It Appears Right to Me

“There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death…”

(Proverbs 14:12 NKJV)

There are millions of people in this world today who have adopted the philosophy of “It seems right to me…” This humanistic model of living is based on the false premise that man can make do virtually anything he wants to do – so long as it makes him happy and does not hurt others. Many others attempt to make the same application when it comes to their religious devotion. If it seems right to them (makes them happy) and it is offered as worship, then they think they are pleasing God.

This attitude is similar to that of  King Saul in 1 Samuel 15. He had been commanded to take his army and go up against the  Amelekites and utterly destroy them and all of their livestock – to leave none alive. But Saul, thinking it would please God more if he spared the best of the livestock to sacrifice as a burnt offering. The prophet Samuel rebuked him and stated, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams…” (1 Samuel 15:22 NKJV) Because he sought to do what seemed right to him rather than what God had informed him- God rejected him from being king over Israel.

There is a way that appears right to a man, and there is also a way that is right to God. In the First Century, the Pharisees had a way that seemed right to them. They had developed their own standard of right and wrong based upon their oral traditions. To the Pharisees Jesus said, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. And in vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ For laying aside the commandment of God… All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition…”(Mark 7:6-9 NKJV) This group of ancient Jews had added many things to the word of God because they thought that if they followed these traditions they would be more pleasing to God. Their problem  was that they allowed the traditions to replace the word of God in their hearts.

Paul had been a Pharisee (Acts 23:6) and he had felt justified in persecuting Christians based upon some  of these oral traditions. In Philippians 3:1-12, Paul recounted how his persecuting of Christians had been according to his own self-righteous beliefs. Even though he was zealous and felt right in his actions, he was violating the will of God.

Paul also states in that passage that he put away his man-made standard of righteousness and adopted the righteousness of God through his faith in Christ Jesus. Christians know that there is no salvation outside of obedience to Christ (Hebrew 5:8-7; Matthew 7:21-23). So, without our obedient faith all the ways of man lead to spiritual death.

Posted in Jack McNiel | Tagged , , | Comments Off on It Appears Right to Me

The Brother of the Prodigal

Ah, the prodigal son of the Bible passage Luke 15. He was tired of being around the house. He wanted his inheritance right now. He got it, he spent it, and he regretted it. Embracing humility, he went home hoping he could at least be a hired hand. Instead, he was welcomed by his father, embraced, returned to a place of honor, and a party was thrown for him. Big brother wasn’t too pleased about the situation. He had been doing all the right things. He had served without disobedience for years. Yet, he never got a party.

A few years back, a 53 year old gentleman by the name of Ted Williams had a big change in his life. He was homeless, but when someone did a news story on him and heard his voice, he was launched to stardom. Quite quickly he was offered a plethora of jobs including voice work for NFL films and a working for the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers. There are many folks homeless for many reasons. In Mr. Williams case, his lifestyle was prompted by drug and alcohol use. He had done prison time for varying issues including theft. He had fathered 9 children. The glow began to be removed from the story.

As facts begin to emerge regarding Mr. Williams, a number of people have become quite frustrated. Their whole life, they have always tried to keep themselves respectable. They dress nice, they are clean cut, and have a great work history. They went to college and then to graduate school. Their resume does not include prison time. They have never stolen a thing; in fact, they once found a missing wallet and returned it. Personal relationships have always been kept in order. They have been married for decades and have always been faithful. Life for them has been difficult at times. They have struggled to make ends meet and keep a roof over the head of their family. With the economy in shambles, they are now facing layoffs.

So the question arises: Why should a foolish thief / drug addict get offered dream jobs which people everywhere are drooling over, while the hardworking respectable person doesn’t even get a glance thrown his way? To many it just doesn’t seem right. It angers them. It gnaws at them. They want a party too!

Mr. Williams story seems to parallel the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). But it is the story of the brother that is of interest here. Those frustrated need to ask themselves, “Am I the prodigal’s brother?” Everyone hopes for a big break in their life. Everyone hopes their life will turn Golden. However, should only the very best people get the breaks? America itself was founded upon principles which allow anyone at anytime to turn their life around. The frustration expressed is called envy. Envy has roots which are very old. Envy when it takes root is sinful and can be very dangerous.

Two of the children of Adam and Eve, the first man and woman upon the earth, are the first examples given regarding envy. The children were named Able and Cain. A time came when they were to make an offering to God. Able offered a sacrifice that was by faith. That is, it was something which God had commanded and he had heard and followed (Romans 10:17). Cain, on the other hand, decided he could do something else and be pleasing to God. Cain’s heart wanted to serve. Cain’s heart wanted to worship. Cain believed in God. However, Cain’s gift was not what God commanded. It was not by faith. Consequently, God did not regard his offering. Cain brought his misfortune upon himself, but his anger was upon Able (Genesis 4:3-8). Cain was envious of Able’s success. Cain was no doubt a good person overall, certainly he would have opportunity to be pleasing to God at other times and be regarded by Him. However, those times would never come. In Cain’s envy, he killed Able. This was even after God had warned him about his anger saying, “Sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

Later on in scripture (Genesis 37), the children of Jacob (who would be the fathers of tribes of Israel) encountered envy. Jacob favored one son, Joseph, and the other sons were envious. Their envy was so great they contemplated killing Joseph, just as Cain had Able. However, they were discouraged enough by the older brother Reuben such that they only sold Joseph into slavery (Acts 7:9). However, such an action was certain lacking in love and sinful. Little did they know, the success of their brother would come back to bless them.

By the time of the Israelite captivity by Babylon, there lived a captive by the name of Daniel. Daniel was taken from Jerusalem, made a eunuch, and placed in the service of King Nebuchadnezzar. As time played out, Daniel through the hand of God would display great wisdom and be given a high place of power and honor. This blessing not only extended through the Babylonian captivity, but into the rule of the Medes and Persians. What an amazing story of someone rising up from nothing to that which would be a dream of many. It was a situation which made many others envious (Daniel 6). Envious Median officials created a legal situation in which Daniel would be thrown into a pit of lions because of his persistent worship of God. Indeed, Daniel was thrown into such a pit, due to the envy of men. However, God protected his life, despite the sin of man.

When Jesus later walked the earth, some of the Jews (people of Israel) were envious of him. There were men who accepted him, there were men who believed in him secretly, but those in power were envious. They were afraid he would take their place and nation (John 11:48). They did not want to lose their power. They even understood that Jesus was performing miracles, wonders, and signs (John 5:16). Rather than give praise for the savior which had come as prophesied, they were more concerned about themselves. Consequently, when the proper time came, they delivered Jesus up to the Roman authorities to be crucified. The Roman Governor Pilate clearly understood why Jesus was brought to him. He declared Jesus innocent of any crimes for he knew Jesus was brought to him because of envy (Matthew 27:18).

Following the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, Jesus spent over a month appearing to many different individuals and groups. Then, he ascended into heaven, leaving his apostles to receive miraculous inspiration on the day of Pentecost, enabling them to preach all the truths of God. Their teachings denounced envy. From the beginning of time and to the end of this earth, envy is sin.

Galatians 5:19-21 – Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Peter 2:1 – So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

It is so easy, to be the Prodigal’s brother. It is easy to walk in the same footsteps as Cain, Joseph’s brothers, the Median officials, and Jews of Jesus time letting envy consume the thoughts. However, rather than act or feel in such a manner, happiness should be expressed for the individual. A love for mankind should cause us to share in their joy and hope it lasts. Envying another individual’s successes will not improve your situation, but it will rather distress and endanger your soul. Do not be the Prodigal’s brother.

Proverbs 14:30 – A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.
1 Corinthians 13:4 – Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast;

Posted in Travis Main | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Brother of the Prodigal

Working Together List

WORKING TOGETHER

Our united efforts are needed — I encourage each member of the congregation here as well as those of you who visit us to resolve that you will make a special effort to be or to become a more mature Christian.  I have listed eight points that will assist us in our desire to become more mature in our spiritual life which may aid us in becoming more mature and of greater benefit to our Lord and to the lost ones in our community if added to our life and activities in future days, weeks, months, and years:

1. IN ATTENDANCE:

Hebrews 10:24-25, 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  NIV

2. IN OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST:

Hebrews 5:8-9, 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him

3. TO APPRECIATE THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL MORE:

Romans 1:16, I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. NIV                 

4. TO TEACH OTHERS IN WORD AND DEED:

Colossians 3:17, And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. NIV   

5. TO PRACTICE THE TRUTH IN MY LIFE:

Romans 12:1-2, 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living  sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. NIV

6. TO SEEK GOD’S KINGDOM FIRST:

Matthew 6:33, But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. NIV      

7. TO GROW IN GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE:

Peter 3:18, But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.  NIV     

8. TO ALWAYS BE PREPARED FOR THE LORD’S SECOND ADVENT:

Matthew 24:44, So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.  NIV

May God richly bless every one of us as we labor together in His Kingdom …

Posted in Garreth L. Clair | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Working Together List

Drive!

We are to Drive Sin Out!

In Matthew 21:12, when Jesus entered Jerusalem, He went into the temple. He saw the Jews who were selling doves to those who needed sacrificial animals. They were exchanging foreign money to make a profit. He described them as a “den of thieves.” This is one of the very few cases where we actually see the Lamb of God becoming the Lion of Judah. Jesus drove them out of the temple, overthrowing their tables and making the point that the temple is no place for sin. In other words, Jesus drove sin out of the temple. The Bible commands us to drive sin out of the temple as well.

We are to drive sin out of our own lives. Paul tells us that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19-20). As Jesus drove sin out of the temple, we have an obligation to drive sin out of the temple as well. Jesus said, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). The longer we let sin cultivate in our lives, the stronger the roots of Satan will grow.

We are to drive sin out of the church. Paul hears of a report of fornication in the church at Corinth, and their attitude was being “puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you” (1 Cor. 5:2). Their attitude needed to change to “deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Cor. 5:5). We must purge old leaven. The Bible gives various scriptures to withdraw from ungodly brethren. Elders have the responsibility to rebuke sinful brethren and false teachers. In order to maintain the purity of the church, Christ knew that sin must be driven out of the spiritual temple (Eph. 2:20-22), just as He drove sin out of the temple in Jerusalem.

We are to drive sin out of our nation. We are in a time where sin is becoming increasingly rampant in America. The voices of many are taking God out of our country. We need to stop this sinful assault against our Jehovah God. What can we do? We can pray! Paul tells us of our obligation to pray for our leaders (1 Tim. 2:1-2). If there was ever a time when our leaders needed us, as Christians, praying for them, then the time is now! We need to be praying that our nation will have respectable men who can lead us. When the time comes to choose leaders for our nation, we must vote sensibly. We need to examine the candidates, including their record and their beliefs. We already have too much legalized sin; we certainly do not need any more. It is bad enough fighting sin that is against the law, but fighting legalized sin seems to be more difficult. Above all, we must voice the gospel (Rom. 1:16). When the church changes politicians with the greatest news of all—the gospel of Jesus Christ—then it will forever change politics (Mark 16:15-16).

Jesus promised, “Ask, and it shall be given you; see, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matt. 7:7). After Jesus drove the buyers and sellers out of the temple, he said, “It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer.” I aspire that we will drive sin out so that we may be called “the house of prayer”—our lives, our congregations and our nation!

Posted in Sam Willcut | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Drive!

The End of a Year

A Time for Reflection

Is there any better time for reflection than the end of a year? In less than three weeks the year 2013 will be history. We are one year closer to the time of our death and one year closer to determining where we will spend eternity. Consider the following thoughts which seem so timely as this year comes to a close.

Are you numbering your days? This question comes from a consideration of Psalm 90. “The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years . . . so teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” So many fail to sense the reality of their coming death. It may be hard for someone at 25 to think they have lived a third of their lives or someone at 35 to understand they have lived half of theirs, but as this year comes to a close, count the days you have left!

Have you forgotten His grace? The end of a year provides a time to look backward to where each of us has lived. There are no degrees of being lost. Each of us, in the past, was just as vile and lost as mass murders or child molesters. It is by His grace we live. Peter described what was happening in the lives of some Christians in his day. They had become Christians but had become barren and unfruitful and were spiritually blind. What had happened? What could cause a man to arrive at such a situation? He had “. . . forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sin” (2 Pet. 1:8-9). When we glory in our own “goodness” we lose sight of His. Have you forgotten His grace?

Have you buried the past? Obviously, one can never forget the past, but far too many live in guilt and have the lowest self-esteem. We must learn to live in the present and let God deal with what has passed. He has forgotten it and so must we. Paul described himself as the chief of sinners (1 Tim. 1:15), who had become what he was by God’s grace (1 Cor. 15:10). Look at this principle by which he lived: “But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those thing which are ahead, I press toward the goal . . .” (Phil. 3:13-14). A new year awaits each of us. The old one must be forgotten, for there is a new year before us with greater opportunities and challenges!

You alone will determine what kind of year you will have in 2014. A precious brother (Harold Pack) told me when he awoke each day he had a decision to make. “Will I have a good day or a bad one? I may have headaches and pain, but I can have the best headache day I could possibly have.” Apply that to 2014. It will likely have adversity, but your attitude towards problems determines if the year will be a good year or bad one!

Posted in Dan Jenkins | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The End of a Year