DON’T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT

 

Why does a judge need witnesses in a trial? Why doesn’t he rule on a case based on the plaintiff's complaint? He doesn’t because there could be more to the story, and ruling on a case without all the facts could lead to a wrongful verdict. The guilty could go scot-free, and the innocent possibly punished. An investigation is of utmost importance to knowing the truth.

The same is true of the Bible, the Word of God! To understand and apply what you read accurately; you have to investigate the Bible using the Bible. The truth in the Bible will always be the truth, but the details might not apply to a situation in question. For instance, in the Old Testament, murderers are supposed to be put to death, but people who kill accidentally are allowed to flee to sanctuary cities to avoid getting the death penalty: (see Numbers 35:15-19). Capital punishment then was only applicable to intentional murder—out of hatred, retaliation or for spot and the like. This is no longer the case.

Likewise, in John’s Gospel, we are told, “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” (John 14:13-14). However, in the book of 1^st John, we are told, “We are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him” (1 John 5:14). God’s will for us is an important consideration when we petition Him for anything. So, if you ask for a million dollars in His name, do you think He will give to you if it’s not His will for you to have a million dollars? Of course not!

How then should you respond when you hear the prosperity gospel? Should you just claim and have things? How about God’s will and plans for your life? Although the Bible says, “Believe when you pray and you’ll have it” if it’s not what He wants for you, you can believe and claim all you want, the answer will still be “No!”

There’s one Scripture though, that has no ifs or buts about it; it can only be interpreted one way. And it is the way to salvation. All the following verses, for instance, mean the same thing; only Jesus can save from sin and restore man’s broken relationship with God the Father:

●     “There’s salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

●     In response to a jailer’s question: “Sirs, what must we do to be saved?” Paul and Silas replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” (Acts 16:30-31).

●     “For this is how God loved the world: ‘He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). 

●     Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

●     “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

●     “When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and a new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us the confidence that we will inherit eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7).

●     Jesus said to a Jewish religious leader, Nicodemus, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God … I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans give can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life” (John 3:3, 5-6). 

There are many more verses that say salvation is only through Jesus, and I hope you understand and believe it, and act upon it. Call on Jesus today!

When Paul and Silas shared the gospel in Berea, the people listened eagerly, but then “They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men” (Acts 17: 11-12). How about you, how often and how seriously do you search the Scriptures for yourself? Don’t allow yourself to be misguided and deceived, which is what will happen if you are a lazy Bible student.

Dear reader, be an eager student of the Bible; read and prayerfully meditate on it, and allow the Holy Spirit to help you apply it to your life. And don’t forget to research what you hear, and ask questions if you need to; ask other Christians, pastors, parents, and may the Holy Spirit assure you of what you read and hear. Don’t just take one person’s word for it! 

THE BENEFITS OF PERSECUTION

 

 Persecution is defined as a situation in which one is harassed or punished in a manner designed to injure, grieve, discourage, or afflict; to cause to suffer because of one’s belief.

The truth is, persecution is part of a Christian’s life because our Savior was persecuted, and He told us in advance: “Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you” (John 15:20). Philippians 1:29 also reminds us, “For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.” The early church was not exempt and neither will we be.

So, what are some of the reasons the early church was persecuted? They were persecuted because they were Jesus’ disciples! The Jewish people refused to accept Jesus’ claim that He is the Son of God-the Messiah; they wanted nothing to do with His teachings. Therefore, His followers became targets for persecution.

The Jews saw Jesus as someone who did not uphold their laws as given by Moses, and they wanted nothing to do with Him or His followers. Consequently, His followers were persecuted, and they fled from city to city. Anywhere they went, they faced issues like beatings, stoning, being falsely accused of things they hadn’t said or done, and being jailed. For instance, Stephen, one of the first seven selected deacons (see Acts 6:5-6) was stoned to death; the apostle Paul was beaten and jailed on many occasions. On his second missionary journey, he delivered a slave girl from demon-possession; that meant a financial loss for her masters, who made money through her fortune-telling (see Acts 16:16-19). These people started a riot that led to the city officials ordering Paul and Silas stripped, severely beaten, and thrown into prison (see Acts 16:22-24).

That was then, but how about now? How are we persecuted? Different forms of persecution take place in different parts of the world. But in general, there’s teasing, name-calling, false accusations, imprisonment, property confiscation, and even death. For a lot of these situations, there’s no justice for the Christians in the courts.

The Scriptures tell us: “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It’s easy to be thankful when everything is going well and we feel no discomfort, emotionally or physically. But ‘all circumstances’ include persecution. Should we be thankful when we are hurting? Yes! Because it is God’s will for us, and again, “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28). Believe it or not, being thankful in the face of pain is doable. For example, the apostles were flogged, threatened, and jailed for all the miraculous signs they were performing. When they were released from jail, they left rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus (see Acts 5:41).  

So, what good does suffering for Jesus do? We get the opportunity to prove to ourselves and others that He cares, provides, and sustains us. And that also leads us to trust Him even more. People around us are blessed with courage as they see our response to situations. Paul wrote to the Philippian church from prison expressing joy over the result of his imprisonment: “Everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News…. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear” (Philippians 1:12, 14). Wow!

Again, when we suffer persecution, unbelievers, even those involved in persecuting us, are convicted. An example is when a jailer was charged with keeping Paul and Silas under guard. The jailer almost killed himself in the night when there was a massive earthquake that shook the prison to its foundations, opening all the doors; he assumed the prisoners had escaped. But when he learned they were still there, he was surprised they did not seize that opportunity to escape. That proved to him that they were genuine men of God, and so he asked them: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30).

They told him what to do, and shared the gospel with him and his family. Paul and Silas baptized the jailer and his family that night (Acts 16:31-33). If these men had not been thrown into prison, the jailer and his family would not have come to salvation at the time they did; Paul and Silas’ persecution has led to the salvation of others. God works in amazing ways! So, let’s not frown on persecution, but seek strength to be faithful in the midst of it.  

Persecution is not fun by any means. In fact, it is painful and sometimes deadly. But being Christians, we can’t escape from it. Paul, knowing what following Christ entailed, frequently asked the churches to pray for him for protection and boldness to share the Word. Similarly, let’s pray for each other that we will each be filled with the fruit of our salvation, which is the righteous character produced in our lives by the Spirit (see Philippians 1:12), and strength and courage to remain faithful and be an encouragement to as many as possible. Many Christians all over the world are suffering, and it seems things are only going to get worse with time. But let’s remember, God has a plan for the church! Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! 

WHEN WE DISAGREE WITH GOD

Why would we disagree with God? Because our view of God is unrealistic; we like to think of Him as being someone other than who He really is. We want God to be powerful and strong, but also the God who sets no limits or boundaries for us; we want to be able to do whatever we want, and for Him to be okay with it.

Our disagreement with God is evidenced in our disobedience-doing what He’s asked us not to do and neglecting what He’s commanded us to do. Just like the Israelites, we repeatedly disobey Him.

In other words, we want God's protection, provision, blessings, and sustenance but not His reproof or correction. How many human parents would allow their children to live under their roof, would feed and clothe them, but set no boundaries for them? I am sure there’s not a single parent who would be okay with that sort of arrangement.

The kind of God we envision and think we have is not the God of the universe, and the sooner we understand that the better life will be for us going forward. Let's understand that God created us so He could have a relationship with us. Being the Creator, He gets to make the rules and we get to follow them. God is not a slave master; He is a loving God who has great plans for us. He tells us, “I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). We will never be happy and content until we submit to His will and leading. We need to know who He really is!

God is the God of order; He is holy, loving, just, faithful, and long-suffering,  never going back on His Word. We cannot be in a meaningful relationship with God if we don’t accept and relate to Him as such. Because He’s holy, we cannot enjoy His company while living in sin. He says in His Word, “You must be holy because I am holy” (Leviticus 11:45). Although He is holy, and as a result demands accountability, He is patient and long-suffering and doesn’t rush to judgment. He is slow to anger and warns us repeatedly, with the hope that we will repent and not face His wrath. Since He’s faithful, He honors His promise to forgive when we repent: “If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 John 1:9). When we honestly repent, He does not only forgive our sins but also never brings them up again, “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12).

Do you disagree with God’s way of handling your affairs or the affairs of the world? I’m sorry you feel that way, but let me try to help you understand this. Who do you think God is? What do you expect of Him, and what do you think He expects of you? If you give God His proper place as Lord and take your place as servant or child, things will begin to change, and your disagreements will dissipate. 

God is complete: His role is set and does not need any changes. Your role, however, needs to change from a sinner to a child of God. As a sinner, God’s Spirit does not live in you and you don’t appreciate His commands. For that reason, you live in constant rebellion against Him and disagree with what He says. However, I assure you that if you allow your will to line up with His, you’ll begin to see things differently. And the way to do that is to admit that you are a sinner, repent, and ask God for forgiveness. He will forgive you, indwelling you through His Holy Spirit. This will give you a new beginning that allows you to see God differently than you did before. This process cannot be explained by the natural mind; it is a spiritual experience (see John 3:5-8). Jesus died in your place, making this possible: “This is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

When you become a child of God, you will understand His love for you and the reasons for the boundaries He has put in place for His children—the church. The Bible, which is the Word of God, together with the Holy Spirit, will teach you how to live to please Him. Staying in fellowship with the church will help you understand the Bible and be encouraged.

So, are you ready to replace your disagreement with love and allegiance to God? Please repent today and ask God for forgiveness through His Son, Jesus!     

 

THE TEST OF GENUINE FAITH

Talking about genuine faith implies there is fake faith. Paul, the apostle, lamented over the Corinthian church, because, according to him, “Many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasures” (2 Corinthians 12:21).

Paul admonished the church to re-examine their position in the Lord by asking them to “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). So, Jesus Christ among us is the proof that our faith is genuine, but if He’s not, then our faith is fake. Although Paul was addressing the whole church, in a way he’s also addressing individuals because the church is made up of individuals with Christ as the head.

When the Holy Spirit comes to indwell us at conversion, we become new creatures (see 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 2:27). Based on that truth, Paul admonished the church in Ephesus: “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy” (Ephesians 4:21-24). If we don’t give up our former way of life, we’re saying, in essence, the Spirit doesn’t live in us, and therefore whatever faith we claim we have is not genuine, but fake!

If we have really been born again, let’s live our lives in a way that pleases and honors God, encourages other Christians, and draws unbelievers to Christ. Which sins were you delivered from when you came to Christ? Are those sins still plaguing you? We all have a role to play in allowing the beauty of Christ to be seen in us. We have to, as Paul says, “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. … And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:16-17). Being a representative or an ambassador of Christ should not be an off-and-on role; it should be who we are all the time. We should not make a practice of sinning, because Jesus holds us securely, and the devil cannot touch us (see 1 John 5:18).

As Christians, if we sin deliberately, we are blaspheming God (see 1 Timothy 1:20). We can’t be in Christ and live in sin at the same time. That’s why Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden; God cannot coexist with sin! So, if we claim to be Christians, let’s make up our minds to turn away from sin. John gave us another test of our faith: “Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God” (1 John 3:10). Ouch! And also, “Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is” (1 John 3:6). So, are you a Christian? How are you demonstrating that your faith is genuine?

Being human means, we have a sinful nature. We do mess up every now and then, but let’s confess and seek forgiveness as soon as we realize something has gone wrong. “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (see 1 John 1:8-9).

May God help us to meditate on His Word and obey it; be light and salt for His honor and glory. When He returns, may we have no reason to be ashamed!