Worthy Christian Forums -> Study Group

Hello dear saints in the Lord,

Recently, we've encountered several threads dealing with a WORKS based salvation, so I thought I would express where I personally stand on the issue.

THERE IS a distinct DIFFERENCE in JUSTIFICATION and SANTIFICATION!

You see you cannot MIX the two, because once you do -- you start walking a fine line -- trying to "COMPLETE" your salvation through your works.

Let's go through line upon line and precept upon precept. First of all, salvation is 100% the work of GOD.

Romans 3:24-28 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

So the first part to understanding JUSTIFICATION is that it's the GIFT OF GOD, it's not something you CAN EARN -- it's not something you CAN WORK FOR -- you are JUSTIFIED through FAITH!

What is FAITH?

F -- FORSAKING
A -- ALL
I -- I
T -- TRUST
H -- HIM

We live by FAITH, we are JUSTIFIED by FAITH!

So where does WORKS become involved in our walk?

God has sent forth HIS SPIRIT to work in all of us once we become REGENERATED, and become a NEW CREATION! This work of the HOLY SPIRIT is SANTIFICATION! How long does this work of SANTIFICATION continue? YOUR ENTIRE LIFE! So what is SANTIFICATION? Santification is a cleansing of one's mind, one's heart, one's desires from the things of this world and a renewing of their mind, heart, and desires to that of the LORD.

What happens when your mind, your heart, and your desires changes -- so that you put on the MIND OF CHRIST, have a HEART that seeks to LOVE GOD above all -- then your desires will be that of GOD! Your life will START PRODUCING WORKS -- your regenerated life will START PRODUCING FRUIT!

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Do you see the DIFFERENCE?

One is JUSTIFICATION -- how we can be justified before GOD.
The other is SANTIFICATION -- how our lives will change once we've been JUSTIFIED.

Next time, I'll share the DANGERS of trying to be JUSTIFIED with a MIXING of WORKS AND FAITH!

We'll continue this study until we've exhausted the subject so feel free to ask questions,

Your brother in Christ with much agape love,

George

Given the recent discussions regarding the future of Israel and the meaning of OT prophecies, I thought it would be helpful to list some basics of determining meaning. I obtained these from:

"The Navigator Bible Studies Handbook"

General Principles

1. As you study, work knowing that the Bible is authoritative
2. Let the Bible interpret itself (Scripture explains Scripture).
3. The Holy Spirit’s illumination is a prerequisite for understanding - as is a cleansed life, and willingness to obey
4. Interpret your feelings and experiences in light of the Word.
5. Be careful how you apply Biblical examples. Does the fact that Judas’ replacement was chosen by lots mean that we should choose our pastors that way?
6. Bible study should be done for application, not just an increase in knowledge. Application must be in line with the single meaning of the passage.
7. The church does not determine what the Bible teaches; the Bible determines what the church teaches.
8. Do not be presumptuous in claiming Biblical promises

Grammatical Principles

1. Texts have only one meaning and should be taken literally
2. Interpret words by their meaning in the time they were written, not how they are used today.
3. Interpret words in relation to their context and use in the sentence
4. When an inanitmate object is used to describe a living being, that statement may be said to be figurative
5. When life or action are attributed to an inanimate object, that statement may be interpreted figuratively
6. When an expression is out of character with the thing being descirbed, that statement may be seen as figurative
7. When interpreting a parable, only make applications from the principal parts and figures.
8. Interpret prophetic books literally unless the context demands a symbolic interpretation.

Historical Principles

1. Since the Bible is a historical book, it must be understood in its historical context
2. Both the Old and New Testaments are essential in understanding God’s full counsel.
3. Historical events become symbols of spiritual truth only when scripture says they should be.

Theological Principles

1. A text must be understood grammatically before it can be understood theologically
2. A doctrine is not biblical unless it includes all that the scriptures have to say about that doctrine.
3. When doctrines taught in scripture appear to contradict one another, accept both with the understanding that they will both resolve to a higher unity (election and free-will).
4. If a passage implies a truth, it may only be considered Biblical if related passages support the truth (Hebrews 6).

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

The purpose of establishing the Study Group Forum was for senior members and administrators of Worthy Ministries to lead specific Bible studies. Recently there were Bible studies posted that denied the deity of Messiah and for this reason I have limited the starting of topics to Royal Members and those who are part of the ministry. Anyone may reply to these Bible studies.

Because we want to have open dialogue with even those who disagree with the leadership of Worthy Ministries, please post your threads in the appropriate forums, i.e. Controversial issues, Doctrinal Questions.

Your brother in Christ with much agape love,

George

The Grace of God; It is, perhaps, the most sublime matter that can be found in all of Scripture. From beginning to end, the Bible is a revelation of God’s grace to fallen man. From the day that God first killed an animal to clothe Adam and Eve until that final day when we all be transfigured and clothed with the glory of God, one of the Bible’s uppermost themes, is the inestimable Grace of God.

I. The Definition of Grace
What is grace? Often grace is defined merely as “unmerited favor.” But that does not really do it justice. From Genesis, to Revelation, we see God showering grace upon a fallen, miserable, rebellious race known as the human race. From the day that Adam brought sin into the world through his rebellion to God’s command, mankind has been living in open rebellion against God.

We see God all throughout the Bible putting forth His hand in kindness calling and longing for man to both receive His love and to return it in kind. We see Him extending His love toward man only to have that love answered with contempt, pride, open rebellion, and an utter revulsion at the suggestion of His very existence. How would you react, if the very object of your love, the one who is your chief desire, responded with disdain at the fact that you were alive?

When God sent His Son, Jesus, it was His ultimate act of Grace taking precedence over all that He had done, or has done since. Jesus, God in the flesh, came unto his own, and His own received Him not (John 1:11). Jesus brought the grace of God down to fallen man in a way that man could see who God is, and how much He loves each and every person. He healed the sick, He raised the dead, He fed thousands, He reached out to the outcasts the misfits, the societal “throw-a-ways.” He brought forgiveness and hope to those that the religious leaders had given up on. Jesus showed that it was God’s will bless His us, not to harm us. Even to those who should have been destroyed according to strict adherence to the law, Jesus brought mercy and restoration. Jesus demonstrated that mercy is grace in action. The Hebrew word for “bless” is barakh. It means to kneel. It is not a reference to kneeling is subjugation, but rather “kneeling to enrich.” The word picture is that of a father who kneels to relate to his children face to face. Jesus did exactly that. He brought the love of God down to us. Jesus was the Father’s way of getting down on His knees to relate to us face to face, to pull us to Himself and hold us close; close enough that we can hear his heartbeat.

Yet for all that, Jesus was reviled, he was hated so much that a “kangaroo court,” a mockery and sham of a trial was instigated against Him. False witnesses were brought to accuse him, and nearly 200 laws from both the Torah and the Talmud had to be broken just put Jesus on trial. He was reviled and lied about, but He never opened His mouth. He was beaten, and scourged within in an inch of death, and he never once sought to defend Himself. Surely, those twelve legions consisting of 72,000 angels of the armies of the Living God stood ready with swords drawn, nearly busting the seams of heaven to come to the aid of their King if He would but give the word. Just one word from Jesus, and the earth would have been a cinder block hurtling through space.

Yet, Jesus as he never failed to do, continued to demonstrate God’s Grace by offering up prayer for His enemies. “Father, forgive them… they don’t know what they are doing.” Even on the cross in agony, His mind was not on His pain, his torn flesh, the splinters in His back, the torture of the nails that impaled Him to the cross. He thoughts were for His enemies. His thoughts were for His mother. His ministry did not end in Gethsemane. Even on the cross Jesus offered salvation and forgiveness. Jesus’ thoughts were not upon Himself, but upon us. Jesus was thinking about His enemies, the thief, His mother, and he was thinking about you.

It has been said that offering salvation was a greatest the act of God in the history of the universe. It was a greater demonstration of His power than the creation of the universe. This is so, because in salvation, God gave all He had. Jesus gave EVERYTHING to save you and me. We are rebellious, selfish, demanding, impatient, prideful, full of vanity, bitter, foolish, contemptuous, and yet God still loves us. He never gives up on us. He always is there to give a second chance, a third chance, a 56th chance. Even when we are faithless, the Bible says, He is faithful. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. We have spurned his love, and trampled it with our selfish desire to do our own thing. And once we have screwed everything up and made a horrible mess of our lives, He is there, waiting at the portals, watching like the Father of the prodigal son. Waiting to embrace us in His loving arms. No matter how much we have hurt Him, He is willing to receive us back with open arms. One thing you can be sure of; Jesus will never break your heart.

I posit therefore, that grace is NOT unmerited favor at all. Grace is the over-exhibited mercy, loving kindness and “favor” of God, given freely to those who merit His uttermost contempt, and disfavor.

Verses:

"God is faithful, through whom you were called into the felloship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor. 1:9)

"That which we have seen and heard we report also to you that you also may have fellowship with us, and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ." (1 John 1:3)

"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from every sin." (1 John 1:7)

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." (1 Cor. 13:14)

"And they continued steadfastly in the teaching and the fellowship of the apostles, in the breaking of bread and the prayers." (Acts 2:42)

"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the fellowship of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the fellowship of the body of Christ?" (1 Cor. 1:10)

~~~~~~~~~~

Fellowship is basically two things: First it is the receiving of fellowship from the throne of Grace, through the Son (1 Cor. 1:9). It is the fellowship of the Father and the Son, by the Spirit, to the believer. Second, fellowship is the mutual fellowship of the Body of Christ, between the members of the Body, in that same flowing of fellowship from the throne of Grace (1 John 1:3; 7; 2 Cor. 13:14; cf Acts 2:42; cf. 1 Cor. 10:16). So the flowing out of fellowship goes out from the throne of Grace, into the believers, and from the believers out to one another.

The word in the Greek means "joint participation, common participation." It is actually the issuing of the eternal life from the throne of Grace and it is the flow of eternal life within all the believers. It can be illustrated by the flowing out of the river of water of life from the throne in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 22:1). All regenerated believers participate in the flow of fellowship from the throne of Grace. This flow is carried out by the Holy Spirit in our regenerated spirit. Therefore, it is called "The fellowship of the Holy Spirit" (2 Cor. 13:14), and the fellowship of our spirit (Phil. 2:1). It is in this flow of fellowship that we, the believers participate in all that the Father, Son, and Spirit are and have done for us.

Fellowship is not simply a discussion among Christians. It is not simply a "meeting of minds" or a debate over topics. One need not be a Christian at all to discuss topics or debate over issues. Anyone can do that. To have genuine fellowship with the Body of Christ a believer must first be in the fellowship of the Triune God. He must first "walk in the light" of fellowship (1 John 1:7). Without the light of fellowship of the Triune God, it is impossible to have fellowship with the members of the Body of Christ. Cutting off the fellowship from the throne also cuts off the fellowship from the Body; just as cutting off the circulation to your hand deprives your fingers of the precious blood, so does the believer who cuts off the flow of fellowship from the throne of Grace.

To have an attitude of fellowship one must first be open to the light of fellowship from the throne. Second, he must also be open to the fellowship of the members of the Body of Christ. Again, this is like the flow of blood in your body. All the members of your physical body must receive the flow of blood as well as send the flow of blood to the other members. In the Body of Christ this requires sacrifice. It requires the cutting of of self and the flesh. It requires that every member be open to the fellowship, regardless if that fellowship is a faithful word for building up, or it is a corrective word that sometimes wounds our pride.

(More to come as the Lord inspires me.)

Ovedya

Luke 1

11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.

13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. 14 "You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord ; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb. 16 "And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

18 Zacharias said to the angel, "How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years."

19 The angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 "And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."


Ever since I was a child, I always perceived Gabriel to have spoken his last words in anger - that Zacharias' muteness was a punishment.


But recently I began seeing something a little different.



Zacharias said to the angel, "How will I know this for certain?..."



And the angel responds - "You need a sign? OK, here is your sign -

I am Gabriel"



Daniel 8:16 - And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, "Gabriel, give this man an understanding of the vision."


Being a priest, he should have been well versed in Scripture. Chances are it would not have taken long for him to make the connection that this being speaking to him was quite likely the same being who spoke to Daniel!



"And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place"


In reading this, my original inclination was to conclude that as a priest he should have known better than to doubt an angel speaking to him! But when you look at other angelic encounters, pretty much everyone has a "Huh?!" reaction, yet were not punished such. So why would Zacharias be treated differently?

I am thinking now that the muteness was his sign.

Due to the nature of his calling as a father to "the Elijah who is to come," he needed a sign that would erase any traces of doubt from is natural mind of God's plan and purpose.

Remember, our minds are funny things - how often we forget the hand of God in our lives! And how often does what we perceive as a miracle today somehow becomes perceived as something natural the next? I don't see Zacharias as being more weak than anyone else, but rather he was just as weak as everyone else! Remember how Abraham was deceitful twice with regards to Sarah? How Moses disobeyed the Lord by striking the rock rather than speaking to it?


So Zacharias needed a sign - a sign beyond his wife becoming pregnant at an old age - to know the word was true. His muteness was the sign he was given.


But as it turned out, this sign was not for him alone!


Luke 1
62 And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. 63 And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, "His name is John." And they were all astonished. 64 And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God. 65 Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, "What then will this child turn out to be?" For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him.


Zacharias asked for a sign for himself, but the Lord gave a sign for the people around him as well. The Lord was letting the community of priests know that He was beginning to move. And it took some strange happenings going on for this to be the talk of the town.

I'm not really starting a "study" per se, but this material is certainly worthy of being studied.

The current book I'm reading, Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby and Claude King provides a wonderful reference that is worth the work to type out and share. It's in the appendix and, being scripture, is fine and legal to share. (Being a writer myself, I'm familiar with copyrights.)

I wanted to start with just the ABC's and see what kind of interest there was. Would anyone like to have the rest? There are pages and pages of them and I have studied myself happy with them! To be able to experience God as all these things would be amazing!

If there is any interest in receiving more of this list, I will happily type them out. D,E, and F would be next. If not, I will just delete this topic. In the meantime, for those who may be interested, feel free to discuss these names and perhaps your experiences with how you've come to know God by any of these names, titles or descriptions.

Job 2
9 Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity ? Curse God and die !" 10 But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity ?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.


Throughout my life, I have always considered, as pretty much everyone else I've heard, Job's wife to be one of the "villains" of the Bible. Many preachers have even speculated that Satan spared Job's wife on account of her adding to his misery.

As I've grown older, though, I've had reason to re-look this woman.


One thing I've learned about the Hebrew narrative is that it does not concern itself with character development and relationship building the way we do in our stories and reports. Truly the only "character" the Bible is interested in the reader knowing is God, and the only relationship it seeks to build is God's relation to man (corporately and individually), and man to God.

In the story of Job, the focus is Job's relationship with God. Job's wife here is merely a sideline to the main story. And what we see here is one snap-shot of her in a moment of distress. We don't even know her name! Her only insertion at this point is to note how Job responds to the challenge, not to dwell on her failure.

Not to say that she didn't fail. But in our judgment of her, we seem to forget two things.


One: We are basing our opinions of her on just one moment of her life. Now, how many of us had a bad moment of which we've needed to repent of? What if our "bad moment" was recorded down in history and passed on to the generations, and that one moment is all any of them knew of us? Would we not want them to cut us a little slack, grant us the grace to believe that this one moment was not the sum of our character?

So in this re-evaluation, I am choosing to grant this grace to her, that perhaps she wasn't all the villain we've all made her out to be. That perhaps this was a moment of weakness rather than the sum of who she was.


Two: When we read the account, we see Job losing his oxen, his donkeys, his servants, his sheep, his camels, his children, and then his health. Then to add insult to injury, his wife smacks him upside the head and yells at him to curse God and die, with her nose up in the air. But is this a true picture of her?

Let's re-wind and look at her as a person, a character in her own right. She just lost all the provision her husband had been providing for her, she just lost her children, and then when she needs her husbands comfort and encouragement he probably can't because he's so sick. In essence, what we see at this point is a broken woman, a grieving mother, and a heart-broken wife.

So what if her words were not spoken in anger and snobbery, but rather passionate grief? What if she was crying as she spoke those words? What if her words were not rebuke so much as projecting depression? I feel this way, why don't you?

She was angry at God, that's clear enough. Notice how it was this that Job addressed to her.

He didn't rebuke her for being mean and unsupported to him. He rebuked her for turning away from the Lord rather than running to Him.

Notice that?


Sure, if this was one of our stories it would have been nice to know how she took the rebuke. But we do know that the Lord granted new children to Job. Since there is no mention of Job having other wives or concubines, then perhaps we can assume that perhaps she did repent and restored her own walk with the Lord.


We won't know, of course, this side of Heaven. After all, the Scriptures are more concerned with what you learn from the experiences of these people than what happened to them in the end.

But, in the face of heart-ache, do you have a "Job's wife" moment? And if so, do you repent of it?

That is the question!

Shalom everyone,

I recently received an email which was wondering why I believed so strongly that a strike against Iran was inevitable? There’s more than a few reasons, but I thought I would take the time to answer this Biblically.

There’s a unique passage of Scripture in Jeremiah that I believe really points to the current events of our day in relation to Israel and Iran.

Jeremiah 49:34-39 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might. And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come. For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them: And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD. But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD.

The first question, you must ask — “Who is Elam?” This is a brief description of Elam from Wikipedia.

Elam is the name of an ancient civilization located in what is now southwest Iran. Archaeological evidence associated with Elam has been dated to before 5000 BCE. According to available written records, it is known to have existed beginning from around 3200 BC — making it among the world’s oldest historical civilizations — and to have endured up until 539 BC. Elam was centered in the far west and southwest of modern-day Iran, stretching from the lowlands of Khuzestan and Ilam Province (which takes its name from Elam), as far as Jiroft in Kerman province and Burned City in Zabol, as well as a small part of southern Iraq. — Source – Wikipedia

So Elam is the modern state of Iran! So the next question you need to ask — when is the timing of this prophecy? If you look at verse 39, you’ll see the phrase “shall come to pass in the latter days”. The phrase “latter days” in Hebrew is “ahreet-yomim” which can be literally translated, “in the end of days”.

As we read this passage, the first act of God is to break the bow of Iran. What’s interesting to me about this phrase, is the absence of arrows. Could this be breaking the “threat” of weapons? Of course this interpretation is totally up for debate and I’m by no means dogmatic about it!

The next aspect we see, is the scattering of the people of Elam. Most people don’t realize that in 1979 when the Shah was overthrown and an Islamic constitution was instituted that nearly 4 million Iranians fled Iran and settled around the globe. When the elections took place in June and there was world outrage over the election process -- most of those protesting around the world were Iranians that fled in 1979!

Then the prophecy states that the sword of the Lord will be sent, and then the establishment of the throne of God in Iran.

Right now, we’re seeing an explosion of the gospel in Iran! There’s nearly a million believers in Iran meeting in underground churches and when these events take place there’s more than enough believers in Iran to bring a full blown revival just as the prophecy states, “and I will set my throne in Elam!” But right now, there’s an Islamic barrier to the gospel, but God says He will remove these barriers by “destroying from thence the king and the princes”. It appears the fall of the Iranian government, the mullahs and the Ayatollah Khomeini are predicted!

While this prophecy may be connected to the Gog and Magog war of Ezekiel 38, I’m leaning to the connection of this prophecy with Psalm 83. For the purpose of war in both passages is to bring forth revival! For example, Psalm 83:16 says, “Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.”

I believe we’re closer to the fulfillment of these prophecies than most people realize, and by no means am I dogmatic about the timing of these prophecies — but I would have to completely ignore the news and the current events of our day not to see the possible connection!

Your brother in the Lord with much agape love,

George

The things that we see go straight to our brain. The brain, you know, can mess it all up in a very unsavory way. These thoughts can rattle around in our brain for a while, and, if left there for very long at all, will then nosedive right into our heart. Yeah – and once it gets there it will ache and yearn until it finds its way out through action. That action manifests by either turning to God, or by succumbing to the sin that we’ve been contemplating. That’s how it began with Eve. She first saw.

Ge 3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

Eyes see - brain contemplates - heart desires - action follows.

David would have understood the words of Jesus. He would have known that once the visuals leave the brain and takes root in the heart that you’ve already messed up.

Mt 5:28 "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

That’s how it happened with David when he saw Bathsheba. He succumbed. He saw her, thought on it, dwelled on it, and acted on it. We know the results of that. She got pregnant and he ended up having her husband killed because of it. They married and had the child, but it didn’t end happily ever after. Sin has consequences. God will forgive you if you turn to him and repent of the sin, but you will still have earthly consequences. Depending on the sin involved, you may still get pregnant, you may still go to jail, you may still suffer with AIDS, and you may still lose your family.

Certainly we see things all day long unintentionally. We see disgusting ads and shows on television, magazine covers that call out to us at the grocery store, signs in the storefront windows, billboards, spam in our mailbox, spam on the internet, you name it. It’s there all the time, everyday. And, our children are subjected to it as well. The girls are almost brainwashed into looking “hot,” from a very early age. Adults call it cute, right up until they find out their child is involved in something deadly.

1Jo 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jo 2:16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.

And I have to tell ya, I’ve no idea how the men do it. How do they make it through a day unscathed? How do they train their eyes to avert, to cast the images away in the fractions of a second that it takes to enter the brain? They can’t. Oh they can avert their eyes, but once they see what they see – it’s there – in the brain. It’s not just the men, either, that have this problem. Women appreciate the opposite sex too.

And just think of the movies out there, with all the worldly delicacies that are made to look quite appealing, just like a nice shiny apple. We’re enticed to buy, to desire, to allow, to overlook – all to fit in with the society that man has devised. And make no mistake family, man has done so in order to market you for money for their pockets.
So, what do we do? How do we exist in this fallen world where we’re assaulted with temptations of the eyes? Well, we could do like Job did.

Job 31:1 ¶ I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? (KJV)
Job 31:1 "I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl. (NIV)
Job 31:1 "I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin? (NASB)

How do we incorporate this covenant into our lives, right here in the real world? How do we train them to look away, to not look down, to stay focused? Well, if we can agree that we are at war with temptation, then we can draw upon a weapon of our own. We can fight fire with a better, hotter fire. We can change gears in our brain, the one that just twisted our thoughts around into something dark, and utilize it to recall scripture. A simple one comes to mind.

Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Remember, Jesus quoted scripture when He was tempted. (Matt 4) Each time He answered Satan, He declared, “It is written..”

Another thing we can do is offer a prayer at the moment of temptation. Remember, you belong to Him, and your body is a temple.

1Cr 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Matthew Henry said something really interesting concerning Job’s “covenant with my eyes.” He said

Whatever we fix our eyes upon, whether its things of the flesh, money, or material things, will end up in our hearts. Therefore, let us fix our eyes on Jesus.

Hello my brothers and sisters in the Lord,

Most people don't realize the radical experiment we are doing here! I want you to imagine yourself -- hundreds of years ago -- when all the different denominations were starting! While everyone was insisting their beliefs were the "only" correct way to worship God -- they were creating more and more splits and divisions!

What we are trying to do at Worthy Boards is unheard of when you think about it! We are trying to unify the body -- while at the same time protect those fundamental truths that we can all agree with -- the need for salvation through Jesus -- the source for truth for living the Christian life found within the Bible. Read our Statement of faith! This experiment hasn't happened before when you really consider it!

Of course there's the ecumenical movement -- unity for the sake of doctrinal compromises! I'm sorry, but the fundamental doctrines of the faith can't be compromised.

So often though when you have so many different denominations, you have many different avenues of thought that have never been explored by other denominations. Just because a teaching is "different" than one you are used to hearing, doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong -- it may be just different!

But differences of opinion is actually a good thing whether you realize it or not! For God didn't create us to be the SAME body part -- but created us all different so that we could join together to form the body of Christ to compliment each other!

Oftentimes I learn by realizing other avenues of thinking presented by various believers. By allowing various avenues of thoughts we expand our horizons and allow the Spirit of God to realign our thoughts with the mind of Christ and continue our growth in the maturity of the Lord.

So before you run out and cry "heretic" or "false teacher", be sure to carefully listen, and observe what someone is saying. I honestly believe that things "heard through the grapevine" have a way of being twisted -- but if you go to the source then you can carefully examine the fruit -- test the fruit -- and then make a judgment -- oftentimes you may find that the red grape you were expecting to find was just a white grape -- it was just a different color, but when you examined the fruit -- you find out it's still good fruit!

We need to recognize that every word spoken, we will be judged for. And everyone that is hindered from hearing the gospel because someone feels the need to scream - heretic, false prophet, or demeaning someone in some fashion -- let's just say I wouldn't want to be that person sitting before the Lord at the Bema Seat!

This is a problem that I do have and I want to voice my concerns now and I hope you carefully heed these words. When someone comes into the boards, who is not necessarily a Christian -- the first thing you should do is NOT castigate them.

The first thing you should do before you even post -- what would Jesus do? Did Jesus say -- get away from me you prostitute? or get away from me you heathen? or say give me the first stone because I am without sin?

Jesus didn't go closing doors, He went forth OPENING the DOOR so ALL could enter in!



This was the Lord's prayer to the Father before He was crucified! That we may all be ONE! My wife and I don't agree on everything -- but when we disagree -- we agree to disagree! Sometimes it's best to say -- I agree to disagree!



Love breaks down walls of division and covers a multitude of sins! So may the Love of God be abundant in your hearts so that the world can be radically changed through you!

May the love of God be shown in all of your posts!

Your brother in Christ with much agape love,

George

Not long ago someone dear to me said something in passing that, for personal reasons, profoundly affected me. He said simply, “no one lives or dies to himself.”

Indeed, my friend. Perhaps we do not.



A few years ago I posted the story of Rizpah. Not Tennyson’s Rizpah as quoted in the above stanza - but the broken woman that the scriptures mention only briefly but with such impact that perhaps inspired the poet's words. I’ve decided to rework it a bit, and post it for those who have not heard it. I have always found it extraordinary how the painful, devoted actions of a mother in mourning changed the fate of a nation. Have I given her actions too much credit? Well, perhaps – but read about her and decide for yourself.





ritspah, rits-paw'
a hot stone


To be continued.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE WIZARD OF OZ?

What do we, as Christains, lack when it comes to witnessing to the lost? Let's take a look at three characters from the "Wizard of Oz" and compare them to us. Let's see what they lacked in their journey, then we can see what we lack in ours.

First, we have the Scarecrow. What was it he lacked? A brain or knowledge. As Christians, we sometimes lack the knowledge of GOD's word to share with the lost. We need to be prepared always to share the good news of JESUS CHRIST with everyone we meet. 2 Timothy 4:2 tells us we need to be ready in season and out of season to preach the word. 2 Timothy 2:15 says study to show thyself approved unto GOD.

Second, we have the Tinman. What was it he lacked? A heart or compassion. As Christians, we sometimes lack the compassion to witness to the lost. Jude 22 tells us that having compassion can make a difference. GOD calls on us as believers to share the gospel, with compassion, with others. We need compassion for the lost. Remember, GOD showed HIS compassion for us by sending us HIS SON to die on a cross. Compassion should drive us to see souls saved.

Third, we have the Cowardly Lion. What was it he lacked? Courage. As Christians, we sometimes lack the courage to witness to the lost. We sometimes feel intimidated or uncomfortable with strangers. We need not to be. What do we fear? Deuteronomy 31:6 says "Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy GOD, HE it is that doth go with thee; HE will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

So next time you try to witness to someone, see which one of these characters you most resemble.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

If you are not aware, the ministry sends out a daily devotional along with a daily news brief. If you are interested in our free daily insight, you can sign up here!

Today's insight -- 10/13/2004

God's purposes are not always what they seem!

Acts 16:26-30 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

At first glance, it would seem that God allowed this earthquake to take place in order that Paul and Silas would be set free. The earthquake came and their bands were loosed. There was nothing holding them back. They could have fled immediately – wouldn’t have you?

But no -- Paul and Silas waited...and as a result, the jailer and his entire family were saved!

Many times we assume God’s reasoning for doing the things He does. The Lord may have released us to walk through a door that He has clearly opened -- but He may also have other purposes in mind. Let’s not be so quick to assume. There’s no hurry. God won’t shut a door if it is His divine will for it to be open!

Let's be patient and be sure to be led by the Spirit of God. These are amazing times we’re living in. We don’t want to miss out on God’s perfect will!

Here are some thoughts I have had regarding the issue of people who have never heard the gospel

1. Isn’t it egotistical of the church to maintain that their way is the only way?

If the church had come up with this system on its own and was trying to say that the system they came up with was the only system, it would be egotistical and exclusive. But the idea of Jesus being the only way to God did not originate with the church. It originated with Jesus Himself. This is what Jesus said:

Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6 CSB)

Jesus maintained that the only way a person could establish a relationship with God was through Him. That is because Jesus was uniquely qualified to fix the situation that we (humanity) broke. Jesus was 100 percent God and 100 percent human. Because God is just, Jesus was able to make every sin that was ever committed right. The punishment for every murder that was ever committed, every child that was ever abused, every lie that was ever told, every piece of gossip that was ever shared, etc, was placed on Him. This is not an idea that began with the church. It came from the lips of Jesus 2000 years ago.

2. If Jesus is the only way, aren’t people being treated unfairly who have never heard about Him?

This is a fair question and one that can be very personal for some of us who have known folks that have not heard. The Bible is very clear about the way people receive eternal life from God:

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved." (Act 4:12 CSB)

Jesus is the only way to God. The Bible does not specifically address how God will deal with people who through no fault of their own never hear the about Jesus. Since it is very clear in scripture that Jesus is the only way, we know that God will not provide a “different” way for people who don’t hear. So what are we left with? The Bible does tell us some things that we can take comfort in, even though it does not give us the specific answers we are looking for. As I looked into this for myself, these gave comfort to me:

a. It is God’s desire that no one miss out on the gift that Jesus offers. In other words, God did not set up a “secret system” with the hope that only a few lucky ones would catch on:

The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. (2Peter 3:9 CSB)

b. God is truly just. He will always do the absolutely right thing. After all is said and done, no one will look at the way God handled things and say “I was treated unfairly”.

The Rock-- His work is perfect; all His ways are entirely just. A faithful God, without prejudice, He is righteous and true. (Deuteronomy 32:4 CSB)

c. God is love. Everything He does will be motivated by love

The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1John 4:8 CSB)

d. God is merciful and compassionate

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and full of faithful love. (Psalm 103:8 CSB)

e. God has promised that those who want to find Him will do so

So I say to you, keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. (Luke 11:9 CSB).

f. God has a bigger view than we do. He has placed everyone in the time and place they live that gives them the best chance to find Him and know Him

From one man He has made every nation of men to live all over the earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live, so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. (Act 17:26-27 CSB)

So while God does not give us all the details, He tells us enough about Himself so that we can trust Him with those details. That is not to say everyone will ultimately be saved. But, we can trust God that He will treat people justly.