New Bottles pt 3 May 30 2009

Last Worship summary:

Now carry that thought a little further. When we had the mind of Satan and he was ruling, we said we would not do those evil things, but just those were done. Who did it? ["Sin that dwelleth in us,"] We said we will do so and so. We did not. Who kept us from it? ["Satan."] But now in Christ we are free from him: we have the other mind. We say we will do that. Who does it? ["Christ."] While in the natural mind we refuse and who does it? ["Satan."] And when in the mind of Christ we choose and who does it? ["Christ."] Is that so? [It is God that worketh in you both to will and to do, of His good pleasure

"For the good that I would, I do not, but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" What is the condition of the man who has only the natural mind? ["Wretched,"] Yes, and in captivity. And the more intense the hatred of the evil the more wretched the condition, because there is no deliverance from it in anything the man can do for himself. Well, then, who shall deliver? "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord." "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit."

 

 

Now Romans 8:6, 7: "For to be carnally minded is death." What is the condition of that man who has only the natural mind? ["Dead,"] "But to be spiritually minded is life and peace. The carnal mind, which is the natural mind, is" AT enmity with God ["No. IS enmity against God?"] No, it is not at enmity with God, but it, itself is enmity. It "is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God," until the man is changed? [ "Neither indeed can be."] Can't be? Cannot God make that mind subject to His law? ["No."] Now, can't the Lord make that mind that is in you and me--the natural mind--can't He make that subject to His law? ["No."] What is that mind? It is enmity against God. Cannot the Lord make that which is enmity against Him--can't He make it love for Him? ["No."]

There is the point: If it were AT enmity, then it might be reconciled, because the thing that would make it at enmity would be the source of the trouble. And therefore, take away the source of the trouble, and then the thing that is at enmity would be reconciled. WE are AT enmity, but when He takes the enmity away, WE are RECONCILED to God. In this matter of the carnal mind though, there is nothing between; it is the thing itself. That is the root.

Then it cannot be subject to the law of God. The only thing that can be done with it, is to destroy it, uproot it, banish it, annihilate it. Whose mind is it? ["Satan's,"] It is the mind of character, the mind of self, and that is of Satan. Well then, what can a man do in the way of righteousness? What can be done in him, even, in the way of righteousness, until that other mind is there? [ "Nothing."] Well, that is the mind that is in all mankind. Now let us see how this carnal mind, this natural man, works in the matter of righteousness in the matter of justification.

Romans, first chapter, tells us this, verses 20-22: "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without an excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." Who was the first inhabitant of this world that professed to follow wisdom at the suggestion of self, at the suggestion of Satan? Eve. She was the first one that reached out after wisdom in this way. What did she get? ["Foolishness,"] She became a fool. And we are all there. Who leads the natural mind? Satan. Who works at it? Satan. Then when those that he is speaking of here, had gone away from God, became fools; "and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things"--that is heathendom.

Fifteenth chapter of Gibbons' Decline and fall of the Roman Empire, paragraph 17; he says of the heathen in the inquiry after the immortality of the soul:

"In the sublime inquiry, their reason had been often guided by their imagination, and their imagination had been prompted by their vanity."

Mark it, Reason of what kind of a mind? ["the carnal mind,"] Guided by the imagination of what kind of a mind? ["The lustful mind,"] And the imagination motivated by the vanity of what kind of a mind, ["The carnal mind."] Is not that exactly the mind of Satan? Vanity the root of the inquiry, and self the root of the pride, this is the best comment upon that verse of Scripture you will find in this world. I read on:

When they viewed with complacency the extent of their own mental powers, when they exercised the various faculties of memory, of fancy, and of judgment, in the most profound speculations, or the most important labors, and when they reflected on the desire of fame, which transported them into future ages, far beyond the bonds of death and of the grave; they were unwilling to confound themselves with the beasts of the field or to suppose that a being, for whose dignity, they entertained the sincerest admiration, could be limited to a spot of earth and to a few years of duration.

What is that but the description of Satan's career when he started? His cause motivated by his imagination; his imagination guided by his arrogance, and viewing with self-satisfaction the measure of his own mental powers; the desire for fame further than that of God, and unwilling to allow that a person for whose dignity, he entertained the sincerest admiration could be properly limited to a subordinate place in the universe of God. Is not this an exact description of mankind in a heathen condition, written by a philosopher, looking only at the question from man's side of it? Could there be a clearer description of the working of Satan in his original career?

Well, what then?

With this favorable prepossession, they called to their aid the science, or rather the language, of philosophy of the mind. They soon discovered that as none of the properties of matter will apply to the operations of the mind, the human soul must consequently, be a subject individual from the body, pure, simple and inner, weak of separation, and inclined of a much higher degree of virtue and happiness after the release from its material prison. From these misleading and noble principles, the scholars who trod in the footsteps of Plato derived a very excessive conclusion, since they declared not only the future eternal life, but the past eternity of the human soul, which they were too clever to consider as a portion of the infinite and self-existing spirit, which pervades and sustains the universe.

What is that but the mind of Satan? Self-existing, like God, Equal with God. What is that then but the action in man of that very mind which in Lucifer in heaven, aspired to be equal with God, The mind that would exalt the self to equality with God. This is the normal mind. That is the mind that is natural in every man in the world. That is the mind of Satan. And that is the working of this natural mind in open, bold heathenism. Then does not every such one need another mind--even the mind of Jesus Christ that thought it not a thing to be caught upon to be equal with God, but emptied Himself? Wherefore God hath highly exalted Him.

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Caring for animals, part 1 May 29

Dear Friend,

 
 

Several years ago in another state, I stopped by a man's house to borrow some equipment.  The man was in his backyard, where he was caring for one of his dogs.  It was a pit-bull/Rottweiler/beast/I-don't-know-what-else mix that he used for dog fights.  Apparently the night before there had been a pretty savage dog fight that the locals had participated in, and his dog had taken quite a beating.  He was fixing him up with some dressings and ointment.  I saw a lot of pain in the dog's eyes as he was being treated, but he looked at his master with respect and loyalty.  I'm sure that in the fights he did it out of loyalty for his master, who was now bandaging him up so that he could be healed, hopefully in time for the next fight.

 
 

As I left his place, I thought about the dog fights, rooster fights, and other events that humans enjoy where animals are hurt, mauled, and killed.  I thought about the animals that are hunted and killed so the person can take their head or hide back to their trophy rooms, and I thought to myself, I wonder what God thinks about this. 

 

The Bible tells us that God made humans in His image; that He formed man from the dust of the ground.  But it also says:  "Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air."  Genesis 2:19.  So we see that God not only formed man, and took time and care in his creation, but also did the same with the animals.  I know I would be hurt and upset if someone took something that I built and destroyed it, and I wonder if God feels the same way when we destroy and hurt the things He created.  And not only does the Bible tell us God created all the animals, but God also tells us how to treat animals.  The Bible tells us that the Sabbath was made for man (Mark 2:27), but also tells us that the animals are to rest on that day, as well as humans (Exodus 20:8-11, Exodus 23:12).   Shows a compassionate God that even cares about the animals getting some rest, doesn't it?  He gave specific instructions to the Israelites not to yoke a donkey and an ox together, as this would cause a lot of work for the donkey, the smaller of the two animals.  Jesus told His followers that God is aware when even a little bird dies, and that He does not forget even sparrows (Matthew 10:29, Luke 12:6).  And in Proverbs 12:10 we find, "A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal."

 
 

The other day I was sitting in my room, and a nasty little mosquito starting bugging me, literally.  I swatting at him until I got him cornered, and with one quick smack he was dead.  I paused and looked at the little squished speck on my hand, and thought:  "Here is a creature that can fly, hover, land with precision; has highly refined honing capabilities for CO2, and I just killed him without a thought.  I just killed something that I cannot create.  If I could create something that is half as skilled as a mosquito, I would be a millionaire.  And yet God created him, and many others."  Now, I'm not saying that we cannot kill mosquitoes, (the Bible says that humans are to control the animals in Genesis 1:26-28), but I think it's important to realize how limited we are as humans to make life, and yet we are many times too quick to take it.

 
 

The Bible tells us that God created, and when we treat His creation kindly, we are showing respect to God Himself.  As a saying goes that I heard when I was young:  "A man that treats animals kindly shows respect for their Creator." 

 
 

Next week let's talk about how to care for the animals that God has given to us, and let's look at some practical things we can do to find a balance in the treatment of our pets.

 
 

Have a great week!  I'm praying for you!

 
 

Mark

The Hills and Valleys of Life May 28, 2009

Dear Friend,

 

Ever feel like your life is like a roller coaster? Full of peaks and valleys; all the high points only give way to the low areas? Every thing seems to be going well, God seems to be smiling at you, you are blessed, and then, within a few days, you are down in the darkness of the valley, with all its problems, difficulties, and breakdowns. I think all of our lives are like this. Ups and downs;

 

This morning in my worship I came across this interesting little story in 1 Kings 20. A king of Syria was threatening Israel, and finally made war with them. But God helped His people, and the Israelites won the battle. So the Syrians got together and decided that the God of Israel was only a god of the hills. Since they fought their last battle on the hills, no wonder they lost! So they speculated that if they were to plan their next battle and fight it in the valleys, then the Syrians would be victorious, since they figured that the God of heaven was only a god of the hills.

 

I meet a lot of people that think just like the Syrians did so long ago! They think that when everything is well with them and everything is going just the way they like it and they are enjoying prosperity and health, that God is smiling on them and they are right with God. And then when they encounter problems, hardships, and discouragements, that God has abandoned them and now they have to battle Satan and temptation on their own. But that's not the way it is! Let's go back to our story in 1 Kings 20.

 

As the Syrians were preparing for the next battle, and mustering their large forces of horses, chariots, and infantry soldiers, God sent a prophet to the king of Israel, and gave him a message of hope. "Thus saith the LORD, because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver this entire great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD." 1 Kings 20:28.

 

Isn't that great? God says, "Hey, don't limit me to the hills; I'm also the God of the valleys!" And He wants to tell each of us the same thing. No matter what we are going through, no matter how dark the mists in the valley, God is still the same God, and is still watching out for us and working for us.

 

So don't get discouraged and loose faith! If you're in a valley, remember, God is the Lord over everything, even our valleys.

 

We're praying for you!

 

Mark

 

 

The Good News about Heaven May 27,2009

Dear Friend,

 
 

ABC did a poll a few years back, asking people their thoughts about heaven.  About 90 percent of the people polled believe in heaven, but interestingly enough, eight out of 10 believe heaven is where people exist spiritually, not physically. 

 
 

Let's take moment to see what the Bible says about heaven.  It clearly shows that heaven exists.  It gives some brief descriptions of heaven, and from these we can learn a good deal about the rewards of the saved.  The Bible also describes God's plan for the nation of Israel if they had been true to Him, and many of these prophecies have secondary application to the new earth after the millennium.  So let's take a look at what the Bible says about heaven.

 
 

1.                  Heaven is a real place.  Jesus promised, just before He left:  "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."  The word used here for "mansion" can also be interpreted as "room" or "dwelling place."  Jesus reminds us that these are real dwellings ("If it were not so, I would have told you.")  Revelation 21 tells us the size of the New Jerusalem, the massive City of heaven.  It gives its dimensions of about 1,400 miles square, and the height is the same as the breadth.  So that's 1,400 miles high as well.  Now that's a big city!  The Bible tells us that in that City is the tree of life, the river of life, and God's throne.  So I imagine this large city, with dwellings, surrounding the throne of God.  Now, if there are rooms in that city, and each room is just 10 feet by 10 feet and 10 feet high, that would give us more than 403 trillion rooms!  That's a lot of rooms; no one can say that there is not room in heaven for them.  (John 14:1-3; Revelation 21, 22.)

 
 

2.                  We'll have real bodies.  We're not some spirit floating around, hanging out with other spirits.  Job said that after his body had been destroyed by worms, he knew that "yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another.  How my heart yearns within me!"  How can we have the same hope as Job did?  The Bible tells us:  We're going to have real bodies!  God "will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body."  We see that after the resurrection Jesus had a real body, not just some spiritual body or a spirit.  In fact, we're told that the disciples were so surprised to see Him in the upper room that first Sunday evening, that they thought He was a spirit or a ghost.  But He told them, "Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself! Touch Me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."  And Paul tells us that the body we have now will be changed, and we'll have a new body.  Just like the old one?  No, it's the same difference between a seed that's planted and dies, and the resulting plant.  Way more glorious.  So don't think that in heaven we'll have a body like this one, minus the wrinkles; we'll have a body that is as much different from this one now as a seed is different from a plant.  (Job 19:26-27, Philippians 3:21; Luke 24:36-43; 1 Corinthians 15.)

 
 

3.                  There are real things to do there.  We're not just going to be in a spiritual state, but with our real bodies we'll be doing real things.  Building houses, enjoying gardens, and enjoying the scenes of nature and wildlife around us are a few of the real things we'll be able to participate in, And the City.  Imagine what we'll be able to in the New Jerusalem, with all the great people there, as well as the beauty that the Bible only describes in small detail about the City.  (Isaiah 11:6-9; Isaiah 65:21, 22; Revelation 22)

 
 

4.                  There will be no more death, dying, pain, crying or the effects of sin.  And the Bible says that God Himself will wipe away all the tears from our eyes.  He doesn't just tell us to stop crying; oh no!  He personally and lovingly wipes the tears away.  The marks of sin will be all gone, except for one.  As one Biblical authority tells us, "One reminder alone remains: Our Redeemer will ever bear the marks of His crucifixion. Upon His wounded head, upon His side, His hands and feet are the only traces of the cruel work that sin has wrought."  The Great Controversy, page 674.  (Isaiah 25:8; 33:24; 35:5, 6, 9, 10; 65:17-19; Luke 20:36; Revelation 7:14; 21:4.)

 
 

5.                  God will be there.  Revelation 21 tells us that after our planet and our atmosphere are all cleansed by fire, God will make a new heavens and a new earth.  Then He will move the center of His government to this small world that rebelled against Him and that He died to win back.  And for eternity, when we want to see God and talk with Him, we won't have to travel to a distant place, or wait for God to come and visit us.  He says: "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God."  (Revelation 21:1-6; Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13.)

 
 

As one translation puts it, "What God has planned for people who love Him is more than eyes have seen or ears have heard. It has never even entered our minds!"  1 Corinthians 2:9, CEV.  I want to be there, don't you?  Don't ever loose sight of what God has offered us.  Make time every day to read the Bible and pray, and actively seek God.  It's well worth it!

 
 

Have a great week!  I'm praying for you.

 
 

All covered up!

Dear Friend,

 
 

The other day I was helping a friend paint their hallway.  This hallway was last painted about 30 years ago, and during those years many people walked in that hallway.  Furniture was moved down that hallway, and little girls ran to their rooms carrying their dolls and food.  Grown-ups dragged and lugged luggage down that hallway, and little boys wrestled and played tag there.  And the walls definitely looked it.  Scuff marks, shoe marks, food marks and finger prints all combined to make a pretty interesting pattern.  30 years is a long time, and that hallway certainly showed it.

 
 

But in about three minutes it was all gone.  I put together my paint sprayer, filled it up with some nice off-white paint, and covered all those marks and scuffs.  And they were gone.  The family was surprised at the results.  They made comments like "it looks like a completely different place!" and "it looks all new again!"

 
 

That hallway is a lot like yours and my past record.  Every time we sin, a mark is made in our records.  It's all there.  And we each will face our records one day.  There are those who don't believe they'll have to face their past, but that is like the man that went speeding down his local street, sure that the local policeman was off that day.  He was sincere, but he was sincerely wrong.  And someday each of us will face our life record. 

 
 

And the question is:  What will we find?  What will be recorded there?  Everything we have ever said, done, and thought, as well as all the motives behind them.  Just like that hallway that carried the record of the last 30 years, there's a record of all your years and days and minutes, and everything that happened in them.  Kind of scary, isn't it?

 
 

But there's good news.  And here it is.  I'm not going it to tell you myself, but let God tell you in His words.  Check it out:

 
 

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Isaiah 1:18

 
 

Just like paint that covers up all the past and made that hall look brand new again, so God will paint over our past.  Isn't that good news?  Here, read some more:

 
 

You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.  Psalm 86:5

 
 

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:11, 12

 
 

"I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more."  Isaiah 43:25

 
 

"I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you."  Isaiah 44:22

 
 

"Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon." Isaiah 55:7

 
 

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9

 
 

"Do not judge and you will not be judged? Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."  Luke 6:37

 
 

Your past can be covered up!  It can be painted over, so to speak, like that old hallway.  God promises to do it!  So take some time right now, and ask forgiveness for your sins.  Ask Jesus to take control of your life, and do this every single day; asking Him to forgive the sins of that day.  And He will. 

 
 

When the judgment comes, and we have to face our life's record, what will it show?  The choice is ours today, right now, to either cover the record, or to let the record stand, and face the penalty for our sins.

 
 

Have a great week!  I'm praying for you.

 
 

Mark

 
 

Becoming like little children 05/24/2009

Dear Friend,

 

This morning in my devotions I was reading in Matthew 18.  The disciples came to Jesus, and asked Him who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus called a little child over to their group, and had him stand among them.  Jesus told them, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."  Essentially He told them that instead of seeking to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, they needed to make some changes, otherwise they would never even be there. 

 
 

The change He asked for was that they would be become like a little child.  Let's take a moment and look at some of the characteristics of a little child that we need to become like.

 
 

Trusting.  Children are very trusting.  If mom and dad say it, then they trust them.  They might ask questions, and use the "why" word a lot, but overall children trust their parents.  Do you trust God like a child, even when you're "whys" are not answered?

 
 

They know where their refuge is.  Children love to explore and be with their friends and playmates.  They like to do new things.  But when trouble comes, or they're hurt or in danger, they want their parents.  I've hung out with kids and played with them, and they like me and we're all getting along fine until they bump their head or scrape a knee, and I will pick them up and hold them and say nice things, but it doesn't matter.  They want their mom and dad now!  That's where they are secure.  Do you run to God when you are in trouble, or run away like Adam?  Do you know where your refuge is?

 
 

Their knowledge base is very limited, but that doesn't stop them.  Children are very smart, but their knowledge is very limited.  But they still love, trust, obey, and follow directions.  They don't wait until everything makes sense before they obey; no, sometimes "because mommy says so" is enough.  How about you and I?  Do we trust God even when we don't understand?  When God requires something of us, is a "because God says so" enough?  Can we obey based on trust, and not wait for every doubt to be removed?

 
 

I'm sure that there are many other good characteristics that children have that we must have in our lives to prepare us for heaven.  What are your thoughts?  What are some of the things we need to do and change in our lives to become like little children?  I'd love to hear your input!

 
 

Check out this quote I just read:  "We are as ignorant of God as little children, but as little children we may love and obey Him. Instead of speculating in regard to His nature or His prerogatives, let us give heed to the word He has spoken: 'Be still, and know that I am God.' Psalm 46:10."  The Faith I live by, page 61.

 
 

I think that one of the most common phrases I hear from parents in church to their young children is "Be still!"  Always full of energy and wanting to move, move, move; children need to be reminded constantly to "Be still!"  And I think that our heavenly Father is saying the same to each of us as well:  "Be still!  Take some time to hear My voice, and let Me speak to you in My word.  Stop rushing around, and be still and know that I am God." 

 
 

Take the time to be still today!  I'm praying for you.

 
 

Mark

 
 

New Bottles pt 2 May 23 2009

Last Worship summary:

When that mind that was in Christ emptied himself, then what came? God filled Him. When that mind that was in Him is in us and does in us what it did in Him--empties us of self--what then will fill the place? God in Christ will fill us. Then God in Christ dwells in us. But that takes self out of the way.

Now what mind is in us to start with, the mind of self. What does that mind do? It exalts self. What kind of mind is it we have to start with? The natural mind, a man has a natural mind, and he must have another mind. He must have the mind that was in Christ, but that mind that is in Christ only empties of self the one in whom it dwells. Therefore as we have a mind to start with and must have another than that, while that other empties of self the one in whom it is, does it not follow inevitably that the mind which we have to start with, is a mind only of self?

 

 

 

The man who finds that hatred of evil, that desire for something better, that will to do good, is that the doing of good? ["No."] Can He do the good that He is drawn to, by that impulse? ["No."] Let us read in Romans and see what is done. Rom. 3:10, 12th verse:" Is that so? How can we talk about a heathen doing well? Does he do well? "There is none that doeth good, no, not one." What we are talking about is the heathen.

Romans 7:14, the carnal mind is the natural mind. Whose mind is the natural mind? Satan's, which is the mind of self, and it, is the mind of Satan. Well, let us read further. ("For that which I do, I allow not.") What is the reason I do not allow what I do? What is the matter with it? Why can't I allow it? Because I know it is wrong. It is not good. If it were good could I not allow it? "That which I do, I allow not." What is actually done then, the good? No: The bad, the wrong.

"For what I would, that I do not." What would he do? ["Good."] That which I would I do not. What would he do? ["Good."] What did he do? ["Wrong."] Then on both these points what was done? The evil

"But what I hate, that do I." What did he hate? Sin: He hated the evil, the wrong, and the bad. But what did he do? The evil: He did the evil; he did the wrong; he did the bad.

Then how much good does the natural man do, none. Although he hates the bad, how much good does he do? None, He would do the good, but how much of the good that he would does he actually do? None, Now is that so? ["Yes."] It is so, for the Bible says so. Then what in the world is the use of anybody's talking about the heathen doing well, or even a Jew doing good or any man doing good, who has only the natural mind and is only the natural man? This is not saying whether he has impulses to good or not; that is not the question. He had these impulses all the time, didn't he? He had the knowledge of good, so much that he hated the bad things that he was doing.

Now think of that. There was the natural man: there was a man like you and I and every other man born into this world. He had impulses to good; he had the knowledge of good; he hated the evil; but what did he do? Not what did he think? Not what did he know? But what did he do? He did the evil. It is not a question of what he knew. Did he do anything else than evil? No. He knew something else; he knew better, didn't he? [Yes,"] Then let us not pass off our right knowing for right doing. Let us not pass off our right knowledge for right deeds. Knowledge of right is not doing right. So he did not do any good. Who is that? It is you and I--the natural man. Is that I? Yes. Without the mind of Christ itself is that I? Yes. Then though I profess to believe in Christ, if the mind of Christ itself is not there is that I? Yes. Is it you? ["Yes,].

"If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it." No. I said I would not do it. I said that I hated it and declared that I would never do it again. But I did do it. Then when I hated it and resolved and re-resolved and determined that I would never do it again and yet did it, what in the world was the matter with me? I had the knowledge but did not have the power. Now the gospel of Christ, "which is Christ in you," that is power. It is the power of God to everyone that believeth.

Well, then, the natural man is not free, is he? ["No, sir."] He is not in a condition where he can do what he would, even with the bedimmed intellect and the obscured mind that he has. He cannot live up to his own standard. But is what he would do as he sees it, is that as God would have him do it? [: "No."] Or as God would do it? ["No."] Whose right-doing are we to have? ["God's."] Yes, for God's righteousness is what we are to have. And righteousness is right doing. So that it is God's right doing that we must have. Then our understanding is exceedingly low, even with the light which God has let shine into our hearts. Then where is the good doing of any man in this world who has not the mind of Jesus Christ?

"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." What is it that is present with us? To will to do well: Then what did that putting of enmity there against Satan--what was that the doing of? Is not it setting the man free to will? Yes. Was it anything more than that? ["No."] Now think carefully of this; I mean on this point. There are other things in it, of course, but did that do any more for the man to enable him to do right things and glorify God, did it do any more for him than to set free his will, which he might choose which master he would have? [Congregation

"No."] It put the hatred there, and gave him the knowledge of something better. It gives the hatred of evil, leads him out towards the good, but does it enable him to do the good? ["No Now just another thought there. He hates the evil and declares he never will do it, and yet against his will and against all his being for that matter, it is done. But what is it, and who is it, that actually does it? ["'Sin that dwelleth in him,"] And who rules that? ["Satan."] Who is the master of that man? ["Satan."]

Now when the man is set free from that carnal mind, that mind of self and Satan, who controls that man? Who then is his master? ["Christ."] Yes. He who sets him free, It is Christ Jesus. Then when we are free from Satan's mastery we become bound to another Master. Satan's mastery is slavery and ruin; Christ's mastery is freedom and everlasting life, everlasting joy, and everlasting prosperity.

Now carry that thought a little further. When we had the mind of Satan and he was ruling, we said we would not do those evil things, but just those were done. Who did it? ["Sin that dwelleth in us,"] We said we will do so and so. We did not. Who kept us from it? ["Satan."] But now in Christ we are free from him: we have the other mind. We say we will do that. Who does it? ["Christ."] While in the natural mind we refuse and who does it? ["Satan."] And when in the mind of Christ we choose and who does it? ["Christ."] Is that so? [It is God that worketh in you both to will and to do, of His good pleasure.

"For the good that I would, I do not, but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" What is the condition of the man who has only the natural mind? ["Wretched."] Yes, and in captivity. And the more intense the hatred of the evil the more wretched the condition, because there is no deliverance from it in anything the man can do for himself. Well, then, who shall deliver? "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord." "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit." Amen, Amen and Amen

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Watch Out!

 

Pastor's Corner

Watch Out!    May 21, 2009

 

 

Dear Friend,

 

The Bible tells of a time the disciples were in their boat when a large storm came up. As they were trying to keep their little boat afloat, they noticed Jesus walking on the water. So Peter calls out to Him, and asks Him if he can walk on water as well. Jesus tells him to come, and Peter steps out of the boat. He forgets that it is dark, that there's a big storm with raging winds and waves. He just keeps his focus on Jesus, and he's walking on water. I'm sure he turns to make sure the others are watching this; when suddenly he begins to slowly sink. He looks around, and sees the waves; he remembers the wind, and he becomes afraid. And he's sinking. You can read what happened in Matthew 14:22-33.

 

Did you know the same think can happen to us? When we look at Jesus, when we keep Him in our thoughts and put our faith and trust in Him, we will see supernatural results in our lives. But when we get our eyes, our focus, our thoughts off of Him, it is then that we begin to sink, just like Peter.

 

And Satan knows this, so he does everything he can do to get our focus off of Jesus. As one writer puts it:

 

"It is Satan's constant effort to keep the attention diverted from the Saviour and thus prevent the union and communion of the soul with Christ.

1. The pleasures of the world,
   
2. Life's cares and perplexities and sorrows,
   
3. The faults of others,
   
4. Or your own faults and imperfections—
   

to any or all of these he will seek to divert the mind. Do not be misled by his devices. Many who are really conscientious, and who desire to live for God, he too often leads to dwell upon their own faults and weaknesses, and thus by separating them from Christ he hopes to gain the victory. We should not make self the center and indulge anxiety and fear as to whether we shall be saved. All this turns the soul away from the Source of our strength." (Adapted from Steps to Christ, page 71.)

 

So ask yourself, is your focus getting blurred on Christ? Is it because of life's pleasures? Or perhaps it's all those problems and difficulties and everything life throws at us each day. Stop looking at them, and get your focus, your union and communion with Jesus, back on track! Or perhaps it's the faults of others. You know those people who aren't perfect yet! Are they getting you off track? Or perhaps it's your own faults. Those weaknesses and sins you just keep on doing over and over again. Stop looking at them! Stop focusing on poor little self! Instead, put your focus back on Jesus. As Paul puts it: "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2.

 

I'm praying for you!

 

Mark

Becoming like little children

Dear Friend,

 

This morning in my devotions I was reading in Matthew 18.  The disciples came to Jesus, and asked Him who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus called a little child over to their group, and had him stand among them.  Jesus told them, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."  Essentially He told them that instead of seeking to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, they needed to make some changes, otherwise they would never even be there. 

 
 

The change He asked for was that they would be become like a little child, let's take a moment and look at some of the characteristics of a little child that we need to become like, trusting.  Children are very trusting.  If mom and dad say it, then they trust them.  They might ask questions, and use the "why" word a lot, but overall children trust their parents.  Do you trust God like a child, even when you're "whys" are not answered?

 
 

They know where their refuge is.  Children love to explore and be with their friends and playmates.  They like to do new things, But when trouble comes, or they're hurt or in danger, they want their parents.  I've hung out with kids and played with them, and they like me and we're all getting along fine until they bump their head or scrape a knee, and I will pick them up and hold them and say nice things, but it doesn't matter.  They want their mom and dad now!  That's where they are secure.  Do you run to God when you are in trouble, or run away like Adam?  Do you know where your refuge is?

 
 

Their knowledge base is very limited, but that doesn't stop them.  Children are very smart, but their knowledge is very limited.  But they still love, trust, obey, and follow directions.  They don't wait until everything makes sense before they obey; no, sometimes "because mommy says so" is enough.  How about you and I?  Do we trust God even when we don't understand?  When God requires something of us, is a "because God says so" enough?  Can we obey based on trust, and not wait for every doubt to be removed?

 
 

I'm sure that there are many other good characteristics that children have that we must have in our lives to prepare us for heaven.  What are your thoughts?  What are some of the things we need to do and change in our lives to become like little children?  I'd love to hear your input!

 
 

Check out this quote I just read:  "We are as ignorant of God as little children, but as little children we may love and obey Him. Instead of speculating in regard to His nature or His prerogatives, let us give heed to the word He has spoken: 'Be still, and know that I am God.' Psalm 46:10."  The Faith I live by, page 61.

 
 

I think that one of the most common phrases I hear from parents in church to their young children is "Be still!"  Always full of energy and wanting to move, move, move; children need to be reminded constantly to "Be still!"  And I think that our heavenly Father is saying the same to each of us as well:  "Be still!  Take some time to hear my voice, and let me speak to you in my word.  Stop rushing around, and be still and know that I am God." 

 
 

Take the time to be still today!  I'm praying for you.

 
 

Mark

Saying and Doing

Dear friend,

 
 

Jesus gave an interesting parable during the last week before He was crucified.  He told about a man that had two sons.  Here's the story:  "He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'  'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go."  Matthew 21:28-30.

 
 

Kind of sounds like a normal family, doesn't?  Asking one son to work, and he refuses, and the other one is happy to agree to work, but doesn't do it.  But Christ is not just speaking about a normal family interaction here, but about two groups of people that He and all of heaven are interesting in.  The first group are those who don't want to get involved with God, and follow His requirements.  They just outright refuse, and say: "I will not!"  But, thank God, many of them later change their minds and follow God's directions! 

 
 

But then there are those who hear God's requirements, who know His commandments, and they say, very respectfully and with utmost sincerity, "I will, sir."  They say that they belong to God, and they profess to follow the Bible and all of God's directions, but, as the parable says, they simply do not do it.  They talk the talk but don't walk the walk.  Jesus talked about a group of people in His day that were just like this group:  "for they say, and do not."  Matthew 23:3.

 
 

How is it with you?  Do you enjoy the thought that you are a child of the King?  That you have been offered eternal life?  That you can claim God's promises in your life?  But are you just claiming the rights of a child of the King, without doing what the King asks?  In profession many claim to be children of God, but in life and character they deny the relationship.

 
 

There are many that say that they are children of the King, and when asked what are the requirements of that relationship they tell us that it is based on love.  That all we have to do is love each other, love everyone.  Just love.  And they are partly right.  God does want us to love, and the Bible, especially the New Testament, is full of texts about loving each other and even our enemies.  But if I choose to obey only half of the requirements of God, and ignore the other half, can I be called an obedient child of God? 

 
 

Look what Jesus said:  "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."  Matthew 15:9.  Even though they are worshiping God, He says it is vain or worthless, because they are teaching doctrines the commandments of men.  God recognized two commandments.  His own, and everything that conflicts or contradicts His commandments He says are the commandments of men.  Which commandments are you following in your life? 

 
 

In 1 John we find a lot of verses about loving God.  But there is another side of the requirements of God that He wants from His children.  It's called obedience.  There's love, and there's obedience.  They go hand in hand.  Look what God's Word says:  "We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commandments.  The man who says, 'I know Him,' but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him," 1 John 2:3, 4.

 
 

This is a call for all of us to search our own lives.  Are we doing what He says?  Are we obeying Him?  Or do we just say we are, and in reality are not?  Are we obeying all His commandments, or just the ones that are convenient for us?  To say that I am a good law abiding citizen when I drive down the road on the right hand side of traffic, all the while ignoring the speed laws and the other traffic laws, is not a good law abiding citizen.  I'm only fooling myself.

 
 

Please take some time today and ask yourself what category you are in.  Are you like the first son, who falsely refused to obey?  Then change your life, and start obeying God.  Heaven is well worth it!  Or are you like the son that claimed he was obeying, and yet was not?  Then please, start walking the way God wants you to walk, and do what He says to do.  Otherwise, at the end, when the Judge of the universe looks at every case, then sentence will be pronounced against you, and it will be too late to do anything about it.

 
 

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'  Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you, Away from me, you evildoers!" 

Matthew 7:21-23.

 
 

I'm praying for you!

 
 

 
 

Mark

 
 

Saying and Doing

Dear friend,

 
 

Jesus gave an interesting parable during the last week before He was crucified.  He told about a man that had two sons.  Here's the story:  "He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'  'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go."  Matthew 21:28-30.

 
 

Kinda sounds like a normal family, doesn't?  Asking one son to work, and he refuses, and the other one is happy to agree to work, but doesn't do it.  But Christ is not just speaking about a normal family interaction here, but about two groups of people that He and all of heaven are interesting in.  The first group are those who don't want to get involved with God, and follow His requirements.  They just outright refuse, and say: "I will not!"  But, thank God, many of them later change their minds and follow God's directions! 

 
 

But then there are those who hear God's requirements, who know His commandments, and they say, very respectfully and with utmost sincerity, "I will, sir."  They say that they belong to God, and they profess to follow the Bible and all of God's directions, but, as the parable says, they simply do not do it.  They talk the talk but don't walk the walk.  Jesus talked about a group of people in His day that were just like this group:  "for they say, and do not."  Matthew 23:3.

 
 

How is it with you?  Do you enjoy the thought that you are a child of the King?  That you have been offered eternal life?  That you can claim God's promises in your life?  But are you just claiming the rights of a child of the King, without doing what the King asks?  In profession many claim to be children of God, but in life and character they deny the relationship.

 
 

There are many that say that they are children of the King, and when asked what are the requirements of that relationship they tell us that it is based on love.  That all we have to do is love each other, love everyone.  Just love.  And they are partly right.  God does want us to love, and the Bible, especially the New Testament, is full of texts about loving each other and even our enemies.  But if I choose to obey only half of the requirements of God, and ignore the other half, can I be called an obedient child of God? 

 
 

Look what Jesus said:  "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."  Matthew 15:9.  Even though they are worshiping God, He says it is vain or worthless, because they are teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.  God recognized two commandments.  His own, and everything that conflicts or contradicts His commandments He says are the commandments of men.  Which commandments are you following in your life? 

 
 

In 1 John we find a lot of verses about loving God.  But there is another side of the requirements of God that He wants from His children.  It's called obedience.  There's love, and there's obedience.  They go hand in hand.  Look what God's Word says:  "We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commandments.  The man who says, 'I know Him,' but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him."  1 John 2:3, 4.

 
 

This is a call for all of us to search our own lives.  Are we doing what He says?  Are we obeying Him?  Or do we just say we are, and in reality are not?  Are we obeying all His commandments, or just the ones that are convenient for us?  To say that I am a good law abiding citizen when I drive down the road on the right hand side of traffic, all the while ignoring the speed laws and the other traffic laws, is not a good law abiding citizen.  I'm only fooling myself.

 
 

Please take some time today and ask yourself what category you are in.  Are you like the first son, who falsely refused to obey?  Then change your life, and start obeying God.  Heaven is well worth it!  Or are you like the son that claimed he was obeying, and yet was not?  Then please, start walking the way God wants you to walk, and do what He says to do.  Otherwise, at the end, when the Judge of the universe looks at every case, then sentence will be pronounced against you, and it will be too late to do anything about it.

 
 

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'  Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" 

Matthew 7:21-23.

 
 

I'm praying for you!

 
 

 
 

Mark

 
 

Mercy and Grace

Dear Friend,

 

One way I like to think of the kingdom of God is as a big room.  It's full of grace, love, forgiveness, mercy and kindness.  The Bible is like the windows.  Each of us is privileged to look through the window, and learn about what is inside the room.  Through each window we can see what is inside from a different angle.  And it's the same with the Bible.  For example, as we read what the Bible says about grace, we see different aspects of it.  As we read the parables Jesus taught about grace, and read how Jesus practiced grace, we see it from different perspectives. 

 
 

This last weekend at a retreat I was in a discussion group, and my good friend Dean was in the same group.  We were all discussing grace, and he brought up a couple good points that I had never noticed before.  Mercy and grace are very similar, and many times we use the terms synonymously.  "What is another definition of grace? Mercy,"  "What is another definition of mercy?  Grace."  But there are some differences.  Mercy has to do with not receiving negative results, or punishment.  For example, if I am speeding, and am pulled over, and the patrolman lets me go without a ticket, that's mercy.  If I make a mistake when I'm building something, and my boss doesn't make me pay for the lumbar that is all useless now, that's mercy. 

 
 

But grace has to do with positive things, rewards we might call them, that are not deserved, For example, if someone comes and pays my rent for me when I don't deserve it, that's grace.  If, after wrecking my brother's car, he turns around and buys me a new one, that's grace.  After I've spoken mean words to someone, and they not only not reply with the same words, but instead speak positively and kindly to me, that is grace. 

 
 

Paul started, both of his letters to Timothy- "Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord."  God gives us both mercy and grace.  Mercy when we don't get what we deserve: eternal death for our sins.  And grace when He gives us eternal life in heaven. 

 
 

That room that is a symbol of heaven is where I want to be someday.  I want to be in God's kingdom, don't you?  It's full of mercy and grace, and as I look in the windows, I realize that I must have mercy and grace in order to enter there.  God isn't going to change the basis of His government for me; no, I must change with His help in order to be fit for heaven.  Heaven is about grace and mercy, and heaven will be filled with people who have the same spirit in their lives; grace and mercy.

 
 

Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."  Matthew 5:7.  I know all of us want mercy from God, so let's be full of mercy as we prepare for heaven!  And I'm glad it's that way.  That's the only way you and I can get eternal life, through God's mercy and His grace.

 
 

Let's put them both into practice in our lives, OK?  I'm praying for you!

 
 

Mark

The Greater Good

 

Pastor's Corner

The Greater Good    May17, 2009

 

 

Dear Friend,

 

Last week we talked about unanswered prayers, where sometimes God does not answer a person's prayer in order to answer another person's prayer. If you missed it you can read it here, Unanswered Prayers. But this week I want to talk with you about something I call the "Greater Good." This phrase is usually used in reference to utilitarianism, which is based on the concept of the greatest good for the greatest number of people. But I want to use the phrase and apply it to us as individuals and our growth in holiness.

 

So many times my idea of a successful day is when everything works out just as I planned it. In fact, that is the goal that many of us usually pray for. "God, give me a safe trip." "Please help me find a parking spot." "Please help my luggage to not get lost." "God, help me to not get stuck in traffic today." All of these prayers are good prayers, and there is nothing wrong with them. And if God answers each of them, we would think that our day was a successful one, and that God truly loves us and has watched over us that day.

 

But, let's say that each of these prayers went unanswered. Let's say that in one day, I'm involved in a small fender bender on the highway, I have to wait 20 minutes just for a parking spot at the mall, my luggage is lost and it takes two days before the airlines bring it to the house, wet and smelling like jet fuel from sitting out in the rain at the airport, and on the way to an important meeting at church I sit in traffic for 2 hours, not moving at all. A failed day, No necessarily, let's go to the "greater good" scenario.

 

God's plan for my life is to prepare me for eternity. He wants me to live with Him forever. (That's His plan for you too, by the way.) And in order to live with Him, you and I must be holy. We must develop patience, longsuffering, kindness, gentleness, and love. Now, all these virtues are nice, and they are easy to have in our lives when everything is going my way. I'm the most patient, loving, kind and gentle person when the traffic is moving well, my luggage is the first off the carousel at the airport, and a parking spot is open at the front row of the store. But, in order to practice and learn these Christian virtues and have them be more than just skin deep in my life, I need the difficulties to develop the fruit of the Spirit in my life. And so God allows difficulties and problems and hardships in my day to help me grow, and when I can look back over my day as I go to bed at night, and see how God has helped me to be patient and gentle and loving in spite of the fact I had a fender bender, lost luggage, hateful salespeople, crazy drivers, no parking, and all the rest, that is a good day, that is a successful day!

 

So, here's how it works. Pray and ask God for those things you want and need, no matter how petty they are. Bring all your wants, your cares, your problems, to Him. But also ask Him to develop in you the fruit of the Spirit, and always close your prayer with: "may Thy will be done today." Then, when He answers your prayer with the little material and temporal blessings, thank Him! And when He helps you through those difficult times and gives you the power to overcome your impatience and unkindness, thank Him as well! It's a successful day! And the greater good, the greater blessing, is when we are developing character for eternity, not just having all our little temporary requests answered.

 

Have a great day! We're praying for you that you will be more like Jesus!

 

Mark

 

scott: New Bottles pt 1 May 16 2009

scott: New Bottles pt 1 May 16 2009

New Bottles pt 1 May 16 2009

 

Mark 2:22 (King James Version)

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5, 6.) What is the thing that that text shows that the mind of Christ does? What did it do in Him? It "emptied himself." When that mind is in us, what will it do there? The same thing, it will empty us of self. Then the first thought that that text gives is that the mind of Christ empties of himself the one in whom it is (it emptied Paul.)

When that mind that was in Christ emptied himself, then what came? God filled Him. When that mind that was in Him is in us and does in us what it did in Him (Paul)--empties us of self--what then will fill the place? God in Christ will fill us^. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

²³I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know

that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me (John 17: 22-23 .)

. Then God in Christ dwells in us. But that takes self out of the way.

Now what mind is in us to start with? The mind of self, (the carnal mind) what does that mind do? It exalts self. What kind of mind is it we have to start with? The natural mind, what is of flesh is of flesh. A man has a natural mind, and he must have another mind, he must be born of the Spirit and of the water. He must have the mind that was in Christ, but that mind that is in Christ only empties of self the one in whom it dwells. Therefore as we have a mind to start with and must have another than that, while that other empties of self the one in whom it is, does it not follow inevitably that the mind which we have to start with, is a mind only of self? Romans 6:16

God made man to start with, at the real start in Eden. Did God put in that man the mind of self? ["No"] Whose mind was it in that man? The mind of God, in Adam was the wonderful wisdom of God. It was reflected in the life of Adam--his mind, his thoughts, his whole make-up reflecting the Maker. When God said, "Let us make man in our image," it meant a great deal more than the shape; it meant that if you and I could have seen Adam and Eve as they came from the hand of God, we would have seen the image of God reflected and would have been caused to think of somebody back of them, far back of them and far superior to them. Who is that? God,

But they did not stay as God made them. Satan came into the garden. God had said to them certain words, his words, the expression of his mind, his thought concerning them. If they had received those words, had retained those words and the thoughts of God in those words, whose mind would they have retained? God's, when this other one, Satan, came and told them other words, expressing his thoughts and the product of his mind and they accepted that and yielded to that, then whose thoughts did they receive and whose mind did they receive? "Satan's", therefore they were transformed in the garden after Satan's mind it reversed; they were emptied of God's mind and filled up with Satan's thoughts when they yield to it.

We need not go back into the depths of Satan's experience; we all know what it was that caused his fall. What was that? ["Pride,"] But self was the root of the pride; self is the root of everything; pride is the fruit of self only. Satan looked at himself before he got proud of himself. If he had looked into the face of Him who sits upon the throne he never would have become proud. He would have reflected the image of Him who sits upon the throne, as that image is manifested in Jesus Christ. But when he turned His look from the face of Him who sits upon the throne and turned it upon himself, then it was that he became proud of himself. Then it was that he considered how beautiful he himself was, and his heart was lifted up because of his beauty, and he began to give himself credit for what he was. What he was came from God. But Lucifer gave himself credit for all that he was and for what he was. Did he not in that count himself as self-existent--in fact put himself in the place of God? But it all came from self, and that is the thought of it all. He said, "I will be like God. I will be like the Most High." He would be in the place of Christ, and anyone who puts himself in the place of Christ puts himself in the place of God, because God is in Christ.

Then that being so, that being Satan's mind, when he came to our first parents and they received of that mind, what mind was that? The mind of self, because it is the mind of Satan who is self, and the same ambition was set before them that he set before himself that made himself what he is himself. "Ye shall not surely die, for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. The woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one wise." To be desired to do what? To make one wise, Wise as what? Like God. "Ye shall be like God," knowing more than you know now. Knowing such and such things, O yes, then that tree is a tree to be desired to bring to me that knowledge, to give me that wisdom, and this tree is the channel through which I can accomplish that object of being like God. That is it. Then what is the mind that is in us? "Self," The natural mind is the mind of Satan. That is self always.

Now the Lord did not leave it there alone. The Lord did not stop right there. If He had stopped there, there never could have been in any man's mind in this world any impulse other than that of Satan himself, because the whole natural mind is of self and Satan only. But God said, I will break that up. "I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed." God put the enmity there, the hatred against Satan's power, the hatred against the things that are in that mind even. God has planted that hatred there, and that is the source of every impulse to good, or to right, or anything of the kind that ever comes into any man's mind in this world.

But when God put that hatred of evil there, it also begets the desire for something better than this evil which we hate. But what is that better thing? What is the object of that desire? [ "Jesus Christ."] Because Jesus Christ and His presence, God's mind, comes back to the place whence it has been taken away. God's image comes back to the place from whence it has been banished by this deception of Satan. Christ is the image of God, the express image of His person, and when we receive Jesus Christ in His fullness the image of God is returned to the place where it belongs. Therefore His putting that enmity sets the will--the choice--free, so that man can choose this other mind. This is that Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. If a man will follow that light he will find Jesus Christ, as Abraham did, as Cornelius did, as everyone does who will follow that ray of light. So He is the Desire of all nations. Haggai 2:7. Christ is that.

The man who finds that hatred of evil, that desire for something better, that will to do well, is that that man doing of good? ["No"], Can He do the good that He is drawn to, by that impulse? ["No."] Let us read in Romans and see what is done. Rom. 3:10, "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one." And the 12th verse: "They are all gone out of the way; they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Is that so? ["Yes sir"], then how can we talk about a heathen doing good? Does he do well? "There is none that doeth good, no, not one." [A voice: "If a man has Christ, he can do well."] But if he has Christ, he is not a heathen.

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Guidelines for defending your Faith, part 2

Dear Friend,

 
 

Last week in our Pastor's Corner we talked about some basics of defending our faith, and a few points to remember when people come up and question our beliefs.  Now over the next few weeks let's look at some common statements that people make, and some responses to them.  Many of these arguments have had chapters and books written in response to them, so my goal is to simply list some short and concise responses that I have found helpful in dealing with these issues.

 
 

"The Bible is full of contradictions, and no one can really trust it."

A contradiction is where both statements cannot be true.  For example, if one person says Mark is a boy, and another says Mark is a girl, that is a contradiction.  But when we look at the Bible, we find statements that initially might appear to be contradictory, but really are not, especially when looked at it scientifically and legally.  For instance, if there is a car crash, and four people who are witnesses are brought into court to testify of what they have seen, and each of them tell the exact same story, most would suspect that they had gotten together, came up with a story, and there is some falsehood involved.  Why?  Because it's well documented that when several people see the same thing, their stories will be slightly different based on their perceptions, their background, etc.  So when we see different perspectives in the Bible, like one gospel says there are two blind men, and another says there is one, that is not a contradiction.  If I testify about a car accident that I responded to, and I tell about the one mangled patient that I focused all my efforts on, and a police officer testifies of the four teenagers he ran after, our stories will be very different, but indeed factual.  The Bible has no true contradictions when one researches them out.

 
 

"If God is sovereign, and all powerful and all knowing, how can there be any choice?  What's going to happen is going to happen, in spite of your prayers or your faith or your beliefs."

OK, I can't explain this one.  But I believe that God is powerful and all sovereign, and that prayer does make a difference.  Now, since I can't explain it, scoffers will say it can't happen.  But I also believe in electricity, in diesel engines, and in the ozone layer, but I cannot explain them at all.  But I've seen them work, and I've seen prayer work again and again.  Remember, we don't have to explain everything.  Some things just have to be believed.  Can you explain love?  But I bet you believe in it!

 
 

"You Adventists are stuck in the Old Testament, but Christians today only need the New Testament."

Yep, God's people teach also from the Old Testament that point to Christ, as well as the New Testament, that tells us about Christ.  To not use the Old Testament is like tearing out the pages of a book, and just keeping the index.  But why do I believe and study the Old Testament?  Quit simply, because Jesus and the Apostles that wrote the New Testament did.  Jesus said, "Search the scriptures."  "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead."  Paul says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."  John 5:39, Luke 16:31, 2 Timothy 3:16-17.  As Adventists we believe that all Scripture, including the Old Testament, is God breathed and useful for us today.

 
 

Next week let's talk about the new commandment that Jesus gave that cancels all the rest, as well as some other misconceptions of the Bible.

 
 

Mark

Guidelines for defending your Faith

Dear Friend,

 
 

Have you noticed how we seem to naturally turn to the negative aspects when a religion is discussed?  People usually put down others' beliefs, or focus on the faults of the religion.  Allow me to illustrate my point.  People typically don't talk about the dedicated prayer emphasis when the Catholics are discussed, or the strong outreach endeavors of the Jehovah's Witnesses.  When the Baptists are discussed, it's usually not to focus on how they follow the Biblical model of baptism, and when the Adventists are brought up, usually one will say something about their following the "old Jewish laws", "legalists", or even call them a cult and not Christian.

 

As I hear these accusations, there are two things that come to mind for me.  First, I have to remember that my human nature naturally wants to put down others so that I can feel superior, so I need to recognize that when other's put down my religion, it's nothing to take personally, but it's a natural thing that us humans just do.  Secondly, the Bible instructs us to "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."  1 Peter 3:15.  So how do we answer when someone comes up to us and asks us a question, or says something that puts down our religion?

 
 

The first thing to remember is that most people are simply repeating something that they have heard, and when they ask us it's an opportunity to clear up misconceptions.  This is what I have found to be the case the majority of the time.  So when someone comes and tells me something, I have to remind myself that this is a great opportunity to explain the Bible to them.  Most people have open minds, and usually after showing just a couple of Bible verses they will tell me that they are glad we talked and it makes sense what we find in the Bible, and not what they have heard.

 
 

Other times people simply want to continue what humans have done since Cain, and that is to ridicule and try to stop those who want to follow the truth and obey God.  Either way, the verse we read above in 1 Peter applies to each of us when people ask us about our faith, our beliefs in Jesus and what the Bible says.  It not only tells us to answer, but how to answer them; in gentleness and respect.

 
 

Over the next few weeks we'll look at some of the more common misconceptions people have about the Bible, and we'll look at Bible verses that clearly explain the truth if one studies it with an open mind.  Over the past several years I have heard a lot of replies when I tell someone that I am a Christian, and also when I tell people I'm an Adventist.  At first I was very taken back by what people would say, and felt almost ashamed of myself.  But as I have studied the Bible, and researched out the basis for my faith and my beliefs, my confidence in Bible doctrine has grown steadily.  As I have found out from the Bible and from history, it's always been a minority on the side of right, and the majority has always been wrong.   From the time of Noah and the flood (only eight were saved), to the time of Abraham, the time of Christ when all the religious leaders and the majority of the people were shouting crucify Him, and all through the Dark Ages, it was always the minority that followed the principles of the Bible.  We see that being part of the few is not the exception but the rule when it comes to being on the side of right.

 
 

One final thing to keep in mind is a statement that Jesus made.  Remember how He talked about those that were seeking heaven and He said it was like a person searching for pearls?  Jesus made an interesting statement, and here it is:  "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces."  Matthew 7:6.  In other words, you will find those that want to trample your testimony and destroy your beliefs, and then, once they've destroyed your faith, instead of being your friend, they will turn and tear you to pieces.  So, when we offer a reason for our beliefs, there will always be people who will be used by Satan to try to destroy our faith and our beliefs.  And sometimes we have to just be quiet and not allow our pearl of great price to be run through the ground.

 
 

Alright, I'll look forward to looking at some of these issues in our next Pastor's Corner.

 
 

Have an awesome week!  I'm praying for you!

 
 

Mark