Interpulpit
A Blog by Rick Bell
Is God Disciplining You?
May 6th
Many sufferers believe that their trials are from God, who sends them “for their own good.” This is the result of a long history of religious teaching. Tradition has taught us to believe that God wants to smite us more than bless us. It has taught us to expect that the only way to grow is to be pushed and tested by God, as if life is nothing more than a terrible obstacle course that God uses to scour out all the filth and sin in our lives.
David didn’t think that way. He wrote in Psalm 34 the repeated theme that the Lord delivers us from all our troubles (vs. 4, 7, 17, 19). He even had the nerve to believe that God has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant (Psalm 35:27)!
To be balanced, God did send trials and judgment in many places in the Old Testament, but everything changed for the New Testament believer. Jesus satisfied the justice of God on the cross, and came that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10). The good news of the Gospel is that we do not get judged for our sin, because Jesus paid it all! That is the good news of grace!
Yet so many in the church continue in guilt and condemnation, looking inward at their imperfections instead of turning to the finished work of Christ on their behalf. They then think of trials as a way of somehow making them more holy.
Keep reading this post
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Resurrection: Past, Present, and Future
Mar 28th
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live (John 5:25).
The hour is coming and now is! In the past, Jesus died on a cross and rose from the dead so that man could be reconciled to God and have eternal life. Those who have put their faith in Him can look forward to the end time when our bodies will also be raised from the dead. It is a wonderful hope for the future, spending an eternity in glory with God!
But eternal life is not just future. It is also NOW. Many believers make the mistake of thinking it is just something to hold on to until we die and go to be with Jesus. But this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent (John 17:3).
Eternal life is all about a quality of life now. It is something to be experienced, as the term “know” represents. The original Greek for “know” means much more than intellectual knowledge or assent. It means to have a thorough acquaintance and experience concerning someone or something.
So it is incredible that the only true God has made a way for weak beings like us to actually experience Him and become partakers of the divine nature (2Peter 1:4).
How many Christians are missing out, because they have relegated the resurrection life only to the future. The hour is coming, and NOW IS. Your life can change, but your expectations have to change first. God wants to bless you and use you for His kingdom- which also is now as well as in the future!
The amazing truth is that not only is our resurrection life now and future, but we also need to consider it as past: Even when we were dead in sins, [He] hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:5-6).
Quit saying, “I’m just a sinner saved by grace.” That flies in the face of what Jesus has done for you. You WERE a sinner, but now you are saved and He has raised you and seated you together with Him. He wants to reign through His people and bring positive change to them and those around them, but they have to first recognize these spiritual realities and who they are in Christ.
You may feel like a failure, but the real you is hidden in Christ: For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). Stop looking at the outward appearances and start focusing on the truths of God’s Word. Then you will be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
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Your Troubles are Not Your Crosses
Mar 9th
I used to struggle under the notion that the trials I was going through may be crosses that God wanted me to bear. A theology of suffering was presented and I was encouraged to believe that somehow God was getting glory out of my problems.
Since then I have subscribed to a theology of victory, and I believe it is more in line with the Bible. Yes, we will have troubles in this life, but the troubles are not to reign. That is the old way of death, but we are now walking in life: For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).
Believers often fail to see themselves as reigning in life, but that is what the Lord wants to do through us. He wants us to be more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). Instead, many struggle because they have not been encouraged to fight. Rather than believing that God can see them through the trial and deliver them, they think He is using it to teach them something. So they fail to resist the devil (James 4:7).
Discipline and Crosses
Someone will inevitably object that God does discipline us. It is true, but the church has redefined “discipline.” When a parent disciplines his child, it is temporary and it gets the point across. If a parent were to inflict his child with terminal cancer, that would not be discipline. It would be child abuse!
“But didn’t Jesus say to take up our cross daily (Luke 9:23)?” The word daily is actually not found in a number of reputable manuscripts or in the parallel places (Matt. 16:24; Mark 8:34).
If you look into the context, Jesus is referring to laying down your life and siding with Him. But even the disciples did not do this when He was arrested! Spiritually, they did after Pentecost. Spiritually, we did the same when we yielded our lives to Him.
The idea of new covenant believers “taking up their cross daily” needs to be re-thought. Taking up a cross is a one time deal. You will not find any exhortation in any of the epistles to take up your cross. But you will find several references to the fact of being crucified- that is already having been crucified (cf. Rom. 6:6; Gal.2:20; 6:14). It is a one time event. A ‘siding’ with Jesus.
Side or Abide
Having sided with Jesus, our work now is to abide in Him.
New covenant believers are blessed with all spiritual blessings (Eph.1:3) and have authority to overcome (1John 4:4; 1John 5:4). The body of Christ should see themselves as continuing His mission to destroy satan’s works (1John 3:8).
While we as believers have many trials to go through, the Lord has promised to see us through. But I do not believe they are crosses to take up or crosses He is putting on us. We have already sided with Him and there would be no merit in our adding crosses to the finished work of Christ!
“Well you can still use the principle of siding with Him daily.” Yes, but that would seem the wrong way to look at it. Do you have to make a decision each day to follow Jesus? The issue should be settled once and for all.
Once and for all side with Jesus! Then abide. Don’t embrace troubles as being your crosses to bear. When you took up your cross and yielded your life to Jesus, you entered into the New Covenant. Abide in the Vine and you will bring forth fruit. Little children, abide in Him (1John 2:28).
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Upon This Rock
Feb 13th
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it Matthew 16:18.
What is “this rock” referring to? I don’t think it’s what has been traditionally taught (and it has had strong differences of opinion). The answer is really quite simple if you let Scripture offer its own interpretation.
In Matthew 7:24, Jesus said, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock… “These sayings of mine” are none other than the revelation of God. They are not the sayings of man, but the Word of God. 
When Peter answered correctly that Jesus was the Son of the Living God, Jesus answered and said, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven (Matthew 16:17). It was revealed to Peter from heaven, the word from the Father. It was spiritual wisdom, not revealed by flesh and blood.
Just as hearing and doing “These sayings of mine” would build a house on a rock, so the church would be built on this rock of divine revelation that no flesh and blood could reveal. The storms could not destroy the house built upon the rock. Upon this rock of God’s Word, the true church storms the gates of hell, as opposed to the sloppy institution built on man’s precepts that fosters division and weakness.
Jesus Himself is the divine revelation, the Word of God. Believe in Him and attend to His words! For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh (Proverbs 4:22).
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Fascination with Sorcery?
Jan 12th
I can tell from my website stats that I get a lot of visitors to this blog through Google searches for the terms, “sorcery real life”. They then get directed to my post, Sorcery in the Real World. What I can’t tell from the stats is whether they actually read through the whole article or not. I suspect that most of them are not seeking an article that is more about Christian faith and overcoming evil influences in this world. I wonder if many of them are instead seeking out how to really practice sorcery.
Perhaps they are among the many who crave power in this world, but have been marginalized to a less than desirable position in life. They then grasp for some kind of magic power to satisfy the void. Or they could be the dreamers who desire to withdraw from a dull or oppressive reality, hoping to create an exciting reality of their own.
Whoever they are, I hope they come to understand this: evil abides for a season in this age, but ultimately will fail in the end. If you believe in the supernatural, then you should believe that there is more to life than just this temporary physical world. The Bible speaks of an eternity to be spent in an entirely different order. The “real life sorcerers” are wasting their time with things that could ultimately separate them from supreme joy and happiness in the ages to come.
To any “would be” sorcerers who have stumbled upon this blog: why succumb to the cheap seduction of a temporary power that will prove to be a hard master in the end? Why not go for the best? There is no greater power to be had in the universe than that which is in Jesus Christ.
If you sincerely put your faith in Him and commit to follow Him, you will discover power you never dreamed of: peace, joy, and strength. Freedom from the sins that have brought you down. Power to resist temptations that you never had before. Love beyond imagination.
Don’t fall for the weak “representations” of Jesus. He was the mightiest Man who ever lived. He could have easily come down from the cross when they taunted Him. He could have called for legions of angels to rescue Him and wreak havoc on His enemies. Any weaker one with such power would have. But He chose to suffer instead, that we might be forgiven, and that we might experience a restored relationship with Almighty God Himself.
Then He promised His disciples, “You shall receive POWER from on high” (Luke 24:49). You can read about all the power His disciples wrought in the Book of Acts. And contrary to dead churches and dead theological thinking, that power is still available today to those who believe and seek to do His will.
Jesus said, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12). Read through the gospels and see how the sick are healed and the dead are raised. Blind eyes are opened and deaf ears are unstopped. Now THAT’S power!
The Kingdom of God will be fully manifest in the age to come, and that time is nearer than ever. The devil knows his time is short so there is much evil and seduction at present. You can get in on his short ride and suffer forever afterwards (think of an eternal hangover), or you can choose LIFE and life abundantly in the Victor.
I chose Jesus. It has been over 20 years now. I have experienced His power and my prayer is that you would to.
Please contact me if you make that choice, or if you would like some encouragement along the way.
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Getting Away from the City
Nov 14th
On a recent trip to the countryside, I once again marveled at the beauty of the scenery. Something is actually lifted when you break away from the rut and riot of the city.
There are two cities in the book of Revelation. One is described as a harlot, Babylon. The other is described as a bride, the New Jerusalem. Imagine the lifting away of all the corruption of Babylon (which represents the world system) and entering into the glory and bliss of the New Jerusalem (God’s kingdom manifest on earth).
If there is glory in a beautiful environment on this fallen earth, just think about the untainted and unvarnished glory that is yet to be revealed when Christ returns!
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Authority in Christ
Sep 14th
Here in China, we use these wonderful electric paddles to zap mosquitoes. Whenever we see a mosquito we grab the paddle and electrocute it. It gives a wonderful sense of power!
What if we just stood there, though, and didn’t use it?
Like mosquitoes, Satan’s fiery darts fly towards us. The shield of faith will extinguish them (Ephesians 6:16). But many believers never raise their shield. The darts fly and they get hit, thinking that God must not want to help them or it’s just the way things go.
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How to Know God’s Will
Sep 5th
“WHAT SHOULD I DO?…How do I know I am making the right choice?…What is God’s will for my life?…” At some point or another every Christian comes to a point of decision, a crossroads, or an identity crisis that sends him or her seeking for divine wisdom or a revelation from above. Sometimes they stand before different entryways in a labyrinth without any clue as to which way to go. Often, uncertainty prevails, and the great mystery of God’s will remains just that- a mystery.
But it does not have to be this way!
“Oh no,” you say, “not another article on how to know God’s will! I have heard it all before. Entire books have been devoted to this subject, but still the problem remains- how can I learn God’s will for my life!”
Very simply, I say.
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Old Town, Neon Sign
Aug 26th
The cities of China are rapidly developing. We are in the midst of road upheaval in our own town- the streets being torn up everywhere while they work on putting in a subway.
The picture above is from a peaceful and smaller town hours away. Still keeping the ancient architecture, yet plopping a neon advertisement sign right on it! When we first came to China it was all bicycles and oxcarts. Here you see the electric scooter parked in front.
Some people have opposed modernization and would rather be stuck in the past.
This is a great example of retaining China’s cultural distinctive while advancing with modern progress.
How about your faith and understanding of God’s Word? Are you stuck in the past, only able to function in the old traditions? There are yet fresh revelations to be had. An expectation of this will make your Bible reading more exciting.
Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
(Matthew 13:52)
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Psalm 71:7
Aug 15th
I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge Psalm 71:7.
I am a wonder to many…
They do not understand me, or I said the wrong thing. I have failed them perhaps, or perhaps it is just in my head. Regardless,
You are my strong refuge…
I will not dwell on what man thinks of me, or even of my own self-judgment, but will place myself in your lovingkindness and rest in your grace. Whatever they might think, whatever the devil may say, all is well- my life is hid in You (Colossians 3:3).
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Are You Living in the Lie or the Truth?
Aug 6th
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost 1Corinthians 12:3.
There are two different ways to speak about Jesus in this verse. One is a lie, and the other is the truth.
Before acknowledging Jesus as Lord, people both good and bad live in the lie. One’s life, though honest with friends, family and neighbors, is yet a deception if the Lordship of Christ is denied. Jesus is Lord, and it is a lie that you live in if you exalt yourself or something else. That doesn’t mean you have no value. You were made in the image of God and you have incredible worth. You may even be accomplishing very important things for humanity. But to live as if Jesus is not Lord is to live in the lie.
The truth is that Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). He alone can save. There are countless religions and philosophies that deceive the human race. These are like “mute idols” that lead men astray (1Cor.12:2). They give the appearance of meaning and significance, but all the while are unable to speak any word that can save dying souls from the judgment. They may effect change in some behavior, but they are ultimately unable to change the wickedness of the human heart.
In contrast to this is the life that has been indwelt with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. It is a supernatural life that has been born again from above. The Holy Spirit has enabled such a life to say “Jesus is Lord.” Through the Spirit we come to understand the true reality, that there is more to life than what our five senses reveal. Through the Spirit our eyes are opened to things unseen. Through the Spirit the love of God flows and fills our hearts with hope and joy.
Do you say Jesus is Lord? If not, call upon God and ask Him for revelation of the truth. Open up the Bible and read the New Testament Gospels. Ask Him for the Holy Spirit to lead you. And believe!
“Yes! Jesus is Lord!” Still ask Him for His Spirit to lead you. There is much more He wants to do in your life. There are gifts and power that He wants to bring forth.
Most people seem to have had enough with “religion.” This is about abundant life (John 10:10), serving the Lord with gladness (Psalm 100:2), and hastening the coming of the kingdom of God (2Peter 3:12-13).
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Divine Workmanship
Jul 2nd
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them Ephesians 2:10.
We are his workmanship. It is easy to get this wrong. It is often the case that believers struggle, trying to do everything in their own efforts. We forget that God is the Worker, not us! We don’t have to have all the answers, and we don’t have to fix everything for everybody. We are not the workers, but the workmanship.
This doesn’t mean we just sit and do nothing. Work needs to be done in all earthly relationships, and it is the same with God. If we want to know Him we need to spend time with Him in the Word and prayer. If we want to grow stronger we need to exercise a little discipline. This word is not for the careless and lazy. It is to those who want to please God, but they have got caught up in the mindset of “everything depends upon me.”
Unto good works. God is building us up for good works. Once again the religious mindset grabs hold of this and thinks, “I’ve gotta do something!” “Get busy for the Lord- that’s all He wants!” But this is in the context of grace. It just said in the previous verse that this is not about works, lest any man should boast Eph.2:9.
We are created unto God’s good works, that we should walk in them. I used to think that this was saying, “Get busy and do something for the Lord.” But this is saying that God wants to bring us into His good works, good works that Has already planned for us. Yet many of us believe that God only wants to bring us into trials so that we might be “schooled.” But it doesn’t say that we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto troubles and trials. Trials indeed will come and God can still use them in our lives. But there is greater joy in believing that God wants us to walk into His good works. He has thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (not an unexpected tragedy). Jeremiah 29:11.
Believing this will motivate us to do our own good works for the Lord, and I believe it will motivate us better than the legalistic, “I’ve gotta do something” mindset. A musician plays better when he or she is relaxed. Our own works will become greater when we quit trying so hard in the flesh. The joy of faith is to find rest in the Worker, not our works. And we can be confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ Philippians 1:6.
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Faith: Go for the Gold
Jun 2nd
Things began to go downhill when Solomon started to stray from the Lord’s ways. As America strays from the Lord’s ways we also suffer likewise.
The land of Judah followed suit and did “according to all the abominations of the nations which the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel” 1 Kings 14:24.
After Solomon, his son Rehoboam reigned in Judah. Then the world infiltrated the temple:
“Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem. And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king’s house; he took away everything. He also took away all the gold shields which Solomon had made” (1 Kings 14:25-26).
Though our faith is not in material treasures in a temple, this is an illustration of the world stealing the very life of faith from God’s people. When we let our defenses down and give in to the ways of the world, it is harder to operate in faith.
According to 1 John 5:4, faith is the victory that overcomes the world. Thus we have a devil out there, just like Shishak king of Egypt, that wants to rob us of our treasures so that we will end up defeated. But the shield of faith will quench his fiery darts (Ephesians 6:16).
Let’s assume the shield of faith, the victorious faith, is made of gold like the shields Solomon had made.
“Then King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who guarded the doorway of the king’s house” (1 Kings 14:27).
This sounds a lot like the way things are today. A lot of people have entrusted their faith to the ‘captains of the guard’, the teachers and preachers who do all the studying and gain the degrees. That’s okay to a degree, but the danger is when hearers don’t dig into the Word for themselves. And there are many who have forfeited the gold for the bronze, and trusted in the Word generally, but not in a way that is effective in taking down the enemy when he comes.
It doesn’t have to be this way! Jesus says, “Buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich” (Revelation 3:18). He has promised to restore what the thief has taken! We just have to make the decision to move forward and trust Him for the goods.
Take God’s Word for more than just doctrine. Use it as a sword. When life hits you hard, strike back with the exceeding great and precious promises of God. Don’t settle for bronze faith, faith that simply agrees with good teachings. Go forth with the gold that believes that God “gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did” (Romans 4:17).
If the situation seems hopeless, still stand on God’s Word, even as Abraham, “contrary to hope, in hope believed” (Rom.4:18).
No matter what happens, the battle has already been won. The treasures are no longer in Jerusalem’s temple, but in our very selves- treasures in earthen vessels! (2 Corinthians 4:7). The enemy cannot steal them without our permission.
It’s not getting any easier out there. This is certainly a time that requires our gold.
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Be Quickened!
May 22nd
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will (John 5:21).
Eternal life is to be had now, not just in the future. There is a difference between the Father raising the dead and giving life to them. In Ezekiel’s vision, the dry bones came together- raised from the dead, but the life had to be breathed into them, just as God breathed into Adam’s nostrils the breath of life, and Adam became a living soul (Genesis 2:7).
Many believers in Christ have been spiritually raised from the dead, but they have remained without life. They have received hope for the future, perhaps, but have continued in a religious form without having any power. But all the life-giving, quickening power is there! Jesus quickens just as the Father quickens according to John 5:21. And in Romans 8:11 it is the Spirit who quickens.
There is a Trinity of Life waiting to burst out and manifest itself in believers filled with the Spirit who place their hope in God’s Word. The problem, however, is that many in the church have been raised from the dead like Lazarus, but are still bound in the old grave clothes. The grave clothes represent the unbelief of the world and/or the doctrinal prejudices that have held back faith in the power of God for TODAY. That may be oversimplifying it, but the point is that we have been “loosed” by Jesus. We have to start moving forward and claiming the promises of life and provision.
We may have to swat through many negative thoughts like flies swarming about the head. There are so many things out there vying to steal our faith. But God has decreed life, and He fills us with all joy and peace in believing (Romans 15:13).
Find the promises that can minister to you in your particular situation and believe them- over and above what the world is saying, or even what some close-minded Christians have said. There are trials in this world, and there are challenges, but God ultimately wants us happy.
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Things Unseen
May 3rd
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2Cor.4:18)
One of the challenges of faith in our day is to operate spiritually in an age gone mad with sensory overload. There is so much vying for our attention in the natural realm that it gets hard to focus on that which is unseen.
But the unseen realm is greater. Scoffers may laugh, but even the physical realm is full of things unseen. Atoms, molecules; germs and bacteria; sound waves that fly through the air…a whole host of unseen activity is at work in the physical world. And this is a world that will not last forever, extremely remarkable in all of its complexity and wonder.
Keep reading this post
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Put On, Put Off
Apr 21st
The battle is on!
To “put on the armor of light” implies that we are dressing for battle. A battle means that there will be continual need for alertness, effort and more choices. This does not mean that the Christian life has to be one constant source of stress. No, it should be marked by joy. The battle is to keep the enjoyment of the victory, not to gain the victory. Christ has already won it, and has obtained for us all spiritual blessings (Eph.1:3). Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). “It was for freedom that Christ set us free” (Gal.5:1; NASB). Jesus desired that “your joy may be full” (John 16:24).
On the other hand, the devil is a thief and a destroyer (John 10:10). He is a deceiver, and he must be resisted (James 4:7). This can be done by rejecting his temptations and lies. That is casting off the works of darkness. It can also be done by declaring the truth and promises of God in our desperate situations. That is putting on the armor of light. This is why it is important to stay in God’s Word, so that the truth becomes so dominant in us that we can recognize and resist the lies.
Keep reading this post
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The Resurrection
Apr 6th
Jesus lives!
The living Christ makes a real difference in the lives of those who turn to Him. And that is only the beginning. We too shall be resurrected in the end!
“Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?” Acts 26:8.
Justin Martyr, A.D.155, answering skeptics concerning a future resurrection:
Consider this hypothesis; if you were not such as you are, born of such parents, and someone were to show you the human seed and a picture of a man, and assure you that the one could grow into the other, would you believe it before you saw it happening? No one would dare to deny [that you wouldn't]. In the same way unbelief prevails about the resurrection of the dead because you have never seen an instance of it. But as you at first would not have believed that from a little drop such beings [as men] could develop, yet you see it happening, so consider that it is possible for human bodies, dissolved and scattered in the earth like seeds, to rise again in due time by God’s decree and be clothed with incorruption.
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Live Deliberately
Mar 27th
Usually Christians hardly feel like saints. But as in other areas of life, it is sometimes necessary to take responsibility and play the part.
It is easy to put off all the work of gospel living to God alone. While it is true that we must depend upon God for the fruit, it is absolutely wrong to just wait passively for the fruit to come. How do we get the life of Christ to manifest on the outside, without falling into legalism and works?
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Romans 13 and Bad Government
Mar 20th
Given the existence of so much corrupt power in the world, and during the reign of the cruel emperor Nero, how is it that Paul could write so favorably about government in Romans 13?
On the surface, the first seven verses of Romans 13 appear to give generic instructions on submitting to authorities because they are good, and God has set them up to be deterrents against those who do evil. Yet we all know that throughout history many governments have themselves been the main perpetrators of evil.
Keep reading this post
Jewels in James
Dec 29th
Posted by Rick in Bible
No comments
Some people have a problem with the book of James, because it seems to lack the grace message. But it really doesn’t. Here are a few gems I picked up from James not too long ago…
James 1:2: My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations
This is not saying that we should be happy about having trials! Trials are BAD. But it is saying that even though we fall into these bad things, we can STILL be joyful-
Vs.3. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
The traditional teaching suggests that the trying of your faith is more or less grinning and bearing your trial, and trying to be comforted because “it is good for you.”
NO! We can be joyful because the trial presents an opportunity to let our faith produce something. We can be joyful at the prospect of our faith getting us out of the trial, or at the prospect of our prayers being answered and the great testimony that will follow. I remember reading George Muller’s autobiography. He said that he secretly began to enjoy his trials, because he got excited thinking about how God was going to get him out of them!
Vs. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
This is the same as saying “Be patient.” The trial will not last. Let patience have a go, her perfect work. Then you will eventually receive. You will be complete and lack nothing. This means you will have the answer that your faith was challenged with. We often hear a lot about faith, but it is through faith AND PATIENCE that we inherit the promises (Heb.6:12).
Vs.5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
God gives liberally and without reproach! That is the grace message. We all could think of many reasons why He should “upbraid” us, or why He should “teach us a lesson.” But that is not His way. And if He is not upbraiding us, then we shouldn’t be upbraiding ourselves! See Freedom in Christ.
Vs.6-8 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Oh boy, here it is! Everything was going well until this verse. Ask in faith– this is where I used to feel condemned. This was my chance to blow it, because if I sensed any unbelief I could lose the promise. But this is a works way of thinking. It is relying on yourself and not the God who gives liberally and without reproach.
The key is to quit analyzing my faith and just look to Him. If I allow patience to have her perfect work, I won’t waver the minute things seem hopeless. If I focus on Him and not the problem, I will stay afloat.
But perhaps the meaning here isn’t so much concerned with specific faith in a specific situation as it is with a general life of faith. It means living in God’s grace as His children, as opposed to living for the world. To profess faith and yet live for the world is hypocritical or double minded.
Power flows when we live for God. We may not do it perfectly, but Jesus did it perfectly for us. That is the good news, even in the book of James!
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