Control

Who has control of your life?

Imagine for a moment that your life is represented by a circle. Inside that circle, in the very center, is a throne. On that throne sits, by your choosing, the ruling influence in your life. Who is sitting on the throne of your heart?

Some put their enemies on the throne of their hearts. These people allow their enemies to consume their lives because hate for their enemies control their thoughts, their actions, and their attitudes. Some put their friends on the throne of their hearts. Many allow their friends to dictate what they wear, what they say, what they do, even what they believe about God. Friends can be a blessing or they can be a curse. In the Bible, we read about Amnon who had the wrong kind of friends (2 Samuel 13). Even in the New Testament, we are warned: “Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). But, most people put self on the throne of their hearts. They say, “What’s in it for me?” and that becomes the determining factor in the lives of those who are dominated by self. If we will stop and think, however, the most miserable person and the most selfish person are one and the same!

Thus, we should put Christ on the throne of our hearts. If we want to experience an abundant life now (John 10:10) and an eternal life in heaven (Romans 6:23), we must allow Christ to rule our lives! Christ is Lord (Acts 2:36). The word “Lord” means master, owner; one who has power or authority over another. So, is He your Lord? You know He wants the best for you. But know this, Jesus has said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). He has also said, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). In our individual lives, if Jesus is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all.

You know, each of us will serve someone. Each of us will put someone on the throne of our hearts. It may be our enemies, our friends or loved ones, our selves, Christ, or some other. We’re going to serve someone! But, whom do you serve? Who is your lord? Who controls your life?

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Battle

The Battle for Men’s Mind is Raging

We are at war! Being a follower of Christ means we have enlisted into the army of the true Commander-in-Chief of the universe and now are committed to follow Him in the battle against unrighteousness. Paul described this battle in these words. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Cor. 10:3-6).

We have weapons! Our leaders have equipped us with weapons to be used as long as we live in the flesh. Paul said, “We do war according to the flesh.” The tactics and weapons used by others in the flesh are not the ones we have to use.

We have weapons, but they are not carnal. Many in the first century thought that the King of kings came to establish an earthly kingdom where He would sit and rule on a throne like other kings. (Some today make the same mistake about the nature of His kingdom.) When Pilate, who thought Jesus’ purpose was to be an earthly king, asked Jesus, “Are You the king of Jews?” Jesus forever settled this matter when He replied, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews” (John 18:33, 36).  We are at war; we are armed with weapons; our weapons are not the same weapons used by regular armies.

We have weapons designed to destroy everything which exalts itself against God. Note that Paul said they are mighty (in the Greek, the word is the same word for dynamite). They are designed to pull down (the Greek indicated the tearing down of walls of a castle where the enemy felt he was secure). They are designed to pull down strong holds and every high thing (even castles where men in their pompous reasoning have taken fortification). Ephesians 6:10-20 shows His word is the basis of all our weapons!

We have enemies and we know his name. Paul said the enemies we must defeat are the arguments that seek preeminence above Christ and holiness. Our enemy is seeking to condone abortion, homosexuality, pre-marital sex and fornication. We know the enemy who seemingly is winning the battle for the minds of those around us.

We have to take up our weapons now! We know the issues before us. We no longer can keep silent! To fail to speak boldly about these matters is to surrender to hell!

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Go to the Church of God’s Choice

There is a statement that is commonly heard throughout our society that says: “Go to the church of your choice.” You have probably seen it (or similar statements) emblazoned on various bumper stickers, signs, posters, and billboards. This statement presupposes that there is a choice to be made in picking a church. For many people, this type of statement makes perfect sense – “it stands to reason!”

Within our communities, whether they be small towns or large, metropolitan cities, there are so many different “houses of worship.” In many places, you can find a number of “churches” – three, four, five, six, or more, all located within a short distance of each other. On one corner, you might see the church building where the local Methodists meet, across the street is the imposing place of worship of the “First Baptists,” while down the avenue is the large, impressive Roman Catholic cathedral. This supposedly presents the member of the community with a wide number of choices to be made when they start planning where to place their membership and attend worship services.

Many of these “churches” consider themselves “Christian,” meaning that their members at least maintain some sort of belief in Jesus Christ and recognize the Bible to be a source (however limited) of spiritual guidance and encouragement. Yet, these same “churches” also represent many different religious groups which vary greatly in their own beliefs, doctrines, and practices. For example, Roman Catholics strongly believe that it is necessary for infants to be baptized while Baptists do not.

The very existence of these different “churches” (religious groups) inevitably leads to some questions: 1.) Which “church” (group) should I select to place my own membership and attend? 2.) Which “church” has members that share my own personal convictions? and 3.) Which “church” is correct in its teachings and is right with God? These are all valid questions! They need to be answered.

The many choices that are presented to the common person have the potential to lead to great confusion and frustration. Some people deal with this confusion by saying (and believing): “It doesn’t matter where you go!” or “One church is as good as another!” Trying to rationalize their decision, they may add: “All roads lead to heaven.” or “All roads lead to the same destination.” Those who believe this way frequently maintain that the only thing that really matters is attendance at some type of “church.”

This has ultimately led to the statement: “Go to the church of your choice!” We are told to select the “church” that pleases us. We are encouraged to go to the group that makes us feel good and happy – which best meets our “felt needs.” Still, the questions linger!

However, when we go to God’s word, the Bible, we discover that our choice is quite simple and straightforward. There is only one correct choice to be made! In his letter to the brethren at Colossae in Asia Minor, the apostle Paul writes: “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18) [NKJV]. The “He” that Paul is referring to here is Jesus Christ. Notice that Paul states that Christ is “…the head of the body, the church” [underlines mine, eas]. He repeats this idea later on in this same chapter in v. 24 and also explains that “the body” is “…His body.” Thus, Paul emphasizes here, as he does also in Ephesians 1:22 – 23; 4:4, that Christ’s body, the church, is singular, not plural!

Christ is not the head of “a body” which is “a church.” Rather, He is the head of “the body” which is “the church.” The church, therefore, is not one of many but the one and only! There is no other! It is the “…one body” mentioned in I Corinthians 12:12 – 13, Ephesians 4:4, and Colossians 3:15.

So we come to the obvious and necessary conclusion that there is only one true church! As we look out at all the choices that are available, we do not have to be confused or frustrated. On the contrary, we can be confident as we select the church that teaches the truth – the truth that is in God’s word. One of the key attributes of the one, genuine church is that it is “…the pillar and ground of the truth” (I Timothy 3:15).

Let us choose to become members of the church that is headed by God’s precious Son Jesus Christ and is ruled by His teachings. Let us: “GO TO THE CHURCH OF GOD’S CHOICE!”

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Slackness in Attendance

A Creeping problem in many congregations today: Slackness in attendance;  Delay by the faithful to reach out to those that are unfaithful and those that show a lack of interest through non-attendance at regular assemblies.

Many of the congregations that I am familiar with are plagued by members that do not attend the assemblies on a regular basis even though the preacher and church leaders encourage them by announcements of classes, gospel meetings, special meetings at other congregations in the area and other personal encouraging discussions at the meeting house. Make no mistake about it; most of those that fall into this group of church members hear on a regular basis that Christians are to be in regular attendance; study their Bible at home and at Bible studies at the meeting-house. Yet they continue to be unresponsive to these actions of encouragement from other members.

Often whenever this subject is examined in public some are willing to ignore these acts of unfaithfulness and allow them to continue because there are too many they have let get away with the same action or actions in the past. Remember this … “whatever we do in word or in deed we must do by the authority of Christ with love and patience.

The most wonderful pursuit for mankind while he/she lives on the earth is to pursue righteousness. The pursuit of righteousness begins with an acknowledgement of the Great “I AM” {God}. Whenever a person becomes acquainted with the Creator {i.e. the creator of all things] – Heb. 10:25 – 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26 for if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, KJV

Luke 12:29-31 – 29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things? 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. KJV

2 Thess. 1:2-5 – 2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: (KJV)

Because these  have been tolerated by the church that does not mean that the actions of those that are faithful in this matter have been correct in the past. The Bible clearly condemns those that fail to live up to their commitment made when they believed and obeyed the gospel earlier in their life. Please observe and seriously consider these following Biblical passages that speak directly to this situation

Heb. 10:24-26 – 24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one Perhaps we are dealing with family problems, sickness, or spiritual anemia. Regardless of the problems that we face; The Lord is with us if we are one of His children {i.e. a Christian}.

The present world society is mostly in pursuit of worldly things, sensual delights, and material wealth. These things are temporal; they will not endure for very long even if we acquire these all to our human satisfaction; eventually they will mold, be stolen, wear out, or grow old and wrinkled. But the things that are important will continue to be helpful, useful, and satisfying so long as we live above the sod. Yes, eventually we will all die and our earthly remains will be laid to rest in a quiet and crowded place {i.e. a cemetery}. This is a fact of human existence that escapes the thoughts of many people; that is why they live in the worldly, shady, sensual shadows of the night hoping to escape the “all seeing eyes” of Almighty God. Dear friend; you cannot escape the knowledge or the all seeing eyes of God. The mistake that many people make is they limit God to earthly standards – this will not hold up for God is different – see Isaiah 55:9.

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Why the World Needs the Gospel

The world needs the gospel, but most, including professing Christians, don’t even know that they have such a need.  They operate upon the atheistic ethical principles taught to them in public schools: the end justifies the means.  As a result, they grow up and make horribly wrong choices.

For example, on November 20th, 2009, a young woman died while a Philadelphia doctor gave her an abortion.[1] Such deaths are hardly ever reported nationally because it is politically incorrect to do so.  When the authorities investigated the doctor’s offices, they found dozens of frozen babies, some dating back thirty years.  What motivates such wanton disrespect for human life?  The end justifies the means.

The gospel message, however, contains no such ethic.  In fact, the apostle Paul specifically disavows and condemns the idea that we may do evil that good may come (Romans 3:8).  Jesus taught an absolute standard of morality: love God and love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39).

This means that neither God nor our neighbors are means to an end, but ends in and of themselves.  God and our neighbor both have intrinsic value.  Jesus reflected this truth when he implied that one soul is worth more than the entire wealth of the world (Matthew 16:26).  God and the souls of men are valuable as ends in and of themselves.

What it means to love is explicitly set forth in the commandments (John 14:15, 1 John 5:2-3).  Paul writes that when we keep God’s commandments we demonstrate true love toward our neighbor because following these absolute standards intrinsically results in not simply minimizing, but eliminating real moral harm to our neighbor (Romans 13:8-10).

Many personally understand that reducing harm is a good thing and desirable as an ultimate consequence.  However, when sought based upon man’s standards instead of God’s, such individuals actually end up causing more harm altogether.  These seek the consequence of reducing harm as an end in itself.  They employ any means to accomplish it, including, but not limited to, treating people as means to an end.  By not considering individuals as ends of themselves, however, they only increase harm.

This was the attitude of Napoleon, Stalin, Mao, Hitler, and Pol Pot.  They perpetrated great crimes against humanity in the name of “social progress.” The end justified the means, they reasoned.  Their primary error was thinking that they could do it under their own auspices; without divine revelation, without an absolute standard of morality.

Most people in the world do not want to harm others.  However, they don’t know that the best way to do that is to commit to and obey the gospel.  The world needs the gospel, but they don’t know it.

[1] http://cbs3.com/local/West.Philadelphia.Dr.2.1512077.html

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