Monthly Archives: August 2011

Is It All About Knowledge, Really?

It is how you live in Christ Jesus that is all important, not just what you know. Having said this, there has been many times in and throughout history when this issue of knowledge for knowledge sake, came to a head. It was this issue of Knowledge first, over the simplicity of Knowing Jesus first that seemed to be what the battle was about.

For example, there was a time in the later middle ages when the theologians of that day had gone so far as to create a theology that no one but they themselves could understand or relate to. Their theology had become increasingly complex and stood in direct contrast to the simplicity of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. As this gap widened, so did the reactions of the people. Their reactions were focused upon a theology that was fraught with an over emphasis of subtleties, developing its own exclusive and elitist language with an insistence upon precise definitions and fine distinctions, theologically.

In the book, “Imitation of Christ”, we discover what was the commonly held belief’s of the day, beliefs that were reactions against the theologians and their theology of the day. Here is a taste of it (1.1.3):

“What good is it for you to be able to discuss the Trinity with great profundity, if you lack humility, and thereby offend the Trinity?”

“Verily, high sounding words do not make one holy and just. But a life of virtue does make one acceptable to God.”

“It is better to feel repentance, than to be able to define it.”

“Were you to memorize the entire Bible and all the sayings of the philosophers, what good would this be for you without the love of God and without grace?”

“Vanities of vanities. All is vanity, except loving God and serving only God.”

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Categories: A Simple Faith, A Simple Reminder, Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Anointing, Authenticity, Character, Church History, Communion, Confidence, Core Values, Dependency, Edification, Elitism, Empowerment, Faith, Foundations, Genuineness, Grace, Growing in Faith, His Chosen, History, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit Benefits, Humility, Intellectualism, Intimacy, Knowledge, Ministry, Ministry Motivation, Obedience, Priorities, Questions, Readiness, Reflections, Relationship, Rest, Resurrection, Resurrection Life, Revelation, Righteousness, Rock, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Separatism, Simplicity, Source, Standing in Faith, Steadfastness, Surrender, Teacher, Teaching, Tenaciousness, The Lord Jesus, The Lord's Fullness, The Power of God, Theology, Training, Transcendence, Transformation, Truth, Victory, Word, Word of God, Work of God | 2 Comments

Are We Listening, Really?

Several years ago, early in the morning, I felt that I had to go to the emergent care. Looking back, I shouldn’t have gone I suppose. The whole thing cost a whole lot more than it was worth. I had a lot of pain internally on my right side toward my back. This area of pain isn’t new as I regularly have it there, especially at night when I am trying to sleep. That particular night was the worst it had ever been. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t find a place to get away from the pain and so I gave in and went. I actually thought they might be able to help. However, they didn’t and weren’t. They didn’t seem to want to listen to me, as to what was going on. The Dr wanted to simply treat the symptoms, but I said no. Then the Dr insisted it was something to do with my spine and I tried to explain that no, it was internal and further to the right. Yet it was all to no avail. Frustrated and still in pain I came home. Oh yes they did give me a shot of something like Motrin, an expensive Ibuprofen. Read more »

Categories: Absolute Dependency, Authenticity, Being Built Up, Believer, Character, Christian Maturity, Church, Dependency, Edification, Exhortation, Following Through, Healing, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit Listening, Hope, Humility, illumination, In Spirit and In Truth, Loving One Another, Noise and Distractions, Open Ears, Openness, Prayer, Presumptions, Priorities, Readiness, Relationship, Simplicity | 1 Comment

The Truth and Nothing But The Truth!

Why is it that when we speak to unbelievers that we do not tell the whole truth concerning Salvation?

26  “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? … 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26-33 (ESV)

Why is it that if we do tell others the whole truth, it isn’t until we think that we have gotten them in to the Kingdom of God that we then explain to them that yes, that there is more, there is a whole lot more to this living in the Lord Jesus Christ than we first explained to you?

So, again, why is it that we do not tell the whole truth concerning Salvation, upfront, allowing them to genuinely count the cost?

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Categories: A Simple Faith, Alone, Authenticity, Body of Christ, Church, Commands, Dependency, Dying to Self Will, Empowerment, Exhortation, Faith, Foundations, God Faith, His Chosen, Hope, In Spirit and In Truth, Mercy, Ministry, Obedience, Open Ears, Open Eyes, Preaching, Priorities, Salvation, Saving Faith, Self Justification, Surrender, Teaching, The Power of God, Theology, Truth, Witness, Work of God | 3 Comments

Not Everyone…

Matthew 7:21-23 (ESV) Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Let us have a brief look at this very disturbing text. I do not know about you but whenever I read this text it is convicting and confronting. It convicts me to never, by the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ, presume upon my relationship in and with the Lord Jesus Christ. It also confronts me in the area of obedience. Am I genuinely doing the will of the Father God Almighty? It is a text that stirs up within, a very real and genuine re-examination of my heart and personal faith, in and with the Lord Jesus Christ. And, this isn’t a bad thing at all. No, it absolutely isn’t.

Not everyone who simply says, repeatedly, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven; how convicting, how confronting, how challenging. This is especially true when you consider what the Lord then goes on to address. Even though there were mighty things seemingly being done through them, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, He will still drive them away because He did not actually know them. There was never any genuine relationship, of  God faith, saving faith or righteous repentance. It was simply a profession, of words rooted in presumptions.

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Categories: A Genuine Heart Cry, A Simple Faith, Abiding, Alone, Authenticity, Belief System, Believer, Churches, Commands, Communion, Confidence, Disobedience, Dying to Self Will, Exhortation, Foundations, Genuineness, God Faith, Grace, Hope, Humility, illumination, In Spirit and In Truth, Lies, Man's Faith, Obedience, Openness, Presumptions, Priorities, Repent, Repentance, Righteousness, Salvation, Saving Faith, Self Justification, Selfishness, Signs & Wonders, Simplicity, Spirit of Truth, Spiritual Barreness, Surrender, The Power of God, Transformation, True Love, Unrighteous Ambition, Word, Work of God | Leave a comment

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