Did God Really Say......?

In Genesis 3, we can read about the greatest deception of all times. In a slinky, slimy move, the oldest deceiver of all times displays his favorite tactic, preying on the desire for truth. “Did God really say?” By complicating the simple truth of God (who, by the way is the originator of truth!) the deceiver got Eve (and Adam too!) to disobey God by doubt. Ole Eve could have summoned God in a minute to have that question answered.  Instead she went for the big ‘?’ and it was downhill from there.

Ever since, the big deception has been “Did God really say?” It is prevalent today all over the world, in the highways and byways of life, in homes, in schools, government, politics and it is especially prevalent in religion. People historically have tried to reinvent the truth along the way by adding, subtracting and changing God’s original intent and Judaism was no exception.

Looking at the apostle Paul’s background in the Judaic traditions and oral law it is quite easy to see how the Hebrew of the Hebrews was significantly deceived and his loyalty to God was misaligned to produce atrocity and persecution to the disciples of Jesus Christ in that day. He was loyal (yes!) committed (yes!), bold (yes!) and yes, he thought what he was doing was right with God and proud of it too!  He was blinded until the light of the revelation of God’s plan through the ages was revealed to him in the life of Jesus Christ and what his life represented, the way to God’s heart.

The loyalty, commitment, and boldness remained in Paul but he got off his ‘high horse’ and humbly accepted the truth of God:

Acts 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the son of God.

This caused quite a stir among his former friends.

Acts 9:23b The Judeans took counsel to kill him.

The Greeks were not much better:

Acts 9:29b they went about to slay him.

He went to Jerusalem and the disciples of Jesus Christ were at first were afraid of him but a wonderful man named Barnabas helped by standing up for him and people heard what had happened to him.

Today the name of Jesus Christ still causes a reaction.  God’s heart in what he accomplished for every believer is beautifully set forth in Paul’s great prayer in Ephesians 1:17-23. (NIV2010)

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

A Soft Heart

Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy ❤ with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 

A tender heart is a powerful asset. It takes diligent effort to keep it that way. Life is full of friction.  Friction causes calluses to form if we don't actively watch over what we allow in our life.

There is a great record in Mark 6:42-54(NIV2010) recording an incident with the disciples shortly after the miraculous feeding of the 5000.

They all ate and were satisfied,  and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he (Jesus Christ) was alone on land.He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”  Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their ❤❤ were hardened. When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.  As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus.

It is hard to believe that after just seeing fish and bread multiply to feed so many people that terror could set in so easily. Fear, worry, doubt, and negative thinking blind hearts to the power of God. Fear and terror are everywhere knocking at the door; it is just the way the world is.

Guarding one's heart is a multifaceted task. It involves identifying, being courageous, not falling into the heresy of secular human love, focusing on giving and helping someone else, communicating honestly and in some cases drawing a line as well as many other actions. Maintaining a daily relationship with God via His Word and utilization of His spiritual tools in the gift of holy spirit, make this job simple and uncomplicated.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine ❤; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Paul

The apostle Paul was a unique individual who actually penned much of the New Testament Word of God in the first century. The book of Acts was recorded by Luke and is a history of the changes that took place as the first century church grew and matured. Paul was a significant contributor to its growth. We read about speaking in tongues on the day of Pentecost as well at 4 other instances where people exhibited this manifestation, but it was Paul who revealed the other ways of operating the gift of holy spirit in the church such as interpretation and prophecy and how to correctly conduct fellowship meetings without confusion. This starts in I Corinthians 12:1

Now concerning spiritual gifts (spiritual matters), brethren, I would (strongly desire) not (absolutely not) have you ignorant. 

This means that God does not want us stupid about spiritual things. This expression ‘would not have ye ignorant’ is used 6 times in the New Testament. There are 6 things God wants us to be smart about. These things God is adamant about us knowing:

1. Romans 1:13 (the desire of the gift ministries to bring forth fruit from God)  Men and women will serve as God's ministers in specific areas under the umbrella of reconciling others to God. God knows each individual personally and can utilize an individual's unique abilities and believing to accomplish the ministry of reconciliation.  It is God that energizes ministries on his timetable to whom, about what, where and He gives the increase. God is first and foremost sovereign in our lives. He is the prime mover and energizer. We are not called by a denomination, reformer or saint. Paul was called by God, not by Peter or the Jerusalem church. 

2. Romans 11:25 (mystery of Christ in every believer regardless of Judean or Gentile) It doesn't matter whether you are male or female, old or young, American, Chinese or Russian.

3. I Cor 10:1 (Old Testament legacy of the anticipation of the Messiah) A key to understanding the Old Testament is understanding that the spirit of God was upon certain ones and was conditional. They looked for a day they would receive more.  Today in this administration the gift of holy spirit is in us and we can't lose it. It is by our free will choice whether we utilize it.

4. 1 Cor 12:1(spiritual matters) This includes the gift of holy spirit in every believer, gift ministries, including operations, diversities and administration) All life is spiritual and spiritual knowledge exceeds sense knowledge in clearly understanding life.

5. II Cor 1:8 (commitment under pressure) In chapter 2 Paul says we are not to be ignorant of Satan’s devices. God is our grace and sufficiency. He always provides a way to escape the things in this world that attempt to pull us down by utilizing our spiritual abilities.

6. I Thessalonians 4:13(our hope of the future and eternal life)

God evidently thinks these things are very important and the Pauline epistles fully instruct us on these matters and they are important to be understood.

Reality

On the road to Damascus as recorded in Acts 9, Paul found the 'way'.  The way to God is through His son Jesus Christ and that is exactly who Paul encountered. Jesus Christ is actually the topic of the whole word of God starting way back in Genesis 3:14-15 when God declared there would be a promised seed to counteract the effects of the evil that was introduced into the world at that time:

And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Paul hadn't understood the truth about Jesus Christ. He  understood there would be a coming Messiah in true Judaic understanding, but he didn't realize that Jesus was the Christ. It was by God revealing that to him he came to know and accept the person of Jesus Christ and all that he represented.

Up until that time Paul's life was zealously headed in a different direction. By the revelation of Jesus Christ , Paul was introduced to a new way of life that abounded with thankfulness, grace and giving. Webster defines 'reality' as the state of being actual or real. Paul in the change that he underwent found what was real. His life became real.

So many things attempt to define our lives. God is real and he, being in charge of the universe has set the best way. His son was an actual, real human being whose life could have been redefined a number of times. Because he stuck to the plan, we have real life today John 10:10 style:

Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.  I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved (kept safe). They will come in and go out, and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:6-10 NIV2010)

On our path through life, we have choices. Our direction becomes clear when we choose Jesus Christ. Then and only then do the scales drop from our spiritual eyes and reality comes into focus because of the truth God established in His son. No other name can do that for us. He has stood in the gap for us and now we have total access to the Father in that name.

Synergy- Working With One ❤

One of my favorite sections of the Bible is John 4, especially 4:21-24.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

A Samaritan woman met Jesus Christ and despite cultural separations and distinctions, he talked to her and blessed her beyond measure. Judeans looked down on the Samaritans. They were considered by the Judean culture to be 'mutt' Judeans, if Judeans at all. Jesus Christ was not bound by culture. He was interested in her life and saw her heart. She got so excited and ran back to town and brought back others.

John 4:39- 40 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.

Is it any wonder that Philip the evangelist headed back up to Samaria when persecution hit the disciples in Jerusalem in Acts 8?  Philip preached the Word in Samaria and  people were receptive so much so that when Peter and John (who had been with Jesus in John 4) heard they decided to go. How exciting that must have been for Peter and John! They must have been so blessed to hear the news of Philip! Can you imagine their conversation as they headed out to help in Samaria. God worked in the heart of Philip, Peter and John in a new dynamic way. What great unity based on what God was working (see sunergeo link to see 'sunergeo' from where we get the word 'synergy') in them! Unity is certainly not based on uniformity, but on how God works the big spiritual picture utilizing a group of individuals who believe. The culture of the disciples was changing as  they were growing and maturing in their walk with God.

Here's The Point!

Hey! Don’t let challenges intimidate you! (Nana version of Philippians 4:6) There is a tendency under duress to condemn oneself and think privately God is not going to help you cause you think you are such a dork in His book. God’s word says all men have sinned and come short of the glory of God and there’s a really long story to go along with that. God’s Word says that God doesn’t look at you with that in mind. Drag those thoughts to the trash and hit 'delete'!

Thinking like that is how we fall short of the glory of God (Hey! Who turned out the lights?). Read the whole Bible. He is amazing! Start in Genesis 1! Ok if you don’t have time to read the whole thing today, read just a section in Abraham’s life (The first use of the word ‘healing’ is written in an event in his life). How about reading about Moses, Joseph, or David? They all had weakness, their strength was trusting God! Just open any section in the gospels and see what Jesus Christ’s day was like (every day was D-day [Deliverance day]). How about Paul? The Ethiopian Eunich? The Bible is full of deliverance. Now open your mental diary or any place where you have recorded what God has done for you. (If you haven’t done that; DO IT! You may realize you are a walking miracle!)

When a challenge comes up, go ‘to the wall’ with it (check out Hezekiah). Going to the wall means:

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful{anxious} for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

“For nothing” is pretty definite. Just give it to God (thank God we have that privilege!). That doesn’t mean we don’t do anything, we make our requests known to God, we put one foot in front of the other and walk. It may not be your ordinary tiptoe through the tulips but you will be able to handle it. Make a list of things involved and take it step by step. Prayer is simply being thankful and saying God is our sufficiency for every detail. Prayer is not, however, a ‘To Do List’ for God.  By no means do we ignore the challenge. It takes work to give it to God. We can make a list of things that have to be handled and then we cross them off as we get them taken care of. We do our best but we know that God is very much involved and that is why we have peace.

God is so big! There’s a lot written about God’s glory. He is not a glory-hound, he just wants people to see how big he is so he can bless them. There will always be something or someone around to dim the lights. We just don’t let that happen. 

What's the Point?

If you want a quick summary of the OT check out Stephen's take on history in Acts 7.  Stephen gave a big picture view of the battle between belief and unbelief throughout the Bible. The whole point was that God intended to have a spiritual relationship with man. Stephen not only talked about it boldly, he also boldly lived it.

There has always been opposition to this and it usually comes from uptight religious people. Of course in that time they accused people like Stephen of being blasphemous against God,  Moses, the temple and the law even to the point of lying about him. Their arrogance and desire for control and power had them running around frothing at the mouth to be the ‘spiritually elite’.

In the Acts period, the Sadduces were a group of religious leaders who nixed any mention of resurrection.  There  were also the Pharisees who were very zealous of adherence to the law, both oral and written.  Then along came Jesus Christ who not only was the end of the law, but also rose up out of the grave!

Stephen's recorded response in Acts 7 is a focused history of the Old Testament tension between the great men of God and those who just could not get out of idolatry (especially about themselves) and who returned habitually to the quicksand of the senses understanding of things. This is always the battle in every situation. It is the tension between spiritual knowledge and the knowledge that comes by way of the five senses. It is not that we can't learn through the senses, it's just that it is incomplete and deceptive at times. What appears is not always what is. That's the point.

To illustrate this, take for example, my Bible opened on the table. It looks, feels, smells, tastes and sounds like a book when read. It has 4 columns across, is written in King James English and to the average eye is unmistakably a Bible. The Bible can be described with senses knowledge. What really lies within the Bible is God’s heart and the true spiritual knowledge accessible when it is read and digested by someone who desires the truth. For someone who reads it for other reasons, it may be an example of literature, history, something to fill a drawer in a hotel room, a dust magnet on a coffee table or it may even be used to twist its words to manipulate power in the religious world.

The Bible is not on the best seller list for everyone, only to those who believe.  That's a no brainer!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (American Standard Version) Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work. 

'Furnished completely' doesn't mean piously pure or obnoxiously arrogant, it simply means up to the task of doing good stuff, energized and inspired by the God of the universe! (Sorry " Secret"-readers, he's not a genie! He's God!)

Acts 7:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

In the Word that he spoke, Stephen rightly divided the Word to expose the truth. His knowledge of the Word  is readily recognizable.  He was very skillful as he laid it on the line  to his accusers.  He was a man of boldness and believing.

Lowliness, humility and meekness mean rising up to God’s vision of ourselves rather than bringing God down to our level.

Denominational, Non-denominational, or Otherwise?????

The Free Online Dictionary defines denomination as:

1. A large group of religious congregations united under a common faith and name and organized under a single administrative and legal hierarchy.

2. One of a series of kinds, values, or sizes, as in a system of currency or weights

3. A name or designation, especially for a class or group.

Cash has denominations, stamps have denominations and yes, non-denominations have denominations.  So many people categorize themselves as non-denominational. This label for churches has become a category in and of itself. What do they mean? It can mean a lot of different things. Maybe their church doesn’t belong to one of the mainstream, mainline denominations. Maybe they don’t like organized religion. Many non-denominations are organized. Some people call themselves non-denominational so they can remain as free agents floating around forming and absorbing  a belief system as they go.

Acts 6 is an interesting chapter in the growth and maturity of the first century church. It is important to understand that the apostle Paul was not yet on the scene; at least he is not named. It is also important to note that large numbers of people had  listened to the apostles; first about 3000, then 5000. People who had come in to Jerusalem for Pentecost decided to stay and see, some decided to go and tell at home.

With those who stayed and lived in Jerusalem in Acts 6, we start to see somewhat of an organizational structure developing. In the first few verses do we can detect a combination of a denomination with a little bit of a hierarchy developing and a non-denomination flavor in which autonomous people were involved in helping to make some structural decisions. A new denomination was forming or was it? Was it a new synagogue? This question is an interesting one to follow throughout the book of Acts and into the seven church epistles to see what God had in mind.

Those early disciples of Jesus Christ certainly were passionate individuals that made the choice to get together with other passionate individuals, to learn from those who had been with Jesus Christ and accept the life of a new administration where each individual had been hot-wired to God. Of course the Sadducces (not too fond of resurrection talk) and the high priest were crashing in indignation all over the place. The new Christians were emboldened by the spirit of God residing in their hearts that they assertively declared all that they had seen and heard.

A new administration was taking root. Stephen in his brillant sermon in Act 7 declared:

Acts 7:48-50 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?

The disciples had met the Messiah, some personally and some through the teachings of the apostles. The new church was to be God’s church based on the cornerstone of Jesus Christ and filled with the spirit of God. The written Word was not available like it is today.  Actually some of the Word was being newly laid down and it was quite a departure from the Judean religion of that day. The church was not static and its leaders were bold, believing and growing. In the very next chapters of the book of Acts there was a 'scattering abroad' of the disciples to other regions of the world at that time and  the conversion of Paul. Things continued to grow in a dynamic way. Looking at the big picture of Acts in its entirety, it is really heard to stick a label on what was happening.

Assertiveness

There is a difference between assertiveness and aggressiveness. In Acts 5 there is a great example of both in one incident. In Acts 5, the apostles boldly were speaking about Jesus Christ. They were healing and helping people to see the great freedom that is available through that name.

They were assertive in speaking boldly about the truth.The reaction on the part of some of the religious leaders at that time was aggressive, they wanted to suppress and control, so they threatened them and threw them in prison.

 Acts 5:17-20 (The Message)Provoked mightily by all this, the Chief Priest and those on his side, mainly the sect of Sadducees, went into action, arrested the apostles and put them in the town jail. But during the night an angel of God opened the jailhouse door and led them out. He said, "Go to the Temple and take your stand. Tell the people everything there is to say about this Life." Promptly obedient, they entered the Temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching.

The apostles continued to speak life-giving words with boldness (check out this link, the word study is gorgeous!). They were not battling for dominion over the religious leaders, they were boldly declaring God's love. The Sadduces and the high priest continued to move aggressively against them trying to squelch their passion, but as Gamliel said:

Acts 5:38-39:And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

The apostles were fortified with a unique strength that only comes from God. We have to be assertive, not aggressive in boldly declaring the Word. The difference is that we speak words that build the Word not overthrow it.

Honesty and Integrity

God offers to every mind its choice between truth and repose.  Take which you please - you can never have both.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

It is certainly true that honesty and integrity involve work to which there are no shortcuts. These are qualities that help us grow. When they are absent we remain small and weakened. When present they make us strong enough to be able to topple whatever  giant darkens our path. How much easier it is to slide by on a false facade than own up with an honest heart or stand up for what you believe in. Yet the rewards are beyond comprehension when one carries the heart expressed in:

Psalm 119:104-105 With your instruction, I understand life; that's why I hate false propaganda. By your words I can see where I'm going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path.(The Message)

The integrity necessary to understand life is found in God's Word. We have eyes to read and see it, ears to hear it, a mouth to speak it and talk about, and certainly a brain to coordinate, direct, think, decide, remember and utilize it. We also have been given the free-will right to choose.

Truth, like milk, arrives in the dark
But even so, wise dogs don't bark.
Only mongrels make it hard
For the milkman to come up the yard.
~Christopher Morley, Dogs Don't Bark at the Milkman