Monthly Archives: December 2018

Seek Painful Truth, not easy lies

Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

I awoke this morning about 530, with a burden on my chest. It is a worldly thing, worry that come around running a business, and the lack of money to do so. This is always a very tough time of year financially, but this year is much worse. I was determined not to start my day that way, so I stumbled through some prayer and opened my Bible app to start searching and reading. I spent much time in 2nd Timothy, reading of Paul’s encouraging words to his “son,” of how to remain focused and faithful to God’s calling on his life; the call to 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. This passage is so dear to me, for God used it powerfully in my life when I felt called to ministry; I have tear stains in my favorite Bible on that page. I continued on, reading of the context of where I feel we are in this world now; a passage that is clearly where the soft sermons that pack pews are being preached from mighty pulpits today, and many are being led away by these watered down gospels.

2nd Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. Have you ever questioned something you heard a pastor say? Something in your gut just didn’t seem right, or you didn’t understand, or you felt as through they were wrong? That may be God urging you to search out that question in his Word. That may be the Holy Spirit within you sending a warning to your mind through your heart. I spent quality time with a pastor friend of mine recently, and we both agree on the lack of biblical teaching these days; of repentance, or sin, of Hell, of expounding complete books in the Bible so as no excuse to skip over the tough ones. When your pastor picks and chooses topically, he allows himself the freedom to not address the scriptures that offend, and turn people away. Has your pastor ever preached through a book of the Bible, verse by verse, context and tackling the tough subjects? How simple it would be to preach about God’s love, financial gains, better marriages, how to be a better person, how to live a prosperous life….. while never touching on sin, Hell, repentance, and the true gospel of Jesus Christ who called you to be his disciple and lay down your cross every day to serve him.

I decided to not go into work today, to spend more time in God’s Word. I prayed and opened my Bible to John 9, and read of the blind man Jesus healed, and how he testified to the Pharisees. John 9:25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?” He spoke boldly of Jesus, astounded at their dis-belief at what he told them. He was born blind, and now he looked at them directly and testified of the miracle – how could they NOT believe? Matthew Henry said of this; “Why this is the strangest instance of willful ignorance that ever was heard of among men that pretend to have sense.” How much do we see in the headlines of people seemingly believing things we cannot understand how they do? How many times do people defend their seemingly blind faith, when someone stands before them that can see? How can you tell me the sky is dark, when the sun is out? I know not, but it seems as though we are living in a time of strong delusion, or believing the seemingly unbelievable. The only way you will ever discern truth or not, is to listen to your gut, and to seek Truth out in his Word.

Delusional

2 Thessalonians 2:11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

What do you think? Do you think delusional would be a good word to describe society today? Do you think if you said no, you might be under delusion yourself – LOL….kinda. I under no means would prophetically speak here, would not use this passage out of context to fit some agenda, would not proclaim to accurately expound this chapter of second Thessalonians, much less be stupid enough to proclaim the second coming of Jesus Christ, because He doesn’t even know. Mark 13:32 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. But….how do we explain what we are witnessing in society today, outside of somewhat delusional in any context? How do we see people believing pretty much anything, even at the expense of everything? How can society have become so blind to simple truths, and become argumentative against any level of absolute truth? The answer might be somewhat in the passage above; we might possibly be the transitions phase of the 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first; It would be hard to present a clear defense of what we are witnessing today among us, the seemingly lack of any spine of truth, only the fluid movements of the moment, believing anything that feels good, doesn’t offend any, and works well for oneself in the given situation. 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
2 Timothy 3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

Being a Christian is not going to make you popular. Being a Christian is not going to make life easy. Being a Christian will likely make your life harder, because you have declared yourself an enemy against the ruler of this world, and have declared yourself a soldier for Jesus Christ, the One who defeats the ruler of this world. Are you willing to stand for truth, even when it becomes difficult? Are you willing to believe the Bible is the Absolute Truth, the measure by which you judge all of life around you? 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. If you truly pursue God daily in prayer and his Word, your eyes will be opened to the truth, and the delusions around you. You will begin to have God’s eyes, seeing things on a smaller scale than he sees, yet developing an intimacy with the One who controls all of life. You will begin to desire sharing these truths to all God places in your circle, and being used by God to rescue some from this crazy, delusional world we live in. #comeLordJesuscomequickly

Epitaph’s

Acts 13:22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’

This week we buried one of the great presidents of my time; a man of honor, respect, humbleness, and a great leader. George Bush had many people say great things about him, and from what I saw of his funeral, even a bolder Christian faith was proclaimed in a society steering away from it for the fear of offending someone. It had me wondering what people would say at mine. I have never been one to care what other people thought; plain and openly spoke what is on my heart, a filterless speech that has offended many. Do you care so much about what others think, you know not what you truly think or believe yourself? There is a fine line here of boldness or thoughtlessness. There is an abrasive tone that speaks not in love like Christ would. The delivery is as key as the message itself. Sadly I fail many times in both.

I have always related to David, to the lows of his sins, to the struggles of his anxieties and depressions, to the depth of his heart for God, and God knowing his heart. Psalm 139:1 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. O Lord, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. 3 You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. I have always been open about my struggles with anxiety and depression, for I hope that you see how I deal with them through my faith, and not the pills that society dictates. I have labeled them my “thorn in my flesh” for I know they come from my enemy. They many times precede to distract, or most likely come on the heels of spiritual victories. They are spiritual fiery darts that torment the soul, for usually that are proportionate to the spiritual high. Being outspoken, I threaten my adversary with my speech, and the boldness to proclaim the truth to all whom God has prepared to hear. I struggle with joy in this life, because I see so much struggle around me in a world far from God. I am living in a time I am almost bold enough to say, is the beginning of the great falling away before Jesus Christ returns. You would have to be blind to not see the signs of the evil peaking before you; the murders on incredible scales; the world against Israel’s nationality; the false teachers in grand pulpits leading many astray; the seemingly delusional ability for people to believe things seemingly unbelievable; the incredible acts of nature as she groans for Christ’s return…..all of this is in the Bible, read it for yourself.

I am not smart enough to argue the topic of Eschatology with you; to debate your view of the end of time as we know it. You do need to have somewhat an understanding of it, to form your belief upon it, but as long as you know Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven (John 14:6), it matters not the timetable on how you get there. Do you know you will get there? Do you truly have a heart for God, or just going through the religious motions? Do you seek God more than just Sundays for a couple hours, or is he the Lord of your life? Do you seek him daily in prayer and his Word? Do you walk a life of repentance to keep communion with God? Do you live by the first and greatest commandment? Mark 12:30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. Why not read David’s Psalm 139 completely this snowy morning? Why not pray for God to search your heart before you even read it? Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. Let God perform a heart check, and let today be the day you begin to be remembered like David too; one who had a heart for God.

Eschatology Link: https://www.gotquestions.org/Eschatology.html