Judgement and Duty

Judgment and Duty
The Psalmist states,
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-16.
The Psalmist here makes it clear that God knows you intimately. The way I read this is that God knows your very DNA. He knows why you are the way you are even if you don’t.
It is for that very reason I believe no man has the right to judge you and say whether you will get to heaven or not.
Jesus said,
“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.
The apostle Paul saying,
“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.
Christians have limitations as to who they can judge. We cannot judge those outside the church especially when it comes to where they will spend eternity.
Christians however can judge other Christians, but only to determine if someone claiming to be Christian is following and presenting the message of Christ correctly. If they are not then we have the right to expel them from our congregation.
And while Christians believe 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
Who 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.  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.
While these words are true. This does not give Christians the right to say to anyone they are not going to heaven. Again because we do not know what is in a man’s heart.
Billy Graham the great American evangelist said,

It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict,

 God’s job to judge 

and my job to love, 

                                                                                 Billy Graham
Jesus told his disciples their duty,
“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.
He did not tell them to judge. He taught his disciples to respect and love others. To present the gospel message to anyone who would listen.
This is the duty of the Christian to this day.
Please think about it.

Resurrection from the Dead

Resurrection from the Dead
The apostle Paul writes,
“But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?  
If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.  
And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.  
More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.  
For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.  
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.  
Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.  
If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. 
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” 1Corinthians 15:12-20.
Here Paul presents one of the most important teachings of Christians. Jesus rose from the dead.
Paul states,
“...if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”
If Jesus has not been raised from the dead then we as Christians have told the most monumental lie in history. Offering false hope to literally billions of people.
The fact however is Jesus did rise from the dead. The apostle Paul tells us,
“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” 
Paul speaking in Athens presents clearly what Christians ask the world to believe. He states,
“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 17:22-34.
So my question to you the reader is. “What do you believe about Jesus?
Please think about it.

The Greatest is Love

The Greatest is Love
The apostle Paul wrote,
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 
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. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  
For we know in part and we prophesy in part,  but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.  
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.  
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 
  And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."1 Corinthians 13:1-13.
Someone has said that the apostle Paul here in 1 Corinthians 13 gave the perfect definition of Love.
He makes it clear that the greatest gift is Love.
 Jesus who when asked,
“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 22:36-40
Jesus also said,
“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,...” Matthew 5:43,44.
As Christians we are called to a life and lifestyle of love.  We believe God set the example. Jesus speaking of himself 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.
Jesus also 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.
We as individuals want unconditional love shown toward us. Therefore it is only logical that we show unconditional love toward others.
Unconditional love to my mind is the purest form of holiness and the writer of Hebrews tells us,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14
Question: Are you showing unconditional Love to those around you?
Please think about it.

Sin will be judged

Sin will be Judged
The apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians.
“For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.  
They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.  
  They all ate the same spiritual food  and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.  
Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. 
Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.  
Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.”  
We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.  
  We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.  
And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. 
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.  
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!  
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:1-13.
Here the apostle Paul makes an analogy between the Corinthian church and those who were with Moses during the Exodus from Egypt.
In the case of those with Moses they had all seen what God could do. They had all witnessed the power of God and sat under the teachings of Moses yet many still sinned.
In the case of the Corinthians they had all received the same teaching from Paul and others. They like those with Moses knew what God expected of them yet some of them sinned.
It is the same today. All Christians read the same Bible. We all if we truly study the scriptures know what God requires of us. Yet we all sin.
We are human we all sin. The key is however to repent of our sin as soon as we realize we have done so.
The apostle John tells us,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 1John 1:9-10
Sadly there are many who sin and like many with Moses do not stop sinning they continue in their sin.
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,
“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
Sin is sin and while we can try to justify it what ever way we wish it is still sin before God and God will judge us accordingly.
Paul also issues a warning to Christians. He states,
“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”
Don’t be so self confident that you are doing what is right because everyone is subject to temptation in this life. The temptations we are subjected to especially in this day and age are subtle and come upon us slowly almost unnoticeably.
So the word is be careful. Pray continually and ask God to guide you and keep you from falling.    At the same time remember the words of the apostle Paul who said,
“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13.
In short we as Christians all read the same Bible. We all know what God requires of us. We will all from time to time sin and must repent of the sin and confess that sin to God.
If we continue sinning God will judge us accordingly.
Please think about it.

Christians and the Immoral

Christians and the Immoral
The apostle Paul writes,
“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.  
And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?  
Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.   When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present,  hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord. 
Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?  
Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.  
Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.
I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—  not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.  
But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler.    With such a man do not even eat. 
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 5:1-13
The Corinthians had their problems. Problems that can relate to today.
In this portion of Scripture there are two parts. One involving believers and one involving non-believers.
The first part addresses a sin committed by one who claims to be a believer in Christ.
Here they had someone among them who was guilty of incest. Incest was not only against Jewish law but against Roman Law. Paul noting
“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.” 
He states,
“And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?” 
As Christians we have a moral code sent down by God. A code that if you claim to be a Christian you must follow. There is no middle ground.
If a person is found to be breaking God’s law it is the job of the Church to correct the person. If they do not repent of their sin then they should be put out of the assembly of believers. It is that simple.
Paul states,
“...hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.”
It sounds harsh but Paul’s intentions here is aimed at the salvation of this person. He hopes that by putting him out of the fellowship of believers the man will understand the magnitude of his sin and repent.
Paul notes there is no room in the body of believer for sin. He points out,
“Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?  
Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.  
Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.”
Yeast is symbolic of sin. Once sin gets into a body of believers it can quickly make its way through the whole congregation if it is not checked.
Paul make the analogy to Passover in which Jewish households get rid of all the yeast in the house. The symbol of sin. The bread they eat is unleaven free from sin.
It is the job of the Church to make sure all within it are following Christ in spirit and in truth. Paul knew that we all sin that none of us are completely sinless. However if we confess our sins to God and ask forgiveness God will forgive us. The apostle John telling us,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 1John 1:9-10.
The second Part of what the Apostle Paul is telling believers is
“I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—  not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.  
But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler.    With such a man do not even eat. 
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.” 1Corinthians 5:9-13.
Paul makes it clear that when he speaks of not associating with sexually immoral people or those who are greedy, swindlers or idolaters. He dose not mean those outside the body of believer, otherwise believers would have to leave the world.
What Paul is speaking about when it comes to not associating with such people he means those who claim to be believers in Christ and do those things.
Christians believe it or not are suppose to be willing to sit down and present the gospel to people who are sexually immoral, greedy, swindlers, idolaters, those of other faith, Atheist, people of different lifestyles, the average person and indeed people of wall walks of life. In fact anyone who will listen to our message It is for these people Jesus came.
Paul also points out that we are not to judge those outside the Church only those inside he states,
“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.” 1Corinthians 5:12,13.
If you claim to be a Christian are you acting like this?
Please think about it.

God will Judge

God will Judge
The apostle Paul writes,
“I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.  
My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.  
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.” 1 Corinthians 4:3-5
The apostle Paul states,
“I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.” 
Here Paul notes he has a clear conscience. However he also notes that, that does not make him innocent.
We are all imperfect we all fall short of what God would want us to do. However it is not the job of a Christian to judge anyone especially those outside the church. That is God’s job. The American Evangelist Billy Graham said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge 

and my job to love, 

Billy Graham 

That being said Paul earlier in his letter to the Corinthians states,
“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.
When it comes to judging Christians have limited rights. We have the right to judge those inside the church but only with respect to the message that is being spoken by the individual. In order to make sure it is in line with the message of Christ.
We have no right to judge whether a person is going to heaven or not. That is God’s job.
Paul tells Christians
“Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.”
The Writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
God will ultimately judge us all. For there are only two persons who know what is in the heart of the individual. The individual themselves, and God. No one else.
Thus the question becomes. “When you stand before God what will he say about you?
Please think about it.

A Sacred Trust

A Sacred Trust
The Apostle Paul writes,

Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ 

and stewards of the mysteries of God. 

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

1Corinthians 4:1,2  

As believers in Christ we are not just servants of Christ but “stewards” of the mysteries of God.
A steward was someone who administered all the affairs of his masters house. Joseph was Potiphars steward in the book of Genesis (Genesis 39:2-19).
Stewards must be loyal and faithful to their master.
As stewards of “the mysteries of God” we must stay true to the word of God. We must manage the message of Christ correctly. To do less is to betray our master Jesus. To betray God.
The consequences for not doing so could be eternal. For ourselves and those around us.
A great light shines on the believer in Christ. If we believe the words of Jesus recorded in the gospel of John,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
If we believe the words of Jesus who 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.  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.
We must be presenting the love of God in spirit and in truth to all those around us. We cannot as someone has said, “mess with The Message”.
Jesus when asked,
 “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 22:36-40
Jesus also said,
“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...”Matthew5: 43-45.
Love is the key to the Christian life. As Martin Luther King jr. the great American civil rights leader said,

Love is the only force capable of transforming 

an enemy into friend.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

God knew this that is why He sent Jesus. The apostle Paul writing to the Romans states,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  
For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  
Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” Romans 5:8-11
This is the Message we as Christians are to take to the world. The Love of God through Jesus Christ that leads to Salvation.
Jesus told his disciples and through them us,
“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.
We must present this message in love to all who will listen to us.
We must be presenting it in spirit and in truth as presented in the Scriptures. To do anything less is unacceptable.
Please think about it.

Our Foundation

Our Foundation
“To believers in Christ the apostle Paul writes,
“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  
If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.  
If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.  
If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.
What Paul is saying is strait forward. Jesus Christ is the only foundation we as Christians can have. If Jesus is not the foundation then all our work is in vain.
Paul points out,
“If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.”
If we build our faith on the things of this world it will pass away.
Today there are pastors evangelist and those sitting in the pew that are building their faith on the things of this world. The most prominent of these groups are those who are often called the “name it claim it group” they say you must give money (usually to their ministry)  what they term“seed faith” you will receive rewards of ten or even a hundred fold more than you gave. Such teaching is false. God is not a cosmic banker giving super interest. In fact Matthew’s gospel records,
“Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” 
“Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,  honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’’” 
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.” Matthews 19:16-22
The apostle Paul points out,
“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
Paul also notes,
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10.
Jesus said,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21.
As a Christian our life should be committed to Jesus in word and in deed. We should not rely on the things of this world. Rather we should store up for ourselves treasures in Heaven. Putting all our trust in God.
Please think about it.

About Jesus

About Jesus
The apostle Paul writes,
“The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”  1 Corinthians 2:14.
Over the years I’ve met many people who do not understand who Jesus is. Men and women who are of other faiths or are simply atheist. They cannot believe what the writer of Hebrews states,
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:3.
They find it hard to believe that Jesus is God incarnate The Saviour of mankind.
The apostle Paul explains it this way,
“The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”  1 Corinthians 2:14.
I respect the beliefs of these people who do not believe Jesus is the Son of God, Saviour of mankind, God incarnate, and I welcome open and honest discussion with non-Christians. It is good to share ones beliefs and views. That is why I write these blogs.
My prayer for anyone with whom I talk about Jesus is that God will open their eyes. That he will reveal himself to them through His Spirit.
Not only that but I pray that the person themself will sincerely pray and ask God to show them truth about Jesus.
I pray they will read at the very least the New testament. That they will read what the writers and followers of Jesus believed him to be.
In order to truly find who Jesus is, the person first and foremost needs to be truly looking for the answer. Otherwise they will not find anything.
Things of God are spiritually discerned thus the individual even if they are not Christians need to ask God for spiritual discernment.  For spiritual insight into what the scriptures are saying.
The apostle Paul speaking in the Areopagus in Athens a place where ideas were discussed openly said,
“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.”Acts 17:24-31.
The writer of Acts notes that after Paul said this,
“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 17:32-34
My question to you the reader. Which group are you with, the ones who sneered, those who wished to know more or are you willing to become a follower of Jesus?
If you are sincerely interested in finding the truth about Jesus. I would ask you to pray asking God to show you the truth. Then read the New Testament and see for yourself what those who knew Jesus personally believed him to be.
Please think about it. 

God's Ways not Man's Way's

God's Ways Not Man's Ways

The Apostle Paul writing to the Corinthian Church said,
“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.  
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  
He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,  so that no one may boast before him.  
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.  
          Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Paul states,
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”
God does not do things the way man would do them. Luke’s Gospel records,
“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,  to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.  
The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  
You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:26-33.  
In choosing Mary to be the mother of Jesus, God chose a woman of humble estate. He did not choose to have his Son born to a king.
Think about it. It would have been easy for God to have his Son born to a ruler. People would have easily have followed him after all he would have had power and people tend to respect people in power. And even if they don’t respect them they fear them and thus tend to obey them.
God however didn’t want this. He wanted his followers to act in true faith.
In the Gospel of Luke and Matthew the writers lay down the story of a humble young girl who is chosen by God to be the mother of the Messiah the Saviour of mankind.
The Gospels go on even further asking the reader to believe that this Son of God died for our sins. That he rose again walked briefly on this earth before ascending to heaven where he rules and reigns.
To man’s way of thinking this is pure foolishness. Yet to be a Christian to be a follower of Christ the individual is asked to believe all of this. Not only that Jesus is recorded as saying,
 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
John’s gospel also records 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.
The apostle Paul writes,
“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.
Paul notes it is not our good works that get us to heaven. We get to heaven through our faith in Christ and the grace of God.
God asks the individual to have faith in him. The writer of Hebrews stating,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.”  

Hebrews 11:1

“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

God in his wisdom knows that the strongest most reliable followers are those who have faith in someone. They are people who look at the facts and even though those facts at times may seem outrageous they still follow.
In Jesus God is asking that you as an individual believe the words of the writer of Hebrews who said,
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:3.   
Do you believe this?
Please think about it.

My Shepherd

My Shepherd
The Psalmist writes,
“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23.
Is the Lord truly the shepherd of your life or, do you only give intellectual consent to his existence?
Many people say they believe in God but they do not truly trust in Him.
 I had one pastor that came from the so called bible belt states that said it was hard in some areas to tell if people truly trusted God. Whether a person had truly given their life to Christ.
 It was hard because going to church was part of the culture. People simply went to church on a Sunday and said they were Christian because it was the thing to do. These people knew what he called “church speak”. They knew what to say, how to say it when to say it and how they were expected to act.
I see it with politicians in the United States in particular. They say “God bless America” they even go to church while in office. Presidents attend Prayer breakfasts and other religious things yet are they truly saved?
I have a feeling there are many people who go to church, perhaps even the majority in some areas, that say they believe in God, which they might, that are not going to heaven because  they have not truly made Jesus the Shepherd of their life.
Following God is truly an act of faith, and while many may think they have faith in God what they are really have is the intellectually belief that God exists.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“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
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  Hebrews 11:1
“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.
Martin Luther King Jr. the great American civil rights leader said,
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
Is this the kind of faith you have. Are you willing to truly trust something you cannot see or feel? Do you truly have faith in God or is it simply intellectual consent?
Please think about it.

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

“Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary; 

praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power; 

praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, 

praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing, 

praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals, 

praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD.”  

Psalm 150.

When was the last time you took a few minutes to praise God. I can understand non-Christians not praising the Lord. But if you are a believer in Christ you need to take time to praise the Lord.
The psalmist here is pretty clear how we can praise the Lord. With trumpets, haprs, Lyres, tambourines, strings, flutes, cymbals. Even dance.
I know many Christians do not believe in dancing but when it comes to praising God the psalmist here makes it clear we can praise the Lord with dancing.
We are to praise the Lord with all the instruments we have including our voice and dance.
I love to watch some Jewish groups as they dance in praise to God. They give it their all. This is what we as Christians should be doing.  It’s all right to sing and use instruments but at times we need to let our bodies rejoice in exaltation of God who created all things including dance.
I for a number of years when I was younger toured with a small messianic gospel group. We performed locally both in churches and in various public venues. The best venue I found however was during rehearsals.
Our rehearsals quite often turned into praise sessions. It was during rehearsals that there was no pressure to preform perfectly. We could sing and move and praise God as we wished.
It made us feel good. Here we were praising our Lord and our God. Giving him glory and honour and receiving a blessing at the same time.
Over the years I’ve found you don’t have to be a good singer or dancer or great at playing an instrument. You just have to be willing to praise God.
If you are a believer in Christ why not take a few minutes to praise the Lord right now?
Please think about it.