Divided In Christ

Divided in Christ

When the outside world looks at the Christian church what do you think they see? I have often wondered about that in my own life being raised Catholic and I once like many others thought there was only one way right way to worship and serve God. But as I grew older and began to seek after God through prayer and reading of His word I came to understand that it was a requirement for each individual to have their own personal relationship with Jesus. Since that day I have continued on that journey and understand that the Bible teaches that the power of God is manifested in individuals through the working of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life. What makes me scratch my head though was an issue for Paul in Corinth and is still and issue within the Christian Movement today. Paul’s letter addresses these issues;

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

1 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV)

Now Paul is pleading with the Corinthians to be in one mind about who they have come to faith in. You see in the church today we often have favorite preachers and people we associate with our salvation and development of our Christian walks but just as Paul told the Corinthians I want to remind you no man no matter how Godly or anointed they might be brought us salvation. Our only hope is found in Jesus and the church today needs to be reminded of that. The problem for the church today is not only that we are divided by denominations but also but our values as laid out in Scripture. The varying interpretations of man have weakened our ability to understand right from wrong in accordance with God’s Word. Paul states, “Be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”  I hope we can understand that. You see the opposite of this every day as Christian denominations and leaders; in a move to appease the world and become popular, are selling short what God’s word says and instructing people that what God’s word says is not relevant to today. Let me assure you Paul’s instruction to Timothy about the importance of God’s word is still true today.

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

I challenge you today to be in God’s word read it with prayer asking God to show you the way He has called for us to live. So that all those who proclaim Christ will be united in the same mind and the same understanding of judgment; providing us the ability to look at life and judge fairly what is right and wrong in accordance with God’s word. All scripture is applicable to the Christian walk and if it calls something sin than we need to be like Joseph in the house of Potiphar and run away from it. I Pray God bless you with a burning desire for His word and the knowledge and understanding the Holy Spirit brings so that we may live lives worthy of Jesus sacrifice on the cross. I continue to believe there is only one right way to worship and serve God and that way is laid out for each of us in the Bible. Have a truly Blessed day as you walk in the light of God’s Word.

Off The Mark

2 Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.

Proverbs 19:2 (ESV)

Have you ever made a decision without considering the cost or truly understanding the circumstance of your decision? We all do from time to time, some of us more often. Today with the ability to read news and information from all around the world at any given moment we should be the most knowledgeable people who ever lived?  Yet when we look around we see just the opposite we see individuals running in the opposite direction from where they should be. You see they desire certain things and to receive those things they will hurriedly make decisions about life.

 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

Proverbs 21:5 (ESV)

How do you approach life? Are you a diligent person who can patiently wait on God to provide for you or are you constantly seeking the path of least resistance? Do you choose to approach each day just trying to get through it as fast as you can? Hoping tomorrow will be better. I heard John Haggee say this, “tomorrow; as wonderful as we portray it, never actually gets here.” That is a very true statement. We desire for better things tomorrow but we do nothing in preparation for it.

23 Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!

Proverbs 14:23 (NLT)

You ask how I must prepare; first we must adjust our own mindset. We must begin to think about the higher things.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things

Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

 Secondly; we must find out what God is doing and join with Him in His work.

4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

John 9:4-5 (KJV)

As we desire to serve God we must be doing His will not ours. Just as Jesus did His fathers will we must be doing His will. To do that we must know Him better and that requires we spend time in His Word.

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

I leave you with this thought and prayer God desires that in the end all should be saved. Yet it is a choice each of as has to make. Where we end up will be decided by the diligence and knowledge we show in our lives.The choices we make in haste and ignorance can and will lead to destruction. God has left us with direction and gives wisdom freely to those who ask. I pray today you start gaining that knowledge and understanding and applying it to your life so that in the end. You will hear, “Well done my good and faithful servant” Matthew 25:21 God bless you as you walk in the light of His word.

The Bible is Important

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

2 Tim 3:16-17 (ESV)

When you call yourself a Christian where do you go for guidance? Are you trusting in feelings or just listening to someone else preach or teach about what is right? The reason I am writing this today is I want you to understand that God has provided us with the best instruction book we will ever have if we will just decide to apply it to our lives. I do not know what denomination you might belong to but The Church of God based out of Cleveland, Tennessee holds this as the first Article of our Declaration of Faith: We believe in the verbal inspiration of the Bible. Now I know many who would say that the Bible is no longer important or they have chosen to read only those sections that are not controversial or do not go against their personal choices. Personally I believe the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and all I can say to those who don’t is why are you wasting your time calling yourself a Christian. You see if we fail to believe any part of it we miss the purpose of it. If you do not believe that God created Adam and Eve and they chose to sin than there is no need for Jesus to come and pay the penalty for that sin. Every word of the Bible is there to edify and perfect those who believe on Jesus.

  21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Peter 1:20-21 (KJV)

You see the Bible may have had humans who wrote it down but God through the power of the Holy Spirit guided them just as he does those who preach His word today. Not that they were completely under His control but in obedience to that leading they brought God’s message. We often though decide to pick and choose what we want to apply to our lives.

20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Isaiah 8:20 (KJV)

You see those who fail to hold the Scriptures up as God’s word do not truly know God. They are choosing to place their trust in earthly things giving into the flesh and the world. We must decide by whose rules we will live. Do we live by the word of God applying it to ever issue we face or do we handle it from the world’s wisdom. For me and my family we will continue to believe and trust in the word of God. The choice is yours do you as Christians believe the bible to be true. If not it’s time to stop calling yourself one. Without belief in the Bible as God’s word how do you explain your relationship to Jesus who you confess to be Lord and savior of your life? Have a blessed day.

What do you believe in?

In John 3:16, “¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” You know this is the first verse of scripture many of us learned it is very simple and if you know what you are saying can use it to evangelize individuals. The part of it I want to talk about is I believe the real key to our being a Christian. “Whoever believes”, the key is belief. When we fail to believe in any part of what God’s word teaches us we weaken the believability of the rest of His word. Yes I am saying it is an all or none decision. If you believe that Jesus was the Son of God then to understand the importance of His coming and dying is found in the fact that we are sinful and lost without Him in our lives. If we fail to believe any part of the plan that God began when he forced Adam and Eve from the garden until the day that Christ has promised to return than what do you place your trust in. Without belief all the promises of the Bible are just words on a page.

                Let me share the story of Jean Francois Gravelet, he was called the great Blondin, this was the first man to walk a tight rope across the gorge at Niagara Falls. This was a feat that he has accomplished several times and with different restrictions he has done it blindfolded; with leg irons on; ridden a bicycle across and he has even carried his manager across on his back. But there is a report of him pushing a wheel barrel across and as he began he asked if the people believed he could do it. They all screamed yes. He went out and back and asked if they believed he could do it with a man in the wheel barrow. They all screamed yes. He looked into the crowd and asked one last question. Who was going to be first? It was not that he desired them to believe on his ability but he desired to see someone trust in his ability. That is the difference in type of belief that it takes to have a relationship with Jesus. We must believe in Him not about him. The devil knows he exists and trembles and the mention of his name but he does not believe in him.

                God’s word is so powerful that if we believe in what it says we can have everlasting life. It enables us to change situations that we never could do on our own. Through the word the Holy Spirit enables us to use the gifts God has given to man. But all of this hangs on the balance of do you believe it to be true. In 2 Timothy 3:16, “¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. To truly understand God’s design for your life you must spend time in His presence by reading His word, listening to the Holy Spirit and praying for understanding and wisdom. God is more than capable of giving you all your needs. Have a blessed day and may God bless wherever your shadow falls today.