Do you act one way with your Christian friends, and another way with your non-Christian friends?
Read Matthew 26: 31 - 35 and 69 - 75
What happened here? Jesus is getting ready to die on the cross. He has just had his last meal. It was called the Lord's supper and he ate with his disciples (apostles). It was the most important meal in history, and they didn't even tell us what was on the menu. It was probably lamb. We know that they had crackers and juice though, right? Well, probably bread and wine. Anyway, Jesus told them that he was going to be arrested and all of them would scatter. Peter (he was a hot head) said no way. Even if all the other disciples took off, he would stick with Jesus. Jesus said that Peter was silly. So silly that by the time the sun came up Peter would deny him three times. Peter said that he would never disown Jesus, even if they had to die together. The other eleven disciples said they agreed with him. Well, if you read the story you know that Peter lied his head off. Three times before the sun came up he said he didn't even know Jesus!
All of the Apostles were two faced! While they were looking in Jesus’ face they would talk and act one way. If they were around non-Christians they acted differently. These were the guys who saw Jesus heal people. These are the guys who saw Jesus walk on water. These are the guys who saw Jesus make dead people break out of their graves and come back to life! If they were two faced , you know it is really tough for us. By the way, after the Holy Spirit got a hold on them they were better.
How about you? Are you trying to please God, or other people? Are you trying to please God, or yourself?
October 20, 2009
October 19, 2009
LYING?
There is a plague that is grieving the heart of God because it is preventable and can be stopped. It has spread among all churches and is particularly rampant in society. Even God’s ministers are not immune and many of them are infected with it.
What is this evil plague? You may be surprised as it appears rather harmless at first glance. It is now so commonplace that people are deceived into just accepting it as normal, instead of recognizing and resisting it. This epidemic is the practice of lying and dishonesty.
What does the Bible say about lying? A lying tongue is not only something God hates, it is also something that is an abomination to Him.
Proverbs 6:16-19 says, "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."
Have you been lied to lately? Was it another Christian that lied to you? A minister perhaps? Each of us have had our trust in people undermined, or in some cases even destroyed because of lies. We would all agree that lying is an ugly evil. The Bible tells us that lying began with the devil and that he is the father of lies.
The two main reasons we lie are usually rooted in either fear or pride. Fear is the first reason. We are afraid of the consequences if we tell the truth. Yielding to fear shows a lack of trust in God to take care of the situation. If we yield to God and do it His way He will usually give us favor with those that we fear. The other reason is pride. We are prideful and concerned about what men will think of us (desiring man’s approval instead of God’s approval.)
Jesus always kept His Word. God still keeps His Word and is faithful to keep every promise He makes in the Bible. That is why He is reliable and we can trust Him. We are called to be like Him. The Bible says that out of a man’s mouth proceeds what is in His heart. If we tell lies or fib then it means that we need a heart cleansing.
Matthew 15:18-20a says, "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man..."
We need to ask God to cleanse our hearts and begin reading and studying the Bible so that His Word resides in our hearts. As we keep His Word and water it with prayer it will produce good fruit in our lives. Lying is not only speaking an untruth; another form of lying is not keeping our word to others.
Luke 8:15 says, "But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.""
What is this evil plague? You may be surprised as it appears rather harmless at first glance. It is now so commonplace that people are deceived into just accepting it as normal, instead of recognizing and resisting it. This epidemic is the practice of lying and dishonesty.
What does the Bible say about lying? A lying tongue is not only something God hates, it is also something that is an abomination to Him.
Proverbs 6:16-19 says, "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."
Have you been lied to lately? Was it another Christian that lied to you? A minister perhaps? Each of us have had our trust in people undermined, or in some cases even destroyed because of lies. We would all agree that lying is an ugly evil. The Bible tells us that lying began with the devil and that he is the father of lies.
The two main reasons we lie are usually rooted in either fear or pride. Fear is the first reason. We are afraid of the consequences if we tell the truth. Yielding to fear shows a lack of trust in God to take care of the situation. If we yield to God and do it His way He will usually give us favor with those that we fear. The other reason is pride. We are prideful and concerned about what men will think of us (desiring man’s approval instead of God’s approval.)
Jesus always kept His Word. God still keeps His Word and is faithful to keep every promise He makes in the Bible. That is why He is reliable and we can trust Him. We are called to be like Him. The Bible says that out of a man’s mouth proceeds what is in His heart. If we tell lies or fib then it means that we need a heart cleansing.
Matthew 15:18-20a says, "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man..."
We need to ask God to cleanse our hearts and begin reading and studying the Bible so that His Word resides in our hearts. As we keep His Word and water it with prayer it will produce good fruit in our lives. Lying is not only speaking an untruth; another form of lying is not keeping our word to others.
Luke 8:15 says, "But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.""
October 15, 2009
Something 2 Think About!
Comparing ourselves to others will always dull our hearts toward the seriousness of our sin. Thoughts like, “I know a lot of church people who do things a lot worse than this!” or “It’s a private thing, no one knows and no one is harmed!” are lethal! These kinds of thoughts do nothing other than keep us in the guilt of our sin.
October 8, 2009
Judge Not?
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:1-5)
Verse one of Matthew 7 seems to be telling people not to judge because if you do not judge, you will not be judged. However, "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad" (II Corinthians 5:10)-everyone will be judged by God. Then verse two tells us that in whatever manner we judge others, we will be judged. Jesus then proceeds to explain HOW TO JUDGE. First, he says, you must take "the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:5) and if you do not do that first, you are being a hypocrite. This passage does not condemn all instances of judging others, but it does speak against judging another person IF YOU HAVE A PLANK IN YOUR EYE. What is meant by a plank? Jesus is using an illustration and telling people that if you judge someone else, you better make sure that your life is right first-get all the planks out and THEN you may proceed to CAREFULLY judge (which helps to remove specks from someone else's life). Romans 2:3 agrees with this: "So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment?" The Apostle Paul is saying that whenever you (a mere man) make judgments you better make sure that you do not do the same things. We need to judge righteously, as Jesus said, "Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment" (John 7:24).
Verse one of Matthew 7 seems to be telling people not to judge because if you do not judge, you will not be judged. However, "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad" (II Corinthians 5:10)-everyone will be judged by God. Then verse two tells us that in whatever manner we judge others, we will be judged. Jesus then proceeds to explain HOW TO JUDGE. First, he says, you must take "the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:5) and if you do not do that first, you are being a hypocrite. This passage does not condemn all instances of judging others, but it does speak against judging another person IF YOU HAVE A PLANK IN YOUR EYE. What is meant by a plank? Jesus is using an illustration and telling people that if you judge someone else, you better make sure that your life is right first-get all the planks out and THEN you may proceed to CAREFULLY judge (which helps to remove specks from someone else's life). Romans 2:3 agrees with this: "So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment?" The Apostle Paul is saying that whenever you (a mere man) make judgments you better make sure that you do not do the same things. We need to judge righteously, as Jesus said, "Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment" (John 7:24).
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