Is there any question who it was that deceived Eve? Just look around at what seems to drive the systems of this world! Have you turned on the TV lately or read a newspaper? Hey it's not at all about horns, a pitchfork and a bright red suit.  It's about control.  God is about free will, that's why things are going on like they are. So do we just grin and bear it? Heavens no, we've been redeemed! We make a choice. I personally like God's logic better. God is our sufficiency, not the government, not pilates, nor the stock market or banks, not bunnies and colored eggs or chocolate fudge brownies.

Redemption is the act of freeing or a releasing deliverance. Jesus Christ by his own free will endured the cross so that all that was lost in Adam might be gained in the son of God.

Romans 4:21-26: But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely (without cost)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.

 We have been set free from our missteps and we have assurance of eternal life. Not bad.  I'd rather have that than Governmental Health Care.

Chips don't fall where they may, there's gravity. You can't see gravity, but it's there. We can see the effects of gravity all around us. Gravity works whether it's from the top of a mountain or a molehill. It is the invisible glue that holds the universe together physically. God is like gravity (actually he made gravity). We can't see God, but we can see him everywhere (did I just actually write that?). We can see His action. We have to look in God's direction to see His huge love. It's there! God is love and it's all around no matter what going on in humankind. It is in His Word and in people who love him. All we have to do is ask, seek and knock and watch it happen.

Matthew 7:7  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

In the New Testament which explains the new covenant between God and man because of what was made available through Jesus Christ, we see God's heart and desire fully unveiled.

Ephesians 3:20 (Amplified Bible)20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]--

♪♫♪♫"What the world needs now is love sweet love, that's the only thing that there's just too little of.." ??  By God, I think we've got it! (And by the way, he works 24/7 just like gravity.)

What is communion?

When I was young child I used to feel a pit in my stomach every time someone talked about communion because that meant the ominous trip to the confessional box. I had no problem feeling guilty about sin but my understanding of the simplicity of what communion really meant missed the mark. The emphasis in communion is not about sin so much as it is about the savior from sin. It does not revolve around me and my shortcomings, its about Jesus Christ and what he accomplished for us. God always wants us to be reminded of the way out.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

So when Jesus Christ said do communion in remembrance of him, he reminds us God's desire to free us from the drag of sin when we take the cup of wine. In addition we are to remember His healing wholeness because of the substitution of Jesus Christ's physical body as the broken bread.

I Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ.

Psalm 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

God wants us to be free spiritually and live life abundantly physically and mentally. So communion is not a ceremony or a ritual, it is God's reminder of all that's been made available in our fellowship with Him through his son Jesus Christ.

*Check out "Digging Deeper' to see the uses of the Greek word for communion - koinonia

It's Simple!

Proverbs 22:3 is a verse, I've been thinking about this week. In the American Standard Version it says:

"A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it."

The word 'simple' is interesting to look up. I looked the word up in the New Brown-Driver Briggs Gesenius Hebrew and English Lexicon and it defined 'simple' as 'open-minded', open to instruction of wisdom or folly, believing every word. In Psalm 116:6 'simple' is used in a good sense.

¹I love the Lord, because He has heard [and now hears] my voice and my supplications. ²Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live. ³The cords and sorrows of death were around me, and the terrors of Sheol (the place of the dead) had laid hold of me; I suffered anguish and grief (trouble and sorrow). ⁴Then called I upon the name of the Lord: O Lord, I beseech You, save my life and deliver me! ⁵Gracious is the Lord, and [rigidly] righteous; yes, our God is merciful.
⁶The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He helped and saved me. (Amplified Version)

'Openmindedness' in our culture has been considered a good quality and that is especially lauded today, but it is often misused. Our 'openmindedness' should be to God not to the whims and philosophies of the world. We just don't allow just anything to run through our brains. We measure everything by the truth of the Word and it keeps us out of the soup.

Micaiah

400 to 1! How about those odds?! One prophet in the Old Testament named Micaiah prophesied to King Ahab and King Jehoshophat about not going up to fight a battle in Ramoth-Gilead! He said it wasn't what God wanted. King Ahab's 400 prophets prophesied to go. Micaiah had been warned ahead of time about their prophesies and he was even told by their messenger that he should go along with what they said!

II Chronicles 18:12-13And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of their's, and speak thou good.13And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.

But Micaiah despite the heavy odds stayed true to the truth. The truth prevailed and Ahab lost his life when he didn't listen to the truth.

So what good are 400 prophets if they don't speak for God? I imagine those 400 prophets (of Baal) had a few perks, and a soft cushy life as they cozied up to their ruler to stay in the groove (or is it rut!)? Ahab didn't even want Micaiah around! Micaiah could have been Ahab's lifesaver, but he didn't listen and made it very plain that he didn't like him.

Rough life for Micaiah?: prison, open resentment toward him, a slap in the face, 400 smug wimps crawling with lying spirits looking at him like he had two heads? Actually I'm sure Micaiah was a very blessed man because he heard from God. He had a lot better things to do than hang out with the prophets of Baal. Anyone who chooses to believe God can absolutely count on getting blessed despite the darkness all around!

Jehoshaphat was deceived in that he thought this was a 'good work' thing to do. His life was spared when he cried out to God and he went back to Jerusalem and learned some good lessons about making bad alliances. You can see the lesson learned in II Chronicles 19 when he set up judges in Jerusalem and told them:

6And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.7Wherefore now let the fear (respect and awe) of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity (Nope. None!)with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts. 

Good advice and it applies today! We have the spirit of God in Christ in us. We don't have to be deceived about what is good and what is bad. We certainly don't have to worry about our standing in God's eyes. We just have to believe it.

Apology

What is an apology? Recently we've heard a famous golfer's apology and also apologies of a thousand other celebrities who have gotten caught doing something dumb or immoral. The word 'apology' has changed it's meaning from earlier writings. At the time of the Apostle Paul it meant to make a defense in support of a system of belief. It meant standing up for what you believe in. Today the word tends toward being sorry, having pity or sympathy. Usually these celebrities are not standing up for a system of belief, they are usually explaining their regret and desire to change. God gave His Word for doctrine, reproof AND correction so that people could alter damaging pathways and get to the right solutions to life to stand on a system of belief that is secure.

The Corinthian church had some issues that  were holding them down.  The apostle Paul reproved them  in detail as to how to handle the difficult situations. In II Corinthians 7:8-10 he said, 

8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent (regret, metamelomai), though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. 9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance (change the mind, metanoia): for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation (wholeness) not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.  11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness (diligent effort) it wrought in you, yea, what clearing (apologeia) of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear(respect), yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge (execution of right justice)! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear (pure) in this matter. 

To get clearing in a matter it involves the mind and reasoning. Paul was applauding their thinking things through and changing their system of beliefs in their actions. All of it involved the mechanics of the mind: reasoning, conscience, judgement, memory, believing, and perception. 

There are people in this world clearly looking for truth and an accurate knowledge of the things of God. God has set forth His Word and the benefits of the Word is not just in its being a good book, but as it sets forth true life. It takes all the mechanics of the mind to decide to  trust God and His Word. Believing God's Word starts with a hearing, it doesn't just fall on us. We must make the commitment to hear and think and not just let somebody else do that for us. The truth, when arrived at, sets people free. It does not bind us. We don't have to feel sorry about the truth!

One can spend hours and days and years finding answers to crucial questions in life. I get telephone calls all the time from political people who seem to know about all the solutions we need. The problem is they all seem to have different viewpoints. Just give me a good concordance and the time is negligible. Why? God has all the answers to life's biggest questions as well as the littlest ones.

II Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The word study is the Greek word 'spoudazo' means to hasten, make haste to exert one's self, endeavour, give diligence.
God wants us to have answers as soon as we need them. I used to think it was just too tough to find the truth. Someone taught me that God gives answers freely.

James 1:5
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

And that it does not take forever-

14Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.15See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

We need answers daily, so we ask.

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

Superbowl ads, health care, economy, ecology, the environment, global warming, politics, elections natural resources, and energy are topics totally occupying the airwaves these days. These are the culture and days I am familiar with, but I suspect topics like these have occupied men's hearts through the ages. Maybe it wasn't the exact same things, but each era has its own set of mindful things.
How do we really take care of our lives and do the stewardship thing and do it well?

There are a lot of people in the news who are trying to be some kind of steward of something. There is more to life is than just oiling the green, clean, political machine. :) The most important thing in our life to steward is the Word of God. We don't let anyone twist or slant even one little word of it. We take care of it and don't allow anyone to tread on it in our minds and rob us of the competency we have from God.

God has made us sufficient.

2 Corinthians 3:5-6
5Not that we are sufficient (ikanos -much, many, great, worthy, enough) of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able(ikanoo) ministers of the new testament;......

How has he made us sufficient? In our world today “sufficient” has the meaning of 'enough to get by'. In the Bible, "sufficient" means competency, fitness, and ability. Our competency, fitness, ability is in God. How fit is God? How competent?

The Word of God is important. I used to think it was a nice book with great thoughts. It IS a nice book, it IS full of great thoughts, but it IS so much more than that. Yes, there are a lot of translations. Yes there are no originals. Yes there has been a lot of commentaries and translations. Is God dumb? No, he foresaw all of it. He gave us His spirit and the Word and gave us wonderful keys to unlocking truth if you want it.

If there are things we need to steward, it is the things of God and the Word first! There are a lot of wonderful managers, accountants, savers, and detailed-minded people who are very successful. That's nice! But the most important thing to steward if we love God is His Word. We take care of the Word in our lives and help others to do that, not just in the big general concepts of God, but also in the smallest details and how they fit together.

In 2 Corinthians 4:1-2
1Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

I Corinthian 4:1-2
1Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mystery of God.
2Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Our job is not squander the never-ending resources of the Word.

Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least (see my other blog about this Word ) is faithful also in much:

Don't underestimate the little things in your life and how they pertain to God. The Word applies to every fleeting thought. The little things of life are handled in the brain just as the big things are. A brain that is centered on God first will be very competent. That doesn't mean we hide away from life like monks in a monastery or deal with life as if we are living in 'lala land'. The more we learn about God and His heart, the more we are set free!!!! Don't allow anyone to block the wind in your sail. Become a bold, strong, loving person that has the competency to help others become the same.

A theocracy is a type of government that is ruled by a god or supreme being. The Judeans were at one time a theocracy. The synagogue was the center of all life in the Judean community. In the old testament it says:

Psalm 33:12
12Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

Our country is not a theocracy. In this country however more than half of the citizens profess Christianity as their system of belief. The people who came to this country came to find a place to worship the God of the Bible freely. Our founding fathers were very conscious of the value of freedom of religion when they constructed the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.

At the end of the Constitutional Convention someone asked Benjamin Franklin "What have you wrought?" He said in response, "….a Republic, if you can keep it."The word republic is from the Latin 'res public' which is translated "a public affair".

The United States of America's government is a representative democracy, which means that there is an election to select people to responsibly act in the people's best interests. It is a constitutional republic meaning that those duly elected representatives are governed by the constitution of the United States. There is a system of checks and balances to insure individual rights and that no one group or person has absolute power. Warren Burger, who has been a Chief Justice in the Supreme Court Said, "For 200 years this Constitutions's ordered liberty has unleashed the energies and talents of people…." 'Ordered liberty' is a great way to put it.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Declaration of Independence
http://www.constitution.org/usdeclar.htm
Constitution
http://www.constitution.org/constit_.htm

Tuesday in Illinois! it is time to vote in the primary. You will have to select a ballot, either republican or democrat. You may be an independent, but you still have to select a ballot of one of the two parties.
There are many quizzes on the net to determine what party you lean to.Here's one:


http://typology.people-press.org/typology/

"Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual -- or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country."
~Samuel Adams

All Things Common

In Acts 2:44 sits a beautiful gem. It's the phrase 'all things common' speaking of a quality in the first century church right after the unfolding of the magnificent day of Pentecost. This phrase is not about communism, socialism, denominationalism, non-denominationalism, undenominationalism or any other 'ism'. It is about life!

We read in Acts 2:42 that there was a great multitude in Jerusalem gathered around the big event of the outpouring of the holy spirit. They were gathered there for a 'religious' feast called Pentecost celebrating the 50 days from the weekly sabbath at Passover time. Pentecost is the feast of the first fruits or wheat harvest. In this particular year of Acts 2:42, Jesus Christ had gotten up from the dead 50 days prior to this day. He was the Passover lamb that year.

The apostles were in the temple at the time of this significant event. Many people had come in from far and wide and were witnesses to the apostles speaking in tongues and to Peter's wonderful teaching about what was happening. It's recorded in Acts 2.

In Acts 2:42, the Bible says

'they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship'(koinoneo)...

Notice it doesn't say the evangelist's doctrine or prophet's doctrine. Apostles are sent by God to teach people about the  things of God. The doctrine that the people 'continued steadfastly in' was about what Jesus Christ's life, his death, his resurrection AND his ascension meant to them. This doctrine applies to us today. It means that we can have the very nature of God in us too by way of Jesus Christ.

In Acts 2:44 they had 'all things common'(koinos) E.W. Bullinger defines common as: " pertaining equally to all, i.e. common; in a Levitical sense, not bound, not forbidden; hence not sacred…."

Acts 2:43 And a sense of awe (reverential fear) came upon every soul. (Amplified)

Many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. They all shared the respect for God and for each other. As they learned, applied and lived life together with the power of God, they abundantly shared that power as they fellowshipped together and had full participation in the church. That's 'all things common'! They were so thankful to God and sharing His grace. No wonder people were added to that group daily (Acts 2:47) It was a powerful church!

God is not a bean counter!

God is not a bean counter! Acording to The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, the word 'bean counter' is a slang word that refers to a person, "such as an accountant or financial officer, who is concerned with quantification, especially to the exclusion of other matters."

Look at the bean counting in Matthew 23:23! Jesus Christ calls the pharisees and scribes hypocrites! In our culture today we hear the term 'pharisee' and we have no problem with them being called 'hypocrites'. In the Biblical culture the pharisees were respected and thought of as those who were devoted to God. But in their devotion they had gotten off into the dark side of religion focused on the quantification of devotion rather than the reality of helping people see what God's heart really is all about. Jesus Christ was well-acquainted with the heart of God.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

The point here is that they couldn't 'see the forest for the trees'. It was not that giving was wrong, it was that the broader scope of God's heart was being missed. We can do the same thing today. We can condemn others on the basis of isolated passages of the Bible while totally violating huge principles of God's love and our equal standing and access to Him.

The pharisees wanted to make converts and they did do that, but what did those people learn? Bean Counting? Our privilege today is to to help people see the lush green forest of God. The way in is by Jesus Christ, whom God made Lord, not to mention getting him up from the lifeless state of death. Read Romans 10 in its entirety, it is beautiful! God is no respecter of persons. It is available to anyone and everyone. Now there's a weightier matter, the equal standing of all believers in Christ!