New Birth 03 - The Results pt 1

In the last two newsletters New Birth 02 and New Birth 03 we have covered what the New Birth is, and have showed that God demands the New Birth for us.

Starting this week we want to look as the results of the New Birth.

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, repeatedly preached on the subject, "Ye must be born again." On one occasion a listener approached this servant of God and said, "Don't you know anything else except, 'Ye must be born again?"'

Wesley smiled and replied, "Certainly, but the reason I preached on John 3:7, Ye must be born again, so often is because Jesus said, Ye must be born again."

One can only be "born again" or "from above" if his theological concept of Christ is accurate. 1 John 5:1 states, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.... What a power-filled statement.

"Why?" you ask.

Because Jesus means "Saviour" (see Matthew 1:21) and Christ means "Sent One."

Therefore, one must believe that the Saviour is the "Sent One" or a "born again" experience becomes impossible. Involved in the terminology, "Sent One," is the eternal deity of Christ. One must believe that He always existed, yea was the preexistent God, the second member of the Trinity.

One must believe that He was...from everlasting (Micah 5:2) and was "sent" to earth to inhabit a blood-filled body to die for sinners. That's why Galatians 4:4 states, But when the fullness of time was come [the time for God's plan to be enacted, see Revelation 13, God SENT [not created, but SENT] forth his Son.... If He sent Him, Christ preexisted, for one cannot be sent if he is nonexistent.

Now this "Sent One" came to Bethlehem's manger to die upon Calvary's tree. Yes, He took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:7, 8). No other Christ suffices. He must be the virgin born, blood covered; resurrected God-man or salvation is impossible. Believing this and receiving Him makes one "born of God." This in turn produces three results.

Holiness

1 John 3:9 declares, Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. Greek scholars teach that the word commit should be translated "practice."This is so because a Christian may still slip or do wrong. Believers still have fleshly natures until the day of redemption. Then Christ "raptures" our old "vile bodies" into His presence (see Philippians 3:20).

Presently, this old nature is constantly at war with the newly produced nature received at salvation. Paul described the battle in Romans 7 and also in Galatians 5:17. He says . . . the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that [you] cannot do the thing that [you] would. However, victory through the indwelling Spirit is possible for verse 16 states, Walk in the Spirit, and [you] shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

It must be obvious to all Christians that there is a constant battle to be fought. Paul wasn't whistling in the wind when he said, I have fought a good fight... (2 Timothy 4:7. He knew the danger of egotistically shouting, "I could never do wrong." for he again declared in 1 Corinthians 10:12. ...let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

We see, then, that it is possible for any child of God to commit sin but impossible for the genuine believer to live a life of sin. This is true because his seed [the Holy Spirit] remaineth in him: and he cannot [practice] sin, because he is BORN OF GOD (1 John 3:9). When one is truly saved, Christ and the Holy Spirit enter one's heart and life simultaneously. That's right ... if any man have not the Spirit of Christ; he is none of [Christ's] (Romans 8:9). This blessed Spirit, living within the believer, becomes "grieved" (see Ephesians 4:30) and "quenched" (see 1 Thessalonians 5:19) when the smallest infraction of God's commands occurs.

The Spirit's grief, in turn, becomes the believer's heartache as he feels what the internally dwelling Spirit experiences. This elucidates our previously discussed text which says, Whosoever is BORN OF GOD doth not commit sin; for his seed [the Holy Spirit] remaineth in him: and he cannot [practice] sin, because he is born of God (1 John 3:9).

Let's go a step farther. If one is miserable over sin but continues to walk in disobedience to God, the offender gets a spiritual spanking. Hebrews 12:5-8 declares, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth EVERY SON whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you, as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof ALL are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

This spiritual spanking, administered to 'every son" (verse 6), yea "all" disobedient 'children" (verse 8), is for one purpose and one purpose only. ...that we might be partakers of his HOLINESS (verse 10). We see, then, that it is God's supreme desire that His children live holy lives. This is in accordance with their "new birth" experience.

2 Timothy 1:9 states, [God] hath SAVED us, and CALLED us with an HOLY calling.... Again, .. .God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto HOLINESS (1 Thessalonians 4:7).

That's why Romans 6:4 states that we have been raised unto ...NEWNESS of life, and why 2 Corinthians 5:17 adds ... if ANY MAN be in Christ, he is a NEW creature: old things are passed away; behold, ALL THINGS are become NEW. This is a direct result of receiving Christ.

Let me explain this truth with an analogy of the physical birth.

When one is born, he receives the nature of each parent. The mixture of the genes means that both parents' traits are combined in their co-mingled product. The mean, grumpy nature comes from dad, and the "sugar and spice and everything nice" traits from mom-to hear some ladies tell it! Ha! The combining of the two natures within the finished product results from "human generation."

Likewise, when one is 'born from above," or "born of the Spirit," he receives God's nature through REGENERATION (see Titus 3:5). As the child received the nature of his parents through generation, the believer receives the nature of God through regeneration. This is what makes holiness possible. Since one has become a partaker of the divine nature (see 2 Peter 1:4) and since God is holy (see 2 Peter 1:16), the nature of God within the newly formed "babe in Christ" is divine and holy.

It certainly does not take any ingenuity to see that God within produces holy living.

HIS HOLINESS rubs off and must be reflected in His children. The Bible commands this holiness of life through conversion. ...[you] shall be holy, for l am holy... (Leviticus 11:44).... thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God... (Deuteronomy 7:6). They shall be called Thy holy people, The redeemed of the Lord... (Isaiah 62:12). Paul pleads with the people of God to walk according to their standing, saying, . . .yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness (Romans 6:19).

The Apostle was concerned because he wanted all of God's people to share the joyous hour when Christ presents us holy and unblamable (see Colossians 1:22). Colossians 3:12 informs believers that they, as the election of God, are holy and beloved. They are ...holy brethren... (Hebrews 3:1). Elected to such a high calling, we are to, Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). One's holy walk and talk proves that genuine salvation has occurred.

Strange, is it not, that denominations who push "election" the hardest are usually the cocktail-sipping, tobacco-sucking crowd. Beloved, election is unto holiness! He chose us ...in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be HOLY... (Ephesians 1:4). Preaching and teaching about "predestination" and "election" is naught but empty platitudes and vain repetition if the life of holiness is missing. In other words-pardon my grammatical error-you ain't got it! Why? Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord.

Now back to the original premise. Genuine believers may slip and fall, but they do not remain in the mud of sin for months and years. The apostle John harmoniously ties the two teachings, already considered, together by saying, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. However, He that [practices] sin is of the devil... (1 John 1:8 and 3:8). Make the distinction God does, and the pieces of the puzzle fit the picture.

In the light of what has just been discussed, let's consider the outcome of practicing sin. Multitudes think that walking an aisle, signing a card, and sending one's photograph for baptism constitutes a salvation experience. Soothed and salved by such religious pilgrimages to the altar or prayer room, they continue the practice of every abominable degradation known.

Regardless of their decadent lifestyle, all is well because once-upon-a time they made a beeline to the altar. Unfortunately, all they gained by it was "exercise," not an "experience." The "move" made, the practicing sinners rest in an unexperienced experience and they will die as unconverted converts. How deceived they are! How sad they will be at the judgment when Christ cries, I NEVER knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matthew 7:23).

As I preach such convicting truth I realize that some sin-laden worldlings are angry. They are crying, Christian liberty, Christian liberty." Ah, but Christian liberty is never a driver's license to steer one's life into the pathways of sin! Others lament, "We are under grace and thus are able to do anything and everything. "Ah, but grace does not allow for a lifetime of disgrace!

The 'Apostle of grace" dogmatically teaches this.

Strange as it may seem to some, Paul's "grace message concerning sin is identical to John's "legalistic" discourse about iniquity.

Why not? God wrote all of the Bible.

He used Paul, John, and others-even their personalities and vocabularies-but He guided every word into place (2 Peter 1:2-21). As a result, Paul, as well as John, makes it clear that one cannot love sin, desire sin chase sin, live in sin, and check into a sinless heaven.

Though any Christian can commit any sin at any time, Paul nevertheless concludes that there must be evidence of a "new nature" constantly battling against an "old nature" if one has been born again. No evidence-no experience with God! It's that simple.

This is so because the Spirit of God becomes "grieved" (see Ephesians 4:30) and "quenched" (see 1 Thessalonians 5:19) when believers sin. The believer, in turn, shares the grief produced by the indwelling Spirit. Then, if he continues in sin, he is "spanked" spiritually (see Hebrews 12:5) and may "die" prematurely (see 1 John 5:16), going home "ashamed" (see 1 John 2:28) and suffering the loss of all rewards-being saved ...as by fire (1 Corinthians 3:15). It is foolish, therefore, to teach that Paul's "grace" proclamation allows one to live in sin.

If, at this point, one is still unconvinced, Paul's following warnings should settle it once, for all, and forever. Hear him in 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not [SHALL NOT. That's right, shall not!] inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators [premarital sex experimenters and "trial marriage" proponents] nor idolators. nor adulterers [extramarital flingers and swingers] nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind [homosexuals], Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards [social tipplers who tipple one too many], nor revilers. nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Paul again warns in Ephesians 5:3-7, But fornication [premarital sex], and all uncleanness, or covetousness [love of materialism and filthy lucre], let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints: Neither filthiness. Nor foolish talking. nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this [you] KNOW, that no whore monger [immoral sex practitioner],nor unclean person [smutty jokester] nor the covetous man, who is an idolater [money lover], hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

[None? None!] Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things [sins] cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. No doubt about it. Depraved, debauched, decadent practitioners of sin inhabit the lake of fire for all eternity (see Revelation 21:8).

One more judgmental alarm is sounded by Paul in Galatians 5:19-21. He says, Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past. that they which do such things SHALL NOT [What? SHALL NOT!] inherit the kingdom of God. Such grammar is so simplistic and understandable that further comment is unnecessary. It all convincingly says, He that practiceth sin is of the devil.

Does all this mean, then, that practicing sinners have no hope? 
Perish the thought! 
God loves sinners and sent His Son to Calvary's cross to shed His blood for a world of wicked inhabitants. 

This blood, which flowed so freely from a love-filled Saviour, cleanseth from ALL sin (see 1 John 1:7). Because of it, a great number of Corinthians described in 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10 as fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners were eternally forgiven as verse 11 proves. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus , and by the Spirit of our God. This is what the "second birth" did for them and will do for you today if you receive Christ. Remember, ...whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13).

A MESSAGE OF HOPE FROM DR. JACK VAN IMPE

Dispensation 00 : "Seven" of God

Dispensationalism is a method of interpreting history that divides God’s work and purposes toward mankind into different periods of time. Usually, there are seven dispensations identified, although some theologians believe there are nine. Others count as few as three or as many as thirty-seven dispensations. In this article, we will limit ourselves to the seven basic dispensations found in Scripture.

{4cm Editors Notes: 1-5 Man's Obligation  to God, 6-7 Man's Obligation  to Mankind}

Dispensation of Innocence
The first dispensation is called the Dispensation of Innocence (Genesis 1:28-30 and 2:15-17). This dispensation covered the period of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. In this dispensation God's commands were to (1) replenish the earth with children, (2) subdue the earth, (3) have dominion over the animals, (4) care for the garden, and (5) abstain from eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God warned of the punishment of physical and spiritual death for disobedience. This dispensation was a short-lived and was brought to an end by Adam and Eve’s disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit and their expulsion from the garden. more detail

Dispensation of Conscience
The second dispensation is called the Dispensation of Conscience, and it lasted about 1,656 years from the time of Adam and Eve’s eviction from the garden until the flood (Genesis 3:8–8:22). This dispensation demonstrates what mankind will do if left to his own will and conscience, which have been tainted by the inherited sin nature. The five major aspects of this dispensation are 1) a curse on the serpent, 2) a change in womanhood and childbearing, 3) a curse on nature, 4) the imposing of work on mankind to produce food, and 5) the promise of Christ as the seed who will bruise the serpent's head (Satan). more detail

Dispensation of Human Government
The third dispensation is the Dispensation of Human Government, which began in Genesis 8. God had destroyed life on earth with a flood, saving just one family to restart the human race. God made the following promises and commands to Noah and his family:

1. God will not curse the earth again.
2. Noah and family are to replenish the earth with people.
3. They shall have dominion over the animal creation.
4. They are allowed to eat meat.
5. The law of capital punishment is established.
6. There never will be another worldwide flood.
7. The sign of God's promise will be the rainbow.

Noah’s descendants did not scatter and fill the earth as God had commanded, thus failing in their responsibility in this dispensation. About 325 years after the flood, the earth’s inhabitants began building a tower, a great monument to their solidarity and pride (Genesis 11:7-9). God brought the construction to a halt, creating different languages and enforcing His command to fill the earth. The result was the rise of different nations and cultures. From that point on, human governments have been a reality. more detail

Dispensation of Promise
The fourth dispensation, called the Dispensation of Promise, started with the call of Abraham, continued through the lives of the patriarchs, and ended with the Exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt, a period of about 430 years. During this dispensation God developed a great nation that He had chosen as His people (Genesis 12:1–Exodus 19:25).

The basic promise during the Dispensation of Promise was the Abrahamic Covenant. Here are some of the key points of that unconditional covenant:

1. From Abraham would come a great nation that God would bless with natural and spiritual prosperity.
2. God would make Abraham’s name great.
3. God would bless those that blessed Abraham’s descendants and curse those that cursed them.
4. In Abraham all the families of the earth will be blessed. This is fulfilled in Jesus Christ and His work of salvation.
5. The sign of the covenant is circumcision.
6. This covenant, which was repeated to Isaac and Jacob, is confined to the Hebrew people and the 12 tribes of Israel. more detail

Dispensation of Law
The fifth dispensation is called the Dispensation of Law. It lasted almost 1,500 years, from the Exodus until it was suspended after Jesus Christ’s death. This dispensation will continue during the Millennium, with some modifications. During the Dispensation of Law, God dealt specifically with the Jewish nation through the Mosaic Covenant, or the Law, found in Exodus 19–23. The dispensation involved temple worship directed by priests, with further direction spoken through the God’s mouthpieces, the prophets. Eventually, due to the people’s disobedience to the covenant, the tribes of Israel lost the Promised Land and were subjected to bondage. more detail

Dispensation of Grace
The sixth dispensation, the one in which we now live, is the Dispensation of Grace. It began with the New Covenant in Christ’s blood (Luke 22:20). This “Age of Grace” or “Church Age” occurs between the 69th and 70th week of Daniel 9:24. It starts with the death of Christ and ends with the Rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4). This dispensation is worldwide and includes both Jews and the Gentiles. Man’s responsibility during the Dispensation of Grace is to believe in Jesus, the Son of God (John 3:18). In this dispensation the Holy Spirit indwells believers as the Comforter (John 14:16-26). This dispensation has lasted for over 2,000 years, and no one knows when it will end. We do know that it will end with the Rapture of all born-again believers from the earth to go to heaven with Christ. Following the Rapture will be the judgments of God lasting for seven years. more detail

Millennial Kingdom of Christ
The seventh dispensation is called the Millennial Kingdom of Christ and will last for 1,000 years as Christ Himself rules on earth. This Kingdom will fulfill the prophecy to the Jewish nation that Christ will return and be their King. The only people allowed to enter the Kingdom are the born-again believers from the Age of Grace and righteous survivors of the seven years of tribulation. No unsaved person is allowed access into this kingdom. Satan is bound during the 1,000 years. This period ends with the final judgment (Revelation 20:11-14). The old world is destroyed by fire, and the New Heaven and New Earth of Revelation 21 and 22 will begin. more detail

Original Source: www.gotquestions.org

Dispensation 07 : of the Millennial Kingdom

Sationalism, there are seven dispensations. It is important to remember that dispensationalism is a theology inferred from Scripture rather than an explicitly taught doctrine of God’s Word. The value of dispensationalism lies in its systematic view of history’s different eras and the various ways in which the Ancient of Days interacts with His creation.

The seventh and final dispensation brings about the culmination of life on Earth and the closest thing yet to how God really wanted to live with us on this planet. As its name suggests, the Millennial Kingdom of Christ will last for 1,000 years.

The Millennial Kingdom is the seventh dispensation (Revelation 20:1-10).

Stewards: The resurrected Old Testament saints, the glorified Church, and survivors of the Tribulation and their descendants
The Period: From the Second Coming of Jesus Christ until the final rebellion, a period of one thousand years
Responsibility: To be obedient, remain undefiled, and worship the Lord Jesus (Isaiah 11:3-5; Zechariah 14:9)
Failure: After Satan is loosed from the Abyss, sinful man rebels one more time (Revelation 20:7-9)
Judgment: Fire from God; the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:9-15)
Grace: Jesus Christ restores creation and rules righteously in Israel, with all saints assisting (Isaiah 11:1-5; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 20)

The Millennial Kingdom will be a time characterized by peace (Isaiah 11:6-7; Micah 4:3), justice (Isaiah 11:3-4), unity (Isaiah 11:10), abundance (Isaiah 35:1-2), healing (Isaiah 35:5-6), righteousness (Isaiah 35:8), joy (Isaiah 55:12), and the physical presence of Christ (Isaiah 16:5). Satan will be bound in the Abyss during this period (Revelation 20:1-3). Messiah Jesus will be the benevolent dictator ruling over the whole world (Isaiah 9:6-7; 11). The resurrected King David will serve as His regent (Amos 9:11). The resurrected saints of all times will participate in the management of the government (Revelation 20:4-6).

The Millennial Kingdom is measurable and comes after the Kingdom of God (embodied in Jesus Christ) came to man during the dispensation of Grace. On Jesus’ first visit to the earth, He brought grace; at His Second Coming He will execute justice and usher in the Millennium. Jesus mentioned His glorious return at His trial before the Sanhedrin (Mark 14:62), and He was referring to the Millennial Kingdom when He taught His disciples to pray, “Thy kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10, KJV).

The rebellion at the end of the Millennial Kingdom seems almost incredible. Mankind will have been living in a perfect environment with every need cared for, overseen by a truly just government (Isaiah 11:1-5), yet they still try to do better. Man simply cannot maintain the perfection that God requires. Mankind follows Satan any chance he gets.

At the end of the Millennium, the final rebellion is crushed, and Satan will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). Then comes the Great White Throne Judgment where all the unrighteous of all of the dispensations will be judged according to their works and also cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).

After the final judgment, God and His people live forever in the New Jerusalem on a new earth with a new heaven (Revelation 21). God’s plan of redemption will have been completely realized, and the redeemed will know God and enjoy Him forever.

Introduction and Main Menu: Here
Original Source: www.gotquestions.org

Dispensation 06 : of Grace

In the dispensation of Innocence, God worked face to face with His highest creation, made in His own image. After the fall of Adam and Eve, mankind was no longer innocent, and God appealed to humans to use their divinely implanted consciences to do right. That brought in the second dispensation (Conscience), which lasted for about 1600 years until God could tolerate the sin no more and brought a flood to destroy all but eight persons—a remnant to continue His sovereign plan for mankind. During the dispensation of Human Government, civil authority was established to govern society, but again, mankind rebelled—this time, at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:4). After God dispersed the people, He created the nation of Israel from Abraham and his descendants (the dispensation of Promise). After God had created the Hebrew people, He gave them the Law through Moses (the dispensation of Law). God’s people consistently broke the commandments, but the Law was finally fulfilled in Christ. The Lord then established the dispensation of Grace. God’s unmerited favor would finally allow His chosen people (believing Jews and Gentiles) to have lasting fellowship with Him.

Grace is the sixth dispensation (John 19:31 to Revelation 3:22).

Stewards: The church. All believers are ministers of their spiritual fruit and a “holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9)
The Period: From the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) to the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), a period of nearly 2,000 years and counting
Responsibility: To be perfected by sanctification; to love one another; to exhibit ever-increasing godliness (1 Thessalonians 4:3; 2 John 1:5)
Failure: A lack of maturity; worldliness; many churches falling into apostasy (Galatians 5:4; 2 Timothy 3:1-5)
Judgment: The blindness of apostasy and false doctrine (2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Timothy 4:3)
Grace: Forgiveness of sins through Christ Jesus (1 John 1:3-7; John 14:20)

This dispensation of Grace is often referred to as the Church Age because it is during this era that Jesus is building His Church (Matthew 16:18). It began at Pentecost (Acts 2) and will end when all who are born again by the baptism of the Holy Spirit are raptured out of this world to be with Jesus Himself (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The Church is mentioned again in Revelation 19 as returning to earth with the Lord Jesus at His Second Coming.

Grace is God’s benevolence to the undeserving. Grace is the rule of life for the Church, and through the Church God’s grace is extended to the whole world, as the gospel of Jesus Christ is taken to the ends of the earth. It has been said that grace saved us (Ephesians 2:8-9), it supports us (Romans 5:2), it teaches us (Titus 2:11-12), and it disciplines us (1 Corinthians 11:28-32; Hebrews 12:5-11). With the Holy Spirit indwelling His Church, we are able to walk with the Lord and live as He intends (Philippians 2:13; Ephesians 2:10; 5:17-18; Philippians 1:6; 4:13; Romans 8:14). It is not heaven yet, and it is far short of perfection, but as the Church is being sanctified, it provides a little taste of heaven on earth (Ephesians 2:21-22).

Introduction and Main Menu: Here
Original Source: www.gotquestions.org

Dispensation 05 : of Law

While the Abrahamic Covenant continues and has not yet been completely fulfilled (even to this day), God changed course with His chosen people Israel at Mt. Sinai. God added the Law, and with it a new dispensation, which had a beginning and an ending (Romans 10:4).

The fifth dispensation is that of Law—Exodus 19:5 to John 19:30.

Stewards: Moses and the children of Israel as a nation at Mt. Sinai
The Period: from Mt. Sinai until Christ Jesus fulfilled the Law with His death
Responsibility: Keep the whole Law (Exodus 19:3-8)
Failure: The Law was broken (2 Kings 17:7-20)
Judgment: Worldwide dispersion (Deuteronomy 28:63-66; Luke 21:20-24)
Grace: The promised Savior is sent (Isaiah 9:6-7; Galatians 4:4-5)

Israel was never to be saved by keeping the Law (Romans 3:20). The Law was meant to govern their earthly lives, to define sin, and to point to the coming Savior. Neither did the Law change the provisions of the Abrahamic Covenant.

The dispensation of Law is named after the Mosaic Law, called a “covenant” in Exodus 24:7-8; Deuteronomy 4:13; and Galatians 3:19. It was God’s only conditional covenant with Israel in that blessing and success depended upon the people’s obedience to the Law (Exodus 19:5). It did not take long for the Law to be broken, as proved by the golden calf in Exodus 32.

The Law was also a temporary covenant to be made null and void by the institution of the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:32; Hebrews 8:13; 10:9). The Law was added “because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come” (Galatians 3:19).

It is important to note that the Law of Moses was given only for the nation of Israel (Exodus 19:3-8; Deuteronomy 5:1-3; 4:8). Jesus made it clear that it was given to Israel and not the Gentiles (Mark 12:29-30). The apostle Paul said the Law was given to Israel and not the Church (Romans 2:14; 9:4-5; Ephesians 2:11-12). The dispensation of Law is over.

How unfortunate that Israel misinterpreted the purpose of the Law and sought a righteousness by good deeds and ceremonial ordinances rather than by God’s grace (Romans 9:31—10:3; Acts 15:1)! Because they were focused on attaining their own holiness, they rejected their Messiah (John 1:11).

Israel’s history from Mt. Sinai to the destruction of the temple in AD 70 was one long record of violating God’s Law. However, the Law was still fulfilled, as Jesus states, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17). Because of Jesus’ perfect fulfillment of the Law, we are saved through Him: “A man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:16).

Introduction and Main Menu: Here
Original Source: www.gotquestions.org

Dispensation 04 : of Promise

Each dispensation has a God-ordained responsibility, stewards (people commanded to fulfill that responsibility), a failure on mankind’s part, God’s judgment, and, finally, evidence of God’s grace. In the dispensation of Promise, God works in yet another unique way with man. This dispensation begins with the call of Abraham. It is called the dispensation of “Promise” because of the covenant made with Abraham, who lived in the “land of promise” (Hebrews 6:13; 11:9). Unconditional promises, both physical and spiritual, were made to Abraham and his descendants Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 12:1-3; 15:4-21; 17:1-8; 22:15-19).

The fourth dispensation is that of Promise—Genesis 11:10 to Exodus 19:4.

Stewards: The patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
The Period: From the call of Abraham to Israel’s arrival at Mt. Sinai, a period of about 430 years
Responsibility: Dwell in Canaan (Genesis 12:1-7)
Failure: Dwelt in Egypt (Genesis 12:10; 46:6)
Judgment: Egyptian bondage (Exodus 1:8-14)
Grace: Moses the deliverer is sent (Exodus 3:6-10)

The promise God made to Abraham was that he would be the father of a great nation, that God would bless Abraham and his descendants, and that the whole earth would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:1-3). As the patriarch, Abraham had failure in his life, notably in fathering Ishmael (Genesis 16), going to Egypt (Genesis 12:10), and deceiving others about his wife, Sarah (Genesis 20:2). Isaac failed in similar manner, and Jacob was an outright deceiver.

Later, the Hebrew people were faced with a test: would they believe the promise God gave to Abraham to protect, bless, and guide them, or would they not believe? They chose not to believe the promise and took upon themselves the bondage of law and separation from God (Exodus 19:10-13, 18, 21; 12:19). Still, God provided grace through Moses, through Passover protection, and through the miraculous meeting of their material needs (Exodus 12–18). In Exodus 19:4 God reminds the Israelites of His grace to them: “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.”

The dispensation of Promise ended at Mt. Sinai, where God gave Abraham’s people the Law to govern them in yet another manner.

Introduction and Main Menu: Here
Original Source: www.gotquestions.org

Dispensation 03 : of Human Government

After God had worked face to face with the first humans, Adam and Eve (the dispensation of Innocence, Genesis 1:28—3:19), they sinned, and all mankind became a fallen race living on a cursed planet. Conditions changed, and all subsequent families on earth were to do good based on what they knew to be right (the dispensation of Conscience, Genesis 3:23—8:19). Mankind again failed to fulfill their responsibility. So God brought a worldwide Flood to wipe out all but eight people. In the next dispensation, God works in a new way with His creation via Human Government.

Human Government is the third dispensation (Genesis 8:20 to 11:9).

Stewards: Noah and his descendants
The Period: From the Flood to the confusion of tongues at Babel, about 429 years
Responsibility: To scatter and multiply (Genesis 9)
Failure: Refusal to scatter and the building of the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-4)
Judgment: Confusion of languages (Genesis 11:5-9)
Grace: Abraham is chosen—the start of the Jewish race (Genesis 12:1-3)

After the Flood God stepped back from directly judging men until the Second Coming; thus, a human agency known as civil government was divinely appointed to restrain evil and protect man from his own sinful nature. Noah and his wife and his three sons and their wives began to repopulate the earth. Shem would become the father of the brown or Mediterranean region dwellers and eventually the Jews (Semitic comes from the Latin word for “Shem”). Ham fathered the black race, and Japheth fathered the Anglo or white race, which would become the Europeans.

Noah and his family had practical knowledge of the failure under the dispensation of Conscience, and God made them responsible to protect the sanctity of human life. “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God He made man” (Genesis 9:6). In this way, God established the orderly rule of mankind for the good of society. Capital punishment is the most potent function of human government, and it presupposes all forms of legislation, organization, and enforcement. In the New Testament (Romans 13), man is still responsible to use this authority to enforce righteousness. In other words, God’s command in Genesis 9:6 has not been rescinded.

Sin (called “lawlessness” in 1 John 3:4) continued in the third dispensation. In fact, the time of Human Government was characterized by great idolatry and moral degradation. The height of disobedience was the rebellion against God at Babel—mankind built a tower to “make ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth” (Genesis 11:4). Staying in one place was the one thing God told them not to do.

To enforce His command, God divided humanity into different language groups, and His sovereign will to populate the whole earth was accomplished. God also established a covenant with Noah that He would never again destroy the earth by water. His grace continued to be shown through His chosen people, beginning with Abraham.

Introduction and Main Menu: Here
Original Source: www.gotquestions.org

Dispensation 02 : of Conscience

Dispensationalists see that God has worked with different people in different times in different manners. Usually, seven dispensations are identified: Innocence, Conscience, Government, Promise, Law, Grace, and Millennial Kingdom. Each dispensation reveals a six-fold pattern involving the stewards of the dispensation, their responsibility, a specific period of time, a failure, the resulting judgment, and God’s grace.

The second dispensation is that of Conscience—Genesis 3:23 to 8:19.

Stewards: Cain and Seth and their families
The Period: From man’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden until the Flood, a period of about 1,656 years
Responsibility: To do good and offer blood sacrifices (Genesis 3:7, 22; 4:4)
Failure: Wickedness (Genesis 6:5-6, 11, 12)
Judgment: The worldwide Flood (Genesis 6:7, 13; 7:11-14)
Grace: Noah and his family are saved (Genesis 6:8-9; 7:1; 8:1)

During the dispensation of Conscience, mankind only became worse and worse. Guided by conscience, man was supposed to choose to do good and approach God by means of a blood sacrifice (Genesis 4:4). It was during this time that the first death occurred, when Cain slew his brother Abel (Genesis 4:8). God had accepted Abel’s animal sacrifice but not Cain’s grain sacrifice. Before the murder, God warned Cain of impending sin and told him that he could still choose to do well (Genesis 4:6-7). Cain had the opportunity to bring a proper sacrifice, after he saw what pleased God. But Cain let jealousy cloud his eyes. Cain demanded that God be pleased with his own efforts and refused to follow God’s plan. This kind of thinking still plagues mankind today, as people attempt to approach God on their own terms rather than on God’s terms.

Mankind violated his conscience and failed in his responsibility to choose to do right. Apparently, God wanted man to discover that he could not let his conscience be his only guide. Conscience proved to be a very poor guide, indeed. Out of all that lived in this dispensation, only Abel, Enoch, and Noah were called righteous (Hebrews 11:2-7; Genesis 5:22-24; 6:8-9). Genesis 6:5 states, “The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.” The Lord’s solution was to destroy man from the face of the earth, along with all land-dwelling animals (verse 7). “But Noah found favor [grace] in the eyes of the LORD” (verse 8).

Noah warned his contemporaries for 120 years as he built the ark and as the LORD showed His great patience. God as the righteous Judge must deal with sin, and judgment was often quick and severe in the Old Testament. His judgment then—and His grace within that judgment—should inform us today. “For if God . . . did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly . . . then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment” (2 Peter 2:4, 9). The heathen today are under the same responsibility as mankind was from the Fall to the Flood, with their “conscience bearing witness” (Romans 2:15).

God extended grace to Noah and his family and gave instructions to build the ark and established His covenant with them (Genesis 6:14-22). God saved eight people and brought them forth into a new dispensation (Genesis 7:1; 8:1; Hebrews 11:7). The apostle Peter uses God’s grace to Noah as an illustration of God’s grace today to us who are saved by faith. Just as Noah and his family were “brought safely through the water,” we are saved by the baptism of the Holy Spirit—“not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:19-21).

Introduction and Main Menu: Here
Original Source: www.gotquestions.org

Dispensation 01 : of Innocence

Dispensationalism is the system of theology that provides the best, most literal hermeneutic (method of Bible interpretation). Also, dispensationalism makes a clear distinction between Israel and the Church. The classic seven dispensations are Innocence, Conscience, Government, Promise, Law, Grace, and Millennial Kingdom. In each of these, there is a recognizable, six-fold pattern of how God worked with those living in the dispensation. God gives a responsibility to people, they fail to meet God’s requirements, their failure is judged, and God extends grace and hope for the future.

The first dispensation is that of Innocence—Genesis 1:28 to 3:19.

Stewards: Adam and Eve
The Period: From the creation of man to his temptation and fall
Responsibility: To obey God (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-17)
Failure: Disobedience (Genesis 3:1-6)
Judgment: Curse and death (Genesis 3:7-19)
Grace: A new chance and the promise of a Redeemer (Genesis 3:15)

Innocence is the shortest of the dispensations. God created man to live in perfect harmony with Himself, and there was nothing known of imperfection or evil. Adam and Eve were created in the image of God, and they were innocent of sin (Genesis 1:27). They had an eternal soul, a free will, and the ability to procreate. They walked and worked with God, who interacted with His creation (Genesis 2:15).

Adam and Eve were innocent until they disobeyed God, bringing sin and death into the world (Romans 5:12). This death affected their bodies and souls and those of all of their descendants. At the moment of Adam and Eve’s sin, they lost their innocence, as they were immediately aware, and they hid in shame from God (Genesis 3:7-8). The couple tried to cover their sin, which they somehow associated with their sex organs, but their attempt was futile.

God pronounced judgment on the man and his wife (Genesis 3:16-19), but He also showed mercy by killing an innocent animal and providing skins to cover over (atone for) their sin. God’s gracious provision showed the inadequacy of man’s attempt to atone for his own sin and the sufficiency of God’s atonement. The slaughter of the animals introduced the biblical principle “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22).

God’s ultimate solution to the sin problem was promised in Genesis 3:15. In His grace God would send One of supernatural birth to redeem mankind. This Savior would be truly innocent and would provide the way to escape the sin nature we inherit from Adam. Jesus Christ is the “Last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45), who offered Himself as the final sacrifice for sin for all who place their faith in Him (1 Peter 3:18).

Introduction and Main Menu: Here
Original Source: www.gotquestions.org

Leveraging Sexuality

Balak For the week of June 22, 2013 / 14 Tammuz 5773
Torah: Bemidbar /Numbers 22:2 - 25:9
Haftarah: Micah 5:6 - 6:8 (English 5:7 - 6:8)

Jewish perspective: Leveraging Sexuality 

When Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to commit sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab. (Bemidbar / Numbers 25:1; NET)

Israel faced many challenges in the wilderness in the years prior to their entering the Promised Land. Some went well; others not so much. This week's Torah portion includes both kinds. One in which God protected the people from harm and the second where disaster ensued. Both incidences had to do with the same opponents, the people of the region of Moab.

In the first instance Balak, the King of Moab was concerned that the people of Israel would cause him and his people much trouble, so he hired a prophet, more accurately a soothsayer, named Bilaam (or Balaam), to curse them. It's one of the more drawn out stories in the Torah. Every time Bilaam tried to curse Israel, God would not let him as blessings came from his mouth instead. The story ends or seems to end with Bilaam proclaiming nothing but good things over Israel. If this was a movie, the screen would fade to black as the narrator says, "Then Balaam rose and went back to his place. And Balak also went his way" (Bemidbar / Numbers 24:25; ESV).

The next segment begins with no reference to the previous story. 

Yet the people with whom Israel interacts with are still the Moabites. It begins with the verse I quoted at the start. It just seems to happen. The story of Balak and Bilaam is full of tension and anticipation, intrigue and frustration. God is at work to thwart the evil plan. Israel can't be cursed; don't even try. But now Israel does evil. Just like that. The consequence of this sin was the death of 24,000 Israelites.

While Israel was responsible for their irresponsible behavior, it didn't happen in a vacuum. Later on in this same book of the Torah we read concerning the Moabite women with whom the Israelite men sinned, "Behold, these, on Bilaam's advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and so the plague came among the congregation of the Lord" (Bemidbar /Numbers 31:16; ESV).

Bilaam had instigated this affair. What he couldn't accomplish through spiritual power, the nation of Israel brought upon itself through sexual sin. Bilaam conceived a plot whereby he leveraged the sexuality of women to bring destruction to Israel, which in the end also brought death to himself and the women he used.

Women are still being used by the forces of evil to bring destruction through the illicit use of their sexuality. I am not saying that women's sexuality is any more evil that men's. In fact sexuality itself isn't sinful at all. It's created by God for good purposes. Yet, sexual desire is a powerful and complex thing, and when not handled within God's defined parameters, it causes great trouble.

Yet today we are taught to pursue our desires, whatever they may be. Evil is defined as those things that restrict us from fulfilling our wants. We refuse to accept how the removal of God-given restrictions to our sexual wants only serves to ruin us individually and communally.

It is extremely important for both men and women to understand the dynamics of sexual desire. Any attempt to reduce a woman's allure is viewed as sexist and oppressive, but a woman's purity is a precious gift that should be protected. Men need not be expected to be sexual animals, living to fulfill their drives. Self-control is a gift of God's Spirit and is the mark of atrue man.

It is essential that we discern the Bilaams of our world - those who understand the power of women's sexuality to leverage it for their own purposes, exploiting bothmen and women in the process. It may be difficult to resist this ploy. 

But with God's help we can.

By TorahBytes

You can do nothing

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: “...apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, NIV)

Jesus put it this way, “Without Me, you can do nothing.” In this passage, He talks about a vine and branches. Just like a vine will die if it is cut apart from the vine, we also won’t survive without being vitally connected to Him.

How do we stay connected?

First, by acknowledging Him. By talking to Him. By reading and following His Word. See, when you acknowledge God, that’s a sign of humility. You’re saying, “God, I know You created the whole universe. You flung the stars into space. You tell every raindrop where to fall. I’m not here by accident. You breathed Your life into me. You made me in Your image. You crowned me with Your favor. Now God, I can’t do this without You. I can’t make it on my own. I need You in my life.” When you show that kind of dependency on God, there is nothing He won’t do for you. God will move heaven and earth to get you to where you’re supposed to be.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, today I choose to abide in You. I don’t want to live life on my own, so I choose to trust in You. Show me Your ways. Teach me Your love. Keep me close to You always in Jesus name. Amen.

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

You Can Be an Overcomer

We have not been left powerless.

The posture of the Christian is that of submission.

We are not weak, cowering, fearful individuals falling into the hands of the vandal Satan, the destroyer, the one who has set himself and his demonic spirits in battle against us. But our submission is to the Lord himself. We recognize that He is ultimately in control and the final score with regard to all that touches us is not totaled on this side of heaven.

God has given us clear teaching and directions in His Word that shows us how to live. When we make morally right decisions and act responsibly, we are manifesting that God is in control of our will. On the other hand, God has also given us a free will. He does not force himself and His will on us. Even though we call ourselves Christians, there are moments when our free will chooses to reject something that comes into our lives. Then we are disobedient, wayward children, and we may eventually have to suffer the consequences for our wrong choices. Whatever we do, we must always contend with the matter of cause and effect.

This can be illustrated in many different ways. If you drive recklessly, you risk an accident. Eat foolishly and disregard the known facts about nutrition and the common sense laws of living and you will pay the penalty of sickness. Drink too much and you will send yourself to an early grave. By not taking care of your body or keeping your mind alert, you are playing into the hands of the adversary.

What about those situations over which we have no control? What about accidents that confine individuals to wheelchairs for life or to a lifetime of pain? What about imprisonment at the hands of Communists with their concentration camps, barbed wire, meager fare, and all the misery that would accompany such an existence? What about early widowhood and being left with small children to care for? Or divorce? Rexella interviewed one woman whose husband left her for another woman. In the process he also left behind his 11 children! That's pain, too.

The list could go on and on. There is child abuse, wife abuse, elder abuse, and nursing home abandonment. There is loneliness caused by the separation of war, work, death, or for one reason or another. There are the problems that often accompany old age: loss of hearing, eyesight, and similar infirmities. There are health problems that can strike at any age: cancer, arthritis, and other painful disabilities. There are depressions and nervous breakdowns. There are ruptured work relationships and interpersonal family problems. In fact, there are a variety of sufferings that come from time to time throughout one's lifetime. What are we to say about all these things?

One of the most difficult things for us to comprehend is the truth to be found in Hebrews 12:

My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby (vv. 5-11).

Chastening - however it may come - is always meant for our own good. God chastens us just as a loving parent administers the necessary discipline and punishment to enforce a point and drive home the lesson he wants his child to fully grasp. God, as our loving Heavenly Father, wants to turn our feet from the path that would lead us from His perfect will. When suffering comes I think we need to search our lives and ask the Lord to reveal to us what it is He wants us to learn.

I . . . will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and 1 will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God (Zechariah 13:9).

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee (Isaiah 43:2).

Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things 1 delight, saith the Lord (Jeremiah 9:23,24).

To read Jeremiah is to understand what it really means to endure the most difficult of circumstances. His were heartbreaking and crushing. This prophet was called by God to proclaim truth to a very wicked, idolatrous people. It was a heavy message, and Jeremiah's crying out to God is often an echo of our own pain, although few of us really know the suffering he endured. His enemies tried to do away with both the man and his message.

O Lord, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke. Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, 0 Lord God of hosts (Jeremiah 15:15, 16).

Another time he said, O Lord, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction . . . (Jeremiah 16:19).

It was the Lord who said these memorable words to Jeremiah, Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? (Jeremiah 23:23).

Jeremiah unflinchingly delivered the Lord's message to the people. He told them of the crushing judgment that was to fall upon them for their disobedience and wickedness. Because he did, the prophet was imprisoned. The Book of Lamentations records the despair and depression Jeremiah experienced. He talked about being the laughing stock of the people and about the torture he had endured. He bewailed the many calamities that had come upon him. Yet, even in the midst of ALL that, Jeremiah issued these powerful words:

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul: therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

For the Lord will not cast off forever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men (Lamentations 3:1,22-26,31-33).

His words have come down to us through history, providing hope and comfort for countless millions in their darkest hours.

I can't begin to imagine what it must have been like for Jeremiah as he was imprisoned in a dark, dark dungeon. But I am impressed with his prayer and I know we can be sustained by it when we come to our own private world of suffering and pain:

They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me. Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off. I called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not. O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life (Lamentations 3:53-58).

Was Jeremiah rescued? Or did this prophet die in the dungeon? Jeremiah 38:7-13 provides the answer. It was Jeremiah who wrote these memorable words recited through the ages by millions of people:

Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and THERE IS NOTHING TOO HARD FOR THEE (Jeremiah 32:17, emphasis mine).

In their crisis moments, the heroes and heroines of the faith demonstrated that they knew how to overcome. And to think, they didn't have the Bible like we have it today to instruct them and to provide help and hope! For instance, they didn't have the promise of Isaiah 41:10 to cling to:

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

We today are the beneficiaries of those who suffered and who overcame as they trusted in and relied upon the Lord. We have the Psalms, the writings of they prophets, the Gospels, Paul's letters, Peter's letters, and ALL the rest. Anywhere you turn in the Psalm; there is something of help and hope, something to inspire and lift you up. There are words such as these

The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble (Psalm 20:1).

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (v. 1).

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me . . . (v. 5).

And now shall mine head be lifted up . . . (v. 6).

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord (vv. 13, 14; all verses from Psalm 27).

When Paul wrote to young Timothy, his son in the faith, he included us for he speaks of "all." It is a warning we should take seriously:

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution [that is, will know suffering of some sort because of their religious stand]. [Because] evil men and seducers [imposters] shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect [complete], thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:12-17).

Someone has said that afflictions cannot injure when blended with submission. James, the brother of our Lord, wrote very practical words. He tried to show the people how to conduct themselves. He wanted them not merely to intellectually perceive the truth, but to apply it to their daily walk in order to show that theirs was a living faith. He reminded his hearers that God giveth more grace (James 4:6) as we submit ourselves to Him and resist the devil (v. 7). Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you (v. 8).

It was James who asked, Is any among you afflicted [suffering]? (See James 5:13.) If so, he suggested that the believer sing Psalms (v. 13). He also suggested that the elders be called and that they pray over the sick one and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord (v. 14). He also called for the believers to confess their faults and then urged that prayer be made: [For] the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (v. 16). The apostle Paul also called for prayer. In addition, he urged his readers to rejoice in hope and to be patient in their afflictions and tribulations (see Romans 12:12). He called for Christians to bear the infirmities of the weak, to build them up, and to offer comfort (see Romans 15:1-5).

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:3-8).

I have been reminded that steel is iron plus fire. And so, as many of the old-time writers have rightly pointed out, human character must also have a plus attached to it. I could give many examples, but one of the best is Fanny Crosby, writer of so many of our best-loved hymns. Would she ever have written her beautiful hymn "I shall see Him face to face;" if she had not beer blind her entire life? Her tribulation brought true insight.

Which brings me to Hebrews 2, which once again reminds us to look at Jesus:

. . . who was made a little lower than the angels for THE SUFFERING OF DEATH, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain [author] of their salvation PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERINGS (vv. 9,10, emphasis mine).

A MESSAGE OF HOPE FROM DR. JACK VAN IMPE

Pressure that Crushes You

"We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself ... But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead." 2 Corinthians 1:8b, 9b (NIV)

It seemed pressure came from every direction. It was unrelenting.

Financial pressures brought worry. Children issues brought frustration. And an overloaded schedule kept me up at night. It got so bad I wanted to have a bonfire with all my to-do lists and make s'mores.

Being a naturally self-sufficient person, my instincts led me to work harder. How could I make more money?
What new parenting technique would make this child behave?

If I pulled an all-nighter could I knock my emails down to a manageable number?

• I picked up the pace. 
• Buckled down. 
• Slept less. 
• Instituted logical consequences for my child. And re-wrote my to-do lists. 

I was determined to pull myself together. After all, that's who I am ... at least that's who I was.

In the past, my Lone Ranger attempts at managing circumstances worked. But not this time.

Debts mounted. My child's problems increased. And consequently, I fell further behind. The pressure just kept increasing instead of going away.

Never in my life had circumstances been so overwhelmingly beyond my control. I was surrounded by things I couldn't whip into shape, including my own emotions. I felt like such a failure, and was so ashamed that I couldn't manage the assignments God had given me. Finally, with no solutions in sight, I broke down before God, crying out in desperation, certain He'd be as disappointed with me as I was.

After all, I was the girl He was supposed to be able to count on. I was the dependable one. And here I was falling apart.

With my emotions a tangled mess, I poured out all my fears, weakness, and insecurities to God. Even my prayers seemed jumbled and incoherent. And in the midst of my tears, I declared "I can't even pray right!"

Never had I needed God more.

Well, to be honest, never had I really needed God.

In the aftermath of my breakdown, something started to change in me. It was subtle, kind of like the dawn, when pitch black moments start to take shape.

My self-sufficiency was slipping, being replaced by God-dependency. Peace snuck in where I didn't expect it. Circumstances didn't change, but my understanding did. God never needed to depend on me ... rather I was to depend on Him.

Although I'd been a Christian for many years, and loved and followed God with what I thought was all my heart, it seemed I'd held something back. In the midst of that pressure-cooker time, I realized believing in God isn't the same as trusting Him. God used pressure that felt crushing to lead me to dependence that felt freeing.

Recently I read a passage in 1 Corinthians that perfectly summarized what God taught me during that time: "We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself ... But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us" (vv. 8b, 9b-10)

Pressure in life is never easy.
But God can use it to take our faith deeper if we let Him. It started for me by admitting my insufficiency, and realizing God wasn't disappointed by that confession. In fact, He invites me to need Him.

A Prayer:
Heavenly Father, please forgive me for all the times I've said "I don't need You" through my actions. I admit I can't manage my life alone, and need Your help. Thank You for being all-sufficient and all-powerful and loving me enough to never shame me for what I can't manage. I love You. In Jesus' Name, Amen

June 11, 2013

When the Pressure Crushes You
Glynnis Whitwer

Perfectionism

Break Free from Perfectionism (2)

'We have different gifts, according to the grace given us...' Romans 12:6 NIV

One Christian writer says: 'When my friend had her first child she applied all her career talents to making a smooth transition into motherhood. She kept a rigid schedule, napped her son on time, planned time for grocery shopping, and always managed to have a nice dinner prepared by the time her husband got home.
She kept up this façade till she could handle the stress no longer.
Finally, she cracked. She left the house a mess, forgot to shower, never went to the supermarket, and when her husband came home she handed him the dirty baby...and declared the house a dinner-free zone!

What did her husband do?

He fell to his knees in an exaggerated "Hallelujah!" then spun his long-lost wife into a magnificent hug. "You're back!" he declared...Her gifts, apart from being a great wife, mum and businesswoman, are her sense of humour, her sass, her fun, and her authenticity...all the things her husband missed when her personality went on a postpartum hiatus.'

If you're 'trying to become perfect by your own human effort' (Galatians 3:3 NLT), it's not going to happen! 

'We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.'
When you strive to be somebody other than the person God intended, you end up feeling angry, inadequate and frustrated.

God purposely gifted us all in different areas.
Once you realise that, you can start to minister from your particular area of giftedness.

Remember, every one of us is a work-in-progress, so cut yourself some slack.
Instead of trying to become perfect, begin to thank God for making you one-of-a-kind.


SoulFood: Ezek 22-23, Mark 15:1-20, Psa 132:1-10, Pro 15:1-4

Written by Bob & Debby Gass
Tuesday, 11 June 2013

APPS available here

HOROSCOPES 01 : Christians

"Should a Christian consult horoscopes?"

The purpose of a horoscope is to gain insight into a person’s character and foretell the future. The basic belief of astrology is that planets and stars exert an influence upon our lives. Those with special knowledge—astrologers—can predict events in a person’s life. It is distressing that most major newspapers have a horoscope column, and even more distressing that many Christians read their horoscopes.

The Bible expressly forbids divination, sorcery, and hidden arts (Deuteronomy 18:10-14). God’s people are to heed God only (Deuteronomy 18:15). Any other source of guidance, information, or revelation is to be rejected outright. (See also Acts 16:16-18.) The Bible points to Jesus Christ as the only proper focus of faith (Acts 4:12; Hebrews 12:2). Our trust is in God alone, and we know that He will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). Faith in anything besides God is misplaced.

Astrology, then, opposes biblical teaching in at least two ways: it advocates faith in something other than God, and it is a form of divination. We cannot determine God's will for our lives through horoscopes. As Christians, we are to read the Bible and pray to God in order to gain wisdom and guidance. Consulting a horoscope is a violation of God's means of communicating with His children. We strongly believe that horoscopes should be rejected by Christians.

Original Source

HOROSCOPES 02 : Harmless?

Aren't Horoscopes Harmless?

I'm really into horoscopes and zodiac signs. One of my friends says this is the Devil's work. I don't take any of it seriously, but I think it's interesting. Should I leave these things alone altogether?

A. I think your friend is right. You really don't want to flirt with what is called the occult, a word used to describe activities in which humans try to control supernatural or paranormal powers. These things include horoscopes, zodiac signs, Ouija boards and tarot cards. So what's so bad with this supernatural stuff?

First of all, it's extremely important to understand that just like there is a physical world, there's also a spiritual world.

This mostly unseen world has two sides: 1) The perfect and beautiful part that comes from God and 2) the dark spiritual world that is in opposition to God. The leader of the dark world is Satan. Satan was an angel who fell away from God and he rules the dark spiritual world in a war against the good. Here's the advice of the Bible: "Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the Devil's deceptions. We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world" (Ephesians 6:11-12, CEV).

We might not see the battle, but it is very real. What are they fighting over? Us. And Satan knows how to lure us over to him. Very few people jump right into witchcraft, Satanism or even actual devil worship. Instead, Satan most often traps us by getting us to dabble with things that seem harmless. Even if you don't think you'll become part of those things, why spend time with horoscopes and other occult stuff when you could be focusing on more positive things?

My suggestion: Meet with your youth pastor or a trusted Christian friend and look deeper into your question. Talk about what you enjoy doing and why. The fact that you as

Original Source