I writing to the Ephesians church, Paul wrote extensively about the differences between believers and unbelievers. This statement comes from the middle of his discussion.
We frequently need reminded of how the Gospel really changes us from the world around us. I would add that we often need to distinguish between the traditions we learned at home and in church and the direct teachings of Scripture.
The story is frequently told of a lady who was cooking a ham and cut the bone off before putting it in her large cooker. Her husband asked her why she was cutting it off. She answered, I learned that from my mother. He then asked her mother the same question. Mother answered, “I learned it from my mother”. Grandma was still available, so he asked her. Grandma’s answer was, “My cooking pot was too small for the entire ham”. Many of our traditions are good and useful, but that one wasn’t useful, even if it once was useful.
Other traditions can be very evil. Pagan practices are of the devil and should be carefully evaluated. If they in any way disagree with the Bible they must be abandoned. Paul already had addressed many of those practices before this statement in verse 27.
Let’s look at this verse carefully, to learn how to apply it.
“do not” is an absolute form of expression. It gives no opportunity for an alternate or compromise meaning. When God’s word says “do not”, we cannot compromise. Some have thought that they could confess a murder to their priest and be forgiven. Then they thought they could go out and murder someone else and be forgiven again and again. The Scripture says “do not murder” just as it says “do not steal”.
“give”, but some may say, that’s not generous. Until we recognize that the Scripture is stating that we have authority and must not exercise it in any way contrary to God’s will. How does this authority really work?
If God chooses to speak through people and do everything through people does He ever do anything without doing it through people?
In order to understand how God works we need to start at the beginning, to look at how God set up things on this earth at creation.
In Genesis 1:26— God’s plan was for man to be the ruler of everything on this earth. In Genesis 1:28 — God made man the absolute ruler of everything on this earth. Imagine what it would be like if God told you that you have absolute rule over everything on this earth? You could command animals and they would obey. You could even command insects and they would obey your command.
In chapter three Adam submitted to his wife and the serpent (Gen 3:17). Revelation 12:9 identifies the serpent as Satan. In Job (Job 1:6,7) we find Satan’s claim to authority over the earth is not even questioned.
Luke 4:6 “the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.”
Thus, Adam’s authority had been delivered to the devil.
Romans 6:16: “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”
Witness Abraham and Abimelek (Gen. 20:1-17) — God spoke directly to a heathen king that he needed to ask Abraham to pray for his healing. Abimelech had acted in integrity and God spoke to him. Why didn’t God just heal Abimelek directly? I will assert that Job was God’s man and when the story ends the other “comforters” are told to have Job pray for them (Job 42:7,8).
Even when God was going to destroy this wicked earth with a flood, He used a man (NOAH) to preserve the human race by following God’s instructions.
This story is for our benefit to understand how God works. God promised Abraham that He would bless those who blessed Abraham and curse those who cursed Abraham. Proverbs tells us that the curse causeless will not come to rest. Not only that, but God promised to send the curses back on those who cursed Abraham.
I will say the following plainly, because I could think of no other way of saying it. At the risk of bringing the readership of this blog to zero, at the risk of having to wade through dozens of less than friendly e-mails, the following must be stated, and clearly so.
If the gospel messages you’ve been hearing lo’ these many years have never once made you feel uncomfortable then you’ve never really heard the true gospel message. If the gospel messages you’ve been hearing lo’ these many years have never once challenged you then you’ve never really heard the true gospel message. If the gospel messages you’ve been hearing lo’ these many years haven’t accentuated Christ and the cross in perpetuity then you’ve never really heard the true gospel message. If the gospel messages you’ve been hearing lo’ these many years have never once stirred you to repentance, prompted inward introspection, humbled you, caused you to weep and truly see the enormity of your sin, then you’ve never really heard the true gospel message, but a neutered version wherein God is always smiling, the sun is always shining, the birds are always chirping and no matter what you do, God’s holding onto you so tight that you’ll never be able to get away.
In this brave new world of ours, pastors have redefined their roles and become life coaches, no longer preaching a crucified Christ, but rather playing the part of guidance counselor to scores of individuals that can be likened to overactive, petulant, and overgrown children who will not accept being accountable to anyone, be they God or man.
Preachers too have redefined their roles and rather than be concerned about the spiritual wellbeing of those to whom they are ministering they play the therapist, speaking soothing words, in a soothing tone, ensuring anyone within earshot that everything’s going to be alright, that God has mellowed over the centuries, and as long as they ‘bring the tithe into the storehouse’ God will overlook everything else.
It is an understatement when I say that there is enough blame to go around for the farce of a faith many are presenting, living and promulgating today, and the sheep are just as much to blame as the shepherds. In the end these so called shepherds are just giving the people what they wanted aren’t they?
If you preach the truth, if you preach the unadulterated Word of God, wherever you happen to be, you are bound to hear those famous words that seem to be on everyone’s lips nowadays: ‘That’s not the god I serve!’
Adventist Todayhas been predicting for several years that the General Conference presidency was Ted Norman Clair (Ted N.C.) Wilson’s to lose. He had excellent name recognition, a carefully cultivated resume and international circle of political allies, and he very much wanted the job.
So we were not taken by surprise when the General Conference Nominating Committee brought his name forward that early Friday morning of June 25. There is little question that Wilson is politically in tune with a majority of the world divisions, most of which are schooled in traditional Adventism and prefer its administrative predictability and hierarchical orderliness.
The alacrity of the delegates in confirming Wilson’s name, however, did little to inform the general body of the nature of a Wilson administration, and even after Wilson delivered a pointed sermon on the final Sabbath, calling for a return to traditional-style Adventism (with special emphasis on a literalist exegesis of Genesis 1 and 2) there remained some doubt that he would (or even could, at least in North America) actually implement a program designed to Adventism back to its fundamentalist heyday.
Among Adventist Today reporters and researchers, focus turned to a search for indicators from Wilson’s track record. On the positive side, he is apparently a “good listener,” and a “straight-shooter.” But he also appears to have the will and commitment to back up his conviction that unity in Adventism can come only when members hold uniform beliefs.
“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1John 2:17 KJV)
That’s s how to survive in this trying time.
The question is: “What is the Will of God?” If we want to know the will of God, we need to turn to John 7:17: “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17 KJV)
We need to connect closely to God’s word. It has an amazing effect on other people, when we do what is right and our life is coherent, consistent, has integrity. There is a purpose behind this.”For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” (1Peter 2:15 KJV)
Much of opposition to God’s Word comes not from truth or fact, but from ignorance and tradition. It becomes silenced when we do what God says and they see the results.
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (John 14:12 KJV)
He does want us to do His will that others will recognize, that God is at work in me and in others who walk with Jesus. How to do it?
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice… And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom 12:1-2 KJV).
People say, “How can you know God’s Will?” Or “maybe it is God’s will for you to be sick”. If you visit somebody in a hospital and they say, “It is God’s will for me to be sick” Then why are you here in the hospital trying to violate God’s will?
The ‘wilderness’ is not a concept that is understood too well in Christendom, despite the fact that it is all the way through the Bible. From the book of Genesis right through Revelation there are clear references to the ‘wilderness’ as being something God often employs in His dealings with men. The pattern is undeniable.
When we look through the Scriptures we see that the wilderness is often a place of spiritual “crisis” and also preparation. It is the place God sends us before the “real action” begins - before we enter into the full purposes of God in our lives. There must be ‘death’ before there can be resurrection. There must be a desert place before the “promised land”.
The wilderness is a place of trial and testing, of brokenness and full surrender to God. The props and activities that have kept us continually striving to “make things happen” are stripped away. Our self-reliance is shattered and replaced with a total reliance on God alone. Every “idol” in our lives (often including our own ministry) is brought under the piercing searchlight of God. Our selfish motives and ambitions are shown for what they are. This process may take years. Finally we emerge broken, chastened and purified. The process has matured and cleansed us in so many ways. We are now ready for the fulfillment of all that God originally called us to do. But our heart-motives are vastly different from what they were before.
We see this pattern all the way through Scripture. Many lessons can be learned from what we read there. Abraham, Joseph, Joshua, Moses, David, Elijah, John the Baptist, Paul the apostle - and even Jesus Himself - all had to go through this “wilderness” experience. Very often it lasted for years and years. Why then should we be surprised if it happens to us?
You’ve heard of the U.S. Army’s Special Forces-a highly trained army-within-an-army, an elite unit of dedicated soldiers. Special Forces are made up completely of volunteers, fighters who have been noticed and called out by their superiors. Before the war in Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden had said American soldiers were weak, cowardly, not trained for mountain warfare. He predicted the Taliban would send U.S. troops home in shame, but he hadn’t counted on America’s Special Forces. This fearless unit invaded Afghanistan with a mere 2,000 soldiers. Within days, it had located all the enemy’s strongholds.
I believe God is doing something similar in the spiritual realm. While in prayer, I was impressed by the Holy Spirit with the concept-God has been at work in the heavenlies on a covert operation. He’s raising up an army-within-an-army, searching his regular troops to form an elite unit of volunteers. This special force is made up of warriors he can touch and stir, to do battle with the enemy. We see a picture of this in the Bible, with Saul’s special militia. The Word tells us, “There went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched” (I Samuel 10:26).
Cynthia Brian, host of World Talk Radio, “The Oprah of the airwaves”, interviewed Tatyana Noel about her book “Finding Your Soul Mate“. Autobiographical in nature, Finding Your Soul Mate narrates Tatyana’s story of divine intervention which led her to her soul mate on the other side of the world and reveals a
method of discovering your God-given life partner.
At a Full Gospel Business Men’s Convention in a certain large city, a lady came up to me after one of the afternoon teaching sessions. She said, “Brother Hagin, I want you to promise me something.”
I said, “Well, I want to find out what it is first.”
She said, “I want you to promise me you’ll pray every day for my son. He’s 15 years old, and I can’t do a thing in the world with him. I can’t get him to go to church. He’s in with a gang and I’m afraid they’re on drugs. He’s out until three and four in the morning. I lie awake nights waiting for the phone to ring telling me they have him down at the jail.”
I interrupted her before she could tell any more about how bad it all was. I said to her, “I’m not going to do it.”
“You’re not going to do what?” she asked.
“I’m not going to pray for him, much less pray every day,” I responded.
That surprised her. She said, “You’re not?”
“No ma’am. I’m not. I won’t promise you I’ll pray for him at all. You see, in the first place it wouldn’t do any good, because you would nullify all the effects by your wrong believing and your wrong talking. No matter how many people pray, as long as you keep telling him that he’ll never amount to anything, he’ll wind up in reform school. He’ll go to the penitentiary; he’ll never make it.”
Her eyes got big. She said, “How did you know I was talking that way to him?”
I said, “To be in the mess he’s in, you had to talk him into it.” We’re products of words. Children are products of words. Words will make a boy love an education. Words will make a boy want to go to church, or they’ll keep him out of church.
Over 3 years ago God told me to resign from my church, to get off of television and radio. People where tremendously surprised, but my wife and I were not. All the bills were payed by the Lord. We never asked for money on television for 7 years.
He totally changed my ministry. We saw millions and tens of millions of people’s lives changed. When God speaks, you must put down any of your egos.
When Ted Kopple took me apart on television and crucified me, he did not know how much he helped to propagate God’s Kingdom. My telephone rang for nights and days. Ted Kopple is no more in the business. God took him out.
“For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.” (Isaiah 9:16).1
* * *
On September 16, 2001, I was ministering in one of the western states of the USA when I received a vision of a sinking ship. It was then the Lord spoke to me and said, “The ship is sinking. Some have seen the danger and have taken to life boats, but they are still too close to the ship. When it sinks, they will sink with it.” He said the ship is the system that many of the plain people and a few of the other more conservative denominations are following. Some of the people have come out from the system, but are still trying to hold on to some of the unscriptural doctrines and commandments which they have been taught. In some cases, they resist what they know to be truth and are suspicious of anyone who would reveal to them the truth. If someone comes to them with partial truth, for the most part, they will accept it.
The Lord said to me, “Some people will get mad and say, ‘This is not the word of the Lord. God does not speak through prophets today.’ Many of them will stop their ears to the truth and will reject any messenger who dares to try to correct their traditional system. If they were honest, they would have to admit something is wrong. I have warned them, but they do as the Pharisees — make the Word of God of none effect through their tradition. Many of them will mock and become enraged. Others will conclude that it doesn’t apply to them. Fear them not. Give the word as I have given it to you.”
In this vision, it became clear to me that there is some good in the conservative churches. This is an overall message for the church, rather than all churches being guilty of all the things that the Lord has spoken against this system. ((Note: The Lord made it clear to me that I should not open myself to discuss this matter with anyone who would try to criticize, condemn or cause an argument concerning this message. I have given this message as clearly as I know how as the Lord has delivered it to me. By no means, do I have any prejudice or hard feelings toward this people. I have delivered this message by the grace, mercy and love of God. It is my prayer that those who read this message will be very careful how they respond to it. The Lord has deeply impressed upon me that those who will not obey this word and turn from their wicked ways will find themselves sinking with the ship. I, in no way, consider this message to be infallible or equivalent to the inspired Word of God, but I must warn that the over all message is a word of the Lord and must be heeded.
Groaning in the Spirit is a form of intercession. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Romans 8:26). “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you” (Galatians 4:19).
When you are in a situation when you exhausted everything you know of, you need to know about this powerful form of intercession, groaning in the Spirit, overcoming your lack of knowing what to pray about.
I want you to really think with me about the subject of prayer. How should it be performed?
Matthew 6:5-7:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Jesus tells His church how to connect with heaven. We don’t need to be like the hypocrites - those who play out. They love the attention from men. They have their reward and missed heaven.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
To persevere means: to persist in spite of counter influences or opposition or discouragement; to remain unchaged or fixed in character, condition or position.
We are not developing the character of God. We are very shallow: when a slightest obstacle comes, we’d throw a towel: “Maybe it was not God’s will,” and we’d go on.We are suffering from lack of perseverance.
“3 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs– he wants to please his commanding officer.” (2 Timothy 2:3-4)The word is given to you for the benefit of your spiritual soundness. Stand up and quit being candy.
There are numerous “be nots” on the Bible. We need to understand them.
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2).
Our thinking is from the heart, rather than the head. It has to come from innermost being. If you are conformed to this world, you cannot fully understand what God has for you in this life, because you are conformed to the wrong thibs. But if you are transformed by the renewing of your mind you think, act and talk different. A person will become what he or she thinks about all the time. God’s will is good, and acceptable, and perfect. There is no other will available.
“1 Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.
3 A bruised reed He will not break, And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice.
4 He will not be disheartened or crushed, Until He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.”
6 I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you, And I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations.” (NAS Isaiah 42:1, 3, 4, 6)
This introduction to the discussion in Isaiah 42 raised questions in my mind. I have read the earlier parts of Isaiah and they repeatedly discuss the corruption of the Israelites who had just been put into Assyrian captivity and dispersion. Suddenly the tone changes (no wonder commentators treat Isaiah as two separate books) and Isaiah speaks of the “Servant who will bring justice to the nations. I originally thought that any Jew reading this would say that the cruelty of the oppressing nations will be rectified by restoring the Jews to their homeland. I’m sure that some have read it that way, but I believe they never understood the word “justice”.
While my pastor was preaching on this section of chapter 42, it struck me that the key was in the phrase “justice to the nations”. If the Jews were seeking restitution from oppression by other countries, they were forgetting the message of why they were going into captivity. They had a twisted idea of justice to assume they were innocent and all others were guilty. God has explicitly stated the reason for trouble coming on all of Israel and Judah. It was their injustice toward each other.
It may seem obvious, but I must ask, “What is justice?”
At first I thought it was the removal of injustice (crime, sin, etc.)? This led me to understand that all evil in this world is a form of injustice. Logically, then it appeared to me that Justice would be removal of all of my sin and its effects(sickness, death, etc.). Then God could use me as an example to draw others to seek this good result.
The truth is more amazing than fiction. The story I want to tell is actually happened to me. At first, I offered it only to my friends to read. It made a deep impression upon them and inspired optimism.
I began as an emotional failure full of complexes and became a free, mature person, able to solve personal problems and help others. After being an alienated loner doomed to spinsterhood, I became a happily married woman.
Behind my unique story there is a common method. I want you to understand how these things are possible and to be able to use this method. It works for everybody. When you put it into practice, you will see it with your own eyes. I will share with you my magnificent discoveries about where to look for solutions to the problems of loneliness and misunderstanding by others, in particular how to find your soul mate.
Chapter 1. King Solomon’s Descendant
When I was seven years old, a dramatic experience made me believe that the most important thing in my life was to love and be loved. Out of nowhere, there came a bright scene, which stayed with me for a long time. I smelled the freshness of a river in shadowy woods. A slim young dark haired man is standing on the bank of the river waiting for his chosen one. With a graceful smooth walk, a young woman is coming to meet him. She is wearing a white ballroom gown with a fluffy airy skirt, outlining her figure. Her face is glowing with a happy smile. She stretches her arms out for a hug. She is confident in her happiness, in their mutual love. Now, I was this girl. Later this childhood impression grew into a conviction that the meaning of my life was to love a certain man. I desired to dedicate myself for him and to live by him and for his sake. However, an insidious voice inside whispered, “Nothing will happen. You will not make it.” I listened to it. Moreover, I believed it.
For long decades, my private life was going nowhere. Those I fell for were either indifferent to me or they despised me. (more…)
Have those teens ever asked permission to do something and you said no?
Did they then try to justify their desires by saying, “But, everybody is doing it”? Or, maybe they said, “our friend’s parents say it is OK.”
Why did you as a parent still refuse the request?
Did you believe your decision was based on facts and within your authority as parents?
What should we do when we want to do something God has said is wrong? Should we argue with God? What basis do we have for disagreeing with God?
Will it work for us to say, “My family has always done it.” -or- “that’s just not fair” -or- I believe that I am right and you are wrong” ?
There are many religious teachings which are not found in the Bible. I believe most of you could name several of these false teachings which are now broadly accepted. One which comes to my mind is the idea that a wicked person is immortal. Did any of you believe this idea at some time? This teaching is concealed in the idea that the wicked live eternally while being eternally tortured.
How did you come to change your mind? As you contemplate this question I will point out what Jesus, Paul and Peter said about an evil use of tradition.
Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. (Mat 15:6 KJV)
Your soul has to be under your control, not you under control of your soul.
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance (Psalm 42).
David is talking to himself. God has interest in seeing your spirit, soul and body prosper. It is part of His plan, will and purpose for your life. Your spirit is the part of you that gets born again. It enters into relationships with God, make connection with Heaven, which Holy Spirit directs. You are responsible to keep your body in subjection. We need to make a decision to keep our soul in line with the Word. Soul consists of mind, will and emotions. Soul does not get born again, it is being renewed gradually. You have to talk to your soul. Soul does 3 things: mind processes your thoughts; thoughts affect your feelings and how you make decisions. The key to get your mind, will and emotions lined up with the Word of God and Spirit of God. This way you will correctly respond to the way God feels and will help you on your decision making. God wants you to be in control of your emotions rather than emotions controlling you. Soul is affected by the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness.
Kingdom of Heaven
kingdom of darkness
New man Mind Flesh (soul man)
Soul
Emotions Will
If you depend on your natural senses to feed the information to your soul it makes you a carnal man. If you depend on your spiritual senses to tap in the Kingdom of Heaven, in makes you a spiritual man. If unconverted man taps into spiritual realm of the kingdom or darkness it is witchcraft. You have to train your new man that taps into the Kingdom of God to use spiritual senses to feed your mind.
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake (2 Corinthians 4:1-5). (more…)
“Do Not Give A Place to the Devil”
