jesus spoke out against Rome’s authority.
In fact with the Emperor Nero in power and persecuting Christians the apostle Paul wrote,
“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.”
Romans 13:1
The Gospel of John records this exchange at the trial of Jesus between Pilate and Jesus,
“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”
Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above...”
John 19:10,11a
As Christians we need to respect the government and the beliefs and lifestyles of those around us.
Only when governments or others start to restrict our rights or the rights of others should we be speaking out against them.
For me the best way to ensure our rights as Christians to practice our faith is to stand up for the rights of others even if we don’t completely agree with them.
It is only when, not just Christians, but men of all faiths, beliefs and lifestyles fail to stand together for the God given right to freedom of choice that oppression can arise. We only have to look at Nazi Germany to see that.
At the height of World war two Martin Niemoller a German cleric wrote,
“When they came for the Communists, I did not stand up, because I was not a Communist. When they came for the Jews, I did not stand up, because I was not Jewish. When they came for the Catholics, I did not stand up, because I was not a Catholic. When they came for me, there was no one left to stand up.”
Martin Niemoller
In order to be effective as Christians I firmly believe we need to stand up for the beliefs and lifestyles of others. Only by doing so do we keep dialogue between ourselves and others. And upon that dialogue could depend the eternal resting place of the people we meet
Please think about it
Tony Campolo the American evangelist wrote,
“I contend the state ought to do its thing and provide legal rights for all couples who want to be joined together for life. The church should bless unions that it sees fit to bless, and they should be called marriages.”
Tony Campolo.
Campolo makes a compelling point, after all we live in a secular democracy. And it is the government and people of that democracy that choose what is called what under the law.
The democracies we live in, in the west are at least as diverse as the Roman Empire.
The Roman Empire had things going on that Christians and Jews would have found contrary to their moral and ethical standards. Yet the Bible does not mention anywhere that the disciples or Jesus spoke out against Rome’s authority.
In fact with the Emperor Nero in power and persecuting Christians the apostle Paul wrote,
“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.”
Romans 13:1
The Gospel of John records this exchange at the trial of Jesus between Pilate and Jesus,
“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”
Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above...”
John 19:10,11a
As Christians we need to respect the government and the beliefs and lifestyles of those around us.
Only when governments or others start to restrict our rights or the rights of others should we be speaking out against them.
For me the best way to ensure our rights as Christians to practice our faith is to stand up for the rights of others even if we don’t completely agree with them.
It is only when, not just Christians, but men of all faiths, beliefs and lifestyles fail to stand together for the God given right to freedom of choice that oppression can arise. We only have to look at Nazi Germany to see that.
At the height of World war two Martin Niemoller a German cleric wrote,
“When they came for the Communists, I did not stand up, because I was not a Communist. When they came for the Jews, I did not stand up, because I was not Jewish. When they came for the Catholics, I did not stand up, because I was not a Catholic. When they came for me, there was no one left to stand up.”
Martin Niemoller
In order to be effective as Christians I firmly believe we need to stand up for the beliefs and lifestyles of others. Only by doing so do we keep dialogue between ourselves and others. And upon that dialogue could depend the eternal resting place of the people we meet
Please think about it
Monday 13 July 2015
A Legacy
A Legacy
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
Napoleon Bonaparte
Politicians and others, even terrorist groups want to leave a legacy to the world. Sadly all too many times that legacy is negative. Hitler and his henchmen left a legacy of genocide and destruction in their attempt to build the thousand year Reich. In today’s world the Islamic state are doing the same.
There are of course men and women who have left positive legacies. Churchill who stood up to Hitler. Mother Teresa who cared for the poor. These are legacies that will be remembered in history.
But no legacy is greater than that of Jesus Christ. He literally changed the world. His legacy is eternal. James Alan Francis in the 1920's wrote of Jesus,
“Nearly two thousand years ago in an obscure village, a child was born of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village where He worked as a carpenter until He was thirty. Then for three years He became an itinerant preacher.
This man never went to college or seminary. He never wrote a book. He never held a public office. He never had a family nor owned a home. He never put His foot inside a big city nor travelled even 200 miles from His birthplace. And though He never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness, throngs of people followed Him. He had no credentials but Himself.
While He was still young, the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His followers ran away. He was turned over to His enemies and sentenced to death on a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – the simple coat He had worn. His body was laid in a borrowed grave provided by a compassionate friend.
But three days later this Man arose from the dead – living proof that He was, as He had claimed, the Saviour whom God had sent, the Incarnate Son of God.
Nineteen centuries have come and gone and today the risen Lord Jesus Christ is the central figure of the human race. On our calendars His birth divides history into two eras. One day of every week is set aside in remembrance of Him. And our two most important holidays celebrate His birth and resurrection. On church steeples around the world, His cross has become the symbol of victory over sin and death.”
Dr James Allan Francis
Think of it Jesus never raised a sword in anger yet today approximately two and a half billion people believe in him.
Napoleon got it right when he said,
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
Napoleon
Force of arms does not change the hearts of men only love can do that.
Jesus said,
“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.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16,17
The Apostle Paul writing to the Romans said,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
This is the difference between Jesus and the leaders of any movement. Christ died for those He knew were sinners. Not only that He died for the sins of those sinners. He could do this because He was the one and only Son of God.
C. S. Lewis said,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
C.S. Lewis.
Lewis also points out,
“He (Jesus) died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
C.S. Lewis.
This is something no leader of any terrorist group today I’m sure would ever do. Jesus however proved he loved us by dying for us. For each and every man and woman.
Jesus died for you.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:6-8
Please think about it.
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
Napoleon Bonaparte
Politicians and others, even terrorist groups want to leave a legacy to the world. Sadly all too many times that legacy is negative. Hitler and his henchmen left a legacy of genocide and destruction in their attempt to build the thousand year Reich. In today’s world the Islamic state are doing the same.
There are of course men and women who have left positive legacies. Churchill who stood up to Hitler. Mother Teresa who cared for the poor. These are legacies that will be remembered in history.
But no legacy is greater than that of Jesus Christ. He literally changed the world. His legacy is eternal. James Alan Francis in the 1920's wrote of Jesus,
“Nearly two thousand years ago in an obscure village, a child was born of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village where He worked as a carpenter until He was thirty. Then for three years He became an itinerant preacher.
This man never went to college or seminary. He never wrote a book. He never held a public office. He never had a family nor owned a home. He never put His foot inside a big city nor travelled even 200 miles from His birthplace. And though He never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness, throngs of people followed Him. He had no credentials but Himself.
While He was still young, the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His followers ran away. He was turned over to His enemies and sentenced to death on a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – the simple coat He had worn. His body was laid in a borrowed grave provided by a compassionate friend.
But three days later this Man arose from the dead – living proof that He was, as He had claimed, the Saviour whom God had sent, the Incarnate Son of God.
Nineteen centuries have come and gone and today the risen Lord Jesus Christ is the central figure of the human race. On our calendars His birth divides history into two eras. One day of every week is set aside in remembrance of Him. And our two most important holidays celebrate His birth and resurrection. On church steeples around the world, His cross has become the symbol of victory over sin and death.”
Dr James Allan Francis
Think of it Jesus never raised a sword in anger yet today approximately two and a half billion people believe in him.
Napoleon got it right when he said,
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
Napoleon
Force of arms does not change the hearts of men only love can do that.
Jesus said,
“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.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16,17
The Apostle Paul writing to the Romans said,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
This is the difference between Jesus and the leaders of any movement. Christ died for those He knew were sinners. Not only that He died for the sins of those sinners. He could do this because He was the one and only Son of God.
C. S. Lewis said,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
C.S. Lewis.
Lewis also points out,
“He (Jesus) died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
C.S. Lewis.
This is something no leader of any terrorist group today I’m sure would ever do. Jesus however proved he loved us by dying for us. For each and every man and woman.
Jesus died for you.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:6-8
Please think about it.
Sunday 12 July 2015
Of Great Price
Of great price.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
Matthew 13:44-46
I speak here directly to Christians. How valuable is your faith. Would you give your all for Christ? Do you take your stand for Christ when those around you do not.
I know there are many people who go to church all their lives yet outside of Church do not take their stand for Christ. They go along with the crowd. Even if the crowd says and does things Christians shouldn’t be doing.
In order for our faith in Christ to be affective we must value it above all things. We must if necessary be willing to die for our faith.
Here in North America I very much doubt we’ll under every day circumstances have to be willing to die for our faith. However we may from time to time be called to stand up for what we believe.
In our work place and in our daily lives we shouldn’t participate in things that would be contrary to what Christ would do.
We must be willing to take our stand for Christ even if we loose friends.
While we like Christ should be willing to sit down with anyone. We should not be compromising our faith when we do so.
We must be willing to present the Good News of Jesus in a simple way respecting the beliefs and ways of those you are speaking to.
Questions: Is Christ the most precious thing in your life? Are you doing all you can to further the kingdom of Christ?
Please think about it.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
Matthew 13:44-46
I speak here directly to Christians. How valuable is your faith. Would you give your all for Christ? Do you take your stand for Christ when those around you do not.
I know there are many people who go to church all their lives yet outside of Church do not take their stand for Christ. They go along with the crowd. Even if the crowd says and does things Christians shouldn’t be doing.
In order for our faith in Christ to be affective we must value it above all things. We must if necessary be willing to die for our faith.
Here in North America I very much doubt we’ll under every day circumstances have to be willing to die for our faith. However we may from time to time be called to stand up for what we believe.
In our work place and in our daily lives we shouldn’t participate in things that would be contrary to what Christ would do.
We must be willing to take our stand for Christ even if we loose friends.
While we like Christ should be willing to sit down with anyone. We should not be compromising our faith when we do so.
We must be willing to present the Good News of Jesus in a simple way respecting the beliefs and ways of those you are speaking to.
Questions: Is Christ the most precious thing in your life? Are you doing all you can to further the kingdom of Christ?
Please think about it.
Saturday 11 July 2015
An Obligation
An Obligation
“Not until the creation and maintenance of decent conditions of life for all men are recognized and accepted as a common obligation of all men and all countries—not until then shall we, with a certain degree of justification, be able to speak of mankind as civilized.”
Albert Einstein
As soon as I’ve posted this I will be going to the Jesus festival held annually in our city. It’s a time when the predominantly smaller churches get together to celebrate Jesus in a park in the centre of our small city.
We give away free food and other things without obligation to anyone who comes.
As I prepared things for it I was curious to find out what Canada’s poverty level was. I knew it was in the teens.
According to the Canada without poverty website an anti-poverty website,
“1 in 7 (or 4.8 million) people in Canada live in poverty.... Marginalized Groups: Members of society that are especially vulnerable to poverty including persons living with disabilities, single mothers, Aboriginals, elderly individuals, and racialized communities
21% of single mothers in Canada raise their children while living in poverty (7% of single fathers raise their children in poverty).
People living with disabilities (both mental and physical) are twice as likely to live below the poverty line.”
The United States is not much better, according to one source
“In 2013, 45.3 million people lived in Poverty USA. That means the poverty rate for 2013 was 14.5%.” (That’s more than the population of Canada)
The same report says,
“Poverty does not strike all demographics equally. For example, in 2013, 13.1% of men lived in Poverty USA, but 15.8% of women. Along the same lines, the poverty rate for married couples in 2013 was only 5.8%–but the poverty rate for single-parent families with no wife present was up to 15.9%, and for single-parent families with no husband present over 30%.”
These are appalling statistics for two developed countries.
Sheldon Danziger the director of the National Poverty Centre at the University of Michigan said he was especially impressed by a figure showing Canada and the U.S. have the same relative child poverty rate -- 25.1 The chart also showed that after government taxes, benefits and other social programs, Canada's child poverty rate drops to 13.1, while America's barely budges, hovering above 23.1 percent.
The thing is be it 13.1% or 23.1% this is an horrible statistic. That no civilized society should stand for.
I believe it was Saki Knafo writing in the Huffington post in 2012 quoted, Jane Waldfogel, a professor of social work at Columbia University, who wrote about how the labour government in the United Kingdom approached the poverty problem, she writes
“that the Labour Government's efforts to combat child poverty in the U.K. were "larger and more sustained than in the United States." Shortly after he became prime minister in 1997, Tony Blair found himself staring at a UNICEF report similar to this new one, except that England's child poverty ranking was much higher.
So Blair's government instituted programs modelled after former U.S. President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty. The U.K. developed Sure Start -- an early-care program for low-income children similar to the U.S. Head Start. British families could apply for the Working Tax Credit, similar to the U.S. Earned Income Tax Credit.
The Labour Party spent more on these programs, even as the U.S. spent less, and within five years the number of children living in "absolute poverty" in the U.K. had fallen by half. According to the UNICEF report, 12.1 percent of British children now live in relative poverty -- nearly half the percentage of American children.”
Twelve point one percent is still high but a step in the right direction and it shows if there is a government will poverty can be reduced if not eliminated.
We as individuals need to be speaking to our Government representatives and urging them to do more. After all what better way to spend tax money than directly on the poorest members of our society.
I as a Christian ask Christian to heed the words of James when he wrote in his Epistle,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?”
James 2:14-20.
The Talmud states,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?” Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual? “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
The Talmud
Whether we are a Christians, a Jews, someone of other faiths or for that matter atheist, is not showing compassion and helping the poor anyway we can only the humane thing to do?
Is not helping the poor of our society a way of dealing honourably with our fellow man?
Please think about it.
“Not until the creation and maintenance of decent conditions of life for all men are recognized and accepted as a common obligation of all men and all countries—not until then shall we, with a certain degree of justification, be able to speak of mankind as civilized.”
Albert Einstein
As soon as I’ve posted this I will be going to the Jesus festival held annually in our city. It’s a time when the predominantly smaller churches get together to celebrate Jesus in a park in the centre of our small city.
We give away free food and other things without obligation to anyone who comes.
As I prepared things for it I was curious to find out what Canada’s poverty level was. I knew it was in the teens.
According to the Canada without poverty website an anti-poverty website,
“1 in 7 (or 4.8 million) people in Canada live in poverty.... Marginalized Groups: Members of society that are especially vulnerable to poverty including persons living with disabilities, single mothers, Aboriginals, elderly individuals, and racialized communities
21% of single mothers in Canada raise their children while living in poverty (7% of single fathers raise their children in poverty).
People living with disabilities (both mental and physical) are twice as likely to live below the poverty line.”
The United States is not much better, according to one source
“In 2013, 45.3 million people lived in Poverty USA. That means the poverty rate for 2013 was 14.5%.” (That’s more than the population of Canada)
The same report says,
“Poverty does not strike all demographics equally. For example, in 2013, 13.1% of men lived in Poverty USA, but 15.8% of women. Along the same lines, the poverty rate for married couples in 2013 was only 5.8%–but the poverty rate for single-parent families with no wife present was up to 15.9%, and for single-parent families with no husband present over 30%.”
These are appalling statistics for two developed countries.
Sheldon Danziger the director of the National Poverty Centre at the University of Michigan said he was especially impressed by a figure showing Canada and the U.S. have the same relative child poverty rate -- 25.1 The chart also showed that after government taxes, benefits and other social programs, Canada's child poverty rate drops to 13.1, while America's barely budges, hovering above 23.1 percent.
The thing is be it 13.1% or 23.1% this is an horrible statistic. That no civilized society should stand for.
I believe it was Saki Knafo writing in the Huffington post in 2012 quoted, Jane Waldfogel, a professor of social work at Columbia University, who wrote about how the labour government in the United Kingdom approached the poverty problem, she writes
“that the Labour Government's efforts to combat child poverty in the U.K. were "larger and more sustained than in the United States." Shortly after he became prime minister in 1997, Tony Blair found himself staring at a UNICEF report similar to this new one, except that England's child poverty ranking was much higher.
So Blair's government instituted programs modelled after former U.S. President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty. The U.K. developed Sure Start -- an early-care program for low-income children similar to the U.S. Head Start. British families could apply for the Working Tax Credit, similar to the U.S. Earned Income Tax Credit.
The Labour Party spent more on these programs, even as the U.S. spent less, and within five years the number of children living in "absolute poverty" in the U.K. had fallen by half. According to the UNICEF report, 12.1 percent of British children now live in relative poverty -- nearly half the percentage of American children.”
Twelve point one percent is still high but a step in the right direction and it shows if there is a government will poverty can be reduced if not eliminated.
We as individuals need to be speaking to our Government representatives and urging them to do more. After all what better way to spend tax money than directly on the poorest members of our society.
I as a Christian ask Christian to heed the words of James when he wrote in his Epistle,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?”
James 2:14-20.
The Talmud states,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?” Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual? “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
The Talmud
Whether we are a Christians, a Jews, someone of other faiths or for that matter atheist, is not showing compassion and helping the poor anyway we can only the humane thing to do?
Is not helping the poor of our society a way of dealing honourably with our fellow man?
Please think about it.
Friday 10 July 2015
Warning!
Warning
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.”
2 Corinthians 2:17
Paul here is referring to false teachers that have entered the church and are getting money from gullible church members.
As Christians we must be careful who we send money to. There have been false teacher from the time of the early church until today. Today in the twenty-first century with the mass media world we live in it’s hard to tell the real Christians from the fake.
There’s a lot out there claiming you give ten dollars, a hundred dollars, a thousand dollars to their ministry and God will bless you ten or even a hundred fold. What garbage.
They treat God like a sugar daddy that doles out cash.
It’s alway been my opinion that all ministries calling themselves Christian should send to those who support them a detailed listing of where every penny goes. I know the church I attend and every church in Canada has to report to there congregation how they spent their money during the year. It should be the same for all ministries.
I know good ministries when asked will give an accounting to you if you ask. I would have problems with any ministry that will not provide and accounting of where the money goes.
It is so easy to twist scripture and put a spin on it that makes it sound like it’s right when it’s not.
Paul writing to Timothy warns,
“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.”
2 Timothy 4:3,4.
The message here is Christian beware! My advice is always support your local church first. You know who they are and where the money goes. You know that their teaching is in line with the Bible. If it’s not you shouldn’t be there.
So support your local ministry first. Then if you have something extra left over and you feel God telling you to give to a particular ministry give. But don’t expect huge returns on your money. You should give because you want to, not with the thought in mind that you will get interest on your money like some bank.
Giving to God’s work is part of being a Christian. So be wise as to where you give. Pray and ask God where to give and how much. Do not be swayed by some sweet talking televangelist, evangelist, preacher or teacher.
Please think about it.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.”
2 Corinthians 2:17
Paul here is referring to false teachers that have entered the church and are getting money from gullible church members.
As Christians we must be careful who we send money to. There have been false teacher from the time of the early church until today. Today in the twenty-first century with the mass media world we live in it’s hard to tell the real Christians from the fake.
There’s a lot out there claiming you give ten dollars, a hundred dollars, a thousand dollars to their ministry and God will bless you ten or even a hundred fold. What garbage.
They treat God like a sugar daddy that doles out cash.
It’s alway been my opinion that all ministries calling themselves Christian should send to those who support them a detailed listing of where every penny goes. I know the church I attend and every church in Canada has to report to there congregation how they spent their money during the year. It should be the same for all ministries.
I know good ministries when asked will give an accounting to you if you ask. I would have problems with any ministry that will not provide and accounting of where the money goes.
It is so easy to twist scripture and put a spin on it that makes it sound like it’s right when it’s not.
Paul writing to Timothy warns,
“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.”
2 Timothy 4:3,4.
The message here is Christian beware! My advice is always support your local church first. You know who they are and where the money goes. You know that their teaching is in line with the Bible. If it’s not you shouldn’t be there.
So support your local ministry first. Then if you have something extra left over and you feel God telling you to give to a particular ministry give. But don’t expect huge returns on your money. You should give because you want to, not with the thought in mind that you will get interest on your money like some bank.
Giving to God’s work is part of being a Christian. So be wise as to where you give. Pray and ask God where to give and how much. Do not be swayed by some sweet talking televangelist, evangelist, preacher or teacher.
Please think about it.
Thursday 9 July 2015
If you want
If you want
Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”
Matthew 7:12.
Do you treat people in the same way you like to be treated? Think about it. When you present the gospel to friends do you point to their sins or do you point to the message of Love and salvation Christ offers.
I watched with interest the other day a preacher who with all the best of intentions started spouting off about the ills of society. He seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time bashing one particular group. Still by my count he did manage to bash almost every group in our western society that he disagreed with.
As I listened I thought to myself what a waste of time, energy and money. It was obvious he and the organization he represented spent a lot of time and money on the television program. Television and Radio time doesn’t come cheap.
The reason I say he wasted all that money is the fact he bashed so many groups telling them that they wouldn’t get to heaven, that his message of salvation was lost.
The moment you criticize anyone you loose them.
While his message may have rang true with the believers in his church it was definitely was a turn off for non-Christians watching.
He portrayed God as a God of do’s and do not’s. A God with a big stick ready to bash you. That’s not what the Bible says.
James writes,
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!
James 2:8-13
The bible is a book of mercy.
Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus makes it clear to all men everywhere what his principle purpose in coming to this world is when he said,
“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.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16-18.
Please think about it.
If you want to be judged,
judge someone.
If you want to be treated as a bigot,
act like one.
If you want to be hated,
hate,
If you don’t want to be listened to,
don’t listen to others.
Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”
Matthew 7:12.
Do you treat people in the same way you like to be treated? Think about it. When you present the gospel to friends do you point to their sins or do you point to the message of Love and salvation Christ offers.
I watched with interest the other day a preacher who with all the best of intentions started spouting off about the ills of society. He seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time bashing one particular group. Still by my count he did manage to bash almost every group in our western society that he disagreed with.
As I listened I thought to myself what a waste of time, energy and money. It was obvious he and the organization he represented spent a lot of time and money on the television program. Television and Radio time doesn’t come cheap.
The reason I say he wasted all that money is the fact he bashed so many groups telling them that they wouldn’t get to heaven, that his message of salvation was lost.
The moment you criticize anyone you loose them.
While his message may have rang true with the believers in his church it was definitely was a turn off for non-Christians watching.
He portrayed God as a God of do’s and do not’s. A God with a big stick ready to bash you. That’s not what the Bible says.
James writes,
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!
James 2:8-13
The bible is a book of mercy.
Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus makes it clear to all men everywhere what his principle purpose in coming to this world is when he said,
“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.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16-18.
Please think about it.
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