Nourishment

Growing from Infancy to Manhood

When Pharaoh’s daughter found that baby in the basket floating in the river, she knew she had a problem. Not wanting to see that baby die, she immediately accepted the offer from Miriam, Moses’ sister, to find someone to care for the child. It is obvious that any baby left unattended will die. Think of the spiritual application of this principle.

man needs nourishment for spiritual and physical growth

Man needs nourishment for spiritual and physical growth.

A baby needs nourishment to grow. He needs more than nourishment but must always have food. The same is true of Christians. As a babe in Christ, he must heed the words of Peter. “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby” (1 Pet. 2:2).

Paul described Timothy as an adult and said that he knew of no other person who was spiritually-minded like the young preacher. Beginning in infancy, he had those who taught him the Bible (2 Tim. 3:15). The Greek word for infant is used to describe Jesus in the manger. Later, as a babe in Christ, Timothy was nurtured by Paul.

The point is this—God wants each of us to grow and grow and become those who reach maturity, completion and perfection in Christ. It will never happen in our lives without feasting on the word throughout all of our days.

A child needs nourishment to mature. If a baby never gets beyond his nourishment coming from milk, he will be malnourished and perhaps deformed. The same is true of each of us who have become Christians.

The life of Samuel shows the spiritual progression one must make. When Hannah brought the child to Eli, the Bible described what happened. “Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the Lord” (1:21). Five verses later, we find these words, “And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the Lord and with men.” The next chapter adds, “So Samuel grew and the Lord was with him” (2:18).

Samuel became a great influence and leader in Israel, but this was because he continued to mature and become complete. The same is true of all of us. We are “babes” in Christ, then “children” in Him.

An adult needs nourishment to live. Throughout our lives, we continue to need nourishment. The same is true of us spiritually.

How long ago did you become a Christian? Have you stagnated in Biblical growth? Are you growing “. . . in the grace and knowledge of the Lord” (2 Pet. 3:18)? If you have stopped feeding yourself, you are dying. Tragically, you may not realize it. Is private Bible study, prayer and meditation part of your life? It was part of the life of David, who had a heart like God. Do you want to become a mature, complete and perfect Christian? Wherever you are spiritually, you must be nourished!

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Hearing Voices?

Voices

We all listen to the voice of someone.  As humans this is inescapable.  John Donne (1572-1631) wrote, “No man is an island.”  We come into this world listening to the voice of our mother and father.  As children we hear the voices of relatives and friends.  Growing older, we listen to teachers and preachers, newscasters and commentators.  In adulthood the cacophony of voices that bend our ear can be staggering and in an information society, there is no end of the voices to which we can listen.  Such has been the case for centuries.  Luke’s inspired pen records “For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing” (Acts 17:21).

what voices are you listening too

What voices are you listening too?

There is a point, however, where we must stop listening and start acting.  And we should be clear, the voices to which we listen will affect the decisions that we make and the actions that we take in life.  The Bible teaches that there is no action taken by man without there first having been a thought in man’s heart.  Jesus said, “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things” (Matthew 12:35).  What we believe will affect how we act.  We don’t act in any way without first having thought about it.  And so our actions reflect the voices to which we have been listening and the voices to which we have been listening become the conventions that shape the decisions of our lives whatever direction our lives take.

If we are honest with ourselves, we will confess that there is no such thing as unconventional thinking and unconventional wisdom.  There is no new thinking that can be done that hasn’t, in some shape or fashion, been done. Solomon very wisely confessed this before he began his treatise on ethics (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10).  It is a deception to think that my thoughts are objectively unconventional; the truth is that one’s thoughts are only unconventional to some while they are conventional to others.  Whether we consider our thoughts conventional or not depends upon the voices to which we are listening and even this is only our perception of whether our thoughts are conventional or not because in the final analysis there are only two voices, two conventions, that exist.  Yes, there are only two voices in this world that truly speak: the voice of God and the voice of Satan, the voice of truth and the voice of error, the voice of righteousness and the voice of sin (Matthew 21:25).

Satan speaks with many voices from many places and with many advocates appearing as if he has multiple ideas and multiple choices; this is pluralism and while it appears wise, it is a deception.   It is a deception because truth cannot exist in the confluence or the synthesis of multiple thoughts.  If it is true that truth can only be discerned in the synthesis of plural thoughts, then one of those thoughts from which truth must be discerned is that truth cannot be discerned in the synthesis of plural thoughts.  How can it be true that truth must be discerned both from multiple thoughts and not from multiple thoughts?  It cannot.  We must conclude that pluralism is inherently self contradictory and that truth can only come from one voice, namely, the voice of God.

So, how do we hear God’s voice?  There is only one way to hear the voice of God and thereby know the mind of God, namely, through the revelation of God’s mind by His Spirit.  If someone can know the mind of God outside of revelation, I’d like for them to explain how.  Scripture says that no man knows (independently from revelation) the mind of God except the Spirit of God reveal it to him (1 Corinthians 2:11).  Indeed, no man has seen (i.e. understood) God; it is only the Son of God who has declared Him (John 1:18).  The only way to know God’s mind is if God reveals His mind to man through inspiration (1 Corinthians 2:12).  And there is only one inspired source of truth from the mind of God, the Bible.

To whose voice are we listening: the voice of pluralism or the one voice of truth?  May God help us to learn that true wisdom comes from listening to and obeying God’s truth.

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Evangelism & The High Dive

Evangelism and Jumping Off the High Dive

the high dive is very similar to evangelism

The High Dive is Very Similar to Evangelism.

Every summer, sprinklers, pools, ponds, lakes, creeks, rivers, and oceans are invaded by swarms of people looking to escape the heat. Water is wonderful! It offers a refreshing playground in which to frolic. Great memories are had around water including fishing, skiing, surfing, tubing and swimming. Many swimmers have feelings of fear and joy when it comes to remembering the high dive. It doesn’t matter if the high dive was the standard board 12 feet above the water, a rock outcropping, or a local bridge. The experiences all take the individual through a similar range of emotions. In reflection, it seems the Christian approach to evangelism travels a path also paralleling the high dive. In order to view the phases of evangelism in a different light, this article will attempt to demonstrate how evangelism and jumping off the high dive are similar. There are seven specific phases which will be discussed: Preparation, expectation, stepping out, the decision, taking the leap, response, and do it again.

Climbing the Ladder – Preparation
To dive, one must begin by climbing the ladder of the high dive. Others have done it. So it should be easy right? It’s just a matter of taking one step at a time. Each rung brings reassurance to the individual. Each bit of effort brings the goal of diving in the water closer. All along the way the diver envisions himself being successful.

All Christians should set a goal to evangelize. Matthew 28:18-20 gives the words of Jesus to the apostles. He tells them to go, make disciples, baptize, and teach. Those becoming disciples were expected to grow in the Word (I Peter 2:2). Thus, the gospel would grow by the preaching of man (I Corinthians 1:21). However, men then and now need to climb the rungs of study (2 Timothy 2:15). Before they begin to lead others, they need to know the path themselves (Ephesians 6:13-15, Psalm 119:105). When the rungs of the Word have been climbed, the Christian is prepared to evangelize.

All Eyes are Watching – Expectation
Once an individual has climbed the ladder of the high dive, climbed the hill to the cliff, or walked to the middle of the bridge, there is expectation. Everyone takes notice of the steps the individual has taken. Something is supposed to happen. A bit of uneasiness may enter the divers mind about their decision, are they ready? Still who would climb the high dive and not fulfill the purpose of the journey?

When a Christian has prepared himself in the Word, he is expected to share the Word (2 Timothy 2:24). He is supposed to encourage, exhort, and admonish from the preparation of the Word (I Thessalonians 5:14). If the expectation is not fulfilled, then doubt is cast upon the individual. He doubts himself and others may doubt his faithfulness. It is at this point, the urge to give up is very present in the individual’s mind. Yet, with the knowledge the Christian has studied to gain, how could he neglect such opportunity (Hebrews 2:3).

Stepping Out – Goodbye Comfort Zone
The diver now decides he will walk the board. He will step out away from the handrails. He will walk to the edge of the cliff. He will climb over the bridge railing. Sometimes, the biggest battle is just going to distance to the goal. Knees will shake, sweat will break out, but the feet keep moving and the diver is looking over the water. It seems counterintuitive to leave safety, but eagles can’t fly if they don’t leave the nest.

Many Christians face great fear leaving the confines of the Church building. How can they possibly go up to someone and share their faith? How can they walk down that long sidewalk to someone’s door? They may drive the block five times first. Yet, they do eventually take the walk (Psalm 23). Their brain is worried about what will happen and their mouth is dry, but God has their back (Romans 8:31).

Standing on the edge – The Decision
Standing on the edge of the diving board, toes curled and hanging on tightly, the diver has a big decision. Many a first time diver has stood there for what seems like an eternity. How many below have watched and chanted for them to jump… or chanted “Billy Bob is a Chicken”. This is the moment. This is decision time. Once you leave the board, you are committed. There is no turning back once your body commits to jump.

The Christian evangelizer has reached the door. Do they ring the bell? Do they knock? Do they just leave their flyers and run? Does the Christian trust his emotions or God (Hebrews 2:10-13)? Satan is hoping against the Christian. He wants the Christian to turn back. Yet, God has commanded. Will the Christian deny Christ (Matthew 10:33). Those who have chosen to suffer the life of a Christian are to commit themselves to God (I Peter 4:19).

Taking the Leap – Evangelism
Launching himself from the edge or closing his eyes and stepping forward or just merely falling forward, the diver makes his decision to do what he has come to do. Screaming on the way down is quite common. Frantic thoughts of “what on earth did I just do” are expected. At times like this, even the biggest of men will call for their “mommy”. The water is fast approaching and if the diver isn’t wet yet, he will be quite soon.

The Christian’s trembling finger touches the doorbell. It sounds like Big Ben echoing across the land. A dog begins to bark. The heart is pounding, because the decision has been made. The mind isn’t screaming “mommy”, but rather “Help me Father!” The line has been crossed to stand with God (Exodus 32:26, Joshua 24:15).

Hitting the Water – Response
Splash! Kawooosh! The water responds to the diver’s body. Sometimes, the sound is Slap! Belly floppers will not die, but they will holler. The folks who were rooting for the diver explode in hurrahs and cheers. Those who aren’t so friendly may discount the action as no big deal or laugh at the diver’s misfortune from a belly flop. Regardless of whether the dive was a perfect 10 or a 1, the diver overcame fear, inexperience, distance, criticism, and doubt to accomplish what they set out to do. A sense of accomplishment should be felt.

For the Christian who has knocked the door, responses can come in many forms. For the Christians who wish the best for the evangelist, pride and joy are felt. The recipient of the evangelist may respond in a number of ways. Typically, they respond kindly even if they are not interested. However, some recipients are rude. They slam doors, curse, or yell (Luke 6:22). Regardless of the recipient’s response, the evangelist should feel comfort and joy in their heart for showing their love for God (Philippians 4:4). They should know that God is pleased (Galatians 1:10).

Do it Again
The diver has taken the plunge. Yet, complete fear is not gone. Perhaps the fear is slightly higher because of a belly flop the first time. The best thing to do is to get out of the water and dive again. An afternoon of diving and diving and diving will build great confidence. The more practice taking the leap, the better the diver will be. However, the longer the wait, the more difficult the journey will be again. Much greater joy will come from diving and diving often.

The Christian has evangelized. If the first time was rough, the impulse is to never leave the Church building again. However, the wise action is to try, try again (Matthew 10:14). There will be easy moments and tough moments. However, the more an individual evangelizes the greater their comfort level will be. Their ability to handle scripture will grow. There example will aid others and save others (James 5:20). Failing to evangelize will grow further doubts about their own faith. Such actions may likely cause the Christian to enter a shell of inactivity, being neither warm nor cold, but lukewarm and displeasing to God (Revelation 3:16). The work must continue, for men should not be feared (Matthew 10:28) and God should be loved (John 14:15). There will be great joy at seeing Christian brothers and sisters in heaven (I Thessalonians 2:19).

Final Thoughts
As has been shown, there are a great number of parallels between the high dive and the Christian Evangelist. The Christian is directed to evangelize. Therefore, the faithful Christian will go through the seven steps mentioned: Preparation, expectation, leaving his comfort zone, making the decision to evangelize, evangelizing, encountering the response of evangelism, and then doing it again. There is great joy in knowing your actions are serving God. There is great comfort in knowing He is pleased. There is great relief knowing others will be saved through evangelism. Start today, do not delay.

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God Gave Them Up

God Gave Them Up

Paul, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ began to address the church at Rome, with the book of Romans.  He speaks to them about how righteousness had been revealed and that the Gospel is God’s power to save man (Rom. 1:16-18).  But, as we continue to scroll through this first chapter, we read about God’s wrath against the unrighteousness of man.  And, it is here in chapter one, where we read of a very sad statements: “God gave them up.”  Why would the God of heaven given men up?

First, God gave them up because they did whatever they wanted.  In vs. 24-25 we read, “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves.  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”  It is awful to conceive the idea that man chose sin over God.  They gave into their lust and desired to be involved with idolatry.  They became liars and abandoned God which left Him with no choice, but to give up and let man go his own way.

Second, God gave them up because some of mankind chose vile, unnatural affections.  In vs. 26-27, it states, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.”  They gave into their passions and made themselves unclean as men had a burning love for men and women had a burning love for women and God again had no choice.  He gave them up because man chose that which was vile.

Third, God gave them up because some of mankind had a reprobate and depraved mind.  In vs. 28-31, Paul writes, “. . . God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.”  How sad it is when man rejects God, when they will not approve or acknowledge him.  And, they were not only mistreating God, but also man.  They wronged them both in public and in private.  They were whisperers who spoke about God and man under their breath displaying animosity toward them both and attempting to cause problems by their debating, envy unmerciful hatred.  Thus, these unsuitable behaviors left God no other choice, but to reject people like this.

The Christians in Rome learned from Paul that these kinds of behaviors are inexcusable (Rom. 2:1) and that without God in mankind’s hearts and lives, they can become these kinds of people.  Sadly, these kinds of things continue to happen today.  They happen in our schools, they happen in our community and some are even happening in the church where a man or a woman takes on ungodly habits!  But, God will bring judgment on those who practice such things because, when men choose to do these things, they are not approved by God (Rom. 1:32).  And, we know that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18).  Let us make sure that we are living our lives faithfully to God so that we do not find ourselves in the same class of people as we find here in Romans 1, where Paul said, “God gave them up.”

Robert Notgrass

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Honoring Mothers

Honoring Mothers

The apostle Paul wrote that we are to honor our mothers and fathers (Eph. 6:1-3). Yet, he does not provide any age limit; in fact, Paul wrote this to adults. We honor our mothers in many ways. We honor them with gifts; we honor them by listening to them, and some honor them by attending worship with them on special occasions, such as on Mother’s Day. In the aforementioned text, I believe we may see some things that we as children and fathers could do to honor our mothers (and the mothers of our children).

mothers watch over their family

Mothers watch over their family.

We honor our mothers by understanding the principle of submission (Eph. 6:1). God has never changed His mind about the lesson of obedience. We cannot be right with God and wrong with our parents. The older brother of Luke 15 learned this. When he came in from the field, he was very disrespectful to his father. His relationship with his father was strained because of his strained relationship with his brother (Luke 15:28-32). Thus, the principle is this—if our relationship with our parents is strained, we are going to have difficulty with our relationship with our Father in heaven! We must submit to our parents. It is a sin to disobey them. When we break a rule with our parents, we are sinning against God. Many times, parents are contributing to their children’s lack of submission by not teaching and reinforcing their children to obey from a very young age, because if they do not start when they are toddlers, when they grow older, they learn to disrespect all forms of authority. Some parents say of their disobedient children, “Well, he is just full of mischief,” but trust me, parents, there is a difference between a child be – ing mischievous and being disobedient! In Romans 1, Paul described a group of the most wicked people written in the Bible, and among these are those who are disobedient to their parents (Rom. 1:30).

We honor our mothers by understanding the principle of sufficiency (Eph. 6:1-2). Many people have a hard time with the principle of submission, but it is understandable in view of American culture—a culture that renounces submission and declares independence. The reason we have a hard time with submission is this principle of sufficiency. For example, if we have a hard time submitting to parents, God, elders or others in authority, then it may be that we need to ask God to help us. Are we allowing the Lord to help us, or are we resisting the Lord’s help? We all have thought, “My parents are way behind the times; they are twenty years out of step with what is ongoing today.” If so, maybe we need to pray. Notice the phrase, “…in the Lord” (Eph. 6:1). Some people think that this command ap – plies to parents who are Christians, but it does not! The point is that if we want to be right with the Lord, then we have to obey and honor our parents. Thus, we are to honor them because of the help they provide for us: Paul asks, “Who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Cor. 2:16). The answer is in the next chapter: “…but our sufficiency is of God” (2 Cor. 3:5). In fact, Paul records Jesus saying to him, “My grace is sufficient for thee” (2 Cor. 12:9).

We honor our mothers by understanding the principle of survival (Eph. 6:3). The reason that we are to submit to them and to have our sufficiency in God is so that we might have a long life. No one knows how much longer our nation will stand if our homes keep crumbling the way that they are. “Except the Lord builds the house…except the Lord keeps the city, the watchmen waketh but in vain” (Ps. 127:1). Indeed, we live in a nation that is rotting and decaying from the inside. I am afraid one day that God is going to become tired of looking on our sin and his longsuffering will cease (2 Pet. 3:9).

Moreover, since God made Eve to be a helper to Adam, and fathers are foolish if we do not listen to the mother of our children, especially when it comes to child-rearing, then we can honor the mothers of our children by being devoted to the family (Eph. 6:4a). If we took the negative out, it would read, “Fathers, love your children,” because the opposite of provoke is to devote. The mothers of our children want us fathers to carry out the responsibilities of being the Christian father in the home. Many men are devoted to many things—work, hobbies and other interests, but how many men are truly devoted to their families? Dr. James Dobson said, “The greatest threat to the American home is the passive father.” This is the father who is not devoted and who lets the mother do everything that the father should be doing. Fathers, you may be working many, many hours per week, and you may feel as if you are too tired, but do not be pas – sive! If so, it will destroy the home, the nation and the church of our Lord. Why did Paul address this only to fathers? I believe it is because Paul knew the tendency of fathers to become passive, and that mothers would do their jobs without question. The burden of rearing and training the children is not anywhere placed upon the mothers, but the fathers are the spiritual leaders of the home.

Fathers can honor the mothers of their children by understanding the necessity of discipline (Eph. 6:4b). The inspired sage stated, “He that spareth his rod, spoileth the child” (Prov. 13:24), and “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Prov. 22:15). Naturally, we are not talking about child abuse. I grew up in a time and home where my mother and father spanked me if I did something wrong, but they did not abuse me. We have become so afraid of child abuse today that we have often become non-disciplined, and we are suffering because of it (cf. Heb. 12:6-11).

Fathers can honor the mothers of their children by understanding the principle of direction (Eph. 6:4c). In which direction are we fathers leading our families? People often blame the church when they need to be looking inwardly. Jesus can make our families what they ought to be! Jesus can make the family of God what it ought to be! The only gift that we have from God to take with us to heaven is our children. If we understood the impact of this, it might make a difference with us!

While many children are honoring their mothers, let us not turn a blind eye to those who are hurting or struggling. Many children are celebrating Mother’s Day for the first time without their mother. Many females are struggling with Mother’s Day because they cannot be mothers. Let us be sure to pray for them. If God has still blessed us with our mothers, then let us honor them, just as Paul declared!

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