Tag Archives: Christ

Buying Your Stairway to Heaven?

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Central Christian Church

Central Christian Church (Photo credit: char1iej)

Perhaps, when you read this, it will not apply to you.  Or at least, you will think it does not apply to you.  I simply urge you to consider what is said here with a sober judgment of yourself.  Far too often we allow ourselves to be fooled by our own mind.  And this is a crucial point to be made among all men, especially the members of the body of Christ.

Entrance into the kingdom of heaven cannot be bought.  You can’t buy your way in by doing anything more than to receive the gift of God in Jesus, His Christ.  With that said, I know there are certain things we are compelled to do by the Lord’s commands.  And I do not speak against the things of God here.  What I am talking about is the things we do for the sake of being respected by God.  We would do well to be careful how we perceive those necessary things.

Some might attend every Church function perfectly.  I remember reading about a woman who received a reward from her Church because she did never missed attending.  I recognize that the Church was trying to say that dedication to the body of Christ was important enough to reward.  But such things can also cause men to be led into a wicked lie.  While rewarding good behavior is not to be frowned upon, it is wrong to leave a carrot before God’s people.  Let them secure God’s pleasure before man’s appreciation.  Then the man of God will serve out of a pure heart.

Men tend to try to buy what they are not willing to do.  A man hires someone to do the tasks he does not want to do.  And in this the Church often leads to folly.  Remember this incident from the book of Acts, and consider hard where you stand.

“Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’  But Peter said to him, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!  You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.  Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.  For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.’  But Simon answered and said, ‘Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”  (Acts 8:18-24)

Please, don’t judge what I have written here as an accusation against you.  There is one who does that, and this is not my intent.  I am simply trying to wake my brothers and sisters up to the facts of wickedness which lays within all of us.  Let us all consider how to clean the House of God.  Let us ponder how to remove every possible obsticle from the path of His people, and from those who desire to enter.

Speak with Boldness, Not Timidity!

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Painting of Samuel learning from Eli

Painting of Samuel learning from Eli (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

For those who think we have no right to speak firmly of the folly of Oprah’s teachings about God:

 

We are representatives to the world for the Most High God, through the sacrifice of Jesus.  They count on us to bring God’s message of light to the darkness of the world (though they clearly hate us for it).  If we do not speak out with boldness, against the sins of man, who will?   I ask you to consider the plight of Eli, the priest of God in 1 Samuel.  Because he did not rebuke or restrain his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, to be careful with the things of God, all three were killed.

 

We have an obglation to speak of what is true AND to point out the folly of wicked men (and women).  It is not judging to speak these words.  It is wise to speak of the ways of God with a firm and stern word.  If Oprah were doing these things in a small place, and had not accused the Lord publicly, we would have little to say.  But she puts herself up as the salvation of millions.  And for this we point out her error.  Perhaps some will read and consider what is said concerning her teachings.  Perhaps none will read these words we speak.  Regardless, we will have spoken what is true and avoided Eli’s fate.

 

There is “judging others”.  And there is firm and stern teaching against all wickedness.  Wisdom draws the line.  And there is no shame in taking the mantel of the Gospel upon our shoulders.  What shall be said between incompetent liars, though they walk in ignorance, and those who speak what is true by the power of Christ Jesus?  There is a line.  And the wisdom of the Gospel has drawn it clearly.

 

There is a folly in today’s watered down gospel (which is no gospel at all).  The folly says we have no right to claim the truths of the Bible.  And the tool used against the Lord is the word “judge”.  We are told we must love everybody.  We must not be intolerant, they tell us.  I, for one, hate that watered down gospel.  It is a lie and must be challenged where ever it is found.  There is judging others, yes.  And often such judging has to do with considering the other as less than yourself.  We do not consider ourselves better than any other.  We point out sin in this world just as I will gladly point out sin in myself.

 

As long as we remain silent, the world spirals into hell all by itself.  This silence has come upon the Church with a black vengeance because others have judged the Gospel of Jesus Christ too harsh for the world to endure.  God is pure.  And what we are doing is warning of that absolute truth.  The meaning of the word “judge” has been taken to the cleaners!  There is a love in Christ Jesus which rebukes with all earnest speed and strength.  Love isn’t always a soft little teddy bear on a clean bed.  It is often necessary for love to rebuke and correct.

 

Responsible

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Father Ford in the fire truck

Father Ford in the fire truck (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A dead body cannot be responsible.  Neither can a fool be responsible.  It is even hard for a righteous man to be responsible.  Why?  In answer, let me take responsible apart:  Response Able.

God has given gifts to men for the sake of His Holy name.  He has given forgiveness for sins.   What is our response?   Do we dress ourselves with ability to respond?  Or do we take His Glorious gift for granted.  He has spoken in the gathering of wickedness.  He has danced a Holy dance in a body for all to see.  He endured this place of testing without sin.  And God has granted Him, (Jesus) Glory, Joy, Eternal Life as the Ruler of all.

I look at the ability of Jesus to respond to His Father as He walked in this utter black world of decayed souls.  And I am amazed that He performed perfectly!  He did not cave to the words and actions of man.  He desired only to be available to the will of His Father.  And He shunned all proposals to capitulate with the enemies of His Father.  He made Himself able to respond to the will of God.  He is perfectly Responsible to God, the Father of all Life and Righteousness.

With that in mind, I ask again, are we individually able to respond to the Grace given us?  Are we responsible Christians?  I write this with a severe anger at the sinful nature within me.  I remember what was spoken, and will not be taken out of the way, “Hate what is evil and cling to what is good.”  This is what is asked of us.  And it is not an unjust request.  For He gives us the power to over come.  What will be our response?  Are we able to be willing to work?

We retain men who have learned to put out fires.  If they are not responsible, what is the possibility that they can carry out the charge that has been laid upon them?  God has retained us through the sacrifice of His Holy Son.  Are we responsible?

Dedication to He Who IS

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Fear The Lord The left hand of the two similar...

Fear The Lord The left hand of the two similarly carved stones either side of the west entrance to St Leonard's Church. 32432 "Fear the Lord your God and serve Him. Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name." Deuteronomy 10:20 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Let poverty envelop me,

I will serve the Lord.

Let sickness render me to death,

I will serve the Lord.

Let my limbs be limp,

I will serve the Lord.

Let all abandon me,

I will serve the Lord.

Let my life appear useless,

I will serve the Lord.

Let them rail against me,

I will serve the Lord.

May my body endure the will of the Spirit of God.  Let the Lord fill up His testimony by the sacrifice of this body.  May the Living God, the Father of Jesus my Lord, find pleasure at the life His Great Mercy has sent unto me.  I am His.  I do not belong to myself.  I do not belong to the ways of this world.  I do not belong to the desires of man.  And, by His Grace, I will stand apart to serve the maker of my soul.

Amen.

The Bridge Over Troubled Waters (The hand Up is the Same Hand of Out)

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Footbridge near Stumble Wood This bridge is on...

Footbridge near Stumble Wood This bridge is on a path (No. WC347) from Halden Lane to Stepneyford Lane. It passes over stream feeding into Stumble Wood (on the left). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Past the beginnings of a relationship with Jesus, the Glorious King of Kings, a man will find places where he falters and tumbles back into the sins he thought were left in the dark dust of the past.  He will look down at his feet as he walks and smile with joy at the steadiness of his gait.  But sometimes he finds himself tripped up by lust, greed, lies, pride, or ignorance.  It has happened to me countless times.  And I know it happens to the very best of saints.  How should the beginner be surprised if it happens to him?

There is something about this which needs to be spoken.  It is one thing to remain in sins and never seek a way out through Jesus.  When we are in that state of affairs we should expect no help when we fall.  For we are as those who are still sitting in stench and the fall we experience is nothing more than the slip of our hand as we try to readjust our sitting.  The tumbles I am speaking of happen to those who have come some distance from that stench and have learned to walk on legs of righteousness given to them by the Lord Himself.

You will slip from time to time.  Take that as a given.  So I would advise my brothers and sisters to do this:  When you are able to walk make a considerable distance from the possibility of slipping.  Add some speed to your ways so that you move as far away from sin as possible.  Now, when you slip it will not be a pattern of behavior.   It will be simply a part of the experience we share in Christ.

There is a vast difference between holding on to some sins so that you continually revert to them, and stumbling because of things which remain in hidden in your mind.  If your heart is clean and your desire to serve Him is pure, you will find His reaction to your stumbling and tripping a great deal different than what you tasted as you began this walk.

Regardless your understanding of what I have written here, take heart.  He has seen what you desire in regard to holiness.  He has witnessed your ways with perfect and knowledgable eyes.  The Lord you trusted to take you from where you started is quite able to take you from where you are.  Do not let your faith be shaken.  Get up.  Dust yourself off.  Go to Him.  Give thanks for what He has done.  Ask for understanding, wisdom, and strength.  And start walking again!

In Hopes of Helping

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A cardboard box that appears to look shocked a...

A cardboard box that appears to look shocked and unhappy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I will relate what the Lord has done for me.  I hope this is helpful to others.

He came back to get me when He had let me chase after sin for a season.  During the last three years, or so, He has spoken plainly to me regarding what I must do every moment of every day.  Now, if that were the sum of my testimony about what He has done for me it would not be fair to others.  One more thing He has done that needs mentioning:

I had no teacher during those three years.  It was the voice of Jesus alone which guided me toward what was pleasing to His Father.  And as I understood I noticed Him ceasing to speak of certain issues.  And when a new issue came up about my behavior He would instruct me in that also.

Now I have reached a point of understanding that seems to please the Father enough to suffice.  There are many more things to build on, to say the least, but they will become a testimony of what is “more”.  I am not saying I have arrived at a holy life.  I am saying that it was the leading (the direct leading) of Jesus that has brought me to this place.

I mention these things because many of my brothers and sisters struggle against many sins and difficult times.  I want to encourage you to seek His face with all patience and humility.  I know you already do that.  But I urge it all the more.  He has taught me to listen to “what is.”  I mean that He taught me to look for Him in the present, for the present is what eternity is.  He has allowed the memory of what I have done to remain as He has uncovered the reasons for it and shown me the proper way to live my life.  I hear His voice less clearly now.  But there is absolutely no loss.  For He has taught me how to live what His voice was urging me to attain.

Was there a formula I used to get here?  The answer is a yes and no.  These things you have known from the beginning:  Read your Bible, pray, then do what the Bible and answer to prayer says you should do.  If there is a formula that is it.  Seek the will of the Holy Father in Heaven and do not lean on your own understanding.  Don’t rely on man’s version of Christianity (psychology and the watered down gospel of the day).  But seek the pure will of the Lord.  He will show you what is necessary.  And if you do not have a worthy teacher in Christ, Christ Jesus Himself will show you.

He once showed me a vision to give to another:  I saw a box with eyes and arms with its hands folded in prayer.  He commanded me to fold my hands like that and speak.  What my lips spoke I relayed to the man, “Though they are led in darkness, yet will I lead them out.”  So I can say with great confidence, take great heart in the Lord you serve in faith.  He is willing to lead you to the Father.  He is willing to give you the prosperity of eternity.  And He is quite able to accomplish what He has promised He will do.  Only be patient and humble while you wait for Him to arrive in that certain moment of eternity which is called “today”.

By His Grace.