The thrill of obedience

       I would like to take a few minutes and praise God from whom all blessings flow.  I have been blessed in the last 6-12 months to have had such a breakthrough in my spiritual walk that I must testify about it.  This poor man cried, the Lord heard him, and saved him out of his troubles. (Psalm 34:6).  I have cried out to God and sought for him in certain areas of my life and I have found him (Jeremiah 29-13).  There is no greater thrill as a Christian than knowing that God has called you to obedience and you have answered with a resounding YES!  By no stretch of the imagination have I mastered every battle, however I have seen the grace of God evident in my life helping me to make great strides in the areas of being a husband,  in actually putting God first in much more of my life , and in actually sharing my faith with others and striving to build them up in theirs.  Admittedly, I feel a call to ministry on my life.  However, if you have been reading my posts then you know that I believe the Bible teaches we should all be doing this as Christians.  Certainly some are called to a specific ministry calling, but the Great Commission was for everyone(Matthew 28:16-20)
     Until a year or so ago I was failing miserably in this.  Oh I would have the occasional conversation.  Perhaps I would even instigate it.  But it was haphazard, not intentional.  The driving force in my life was not a desire to win the lost and glorify God within every aspect of my life.  I would talk about wanting that but my life was not reflecting it.  No, when I was home, my life revolved around my family, television, and food.                                                                                                
     I love my family.  I have a beautiful wife, and two little boys, all of whom I adore.  However, through a number of arguments, about numerous issues, I discovered that I was not loving them in a Godly fashion. See I fully believe in spiritual headship and submission of the wife to the husband as it relates to Christ and the Church.  Not in the abusive way in which many men use it.  However, I was so busy defending my rights or trying to effect change by force, that I did not realize that I had totally missed what my wife needed from me. This year God placed 1st Corinthians 13 style love on my heart as the way in which he wanted me to try to treat people.  I was already a relatively loving and patient person in general, or so I thought.  The truth was that I paled in comparison when I looked at God's idea of how we are to love each other.  So I cried out.  I asked God to help me lay myself aside and to love my wife the way Jesus loved the Church.  That was the beginning of a lot of change in me and it amazed me how much easier we began to get a long.  It surprised me how quickly, in some areas, she has desired to grow as a result of my choosing to let go of  the responsibility for her change.  You see in any relationship the only person whom you should be actively trying to change is YOU.  And that, only by the grace of God.  So cry out to him, because he listens and he cares.
    Food is a challenge in which I have not yet seen major breakthrough yet so please continue to pray for me as I  cry out to God for the grace and strength to begin to effect change in that area of my life.  What I can say is that my addiction to television and movies worsened my eating issues because I would stay up late and watch movies or television shows and eat while I did it.
    My parents, siblings, and I have been TV and movie junkies for as long as I can remember.  I guess we just couldn't see the damage it was doing to our spiritual selves in regards to the junk we were allowing in to our spirits and the time that we wasted when we could have been growing in our study of the Word or out sharing it with others.  Gratefully, God made me aware of the need for this to change and yet I still struggled for a while.  I would be driving home from church or work and my first thought often would be to turn on the TV and see what was on, catch up on what I had missed that had been recorded, or to watch the latest movie that had come out.  Even at work, if there was downtime and I could catch something on a TV, I would.  Praise be to God that in the last 6 months he has taken away that hunger and replaced it with a hunger for God's Word.  I now listen to at least one sermon a day by podcast from some ministers whom God is using to feed me.  In my thirty minute commute to work I catch half on the way to work and half on the way home from work.  What really amazes me is that I, as a musician, have of late been giving more ear time to preaching than music.  A MAJOR shift, of this you can be sure.
     I want to be clear that, these changes have not come lightly.  They have been with great desperation and crying out to God at times.  You see, the first thing you need in order to see change is a desire to change.  If there is any element in your life that is not wholly surrendered to God through the scriptures and you know biblically that you should change but you feel know desire to then you must cry out.  Beg God to help you to hunger and thirst after righteousness(Matthew 5:6).
     I wanted to share my faith but I never would have imagined a blog.  One day God dropped the idea in my spirit in such a way as to command obedience.  The rest is history.  I don't know what God has planned for me.  What I do know is that I am no longer satisfied to disobey.  I must strive to step out in obedience, even though it is scary.  Even though I do not know the end result.  And, even though I have, and I know I will again, meet resistance to the idea of moving, step by step, further into ministry.  This blog, though I have no idea how many people are actually reading it, has been a huge blessing to me.  I know it is my primary outlet, given by God for this season, for honing my thoughts and skills in developing expression of thought on biblical topics. Whatever kind of ministry God leads me to I know that I am forced to delve into scripture deeper all the time in order to scripturally substantiate my thoughts.  It is awesome.  I praise God that some who do follow it have encouraged me that I am sound in message and delivery, that it is a blessing to them, and to keep it up.  
    Outside of this blog, I have asked God to help me step out of my comfort zone in obedience at work.  I work in a hospital Emergency Department.  As you can imagine, I am exposed to every possible scenario of people group and life struggle.  Without going into heavy detail,  let me just say that in the last 6 weeks God has given me many opportunities to pray with people that needed prayer.  I have looked up scriptures that pertained to their situation and created quick documents for them to keep to encourage them along the way. He has used me to minister to people with psychological and behavioral issues that no one there knew how to handle except to drug them up.  Some of these have happened in view of staff by no choice of my own and God gets the glory.  I am continually looking for opportunities to do this as I cannot express the excitement that comes from being the conduit by which God shows himself to others.  I hope to have some bibles handy soon that I can provide to patients as the spirit leads.  In addition to this, I have seen favor as I have been able to use downtime to sit with my bible open and study or work on things.  This has created opportunities for conversation about Jesus and inspires thought on the part of those that observe this sometimes silent witness.  
   We are supposed to be peculiar people.  People are supposed to notice something different about us.  I am so grateful that God has seen fit by his grace and not by any merit of my own to bless me with this growth and these opportunities.  I so look forward to what he is continuing to do and I pray that this will inspire others to look at their lives and take one of two paths.  Either they will recognize their need for Jesus and cry out for his saving grace in their lives or they are already believers and will develop a hunger for growth and change, by his grace, that will serve as an example of God's goodness to others whom their lives affect.  
   Philippians 2:12-13 says, "work out your salvation with fear and trembling,  For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose".  I pray this becomes a reality in your life.
Blessings, 
Josh
       

back to back blogs on same email apology

      To everyone who receives this blog by email, I want to apologize for the latest post email and also say again, Thank you.  I am going on vacation 7/15-7/22 and do not anticipate posting anything.  I had extra time at work Sunday night so I completed 2 posts and will probably complete at least one more before vacation.  What I did not realize is that in completing both posts on same night is that they would go out in the same email.  In fact, the only way I discovered it is by scrolling down on the email.  So the Harry Potter related post actually showed first because it was the second one I completed.  I hope it wasn't overwhelming receiving both.  I am not ashamed of either but I do acknowledge that they have been heavy in topic and nature.

    I really do love people, lost or saved.  I want to see everyone come to the knowledge of Jesus and to understand what the full application of it should be.  I took a while to get some of that and my heart is 2 fold. 1. that God is glorified by the lives of  those who are supposed to be Christians.  That people would not misrepresent Jesus or experience unnecessary trials because of disobedience. That they would always be examining themselves daily as they grow in their Christian walk.  2.  That any lost or worse yet, those who don't realize they are lost because they have a form of religion would find revelation in the scriptures and truths presented here and would become aware of their need for Christ and aware of  the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. 

     So basically, my heart is to disciple believers and evangelize the lost.  Isn't that what God wants all to do. That's the Great Commission.  I pray that even though I present a touch message in a lot of my posts, that the Holy Spirit will have prepared the hearts of the people that needed to hear that message. If you didn't need it for yourself, perhaps it will be useful in your ministering the truth to someone else.  As long as God is glorified in my obedience, I am happy.

     I will be working on a series of posts over vacation getting into the depth of the Gospel as it applies to Salvation, Sanctification, Glorification, and Assurance of Salvation.  I am not a seminary student or grad however, I have grown up as a pastors son and am becoming a student of the Bible and am pursing a working knowledge of the Bible with a fervor. I am learning from a number of different solid Evangelistic and Discipleship driven ministries.  This series will be heavily influenced by a sermon series delivered by a pastor named Dr. David Platt.  He pastors a megachurch  in Birmingham, AL named Brook Hills.  He wrote the book Radical which is shaking the spiritual apathy of anyone who reads it.  He is solid as a Theologian/Teacher, and in Evangelizing and Discipling.  It has opened my eyes to some things and giving me a working knowledge of how to present what I already believed about the Gospel. I hope it will be a blessing to you, wherever you are in your walk with Christ.  I hope to begin that shortly after vacation. 

        I would like to say that the fact that I am giving credit for information in some of  my posts to other ministries is in no way intended to insult or undercut the value of my own pastor.  I don't believe anyone should be influenced by any one person.  Besides, the Bible is the ultimate authority.  We are just stewards of delivering it. Thanks for your support.

     I strive to love you all as Christ loved the Church, placing the value of the truth of the Gospel above the value of my own life or reputation and I pray that God will have his way in your life.

In Jesus name,

Josh

The Gospel in Harry Potter and other books? Why not the Bible?

     Over the years, as the Harry Potter series has picked up momentum, there has been increasing interest in Christian circles to find biblical meaning in the series, i.e. The Gospel according to Harry Potter.  I will not only be discussing Harry Potter here, so stay with me. (added after finishing the post).

        This concerns me for a number of reasons, not one of the least of these being the fact that we are looking for anything Godly in a book whose driving force is witchcraft.  Galatians 5:19-21 lists the acts of the sinful nature, all of which will keep you from the kingdom of God, and witchcraft and idolatry are among them. Also, I am concerned about promoting books written by an author who by her own admission is "drawn to religion" yet her actual beliefs are ambiguous at best based on several interviews involving questions about her beliefs.  Certainly, she has Protestant background and thought the book is not a true allegory there are Christianesque themes.  She is also quoted as having always thought of Dumbledoor as gay.  I don't remember if that was ever alluded to in the movies. It doesn't come to mind.  And I can't speak for the books, however that she would even go there leaves a concern for just how liberal her "religious" views are.   

        Now, before I go any further, let me just say that I understand the fascination with Harry Potter.  I have grown up enjoying movies and TV and I can get sucked in to a storyline as easily as anyone else.  I have not read the books.  I have seen all the movies, some of them more than once. I am not sure that will continue based on my current convictions however. I have even seen the movie about J.K. Rowling's life and the creation of Harry Potter.  It is very endearing, as are the books.  I have many family members who love the books and the movies.  In a debate they will argue for the Harry Potter books vs. against them.  If the truth be told, my fleshly, movie loving man would love to be able to justify the existence of these books.  I would love to be able to have peace about finding inklings of the Gospel in Harry Potter and using them to justify the books.  Unfortunately, I do not believe the Bible supports that idea.  I believe that Satan is using the fantasy and interspersing of biblical ideas such as sacrificial love, redemptive love, and good vs. evil to draw us in.  There are many respectable authors and journalist trying to do justice to both sides.  I have not read the book "What's a Christian to do with Harry Potter" by Connie Neal from Focus on the Family, but from what I can tell of lengthy reviews of her book, it is the closest thing out there regarding addressing legitimate spiritual concerns while still finding virtue in the books.

         There is already so much out there trashing the Harry Potter books and focusing on the negative vs. positive aspects of it that I am going to try to take a different direction.  That direction is:

Why, in a world that is already so anti-Christian are Christians so apt to go crazy over Harry Potter, Aragon, or any of the other multitudinous series of books that have come out in the last 10 yrs.  What about stories like Twilight.  Vampire story lines have become increasingly popular over the last 10-15 years.  Talk about your ungodly subject matter.  Even Lord of the Rings and Chronicles of Narnia have a seen a resurgence with the making of the movies.   

    Here is the thing.  The BIBLE is the only God-ordained, God-Breathed book with a message and author powerful enough to break strongholds, heal disease, and save souls from eternal damnation and yet, you don't see nearly the hype over it. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation(Romans 1:16). You don't see parents encouraging children to find interest in the Bible and read it over and over again.  That's not to say that it doesn't happen but, it doesn't appear to be a prevailing, awe inspiring, news worthy event.  Why is that?

    I suppose that is an unfair statement.  It gets attention. But it is usually in the form of how we can make it more appealing to this generation.  How it will make you prosperous and help you find your best life now, or whether or not Genesis is a legitimate story and basis for Creation.

    Here is a fact that is undeniable.  If we are giving more time to and getting more excited for ourselves or our children regarding secular entertainment than we are about the Bible and it's influence on our lives then we have seriously misprioritized what is important. We are in danger of idolizing these other sources of entertainment by giving them a higher priority than God's Word. 

 Just how often is the Bible read?

Wiki answers says this:

Surprisingly, the people that claim to be the most devout Christians and go to church often have spent the least amount of time reading the bible that is supposed to be their guiding text. Most it seems go to church and "hear the Word" from their minister or pastor, trusting that this person is being truthful, honest, and meticulous about sharing what is written in the Bible and ONLY what is written in the Bible. Modern churches seem to focus more on prosperity and making people feel good then they do Scripture. Therefore, the modern Christian must take it upon him or herself to read the bible. There are bibles printed for every reading level and in every language, so there is no excuse not to have read it for yourself. Trusting the wrong person to teach you Scripture could place you in the position to be victimized and preyed upon by a charlatan.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_often_do_Christians_read_the_Bible#ixzz20715XTT3

A Gallup poll says this:

 According to a recent Gallup poll, about six in ten Americans (59%) say they read the Bible at least on occasion, with the most likely readers being women, nonwhites, older people, Republicans, and political conservatives. Readership of the Bible has declined from the 1980s overall, from 73% to 59% today. And the percentage of frequent readers, that is, those who read the Bible at least once a week, has decreased slightly over the last decade, from 40% in 1990 to 37% today. About one American in seven reports an involvement that goes beyond reading the Bible. Fourteen percent currently belong to a Bible study group. In terms of frequency of readership, 16% of Americans say that they read the Bible every day, 21% say they read it weekly, 12% say they read the Bible monthly, 10% say less than monthly and 41% say that they rarely or never read the Bible

If I were a betting man, I would bet you that the percentages are sadly better for secular material. I could be wrong.  Even if I am, these stats are pretty sad.  If we made as big a deal out of the bible as we do the Harry Potter books, or Vampire books/tv shows, everybody would be reading the Bible.  I have a hard time rationalizing anyone spending tons of time on trying to find the "good" in Harry Potter or any other secular book, defending it's good name in the name of unity between views, when the Bible is so under utilized and under prioritized.  People are out there trying to use Harry Potter to relate the Gospel to people. WHY?!  God does not need Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings or any other fictional book Allegorical or otherwise to supplement the true story of the Bible.  If we are using them for that purpose then we are undercutting the power of God's Word.

     Why are we trying to use man written secular books or any other secular material to try to relate to children or anyone else in our culture?  Maybe if we raised our children on the Bible instead of all these other books they would not leave home at 18 and abandon their faith for some period of time if not permanently because they had no real faith in God's Word.

 Do we really think that God did not know what the 20th and 21st centuries would hold when he wrote the Bible.  Do we really think the Bible needs help from other resources to accomplish the goal for which God put it forth. That the All powerful, All knowing God of the universe is sitting up in heaven saying, "boy I sure am glad those other authors squeezed some semblance of my Gospel into their fictional story books.  I don't think the world would have gotten it otherwise". 

NO! Don't be ridiculous! God's word is sufficient(2 Timothy 3:16-17).  It will accomplish anything that God needs it to accomplish in our lives(Isaiah 55:11).  However, if we do not have a working knowledge of God's Word and instead we are pouring our time into secular, fantastical books that have no eternal purpose then we are wasting our lives and we will lack power and knowledge to accomplish the work of the Gospel.  

       Two thousand years ago, the God-inspired writers of the Bible were steering people away from all things secular and back to the Word of God.  They were reminding them that they were created for one purpose and that is to glorify and worship Almighty God with their lives.  This may seem like a critical rant to some but, if the apostles thought it important then to sometimes strongly draw attention back to God from the things of this world then I think it's safe to say that it is important today as well.

       I did not even intend to go this direction but I believe this is what God wants said.  We need to stop prioritizing the things of this world over the things of God.  One day God is all you will have, for better or for worse.  I hope that becomes a reality for how you live your lives now.  That is the will of God.  To conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel(Philippians1:27) To consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him,not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ---the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.(Philippians 3:8)  I hope people have read this and that it causes them to think about what is really important.  God is definitely doing that with me.  Blessings.

Conformity...biblical or non-biblical

       Let me start by saying, as always, that while I am firm in the stances I take based on scripture and often direct in the seriousness of the issues, I strive to love God and people in my presentation.  Love does not always mean being light in subject matter or delivery.  The bible says speak the truth in love that in all things we will grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.(Ephesians 4:15)  Verse 12-13 are in the context of the different spiritual offices.  These verses say that the purpose of the different spiritual offices is to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
       This is the purpose of this blog.  To share the truth in love, with a strong biblical foundation, that all may grow and mature in Christ.  If what I say makes people uncomfortable or angry sometimes, that's ok.  Sometimes, growing pains hurt. The other purpose is to draw any unsaved person who may read this blog unto the knowledge of their need for Jesus and hope that the seed planted will grow unto salvation.
       Let me remind everyone reading this that I am always looking in the mirror.  Everything that I post is something that I have grown in or am still growing in myself.  I was not, nor will I ever be perfect.  However, I have hungered after God, chasing the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus, and he has placed a fire in my belly for his Word.  He has also placed this desire to share the revelations of His truths, that he has placed in me, with others.  Therefore, this blog is not my own.  It is God's and he has made me a steward of it.  I will always strive to be faithful in being truthful yet constructive in all that I present here.
     With that said,  as I continue working on posts regarding the depth of the Gospel and it's function and application in life, I am wrestling with a concern right now, so I thought I would post on it.  Conformity.  Two definitions I found for the word conform are: 1. to comply with rules, standards, or laws, 2. to behave according to socially acceptable conventions or standards.  Websters dictionary defines it as : to be similar or identical; to be in agreement or harmony.  The 1st definition and Websters definition are God's idea of conformity.  The 2nd definition is the worlds idea of conformity.
       It concerns me greatly that many professing Christians today are prone to formulating their "Christian" views based on what they want.  They choose to believe in a God that fit's THEIR idea of "Love".  It fits THEIR idea of "Justice".  They formulate a God  that fit's their beliefs instead of formulating their beliefs to fit God.  Unfortunately, this means that they have placed their faith in a lie made up in their heads vs. placing their faith in the truth of the God of the bible, who chooses them, and by his grace places a revelation of himself in their hearts. The former are quite likely false converts.
      Similarly, even true, yet immature converts, rationalize (self-deceive) themselves into thinking that ungodly things are ok to have in their lives.  To the point that if someone challenges these things, that person is called "holier than thou", "religious" or "legalistic".  I understand that more often than not, when someone is angry with a Godly idea, they often displace that anger on the person delivering the challenge.  Yet still, sometimes it surprises me.  I guess because sometimes it comes from people whom consider themselves to be solid Christians. Who may have even appeared to be mature until confronted with the truth. The truth of the matter is that if someone is truly secure in their faith, they will not need to feel defensive.  In fact, they may even pray about it, asking God to help them change.  Those that lash out, do it out of a lack of confidence in what they believe and why the believe it.  Maybe it even causes them to question their salvation.  That could be a legitimate concern.
       I am not composing this post because of recent personal experience, though I have experienced the "shoot the messenger" mentality before in regards to theological challenges.  I am mostly writing this because I am tired of people who profess Christ while continually justifying, supporting and still engaging in things that are clearly sinful and not pleasing to God. Of course, I want to be very careful because I absolutely believe that it is God's grace that enables change but, that work begins the moment we are born again.  We are to desire transformation and growth and be crying out for God's grace to help us in this from the moment we are justified (saved).  Therefore, if someone is defending their right to continue pursuing sinful things or they are still living a sinful lifestyle, they are in direct contradiction to the very nature of God that is in us if we are truly born again.  Now, obviously I do not know for sure if someone is born again.  Only the Holy Spirit knows that for sure.  However, we can look at the spiritual fruit of obedience and the attitude toward obedience and know that we may need to challenge someone to examine themselves to see if they are in the faith.
(2 Corinthians 13:5-6).
          Romans 12:1-2 says,"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing, and perfect will".
            Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world...think about this one.  What is the pattern of this world?  2 Timothy 3:1-5 Paul says, "there will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but denying it's power.  Have nothing to do with them".
Sound familiar.  Sounds like the world today doesn't it?  We are not to be like the world or to love worldly things!
          Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  That is the only way you will know God's will.  How do we renew our minds?  We must study to show ourselves approved(2 Timothy 2:15).  Psalm 119  is all about dependence on God and obedience to God that we may be blameless and not sin against God.  Psalm 119:11 specifically says, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you".  THAT, is how  we are able to not conform to this world and how we are able to know his good, pleasing, and perfect will.  God told Joshua in the book of Joshua 1:7-8,  "be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.  Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful.
       As I have said before, and will probably say again, we must study God's word until it is on the inside of us, transforming us.  Then the Holy Spirit can bring it to our minds when we need it for strength, or as a reminder of what is acceptable or unacceptable in God's sight.  We also cannot share the Gospel or make disciples effectively if we do not first have a solid foundation in God's word ourselves.   
        How often do we do this?  For a long time, when I would get home from work, my first inclination, even as I drove home, would be to watch TV.  I had an addiction to it. I would stay up to late, eating all the wrong things while watching all the wrong things. Even in this disobedience however, I desired to change.  I desired to be more Christlike.  I would cry out to God to help me grow and make me new, and deliver me from this. I would beg him to give me a hunger for his word, meanwhile the TV was an idol in my life.  It had a greater priority for me than God's word.  But, THANKS BE TO GOD, that he heard my cry and by His grace, he gave me a new heart for his Word and a distaste for television.  That is not to say that I do not stumble in this area but, it is no longer a primary force in my life. Now I stay up too late sometimes, reading the Word or listing to sermons by podcast and learning from the teaching of others.  It is so much more about God now. :-) There have been other areas in life where I have seen success, but initially, I did not take action.  I was made aware of the potential lack of obedience, but would say, "I don't feel that God is convicting me about that at this time".  Even though scripture made it plain that I was in disobedience.  Gratefully, God corrected me in this.
       I believe that  God makes us aware of a need for change.  He does this either by his Word or by someone sharing a biblical principle with us.  Once he shows us that there is a potential area of improvement in our Christian walk, we are then responsible to begin striving to bring correction in that area by crying out to God to give us the grace needed to have success. If scripture supports a need for change, and we are made aware of it, then to say that we don't feel any conviction about it is not acceptable.  Once we are aware of it, IF we care about what God cares about, we should feel conviction about it.  Once we are aware of it, we are responsible to take action in faith, by grace, to begin changing that behavior.  
      A few glaring examples of disobedience in today's culture are sexual immorality, verbal sins, and our sources of entertainment. These are all things that I have been guilty of at some point in my life.  I want to address each of these briefly in hopes that you will examine your life to see if you are in disobedience.
       SEXUAL IMMORALITY. Matthew 5:28 says, "anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery in his heart".  I believe he targeted man because he understood that men are, by their nature, more influenced by what they see.  It is certainly true of both sexes though. 1 Corinthians 6:18 says, "flee from sexual immorality.  All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body".  1 Corinthians 6:9-20 is loaded with examples of wickedness, to include the sexual sin of homosexuality, and exhortation that we are not to take part in these things.  I hope you will go back and read all of those verses. Romans 1:26-28 is another solid reference to homosexual sin.  Galatians 5:19-21 lists acts of the sinful nature, to include sexual immorality.  It goes on to say that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
     VERBAL SINS.  Profanity is one of those verbal sins that tends to be excused.  One that people often don't prioritize as something to correct.  Ephesians 4:29-31 says,"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Ephesians 5:3-5 says, "but among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.  Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.  For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person---such a man is an idolater---has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
I typed out much of this because I want us to see just how seriously God takes these things.  Things that we tend not to give enough weight to, God lumps in with other sins that we tend to take more seriously.  He says that if these things are still part of your lifestyle, and you see no need to change it, or are making no effort to change it that you have no inheritance in God's kingdom.  That seems like a really good reason to evaluate your relationship with God and see if you are in the faith.
      ENTERTAINMENT.   There are previous posts regarding this and I hope you will revisit them. I will touch on it again because this is major area of conformity and compromise today.  If we consider ourselves to be in the faith.  If we truly believe that we are children of the Most High God.  We should evaluate EVERYTHING that comes into our spirits/hearts by audio or visual means.  Suffice it to say that I believe most entertainment today is froth with unholy material that does nothing but glorify and make commonplace that which displeases God and separates us from God. If any entertainment is allowed into our lives it should only be that which is glorifying to God and draws our attention to God's ways and thoughts.  Some may label this idea religious or legalistic but I call it scriptural and biblically supported. Philippians 4:8-9 says, "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think on these things".  Galatians 5:17 states that the sinful nature and the Spirit of God are in conflict with each other because the are contrary to each other. Again, Galatians 5:19-21 lists the acts of the sinful nature, "Sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. Those who live like this WILL NOT inherit the kingdom of God.  
       Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings (idolatry and witchcraft), Pirates of the Carribean (most of the other acts of the sinful nature), or even most romantic or comedy storylines.  Even action flicks surrounding Marvel comics.  All glorify the sinful nature.  Music in the form of oldies, rock, R&B, Hip Hop, Country or any other style.  If it glorifies Love, Romance, or Sex, in any form outside of the way in which God designed them to be thought of it is sinful.  Revenge, drugs, violence, and fornication are all sinful acts that today's music, TV and movies, books, and video games glorify. 
      We want to see these things as harmless. But Satan uses all of these ideas to mask and make more appealing, acts and ideas that are ungodly.  Oh we don't want to see it because we don't like change.  We want to argue that as long as it does not cause us to stumble into these acts then we are ok.  If these forms of entertainment cause us to dwell on ungodly, sinful acts, even if it is only for the period of time that we are engaging in the entertainment, it is still contrary to what scripture says we are to dwell on. As I have said before, why would we argue for the right to enjoy entertainment of any form, lyric, or storyline that supports the sinful nature if that nature will keep people from the kingdom and steal Glory from the one who died for you.  These things are contrary to the Spirit.  They do not bring glory to God and bringing glory to God is the purpose for which we were created (Isaiah 43:7)  If you are offended or put off, ask yourself, Who's interest are you serving?  God's or yours?
     Is this post a little lengthy?  Perhaps.  But I dare not risk a thorough representation of the truth on this matter in the name of brevity.  Especially when souls are on the line.  Are these ideas considered radical by societies standards, even Christian society?  Absolutely!  Are these ideas supported by scripture and is this message needed today?  YES!  These are not new ideas.  They have been in scripture from the beginning and many bold, obedient pastors today are teaching the message, in one form or another.  I am just another voice proclaiming the truth.  That message is, you are conformed in one direction or the other.  Either to Jesus, or to the world.  One leads to the kingdom of God and the other away from the kingdom of God.  You cannot desire and strive to live in both directions and be certain of your eternal destination.  Which one are you?  2 Corinthians 13:5-6 says, "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.  Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you---unless, of course, you fail the test.  Think about it.      
Love in Christ,
Josh
       

understanding scripture in context

   It's unfortunate often times that we quote scripture without understanding the context in which it was written.  I've done it, pastors have done it.  Anyone can be guilty of it if they are not careful.  That is why we must always pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the meaning of the scriptures to us everytime we read them. Sometimes the context of a scripture is on a grand scale i.e. a whole chapter or period of time, however sometimes it is simply understanding it in relationship to the verses surrounding it.  Granted contextual interpretation has it's places of debate considering cultural influence etc., for better or for worse.  But, there are many places that are pretty plain.I would like to give some examples of this. 


There is a scripture that is often quoted from Jeremiah in an effort to encourage others.  Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future".

This is quoted most often as a means of encouragement and supporting the idea that God wants us blessed.
I agree, however, the next scripture is pivotal in the fulfillment of that promise.
Jeremiah 29:12-13 states, "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart".

All of this is in the context of God delivering Israel from exile in Babylon.  The blessing in 29:11 was in relation to Israel praying to God and seeking God with all their hearts, as stated in 29:13.

Reflection

   Since I first started my 1st post of this blog on April 19th 2012, I have been blessed beyond measure as my knowledge and familiarity with scripture and it's specific location in the Bible have grown. I have completed seven posts and my passion for God and my desire to obey him continue to grow.  I truly believe that if not a single soul read this blog that it has still been a huge blessing to me and I have been in God's will in writing it.

      Gratefully, people have read it.  As I have invited people to it whether by personal, face to face invite or through facebook, many have been gracious enough to give some time to checking it out.  For that I would like say THANK YOU!  I hope you have read it with a heart to receive whatever God had for you in it and I hope that you have received it with the heart of conviction, love, compassion, and honesty that I intended it.

      Admittedly, I believe God has chosen what I believe to be some difficult and potentially offensive topics for me to write on thus far.  I say God because IF I was looking for popularity or return customers, the personal topics and the honest, scriptural, straight forward approach that I have felt led to take would not have been my first choice.  But, I am not interested in being popular or even in having return customers if it means I must compromise any of the truth of the Word of God.  Someone might wonder why I have not written specifically with a straightforward Gospel presentation in mind.  It is simply because that has not been God's leading...yet.  It is coming soon though.  Gratefully, to this point, there have been nuggets of the Gospel intermingled all through the discussions of the topics thus far.  Sometimes with an invitation style thought process at the end.  This also has been God.

    When I started, I had no idea what I was going to end up with.  What it has turned into thus far is a opportunity to preach mini-sermons through the written word in a blog.  To present the truth of the Bible, the truth of the Gospel, and the heart of God as accurately as possible.  I have addressed issues of sin, issues of the heart, and how they affect our daily walk with Jesus.  Much of it has been written almost as if directed at the Church rather than the lost.  Why is that?  

    That is because God has given me a burden that, the lost are not only in the world but in the Church buildings.  I say it this way because no true member of the "Church" which is to say "the body of Christ" can truly be a member unless they have been a true convert.  I, along with many sound, bible teaching, pastors out there believe that there are too many people inside and outside of the four walls of a church that have no idea what it means to be a Christian.  I and they would like to see that change.  However, on the flip side, for that to change then the apathy of the true members of the Church has got to change.  To many, are taking to long  in getting down to the business of living out the Gospel and sharing the Gospel.  If you lived in a third world country where you were not free to practice whatever religion you wanted too, you would not even call yourself a Christian unless you were willing to die and leave this earth for it immediately.  That is the kind of "radical" commitment that Jesus is looking for.  No longer can so-called believers continue to profess Christ with their mouths but not live it with their lives.  Many, would argue that if that is your practice you had better question your Salvation. 

     "Sigh".....I confess that I am not that far removed from the very thing that I now preach about.   I was one of those who was lacking in many ways when it came to obedience.  One author calls it "Christian Atheism". The idea of believing in God yet living as if he does not exist.  If there is a difference between "Christian Atheism" and an altogether "false conversion" then it is a very fine line.  I confess that even now, as I am growing in the Lord that I am still too quick to judge sometimes.  I confess that only recently have I really begun to understand what it means to truly love as Christ loved.  That has primarily been in my personal life.  What I am longing for is to love everyone as Christ loved.  To see people through the lense of the person of the Holy Spirit and to have a compassion for the lost that consumes me in such a way as to swallow any fear, or lack of interest, or tendency to judge to quickly and causes me to pray tirelessly, and share the Gospel consistently, and obey God faithfully in every area of my life.

      Soon I will give my testimony as thoroughly as I am able in order that no one would read my posts and reject the Truth in the Word of God presented by me because they think that I am Holier than thou, or because they think that I don't understand where they are, or because they knew me in my earlier years (even through college) and think me a hypocrite now because of what I was then.  God is certainly powerful enough to keep me out of the way.  However, the bible says that believers will overcome Satan by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony and that they will not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.(Revelation 12:11) So my testimony will go forth in due time.
     So again, I say Thank You to everyone who has subscribed to recieve the blog by email or is reading this for the 1st time.  As always, I pray that you will consider everything that I say in my posts, whether you agree or disagree, as an opportunity to scruitinize it against God's Word and allow the Holy Spirit to guide into all truth. (John 16:13)  Ask the Holy Spirit what His purpose is for drawing you to this blog.  I want nothing more from this blog except Jesus Christ and Him crucified to be exalted both in Heaven and on Earth. 

I pray for many challenges,  many blessings, and much growth for each of you
in Jeus name. AMEN!

Josh

The Validity of the Bible and our Responsibility to share it

The Validity of the Bible and our Responsibility to share it

2 Timothy 3:16-17 states, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work".

    As I have made an effort to share the Gospel.  As I have shared what the Bible says regarding sin in the life of believers and sinful lifestyles among believers and unbelievers alike.   I have tried to do it in love and from the position of what God's stance in his Word is on how we should live our lives and represent Jesus.  In this I have faced opposition from professing believers and non-believers alike.
    I can handle opposition from unbelievers. In fact, I expect it.  They do not have the spirit of God on the inside of them to bring revelation about God's Word.  Therefore, I don't expect them to understand or accept the Bible as an authority on any subject.  That does not mean however, that I will not share the Word with unbelievers and give the Holy Spirit a chance to water that seed and make it grow.
    On the other hand, professing Christians, are without excuse.  IF they are in fact children of God with the Holy Spirit on the inside then not only should they believe the Bible is the authority on what God expects, but they should be thrilled about sharing it with others.  They should also be thrilled that a brother or sister in the Lord cares enough about them to correct them if they are out of God's biblical will.  So when people who are supposed to be Christians defend ungodly actions or principles and make the argument that it is not loving to share the truth with unbelievers or to share the truth in the correction of believers, I must take issue with that.  This argument does a disservice to unbelievers  who need to hear the truth and to believers who need correction.  Not to mention, the blatant disobedience to God's Word that it suggests.  If this sounds like it describes you, I would suggest some evaluation of the validity of your relationship with Jesus.
    The bible is God-breathed, infallible and the authority on our eternal life that begins now, if we are a believer.  If we do not believe that as Christians then we had better question our salvation because nothing in the bible can be depended on as fact.
    As far as our right to share God's Word with others, it is not only our right as Christians to do this, it is our responsibility.  Let's start with the Great Commission, Matthew 28:18-20 says, "Jesus came to the disciples 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".  That is a command from Jesus himself.  In Romans 10:13-15 Paul asks these questions, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?  How can they believe in one of whom they have not  heard?  And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?  And how can they preach unless they are sent"?  Romans 10:17 states, "Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.  Matthew 18:15-17 tells us how to handle church discipline in regards to a brother in the Lord walking in deliberate sin.
     So my questions to anyone challenging whether or not we are to share the word with everyone are these:
How do people believe in what they have not heard?
How do we train new believers to be disciples and make disciples without the word?
How do we hold each other accountable to do what is right in the eyes of God without the Word?
The answer is we cannot!
     Now to address the question, Are we showing the Love of Jesus by challenging sin in the world and in the church?  This concern has been expressed many times.  The idea that we might push people away by challenging sin or sinful lifestyle's.  The idea that we are not being loving in suggesting that those who do not accept God's salvation through Christ Jesus and making Him Lord of their Lives are going to end up in Hell, apart from God and suffering for eternity has been expressed many times.  Let me just say, that Hell IS a biblical reality.  It is not a figment of our imagination. It is not a state of mind.  It is a real place that many people will end up in. Anyone who says or believes differently is misinformed and needs to study further on the subject.  Neither Jesus Nor myself want to see people go to Hell.  God so loved the world that He sent Jesus to die for our sins so that we could spend eternity with Him in Heaven.(John 3:16)  Unfortunately, everyone will not choose that path.  In fact, Matthew 7:13 states that "wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few will find it. Jesus goes on a few verses later to state that even some of those serving in the church and doing very religious things and thinking that is what Christianity is all about will find themselves unknown by Jesus and spending eternity apart from Him.(Matthew 7:22)
    Let me ask you, When did Jesus not speak the truth regarding sin out of a concern for offending someone?  When did any of the disciples or the apostle Paul not speak truth or challenge sin because they were afraid of pushing someone away from the faith.  The answer is NEVER.  Jesus, more than once, after healing someone or delivering the woman at the well from the judgement of her accusers said, "Go and sin no  more".  He was very clear all through the Gospel's of the sacrifice required of his followers.(Luke 9:23)(Mark 8:34-38)  He was also very clear about what kind of fruit would be evidence of a true follower.  This fruit would be what was used to separate the sheep from the goats.(Matthew 25:31-46) The apostle Paul's letters were designed for challenging sin and encouraging a faith filled, obedient, loving, righteous, lifestyle. No where did you ever here these guys say, "We know that you are struggling with sin.  How can we make you feel better about yourself in this sinful lifestyle".  No! They commanded that we pursue change.  That, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we leave our sinful nature behind.  That we forget what is behind and press on toward the high calling that we have in Christ Jesus. (Philipians 3:13-14)  Nowhere does Jesus or anyone else ever apologize for the Gospel.
     Ask yourself this, If you were in a building and it was on fire, but for some reason you didn't realize it. Wouldn't you want someone to come tell you it was on fire?  And once they did, wouldn't  you want them to help you find your way out?  Would you really argue for your right to stay and get burned up because the furniture was nice, you had beer in the fridge, a pretty girl by your side and the big game was about to come on your flat screen TV?  I hope you wouldn't argue with the person standing in front of you who is trying to convince you that all of that stuff you have in front of you is going to be a pile of ash in a very short period of time.  That it is going to be worthless and you are not going to be able to enjoy it anymore even though you will want to.  This is the picture of reality you need to understand when you think of eternity.
      I pray that the Holy Spirit will make every reader of this post keenly aware that their house is in fact on fire and that if they don't let him pull them out, they are going to get burned for all eternity.  I pray that they will be able to realize also that Salvation is not fire insurance.  If you truly accept Jesus's salvation that he lovingly bought for you by his blood on the cross, he will change your life. You will be a new creation. The old things will pass away and all things will become new.(2 Corinthians 5:17)  Your heart will long to obey God.  Your mind will long to think on the things of God. And you will be able to live with the knowledge and the excitement that you get to spend eternity in the presence of God. He will not only be your Savior but he will be your Lord.  Not only will you not challenge others on sharing the Word.  You will realize that you are not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, because you will know that it is the power of God unto Salvation.(Romans 1:16) And believe it or not, YOU will not be able to help yourself but to TELL SOMEONE ELSE ABOUT IT!

Love in Christ,

Josh

Guard Your Children’s Hearts (Part 2)

Guard Your Children’s Hearts (Part 2)

         
       I would like to begin this post by asking you to go back and read Guard Your Children’s Hearts (Part 1) if you have not yet done that.  Everything in this post will be in relation to that post.   If you have read Part 1, then I am thrilled that you have chosen to move on to Part 2.  Thank you!  This blog is like a church service.  If you don’t like what the preacher says, you don’t have to come back.  So, thank you for continuing with me on this journey.

          In Part 1, I Iaid out the perils of today’s culture and the ways in which we often fail as parents because we do not effectively protect our children from that culture or teach them how to grow in their relationship with Jesus.  I connected this heavily to our own relationship with God.  I would like to make it clear that what I am suggesting as a problem that needs to be corrected is not necessarily a simple task, at least not under our own power.  If you feel burdened in trying to raise your children, exhausted by the daily grind of just making life happen, I understand.  In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus states, "Come unto me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 1 Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your cares on Him, because he cares for you".  Hebrews 4:15-16 says, "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly before the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need".  So you see,  I understand the challenges of parenting as I am a parent myself.  But Jesus, our High Priest, the Son of God, feels our pain and is available to us at all times to help us through life's trials if we will just turn to him and let him show us how to do what is best.
        Let me be clear, it is impossible to successfully raise Godly children without the involvement and support of Almighty God.  If you have not surrendered your life to Jesus, then I encourage you to do so.  I am not talking about praying a prayer and living life as usual.  I am talking about making him Lord and King over your life.  I'm talking about getting in the Word and letting Jesus change your life.  You CANNOT teach your children that which you are not walking in yourself.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is absolutely necessary and should be central to Christian child rearing. Especially in today's culture.
     As I said toward the end of Part , I would like to apologize for the church in regards to their unintentional misleading of parents regarding their involvement in training up their children in the Bible and what living for Jesus is all about. Organized church shares some of the blame for this by creating children's ministries and youth/student ministries and then not reminding parents that these ministries play a supporting role, NOT the primary role in teaching our children about Jesus .Parents, make no mistake, you are the primary vessel by which God wishes your children to be trained up. 

     Not only are we as parents responsible for teaching our children.  We are responsible for shepherding our children.  A shepherd protects the sheep from harm. A shepherd says, if a wolf is gonna get one of these sheep, it will not be on my watch.  It’s not enough to teach them a few truths, or read them a few stories from the bible or quote them some scripture.  We have to expose them to the depths of scripture.  Teach them to memorize it and meditate on it.  Teach them that Christianity is not some religious thing that you do.  It is a life you lead.  It is a relationship with Jesus that you have to cultivate through a prayer life and time spent in the word daily.

     We have to teach them that Salvation and Lordship are not two separate concepts.  They go hand in hand.  We have to teach them that Jesus said, “if you love me you will obey my commands”(John 14:15).  That they don't just say yes, I accept  your salvation and be done.  They must walk out the love of Jesus in their lives.  They must take care of the least of these.(Matthew 25:31-46)  They must understand that "the only religion that God considers pure and undefiled is to help care for widows and orphans and to keep oneself unstained from the world"(James 1:27).  Unstained from the world.  This reminds me of Romans 12:1-2.  to paraphrase it says that we are to be living sacrifices, Holy and acceptable to God.  That we are not to be conformed to this world but transformed, by the renewing of our minds (by studying the word) that we may discern God''s will. To know what is good, acceptable, and perfect in his sight.  These are two very clear commands that we are to be different from the rest.
      Is it bad to learn to be successful in this world.  Of course not.  However, today's culture tells us that the IN thing is to be athletic, enjoy romantic relationships, get good grades, and get into a good college.  Then we can get a great education, have a successful career, have a nice home, have 2.5 kids, and that is the American Dream.  Perhaps another version if  you are gifted in the arts would be to pursue a career in music or movies and gain the American Dream that way.  To get most of what WE want in this life through hard work and determination.  That is not the life we are to pursue according to the gospel.  Some of that may come to pass, if it is part of God's will for our lives.  However, teaching them that success in this world is hinged on financial and material gain is not scriptural.  Jesus said, "if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily,  and follow me".(Luke 9:23)  He says in Luke 9:25, "What does it profit a man, if he gains the whole  world and loses or forfeits his soul".  Doesn't sound much like the prosperity message that we hear from Pastors that embrace the merging of the American Dream and the Gospel, does it.  We must teach our children to be successful in this world by God's standards, not man's.
      Our Children must, in whatever they do, whatever their specialty in life may be, they must know that their number one purpose is to glorify God and to fulfill the Great Commission.  If you have never heard of The Great Commission  that's ok, I will tell you.  In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus said to his disciples before he ascended into heaven, "All authority has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age".  This was not a command to preachers, teachers, or evangelists.  This was a command to all of his disciples.  This was a command to all believers.  Notice He didn't say, do this, unless you are gifted to be a plummer, nurse, doctor, teacher, park ranger, zoologist, etc. He commanded this of everyone who accepts his gift of salvation.  Make disciples, baptize, teach.  Notice He said that He is with us.  His Holy Spirit comes in the second chapter of Acts to endue power from on high that we would have boldness and passion to share the Gospel.   We must teach our children that when they accept Jesus's salvation that the Holy Spirit comes into them and is there to lead, guide, and direct them, assisting them in everything they do if they develop a relationship with Him.
     We have to protect them from all of the things that today’s culture says are acceptable and yet are in direct contradiction to the Word of God.  We must teach our young ladies how the bible describes the characteristics of a biblical woman of God.  We must teach our young men how the bible describes a spiritual leader of a home.  We must teach them God's purpose and design for relationships and that they are not trivial or easily set aside. We must teach them to guard their hearts (Proverbs 4:23) in regards to relationships and to consider the relationship that any person they are interested in does or does not have with Jesus(2 Corinthians 6:14). We must teach them their identity in Christ so that no matter who says what about them, they know who they are and they have a heavenly Father who loves them and has great plans for them(John 1:12, 1 Peter 2:9).  We must teach them to pray for their future according to God's will, not their own.(1 John 5:14).  As teachers and shepherds we have to teach them in the way they should go and yet protect them from the many spiritual and physical pitfalls along the way.

     Yes, we must understand that our children will have to make mistakes.  But that there is no excuse, even if there is a reason. That even though they will not achieve perfection until Jesus returns that they must strive for it.(Philipians 3:12-14) We have to understand that they will ultimately have to “choose this day whom they will serve” and continue to pray and encourage them to serve the Lord.(Joshua 24:15) However, whatever stumbling blocks they encounter should not be because we did not do everything we could to guard/guide their hearts along the way.

     They shouldn’t stumble because we let them listen to the clean, popular, yet secular music, that glorifies romance between people of any age but says nothing about romance between people and God, at an early age.  They shouldn’t stumble because we decided that G, PG, PG-13, and R were appropriate standards for us to use in deciding what we should let our children hear or see in a movie.  Why is it that when our children are young, we have a G rated mentality but as they grow we decide that they are old enough to handle "the more grown up things in life". The material in movies that helps create these ratings are things that are NEVER pleasing to GOD.  The fact is that God has a G rated plan for all of our lives.  No matter the age of a person, GOD's standards for our lives are G rated. If it is not ok for a 5 yr old to think about it, hear it, or see it by most Christian parental standards then it is likely not something that we as adults should be digesting in our spirits either.  And last but not least, they shouldn’t stumble because we didn’t pay close enough attention to who their friends are and what company they keep.  Association makes assimilation. You tend to become like the company you keep.  This is a proven fact and scripture speaks to this as well.
1 Corinthians 15:33 says, "Do not be deceived, Bad company ruins good morals/character".

       Listen, I am certainly not an expert on parenting.  I also know that the Bible does not provide an answer for every little detail of raising children. However, as you have seen, their are many Scriptural references in both parts of this post speaking to the good and the bad aspects of parenting. While all books and seminar's available today on parenting are not bad, allowing them to have more authority and receive more attention in regards to our parenting than God and the Word get is unacceptable.  God's Word is sufficient.  I gaurantee you that God did not take a look at today's culture and decide he had made a mistake by not putting more info in the bible regarding it.  His Word is perfect and will accomplish the purpose for which it is sent.
      God made each of our children for a purpose unique to them.  He entrusted us with the responsibility of cultivating an environment that would influence them toward Jesus.  It is so easy, when we as adults are so easily swayed by today’s culture, to drop the ball, to set the wrong example by our own choices.  It is scary how easily we as parents can mess it up.  It is also encouraging to think of the tools God has given us and the change we can make if we just love Jesus.  If we truly put him 1^st and make him Lord of every aspect of who we are and how we live our lives, minute by minute, day by day.  He can do amazing things in us and through us.  He can do amazing things in our children and through our children.  Things we would never have thought of for them.
     So let's start to trust Jesus and obey His word.  Let's begin raising our children with the Bible as our guide and primary tool for setting the standard of expectation for our children. Teaching them how to make the Bible their guide for living a life that is pleasing to God.  Let's raise the bar by being a Holy example of what God expects from His children.  Then our children will be set on a path for eternal success that will provide a greater hope for their future than anything in or of this world.

As always, with the love of Christ as my motivation,

Josh

Guard Your Children’s Hearts (Part 1)

Guard Your Children’s Hearts (Part 1)

Some of what you will read here will seem familiar from a previous post because I believe it heavily influences who we are as parents.  I write this primarily to professing Christians who are potentially not glorifying God in what they watch or listen to nor by protecting their children from these things.  I write this out of an honest loving concern for you and your children.  I would like to start by making this statement, “If we believe that we can allow whatever we want into our spirits through movies, music, books, etc. and that it will not contaminate our children, we are fooling, no, lying to ourselves.  The filth of this world pollutes our hearts and minds and will affect and influence the hearts and minds of our children through us.  Even if we never let one foul piece of media near them”.

       In this day and age when everything in our culture is telling us as adults that sexual immorality is ok, that homosexual relationships are not only the acceptable norm, but are natural.   Everything on television is designed to support immorality and feminism, and to tear down the role of the father as the leader of the household.  The devil is using mainstream media, secular movies, music, books, even video games, to not only keep the lost deceived, but he is numbing the spiritual minds and hearts of the church.

         Luke 11:34 states that“ Your eye is the lamp of your body.  When you eye is healthy, you whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.  Mark 7:20-23 states that, “What comes out of a man is what makes him unclean. From within, out of the heart of a person is what defiles them”.  Jesus goes on to list most of the sins of the flesh (evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness) stating that if these things are coming out of a person’s heart, it defiles them.  If all of these sins defile a person and are qualities of people that will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21), why would we want to take in anything that glorifies these things or makes them seem commonplace and acceptable.  God hates these things enough to not allow their practitioners to go to heaven.  And yet we call it legalistic when we are challenged about watching it or listening to it.  It stands to reason that if bad things are going in to your heart through your "lamp", thus causing your body to be full of darkness, then these dark, unclean things are going to come back out at some point, thus defiling you and making you unclean.

     Watching television has become such a way of life, such a staple of most American households, that we are not even aware of the fact that what we are watching on television/movies and what we listen to in secular music, even reading in secular books or playing on video games, is killing our relationship with Jesus.

     Worse yet, it is tearing down our children’s opportunities to develop an intimate relationship with the one, true, living God.  In Ephesians 6:12, it states that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”.  Satan is using our apathy toward our relationship with God to steal our children’s hearts.  He comes like a lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).  He comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).  He wants our children.  If he can steal that childlike faith.  If he can get them when their brains are like sponges and they are able to absorb the most.  If he can keep their minds and hearts from the things of God.  Keep them from knowing Jesus and the fullness of his love.  Keep them instead focused on the things of this world.  Focused on lustful, imperfect, human love (i.e.  going together, dating, physical infatuation, romance) rather than on the perfect love of Jesus.  That 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 love that is patient, kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, keeps no records of wrongs, does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth, always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres.   Satan introduces violence, lust, vulgarity, at an early age through video games, movies, television shows, books that are read and music that is listened to.  In doing this he plants the seed before the child is mature enough to have a clue what is happening.  That is why WE MUST protect them.

          If he can distract from God’s purpose for their lives, no matter the means, which requires us to take up our cross daily and follow him.  Requires that we keep the two greatest commandments which are to  love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love our neighbors as ourselves.  Requires us to practice the only acceptable religion which is to take care of widows and orphans (James 1:27) and also to take care of the needy (Matthew 25:31-46).  Instead, he wants to refocus their minds and hearts on the American dream which is, obtaining wealth, a successful career, romance, love, etc.  Then he can steal their potential.   Let’s not forget the potential for our own disobedience in not properly training up our children in the way they should go.  Scripture says that if we do this they will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6).

         But what does this mean?  To train them in the way they should go.  Does it mean take them to church?  Does it mean, make them learn John 3:16 and maybe go to VBS during their summer breaks?  Maybe it means you tell them the story of Jesus, perhaps even tell them about David and Goliath, Daniel and the lion’s den, you know, all of the popular, well know stories in the bible.  And based on all these wonderful stories and maybe a slight mention of Hell, enough to scare them, they decide they’ll accept Jesus as their Savior (with no solid understanding of the cost of Lordship).  In a grand, emotional moment with the suggestion of a preacher or evangelist or youth leader, they will be led in a prayer and believe they are saved. They get baptized and you put a cross necklace around their neck, maybe give them a bible with their name stamped in gold on the cover.  Now they are effectively set up to walk out a successful, religious life…at least for a little while. 

           Slowly over time, you begin to convince yourself you have taught them well enough.  I mean, you’ve touched on all the major commandments as least once.   They have prayed the prayer.  It’s in God’s hands now.  You figure that what they take away from Sunday school and youth group will help them continue to grow.  But you want to be careful now.  They’re  a tween or a full  blown teen by now.  You don’t want to push them away, turn them off, or cause them to close off by pushing faith on them now.  They are becoming young adults.  They need their independence and privacy.  They’ve got so many social and academic stresses in their life, they don’t need me harassing them about their spiritual life, you tell yourself.  Besides, I’m sure they are not committing any major transgressions, and nobody’s perfect.

          Meanwhile, all this time of spiritual child rearing has been plagued by a massive imbalance of mainstream, secular, media and cultural, exposure and influence.  These children, who are not yet mature enough in themselves or in the Lord to fully understand how to look out for themselves, have been bombarded at school and by their friends with what is culturally acceptable.  To say nothing of the media influences of today’s culture that we have allowed into the home unchecked.

           The full onslaught of evil influence begins as soon as a child is old enough to watch TV and mimmick what is on it.  Disney is not your child’s friend by the time your children start watching shows based on real life, not imagination.  Shows using real people and imitating real life scenarios found in school and hang out spots for young people. Shows that glorify adolescent versions of disobedience to God’s word.  There are even Disney shows using tame versions of witchcraft or vampires as there themes.  Books, like Diary of a wimpy kid, which have very little redeeming quality but reinforce the obnoxious, often vulgar, and almost always ungodly behavior that so many kids see and experience in school.  But, we figure, they are going to see it in school and other real life situations.  What’s the harm in them reading about it or watching it on TV.  REALLY!  This is our faulty reasoning, rather than thinking and applying the idea, that it is bad enough my children are going to have to experience the evil of this world at such a young age in real life situations.  I’m not going to perpetuate the process by allowing more of it into their hearts and minds by allowing fictional stories to reinforce these ideas.  If faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17) then what is to make us think that continually being exposed to worldly things isn't going to saturate us and our children with ungodly non-faith building ideas?

         All of this cultural exposure is in stark contrast to the influence that Godly things have been allowed to have on this child.  The child’s spiritual rearing has been plagued by a lack of a consistent influence on the part of the parents living out the fact that Jesus is NUMBER ONE in the order of life’s priorities.  The child is potentially watching their parents walk in blatant disobedience to what they, the children, have been taught by the parents or in Sunday School or youth group.  These children are observing their parents treating each other poorly, using profanity, or perhaps being unloving towards others.   In this time when children have to watch Christian parents get divorced, and then date and maybe remarry.  Maybe it’s their own parents or those parents of friends. Either way it is not what the bible teaches. Even many professing Christian parents, who may serve in a church, and may even do a lot right, by biblical standards are providing a terrible example when it comes to the previously mentioned forms of media. Then children are also having to watch their parents prioritize everything above God.  Their time, their money, their careers.  They learn from their parents that pursuit of material things and the American Dream are typically at a higher priority than the the desires and things of God.

         There are so many stumbling blocks that parents are unwittingly placing in the way of their children’s spiritual growth.

As the child grows into adolescence and is given more and more independence, their growth has been hindered by the fact that so many parents have been deceived into thinking that the church is somehow more responsible and plays a larger role in their children’s spiritual growth than they do.  I see it all the time.  Children dropped off, as the church is used as a daycare, while the parents take care of other matters.  The parents have no idea what their children are being taught.  Many parents are not even teaching the bible at home.  They are not living out their relationship with Jesus in front of their children.  Studying the bible.  Teaching the bible to their kids. Walking out biblical principals in their lives.  Could it be because they have a form of godliness but very little, if any relationship(2 Timothy 3:5).

      Statistics based on studies by several different groups in recent years suggest a staggering rise in young adults who are leaving home and not maintaining their faith or “religious affiliation” as it were.  Some blame the church or the youth ministry.  I believe that Jesus would point much responsibility back at the parents.  Young adults entering the world, leaving the fold, will have a very difficult time when faced with life’s storms if they do not have a solid foundation.  It is up to us as parents to provide that foundation. Granted, at some point, the responsibility lies primarily with the individual to maintain that foundation.  However, they will have a difficult time maintaining what they do not have or repairing that which they never learned to build.

      I have written at length, and with very little interest in being bashful about the severity of this topic and our role as parents in it.  The bible takes it very seriously and we need to as well.  In regards to the observation that we abandon our responsibility of teaching our children the Word and leave it to the church, I would like to apologize for the church.  Organized church shares some of the blame for this by creating children's ministries and youth/student ministries and then not reminding parents that these ministries play a supporting role, NOT the primary role in teaching our children about Jesus. Parents, make no mistake, you are the primary vessel by which God wants your children to be trained up.  If I have made you mad or offended you, I am ok with that.  Many pastors and believers are of the opinion that if someone is offended by a statement, there is likely truth in it.  If you are not mad, but in agreement and inspired then I am thrilled by that, because that is my greatest goal.  My prayer is that you will pray about it, seek God, and adjust as needed in order to become more obedient in this.  That is the direction I have been and am taking as these convictions have come to me in my own life as a parent.  It is uncomfortable because it requires change and growth, and growing pains often hurt. Read 2 Timothy 3:1-7.  Ask yourself is that the kind of a person you want to raise.  If not, let's pursue together the means by which to set our children up for success.

         This is a 2-part post. I will be completing the second part this week. If you feel so convicted or led to check out the 2^nd part, I will be delving into the more positive side of correcting the many problems observed in this post.  This is a difficult and frankly an unpopular topic and thus loaded with unpleasant observations.  However if you are hungry to grow in your relationship with God and to do right by your children then keep reading as  I strive to present a picture of potentially successful Christian Child rearing.  I am by no means an expert, however the bible gives some solid direction to work with in regards to child rearing and example setting from a spiritual perspective.  My goal is to draw attention to this direction.

        As always, my heart's desire is to present my posts in love, even if it’s tough love.  God loved us enough to send His son Jesus to die for us.  Jesus loved us enough to speak the truth and then die for us.  We owe him everything.  I pray you will continue with me in this journey of growth and maturity in obedience to our Savior and King.

What does it mean to Love/Please God?

This could probably also be called, How do we know we are saved?Perhaps we will address both by the time this message is complete.  This post may seem a little lengthy but it is not a subject to be taken lightly.
        John 14 alone is loaded with answers to these questions about loving God.
In John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me".
In John 14:12 Jesus says, "Truly, truly I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father".
In John 14:15 Jesus says, "If you love, you will keep my commandments".
In Vs. 21 He goes on to say, "Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.  And he who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him".
In Vs. 22-24 Judas (not Iscariot) asks Jesus, "Lord, How is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?  Jesus answered him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him.  Whoever does not love me does not keep my words".
In John 14:31 Jesus says: "I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father".
     I will not try to quote it all hear because it needs to be read in it's entirety but John 15 makes it pretty clear that if you are a genuine Christian and you are abiding in Jesus you (the branch) will bear fruit that will bear witness to your relationship/connection to Jesus (the vine).  Jesus makes the point in this chapter that if we truly are walking in God's love that we will "lay down our lives for each other" as Christ lay down his life for us, his "friends". In John 15:16 Jesus states to the disciples that "you did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide".  Jesus goes on in verses18-25 to clarify that the world will hate those who follow Jesus because they hate Jesus.  He states that we are not of this world if we are followers of Christ because He chose us out of this world and we should expect persecution.  So persecution is a fruit of being a follower of Christ among other things.  If everything is hunky dory, you should probably look at just how passionately you are following and obeying him.
         In Mark 8:34-38 Jesus says, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's sake will save it.  For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?  For what can a man give in return for his soul?  For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
     
       Here is a truth that many do not think of as often as they should.  John 7:21-23 states, "Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day, many will say to me Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?  And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness".
     James 1:27 states, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Read Matthew 25:31-46.  To sum up, it indicates that those who truly have a heart for God will look out for those in need.  Whether thirsty, hungry, a stranger, naked, sick, or in prison they are to be looked after by us, the Christian, the child of God, the follower of Jesus.  That in doing these things we are showing evidence of walking in his love and obeying, under his Lordship.  It indicates that those who do not include these actions as a part of their lives had better question where they stand with God because they will likely find themselves in HELL!  THESE ARE THE WORDS OF JESUS!
I know, I had never really realized this before.
          Read Matthew 7:13-23.  Jesus makes it plain, as he does in many places in the Gospels that small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to eternal life and few will find it.  That there are many that believe they are going to heaven because of their devout religious commitment, but have no relationship with Jesus.  They have no idea what the bible says really pleases God.  They have simply empty works fueled by a selfish motivation.
         1 John 2:15 warns: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes, and the pride of possessions, is not from the Father but is from the world.
         Revelation 3:15-17 shows God saying: "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot.  Would that you were either cold or hot!  So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.  For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
        I am concerned by the prosperity message as it applies to material things because it is so easy for it to lead to a dangerous level of comfort and lack of a feeling of a need for God.  It can lead to a deceptive idea that "because I am successful and have prospered materialistically I must be pleasing God!  Or it can lead to the idea that because I have not attained riches, I must not be pleasing God.  Jesus gave everything up and made himself nothing.  He required that we give everything up and follow him.  Paul considered all things rubbish in comparison to knowing and serving Jesus!  Doesn't quite line up does it?

So what does all this mean?  Is our Salvation based on what we do?  NOT AT ALL!  


      Ephesians 2:8 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
    Phillipians 1:27-28 states: "Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. And not frightened in anything by your opponents.  This is a clear sign to them of their destruction,but of your salvation, and that from God.
     Phillipians 2:14 says, "Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.
    In John 8:31 Jesus says, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and truth will set you free".  As I strive to live out God's love in my life for him and others, I ask God to help me fall more and more in love with Him and the people He created and less in love with me.  When you do something out of a selfless love, you do it out of a desire to help and please others and God, not out of obligation.
 To lay down your life for a friend (John 15:12-15) does not necessarily mean to die, rather to put that friends needs and desires before your own. To die to ourselves daily.  Jesus said that we are his friends if we do what he commands.  Jesus loved you so much that he gave his life for you.  Can we do anything less than to give our lives for him.  This is in essence what pleases him most.

So to sum up, God's Word makes it plain that Salvation without Lordship is no Salvation at all.  You are saved by grace not works for certain.  However, faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26).  If  your Salvation is genuine, the fruit of God’s Lordship in your life will absolutely be evidence of that.  Your obedience will be pleasing to God and a proof of your love for him.
In fact, 1Corinthians 8: 3 says, "that if anyone loves God, He is known by God".  If he knows you, that's different than, "I never knew you"....right? Talk about assurance of salvation.  If you want to know that God knows you, live out your love for him through your obedience to him and the way you love others.  Die to yourself and let your light so shine that others would recognize the love of Jesus in you.

I have given a lot of scripture here because I want there to be no doubt that the ideas presented here are not from my mouth but many of them are from the mouth of Jesus himself.  All of them are form the Word of God.  If these "truths" have created any concern about your standing with God then I pray that you would turn to God and reconcile once and for all the Lordship in your life that He is due.  And I pray, once you have done that that the "truths" in this message will inspire and motivate you to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Phillipians 2:12)


As always, Love in Christ,

Josh