Author: rbeaird

JUST BECAUSE I CAN DOES NOT MEAN I SHOULD…


Spiritual Blog - Just Because

1 Corinthians 6:12-13 – “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”  NKJV

 

I grew up in a rural country church that was affiliated with the United Methodist Church and then after I returned from Vietnam I truly found Christ or He found me in a church in Palestine, Texas that was an Assembly of God Church.  The church I grew up in would be considered liberal with regard to personal conduct and the one in Palestine strict.  My pastor in Palestine was not a “clothesline” preacher but he held some very strict views and many that I associated with were incredibly intolerant on many fronts and the restrictions were often more than the liberties afforded.

I became quite a Pharisee and do not blame anyone but myself for that.  I was judgmental without realizing it and later realized that I looked down my nose at those I considered less Holy than I because of what they did, how they dressed, the music they played, etc.  I would have argued that I did not keep a list but in my heart and head it was there.  Over a period of time the Holy Spirit convicted me of my attitude and passages such as the one above were some that I could not answer with my Pharisee mentality.  They were problematic and the more I studied and prayed the more I heard the Spirit of God speak to my heart that I was a Pharisee and that broke my heart.

The problem often, in transitioning from a very strict position to a more open one is when the pendulum begins to swing it does not stop in the center but swings far to the opposite side.  Although that happened to me, at least in a small measure, I have witnessed it on a large scale in much of the Church world.  It has been almost like a child raised in a very strict environment going off to college and all restraints are gone.  Tragically some go “hog wild” and become avid prayers for “crop failure” as they sow their wild oats.

There is vast difference of opinion on many things or activities and some have extensive prohibitions and some border on licentiousness.  I have been challenged over my appreciation for a good cup of coffee as somehow I was drinking the devil’s elixir and those same people would drink Dr. Pepper like it was going out of style as well as incredibly sweet iced tea.  Some who would never drink a glass of wine with a meal or on any occasion will smoke tobacco and are totally convinced that the wine drinker is a rank sinner and tell them so proudly.  I know some who will only eat meats that are kosher according to the Old Testament prohibitions and decry anyone who has bacon or sausage with their morning eggs.

I do not believe the Bible bans all consumption of alcohol but teaches moderation and speaks clearly about drunkenness.  I do not believe the Bible (New Testament) forbids any foods but some are, without question, harmful to our physical health.  In fact some of the very people who are super critical of anyone having a glass of wine are 50-100 pounds overweight.  Can you see a problem there?  As Paul declared, “ALL THINGS are lawful for me, BUT all things are not helpful…”  Just because I can does not mean I should.  

I was trying to communicate this to a young invincible once.  His problem was his judgmental attitude and liked to say, “Well I just tell it like it is and let the chips fall where they may.”  I agreed that he most assuredly could say whatever he wanted to anyone at any time but that it might not always be the right thing to do.  We went through several scenarios and none of them resonated with him.  Finally, I called another young person over who was a body builder and martial arts black belt.  I drew his attention to the fact that although he could say anything to the young Mr. Atlas could he see where it might not always be wise to do so.  He thought about it for a moment and the light came on and he said, “Well just because I could does not mean I should because doing so might be hazardous to my health.”   We all laughed but that is the case on so many things in life.  The Bible gives us tremendous liberty but just because we can does not mean that it is the right thing or the wise thing to do.  I have a friend who says, “I drink all I want and cuss all I want…”  Then as puzzled looks come over the faces he says, “I just don’t want to anymore…”  He was not arguing for the liberty to sin without penalty but that God had changed his want to and although we can do some things it does not mean we should.   I am not advocating drinking or profanity so please know that.

             May the Lord free your heart, mind and soul and allow you to walk in total liberty.  Blessings as you go through this wonderful day!

 

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IS SILENCE ALWAYS GOLDEN??


Spiritual Blog - Silence

2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  KJV

 

There is an ongoing argument in Christendom and the political world that preachers are never to speak to current events, social issues or political things.  Some declare that as believers we should simply be obedient to those that rule over us and remain silent on issues that have political ramifications.  Others contend that if we see the wolf coming to destroy the sheep we should sound the alarm and that includes matters that are deemed political in nature.

Some remain silent because they truly believe they are forbidden to do speak up and speak out in Scripture and have a true heart of desire to be tolerant, loving, kind and gentle exhibiting Christlikeness.  Others truly believe that there is a constitutional mandate that preachers and churches NEVER speak out publicly on matters political regardless of what those issues might be.  Then there are those who remain silent out of FEAR.  Fear of losing favor with the congregation and being ousted as pastor, losing financial security, fear of disfavor in public opinion and/or fear of getting into trouble with the government.

I love it when those who believe we should never speak out against matters that have become political even when they are anti-biblical in their nature, sin according to the Bible and harmful to people, families, communities and freedom use the argument, “What Would Jesus Do?”  I always say, “Yes, let’s talk about what Jesus did and then determine what He would do. Let’s talk about what the disciples did and then determine what God would have us do.”

In Ephesians 5:11 we are instructed, “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead expose them.”  If we refuse to speak out against abortion, homosexuality, the erosion of the family, violating religious liberty and many other matters how are we exposing them?  In fact, it could be argued that we are participating in them by our silence for we have all been taught that silence is consent.  The verb translated “expose” (from elegcho) carries the idea of reproof, correction, punishment and discipline.  Simply, we are instructed in the Bible to confront the wrong.  James 4:17 instructs, “…whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”  Therefore, if I see destruction, harm and evil coming and fail to warn am I not guilty of failing to do what I know is right?

Jesus repeatedly confronted those in power in His day and because of His failing to be politically correct they sought to crucify Him.  He did not sit silently the money changers defiled the Temple.  If we are to truly represent the Lord Jesus Christ in today’s world we must uphold His truths and righteousness without fail.  Today’s world has a twisted view of right and wrong and there is a systematic attempt to so blur the lines of absolutes and discredit or disregard the Bible as our rule of faith and practice.  The Lord repeatedly called for His followers to reject the self-absorbed world that is revealed in political correctness where the foundation of the Word of God is eroded and diluted to meaninglessness.

If we allow a conflicted and confused world that has a drifting moral compass to dictate what we can and cannot say we will find that our message is powerless to that world.  I am stunned at the willingness of many in Christendom to tolerate and even celebrate lifestyles, ideologies and acts that are, according to the Bible, abominable.  The cry for diversity that blurs the lines of truth as recorded in Scripture is not diversity it is delusion and facilitates the depravity of the human heart and mind.  Jesus wants us to “let our lights shine” at all times and if I put my light under a bushel in silence I cannot be “salt and/or light” to the world.  I should NEVER be mean-spirited or vengeful but I should ALWAYS stand firm in the principles and truths revealed in God’s word.

Jesus refused to be silent when he witnessed wrong regardless of where or from whom that wrong came.  The disciples, when ordered by those in authority to remain silent declared, “Whom shall we obey, God or man?”  In Matthew 23:27 Jesus even referred to those violating God’s precepts by wrongful interpretation and edict “whitewashed tombs”.  They looked good on the outside and appeared tolerant and politically correct but inside they produced nothing of redeeming value.

You can argue that I am mandated to obey and remain silent but I do not believe you can back that up with the whole of Scripture.  If as a shepherd I see danger coming to the sheep of my flock I must stand between the flock and the danger.  That would also mean that I must WARN them by sounding the alarm and speaking against the anti-biblical and speaking for the biblical.

Disagree if you please but before you toss out what I say, please take it to the Lord in prayer and be one who examines the Holy Record to see if my argument is truth and worthy of consideration.  Persecution is coming to the American church and we will either cower in fear of stand firm in boldness fearing no man or government.  I fear not what man can do to me but I fear the one who holds my eternal future in His hands.

God bless you as you live this day in Him.

 

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IS WHAT WE SEE WHAT JESUS SAID???


Spiritual Blog - Church

Ephesians 4:11-16 – “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ —  16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”  NKJV

 

Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  Too frequently in modern Christendom we see schisms, sects, divisions, dissension and division with each group claiming to be THE GROUP with the truth.  We often strain at gnats and swallow camels arguing over petty points of doctrine that we have made majors and miss the purpose of the Church of Jesus Christ.  That has always been disturbing to me.

I recall early in my years of ministry having a weekly radio program and the program just before and just after spent their entire time blasting our program and message.  We, to them, were the enemy not the devil. Their purpose was to persuade people that we were in error rather than presenting what they believed to be truth and seeking to minister to the lost, hurting and dying in our community.  Their efforts, according to the station management, attracted more listeners to our program than any program on the station.  We simply attempted to present Jesus and called for people to receive Him.  The fact that we were identified as being members of a particular denomination was enough to bring on the attacks from the other programs.  That is not the message of the Bible or the intent of our LORD in building His church.

Sadly, too many in the Body of Christ want to be the head, the visible, the prominent but God did not make all apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors or teachers.  He has given each of us a gift(s) and assignment(s) that if we will seek to fulfill those the Body of Christ will be advanced and the Church will be built as never before.  The desire of God is UNITY but the pride and prejudice of man produces DISUNITY.  Too often we are tossed about on the winds of doctrinal differences and our dissensions, serve to detract and become distractions that prevent people from receiving the Gospel message.  As one fabled atheist once said, “If people want me to believe in their redeemer they must appear more redeemed.”  There is a lesson to be learned in that for all of us.

The purpose of the gifts or gift ministries in the Body of Christ is to equip believers for service and ministry.  They are designed to edify the Body bringing us into UNITY of the Faith and knowledge of the Son of God bringing us to spiritual maturity.  As we become spiritually mature we should put away childish things and discern the trickery and schemes of the devil recognizing that those contrary winds that man majors on are secondary to the foundational truths of the Gospel.   As we lay aside differences and allow the Holy Spirit through the work of wise master builders to fitly frame and join us together as a unified body (Church) we find that the Church becomes a force for God, continually healing and strengthening itself and perpetually builds itself up in love!

The Church Jesus came to build and is building is not sectarian it is Christian.  When we understand that none of us have a corner on truth and none of us know all truth we will realize that we need each other.  Jesus said to the disciples who reported someone were working miracles in the Name of Jesus but were not following them, “Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.” [Luke 9:50]

Rather than major on minors, receive others who have received Christ Jesus through the remissions of sins by faith as brothers and sisters and fellow members of the Body of Christ.  We all have preferences in life and in matters spiritual it is no different.  In the minors do not be closed minded but in foundational truths be committedly strong.

            Blessings as you go through this day!

 

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BETTER THAN YOU DREAMED…


Spiritual Blog - Haven

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 – “But as it is written: 

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”  NKJV

 

The word pictures the Bible paints regarding heaven are incredibly beautiful and almost beyond human comprehension.  The elaborate descriptions have caused some to decry them as mythical fantasies and hopeful fabrications.  The enormity of that heavenly city described in the Bible built foursquare with gates of pearl, walls of jasper and streets of gold is incredible.  The city that needs no light for God is the light of that city is more than the human brain can comprehend.

Paul declares that it is beyond what we can think or dream but the reality of it is written in our hearts by the witness of the Spirit of God.  The Holy Spirit knows for he has seen and because He is God he can accurately describe the splendor of heaven to our hearts, minds and spirits.  I shall never forget that night at the kitchen table at my sister’s house in Palestine, Texas when I received Jesus as my personal savior.  I could not explain what happened but heaven became so real to me it was more real than the world I was living in.

I have not been translated to heaven as Paul and others but in my heart I know it is real.  I have not seen God face to face in the flesh but through the ministry of the Holy Spirit I have beheld His glory.  I knew that night and know this day that I am simply passing through this world.  It ceased to be my home on that eventful night and my citizenship in that heavenly kingdom became a reality.  I walk not by what I can see in the natural but what I can see in the spirit.  My confidence is not in what I can taste, touch and seen naturally but what I have experienced in the spirit.

I know Him in whom I have believed and am confident that He is able to keep it against that day.  I do not know what the activities of heaven will be through the eternal ages or even what it will actually look like but I have no fear that it is not real.  I know the change that took place in my life on that night and I believe that God is real, His word is true and Heaven a factual reality which is even better than any dream we could dream.

I personally do not believe that it will be long before the LORD calls His children home but until then we must occupy until He returns.  He gave us life and that life is to be abundant and free.  Therefore, let us live and manifest Him in this present world so that we might introduce others to the coming reality of Eternal Heaven with our LORD.

            Blessings as you walk through this day with Him and hold the hope of heaven in your heart!

 

 

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THE POWER OF THE TONGUE…


Spiritual Blog - Tongue

James 3:5-8 – “Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.  See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”  NKJV

 

Years ago I heard a message preached on THE TONGUE and specifically the destructive power of gossip and rumors.  After the service the Evangelist asked for anyone who had a need to come forward for prayer.  One lady who was well known for the sharpness of her tongue and the propensity to spread rumors or as she called it “news” came forward.  She said, “I want to put my tongue on the altar.”  The pastor gasped and the Evangelist, without missing a beat said, “Ma’am that would be a miracle for the altar is on 10 feet long.”  Snickers rippled through the congregation but the point was made and numerous people came forward to confess their misuse of the tongue and asked forgiveness of God and members of the Body.

The rudder of a ship is quite small in comparison to the size of the vessel but that small rudder can turn a ship in the direction desired.  A match is a small thing but one careless match can start a raging forest fire that will destroy thousands of acres of land.  The Bible tells us that a “soft answer” turns away wrath but a “harsh word” stirs up strife.  The passions can be ignited by the tongue as the words are spoken that bring pain and/or joy.  The tongue can be our greatest asset or enemy depending on what is controlling it.  If the carnal man is in control then it will be an enemy but if the Spirit of God is setting watch over it will be an asset of incredible power.

Proverbs 18:21 declares that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it will eat the fruit thereof.”  Peter declared in I Peter 3:10, “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.”  Paul taught the Ephesians in 4:29 they were to “let no corrupt communication proceed from their mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers.”  David prayed in Psalm 19:4, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”

In Proverbs 15:4 we read that “a wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.”  In Philippians 2:14 we are instructed to “do all things without murmurings and disputings.”  In Proverbs 13:3 we find, “He that keeps his mouth keeps his life:  But he that opens wide his lips shall have destruction.”  We are instructed to be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath.

Back to Proverbs 18:21 in harmony with the other passages we cited we realize that what we say and how we say it is incredibly important.  If my mouth is filled with the Word of God, my heart tends to follow and my mind focuses on those words.  If my mouth is filled with doubt and fear, my heart tends to follow and my mind focuses on the negative, death and destruction.  I am not suggesting mind over matter but I am saying that we need to allow the Holy Spirit set a guard at our lips and let our words be the Words of the Spirit of God.

With the tongue we praise and with the tongue we curse that is a conflict and contradictory.  A spring does not give forth sweet and bitter water and a tree will not produce both good and bad fruit.  Therefore it is incumbent on us to guard our words and let them always be seasoned with the Salt of God’s Truth.

Blessings as you go through this day in Him!

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WHAT HAPPENED TO TRUTH???


Spiritual Blog - Truth

Ps 119:160 – “The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.” NKJV

In the 21st century TRUTH seems to be anything but absolute and often appears to be a moving target.  There seems to be “truth” that is relative.  “Truth” that is situational.  “Truth” that is conditional but rarely do we encounter an acknowledgment of “truth” that is absolute.  That is tragic and spells deep troubles for man.

Jesus prayed in John 17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”  In John 8 Jesus instructed His followers, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  Our LORD declared in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  Paul identified part of the Spiritual Armor in Ephesians 6 as including “the belt of truth”.   Pilate asked Jesus as our LORD stood before Him in John 18:38, “What is truth?” 

In the Garden of Eden, at the fall of mankind via Adam and Eve, we find they believed THE LIE and were damned.  If there is THE LIE then there is THE TRUTH.  Too often we seem to be willing to accept partial truth as THE TRUTH and in so doing we are adopting THE LIE as our guide.  Some consider it justifiable to present less than full disclosure and call it truth when the reality is that because it is not complete and is deceptive it is not TRUTH and if it is not TRUTH then it is a LIE.

Jesus said that THE TRUTH would set or make us free!  Only truth has that ability.  Just as the devil is the father of lies and the truth cannot be found in Him, Jesus is truth and no lie can be found in Him.  It is through Jesus who is the WAY, the TRUTH that we come to LIFE because He is LIFE.  Truth is the doorway to redemption.  Truth has the power to break the chains of bondage and deception.  Truth will free the soul, heart and mind and thereby infuse health into the body.  Truth bring peace.

What happened to truth in today’s world?  How did we come to the place where we are willing to call good evil and evil good?  How did we reach the juncture that we were willing to believe an account that is only partially true as being THE TRUTH?  We reached there because the master deceiver has been working for generations to condition us to “situational ethics” and “political correctness” that cries for TOLERANCE when in fact the tolerance promoted is only COMPROMISE of our convictions and the Word of God.

I don’t know about you but I have chosen to stand on the side of TRUTH and Him who is TRUTH.  I will proclaim the Gospel message in truth and in so doing will include the Cross for without it there is not hope for mankind.

God bless you as you go through this day walking in TRUTH!

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LAUGHING AT THE PROMISES…


Spiritual Blog - Laughter

Genesis 18:9-15 – “Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?”  So he said, “Here, in the tent.” 10 And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.”  (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.) 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.   12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”

13 And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh!”    NKJV

 

I wonder how often we have done what Sarah did?  Maybe not outwardly but through our actions, doubt and disbelief we laughed at the prospect of the promise!  Abraham and Sarah were not Spring Chickens and time had passed them by and Sarah’s reaction should not be viewed as anything but normal.  She had been barren for a long time and now they were in the twilight years of life.  She heard the promise and I am convinced wanted the promise to be true but when she looked in the mirror reality hit her squarely in the face.  SHE WAS OLD and so was Abraham.

Abraham had a life of demonstrated obedience and Sarah willingly followed him wherever he believed they were to go and into whatever venture he deemed advisable.  The Promise of God to make Abraham a Great Nation and to have heirs as numerous as the sand on the seashore or the stars in the heavens prompted her to urge him to make a tragic error with Hagar producing Ishmael.  NOW, she hears that she is going to have a child and her natural response was to laugh.

I am convinced that we have laughed at some of God’s promises either by actually snickering or through our demonstrated unbelief, doubt and question.  I am equally convinced that when God calls us on that fact we do what Sarah did and DENY, DENY, DENY.  I know that in my own experience when I have smiled at the promises thinking them probably a figment of my own imagination the Holy Spirit has done to me what the LORD did to Sarah and said, “No you laughed!”  

The question is not our initial reaction to the promise but what we do in the subsequent days, weeks, months and/or years that is of most importance.  Abraham and Sarah did not simply say, “God said it so it will be” and failed to be active participants in the process.  Yes, they had pleasure even in their old age.  I can only imagine the surprise and thrill of finding that their bodies functioning as they possibly had not functioned in years, giving them a further confirmation that God’s Promise was true.  God will sometimes allow us to experience things in life that give solid verification of his promises. 

I do not believe that God was particularly upset with Sarah’s initial reaction.  I have heard Sarah vehemently criticized for her initial doubt and laughing at God’s Promise but is she dramatically different than us?  It is how we proceed after the promise that is of critical importance not how we initially react in the shock or surprise of the moment.  So, if God has made you a promise and your initial reaction was to doubt or even laugh at the prospect instead of beating yourself up, rejoice and remember Abraham and Sarah for what God promised became reality and Isaac was born.

Remember God’s Promises are sure so rejoice in this day He has created and walk in His blessings as you partake of His Abundant Life!  Blessings!

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ONE MAN and ONE WOMAN…


Spiritual Blog - Biblical Marriage

Genesis 2:18-24 – “And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” 19 Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. 

21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 

23 And Adam said: 

“This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman,Because she was taken out of Man.”

 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”  NKJV

 

Marriage is not or should not be a political issue but a spiritual one.  There is no constitutional mandate regarding marriage but there is a biblical one.  When I must decide on any issue even if public sentiment and popular opinion is strong and it conflicts with God’s word I will stand with the Word of God.

Notice here in Genesis the “first mention” of what could be deemed marriage is from God Himself.  God had created, Adam (the male) and determined that being alone was unhealthy and left man unfulfilled.  IT WAS NOT GOOD!  God’s declared, “I will make him a helper comparable to him.”  If we only took that statement without the remainder of this section of scripture and the remainder of the Bible we could conclude that God was unconcerned about the gender of the companion or mate.

God brought the animal creation before Adam not to seek a mate in them but to allow Adam to see the need of a companion of his kind.  Then God caused Adam to sleep and took a rib and from Adam’s rib he created Eve.  When Adam saw the woman he was elated. She appealed to him and he understood something that seems to be missed.  He called her WOMAN.  The translation is “she-man” or “womb-man”.  You cannot get that in a homosexual relationship even if one is incredible feminine in males or masculine in females. The difference in sexes is clear and the union allows for reproduction.

Then in verse 24 the declaration of the union is found, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”  Marriage is found in the first chapter of the Book of Genesis not in the Declaration of Independence.  To allow what God has designed as a spiritual and physical union to become a political football is tragic.  The Bible is not silent on physical unions by the same sex. Romans 1:26-27, “Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones; in the same way, men committed shameful acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.”  Consider the city of Sodom (Genesis 19), the prohibition regarding homosexual relations (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13), the New Testament prohibition (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9) and you find a clear understanding of God’s view.

The home is of paramount importance in God’s mind.  He has much to say about the relationship between husband and wife, parents and children and children and children.  Marriage has always been designed to be between “One man and One woman”.  Marriage is a holy institution or union designed by God and ordained in His word.   We should carefully protect and nurture it.

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!

Spiritual Blog - Marriage

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THIS IS THAT TIME…


Spiritual Blog - Now

2 Timothy 3:1-9 – “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.”  NKJV

 

Without attempting a complete exegesis in eschatology I find it impossible to miss the incredible happenings of our time and their relation or correlation to the prophecies of Scripture.  I do not know if the apostle Paul realized how far into the future he was speaking in his prophetic word and pastoral warning to Timothy but we do.  I am convinced, he believed the “last days” were almost upon them.  Throughout my Christian experience I have heard that we are the generation that will see the return of the Lord.  I do believe we are but also recognize that each previous generation thought the same thing.  The delay in His return is not an indication that the promise or prophecy is false.  Remember that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.  He does not operate with a clock or calendar as we.

When I view the rise of Islamic jihadism and terror I recognize “perilous times” in our day.  With the rise in technology we do not just hear or read about the evil in the world we witness it on the television, computer, or smartphone.  It is every before us!  With the increase in abortion, the selling of body parts for profit, the murder of innocent living babies to accommodate “so-called” personal rights of the woman, I cannot help but realize “perilous times” in our present day.  When I see people around the world slaughtered because of their refusal to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ, I recognized “perilous times” in the world.

Even a cursory reading of the above passage identifies how squarely and perfectly it fits in our modern society.  I do not know if there has ever been a generation more in love with self than today’s.  Money is an all-powerful driving force like no other time in human history.  The pride and arrogance of today’s world is stunning.  I have lived on this earth over 60 years and have never witnessed such open blasphemy, utter disrespect for parents and authority, ungratefulness, viciousness and the devaluing of human lives that are not of the same ethnicity, ideological or religious beliefs as today.  Fabrication is acceptable, slander is just business as usual and the pursuit of personal pleasure and demand for tolerance and political correctness is frightening.

How long can we continue on this path before total chaos becomes the rule of the day?  I fear, not long and for those and other reasons I am completely convinced that we are living in what the Bible calls THE LAST DAYS and if we are you can expect the evil of this world to grow more and more prevalent and pronounced.  If you are not secure in your relationship with God I suggest that you take steps to become completely confident in your Salvation.  The time is coming when it will mean everything.

            God bless you, guard and guide you as you go through this day!

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PRAYER LESSON FROM AN ELDERLY SAINT…


Spiritual Blog - Prayer

1 John 5:14-15 – “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”  NKJV

 

Years ago I was called to the home of one of our members for prayer.  The husband and wife were elderly and had served in ministry for decades.  She was ill and wanted me to pray for her that God would raise her up.  I began to pray and in my prayer I asked the LORD to “touch her”.  She stopped me in mid-sentence and said, “I don’t want just a touch I want healing.”  Not to split hairs on what she said, she caused me to evaluate my prayers and expectations in prayer.  The lesson learned has been invaluable through a number of years and countless times when I or someone I was praying for needed an answer from God.

As we talked later she explained in very simple terms that too many people have little expectation when they pray or when they are prayed for.  The thought of a “touch” often carries with it less than urgency and might result in a casual prayer that never presses through to the answer.  It was out of that mindset that she resisted asking for a “touch” she wanted all God had and His promises realized in her life.  She wanted me to pray with the urgency she felt in her need.  One could argue that it is the “touch” of the Master’s hand that brings all the promises to fruition in our lives and I would not disagree.  However, I understood her heart and it altered the way I thought about prayer.

Often we are asked to pray or ask for others to pray and we or they respond, “Will do”.  I do not question the sincerity of that commitment and am always appreciative of any prayer that is being offered on my behalf.  I was recently challenged by the Holy Spirit regarding “expectation” in prayer.  I do not want to pray half-heartedly, casually, or without urgency.  I do not want to pray without expectation.  I want to meet the requirements of the text passage and receive that which Jesus declared in the Gospels that if we ask ANYTHING in His Name we receive.  I want to find His heart, mind and will and then grab the horns of the altar and like Jacob refuse to let go until I hear from heaven.

John tells us that we can have complete confidence that if we ask ANYTHING according to God’s will He hears us.  He then presses it further and declares that IF God hears us WHATEVER we ask we receive.  That is incredible and something that too often we miss and flounder in wonder hoping and praying rather than knowing and praying.  There are times when we simply do not know the will of God or the mind of God in a matter and that is where the ministry of the Holy Spirit becomes invaluable.  He knows and when we allow Him to guide our prayers and pray through us we can pray the will of God rather than adding the addendum, “if it be thy will” we are praying the will of God and doing so with expectation.

There are heroes of faith in the Bible and Church history who took God at His word and when they prayed they expected mountains to move, drought stricken lands to become watered, life to be restored, healing to transpire, the schemes of the devil to be thwarted and victory to be the result.  We should not pray as I heard after a doctor told the family, “All we can do now is pray.”  One of the family members said, “Oh no!  Has it come to that?”   Prayer is not an act of futility we do in times of desperation it is a weapon and a means of worship.

God bless you as you go through this day and build you up on your most Holy Faith praying in the Holy Spirit. 

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