by Gayle Jackson | May 16, 2016 | Articles, Mentors Corner
Forgiveness is a very large subject in the bible. In thinking on it, I realized that it is a key concept for the Church to survive. We must have a working creed of forgiveness and understand it or the church will come unraveled. The subject of forgiveness is much too extensive for a blog from me, so I am going to take it on in pieces. This issue covers the concept of forgiveness that is most prevalent among families and friends. As I have gotten older I realize the problem that my family, friends and associates have with forgiveness. I especially see this in family relations and a major focus of the angst is centered on the parents. I think as we age we just don’t shed bad experiences well. However forgiveness is a major issue with God and that is the reason we need to discuss it. Forgiveness: The definition from the Greek is cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, and yield up. The dictionary says FORGIVENESS- pardon, forgiveness; to let pass, take away, hide, wash, purify, release You get the sense that when you forgive you are putting an issue out of your life. Observation: Forgiveness is an act of the will. An emotion may be involved but a willful resolve is the force in the action of forgiveness. Your forgiveness is not governed by the other person’s response. You do it because God said to do it. Facts on Forgiveness: 1. It is commanded in the bible. 2. It is an act of the will. Emotion may or may not follow. 3. Your forgiveness may or may not be accepted by the other party. 4. It is unidirectional, no...
by Walt Henrichsen | Feb 29, 2016 | Articles, Mentors Corner
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority.” 1Timothy 2:1-2 The New Testament authors agree that Christ’s followers must submit to authority.1 In all of the New Testament, I find no reference to resisting secular authority unless the government compels the believer to break God’s commandments; in all other areas he must submit. God controls the activities of all in authority: “…the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”2 “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will.”3 The admonition contained in this verse is especially applicable for those who disapprove of the authority placed over them. You pray for them; you do not resist them. This does not mean that you affirm wrong with your silence. Rather, you call to their attention that they are wrong if and when they give you opportunity. However, in such encounters, you must be ready to defend before God that you confront them because you have their best interest in mind, and not because you are defending yourself. 1 Cf., e.g., Romans 13:1-5 and 1Peter 2:13-14, 17 2 Hebrews 13:6 3 Proverbs...
by Micah Olson | Feb 8, 2016 | Articles, Mentors Corner
Balaam is an interesting character in the Bible. The biblical narrative about him is mostly confined to 3 chapters – Numbers 22-24 – but his story clearly resonates with numerous authors of the bible. He is referred to in Deuteronomy, Joshua, Nehemiah, Micah, 2 Peter, Jude, and Revelation. I will summarize the story of Balaam, but I mostly want to focus on the New Testament references to Balaam which highlight the importance of Balaam’s story to us today. The New Testament warnings regarding Balaam focus on two things: 1) he loved the wages of unrighteousness, 2) he tempted Israel to commit idolatry and sexual immorality It is the warning regarding sexual immorality that I want to focus this article. God promises to Abraham in the book of Genesis that He will give Abraham’s future descendants the land of Canaan “for an everlasting possession.” From Exodus through the end of Deuteronomy, Scripture describes Israel’s journey from Egypt to the plains east of the Jordan River, where in the book of Joshua the Israelites will launch their attack and eventually conquer the Promised Land. After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, the new generation of Israelites were finally on the cusp of entering the Promised Land. In Numbers 22, Balak, the king of Moab, gets nervous that the nation of Israel is making their camp in his land. He becomes fearful of Israel’s military might and hires a famous diviner from Mesopotamia named Balaam. Balak’s goal is that Balaam would curse Israel, which would then allow the Moabites to destroy them. If all we knew about Balaam was what we read in Numbers 22-24, we might be inclined to think that he was a righteous man....
by Walt Henrichsen | Feb 1, 2016 | Articles, Mentors Corner
“The LORD endowed Solomon with wisdom and discernment in great measure, with understanding as vast as the sands on the seashore.” 1Kings 4:29 This is one of the most terrifying aspects of walking with Christ. All of your gifts, abilities, assets, and relationships are blessings from God that have the potential of inflicting great harm. To the degree that you are so blessed, at least three things can happen to you, and two of them are bad. The benefit of being richly endowed, as was Solomon, is your ability to glorify God during the years that He gives you. The two dangers are, you can misunderstand what God has given you, and thus misuse your gifts. Evidently Solomon saw himself as someone special in the sight of God, and presumed upon his relationship with Him by ignoring His commandments. You find the second danger in the words of Jesus, “And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.”1 The misuse of God’s blessings can inflict great harm on you, if you are not careful. Rejoice in the blessings God has given, but be very careful in how you steward them. 1 Luke 12:48 for more articles by this...
by Gayle Jackson | Jan 25, 2016 | Articles, Mentors Corner
I have been thinking a lot recently on where we are going as a people and what lies ahead. With a family of 15, I concern myself with things like this. I am not pessimist by nature but I am clearly concerned for what lies ahead. Some of my key concerns are because of: Socially and academically, as a people we embrace a low opinion of the Bible. Both inside & outside the institutional church, biblical standards are frequently violated and these violations are accepted. Our loss of recognition that Israel is at the epicenter of history past and future and our waning support of Israel. After much reflection, I decided the greatest gift I can give my family for their future is a commitment and knowledge of the Bible. Not money but the bible. This should be my legacy. The application of the word in their culture is their only hope. It is the only inheritance that will not betray them in the coming time. It is the only truth document on our relationship to God and others that has lasted 2000 years. Historically when people gather in community for any reason and for a period of time, corruption and debauchery set in. As a people we have gathered and can’t stay away from corruption and a culture that is debauched. Just review Babel. This influence has always taken us down wrong paths and away from the Word’s teaching. My observation historically is that once a social line of standards are drawn we immediately begin to drift downward morally and religiously. All people, professing, Christians included, tend to...
by Walt Henrichsen | Jan 4, 2016 | Articles, Mentors Corner
“The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” Exodus 14:14 When Israel reached the Red Sea, the Egyptian army approached their rear to recapture them and return them to a life of slavery. To quiet their hearts, Moses gave this instruction; they were to remain passive and God would deliver them without their needing to fight. Years later, after King Solomon replaced his father as king of Israel, he did four things to “secure the kingdom in Solomon’s hands:”1 First, he had Adonijah killed, who had endeavored to establish himself as king prior to Solomon. Second, he had Joab, the commander of the Lord’s army killed. Third, he removed Abiathar as high priest, replacing him with Zadok, Solomon’s personal choice. Fourth, he ensured that Shimei died, who had belittled King David. Throughout Solomon’s reign it appears that he looked more to his own interests, rather than passively following the advice of Moses on the Exodus. In both the illustration of the Exodus and Solomon, it appears that their strategies worked, and Scripture does not comment on which of the two He favored. During the time when Joshua led Israel, God rebuked the people because “…the men…asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.”2 I can find no evidence that Solomon ever “sought counsel of the Lord.” Assuming that you “seek counsel of the Lord,” you still have to decide when God wants you to passively wait on Him and when He expects you to actively do what seems best to you. It may be that God is intentionally ambiguous to keep you perpetually dependent...
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