Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Like Natural Like Spiritual





Like natural, like Spiritual...

I saw some things on the news today while I was at work, pulled out my journal and really listened to what God had to say. There are crisis' that go on in the world that at times reflect whats going on in the church or the body of Christ. The Lord pointed out two of the world's issues that are reflecting whats happening in the church. This long lasting oil crisis and the contaminated milk that has been killing and affecting over 53,000 babies in Asia and other continents are the two issues that really stuck out to me today.
The oil crisis because there is a lack for genuine oil in the church just as its hard to come by in the world; and this milk crisis because i believe the sincere milk of the Word has been tainted in the church by a man centered gospel being preached instead of a God-centered gospel.

Let me know what you think...

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Disciplined and Free

I was listening to this hymn on the radio the other morning... it actually woke me up..and i didnt catch all the words of the song ( mostly because of my loud alarm clock) but i did seem to catch these words in the song: " I am a Christian, disciplined and free..." I was already thinking about the role of discipline in Christianity and it plays a very big role, especially because our flesh naturally leans twoard not doing the will of God.
We cannot be loose with our Christianity, customizing Jesus in order to make up for our lack of discipline. The whole book of Proverbs talks about the role of instruction and correction, reproof and discipline. Words like chastisement, warning, and training are all words that are synonomous with discipline. We cannot live in a Christianity where "anything goes" and we are "free to serve Jesus". You see alot of people in this "freedom" wearing whatever, talking however, and cant seem to ever get rid of their bad habits, blaming them on Christ because "He's still working on me." Proverbs 22:15; 29:15; and 13:24 all apeak on discipline, even discipline concerning the rod of correction. Most people just think that these verses are talking about children and parents, but its also dealing with the Christian who is still a immature and hasn't been disciplined. Hebrews 12 talks about discipline, right after one of the most powerful chapters on faith in the Bible, Hebrews 11. With faith must come discipline. The one who forsakes and rejects discipline is a fool is what Proverbs teaches us.

Proverbs 10:17- He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
Prov 10:17 (KJV)

Proverbs 13:18-Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
Prov 13:18 (KJV)

Proverbs 15:5-A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
Prov 15:5 (KJV)

There are many more verses in Proverbs and all throughout the Word dealing with discipline. Its in discipline and holiness that the Christian is free. The Holy Spirit will always correct, convict, and keep the believer on the right path, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty (2 Cor 3:17). In other words, there is no liberty outside of the Lord's correction, and conviction, and his light and easy yoke. (Matt 11:30)

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Sight of Sin

So, Ive been reading these Puritan Paperbacks, and they are some great books by the way; I'm currently reading The Doctrine of Repentance by Thomas Watson, and it is an awesome book, and its straight to the point when it talks about true and false repentance.
I wanted to list something I saw in the earlier chapters of the book about the Nature of True Repentance
There are 6 ingredients of true repentance and each ingredient is a key factor in true repentance.
1.Sight of sin
2.Sorrow for sin
3.Confession of sin
4.Shame for sin
5.Hatred for sin
6.Turning from sin

I just want to talk about the first, and you can check out the rest of these if you buy the book ( I hightly recommend it!)
Sight of sin is so important when we live in a world that accepts sin more and more everyday. Its important that we know what sin is, and how to identify it when it comes up in our lives. Things ranging from the most adulterous affair to the slightest bit of manipulation need to be identified immediately as sin and repented for in our lives. Many parents watch their children engage in acts of sin, and rebellion and all along, watch as they plunge deeper into sin without repenting. The parents refuse to call sin what it is and the children refuse to turn from it. The addict is seen nowadays as someone who has a problem, a self-esteem issue, or a rough childhood, but they are never seen as one who is willfully sinful and needs true repentance. More and more women become pregnant out of wedlock, abortions are higher and more men and women make the godless decision to "come out of the closet" professing their homosexuality, and the world calls them different...they applaud the unmarried woman with child, they approve the woman that aborts and pat her on the back , and the judicial system sides with the serial murderer that had a rough childhood. The courts have legalized a total abomination in the eyes of the Supreme Judge and theyve done it in the name of "love".There is a difference between appeasement and compassion and the latter is not seen a whole lot today.
Yes, people need a break...they need to be broken lol...we need to call sin what it is and tell man to turn from it because its death. God will not pat the sinner on the back on Judgment Day and tell him "its ok, mistakes happen.." Mistakes do happen, but people also sin willfully...because theyre born that way and they need to repent and turn to Christ. Sin and its reality need to be seen for what it really is..death, separation. Sin not only needs to be seen as something to be punished for, but something that causes a loving holy God to separate Himself from you...and thats the ultimate low thats found in sin. As in Isaiah 6, sin must be seen for what it is and repented for, sorrowed over and God is faithful to cleanse sin because of true repentance. To the Christian, sin must be sighted for in our lives and repented for immediately. To the world, dont remain blinded by ignorance and self- love. Call sin what it is, realize the crime behind it, and dont be sorry for the consequences of it, be sorry because it grieves a holy God. Lets not appease sin any longer, lets take a stand and call sin out for the wickedness that it really is and show compassion to the man that desires to turn from it.