Month: August 2020

Most of us are not usually very happy with our politicians, regardless of which side we are on. One of the principle reasons for our displeasure with them is they often say something today that directly contradicts what they said last week, last month, last year or maybe years ago. It’s just difficult to fully trust someone who anywhere from occasionally to frequently, 1s saying something different and presenting it all as truth.

The fact that almost everything they say is recorded allows us to “fact check” what they say. So many of them, it seems, are unfazed by their lack of consistency. It’s just difficult to believe them at times.

I know as humans we sometimes change our opinion of things. Usually we can give a reason for doing so, if for no other reason than to justify in our own minds our desire to change.

It is a shame that so many people put so much emphasis on and trust in someone who has proven to have problems telling the truth and so little importance on what the one Being who “cannot lie” (Hebrews 6:18) has to say.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8); For I the LORD do not change (Malachi 3:6); the word of the Lord remains forever. (1 Peter 1:25). We would do well to listen to, believe and obey the abiding word of God. It is His truth that saves. His words are truth (John 17:17). Let me encourage us to “fact check” the word of God. We’ll find His plan to save man has not changed. The Gospel message for salvation 2,000 years ago is the exact same message preached today for the saving of man’s soul.

We are in a time referred to as cancel culture. Cancel culture is the act of destroying someone’s life over the fact they disagree with popular opinion. The Christian, however, should have a different take on “cancel culture”

 

Notice, for example:

• We should cancel negativism pessimism.
• We should cancel prejudice.
• We should cancel immoral thoughts.
• We should cancel sin.
• We should cancel false doctrine.

Rather than focusing on destroying others’ lives, let’s focus on improving our own by doing such we will be doing our part to make the world better…And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:24-25)

Via… Bulletin Digest

At the end of Paul’s instruction to the Ephesian Christians to put on the whole armor of God he gives these closing words… “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,” (Ephesians 6:18) As William Hendrickson noted in his commentary on Ephesians Paul uses the word “all” four times. Let’s note how that may benefit us today.

Praying at ALL times” – to pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:16), to pray in all the seasons of one’s life, all conditions, all situations. Some will be good and some may not. Does not matter.

Pray at all times with ALL prayer and supplication” – every type of prayer should be lifted up to God. Prayers of petition, thanksgiving, praise, calling on God for His forgiveness, grace and mercy. Seeking His help and providential care with ALL perseverance” again, “pray without ceasing”.

Remember Jesus told us to keep on asking, seeking and knocking. (Matthew 7). Giving up should not be in the Christians character. We keep taking everything to God in prayer because we know He hears us and will answer for ALL the saints” – it is easy to minimalize our world and focus only on those things and people who are near us.

Remember the church is spread throughout the world and we need to pray “for All the saints”. Some are living in very difficult situations, some are struggling to maintain the faith, some need to repent, others need to be encouraged to keep spreading the gospel and for a myriad of other needs and reasons we must continue to pray at all times

God’s word is truth (John 17:17) and when we are all grounded in the truth of God’s word unity will be the result (Ephesians 4:1-15).

Truth does not cause division because truth is constant. Division comes when someone blows the winds of false doctrine and topples Christians who are not grounded in truth. They are “carried about by every wind of doctrine” because they have no roots. False teachers use trickery, cunning craftiness, and deceit to cause division in the church (read the passage above).

There is much division in the religious world today. Why? There are two reasons: First, false teachers come into a church and draw away disciples after themselves (Acts 20:29-30). They are more interested in promoting themselves than in teaching God’s truth. Second, Christians who are not grounded in the truth follow the false teachers. Their ears have been tickled by the cunning craftiness of the false teacher and they are drawn away after their own lust (2 Timothy 4:2-4).

False teachers and itching ears always result in divisions and “new churches” spring up. But truth always brings unity among those who hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matthew 5:6).

Via Bulletin Digest