Crutch

I've heard it said, "Religion is a crutch for emotionally weak people."

The fact is that is partly true.  If by religion, you mean my faith and trust in God and His Word and His Spirit, then yes, it is indeed a crutch.  However,  you are wrong on this one point:  I am not emotionally weak.  In fact, I have been made emotionally stable through my faith.  It is my enduring faith which makes me constantly able to emotionally handle the trials of life; trials that would come whether I was a believer or not.

I find many people who claim 'no religion', have nothing to support them when they need it.  While they would claim to have friends or family or even their own strength to push them through, the truth is that all of that worldly support pales in comparison to the Power of God in the life of a believer.  At times, even, you will find the faithless calling on the faithful, to pray for them.  In doing so, you have made MY religion YOUR crutch.  Hypocrite!

Only time will tell the truth of the matter.  In the end, we will all know the truth.  My crutch works for me.  Your lack of a crutch leaves you whining in the storm.

Church: No Witches Allowed

I am not expecting a lot of applause at the end of this.  I recently had a conversation with a friend of ours. During this conversation they mentioned that God had convicted them of certain behavior and that they were 'working on it'.

Unfortunately, I believe a lot of the church is where this dear friend of ours is in their walk.  A lot of believers are 'working on' something and living in disobedience.

In chapter four of his book, Spiritual Boot Camp, Jim McIver talks about obedience.

I actually sat under the teaching of this chapter the night before my conversation and was amazed at the parallels that could be drawn.

When God, and as our friend had stated, other people, comment on certain behavior tendencies that they notice, and they do so in a biblically sound manner, and we refuse to heed that counsel, we are in disobedience to God, and in rebellion.

The issue that was addressed in private through their friends (and the Spirit of God) was not corrected.  Repeated attempts to correct the believer had met with rebellion.  That believer that does not heed the counsel of others in private should prepare for an open rebuke.

1 Samuel 15:23:

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

In the book, Bishop McIver writes:

"Just think, disobedience is an act of departure from God.....God is not impressed with our good ideals.....All that is necessary in following God is this: be led by His Spirit and obey his commands.  Anything that is contrary to God's command is witchcraft and idolatry....There is no rocket science concerning the Will of God....In every area of our lives where God has made His Will clear, we are to obey regardless of the cost."

If God has indeed made His Will clear to you, then 'working on it' is not an option.  Apply the blood to it? Yes!  Pray through it? Yes!  Rebuke it? Bind it? Curse it?  Yes! Yes! and Yes!  But while we are 'working on it' we are still partaking in it and that is disobedience.  That is rebellion.  That is witchcraft.  In fact, the more I think about it, if I am 'working on it', I have either denied the Power of God or not given Him full control over that area of my life.  We all have had that something that we worked on, and, truth be told, we liked it too much to let it go.

So what is it for you?  What have you been working on?  Stop practicing witchcraft and obey God.

The Law of Honor

I haven't really had a lot of time to be blogging with all of what's going on around here. This should give you an idea.

Anyway, I started this post over 10 days ago and I have been thinking that maybe someone needs to hear it. Maybe I'll get into detail in the future on this, but for now, here's the basics.

There is a law in effect in the spirit realm; the law of honor. Much like the law of gravity, it can not be avoided.

Your future is determined by who you have chosen to honor (or dishonor). Honor is the seed for honor. As all seeds, it produces after its own kind. I can tell what your destiny will be like; whether grace-filled or tribulation-tossed, by looking at whether or not you honor others and who you choose to honor. I can tell by your ability and willingness to adapt, whether or not you honor others. Adaptation is the proof of honor. You fore go your own desires and needs in order to fulfill the destiny of another, placing them above yourself. Let us prefer one another.

When Joseph was called before Pharaoh, he honored him by shaving his beard. Usually we look at that as he was just cleaning up before going before the ruler. The facts are that beards were normal in his own culture, but considered dirty in Egyptian culture. Joseph adapted. Joseph honored Pharaoh. Pharoah, in turn, honored Joseph. Joseph chose to fulfill Pharaoh's desires in ruling his kingdom - and Joseph, in turn, fulfilled his own destiny.

Many believers are struggling in their walk because they have chosen NOT to honor their leaders. They are not fulfilling their destiny because they complain against leadership; their pastor, their boss, their husband, their teachers, their parents. Complaining does not show honor. Silent submission does.

The Law of Honor is inescapable. We must honor. The fruit will be honor.

The Word - Review

Before we move on to our next teaching topic, it would be helpful for you if you review the teachings on the Word of God.

You can find them all under the tag 'theWord'.

The Purpose of God's Word - Part Three

God's Word was written for our learning.

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Romans 15:4

God's Word was written for our admonition; training us through instruction and warning.

Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1 Corinthians 10:11

Since God's Word holds so much purpose in our lives, we are to be 'doers' of the Word and not just 'hearers' only.

For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
James 1:23-25

The Purpose of God's Word - Part Two

God's Word is an instruction manual for spiritual discernment and for living a holy and acceptable life before God. As a young believer, I was taught that the Bible was God's:

B asic
I nstructions
B efore
L eaving
E arth

Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action), So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 AMP

1. Doctrine
2. Reproof
3. Correction
4. Instruction in righteousness

Need any of that? All believers do. The Bible supplies that for us.

The Purpose of God's Word - Part One

God's Word serves many purposes. We'll take a look at a few of them in these next posts.

God's Word authenticates the divinity of Jesus Christ.

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
John 20:31

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
1 John 5:13

Additionally, the Word of God offers us the evidence that Jesus Christ fulfilled over 350 messianic prophecies. Professor Peter Stoner (1888-1980) was Chairman of the Departments of Mathematics and Astronomy at Pasadena City College until 1953, and Chairman of the Science Division of Westmont College from 1953 to 1957. Stoner calculated the probability of one man fulfilling only a handful of the over 300 Messianic prophecies. In 1944, he published his research results in Science Speaks: Scientific Proof of the Accuracy of Prophecy and the Bible. Stoner concluded that the probability of one person fulfilling just eight of the specific prophecies was one chance in 10¹⁷ (one followed by 17 zeros). How about one person fulfilling just 48 of the over 300 prophecies? Stoner calculated these odds at one chance in 10¹⁵⁷ -- way beyond statistical impossibility!
( Peter Stoner, Science Speaks: Scientific Proof of the Accuracy of Prophecy and the Bible, 1944, 109-10.)

A good site for more on this can be found here.

God's Word as a Source of Power

It's your turn to look up some scriptures. We are gong to be looking at God's Word and how it is a source of power for our lives.

Hebrews 4:12
God's Word is a dividing power, as a sword. Many times, when I am witnessing, whether it be to family and friends or complete strangers, even though they may seem to agree to disagree, when I declare what the Word of God says, it immediately divides them from me. They become aggressive and defensive, separating their opinions even farther from mine. I think this is mainly because of the next 'power' in God's Word.

James 1:22-25
God's Word is a reflecting power, as a mirror. The Word of God will not just point out your imperfections, but it will make you take a good look at yourself. Most of the time, when we look in the mirror, we do not look at ourselves in the eyes. We look at all the rest of our face or body or clothes, but not into our eyes. If you want to get serious or intimate with someone, you look them in the eyes. Knowing what the Word of God says about our sinful nature, knowing the experience we have had with Him by our sides, stop reading this blog and go to a mirror and LOOK YOURSELF IN THE EYES. I'll wait.

Quite a difference from just looking at your appearance, isn't it?

See you next time.

What's in it for Me?

What do I get from reading the Word of God?

When we receive His Word and appropriate it in our own lives, it produces, and shall prosper in the area which He sends it to prosper in.

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11

His Word will cleanse our ways.

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Psalms 119:9

His Word produces faith!

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17

His Word begins a process of change. Our minds come into harmony with God's thoughts and purposes for our lives.

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Psalms 19:7

His Word brings peace that can be obtained in NO OTHER WAY.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7

For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Isaiah 55:12

Who Wrote the Bible?

The Holy Spirit is the Author of the Word of God. God used man as a vehicle to make His revelation known.

Men and brethren, this Scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
Acts 1:16

And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers,
Acts 28:25

Prophets, writers of scripture, such as David, Isaiah and others were prompted to speak by the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is the source of infallible revelation. God's Word has not been devised by man's intellect.

There is always this argument that I hear frequently: 'Man messed up the Bible through all the translations. They added stuff to meet their own agendas.'

This argument does not stand. First, it implies that there once was something known as God's Word, which at one time, was perfect or, not 'messed up'. That point alone acknowledges that God is real, powerful, infallible and can indeed speak to man. And that truth, admitted by their own argument, leads us to this: God is powerful enough, then, to maintain the integrity of His Word to man, regardless of how many pens may have written it, or mouths may have spoken it. If we believe that God has something to say to us, then we believe that He is powerful enough to make sure we get the full message. He watches over His Word.

So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11 AMP

Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.
Jeremiah 1:12 AMP

When it comes to the Word, God's got His own back, thank you very much.

What does God have to do with the Bible?

Get out your Bible.

Read 2Timothy 3:15, John 20:31 & 1John 5:3

God's Word is the revelation of Jesus Christ to man.

You can even find Jesus in the Old Testament. There are various place where God showed His plan to reconcile man unto Himself through Hid Son, Jesus Christ. Here is just one example which may be found in Exodus, chapter 12:

Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for a house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
Exodus 12:3-5 (emphasis mine)

And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
Exodus 12:7

For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
Exodus 12:12-13

For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
Exodus 12:23

And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
Exodus 12:29-30

And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.
Exodus 12:51

Jesus is our sacrificial Lamb.

What is the Trinity?

"The word 'trinity' is found no where in the Bible." That is the excuse that those who do not believe in the triune nature of God will use to dispute it. Well, the word 'elephant' isn't in the Bible either, so...

In God there are three divine identities:

• Father
• Son
  
• Holy Spirit

These three identities are distinct:

• Father - Work of Creation (Genesis 1:1)
• Son - Work of Redemption (Galatians 4:4-5)
• Spirit - Work of Sanctification (1Peter 1:2)

Together, these three work to achieve God's purpose in the earth. (John 1:1, Deuteronomy 6:4, 1John 5:8)

Now, go look up the scriptures and read them for yourself. And check out Luke 3:22 where you will find all three of God's identities together, but separate.

The Importance of Fellowship

1 Corinthians 1:9 says: God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

We are called into fellowship with Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:42-47 gives us a pattern for fellowship with each other.

Acts 2:42
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

• Be diligent and CONSISTENT in hearing the Word of God
• Have fellowship in communion
• Continue in fellowship through prayer
  

Acts 2:43
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

• the result of effective fellowship
  

Acts 2:44
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

• Having all things in common (speaks of material wealth)

Acts 2:45
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

• Speaks to giving - this is a part of fellowship
  

Acts 2:46
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

• Be in one accord with singleness of heart (having no discord or strife)
  

Acts 2:47
Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

• Abounding in praise and thanksgiving

The fellowship of believers is to prosper both the individual and the Body of Christ in two ways: spiritually and practically. It is vital, both for the Body of Christ and the individual believer, for fellowship to be a part of church life.

How do I Tell Them?

By now, someone has crossed your mind, who you think may not be going to heaven. When we first get saved, we are so over the top that we usually scare people away with our new-found faith. We want so badly to tell others that we push them away with 'the gospel'. God's message of love is so gentle. He is a gentleman. He does not push and neither should we.

If however, you come across someone to whom you need to explain what has happened to you, there are some simple scriptures to use. Note: if someone does not believe the Word of God is true, then you are dealing with foolishness and you will need more experience and knowledge of God and His Word before truly dealing with that person. But here are a few scriptures you can use to explain your conversion to others who are receptive to the Word of God.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 3:23

We all have sinned and fall short of God's purpose for our lives - to know Him and walk with Him.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23

Wages are just payment... due reward... what one has coming because of labor. The just payment for our sin is death. Death here means a spiritual disconnect. When we are still in our sin, we have no life with God. We are alive physically but dead spiritually. If we continue in that condition, we will be separated from God for all eternity.

But God demonstrates his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

In a demonstration of His love for us, He gave His own life.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10:13

Pretty simple here: Call on Him and He will save you.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:9-10

That's it really. No rocket science; faith and confession is all it takes to become a child of God. Only believers will ever understand the change that takes place following the conversion experience. Give your testimony of what happened with you - the burden being lifted, the emptiness filled, the chains broken. Your testimony will be attractive to others and that will open their hearts to receive the Word of Truth.

The Word - Part 2

Get out your Bible. If you do not have a Bible, tell us now. We will send you one.

We are going to be taking a look at some of the attributes of God.

After each attribute of God, I have listed a scripture. Find that scripture in your Bible and read it. Let God speak to you through His Word.

• God is Eternal (Psalms 90:1-2)
• God is Immutable (Unchangeable) ( Malachi 3:6)
• God is Omnipotent (All-Powerful) (Jeremiah 32:17, Psalms 62:11)
• God is Omniscient (All-knowing) (Psalms 139:1-4)
• God is Omnipresent (Everywhere) (Jeremiah 23:23-24)
• God is Holy (Leviticus 11:44-45)
• God is Righteous (God's Holiness in action) (Romans 3:25-26)
• God is Merciful (Exodus 34:6-7)
  

The Nature of God

So who is this new found friend of yours? What should I expect from God?

Three main components of God are these:

God is Spirit. God is not limited to a physical body nor to our understanding of space and time.

God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality).
John 4:24 AMP

God is perfect.

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5:48 KJV

God is personal. Your heavenly Father is concerned with your needs. He desires to make provision for His children.

Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
1 Peter 5:6-7 AMP

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Matthew 6:25-34 KJVR

Your God truly cares for you in a way that no human being has ever experienced apart from His love. Speaking from my own experience and walk with God: Give up ever trying to understand His love for you. It is incomprehensible. Just receive His love, regardless of whether or not you feel worthy of it. His sacrifice for you made you worthy. Now, just take it all in.

His nature is that of love.

The Word - Part 1

OK. So now the teaching begins. If you are going to walk with God, you should have an understanding of His Word. This understanding is very important for our growth and development as Christians. God wants us to know Him and He has provided His Word for that purpose.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

God's Word is given to guide us into a knowledge of Him.

Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

God Himself is our source of strength and sustenance.