Panicked Pressing
May 29, 2009 at 9:41 am | Posted in A Little Alliteration, Biblical Violence | 2 CommentsTags: Biblical Violence, desperate men, eternal soul, false security, God condones violence, good works, harlots, Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, Luke 16, Mark 16, panic, panic in the streets, pressing in, pressing in to the Kingdom of God, publicans, self-righteous, sinners, the Bible condones violence, violence in the Bible, Way of salvation
What would a person who is truly in danger of losing his life do to be saved? What about a person who is in danger of losing his eternal soul?
As Jesus taught and lived the Word and will of His Father, He was sometimes scorned and mocked by those who believed their religious rites, rituals, and self-righteous “good works” made them “too good” to repent of their sins. However, when John the Baptist came on the scene, announcing the entrance of Christ, even those who had been told by the religious elite that they had no hope of salvation began to see for the first time that the kingdom of God actually was open to them.
The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
Luke 16:16
These men and women who “pressed in” included publicans, harlots, and sinners, who cast aside public perception and the lukewarm attitude of the falsely secure when they saw the Way of salvation. In their violent excitement they thrust themselves forward, and thrust the naysayers aside, rushing headlong, and storming the kingdom of God.
What if today men and women began to see their true peril? To realize that they needed a Savior more than they needed the approval of men or the sanction of a religious leader? Would not such an attitude stoke the fires of revival in a society that so seldom sees the dire consequences of going into eternity without the cleansing blood of Christ having been applied through receiving Christ personally as Savior?
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16:16
C.S. Lewis Liked To S.W.I.M.
May 28, 2009 at 8:25 am | Posted in Quotes | 1 CommentTags: Biblical swimming, blitz, C.S. Lewis, C.S. Lewis quotes, faith, faith vs. reason, floating, learning to swim, meaning of faith, Mere Christianity, moods, operation of faith, sink or swim, swim lessons, swimming lessons, swimming quotes
…take a boy learning to swim. His reason knows perfectly well that an unsupported human body will not necessarily sink in water: he has seen dozens of people float and swim. But the whole question is whether he will be able to go on believing this when the instructor takes away his hand and leaves him unsupported in the water — or whether he will suddenly cease to believe it and get in a fright and go down.
Now just the same thing happens about Christianity. I am not asking anyone to accept Christianity if his best reasoning tells him that the weight of the evidence is against it. That is not the point at which Faith comes in. But supposing a man’s reason once decides that the weight of the evidence is for it. I can tell that man what is going to happen to him in the next few weeks. There will come a moment when there is bad news, or he is in trouble, or is living among a lot of other people who do not believe it, and all at once his emotions will rise up and carry out a sort of blitz on his belief. Or else there will come a moment when he wants a woman, or wants to tell a lie, or feels very pleased with himself, or sees a chance of making a little money in some way that is not perfectly fair: some moment, in fact, at which it would be very convenient if Christianity were not true. And once again his wishes and desires will carry out a blitz. I am not talking of moments at which any real new reasons against Christianity turn up. Those have to be faced and that is a different matter. I am talking about moments where a mere mood rises up against it.
Now Faith, in the sense in which I am here using the word, is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.
C.S. Lewis
Friends or Foes?
May 22, 2009 at 9:32 am | Posted in A Little Alliteration, Biblical neighbors | 5 CommentsTags: bad neighbors, Bible study on neighbors, Biblical neighbors, fake friends, frenemies, gossip, neighbors, neighbors in the Bible, Psalm 31
The great psalmist of the Bible, David, was surrounded on all sides by threats, enemies, danger, and slander. He described his condition in Psalm 31:11: “I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.” Malicious lies have a way of spreading, and fake friends, perceiving that someone is persecuted, tend to make themselves scarce in the time of need.
David’s response to this situation should be an example for us today: He put his trust in the Lord, believing that his “times” were in God’s hand. (Psalm 31:15) Understanding that God is in complete control of all circumstances is a great source of comfort, and a great encouragement to draw near to Him. What enemy can intimidate us when we are in His hands?
Acts and the Apostles: Activated, Authorized, Audible, and Accountable
May 21, 2009 at 12:47 pm | Posted in A Little Alliteration, Acts | 17 CommentsTags: Acts, Acts 16, Acts 17, Acts 2, Acts 3, Acts 4, Acts 6, Baptism, early Church, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Peter, power of Jesus's name, Salvation, witnessing, witnessing for Christ
Acts 2:38 reads: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Does this mean you have to be baptized to in order to be saved? The answer is “no.” “For,” in this verse, means “on account of” or “on the basis of.” Christians are to be baptized on account of their sins having been remitted, or, on the basis of the remission of their sins.
We have a similar thing in modern English. I might say, “I wore this jacket for the cold weather.” Did my wearing the jacket make it cold? Did wearing the jacket stop it from being cold? If I forget the jacket, does that mean I am really warm? No, my wearing of the jacket for the cold just acknowledges that I realized it was already cold.
For the first Christian believers, baptism was a testimonial proof of what already happened in their hearts. It was more of a “get to” than a “have to.”
In Acts Chapter 2 the early Church was faced with the remarkable predicament of 3000 new believers who needed to be discipled. As we looked for patterns in the text of Acts, we previously saw the role of women in the early days of the Church. Here is another pattern that can be identified: the tendency to do things on a daily basis.
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Acts 2:46
They met more than once a week.
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Acts 2:47
They went soul-winning daily.
And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
Acts 6:1
They cared for needs of people daily.
And so were the churches stablished in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Acts 16:5
They grew daily.
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Acts 17:11
They studied their Bible daily.
Another central theme in the early chapters of Acts (especially Chapters 3 and 4) is the emphasis on Jesus Christ’s NAME.
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Acts 3:16
And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
Acts 4:7
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Acts 4:10
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Acts 4:12
But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
Acts 4:17
And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
Acts 4:18
By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
Acts 4:30
There can be no denying that the early Church was zealous that the name of Jesus Christ be magnified and glorified!
It seems that the more they used His Name, the more the Gospel spread, and the more opposition they faced.
Chapter 2 describes the inauguration of the Church – and this caused somewhat of a public stir. Some people at least must have been impressed. Contrast Chapter 3, which shows the day to day ministering that only God and His workers see.
In Chapter 2, Peter preaches to thousands. In Chapter 3, Peter preaches to one lame man.
In Chapter 2, the ministry brings celebration and blessings. In Chapter 3, the ministry brings persecution and arrest.
No one can accuse these early Church leaders of greed or pandering for popularity. When Peter talked to the lame man, he said “silver and gold have I none.” Today, most so-called faith healers can not say the same: silver and gold have they plenty.
Instead of silver and gold, the Apostles had the Name of Jesus Christ, and the authority and the power of that Name.
Spending Your Retirement on Your Children
May 20, 2009 at 9:39 am | Posted in Biblical Parenting | 2 CommentsTags: Biblical child-rearing, Biblical Parenting, Caleb, Caleb's daughter, child-rearing, facing the giants, Joshua, Joshua 14, Joshua 15, overcoming giants, physical rest, rest, retirement, retirement financing, retirement investments, retirement plans, spiritual rest
At the age of 85, Caleb, who, along with Joshua, had survived the wilderness wandering in fulfillment of the promise of the Lord, might have felt a desire in his flesh to retire. However, instead of seeking an earthly “retirement plan,” he continued to wholly follow the Lord.
And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.
Joshua 14:10-12
Caleb apparently had little desire for physical “rest,” preferring instead the spiritual rest that comes with conquering mountains and overcoming giants in the name of the Lord. Caleb’s faith allowed him to claim valuable property for his family. Even his daughter, no doubt influenced by her father’s Godly leadership, followed his example of faith.
And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou? Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.
Joshua 15:18-19
We must never underestimate the effect that our walk with the Lord has on our children.
When God Condones Violence
May 18, 2009 at 9:52 am | Posted in Biblical Violence | 3 CommentsTags: abiding presence of God, Biblical Violence, desperate for God's presence, filled with the Holy Spirit, filled with the Spirit, Holy Spirit, intensity in prayer, Isaiah 9, John 14, John the Baptist, Kingdom of Heaven, Matthew 11, Matthew 19, Prince of Peace, suffer, suffers violence, taking by force, violence in the Bible
Bible scholars believe that John the Baptist first appeared on the scene approximately two years before Jesus made this exceptional statement about his ministry:
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Matthew 11:12
The word “suffereth” in this verse does not mean that the Kingdom of Heaven “suffers” in the sense of having pain or damage inflicted on it. Rather, “suffer” in the Bible means “to let” or “to allow.” (Matthew 19:14) Christ is saying that the Kingdom of Heaven, although it is ruled over by the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), does make allowances for certain types of violence.
Chiefly, this is the violence of those who suddenly recognize their lost condition, and see their urgent need for a Savior. Under conviction of God’s Holy Spirit, these lost souls may be excused for having an unruly and even desperate desire to get to Jesus – He being the only Way (John 14:6) to get to the Father, and to escape the merited punishment for our sins.
Those who trusted Christ years ago certainly find a peace and a comfort in resting on the promises of God’s Word, and knowing their eternal inheritance is secure. However, it pays to remember the Kingdom of Heaven still suffers violence, and that there are times when we should desire the abiding presence of God on our lives so desperately that we become intensely serious about seeking His will and the filling of His Spirit.
R.C. Sproul “S.W.I.M.s” with Thanksgiving
May 15, 2009 at 9:12 am | Posted in Quotes | 3 CommentsTags: Biblical swimming, common grace, famous swimmers, fish, God's grace, swim lessons, swimming in the Bible, swimming quotes, thanksgiving, waterworld
We live in a world of grace, swimming in it like fish, by God’s grace, swim in water. Which means in turn that we ought to be swimming in a world of thanksgiving.
R.C. Sproul
Just the Facts
May 14, 2009 at 9:09 am | Posted in Salvation | 3 CommentsTags: 1 Peter 1, 2 Timothy, basic facts, Bible, Biblical facts, Ephesians 2, eternal Truth, Eternity, faith, Heaven, hell, Holy Bible, Jesus Christ, John 14, John 3, Psalm 51, Revelation 20, sinful condition, sinners, vital facts, works
Here are some very basic – but also very eternally significant – facts that everyone needs to know:
1. The Holy Bible is God’s Word, and it contains no errors. (II Timothy 3:16)
2. Anyone who will go to Heaven will only go by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and no other way. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
3. Everyone comes into this world as a sinner, who is separated from God because of that sinful condition. To see the Kingdom of Heaven, and to be reconciled to God, we must be born again by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, and not by any form, type, or amount of works. (Psalm 51:5, John 3:3)
4. Those who are born again will spend eternity in Heaven with God. (I Peter 1:23, John 14:1-3)
5. Those who are not will spend eternity in hell, suffering for their sins. (Revelation 20:15)
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