Q: Have you "Stopped" and told Jesus how much you "need" Him, and Adore Him?
A: I would like to Stop and thank Jesus for showing me how much God "needed" me and how much He "adored" me. Father, thank you for putting in motion your plan to restore your life to me before that life was lost in Adam. Thank you for sending Jesus to live a life I cannot live and offer a life I didn't have to give as payment for my sins. Thank you for raising Jesus from the dead to offer the life lost in Adam back to me as free gift. Thank you for the eternal redemption I have in the cross that takes away my sins forever so I will never lose that life you gave me. Thank you for loving me, and desiring to have a relationship with me, to the point that you did for me what I could not do for myself in order to come to You. Thank you for allowing my body to be your Temple to do with as you see fit in order to shine your light through me onto this dark world. "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him (Psalm 8:3-4)?" I don't deserve all you have done for me, but I stop and thank you beyond what words can say that You did do it for me. Amen!
Q: Why does God pursue us?
A: "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off (Mat 18:12)?" We see in the parable of the lost sheep an example of God pursuing us. It is consistent with His nature to do so. After all, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son (Jn 3:16)." God wants all to come to faith in Christ Jesus and He has put enough evidence in the world for us to respond to. So much evidence that He says man is without excuse. He doesn't pursue us in the sense of chasing us down. He does it in three different ways. He gives us evidence of Himself in His Creation (Romans 1). He gives the evidence of our conscious (Romans 2). And finally, He gives us the evidence of His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 3). Amazingly enough is that God loves the world so much that He doesn't force one to believe in Him. He wants us to choose Him out of a response to the love He has shown toward us through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God gives us all this evidence "so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us (Acts 17:27)." If you haven't responded to God's call to His Son what evidence are you willing to accept? Your response has eternal consequences.
Q: The bible says Christians are dead to sin. Does this mean we don't sin anymore?
A: No, it doesn't mean we don't sin anymore. It means that we have an alternative not available to us prior to coming alive to God in Christ. We now have the Holy Spirit guiding us back into the truth of who we are in Christ. And as He does that we realize that engaging in sin is not consistent with who we are as children of God. When we were dead to God in sin we had no alternative, but to sow to the flesh. By doing so we falsely believed we would fill that spiritual need through sin. But, all it did was show us our death. Thankfully, for me at least, it lead me to the end of myself where I found Jesus Christ. Now, as I trust in Him, through the power of the indwelling Spirit of God, He teaches me to say no to ungodliness, etc. I no longer live by the flesh, but by the Spirit. I will still sin, but I know that when I do it is an example of how I was not trusting the Lord. And because of Christ's sacrifice on the cross my sin is not separating me from God. Therefore, I am able to approach the Lord, in confidence, to discover why it was I wasn't trusting Him, and all He has given me, when I chose to sin. I have discovered that the Christian life is not about avoiding sin, but trusting in and depending on the Lord. And when I am doing that I will engage the world with what I have and not in hopes of what I desire to get. In other words, I am dead to sin.
Q: Is "Temptation" a sin?
A: No, temptation is not a sin. Jesus was tempted yet did not fall. Temptation is a byproduct of our misunderstanding of what we have been given in Christ. When we don't believe that God has given us everything we need for life and godliness or that He has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ, we are forced to seek it from the world. And all the world offers is fleshly blessings that can only be gained through some form of sin. And the devil, who is the god of the is world, is more than happy to tempt us into believing that God wants our flesh to be blessed. The devil tempted Jesus with promises of a full belly, power and protection from physical harm. These are not unlike the promises Christians falsely believe God has promised them if they just exercise enough faith or behave properly. Unfortunately, many Christians have been led into misery because of this belief. If you do not believe that God has provided you with all you need your only alternative is to seek what you don't believe you have from God from the world. And all the world has to offer can only be achieved through some form of sin. It is the lack of knowledge as to what we have in Christ that leads us into being tempted by the devil and falling into sin.
Q: God desires a "personal" relationship with us but why is it still important to go to church and be apart of a bible study?
A: It is important to fellowship with each other, but attending church is not the only option nor is it a requirement. The Bible says "not to give up meeting together (Heb. 10:25)." Christians can meet anywhere two or more are gathered in His Name. If you don't have a church home, can't attend church regularly, or can't fellowship at all, that is okay. Remember, it is the Lord who teaches you His truth and He is indwelling you right now. I was without a "church" home for more than three years at one point. I grew more in my relationship with God during that time than any other point in my Christian life. I desired to be around other believers, but not at the expense of truth and sound teaching. Now, I co-moderate an online fellowship for like-minded believers who don't have church homes. I used to have a weekly bible study over the phone with a friend who didn't have consistent fellowship. Granted, the accepted and traditional model of church and bible study are fine, but let us remember that there are numerous ways to "spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24)" and "encourage one another (Heb 10:25)" as we "see the Day approaching (Heb. 10:25)." It is God who leads you into all truth and if He is indwelling you that is all you need.
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