Time to Act Like a Man

We live in a society where the idea of taking personal responsibility for our own actions is outdated, rejected and shunned by those even in the church.  We blame everyone and everything else for our failures.

"Hey, it's not my fault I turned out this way.  I didn't have perfect parents, a perfect home life, perfect teeth, or a perfect education.  I didn't have the opportunities that she did and my friends weren't as cool as his friends were.  I was deprived, misunderstood, unloved."

And, the most sinister of them all:  "Hey, it's not my fault.  After all, God made me this way.  He could have changed things if He wanted to... but He didn't.  It's all God's fault!" 

If you think so, you'd better keep listening.

  

The following is a study on James 1:13-17.

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Trials are the Great Equalizer

In the Christian life, trials serve as the great equalizer.  Death, disease, the loss of a close relationship, financial failures or any of a thousand different things can test a Christian's faith.  But trials and problems do not show favoritism.  They come to the rich and the poor, the prosperous and the deprived.   They are a part of life to all.

That is why James views trials as the great equalizer.  After all, they are a test to determine if our faith is valid, genuine or approved.  And we, rich or poor, are to rejoice when they come our way.

Seems impossible, doesn't it?  Then keep listening.

  

The following is a study on James 1:9-12.

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Lessons Learned from the Death of a Friend

Sometimes unexpected things in life become powerful tools in the hands of the Lord to teach us in the darkness what we were too busy to learn in the light.  Such was the death of Carroll Henderson.

James 1 tells us that one of the hallmark signs of true salvation is persevering during the time of great trials.  We show our faith genuine and ourselves approved when we falter not at the altar of suffering.  Such again, was the lesson we learned from the death of Carroll Henderson.

Would you like to know more about genuine faith?  Then, by all means, keep listening.

  

The following is a study on James 1:1-3.

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Where is the Remnant?

James tells us there are two kinds of people... those who "do" and those who "hear and refuse to do."  And the difference between them is profound.  One is "blessed in all that he does" and the other is "self-deceived."

Which one are you?

Where are the men and women of God who hear the Word and strive, with all that is in them, to obey what it says... no matter what? Where are they?  Where have they gone?  

What happened to the remnant?

  

The following is a study on James 1:22-27.

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Why Does God Allow Bad Things to Happen to... uh, Me?

James tells us that how we stand up under trials, no matter how severe, are a strong indicator of our salvation.  In other words, if we endure, good sign we are saved.  If we don't, well... that could be a pretty good sign that we're not.

Warren Wiersbe puts it this way:

"Our values determine our evaluations.  If we value comfort more than character, then trials will upset us.  If we value the material and physical more than the spiritual, we will not be able to ‘count it all joy!’  If we live only for the present and forget the future, the trials will make us bitter, not better."

So where are you when it comes to trials?

  

The following is a study on James 1:1-12.

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Trying to Steal a Healing from Jesus

Our personal perceptions of God often, unfortunately, determine how we view Him and how we approach Him.  And sometimes these perceptions are not directly related to Him, but to others who have impacted our lives in a less than positive way.

For example, if we have an earthly father who is harsh or unforgiving or can't be trusted to care for his children, it's a small step to then assume that our Heavenly Father is just like our earthly father.  Or, if our earthly father is weak and spineless and wants to be loved by everyone rather than doing what is right... well, we assume that God also has that hurtful character trait.  And these faulty perceptions give us a flawed view of who God is and how He responds to each of us.  

The woman who tried to steal a healing from Jesus is a classic example of this.  Keep listening, for there is much we can learn from her story. 

  

The following is a study on Seeing God Clearly.

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The Most Difficult Miracle to Understand

In Mark 8 we have recorded one of the most troubling and misunderstood miracle of Jesus... the one that requires a second touch.  Remember?  First touch, men like trees.  Second touch, everything is 20/20.

Why?  What happened?  Did Jesus fail?  Did He not do a good enough job the first time and needed a tune-up or a second opinion?  Was He having a bad day or was He too tired to heal the man the first time? 

And, with all these questions, why would Mark include this miracle in his book anyway?  Seems like it raised more questions that it answers.  

But the truth is compelling and enlightening.  Stick with us to find out.

  

The following is a study on How to Understand Difficult Passages.

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How to "Experience" the Word of God

How do you "experience" the Word of God?  Well, for openers, you do more than just read it like a John Grisham novel or college textbook on quantum physics.

You must not just "read" the text, you must learn to "live" in it.

In order to "experience" the Word of God you have to place yourself in the text, you have to become part of the story, you have to allow the Holy Spirit to teach you how to lose yourself in the Scriptures so they become more than simply words on a page.  No, they become living and active and God-breathed.  They become life to you and your source of strength and assurance.

"But how?" you ask.  "How can I learn to do that?"  Great question.  Keep listening.

  

The following is a study on How to Experience the Word of God.

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How to be Filled with the Holy Spirit... for Real

We live in terribly trying times.  Just check out the evening news.  The prospect of war in the Middle East looms over our heads, the eminent collapse of our financial system and the fear of hyper-inflation keeps many awake at night and the rapid moral decay of our culture paints an incredibly bleak picture for our children and our grandchildren.  

What's a believer to do?

Strive to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit.  Oh, so you've heard that before.  Nevertheless, the reality doesn't change.  You need to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

"But how?" you ask.  Great question.  Keep listening.

  

The following is a study on Being Filled with the Holy Spirit.

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Romans 8:29-30 - God's Choice of You

What happens when a clear doctrine in Scripture assaults and comes into direct conflict with our personal conviction of right and wrong, or what is fair and just or what is unfair and needs to be corrected

What happens?

Do we simply accept the clear teaching of Scripture as truth? Or do we somehow try to place the blame for this moral inconsistency on the head of God Himself?  

Unfortunately, my experience says the latter.  Especially when dealing with issues like election, free-will and personal accountability.

Want to know more?  Keep listening.

  

The following is a study on Romans 8:29-30.

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Romans 8:28 - More than a Biblical Placebo

Romans 8:28 is either one of the greatest statements of divine encouragement found in the New Testament or it is, hands down, the greatest excuse for our "stay at arms length, don't get too close" lack of ministry to others who are hurting.  It has become for many a Biblical placebo freely prescribed by uninformed, apathetic Christians to those who are in deep distress spiritually, physically, or emotionally.

It's as if by saying the words or quoting the verse we have somehow uttered the magic incantation that will set everything right and soothe away all the pain and hurt.  "There's no place like home.  There's no place like home."

It has become the church's default ministry position when we simply don't know what to say or don't want to get too involved or we are just too busy to hear about their problems or bear their burdens.

Is that all this verse mean?

But for those who how understand and live in the realm of the sovereignty of God, it is something more.  Much more.  After all, according to Psalm 115:3, "Our God is in His heavens and does what He pleases."

So, which is it?  Encouragement or placebo?  Listen and find out more.

  

The following is a study on Romans 8:28.

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What Does Worship Really Mean?

Question:  What does worship really mean?

Answer (and more questions):  Is worship simply a style or type or genre of Christian  music?   Or, is worship just the singing part of our Sunday morning church routine?

 Does worship always have to be connected with music or can worship intersect other parts of our lives?  And, if so, what other parts?  And how?  In what way?  

What does true worship look like?  How does it feel?  What does it accomplish?  What does it do for God (as strange as that sounds) and what does it do for me?  What is the purpose of worship?  

Need more?  Then keep listening.. 

  

The following is a study on true Worship.

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Sons, Adoption, Children and Heirs

When we tire of the constant struggle between the inner man and our flesh sometime we can begin to believe that maybe we aren't really saved, that maybe we're not one of the chosen ones... maybe we've just been fooling ourselves or maybe we just flat missed the boat. 

During those dark times it is helpful and encouraging to see the three confirmations of our sonship in Christ that are found in Romans 8. 

We can relish in the fact that being (1) led by the Spirit proves our (2) adoption, and if we are adopted then we are (3) sons of God and joint-heirs with Christ. 

And it doesn't get much better than that.

  

The following is a study on Romans 8:14-16.

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Painting With a Narrow Brush

One of the dangers of living in the lukewarm, Laodicean church culture of today is that we tend to adopt the mantra of the world regarding sin and repeat it over and over again, as truth, within our church circles. 

For example, "Don't ask, don't tell."  

Or, in other words, if you won't ask me about my sin and lack of Christian virtue and holiness, then I promise I won't ask you about yours.  Then we can both live under the deception that we are saved, living the "abundant life in Christ," and that the Lord is "mighty pleased with us." 

Really?  But the Scriptures may say something quite different. 

  

The following is a study on Romans 8:3-5.

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What Does it Mean to be "In Christ"?

"In Christ."  Martin Luther puts it this way:

"Everything which Christ has becomes the property of the believing soul; everything which the soul has, becomes the property of Christ. Christ possesses all blessings and eternal life: they are thenceforward the property of the soul. The soul has all its iniquities and sins: they become thenceforward the property of Christ. It is then that a blessed exchange commences."

But there is much more.  Being "in Christ" is... well, such a profound truth that it boggles the mind to even think about it. 

Keen listening...

  

The following is a study on Romans 8:1.

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The Great Paradox: Slavery = Freedom

The Christian life is full of some strange, yet Biblical paradoxes.  Consider the following:

Salvation is both free and costly.
To find your life you must lose it.
Those who are last will be first.
The least among men is the greatest.
Those who give will receive.
Those who are humble will be exalted.
God is Three yet One.

And the granddaddy of them all...

True freedom comes only through slavery.  Really?  Oh, yes.  It is the most marvelous paradox of all.  Listen and find out why.

  

The following is a study on being a Slave.

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Time to Man-Up, Dude

Sometimes when we view God we have a selfish, sinful, Laodicean tendency to think that He is just like us.  After all, we bend over backwards to cut our kids slack because we want them to like us and... uh, I guess that's how God deals with us.  Wrong. 

Then we continually make excuses for sinful behavior and just chuck it all up to the mantra of, "you know how kids are these days" or "boys will be boys" or "that's just the way I am"... and we think and pray that God views our sin the same way.  Again, wrong. 

God is not created in our image.

And it's high time to man-up.

  

The following is a study on the Holiness of God.

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The Horrid Condition of the Human Heart

Some people feel that the Scriptures no longer speak to us today.  That the answers it offers are to questions we no longer ask. 

Really?  Try this one on for size. 

Question from Romans 6:  If it is true that the Law convicts and condemns, and if I am now free from the Law and under grace... then it would stand to reason that I am free from any moral restraint in my behavior. 

In other words, if the law no longer needs to be obeyed, and if God's grace covers all my sins, then I (and all Believers) are perfectly free to do as we please and sin to our heart's content.

  

The following is a study on Romans 6:15-23.

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Doulos - One Strange Word that Changes Everything!

 Doulos.  It means "slave, or one who is held in servitude as chattel (or property) of another."  But there is much more. 

Doulos deals with a permanent relationship of servitude to another.  It is one whose very existence is characterized by obedience, one whose own personal will is surrendered to the will of another.  It depicts one who is completely devoted to and dependent on another. 

It is the exact opposite of what we honor and esteem in our culture today. 

And, most important, it is the type of "slave / master" relationship that we are to have with Jesus. 

Confused?  Then keep listening.

  

The following is a study on being a Servant or a Slave.

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Sacrificing Our Children to Demons

Psalm 106 tells of Israel's rebellion and sin and the bountiful mercy of God.  But is also paints a prophetic picture of the church in America today. 

Consider the following:

"But they mingled with the Gentiles (or heathens) and learned their works.  They served their idols, which became a snare to them.  They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons."

Are you wondering how someone could sacrifice their children to demons?   Then keep listening... because we do it everyday.

 

 The following is a study on Psalm 106.

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