Posts – Page 46 – Kingdom Life Principles

21 Jan 2017

Phase 3 Mature Servant: focus is adding godliness, brotherly kindness and sacrificial love, Step 5: adding all diligence to [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety),

Step 5: With All Diligence Add Godliness To Your Steadfastness

“and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety),” 2 Peter 1:6 (AMP)

Steps 5-7 have everything to do with passion. Step 5 is experiencing a loving passion for God. Then Step 6 creates a passion to love fellow believers. And finally, Step 7 focuses on passion for the lost world around us.

Upon graduation from your final exam, you then stand firm against the testing and temptations of the devil and live in the full power of God inside your spirit, which means, you are now ready to begin Step 5. Yes, now you can claim God’s Word that says “you are strong and vigorous, and the Word of God is [always] abiding in you (in your hearts), and you have been victorious over the wicked one.” [1 John 2:14 AMP] Celebrate and rejoice! No longer are you bouncing in and out of obedience, but instead, you are walking consistently in the Spirit and experiencing the victory over the enemy.

In the natural world, this is understood by completing school, getting your diploma, and beginning your life as an adult. New job or career, stability to live on your own, and taking responsibility for yourself are all ahead of you. Phase three of your spiritual life is true maturity with huge challenges and responsibilities now in your hands.

Spiritually, this means it is time to serve the living God. A servant of God fully and completely dedicates himself to fulfill the will of God. You have learned like a student. But now it is time to act! Like the knights of old, he fights the good fight, as Paul states. At first, you are a rookie and will make rookie mistakes unless you listen carefully to your leaders and spiritual authorities.

Matthew 5:14-16 (AMP)
¹⁴ You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
¹⁵ Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.
¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.

But let’s start with right foundations. In a word, this means fully embracing true devotion to God. You must be steadfast in your focus to love your Lord! It is time to ignite your passion for the Lord your God.

First let’s look at the word, godliness or piety which is confusing and misunderstood by many. But to truly progress in your spiritual maturity you must fully understand and diligently develop true godliness. The Greek word that is translated godliness “refers to piety, man’s obligation of reverence toward God.” [Bible Knowledge Commentary] This means the core of your being must be filled by “a deep, reverential, religious fear; not only worshipping God with every becoming outward act, but adoring, loving, and magnifying him in the heart…” [Adam Clarke’s Commentary]

But you must clearly understand what the Bible means by worship. This Greek word “is from εὐ, well, and σέβομαι, to worship so that the radical idea is worship rightly directed.” Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament continues by explaining, “Worship, however, is to be understood in its etymological sense, worth-ship, or reverence paid to worth, whether in God or man… In classical Greek the word is not confined to religion, but means also piety in the fulfilment of human relations …‘The recognition of dependence upon the gods, the confession of human dependence, the tribute of homage which man renders in the certainty that he needs their favor—all this is εὐσέβεια, manifest in conduct and conversation, in sacrifice and prayer’ (Nägelsbach, cited by Cremer). This definition may be almost literally transferred to the Christian word. It embraces the confession of the one living and true God, and life corresponding to this knowledge.”

Everything depends on your heart, no true spiritual life will happen unless you actually and fully love God. A deep passion must burn inside your soul! You may have started your religious interest in selfishness. Maybe you wanted God to solve your problems, give you peace, have a better life, or a myriad of purely self-centered motives. None of these are valid and the sooner you see that this is hypocrisy the better. Everything and I mean everything hinges on this truth… “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'” [Matt 22:37 (NKJV)]

Is God worth your devotion and love? Do you passionately LOVE God?

Self-dependence and self-reliance are the wicked sins of pride. God resists the proud. But godliness is the complete reliance upon the supernatural guidance, grace, and power of the living God. He is everything to you, and more important than your life, wife, children, job, reputation, and self-respect. There must be a complete and total abandonment of everything that you are and have, by surrendering yourself to His control.

You live only for GOD! He is your all-consuming passion. Everything else you do and say is by His command because this proves you see His worth. What He says in a matter is more valuable than anyone else’s opinion. His wisdom exceeds the experts in any field of science or philosophy. His directions on where you live, who you marry, your future plans, your family choices, and what you do with your money and time are all given up to Him.

Let me prove it.

Our Lord showed us to follow Him in this narrow way of life because He lived it. “I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.” [John 12:49-50 (NLT)]

Absolute obedience to the Words and divine guidance of the Father was the one and only thing that Jesus followed. He did not deviate from the Father’s directions. “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does.” [John 5:19-20 (NKJV)]

To add godliness to your life you must make strong and clear choices. You must stop adding your ideas, dreams, wisdom, rational reasoning, and practical applications for your life. Shave down your words and actions to fully comply with His Words! Do not add to His words. Learn to anchor yourself on His instructions. When you ignore His direct commands and call it grace, even when you say you are serving him, you have entered into a dark and broad road of false faith.

BUT JESUS DID MAKE CLEAR CHOICES AND CALLS YOU TO FOLLOW HIM!

The Lord Jesus proclaimed, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” [Matt 10:34-39 (NKJV)]

Remember, Christ was not popular in His country. The community of Jews tried to assassinate Him (Luke 4:28-30). His words were rejected by the majority of His followers (John 6:66). Religious leaders and the vast majority wanted him crucified. He warned us, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” [Matt 5:11-12 (NKJV)] It takes real love to stick to the unpopular and hated leader in town, but the first apostles proved their devotion to Jesus.

The Kingdom of God must consume you. Your prayer must be, “Your kingdom come, your will be done.” Yes, Christ must be your king, your LORD! “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple… So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” [Luke 14:26-27, 33 (NKJV)] A captured slave would resent these words, but a person wholly in love with God will welcome and embrace these words with joy.

Do you love God enough to actually worship Him?

START WITH A PERSONAL CEREMONY WITH GOD

1/ Like a wedding ceremony, willfully proclaim your love for God and become a true disciple. In marriage, you forsake all others and devote yourself only to your mate. Your life from the day of your wedding is forever changed to “we” and no longer “me.” All other relationships drop to secondary status. You build a life and future together. In the same fashion, present your absolute devotion to the Lord Jesus because He is worth leaving everything to follow Him. Give Him all your heart! Do everything in your power to love him with all your mind and strength.

2/ Like the honeymoon, decisively give your body to the Lord. The apostle Paul explains it by saying, “I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.” [Romans 12:1 (AMP)]

3/ With every ounce of your strength deepen your relationship by lovingly offering your body every day and hour as a continual sacrifice of total worship and service to Him alone. Remember everyone has a job, they also did so in Jesus’ day. This does not negate this priority of godliness. Our Lord calls us to really love Him passionately. “If you love Me, keep my commandments.”

You must understand that true worship is not singing a few religious songs that you like but diligently giving your life in sacrificial service for your Lord every day. “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 29 For our God is a devouring fire.” [Heb 12:28-29 (NLT])

4/ Allow your thinking and life to be consumed with God’s word, God’s ways, God’s ideals, God’s attitudes, and His will. Allow God to fully change you in every way. “Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].” [Romans 12:1-2 (AMP)]

Remember “perfect” means complete and finished. Press forward allowing God full control of your life, and full access to your mind and heart. Devote yourself to His strength until you find rest by fully depending on your God. Passionately live as a light for the world to see so that God receives the glory.

Once you come to the place that you really love God more than anyone or anything on this planet, you will finally be able to move to the next step of maturity. Only when you become a true worshiper of the Lord, will you be able to add selfless brotherly kindness to your lifestyle.

But for now, focus on exercising your steadfastness and adding godliness to your life.

21 Jan 2017

Phase 3 Mature Servant: focus is adding godliness, brotherly kindness and sacrificial love, Step 6: adding your diligence to [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection

Step 6: With All Diligence Add Brotherly Kindness To Your Godliness

“And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection…” [2 Peter 1:7 AMP]

As you mature, true, deep change grips your heart and soul. God’s passion and love bleeds through your soul. As John explains in 1 John 2:14, once you have a relationship with God that can be described by these words, “you have known Him…”, you find this deep and personal connection profoundly alters your spiritual DNA. Like spiritual fathers, mothers and grandparents, the third [mature]and fourth [teacher] phases of your spiritual journey floods your life with Christlike passion for others.

Godliness is rare in America, and from the polling and experiences of people, it seems to be rare in the local church. Not all the accusations are true, obviously, they were all false as they attacked Christ, but enough evidence points to this reality today to conclude that we are suffering from the vacuum of godlessness.

Less than 35% of Americans even attend church on any weekend. So, before you hope to travel in this narrow road of “fraternal affection,” we will have to see the “Christian” critics and quitters come back to church consistently and prove they have “brotherly love (kindness).” This cannot be you.

Divorcing from your fellow believers, and claiming the local church does not meet your needs, proves John’s warnings. “Those who say that they are in the light but hate other believers are still in the dark. [10] Those who love other believers live in the light. Nothing will destroy the faith of those who live in the light. [11] Those who hate other believers are in the dark and live in the dark. They don’t know where they’re going, because they can’t see in the dark.” [1 John 2:9-11 GW]

John spells it out for us. “They left us, but they were never really with us. If they had been, they would have stuck it out with us, loyal to the end. In leaving, they showed their true colors, showed they never did belong.” [1 John 2:19 from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.]

Remember, John explains, “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. [6] If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” Darkness is clearly Satan and His domain.

Ephesians 6:12

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Col. 1:13

“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”

1 Thes. 5:4-5

“But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. [5] Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.”

The excuses for staying away from weekend church gatherings are endless and sickening. But the fact is, anybody who loves sports proves it by how he lives and supports his team. On the weekends and day off, he puts off chores and family to watch the game. Or she sneaks to the gym for dance, exercise, and tennis. People spend many hours doing what they really want and love, and ignore what they hate.

The Greek word is “to detest (especially to persecute); by extension to love less :- hate (-ful).” To love football more than joining the Christian team at a local church gathering, is loving “religion” less. It is loving your Christian brother LESS! And this is the point, whether people are willing to admit the word “hate” or “detest” for what they feel about the church. There is no love, that’s for sure. Anyone in this state, is in darkness, and not a Christian, whether they protest my words or not!

It Takes a Godly Person to Love Other Christians

So the whole concept of this step is clear, it takes a god-like person to love people in close quarters who are not your children or relatives. It takes a commitment of kindness to put up with people’s flaws and weaknesses, their cultural differences, and their immature attitudes and actions. Parents do this with their kids, but many Christians refuse to see that some fellow believers are spiritual babies or children.

If you are a spiritual child you want to think of yourself and not others. To only focus on getting spiritually fed and supported is selfish and childlike. Conflict and problems always follow children, and if you are a parent you know this. Read 1 Corinthians and see how much trouble an immature church can get into. But mature, godly people find the Lord enlarging their hearts to be kind to their Christian family no matter what.

And this brotherly kindness does not come easily, it takes a lot of forgiveness, patience, and a whole lot of godliness to develop true brotherly love for the people who make up a local congregation of the church. This is why Peter says to exercise [use] your godliness to develop brotherly kindness. This is not an easy step for anyone. It takes diligence and willpower to love Christians that are not likable.

And remember this, we are not led to believe that you receive a membership card from heaven, making you a member of the large international group called the “Church” in some kind of abstract way, ignoring the real world of a local church of Christians.

You are not free from being joined to the team of a hard working group of local people, “the called out ones” of your city. For example, you cannot be an NFL player, unless you are a member of a local NFL team. Once you are off the local team, you may be qualified, but unless another team picks you up, you are retired and just a fan. God has no fans, He only has players called disciples.

You must take a position on a team and take on the responsibility of helping your team members accomplish the goals God gives. Also you must encourage and help fellow members develop their skills which makes your team stronger. And you most definitely must learn to work together for the good of the Kingdom.

Take the first church as the pattern. Acts chapter two describes the powerful start of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Three thousand believed the words of Peter, left their circle of friends and united into a brand new community of people who also were committed to Jesus. They did not just believe in their heads, go back to the way they lived, and expect to go to heaven. Repentance demanded a total, revolutionary change of direction and life immediately.

Here is the Word, “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’”

“And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation.’ 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

“46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

True salvation brings radical change and a new allegiance that is supernaturally imprinted inside a new Christian. “And they continued steadfastly” is based on a Greek word with powerful meaning. It covers these actions, “to be earnest towards, i.e. (to a thing) to persevere, be constantly diligent, or (in a place) to attend assiduously all the exercises, or (to a person) to adhere closely to (as a servitor) :- attend (give self) continually (upon), continue (in, instant in, with), wait on (continually).”

The Acts record reveals the instantaneous reversal of three thousand people from their old lifestyle and the cementing of a new “team” of furiously committed people to Christ and each other. Their love bonded them into a strong and unbreakable fellowship. They went to extremes in their care for and support of each other, even though many just met! Obviously, the core leaders, were with Jesus about three years, but the heart of God’s care was created inside these new disciples very quickly.

And we too are ordered to focus and keep the family together just like they did so long ago. “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart…” [1 Peter 1:22 NKJV] And repeated again “Continue to love each other.” [Hebrews 13:1 GW]

The Godly Serve and Help Others Through Brotherly Love

But, the work comes after the initial excitement of new life and the supernatural grace that surges inside the young Christian. Mature believers must work hard to keep the unity of the team by nurturing the babes and immature in Christ, being examples of patience and love, and leading in the purposes and work of God.

Paul challenges believers to be diligent and work hard at this. “Through the peace that ties you together, do your best to maintain the unity that the Spirit gives… This is to continue until all of us are united in our faith and in our knowledge about God’s Son, until we become mature, until we measure up to Christ, who is the standard.” [Ephes. 4:3, 13 GW]

Peter adds, “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.” [1 Peter 3:8,9 NKJV]

After holding to the conviction that it is God’s will, we unite and love as brothers, and the next step is actually developing brotherly affection for the saints. Remember the Lord taught, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” [Matthew 6:2] This means investing in your spiritual family, by focusing on serving and helping them in the faith, their value will grow in your heart.

This is how we are instructed to accomplish this change of heart. “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.”

The more you intentionally invest in your Christian brothers, the more you will cherish them! The full depth of this exciting spiritual step is that you become consumed with the growth and blessing of your fellow believers. They are more important to you than anything of this world. If you think of sports, it would be like being a player-coach.

“So those of us who have a strong {faith} must be patient with the weaknesses of those whose {faith} is not so strong. We must not think only of ourselves. [2] We should all be concerned about our neighbor and the good things that will build his faith. [3] Christ did not think only of himself. Rather, as Scripture says, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” [4] Everything written long ago was written to teach us so that we would have confidence through the endurance and encouragement which the Scriptures give us. [5] May God, who gives you this endurance and encouragement, allow you to live in harmony with each other by following the example of Christ Jesus. [6] Then, having the same goal, you will praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. [7] Therefore, accept each other in the same way that Christ accepted you. He did this to bring glory to God.” [Romans 15:1-7 GW]

“Brothers and sisters, I encourage all of you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to agree with each other and not to split into opposing groups. I want you to be united in your understanding and opinions.” [1 Cor. 1:10 GW] Therefore, you must know the tricks and traps of the devil. “False prophets were among God’s people {in the past}, as false teachers will be among you. They will secretly bring in their own destructive teachings. They will deny [contradict] the Lord, who has bought them, and they will bring themselves swift destruction.” [2 Peter 2:1 GW]

Now before you get false ideas, I want to make sure you understand that unity and harmony does not mean compromise and acceptance of false doctrine or evil practices. The early church was united and devoted to the apostles’ doctrine. To keep the unity of all for the sake of maturing them to be like Christ demands that the church will have to remove false Christians from their team.

God’s word instruct us, “Now, what I meant was that you should not associate with people who call themselves brothers or sisters in the Christian faith but live in sexual sin, are greedy, worship false gods, use abusive language, get drunk, or are dishonest. Don’t eat with such people.” [1 Cor. 5:11 GW] “Brothers and sisters, I urge you to watch out for those people who create divisions and who make others fall away {from the Christian faith} by teaching doctrine that is not the same as you have learned. Stay away from them.” [Romans 16:17 GW]

Don’t be confused here! It is loving and kind to stop children from hurting themselves or someone else. It is also normal to protect children. And parents always correct and guide their children. This is the power and importance of Christian fellowship. God established the positions of mature church leaders: missionaries, evangelists, preachers, teachers and pastors to guide and protect the infants and immature from themselves and the devil. Like shepherds of old they are raised up to supervise the fulfillment of all these things: the unity and fellowship of the team, the maturing and strengthening of the team, and the safety and protection of the team.

Fellowship is living out brotherly kindness through the powerful bond of the passionate love of God. “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says:

“When He ascended on high,

He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”

9 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. [Ephesians 4:1-16 NKJV]

So What is Necessary For You to Achieve Step 6?

1/ Decide that the church, yes, the organized church with spiritual leaders, is God’s church. Yes there are false teachers and false cults and movements. So be careful and find God’s people. It does not matter what you like, it matters who they are. If you have divided yourself from them you are in error and resistant to God’s authority. Humble yourself and repent, and quickly find a local congregation of Christians that follow the clear teaching of the Bible, and submit to the pastor’s authority.

2/ Then commit yourself to the work of the ministry of fellowship. And be clear, fellowship is living the “one another commands” within the local church of the New Testament. This is the only way to develop brotherly affection, diligently exercising your passion for God by loving the people He loves deeply, His family, which now is your eternal family.

Randy Bell

21 Jan 2017

Phase 3 Mature Servant: focus is adding godliness, brotherly kindness and sacrificial love, Phase 4 Godly Leader: focus on deepening sacrificial love, leading and mentoring, Step 7: adding all diligence to [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] sacrificial love.

Step 7: With All Diligence Add Genuine Love To Your Brotherly Kindness

“make every effort… to Christian affection add love.” [2 Peter 1:7 (GW)]

Steps 5-7 have everything to do with passion. Step 5 is experiencing a loving passion for God. Then Step 6 creates a passion for fellow believers. And finally, Step 7 focuses on passion for the lost world around us. We must let God enlarge our hearts step by step. In our life as a Christian, we are commanded to climb to the final height of God’s purpose for man by adding genuine love [agape] to our brotherly kindness.

The construction remember, says, “make every effort… to Christian affection add love. [2 Peter 1:7 (GW)] This is a progression because you are to add agape love to brotherly kindness. Therefore, brotherly love must be already practiced before you can add something new to this spiritual phase of life. Loving your Christian family is one thing, but passionately sacrificing your life for the general community [your neighbors and the enemies of God] is the ultimate act of love.

Genuine love is not magic, or unheard of in the secular world. For example, if your child, or father, mother [a close relative] were to contract a deadly disease or suffer a terrible accident and need a $250,000 operation, and did not have insurance to cover it, would you sell your home, car, furniture, cash in all investments, etc. to save their life? Almost everyone would do it in a heartbeat because your genuine love for your loved ones drives you to such sacrifice. You would not even have to think about it!

But, what if I needed the operation, would you do it for me? Every one of you would pray for me! Some might send a small donation. But the reality is, most of you would shrug your shoulders, comment on how heaven is a better place, and let me die!

The point is, “for God so loved the world that He gave us His Son.” God has more passionate, genuine love for every person on this planet than most people love their children. And beyond that, even though many love their kids like this, most do not even love their own spouse that much. Moms will put up with anything from their children, love them unconditionally and do anything for them, but divorce their husband for purely selfish reasons because of disappointments and disagreements. Even many criminals will die for their children but hate and hurt everyone else.

This is where the supernatural must come in, and why we are commanded to expand our hearts to practice genuine love as a controlling motive and focus of our mature faith. We are born selfish, so this extreme focus of life is the complete opposite. Brotherly kindness expands your heart to love fellow Christians with the same love you practice with close family. But, agape love greatly enlarges your heart beyond the church family, to love the world like Christ does, by continually sacrificing to save them from eternal damnation in hell! Only God’s power in a narrow road follower of Jesus can make such changes in a person.

The apostle Paul explains it in his second letter to the church at Corinth, Greece. “For if we have been beside ourselves, it has been for God’s glory; or if we are now in our right senses, it is in order to be of service to you. For the love of Christ overmasters us, the conclusion at which we have arrived being this—that One having died for all, His death was their death, and that He died for all in order that the living may no longer live to themselves, but to Him who died for them and rose again.”

“Therefore for the future we know no one simply as a man. Even if we have known Christ as a man, yet now we do so no longer. So that if any one is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old state of things has passed away; a new state of things has come into existence. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and has appointed us to serve in the ministry of reconciliation. We are to tell how God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not charging men’s transgressions to their account, and that He has entrusted to us the Message of this reconciliation. On Christ’s behalf therefore we come as ambassadors, God, as it were, making entreaty through our lips: we, on Christ’s behalf, beseech men to be reconciled to God.” [2 Cor 5:13-20 (WEY)]

Here is the definition from the Greek language for constraineth (KJV) [overmasters] = from (sun) and (echo); to hold together, i.e. to compress (the ears, with a crowd or siege) or arrest (a prisoner); figurative to compel, perplex, afflict, preoccupy :- constrain, hold, keep in, press, lie sick of, stop, be in a strait, straiten, be taken with, throng. – [Strong’s Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary].

I hope you can see that Paul explains that this type of love is God’s passion driving, pressing and controlling believers through grace [Phil. 2:13, the desire and power to do God’s will] to no longer live selfishly, but instead, focus and follow the will of Jesus with the same love He shared when sacrificing His life. He joyfully gave His life on the cross of torture and death for all mankind.

He has appointed all followers of Jesus to serve in His ministry of reconciliation, by broadcasting the message of His sacrifice. He sends us for the same reason the Father sent Him [John 20:21]. We must “make every effort” to be living sacrifices [Romans 12], and diligently spread the good news to the whole world. Without agape love driving you, you will not passionately accomplish this! And believe me, this clearly explains the reason John claims this is phase four, or the ultimate phase of Kingdom Living! It is the height of love for God and man.

Now here is the shocker for many believers, it is not a special calling for an elite few, but in time and with training from God, He intends to move you and everyone of His narrow road followers to this fourth phase of your life [Phase 4]! “For although, considering the long time you have been believers, you ought now to be teachers of others…” [Heb 5:12 (WEY)]

Let those words sink into you! Many Christians make excuses that they do not have to be a missionary, pastor, preacher, teacher, etc. because they have not been led or called to do it, as if you need a special bonk on the head before you are responsible for the world going to hell forever!

If you are truly born again, the grace of God will push you to do His will and join His ministry team! If you are a hypocrite, keep making excuses, you will end up in hell with the world anyway. And without agape love, you will ignore the fate worse than the death of your child, as you watch your community, nation, and world rush to eternal judgment.

The mature believer must see that their mission from God is the Great Commission of Matthew 28. The strong and faithful servant of God must have a passion for the lost world that launches him into serving in the ministry of reconciliation that the Lord leads them to join. This does not mean that you must be full-time missionaries but it might. This does not mean you become a pastor of a church, but it might. What it does mean is that your focus of ministry melts together with your job, whether you are a teacher, plumber, banker, or scientist. The apostle Paul’s job was a tent-maker, but he is known as a great missionary.

The older, mature leader must see that the mentoring and training of the immature and mature disciples rest upon their shoulders. The fire cannot go out! The passion and mission of God must be passed faithfully unto the next generations until Christ literally comes back to earth. Again “considering the long time you have been believers, you ought now to be teachers of others…”

Even in business and industry, good retired workers are treasured and called back as mentors and consultants to establish the base of work and employees. It is sad that in our day, most churches see the elderly as out of touch with “new innovations” and not valuable. I hope they wake up soon, the salvation and spiritual life of the church needs old-fashioned Biblical principles. God has not changed and His Word was established long ago.

We must go back to God’s Word as the only foundation of faith AND PRACTICE!

24 May 2016

StraightTalk Articles

Does Your Christian Beliefs Contradict Jesus?

What if what you believe and practice as the Christian way of life is the opposite of God’s will? Have you carefully followed the words and example of Jesus?

He told His followers, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” [John 15:13-15 (NKJV)]

The Lord made it clear only repentant disciples that obeyed His commands were His friends. Others… well they were his enemies! “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” [Romans 5:10 (NKJV)]

Do we dare make God’s enemies our friends?

“You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.” [James 4:4 (NLT)]

Everyone who refuses to follow Christ’s commands is an enemy of God. Do you even know what Christ commands His followers? Is the foundation of your lifestyle and way of thinking based on Christ’s words or your own self-created quasi Christianity. Do you think you have to follow Christ’s rules or not?

The world does not!

Is it betrayal to make God’s enemies your friends?

So to deal with those questions let me first examine how Jesus treated His enemies.

1/ First, He showered them with mercy and at the same time, loved them by boldly confronting them.

He privately spoke to all people who asked about the truth of salvation and He busied Himself by reaching out to those that were sick, rejected, struggling, hurting, and sinful. He openly preached to all who would listen.

From the beginning of His ministry He preached to the lost crowds of Israel.“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” [Matt 4:17 (NKJV)]

His public ministry was visible to all, but he privately went off with his friends and taught them the secrets of the kingdom of God.

2/ He continued preaching repentance to the crowds until they hardened their hearts to that message.

When the crowds got tired of hearing His call to repentance, most of those curious seekers turned into antagonists. Whether they watched or fought against Jesus they were still his enemies. So He publicly changed His teaching for His enemies.

This led the disciples to ask why the change in His message. We see this in Matthew 13:10-11 (NLT), “His disciples came and asked him, ‘Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?’ He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but OTHERS ARE NOT.”

The real followers of Jesus responded to the message of repentance and followed His commands. They were His friends and given the secrets of the Kingdom. He explained the meaning of His stories and deepened their understanding so they could continue sharing His Kingdom after He was crucified.

But the Lord’s enemies got little stories because they really were not interested in following His mission. He was clear in why the crowd did not need to hear anything else from Him.

Matthew 13:12-13 (GW)
¹² Those who understand {these mysteries} will be given {more knowledge}, and they will excel {in understanding them}. However, some people don’t understand {these mysteries}. Even what they understand will be taken away from them.
¹³ This is why I speak to them this way. They see, but they’re blind. They hear, but they don’t listen. They don’t even try to understand.

Jesus previously told them, “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” [Matthew 12:30 (NLT)]

Sure, they still came around to watch Him do miracles and teach the kingdom stories, but most found fault and began judging and fighting against the Lord. The crowd tried to push Him off a cliff, argue, and bad mouth Him to others.

Are you afraid of this happening in your ministry or family?

You have to understand the Bible always makes a clear distinction between the DISCIPLES and the people who were the CROWD. For example, the Sermon on the Mount is clearly for his disciples, not the crowd. “One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them.” [Matt 5:1-2 (NLT)]

Of course, this was outdoors in the open air and crowds would always come to listen, but not follow Jesus. But when he preached to the crowd it was different. Look closely at these words, “And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, ‘This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.’” [Luke 11:29 (NKJV)]

He CONFRONTED them repeatedly.

Another example is a confrontation with a rabbi. “The Pharisee noticed and was astonished [to see] that Jesus did not first wash before dinner. But the Lord said to him, ‘Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside you yourselves are full of greed and robbery and extortion and malice and wickedness.‘” [Luke 11:38-39 (AMP)]

The crowds would not repent and become his disciples, but still kept gathering around Him. So did He stop confronting them with the truth about their sins?

He led His friends to join Him and also publicly confront and preach to the crowds, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.” [Mark 1:38 (NKJV)] “Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.” [Matt 11:1 (NKJV)]

He did not become best friends with the community and hope someday by just being nice and quiet about their sins that they might accidentally evolve into Christians.

This is extremely important to examine. The spiritual state of our communities and country is at stake. Do we follow Jesus, or follow the will of the crowd of Christ’s enemies that still resists God?

For example here is a challenge from an American evangelist of a previous century. On December 4, 1873, The Independent published an article by Revivalist Charles Finney titled “The Decay of Conscience.”

“Brethren, our preaching will bear its legitimate fruits. If immorality prevails in the land, the fault is ours in a great degree. If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discrimination, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in religion, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it. Let us not ignore this fact, my dear brethren; but let us lay it to heart, and be thoroughly awake to our responsibility in respect to the morals of this nation.”

Today pastors and saints think we love people into the kingdom without ever speaking because it may hurt their feelings, or we will be rejected and charged with judging. Even though that is the practice and strong belief of many church leaders and Christians today, it is contradicting the teaching and example of Jesus.

Today many demand that we must win the right to preach, and to confront people is unloving and contrary to the ways of Jesus. But our silence today has left the wicked bold in their sins, and overcome by strongholds of satanic deception. After years of this experiment, our nation is deeper in sin instead of clamoring to join the church. Their future is hell and they don’t believe it, and all I hear is the madness that we must double down and stay lovingly silent because Christianity is not about rules but love.

But the Bible says if you love them you will open your mouth and warn them!

Friendship evangelism is popular, and being friendly to the wicked is a must. But hoping after years and years of silent friendship that they will somehow be saved without the word of your testimony and the call of repentance is disobedience to Christ. Remember, Christ’s friends follow His commands.

The apostle Paul wrote, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” [Romans 10:14 (NKJV)]

Remember Jesus CONFRONTED them, “…you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside you yourselves are full of greed and robbery and extortion and malice and wickedness.” [Luke 11:38-39 (AMP)]

Whether religious or average people he boldly told them to stop their sin. “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” [John 8:11 (NLT)]

Christ loved them enough to speak the truth, and the truth is offensive to the wicked! But Jesus believes in preaching! The Bible believes in preaching! But today pastors and people seem to more and more disagree and contradict the Lord!

“Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, ‘Does this offend you? Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you do not believe me.’ (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.)”

“Then he said, ‘That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.’ At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.” [John 6:61-66 (NLT)]

And not only did many desert him, His disciples kept warning Him people were offended by His words. “His disciples came and said to Him, ‘Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?’ But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.” [Matt 15:12-13 (NKJV)]

Today many claim the world is offended by Christians who preach repentance and follow Christ’s commands as if it is all their fault the world hates the church. Well, guess what, 2000 years ago those new disciples tried to stop Jesus offending the Pharisees and others with the truth!

And NO, the Pharisees were not the church or a picture of misguided churches who preach repentance. The Jewish rabbis who lived hypocritical lives are NOT a picture of the church but false religion without grace.

And let me be clear, the Lord knew His words were offensive and even reminded John the Baptist, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” [Matt 11:4-6 (NKJV)]

It is true, if you are silent you will not offend the unbelieving! But you will not be like Jesus or be His friend.

[bctt tweet=”It is true, if you are silent you will not offend the unbelieving! But you will not be like Jesus or be His friend.” username=”RandyMBell”]

“And when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, ‘Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?’ So they were offended at Him.” [Matt 13:54-57 (NKJV)]

Yes, people do not want to be preached to, and they did not like it when Jesus preached to them in Israel. And yet Christ ordered his disciples to preach and not become best friends with the lost with the hope the truth might accidentally come to them. Without salvation, the mind is controlled by Satan, and only a miracle can awaken a dead man from spiritual death.

My friend, you must intentionally minister to them as a follower of Jesus. And yes some people will accuse you of hatred, judging, and even become angry just because you dare show them their need of the Savior. But that is what happened from the very beginning of the church.

“Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach.” [Mark 3:14 (NLT)] “But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” [Matt 10:6-7 (NKJV)]

Jesus kept ordering His disciples to boldly speak just like He did. “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.” [Matt 10:27 (NKJV)]

Preaching the truth will offend many, it did when Jesus preached. Confronting people is the way Jesus and His apostles showed LOVE to the sons of disobedience.

The first Christians believed preaching was the crowds only hope for salvation, and obeyed this command, even when it looked like it had no immediate effect on the people by their strong resistance to their preaching.

After Christ Jesus preached for three years the Bible says only hundreds believed, not thousands or millions. But when Peter preached repentance as recorded in Acts 2, 3000 believed, and the church grew quickly for a time. But there was a strong antichrist backlash in Israel and across the world.

Acts 4:17-20 (NKJV)
¹⁷ But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”
¹⁸ And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
¹⁹ But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.
²⁰ For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

So the disciples were forced to fan out across the Roman Empire and the success rate was not as dramatic.

But that did not change the methods of Paul and others outside of Israel in later years. They still CONFRONTED sinners publicly and exposed their sin, and called them to turn and follow Jesus. Their confrontational preaching was the same as Christ taught His first disciples, who preached to crowds of strangers in Israel.

They did not waste years being best friends with the wicked of the Greek culture, but instead, quickly proclaimed the truth and trusted the Holy Spirit to work miracles. Then after preaching the gospel, Paul and the others befriended those who responded to the Gospel message and decided to follow Jesus.

Paul preached in many cities, but crowds rejected the truth and drove him out of town. Public outrage followed Paul in many cities. For example, he was taken to Athens to wait for his friends to join him.

“Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, ‘What does this babbler want to say?’ Others said, ‘He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,’ because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection…”

He confronted the strangers and told them their idolatry was wrong. “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being…”

“’Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.’ And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” So Paul departed from among them. However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.” [Acts 17:16-34 (NKJV)]

Here are the facts, Jesus did not join His enemies, His enemies repented and joined Him. Paul proclaimed the truth and some joined him and became his friends in the faith.

The scripture says we are not to join them, they are to join us! “Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? [2 Cor 6:14-15 (NLT)]

So I have to ask you again, do your Christian beliefs contradict Jesus?