Friday, March 23, 2007

Jesus came to give you Life not legalism...

I want to speak of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. I wish to let others know Whom I have believed and Who has persuaded me to know that I have Eternal Life in Him. I will testify to the Living Jesus Christ of the Holy Scriptures. I will Glorify His Name over everything and everyone else. He ALONE is worthy. He ALONE is GOD!

I was lost...

Prior to my salvation in Christ, in the deep darkness of this world I was alone and without hope. I groped the walls of my heart trying to know what this life was about. Deep depression settled in when I was a young teenager. I knew I was guilty of many wrongs. The sins of my youth were consuming my conscience and eating me alive as I inwardly longed for forgiveness and cleansing. The Holy Spirit began His work. The Devil took his side and tried to keep me in despair and unbelief as he condemned me for all the sin in my conscience. As the law of sin and death gripped my soul, I had a desire to leave this world and all of its pain, I came very near to an actual suicide at the age of 16 when I overdosed on a drug. Fear of death kept me from completing this, and therefore my stomach was pumped before the drugs could take full affect. I was placed in an adolescent ward and told that I was chronically depressed. Of course, I knew this before any one else in the world, but now it was known by my attempt to take my life. You see, no one perceived that I was depressed, not even my family because I hid this well through my shyness.

This world's doctors tried everything and so did I. Self help books, therapies of different sorts, counseling, anti-depressant drugs. It now reminds me of the feeling I spoke of above regarding someone who would usurp the role of Christ with their own imitation. The thought of those days and months I spent trying to find help from this world not realizing I needed to be free from myself, my sin, my darkness. All they could do is compound and suppress the void this troubled and wretched soul knew.

A Light has dawned...

Released from the hospital after one year, they successfully suppressed the need of my soul to the point of numbness just enough to keep me from acting on suicide. Still alone and depressed and full of the shame of my past and present sins, I went on for a few months suffering in silence and darkness through the shyness of my soul. Once again, no one knew what was going on. I don't know how to explain very well the next chapter in my life as it happened at that time. It is best for me to speak of it in retrospect while interjecting some of my thoughts as they were happening at the time. The supernatural world, as I now understand it to the degree that I do, was becoming more and more known to me. Not that I knew then what was happening but activity was obvious to my soul. I knew something was happening that never happened to me before. This is where God's Word comes in. God's angels were sent to minister to me as He promises will occur to those who will inherit salvation (Heb 1:14). At the same time Satan was working hard to keep me from coming to know the Truth about my sin. He distracted me with many false spiritual things like ESP, telepathy and the like. But when the enemy comes in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.

2 Tim 2:26
"Then they will come to their senses and escape from the Devil's trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants."

2 Cor 4:3-4
"If the Good News we preach is veiled from anyone, it is a sign that they are perishing. Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News that is shining upon them. They don't understand the message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God."

God did have mercy on me!

He shined the glorious Light of the Good News into my soul. His Light dawned on me. Conviction of sin was very present and yet condemnation was removed as I came to see that Jesus died for my sins. All of them! He first loved me even when I was yet a sinner. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever! It is conviction with God's Grace and Mercy that saves from the start. As Paul said to the Galatians, "Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by keeping the law? Of course not, for the Holy Spirit came upon you only after you believed the message you heard about Christ. Have you lost your senses? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? You have suffered so much for the Good News. Surely it was not in vain, was it? Are you now going to just throw it all away?
I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law of Moses? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ."


It is the same throughout our walk with Christ on this earth prior to Glory as it was the very first day you received Him as Savior and Lord.

My spirit cries with the Holy Spirit as I see others living in this condemnation of their sins. Christ was condemned for the sins prior to accepting His Grace as well as every sin you commit after receiving His Grace. He is Holy, Holy, Holy! PURE and without any sin at all. Except through Christ's imputed righteousness, NO ONE else can claim holiness like this but GOD, Jesus Christ Himself. If we have wandered from His Grace and yielded to sin or the law, then we must regain that precious and pure fellowship with Him through conviction leading to repentance. Not condemnation leading to legalistic control. There is a vast difference here and the Devil blurs the two together well in the minds of the naive. The Devil is "the accuser of the brethren". Christ is the Merciful High Priest and Forgiver of the brethren. You must see the difference or you may blindly follow the Devil, even as a Christian. I beg you to ask God to make this Truth clear to your soul. It will make the difference between life and death.

Rom 8:1-2
"So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death."

And what is "the power of sin"?

1 Cor 15:56-57
" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."


When you are born again you are always free from the power of sin:

Rom 6:7
"For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin."

There is no more sacrifice for sin needed. No works, no penance, NOTHING!

Heb 9:26
"If that had been necessary, he would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But no! He came once for all time, at the end of the age, to remove the power of sin forever by his sacrificial death for us."

Don't be fooled by "another Jesus", "another gospel" or anything trying to convince you to submit to man-made legalism to please a wrathful god. Christ completed the work of satisfying God's wrath for our sinfulness. No matter what contrary form it takes, it is not of Jesus Christ Who is FULL of Grace and Mercy for ALL of your SIN... PAST, PRESENT, OR FUTURE! Fear God alone, for His Great Mercy on you and this alone will truly and effectively draw you out of sin by conviction and preserve you from it. Not the power of sin or legalism which now has no more dominion over you. This is the Good News of Jesus Christ! Live this Good News for His Glory and you will know FREEDOM beyond your sweetest imagination and be a testimony to the Person, Character, and Glory of the Living God.

For He came to give you Life and Life more abundant! Don't waste it on an imitation. Live well in Christ's LIFE!

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Good motives for Christian Bloggers...


With all that I have been involved with over this past year, I have had to ask myself as a believer in Christ Jesus, why blog?
Motives are undeniably important here as God looks at my heart. I can’t speak for other’s motives but I can speak for myself as God’s Light from His Words search my heart in this matter. Yet --from some things of which I have been a witness to-- I believe there is also something to be said about others who call themselves Christian and blog. I wish to share some of what I am aware of regarding both myself and other Christian bloggers today.

First of all, I wish to establish something about motives. I’ve been blessed in hearing some mp3 messages from David Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the topic of “Spiritual Warfare”. He said something in this which many have heard before but it relates to what I am sharing here. It goes something like this…

Just because we have temptations in our thoughts this does not mean they are our own willing thoughts. Of course, the enemy of our soul would have us believe they are all ours so as to discourage us. The test is in asking ourselves if we desire the thoughts or if we hate them and find them disturbing and wrong. For the Devil does have his “fiery darts” which may come in the from of tempting or deceptive thoughts in our minds. We must distinguish our born-again spiritual thoughts coming from abiding in Christ and His Word as opposed to those thoughts coming from the enemy of our soul which are meant to deceive, mislead, or tempt us. And something to note here right away is just how the Word of God makes it clear to us that Satan will even use Scripture to attempt to mislead and tempt us as in the case of the Son of God (Mt 4:1-11).

My Lord, Jesus Christ, is my friend who sticks closer than a brother. I am never alone when no other human is around. He is faithful all the time every time to be with me, “For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Keeping this in mind and being willing to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” is really how God works in our hearts to reform us into His true image. This is also how God reveals to us which motives are from Him and which are from the Devil or our old nature. I consider more of God’s Words here:

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb 4:12

I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings. Jer 17:10

Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Rom 8:27

And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Gal 5:24-26

I have at times wrestled with some distracting thoughts in blogging. For instance, I may think that this is worthless or of no value. And yet I really believe God would have me use this blogging experience as a means of sharing my faith and love in Him as well as a means of growing in His grace and knowledge by using blogs to share some personal study of God's Word. No matter which of the various forms of communication we are using, we are always called by God to do some of the following things in it depending on who we are communicating with:

For our like-minded brothers and sisters in Christ:

Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Rom 14:19

Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. 1Thes 5:11


For those who are not yet realizing there dire need for Christ Jesus' free Salvation from sin and Hell:

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed:
“Their sound has gone out to all the earth,
And their words to the ends of the world.” Rom 10:14-18


For those who stray from the Truth into lies, yet claim to be of Christ:

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2Tim 4:1-5


For those who attack us for being His children and exposing darkness:

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 1Pet 3:15-16


And most importantly for God’s glory:


Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1Cor 10:31

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Col 3:17

And this is what each of us who profess to know Christ Jesus should yield to in Him:

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Phil 2:1-4

These passages from Scripture --along with the rest of God's Words-- shall be my guide in all I do as a Christian Blogger. And my prayer is that God will have His way completely in all I say and do. And that whatever God wishes to do with the blogs --of which I am responsible for-- He may have complete control without my grieving or quenching His Holy Spirit by my own flesh or selfish desires. He may take this wherever He wishes without my pushing it in the flesh or holding back the active use of godly wisdom for the advancement of His purposes for my blogs as He compels me. I say "my blogs" but really they are His and for His glory and purposes. I am simply the person responsible for their content. I am a steward of God, an ambassador of Christ Jesus. If only one or two are touched by God through these blogs or if many are touched by God in them this must be up to His own working and will. I am free to grow in the grace and knowledge of God here as He does what He wants with that. I am accountable to all Christians who follow our Lord in sincerity and have the whole Gospel as their reference for any corrections to be made to the things I say on any blog.

May I maintain pure motives in His sight for these blogs...

NoahLot... A place exposing darkness with Christ's Light of Truth to defend God's glory and protect the innocent and unwary.

Haven of Grace...
A haven of edification, exhortation, and comfort for Believers in Christ Jesus.

The Truth of the Gospel...
A place for sharing Truth with those searching and unsaved that they may be freed from Satan's lies.

Amen

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Life’s a vapor…then Eternity!

I do believe God’s Word speaks well enough on this in which we could do well to meditate upon...

First comes the vapor:

“Man who is born of woman
Is of few days and full of trouble.
He comes forth like a flower and fades away;
He flees like a shadow and does not continue.”
“Since his days are determined,
The number of his months is with You;
You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.”
Job 14:1-2,5

“LORD, make me to know my end,
And what is the measure of my days,
That I may know how frail I am.
Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my age is as nothing before You;
Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah" Ps 39:4-5

“So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Ps 90:12

“For all our days have passed away in Your wrath;
We finish our years like a sigh.
The days of our lives are seventy years;
And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,
Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;
For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” Ps 90:9-10

“Remember how short my time is;
For what futility have You created all the children of men?
What man can live and not see death?
Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave? Selah” Ps 89:46

“For He remembered that they were but flesh,
A breath that passes away and does not come again.” Ps 78:39

“My days are like a shadow that lengthens,
And I wither away like grass.” Ps 102:10

“As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.” Ps 103:15-16

“Man is like a breath;
His days are like a passing shadow.” Ps 144:4

“whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” James 4:14

I have been meditating on these words lately. In another post here, I plan to look at God’s Word which also speaks much of the Eternity which will follow after this vapor of mortal life has disappeared.

Oh God, help us to ponder this brief and passing life. And help us to keep our focus on that which is to come very soon for all of us that we may consider how vital it is for each of us to know and follow You faithfully now. Amen

Monday, March 05, 2007

Is your fruit ripe?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Gal 5:22-23

There is so much which can be said regarding the symbolisms of fruit as it is written in Scripture. I wish to concentrate in this post on one aspect of the allegory of fruit, and that is the word ripe as it pertains to believers bearing fruit. I am not referring to the allegory of fruit as it speaks in the Word of knowing whether one is truly of Christ or not. I am speaking of those who are truly born-again of God’s Holy Spirit and saved. Or as the Scriptures also refer to as the elect. I wish to share thoughts regarding knowing when our fruit is fully ripe and ready, and when we have held back from sharing this fruit after it was ready.

First of all, as believers we certainly want to be in this group of people which Jesus referred to here:

But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred. Mark 4:20

And within this group of true believers we should desire to be of those who will bear the most possible fruit through Christ Jesus… The hundredfold.

Also, we must acknowledge that we can not bear any fruit of our own, but all fruit is produced by the True Vine’s Life. Without the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ we are as fruitless as when we were unsaved. For only in and through Him is the will of God played out through our spirit, soul, and body.

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. Jn 15:4-5

Lord, You will establish peace for us,
For You have also done all our works in us
.
Is 26:12

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Phil 2:12-13

And fruit by definition must involve the idea of inner growth. If there is no inner growth there is no outer fruit. For we will reap what we sow. If we sow to the Spirit, we will reap from the Spirit eternal life.

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 1Pet 2:1-3

"but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." 2Pet 3:13

We have the desire to bear fruit for Christ, the acknowledgment that we can not bear fruit without the working of God in us, and the fact that inner nourishment and growth must occur for the fruit to be produced. Lets say we have done all of this and fruit is being produced in us. This fruit is not always visible to others eyes as some fruit comes in the form of godly actions which bless the needs of others or well formed words which edify, encourage, or exhort others. So this type of good fruit has the element of timing to it. Now we need to know when this specific fruit is ripe to share or when it is a bit late in sharing. Consider these words about when the fruit from our lips is ripe for sharing:

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold
In settings of silver.
Prov 25:11

A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,
And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!
Prov 15:23

“The Lord God has given Me
The tongue of the learned,
That I should know how to speak
A word in season to him who is weary.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear
To hear as the learned.
Is 50:4

And consider these words when it come to the right time to bear the fruit of godly deeds:

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
Do not say to your neighbor,
“Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.
Prov 3:27

The people will curse him who withholds grain,
But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it
.
Prov 11:26

“looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” Titus 2:13-14

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them,
“Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
James 2:14-16

Do not quench the Spirit. 1Thes 5:19

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ep 4:26

If God has been producing His works in your heart, ask Him to give you the grace to know when to share this fruit and He will move you to do so in due time. If you are sure it is in line with His Word then go forward and do it in His Name.