Will You Hear?

Hear

The Bible places a great amount of importance on hearing. To each of the seven churches in Asia as John records in Revelation 2-3, the Lord said, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” James states, “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer , but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:25). Yet, when it comes to the plan of salvation that God has devised, the apostle Paul said it best:

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? (Rom. 10:13-14)

Thus, we know what Jesus has done two millennia ago to provide salvation for humanity, but the first step for human acquisition is to hear this great message in order to know it!

We have to hear what God is saying to us, and the only way that this may happen is to gain an understanding of the word of God. It must come from one who really wants to listen. Sometimes wives chide their husbands, “You have not heard a word I said!” When it comes to God, we must desire to hear Him. The Parable of the Sower illustrates this in Luke 8—four types of soil represented four kinds of hearers, but only one group really listened (Luke 8:4-15). We must be extremely careful that we do not develop “deaf ears,” or as Jesus explained, “…their ears are dull of hearing” (Matt. 13:15). I am convinced that this is one of the greatest problems today—people do not want to listen, and even if they do “hear,” they are not really listening to the warnings about error, immorality, indifference, procrastination and such like that God wants humanity to know! As a preacher, the late VE Howard’s trademark was the question, “Are you listening?”

Hearing is necessary if sinners are to correct their lives. The gospel is intended to save, because it convicts sinners (cf. 1 John 2:1-3). People may have two good ears, but this does not mean that they will hear anything that they need to hear to motivate them to become pleasing to God. In an aforementioned verse, Jesus declared,

For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing , and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them (Matt. 13:15).

A failure to hear is very costly. Years ago, a certain publication carried an article saying that large corporations are now beginning to teach courses to their employees on how to listen. According to the article, learning efficiency in industry is less than 50% (think of the cost!), while senior officials spend up to 80% of their time in discussion with others. One time, an industrial plant had a serious problem, which took months and much expense to track down and fix. After its solution, a young employee told a personnel manager, “I have known what the problem was from the beginning.” When asked why he did not tell anyone, he replied, “I told the superintendent and the foreman, and neither one listened!” When it comes to the soul-saving message of Jesus Christ, a failure to hear is very costly!

In Matthew 11:15, Jesus said, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Everyone needs to hear Jesus as He says,

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yolk upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matt. 11:28-30).

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Nobody’s Perfect

Perfect?

To be perfect is a divine achievement.

To be perfect is a divine achievement.

Did you watch the 2011 Super Bowl?  Wow, what a game!  The Patriots were trying to do something that only one other NFL team has ever accomplished, and the Giants were out to prove that they not only belonged in the big game, but that they could beat the unbeatable.  The Patriots were undefeated; they were one win away from a perfect season. As the clock was winding down, they were even winning…that is, until the Giants spoiled their quest with a game-winning touchdown with 35 seconds left.  Yet, even if the Patriots had won, they would not have been perfect.  Why I’m sure that if you were to look at the stats for the whole year you would find that at some point they had incomplete passes and interceptions, fumbles and missed field goals, penalties and injuries (etc.).

It strikes me that life is a lot like that.  Our successes were not flawless and our failures were not always the worst of the worst.  The simple fact is, no matter how much we may succeed, we’re simply not perfect.  I am reminded of that when I read passages like Romans 3:23, which says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” or James 3:2 which says, “For we all stumble in many things…”  While that is no license to sin, it is a reminder that we are weak and frail creatures who are in constant need of a Savior.  Christ is perfect, and we will be perfected in Him if we obey Him and are faithful to the very end (1 Thess. 5:23)…and that is a victory we can win!

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Rule of Happiness

NINE RULES OF HAPPINESS

Let Happiness Rule in Your Life!

Let Happiness Rule In Your Life!

Rule # 1 Live a simple life. Don’t plan too many things each day. Be temperate and moderate in lifestyle.

Rule # 2 Spend less than you earn. This may be difficult to do, but it pays big dividends in contentment and peace of mind.

Rule # 3 Think constructively. Store useful thoughts in your mind. As one thinks in his heart–so is he.

Rule # 4 Cultivate a flexible disposition. Resist the tendency to want your own way. Try to see another person’s point of view.

Rule # 5 Be grateful. Begin each day with a prayer of thanksgiving for all your blessings. Let God know you are grateful.

Rule # 6 Rule your moods. Your mental attitude is all important in living at peace with others.

Rule # 7 Give generously. Intelligent giving of your time, talents, personality, and money will bring great joy.

Rule # 8 Work with the right motives. Seek to grow in favor with God and man, seeking his will first in your life.

Rule # 9 Be interested in others. As we serve others, we reap happiness as a by-product of a life of self giving.

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Government and Bible

When the Government Tries to Rewrite the Bible

What is sin? The dictionary defines sin as “an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law.” Reread that—a transgression against divine law. If one were asked who defines what is sinful the logical answer is that the divine one or deity. For centuries, people around the world have concluded that sinful behavior is doing something condemned by God in the Bible.

Do not be mistaken, the government will mandate.

Do not be mistaken, the government will mandate.

In what can only be viewed as religious persecution, the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice revoked the credentials of chaplain David Wells because he refused to sign a state-mandated document promising to never tell inmates that homosexuality is “sinful.”  In their eyes, homosexual behavior is not sinful.

For thirteen years Wells had worked with juvenile offenders, volunteering his time and energy to help get young people back on the straight path. However, as Todd Starnes reported, “Chaplain David Wells was told he could either sign a state-mandated document promising to never tell inmates that homosexuality is ‘sinful’ or else the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice would revoke his credentials.”

Help me understand this logic: Sin is defined as a transgression against divine law, but yet, the state of Kentucky has decided it has the right (and obligation) to define what is and what is not sinful? Surely the politicians in Kentucky do not view themselves as deity?! Do they not see the lunacy of their own policy?

Paul in writing to the church in Corinth clearly stated: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). In previous times even an elementary student would conclude those behaviors to be sinful. Today, however, Kentucky has rewritten what is an abomination to God.

Wells remarked, “They told us we could not preach that homosexuality is a sin – period. We would not have even been able to read Bible verses that dealt with LGBT issues.” Clearly Christian persecution has arrived in America.

According to reporter Todd Starnes, Superintendent Gene Wade informed David Wells, “We sincerely appreciate your years of service and dedication to the youth served by this facility. However, due to your decision, based on your religious convictions, that you cannot comply with the requirements outlined in DJJ Policy 912, Section IV, Paragraph H, regarding the treatment of LGBTQI youth, I must terminate your involvement as a religious volunteer.” Is one not supposed to be convicted about his/her religious beliefs? Friends it is quickly reaching the point in America where you can be convinced God is real in America, as long as you do not show any conviction about it. In other words, they don’t have a problem with you being a Christian inside a church building 2-3 hours per week—just don’t bring God out of that building. One wonders how much longer until the government tries to start defining what is “sinful” inside church buildings? Make no mistake about it, “non-profit” organizations (which include churches) will also be told what is and what is not sinful by government agencies.

The Kentucky regulation states, “DJJ staff, volunteers, interns and contractors shall not imply or tell LGBTQI juveniles that they are abnormal, deviant, sinful or that they can or should change their sexual orientation or gender identity.” Ironic, is it not, that a prison system—full of individuals who have committed crimes—has taken it upon itself to determine what is sinful and what is not. So what happens in five years when pedophiles, using the same “tolerance” and “civil rights” arguments, are able to make speech against their behavior wrong? Does that mean it is no longer a crime? Or what about incest?

What started out in the military is spreading like a grassfire in late August. Chaplains across the country are being told they cannot pray in Jesus’ name and that they cannot speak out against homosexual behavior. Christians should be outraged that a nation that has turned its back on God is now trying to dictate to the citizens what behaviors are or are not sinful!

The article by Starnes concludes, “‘Pastors and all Americans must wake up to the reality of expanding efforts to cleanse our nation of all moral truth,’ APN President Sam Rohrer said in a statement. ‘When pastors and all Christians…are forced by government agents to renounce sharing the very reality of sin, they are in fact being prohibited from sharing the healing and life-changing potential of redemption.’ Folks, I warned you this would happen. The Christian purge has begun – and it’s only a matter of time before all of us will be forced to make the same decision Chaplain Wells had to make.”

If our nation and politicians are so adamant that we must have a separation of church and state—then by all means we should have a separation of the state from the definition of sin. If you don’t like my God then please stop trying to put words into His mouth.

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Christian Renewal

Christian Renewal

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” ( 2 Corinthians 5:17).

In Christ there is renewal of life.

In Christ there is renewal of life.

To be in Christ is to be different from what we were before we were in Christ. What one was before being in Christ is “old” and what one is after being in Christ is “new.” There is a change that must take place. What is this change and how does it happen? What is this renewal?

First, the Bible teaches that the sinner becomes new through the process of the new birth. Jesus said in John 3:3 “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” He explains in John 3:5: “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” In order to become new, one must be born of both the water and the Spirit. The apostle Peter expounds upon the idea of the new birth in 1 Peter 1:22-23. He says, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” Peter gives us the following insight on the new birth.

1. The soul is purified by obeying the truth.
2. We are born again through the living word of God.

What is the Spirit’s role in the new birth? The Spirit is the source of the living word of God, the truth. Hence when one obeys the truth one has been born of the Spirit. The individual who is baptized (born of water) and does so out of his desire to obey the word of God is a new creation. How so? Because he has dedicated himself to following the Lord’s will for his life.

Renewal, however, doesn’t end there. The Christian is urged to continue renewing himself on a daily basis. Paul writes to the church at Rome, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” ( Romans 12:2) Our minds are renewed by transforming or changing our lives to the will of God.

Paul speaks of the Christian’s involvement in renewal in Ephesians 4:17 where he exhorts Christians not to walk as the Gentiles. Why? Because “you have not so learned Christ” (vs. 20). He instructs that if “you have heard him and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus” (vs. 21) that you put off the old man with his old lifestyle and “be renewed in the spirit of your mind and that you put on the new man” (vs. 22-24). Notice Paul’s emphasis upon 1) learning Christ 2) hearing Christ, 3) being taught by Christ, and 4) the truth in Christ. Renewal occurs as a result of being taught, hearing, learning, and understanding the truth. Based upon these things, one must “put off the old man,” “be renewed,” and “put on the new man.” How? Paul explains in Ephesians 4:25-32: don’t lie, speak truth, control anger, don’t give place to the devil, don’t steal, hold down a good job, keep your speech pure, put away malice, be kind, and forgive. This is the renewed life. It is based upon “learning Christ” and being “taught by him as the truth is in Jesus.” It is a command that we “be renewed.” It is something the Christian does by following the teaching of Christ and the apostles.

We learn more about renewal in Colossians 3 where Paul explains to Christians in Colossae what it means to live the resurrected life. It means putting to death sin in our life ( Colossians 3:5-9) because the Christian has put off the old man of sin ( Colossians 3:9) and has put on the new man ( Colossians 3:10). This new man is the man who has been “renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” The renewal of the new man is a renewal in knowledge based upon the model of Christ. Why is the knowledge important? Because that is what affects behavior and it is one’s behavior that demonstrates his new life. This new life puts off fornication, sexual immoralities, covetousness, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, impure speech, lying and puts on mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing, forgiveness, and love ( Colossians 3:5-14). This is the resurrected life; this is the renewed life. Renewal is not something that God does to us, rather it is something that man is commanded by God to do with his life.

Titus 3:5 summarizes this new life where Paul states that God saved us, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” At first glance, this appears to be just the opposite of what Paul taught in Ephesians and Colossians. However, when we consider that the instructions for living the renewed life came from God, we understand them to be part of His plan for our righteousness. Moreover, since these instructions were also revealed by the Holy Spirit to the apostles and prophets, we can understand that it is the renewal of the Holy Spirit; i.e. that renewal that comes from the Holy Spirit as its source. Moreover, this renewal isn’t a one time event but an ongoing process. We are spiritually renewed every day, Paul tells us, in 2 Corinthians 4:16. There’s nothing in the context of Titus 3:5 that indicates to us that this renewal is merely a one time event only that the Holy Spirit is ultimately responsible for it.

In this brief study we’ve looked at the New Testament’s teaching regarding renewal. We’ve learned that 1) renewal is dependent upon our learning about Christ, 2) begins when we are baptized, 3) continues as we are obedient to the Lord’s will in living the Christian life, and 4) the Holy Spirit is its ultimate source. Let’s strive to live each day renewed in the knowledge of the image of Christ.

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