The End of Self

An interesting thought came to me after I wrote the previous blog, "How to Handle Change."  I looked over my previous blogs and realized I was writing very similar messages.  The message I've been getting and writing about has to do with being led of the Spirit and the importance of listening to God.  So I prayed about that and I believe the Lord impressed on me that when the message He is giving is repeatedly the same, this means that we really really need to pay attention to it! 

Have you ever talked to your spouse or another person and you knew they were not really listening, but were distracted by something else or perhaps other thoughts?  I am sure we have all experienced this and have done this ourselves, perhaps innocently enough, but if we repeatedly do not listen or take to heart what a loved one or friend is saying, we won't have much of a relationship with them, will we?  And sometimes chaos ensues when we have not been paying attention, especially if we have made plans that are about to unfold, and we have failed to tell our spouse!  When God speaks to us, there is always a very good reason, and if He is repeating the same thing over and over again, then we better start paying attention! 

What happens when the Lord is trying to get a message across to us and we're simply not hearing, or listening or responding?  Usually it is a crisis, something very dramatic or traumatic, or something that causes us to stop what we're doing.  We may feel like we are backed into a corner and we have no other choice but to finally quiet ourselves down and take the time to pray AND listen AND respond.  This has definitely happened to me more than once when God was trying to get a message across to me.  In fact, the first time I was a teenager and  I had turned so far away from God that I was sure my life was over.  And in a sense, it was. I had really come to an abrupt end of myself and my ungodly lifestyle of living according to my own desires, or according to the "flesh," as the Bible calls it. 

Have you ever heard of testimonies of people who seemed the least likely to turn to God, or had reached their end and then had a miraculous turn-around that set them on the right path with God?  The Bible is filled with such examples.  When God confronts us, it changes us forever and we never want to go back to the life we once had.  But this always comes at a great cost – the cost is giving up our "self" life and submitting ourselves to Him for His purposes and plans. 

The question is, do we have to reach an end to ourselves before God can get ahold of us?  When I was researching all those many years for the book on backsliding that I wrote and published, one of the verses that kept coming to mind is the following: 

Pro 14:14    The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. 

Backsliding is turning away from the Lord, and what the verse showed me is that when we choose our own way, we actually become enslaved by the constant desires of the "flesh."  The Apostle Paul talks about this at length in the book of Romans.  Only the Lord can set us free from our own selfish motives and our sinful desires, and bring us to an end of the demanding and futile self-life. 

Then the Bible talks about being stiff-necked and in the same verses it talks about hardening our own heart. 

Pro 29:1    He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. 

What happens when we become hardened to the things of God?  When Christians especially are not heeding the call and messages from God to honor Him and His Word and repent, iniquity will take over, and Satan has a heyday.  This doesn't happen overnight either.  It is often a slow and gradual process, as one by one, we compromise, excuse our sin, let things slip, and gradually the moral ground beneath our feet collapses and we fall.  This is a very serious matter that affects not only us, but whole families, societies and nations! 

The Old Testament is filled such examples, especially pertaining to the children of Israel and Judah in particular.  If we take a look at Jeremiah, God uses the prophet Jeremiah to plead for His people to turn from their backsliding ways and return to Him, but they refuse to listen!  

 Jer 2:19    Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts. 

Each time the children of Israel backslid and turned away from God (most notably they had gotten into idolatry and began worshipping pagan gods and followed their ways), they would be taken captive by their enemies.  Then they would find themselves in such a mess that they would cry out to God to deliver them, and He would out of His immense love and faithfulness to them, but astonishingly, their hearts did not change!  They wanted to go back to the pagan ways.   

How does this relate to us today?   God is looking for us to be faithful to Him and put Him first in our lives.  He is looking for empty vessels (empty of self) that He can use to show others how loving and gracious He alone is!  He has set us apart, like He did with the children of Israel, and He wants our complete devotion to Him.  If we are too distracted by our own selves or the things of this world, we will not be paying attention to Him, or worshipping Him in a way that He deserves and that is honoring to Him. 

In my last blog, "How to Handle Change," I talked about the many losses and trials me and my husband have been experiencing.  There have been many more losses I never even mentioned.  For me, God has set me on a definite path to follow Him and it has not always been an easy road.  Where I wanted a life of ease, God led me down a difficult path fraught with uncertainty and disappointment where I had to trust in Him.  Of course, He's always brought me through and my life is always better because of the difficulties, although I can't see it at the time. 

Many years ago, when I was still single and feeling lonely, watching all my friends get married and move on in their lives, I wondered what my future held as year after year I was met with so much disappointment.  I wanted to write, but had to support myself with work that wasn't fulfilling; I wanted to be married, but the right one didn't come along.  My dreams and desires were set aside time and again because I had to wait.  During that long waiting period, God was working on my heart and refining me, then just before He opened the doors of my heart's desires, He challenged me to see if I would be faithful to Him even if He never opened the doors to fulfill my heart's desires.  It was a most sobering experience.  While others may have thought that since I was young I should be out having a good time, God was working out the deeper, meaningful things of my heart so that He could later use me and my writing for His purposes.  During that time, when I was questioning why things weren't working out for me, I read the following:   

2Co 7:10    For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 

Jas 4:9    Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.Jas 4:10    Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 

I certainly had sorrow in my life, and things were pretty serious, hardly the picture of a care-free young woman enjoying a husband, family and career of my dreams!  I came to realize that the mourning and the sorrow were necessary to end the life of self that I too often gave preference to and didn't even realize it!  Were my dreams and my heart's desires greater than my desire to love and serve the Lord?  That was the final test before He opened the door and granted me the desires of my heart.  Like Abraham being asked to sacrifice his long awaited son, I had to lay down my heart's desires and be proven that the Lord would always mean more to me than anything else in this life!  This is a life-long lesson since as humans, we fail, and we can't trust our own heart when it comes to the things of God!  Only God knows, so He will test us and refine us and make us more like Him.   

Perhaps today you find yourself in a similar situation as mine, and you can't understand why things aren't working out the way you hoped and planned.  Or perhaps you are in more serious circumstances and you are up against a wall, not knowing how to get out of your situation.  Seriously, now it is time to pray and really listen to what the Lord wants to say to you or teach you through it all.  And if you are a child of God, and you really want to serve Him, then He will continue working with you bringing you to an end of the self-life so that you can be made better and find true meaning and purpose in your spiritual life.   

Job 23:10  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

 

 

How to Handle Change

I am writing this, not as someone who likes change when it is thrust upon me, but as someone who is searching for the best ways to handle it when it does occur.  This past year, me and my family saw many changes.  Some of those changes involved losing a few loved ones, and also, several friends.  It seemed that there was nearly one person a month that passed away, and in some cases, one a week.  It was very traumatic to have to deal with so many losses.  Every time we lose someone close to us, it changes our life in some way, and leaves an emptiness that just can't be filled.  And we must learn to deal with it and move on in our lives. 

There have been other major changes as well.   My husband and I have been in a state of moving for nearly two years now, and there are no simple solutions.  Our one place has not sold yet (in the city), so we've been packing and unpacking going back and forth to the other place (in a rural town where we used to live), unsure of where we are to settle.  Trying to find things is nearly impossible.  We are looking for direction career-wise as well, wondering how we will continue with two lifestyles with the cost of living rising while wages remain the same.  As I've thought about these frequent changes and also living in an almost constant state of uncertainty, I've had to examine my own heart to see what God is wanting to teach me through all of these changes, and to see if I am handling change in a way that is both Biblical and beneficial to the things of God and adding or subtracting from my spiritual walk.   

Too much change can be exhausting and stressful, especially when you have to deal with the grief of losing a loved one.  Second highest in the stress level is moving.  Thirdly is financial.  We have had many unexpected repairs in both places that needed immediate attention.  Our vehicles have needed fixing.  We've had major dental and various medical bills not covered by insurance or Medicare.  Suitable employment for me (other than all the things I already do) has been difficult if not impossible to come by.  Extra work for my husband has fallen through.  So we have to deal with all three of these highly stressful situations this year and in the past few years.  We have seen our hopes and dreams fade, and our future plans put on hold.  We have prayed and prayed and are still waiting. 

One thing I have learned through it all, is the importance of daily praying and asking God for very specific direction in my day.  I have written other blogs about this and mention it frequently because I believe it is the right thing to do in obedience to Scripture and also because my own life seems to be in such a flux.  I couldn't get through a day without consulting God about it.   I can't imagine that there is anyone alive out there who cannot relate to this because change happens to us all whether we like it or not or are prepared for it or not. 

Another thing I've learned is that you can't necessarily live according to your own dreams and plans, for if you do, you will surely be disappointed.  Have you found this true in your own life?  We may plan things, but something always seems to come along to throw a ripple or a tidal wave into it. We get too comfortable, and BAM, our plan is upset.  How do we handle things when this happens?  I think that this is something God uses to test our attitudes and faithfulness to Him. 

Dreams are another thing.  Are our dreams ordained of God, or are they whimsical self-made dreams that God never intended for us to pursue?  These are not easy questions to answer, but when faced with one change after another, and we see our plans and dreams not materialize, we must seek God and find out what HIS dreams and plans are for us instead.  Don't get me wrong – I don't believe it is wrong to plan and dream.  Like most people, this is something I do frequently, but when dreams and plans fail to happen or doors seem to remain shut, I have to ask God if they are of Him or if I simply have to continue to wait for the doors to open in His timing instead of my own. 

Another huge lesson I have learned, and probably the greatest life lesson there can ever be is: 

WILL I STILL LOVE GOD AND TRUST HIM WITH MY LIFE IF I LOSE EVERYTHING?   

The "everything" includes people that I love.  This has been the hardest - the thought of losing people that I treasure and who add so much meaning and purpose to my life.  I think of Jesus question to Peter: 

Joh 21:15    So when they had broken their fast, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.Joh 21:16    He saith to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Tend my sheep.Joh 21:17    He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.Joh 21:18    Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.Joh 21:19    Now this he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

The passage is simple to understand, but profound if we apply it to our own heart:  Do we love Jesus? If yes, then we will feed His sheep, and we will follow Him. 

We will FOLLOW HIM.  His ways and His plans are far above our own.  He may lead us where we don't want to go.  Our path may be narrow, difficult, and filled with adversity, marked with change, but He will be leading us.  What is more important, that we get our own needs met and live in a comfortable bubble, or is it more important that we follow Jesus in spite of the difficult path we are called to walk? 

I have been reminded many times that I need to change my thinking: 

Isa 55:8    For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah.Isa 55:9    For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

Sometimes our thoughts need to be brought to light, and sometimes God uses adverse change and adversity to discipline us: 

Psa 94:11    The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.Psa 94:12    Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law; 

I think of Job.  Who in the Bible has suffered more than Job?  What was the purpose of Job's suffering?  To see if he would pass the acid test of handling insurmountable trials and adversity and still love and serve God: 

Job 1:6    Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.Job 1:7    And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.Job 1:8    And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?Job 1:9    Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?Job 1:10    Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.Job 1:11    But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.Job 1:12    And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. 

So Job lost everything.  Talk about changes in his life!  His whole life as he knew it was taken from him, except he was allowed to keep breathing!  He was not a picture of health either because his body was covered in festering boils.  How does Job's story end?  Let's look at Scripture: 

Job 42:1    Then Job answered the LORD, and said,Job 42:2    I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.Job 42:3    Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.Job 42:4    Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.Job 42:5    I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 

Are we so caught up with our troubles and that our lives have changed so much we hardly know where to turn?  Perhaps we have become blinded by the hurricanes of dust on the road and we no longer see the Lord going before us.  Job finally saw the Lord in it all, and the Lord became even more important than all that the Lord then restored in his life.  Hmmm, is there a lesson here for me and you? 

In this life, change is inevitable, but there are many constants too.  If you are a child of God, God will lead you and go before you, He will guide you into all truth, He will love you forever, He will never leave you or forsake you.  To me, these, and all of the many more promises in the Bible are the constants that keep us on a solid rock through all the changes of life, which will be many.  Are you standing on the solid rock with Jesus today?  If not, and you are looking to the things of the world for your answer, it is a guarantee that you won't find lasting stability there.  Only with Jesus can we find the peace, safety and certainty that everything is and will be okay. 

Psa 61:1  To the chief Musician upon Neginah, A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

Psa 61:2  From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Psa 61:3  For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

Psa 61:4  I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

Psa 61:5  For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.

Psa 61:6  Thou wilt prolong the king's life: and his years as many generations.

Psa 61:7  He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.

Psa 61:8  So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

Being Led of the Spirit

I recently read an article from someone who didn't believe that we should make a law out of being led by God and only do things once we have heard His voice about which direction to take in life.  This included whether we should stay at a job we really don't like, who we should marry, and so on.  He went on to explain that the following two verses have to do with Christian conduct, and not specific decisions we make in life.   

Gal 5:18    But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 

Gal 5:25    If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 

The article went into a thorough exegesis of these two verses and he added some extra Scripture from Romans to explain that in these contexts, it does not mean it has anything to do with being led of the Spirit to make decisions.  Yet, as I was reading, there was something amiss, which he failed to mention and so I began to question the validity of the article (not necessarily the validity of his exegesis of the two verses).  So my question is:

Does the Spirit lead specifically or has He left most of life's decisions to us?

Then I began searching Scripture to answer this question.  From the many Scriptures I found and from my own life-time personal experience and that of so many others, this is what I came up with.  While the Spirit will always lead us into righteousness and the life of the Spirit, I believe He also wants to lead us when it comes to making specific decisions in life.  We cannot separate the life of the Spirit from the life of the flesh when it comes to making decisions, can we?  Should we even consider it?  Look at what Scripture says: 

Pro 16:25    There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

If God knows all things and has warned us which way to avoid and which way to take, wouldn't we be wise to consult Him about absolutely everything in life in additon to our spiritual state, although this is by far the most important one? 

From the beginning of man's creation, it is clear that humans could not make the right decision independent of God's Word and God's direction.  He sinned and this led to death.  Yes, he had lots of freedom since he could eat of every tree, but still, he failed and ate of the one tree that was forbidden. 

Then there is also the issue of "calling" that we must consider. The Bible talks about calling in many different places and contexts.   Moses was called, Abraham was called, the children of Israel were called, and in the New Testament, the disciples were all called to follow Jesus.  They were in fact, hand picked. 

Luk 6:13    And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;Luk 6:14    Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,Luk 6:15    Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,Luk 6:16    And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

Generally, just to clarify, in the sense of obtaining salvation, we are all called.  Once we are saved,  we are called to live a a life of righteousness according to the Spirit as outlined in the Bible.  We are also called to be witnesses and spread the good news of the Gospel.  We are called to bring forth fruit for the Kingdom.  And even in this general calling, we still need to be led to specific people and specific situations.  If God wants you to be a witness in your own neighbourhood, would you disobey Him and move to Africa instead?  Maybe He has called someone else to minister in Africa.

If we are having a struggle in a relationship, are we to abandon it, especially if it's a marriage relationship?  According to Scripture, we are to REMAIN in whatever calling we are in unless God indicated otherwise, and in this context it has to do with being married, where we work, etc. 

1Co 7:24    Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God. 

One of the issues the writer of the article I read implied that should you stay in a job even if it's unbearable because God told you that you had to? He thought that this was living according to the "law" and not necessarily being led of the Spirit.  But sometimes, yes, that is exactly what we must do - stay in an uncomfortable situation because this is what God desires us to do.  For example, God  led the children of Israel in the wilderness to the Promised Land.

Why did He do this?  To bring them into their own land, something they never had, and of course, to free them from slavery at the cruel hands of the Egyptians.  But there is more insight into being called and led of the Lord in this particular Biblical account and that is that the big problem with them, and with us today is that they didn't want to follow when things didn't suit them. They sinned along the way, so they did not reach their destination.  This is what happens when we take things into our own hands.  We do not receive the best of what God has for us, and it will take a lot longer to reach the destination if we reach it at all.  It is important to follow "specific" directives from the Lord so that we reach the destination He has perfectly carved out for us. 

In addition, it is not true freedom to go off on our own and leave the Lord out of our plans, rather it is unwise.  Time is short, and God has a plan for all of our lives. We need to know what that plan is, and follow it.   

Eph 5:14    Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Eph 5:15    See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

Eph 5:16    Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Eph 5:17    Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 

How do you know if you are being led of the Spirit?  For one thing, He may put something on your heart and it won't go away until you respond to it. This is what happens to me when I am supposed to write something in a blog or write a book.  Many times, it is not something that I had systematically planned to do!  And in my creative life as an artist, I have an inspiration and an idea that will continue to persist until I create something out of it. 

 If He has given you something specific to do, you will know it without question.  Look at the following verses to see how important it is to listen to the Lord's leading in our lives, and then respond to it. 

Rom 11:29  For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. (He will not remove what He has given you to do and it will not go away.) 

Psa 33:11    The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 

Pro 12:15    The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. 

Pro 19:20    Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. 

Pro 19:21    There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand. 

We often don't know which way to go.  The psalmist David prayed constantly for God's direction. In Psalms alone there are several verses: 

Psa 5:8  Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.

Psa 23:2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Psa 23:3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psa 25:5  Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

Psa 27:11  Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

Psa 31:3  For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.

Psa 43:3  O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

Psa 60:9  Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?

Psa 61:2  From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Psa 139:10  Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

Psa 139:24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psa 143:10  Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

What was David talking about here?  Was it all in the context of conduct? No. He was seeking God for direction, physical and spiritual protection and sustenance, to name a few.  Many times we are confused and in need of direction not only because our knowledge is so limited and we don't know the future, and because God wants us to turn to Him and depend on Him! 

Another VERY IMPORTANT thing about being led of the spirit is that it is a sure sign that we are a child of God! 

Rom 8:14    For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 

There are two verses in Proverbs that have meant so much to me when it comes to looking for direction in my life:    

Pro 3:5    Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Pro 3:6    In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 

So far, from what Scripture teaches, I believe that we can't separate the life of the spirit from the life of the flesh when it comes to making decisions.  I believe that Scripture teaches that we are to consult God about EVERYTHING that concerns us, because if we are His children, we belong to Him and not to ourselves.  He loves us and wants the best for us.  To leave Him out of our decision-making is really to say that we know best, and self-efficiency is the sure road to a downward spiral away from God.  So let's make every effort today to ensure that we are being led of the Spirit and live a life that is pleasing to Him, not because it's a law, but because we love Him and a sign that we are submitted and committed to serving Him with our very best, using the gifts, talents, and directives He has freely and generously given us.

How does God Speak to Us?

Psa 28:1    A Psalm of David. Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

Psa 28:2    Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle. 

As Bible-believing Christians, we pray with an expectation that God hears AND answers prayer.  How does He do this?  How does He speak to us in such a way that we know it is Him?  We know it is through the Bible, God's written Word, but what about revelation?  Unfortunately today in some Christian circles, some people are hesitant to pay attention to anything that is "spirit" related because they do not believe it is of God.  They believe it must come straight from the Bible, which it does, yet without a revelation from God how can they know in their heart that God is speaking to them?   

What God speaks will always be consistent with His Word and with His character, but how do we know it is of God unless He reveals that it is from Him?  I would add that God is not limited to the WAY He communicates with us.  He spoke to Adam and Eve before there was ever a written word.  God also spoke through the prophets.  Jesus taught using only the Old Testament, and most of what He did was new, although He had fulfilled prophecy in doing the miracles through the words of Isaiah.  The miracles were a surprise to everyone, and when He rose from the dead, even the disciples didn't believe it was Him until He revealed to them that it was Him.  There was no New Testament as a written word until the disciples and Paul the apostle wrote it down.  Much of Jewish history was oral only, passed down through the generations.  Then the men who wrote the Bible were also "inspired" by God Himself to ensure that when we read the Bible, the penmanship of man does not interfere with the words of God. 

We must be careful that we are not so cautious that we become religious or ritualistic and rigid when it comes to hearing from God.  Before we are saved and become a child of God, we may read the Bible over many times and yet we do not hear from God - we don't hear and we don't understand because our spirits are not made alive or connected to Him.  In I Corinthians it says that the "natural" (un-regenerated) man CANNOT receive the things of the Spirit of God because he is spiritually discerned.  So we must not be fooled just because someone who claims to be a Christian simply reads the Bible, yet they have no life-giving, or inspired revelation from God!   

1Co 2:11    For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

1Co 2:12    Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1Co 2:13    Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

1Co 2:14    But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

Without the revelation of the Holy Spirit, we have no understanding of the things of God.  In these last days where there is more and more deception, we must not only read the Word WITH understanding, we must always be ready to listen for the Lord to speak to us, to reveal His will and what He wants us to do, or what He wants us to know.  Then we must act on it. 

Before I was truly saved, I had a "knowledge" of the truth, but it had not changed my heart.  I had never heard the Lord speak to me in my spirit, so I  didn't have a relationship with Him.  I didn't even know He wanted to have a relationship with me.  I just thought that I was supposed to be a "good" person and try to live as best as I could according to my limited understanding.  I think this is what many people think.  They think that all you have to do are good works and avoid the really bad things like stealing, lying, killing, and not hurt anyone, and so on. It was only after I responded to the Lord to repent for my sinful life (sin as defined by God - anything that misses His righteous perfection) that my HEART changed.  Then a great realization sunk in deeply in my spirit - only Jesus is perfect and only through accepting Him into my heart could I achieve a clean slate and be declared righteous by God.  Then all of the Scriptures became clear to me because I had Jesus in my heart to teach me His Word.  I had entered into "relationship" with Him and my spirit became "alive" to the things of God. 

So after we are saved, this relationship must continue to grow and flourish so that we become mature in the things of God.  But if our hearts are closed, we will no longer be open to learning of Him or growing in our relationship with Him.  Also, it is imperative that we grow in our faith.  Reading the Word AND listening, and obeying, increases our faith: 

Rom 10:17    So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

Jas 1:22    But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Jas 1:23    For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

Jas 1:24    For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Jas 1:25    But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 

Today, the Lord has a message for us: 

Heb 3:15    While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 

Let's keep our ears and hearts open to Him and listen to what He has to say to us. And if after reading this, you question your own standing with God and you doubt that you are a Christian (according to what the Bible says), please go to this link. You will find a few simple steps to how to become a new person in Christ.

Are Signs, Wonders and Miracles for Today?

I am writing this blog because there seems to be a serious issue today with people who say they are Christians and yet they are dead set against signs and wonders thinking they are all the works of the false prophets!  After doing some research, I discovered that the people writing these articles may be sincere, but they have not taken into account the many other references to signs and wonders that were (and are) done by Jesus, the apostles and through Spirit-led Christians of today.  So because they have not done their complete Biblical research, given personal examples of how they have been affected good or bad, or spoken to the miracle workers today that they question to discover the truth for themselves whether they be of God or not, we have to question the validity of their arguments. 

From doing my own extensive Biblical research on this topic, I have been surprised to find so many references to signs and wonders, their purpose, and their continued purpose, I have come to believe that living a Christian life without expecting signs, wonders and miracles, or encouraging them in those that are gifted that way, is a glaring result of not only understanding the Bible (which absolutely must be studied in context), but even worse, unbelief!  A heart of unbelief is very serious business with God, so had we better take a closer look at Scripture and see if we are failing in this area!  I encourage you to read on, even if you are skeptical about signs, wonders and miracles (as mentioned in the Bible) being legitimate today.

In my own life, I have been personally and profoundly affected by legitimate, God-breathed, Bible-based, signs, wonders, and miracles.  The first miracle is that I got saved.  The second miracle is that God spared me from dying in a serious car accident when I was teenager.  The third miracle is that even though I was a drug user, backslidden and opposed to the things of God, I ended up in Bible School by a miraculous set of circumstances (I had no desire to go and no money to go).  The fourth miracle is that God completely took away my desire for drugs and the godless lifestyle that went along with it without me ever going for counselling or a drug rehab program.  I had absolutely no withdrawal symptoms, and I never touched the stuff again.  Suffice it to say that if I were to write all the miracles in my life since then, I would have volumes of books.  So I have to confess that yes, I believe in signs, wonders and miracles (many of them having to do with healing of my body, clinical depression, precise direction and answers to prayer, deliverance, legitimate visions, dreams that I knew were from God, and so on) because that is the testimony of my life with Jesus!  And I have also heard many legitimate testimonies and seen miracles in others that were jaw-dropping and astounded me, but probably shouldn't have if I had been believing for them.  I believe without a doubt that our God is a miracle-working God!

Through extensive Bible study and experience, the Lord showed me that when He reveals something or performs a miracle, a sign or wonder, it is never for head knowledge.  There is always a much deeper purpose because God's ultimate goal is to draw us to Himself for the purpose of relationship and He also wants to be glorified so we will worship Him and Him alone.  It also increases our faith.  Why would we pray in the first place if we didn't really believe He would answer us?  How and when He answers us is all in His timing, still, Scripture teaches that we must believe when we pray. 

Let's look at what Scripture has to say about signs, wonders and miracles. 

Jesus gave it (signs and miracles) as a result of those that believe when He gave us the Great Commission:

Mar 16:15    And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mar 16:16    He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Mar 16:17    And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Mar 16:18    They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

These verses are for EVERY believer, not just for the disciples He was speaking to.  This is very important to note because some skeptics say that it was only given in Jesus' time and in the Book of Acts for unbelievers to see so that they would see and believe and get saved.  They also say it was given ONLY to the apostles for the purpose of ministry.  But they are mistaken because they have neglected to mention one of the main purposes of signs and wonders.  It is found in Hebrews 2.

Heb 2:1    Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

Heb 2:2    For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

Heb 2:3    How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Heb 2:4    God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

God confirms our faith by action and deed - there is physical evidence.  If this were not true, none of us would be saved, would we?  After we are saved, there is often a physical evidence that all things have become new just like Paul said:

2Co 5:17    Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

And as for faith, it is substance and evidence, something that is not secretive and hidden.

Heb 11:1    Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

So if we really believe the Word of God, then we will also believe in signs, wonders and miracles, and we need to be expecting them!

Now I'd like to address the verses the skeptics have quoted so we know where they are coming from:

Mat 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Mar 13:22  For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

First of all, with careful study, we discover that the above two passages of Scripture are written to the Jews, not the Gentiles, and certainly not the Church of today, the Bride of Christ.  Christians today may be struggling with apathy, worldliness, sin and many other things, but the signs and wonders of that time that is coming will be so deceptive, that without the Spirit of God, we would not be able to discern the source of it, whether it is of God.  I believe that the Church will have already been raptured when this time occurs. 

So for people who are afraid of signs and wonders thinking that all of it is of the devil and should be shunned and disregarded, this is a very serious charge against the Holy Spirit if the works being done are from Him.  So what does a person who is skeptical do in such a case?  Christians in Jesus time and Christians today have the help of the Holy Spirit to discern such things:

Joh 15:26    But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Joh 15:27    And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

This is not to say that we shouldn't search Scripture and pray if we are in doubt.  We should pray about everything.  How do we discern what is of God and what is not?  I have discussed this in a previous blog, but I will write it afresh here:

We should consider the following:

 

1) Do their works cause others to glorify God?

1Pe 2:12    Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

2) Are they submitted to God (you will know them by their fruits)

2Co 9:13    Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;

3)  Are humility and repentance a part of it?

1Jn 1:5    This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.1Jn 1:6    If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:1Jn 1:7    But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.1Jn 1:8    If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

4)  Are they full of the Holy Ghost and professing and acting on faith?

Act 11:21    And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.Act 11:22    Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.Act 11:23    Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.Act 11:24    For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

5) Are the works unmistakably a work of God based on the truth as revealed by the Holy Spirit?  Do they glorify God?

Joh 16:13    Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. Joh 16:14    He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Note that false prophets "seduce" - they do just the opposite of a work that is of God.  A work of God draws you TO God, but a work of a false prophet does not do this.  They will cunningly turn you AWAY from God.  Their works are not based on the truth of God's revealed Word, but they may still quote Scripture (which is likely taken out of context or whole portions of Scripture will have been ignored or removed altogether).  And also important to note is that we are not to look for a gifted man or a woman to perform miracles for us; we are to look to the Lord for everything we need or desire.  He may choose to use a person to meet our need, but we must always remember that He is the ultimate source of everything good that comes to us.  To Him alone goes all the glory.

To close, while researching, I discovered much more on this topic and I have not been able to cover everything here without turning into an even lengthier blog, which could also easily end up in a book form.  But I hope that what you have read has shed some light on the subject and that you will feel encouraged to believe, really believe, that God not only hears and answers prayers, but He is miracle-working God!  The more we read His Word, the more we will believe as we see the awe-inspiring jaw-dropping works of our Great God!  Glory be to His magnificent name.

Should Women Preach?

One of the most controversial subjects in Christendom is the topic of a woman's Biblical ordained role in terms of preaching, teaching and even speaking in church.  Any time a subject like this concerning the entire Body of Christ (made up of true born-again believers) creates division, strife or confusion, we must take it out of isolation and prayerfully ask and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth about it.   And in the case of women's Biblical roles within the church, many times, attitudes towards women have been dishonoring and unChristlike, and in some cases, have created an oppressive and suppressive environment, where she is not free to express all that God has given her (which may include strong leadership and teaching giftings), and to be able to do so in a welcoming environment where she feels loved, valued and needed.  After spending considerable time researching this topic, I have come to believe that the few Scriptures regarding women’s leadership in the church have been grossly misinterpreted.  So I'd like to look at the two main portions of Scripture that are used towards the argument that women are to be limited in their roles when it comes to speaking, teaching or preaching in a normal church setting: 

The first one is found in Corinthians:

1Co 14:34    Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

1Co 14:35    And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 

Now I'd like to put it in context.  Let's look at the verses before verse 34: 

1Co 14:26    How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.1Co 14:27    If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.1Co 14:28    But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.1Co 14:29    Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.1Co 14:30    If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.1Co 14:31    For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.1Co 14:32    And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.1Co 14:33    For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 

In this context, Paul is dealing with a church that is out of order.  They (both men and women) are speaking out when they should be silent.  So Paul is giving them a lesson in order, when to speak and when to be silent.  Notice also in verse 26, he says, "when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation."  When he says "every one of you" both men and women were participating.  In verse 28, "both" men and women are instructed to keep silent when they are speaking in tongues and there is no interpreter.  When we get to verse 34, there is something very important to note that is most often overlooked --notice the key word here is "your" - "your" meaning the women in that particular Corinthian church.  He was not addressing all women for all time.  Also, in verse 35 - He is talking about "married" women whose husbands are likely in places of leadership in that particular church.  These verses were obviously not addressed to single women or women without husbands.  So in this particular passage, it was directed to a specific church and to a specific set of married women who were being unruly (and keep in mind, so were the men).   So Paul was trying to restore order to an unruly congregation!

Now we'll look at the second portion of Scripture found in I Timothy: 

1Ti 2:8    I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

1Ti 2:9    In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

1Ti 2:10    But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

1Ti 2:11    Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.1Ti 2:12    But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.   

In verse 10 it says that women "profess" godliness.  Does this mean they show godliness by their manner of dress and good works mentioned in verse 9 and never say anything?  No, it says "women professing godliness 'with' good works." The good works, I interpret, are in addition to "professing," which means they are speaking as well.   

Now we will add the context with which Paul was speaking: 

1Ti 2:13    For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

1Ti 2:14    And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 

Why would Paul stick these verses here?  Trusted research sources (both men and women), some of which have spent considerable time in their all-around research, all agree that the women in this church of Ephesus were deceived and were actually trying to teach false doctrine.  It is no wonder that in verse 11 and 12 Paul is basically telling them in a nice way to shut up and to stop teaching this heresy!  It fits because in verse 13 and 14 he is describing the order of creation - the man first and the woman second, and it was the woman that was deceived. He points this out because the women in this particular church were deceived (possibly having to do with Gnosticism) and were elevating themselves above men and had to be stopped (verse 12).  Would he not of said the very same thing to the men if they were in error and teaching heresy? No one is to usurp authority over another as in the following: 

Mat 20:25    But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

Mat 20:26    But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

Mat 20:27    And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

Mat 20:28    Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. 

And in this particular case with the women of Ephesus, it was the women who were out of line.  The women needed to learn about the truth of God's Word before attempting to teach, and it doesn’t say whether they were to learn it from another person, or anything other than the Scriptures.  Note in verse 11 that it doesn't say that they were to learn from a "man."  

In light of this well documented cultural background of 1 Timothy 2: 11-14, the following Scriptures would seem to make more sense: 

God is no respecter of persons: 

Acts 10:34    Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 

All are one regardless of gender: 

Gal 3:26    For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:27    For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Gal 3:28    There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 

1Co 12:13    For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

1Co 12:14    For the body is not one member, but many. 

Submission is for all:   

Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 

1Pe 5:5  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 

In the case of wives submitting to husbands, and husbands equally (and in greater measure) submitting to wives, we read the following:   

Eph 5:19    Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;Eph 5:20    Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;Eph 5:21    Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.Eph 5:22    Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.Eph 5:23    For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.Eph 5:24    Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.Eph 5:25    Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;Eph 5:26    That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,Eph 5:27    That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.Eph 5:28    So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.Eph 5:29    For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:Eph 5:30    For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.Eph 5:31    For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.Eph 5:32    This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.Eph 5:33    Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Let's back up and re-read the first verse: 

Eph 5:19    Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 

Note that men and women are admonished to do this, so this would mean women are allowed and indeed encouraged to partake in any service where men and women meet to worship the Lord. 

As for the men loving their wives as Christ loves the church, Paul gives a beautiful and detailed example of what true submission looks like, and what we should all strive for when it comes to submitting to one another.  It is a Godly, giving (agape), selfless, humble type of love.  It is a type of submission that is God-breathed and God-inspired, and one that requires a heart for God and a submitted life to the Lord in order to be able to love that way.  A woman will not be able to resist such a love, nor would she want to, just as anyone who is met with this type of love (male or female) would find it hard to resist.   

I'd like to close with a few thoughts on Godly headship and leadership in case there is some confusion regarding this role.  If we are to closely examine headship/leadership in the New Testament, humility is required for both men and women and anyone in a leadership role.  Without humility, the leadership is both carnal and worldly and does not accomplish God's purposes. Jesus whole life from birth to death was based on His willingness to submit to the Father's will and choosing to have an attitude of humility in doing so. Why would it be any different for men or women in positions of leadership today?  Let's look at some Scripture. 

Jesus the Good Shepherd:

Joh 10:11    I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 

Jesus warned the disciples about desiring a high and elevated position in life:  

Mat 23:8    But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

Mat 23:9    And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

Mat 23:10    Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

Mat 23:11    But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Mat 23:12    And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. 

Then in I Thessalonians we have one of the most surprising examples of male leadership in the entire Bible (other than Jesus' supreme example): 

This is Paul's idea of apostleship: 

1Th 2:7  But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 

Paul follows the example of not just a woman (who is motherly), but a nurse nourishing and cherishing her children.  The picture is unmistakable as one of "caring" "loving" "giving selflessly to."  There is nothing hard-nosed or hard-hearted here.  This is a man who truly loves and lays down his life and his pride for his brethren. 

So in the case of a woman's Biblical ordained role in terms of preaching, teaching and speaking in church, any role or calling of a Christian must always be consistent with the Christ-like character of Jesus - humility and submission.  And in each case where a women's role is called into question in the church, I believe it must be handled prayerfully, Biblically, and in a spirit of humility and submission by everyone involved, men and women.  To me, this is what Paul was trying to get across in nearly every case where he addressed specific women of that day who had stepped too far out of bounds in their words, actions and attitudes.  He did the same to the men.  The call for submission stands today, equally for men, women, children and all who call themselves born-again, blood-bought Christians.   May the Lord be pleased for the way we treat one another, and for the example we set for the rest of the world to see especially when it comes to how we handle God ordained Biblical leadership.