A Personal Note

A personal note

“A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” 
“All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 
The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” 
                                                                                               Isaiah 40:6-8.

The other day I was thinking about my mother she died young of cancer in her mid fifties.
My grandmother, her mother lived until her late nineties. Out living my mother by some twenty almost thirty years.
When I think of them I realize their lives were but a mist in time.
They were ordinary people. They didn’t accomplish great things but they had a good full life with family and friends around them. And that is all most people can expect.
Throughout the years however I’ve read about and heard of talented entertainers in particular that have died by their own hand or of drug overdoses. For all their success they found it seems little meaning in life.
William Wordsworth wrote,

“We poets in our youth begin in gladness;

but therefore came in the end to despondency and madness.’

Suicide rates are on the rise in our western culture, as is clinical depression and other forms of mental illness. As someone who knows a great deal of mentally ill people I understand that mental illness is a very real illness that can lead to death at one’s own hand.
Sadly our western society doesn’t seem to help the situation.
As I look around I see a great deal of emphasis on getting “things”. Materialism it seems is the god of the twenty-first century and the majority of people young and old seem to be buying into it.
Sadly materialism is a cold bed partner.
I know people in all strata of life, from the rich to the poor. From the famous to the unknown who simply find no meaning in life. And have taken their own life.
The writer of Ecclesiastes wrote,
“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
                  Ecclesiastes 1:14.
How sad to have such an outlook on life. Is it any wonder that people commit suicide?
As someone who lives with a mental illness, specifically Bipolar Affective Disorder I understand what it is like to go through deep depression and despair.
But the one thing that has always kept me going is the fact that I truly believe there is a God that loves me.
It is my belief in God that has given me hope and purpose in life. Today fifty-one years after making Jesus Christ Lord of my life. I know I am a better person and have a hope that there is more to life than what we can see, feel and hear.
I believe the words of Ecclesiastes when it says,
“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 judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” 
Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
Without God in my life my life would be meaningless. I know that no matter how deep the valley or how high the mountain top, my God is with me. That there is always hope.
Sadly all too many people in this world do not have hope. They recognize there is something missing in their life. For lack of a better phrase, “a hole in their soul”
A hole that the materialism and things of our modern world can’t fill no matter what they do.
They, to quote Wordsworth “in their youth begin in gladness but their life ends in despondency and madness.”
This should not be so because there is hope. Hope in the name of Jesus Christ.
To those who feel empty inside, to those who feel hopeless and can’t find meaning in life, the voice of Jesus echos through the centuries saying,
“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.”
Matthew 11:28,29.
I know it takes a leap of faith to believe in Christ, but it is a leap that will change a persons life forever.
I know because I personally, and there are many, many like me, who have found fulfilment and joy in Christ Jesus.
Please think about praying and asking Christ into your life today.

About Marriage

About Marriage

“Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry.
But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
"The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.  
Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.  
I say this as a concession, not as a command.  
I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. 
Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.  But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife."
1 Corinthians 7:1-11
Here Paul makes it clear that it is good for people to marry that in the marriage relationship the wife belongs to the husband and the husband belongs to the wife. In short they are one.
He makes it clear that they should not deprive each other of sexual intimacy except by mutual consent for a short time.
Paul realized that the God given sex drive was strong in people and that Satan could use it to tempt people to sin. That’s why he goes on to say,
“It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”
He then states that a wife must not separate from her husband and if she does she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. That a husband should not divorce his wife.
I have heard this particular statement used to say the wife in particular should stay in an abusive situation. THIS IS NOT THE CASE.
If the wife or for that matter the husband is being abused then that violates God’s laws and action to end the abusive situation needs to be taken swiftly.
The other point here Paul says a husband must not divorce his wife has to be understood. In Paul’s day it was possible under Jewish law for a husband to divorce his wife for trivial things. Even things as simple burning the meal.
Paul is saying here that marriage should be a love relationship in which the husband and the wife treat each other as they would themselves.
I believe marriage is Gods ideal for a man and a woman. That it has it’s ups and downs.
As someone who has been married now for thirty-six years I know it has to be worked on. Two people will not always agree on things and they have to be talked about and at time compromises made.
The covenant of marriage however can be the most rewarding thing two human beings can enter into.
It for me and my wife has been an incredible journey through trial, tragedy and above all incredible times of happiness.
We have found that no matter what we have gone through our love for each other and the love of God has always been there to get us through.
I can think of no better way than to have spent my life than sharing it with my wife.
It is something I would wish for everyone.

Sexual purity

Sexual Purity

“Everything is permissible for me”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”—but I will not be mastered by anything.  
“Food for the stomach and the stomach for food”—but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.  
By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.  
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!  
Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”  
But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.  
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;  you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Paul here is talking to a people who have within their city a temple that has over a thousand priestess prostitutes available to them. Temptation to sexual sin must have been everywhere.
New converts would have had full knowledge of such practices and perhaps even been with a priestess prior to their conversion.
So Paul makes a simple statement, sexual immorality is wrong. It is the only sin that is not committed outside the body.
When one sins sexually it involves his mind and spirit as well as the physical act. We as believers in Christ are called to sexual purity.
Sexual relations is only permissible within the bonds of marriage, because in having sexual relations we become one with the person we are having it with.
When we accepted Christ into our life we became one with Christ therefore we are called to honour God with our body as well as our mind and spirit.
Therefore we must follow his rules not to have intimate relations outside of marriage.

Think about it.

Expel

Expel

“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 5:9-13
Here is a continuation of what Paul was calling the church to do in verses 1-5 of Corinthians five.
The Corinthians misinterpreted a previous letter Paul had sent and had thought Paul was calling them to stay away from non-Christians who were immoral. Like he said in order to do such a thing we would have to leave this world.
On top of that it is the duty of Christians to win non-believers to Christ. Jesus himself sat down with sinners.
What Paul is saying here to the Corinthians is to expel those who call themselves brothers and are
“sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler.”
He tells them not even to eat with such people.
Then he makes it clear,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside.”
It is not our job as Christians to judge those outside the church God will eventually do that.
Matthew records what Jesus wants we as Christians to do when he writes,
“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 Message to Christians is clear. We are called to live a life with a standard that is higher than the world around us. We are called to expel those who are immoral from our midst and live a life that is acceptable to God.
Think about it

Christian Standards

Christian Standards

“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.” 
1Corinthians 5:1-5
Paul here notes that there are people within the church at Corinth that are sexually immoral. That they are doing things that even the pagans don’t do. Not only that they are proud of it instead of being filled with grief.
This person was apparently committing incest with his stepmother.
According to Cicero the Roman orator, incest was virtually unheard of in Roman society yet here was a person calling themselves a Christian that was doing so.
Apparently he was doing it with a distorted idea of grace. That grace gave him freedom to sin with impunity.
In Romans Paul warns against such thing writing,
“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  
By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” 
                                                                       Romans 6:1,2 
Paul although not present has already passed judgment on the person and urges the Corinthians to do so. Not only that he tell them to hand the man over to Satan.
Interpreters disagree some say it meant he should be cast out of the congregation of believers that no one should have anything to do with him. That in ostracising him in such away he will repent.
An other interpretation is that he would be cast out and Satan allowed to bring physical affliction on the man.
Either way he is to be cast out.
This is what we should be doing in our churches today. We should be holding people up to the highest standards.
People looking at the church should be seeing a pure spotless church that holds its members accountable.
One of the things I’ve always heard through the years is “why should I come to your Church. I know those people and they are no better than me. In fact I’m better than most of them.”
This shouldn’t be happening. We should live up to a moral standard that exceeds that of the world around us.
Think about it.

Failure of the Church?

Failure of the Church?

Thanks to my wife the ultimate book worm I have a house full of books. She has never found a book she wishes to throw or give away.
Quite some time ago now when we were moving into a “smaller” house someone gave her a box of Christian books dating back to the fifties.
One book entitled "Essentials in Christian Faith" by John B. Harrington, published in 1958, could have been written yesterday.
It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948:
"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.’"
Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution. 
Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency and courage."
Another Paul writing to a member of the first century church wrote the following,
"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
If Paul Gallico is right and I believe he is, mankind is considerably nearer the bottom of that slope than he was in 1948. Moreover at the bottom of that slope is a very deep lake filled with brimstone.
The Church particularly here in North America has in some ways failed. In the United States I hear the loudest voices in the Christian community seemingly more concerned with their rights, and criticizing those they disagree with than preaching and living the message Christ intended them to do.
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
                                                                                Francis of Assisi.
None-Christians I speak to have told me, many who call themselves Christians are not doing this and that is why they don’t want to have anything to do with the church.
Christians have a message if presented correctly can change lives in a very real way.
The present situation we are in here in the west with young men and women turning to terrorist groups also speaks volumes as to the emptiness of materialism that is so prevalent in our society today.
Young people want to belong they want things to aspire too. And many see no future in the society in which we live.
My father’s generation had something to believe in. Unfortunately it was world war two. They were called to fight for freedom and from 1939 to 1945 they put their lives on the line in a war that cost nearly sixty million lives.
They fought the war believing they would bring about a better world, and for some of us, myself included we did have a better life.
Now however society seems to be moving relentlessly to the abyss.
Scientist warn of climate change yet governments and private industry refuse to listen. Putting profits over the potential destruction of life on this planet.
Particularly here in the west materialism is rampant and she is a cold bed partner. Twenty-five years ago we didn’t need a lap top. We didn’t need a cell phone. Yet now everyone needs one.
On top of all of this poverty is on the rise. Here in Canada food banks are giving out more than ever before.
The poor of the world have become marginalised more than ever before. Many young men and women are discouraged with the society in which they live.
They see such radical groups as ISIS and others and see within them the opportunity first of all to belong. Secondly to be part of what they see as a just cause.
Sadly they are being mislead but our western society dose not offer many options for these men and women.
As I see it also the Christian Church has fallen flat also. Many have refused to enter the twenty-first century.
That’s not to say they have to abandon the message of Christ. Quite the contrary the true message of the Gospel of Christ is truly the answer for the problems of today.
It’s just that many churches are not presenting the message in a way that is relevant to today’s youth. That is turning them off.
O the churches here in North America preach sermon from the Bible. They are speaking the truths of God. Unfortunately the message is being lost because many are mixing it with politics, their demands for their rights, criticism of other groups, and the call to restrict the rights of groups they disagree with.
As a result the words of Mahatma Gandhi are ringing true.
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
                                                                                              Mahatma Gandhi.
We in the church need to examine ourselves. We need to examine the way we are doing things, correct our errors and reach out with the unadulterated message of Christ to those disenfranchised youth and others that are turning to terrorist groups.
We need to do this because we have the one true message that can change the world not by force of arms but with the love of Christ.
Think about it.

JE SUIS CHARLIE

JE SUIS CHARLIE

“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 Niemollor.
Martin Niemoller spent from 1937 to 1945 in Nazi death camps narrowly escaping death. He experienced first hand what it was to see the freedoms of others and his own freedom restricted.
Hitler was in the twentieth century the quintessential purveyor of evil. The war he started cost close to sixty million lives, not counting those he killed prior to the war.
Today the world faces a new threat. Terrorist who would restrict the beliefs and freedoms of all who disagrees with them.
Like Hitler these terrorist have been allowed to grow because the democracies of the west did not consider them a threat and firmly believed in freedom of expression, even if they disagreed with what was being said.
Now twelve people have been murdered in France by a group who while claiming to be people of God are nothing but evil men.
Not to long ago here in Canada two men killed two Canadian soldiers in the misguided belief they were doing God’s will.
Around the world there have been dozens of terrorist attacks all by men claiming to be of God but are doing nothing more than the work of the devil himself.
I admit as a Christian I know little about Islam. The few Muslims I’ve met and worked with are peace loving people, who have accepted me for the Christian I am.
I also admit I know little about the magazine that was attacked. Only that it tended to be irreverent and poked fun at everyone irrespective of who they are.
While I may not agree with what the magazine prints. I do respect its right to freedom of speech, because restricting the speech of anyone or any group is the start of a slippery slope that will end in restriction of freedoms of us all. Nazi Germany proved that.
I also know there is only one way to end the hate of this world. Through the love of Christ. Hate and force cannot change the minds of people.
Yeshayahu Leibowitz wrote,
“You can ‘t force people to do what they don’t want to do, to feel what they don’t feel.  If someone wills one thing, you cannot tell it to will another.  It has to come from within.”
-Yeshayahu Leibowitz, Judaic scholar and professor of biochemistry, quoted in 
 “Of Thorns, Idols, and Prophecy,” Hadassah, May 1990
Napoleon Bonaparte who certainly knew what it was like to try to impose his will on the world said,
"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.
Terrorist like ISIS and others may try to conquer the world. May try to impose their will upon people but they will never win because they use force. And force cannot truly change the hearts of men.
Today scattered around the world in every nation there are over two point two billion Christians. We Christians are the largest faith group in the world and we continue to grow despite being the most persecuted group in the world.
 We have reached almost a third of the worlds population and we have done so through Love of God, Ones neighbour and even one’s enemy.
The terrorist of the world filled with an ideology of hate and lust for power will never understand it. It is for that reason they will ultimately fail.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“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.
It is such love, the love of Christ, that will ultimately change the world. Not force of arms or hate.
Think about it.

You and God

You and God

"Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?  
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple. 
Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise.  
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”  
So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God." 
1 Corinthians 3:16-23
Paul tells them and us that as believers in Christ we are God’s temple. God’s spirit lives in us. That we as believers are sacred unto Him.
Paul also admonishes us not think ourselves wise by the standards of our age. But rather “become a fool” so that we may become wise. In other words be humble, be teachable. Be willing to learn from scripture and believes around us. And we can learn from anyone.
I’ve seen children in a simple Sunday School play minister to adults. To teach them scriptural truths and build up peoples faith.
Paul also  notes the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.
Man is not very wise we only have to look around at the problems in the world today and see what a mess he’s allowed the world to get into.
Even when it comes to knowing Christ, there are many out in the world that think the message of the Gospel foolishness or too simple to be true.
Finally Paul says,
“So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.” 
Simply put, because of our relationship to God through Christ they, the Corinthians, and us are heirs to all things.
We are heirs of the ministries of all those who have faithfully promoted the gospel throughout history.
We are in Christ and Christ is in us.
Think about it.

"The" Foundation

“The" Foundation

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.  
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 3:1-15
Here Paul is making it clear that Jesus must be our foundation. The teachings of Christ must be paramount in our lives.
He warns that we must be careful how we build on that foundation. We cannot build on this foundation using earthly logic using earthly wisdom. Such ministries have no spiritual depth and are usually growing only because of a good orator minister and good programs that attract people.
There is a lot of wrong teaching in the Christian world today most I would say is simple misinterpretation or an honest error on the part of the teacher.
Still there is a lot of men and women out there who are deliberately misleading people usually for money.
All however will come to light when they stand before God.
Those who are false teachers and leading people astray deliberately will hear the words of Jesus who said,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ 
                                                                                                                  Matthew 7:22,23
Those who are legitimate believers in Christ who have built their ministries from earthly things what Paul describes as, gold silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw will as Paul says
“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." 
How is your ministry. Is the foundation the word of God, the teachings of Christ. Are the ministries of the church you attend build from the word of God?
Think about it.

Wisdom

Wisdom From the Spirit

"We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.  
No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.  
None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  
However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”—  but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.  
For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  
We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.  
This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.  
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.  
The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: 
For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” 
But we have the mind of Christ."
1 Corinthians 2:6-2:16.
Here Paul makes the point that non-Christians don’t see Christ and the scriptures in the same way we as Christians do.
He notes that,
“We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.”
When we came to know the Lord as our personal Saviour we received His Spirit. It was God’s Spirit that opened our eyes to the truth and wisdom of God.
We suddenly seen the scriptures in a different light. They were no longer just good words. Within them was deep meaning.
Paul notes,
“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.”
I believe no one can call Jesus Lord without the Spirit of God prompting him. No one can accept the salvation Christ offers without the Holy Spirit convincing him.
Almost all historians accept the fact that Jesus was a real man. That he walked the earth and taught wonderful and wise things. But they see him as just that ‘a man’.
They cannot see the deeper things of God and Christ because what they have is an intellectual knowledge of Jesus.
My father who grew up in England, learned the Bible in school and attended the church of England and knew scripture well.
Intellectually we could sit and talk about the scriptures, but he had a difficult time understanding the spiritual truths contained in the bible, because I believe he had never received the Spirit of God.
When he did he was a different man. His eyes were open and he seen the truths he’d been missing.
We as Christians need to pray for those around us. For those we talk to and witness too that they may accept Christ and see the wisdom and hidden truths within the Scriptures.
When we as Christians read the scriptures, we need to pray and ask God to show us the deep wisdom that are contained in them.
Think about it.

The foolishness of God

The foolishness of God

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. 
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.” 
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.  
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  
I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.  
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,  so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. 
1 Corinthians 1:25-2:5
Here we have the Paul pointing out to the Corinthians that God’s wisdom is greater than man’s. He notes that they were not wise on their own or influential. Never-the-less God chose them to that the world called foolish to shame the world. He chose the weak things to shame to strong.
He makes it clear that we as Christians should not boast in our own strength but in the Lord.
Paul points out that he didn’t come like some debaters of the day, debating the things about Christ. He came in weakness, in fear and trembling and demonstrated the Spirits power. He noted that our faith should not rest in man’s wisdom but in the power of God.
Today in the church we need to remember these words. We need to be out there presenting the word of God. There is no need for us to be “eloquent of speech”.
There is an older woman in our church. She’s in her early seventies. She has problems walking and travels around town in an electric scooter. She doesn’t have a great education nor is she good at explaining things.
Still she travels all over town and hands out tracks proclaiming the Lord and inviting people to church. People know her well. Most think her very quaint and nice. Some think her a little eccentric, all say she’s harmless.
I’ve heard people talking about her and what she’s saying about the Lord. They may not agree with her but they are discussing what she gives them. Some even show up at church.
Some have even come to know the Lord. All because one grandmother in a scooter handed them a track that led them to the Lord.
We need more like her in our churches. People who go out and witness for Christ around our towns and neighbourhoods.
She loves the Lord and wants the world to know it.
She to me is an example of what Paul is saying here when he writes,
“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.”
Question: do you boast in the Lord? Are you doing your best for God?
Think about it.

The Wisdom of God

The Wisdom of God

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,  but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  
1 Corinthians 1:18-24
The way in which Jesus came to this earth in man’s terms at least seems odd.
Jesus was not born in a King’s palace where he could have exercised great influence. Instead he was born to simple parents who were devout believers.
Being devout believers his parents would have taught him the tenants of their and his faith.
Also as I see it, growing up as an average person Jesus experienced everything it was to be a man.
Wealthy people as good as most may be, quite often don’t understand what it is to be poor and live from hand to mouth.
Jesus as he was growing up must have seen the poor around him. He certainly understood what it was like for the average person on the street. He understood the temptations of the average person. He would also have seen any oppression.
It would have been counter productive for him to grow up in a wealthy family with all of the worldly comforts, if he was to judge the world.
No one standing before Jesus can ever say, “You don’t understand what it is to be in my position, to be poor or average.” because he does. He lived as an ordinary person as most of the population lived.
He can also look at the rich and powerful on that day of judgement and say “you could have done more. You had to power to change the lives of the poor and needy.”
Paul also says,
“Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,  but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
There are a lot of sceptics in the world with regard to Christ and God. There are a lot of unbelievers who simply can’t or won’t take an open and honest look at the Bible. Who wont read even just the New Testament.
Some people will admit Jesus is a good man. But they can’t make that leap of faith and say he is the Son of God.
Many people of faith, don’t believe God would allow Jesus to go to the cross.
The crucifixion for me, shows in human terms just how far God would go to reconcile man to himself.
He is saying I love you so much I would die 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. 
It takes a leap of faith to believe in Jesus but Christ is waiting for all who would believe with outstretched hands. All we have to say is I believe.
Think about it.