Putting Off The Old Man

"...If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:21-24).

In an attempt to put off the "old man" and put on the "new man" I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible without the help of Holy Spirit.  The "old man" has a way of clinging and he is difficult to remove, it takes time as the "new man" doesn't slip over the "old man" but must replace him.  As the change is happening and the "new man" is revealed in you, many will no longer recognize who you are.  In fact, they believe that it is nothing more than a temporary phase, soon you will return to the "old man" the one they know so well.  How then can we make this change in our lives?  That is the purpose of this blog, to consider your faith in light of Biblical truths.  To encourage you that we have Holy Spirit living in us to aid us in the life change.  It takes time and effort and a setting of new priorities. If we love our children, our spouses and family members as well as friends, then the effort is worth it and what we teach our children, and other will protect them and that is true love, not in words only, but in action.

I recall a time when my brother interviewed "Tex" Watson: a convicted murderer and former member of the Charles Manson "Family." He was convicted of the murders of Sharon Tate, Steven Parent, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski and Jay Sebring, which took place in the early hours of August 9, 1969, in the Tate residence in Benedict Canyon, in the Los Angeles area, and the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca at the LaBianca residence in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angels the following night.  I am sure that if he could he would rewind those nights, he would do things different, but he can't.  Some things are just not fixable.  He was sentenced to die only to have the sentence commuted to life in prison because the death penalty was abolished.  When my brother interviewed in while he was in the San Luis Obispo, CA., Men's Colony his life had changed, he had become a Christian and began a ministry, Abounding Love Ministry, reaching out to prisoners with the love of God.  His life is a testimony of God's abounding grace.  Unless God intervenes "Tex" Watson will spend the rest of his life in prison.  Yet, quietly, mostly unknown by most Christians his ministry to prisoners is helping others to put off the "old man" and helping them to put on the "new man."  There are, probably, many who believe his conversion is a conversion of convenience and that he hasn't really changed, they expect him to return to the "old man" and believe he would if released from prison.  He must pay for his crime, and justice must be served and in this season of his life it is what it is.  He is making the most of his time and so should we.  There are seasons in our lives, "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:.." (Ecclesiastes 3:1). 

A new season has approached, a desire to be faithful to God's word, to quietly make time to become further equipped, a season of examining my faith to considered whether or not it is in strict harmony with Scripture.  The season then is one of quiet, working silently with those who might need some guidance. To be scriptural in meeting the requirements of being a teacher we must consider our past, as did "Tex" Watson, who quietly works behind the scenes in prison.  Paul writes: "Moreover he must have a good testimony among those outside..." (1 Timothy 3:7a).  Recently it was pointed out to me that I do not meet that criteria, and until I do I must not be a public teacher, it is not that I have done anything immoral, it is like "Tex" Watson my past catching up.  Paul writes: "But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless" (Ephesians 3:10).  With that in mind I humbly submit, and end this blog until I have been tested and found blameless.

I do pray that all who might have read any of these blogs were uplifted, led to consider your faith, become readers, doers of God's word.  In His Word only can we find safety, guidance, and impact others who need to come to Jesus for salvation, and also to put off the "old man" and put on the "new man" changing their world for the better.  

Thank You

Daily Prayer:

Father it is into Your hands that we entrust our lives, looking into Your Word and making the necessary changes, allowing Your Word to guide us, protect us, helping us/me to put on the "new man."  Bless those who are considering their faith in light of Your Word, guide them into the truth of Your Word.  May their lives have an impact upon their families, friends, and others, comfort them when others rebuke them for their faith.
                                                                                                                                                  Amen

How Important Is Jesus To You?

"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:10-12).

     During the ecumenical Council of Constance in 1415 A.D., Jan Hus, the rector of Charles University and a prominent reformer and religious thinker, was sentenced to be burnt at the stake as a heretic.  The verdict was passed despite the fact that Hus was granted formal protection by Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg prior to the journey.  Hus was invited to attend the council to defend himself and the Czech (Bohemia) positions in the religious court, but with the emperor's approval, he was executed on July 6, 1415.  The execution of Hus, as well as five consecutive papal crusades against followers of Hus, forced the Bohemians to defend themselves.  Their defense and rebellion against Roman Catholics became known as the Hussite Wars.

On June 10, 1415, Hus wrote to his followers in Bohemia:

           Master John Hus, a servant of God in hope, to all the faithful Bohemians who love and will love God, praying that God may grant them to live and die in his grace, and dwell forever in the heavenly joy. Amen. Faithful and beloved of God, lords and ladies, rich and poor!  I entreat you and exhort you to love God, to spread abroad his word, and to hear and observe it more willingly.  I entreat you to hold fast the truth of God, which I have written and preached to you from the holy Scriptures.

          I write this letter to you in prison, bound with chains and expecting on the morrow the sentence of death, yet fully trusting in God that I shall not swerve from his truth nor swear denial of the errors, whereof I have been charged by false witnesses.  What grace God hath shown me, and how he helps me in the midst of strange temptations, you will know when by his mercy we meet in joy in his presence. Of Master Jerome, my beloved friend, I hear nothing except that he too, like myself, is in a noisome prison waiting for death, and that on account of his faith which he showed so earnestly to the Bohemians.

 

I entreat this too of you, that ye love one another, defend good men from violent oppression,and give every one an opportunity of hearing the truth, I am writing this with the help of a good angel on Monday night before St. Vitus's Day.

Twenty-six days, later, John Hus died at the stake.
Morgan, Robert J.: On This Day: 265 Amazing and Inspiring Stories About Saints, Martyrs & Heroes. electronic ed. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000, c1997, S. June 10

"In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.  In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:11-14).

We need not fear, we only need to be obedient to our salvation and live not for this world but for the world to come, the promise of everlasting life with our Savior and God.

Daily Prayer:

Father those faithful saints who have left us/me the legacy of faith even unto an unjust sentence of death.  Their faithfulness drives me forward to serve You in a greater and more faithful way.  Let those saints, you have never left us nor will you and in that I find comfort.  Help me Holy Spirit to live my faith under any and all circumstances for Your glory.                                                                                 Amen

Walking As Children Of Light

"And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma" (Ephesians 5:2).

Oh! How many times have I heard people say, "The world has changed, we are a modern civilization, the old rules don't apply in this age..."  Somehow we think that our cosmopolitan lifestyle is a more mature way to look at life.  We must accept the liberal attitudes, we must not return to the "Old Victorian Ways."  We can talk about anything, anytime, anywhere, in front any person.  Our sophistication is such that we are immune from the necessity to follow rules.  This all things are relative, truth is not necessarily the same for everyone, so "shut up!" "don't ask me to follow rules, or to watch my dirty speech it isn't dirty, it is the way I express myself."  Furthermore, "I can dress as risque, dance as risque, as I want!"  This liberal way of thinking has found its way deep into many Christians.  We have lowered the "bar" to meet the new demands of this so-called, "modern society."  Churches today are walking a wide birth so as not to be perceived as being, 'legalistic."

Here is a fact, the people of Paul's day were considered cosmopolitan, modern civilization, sophisticated, and free thinking people.  So!! Paul, Paul, why are you so legalistic?  Paul wrote that we should walk in love and act in love towards others, yet.. he becomes so legalistic, placing fear into the hearts of men and women.  Just read this and see if you do not agree with me that Paul is being legalistic, unreal in his demands.  "But fornication, (Gr. porneia = illicit sexual intercourse) and all uncleanness (Gr. akatharsia = unclean, impure of motive, lewdness)  or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness (Gr. akathartos = morally unclean) nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks"  (Ephesians 5:3-4).  Wow! how legalistic, does that mean I can't enjoy an off-color joke?  Must I leave my live-in, "significant other"? I am expected not to live like this in this modern civilization?  "What will everyone think?" Where is the "love that I am supposed to "walk in?"

As children walking in light we know this, "For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them" (Ephesians 5:5-7).  So, if we are "walking the light" the light of truth, we are loving if we take this warning to others, if we show them the way to everlasting life.  "For you were once darkness (notice the wording, it is not that you were in darkness, rather "you were darkness), but now your light in the Lord. Walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8).

Paul is not being legalistic, he is under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit as he writes to the Ephesian Church, a letter that extends down into our very day and speaks to us what is God's will for our lives.  "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is" (Ephesians 5:15-17). Let us therefore walk in the light, in love and extend what we have come to believe, that there is a heaven and a hell, and that Jesus is coming to judge the world and we have been given the opportunity, the privilege to bring this message to our world.  Yes, it will take fortitude, but we have the help of Holy Spirit, and it will for some mean a new way of walking in faith.  Christianity is not about having prosperity, living as we please, looking out for "number one."  It is living for our Savior and knowing that we have a sure hope and will live in the heavenly hope in the here and now.  Walk in the light!

Daily Prayer:

Father it is good to be one of Your children, yet I so often fail, thank you for forgiveness, I repent, lead me into the light so that it shines brighter each day, lighting up truth, Your truth to a world in darkness.  Thank you for Your faithful Word that lights the way, shows us Your will as to how we are to live so that our life represents You.  I do not want to be a disgrace, mocked behind my back for saying I am a Christian but my life does not show it, may I be mocked, for living Your way which is in opposition to this world.  May then my life help others to find their way to You.                                                       Amen

What Is Prayer?

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6).

Examining prayer there often are questions as to what is prayer.  Therefore, I will give some questions and answers that I hope will help all to understand in a more meaningful way the answer to the question: What is Prayer?

Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 John 5:14).  The whole word of God is of use to direct us in prayer; but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which Christ taught his disciples, commonly called The Lord's Prayer. "In this manner, therefore, pray" (Matthew 6: 9a). So what does the preface to that prayer teach us?  "Our Father Which art in heaven": it teaches us to draw near to God with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father, able and ready to help us; and that we should pray with and for others.  The first petition: "Hallowed by Your name" (Matthew 6:9b).That god would enable us and others to glorify him in all that whereby he maketh himself known; and that he would dispose all things to his own glory. The second petition: "Your kingdom come" (vs 10a).  We pray that Satan's kingdom may be destroyed; and that he kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it; and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened. "Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you" (2 Thessalonians 3:1). 

The third petition: "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (vs. 10). By his grace, he would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to his will in all things. as the angels do in heaven. "Bless the LORD, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word.  Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure" (Psalm 103:20-21).  The fourth petition: "Give us this day our daily bread" (vs. 11).  By God's free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessing with them.  The fifth petition: "And forgive us our bets, as we forgive our debtors" (vs. 12).  For Christ's sake, would freely pardon all our sins; which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others.  The sixth petition: "And do not lead us into telmptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (vs. 13).  We pray that God would either keep us from being tempted to sin, or support and deliver us when we are tempted.  The conclusion of this model prayer: "For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen" (vs. 13b). This then teaches us to take our encouragement in prayer from God only, and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to him.  And, in testimony of our desire, and assurance to be heard, we say, Amen.

This being taken from the 1649 A.D. Westminster Catechism is sound advice and direction.  Prayer is so very important, it is not a ritual, it is communion with God.  We come to Him in full assurance that He hears and answers prayer, according to His will for He is sovereign and will only grant what is best for us.

Daily Prayer:

Thank You Father for prayer and You desire to communicate and have a relationship with us.  Thank you for the model prayer, may it be a guide for all my prayers.  Today, my prayer is for my family members who do not know you as Savior, that they may listen and hear Your voice and come fully to you.         Amen

Heirs To The Promise

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:26).

The promise of God for salvation from our depraved and sinful life, from this world so filled with sin given to Adam and Eve, carried down through the ages that all men must come to faith to receive the promise of everlasting life in a world cleansed from sin.  We know little about the pre-flood age except they were not without the knowledge of God's requirements.  God judged them not on ignorance but on what they knew and did not do.  Noah gives proof of that fact, the fact that the pre-flood peoples knew how to worship God, what God demanded; "Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar" (Genesis 8:20). Noah did not devise this method on his own, he continued doing what he was doing from before the flood; giving thanks through sacrifices.  All the scriptures foretold of the "Seed" that would bring salvation, justification; therefore, the people of Israel were without excuse.  They looked for the coming Messiah, they had hope in life everlasting through the Messiah, as this was common knowledge among the Israelites; "Thou like a fury takest us out of this present life, but the King of the world shall raise us up, who have died for his laws, unto everlasting life" (2 Maccabees 7:9).  "And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, 'In you all the nations shall be blessed" (Galatians 3:8). 

If those before the incarnation of the Savior were guilty by not believing, having faith in the coming Messiah, how much more are we guilty who have the knowledge of Him who has come and satisfied all the requirements of the Father to bring to the world salvation for all who would believe?  "But the Scripture (The Old Testament) has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe" (Galatians 3:22). The two men on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:27) were taught from the Old Testament by Jesus that those Scriptures foretold of Him.  Christ has come, we can place our faith in Him, the testimony of His Word reveals to us the truth, the testimony of changed lives demonstrates the truth.  We are sons and daughters, heirs to all promise by God: "And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:29).

Being heirs, sons and daughters according to the promise, then, the question for all of us is: why are we not living as though we are?  So often the Word of God that gives us the promise in writing is watered down to fit our desires, our wants, our inclinations.  Yes, there are some things hard to understand and only by living faithfully to that which is clear can we grow in our knowledge, led by the Holy Spirit who will teach us all things.  If we cannot believe Sola Scriptura; then why live in partial truth?  Either the Bible is true in all it says, or it is not!  When we live not for Him but with Him that God becomes real in our life, we come to the place of understanding that we are truly Heirs To The Promise. 

Daily Prayer:

Father You have done it all, You sent Your Son to be the required payment for our debt of sin.  Jesus took our sins and bore them all the way to the cross. He is our perpetual Savior for all who come to Him in faith.  Thank you for the promise that I can be an heir, adopted into Your family and that relationship is life everlasting with You in a perfect world. Help me take this message to my love ones, my family, and friends, use me to bring to them Your Son, the Savior of the world.                                           Amen

Fall Asleep In Church At Your Own Peril

"There are many who say, 'Who will show us any good?' LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.  You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased. I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety" (Psalm 4:6-8).

If you often have trouble sleeping, try reading Psalms 3 and 4.

     David, running for his life and surrounded by Absalom's rebellious army, wrote in Psalm 3:5, " I sleep and wake up refreshed because you, LORD, protect me." Psalm 4:8 indicates the promises of God make good pillows for those who rest in him: " I can lie down and sleep soundly, because you, LORD, will keep me safe."

          But not during the preacher's sermons
At least, not in early American church history.
     The Puritans of colonial New England appointed "tithingmen" to stroll among the pews on Sunday mornings, alert for anyone nodding off during the long, sometimes ponderous sermons.  They carried long poles with feathers on one end and knobs or thorns on the other.  Worshipers napped at their own peril, and the results were unpredictable--as noted by Obadiah Turner of Lynn, Massachusetts, in his journal for June 3, 1646:

Allen Bridges hath bin chose to wake ye sleepers in meeting. And being much proude of his place, must needs have a fox taile fixed to ye ende of a long staff wherewwith he may brush ye faces of  Athem ht will have napps in time of discourse, likewise a sharpe thorne whereby he may pricke such as be most sound. ON ye last Lord his day, as hee strutted about ye meetinghouse, he did spy Mr. Tomlins sleeping with much comfort, hys head kept steadie by being in ye corner, and his hand grasping ye rail.  And soe spying, Allen did quickly thrust his staff behind Dame Ballard and give him a grievous prick upon ye hand.  Wereupon Mr. Tomlins did spring ypp mch above ye floore. and with terrible force strke hys hand against ye wall: and also, to ye great wonder of all, prphanie exlclaim in a loud voice, curse ye wood-chuck, he dreaming so it seemed yt a wood-church had seized and bit his hand. But on coming to know where he was, and ye greate scandall he had committed, he seemed much abashed, but did not speak.  And I think he will not soon again goe to sleepe in meeting.

Morgan, Robert J.: On This Day : 265 Amazing and Inspiring Stories About Saints, Martyrs & Heroes. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000, c1997, S. June 3

Well, no sleeping in church for me, or maybe we should bring back that custom, or get a preacher that doesn't put us to sleep.  Next time in church keep one eye open!

Daily Prayer:

Lord Jesus I thank You for life, my creator, my savior, that joy is found in this life, and you gave us the ability to enjoy this life.  I look for eternal life, yet, my mind is stayed on this life, here and now, for until You call me home, I want to enjoy all that You have given me.  Thank You for laughter.                       Amen

 

Whose Fault Is It?

"Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right" (Proverbs 20:11).

As I consider my faith I find myself wanting towards a most important aspect of faithful living for Christ.  It is not enough to say, "I believe"; it is more important to "do what I believe."  Yes, Jesus did call us to a place in our lives where we deny all else and live for Him.  I find myself wanting in this also; yet this wanting in me is a cause for much mischief, and grief to others.  "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death" (Romans 7:24)?  I have failed in one of the most important aspects of living; I have failed to protect my children, my family, my loved ones, and others who look upon my life.  I complain of the youth, their waywardness, the attitude of no respect towards those in authority; my complaint is towards them yet they are only the product of me.

I read this an my sins, my failure invaded my very essence for the truth, as often it does, striking me with the awesome responsibility and my personal failure.  This I report was written somewhere around 1649 A.D. by Mr Thomas Manton in his epistle to the reader published in the Westminster Confession of Faith.

     "I cannot suppose thee to be such a stranger in England as to be ignorant of the general complaint concerning the decay of the power of godliness, and more especially of the great corruption of youth.  Wherever thou goest, thou wilt hear men crying out of bad children and bad servants; whereas indeed the source of the mischief must be sought a little higher: it is bad parents and bad masters that make bad children and bad servants; and we cannot blame so much their untowardness, as our own negligence in their education
     The devil hath a great spite at the kingdom of Christ, and he knoweth no such compendious way to crush it in the egg, as by the perversion of youth, and supplanting family-duties....Now, the devil knoweth that this is a blow at the root, and a ready way to prevent the succession of Churches: if he can subvert families, other societies and communities will not long flourish and subsist with any power and vigour; for there is the stock from whence they are supplied both for the present and future."

Quoting from a letter he received and not giving us the name of its author has this to report: "I do therefore desire, that all masters of families would first study well this work themselves, and then teach it their children and servants, according to their several capacities.  And, if they once understand these grounds of religion, they will be able to read other books more understandingly, and hear sermons more profitably, and confer more judiciously, and hold fast the doctrine of Christ more firmly, than ever you are like to do by any other course..,."

I end with this quote: "If, therefore, there be any spark in you of love to God, be not content that any of yours should be ignorant of him whom you so much admire, or any haters of him whom you so much love.  If there be any compassion to the souls of them who are under your care, if any regard of your being found faithful in the day of Christ, if any respect to future generations, labour to sow these seeds of knowledge, which may grow up in after-times...."

I will not wallow in my failure, not speak of it no more: I will endeavor to teach my children, grandchildren, and all who will listen the Word of God.  Love drives the fervent desire and vow. 

Daily Prayer:

Father I come to You with a newness of wonder of Your faithful Word, and the need to commit myself to that which I claim to believe.  I cannot do this on my own strength so I draw upon Your promise, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).  I pray for my children that You will have Your way with them and that they may see You in me and desire to give their lives to You.                  Amen