by Walt Henrichsen | Mar 19, 2018 | Articles, Mentors Corner
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7 It occurs to me that people who live iniquitous lives tend not to spend much time thinking; the experience is too painful. Most of us cannot think on the past without regret, and the more acute the regret the greater the temptation to fill one’s life with distractions so as not to have to think. So too, most arguments in the body of Christ flow from disagreements regarding doctrine rather than moral issues. Because biblical commands are unambiguous, and because conscience affirms most moral absolutes, the reprobate may plead for tolerance, but rarely does he seek to defend that which his conscience condemns. Professing Christians who live (or have lived) immoral lives, therefore, tend to embrace those practices derived from tradition rather than serious reflection on Scripture, such as praying to icons and insisting on experience-centered worship. The deeper a man thinks on biblical truth, the more aware he becomes of his depravity, and if his sins prove too painful to contemplate, he ceases thinking, fills his life with activity. Paul offers the antidote to this happening: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8 The “things” referred to by Paul are found in Scripture. To the degree that you mediate on the Word of God, He will deliver you from a vacuous, sinful life. For more articles by Walt...
by Gayle Jackson | Mar 6, 2018 | Articles, Mentors Corner
1. CROWN Of Righteousness: 2 Timothy 4:8 Given to all those who eagerly looked forward to and loved His appearing. When I was a young man working for IBM, we use to have a label for people who were leaving the business. They were called “short timers”. All their focus was how they could position themselves to leave in good shape, take all they could get and land in a prosperous way. They were motivated by their best interest and their future. God is offering us a better deal in Heaven. Let us face it, we are short timers on earth. I find few people in the Christian walk focused on Jesus coming back or the fact we are going to Jesus. Most Christians are focused on improving their temporal circumstances or creating a theocratic society. The attitude today is because Jesus loves me, there will be no judgment or accountability in Heaven. So don’t worry about being accountable. That thinking is unbiblical. He loves me and will discipline me. I am accountable. Be motivated and live life with a short timer’s attitude and be assured, you will see Jesus soon. This thinking is in your best interest. Application: Do I think about Jesus return daily? Do I pray and do I desire that He come back today? How would Jesus grade me on this mindset? What do I need to do to get myself better focused on this mindset? Would you be eligible for this CROWN? 2. INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 Given to those who disciplined their bodies and exercised self-control. 1 Co 9:25 And everyone who...
by Walt Henrichsen | Feb 19, 2018 | Articles, Mentors Corner
“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” 2Timothy 2:4 The picture is a soldier trying to fight while being engulfed in a net. He may be engaged in the affairs of life, but he keeps himself from becoming entangled in them. This is the warrior’s code. Paul was a tentmaker, and from this we learn that the issue is not vocation. Rather, it deals with focus, purpose, values, hope, and motivation; making a good product in you labor differs from seeking significance from your labor. That this is a vexing issue in men’s lives can be seen by strangers asking, “What do you do for a living?” rather than “What are you doing with your life?” The world insists on evaluating your worth by success in your vocation, while God insists that your worth is derived from His imputing to you a value you would not otherwise have. The Bible does not call for celibacy or other forms of asceticism. You cannot dictate to God what serving Christ looks like. Endeavoring to do so is an indication that you are entangled. This is a decision that God must make, and although the decision is subjective in nature, each believer must determine for himself what God thinks being free from “entanglement” means for his life. For more articles by Walt...
by John Hartshorn | Feb 5, 2018 | Articles, Mentors Corner
As you may be aware, the Apostle John, both in His gospel and his letters, has a good deal to say on the subject of abiding. Depending on your translation of choice, he notes it 40 times in his gospel, 11 times in the 15th chapter alone. He then references it 27 more time in his epistles. It is not commonly used in our modern vernacular, so it bears defining. In the Complete Word Study Dictionary NT it says ” In John’s writings, to remain in or with someone, i.e. to be and remain (emphasis added) united with him, one in heart, mind, and will”. To aid our understanding, John uses the illustration of the vine and its branches in the early portion of chapter 15 of his gospel. Note with me some of the essential elements of the illustration found in the first six verses: In v.1 He says He is “the true vine” and “My Father is the vine dresser” (which would be the term used for a farmer, husbandman, or vine dresser). In v.2 He says of the branches (those professing Christ), every branch that does not bear fruit He (the Father) “takes away”, and the branch that bears fruit He “prunes” that it may bear more fruit. In v.4 we see the two way relationship of the vine and branches. The branch cannot bear fruit of itself, it has to “be and remain” (as the definition noted) in the vine, and thus we cannot bear fruit unless we abide in Him, and Him in us. In the well known v.5, repeating the points already noted...
by Walt Henrichsen | Jan 22, 2018 | Articles, Mentors Corner
“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” 2Timothy 2:1 Scripture uses “grace” in two ways: The salvation given through Jesus Christ, and God’s provision of help in everyday life. In this verse the apostle uses it in the second way. He also said: “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.” 1 A man does not obtain grace by what he does, but by his understanding what he cannot obtain on his own. The dependent follower of Christ gains all the grace he needs, a gift unmerited as well as unlimited. He cannot finish the race of life without God’s empowerment, and God will empower all who look only to Him. 2 Grace is located only in Christ Jesus and consists of having Christ as his life. This is a moment-by-moment perpetual process. This admonition reemphasizes what Paul said in chapter one: “Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.” 3 To be “strong in the grace of Christ,” Timothy must cast off sloth and indifference, for the flesh is so sluggish that even those who are endued with marvelous gifts are found to slacken in the midst of their course if they are not frequently challenged. He adds “in Christ Jesus” to show that the grace comes from Christ alone and no other. If you are not...
by Jesse Hernandez | Jan 8, 2018 | Articles, Mentors Corner
The Cost of Comfort Whosoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:27 As a believer today I will never be able to grasp the horror and magnitude of these words from Jesus. Why? In this present day I will not be able to fully understand the images and reactions that a cross would evoke in the life of a disciple who was following Jesus when these words were uttered. In the previous verse (26), Jesus quickly obtained the attention of the crowd when He stated that whoever “does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life”, he could not be His disciple. It is my impression that Jesus pauses long enough to draw another breath before He lays out the second cost of being His disciple. The cross was an instrument of shame, torture, and unimaginable pain aimed at punishing the most vile of criminals of the day. It was also used by the Roman government to effectively stomp out any form of insurgence. The public display of the cross was so painful and horrific that it was quite effective in spreading the message to others that crime and rebellion would be dealt with very aggressively, painfully, and swiftly. This is the second time Luke records these words from Jesus, the first in Luke 9:23. No doubt He was very serious about conveying his criteria to those who wished to be His disciples. Jesus boldly stated his disciple was to forsake life as he knew it, which...
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