I Stand Alone on the Word of God

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

I have been writing and preaching about attitudes lately – referring to an old saying of mine – Christianity Boils Down to Attitude – the condition and position of the heart.  Today’s passage reminds us what impacts the attitudes of the heart.  Namely the Word of God! Reading and understanding the Bible is essential as we mature in Christ.

We have had a number of people put their faith and trust in Jesus lately at Mt. Oak (Praise the Lord).  Something exciting is happening at Mt. Oak – just this past week a sister saw her prayers answered as her husband gave his heart to Jesus.  The best advice I can give him and others is to begin to read the Bible and join a Bible study where he/they can search together the truths of God.

General Conference of the United Methodist Church is meeting in Tampa, FL this week (and last).  Some important decisions are being discussed.  Each day I pray for the Holy Spirit to pour out upon them and for the delegates to uphold Biblical standards.  Thanks to Central Conference delegates – mainly delegates from Africa – they have held firm to the Biblical view of marriage (between one man and one woman) for instance.

The Bible can help us understand any and all circumstances of life if we read it and allow the Holy Spirit to help us understand it.  It is the Biblical truth that judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Satan working through the world around us will constantly be trying to get us to move away from Biblical truths and a Biblical worldview.  I pray that Mt. Oak – the United Methodist Church – and other believers will not be taken captive by the society we live in – but rather would hold firm to what we know to be true through the Bible.  Colossians 2:8 – See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.  If we must – we must stand alone on the word of God rather than succumb to the ways of the world.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

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Please continue to pray for General Conference 2012 which is underway in Tampa, Florida.

All Scripture is God-Breathed – Equipping Us for Every Good Work

2 Timothy 3:16-17

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

I wrote about this passage – or at least verse 16 – on June, 2011.  You can read that devotional thought here if you desire.  Today I want to deal more with verse 17 but we’ll take a peek at verse 16 as well.

2 Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Of course Paul didn’t know when he was writing a letter to Timothy that it would become part of what we call the New Testament – unless God revealed it to him and there is not indication that happened.  As God gave him these words through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he probably had what we call the Old Testament in mind – the Scriptures for his day – but God – I would imagine – had the whole of the Bible in mind.

I want to write something about teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.  I believe this might be one area where many churches or the church falls short.  In this day and age many do not want to seem too harsh.  It is not politically correct these days to rebuke or correct anyone.  We can teach and we can train – but many times fall short of this as well – using outdated or bad material and/or techniques.  The church needs to be reawakened – IMHO – to the fact that the Scripture is to be used to teach, rebuke, correct and train believers.

The reason we need to be reawakened to this truth – to the Word of God – is so men and women can be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:17 – so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  The Greek word translated man here means human (the Greek letters wouldn’t post – I tried) so it refers to men and women.

In order to be all we can be in Jesus – to be thoroughly equipped for every good work – we must be intentional about our study and use of the Bible.  This is one reason I didn’t see eye-to-eye with some of my professors in Seminary who wanted to discount the Bible in favor of reason or some other resource.  Too often I heard professors say most learned people believe instead of God’s Word says!

As United Methodist we are to use the Bible as our primary resource – according to the laws of our denomination.  I define primary as essential.  Using the other resources available to us – namely reason, tradition and experience – Scripture is still primary.  The way I look at primary is this – if all three of the other resources available to us point one way and Scripture points in the other – we better follow Scripture.  A Scriptural way to look at this can be found in the following Scriptures.  we can also look at today’s passage.

Colossians 2:8 – See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:19 – For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

2 Corinthians 10:5 – We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

So church – study the Bible – read it every day – learn it through and through – so that we will be able to apply it to life and have more than knowledge – we will have wisdom – and be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

I invite you to read along with me on YouVersion the Robert Robert’s reading plan.  I’m on day 47 but you can either catch up or start today and read it through next February.  The reading plan will take you through the whole Old Testament once and the New Testament twice in a year.  You can also read shorter plans – some topical plans.

Another topic all together – what are the good works God has called you to accomplish in your life?  I believe God has a plan for each of us.  God is not a God that flies by the seat of God’s pants – if God has pants (lol).  NOTHING catches God off guard and All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man (or women) of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

The Bible is Primary and Not Subordinate to Reason, Tradition or Experience

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Seeking God’s Will and Word for Our Beliefs

Colossians 2:8

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Recently I was reading an article by Mark Tooley.  He wrote:

In the ultra-liberal Northern Illinois Conference, about 200 clergy recently announced their supposed willingness to conduct same-sex unions. One clueless minister explained: “Our civil society has taken the lead. Now the church is trying to catch up.”

Yes, that exclamation summarizes the failed liberal Protestant project of the last 100 years. To remain relevant, churches must echo secular society, since the Gospel itself is not eternally true. Who wants to attend a church that merely follows secular society?

Turns out, not many. The Northern Illinois Conference has lost over 50 percent of its members in the last 40 years. In 1971 its membership was 201,616. Now it’s 97,814. Why should United Methodism heed their disastrous counsel?

Remaining faithful to God and to God’s word is not optional for the church.  We cannot follow what sounds good but rather must follow what God says – whether it is good for us and our circumstance or not.  There will always be nice sounding doctrines and beliefs – but if they do not line up with or are grounded in the Bible – they are NOT to be followed.

One could argue – and some have – that we all know people who seem to be followers of Christ but live in a lifestyle that the Bible calls sinful.  We may have experienced them in very redeeming situations where God has seemingly used them – yet their life doesn’t echo what we know to be in line with Scripture.  I know this can be confusing.  David was used of God – and he wasn’t always in line with God’s will and teaching.  Yet David repented of his sin and sought God’s grace.  Some expect their sin to be accepted – even called acceptable by the church.  We are all sinners – all have fallen short of God’s glory – yet confession – grieving our sin – repentance and receiving grace are essential.  We cannot expect God to call sin acceptable in our lives.

Don’t allow the world to set your standard or your belief system.  Seek what God has to say about every circumstance.  God will show you clearly in the Word what is truth.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

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Junk Food or the Sound Doctrine of the Bible?

1 Peter 2:2

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

Junk Food is not good for us!  There – I said it!  Junk food is simply that – junk.  Yet it usually tastes so good.  What is your favorite?  I love most anything with chocolate and peanuts or peanut butter.  At Easter I am a sucker for the peanut butter covered chocolate eggs.  Junk food is usually sweet – or salty like barbecue potato chips.  If you’re really lucky with your junk food you can get something that is sweet & salty!

But I digress.  I’m also craving something sweet or salty right now!

Junk food usually satisfies for the moment but not for the long-term.  It usually has lots of empty calories and is not ultimately good for you.

This sounds a lot like some theological concepts that have been espoused over the years – such as that there is no devil or no hell or that we all go to heaven.  They sound good for the moment but are not based on the Bible or on sound Biblical teachings.  I’m talking with a young pastor.  I’m often reminding him that his belief system must be built soundly on the building blocks of the Bible.  His faith needs to be based on a logical progression from truth to truth and not something that sounds good and comes from his mind.

Mother’s milk is filled with the basic building blocks of life.  Most studies show that babies raised on mother’s milk have less medical issues.  Believers who crave the building blocks of the faith – the basics of the Bible – when new-born – will have less issues later in their Christian walk –like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.

Build your faith upon the sound doctrine of the Bible – which is the inspired – inerrant (in the original manuscripts) – and infallible word of God.  Scripture is primary – it is the given in our Christian walk.  Our mind (reason) – historic experiences (tradition) – and personal experiences are elements that help us understand the Bible.  They CANNOT change the truth of the Bible – but merely illuminate the truths of the Bible.

Colossians 2:8 – See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Ground your faith soundly on the Word of God – the B-I-B-L-E – yes that’s the book for me – I stand alone on the Word of God – the B-I-B-L-E.  It worked in VBS as a child – it works today as well!

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

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The B-I-B-L-E

2 Timothy 3:16

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Before anyone writes that Paul was referring to the Old Testament when he wrote this – I might agree with you that Paul may not have had a concept of the New Testament – but my view is that Paul and the other authors of the Bible wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and God knew all about what was to come and how we would read it!

In Wesleyan churches – of which the United Methodist Church is one – we have something called the Wesleyan Quadrilateral.  Obviously there are four elements to this quadrilateral – namely Scripture – tradition – experience and reason.  This is a method used to understand God and God’s will and word for us.

Reason is the mind that God has given us to think and process information.  Experience is about the life we have lived – what we have learned through the trials and events of life.  Tradition is the history or collective experiences of the church – the culture – those who have gone before us.  Scripture of course is the Word of God – the infallible – inspired – inerrant word of God.

Scripture is seen as primary or the given.  The other three are supposed to be used to understand the base – the primary.  What some do not grasp – IMHO – is that if our reason, experience and the traditions of others differ with the Scriptures – Scripture trumps all three because it is primary.  If we have trouble understanding a Biblical concept – that does not invalidate the concept.

For instance – if the Bible says it is wrong to wear red – but our mind doesn’t see it that way – our experience says that we have known good people who wore read and there is even a tradition of good people wearing red – it is still wrong to wear red – because the Bible says so!  Does that make sense?

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

The Bible warns us about using our own thinking above the Scriptures.  We can make most anything seem right if we think about it long enough – if we rationalize things.

Colossians 2:8 – See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

2 Timothy 4:3 – For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

A song we use to sing – that is still on the mark today goes like this (sing as you read if you know the tune): The B-I-B-L-E – yes that’s the book for me – I stand alone on the Word of God – the B-I-B-L-E!

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

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I’m Tired of the Anti-Christian Attitude of Our Current Leaders

I’m tired of the Anti-Christian attitude of our current leaders.  They certainly do not reflect the attitude of the first leaders of our nation.  They certainly do not read the Constitution in the manner and intent of the draftees.  They are trying their hardest to remove God from the equation.  And we all know what will happen to a Godless country.

2 Chronicles 7:14 - if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Here is a very interesting video about the faith of our founding leaders.

I’m tired of the liberal leaders in our church today.  When we get to the place where sin is called acceptable – we will no longer carry the lamp-stand of God.  I pray that our leaders will wake up and hear the voice of God speaking to them.  I pray that the lay leadership of our church will rise up and seek God’s face and repent.

Colossians 2:8 - See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

1 Timothy 6:20-21 – 20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you.

Be on guard my friends and stand up for what you believe.  Do not be taken down by those who do evil!

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

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Seeking Prayers for Our Denomination

Colossians 2:8

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

The United Methodist Church has been through a lot during my lifetime.  I remember the sawdust camp meetings of my early years where the Bible was preached and lives were transformed for Christ.  The authority of Scripture and the centrality of Christ were not questioned.  Transformation took place because sound doctrine was taught and the transforming nature of Christ was preached.

During my lifetime I have also seen a  segment of the church’s leadership turn away from truth – turn away from the transforming love of  Christ and His Word.  During my lifetime I have heard the deceptive philosophy of some church leadership that has led our denomination into decline. During some of the darkest days of the United Methodist Church – when attendance and membership were falling at alarming rates  -  a group of Bishops led our denomination.  Many of these bishops have retired since that time from active church leadership and I do not think it is by any surprise that our denomination is beginning to grow again in certain areas. I do not think it is by surprise that the majority of churches that are growing the fastest in our own conference are being led by pastors who believe in the transforming power of God, the centrality of Christ and the authority of the Bible.

A group of retired bishops – part of the leadership IMHO that led us astray in past decades – are still trying to impact the church with their hollow and deceptive philosophy – their view of God and His Holy Word.

Our denomination’s Book of Discipline states the following: “…The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.” ¶304.3

This group of retired bishops – the same ones who presided over the church during its fall – are now coming out and asking the church to remove this and similar statements from our Book of Discipline.  You can read their words here. We have seen other mainline denominations go this route and we have seen their fall.

The list of retired Bishops is almost a who’s who of the most liberal minds in our denomination’s history.  Men and women who – IMHO – do not lead us nor did they lead us in the path of righteousness.  They were leading us astray when they were active bishops and they are striving to do the same even in retirement.

I believe that these retired Bishops are out of touch with the Spirit of God and they are suggesting to the church that we accept sin – and call it normal and acceptable.  They are asking us to step away from sound Biblical teachings.  I would hope that United Methodists would not heed their call but would side with sound teaching from the Word of God on this and all subjects before us.

Please pray for our denomination and the current leaders, bishops, pastors and lay members – that we would seek God’s face and strive to be faithful to the truth as found in the Word of God.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

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The Shooting in Arizona – Are We Turning Our Back on God?

My how the times – they are a changing.  I’m old enough to remember not locking our doors and leaving the keys in the car in the driveway.

It seems like our society is going from bad to worse – and that shouldn’t surprise us.  We live in a godless society – where even some of the religious groups aren’t sure about their view of God and moral absolutes.  We are becoming a lost people.

The shooting of Gabrielle Giffords – an Arizona Congresswoman – as well as 14 others with 6 being killed – focuses us once again on the darkness of our world and society.

Comments were flying about expecting this in other countries – but not in America.  Fingers were pointed to the left and to the right – politically.  Few people in the news hit the nail on the head.  Behavior like this is a sign of a society that has turned their back on God.

2 Timothy 4:3-5 – 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

Colossians 2:8 - See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

We are called to be ambassadors of Christ.  Our faith is supposed to impact society – rather what often happens - society impacts our faith.  There are less absolutes – when the philosophy of the world is followed – and thus – society makes up its mind about right and wrong.  If God is not our foundation – we have no ROCK to build our lives on – and the sinking sand will take us under.

Matthew 7:24-27 – 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Am I off target – or is this – and other tragic events – a result of a society that is turning their back on God?  It doesn’t have to end this way my friends.  We are told – if we repent and turn back to God our nation can be healed.

2 Chronicles 7:14 - if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Your thoughts?

Mt. Oak’s Vision and Mission – The Problem

Our Vision and Mission at Mt. Oak

The Problem: Families are under attack.

The Solution: Reaching the whole family for Christ

The Process: Bring in, Build up, Send out

The Win: A changed life or family for Christ

 

For the next three Sundays (January 9 – 16 – 23) we will be preaching on the vision and mission of our church.  To see a listing of future sermons and Scriptures click this link http://wwww.mtoak.org/media/mo-sermons.

During this time frame we will also share in a 21-day fast.  During this 21-day fast we will not only fast from something but we will also spend time in three 24-hour prayer vigils and we will celebrate together in special worship services.  Please check out the E-News for more details.  I will also share some in this blog.

During this time frame I will use my blog page to teach on our vision – mission – and on fasting.

Today I want to write about the problem as we understand it.  Your church staff and lay leadership – after much discussion and prayer – discerned that the problem in our community is that the family was under attack.  We see fewer and fewer families in our community with what could be considered a healthy family – with a person or persons who love the Lord.

For instance – we see and increasing number of families with one of the parents missing (for a variety of reasons).  We see an increasing number of families with one or both of the parents living outside of a relationship with Christ.  We see singles living without a relationship with Christ.  We see persons living together outside of marriage – heterosexually and homosexually.  We see an increasing number of youth and children being abused in dysfunctional homes.  And the list sadly continues.

We believe that more and more we are seeing families – and families could be a single person or any other collection of people living together – putting aside a sound understanding of God and believing or not believing a number of myths and falsehoods.  We believe the time has arrived that God warned us about in the Bible.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 – 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

Colossians 2:8 – See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

We believe that this problem is worth our efforts to try to correct.  We believe that if we could impact the families in our community and strive to help them deal with this problem – it would be a worthy ministry for the people called Mt. Oak.

Tomorrow I will try to address the solution.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

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Where Do You Go for Truth?

Colossians 2:8

⁸See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Where do you go for truth?  Do you seek truth in the history of men and women?  Do you search for truth among the stories of our country or of the world?  What about the shared history of a people of faith?  I have heard people say this must be truth because so many people have believed it and died for it!

Where do you go for truth?  Do you seek truth in your own experience?  Has your life unfolded in such a away as to mold truth for you?  I have heard people say this is what I believe because it is real to me.

Where do you go for truth?  Do you seek truth in your mind?  I mean – if we can think of it – it must be true – right?  I have heard people say if my mind can conceive of it – it must be true!

Friend – there is only one place to seek truth – real truth – and that is from God as found in His Holy Word – the Bible!

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

This is Monday’s devotion – sorry it is so late – some of you will get two devotional thoughts when you awaken!