Jesus – Page 38 – Godinterest

August 7, 2014January 15, 2024

Proper Church Fashions? Find Tips On Godinterest

This is a guest post by Paula Mooney. It first appeared in LuckMag and is published here with permission of Paula to whom we are grateful.

The other day I was thinking about the time when I was in the basement of my old church attending some sort of training session for us “leaders,” as churches are apt to call volunteers who are led like sheep to the slaughter into ministry work. I had donned my favorite white sweater, one composed of yarn that was knitted or crocheted into a pattern that allowed small rectangular spacing in between each section. I wasn’t crazy – I knew I’d be spending time around some holier-rolling-than-thou saints – therefore, I probably wore some kind of tank top underneath. (Unlike the time I wore the same sweater to my former job in California with just a bra underneath, and my female boss at the time kept glancing down during our conversation.)

But back to the church basement. All of a sudden, this older geezer of a man sidled up next to me and chimed, “Are you cold? Are you cold?” Before I could even open my mouth to begin to formulate an answer, he responded for me to his own inquiry. “The reasons you’re cold we’ve already discussed,” he said, proudly referring to a discussion the teacher had just had with us members about appropriate church attire. I couldn’t tell if his statement reflected genuine grandfatherly concern for his “sister in Christ” or a kind of Pharisee-like creepiness.

Either way, I probably could’ve found some guidance for dressing in the fashion section for women on Godinterest.com, if the site would’ve existed back then. Years later, at a different church, I’d find myself being admonished a bit more gently and less directly in another ministry meeting, all because my cute white t-shirt with the “blinged-out” bedazzled cross on the front was apparently a little too fitted.

Ah well”¦church fashions may always be a point of controversy, especially in light of all the hubbub surrounding famous Christians like Erica Campbell and Meagan Good lately, two beautiful women whom I believe dress just fine for the entertainment industry. Besides, I hate it when some places of worship go overboard with talk about women “tempting their brothers to fall.” At least some are progressive enough to ban the men from wearing muscle shirts. At least they realize that some of the men’s Christian fashions we uncover can be just as provocative:

Okay, back from that trip to muscle-land.

My main point is that I’ve learned that dressing for church might have evolved over the years, but no matter what, just because you wear a skirt down to your ankles doesn’t mean you’re not a sinner in need of saving, and simply because a bit of dcolletage shows doesn’t mean you’re in a hand basket heading to hell.

Following the unction of the Holy Spirit guides us into what’s really proper attire for us to wear – whether it’s for a Sunday morning service, a Saturday night contemporary celebration, or any other day of the week. In the same way that God looks upon the heart, it’s more important to start there in gleaning where a person’s coming from, and not sum them up in one judgment based solely on their wardrobe.

August 7, 2014January 15, 2024

5 films that will make 2014 ‘the year of the Bible’

Paramount’s “Noah” and “God’s Not Dead” are among the top four films at the American Box Office. And with a slate of Christian-centric films on Hollywood’s agenda, 2014 has been dubbed by industry press as the year of biblical movies.

“Son of God” | 20th Century Fox (February 2014)
In the Holy Land, the Roman occupation has produced a cauldron of oppression, anxiety and excessive taxes levied upon the Jewish people. Fearing the wrath of Roman governor Pontius Pilate (Greg Hicks), Jewish high priest Caiaphas (Adrian Schiller) tries to keep control of his people. That control is threatened when Jesus arrives in Jerusalem, performing miracles and spreading messages of love and hope. Those who fear that Jesus will inspire a revolution decide that he must die.

“Noah” | Regency Enterprises (November 2014)
When God decides that mankind has become too sinful and must be wiped off the Earth, he chooses Noah (Russell Crowe), a pious man, for a great task. Noah must build an ark large enough to hold his wife (Jennifer Connelly), adopted daughter (Emma Watson), sons (Logan Lerman, Douglas Booth, Leo McHugh Carroll) and their wives — plus breeding pairs of every animal. When the task is completed, Noah and his family witness God’s wrath in the form of an apocalyptic flood.

“Heaven is For Real” | Sony Pictures (April 2014)
Small-town businessman, pastor and volunteer firefighter Todd Burpo (Greg Kinnear) and his wife, Sonja (Kelly Reilly), are struggling to make ends meet during a tough year. After their young son, Colton (Connor Corum), undergoes emergency surgery, Todd and Sonja are overjoyed at the child’s miraculous recovery. However, the Burpos are unprepared for what happens next — Colton says that he went to heaven and back, and tells his parents things that he couldn’t possibly know.

“Exodus” | 20th Century Fox (December 2014)
Twentieth Century Fox has kept a tight lid on Ridley Scott’s “Exodus.” All we know is that the film is an adaptation of the biblical story of the ancient Israelite people’s liberation from Egypt. Christian Bale will star as Moses, and Sigourney Weaver will co-star. Critics won’t be able to help themselves from comparing the film to the 1956 movie “The Ten Commandments” starring Charlton Heston. The question will be whether this film can duplicate the classic’s box office success.

“Mary, Mother of Christ” | Lionsgate Films (December 2014)
The long awaited prequel to “The Passion of The Christ” is scheduled to arrive before Christmas after a long set of delays. Under the reign of terror of Herod the Great and against all odds, Mary and Joseph survive as young parents in one of the most treacherous times in history. From Mary’s youth to her struggles as a young mother caring for her child, Jesus, up to the age of four years old. We will peer into Mary’s life at ages 8, 15, 19 and 27. (Written by Aloe Entertainment) We are determined to make the familiar story new to our eyes and our hearts. It’s as if in the past we were taught to love this family, rather than sharing their lives in big and small ways and letting a natural empathy develop. One of the visual leitmotifs we are intent on is seeing the tiny fragile element of Mary who is essentially up against doubters who want to stone her to death, a fallen angel trying to harness all his persuasive power to try and get her to doubt her faith, and a mad King named Herod who will unleash rivers of blood in his intent in finding and killing her son. We must think of Mary as this very young, very vulnerable warrior. For the first time we will see how she has to stand on her own to protect her assignment in a way that reflects the legendary courage mothers are known for protecting their own.

The increase in biblical movies is a testament to the ongoing power of those ancient narratives to capture the hearts and minds of the masses. And it also reminds us that Hollywood is driven by money more than by agendas.

The film industry is a mirror reflecting what society desires: sex, violence, and great stories with a touch of God in the mix.

The Bible’s stories are an enduring draw, so Hollywood is doing what it has always done best—turning a buck by giving audiences what they want.

July 19, 2014January 15, 2024

Anti-Christian Bigotry on the Rise, Godinterest Attacked!

LONDON, ENGLAND – Hackers attempted unsuccessfully to disrupt Godinterest.com from April – August 2014 with a series of attacks that continued over a period of 4 months. The hackers used a denial-of-service (DDoS) attack using multiple systems to flood the bandwidth or resources of Godinterest. Flooding our system with traffic and successfully took the website offline for half an hour each time.

The attack, while achieving nothing significant, was the most successful attack against the Godinterest website since being featured in the Huffington Post, Evening Standard, Washington Times, Jezebel and Wikipedia. Previously, the website’s mail system was hacked which resulted in the loss of user data.

Godinterest places a premium on security, which protects the site and its data, but the website is under constant attack. Hackers often attempt to bring down the news, prayers, and Bible portions of Godinterest, presumably because they are opposed to the mission.Among those who work for the organization, the evidence is clear. The forces of evil are hard at work against all those who share the Catholic message. From Pope Francis and the Vatican, to our bishops, to Catholic Online itself, evil works tirelessly to destroy good.

Evil is enjoying some success online as Godinterest faces increasing censorship of its news and Bible readings.

What is happening is deeply upsetting and is a result of the growing trend to suppress Christian speech across the internet and on social media.

Christians who value Godinterest and freedom of speech are encouraged to support religious freedom.

Godinterest is a work in progress. We do hope we get it right, and we firmly believe that getting it right means using our voice online, even on controversial topics. The Christian voice is important, and silence does no one any good. It’s worth the trouble to figure out how to do this, even if it means stumbling along the way.

We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:14-16)

June 2, 2014October 8, 2017

Coffee with God

ALLOW GOD TO SPEAK TO YOU?

In the quiet, allow God to speak to you (you might want to write your thoughts down in a journal) and if you want to, let us know how daily Bible study and ‘Coffee with God’ is helping to impact your life.

BE GRATEFUL.

It’s really simple. What is one thing today you are really grateful for? What is another? If you can list 3 things a day, you’ll see you have much more going for you than you thought. Soon your list will get so long you’ll be beaming with energy.

May 13, 2014May 13, 2018

Dear Christian: You Stink Of Death

Have you ever been on the receiving end of a sneer? Someone scrunching up their nose in distaste? According to Scriptures, it’s because you stink of death. Now, I’m not saying that you literally smell of a decomposing body, but you, dear Christian, represent death for those that are perishing.

We have a lot of hate directed towards us. It seems as though professing our faith is becoming as bad as declaring war on a defenseless country! To top it all off, people are throwing historical events and facts in our faces, blaming Christianity and not individual people for the destruction, control, and death of people for centuries. So, would it be accurate of us to say that we hate Germans because from the 1930’s to 1945 they executed a multitude of Jewish people as well as many other ‘unmentionables’? Should we hate the Belgian people for their horrific ill-treatment of the Congolese people during colonial times? Should the people of colour in South Africa hate Afrikaners because of Apartheid? Anyone with any sense in their head would realize that this should not be the case- you cannot blame a whole country or race for the acts of a select group of people! So why is it acceptable to identify a few bad eggs out of a nest and then seek to destroy the rest of that nest with perfectly good and nutritious eggs? I’ll tell you why- because to the majority of the world who are perishing, we are the aroma of death that leads them to their death.

There is something within the perishing world that wants us gone, or at least, they want us to revoke our faith and deny Christ, but that would lead to our death, and not just a physical death, but a spiritual death as well. You see, we smell of Christ and it’s a wonderful scent to us who are saved. There is something special within us that is offensive to the perishing world, and that is the knowledge of the truth. The truth is that Jesus came down to earth in the form of man, died on the cross for our sins, arose from the dead on the third day and now sits on the right-hand side of GOD as our Mediator. Because we believe this, we are thus the fragrance of Christ.

Some people will go so far as to show us a point. For example, the members of the Temple of Satan have sought to push their religion wherever and however they can to come against the Christian faith. In the past few years, they have tried to set up their own monuments to Satan wherever Christians monuments have been installed. The Ten Commandment monument in Oklahoma was set to get a rival in the form of a Baphomet monument (which is now installed in Detroit), the metal silhouette of an infantryman kneeling before a cross (which was removed by the way) in Minnesota, had the Satanic temple wanting their own monument in the shape of a solemn black cube holding an upturned helmet, its sides adorned with an upside-down pentagram (it thankfully got the axe). They even want to introduce ‘After school Satan clubs’ in challenge to Christian evangelical groups that sponsor after-school religious programming. Oddly enough, Lucien Greaves aka Doug Mesner (founder of the Temple of Satan), said that his organization does not worship the devil, but that they are a nontheistic religious organization. Lies. When the Baphomet monument was put up, a video was shown of people coming to pay their respects to the monument, and to worship their dark lord- Lucifer.

The state of California is also trying their best to control the Christian faith. People in other countries are dying because of their beliefs and many Christians are meeting in secret for fear of persecution just to come together to praise and worship GOD. I recently came across an article based in Scotland that stated that Christians are finding it difficult to practice their faith because they are being questioned about it- a young child saying grace before eating her meal was questioned by her peers and teachers about her purpose in praying! It seems as though some people no longer know what the purpose of praying is.

Let’s just face it, more and more people are finding us troublesome, harmful and dangerous. Can you imagine that? We, who are meant to be as gentle as doves, are the dangerous ones! What is the world coming to? To put it bluntly, they are coming to their death.

Honestly though, are we really that dangerous? It seems that people choose either the flight or fight option when they encounter a Believer: they will run away from us, or they will attack us and demonize us for all the world to see. I watched a news report that claimed Chick-fil-A has infiltrated New York City with their ‘pervasive Christian traditionalism’. Infiltrated and pervasive are rather strong words, don’t you think? This method of publicly attacking us is gaining supporters from all walks of life who would like to see the demise of the Christian faith. It’s a war out there, people, and it’s only getting worse.

I know that Christians have been preaching about the End Times for centuries, but that preaching is needed. We need to be ready for the return of Jesus, and it seems as though He is well on His way to coming back to earth to collect His saints. You may stink like death now, but to those who hear the Word of GOD spoken from your mouth and choose to believe in Jesus, you become an aroma of life leading to life.

Ending Thoughts: To one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.” 2 Corinthians 2:16. You may be the aroma of death to some, but most importantly, you are the aroma of life that will lead a once lost soul to life.

November 16, 2013November 16, 2018

Let’s Talk About Heavenly Calling

What is a heavenly calling? Is it common to all believers or is it unique and specific to each one? Clearly, God has set each of us on a unique path that we must travel on for His purposes. But common to all of us is our one united purpose: to give God the praise and glory in everything we become and do. (1 Cor. 10:31). Hebrews 3:1 talks of a heavenly calling that all believers are partakers of. ‘Calling’ in this verse means a “summon” and this particular passage points to a calling that all believers have been summoned to. Scriptures give various insight on our heavenly calling or what we are called to.

Called out of Darkness into Light

In 1 Peter 2:9 we find that the redeemed “are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Cor. 1:9 says, “God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Acts 1:8 tells us that with the Holy Spirt inside us, empowering and guiding us, God’s children will bear witnesses of Him across the globe.

God has called His elect for redemption and that doesn’t stop there. We are called out of darkness into His wonderful light. This means there is a change of destination, a change of direction, and a change of situation. We now are destined for heaven, walking in pursuit of His plans for our lives, and walking in the light of His Word. We also know that in all pursuits, bearing witness of the God who saved us is the utmost goal. A life lived in the light will demonstrate to the lost a very big difference in how we are faring compared to how they are faring. There is spiritual clarity and in the midst of doubts and changes, we stay solidly strong because we trust in a loving and an unfailing God.

Called to a Holy Life

God, the Holy One, desires holiness in our lives. In Leviticus 11:44 He says, “I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.” He repeats immediately in the following verse: “Be holy, for I am holy.” Paul in 2 Tim. 1:9 gives insight by saying, “He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.”

To live holy is to live separate and unique. It is to be different in mind and heart from those who live worldly or unspiritual. It is not a call to sinless perfection in rituals, but there is a call for growth and change, for betterment. It is a call for a heart and life that imitates the heart and life of God. It is a call to take on the mind of Christ, to be imitators of Him in every way possible. (Philippians 2).

Christians are not called to cut themselves off from the world nor to distance themselves from the lost. We are Christ bearers. We are to be among the people so that they have easy access to finding God through us. But as ambassadors for Christ, we are not to take on their identity nor their priorities and methodologies which go against the delight and honor of God. Let us be careful to fulfill our heavenly calling and never sacrifice it just so we can blend in with the crowd and be accepted of them. Let’s be bold about being different as God desires us to be so that they will know their need and seek the God they see at work in our lives.

August 11, 2006August 11, 2018

Tame the Wilderness of Your Mind…Or Let the Wilderness Control You

The Wilderness is a dangerous place to be. You never know what to expect on any given day. One day you could be facing overgrown pythons in Indonesia, another day could be a hippopotamus when cruising down the Zambezi river or perhaps meeting a grizzly bear somewhere in North America. Not to mention the insects, poison ivy, malaria… You get the picture, right? When you allow every type of thought to nest in your mind, to grow weeds, and saturate you with confusion, doubt, and negativity, you will find yourself being taken over by the wilderness.

The wilderness represents the world. It’s full of unexpected events that render you speechless and often times thoughtless. There are countless people carrying out their evil urges on unsuspecting victims, natural disasters occurring more often than seems ‘natural’, emotional turmoil affecting the masses, money woes pushing individuals to do the unthinkable, immorality keeping a watchful eye on society- the list is endless. It’s a common thing to experience dread, fear of the unknown, depression, anxiety, betrayal, rejection and every other negative leech that exists in this fallen world, but if we would just tame the wilderness and turn it into a beautiful garden, the world will not have the power to control you.

2 Timothy 1: 7 informs us of our disciplined mind. Our spirit is one of love, power, and a sound (disciplined) mind. We have the means to control the thought patterns of our minds, but many of us choose not to. It certainly is not easy to control one’s mind; it may just be one of the most difficult tasks that you will ever do, but it is doable. When there was still enmity between you and the Ancient of Days, you did not see the need to filter your thoughts. Perhaps you followed some teachings of a lifestyle guru or the life lessons of a charismatic leader. These people probably explained the merit of positive thinking, how to focus your thoughts on what you want (think of the Law of Attraction), and how to manifest your dreams into reality. These teachings (although around for centuries), have been termed New Age, which refers to a range of spiritual and religious beliefs with its conception happening around the 1970s. I will burst that New Age bubble and state that none of these teachings can bring you the true peace of GOD that has been made available to all of His saints. Sure enough, you’ll probably access your third eye (aka spiritual eyes) and that will make you feel nearly invincible, reach the highest level of consciousness, or walk around with a reverent expression on your face and chant peace, love, and light wherever you go, but I guarantee you that one substantial life upheaval will have you scrambling around like headless chickens or, worse yet, you will get to the end of your life and realize the futility of it all.

We have a wonderful Mediator that understands our struggles – after all, He walked on this earth for 33 years. He understands the human condition from a firsthand experience- although He lived a life without sin. When He left our midst, He didn’t leave us helpless and alone. He sent the Helper to abide with us forever (John 14:13-18). What we need to understand is that we cannot do anything worthwhile without the Holy Spirit. We cannot live holy lives without Him, we cannot overcome adversity without Him, we cannot stand our ground against the devil without Him, and we cannot become the people GOD called us to be without Him. It stands to reason that we cannot control the wilderness without Him either. No amount of human effort will prune that wilderness into a beautiful garden. It can only be done with the Holy Spirit.

There are three types of thoughts: yours, ones that GOD gives to you and ones that the devil sends to you. People are always surprised to know that the devil can do such a thing. Their first argument is that they have a hedge of protection around them, so surely the devil cannot touch them? Sending a negative thought to you is not touching you. The devil has not afflicted you with some disease, caused financial woes or some other misery. What he has done is sent you a thought to war with you in your mind. 2 Corinthians 10: 3-5 explains this to us: “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,”

Note how this Scripture talks about making every thought obedient to Christ, and how our war does not take place in the physical realm (the flesh). Have you ever had a thought pop into your head out of nowhere? Perhaps you were concentrating on cooking, but suddenly thoughts of child’s bad behavior pops into your head. You have already disciplined your child and the issue has been resolved, but that thought brings back all the anger and it soon manifests into a shouting match with your child. Sometime later, you’re sitting in bed and wondering how the issue had escalated when you had sorted it out hours before. This is the time to really sit and think about it: GOD did not send you that thought because of the result, and why would you choose to fight with your child over a resolved matter? Who is the one who enjoys dissension, a broken family, poking at tempers and causing all sorts of chaos? That’s right, Satan. He revels in the wilderness of people’s minds- it’s his playing field. He will build strongholds in your mind with which he will use to control you. But do not be discouraged, Beloved, because GOD has given us weapons to pull down those strongholds, but it takes commitment.

The best way to tame the wilderness is to address it according to Scripture. Whenever I come across a thought that I know does not belong to me or the Holy Spirit, I immediately said out loud: “I do not accept the thought of ”¦.., I refuse it in Jesus name, and according to 2 Corinthians 10: 5 I bring it into captivity to the obedience of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Once I have spoken this, I force myself to think of something else such as Scripture, sing songs of praise or think of anything that is beautiful. It’s not enough to rebuke that thought, you have to actively turn the direction of your mind. If you are having difficulty trying to think of something, follow Paul the Apostle’s advice in Philippians 4: 8.

Do not be mistaken: it takes time to change the way that you think. It certainly will not happen overnight and it will not be easy. The devil will not readily give up any strongholds in your mind- you can be sure of that. However, you continue to train your mind and lean on the Holy Spirit, all that wilderness will eventually become a pruned garden. Be careful to not grow lazy though; you will need to regularly remove weeds that have crept up around your flowers, get rid of dead leaves, remove branches that do not bear fruit and trim down hedges that threaten to grow wild. And always remember: you are never alone, GOD is always with you.

November 17, 2003November 17, 2018

2 Misconceptions About Prayer

Prayer. As a word of expression, it is commonly used. As a religious activity, it is widely known and even practiced. Christian churches know all about prayer. You can pretty much guarantee that no church gathering ever takes place without prayer taking place at some point during the gathering. Individually, Christians may engage in prayer occasionally or as a regular habit.

Much can be discussed about what prayer is all about and what it isn’t. Let’s take time to clear up and correct 2 misconceptions about prayer.

Misconception #1. Prayer is NOT about a scheduled activity.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says we are to pray without ceasing. That means incessantly, without remission, without stopping. When we think of something we actually do without stopping, it’s probably breathing. Breathing is a part of life. It is necessary to life. We can see prayer in that light as well. It is not a scheduled activity or appointment you make with God sometimes. Prayer is an ongoing communication and connection with the Father.

Prayer must be your lifestyle. It must be part of your daily life for it is necessary to maintaining a well-grounded life on this earth. God must be in our everyday. The more we keep Him out, the more difficult and complicated life becomes. The more we keep Him in, the more manageable and more joyful living becomes. God is ever present and we are ever before Him. It is our sad choice to shut Him out and ignore Him during the day (or night). We can and we should maintain easy communication with Him because the access is always there.

Let prayer be your way of life. Send breath prayers to God all day. Stay your Spirit in His presence and be attuned to Him throughout your day.

Misconception #2. Prayer is NOT about asking.

In prayer, there is asking. But, there is much much more. In Matthew 6, the Lord Jesus Christ tells us that the Father knows full well what we need of even before we ask. Technically, there is no need to ask our Father because He knows exactly what we need and we know that He will come to our aid and provide what we need. He will supply us with what He knows is best for us. So, why ask anyway? Because prayer is about seeking.

By prayer, we seek the heart and mind of God. He knows what’s good for us. He knows what we need. But many times, it is us who are not sure of what’s best for us. It is us who cannot distinguish between real need and ‘just’ felt need. When we ask and God provides, we learn that we asked for the right thing. When we ask and God withholds, we learn that we asked for the wrong thing. This guides us towards making better requests to Him and seeking better things in life the next time around.

By prayer, we witness the power and realness of our God. When we pray and wait for God’s answers, we become more observant of His workings. We become more sensitive and aware of His movement and dealings in us and around us.

Prayer is not about asking. It is about knowing and discovering more of God and more of ourselves. That is why in Matthew 7:7-8 Jesus encourages us to literally keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking. In doing so, we will give our full attention as we receive, as we find, and as we see doors open before us.

Maintain prayer in all its aspects as much as you can. Ask, praise, have sorrow for your failings, seek guidance, seek the giver. Do these and see your prayer life deepen, see yourself grow more secure in His love and wisdom.

August 10, 2003August 10, 2018

3 Ways That You’re Wasting Your Time

We’re all guilty of wasting time at some point in our lives. Some of us will leave doing household chores until the last minute because we’re too busy watching TV, or we will finish a project late because we were out with friends. We constantly put ourselves through the stress of trying to do something at the last minute, however, there will come a day when ‘last minute’ isn’t going to cut it, especially when you’re a Believer. As Christians, we too waste our time doing things that are useless.

I’ve compiled a short list of 3 things that we’re better off not doing because it just wastes valuable time.

1. Trying To Change A Person

Some people like to play GOD. We go about trying to change our spouses, children, parents, co-workers, friends… but let me tell you something, friend: we do not have the power to change anyone! That’s GOD’S job, not ours. GOD is the one that can harden or soften a person’s heart- remember Pharoah? The guy that wouldn’t let GOD’S people go? GOD hardened that man’s heart to show His might as the great I Am. GOD would also soften the hearts of people in power so that favor would be shown to His chosen people, and then when the Israelites rebelled, well, let’s just say that GOD really knows how to make a point. Of course, we can pray for these people, we can share the Gospel with them, and we can make our lives a living example of Christ’s love for the Lost. You cannot force Jesus on the Lost- not even GOD forces Himself on anyone. They have to be ready to come to Him on their own and accept Him as their LORD and Saviour.

2. Waiting For A Wife/Husband

Oh, the futility of this. Are you that woman who scans the church for any male newcomers, hoping that one may be your intended? Or are you that man who hunts through Christian dating sites (huh? A dating site for Christians? It’s like no one believes that GOD will bring them their spouse at the right time) for a potential wife? Maybe some of you are even flicking through people’s profiles on social media and sending them messages when one happens to catch your eye. Stop. Just back up a bit there and relax. GOD has got this figured out, Beloved. He knows who you’re going to marry and when you’re going to marry. Focus on GOD, get involved in church, go on outreach missions, reach out to people- you might just find your intended when you least expect it. So, just breathe and give all that valuable time to GOD.

3. Being Angry At GOD

Some of us like to throw little temper tantrums when we don’t get our way. We might even shake our fists at GOD and ask why. We are wasting our time, Family. You can’t get mad at GOD! We are just mere humans who only understand in part- how dare we question the Almighty? It’s not going to change anything (or you might just get a nasty surprise). I understand that sometimes we may be hurt because a loved one died even though you prayed and fasted for them, or disappointed when you hear of GOD’S inaction when it comes to child rape and molestation. Let me make one thing clear: it is not GOD’S will that people should suffer, but we do live in a fallen world filled with people hellbent on destroying their own lives and the lives of others. And yes, Satan is constantly pushing iniquity (just look at society now). Your prayers may not have been answered or answered in the way that you would have liked, but that doesn’t mean that GOD has stopped listening or that He doesn’t care. First, examine your life and make sure that there isn’t anything blocking your prayers, and then remain confident in GOD no matter what happens. That’s what having faith means- you need to believe even when you do not see anything happening or when things are falling apart.

There are rules to everything. There is a lot that goes on in the spiritual realm that we are not aware of, things that impact the physical realm. When we are praying for someone’s salvation, there is a war going on in the spiritual realm. You are essentially pushing back evil with your prayers so that Jesus may shine the light of His Gospel on them. Just because you cannot see anything happening, does not mean that all things are as they seem. Do not give up praying for your family and friends, because your prayers are doing something.

GOD’S timing is always perfect; He is never late or early, He is always right on time. That job that you need, that spouse you’ve been praying for, the grandchild that has gone off the deep end- GOD hears your prayers and He is working on it. You need to be faithful though, do not doubt today and then believe tomorrow.

Finally, you need to rest in GOD. Your life may be in chaos or things just don’t seem to be happening, but you need to rest. That doesn’t mean waiting around for things to happen- that is being passive. Be active in your faith and continue to do GOD’S work.

August 9, 2001April 24, 2020

3 Truths About Christianity

Is Christianity about religion? Is it about a particular group of people, organization, or movement? Christianity can be viewed in so many ways. Here are 3 truths about what Christianity is about.

1. It’s about being in a relationship with Christ.

John 1:12 says that all who receive Christ and place their faith in His name are children of God. By faith in the saving work of Jesus on the cross, we are given new life. We become born of God. Before salvation, God is just our Creator, but at the point of salvation, our Creator God becomes our actual Father. Galatians 4:6 says through the Holy Spirit given to us, we can now boldly cry “Abba, Father.” Strong’s explains this Greek word Abba to be a [tender endearment by a beloved child – i.e. in an affectionate, dependent relationship with their father; “daddy,” “papa.”] The highlightt is not just on our position in God but on our relationship with Him. We enter into this new relationship once and forever. No one and nothing can ever take us out of God’s hand and love. (John 10:28 and Romans 8). No one can take our sonship away and God Himself will in no way disown us.

2. It’s about being a follower of Christ.

A Christian bears the name of Christ. He is marked by Christ. To be a Christian is to bear the identity and character of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says that one who is in Christ is a new creation. Everything is not instantly perfected but literally all things are in the process of becoming new and better. As a Christian, I am now enabled to living and becoming better than before. As I abide in Christ I am transformed into His image from one degree to another. There is no stand still for a Christian and there is no hopeless case. It is false to believe that “I am just this way. I can’t help it. There’s nothing I can do about it. Life’s just bad. I can’t do anything about it.” 2 Timothy 1:7 says God has not given us a spirit of timidity but of power, of love, and of a sound mind.

3. It’s about having a family stronger than flesh and blood.

John 1:13 talks about being born into the family of God. The family of God is also referred to in the Bible as the Church. Romans 12:5 talks about the church being one body while Colossians 1:18 talks about Christ being the head. In these passages we understand that all of God’s children are related and connected. Our bond is spiritual. The Holy Spirit links us all. He is our spiritual genetic trace. Our connection is tight. Ephesians 4 16 says the whole body is joined and held together.

All of God’s children have one Father, one Lord. Black Panther says in the MCU movie, “More unites us than separates us.” The same holds true among God’s people. Denominations and methodologies vary but there is only one Lord and one fundamental to faith and relationship with God. It’s sad that preferences and traditions become a point of heated conflict among Christian groups and churches today. It should not be so. Error to faith and doctrine is a serious thing that Christians should guard and reason against. But when it comes to extra Biblical matters, no Christian should hate or disown a brother just because they differ in the way of worship, music, evangelism, or even holding church worship programs and events. There is what we call respectful and loving disagreement and Christians should apply that when necessary.

August 11, 2000August 11, 2018

The Perils of Living in a Technologically Advanced Age

Technological advancements have provided Christianity a greater platform to propagate the Gospel of Christ and to further the cause of God’s Kingdom on earth. There is a downside to this, however. Perils may surround the unwary Christian and sweep him away from right living.

Idleness

In a 2016 survey, adult Americans spent an average of 5 hours on the television. A survey on Australian kids revealed an average of 12 hours of online watching and 10.5 hours of television watching. The figures give insight to a likely trend ongoing worldwide. Those with access to television and Internet programming are pouring a big chunk of their time into this form of entertainment.

1 Corinthians 6:12 teaches us an important principle through Paul: “You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.” Christians, young and old, must find a right balance between relaxation and productiveness.

Materialism

There are lots to see and discover online and thru print media. New innovations, new products, new services, new places to visit, new experiences to try; information to all these are within reach. The curious and the adventurous will want to try them all. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Caution must be exercised so that one doesn’t become addicted to buying things and accumulating stuff. Addicted hoarders and spendthrifts started out with a few finds.

Caution must also be exercised so that one doesn’t fall prey to the practice of “Keeping up with the Joneses.” Social Media does a great job in updating us of the latest trends and news. We see what new thing our friend or celebrity idol has recently acquired and we start to desire the same thing for ourselves. What others acquire and achieve may become our standard for success and happiness if we are not careful. Jesus warns us in Luke 12:15 to “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

Pride

It’s fun to share one’s experiences online. That bargain you were able to get, that fun trip you had, that awesome view that you were able to see; these are good things you can share with others. In most instances, what people share on social media inspires others or gives information which other people may need one day.

Caution must be exercised that this doesn’t become a habit with an underlying motive to brag or be prideful about something. In Galatians 6:4 we are reminded in this way: “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.” So, when you post something online, ask yourself what you really hope to achieve and be careful not to share anything under false pretense or to gain unnecessary attention to yourself. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says that whatever we do, the honor should be towards God. Self-exaltation is never right.

Let technological advancements be fruitful for you. Access and enjoy these innovations with moderation and whatever you do, maintain the right motives and mindset.

References:

(https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/01/business/media/nielsen-survey-media-viewing.html

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-15/children-now-spend-more-time-online-than-watching-tv/8272708)

November 16, 1997November 16, 2018

Bible Illiteracy in Churches Today

Bible illiteracy, a lack of knowledge or ignorance of Scriptures, is happening in our very churches today. There are churchgoers and practicing Christians who are Bible illiterate.

A 2017 research conducted by Lifeway in Christian churches across America possibly yields similar results across other countries. Among those surveyed, only 19% read their Bibles regularly. 18% of the respondents read their Bibles rarely or never. 14% do it once a week and 22% do it once a month.

This is a sad fact and a highly concerning problem. Biblical understanding is foundational to genuine faith and growth in the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 10:17 clearly states that faith comes by hearing the message of the Word. 2 Timothy 3:15 teaches us that in knowing Scriptures we become wise unto salvation and the faith life. A shallow grasp of Biblical knowledge will definitely lead to shallow faith. If one fails to grow in the Word, one will have great difficulties navigating the faith life and one would hardly know God.

The Causes of Bible Illiteracy

Preaching and teaching ministers who are lazy

The number of weekly church gatherings vary. Some churches have multiple Sunday services plus weekday ones. Others have single or double Sunday services and no weekday meetings. That Christians meet only once or a few times a week shows how crucial the preaching and teaching of the Word is. Ministers should be driven to make sufficient preparations in the delivery of the Word. The personal study and development of preaching and teaching material should be carefully crafted. One should do a word study, a context and historical study, and the like. These procedures help one fully understand the thought and purpose of Scripture passages. These help one avoid speaking personal viewpoints that may not be in agreement with what God actually has to say.

Readers of this article may have their own experiences of listening to a lazy teacher or preacher who:

was unclear or made little sense, meaning, he did not seem to have prepared for the message,
had little Biblical content,
had lots of personal stories and opinions,
repeated previous messages and themes with no new study imparted,
shared personal or conflicting views with little or no Biblical basis
and more.

Leaders (Pastors, Preachers, Teachers) who lack qualification or training.

At times, the minister is zealous and diligent. However, he got into preaching and teaching too early. This may be because of need or impulsive desire. A passionate preacher and teacher should make himself accountable and be responsible enough to pursue further training and gain qualifications so that he can be a better handler and deliverer of God’s Word.

Congregants who are lazy.

Christians should know by now that we are to be responsible for our own growth in the faith. Sunday feeding will not sustain you in your Christian walk. You must open the pages of the Holy Book yourself. Reading God’s Word is essential to knowing more of Him and His purposes for your life. Reading God’s Word is also essential to making sure that you can discern right teaching from a wrong one.

Churches that prioritize political correctness.

The Bible is never politically correct. Its truths are plain. Its stand on issues is simple. God weighs issues according to rightness or wrongness. The Bible is not a people pleaser. The Bible is not a pacifier. God deals with issues directly for it is the only way to bring full resolution and understanding.

When churches shrink from their responsibility to be a light in this fallen world, Biblical illiteracy will settle in. Instead of preaching and living the Word of God in its entirety, censorship comes in. Instead of having boldness to correct sin and error, tolerance and acceptance of wrongdoing prevails. The focus will become all about loving people in the wrong way. True love needs proper rebuke and loving guidance. Else, it is not a helpful kind of love.

August 10, 1994August 10, 2018

Stone-Throwing Christians

Social media has taken root in the lives of many. While there are many benefits to it, its drawbacks are rapidly overtaking any positive results and effects of them. We expect to come across bullying, slander, threats, and all things malicious in the world of the Lost, but when we come across Christians partaking of all that is wrong with social media, then something is wrong.

I once believed (naively so), that Christians would not bash each other on social media. Imagine my dismay when I was, to put it simply, attacked by one who professed to be a Believer. My eyes were abruptly opened then, and the rose-tinted glasses that I used to wear were ripped off with great force. It’s funny how once you see something, you cannot ‘unsee’ it. Furthermore, you start to see it everywhere. If you were to put a Christian and an Unsaved in a boxing ring of words, there is no telling who would win. This goes against everything that we stand for and believe in our faith, and it’s really sad to see.

Jesus gave us many teachings were are to live by. One of the most important ones and a commandment at that was to love your neighbor as yourself. If we do not understand what love is, then we go to 1 Corinthians 13. Everything that we do as Believers should be done in love, and while I do understand that we do not get it right all the time, we do have to make the effort to think before we speak or rather think before we type scathing remarks. We have to remember that what comes out of our mouths (whether spoken or written) is an indication of what condition our hearts are in. We are not doing ourselves or others any favors by negatively commenting on their posts- even if they are wrong. Remember when Jesus said that he who has no sin should throw the first rock? That woman was caught in sin and by law should have been stoned (could this have included the men that she sinned with?), but she wasn’t because those people didn’t have a leg to stand on. And there was our Jesus- the most kindest and loving Man that ever walked the earth- crouching on the ground, writing who knows what in the dust, and being completely calm about the energy-charged atmosphere. One by one, they all turned away until Jesus was the only one left. And what did He say? He said that he wouldn’t condemn her and that she should sin no more. The only One that had never sinned in His entire life would not pick up a stone to kill the woman. Why do we believe that it is acceptable to attack people on social media? We attack their faith, their ‘holiness’, their level of knowledge of the Bible, their pictures, comments… the list is endless.

I completely understand that at times, Believers post things that are inappropriate or inaccurate (concerning GOD’S Word). Some of them aren’t even true Believers, but wolves in sheep’s clothing, looking to stir some things up, and many Christians take the bait. Before we know it, we’re in a bitter war of words and it just gets out of hand. We sit behind our screens (many people hide their identities with made up names and ‘anonymous’) and create these words that cut into people, anger people, shame people and even lead people to take their own lives. How do we know that our comment wasn’t the cherry on the death cake of someone’s downward spiral to suicide? We only see what is on our screens, but we know nothing of the person behind the post. And there is absolutely no use in saying ‘well, that person should not have posted that in the first place!’ because it doesn’t work with Jesus. We will be giving an account of our own lives to GOD- ‘that person did this, so I did/said this’ is not going to cut it with the Almighty. You are responsible for your own words and actions.

There is a way to lovingly correct someone, and there is a way to tear them down and attack them. We have the latter one down pat, but we lack the ability to lovingly correct each other. I find that people who are mature in faith and truly understand that love is the way to go when correcting a fellow brother or sister in Christ, will either refrain from commenting at all and rather pray for the person, or will choose their words very carefully and give the truth. Yes, some people will still see the loving correction as an attack and get mad, but that is only their conscience talking. You are not condoning anything by refusing to leave a comment, but if you do believe that you should say something in response to someone, then please choose your words carefully and make sure that it is Scripturally based. Don’t comment in an attempt to ‘be right’, ‘school this person’, or even to prove how much more of a Christian you are than the next person.

Do everything knowing that the Holy Spirit is right there and is a witness to all that you do. If you find that you cannot (or will not) control your hand on that keyboard when it comes to commenting, then get off social media and immerse yourself in GOD’S Word until you can better control your impulses. Let’s be true ambassadors of Christ and control our tongues.

(Although my words are stern and straightforward, they were written in love and a need to bring to attention a part of our lives that we have neglected. By no means am I perfect or always right, but GOD’S Word is always true and never changes.)

August 9, 1978August 9, 2018

3 Empowering Truths For Living

Scriptures are filled with motivational truths. Here are 3 empowering truths for living.

1. In Christ is a bright and secure future.

Jesus came so that we may have life and that we may have life abundantly. Through Christ, the trusting soul receives the assurance of a new and permanent relationship with God and a sure home in heaven with Him someday. Through Christ, the yielded Christian receives grace for daily sustenance. Through Christ, we have high hopes for each day we get out of our beds. The past is always forgiven. The present always starts on a clean slate. Godly efforts have lasting results. Failures and mistakes can never hold us back.

2. In being still, we find God.

In Psalm 46:10 God speaks, “Be still and know that I am God.” The Hebrew root word for still is raphah. It means to abandon, hang limp, collapse, and become helpless. Many can share that it is in the hardest moments of their lives that they’ve gone deeper in knowing and experiencing the truth and reality of God in their lives. In stillness, we let go of our efforts and let God work things out. In stillness, we let go of our self-reliance and let Him move on our behalf. In stillness, we realize the sovereignty of God and yield to His wisdom. In stillness, our eyes are opened to the greatness of God. We perceive all that He is accomplishing for the good of our lives.

3. In being weak, we find strength.

Man is dependent upon his strength for everything. To some, strength is everything. They equate it with life or quality of life. To be strong is to be able, to be useful. It is not uncommon to find aging people having bouts of depression. Studies reveal that some who reach the age of retirement suffer from depression and anxiety. Because as one ages, he or she may fear a loss of purpose or usefulness. One may fear the inability to self-sustain.

While the pressures of being accepted in society naturally causes people to hide or mourn their weaknesses, Scriptures tell us that we need not be ashamed; we need not lose joy. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 is one insightful and empowering passage. In being weak, we learn as Paul did that:

God’s grace is sufficient for us.
His power is made perfect in weakness.
We don’t have to be ashamed of our weakness.
It is in our moments of weakness that Christ’s power rests on us.
When we are weak, then we are strong.

Philippians 4:13 says how we can handle weakness; it is by being grounded and intimate with our God. “I can do all things when I am in the One who gives me strength.” Remember that He will not allow us to go through things we are unable to handle. What He allows, He will be there to show Himself strong on our behalf. 2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “The eyes of the LORD searches throughout the earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is fully devoted to him.” God is the strength of our heart and He will never fail us.