Are you one of those people who is always right?
What does the Bible say about that?
If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.
But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. 1 Corinthians 8:2–3 ESV
Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much.
But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognises. 1 Corinthians 8:2–3 NLT
The apostle John said of Jesus, He is full of grace and truth.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 NKJV
Truth is so important. Bible knowledge is essential because the Bible is God's Word.
But if Bible knowledge is your first priority, if you think your job from God is to always correct Christians, where is your humility? Where is your Christian love?
John did not say Jesus was filled with truth and grace. He said Jesus was filled with grace and truth.
Grace and truth, not truth and grace.
What did Paul say about Christians with different opinions?
Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.
For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.
Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.
Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. Romans 14:1–5 NKJV
Perhaps you are a trained Bible teacher with impressive spiritual gifts. You have a calling as a pastor or church leader.
Be careful. Being self-righteous is not a virtue. A know all attitude does not come from God!
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2 NKJV
Do you always know better?
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 1 Corinthians 13:9 NKJV
But maybe you're not a trained church leader, but your pastor or an elder is authoritarian and expects you to agree with everything he says. You are not obliged to always give in.
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 ESV
If the leaders in your church are domineering, if they demand unquestioning submission, if they always put you down when you express your own ideas, then just leave ...
But Paul himself could also be very sharp and dogmatic. He was especially tough on legalism and lawlessness. Some sensitive issues are important and others not so important. We need the wisdom that comes only from God.
But if you experience bullying in a church, just leave ...
Paul himself admonished Christians not to give in.
In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face. 2 Corinthians 11:20 NIV84
Showing posts with label Encouragent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Encouragent. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Just leave ...
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Hope in Dark Places
When you're overwhelmed with problems, when the way ahead looks hopeless, when your thoughts go in dark circles, then it is time to expect something new from God.
God was your Creator when you were conceived. God was there at your birth.
In your helpless dependence, you experienced a mother’s love, that special love that stirred your hunger for a heavenly love.
Then you learned to stand on your own feet and walk.
You went to school, perhaps studied and then got a job, but never forget that you are from God and your life was prepared by God.
No matter how strong and clever you have become, you need to know that your power and success was only possible through God's loving care.
Human strength and material things don’t last for ever.
You may experience painful setbacks. You lose your job. Your marriage fails. Your children go astray and break your heart. You grow old and your strength fails.
You come to a place where you cannot manage your life with your limited health and strength.
How do you react then?
Many become depressed, pessimistic, resigned. Maybe this is you.
If you have not been in these dark places, your time may yet come.
But if life knocks you down, do you have to stay down forever?
Recently I was very down. I went into a dark place, until it occurred to me that God still has plans for me that I can not think of myself.
I have come so far with God’s amazing help. It was not my own strength or ability that brought me this far.
God has led me so far, and will he not take care of me when I grow old?
God has always rescued me with beautiful surprises from impossible situations. If Jesus rescued me before, will he change His mind when I am old?
When Jesus called Peter to leave his job as a fisherman, Peter had to follow a new path, a path that looks very insecure to our natural minds.
Does the way ahead of you look uncertain?
God sees where you are, and he sees the path that lies before you. Nothing is uncertain for God.
God has prepared a bridge that leads from your past to your future.
Would a good engineer design a bridge that leads from one bank to another, or a bridge that does not quite reach the other bank?
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isa 55:8-9 NKJ
We need God's loving care. You need to get God's thoughts. You have a Bible, but the Bible is a big book. To reach your destination you need not only a good map, but also a reliable guide.
Jesus did not leave his disciples on earth without help.
We have the best of all guides and mentors, the Holy Spirit.
`Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' Jer 33:3 NKJ
Just as the Holy Spirit was to the prophets in the Old Testament, even so he is our wonderful comforter and guide today. He is the great encourager. He wants to give you new hope.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jer 29:11 NKJ
God was your Creator when you were conceived. God was there at your birth.
In your helpless dependence, you experienced a mother’s love, that special love that stirred your hunger for a heavenly love.
Then you learned to stand on your own feet and walk.
You went to school, perhaps studied and then got a job, but never forget that you are from God and your life was prepared by God.
No matter how strong and clever you have become, you need to know that your power and success was only possible through God's loving care.
Human strength and material things don’t last for ever.
You may experience painful setbacks. You lose your job. Your marriage fails. Your children go astray and break your heart. You grow old and your strength fails.
You come to a place where you cannot manage your life with your limited health and strength.
How do you react then?
Many become depressed, pessimistic, resigned. Maybe this is you.
If you have not been in these dark places, your time may yet come.
But if life knocks you down, do you have to stay down forever?
Recently I was very down. I went into a dark place, until it occurred to me that God still has plans for me that I can not think of myself.
I have come so far with God’s amazing help. It was not my own strength or ability that brought me this far.
God has led me so far, and will he not take care of me when I grow old?
God has always rescued me with beautiful surprises from impossible situations. If Jesus rescued me before, will he change His mind when I am old?
When Jesus called Peter to leave his job as a fisherman, Peter had to follow a new path, a path that looks very insecure to our natural minds.
Does the way ahead of you look uncertain?
God sees where you are, and he sees the path that lies before you. Nothing is uncertain for God.
God has prepared a bridge that leads from your past to your future.
Would a good engineer design a bridge that leads from one bank to another, or a bridge that does not quite reach the other bank?
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isa 55:8-9 NKJ
We need God's loving care. You need to get God's thoughts. You have a Bible, but the Bible is a big book. To reach your destination you need not only a good map, but also a reliable guide.
Jesus did not leave his disciples on earth without help.
We have the best of all guides and mentors, the Holy Spirit.
`Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' Jer 33:3 NKJ
Just as the Holy Spirit was to the prophets in the Old Testament, even so he is our wonderful comforter and guide today. He is the great encourager. He wants to give you new hope.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jer 29:11 NKJ
Thursday, November 22, 2012
YOU HAVE A FUTURE
No matter how dark your situation might be, you have a friend who can turn on the light and show you the way.
I was 24 when I faced the reality of this life. I had only 50 or 60 years left on this earth before the lights would go out for ever.
There was no consolation on earth that could make up for this grim fact.
I knew what Jesus said and it was Jesus who offered eternal life, a life with a future and a hope.
The words of Jesus had thrilled me.
John 11:25-26 (ESV) ...“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
- I did believe this but still I resisted the call to faith and commitment.
My uncle and aunt had been converted through Billy Graham years before and I somehow knew they had found the answer.
Then something happened that made all the difference.
The Charismatic movement arrived.
The way of salvation was no longer a matter of Biblical correctness. It was a living reality.The supernatural glory the Bible spoke of, was something you could experience right now in our generation. This was wonderful. I could experience the presence of God in a warm and wonderful way even before I took the step of committing my life to the Son of God.
The Holy Spirit was the wonderful person you could experience and know personally, God living inside you, not as a doctrine but as a living experience that changed everything.
That was many years ago and I am now 63, with grey hair and getting older. The presence of the Holy Spirit in my life is more exciting than ever. I never get tired of knowing God.
I have experienced deep darkness and been close to despair a number of times. I know this truth for myself.
Psalm 73:26 (NKJV) My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
I know with God I have a future and a hope, with God. That is the what makes all the difference, with God.
I wrote this message 12 years ago, and I am now 75. I still enjoy the adventure of knowing and experiencing the presence of God in a way that goes far beyond mental understanding or blind faith.
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