by MIMADMIN | May 7, 2015 | Articles
“Therefore God sends upon them a strong delusion, to make them believe what is false.” 2Thessalonians 2:11 In the familiar story of Sodom and Gomorrah, when the messengers of God are accosted while residing in Lot’s home, we find that “young and old – all the people to the last man – gathered about the house.” Gen 19:4 The messengers blinded the crowd so they couldn’t find their way. The next day Lot went to his sons-in-law to warn them of God’s pending judgment. Evidently they were present the night before, and thus blinded by the messengers. Still, they considered Lot “as one who jests” Gen 19:14 when he warned them. Sin acts like a drug; the more one sins the more intoxicated he becomes. His senses are dulled as he repeatedly ignores God’s commands, and the fact that he seemingly escapes judgment causes him to conclude that God “jests.” Unconvinced that God will hold him accountable for every transgression committed, including “every idle word,” he day-by-day moves ever closer to the sure judgment of God. God does not “jest” when He commands, and if/when we ignore Him we do so to our own hurt. We escape God’s judgment only by obeying...
by MIMADMIN | May 7, 2015 | Articles
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5 I find that the older I become, the more acutely obvious these words are. The Apostle Paul teaches: “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” 1 God introduces trials and tribulations in each believer’s life to purify his hope. With increased age I find that while the tests God brings in my life remain constant, my capacity (mental, physical, and emotional) to handle them wanes. A number of years ago a businessman graphed two lines intersecting at about age 40: decreasing capacity and increasing responsibility. Few things in life are as frustrating to me. Each day I plead with God to either come for His Church, or for me personally. I find that I can easily become discouraged constantly failing God’s tests. 1 – Romans...
by MIMADMIN | May 7, 2015 | Articles
“But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes, and takes any one of them; that man is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.” Ezekiel 33:6 The believer who knows that God will judge the sinner and fails to alert the lost of his impending judgment; that believer God will judge because of his neglect. But those who die outside of Christ will not be pardoned because of the failure of this negligent believer; they will be judged and condemned. God says that you are responsible for others, but you cannot hold others responsible for you. This is the double edge of responsibility. You are obligated to minister to others, but cannot look to anyone but God to minister to you. You cannot misuse your Christian liberty and cause the weaker believer to stumble, and you cannot call yourself weak in order to restrict the liberty of others. Whether you are the “watchman” or the “man taken away in iniquity,” you are responsible. The truth of Ezekiel’s observation rests on the assumption that God alone determines the flow of circumstances that come into each person’s life. God will surely judge the one who does you wrong, but will also judge you for whatever part you played in the transgression as well as how you responded to it. The parable of the watchman should dissipate any anger or hurt you harbor in your heart for what others have done to you, while making you aware of...
by MIMADMIN | May 7, 2015 | Articles
“…God Knoweth Your Hearts: For That Which Is Highly Esteemed Among Men Is Abomination In The Sight Of God.” Luke 16:15 In Luke 16 Jesus Gave The Parable Of The Unjust Steward, After Which He Cautioned That People: “No Servant Can Serve Two Masters: For Either He Will Hate The One, And Love The Other; Or Else He Will Hold To The One, And Despise The Other. Ye Cannot Serve God And Mammon. And The Pharisees Also, Who Were Covetous, Heard All These Things: And They Derided Him. And He Said Unto Them, Ye Are They Which Justify Yourselves Before Men…”[1] The Pharisees, Who Were Covetous Derided Jesus, Invoking Jesus’ Response, “Ye Are They Which Justify Yourselves Before Men; But God Knoweth Your Hearts: For That Which Is Highly Esteemed Among Men Is Abomination In The Sight Of God.” [1] Luke...
by MIMADMIN | May 7, 2015 | Articles
“So He Came Again To Cana In Galilee, Where He Had Made The Water Wine. And At Capernaum There Was An Official Whose Son Was Ill.” John 4:46 Jesus Was Returning To Galilee From Jerusalem. He Stopped In Cana, Ten Miles North Of Nazareth And About 25 Miles From Capernaum. Here In Cana A Nobleman From Capernaum Met Him Desperate For Help; He Feared His Son Was About To Die From Some Illness. Without A Sick Son He Probably Wouldn’t Have Thought Much About Jesus, And Would Not Have Walked The 25 Miles To See Him. Although Many See Tribulation As An Indication That God Has Forsaken Them, In Reality It Is The Grace Of God In Disguise. The Sun Melts Butter And Hardens Clay. Blessed Are The Troubled Who Allow Their Tribulation To Soften Their Heart To Repentance. Notice How Often God Uses Our Children To Get Our Attention. Christianity Is A Religion Of Rescue. It Is Designed For The Desperate. When You Meet People Like The Nobleman, Who Are Burdened With Their Need, Involve Yourself In Their Lives As An Act Of Christ’s Love. But Always Use The Encounter As An Opportunity To Point Them To Jesus. It Would Be Sad Indeed If The Savior Softened Their Hearts In Their Calamity, Only To Find That You Did Not Use It As An Opportunity To Share The...
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