I'm confused again! I'll admit that's not too hard for me, but I've wondered why the fightings against faith preachers while we ignore the mainline denominational heresies.
For example, one of our mainline denominations endorses theological pluralism to the extent that it is sanctioned within the church for pastors to reject belief in a personal God, to reject the need for personal salvation, and to even reject Jesus Christ as the way of salvation. It further sanctions these teachings as valid options for church members as young as fifth and sixth grade.
So, we fight the faith movement, while ignoring someone who doesn't believe in God or salvation; while ignoring a major church that sanctions non-belief. Instead of denouncing them we call them 'liberal'. Well, I'm like Dr. E.V. Hill about that. "They're not liberal, they're LOST!"
I ask you, who constitutes the greater threat to faith? The one who tells you there is no God and that you have no need of a savior; or the one who challenges you to believe God for everything you have need of, including health and finances?
I'd rather be wrong about believing that God will heal my body and my finances than wrong about believing that I don't need a savior! One has earthly consequences, the other eternal!
Let's fight the real enemy! ...and he's not flesh and blood.
AuThor
Monday, April 25, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
I Know God's Will For You...!
Recently, I heard a radio preacher say, "I don't know what God's will is for you!"
Instantly, in my spirit, I responded out loud, "I do! I know God's will for you!" I know because His will is the same for all of us...
It's so very common to ask the question. People who love God want to know: "God, What is your will for me?" "What is your plan for my life?" ...and while it's very obvious that we don't all have the same function or the same ministry, what God wants from us is primarily the same.
GOD'S WILL FOR YOU - is for you to take the time to get to know him better! ...to establish a relationship with Him through Bible study and prayer so that you are able to hear His voice!
Scripture tells us, "Be still and know that I am God." Our pellmell lifestyle is not conducive to hearing God.
He also says, "My sheep hear my voice."
God's will for you? STOP - Spend time alone with Him. He wants a relationship with you, more than He wants service from you! Service will follow, but, first things first!
Get to know Him! Get so close to Him, that when He speaks, You don't miss it!
This is AuThor
Instantly, in my spirit, I responded out loud, "I do! I know God's will for you!" I know because His will is the same for all of us...
It's so very common to ask the question. People who love God want to know: "God, What is your will for me?" "What is your plan for my life?" ...and while it's very obvious that we don't all have the same function or the same ministry, what God wants from us is primarily the same.
GOD'S WILL FOR YOU - is for you to take the time to get to know him better! ...to establish a relationship with Him through Bible study and prayer so that you are able to hear His voice!
Scripture tells us, "Be still and know that I am God." Our pellmell lifestyle is not conducive to hearing God.
He also says, "My sheep hear my voice."
God's will for you? STOP - Spend time alone with Him. He wants a relationship with you, more than He wants service from you! Service will follow, but, first things first!
Get to know Him! Get so close to Him, that when He speaks, You don't miss it!
This is AuThor
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Musings on Health & Wealth
I'm confused! Granted that's not hard for me but,
I heard a pastor say that those who believe God for health and wealth are wrong; that the Bible doesn't promise these things. This pastor drives a Mercedes-Benz, and I'm sure that if you were to ask, He would say that his prosperous state in life is a gift of God.
He also works out regularly to maintain his good health. Again, I'm sure he would credit God for his good health! Is he then saying that the fact that he is prosperous and healthy and others are not, is not a gift from God but rather the result of his own efforts, or even luck of the draw, ?
I think he would credit his own health and wealth to following principles of living that bear the fruit of health and wealth. I bet he doesn't clog up his lungs with tobacco smoke and like I said earlier, I know he walks or runs regularly at the downtown Y.
I suggest that those who teach 'health and wealth' do so in the same way. They suggest that following Biblical principles of living will promote health and prosperity. Who could really argue with that?
Is it because they try to define 'health and wealth' and present God with a 'you owe me'?
We teach at our church that when it comes to giving, you can't out give God! We teach that if you tithe, God will pour out a blessing that you'll be unable to receive. How is that different from the faith preacher?
True, we only teach that during our stewardship campaign to underwrite our budget, and we dare not promise financial blessings, although I believe the Bible does.
I think the rub comes in the attitude or the reason for giving. Do we give to get, or do we give to honor and obey God? True, genuine giving, is to honor and obey God, but HE does promise rewards for doing that! If He promises, am I wrong to expect and await the fulfillment of that promise?
Now, if the faith preacher is trying to get you to believe God for more than the Bible promises, then he's wrong! No doubt about it! but if it's just a matter of interpretation then it would appear that we come up short, like the Israelites who would not go into Canaan to possess the promised land.
Many times it looks like we're trying to hedge on God's promises to save face for ourselves. Is there any validity to that? For example: John 15:7 says, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."
I've had preachers try and tell me that this verse doesn't mean what it says. Sure it does! It means exactly what it says! The Bible wasn't written just for the PH.D., It was written for ordinary church going folks like you and me. I don't need a doctor to tell me what that means. It means that if I pay the price; I have a blank check. Period.
A lot of God's promises are conditional. So is this one.
When I went away to college, my dad handed me a blank check; with just my name and his signature. Later, he told me that he couldn't have given that blank check to either of my brothers, but I had earned his trust and he knew I would honor him with the use of that check. Not many people live so close to God that they get a blank check, but John 15:7 say that one is available if you pay the price!
Many of God's promises are like that, they're misunderstood by folks who haven't paid the price to meet the conditions, or they have the wrong motives. Doesn't mean the promises are not valid for those who do meet the conditions. Let's not be guilty of denying God's promises! They are "Yea" in Christ Jesus! The NIV says it this way, "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "yes" in Christ."
I take that to mean, they're mine! He's stamped them, "VALIDATED"!
Think about it!
I heard a pastor say that those who believe God for health and wealth are wrong; that the Bible doesn't promise these things. This pastor drives a Mercedes-Benz, and I'm sure that if you were to ask, He would say that his prosperous state in life is a gift of God.
He also works out regularly to maintain his good health. Again, I'm sure he would credit God for his good health! Is he then saying that the fact that he is prosperous and healthy and others are not, is not a gift from God but rather the result of his own efforts, or even luck of the draw, ?
I think he would credit his own health and wealth to following principles of living that bear the fruit of health and wealth. I bet he doesn't clog up his lungs with tobacco smoke and like I said earlier, I know he walks or runs regularly at the downtown Y.
I suggest that those who teach 'health and wealth' do so in the same way. They suggest that following Biblical principles of living will promote health and prosperity. Who could really argue with that?
Is it because they try to define 'health and wealth' and present God with a 'you owe me'?
We teach at our church that when it comes to giving, you can't out give God! We teach that if you tithe, God will pour out a blessing that you'll be unable to receive. How is that different from the faith preacher?
True, we only teach that during our stewardship campaign to underwrite our budget, and we dare not promise financial blessings, although I believe the Bible does.
I think the rub comes in the attitude or the reason for giving. Do we give to get, or do we give to honor and obey God? True, genuine giving, is to honor and obey God, but HE does promise rewards for doing that! If He promises, am I wrong to expect and await the fulfillment of that promise?
Now, if the faith preacher is trying to get you to believe God for more than the Bible promises, then he's wrong! No doubt about it! but if it's just a matter of interpretation then it would appear that we come up short, like the Israelites who would not go into Canaan to possess the promised land.
Many times it looks like we're trying to hedge on God's promises to save face for ourselves. Is there any validity to that? For example: John 15:7 says, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."
I've had preachers try and tell me that this verse doesn't mean what it says. Sure it does! It means exactly what it says! The Bible wasn't written just for the PH.D., It was written for ordinary church going folks like you and me. I don't need a doctor to tell me what that means. It means that if I pay the price; I have a blank check. Period.
A lot of God's promises are conditional. So is this one.
When I went away to college, my dad handed me a blank check; with just my name and his signature. Later, he told me that he couldn't have given that blank check to either of my brothers, but I had earned his trust and he knew I would honor him with the use of that check. Not many people live so close to God that they get a blank check, but John 15:7 say that one is available if you pay the price!
Many of God's promises are like that, they're misunderstood by folks who haven't paid the price to meet the conditions, or they have the wrong motives. Doesn't mean the promises are not valid for those who do meet the conditions. Let's not be guilty of denying God's promises! They are "Yea" in Christ Jesus! The NIV says it this way, "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "yes" in Christ."
I take that to mean, they're mine! He's stamped them, "VALIDATED"!
Think about it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)