Through christ a believer has access to the throne room of God, as I understand it to be. John 4:24 tells us how worship is to be.
"God is Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."
How is that? God is a spirit, so physical things, items, etc., will not be a part of it. He does not recognize those things physical. So, how is it? That which is of our spirit must enter into the worship. Genesis 2:7 says, "God ....breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being." The original King James text says, "a living soul". Then, I Corintinans 6:17 says, "but he who is jointed to the Lord is one spirit with Him."
Somewhere there, deep within our inner being, is where worship is accomplished, I think.
Okay, then, what about this "in truth" part? Think on it. The worship is directed to God, therefore, anything that is part of it must be in that direction. That is, it must be true to that motive and purpose; it cannot be self-serving. It must be free of all self-centeredness, or it is not with singleness of heart and mind toward God, the object of worship.
Worship is somewhat a loose term in our culture, that is, superficial and without depth. I think John 4:24 gives us something to ponder that can make a difference in our lives.
Gene Lawley
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Entering the New Year
New year's resolutions are the thing at this time of the season. But, my prayer is that I might be submissive and pleasing to the Lord, day by day.
A couple of verses have surfaced in my mind the last few days that seem to underline my thoughts into the new year: Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."
I interpret "ways" there as not just paths, as such, but attitudes and motives, too, for those are the beginnings of our directions. It is a lot like Psalm 37:4--"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."
What a marvelous thoght for anyone who desires to be pleasing to the Lord and submissive in all his ways.
Looking forward with great expectations,
Gene Lawley
A couple of verses have surfaced in my mind the last few days that seem to underline my thoughts into the new year: Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."
I interpret "ways" there as not just paths, as such, but attitudes and motives, too, for those are the beginnings of our directions. It is a lot like Psalm 37:4--"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."
What a marvelous thoght for anyone who desires to be pleasing to the Lord and submissive in all his ways.
Looking forward with great expectations,
Gene Lawley
Friday, December 19, 2008
An Encounter With Deception
A few weeks ago a couple of well-dressed and attractive ladies came to my door with a message of deception. Yes, it was that.
Their bible was translated to establish their doctrine. As to who Jesus really is, or was, they read from John 1, "In the beginning was the word and the word was.....a.....god." The second lady came forward to point out that the Greek there was the same as it is in Acts 28:6, where the Apostle Paul was called ....a...god by the natives when he did not fall dead after the viper bit him.
I am not into original Greek. Give me the plain old ABCs. But common sense tells me to consider the context in both passeages above. In John this Word they call ....a....god also is named the Creator further in the context. I led them to the passage in I Timothy 3:16, where it declares "God was manifested in the flesh...." I don't recall how their translation read, but likely it was made to read: "...a...god was manifested in the flesh...."
One thing is certain, though. Once on the road of deception, they must forever continue, or try to do so. The claim that Jesus is not God will not hold up in the whole of Scripture, for God's inspired, Spirit-moved, Word holds true.
I did refer them to John 8:58, where Jesus answered the Jews' question with this: "Before Abraham was, I AM!" I don't recall how they evaded that one.
All this has led me to think of the various decptions the devil has developed for mankind, and what they are to accomplish in his plan. Above, it is denial that JESUS is really God in the flesh, thus making their Jesus non-essential. this is the same deception in the Mormon doctrine. There, Jesus is identified as a created being, brother of Lucifer, the fallen angel we know as Satan. Thus, Jesus is non-essential for salvation in their book, and by their plan, salvation is dependent on a person's works, primarily church membership--their church only, of course.
The deception that a person must... MUST...somehow perform SOMETHING to merit salvation permeates almost every denomination in all Christendom. Many born-again believers tgo to bed at night, hoping they have done enough good stuff to merit salvation, or have not done something that shuts them out. None have been avble to say, or point to, exactly which sin is the one that flips them over the edge! It is truly amazing how we think, right in the face of conclusive statements throughout the New Testament that speak otherwise.
Note this: "For Christ is the END of the law for righteousness to EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES"! Romans 10:4. Looks like faith is the only key.
And this: "I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."! GFalatians 2:21
If a person cannot be assured of his salvation, he is forever held to that issue and cannot be effective to any length in Christian discipleship. Thus, Satan's deception through the whims of man, or basically, one of the three temptations of his, the pride of life, does its evil work. Adding naything to the mix of grace and faith and the willing and eager desire of God to save us is part of that deception. Baptism, church membership, taking communion, and for the Catholics, mass participation requirements--all these and others of likekind, are part of the deception.
Catholics are taught all their lives that they can leave their spiritual welfare in the hands of their priest, and they will be just fine at the judgment. Do what we want and have no worry about it. What a way to live! Yes, another very dangerous deception that will, along with the teaching of Purgatory, brings many right into the depths of hell. Hebrews 9:27 says this: "It is given to man once to die, and after this, the judgment."!
One other deception comes to mind. Many, many folks believe that Jesus is coming again, but have no idea when, or how it will be.
The pre-trib, pre-wrath, mid-trib and post-trib issues confuse people, and some even maintain that all those things of Revelation's accounts already have happened in ages past.
If Satan can convince people that they still have a second chance to make things right and be saved, that fits right in with the sin-hungry and sin-sick natures we have inherited from Adam. So, if one is convinced that when these tribulations and desolatons start happening, then he can submit to Christ and be saved, then the deception has worked.
When Jesus, and Paul, spoke of the unannounced coming of Christ for His own, like a "thief at night" and catches one with his "lamp not trimmed and filled with oil" (not spiritually ready), then he will be left to the ravages of the Anti-Christ as he sets out to control the whole world and all who are in it. Salvat ion will be possible, but it will be a difficult time of it.
Read again Luke 17:26-30 and give it some serious thought as to when the stated events occur there.
We must pay attention to the details of God's word, for deception is the number one tool in the hand of the enemy.
Stand fast brothers,
Gene Lawley
Their bible was translated to establish their doctrine. As to who Jesus really is, or was, they read from John 1, "In the beginning was the word and the word was.....a.....god." The second lady came forward to point out that the Greek there was the same as it is in Acts 28:6, where the Apostle Paul was called ....a...god by the natives when he did not fall dead after the viper bit him.
I am not into original Greek. Give me the plain old ABCs. But common sense tells me to consider the context in both passeages above. In John this Word they call ....a....god also is named the Creator further in the context. I led them to the passage in I Timothy 3:16, where it declares "God was manifested in the flesh...." I don't recall how their translation read, but likely it was made to read: "...a...god was manifested in the flesh...."
One thing is certain, though. Once on the road of deception, they must forever continue, or try to do so. The claim that Jesus is not God will not hold up in the whole of Scripture, for God's inspired, Spirit-moved, Word holds true.
I did refer them to John 8:58, where Jesus answered the Jews' question with this: "Before Abraham was, I AM!" I don't recall how they evaded that one.
All this has led me to think of the various decptions the devil has developed for mankind, and what they are to accomplish in his plan. Above, it is denial that JESUS is really God in the flesh, thus making their Jesus non-essential. this is the same deception in the Mormon doctrine. There, Jesus is identified as a created being, brother of Lucifer, the fallen angel we know as Satan. Thus, Jesus is non-essential for salvation in their book, and by their plan, salvation is dependent on a person's works, primarily church membership--their church only, of course.
The deception that a person must... MUST...somehow perform SOMETHING to merit salvation permeates almost every denomination in all Christendom. Many born-again believers tgo to bed at night, hoping they have done enough good stuff to merit salvation, or have not done something that shuts them out. None have been avble to say, or point to, exactly which sin is the one that flips them over the edge! It is truly amazing how we think, right in the face of conclusive statements throughout the New Testament that speak otherwise.
Note this: "For Christ is the END of the law for righteousness to EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES"! Romans 10:4. Looks like faith is the only key.
And this: "I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."! GFalatians 2:21
If a person cannot be assured of his salvation, he is forever held to that issue and cannot be effective to any length in Christian discipleship. Thus, Satan's deception through the whims of man, or basically, one of the three temptations of his, the pride of life, does its evil work. Adding naything to the mix of grace and faith and the willing and eager desire of God to save us is part of that deception. Baptism, church membership, taking communion, and for the Catholics, mass participation requirements--all these and others of likekind, are part of the deception.
Catholics are taught all their lives that they can leave their spiritual welfare in the hands of their priest, and they will be just fine at the judgment. Do what we want and have no worry about it. What a way to live! Yes, another very dangerous deception that will, along with the teaching of Purgatory, brings many right into the depths of hell. Hebrews 9:27 says this: "It is given to man once to die, and after this, the judgment."!
One other deception comes to mind. Many, many folks believe that Jesus is coming again, but have no idea when, or how it will be.
The pre-trib, pre-wrath, mid-trib and post-trib issues confuse people, and some even maintain that all those things of Revelation's accounts already have happened in ages past.
If Satan can convince people that they still have a second chance to make things right and be saved, that fits right in with the sin-hungry and sin-sick natures we have inherited from Adam. So, if one is convinced that when these tribulations and desolatons start happening, then he can submit to Christ and be saved, then the deception has worked.
When Jesus, and Paul, spoke of the unannounced coming of Christ for His own, like a "thief at night" and catches one with his "lamp not trimmed and filled with oil" (not spiritually ready), then he will be left to the ravages of the Anti-Christ as he sets out to control the whole world and all who are in it. Salvat ion will be possible, but it will be a difficult time of it.
Read again Luke 17:26-30 and give it some serious thought as to when the stated events occur there.
We must pay attention to the details of God's word, for deception is the number one tool in the hand of the enemy.
Stand fast brothers,
Gene Lawley
Sunday, December 14, 2008
About the Pre-Wrath Rapture Doctrine
It is hard to understand how a person can create a doctrine, at least an angle on a doctrine, that acquires such following.
The "pre-wrath rapture" position, as I understand it to be, supposedly places the rapture of the present-day believers between the 5th and 6th seals of Revelation 6. That's apparently because at Seal 5 many "souls" are seen crying out under the altar of God for vengeance upon those who mistreated them, and before Seal 6, which describes the wrath of God upon sinners who have rejected Him.
I do not believe the Bible teaches those things there at all--the rapture there and the beginning of the wrath of God in Seal 6.
Here's why: 1) There is no mention of the events of the rapture, as described in I Thessalonians 4:16-17; the souls under the altar in Seal 5 are dead people. They have been murdered by the evil ones of the earth. No live saints are present, or mentioned, that is, not having arrived there alive, and in the rapture, both the alive and the dead are translated, in the twinkling of an eye. Those dead souls are those who have died at the hands of the rider of the white horse in Revelation 6 during the first five seals.
2) The idea that the wrath of God does not appear until the 6th seal is opened is an assumption based on the first appearance of the word "wrath" in Revelation 6. Reading again at the beginning of that 6th chapter, John saw one riding on a white horse, being given a crown of authority, and coming forth conquering and to conquer. The following three horses brought great suffering and devastation to the earth. They say this is the wrath of the devil and not the wrath of God, thus the idea that saints will escape the wrath of God, but be on hand to suffer the wrath of the devil.
What about the One who opens the seals, at the first, and thus starts the whole ordeal? Doesn't He initiate the wrath of the devil. At Chapter 6 of Revelation, Jesus, in judgmental mode as described in the first chapter of the book, starts the tribulation period of bringing judment upon sinful people left in the world. The buildup of that wrath starts with the four horsemen and that wrath increases to where mankind runs to hide from the increasing wrath of God upon them. There is no rapture at this point. It has already happened, and Chapters 4 and 5 tell all about it.
Marvin Rosenthal has created a rapture where there is none, and a division of the word of God which has no true basis. This is merely another type of mid-trib rapture idea, but read again all that goes on from Revelation 6 through 12--the first half of the seven years--and then make your position that all of that, or any part of it is "pre-wrath". Not reasonable at all. And, thinking of this variation in light of Satan's tactics of deception, it looks like a brilliant one that allows non-believers to think that they will still have time to decide for Christ when they see the Anti-Christ appear and begin his conquering tactics. And, for believers, the idea of living faithfully and fruitfully for Christ can be postponed, because the end is not going to be like a "thief in the night" occurance, after all, even though the Bible says so many times. Has Marvin Rosenthal played into the hands of the evil one? Have you, also?
Have you thought to ask why chapters 4 and 5 are there? They come right after Christ's messages to the churches, but seemingly have nothing to do with that series, nor of his introductions in the first chapter. Do you suppose the opening phrase of Chapter 4 may be a clue? "come up here," it reads, and follows with a description of events in heaven not previously identified, so far as I can tell. Twenty-four elders laying crowns at Jesus' feet. In all of prior scripture where do you find mention of thse things? Do angels ever lay crowns at the feet of Jesus? It seems that crowns are particularly associated with the saints who are rewarded for faithful service. Is this a rewarding by proxy, while the saints remain on earth to endure the ravages of Satan. If you think that makes sense, then rightly dividing the Word of truth is not a principle you have ever encountered, neither the integrity of God's promises to those He has redeemed.
One final passage to establish when the rapture occurs, in relation to end-time events: Luke 17:26-30, without directly saying so, clearly does it. Jesus, Himself, declares, "As it was in the days of Noah...and of Lot...so shall it be in "in the day when the Son of Man is revealed". He links those days of judgment on sin to the coming end-time events. He says it will be in the same manner.
Next, from each event in the past, he tells how it will be in our day. Normal, ordinary activities of a people not particularly aware of God or so interested, but given to self-centered activities. And, not overshadowed every day with gigantic tribulations, as described in Revelation 6 to 19. Next, the recognized righteous ones are removed from the places of judgment, and then, THAT VERY DAY, judgment came upon those who did not respond to God's offer of escape.
The believers were taken out BEFORE any judgment came--BEFORE devastation, death, suffering, hunger--sin on a rampage because the evil one has been allowed to go forward, conquering and to conquer. That means to subdue under his control, and those who refuse will be killed, as it is described in Revelation 6 and following.
The verses in Luke following the above passage reveal the "as a thief in the night" characteristic of the removal of the saints from the pathway of judgment, as it is referred to in other passages of Schrpture, as in I Thessalonians 5.
If one can find a place in Jesus' description where the saints are left to endure the judgments on sin, I would sincerely question the person's attention to the principle of "rightly dividing the Word of God" as to end-time events.
I have just finished and had printed locally a book that I've called "A Balanced End Times Scenario", where I attempt to deal with end time matters in depth. If you would like a copy, send $12 in check or money order, to include cost, postage and handling, to: Gene Lawley, 866 Harrison Street, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301, USA. I will get it to you right away.
Keep looking up,
Gene Lawley
The "pre-wrath rapture" position, as I understand it to be, supposedly places the rapture of the present-day believers between the 5th and 6th seals of Revelation 6. That's apparently because at Seal 5 many "souls" are seen crying out under the altar of God for vengeance upon those who mistreated them, and before Seal 6, which describes the wrath of God upon sinners who have rejected Him.
I do not believe the Bible teaches those things there at all--the rapture there and the beginning of the wrath of God in Seal 6.
Here's why: 1) There is no mention of the events of the rapture, as described in I Thessalonians 4:16-17; the souls under the altar in Seal 5 are dead people. They have been murdered by the evil ones of the earth. No live saints are present, or mentioned, that is, not having arrived there alive, and in the rapture, both the alive and the dead are translated, in the twinkling of an eye. Those dead souls are those who have died at the hands of the rider of the white horse in Revelation 6 during the first five seals.
2) The idea that the wrath of God does not appear until the 6th seal is opened is an assumption based on the first appearance of the word "wrath" in Revelation 6. Reading again at the beginning of that 6th chapter, John saw one riding on a white horse, being given a crown of authority, and coming forth conquering and to conquer. The following three horses brought great suffering and devastation to the earth. They say this is the wrath of the devil and not the wrath of God, thus the idea that saints will escape the wrath of God, but be on hand to suffer the wrath of the devil.
What about the One who opens the seals, at the first, and thus starts the whole ordeal? Doesn't He initiate the wrath of the devil. At Chapter 6 of Revelation, Jesus, in judgmental mode as described in the first chapter of the book, starts the tribulation period of bringing judment upon sinful people left in the world. The buildup of that wrath starts with the four horsemen and that wrath increases to where mankind runs to hide from the increasing wrath of God upon them. There is no rapture at this point. It has already happened, and Chapters 4 and 5 tell all about it.
Marvin Rosenthal has created a rapture where there is none, and a division of the word of God which has no true basis. This is merely another type of mid-trib rapture idea, but read again all that goes on from Revelation 6 through 12--the first half of the seven years--and then make your position that all of that, or any part of it is "pre-wrath". Not reasonable at all. And, thinking of this variation in light of Satan's tactics of deception, it looks like a brilliant one that allows non-believers to think that they will still have time to decide for Christ when they see the Anti-Christ appear and begin his conquering tactics. And, for believers, the idea of living faithfully and fruitfully for Christ can be postponed, because the end is not going to be like a "thief in the night" occurance, after all, even though the Bible says so many times. Has Marvin Rosenthal played into the hands of the evil one? Have you, also?
Have you thought to ask why chapters 4 and 5 are there? They come right after Christ's messages to the churches, but seemingly have nothing to do with that series, nor of his introductions in the first chapter. Do you suppose the opening phrase of Chapter 4 may be a clue? "come up here," it reads, and follows with a description of events in heaven not previously identified, so far as I can tell. Twenty-four elders laying crowns at Jesus' feet. In all of prior scripture where do you find mention of thse things? Do angels ever lay crowns at the feet of Jesus? It seems that crowns are particularly associated with the saints who are rewarded for faithful service. Is this a rewarding by proxy, while the saints remain on earth to endure the ravages of Satan. If you think that makes sense, then rightly dividing the Word of truth is not a principle you have ever encountered, neither the integrity of God's promises to those He has redeemed.
One final passage to establish when the rapture occurs, in relation to end-time events: Luke 17:26-30, without directly saying so, clearly does it. Jesus, Himself, declares, "As it was in the days of Noah...and of Lot...so shall it be in "in the day when the Son of Man is revealed". He links those days of judgment on sin to the coming end-time events. He says it will be in the same manner.
Next, from each event in the past, he tells how it will be in our day. Normal, ordinary activities of a people not particularly aware of God or so interested, but given to self-centered activities. And, not overshadowed every day with gigantic tribulations, as described in Revelation 6 to 19. Next, the recognized righteous ones are removed from the places of judgment, and then, THAT VERY DAY, judgment came upon those who did not respond to God's offer of escape.
The believers were taken out BEFORE any judgment came--BEFORE devastation, death, suffering, hunger--sin on a rampage because the evil one has been allowed to go forward, conquering and to conquer. That means to subdue under his control, and those who refuse will be killed, as it is described in Revelation 6 and following.
The verses in Luke following the above passage reveal the "as a thief in the night" characteristic of the removal of the saints from the pathway of judgment, as it is referred to in other passages of Schrpture, as in I Thessalonians 5.
If one can find a place in Jesus' description where the saints are left to endure the judgments on sin, I would sincerely question the person's attention to the principle of "rightly dividing the Word of God" as to end-time events.
I have just finished and had printed locally a book that I've called "A Balanced End Times Scenario", where I attempt to deal with end time matters in depth. If you would like a copy, send $12 in check or money order, to include cost, postage and handling, to: Gene Lawley, 866 Harrison Street, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301, USA. I will get it to you right away.
Keep looking up,
Gene Lawley
Monday, January 28, 2008
The Identification of Maturity
The idea of spiritual maturity seems to have many facets, we think. The depth of our love for God; our love for others, our unselfish service; our consistency in witnessing to the lost; our ability in prayer--lots of characteristics like these may find their way into our ideas of what constitutes spirityal maturity.
In Hebrews 5:14, the description is quite different. The verse reads like this: "But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Do I read that right? The mark of spiritual maturity is being able to rightly determine between good and evil? Why? How is that?
Is it that God redeems a man, transforming his life, indwells him with His Holy Spirit, enabling him to make the right choices and follow Him? It seems to be that way. How did Jesus demonstrate that principle? At His time of temptation, early in His ministry, He responded to the Tempter's offerings by consistently choosing the good way, God's way. James writes of the pattern flow of temptation when he says we are tempted when we are drawn away by our own lusts and enticed. (James 1:14-15) Making the right choice at the right time would avoid the enticement and the ability to do that shows spiritual maturity.
By reason of use, or application, or experience, we learn to make those right choices--hopefully. The Apostle Paul writes of it in this way: "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus; therefore, let us, as many as are mature, have this in mind, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you." (Philippians 3:14-15)
Go back to the time of creation, Genesis 2:16-17: And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
Satan afterward tempts Eve on that issue of the tree--"...your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
Interesting pattern, no? The desire for the knowledge of good and evil gets mankind in deep trouble, and God redeems him and equips him to know good and evil with the ability to choose between the two. If, then, we want to be like Jesus, we wiull want to make right choices between good and evil as we learn to discern between the two. There is our one-day-at-a-time experience.
Gene Lawley
January 28, 2008
In Hebrews 5:14, the description is quite different. The verse reads like this: "But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Do I read that right? The mark of spiritual maturity is being able to rightly determine between good and evil? Why? How is that?
Is it that God redeems a man, transforming his life, indwells him with His Holy Spirit, enabling him to make the right choices and follow Him? It seems to be that way. How did Jesus demonstrate that principle? At His time of temptation, early in His ministry, He responded to the Tempter's offerings by consistently choosing the good way, God's way. James writes of the pattern flow of temptation when he says we are tempted when we are drawn away by our own lusts and enticed. (James 1:14-15) Making the right choice at the right time would avoid the enticement and the ability to do that shows spiritual maturity.
By reason of use, or application, or experience, we learn to make those right choices--hopefully. The Apostle Paul writes of it in this way: "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus; therefore, let us, as many as are mature, have this in mind, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you." (Philippians 3:14-15)
Go back to the time of creation, Genesis 2:16-17: And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
Satan afterward tempts Eve on that issue of the tree--"...your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
Interesting pattern, no? The desire for the knowledge of good and evil gets mankind in deep trouble, and God redeems him and equips him to know good and evil with the ability to choose between the two. If, then, we want to be like Jesus, we wiull want to make right choices between good and evil as we learn to discern between the two. There is our one-day-at-a-time experience.
Gene Lawley
January 28, 2008
Friday, November 16, 2007
Getting All You Can From a Verse
The Christmas season is coming up fast, and a lot of folks will be reading the account of the birth of Jesus in the early chapters of Luke. One of the verses in the details is Luke 1:37. It reads like this: "For with God nothing will be impossible."
This was to encourage Mary that God could cause her to be with child even without a husband. The virgin birth. We might enlarge upon that, looking at Jeremiah 32:17: "...there is nothing too hard for You (God)." Jeremiah prayed with that confidence.
How is it with us? Can we take God's declaration to Mary and apply it to our own life needs? Look at II Corinthians 1:20 with me. "For all the promises of God in Him are YES and in Him, Amen, to the glory of God through us."
All of God's promises to us, in Christ, are YES promises! There are no NO promises. I think God wants to see expectancy in our prayers. It's not our trying to overcome His reluctance, but connecting with His willingness--that is the essence of prayer, it seems to me.
Now, back to the Luke 1:37 verse. Something else that verse says, uniquely so. It also says, "with God, nothing will be impossible". But, you say, isn't that the same as the first time we looked at it, above? Now, though, look at the word, "nothing" in light of His "Yes" promises. It reads like this, paraphrased: "With God, it is impossible for there to be nothing."
Think of how this can impact our prayers. God fills all things, the Bible declares. In one place it says, "The glory of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea". That meas every cubic inch. It looks like the only place that does not have access to is the human heart, where He respects our willingness, our free moral agency, its called. "...(God) is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." II Peter 3:9
The God of possibilities! Isn't He known as the Creator?
Gene Lawley
This was to encourage Mary that God could cause her to be with child even without a husband. The virgin birth. We might enlarge upon that, looking at Jeremiah 32:17: "...there is nothing too hard for You (God)." Jeremiah prayed with that confidence.
How is it with us? Can we take God's declaration to Mary and apply it to our own life needs? Look at II Corinthians 1:20 with me. "For all the promises of God in Him are YES and in Him, Amen, to the glory of God through us."
All of God's promises to us, in Christ, are YES promises! There are no NO promises. I think God wants to see expectancy in our prayers. It's not our trying to overcome His reluctance, but connecting with His willingness--that is the essence of prayer, it seems to me.
Now, back to the Luke 1:37 verse. Something else that verse says, uniquely so. It also says, "with God, nothing will be impossible". But, you say, isn't that the same as the first time we looked at it, above? Now, though, look at the word, "nothing" in light of His "Yes" promises. It reads like this, paraphrased: "With God, it is impossible for there to be nothing."
Think of how this can impact our prayers. God fills all things, the Bible declares. In one place it says, "The glory of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea". That meas every cubic inch. It looks like the only place that does not have access to is the human heart, where He respects our willingness, our free moral agency, its called. "...(God) is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." II Peter 3:9
The God of possibilities! Isn't He known as the Creator?
Gene Lawley
Saturday, November 3, 2007
The Three Targets of Temptation
In the prior blog, about being poor in spirit, I mentioned the three areas in which the serpent tempted Eve--the flesh, the eyes, the self. I John 2:16 says it: "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." (Italics added.)
When I read this passage once again a few months ago, it hit me: Is that all there is? Is'nt there something else? And, I sensed a crying sound in my spirit. The world has nothing else? How can it be so? I think, now, that its because all those things that don't count will be burned up!
A brother, now deceased, some years ago was eagerly looking for the Lord's return and speculated that after the rapture, believers would return and reclaim the properties and so forth that they had built while living on earth previously. I hardly thought so, for the Scriptures do not indicate that at all, so far as I have discovered. Physical things will not be for reclaiming.
As for the targets of temptation, they are the consistent tools of Satan's trade. If we find ourselves walking in the flesh instead of in the Spirit, we only need to check which one of those three areas is our problem, or perhaps it's all three! If two Christians are at each other in mental--or physical--fisticuffs, which area is the problem? Likely, it's pride of life, or self.
Jim Downing, of The Navigators, used to show the pattern this way:
L U C I F E R
--P R I D E--
----S I N----
Notice that the "I" is in the middle all the way through, top to bottom, or bottom to top is more like it, for sin can be traced to Lucifer, who revels in it.
Knowing this is all there is in this world, can we surmise that the driving force behind all the motivations of the world are found in these three areas? What drives the porno industry: Lust of the flesh. What drives the fashions industry? Lust of the eyse--combined with lust of the flesh. What drives political ambition? The desire for power, mostly, which is pride of life.
We Christians, then, are right in the middle of this, and we also have our own flesh to deal with. But, we do have the Spirit of Christ dwelling within us--the mystery of the ages, the hope of glory, says Colossians 1:27. Our guard must always be up, lest we begin to walk in the flesh and not in the Spirit--that is, trying to live righteously in our own strength and not in Christ's power, by faith. For instance, where is the line drawn when love turns into lust? And Jeremiah has a word for us on this: "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9.
Are Christians, then, to have no ambition and drive for accomplishment? It looks like this: Since we belong to Christ--He bought and paid for us--we have to do our things for Jesus' sake, not for ourselves. Colossians 3:23--"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men." That does remain a large order for us, being in the world, too. Who is it that we put first?
But God! That is the lead-off statement which holds so much hope for the struggling believer! Look at Philippians 2:13--"For it is God who works in you, both to will and to do for His good pleasure!" (I added the exclamation point.)
Finally, Romans 6:14--"For sin shall NOT have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace!" (My capitals and exclamation mark, again.)
Gene
When I read this passage once again a few months ago, it hit me: Is that all there is? Is'nt there something else? And, I sensed a crying sound in my spirit. The world has nothing else? How can it be so? I think, now, that its because all those things that don't count will be burned up!
A brother, now deceased, some years ago was eagerly looking for the Lord's return and speculated that after the rapture, believers would return and reclaim the properties and so forth that they had built while living on earth previously. I hardly thought so, for the Scriptures do not indicate that at all, so far as I have discovered. Physical things will not be for reclaiming.
As for the targets of temptation, they are the consistent tools of Satan's trade. If we find ourselves walking in the flesh instead of in the Spirit, we only need to check which one of those three areas is our problem, or perhaps it's all three! If two Christians are at each other in mental--or physical--fisticuffs, which area is the problem? Likely, it's pride of life, or self.
Jim Downing, of The Navigators, used to show the pattern this way:
L U C I F E R
--P R I D E--
----S I N----
Notice that the "I" is in the middle all the way through, top to bottom, or bottom to top is more like it, for sin can be traced to Lucifer, who revels in it.
Knowing this is all there is in this world, can we surmise that the driving force behind all the motivations of the world are found in these three areas? What drives the porno industry: Lust of the flesh. What drives the fashions industry? Lust of the eyse--combined with lust of the flesh. What drives political ambition? The desire for power, mostly, which is pride of life.
We Christians, then, are right in the middle of this, and we also have our own flesh to deal with. But, we do have the Spirit of Christ dwelling within us--the mystery of the ages, the hope of glory, says Colossians 1:27. Our guard must always be up, lest we begin to walk in the flesh and not in the Spirit--that is, trying to live righteously in our own strength and not in Christ's power, by faith. For instance, where is the line drawn when love turns into lust? And Jeremiah has a word for us on this: "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9.
Are Christians, then, to have no ambition and drive for accomplishment? It looks like this: Since we belong to Christ--He bought and paid for us--we have to do our things for Jesus' sake, not for ourselves. Colossians 3:23--"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men." That does remain a large order for us, being in the world, too. Who is it that we put first?
But God! That is the lead-off statement which holds so much hope for the struggling believer! Look at Philippians 2:13--"For it is God who works in you, both to will and to do for His good pleasure!" (I added the exclamation point.)
Finally, Romans 6:14--"For sin shall NOT have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace!" (My capitals and exclamation mark, again.)
Gene
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About Me
- Gene Lawley
- Twin Falls,, Idaho, United States
- A retired CPA, born and raised in Oklahoma, and came to Idaho in 1971 from Colorado.