Q: How would a person who has Asperger`s Syndrome and struggles with their disability, but at the same time is seeking God, fit in with salvation?
A: Thanks for your question. To tell you the truth, I had never heard of Asperger's Syndrome before now. After a little research I discovered what the disability is all about. According to the Mayo Clinic, "Asperger's syndrome is a developmental disorder that affects a child's ability to socialize and communicate effectively with others. Children with Asperger's syndrome typically exhibit social awkwardness and an all-absorbing interest in specific topics." I believe many Christians, myself included, have struggled or continue to struggle with the question of how a person who has difficulty communicating can respond to the salvation message. This can be especially difficult when it involves a child. Reconciling a loving and just God with the apparent inability of a child to recognize a need for salvation, much less having the ability respond to it, can raise many questions in our minds.
The Bible's silence when it comes to the salvation of children or the disabled has led to the creation of doctrines not supported by scripture like infant baptism among other things. I believe it is done in order to bridge the gap between the apparent silence of the Bible on the subject and our fears that we can't reconcile believing in a God of love who allows children and others no ability to respond to His offer of salvation in Christ. In Mark 7, there is the story of Jesus healing a man who was deaf and mute, a serious condition that obviously hindered this mans ability to communicate. "After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means, "Be opened!" ). At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly (Mark 7:33-35)." This story is an example of how we must remember that God can, will and does, communicate with those that we can't communicate with or who cannot communicate with us.
Remember what happened on the Day of Pentecost? "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them ... When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language (Acts 2:4,6)." Here we have the greatest example of God's ability to communicate. The Holy Spirit used the disciples to speak to those in attendance despite the communication barrier that existed prior to the event. While this is not a case of a disabled child or a man who is deaf and mute, it is strong evidence that God can communicate with those we cannot. And after all, isn't it consistent with an all powerful God to be able to do so? There is a current example that may help answer this question as well.
Recently, it was reported that a Belgian man, Rom Houben, who came out of a coma after 23 years, could actually hear what was going on around him despite his inability to communicate. The Associated Press reports Houben as saying, "Just imagine. You hear, see, feel and think but no one can see that. You undergo things. You cannot participate in life." This could be a clue as to what goes on with those children with Asperger's Syndrome. The inability for a child with this disability to socialize and communicate doesn't mean that the child is not aware of what is going on. And the limitations of the child do not limit a limitless God. Those affected by Asperger's Syndrome, or any disease or disability, are suffering the unfortunate effects of living in a sin cursed world. But, be encouraged that a God who has overcome sin through dying on the cross can surely overcome a consequence of sin like the inability to communicate. We may not be able to bridge the communication gap with some, but God, who spoke the universe into creation, can do it.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Here, There and Everywhere
Q: Hi, I am a born-again Christian and a pastor. Someone asked me who was in charge of Heaven when God was in Mary`s womb as a baby? Can you help me out? Thanks and God Bless your ministry.
A: The answer is simply God was "in charge of Heaven" at the same time He was in Mary's womb. While there is only one God, He has revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There is so much about God that we do not understand. Thankfully, we do not need to understand Him fully in order to place faith in Him. I have always marveled at the thought of how God can indwell each and every believer around the world, and have a personal relationship with each one of us, all at the same time. God is able to do all of this because He is omnipresent. To be omnipresent is to be present everywhere at the same time. If anybody could accomplish that it would be God, right? Psalm 139 gives an incredible description of God's omnipresence.
From verses 2 through 12 of Psalm 139 we see a perfect example of how God can be everywhere. "You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you." Is anything too difficult for God? I have to say that nothing is impossible for Him.
If God knows your actions, perceives your thoughts, knows your words before you speak them, can see you in the dark and knows wherever you are located, is it any wonder that He could be in Mary's womb and in Heaven at the same time? It is next to impossible to conceive all that our God is capable of doing. In fact, in 1 Kings 8:27, it says, "But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!" We can sometimes forget that God created the Heavens, the Earth and all that is contained within them. If He created it then it stands to reason that He can freely move about within His creation doing whatever He sets His mind to. Just like in 1 Kings, we see another example of the immenseness which is our God in the book of Isaiah. "This is what the LORD says: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be (Isaiah 66:1)?"
If Heaven is described as the throne of God, that would indicate that He is in charge of Heaven. If the earth is His footstool we can surmise that He can be in both places at the same time. In order for us to even begin to understand God, He revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When Joseph was considering leaving Mary, the mother of Jesus, God sent an angel. The angel said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20)." In this one statement we can see that God the Holy Spirit conceived God the Son. Amazing in it itself. I think it safe to conclude that God the Father was "in charge of Heaven" during all of this. I am not certain there is a perfect way to explain God, but I think we can trust Him to lead us to an understanding of Himself which comforts each individual believer. Thank God all we have to do is place faith in Jesus Christ. That alone gives us an eternity to continue our discovery of who God is. Be blessed.
A: The answer is simply God was "in charge of Heaven" at the same time He was in Mary's womb. While there is only one God, He has revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There is so much about God that we do not understand. Thankfully, we do not need to understand Him fully in order to place faith in Him. I have always marveled at the thought of how God can indwell each and every believer around the world, and have a personal relationship with each one of us, all at the same time. God is able to do all of this because He is omnipresent. To be omnipresent is to be present everywhere at the same time. If anybody could accomplish that it would be God, right? Psalm 139 gives an incredible description of God's omnipresence.
From verses 2 through 12 of Psalm 139 we see a perfect example of how God can be everywhere. "You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you." Is anything too difficult for God? I have to say that nothing is impossible for Him.
If God knows your actions, perceives your thoughts, knows your words before you speak them, can see you in the dark and knows wherever you are located, is it any wonder that He could be in Mary's womb and in Heaven at the same time? It is next to impossible to conceive all that our God is capable of doing. In fact, in 1 Kings 8:27, it says, "But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!" We can sometimes forget that God created the Heavens, the Earth and all that is contained within them. If He created it then it stands to reason that He can freely move about within His creation doing whatever He sets His mind to. Just like in 1 Kings, we see another example of the immenseness which is our God in the book of Isaiah. "This is what the LORD says: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be (Isaiah 66:1)?"
If Heaven is described as the throne of God, that would indicate that He is in charge of Heaven. If the earth is His footstool we can surmise that He can be in both places at the same time. In order for us to even begin to understand God, He revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When Joseph was considering leaving Mary, the mother of Jesus, God sent an angel. The angel said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20)." In this one statement we can see that God the Holy Spirit conceived God the Son. Amazing in it itself. I think it safe to conclude that God the Father was "in charge of Heaven" during all of this. I am not certain there is a perfect way to explain God, but I think we can trust Him to lead us to an understanding of Himself which comforts each individual believer. Thank God all we have to do is place faith in Jesus Christ. That alone gives us an eternity to continue our discovery of who God is. Be blessed.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
My Answer is ... November 22, 2009
Q: LET IT GO”!....LET GO of your past hurts,past sins, past mistakes, bitterness, and failed relationships.
A: We must ask ourselves what is the motivation to "LET IT GO!"? How often do we say things like, "I'm giving it all to God," or that you need to "Let Go and Let God"? While these all sound good unless we define what letting go means we are in jeopardy of relying on our own understanding, experiences and emotions to determine how to do this. The key to determining what your motivation is for letting go is focusing on what all God has done for you. The Bible warns a believer against him forgetting he has been "cleansed of his past sins (2 Ptr 1:9)." I will go one step further and ask "How many of your sins were in the future when Jesus died on the cross?" All of them, right? Saints the only way you will be able to get over your past hurts and over the hurts you have caused to others is to remember that your sins, past, present and future, do not and will not stand between you and your God. This truth will set you free from the bondage of sin as you expect others to pay a debt to you they cannot afford to pay as well as relieving you of having to pay a debt to others you cannot afford. By receiving the love of God, and the forgiveness of sins you will then be able to serve others in love with the love God has expressed towards you. You will begin to bear the fruits of the Spirit produced in you by God. You can't "LET IT GO" without believing God has "LET IT GO" when it comes to you! Be blessed.
Q: Jesus says don't have a "Hardened" heart..What does that mean?
A: A hardened heart is a heart that says "my will" be done not "God's will." It is the heart of an individual that has forgotten they have been cleansed of their sins. When we think about the love God showed toward us we should be reminded that our sins deserve death. And that not even we had a life to give that would satisfy God as punishment for our sins. It is with a spirit of thankfulness that we then approach the world. Thus, when we are sinned against we are reminded of all we have been forgiven of by Christ's death and, in turn, share the love we have received with those who have sinned against us. Remember, we cannot express the love of God towards others unless we they have sinned against us. And we cannot share the love of God with those who have sinned against us unless we have received the love of God ourselves. We forgive others because we have been forgiven. Just like God has done with us, we don't expect to pay a debt to us they cannot afford to pay. Thus, both parties are free from the bondage the sin had them under. We are free to either restore the relationship or go in peace. We now have a heart of "flesh" changed by the love of God and no longer the "hard" heart of sin which comes from our pride. Amen!
Q: What does "anointing" mean?..And why does Jesus "anoint" Christians?
A: "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come (2 Cor 1:21-22)." To anoint means to dedicate a service to God. Often times oil is used when anointing someone. The oil is representative of the Holy Spirit. God has anointed Christians by giving us His life, the Holy Spirit, to raise us from the dead spiritually and give us eternal life. This was only possible through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His death took away the sin that caused our spiritual death. His resurrection offered us the life of God, lost in Adam, as a free gift to all who come to Christ by faith. It is the indwelling Holy Spirit that is God's seal of ownership and a deposit guaranteeing our eternal inheritance. It means we are totally loved and accepted by God. Being anointed does not mean we have been give God-like powers or have been promised to live stress free and comfortable lives with all our fleshly desires granted. It means we have been set apart by God to do His work. "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent (Jn 6:28-29)." We have been anointed to be a witness to the world of the salvation offered in Jesus Christ. Amen!
Q: Jesus said take up your "cross" and follow me..What does that mean?
A: What happened to Jesus just before and during the time He literally took us His cross? Judas denied Him. Peter disowned Him. The Sanhedrin lied about Him and broke their own law. Pilate excused himself of all responsibility in the matter. The soldiers, chief priests, teachers of the law and elders mocked Him. Those who passed by as He carried His cross spit on Him and insulted Him. Nearly all His friends and disciples had left Him. And, of course, there is the terrible physical suffering He endured leading up to and including His crucifixion. What made the disciples who disowned Jesus prior to His death suffer similar and worse punishments after His death? For example, the apostle Paul was imprisoned, flogged, exposed to death, beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, stranded at sea, constantly on the move, in danger from rivers, bandits, his own countrymen, Gentiles, in the city, in the country, at sea and from false brothers. Eventually, he was beheaded for his faith. He and the other disciples endured all this because they had an encounter with the living Christ. The Holy Spirit indwelt them and was living His life through them. They knew their suffering was temporary and did not compare to the glory they would inherit in Heaven. Saints, what are you suffering from picking up your cross? Ridicule from friends, family, a loss of a job, insults, mocking, etc. It's worth it. And if you don't feel compelled to suffer for Christ, that is okay too, one day you will be motivated to give a reason for the hope you have because like Jesus said from the cross those that are against you, "know not what they do." Amen!
Q: Why is prayer important in our lives everyday?
A: Prayer is simply personal, intimate, private and continuous communication with God. It is important because it is a time when we can learn more about who we are in Christ and what we have been given by God in order to apply to our daily lives. We do this in private because it is the only time when we are free to be ourselves away from the pressures and influences that come with being in groups and in public. We must also understand that we are free to approach God in confidence because nothing separates us from Him. Our sins, our behavior, our imperfect prayers do not keep Him from communicating with us. Keep in mind that God is not a vending machine there to grant us our every wish. We do not need to come to Him in groups, in public or on behalf of others for Him to listen to us. There are no formulas, repetitive prayers or special words required to speak with Him. We simply speak with Him with same comfort, openness and honesty we would with our own parent or anybody else we are comfortable with. He is the initiator and we are the responder. We must remember that the most important part of prayer is being quiet and listening to Him. There is a reason we have two ears and one mouth. Amen!
A: We must ask ourselves what is the motivation to "LET IT GO!"? How often do we say things like, "I'm giving it all to God," or that you need to "Let Go and Let God"? While these all sound good unless we define what letting go means we are in jeopardy of relying on our own understanding, experiences and emotions to determine how to do this. The key to determining what your motivation is for letting go is focusing on what all God has done for you. The Bible warns a believer against him forgetting he has been "cleansed of his past sins (2 Ptr 1:9)." I will go one step further and ask "How many of your sins were in the future when Jesus died on the cross?" All of them, right? Saints the only way you will be able to get over your past hurts and over the hurts you have caused to others is to remember that your sins, past, present and future, do not and will not stand between you and your God. This truth will set you free from the bondage of sin as you expect others to pay a debt to you they cannot afford to pay as well as relieving you of having to pay a debt to others you cannot afford. By receiving the love of God, and the forgiveness of sins you will then be able to serve others in love with the love God has expressed towards you. You will begin to bear the fruits of the Spirit produced in you by God. You can't "LET IT GO" without believing God has "LET IT GO" when it comes to you! Be blessed.
Q: Jesus says don't have a "Hardened" heart..What does that mean?
A: A hardened heart is a heart that says "my will" be done not "God's will." It is the heart of an individual that has forgotten they have been cleansed of their sins. When we think about the love God showed toward us we should be reminded that our sins deserve death. And that not even we had a life to give that would satisfy God as punishment for our sins. It is with a spirit of thankfulness that we then approach the world. Thus, when we are sinned against we are reminded of all we have been forgiven of by Christ's death and, in turn, share the love we have received with those who have sinned against us. Remember, we cannot express the love of God towards others unless we they have sinned against us. And we cannot share the love of God with those who have sinned against us unless we have received the love of God ourselves. We forgive others because we have been forgiven. Just like God has done with us, we don't expect to pay a debt to us they cannot afford to pay. Thus, both parties are free from the bondage the sin had them under. We are free to either restore the relationship or go in peace. We now have a heart of "flesh" changed by the love of God and no longer the "hard" heart of sin which comes from our pride. Amen!
Q: What does "anointing" mean?..And why does Jesus "anoint" Christians?
A: "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come (2 Cor 1:21-22)." To anoint means to dedicate a service to God. Often times oil is used when anointing someone. The oil is representative of the Holy Spirit. God has anointed Christians by giving us His life, the Holy Spirit, to raise us from the dead spiritually and give us eternal life. This was only possible through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His death took away the sin that caused our spiritual death. His resurrection offered us the life of God, lost in Adam, as a free gift to all who come to Christ by faith. It is the indwelling Holy Spirit that is God's seal of ownership and a deposit guaranteeing our eternal inheritance. It means we are totally loved and accepted by God. Being anointed does not mean we have been give God-like powers or have been promised to live stress free and comfortable lives with all our fleshly desires granted. It means we have been set apart by God to do His work. "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent (Jn 6:28-29)." We have been anointed to be a witness to the world of the salvation offered in Jesus Christ. Amen!
Q: Jesus said take up your "cross" and follow me..What does that mean?
A: What happened to Jesus just before and during the time He literally took us His cross? Judas denied Him. Peter disowned Him. The Sanhedrin lied about Him and broke their own law. Pilate excused himself of all responsibility in the matter. The soldiers, chief priests, teachers of the law and elders mocked Him. Those who passed by as He carried His cross spit on Him and insulted Him. Nearly all His friends and disciples had left Him. And, of course, there is the terrible physical suffering He endured leading up to and including His crucifixion. What made the disciples who disowned Jesus prior to His death suffer similar and worse punishments after His death? For example, the apostle Paul was imprisoned, flogged, exposed to death, beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, stranded at sea, constantly on the move, in danger from rivers, bandits, his own countrymen, Gentiles, in the city, in the country, at sea and from false brothers. Eventually, he was beheaded for his faith. He and the other disciples endured all this because they had an encounter with the living Christ. The Holy Spirit indwelt them and was living His life through them. They knew their suffering was temporary and did not compare to the glory they would inherit in Heaven. Saints, what are you suffering from picking up your cross? Ridicule from friends, family, a loss of a job, insults, mocking, etc. It's worth it. And if you don't feel compelled to suffer for Christ, that is okay too, one day you will be motivated to give a reason for the hope you have because like Jesus said from the cross those that are against you, "know not what they do." Amen!
Q: Why is prayer important in our lives everyday?
A: Prayer is simply personal, intimate, private and continuous communication with God. It is important because it is a time when we can learn more about who we are in Christ and what we have been given by God in order to apply to our daily lives. We do this in private because it is the only time when we are free to be ourselves away from the pressures and influences that come with being in groups and in public. We must also understand that we are free to approach God in confidence because nothing separates us from Him. Our sins, our behavior, our imperfect prayers do not keep Him from communicating with us. Keep in mind that God is not a vending machine there to grant us our every wish. We do not need to come to Him in groups, in public or on behalf of others for Him to listen to us. There are no formulas, repetitive prayers or special words required to speak with Him. We simply speak with Him with same comfort, openness and honesty we would with our own parent or anybody else we are comfortable with. He is the initiator and we are the responder. We must remember that the most important part of prayer is being quiet and listening to Him. There is a reason we have two ears and one mouth. Amen!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Abraham's promised son
Q: In Genesis 22 Abraham is tested by God. He is asked to sacrifice his only son Isaac, Genesis 22:2. But Abraham, Abram, had an older son Ishmael by Hagar, Sarai maid servant. List of events: Sarai had no children - Genesis 16:1 Sarai gives Hagar, her maid servant, to Abram - Genesis 16:3 Hagar bore a child by Abraham, Ishmael - Genesis 16:15 Sarah bore a child by Abraham, Isaac - Genesis 21:1-4 Ishmael is disinherited - Genesis 21:10 Hagar and Ishmael expelled - Genesis 21:8-14 How does this work? When Ishmael is disinherited, under Jewish law, does that make him not a legal son who can be counted?
A: This isn't a case of inheritance rights under Jewish law, but rather a simple case of man's will as opposed to the will of God. The Mosaic Law had not been given at this point in history. There was no Jewish law because there wasn't a Jewish nation yet. That giving of the law would not take place for some time later as retold for us in Exodus 20. I would suggest you start in Genesis 15 to find the answer to your question. In Genesis 15 you will read were Abram was disillusioned over the idea of not having a son of his own to pass his inheritance onto. While speaking with the Lord he says, "You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir (Genesis 15:3)." However, God responds to him with, "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir (Genesis 15:4)." Unfortunately, Sarai, Abrams wife, did not believe she would be the one to bear Abrams child so she brought Hagar, the servant, into the picture. This is where we get Ishmael. However, Ishmael was not the promised child God was speaking of when He promised Abram would have a son.
In Genesis 17, Abram, now called Abraham, and Sarai, now called Sarah, were visited by God again. This time God said to Abraham about Sarah, "I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her (Genesis 17:16)." Abraham and Sarah did not believe God since both of them were nearly 100 years old. We would probably react similarly at the thought of having children at that age. However, God confirmed that this child who would be named Isaac, not Ishmael, was the son He promised to Abraham. "Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him (Genesis 17:19)." It is through Isaac that the promise God made to Adam and Eve, back in the Garden, would be fulfilled.
Shortly after the Fall, in His wrath, God makes a statement to Satan about the offspring of Eve. "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel (Genesis 3:15)." The he referred to in this verse is Jesus Christ. In the genealogy of Jesus listed in Matthew 1 it is Isaac who is listed as being in the line leading to Jesus Christ, not Ishmael. "Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers...(Matthew 1:2)." Ishmael is not mentioned because Jesus Christ did not come through Him. As you probably already know Jacob's name was changed to Israel from which the nation of Israel, the Jews, came from and through whom we have our Lord Jesus Christ. However, God did not forget Ishmael. After all, it isn't his fault that Abraham and Sarah did not wait on God to bear Abraham a son.
While Isaac was the promised son to Abraham, Ishmael was still his son. If you look in Genesis 21, within the verses you referenced, you will see were God remembers his promise to Abraham and includes Ishmael in it. "I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your offspring (Genesis 21:13)." However, God still honors Sarah's desire that Hagar and Ishmael be expelled. There is obviously some resentment between Hagar and Sarah over Ishmael and between Ishmael and Isaac. This rift carried on throughout scripture, and even to this day, through the descendants of both sons. Despite Abraham's impatience, which led to the birth of Ishmael, God kept His promise to "greatly increase" his numbers. However, Ishmael's disinheritance is not about his right to Abraham's property and possessions through Jewish laws that hadn't even been created yet. His disinheritance has to do with him not being a part of God's plan of salvation for all mankind He was completing through Abraham's offspring. Isaac was the child God promised to Abraham. Be blessed.
A: This isn't a case of inheritance rights under Jewish law, but rather a simple case of man's will as opposed to the will of God. The Mosaic Law had not been given at this point in history. There was no Jewish law because there wasn't a Jewish nation yet. That giving of the law would not take place for some time later as retold for us in Exodus 20. I would suggest you start in Genesis 15 to find the answer to your question. In Genesis 15 you will read were Abram was disillusioned over the idea of not having a son of his own to pass his inheritance onto. While speaking with the Lord he says, "You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir (Genesis 15:3)." However, God responds to him with, "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir (Genesis 15:4)." Unfortunately, Sarai, Abrams wife, did not believe she would be the one to bear Abrams child so she brought Hagar, the servant, into the picture. This is where we get Ishmael. However, Ishmael was not the promised child God was speaking of when He promised Abram would have a son.
In Genesis 17, Abram, now called Abraham, and Sarai, now called Sarah, were visited by God again. This time God said to Abraham about Sarah, "I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her (Genesis 17:16)." Abraham and Sarah did not believe God since both of them were nearly 100 years old. We would probably react similarly at the thought of having children at that age. However, God confirmed that this child who would be named Isaac, not Ishmael, was the son He promised to Abraham. "Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him (Genesis 17:19)." It is through Isaac that the promise God made to Adam and Eve, back in the Garden, would be fulfilled.
Shortly after the Fall, in His wrath, God makes a statement to Satan about the offspring of Eve. "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel (Genesis 3:15)." The he referred to in this verse is Jesus Christ. In the genealogy of Jesus listed in Matthew 1 it is Isaac who is listed as being in the line leading to Jesus Christ, not Ishmael. "Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers...(Matthew 1:2)." Ishmael is not mentioned because Jesus Christ did not come through Him. As you probably already know Jacob's name was changed to Israel from which the nation of Israel, the Jews, came from and through whom we have our Lord Jesus Christ. However, God did not forget Ishmael. After all, it isn't his fault that Abraham and Sarah did not wait on God to bear Abraham a son.
While Isaac was the promised son to Abraham, Ishmael was still his son. If you look in Genesis 21, within the verses you referenced, you will see were God remembers his promise to Abraham and includes Ishmael in it. "I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your offspring (Genesis 21:13)." However, God still honors Sarah's desire that Hagar and Ishmael be expelled. There is obviously some resentment between Hagar and Sarah over Ishmael and between Ishmael and Isaac. This rift carried on throughout scripture, and even to this day, through the descendants of both sons. Despite Abraham's impatience, which led to the birth of Ishmael, God kept His promise to "greatly increase" his numbers. However, Ishmael's disinheritance is not about his right to Abraham's property and possessions through Jewish laws that hadn't even been created yet. His disinheritance has to do with him not being a part of God's plan of salvation for all mankind He was completing through Abraham's offspring. Isaac was the child God promised to Abraham. Be blessed.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
My Answer Is ... November 15, 2009
Q: Do know the “magnitude” of how much Jesus is in love with “YOU”?.
A: We are told to "give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thes 5:18)." Of course we thank Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins and rising from the dead to offer us His life. But, do we live a life in thankfulness? Do we thank Him when we sin for the forgiveness we already have or do we ask God to forgive us again? Jesus told us that in this world we would have "tribulation." But, do we thank Him for preparing us for this, and His faithfulness through it, or do we believe we are being punished for our "lack of faith" or some "unconfessed sin" in our lives? We know that from the moment of salvation "we have eternal life" and are already "seated in the heavenlies." But, as we get older do we focus on our diminishing youthfulness and failing bodies or thank Him that each passing day is one day closer to being at home with the Lord? We are told that love of the world is enmity towards God. But, do we thank Him for allowing us to store up treasure in Heaven or do we chase after the treasures of the world? Jesus has done so much FOR YOU, but do you know all He has done? We have an eternal inheritance, everything we need for life and godliness and have been blessed in the heavenlies realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. If you are not experiencing what God has given you through faith in Jesus, you will be forced to chase after it from the world through sin. Be thankful that you still have time to discover for yourself "how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (Eph 3:18-19)."
Q: Which one are you?..Sinner saved by grace or a saint?
A: I am a child of God. And as part of my identity in Christ I am a saint. As a saint it means that I have been set apart by God in order for Him to do through me the works He prepared for me in advance to do. And He could not do that without first taking away my sins for eternity. And all my sins were forgiven forever at the Cross by Jesus Christ. If my sins still came between me and my God He could not indwell me and I would not have eternal life. Furthermore, He could not live His life through me. God is not dealing with Christians on the basis of sin and death. If He were then when we sinned His life would leave us again and we would no longer be saved nor have eternal life. God is dealing with us on the basis of a new life in Christ. We still sin, but when we do we no longer have to seek His forgiveness through a bloodless and unacceptable sacrifice. Rather, we thank Him for taking away my sins in Christ and approach Him in confidence to find out where we weren't trusting Him when we sinned. Saints, if we never settle the forgiveness issue and believe Jesus when He said, "it is finished," we will never experience God's love or grow in our faith. We will always feel as though we are separated from Him. We are not sinners saved by grace. We are children of God who are forgiven, sanctified, holy and blameless in His site. Make today the day you stop focusing on your sins and start trusting in Jesus and all you have in Him!
Q: What is the true meaning of humlity?
A: By definition humility is having an attitude of submission or to not be arrogant. The Bible often describes this by using the phrase "fear and trembling." This means we recognize just how much love and mercy God has shown toward us. We are humbled because we know that we did not deserve anything we have been given in Christ. We don't deserve forgiveness. We don't deserve God's love. We don't deserve eternal life. All we can do is humble ourselves and live in thankfulness. In turn, this humility directly influences how we interact with each other. "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought (Rom 12:3)." "[C]omfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God (2 Cor 1:4)." "Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Col 3:13)." Notice that our humility is a reflection of the unconditional love God has shown us. Others experience the love of God through us in our lack of pride (Rom 12:3), our ability to understand what they are struggling with (2 Cor 1:4) and our not keeping records of their wrongs (Col 3:13). In other words, humility means we put others before ourselves, not treating them like the world does, because God put us first by not treating us the way we deserved. "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another (1 John 4:11). Amen!
Q: Matthew 6:33 says "seek first" the kingdom of God..What does that mean?
A: We must first realize that as Christians we already have "His Kingdom" and "His righteousness." These words were spoken by Jesus before He died and rose from the grave. He was trying to lead His Jewish audience to Himself by getting their eyes off the things of this world. Not unlike the Jews He was speaking to many Christians focus on clothing, food and the future as though they somehow represent our right standing before God. In fact, some falsely believe that God's blessings are tied to these things. We no longer "seek the kingdom of God" because the "kingdom of God" is within us in form of the indwelling Holy Spirit. God gave us Himself, in Christ, so we would not seek the things of the world in an attempt to give to us what we can only receive in Christ. If you want to "seek" anything seek after the discovery of all you have in Christ. As Hebrews 9:15 refers to, we have a "promised eternal inheritance" as a result of Christ's sacrifice on our part. Part of that inheritance is that we have the righteousness of Christ as a free gift (Rom. 3:22). My prayer is that we stop seeking after what we already have so we can engage the world with what we have to give to it rather than what we hope it will give to us. If you don't believe you already have all you need from the Lord you will have no alternative then to try and get it from the world through some form of sin. Stop seeking and start resting. Amen!
Q: What does Jesus "desire" and "want" from us?
A: Jesus desires for us to rest and He wants us. We too often think that the Lord demands our time, our money and our abilities. For some reason Christians are under the impression that being busy and having our time occupied with all things "Christian" is what our lives are about. In most cases, the motivation for doing so is a mistaken belief that we are required to do so or, worse, that we will miss out on being blessed or punished for not doing so. In Christ, God has given us everything we need so that we would rest from trying to obtain it or maintain it by what we are doing. Ephesians 1:3 and 2 Ptr1:3 describe having everything we need for life and godliness and having every spiritual blessing in Christ. Our inheritance we have been given in Christ includes total forgiveness, unconditional love and meaning and purpose to life. Knowing we have all these things helps us to allow the Lord to have complete control of our lives and to be the "living sacrifices" spoken of in Romans 12:1-2. We need to get our eyes off of hoping for material blessings of the flesh and focus on the fact that we have something greater than that. We have God Himself. God doesn't need your ability, God wants your availabilty. He died for you to give His life to you in order to live His life through you.
A: We are told to "give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thes 5:18)." Of course we thank Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins and rising from the dead to offer us His life. But, do we live a life in thankfulness? Do we thank Him when we sin for the forgiveness we already have or do we ask God to forgive us again? Jesus told us that in this world we would have "tribulation." But, do we thank Him for preparing us for this, and His faithfulness through it, or do we believe we are being punished for our "lack of faith" or some "unconfessed sin" in our lives? We know that from the moment of salvation "we have eternal life" and are already "seated in the heavenlies." But, as we get older do we focus on our diminishing youthfulness and failing bodies or thank Him that each passing day is one day closer to being at home with the Lord? We are told that love of the world is enmity towards God. But, do we thank Him for allowing us to store up treasure in Heaven or do we chase after the treasures of the world? Jesus has done so much FOR YOU, but do you know all He has done? We have an eternal inheritance, everything we need for life and godliness and have been blessed in the heavenlies realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. If you are not experiencing what God has given you through faith in Jesus, you will be forced to chase after it from the world through sin. Be thankful that you still have time to discover for yourself "how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (Eph 3:18-19)."
Q: Which one are you?..Sinner saved by grace or a saint?
A: I am a child of God. And as part of my identity in Christ I am a saint. As a saint it means that I have been set apart by God in order for Him to do through me the works He prepared for me in advance to do. And He could not do that without first taking away my sins for eternity. And all my sins were forgiven forever at the Cross by Jesus Christ. If my sins still came between me and my God He could not indwell me and I would not have eternal life. Furthermore, He could not live His life through me. God is not dealing with Christians on the basis of sin and death. If He were then when we sinned His life would leave us again and we would no longer be saved nor have eternal life. God is dealing with us on the basis of a new life in Christ. We still sin, but when we do we no longer have to seek His forgiveness through a bloodless and unacceptable sacrifice. Rather, we thank Him for taking away my sins in Christ and approach Him in confidence to find out where we weren't trusting Him when we sinned. Saints, if we never settle the forgiveness issue and believe Jesus when He said, "it is finished," we will never experience God's love or grow in our faith. We will always feel as though we are separated from Him. We are not sinners saved by grace. We are children of God who are forgiven, sanctified, holy and blameless in His site. Make today the day you stop focusing on your sins and start trusting in Jesus and all you have in Him!
Q: What is the true meaning of humlity?
A: By definition humility is having an attitude of submission or to not be arrogant. The Bible often describes this by using the phrase "fear and trembling." This means we recognize just how much love and mercy God has shown toward us. We are humbled because we know that we did not deserve anything we have been given in Christ. We don't deserve forgiveness. We don't deserve God's love. We don't deserve eternal life. All we can do is humble ourselves and live in thankfulness. In turn, this humility directly influences how we interact with each other. "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought (Rom 12:3)." "[C]omfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God (2 Cor 1:4)." "Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Col 3:13)." Notice that our humility is a reflection of the unconditional love God has shown us. Others experience the love of God through us in our lack of pride (Rom 12:3), our ability to understand what they are struggling with (2 Cor 1:4) and our not keeping records of their wrongs (Col 3:13). In other words, humility means we put others before ourselves, not treating them like the world does, because God put us first by not treating us the way we deserved. "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another (1 John 4:11). Amen!
Q: Matthew 6:33 says "seek first" the kingdom of God..What does that mean?
A: We must first realize that as Christians we already have "His Kingdom" and "His righteousness." These words were spoken by Jesus before He died and rose from the grave. He was trying to lead His Jewish audience to Himself by getting their eyes off the things of this world. Not unlike the Jews He was speaking to many Christians focus on clothing, food and the future as though they somehow represent our right standing before God. In fact, some falsely believe that God's blessings are tied to these things. We no longer "seek the kingdom of God" because the "kingdom of God" is within us in form of the indwelling Holy Spirit. God gave us Himself, in Christ, so we would not seek the things of the world in an attempt to give to us what we can only receive in Christ. If you want to "seek" anything seek after the discovery of all you have in Christ. As Hebrews 9:15 refers to, we have a "promised eternal inheritance" as a result of Christ's sacrifice on our part. Part of that inheritance is that we have the righteousness of Christ as a free gift (Rom. 3:22). My prayer is that we stop seeking after what we already have so we can engage the world with what we have to give to it rather than what we hope it will give to us. If you don't believe you already have all you need from the Lord you will have no alternative then to try and get it from the world through some form of sin. Stop seeking and start resting. Amen!
Q: What does Jesus "desire" and "want" from us?
A: Jesus desires for us to rest and He wants us. We too often think that the Lord demands our time, our money and our abilities. For some reason Christians are under the impression that being busy and having our time occupied with all things "Christian" is what our lives are about. In most cases, the motivation for doing so is a mistaken belief that we are required to do so or, worse, that we will miss out on being blessed or punished for not doing so. In Christ, God has given us everything we need so that we would rest from trying to obtain it or maintain it by what we are doing. Ephesians 1:3 and 2 Ptr1:3 describe having everything we need for life and godliness and having every spiritual blessing in Christ. Our inheritance we have been given in Christ includes total forgiveness, unconditional love and meaning and purpose to life. Knowing we have all these things helps us to allow the Lord to have complete control of our lives and to be the "living sacrifices" spoken of in Romans 12:1-2. We need to get our eyes off of hoping for material blessings of the flesh and focus on the fact that we have something greater than that. We have God Himself. God doesn't need your ability, God wants your availabilty. He died for you to give His life to you in order to live His life through you.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Slept with their Fathers
Q: One of our people noticed that some of the kings in the OT who died peacefully were said to have `slept with their fathers.` Other kings who died violently apparently do not have the same privilege. Do you know of any studies on this question?
A: I am not aware of any studies on this exact question. That doesn't mean there are not any available. However, I think the answer to your question lies in your question. It doesn't seem consistent to say someone "slept with their fathers" after a violent death. For example, my mother passed away a few years ago. When talking about her death it is normal to say "she went home to be with the Lord." I say that because she didn't die violently. Yet, if she had I can't say I would use that terminology. Most often when someone dies in a violent manner, or unexpectedly, it is common just to say they died or that they were "taken too soon." What I am trying to say is that the term "slept with their fathers" seems to be nothing more than a term of endearment used for a person who died of natural causes and lived as long as it was believed they were meant to live.
Biblically speaking, there seems to be a precedent for what I am trying to say. In Genesis 15:15, God tells Abram, "You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age." Do you notice how going to with your fathers and dying at an old age, living a long life, go hand in hand? Abraham (Abram) lived 175 years before he died. I would consider that to be a "good old age." Granted nobody lives that long these days. With a few exceptions, most people don't live over 100 years of age, if that long. A similar term, used by the Bible, to describe someone living a long life is "full of years." Isaac, Abraham's son, lived to the age of 180. When describing his death we read, "he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years (Genesis 35:29)." I believe it is safe to say that these terms are synonymous with with living a long life.
I also noticed that many of the those mentioned to have "slept with their fathers" are mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1. "Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife, Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah ...(Matthew 1:6-10)." In the King James Version of the Bible, which your phrase comes from, the 36 references of the phrase begin with King David and end with King Manasseh. Matthew 1:6-10 contains all the names of the kings who are described as having "slept with their fathers" when they died. Perhaps this is another use for the term that shows God's pleasure with their place in the lineage of Jesus Christ.
Usually, the simplest answer is the best answer. Therefore, I would assume that the term "slept with their fathers" is simply in reference to kings who had lived long lives prior to their deaths. Other translations use "rest with my fathers," "lie with my fathers" and "bury me with my ancestors." All of them describe terminology respectful of those being said to have passed away following long lives. Today, we say things like "off to their eternal reward" or that a person is "in a better place" when those that passed are remembered fondly. So, I wouldn't make too much of the phrase "slept with their fathers." It is just biblical terminology used for those loved ones who have passed on after a long life.
A: I am not aware of any studies on this exact question. That doesn't mean there are not any available. However, I think the answer to your question lies in your question. It doesn't seem consistent to say someone "slept with their fathers" after a violent death. For example, my mother passed away a few years ago. When talking about her death it is normal to say "she went home to be with the Lord." I say that because she didn't die violently. Yet, if she had I can't say I would use that terminology. Most often when someone dies in a violent manner, or unexpectedly, it is common just to say they died or that they were "taken too soon." What I am trying to say is that the term "slept with their fathers" seems to be nothing more than a term of endearment used for a person who died of natural causes and lived as long as it was believed they were meant to live.
Biblically speaking, there seems to be a precedent for what I am trying to say. In Genesis 15:15, God tells Abram, "You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age." Do you notice how going to with your fathers and dying at an old age, living a long life, go hand in hand? Abraham (Abram) lived 175 years before he died. I would consider that to be a "good old age." Granted nobody lives that long these days. With a few exceptions, most people don't live over 100 years of age, if that long. A similar term, used by the Bible, to describe someone living a long life is "full of years." Isaac, Abraham's son, lived to the age of 180. When describing his death we read, "he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years (Genesis 35:29)." I believe it is safe to say that these terms are synonymous with with living a long life.
I also noticed that many of the those mentioned to have "slept with their fathers" are mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1. "Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife, Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah ...(Matthew 1:6-10)." In the King James Version of the Bible, which your phrase comes from, the 36 references of the phrase begin with King David and end with King Manasseh. Matthew 1:6-10 contains all the names of the kings who are described as having "slept with their fathers" when they died. Perhaps this is another use for the term that shows God's pleasure with their place in the lineage of Jesus Christ.
Usually, the simplest answer is the best answer. Therefore, I would assume that the term "slept with their fathers" is simply in reference to kings who had lived long lives prior to their deaths. Other translations use "rest with my fathers," "lie with my fathers" and "bury me with my ancestors." All of them describe terminology respectful of those being said to have passed away following long lives. Today, we say things like "off to their eternal reward" or that a person is "in a better place" when those that passed are remembered fondly. So, I wouldn't make too much of the phrase "slept with their fathers." It is just biblical terminology used for those loved ones who have passed on after a long life.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
My Answer is ... November 7, 2009
Q: Declare that you are “STILL HERE”!
A: Why am I still here? "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God (2 Cor 1:3-4)." I am still here because the trials and tribulations I have endured allow me to have something in common with those I encounter who are hurting. As God in the flesh, Jesus Christ was able to experience what we experience. That is why it says, "we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin (Heb 4:15)." Every time I encounter someone hurting I am able to share with them how it is that God, in Christ, saw me through my trial. This allows me to comfort them and lead them to the Lord if they are lost or restore them back to who they are in Christ if they are a believer. It is for this reason why we should "not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you (1 Ptr 4:12)." As Christians we should expect troubles and suffering. God has not promised us a comfortable life. And we should thank Him. It reminds us of what we have been rescued from and gives us a humble heart to approach the lost. I am still here because the work He wants to do through me is not complete! Amen!
Q: What is the "purpose" of God blessing us?
A: The purpose of God blessing us is to help us stay focused on Him and not the world. All mankind wants unconditional love, acceptance and meaning and purpose to life. God, in Christ, has blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly reams (Eph 1:3) and has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Ptr 1:3). He has done this so we would not try and pursue these things in the world which can only be achieved through some form of sin. If you feel you have not received these blessings from God you have no alternative than to try and get them from the world. Unfortunately, many Christians do not recognize this truth and continue to seek the blessings of the world. In fact, many believe that God will bless them with these things if they are "obedient" enough. All that leads to is a self-righteous attitude that God owes you for your obedience or that He doesn't love you for your failure to receive these perceived blessings. The deepest needs of our hearts can only be met in Him. And He doesn't do this by blessing our flesh through health, riches or prosperous living. If you don't know what you already have in Christ, you will never be at peace or experience the love God has for you. Don't substitute a blessing of the flesh for the spiritual blessings you already have. If you have already been blessed with everything, what further blessings to you need?
Q: What does true "repentance" look like?
A: The only true repentance is turning from unbelief to belief in Jesus Christ. That happens at salvation. This leads to a change of attitude towards sin that eventually is seen by us and those around us as we learn to depend more on the indwelling Holy Spirit. It does not mean that I used to sin now I don't as some try to make it mean. Any sin we use to commit we could easily commit again. I used to abuse alcohol and no longer drink. Some would say that I repented of that sin. However, I can easily start doing it again as some have in the past. However, my attitude toward abusing alcohol has changed. I don't look at it as a sin to avoid or repent of. I look at it as a behavior not consistent with my identity in Christ. We must be certain that repenting of sin is not the focus of the Christian life. When you focus on sin you will be mastered by it. As Christians we are to focus on the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He guides us into the truth of who we are, and all that we have in Christ, which results us seeing a diminishing of the sin in our lives. The sin diminishes because we know that it cannot provide the unconditional love and acceptance we desire at the core of our hearts. That can only be experienced through the discovery of the inheritance we have in Christ. We repent of our reliance on the world and all that it offers through sin and turn towards Jesus Christ and all that He offers us. And what He offers is God Himself.
Q: Does Jesus want to be "first" in "all" areas of our life or just some areas?
A: To me, the is not a question of whether or not Jesus is first or not in my life. It is a matter of knowing that Jesus is my life. God's life in man is indispensable to the life of man. I don't live my life from moment to moment asking "What would Jesus do?" I live my life depending on God to show me through the indwelling Holy Spirit, His very life, what He would have me do to best serve others in love. And God just wants me to be available to Him (Rom. 12:1-2) to use me as He sees fit depending on the situation. I don't want to run the risk of acting as though God wants to micromanage every aspect of my life to the point that I paralyze myself and forget to live. I don't want to be that Christian that believes every decision they make determines if they are in God's will or not. I am in God's will as I discover all that I have been given from Him through faith in Christ. As I learn what I have my desires will change and I will begin to engage the world with what I have to give to it and not in hopes of what it will give to me. It is a matter of a changed heart and the decisions I make as a result of that changed heart which reflect whether or not I am relying on the Spirit to guide me(Titus 2:11-12). When I know I have everything I can then trust in and depend on Him as I live my life. Amen!
Q: Why is it important to take every "negative" thought captive?
A: It is not just negative thoughts, but we are told to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor 10:5)." Spiritual warfare can be best described as the battle between the truth and the lie. The truth being that we are free are in Christ as opposed to the lie which tells us that we are in bondage to the rules of man and religion. The battle, in many ways, comes from within the Body of Christ itself. Paul talks about Christians being "alienated from Christ (Gal. 5:4)" because of our refusal to rest in His finished work. The pulpits are full of false messages that appeal to our natural desire to want to earn our rewards. We throw around words like "obedience" and then put people under the law as we try to make them justify and sanctify themselves through self-effort. When we subject ourselves to this type of belief system our thoughts will constantly make us feel separated and alienated from the Lord. We spend every waking moment focused on ourselves and sin rather than on Christ, our forgiveness and our right standing before God. Any thought that leads you to believe that you must earn or maintain God's love and acceptance through your obedience to rules designed to modify your behavior needs to be taken "captive,' made a prisoner, of the truth that we are righteous in God's eyes because of our faith in Christ.
A: Why am I still here? "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God (2 Cor 1:3-4)." I am still here because the trials and tribulations I have endured allow me to have something in common with those I encounter who are hurting. As God in the flesh, Jesus Christ was able to experience what we experience. That is why it says, "we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin (Heb 4:15)." Every time I encounter someone hurting I am able to share with them how it is that God, in Christ, saw me through my trial. This allows me to comfort them and lead them to the Lord if they are lost or restore them back to who they are in Christ if they are a believer. It is for this reason why we should "not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you (1 Ptr 4:12)." As Christians we should expect troubles and suffering. God has not promised us a comfortable life. And we should thank Him. It reminds us of what we have been rescued from and gives us a humble heart to approach the lost. I am still here because the work He wants to do through me is not complete! Amen!
Q: What is the "purpose" of God blessing us?
A: The purpose of God blessing us is to help us stay focused on Him and not the world. All mankind wants unconditional love, acceptance and meaning and purpose to life. God, in Christ, has blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly reams (Eph 1:3) and has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Ptr 1:3). He has done this so we would not try and pursue these things in the world which can only be achieved through some form of sin. If you feel you have not received these blessings from God you have no alternative than to try and get them from the world. Unfortunately, many Christians do not recognize this truth and continue to seek the blessings of the world. In fact, many believe that God will bless them with these things if they are "obedient" enough. All that leads to is a self-righteous attitude that God owes you for your obedience or that He doesn't love you for your failure to receive these perceived blessings. The deepest needs of our hearts can only be met in Him. And He doesn't do this by blessing our flesh through health, riches or prosperous living. If you don't know what you already have in Christ, you will never be at peace or experience the love God has for you. Don't substitute a blessing of the flesh for the spiritual blessings you already have. If you have already been blessed with everything, what further blessings to you need?
Q: What does true "repentance" look like?
A: The only true repentance is turning from unbelief to belief in Jesus Christ. That happens at salvation. This leads to a change of attitude towards sin that eventually is seen by us and those around us as we learn to depend more on the indwelling Holy Spirit. It does not mean that I used to sin now I don't as some try to make it mean. Any sin we use to commit we could easily commit again. I used to abuse alcohol and no longer drink. Some would say that I repented of that sin. However, I can easily start doing it again as some have in the past. However, my attitude toward abusing alcohol has changed. I don't look at it as a sin to avoid or repent of. I look at it as a behavior not consistent with my identity in Christ. We must be certain that repenting of sin is not the focus of the Christian life. When you focus on sin you will be mastered by it. As Christians we are to focus on the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He guides us into the truth of who we are, and all that we have in Christ, which results us seeing a diminishing of the sin in our lives. The sin diminishes because we know that it cannot provide the unconditional love and acceptance we desire at the core of our hearts. That can only be experienced through the discovery of the inheritance we have in Christ. We repent of our reliance on the world and all that it offers through sin and turn towards Jesus Christ and all that He offers us. And what He offers is God Himself.
Q: Does Jesus want to be "first" in "all" areas of our life or just some areas?
A: To me, the is not a question of whether or not Jesus is first or not in my life. It is a matter of knowing that Jesus is my life. God's life in man is indispensable to the life of man. I don't live my life from moment to moment asking "What would Jesus do?" I live my life depending on God to show me through the indwelling Holy Spirit, His very life, what He would have me do to best serve others in love. And God just wants me to be available to Him (Rom. 12:1-2) to use me as He sees fit depending on the situation. I don't want to run the risk of acting as though God wants to micromanage every aspect of my life to the point that I paralyze myself and forget to live. I don't want to be that Christian that believes every decision they make determines if they are in God's will or not. I am in God's will as I discover all that I have been given from Him through faith in Christ. As I learn what I have my desires will change and I will begin to engage the world with what I have to give to it and not in hopes of what it will give to me. It is a matter of a changed heart and the decisions I make as a result of that changed heart which reflect whether or not I am relying on the Spirit to guide me(Titus 2:11-12). When I know I have everything I can then trust in and depend on Him as I live my life. Amen!
Q: Why is it important to take every "negative" thought captive?
A: It is not just negative thoughts, but we are told to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor 10:5)." Spiritual warfare can be best described as the battle between the truth and the lie. The truth being that we are free are in Christ as opposed to the lie which tells us that we are in bondage to the rules of man and religion. The battle, in many ways, comes from within the Body of Christ itself. Paul talks about Christians being "alienated from Christ (Gal. 5:4)" because of our refusal to rest in His finished work. The pulpits are full of false messages that appeal to our natural desire to want to earn our rewards. We throw around words like "obedience" and then put people under the law as we try to make them justify and sanctify themselves through self-effort. When we subject ourselves to this type of belief system our thoughts will constantly make us feel separated and alienated from the Lord. We spend every waking moment focused on ourselves and sin rather than on Christ, our forgiveness and our right standing before God. Any thought that leads you to believe that you must earn or maintain God's love and acceptance through your obedience to rules designed to modify your behavior needs to be taken "captive,' made a prisoner, of the truth that we are righteous in God's eyes because of our faith in Christ.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
God's Love in Romans
Q: I have two questions: Please tell me the meaning of Romans 12:10 and Romans 8:32.
A: Romans 12:10 says, "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." This verse comes after the Apostle has talked at length about the mercy the Jews and Gentiles, all mankind, have received from God through Jesus Christ. "For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all (Romans 11:32)." The Jewish nation's disobedience to God, which was magnified in their rejection of Jesus Christ, allowed salvation in Christ to be offered to the Gentile world. Similarly, now that we have been offered the salvation rejected by the Jews, they are now offered salvation in Christ because they are God's chosen people who He has not forgotten. That is why we read, "Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved...(Romans 11:25-26)." It is the recognition of how merciful God has been to us, despite our disobedience to Him, that plays itself out as we live our lives in Christ.
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1)." The mercy God has expressed towards us in Christ humbles us to the point that allows Him, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, to do with us as He sees fit in order to accomplish His will that all men come to faith in Jesus Christ. Why would we want it any other way? For anybody who has come to a saving faith in Christ, there is an acknowledgement of just how undeserving we are of His love, forgiveness and acceptance. That is why we become living sacrifices, dying to ourselves and what we want, and submitting to God and what He wants to do through us in love. In Christ there is no Jew or Gentile. That is why we read, "so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others (Romans 12:5)." As one body, belonging to each other, we should all strive for unity, agreement and harmony because we know that we are all recipients of God's mercy. None of us is better than the other which is why we are to focus on what God is doing through each one of us whether it be teaching, encouraging, serving, prophesying, giving, etc. All of this stems from the love God has shown towards us and that we share with those around us. Thus, when we are serving one another in love we won't be sinning against them, but rather serving them by putting their needs above our own. That is where Romans 12:10 comes into play.
Romans 8:32 says, "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" This passage is similar to Romans 12:10, in that it too has as its core meaning the idea of God's love. Arguably one of the most well known scriptures in all the Bible begins this chapter. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...(Romans 8:1)" Why is there no condemnation for a Christian? It is because God "did not spare his own Son" by sending Him to take the condemnation we deserved on our behalf. He did so in order to give us all things which is Himself. Salvation is the restoration of the life of God. The life breathed into Man at Creation was the very life of God. When Adam sinned that life was removed and Adam died spiritually. Subsequently, all mankind, including you and I, were born into this world spiritually dead to God in our sins. God desired to once again indwell mankind like He once did, but before He could He had to deal with the sin that caused Him to remove His life. That is where Jesus came in. Being God in the flesh He was the only man born with a life to give that would satisfy God as payment for our sins. Now, raised from the dead, He can offer that life back to us as a free gift to all who accept Christ by faith.
Now you see why Romans 8:32 is so important. We had nothing to offer God that would cause Him to forgive us and restore His life. And the "all things" He has give us, out of His love for us, is Himself, in the Person of Jesus Christ. The most important thing for any Christian to learn is their identity in Christ. We must be certain of who we are and all we have been given through faith in Christ. We are forgiven, holy, blameless, sanctified and justified children of God. As you read further in chapter 8 you see what all we have leads to and gives to us. Because of all we have in Christ, what did Paul exclaim? "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39)." The first and last verses of this chapter are bookends that answer the question raised in verse 32. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus because God gave up His Son so that, in Him, nothing could separate us from His love! God graciously and mercifully gave us His Son so that we could have all things in Him for all eternity. Amen!
A: Romans 12:10 says, "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." This verse comes after the Apostle has talked at length about the mercy the Jews and Gentiles, all mankind, have received from God through Jesus Christ. "For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all (Romans 11:32)." The Jewish nation's disobedience to God, which was magnified in their rejection of Jesus Christ, allowed salvation in Christ to be offered to the Gentile world. Similarly, now that we have been offered the salvation rejected by the Jews, they are now offered salvation in Christ because they are God's chosen people who He has not forgotten. That is why we read, "Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved...(Romans 11:25-26)." It is the recognition of how merciful God has been to us, despite our disobedience to Him, that plays itself out as we live our lives in Christ.
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1)." The mercy God has expressed towards us in Christ humbles us to the point that allows Him, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, to do with us as He sees fit in order to accomplish His will that all men come to faith in Jesus Christ. Why would we want it any other way? For anybody who has come to a saving faith in Christ, there is an acknowledgement of just how undeserving we are of His love, forgiveness and acceptance. That is why we become living sacrifices, dying to ourselves and what we want, and submitting to God and what He wants to do through us in love. In Christ there is no Jew or Gentile. That is why we read, "so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others (Romans 12:5)." As one body, belonging to each other, we should all strive for unity, agreement and harmony because we know that we are all recipients of God's mercy. None of us is better than the other which is why we are to focus on what God is doing through each one of us whether it be teaching, encouraging, serving, prophesying, giving, etc. All of this stems from the love God has shown towards us and that we share with those around us. Thus, when we are serving one another in love we won't be sinning against them, but rather serving them by putting their needs above our own. That is where Romans 12:10 comes into play.
Romans 8:32 says, "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" This passage is similar to Romans 12:10, in that it too has as its core meaning the idea of God's love. Arguably one of the most well known scriptures in all the Bible begins this chapter. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...(Romans 8:1)" Why is there no condemnation for a Christian? It is because God "did not spare his own Son" by sending Him to take the condemnation we deserved on our behalf. He did so in order to give us all things which is Himself. Salvation is the restoration of the life of God. The life breathed into Man at Creation was the very life of God. When Adam sinned that life was removed and Adam died spiritually. Subsequently, all mankind, including you and I, were born into this world spiritually dead to God in our sins. God desired to once again indwell mankind like He once did, but before He could He had to deal with the sin that caused Him to remove His life. That is where Jesus came in. Being God in the flesh He was the only man born with a life to give that would satisfy God as payment for our sins. Now, raised from the dead, He can offer that life back to us as a free gift to all who accept Christ by faith.
Now you see why Romans 8:32 is so important. We had nothing to offer God that would cause Him to forgive us and restore His life. And the "all things" He has give us, out of His love for us, is Himself, in the Person of Jesus Christ. The most important thing for any Christian to learn is their identity in Christ. We must be certain of who we are and all we have been given through faith in Christ. We are forgiven, holy, blameless, sanctified and justified children of God. As you read further in chapter 8 you see what all we have leads to and gives to us. Because of all we have in Christ, what did Paul exclaim? "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39)." The first and last verses of this chapter are bookends that answer the question raised in verse 32. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus because God gave up His Son so that, in Him, nothing could separate us from His love! God graciously and mercifully gave us His Son so that we could have all things in Him for all eternity. Amen!
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