Randy Green's Blog, page 436
September 11, 2013
Truth or Dare? – Part 2
Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth [Ephesians 6:14].
Sex, even conversations about sex, are meant to occur in the context of one man/one woman marriage. As Christians we must be on guard against the world’s seductive traps to lead us into sexual sin.
This point bears weight in understanding one aspect of our Bible verse. The devil is prowling about like a roaring lion, seeking some juicy Christian to devour. He loves to engage the child of God in conversation, knowing that the more we open our mouths and utter verbiage, the more we are likely to step into it.
So the devil slithers up to us appearing as an angel of light and asks with the innocence of a toddler, “Did God really say…?” He couldn’t care less what God said, but he greatly cares to get us flapping our jaws, you see. He’ll soon have us right where he wants us.
It is almost automatic for the Christian to want to defend God’s honor. We want to set the record straight, when the devil’s innuendo about our blessed Lord pricks us like a sharp barb. We are constrained to speak the truth, you see.
This perspective furnishes one context for understanding our Bible verse. We are studying spiritual warfare. As we learned in our last study, it is essential that we “put on the full armor of God”, before we go to war against the wiles of the wicked one.
This armor consists of several items. Our Bible verse identifies one such piece of armor as “the belt of truth”. That is how the New International Version translates it. The NASB reads “having girded your loins with truth”. We “gird” ourselves with a “girdle”, which is a belt of sorts which wraps around the waist area.
The Apostle Paul bases his depictive armor on the wardrobe of the Roman legionnaires. The piece of equipment they wore around the midriff was a belt. It held a sleeve for carrying the sword. In today’s military the belt might have a pocket for carrying a compass and other paraphernalia. It might also have a canteen attached to it.
In Biblical times men wore robes and tunics, not shirts and trousers. A tunic was none too practical for work, and even less so for fighting the enemy! The tunic got in the way and there was a danger of tripping over it.
To alleviate this predicament, a belt or girdle was worn atop the tunic. When it was time to work or go to war, the bottom portion of the tunic was pulled up away from the feet and tucked into the belt, to keep it out of the way.
In our next study we will consider the relevancy of this information to our Bible verse. For now let’s take a breather and go off alone with Jesus. He has some things He wants to share with us.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Sex, even conversations about sex, are meant to occur in the context of one man/one woman marriage. As Christians we must be on guard against the world’s seductive traps to lead us into sexual sin.
This point bears weight in understanding one aspect of our Bible verse. The devil is prowling about like a roaring lion, seeking some juicy Christian to devour. He loves to engage the child of God in conversation, knowing that the more we open our mouths and utter verbiage, the more we are likely to step into it.
So the devil slithers up to us appearing as an angel of light and asks with the innocence of a toddler, “Did God really say…?” He couldn’t care less what God said, but he greatly cares to get us flapping our jaws, you see. He’ll soon have us right where he wants us.
It is almost automatic for the Christian to want to defend God’s honor. We want to set the record straight, when the devil’s innuendo about our blessed Lord pricks us like a sharp barb. We are constrained to speak the truth, you see.
This perspective furnishes one context for understanding our Bible verse. We are studying spiritual warfare. As we learned in our last study, it is essential that we “put on the full armor of God”, before we go to war against the wiles of the wicked one.
This armor consists of several items. Our Bible verse identifies one such piece of armor as “the belt of truth”. That is how the New International Version translates it. The NASB reads “having girded your loins with truth”. We “gird” ourselves with a “girdle”, which is a belt of sorts which wraps around the waist area.
The Apostle Paul bases his depictive armor on the wardrobe of the Roman legionnaires. The piece of equipment they wore around the midriff was a belt. It held a sleeve for carrying the sword. In today’s military the belt might have a pocket for carrying a compass and other paraphernalia. It might also have a canteen attached to it.
In Biblical times men wore robes and tunics, not shirts and trousers. A tunic was none too practical for work, and even less so for fighting the enemy! The tunic got in the way and there was a danger of tripping over it.
To alleviate this predicament, a belt or girdle was worn atop the tunic. When it was time to work or go to war, the bottom portion of the tunic was pulled up away from the feet and tucked into the belt, to keep it out of the way.
In our next study we will consider the relevancy of this information to our Bible verse. For now let’s take a breather and go off alone with Jesus. He has some things He wants to share with us.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
September 10, 2013
Truth or Dare? – Part 1
Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth [Ephesians 6:14].
There is this silly game which folks of all ages have played over the years. It has even been codified into books of questions to be used in the game. It is called Truth or Dare. Have you ever heard of it?
I’ll bet you have, even if you don’t know it by that name. There are numerous variations of it, so no telling what form you might know it by. To tell the truth, to me kiddie Halloween celebration is eerily similar to Truth or Dare. The main difference would be that kiddie Halloween doesn’t challenge with “truth or dare”. It challenges with “trick or treat”.
Anyway a group of people plays the game. Basically, a challenge is issued by one of the contestants, daring another contestant to tell the truth. Hence “truth or dare”. Either the person being challenged tells the truth, or else he loses.
Of course in normal life we want people to tell the truth, not to lie. But that isn’t what this game is about. When some folks play the game, personal questions of a private or embarrassing nature are asked. The end result is that, for those who choose to play, their inhibitions are broken down when their privacy is eliminated.
Of course when kids play the game, they ask kiddie questions, sort of like “trick or treat”. The real danger comes when, say, college students play the game. They are away from home and at an age of heightened sexual awareness. And in today’s social climate sex is worshiped, rather than handled with inhibitions.
Consequently, it is not unusual for college students to ask questions of a sexual nature. If the person challenged doesn’t want to be mocked for being an old prude, he or she will cough up the truth and expose his or her private affairs. A little time wallowing in such shenanigans, and the entire group feels 100% uninhibited. Promiscuity tends to follow closely on the heels of this game in consequence.
Truth can be a good thing, if given in the proper context. As Rule #1 for Bible study teaches, “A text without a context is a pretext.” Questions and information related to sexual matters are private and should be kept private. Only within the context of one man/one woman marriage is the topic suitable between two people.
We are exhorted in the Bible to speak the truth in love. Sexual questions and information in a board game between folks not married might be truth, but they are certainly not love! The only true way to participate in such a game is to refrain from speaking. That would be wisdom for the child of God.
We will pause for now and spend time with the Lord Jesus. Tomorrow we will continue this topic.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
There is this silly game which folks of all ages have played over the years. It has even been codified into books of questions to be used in the game. It is called Truth or Dare. Have you ever heard of it?
I’ll bet you have, even if you don’t know it by that name. There are numerous variations of it, so no telling what form you might know it by. To tell the truth, to me kiddie Halloween celebration is eerily similar to Truth or Dare. The main difference would be that kiddie Halloween doesn’t challenge with “truth or dare”. It challenges with “trick or treat”.
Anyway a group of people plays the game. Basically, a challenge is issued by one of the contestants, daring another contestant to tell the truth. Hence “truth or dare”. Either the person being challenged tells the truth, or else he loses.
Of course in normal life we want people to tell the truth, not to lie. But that isn’t what this game is about. When some folks play the game, personal questions of a private or embarrassing nature are asked. The end result is that, for those who choose to play, their inhibitions are broken down when their privacy is eliminated.
Of course when kids play the game, they ask kiddie questions, sort of like “trick or treat”. The real danger comes when, say, college students play the game. They are away from home and at an age of heightened sexual awareness. And in today’s social climate sex is worshiped, rather than handled with inhibitions.
Consequently, it is not unusual for college students to ask questions of a sexual nature. If the person challenged doesn’t want to be mocked for being an old prude, he or she will cough up the truth and expose his or her private affairs. A little time wallowing in such shenanigans, and the entire group feels 100% uninhibited. Promiscuity tends to follow closely on the heels of this game in consequence.
Truth can be a good thing, if given in the proper context. As Rule #1 for Bible study teaches, “A text without a context is a pretext.” Questions and information related to sexual matters are private and should be kept private. Only within the context of one man/one woman marriage is the topic suitable between two people.
We are exhorted in the Bible to speak the truth in love. Sexual questions and information in a board game between folks not married might be truth, but they are certainly not love! The only true way to participate in such a game is to refrain from speaking. That would be wisdom for the child of God.
We will pause for now and spend time with the Lord Jesus. Tomorrow we will continue this topic.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
September 9, 2013
Armor-Plated Saints – Part 2
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil [Ephesians 6:11].
What does the story about bank robbers and a policeman have to do with our Bible verse? Well, it’s like this. Paul exhorted the Ephesian Christians to don the garb which the Lord affords Christians, so that they may conduct spiritual warfare against the forces of wickedness. That would be the devil and his ilk, for those who might be wondering.
God has provided each and every Christian, each and every child of His, with the full complement of military apparel and equipment needed to have victory against the wicked one and his minions. Indeed, this wardrobe and weaponry are indispensable against the siren songs of the world and the devious temptations of the flesh as well.
Paul employed a phrase to depict this military matériel we receive from God. He called it the full armor of God. The policeman had his bullet-proof vest as a part of his armor against the bank robbers. The Christian has the full armor of God.
God has provided for His kids to be a part of His army. His provision transforms us into armor-plated saints. When the Lord is done with His kids, they are metamorphosed into a formidable force to be dealt with. The plan of God cannot fail. When we Christians put on the full armor of God, we are equipped to stand with the Lord against the forces of darkness and participate in His war against wickedness.
This is a holy calling, beloved, a calling not to be taken lightly. About the only thing worse for the Christian than taking this calling lightly is to turn the back to it and refuse to join the cause of Christ. The devil is on the prowl, seeking some juicy saint to chomp on at dinner time. Without the full armor of God we are sitting ducks. Sitting ducks never fare well.
Not to fret! Just don’t turn the back to the fight. You’ll get stabbed in it if you do. No, but instead put on the full armor of God. Then you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. It’s so much more gratifying to be one of the victors, rather than one of the losers.
I’ll bet you are wondering where your full armor of God is, aren’t you? Well, it’s not up in heaven, waiting for you to climb Jacob’s ladder to fetch it! Neither is it in the depths of the sea, daring you to hold your breath long enough to swim to it. It’s in your mouth and in your heart, ready for you to claim it.
We will begin in our next study to expound on the full armor of God piece by piece. So don’t miss out. Be there.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
What does the story about bank robbers and a policeman have to do with our Bible verse? Well, it’s like this. Paul exhorted the Ephesian Christians to don the garb which the Lord affords Christians, so that they may conduct spiritual warfare against the forces of wickedness. That would be the devil and his ilk, for those who might be wondering.
God has provided each and every Christian, each and every child of His, with the full complement of military apparel and equipment needed to have victory against the wicked one and his minions. Indeed, this wardrobe and weaponry are indispensable against the siren songs of the world and the devious temptations of the flesh as well.
Paul employed a phrase to depict this military matériel we receive from God. He called it the full armor of God. The policeman had his bullet-proof vest as a part of his armor against the bank robbers. The Christian has the full armor of God.
God has provided for His kids to be a part of His army. His provision transforms us into armor-plated saints. When the Lord is done with His kids, they are metamorphosed into a formidable force to be dealt with. The plan of God cannot fail. When we Christians put on the full armor of God, we are equipped to stand with the Lord against the forces of darkness and participate in His war against wickedness.
This is a holy calling, beloved, a calling not to be taken lightly. About the only thing worse for the Christian than taking this calling lightly is to turn the back to it and refuse to join the cause of Christ. The devil is on the prowl, seeking some juicy saint to chomp on at dinner time. Without the full armor of God we are sitting ducks. Sitting ducks never fare well.
Not to fret! Just don’t turn the back to the fight. You’ll get stabbed in it if you do. No, but instead put on the full armor of God. Then you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. It’s so much more gratifying to be one of the victors, rather than one of the losers.
I’ll bet you are wondering where your full armor of God is, aren’t you? Well, it’s not up in heaven, waiting for you to climb Jacob’s ladder to fetch it! Neither is it in the depths of the sea, daring you to hold your breath long enough to swim to it. It’s in your mouth and in your heart, ready for you to claim it.
We will begin in our next study to expound on the full armor of God piece by piece. So don’t miss out. Be there.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
September 8, 2013
Armor-Plated Saints – Part 1
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil [Ephesians 6:11].
The bank alarm sounded. Armed gunmen had invaded the building and were holding hostages at gunpoint. “Turn over all the money or else!” they barked. No one argued. Not one person was defiant. Money the gunmen wanted. Money the gunmen would have.
So instantaneously the money drawers were yanked open by every cashier, no exceptions. Each person was eager and anxious to give away all the money inside those drawers. The bank president hastened to the vault, opened the unwieldy steel door, and helped the gunmen to the goodies inside.
Not a soul resisted. No one cared about the money under such a scenario…no one, that is, except the bank robbers. Because the victims were totally cooperative and aided the gunmen in achieving their goals, the gunmen didn’t shoot anyone. The gunmen didn’t even pistol whip anyone. For a time it seemed all would end well.
Alas, but when the gunmen exited the bank with the loot, things took a sudden turn for the worse. No, none of the folks inside the bank ran out, in an effort to retrieve the stolen money. The problem arose from someone on the outside.
A policeman arrived on the scene, unaware that a bank robbery had just occurred in the bank he was about to enter for personal business. The policeman was in uniform. The bank robbers were not. They had discarded their disguises upon exiting the bank, so as to blend in with the surroundings. Hence the policeman hadn’t an inkling of who they were.
But the bank robbers didn’t know that. All they saw was a police uniform, and their guilty consciences took over. Two of the robbers pulled out their pistols and, without hesitation, shot the policeman in the chest twice. He fell to the ground prostrate, motionless, giving the appearance of a dead man.
The robbers hightailed it out of there, before reinforcements arrived from the police station. They made their getaway, never to be heard from or seen again. They knew they had to disappear for good. The sentence was death by injection for cop killers, you see.
But wait! The policeman wasn’t dead after all. He was stunned senseless, yes, but not dead. He still lived! How could such an amazing thing transpire? Who gets shot with two .45 caliber bullets at point blank range, and in the chest at that, yet gets up, shakes it off, and walks away sore but safe? Who does that except super heroes and TV stars?
I’ll tell you who does that in real life. Policemen wearing bullet proof vests, that’s who! Yes, our policeman had his vest on at the time of the shooting, so the bullets knocked him senseless. But they were unable to penetrate the vest, so the policeman wasn’t seriously injured, just badly bruised. He felt like a beef steak which had been tenderized. Unlike the beef steak, however, he was still alive!
I’ll bet you are wondering what this story has to do with our Bible verse for today, aren’t you? Yes, you are. I saw you thinking those very thoughts just now. You can’t fool me. Well, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out because we’re out of time now. Enjoy some time with Jesus then.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The bank alarm sounded. Armed gunmen had invaded the building and were holding hostages at gunpoint. “Turn over all the money or else!” they barked. No one argued. Not one person was defiant. Money the gunmen wanted. Money the gunmen would have.
So instantaneously the money drawers were yanked open by every cashier, no exceptions. Each person was eager and anxious to give away all the money inside those drawers. The bank president hastened to the vault, opened the unwieldy steel door, and helped the gunmen to the goodies inside.
Not a soul resisted. No one cared about the money under such a scenario…no one, that is, except the bank robbers. Because the victims were totally cooperative and aided the gunmen in achieving their goals, the gunmen didn’t shoot anyone. The gunmen didn’t even pistol whip anyone. For a time it seemed all would end well.
Alas, but when the gunmen exited the bank with the loot, things took a sudden turn for the worse. No, none of the folks inside the bank ran out, in an effort to retrieve the stolen money. The problem arose from someone on the outside.
A policeman arrived on the scene, unaware that a bank robbery had just occurred in the bank he was about to enter for personal business. The policeman was in uniform. The bank robbers were not. They had discarded their disguises upon exiting the bank, so as to blend in with the surroundings. Hence the policeman hadn’t an inkling of who they were.
But the bank robbers didn’t know that. All they saw was a police uniform, and their guilty consciences took over. Two of the robbers pulled out their pistols and, without hesitation, shot the policeman in the chest twice. He fell to the ground prostrate, motionless, giving the appearance of a dead man.
The robbers hightailed it out of there, before reinforcements arrived from the police station. They made their getaway, never to be heard from or seen again. They knew they had to disappear for good. The sentence was death by injection for cop killers, you see.
But wait! The policeman wasn’t dead after all. He was stunned senseless, yes, but not dead. He still lived! How could such an amazing thing transpire? Who gets shot with two .45 caliber bullets at point blank range, and in the chest at that, yet gets up, shakes it off, and walks away sore but safe? Who does that except super heroes and TV stars?
I’ll tell you who does that in real life. Policemen wearing bullet proof vests, that’s who! Yes, our policeman had his vest on at the time of the shooting, so the bullets knocked him senseless. But they were unable to penetrate the vest, so the policeman wasn’t seriously injured, just badly bruised. He felt like a beef steak which had been tenderized. Unlike the beef steak, however, he was still alive!
I’ll bet you are wondering what this story has to do with our Bible verse for today, aren’t you? Yes, you are. I saw you thinking those very thoughts just now. You can’t fool me. Well, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out because we’re out of time now. Enjoy some time with Jesus then.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Just Say No To Drugs – Part 7
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds [Titus 2:11-14].
Jesus “gave Himself for us”. Verse 14 goes on to teach us why Jesus gave Himself for us. Let’s read it again and see,
To redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Did you catch the two aspects depicted by those words. Each aspect begins with the word “to”. Jesus gave Himself for us “to”, i.e., in order to accomplish what follows.
First, Jesus’ death for our sins and resurrection for our justification was for the purpose of “redeem(ing) us from every lawless deed”. The word “redeem” means to buy back. We were slaves to sin, you see, slaves to “every lawless deed”. Christ Jesus gave Himself for us to buy us back from the slave market of sin.
Secondly, Jesus’ death for our sins and resurrection for our justification was for the purpose of “purify(ing) for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds”. We were slaves to sin. Jesus went to the slave market and bought us off the auction block. This makes us “His own possession”.
Jesus is God. He cannot even look upon sin. It is too flagitious for His pure eyes. As His property, we cannot be in fellowship with Him while we are in sin. Ergo, Jesus gave Himself for us so that He might purify us. This allows us to be and remain in fellowship with God the Son, as well as with God the Holy Spirit and God the Father too.
The life I now lead is a pure life, His life in me, the new nature of the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus went around the land of Israel doing good deeds zealously, so now too am I to be “zealous of good deeds” in my own city and country.
But I don’t do this out of obligation or to earn salvation. I already am saved! I do it because of the new life indwelling me, the Spirit of God, and that is how He lives.
This sure gives me plenty of food for thought, dear friends. Let’s betake ourselves to the prayer closet and spend time alone with Jesus. The Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth, as we enjoy the Lord’s fellowship and converse with Him and He with us.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Jesus “gave Himself for us”. Verse 14 goes on to teach us why Jesus gave Himself for us. Let’s read it again and see,
To redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Did you catch the two aspects depicted by those words. Each aspect begins with the word “to”. Jesus gave Himself for us “to”, i.e., in order to accomplish what follows.
First, Jesus’ death for our sins and resurrection for our justification was for the purpose of “redeem(ing) us from every lawless deed”. The word “redeem” means to buy back. We were slaves to sin, you see, slaves to “every lawless deed”. Christ Jesus gave Himself for us to buy us back from the slave market of sin.
Secondly, Jesus’ death for our sins and resurrection for our justification was for the purpose of “purify(ing) for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds”. We were slaves to sin. Jesus went to the slave market and bought us off the auction block. This makes us “His own possession”.
Jesus is God. He cannot even look upon sin. It is too flagitious for His pure eyes. As His property, we cannot be in fellowship with Him while we are in sin. Ergo, Jesus gave Himself for us so that He might purify us. This allows us to be and remain in fellowship with God the Son, as well as with God the Holy Spirit and God the Father too.
The life I now lead is a pure life, His life in me, the new nature of the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus went around the land of Israel doing good deeds zealously, so now too am I to be “zealous of good deeds” in my own city and country.
But I don’t do this out of obligation or to earn salvation. I already am saved! I do it because of the new life indwelling me, the Spirit of God, and that is how He lives.
This sure gives me plenty of food for thought, dear friends. Let’s betake ourselves to the prayer closet and spend time alone with Jesus. The Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth, as we enjoy the Lord’s fellowship and converse with Him and He with us.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
September 6, 2013
Just Say No To Drugs – Part 6
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds [Titus 2:11-14].
One aspect of the Holy Spirit’s ministry in us today is to lead us to say “No” to sin and “Yes” to “righteous living”. Another aspect is that the Holy Spirit keeps us focused on eternity, on our eternal home with Jesus in heaven. In doing so we don’t put undue value on the world and the things of the world.
Before we are born again, all we know is the world and its toys. We live to acquire more toys and indulge our lusts. We want it all, the good life of affluence and easy living.
After we are born again, the Holy Spirit inside us focuses us on the Person of Jesus Christ. We spend time alone with Jesus daily, as the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see His lovely face more clearly. The Holy Spirit also opens our ears to hear His sweet voice speak a fresh word to us from the Bible. Our hearts go out to Him in love. We are growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit takes it further than that. He reminds us of Jesus’ words, that He has gone back to the Father, where He is interceding on our behalf at the throne of God. He is also preparing a place for us, and He is coming again at any moment to take us home with Him. We have a mansion in glory! Hallelujah!
That is where it’s at, dear friends. That is where our focus should be. The Holy Spirit makes it His goal to keep us focused on that. He calls this to mind incessantly, so that we “look for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus”. That is the future aspect of the Holy Spirit’s ministry on our behalf. The present aspect is to just say “No” to sin and “Yes” to righteous living.
Our text concludes in verse 14 by reminding us of the Lord Jesus. Jesus “gave Himself for us”. Yes, He did, and that speaks volumes about why we should love Him and trust Him and obey Him. He laid down His own life, so that we don’t have to die for our sins. His sacrifice on our behalf earns Him our love and trust and obedience.
There is more to come on that blessed subject. We will get to it in our next study. Lord Jesus, we are ready to spend some time with you now.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
One aspect of the Holy Spirit’s ministry in us today is to lead us to say “No” to sin and “Yes” to “righteous living”. Another aspect is that the Holy Spirit keeps us focused on eternity, on our eternal home with Jesus in heaven. In doing so we don’t put undue value on the world and the things of the world.
Before we are born again, all we know is the world and its toys. We live to acquire more toys and indulge our lusts. We want it all, the good life of affluence and easy living.
After we are born again, the Holy Spirit inside us focuses us on the Person of Jesus Christ. We spend time alone with Jesus daily, as the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see His lovely face more clearly. The Holy Spirit also opens our ears to hear His sweet voice speak a fresh word to us from the Bible. Our hearts go out to Him in love. We are growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit takes it further than that. He reminds us of Jesus’ words, that He has gone back to the Father, where He is interceding on our behalf at the throne of God. He is also preparing a place for us, and He is coming again at any moment to take us home with Him. We have a mansion in glory! Hallelujah!
That is where it’s at, dear friends. That is where our focus should be. The Holy Spirit makes it His goal to keep us focused on that. He calls this to mind incessantly, so that we “look for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus”. That is the future aspect of the Holy Spirit’s ministry on our behalf. The present aspect is to just say “No” to sin and “Yes” to righteous living.
Our text concludes in verse 14 by reminding us of the Lord Jesus. Jesus “gave Himself for us”. Yes, He did, and that speaks volumes about why we should love Him and trust Him and obey Him. He laid down His own life, so that we don’t have to die for our sins. His sacrifice on our behalf earns Him our love and trust and obedience.
There is more to come on that blessed subject. We will get to it in our next study. Lord Jesus, we are ready to spend some time with you now.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
September 5, 2013
Just Say No To Drugs – Part 5
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds [Titus 2:11-14].
The Holy Spirit teaches us how to live day-by-day in this world. This entails a negative and a positive aspect. The negative aspect is that we must deny the old man, the sin nature which continues to exist inside the born again person. The sin nature will not be eradicated until our glorification. This occurs at the Rapture of the Church when Jesus comes for us again. Paul made note of that event in Titus 2:13.
The Holy Spirit teaches us what sin is, and empowers us to refuse the sin nature when it entices us to sin. By the power of the Holy Spirit inside us, we can just say “No” to the sin nature, you see.
Then there is the positive aspect. We are also empowered to just say “Yes” to the new nature inside us, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit empowers us to do this as well.
This isn’t to be taken lightly, dear friends. Before a person is born again, he is ruled by the sin nature. He cannot live a righteous life and serve God. He is a slave to sin. Paul teaches about this in Romans 6.
Once a person is born again, he is no longer to obey the sin nature as its slave. The Lord delivered the Israelites from Egyptian slavery and brought them into the Promised Land to live a righteous life for Him. So too does the Lord Jesus save us from sin and impart to us a new life, the indwelling Holy Spirit. This frees us from sin so that we are enabled to live a righteous life for Him.
But we are also able to listen to the crooning of the sin nature, as its alluring song inveigles us onto the rocks of Island of the Sirens. If the sin nature is eradicated when we are born again, why did Paul tell Titus that the Christians have to just say “No” to sin and just say “Yes” to righteous living? Without a sin nature we wouldn’t be seduced into sinning.
But we are daily susceptible to the temptations of our old life, and some new temptations too! We have to choose to say “No” to them and say “Yes” to the Holy Spirit day-by-day, moment-by-moment, grace upon grace.
The sin nature still has its claws in us, dear friends, even after we are born again. The difference now is that the Holy Spirit indwells us and empowers us to resist the sin nature and choose to live His new life instead.
Food for thought, deep thought, very deep thought! Let’s chew the cud on it a while, as we sit at the feet of Jesus.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The Holy Spirit teaches us how to live day-by-day in this world. This entails a negative and a positive aspect. The negative aspect is that we must deny the old man, the sin nature which continues to exist inside the born again person. The sin nature will not be eradicated until our glorification. This occurs at the Rapture of the Church when Jesus comes for us again. Paul made note of that event in Titus 2:13.
The Holy Spirit teaches us what sin is, and empowers us to refuse the sin nature when it entices us to sin. By the power of the Holy Spirit inside us, we can just say “No” to the sin nature, you see.
Then there is the positive aspect. We are also empowered to just say “Yes” to the new nature inside us, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit empowers us to do this as well.
This isn’t to be taken lightly, dear friends. Before a person is born again, he is ruled by the sin nature. He cannot live a righteous life and serve God. He is a slave to sin. Paul teaches about this in Romans 6.
Once a person is born again, he is no longer to obey the sin nature as its slave. The Lord delivered the Israelites from Egyptian slavery and brought them into the Promised Land to live a righteous life for Him. So too does the Lord Jesus save us from sin and impart to us a new life, the indwelling Holy Spirit. This frees us from sin so that we are enabled to live a righteous life for Him.
But we are also able to listen to the crooning of the sin nature, as its alluring song inveigles us onto the rocks of Island of the Sirens. If the sin nature is eradicated when we are born again, why did Paul tell Titus that the Christians have to just say “No” to sin and just say “Yes” to righteous living? Without a sin nature we wouldn’t be seduced into sinning.
But we are daily susceptible to the temptations of our old life, and some new temptations too! We have to choose to say “No” to them and say “Yes” to the Holy Spirit day-by-day, moment-by-moment, grace upon grace.
The sin nature still has its claws in us, dear friends, even after we are born again. The difference now is that the Holy Spirit indwells us and empowers us to resist the sin nature and choose to live His new life instead.
Food for thought, deep thought, very deep thought! Let’s chew the cud on it a while, as we sit at the feet of Jesus.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
September 4, 2013
Just Say No To Drugs – Part 4
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds [Titus 2:11-14].
Paul dispatched Titus to Crete to organized the leadership in the churches on that island. Later he wrote Titus the letter we know as the the New Testament Epistle to Titus. This letter contains Paul’s instructions to Titus about what he should do to set the churches on their feet spiritually. We are studying a part of it today.
At the time Paul penned the words of Titus 2:11-14, Jesus Christ had already ascended into heaven, likely more than 3½ decades prior. Paul noted that the grace of God appeared bringing salvation, a reference to Jesus. That was past tense at the time Paul wrote.
Then Paul continued in the present tense with verbs like,
• instructing
• live
• looking
Jesus had been in heaven for decades. He wasn’t on earth “instructing us”. This brings us to the fourth member of the cast of this movie. This Person is the One on earth “instructing us” during this Church Age. Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to introduce to you the Holy Spirit.
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. God as identified by those words has a Son, so the reference is to God the Father. He is the first Person noted. “All men” received the second mention. God the Son then made His appearance.
The Son of God, Jesus Christ, ascended into heaven. Ten days later on Pentecost He sent the Holy Spirit to give birth to His Body on earth during this age, the Church.
It is through the instrumentality of the Church during this Church Age that the Gospel of Jesus Christ goes out to “all men”. We know the specifics of the Gospel because it appears in the Bible. We can understand the Bible because God the Holy Spirit lives inside the born again person. This indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the new life, eternal life, which Jesus grants us by means of the Gospel.
The ministry of the Holy Spirit entails many avenues of work. He teaches us the Word of God, leads us as we share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others, and comforts us in our distress. He it is Who, to employ the words of Titus 2, “instruct(s) us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age”.
The Holy Spirit also keeps us focused on eternity and our heavenly home, so that we are always “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus”. This additional aspect of the Holy Spirit’s ministry is crucial to the previous aspect.
We will learn all about it in our next study. For now let’s allow Jesus to assimilate what we’ve eaten today into our hearts and minds.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Paul dispatched Titus to Crete to organized the leadership in the churches on that island. Later he wrote Titus the letter we know as the the New Testament Epistle to Titus. This letter contains Paul’s instructions to Titus about what he should do to set the churches on their feet spiritually. We are studying a part of it today.
At the time Paul penned the words of Titus 2:11-14, Jesus Christ had already ascended into heaven, likely more than 3½ decades prior. Paul noted that the grace of God appeared bringing salvation, a reference to Jesus. That was past tense at the time Paul wrote.
Then Paul continued in the present tense with verbs like,
• instructing
• live
• looking
Jesus had been in heaven for decades. He wasn’t on earth “instructing us”. This brings us to the fourth member of the cast of this movie. This Person is the One on earth “instructing us” during this Church Age. Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to introduce to you the Holy Spirit.
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. God as identified by those words has a Son, so the reference is to God the Father. He is the first Person noted. “All men” received the second mention. God the Son then made His appearance.
The Son of God, Jesus Christ, ascended into heaven. Ten days later on Pentecost He sent the Holy Spirit to give birth to His Body on earth during this age, the Church.
It is through the instrumentality of the Church during this Church Age that the Gospel of Jesus Christ goes out to “all men”. We know the specifics of the Gospel because it appears in the Bible. We can understand the Bible because God the Holy Spirit lives inside the born again person. This indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the new life, eternal life, which Jesus grants us by means of the Gospel.
The ministry of the Holy Spirit entails many avenues of work. He teaches us the Word of God, leads us as we share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others, and comforts us in our distress. He it is Who, to employ the words of Titus 2, “instruct(s) us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age”.
The Holy Spirit also keeps us focused on eternity and our heavenly home, so that we are always “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus”. This additional aspect of the Holy Spirit’s ministry is crucial to the previous aspect.
We will learn all about it in our next study. For now let’s allow Jesus to assimilate what we’ve eaten today into our hearts and minds.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
September 3, 2013
Just Say No To Drugs – Part 3
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds [Titus 2:11-14].
In the context of Titus 2:11-14 we should recognize God’s grace as three Persons. The three are:
1. God the Father
2. God the Son
3. God the Holy Spirit
Let’s assay how this is so.
To begin with observe what occurred when God’s grace appeared: it brought salvation to all men. And there are the second and third members who make up the cast of this movie. The third part of the cast is a group, “all men”. Who does that include? Well, you show me a human being from the past, present, or future, and I will show you someone who is included!
To recapitulate, “God” is the first member of the cast and “all men” make up the third addition to the cast. But wait a sec. How did we go from first to third? Where is the second member of the cast?
You will recall that I identified the “grace of God” as a Person, or rather three Persons to be exact. That is where the second member of the cast comes in. This second member was already present when Paul wrote the words of Titus 2. He appeared already, you see. When He appeared He brought salvation to all men. In fact He continuously brings this salvation to all men.
Is this starting to ring a bell? We are of course pointing to the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ and to His ministry at the cross and empty tomb. Jesus is the Son of God, one of the three Persons of the Godhead. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men”. That is a direct allusion to Jesus Christ the Son of God. He appeared (past tense), and He is continuously “bringing salvation” (present tense).
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” [John 3:16]. God’s love is for “the world”, or as it is worded in Titus 2:11 “all men”. The world consists of all men, or all humans.
However, only those who believe this truth from the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, “have eternal life”. The “have eternal life” part is worded in Titus 2:11 as “bringing salvation”. If we have salvation, we have eternal life, and vice versa too.
Titus was one of Paul’s closest associates. Paul went around the Mediterranean world sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When people believed, they were born again. Paul organized the believers into local churches.
One place Paul did this was on the island of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea. Crete was south by southeast of Greece and south of the Aegean Sea. The Aegean Sea is the body of water between today’s Asia Minor and Greece.
I’ll give you a pass on the geography lesson. We need to pause now and reflect on what we’ve been taught. Jesus calls us. Let’s accept the invite.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
In the context of Titus 2:11-14 we should recognize God’s grace as three Persons. The three are:
1. God the Father
2. God the Son
3. God the Holy Spirit
Let’s assay how this is so.
To begin with observe what occurred when God’s grace appeared: it brought salvation to all men. And there are the second and third members who make up the cast of this movie. The third part of the cast is a group, “all men”. Who does that include? Well, you show me a human being from the past, present, or future, and I will show you someone who is included!
To recapitulate, “God” is the first member of the cast and “all men” make up the third addition to the cast. But wait a sec. How did we go from first to third? Where is the second member of the cast?
You will recall that I identified the “grace of God” as a Person, or rather three Persons to be exact. That is where the second member of the cast comes in. This second member was already present when Paul wrote the words of Titus 2. He appeared already, you see. When He appeared He brought salvation to all men. In fact He continuously brings this salvation to all men.
Is this starting to ring a bell? We are of course pointing to the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ and to His ministry at the cross and empty tomb. Jesus is the Son of God, one of the three Persons of the Godhead. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men”. That is a direct allusion to Jesus Christ the Son of God. He appeared (past tense), and He is continuously “bringing salvation” (present tense).
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” [John 3:16]. God’s love is for “the world”, or as it is worded in Titus 2:11 “all men”. The world consists of all men, or all humans.
However, only those who believe this truth from the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, “have eternal life”. The “have eternal life” part is worded in Titus 2:11 as “bringing salvation”. If we have salvation, we have eternal life, and vice versa too.
Titus was one of Paul’s closest associates. Paul went around the Mediterranean world sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When people believed, they were born again. Paul organized the believers into local churches.
One place Paul did this was on the island of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea. Crete was south by southeast of Greece and south of the Aegean Sea. The Aegean Sea is the body of water between today’s Asia Minor and Greece.
I’ll give you a pass on the geography lesson. We need to pause now and reflect on what we’ve been taught. Jesus calls us. Let’s accept the invite.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
September 2, 2013
Just Say No To Drugs – Part 2
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds [Titus 2:11-14].
Let’s continue our study of the anti-drug Bible verse. When reading Scripture we would be benefited to note the actors on the stage of the text. There are several in Titus 2:11-14. We will acquaint ourselves with them as they make their appearance.
The first person we meet enters stage right during the first seven words: “For the grace of God has appeared”. God is the star of this story, as He is in all of Scripture. Life isn’t about me, or about you, or about the family cat. Life for everyone revolves around God.
The word “grace” appears in the New Testament constantly. We need to understand what it means, if we want to know what God has to teach us. The grace of God has appeared. What is that anyway?
The word “grace” refers to a free gift. In our study it refers to a free gift from God specifically. He gives it to us because…because…well, just because He wants to. His love is His motivation. God is love so He does things like that.
Man hasn’t earned this free gift. Otherwise it wouldn’t be free, and it wouldn’t be a gift either! Nor does man receive this free gift because he deserves it. I am not so sweet a darling that God felt compelled to give me His grace. It doesn’t work like that! Nor am I so smart or strong or successful or whatever.
God gives me His grace because He is love. I don’t even enter the picture until I receive it. Up until that time God’s grace alone is on the stage.
So God’s grace, His free gift, has made an appearance on the stage of world history. Okay, then what is this free gift, this grace of God which has appeared? Well, first of all it isn’t a “this” or a “which”. God’s grace is a “Who”. In the context of Titus 2:11-14 we should recognize the “Who” as three Persons. The three are:
1. God the Father
2. God the Son
3. God the Holy Spirit
“How do you reckon those three Persons comprise God’s grace, based on Titus 2:11-14?” you are no doubt champing at the bit to ask me.
And an insightful query it is too. I’ll be happy to oblige you with an explanation, as we make our way through the text.
But it’ll have to wait for our next study. This one’s over, as is the day. I need time alone with Jesus before I retire. Don’t you?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Let’s continue our study of the anti-drug Bible verse. When reading Scripture we would be benefited to note the actors on the stage of the text. There are several in Titus 2:11-14. We will acquaint ourselves with them as they make their appearance.
The first person we meet enters stage right during the first seven words: “For the grace of God has appeared”. God is the star of this story, as He is in all of Scripture. Life isn’t about me, or about you, or about the family cat. Life for everyone revolves around God.
The word “grace” appears in the New Testament constantly. We need to understand what it means, if we want to know what God has to teach us. The grace of God has appeared. What is that anyway?
The word “grace” refers to a free gift. In our study it refers to a free gift from God specifically. He gives it to us because…because…well, just because He wants to. His love is His motivation. God is love so He does things like that.
Man hasn’t earned this free gift. Otherwise it wouldn’t be free, and it wouldn’t be a gift either! Nor does man receive this free gift because he deserves it. I am not so sweet a darling that God felt compelled to give me His grace. It doesn’t work like that! Nor am I so smart or strong or successful or whatever.
God gives me His grace because He is love. I don’t even enter the picture until I receive it. Up until that time God’s grace alone is on the stage.
So God’s grace, His free gift, has made an appearance on the stage of world history. Okay, then what is this free gift, this grace of God which has appeared? Well, first of all it isn’t a “this” or a “which”. God’s grace is a “Who”. In the context of Titus 2:11-14 we should recognize the “Who” as three Persons. The three are:
1. God the Father
2. God the Son
3. God the Holy Spirit
“How do you reckon those three Persons comprise God’s grace, based on Titus 2:11-14?” you are no doubt champing at the bit to ask me.
And an insightful query it is too. I’ll be happy to oblige you with an explanation, as we make our way through the text.
But it’ll have to wait for our next study. This one’s over, as is the day. I need time alone with Jesus before I retire. Don’t you?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
