Resisting the Pressures of the World

Evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned.

2 Timothy 3:13~14

In today's scripture reading (2 Timothy 3:1~17), Paul urges Timothy to continue in the same path as he learned and knows to be "profitable" because there will be terrible times in the last days.

All the things mentioned in the first part of the reading are happening all around the world, even within ourselves as we speak. I know I'm guilty of most of them if not all. More and more I realize that I'm being sucked into the pressures of the world, I feel the need to meditate on God's word because I remember in my short walk of faith that I had less fluctuation when I read the bible regularly. I slowly drifted away from that habit and I find it extremely difficult to get back into it.

My walk of faith has had a lot of ups and downs so although I know it is about time for me to stay consistent and I feel that I'm almost taking advantage of the fact that God's grace is free, but I also know that God will never stop intervening and never completely neglect his own. Now you may argue that this is doesn't justify anything and yes, I agree, but that's who He is and all I'm saying is that I refuse to make the mistake of convincing myself and think that I drifted too far and there is no way that God will forgive me AGAIN.

Although I won't bet on the fact that God will take me back because that's entirely upto Him, but I will desperately continue to hold onto the truth and acknowledge the undeniable fact that He is my Lord, my Savior and my Father.

RE: Christianity is Christ

Stott's comments on Philippians 1:21 is a much needed reminder to us all in that what's needed in the Christian life is for us to know the "surpassing value" of Jesus Christ. The key that unlocks the door to all that God has for us, is to keep growing in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The profit-loss example helps us to see what's really at stake. The comparision is Jesus Christ vs everything. And for Paul, it was Jesus Christ hands down! In fact he goes on to say that compared to Jesus Christ, "everything" is dung! And I believe, he wasn't exaggerating either.

In fact Paul entire life after his conversion was wholly devoted to proclaiming Christ. As I've said in my message on Sunday, it all comes down to whether the gospel is precious, a gospel that is everything about Jesus Christ -- his birth, his life, his ministry, his suffering, his example, his teachings, his death, his resurrection, his ascension, his glory, his promises, etc. Let us join with Paul in praying, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming like him in his death."

Posted by Pastor James

Spiritual Gifts

I've read this passage many times before and always read it as spiritual gifts to an individual rather than the church as a whole. For some reason, when I read Stott's entry and 1 Corinthians 12:1-13 today, I read it differently as the body encompassing all of the churches in the world.

There are so many different denominations and types of churches today. Some are mega churches, some are small churches, there is traditional and now contemporary forms of worship, there is baptist, methodist, presbyterian, non-denominational the list goes on and on and on...kind of like the factions of the Corinthian church.

This always seems to be a divisive issue for man but perhaps God is saying here that all of these very different churches exist for the 'common good' and according to his purpose. These were my thoughts as I read this passage today.

1 Corinthians 12: 7-11 reads:

7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

Church A, they may be a very charismatic church and gifted with speaking in different tongues or perhaps the gift of healing.

Church B may not be at all like this and have been given the message of knowledge or wisdom.

Church A might think Church B is all wrong and vice versa...

Both churches are very different but bound by the same spirit and they are both vital to the body of Christ. The differences shouldn't divide... they should make the body stronger, no? Thoughts?

God's plan for Jews and Gentiles

OK.... this is second time around I have to write a blog about Jews and Gentiles. Last one was how certain group of Christian Jews insisted on Gentiles being circumcised in order to be complete their salvation. We read that the conflict between Christian Jews and Gentiles were on going and significant enough for Paul to step out and address the issue. Stott mentioned that there are two reasons why Jews as a whole rejected Jesus as the Messiah. One is that God hardened hearts of people so that the elect can receive God's mercy. Another reason is result in Israel's own disobedience and unbelief. Stoot points out that these two reasons, one is "divine election and human rebellion" contradict from humanly perspective. However he urges us to accept both truths even if we may not fully comprehend. Stott goes on to say that God's mercy has granted to both Jews and Gentiles. Illustration of chapter 11 also gives warnings to both Jews and Gentiles. At last the doxology that ends this chapter is the heart-felt outpouring of Paul's praise to God, whose wisdom and knowledge bought forth His great plan of the salvation of both Jews and Gentiles.

The Steadfast Love of God

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.

So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

From The Message (Romans 8:28-39) - this version really helped me better grasp these verses.

The Fruit of the Spirit

1Opposing forces are constantly battling: good (Holy Spirit) and bad (our sinful nature)
2Opposing lifestyles:
-Acts of sinful nature – 4 categories; sex, religion, society, drink (not clear on this last one but I’m assuming getting drunk)
- God’s way: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control
3Opposiing Attitude: We are to reject our sinful desires and surrender to Holy Spirit

Stott mentions that our attitude must be decisive, complete and continuous. Since these are spiritual fruits, we’re talking about making them grow.

So how do we make all this happen. Well, I guess most of us already took the first and easy step in believing Jesus as our lord and that he died for our sins.

Next is our sanctification process. I tihnk this is the hardest part of the Christian life. I don’t think there is any magic or a quick solution here. Most of us already know the answer. Stott reminds us: make the best of Sunday worship, daily devotion, public worship, participation in Lord’s supper, and involvement in Christian services are some of the key things that will help us grow in our Christian walk.

This is definetely much easier said then done. I struggle every day with all of the above. This is probably an excuse but sometimes I feel that I could do much better if I had 32 hrs a day. Nah.. i probably just need to plan my day and life little better. Plan, prioritize, and execute. We'll see how it goes...

the two shadows of the cross

it is interesting that the apostle paul states in romans 3:25 that God sacrificed His Son to die on the cross, "to demonstrate His justice, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished".

this is a remarkable statement. every one of the countless sins that had been committed from the beginning of creation until the time of Jesus's death on the cross, had been, in the words of paul, "left unpunished".

of course, these people endured the natural consequences of their sinful actions, and had succumbed to natural death, but their sins had never been atoned for in a way that appeased God's terrible justice and righteous anger. they had been left "unpunished".

God could not possibly be just or righteous if He left these sins unpunished, much like an earthly judge would be unrighteous if he let a murderer go free without having him pay for his crime.

in this way, if Jesus had never died on the cross, God could be accused of being "unjust", in just "letting" sins go without punishment.

but when Jesus Christ suffered the punishment for these sins, He satisfied through His death the perfect and terrible justice that these sins demanded.

thus the cross is not only a demonstration of God's perfect love. the cross is equally a demonstration of God's perfect justice.

this glorious truth proves 3 very important points:

1) only when God's perfect justice was satisfied by punishing His own Son for the sins of the world was God in any position to forgive sinners. He could not have forgiven us if our sins had not been atoned for.

2) just like we, 21 centuries removed from the crucifixion, look back at Jesus's death on the cross with faith, believing that He died for our sins, those who lived before the time of Christ looked forward to Christ in faith for their redemption. they died in faith, trusting that God would enact their salvation through some future action. they could not have imagined that their salvation would be achieved through God sending His own Son to die.

3) it shows us that Jesus's motivation to finish the work on the cross was not only His great love for sinners, though it was that. it was also to satisfy the terrible justice of God, lest any accuse God of being unjust for leaving past sins unpunished. His great concern was for the honor of His Father in heaven.

"whoever is wise, let him heed these things

and consider the great love of the Lord" (psalm 107:43).