Nothing More Than Feelings? - Proverbs 14:12

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12

    How many times have you heard the mantra of those who simply “do not know?” Wait for it . . . “I just feel that . . . .” We tend to hear this most during conversations with people who claim to be spiritual when they expound upon their “feelings” about God. Mind you, they aren’t speaking on what Holy Scripture reveals because in most cases they don’t even read the bible No, their opinion originates purely and completely from what they feel about God. And there is good reason for this - they simply don’t know!
    Much of the old adage - “Never talk about religion or politics,” is based fundamentally on the notion that these two subjects are quite controversial and thus should not be talked about in polite company. For our purposes here I will limit the subject of this post to religion and specifically to the nature of God. Here is a subject that impacts our lives more than any other, and we don’t want to discuss it because someone might be offended by our point of view?
    Truth is not negotiable. It is insensitive. It cannot be compromised. It cannot be molded to fit our unique set of values. It is what it is and if one has a biblical understanding of the nature of God and His role in our eternal salvation then there is no need to fear offending someone with our conversation. In fact, the only reason one would be offended by such a conversation is if they held an erroneous position in this regard. And that is precisely where “feelings” places the merely “spiritual individual.” Those who do not understand the relevancy of God in our lives are blinded by their own ignorance - they simply don’t know! Ergo, “there is a way that seems right to a man.”
    When we say something “seems right” we are admitting that we don’t know if it is right; it just seems or appears to be right. If we knew it was right we would be able to say without reservation that we know something to be valid and true. That then open us up to differing opinions and this is where the conflict arises. But when we say that we feel something is true who can then argue with us? After all, we may feel anyway we like. We don’t have to justify our feelings! We need no valid frame of reference to expound on our feelings. And . . . we can change the way we feel about something faster than we can change our shoes! So if we sense conflict arising from our opinion - we can simply change our opinion to please the crowd. We need neither facts nor statistics, figures or relevant evidence to support our opinion; this is relativism in the classic sense! These people exemplify the adage - “Don’t confuse me with the facts; I’ve already made up my mind.”
    “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered.” - Proverbs 28:26.
    The truth about God is available to mankind. It is knowable! It has been made accessible for us through Holy Scripture: the bible! So the next time someone lamely attempts to pontificate upon their “feelings” about God, ask them one simple question: Where can I find that in the bible? And prepare yourself for a cacophony of silence.
    May we all show love to one another, especially in correction.
   

What, Me Worry? - Isaiah 41:10

 

‘Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10

We begin with Chapter 36 of Isaiah - an emissary of the Assyrian King Sennacherib, one Rabshakeh ( governor or chief of staff) warned the Israelites under King Hezekiah of trusting him to protect them from the approaching Assyrian army. The people’s hearts faded. They feared the coming siege and onslaught. To add insult to injury, Rabshakeh publically announces - “Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, “The Lord will deliver us.” Has any one of the gods of the nations delivered its land from the hand of the king of Assyria?  Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Indeed, have they delivered Samaria from my hand?  Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their countries from my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem from my hand?’” - Isaiah 36:18-20. The answer should have been clear enough. Apparently neither Rabshakeh nor Sennacherib had a clue: “Who among the gods?” Only the one true God!
    Finally, Rabshakeh takes his threatening propaganda campaign to it’s most demonic point; he blasphemes God Himself!  “Thus you shall speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying: ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, “Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” - Isaiah 37:10 It is obvious that this pawn and his king in Satan’s game of fear simply wanted the Israelites to quit without a fight. Even though the minions of the devil are often much more powerful in worldly strength or positions of worldly power they still prefer to win by mere intimidation because it enhances their fearful reputations.
    Hezekiah’s response was, as ours should be in times of fear or anxiety - Prayer! “Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord, You alone.” Isaiah 37:20.
    Fear and anxiety, even depression are often just the out-riggings of Satan. The Liar will always try to weaken our Christian resolve. He will forever try to suffocate our faith in God with worldly concerns and trepidations. But we must remember the commands and the promise God has made to us. “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”- Deuteronomy 31:6.
    The writer of Hebrews further encourages us - “So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” - Hebrews 13:6.
    Devout prayer to and unmitigated faith in God spared the people of Judah. Isaiah goes on to describe that the feared siege and battle with the Assyrians never took place. All Hezekiah and the Israelites had to do was rely on God (keep faith and pray) and wait out the threat. So often it is the same with our deepest fears and anxieties - they simply never materialize.
    Sennacherib returned to Nineveh and there, was assassinated by his two of his own sons - a fitting end to a man who would call God a liar!
     Faith and prayer - may they always be two of our most prized possessions and weapons in the war against the Liar!

Faith and Trust . . . In God - Genesis 12:1-2

“Now the Lord had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.’”  - Genesis 12:1-2

    Perhaps the greatest model of faith and trust in the bible is Abraham. When God spoke to Abraham there was no hesitation on the part of a man in whom three distinct religions would have their origins (Judaism, Christianity, Islam). The bible says, “So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him.” - Genesis 12: 4a. Abraham simply gathered his wife and his nephew’ family and their belongings . . . and followed God’s orders . . . without question. What greater example of faith and trust can we look to?
    God spoke: Abraham obeyed! “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” - Hebrews 11:8. That is faith and trust exemplified. He left all he knew in life behind -  “he went out, not knowing where he was going,”and trust in God’s word that he would be blessed - that God would surely bless him.” Faith and trust! Do we have such faith and trust in our Lord? Who, today, has the faith of Abraham?
    Before Abraham responded to God’s calling in Haran scripture says God had led him out of Ur. “And he said, “Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, ‘Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.’” - Acts 7:2-4. Abraham responded to God’s call for him to leave Ur he had no idea what the Lord had planned for him, but he knew (by faith) that God did indeed have a plan for him. So he left all that he was familiar with - his country, his lifestyle, his extended family, friends . . . the entire world as he knew it for some “unknown.” Having been born and raised into a pagan world Abraham’s heart was opened by the Holy Spirit to the reception of God by faith as the Spirit does in all who come to believe. “Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.” - Acts 16:4.
    As children (and oftentimes as adults) we place our unreserved trust in our parents. For those of us blessed with great parents we never hesitated to believe what they told us. Once, when I was about six years old, I climbed into a rather precarious position in a backyard tree. I found myself “rim-rocked;” a rock-climber’s term meaning that you can’t go further up but more disturbingly . . . you cannot get back down! I was stuck and panicked and I began to cry. My father, who had been watching from the kitchen window saw my predicament and came out to rescue me. When he stood just a few feet beneath me and told me to “jump” into his arms I did so - without hesitation because I trusted him completely.
    Do any of us trust God that completely? We should. We no longer have to trust or place our faith in an “unknown variable.” We now have certain knowledge of God’s promise, that God is leading us to salvation through our Lord, Jesus Christ! Abraham may not have known where he was going but he certainly knew who was leading him.
    May God bless us all with the faith that saves.

This Is the Day - This Is the Hour: 2 Corinthians 6:2

“For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”                                                                         - 2 Corinthians 6:2

    Still uneasy about the evidence and influence of false teachers in Corinth, Paul admonishes the people about their remaining worldliness and seeks to emphasize the immediacy of their salvation and ensuing sanctification. This is the plight of today’s ministers and pastors: trying to point out to the unsaved that “now is the accepted time . . . now is the day of salvation.”
    How much more important is it in these times of gross worldliness that the unsaved are given the message to repent and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior? How long shall they wait? A day longer may be too late. In fact, for many it will be.
    “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7. Mercy and pardon are two of our Lord’s most loving gifts which He is more than willing to bestow upon those who come to Him in faith, belief and repentance. But we must come to Him now! We must come to Him now, not tomorrow or next week but now. For there will be a day when the Book of Life is closed and the die is cast. There will be a day when our Holy Lord will say, “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” - Matthew 7:23.
    How many will scoff at the plea of Paul? How many will extrapolate that if God is willing today then He will also be willing tomorrow? How many can guarantee themselves a tomorrow? “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” - Matthew 25:13.
    It is far to easy for those whose lives have been blessed abundantly by common grace to believe there is no pressing need to repent and turn to God. There is no hurry. These are the same people who will gladly and most enthusiastically wait until they are thirsty to dig a well. For so many it will be too late. “Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.” - John 8:21.
    This is the day - this is the hour. May the Holy Spirit of God fill you with the urgent desire for salvation - today! Now!

The Good Fight - 2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. - 2 Timothy 4:7

  I have often heard the phrase, “To beat the Devil.” The fact is we cannot beat the Devil. Allow me to explain. The Devil is a spiritual entity so powerful that he entered paradise and tempted Adam and Eve. We know the rest of the story. An entity like that we don’t beat. It’s not even our job to beat the Devil. Our job is to outlast him.  That is what is meant by ‘the perseverance of the saints.’“Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” James 5:11.
    “But,” they say, “how can we continue to fall and claim we are Christians?” The glory comes to us by way of our response to ‘the knock-down.’ The mandatory “3 Knock-down rule” has been waived for us by the grace of God. As long as we continue to get back up the fight goes on. There may be shame in being knocked down but there is no condemnation. We get back up and resolve not to get hit with that shot again.
    There is no glory in suffering. The glory comes to us by the way we respond to the suffering. Remember, there are none who do not fall from time to time. Some fall more; some fall less, but our progress relies on our “getting up!” Stamina, courage and heart (perseverance) are not evident in the knockdown; they are evident in getting back up.
    Satan is a formidable adversary. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” - 1 Peter 5:8.  But for all his bellowing he is also subtle. His blows are sometimes soft.  Sin is most often sweet to the tongue like a fine almond liqueur . . . and just as deadly as cyanide, a deadly poison known for it’s almond-like smell. We may even for a season believe we can roll with the punches. Do not deceive yourselves or you shall surely find yourself battered, bleeding, and on your knees.
    We can outlast the Adversary if we but remember - “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” - Ephesians 6:10-13.
    The “Armor of God” is our greatest weapon in the fight. It will surely protect us from spiritual annihilation at the hands of Satan. Wear it daily, May God always protect you from the wiles of the Devil.

The Providence of God Today - 1 Corinthians 10:31

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. - 1 Corinthians 10:31
    We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that all God created is good  - “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day -  Genesis 1:31. If this is true, and when I ask “if” I mean it only rhetorically, why would anyone claim that we are not to enjoy God’s providence in our lives?
    There are many religions (Islam, Mennonites, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventists, Mormons, and even some Baptists) who staunchly forbid many of life’s simple pleasures. From enjoying fine foods to drinking alcohol, to dancing, they all devoutly claim that God forbids these momentary worldly distractions. So what does the Bible say about these things?
    Going back to 1 Corinthians 10 we read that Paul specifically states for the record - “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.  Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake;  for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” - 1 Corinthians 10:23-26.
    Obviously Paul isn’t suggesting that “all things” are lawful for us, but “all things (that are) lawful.” Certainly engaging in wanton and reckless debauchery was not what Paul was referring to. He was merely stating for the record that all things that were permitted him by his faith in Jesus Christ were lawful. Whether it be eating certain foods, enjoying an adult beverage or our conducting ourselves  in the world we are to do whatever we do to glorify God!
    Are we to grasp every chance to enjoy worldly pleasures? No more than we are to eat until we feel we are about to burst! Hedonism IS a sin! Remember the Westminster Catechism’s answer to its very first question: man’s chief end is to glorify God, and fully enjoy Him forever. Over-indulgence in any worldly thing can be both sinful (it doesn’t glorify God) and reckless, especially if the example we are setting makes a fellow Christian stumble in their progression (1 Corinthians 8:12).
    God placed man on the earth to live and part of living is enjoying life just as part of living is dealing with trials and tribulations. When we are forced to endure troubles and Godly tests in this life we are to handle them the same way we handle our blessings: we are do all we do to the glory of God!
    And to each of us whom persevere to the end in our walk with Christ, remember: “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’” - 1 Corinthians 2:9. No, we don’t get to live our best life now, that will come to those who are glorified in heaven; but we can still responsibly enjoy the good blessings that God has provided for us in this world. May God’s providence always keep you joyful.
                       

The Gospel Exposition - 1 Thessalonians 2:13

“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” - 1 Thessalonians 2:13

    With the recent surge in social media outlets and ‘blogs’ I often encounter Christians who throw out a bible verse or two followed by a “Whoot-whoot!” And just as often I’m forced, by Christian reason and logic to question the motivation for such ‘Turrets-like utterances.” Does the speaker think, believe, or hope that spurting out such ostensibly ‘holy expressions’ will act like an effectual call to faith, repentance, and salvation upon unbelievers?
    Our Christian faith is not some trending pop-culture anomaly. True Christian faith is founded on rational exegesis of holy scripture and a fundamental understanding of Christian theology and doctrine. To obtain such an understanding requires that a person receive the holy word of God in a sound expository manner. Expository preaching has always been a vital part of our faith’s growth for over two milennia. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” - Romans 10:17.
    The great preachers throughout history from Luther and Calvin to Edwards and Whitfield to Spurgeon have always relied on expository preaching rather than charismatic outbursts. Our Lord, Jesus Christ taught the crowds using parables and speech designed to reach the ears and penetrate the hearts of those who would respond to the effectual call of the Holy Spirit.
    So the waving of arms, stutter-stepping to charismatic outbursts, and losing one’s self in the fervor of some mystical spiritual moment neither spreads the gospel nor converts unbelievers. It is merely the crowing of a rooster who believes he has the only view of the sunrise.
    Charles Spurgeon once wrote (and I paraphrase) that the Thessalonians received the gospel as God’s revealed word and as a result received it “with reverence of its divine character. With assurance of its infallibility. With obedience to its authority. With experience of its sacred power. They received it so it effectually worked in them. It was practical, efficient, and manifestly operative upon their lives and characters.” All this the Thessalonians received from the Holy Spirit inspired expository preaching of Paul.
    Hearing the word of God delivered in a reverent, well articulated, life-applicable and thoughtful manner not only brings new believers into the fold but also edifies those who are already children of God. The sudden rant of a bible passage, without explanation or reason does nothing to edify believers and serves only to push unbelievers even further from God. It is not enough to tell them; we must tell them why. May God always open your heart to His word.