Three Challenges

 

Three Challenges that require repentance and asking the Spirit of God to help make changes.  (These remarks were addressed to students, but with a little adaptation, "if the shoe fits" make the changes.)

1)  Cutting down others. There have been numerous comments made to other students such as “What happened to your hair?”, “You dress old”, How could you be so dumb?”, “Don’t you know that?” and others that make the other person lose self-esteem and feel bad and inferior.  God has called us out of the world, meaning to not do like the pattern of worldly criticisms and cut downs obvious on social media.

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” – Ephesians 4:29

“Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another” – Romans 14:19 

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

2)  Many have demonstrated little or no integrity, only doing what is right when authority forces them to do it. For example: Being like the way of the world in doing whatever one can get by with, whether it is only partially doing homework, answering a question with brief comment rather than taking the time and effort to think out the answer, glancing over the chapter rather than reading the content, using the sites on the Internet to get answers rather than looking them up in the text, taking answers from someone else who has done the work, ignoring rules that you know but figure you won’t get caught, not giving truthful or complete answers so you look good or can get away with some questionable action.   

Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. – Psalm 51:6

 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. -Romans 12:2

3)  Always have an excuse or way of blaming others rather than admit responsibility for mistakes and wrong choices.  For example: “It wasn’t my fault”, “I didn’t really cheat, I was just checking my answers with someone else”, “Other people are wearing hoodies”, “the Boss won’t notice” “I was busy on my phone” Justifying why I can talk during class or during a test.  Thinking I can spend time in the hall or bathroom as long as I want, even during my class.

Therefore, you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. Romans 2:1     

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.  Romans 1:18 

How Big is Your God?

Perception is everything.

In the parable of the talents, the attitude of the one who received the one talent says it all.  "Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed."  Because of his perception of the character of his master, he was afraid and hid his talent instead of thankfully using it and being productive with his gift.

A student who blatantly talks during class and ignores the rules is convinced that teachers are against him and always picking on him.  As a result, he refuses to take correction and continues to be his own worst enemy by getting in trouble and causing others around him to resent his interference.  A homeless person feels that his loss of family, home, and job is due to someone else being cruel to him and his "bad luck."  The criminal thinks the system is unfair and wonders why he is being punished when the other guy who did worse got away with it.  In other words, we haven't changed since the days of Adam and Eve, who conveniently found someone else to blame: "It was the fault of the woman that You God gave me."  "It was the serpent who deceived me."  In each of these examples, the perception or mind set of the individual creates an excuse that justifies his wrong choices.  

Scripture points out that our natural mind is darkened, so naturally verses like Romans 12 clearly instruct us to be renewed in our mind so that we are not like the world in our thinking.  How big is your God?  Does He cause you to walk in favor with God and man?  Do you enjoy His fresh mercy every morning and are you able to declare His faithfulness every night?  Do you in your heart know that He is making all things work for good in your life?  All these "renewed" thoughts come from receiving the Word of God with meekness rather than depending on our own thoughts and feelings.  Fallen nature always thinks our way is right. 

Jesus told several people "be it done to you according to your faith."  Therefore, letting the Word of God "dwell in you richly" makes all the difference in the outcome.  Likewise, in John 15:7, Jesus states that our prayer will be answered and we will be fruitful, "If you abide in Me and My words abide in you."  How we perceive God and how we allow the Word of God to be our truth is foundational to having right attitudes and correct actions.  

Simply start each day choosing to let your thoughts and ways be renewed by His revealed truth of who He is and what He has done.  As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.  Our perception of God and His goodness will allow us to glorify Him in what we do and to enjoy His glorious provision.  

  

 

Don't Drink Dirty Milk!

Drink Pure Milk.  Touch Nothing Unclean.

Jesus was the most joyful person on earth because He loved righteousness and hated lawlessness, according to Hebrews 1:9.  Because of the fall of man, evil has entered the world, and now life is filled with choices such as good or evil, right or wrong, life or death.  God reminds us that life and death are before us, so He clearly instructs us to choose life.  We are called to love good and hate evil.  Scripture is filled with promises and blessings on those who fear Him, which is defined in Proverbs 8:13 as hatred of evil.  It pleases God when His children reject evil.  

In the New Testament this contrast between good and evil and the need to choose good is further explained to ensure obedience.  2 Corinthians 6:14 states, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.  For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?  And what communion has light with darkness?  And what accord has Christ with Belial (the devil)?"  God then shares His Father-heart desire to walk with us as His sons and daughters and literally be in us.  What could be stronger or more important that His next statement, "Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.  Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you."

With this foundational understanding, let's consider the coming holiday of Halloween.  It's origin was the 2000-year ago Celtic feast of Samhain, where ghosts of the dead were believed to come back to haunt the living.  Scripture is extremely clear in Deuteronomy 18:10-12 that "There must never be anyone among you who...consults ghosts or spirits, or calls up the dead."  As you recall King Saul's final condemnation came when he asked the witch of Endor to call up Samuel from the dead.  In the New Testament, Paul openly states, "I do not want you to be participants with demons.  You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too." (1 Corinthians 10:20-21)

The Celts were afraid of the demon spirits from the dead, so at the feast of Samhain  there were large bonfires, animal sacrifices, and people even wore the heads and skins of the sacrificed animals to scare away and hide from the evil spirits, which is where the custom of dressing up in costumes comes from.  Some people offered fruit, candy, of gifts to appease the evil spirit world to avoid their "tricks."   

An honest look at the character of what Halloween celebrates also shows the nature of Satan, not God,  Fear, evil spirits, witches, death, torment, twisted and ugly creatures, deception and openness to the demonic supernatural demonstrate the exact opposite of the beauty and love of God.  Jesus said Satan was out to steal, kill, and destroy.  He call him the father of lies.  Paul points out what a deceiver he is because "Satan, himself transforms himself as an angel of light."  All the excuses or rationalizations do not cover the truth that this holiday does not honor or glorify God, but rather is the work of darkness.  God is not mocked.   

Children are open to the supernatural because they are close to God.  Woe to those who lead them astray!  What we can excuse as innocent fun is not right in God's eyes if it opens children to demonic darkness.  Lead children to taste and see the goodness of God, His healing power, His victory over fear, death, and sin.  Jesus is so good, so beautiful, so loving, so wonderful.  Let them enjoy His presence in worship.  Give them the pure milk of the Word.  Don't drink dirty milk.