Saturday Scripture Speaks - Fishers of Men

 

and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” Luke 5:10 (NKJV)

Fishing was a big part of the Israelite culture back in the days when Jesus walked the earth. Fish made up much of the diet and the economy. Peter and Andrew made their livings by fishing. Jesus fed the 5000 near the Sea of Galilee by multiplying two fish (and five loaves of bread) from a little boy's offering (Matthew 14:13-21). He also fed the 4000 in the region of the Gerasenes when he multiplied 7 loaves and a "few small fish" (Mark 8:1-9). 

Let's suffice it to say that fishing is an important enough theme for Jesus to use when giving Simon (Peter) and Andrew to follow Him (Matthew 4:19).

In today's very weird society (some would argue that it is a demonic society, myself included), being fishers of men is very important. After all, it is essentially the Great Commission. Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV) says, 

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

So, just before Jesus ascended into Heaven, He commanded the disciples to go out into the world, even the world that was gentile, and teach them about Him. He said to baptize them and teach them to obey God. 

Don't we want that for the unsaved? Don't we think that, in this increasingly evil world we find ourselves, things might be better if more people realized that Jesus is God and came to earth to die for our sins? And that He not only lived a sinless life but died on a brutal cross and then rose from the dead on the third day? After all, His death would be in vain if He were either a sinner or one who just stayed in the grave.

Most people who go fishing use some sort of lure to attract fish. After that, they reel that fish in. That works in discipling (teaching) people. They see our good works, they see our genuine faith, they see kindness to those who persecute us for our faith, they really see Jesus in us. That lures them to the faith.

After that initial "bite", they listen to us relate the Bible and who Jesus really is to them. They go to church and listen to sermons about the Bible and about Jesus. And through that, the Holy Spirit speaks to them. The hook is set.

They respond, maybe after really fighting it, by saying yes to Christ and no to sin. In other words, they repent of sin and become born again believers. Then, they get baptized and lead a new life in Christ. Baptism doesn't wash away their sins - the blood that Jesus shed while on the cross does. The new believer becomes eager to learn more and to "fellowship" with other Christian believers. And that's where we need to come in.

Are you spending time with new believers? Are you teaching them to obey the Scriptures? To see them to salvation and then leave them on their own is to disobey that Great Commission. It's like catching a big fish and then taking them off the hook and throwing them back into the lake or river.

I challenge you to pray about who you might disciple today. Ask God for someone you can bless as a fisher of men and watch Him work. Don't worry. The Holy Spirit will bug you until you obey and become a mentor for the person(s) He has chosen for you to disciple. Your job is to listen and obey and then reap the blessing that comes with a life of obedience.

Saturday Scripture Speaks February 4

If you haven't begun reading the Bible every day, let me encourage you to do so now. God speaks to us in His Word, and that Word is Jesus Christ (John 1:1). For me, reading the Bible daily has become a habit. I read the Bible through in one year, every year since 2001. For you, perhaps it doesn't mean getting it all in within the span of a year, but maybe a chapter a day over the course of two years. No matter which route you choose, reading Scripture and letting it infuse your life is vital to your spiritual well-being. If you aren't sure about that, try reading a verse or two every day for a month and see what happens.

"What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people's faces. You won't go in yourselves, and you don't let others enter either." Matthew 23:13- 14 (NLT)

That's Jesus speaking. For those of you who have the notion that Jesus Christ was always a soft spoken, laid back sort of guy, guess again! This passage, as well as others (Jesus toppling over the money changers' tables, for example), show us that the "Lamb who takes away the sins of the world" didn't always give people the impression that He was all that gentle.

But the Bible also calls Jesus "the Lion of Judah". Yeah, a roaring Lion, in fact.

Back to the passage in Matthew. Jesus was telling the Pharisees that they were effectively turning others from salvation because of their religious laws - which were not God's laws, but rather those which the Pharisees had accumulated over time, essentially making it impossible to live and breathe without breaking one.

I think that, in the beginning, their intentions were good. They wanted to honor God and not break any of the Ten Commandments (God's original Law given to Moses on Mt. Sinai).  Over time, however, they began to add more and more "laws". Keep the Sabbath holy? Don't even carry a needle and thread in your pocket because that means you might sew, and sewing was doing work on the Sabbath.

By imposing these impossible rules, the Pharisees were shutting the door in people's faces. They wanted no part of the Kingdom because it was made up of rigid rules and nothing more. And remember that the Bible says not to add to or take away from it. (Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs 30:6, Revelation 22:18-19)

Jesus also said that the Pharisees didn't go through the "door" either. Hmm. No wonder we use the word hypocrite to mean those who preach something but don't live it themselves. As an aside, the original meaning of "hypocrite" means "actor". Hypocrites "act" one way but live another.

And God sees that. He sees the heart. And He says that hypocrisy turns others away from God. From the salvation that is freely offered but seldom received.

This hypocrisy is rampant in the world today and rapidly growing worse by the day here in the United States. Our politics have caused division in our country, but sin underlies those politics. Both sides of the fence are calling each other hypocrites. And the people are hurting.

Furthering the Kingdom of God, however, doesn't begin at the presidential level. It starts at home, with you and me. Maybe if we live as we preach, showing love to people who aren't of our political persuasion, praying that God blesses our efforts and heals our land, then just maybe we will see people saved and living lives full of hope for an eternity with Christ - the Lamb sacrificed for the forgiveness of sins - the Lion of Judah, the mighty Savior before whom "every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord". (Romans 14:12)

Go to YouTube and listen to this song. It will bless you.

The Lion and the Lamb by Big Daddy Weave.

Saturday Scripture Speaks - May 2

Psalm 30:5 (KJV) says,

"For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

This verse always speaks to me. It doesn't matter where I am at the time or what I'm doing. We all suffer hardships. Personally speaking, I have watched my life go in waves. I have experienced incredible highs, as in the births of my children, my wedding day, - those times when everything seemed to be right with the world.

There were other times, however, when I didn't know if I would be able to manage the deep holes that seemed to be developing all around me. Those were the times that our financial condition was the lowest, times when family and friends turned on us, the times when we suffered physical trials (my son still suffers kidney disease from Henoch Schonlein Purpura onset 2 years ago) - those times when we honestly thought we wouldn't survive.

The highs and the lows are like waves in the ocean. They swell and then they fall. They go up and down throughout our lives. After coming out of a difficult time we might be falsely led to believe that all will be rosy from here on out. That's a false security and we should be on our guards. The hard times come and go, but they will come again. 

Rather than despair, we need to draw our strength from Christ for God's Word says that we have LIFE in Him. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

We will mourn and suffer at times while we are still here in these perishable bodies. But someday we will awake in God's presence and every tear will be wiped away as we rejoice forevermore!

Saturday Scripture Speaks - Giving

I married a very "giving" man. In fact, he is so giving that, at times, we found ourselves at a very bad place financially. I had always thought that in order to honor God with our giving, we needed to give "until it hurts". Over the years, I've learned a few things about what the Bible says concerning giving. Here's one that stands out.

For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.
For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.  As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.” 2 Corinthians 8:12-15 (NKJV)

We have learned that there will be times when we cannot give money to meet every need. There will be times when we will have to do whatever we can in other ways - pray, visit, cook meals, clean a house, work on a roof, etc. God will honor you when you do what you can - not what you can't. And if He asks you to give money that you think you do not have, it might be time to re-figure your budget. Are you wasting? 

Pray that we might all be doing what God asks of use without trying to be Superman and doing what He does not ask of us.

Saturday Scripture Speaks - All for the Glory of God

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)

To glorify God means to give Him the honor that is due Him. This verse is becoming more and more meaningful to me as I grow older and celebrate more spiritual birthdays. So many things come at me - bad food, electronics (making physical exercise nearly obsolete), general busyness of life, stress, etc. that God can sometimes get "blocked out". 

Stormie Omartian's 7 Steps to Greater Health are peaceful living, pure food, proper exercise, plenty of water, prayer and fasting, periods of fresh air and sunshine, and perfect rest. They are the seven essential "p's", if you will.

If I truly desire to glorify God with my life, I will at least try to do these things.

1. If I have peaceful living, I'm glorifying the Lord by trusting Him with everything life throws at me.
2. If I eat only pure, natural foods, I am considering my body to be the temple of the Holy Spirit, the place where God dwells. I know that the food God made, not the overly processed junk that man makes, is what He intended for me to use for nourishment. That shows me, and others, that I am a good steward of His temple.
3. Proper exercise is necessary to care for this physical temple. It means that I'm not going to let the temple fall into disrepair because of improper upkeep.
4. Plenty of water - ah, that's often problematic for me. Sometimes I simply forget to eat. Yet, God's Word says, "whether your eat or drink ...". Drink water for God's glory. Period.
5. Prayer and fasting is something I don't do quite enough, but I'm working on it. The first time I fasted, I didn't couple it with prayer. A couple of weeks ago, I did a 24 hour fast and prayed lots. What a difference! A praying person, especially while denying herself, has power! "There's life saving power in the blood of the Lamb!" (Lewis E. Jones) God is glorified when His power is revealed in the life of the believer.
6. Periods of fresh air and sunshine are SO very important to our health, both physical and mental, that doctors are now finding a link between a lack of vitamin D (manufactured by the sun) and diseases like MS and Rheumatoid Arthritis. We tend to get depressed when we are deprived of time in the sun. How does a grumpy, sick person glorify his Creator? He can't.
7. Perfect rest sort of goes hand in hand with fresh air and sunshine, in my opinion. If we lack sleep, stress wears down our physical bodies and our minds. Sleep - restful sleep - renews us. God gave us a model to follow when He rested on the seventh day of Creation. He was saying, "Take note. This is important!" Obeying God (after all, resting on the Sabbath is the 4th commandment) gives Him the glory and honor He is due.

Whew. I have a lot of work to do! And since work honors God as well (He surely doesn't desire for us to be lazy or fail to provide for our families), I'm okay with it.

Saturday Scripture Speaks

“Yet you ask, ‘Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live. The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him. Ezekiel 18:19-20 (NIV)

This has been a difficult passage for me to digest - not because the message is quite complicated. It's not. It's because I, as a mother of five, have put so much of my heart and soul into my children that I cannot comprehend that their own choices (whether to choose Christ and live for Him or not) is out of my hands and in the hands of the Holy Spirit.

As Godly parents, we spend many years teaching our children the Word of God. We take them to church and Sunday school. We take them to Wednesday evening programs (Caravan, Pioneer Clubs, etc.) in the hopes and strong belief that they will be Christians serving the Lord when they mature. Perhaps they'll even become missionaries or preachers! 

Then they grow up and one or two of them slip away from what we've taught them. Maybe they haven't even left the faith but are dangling their toes into the worldly waters. Maybe they never embraced Jesus Christ to start with. 

Somehow, some way, it has to be our faults. We did something wrong. Maybe we didn't live out our Christianity as we are supposed to.

Fellow parents and mothers in particular: Some kids go about things the hard way. Some kids will never stray and will be those model Christians from the get-go. Others will backslide to come back later as more mature believers who will change the world with their strong testimonies of deliverance. And some will never believe.

It's their choice, not ours. Our job is to raise them with the knowledge and love of Christ. We are to share with them and teach them in love. And when they rebel, our job is to love them but never enable them in their sins. When we administer that horrifying "tough love", we do so for their good. They'll never see God for who He is unless we get out of the way and allow them to see His face. If we're blocking the light with our interference (because we're afraid to let go and watch them get hurt), we will then take the blame - as I believe the Bible teaches.

Parents, let me encourage you to pray daily for your children, even before any problems arise. Pray for their future spouses as well. Move into action when the Spirit of God instructs you to. And love those children without turning into jelly when they need you to be strong.

Saturday Scripture Speaks

 For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13 (NIV)


The United States of America will soon vote for new (or incumbent) government officials, including President. For whom will YOU vote?

It is clear, from my understanding of the Bible - God's Holy Word - that abortion is NOT to be allowed, yet we have a president who is pro-death. I cannot vote for leaders who believe in the killing of the unborn. 

When choosing your future leaders, stand on the side of LIFE!

 

Saturday Scripture Speaks

The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.  Psalm 69:32 (NLT)

I don't know about you, but I feel discouraged a lot lately. The time of the year when our family feels a huge financial crunch is upon us. Paychecks are down (my husband is paid on commission) and food and gas prices are on the rise. We are discouraged because our health insurance costs are going up while the benefits are being greatly reduced. 

As a side-note: The current administration is bragging about their strides in healthcare coverage for all Americans. The idea that the few who are working will be able to pay for the majority who are not is ludicrous. We're all hurt by socialized medicine. If you want things to change, you have to get out there and vote in a few weeks.

Sin is running rampant all over the place and the Church is saturated with people who look the other way while their brothers and sisters in the Lord are being deceived into believing that it's "not a problem" to live like the devil. That makes me quiver inside - I drop my head and wonder, what's next?

The Bible holds precious promises such as the one above. The secret to this promise is prayer. Seek God's help and be encouraged. God is in control. Satan doesn't win in the end. God is at work and what He does is perfect and right.

Friend, let me encourage you to pray and to seek the Lord. Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (NIV) 

God is not hiding. He simply asks that you turn to Him and spend as much time as you can with Him. He's your best friend, your heavenly Father, your all in all. Desire righteousness - holiness. He has so much to give you - you just have to want it.

Saturday Scripture Speaks - With Whom do you Band?

 I wrote you in my [previous] letter not to associate [closely and habitually] with unchaste (impure) people—
 Not [meaning of course that you must] altogether shun the immoral people of this world, or the greedy graspers and cheats and thieves or idolaters, since otherwise you would need to get out of the world and human society altogether!

 But now I write to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of [Christian] brother if he is known to be guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater [whose soul is devoted to any object that usurps the place of God], or is a person with a foul tongue [railing, abusing, reviling, slandering], or is a drunkard or a swindler or a robber. [No] you must not so much as eat with such a person.

 What [business] of mine is it and what right have I to judge outsiders? Is it not those inside [the church] upon whom you are to pass disciplinary judgment [passing censuring sentence on them as the facts require]?

 God alone sits in judgment on those who are outside. Drive out that wicked one from among you [expel him from your church].
1 Corinthians 5:9:13 (AMP)

 When I was little, my mom was picky about with whom she would let me play. I didn't understand it then, but I do now. "One bad apple spoils the whole bunch," she'd say. The Jackson Five sang about the same thing. The Bible, our standard, says it too in the above passage. The Voice says, "...you are not to band together with those who have embraced immoral lives." (verse 9) Banding together implies making an alliance with or spending lots of quality time with another person. In other words, having like minds and one, unified goal. The Olympic athletes (each team from the same country) have banded together as they work toward one common goal - winning a medal for their countries.

It would seem difficult to impossible to avoid habitually immoral people these days, don't you agree? Each generation seems to become more immoral than the last. Foul language is everywhere. You can't turn on the TV or pop in a movie without hearing some. And then there is the sexual immorality that runs rampant in the lives of people all over the world. UGH!

Paul (the writer of 1 and 2 Corinthians) is not demanding that we avoid everyone. The person about which he's talking is the fellow Christian - the one who claims to be a believer but lives like the rest of the world. The bad yeast, if you will. (1 Cor. 5:6)

One of the reasons the "bad yeast" is to be expelled is because that person can bring down a whole group of people. It's been seen in more than one church.


God will judge the nonbelievers.



Mom was right after all.

Saturday Scripture Speaks

"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest." Proverbs 6:6-8 (KJV)

Money and the handling of it is an often talked about topic. We need money to survive in today's world. In Biblical times, people needed it too. The issue is not whether or not we really need currency but, rather, how do we obtain enough to meet our needs? And do we really want "just enough" or more than enough? Why do we want to have a lot of money? I am not lying when I say that I want to build wealth - but my reasons for doing so are honarable (I think). I desperately want to have financial peace AND be free to help others in need. As it stands now, we don't have anything to offer charities or hurting people other than our weekly tithe to the church. That's sad.

I think women have a responsibility to work hard and "earn" for the good of the family. Don't give up on this blog post yet! I'm definitely NOT saying that a wife should seek a job out of the home, though some have done that and it is not unBiblical to do so. What I AM saying is that laziness in the area of finance is bad. As the above Proverb illustrates, failing to work hard to provide for the individual and the family results in disaster.

You and your husband (if you are married) should absolutely make out a budget and firmly resolve to stick to it. Personally speaking, my husband and I are working up a budget plan and excpect to get ourselves out of all debt except for our mortgage within two years.

One way for wives and moms to contribute to the family's financial well-being is the obvious: Earn an income. Some women choose to work away from home full-time or part-time. If that is your choice, do not allow other moms make you feel guilty. On the flip side, you should never - I mean never - make another woman feel guilty because she chooses to stay at home to raise her children. I have been there and felt tremendous pain because other moms said things like, "Haven't you EVER worked before?" Well, duh, I worked harder than a lot of moms for many years as I raised five children, homeschooled all of them, and worked as a freelance writer (and, by the way, I AM published - and for real money too).

Another way women contribute to their family's finances is to do as I did - work from home doing whatever you can to earn extra moola. In the past, I have taken countless internet surveys to earn cash, Amazon.com gift cards, and other perks. They aren't big money makers, but they do add up. I have earned money with this blog by writing sponsored posts (which I only agree to do if the advertiser's product is relevant to my blog). If you go this route, you should only advertise that which does not conflict with your own personal belief system. In my case, that belief system is Christianity. I have been faithful to never accept advertising for something that caused me to cringe as a believer in Christ.

The most important way for the Proverbs 31 Woman to earn money is not really to earn it at all. She should be a great saver - don't spend needlessly. Use coupons as much as you can at the grocery store, but don't buy something you never would normally buy simply because you have, say, a coupon for $0.35 off an expensive brand of toothpaste. If that expensive brand is priced at $3.99, have you saved enough to make it worth it when you normally pay only $1.00 for that tube of Pepsodent? Wisdom is needed to go at couponing seriously. Some folks have gone to couponing classes or seminars. They recommend the classes highly.

Go to garage sales and auctions to find great deals. Dave Ramsey, in his Financial Peace seminars, says you should always bargain at garage sales and estate sales. As for auctions, be careful you don't overbid your firm "price." Again - wisdom. Utilize thrift stores like the Salvation Army or Goodwill. Oftentimes these stores will have half-price sales. Hunt out bargains as if you were a bloodhound.

One of the best ways to save or make money is to have a garden. Raise your own organic fruits and vegetables. Preserve them for winter use by canning, freezing, and dehydrating. The ant stores up for winter and so should you! Also, if you have far more produce than your family can possibly use, consider giving some away to the poor in your community. You can also make cash by selling it at your local farmer's market. A word of caution: Farmer's markets expect you to sell only that which is organic and that you have grown yourself. Follow the rules and you'll be surprised at how much cash you can earn in one summer. Then, if possible, place that money in a savings account - possibly for Christmas or birthday gifts? Perhaps you should just keep it for emergencies.

Keeping to the food theme, making a menu plan each week as well as a shopping list before visiting the grocery store can keep you from making unwise decisions later. A well-organized mom is a thrifty mom. You'd be surprised how much money you save when you're not browsing the stores for whatever sounds good at the time. Store circulars or websites are invaluable in making grocery lists. Match up sales with the coupons you have on hand.

Use Redbox or another rental kiosk for video rentals. Libraries are worth their weight in gold for borrowing books, movies, and books on cd or cassette. Go to the library when you need to use the internet if having internet in your home is not in your current budget. Trade books at Paperback Swap. If you have a blog, you can do book reviews for many publishers via Booksneeze, Net Galley, etc. Do a search for "book reviews for free books online. Many of them offer e-reader books as well as print copies. Amazon.com offers free Kindle downloads every now and then. Insprired Reads alerts people to Christian ones as they become available.

Each woman should prayerfully consider her role in area of family finances. Lift your head high with a smile on your face as you really understand your worth in the circle of loved ones we call family.

Saturday Scripture Speaks

Colossians 3:12 says:
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

I am a big believer in holiness - as God describes it in the Bible. Those who criticize the holiness churches tend to accuse them of striving to buy their way into Heaven. Sorry if you are one of those who have done that. You need to know that holy living simply means understanding that you are saved by grace and by nothing else. Because you are saved by grace (unmerited free gift of God), you do your utmost to live to please Him. That means you get as far away from sin as you can. You don't continue to struggle with the same sin over, and over, and over again. You give it to God and let it go. Then you run so far away from it that you never revisit it again.

As we continue to separate ourselves from the ways of the world, we find that we become more like Christ (holy). Jesus was and is HOLY. It means He is and always has been sinless. He always will be. His death and resurrection washes us clean and makes us HOLY in God's eyes. That is motive enough for any genuine Christian to strive to live as sinless a life as he can.

If you're unsure of whether something is a sin or not, just look up the Ten Commandments In Exodus chapter 20 (right at the beginning of the chapter). All of the world's sins are summed up within them.

Charles Spurgeon, in his sermon, Without Money and Without Price said it so beautifully:

"Next it inspires with gratitude, and that becomes the basis of holiness. They say that a free gospel will make men think lightly of sin. It is the death of sin, it is the life of virtue, it is the motive power of holiness, and when it comes into the soul it begets zeal for the Lord."

Saturday Scripture Speaks - Divorce

Malachi 2:16 (GNT)

I hate divorce, says the Lord God of Israel.
         I hate it when one of you does such a cruel thing to his wife. Make sure that you do not break your promise to be faithful to your wife.

It's everywhere these days, and quite a bit accepted - even in the Church, especially in the Church. Divorce, or rather the condemnation of it, has become quite the touchy subject. I am not trying to make a personal statement for or against divorce. I simply want to address the epidemic it has become - and what that epidemic is doing to children.

I know quite a few people who have divorced. Some have remained single while others have remarried. Others yet have remarried to divorce again. The children have taken the brunt of the pain in almost all of those situations. Is it any wonder that God says  He hates divorce?

I watched a movie last night that put a little insight into the reality of this Scripture - at least from today's standpoint. It's titled: A Letter to Dad and it's based on a true story. In this story, a man finds he cannot get past the anger and hurt he felt toward (and because of) his father (and his parents' divorce). He ends up writing his dad a letter to just lay it all out on the line, letting him know about all of the bottled up resentment he has carried throughout his life. It's a touching story that left me thinking about all of the children everywhere in the world who have been changed because of divorce.

Kids love their parents and really do want them to stay together. When they don't the kids carry the guilt and the blame throughout their lives. They don't always express it in direct methods, such as in a letter or face to face. Most of the time it's displayed in their actions. Sometimes it's never expressed - until that child does something drastic, like commit suicide.

If you are divorced, my heart goes out to you. I'm not trying to make you feel guilty. If you have children, young or old, my prayer is that you and your kids can have healthy, good relationships. If you are contemplating divorce, my prayer is that you will seek God's will in this matter - with all that you have in you. If you have a healthy, thriving marriage, my prayer is that you never take that for granted and that you will always keep on alert for anything that might try to destroy that marriage.

Saturday Scripture Speaks

Mark 3:28-30 (NLT)

"I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences." He told them this because they were saying, "He's possessed by an evil spirit."

This is a passage that has confounded Christians for a very long time. It is the unforgivable sin. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit - what is it?

I believe and will continue to believe that the only way to interpret Scripture is through other Scripture. God knows what He means and He imparts it to us if we will only SEEK the Truth. The only way to do that is through prayer and Bible reading (and study).

In this passage, Jesus had been casting out evil spirits (demons). Those demons knew who Jesus was and they would, in fact, come out of the possessed "shrieking, 'You are the Son of God!'" (Mark 3:11) Jesus then instructed the disciples (the 12 called out from the many who originally began to follow Him) how to cast out demons. The pharisees, however, were displeased and murmured among themselves that, "He's possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. That's where he gets the power to cast out demons." (Mark 3:22)

As a result of their whispers - Jesus knew then and knows now what people are saying and doing - He asked, "Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger - someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house." (Mark 3:27)

He then rebuked them and told them that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit could never be forgiven - a sin with eternal consequences. In other words, if you blaspheme the Holy Spirit, you have no chance of redemption and will be cast into Hell. Oops.

The key to understanding blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is found in verse 30. They were saying that Jesus was getting His power from Satan. Why is this considered blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? It is because the miracles that Jesus performed were performed by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Consider these points:

• Jesus was conceived through the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18)
• John the Baptist said that Jesus would baptize people with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Matthew 3:11)
• Jesus was "full of the Holy Spirit" when he was led, by the Holy Spirit, in the desert for 40 days, where He was tempted by Satan. (note that He was not led "into" the desert but, rather, "led" in the desert, signifying that the Holy Spirit guided Him through the difficult temptation)
• After the disciples had been casting out demons, in Jesus' name, He was "full of joy through the Holy Spirit." (Luke 10:21)

There are numerous more passages that speak of the Holy Spirit and His power. Look them up in a concordance and let Scripture interpret Scripture. God is good.

Saturday Scripture Speaks

Psalm 121 (NIV)

A song of ascents.
¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
³ He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
⁵ The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

If this isn't a great promise from the LORD, I don't know what is. This Christmas season, if you're feeling the normal depression that plagues people this time of year, take heart. Life is hard - money is scarce - persecution of believers is becoming more commonplace.

Jesus brought hope to the world. He was there in the beginning, when the earth was brought into being. He was there when it was flooded and Noah, his family, and the many animals were saved. He was there when all seemed lost and He was hung on a cross. He was there - really there - when He resurrected from the dead. He was there when Hitler tried to kill all the Jews. He was there when countless martyrs gave their lives for Him. And He WILL be there when the book of Revelation is unfolded. He is also there, with you and with me, in our daily struggles.

Merry Christmas. May you feel His peace now and fovermore.

Saturday Scripture Speaks

When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake. Revelation 8:1-5 (New American Standard)

If you are reading through the Bible in one year, you might possibly be reading the above verses today (I did). Two things strike me as I read them. First, silence in Heaven permeated everything for "about half an hour". If you read the verses before these (Revelation 7:10-11), you'll see that those who had been martyred for Christ (the Lamb) were shouting in a loud voice, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." These are a great number, too many to count, from every nation, tribe, and tongue (multi-racial - Hallelujah!)

The angels then responded (audibly), "Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”And the angels were falling on their faces before the throne as they said this.

When the seventh seal was broken, however, everything became completely silent. Could it be that, perhaps, what was to come was so dreadful that it caused Heaven to stop everything to contemplate all that was to happen? If you continue in chapter 8, you will see that the coming wrath is indeed horrific.

The second thing I notice in today's passage is this: The golden censer is filled with much incense (sweet smelling perfume). The angel holding the censer added the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne. The incense, combined with the prayers, went up before God.

Again, if you go back to Revelation 6:9-10, you will read what those prayers are. They are that of those who were killed for their testimony of Christ. When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

I pray that this Christmas season we keep in mind that Jesus is more than a little baby born in a manger. He is the Lamb of God who alone is worthy to take creation back from Satan (who has had control of this world since the first sin was committed). Praise and Glory to the Lamb!
 

Saturday Scripture Speaks

"But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching. Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth." Revelation 2:14-16 (NLT)

I have wondered who the Nicolaitans were and what they were all about. After all, Jesus says that He will come suddenly and fight against them with the sword of His mouth (typically, the sword Jesus refers to is the Word of God). When in doubt, a good rule to follow is: Let Scripture interpret Scripture.

Obviously, the Nicolaitans followed the same teaching as Balaam. Remember him from Numbers 22? He is the man whose donkey spoke to him when he continued to beat it. That's what most people remember. The more important part of his life's story is that he worked his way into the graces of Israel - Balak in particular - and taught them to sin. What was the sin? Turning away from God and committing sexual sins and eating food offered to idols, both of which broke God's Law.

I think we have "Nicolaitans" among us today. They have a different name, however. They teach weak Christians that, because of Christian liberty (grace), they might "live like the devil" and not reap the consequences. After all, Jesus died for past, present, and future sins - which is quite true. The problem with this thinking is that liberty becomes an excuse to sin.

Jesus died once and for all to cover the sins of the world - for those sins from which the sinners have repented, however. To continue in a sin is extremely dangerous. To teach others that it's okay is more so (false teaching - see 2 Peter 2:1).

1 Peter 1:14-16 (NIV): As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Being holy is doable. How? By that same grace that the Nicolaitans abuse you can find forgiveness and the ability to rise above the sins that Jesus hates so much. Don't let another day go by without repentance and forgiveness - and holiness.

Saturday Scripture Speaks - Our Parents

Proverbs 28:24 (NLT) says, "Anyone who steals from his father or mother and says, 'What's wrong with that?' is no better than a murderer."

This is a Scripture passage that I came across this week as I read in my One Year Bible (God Sightings). It is part of the reading for November 30, lest anyone should think that I pulled out something to throw at them personally.

Wow! "no better than a murderer!" That's pretty scary. The Lord says in Revelation 21:8 (NIV), "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." With a warning as dire as this, how can we not tremble in holy fear?

How does one steal from his/her parents? I think there are a multitude of ways this can, and is, done. There is the outright stealing of their income and material goods. There is the more subtle way of stealing their health from them by asking (demanding?) that they do difficult things for their grown children that they really can't do physically (or emotionally) without landing in an early grave. There is the art of stealing their joy. I don't think there's a lot of explanation needed for that one.

The Bible talks a lot about how we are to treat family, parents in particular. In fact, one of the Ten Commandments: "Regard (treat with honor, due obedience, and courtesy) your father and mother, that your days may be long in the land the Lord your God gives you." Exodus 20:12 (AMP)  Know why that's in quotes? Because GOD wrote them with His own finger! They are the direct words of GOD Himself and are not to be taken lightly.

Deuteronomy 5:16 (AMP) Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you in the land which the Lord your God gives you.
Matthew 15:4 (AMP) For God commanded, Honor your father and your mother, and, He who curses or reviles or speaks evil of or abuses or treats improperly his father or mother, let him surely come to his end by death.

Matthew 15:5 (AMP) But you say, If anyone tells his father or mother, What you would have gained from me [that is, the money and whatever I have that might be used for helping you] is already dedicated as a gift to God, then he is exempt and no longer under obligation to honor and help his father or his mother.

Matthew 19:19 (AMP) Honor your father and your mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.

Mark 7:10 (AMP) For Moses said, Honor (revere with tenderness of feeling and deference) your father and your mother, and, He who curses or reviles or speaks evil of or abuses or treats improperly his father or mother, let him surely die.

Mark 10:19 (AMP) You know the commandments: Do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.

These are only a few passages from the Bible regarding how we are to consider our parents. There are more, both from the New Testament and from the Old. Google them - read them - meditate upon them - obey them.

Saturday Scripture Speaks

All hard work brings a profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty. Psalm 14:23 (NIV)


Every two weeks I head out to our local Goodwill store in search of affordable used clothing. Yesterday I found a nice sweater for my daughter. For myself, I was able to find a nice pair of slacks and a shirt. Total cost was a whopping $8.00.

Some people might find it appalling to think of wearing used clothing. Some might find the thrill of the hunt good fun. And still others might hate going there but know it's their only option, considering the prices of new clothes these days. As for me, I think I fit somewhere in all three categories. As for the real subject of this post - I have something else in mind.

What I am really talking about is not the used clothing or even the need to purchase used clothing. I'm going to put my neck on the line and pray that I'm not stepping on someone's toes here. You see, to work and earn a little or a lot of money is a good thing. The important thing is that you EARN what you get, rather than have it handed to you with little or no effort of your own, other than maybe reach your hand out to receive.

According to Psalm 14:23, hard work - all of it - brings a profit. Sitting around jabbering (maybe spreading gossip or slander?) brings only poverty. I suspect that having big dreams and doing nothing but bragging up those plans and dreams leaves one to actually do nothing and lose what little he/she has.

Back to the Goodwill store - as I was walking out the door yesterday, I noticed a display of cell phones, brand new ones. It caught my eye because they were all brand new. When I read the sign I was very surprised: "You might qualify for a free government paid cell phone." Yes, the government gives free cell phones to welfare recipients! Not only do they get a free phone, they get free service as well.

Can we still say that hard work brings profit? Wouldn't it be easier to allow the government to shower us with fun things that our parents (and those of us over 40) didn't have until recent years? I wonder how I got by for so many years, driving here and there with no cell phone? Wow.

Proverbs 31:17 says, "She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks." That virtuous woman of the Bible after which so many Christian women today wish to model themselves worked hard. I doubt that she would ever have degraded herself for a handout if she didn't need to. She certainly wouldn't have felt she were entitled to luxuries if she didn't earn them. And yes, I believe a cellular phone is a luxury. It isn't necessary.

^"Two things have I asked of You [O Lord]; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, Lest I be full and deny You and say, Who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor and steal, and so profane the name of my God." Proverbs 30:7-9 (AMP) We really should pray for our daily bread - those needs called food, shelter and clothing, not mere wants. When we rob the government, and the American taxpayer in order to have toys, we are profaning the name of God.

My prayer is that each of us do our best to work hard for that daily bread. If God blesses us with more than that, then to God be the glory! Use that extra to bless others. If He gives us less, then to God be the Glory! He always knows what is best for us. Learn to be content with what you have; you'll be happier for it.

Saturday Scripture Speaks

Proverbs 24:27 (NLT) says, "Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house."

How many times do we get the cart before the horse, so to speak? I had an experience this week that was one of those things. I stumbled upon a part-time job that I had not planned on getting; in fact, I wasn't even thinking about applying. Our local librarian had to quit her long time job. I assumed the main branch would give the job to someone from within the organization, so I didn't apply. One day I went to the library with my children and the fill-in librarian, a friend of mine, asked me to fill out an application. I figured, how can it hurt?

That same day, another librarian recommended that I apply. Well, it was already done. Here it is less than two weeks later and I have the job.

Now, after I applied and interviewed, I had a feeling I was probably going to get the job. I almost began making plans.

The Bible says not to get ahead of ourselves, however. The Good News Translation puts the above proverb this way, "Don't build your house and establish a home until your fields are ready, and you are sure that you can earn a living."

I could have bought a bunch of new work clothes or bragged that I had the job - and then found out that I didn't. It's always best to wait upon the Lord and then reap His abundant blessings.

Saturday Scripture Speaks - The Chosen Few

"Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” Genesis 18:18-19 (NIV)

A lot of Christians like to talk about being chosen, or elected, by God. I've spent a lot of time listening to sermons and reading TONS of books (Bible first and foremost) on the subject, trying to understand where they are coming from. This week I read something interesting in a book that I'm studying. It's called Miracles and it's written by C. S. Lewis. Remember him - the author of the Chronicles of Narnia books? What Mr. Lewis said concerning election stunned me. It is not quite what I expected, but it is powerful - and I believe quite correct. Here's what he said:

For when we look into the Selectiveness which the Christians attribute to God we find in it none of that "favouritism" which we were afraid of. The "chosen" people are chosen not for their own sake (certainly not for their own honour or pleasure) but for the sake of the unchosen. Abraham is told that "in his seed" (the chosen nation) "all nations shall be blest." That nation has been chosen to bear a heavy burden. Their sufferings are great: but, as Isaiah recognised, their sufferings heal others. On the finally selected Woman falls the utmost depth of maternal anguish. Her Son, the incarnate God, is a "man of sorrows"; the one Man into whom Deity descended, the one Man who can be lawfully adored, is pre-eminent for suffering.

I've always believed and understood that Israel is "God's chosen people." What I didn't understand was why and for what purpose. It just seemed to me that they were more special, perhaps better than the rest of us. Or maybe that God was simply being partial. Of course, when we call God partial, we're saying that He plays favorites - which is refuted in many, many other parts of Scripture. God says He does not play favorites and He does not lie.

The Calvinistic section of Christianity would state that God has elected (or chosen) some people to be His people - those He would save on the Cross. Others, they say, are rejected and have no hope of being saved. In fact, they would say that those rejected people have been refused salvation based upon God's "hatred" of them. They base this on the verse, "Jacob I loved; Esau I hated." (Romans 9:13)

Of course, when read in context, the verse makes perfect sense. Esau did not obey God while Jacob did.  When we love God and obey Him by accepting His finished work on the Cross, we enter into a rebirth and have assurance of eternal life. It's done by faith. And that brings us to the original thought on the chosen, as C. S. Lewis described.

The chosen are chosen not because God loves them more. They are not chosen because God decided to randomly save some and damn others. They are chosen for the bigger picture. They get to suffer sometimes. They get to bear burdens. They get to have an effect on those who are "not chosen." They are, in reality, chosen in order to bring God's message of love to the unsaved. 

God loves all people, as the Bible clearly tells us ...... over and over again. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

As Christians, we are all chosen, but not out of favoritism or because we are better than others. We are chosen for a purpose. And that purpose is to spread God's love and message of Salvation through Christ to those who don't yet know Him. 

It's a special task. You should feel special indeed.