Headline reads, "Worst out break of tornadoes in state History"..."Hurricane causes one billion dollars in damages"..."Floods destroy crops"..."Earthquake claims over one thousand lives"..."Insurance
Companies report volcanoes destruction is an act of God."
What goes through your mind when you read or hear of such terrible things going on? Over the years I have listened to Christians agree with Insurance Companies claims as to where natural disasters come from. They claim them to be acts of God. I have also listened to Christians say that these natural disasters are God's judgment upon the people where the disaster has occurred. Unfortunately, beliefs like these are not true. They stem from ignorance of not understanding what took place at the fall of man and not knowing the true nature of God.
Look at one of God's responses concerning the fall of man, "Then to Adam He said,"Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it, "Cursed is the ground (literally the earth) for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles (a part of the curse) it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. (Genesis 3:17-18) Adams act of treason brought a curse not only upon himself and all humanity, but on the entire earth, all of what we call nature.
When God gave Adam the command, "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Genesis 2:16-17) Adam did not all of a sudden loose the incredible intellect. He was not lacking in wisdom and knowledge, but knew exactly what God had commanded. The Hebrew translation of the command is, "The tree of blessing and calamity." In this passage, the word evil means, grief, harm, trouble, adversity, affliction, sorrow and misery. In other words, the earth and all that was upon it was no longer in perfect harmony, but had now taken on the nature of its new ruler, Satan.
Now let's look at how we can be sure that natural disasters are not God's judgment upon humanity. First let's look at the reason why Jesus came to earth...
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16-17) Does causing natural disasters sound like a God whose love is so great the He would become a man to save man and not condemn him?
Then Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?" (Luke 6:9) Has God somehow changed His mind from saving or giving life, to destroying it? Not at all. His nature is to bless and give life!
Not only does the New Testament reveal God's true nature but we also find it in the Old Testament as well...
"I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20) Again, we see God's true nature, one of blessing and life not curses and death.
Jesus tells us, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10) Is abundant life a life filled with sickness, pains and all manner of misery? It is certainly not the abundant life that Jesus is talking about. Who is it then that steals, kills and destroys? Of course we know that these words are a reflection of Satan's nature. Who is it that has come to bring life abundant? Jesus!!! Again, does it really sound like natural disasters are the judgement of God upon people? If so what about His people that are caught in the same disaster? Should the righteous in Christ suffer with the unrighteousness? Certainly not. We see this revealed with Abraham's appeal for the sake of any righteous persons in Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham's question to God was, "Would you also destroy the righteous with the wicked?" God's response each time that Abraham lowered the number of the righteous to be found in Sodom anf Gomorrah was the same, "I will not destory it for the sake of the righteous." Do you honestly believe that natural disasters come from a God whose true nature is life and blessing? Absolutely not!!!
It is time for Christians to stop listening to those who believe the devil's lies more than they believe God's Word. Christians must put their faith in the integrity of God's Word and come to know without doubt that God was, is and will always be good. God did not send His only begotten Son Jesus to earth and punish Him to pay the price for man's sin, and then continue to exact punishment upon humanity. If so, then we must also agree that Jesus mission was a failure and justice was not satisfied through Him. Of course our faith says that He did pay the FULL price of justice, the just for the unjust. So now let's apply the same faith to see God's true nature and know forever, that bad things do not come from God.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Bad Things Do Not Come From God - Part 12
Now that we have discovered in the scriptures that Jesus perfectly reveals the Father's will and nature, let's look at the Father's will being played out in the ministry and life of Jesus Christ. Shortly after the baptism of Jesus to fulfill all righteousness as He "came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him."
(Matthew 3:13-16) He "was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil."
(Matthew 4:1) This is an interesting point to know that the Holy Spirit filled Jesus and then lead Him.
Luke tells us in Acts 10:38 "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." Remember, Jesus is perfectly revealing the Father's will and nature. He went about doing GOOD and healing ALL who were oppressed by the devil. Does this even sound remotely that God causes bad things to happen?
After Jesus defeated the devil with all of his temptations, He begins His ministry and calls His first disciples (Matthew 4:12-22) Once again we see the true nature of the Father revealed through Jesus...
"And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them." (Matthew 4:23-24)
The very things that people blame God for were the very things that Jesus was setting people free from. So if the Father is some how behind causing these bad things to happen to people, then we have a serious problem. Look at the words of Jesus when He was accused of casting out devils by Beelzebub the ruler of the demons...
"Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand." (Matthew 12:25) Notice that Jesus say "EVERY KINGDOM" this would also include the kingdom of God. To say that the Father is causing bad things to happen and that Jesus in turn is causing good things to happen is a kingdom divided against itself. Now really, how ridiculous is that. That would be saying that there is no unity in the Godhead or that God's will changes. Remember what scripture reveals in Malachi 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change..." and Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."
There are numerous passages that show us the ministry of Jesus that reveal the Father's heart and will toward humanity, but for time sake we will only look at two more...
"When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses."
(Matthew 8:16-17) "Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people." (Matthew 9:35)
There are some very interesting things that stand out in these passages that should cause the reader to get excited and cause their faith to grow. First, Jesus "cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick." Jesus cast out demons and healed ALL who were sick. Sounds exactly what Luke recorded...
"...healing all who were oppressed by the devil..." It was the devil (demons) doing the bad things NOT GOD!!! It was Jesus who healed them all, not some, not a few, not some who deserved it while others did not, but He healed them ALL. We also see that in the cities and villages that the Holy Spirit lead Him He preached the gospel of the kingdom and HEALED EVERY SICKNESS AND EVERY DISEASE AMONG THE PEOPLE!!! My emphasis is to draw our attention to the fact that it is the Father's will to do GOOD not bad. Finally, we see that what Jesus was doing was a fulfillment of a prophecy spoken approximately 750 years prior to His advent into human history. It is God (Christ) who TAKES ALL of our infirmities and sicknesses, He does not give them for any reason whatsoever!!! Hallelujah...
From God's perspective it is not normal for any of His children to suffer with any sickness, disease, pains or anything that would be considered a bad thing. These are all works of the devil. Look at what John says...
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8) I pray that your barometer of faith is rising and that you are seeing the true will and nature of God in the scripture. In doing so you will come to know without doubt that "Bad things do not come from God."
(Matthew 3:13-16) He "was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil."
(Matthew 4:1) This is an interesting point to know that the Holy Spirit filled Jesus and then lead Him.
Luke tells us in Acts 10:38 "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." Remember, Jesus is perfectly revealing the Father's will and nature. He went about doing GOOD and healing ALL who were oppressed by the devil. Does this even sound remotely that God causes bad things to happen?
After Jesus defeated the devil with all of his temptations, He begins His ministry and calls His first disciples (Matthew 4:12-22) Once again we see the true nature of the Father revealed through Jesus...
"And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them." (Matthew 4:23-24)
The very things that people blame God for were the very things that Jesus was setting people free from. So if the Father is some how behind causing these bad things to happen to people, then we have a serious problem. Look at the words of Jesus when He was accused of casting out devils by Beelzebub the ruler of the demons...
"Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand." (Matthew 12:25) Notice that Jesus say "EVERY KINGDOM" this would also include the kingdom of God. To say that the Father is causing bad things to happen and that Jesus in turn is causing good things to happen is a kingdom divided against itself. Now really, how ridiculous is that. That would be saying that there is no unity in the Godhead or that God's will changes. Remember what scripture reveals in Malachi 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change..." and Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."
There are numerous passages that show us the ministry of Jesus that reveal the Father's heart and will toward humanity, but for time sake we will only look at two more...
"When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses."
(Matthew 8:16-17) "Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people." (Matthew 9:35)
There are some very interesting things that stand out in these passages that should cause the reader to get excited and cause their faith to grow. First, Jesus "cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick." Jesus cast out demons and healed ALL who were sick. Sounds exactly what Luke recorded...
"...healing all who were oppressed by the devil..." It was the devil (demons) doing the bad things NOT GOD!!! It was Jesus who healed them all, not some, not a few, not some who deserved it while others did not, but He healed them ALL. We also see that in the cities and villages that the Holy Spirit lead Him He preached the gospel of the kingdom and HEALED EVERY SICKNESS AND EVERY DISEASE AMONG THE PEOPLE!!! My emphasis is to draw our attention to the fact that it is the Father's will to do GOOD not bad. Finally, we see that what Jesus was doing was a fulfillment of a prophecy spoken approximately 750 years prior to His advent into human history. It is God (Christ) who TAKES ALL of our infirmities and sicknesses, He does not give them for any reason whatsoever!!! Hallelujah...
From God's perspective it is not normal for any of His children to suffer with any sickness, disease, pains or anything that would be considered a bad thing. These are all works of the devil. Look at what John says...
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8) I pray that your barometer of faith is rising and that you are seeing the true will and nature of God in the scripture. In doing so you will come to know without doubt that "Bad things do not come from God."
Monday, January 16, 2012
Bad Things Do Not Come From God - Part 11
We have seen that the Father's will and nature unfold throughout the Old Testament, but it wasn't until Jesus entered man's history that we see the Father's will and nature perfectly revealed. (Hebrews 1:1-4) When we see Jesus we see the Father. If we had known Jesus, we would have known the Father. (John 14:6-10) These things indicate that everything that Jesus said and did was the will of the Father.
John had a particular reason behind writing what he did in his gospel. (Keep in mind that although John did the writing, the Holy Spirit gave the inspiration)...
And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:30-31) Please note this; that believing you may have life in His name. The word life is the Greek word "zoe" which means "life in the absolute sense; life as God has it; that which the Father has in Himself and which He gave to the Incarnate Son to have in Himself." This is the same quality of life that Christians are to experience their entire time on planet earth. Honestly, does this really sound like bad things come from God? Absolutely not!!! With that said, let's look a little deeper into the gospel of John and see repeatedly what Jesus Himself says concerning His mission of revealing the Father's will and His the Father's true nature.
First, Jesus is by Himself and He has an encounter with a woman of Samaria at Jacobs well. At the end of His conversation with her, His disciples return to Him and urge Him to eat, but look closely at Jesus' response...
Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
(John 4:34) Notice Jesus' mission, "...to do the will of Him who sent Me.." So whatever we see Jesus do or and what ever He says, He is revealing the Father's will.
Next we see Jesus healing on the Sabbath which causes the Jews to be filled with indignation so severe that they sought to kill Him because He healed on the Sabbath. Look at Jesus' response to the Jews...
Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. (John 5:19-20) Notice that Jesus does not initiate the things that He does, "...the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do..." Jesus only does what the Father Himself does. He only does the Father's will.
Not only does Jesus' actions perfectly reveal the Father's will, but they are also proof that He is from or that He has been sent by the Father. We also will see that Jesus only does and speaks the things that He hears and is taught from the Father...
But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish — the very works that I do — bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. (John 5:36)
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
(John 6:38)
"...I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him."(John 8:26)
"...I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things." (John 8:28)
Now let's look at another very important key in the life and ministry of Jesus...
And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him. (John 8:29) Not only does Jesus perfectly reveal the Father's will and nature, but EVERYTHING that He does and says pleases the Father.
Again Jesus has an encounter with the Jews. Look at the words that Jesus speaks to them...
If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him."
(John 10:37-28) These two verses should quicken the hearts of every Christian especially those who believe that bad things come from God. Jesus is pointing to the works that He does as the work of His Father. Next He says something that should awaken every Christian from the slumber of doubt. If one cannot believe that He is the Christ, the Savior, God the Son, the Son of God, then the works that He does should bring one to understand that the Father is in Him revealing Himself through the works that Jesus is doing.
The fact that Jesus perfectly reveals the Father's will and nature is the most crucial point of knowing that bad things do not come from God, especially to one who accepts Christ as Savior, confesses His Lordship from their mouth and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead. Of course this takes faith because most Christians are taught and trained to believe the opposite. Next time we will spend some time looking at the life and ministry of Jesus as recorded in the gospels. In doing so we will once again let the Word of God assault and destroy the lie that says God causes bad things to happen.
John had a particular reason behind writing what he did in his gospel. (Keep in mind that although John did the writing, the Holy Spirit gave the inspiration)...
And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:30-31) Please note this; that believing you may have life in His name. The word life is the Greek word "zoe" which means "life in the absolute sense; life as God has it; that which the Father has in Himself and which He gave to the Incarnate Son to have in Himself." This is the same quality of life that Christians are to experience their entire time on planet earth. Honestly, does this really sound like bad things come from God? Absolutely not!!! With that said, let's look a little deeper into the gospel of John and see repeatedly what Jesus Himself says concerning His mission of revealing the Father's will and His the Father's true nature.
First, Jesus is by Himself and He has an encounter with a woman of Samaria at Jacobs well. At the end of His conversation with her, His disciples return to Him and urge Him to eat, but look closely at Jesus' response...
Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
(John 4:34) Notice Jesus' mission, "...to do the will of Him who sent Me.." So whatever we see Jesus do or and what ever He says, He is revealing the Father's will.
Next we see Jesus healing on the Sabbath which causes the Jews to be filled with indignation so severe that they sought to kill Him because He healed on the Sabbath. Look at Jesus' response to the Jews...
Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. (John 5:19-20) Notice that Jesus does not initiate the things that He does, "...the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do..." Jesus only does what the Father Himself does. He only does the Father's will.
Not only does Jesus' actions perfectly reveal the Father's will, but they are also proof that He is from or that He has been sent by the Father. We also will see that Jesus only does and speaks the things that He hears and is taught from the Father...
But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish — the very works that I do — bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. (John 5:36)
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
(John 6:38)
"...I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him."(John 8:26)
"...I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things." (John 8:28)
Now let's look at another very important key in the life and ministry of Jesus...
And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him. (John 8:29) Not only does Jesus perfectly reveal the Father's will and nature, but EVERYTHING that He does and says pleases the Father.
Again Jesus has an encounter with the Jews. Look at the words that Jesus speaks to them...
If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him."
(John 10:37-28) These two verses should quicken the hearts of every Christian especially those who believe that bad things come from God. Jesus is pointing to the works that He does as the work of His Father. Next He says something that should awaken every Christian from the slumber of doubt. If one cannot believe that He is the Christ, the Savior, God the Son, the Son of God, then the works that He does should bring one to understand that the Father is in Him revealing Himself through the works that Jesus is doing.
The fact that Jesus perfectly reveals the Father's will and nature is the most crucial point of knowing that bad things do not come from God, especially to one who accepts Christ as Savior, confesses His Lordship from their mouth and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead. Of course this takes faith because most Christians are taught and trained to believe the opposite. Next time we will spend some time looking at the life and ministry of Jesus as recorded in the gospels. In doing so we will once again let the Word of God assault and destroy the lie that says God causes bad things to happen.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Bad Things Do Not Come From God - Part 10
The Apostle Paul said, For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11) So we begin by looking at the life and ministry of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Gospel of John...
Jesus said to him, (Thomas) "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him. Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. (John 14:6-11)
Christ is the way, the Truth (reality) and the life concerning all aspects of the Father. To know Christ is to know the Father. By studying the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, we will see clearly that He perfectly reveals the Father in all matters. If Christians fail to believe this truth concerning Christ as the one who perfectly expresses the Father's will in ALL matters they will continually be overshadowed with doubts which means that they will always struggle with issues that are clearly the Father's will such as healing, finances, etc. and especially as to whether the bad thing that they encounter in life come from God. Christ has already set them free through His death, burial, resurrection, ascension and glorification and yet beneath the, "I believe that" lies doubt that neutralizes what they say they believe.
While the entire Bible reveals the Father's will, much of His purpose remained hidden until they were fully revealed in Christ...
In Him (Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself (Ephesians 1:7-9)
The writer of Hebrews expresses Christ revealing the Father in all matters in this way...
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (Hebrews 1:1-4)
Look closely at verse three...
"Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person...
A more literal translation of this verse would read...
Jesus Christ is the radiance or exact reflection of the Father's glory as well as the exact representation and reproduction of the Father's nature and character.
So with this in mind, we must conclude that the Old Testament as well as the Epistles cannot be properly interpreted without a clear understanding of what Jesus both taught and demonstrated in His life and ministry. No one ever revealed the Father's will, nature, character and purpose perfectly in every way until Jesus Christ.
I pray that you take some quiet time to consider these truths concerning Christ's relationship with the Father and how it is in Him that the will of the Father is perfectly revealed. Although some of these truths may be somewhat difficult for some to comprehend, do not lose heart. Jesus said, However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth..." (John 16:13) By leaning on the guidance of the Holy Spirit concerning these truths, the doubts that have kept you from living in a totally victorious life will begin to wane and faith with begin to rise.
Jesus said to him, (Thomas) "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him. Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. (John 14:6-11)
Christ is the way, the Truth (reality) and the life concerning all aspects of the Father. To know Christ is to know the Father. By studying the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, we will see clearly that He perfectly reveals the Father in all matters. If Christians fail to believe this truth concerning Christ as the one who perfectly expresses the Father's will in ALL matters they will continually be overshadowed with doubts which means that they will always struggle with issues that are clearly the Father's will such as healing, finances, etc. and especially as to whether the bad thing that they encounter in life come from God. Christ has already set them free through His death, burial, resurrection, ascension and glorification and yet beneath the, "I believe that" lies doubt that neutralizes what they say they believe.
While the entire Bible reveals the Father's will, much of His purpose remained hidden until they were fully revealed in Christ...
In Him (Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself (Ephesians 1:7-9)
The writer of Hebrews expresses Christ revealing the Father in all matters in this way...
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (Hebrews 1:1-4)
Look closely at verse three...
"Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person...
A more literal translation of this verse would read...
Jesus Christ is the radiance or exact reflection of the Father's glory as well as the exact representation and reproduction of the Father's nature and character.
So with this in mind, we must conclude that the Old Testament as well as the Epistles cannot be properly interpreted without a clear understanding of what Jesus both taught and demonstrated in His life and ministry. No one ever revealed the Father's will, nature, character and purpose perfectly in every way until Jesus Christ.
I pray that you take some quiet time to consider these truths concerning Christ's relationship with the Father and how it is in Him that the will of the Father is perfectly revealed. Although some of these truths may be somewhat difficult for some to comprehend, do not lose heart. Jesus said, However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth..." (John 16:13) By leaning on the guidance of the Holy Spirit concerning these truths, the doubts that have kept you from living in a totally victorious life will begin to wane and faith with begin to rise.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Bad Things Do Not Come From God - Part 9
As we have looked at some key issues in the Old Testament, we have discovered the source of where all the bad things that come upon humanity originates, Satan and sin. Nothing that we would consider as "a bad thing" comes from God! Everything that He has made, His purpose, His plan and His very nature and character reflects the epitome of good. As we look into the New Testament we will discover even more conclusive evidence the "Bad Things Do Not Come From God."
The first place that we must start in building any theology in the church we must carefully observe the life and ministry of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Any theology that does not find itself built upon the foundation of Christ, will not clearly express the will of the Father, God. The Apostle Paul tells us...
According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:10-11)
This verse clearly shows us why we have so much "differences of opinion" when it comes to the various doctrines in the church today. Unfortunately in much of the churches doctrine today, Christ has been either minimized or He has been completely ignored. To use any part of the New Testament to build a theology without building upon Christ first, would be like a Christian attempting to form a theology of salvation through the Law of Moses. Although the Law of Moses is God's Word, the Law itself cannot be understood or taught properly without Christ being considered. The Law does not save people, only faith in Christ can...
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. (Galatians 2:16)
So before we dig into the"Good News" of the New Testament, I would like to propose a challenge to you the reader concerning our topic. Did you ever notice while watching a MLB baseball game or an NFL football game on television as the camera pans through the crowd of fans that their is usually at least one fan that is holding up a sign that references a particular verse of scripture? You know what verse I am talking about don't you? Why of course, it is John 3:16...
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
This verse of scripture is probably referenced more than any other verse of scripture in the Bible, so let's honestly consider what it says; "For God so LOVED the world..." Love is God's most potent characteristic and for Christians to fully grasp this, they must step away from the natural type of love that every person has and look at the God kind of love...
Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]... (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 AMP)
Honestly, does this define a father (Our Heavenly Father) that would do bad things to a person especially his own children? Of course it doesn't. Now let's look at the next verse in John's Gospel...
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:17)
The word "saved" in this verse means to deliver, protect, heal, preserve, to make whole...Even logic itself says that anyone who would be willing to do these thing for another would never directly or even indirectly cause bad things to happen to them. So please take some time to meditate upon these things as we move forward in the New Testament scriptures.
Another remarkable things that we will also discover as we continue our study on "Bad things do not come from God" is that the Word of God will begin to assault and tear down much of the doubting theology that has been taught by faithless teachers who have inoculated Christians with doubt. But I am confident that the Word of God will grow your faith and give you a correct perspective of God's true nature...
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)
The first place that we must start in building any theology in the church we must carefully observe the life and ministry of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Any theology that does not find itself built upon the foundation of Christ, will not clearly express the will of the Father, God. The Apostle Paul tells us...
According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:10-11)
This verse clearly shows us why we have so much "differences of opinion" when it comes to the various doctrines in the church today. Unfortunately in much of the churches doctrine today, Christ has been either minimized or He has been completely ignored. To use any part of the New Testament to build a theology without building upon Christ first, would be like a Christian attempting to form a theology of salvation through the Law of Moses. Although the Law of Moses is God's Word, the Law itself cannot be understood or taught properly without Christ being considered. The Law does not save people, only faith in Christ can...
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. (Galatians 2:16)
So before we dig into the"Good News" of the New Testament, I would like to propose a challenge to you the reader concerning our topic. Did you ever notice while watching a MLB baseball game or an NFL football game on television as the camera pans through the crowd of fans that their is usually at least one fan that is holding up a sign that references a particular verse of scripture? You know what verse I am talking about don't you? Why of course, it is John 3:16...
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
This verse of scripture is probably referenced more than any other verse of scripture in the Bible, so let's honestly consider what it says; "For God so LOVED the world..." Love is God's most potent characteristic and for Christians to fully grasp this, they must step away from the natural type of love that every person has and look at the God kind of love...
Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]... (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 AMP)
Honestly, does this define a father (Our Heavenly Father) that would do bad things to a person especially his own children? Of course it doesn't. Now let's look at the next verse in John's Gospel...
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:17)
The word "saved" in this verse means to deliver, protect, heal, preserve, to make whole...Even logic itself says that anyone who would be willing to do these thing for another would never directly or even indirectly cause bad things to happen to them. So please take some time to meditate upon these things as we move forward in the New Testament scriptures.
Another remarkable things that we will also discover as we continue our study on "Bad things do not come from God" is that the Word of God will begin to assault and tear down much of the doubting theology that has been taught by faithless teachers who have inoculated Christians with doubt. But I am confident that the Word of God will grow your faith and give you a correct perspective of God's true nature...
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)
Monday, December 26, 2011
Bad Things Do Not Come From God - Part 8
Although there are many other incidence in the Old Testament that we could address that have been used as so called evidence that God causes bad things to happen or that it is His will for bad things to happen, we will close our discussion of the Old Testament with this final word.
In the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, there is a very important statement the the LORD reveal concerning His nature that we must apprehend if we are going to see Him in the true light of His true nature.
Malachi 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change..." The LORD God is unchangeable! He is not merciful one moment and then become merciless the next. He is not gracious one moment and then become discourteous the next. He does not abound in goodness and truth and then become bad and lie.
"God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19-20) He does not change! Change implies imperfection and we all know that God is perfect in all He is, all He does and all He says; in everything!
Remember God made Adam a perfect man. He was not mortal nor immortal. He was made in the very image and likeness of God. He was made a little lower than God Himself which means he was above all other things that God had created; he was also given dominion over all of Gods works (Psalm 8:5-6)
It was God who looked at what He had created and said, "Indeed it is very good." God's original plan for man was for him to be in perfect union with Him and to live forever experiencing His very divine nature. Eve may have been deceived, but God gave command to Adam and therefore it was Adams choice that brought the horrible destructive nature of sin upon humanity. It was Adams choice to turn all his authority over to Satan resulting in mankind's slavery to Satan and sin and all their destruction.
We have looked at God's revelation of Himself to Moses...
"Now the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation." (Exodus 34:6-7) Although throughout Israel's history we see them struck with plagues and in bondage to other nations, but it was not God's doing nor His will for them. His will and plan for Israel was...
"Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."(Exodus 19:5-6)
It was Israel's continous rejection and rebellion against God that removed them from God's protection, provision and blessings and placed themselves under a curse; slaves to Satan and sin.
We saw that it was Satan not God who brought all the horrific things on Job. We saw that it was not God's will for these things to happen but Job had given Satan place through fear...
"For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me."
(Job 3:25) We also saw that God does not use Satan as His tool to do evil against humanity, but saw that God is just in every situation and circumstance and acts accordingly...
"As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, in judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress." (Job 37:23)
We also looked at many Old Testament passages that reveal God's true nature which He had previously revealed to Moses. And now we see that Malachi tells us that God is unchangeable. It is unfortunate that many Christian leaders for centuries have convinced far to many Christians that bad things come from God when in fact it is completely contrary to scripture. It is sad that most Christians today do not have a Biblical understanding of faith and therefore rely on their sense knowledge to live out their Christianity. Sense knowledge says, "when bad things come into one's life it must be God's will for them." It is true that the faith message was twisted like many other revelations that the Holy Spirit has revealed to the church to reform and restore her, but that is certainly no reason to have true Biblical teaching of faith removed from pulpits. The entire Christian life comes down to "faith working through love."
As we explore the New Testament on this very critical topic, my prayer is that the reader rely on the Holy Spirit to have their understanding enlightened in the knowledge of Jesus Christ so that they will truly come to know the truth of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. My prayer is that the doubts that have been placed in the hearts and minds of most Christians from faithless people who preach faithless sermons be assaulted and destroyed so that they can live a free, successful and abundant life in Christ and that we all come to a greater revelation of what He has accomplished for humanity through His death, burial, resurrection, ascension and glorification.
In the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, there is a very important statement the the LORD reveal concerning His nature that we must apprehend if we are going to see Him in the true light of His true nature.
Malachi 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change..." The LORD God is unchangeable! He is not merciful one moment and then become merciless the next. He is not gracious one moment and then become discourteous the next. He does not abound in goodness and truth and then become bad and lie.
"God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19-20) He does not change! Change implies imperfection and we all know that God is perfect in all He is, all He does and all He says; in everything!
Remember God made Adam a perfect man. He was not mortal nor immortal. He was made in the very image and likeness of God. He was made a little lower than God Himself which means he was above all other things that God had created; he was also given dominion over all of Gods works (Psalm 8:5-6)
It was God who looked at what He had created and said, "Indeed it is very good." God's original plan for man was for him to be in perfect union with Him and to live forever experiencing His very divine nature. Eve may have been deceived, but God gave command to Adam and therefore it was Adams choice that brought the horrible destructive nature of sin upon humanity. It was Adams choice to turn all his authority over to Satan resulting in mankind's slavery to Satan and sin and all their destruction.
We have looked at God's revelation of Himself to Moses...
"Now the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation." (Exodus 34:6-7) Although throughout Israel's history we see them struck with plagues and in bondage to other nations, but it was not God's doing nor His will for them. His will and plan for Israel was...
"Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."(Exodus 19:5-6)
It was Israel's continous rejection and rebellion against God that removed them from God's protection, provision and blessings and placed themselves under a curse; slaves to Satan and sin.
We saw that it was Satan not God who brought all the horrific things on Job. We saw that it was not God's will for these things to happen but Job had given Satan place through fear...
"For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me."
(Job 3:25) We also saw that God does not use Satan as His tool to do evil against humanity, but saw that God is just in every situation and circumstance and acts accordingly...
"As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, in judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress." (Job 37:23)
We also looked at many Old Testament passages that reveal God's true nature which He had previously revealed to Moses. And now we see that Malachi tells us that God is unchangeable. It is unfortunate that many Christian leaders for centuries have convinced far to many Christians that bad things come from God when in fact it is completely contrary to scripture. It is sad that most Christians today do not have a Biblical understanding of faith and therefore rely on their sense knowledge to live out their Christianity. Sense knowledge says, "when bad things come into one's life it must be God's will for them." It is true that the faith message was twisted like many other revelations that the Holy Spirit has revealed to the church to reform and restore her, but that is certainly no reason to have true Biblical teaching of faith removed from pulpits. The entire Christian life comes down to "faith working through love."
As we explore the New Testament on this very critical topic, my prayer is that the reader rely on the Holy Spirit to have their understanding enlightened in the knowledge of Jesus Christ so that they will truly come to know the truth of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. My prayer is that the doubts that have been placed in the hearts and minds of most Christians from faithless people who preach faithless sermons be assaulted and destroyed so that they can live a free, successful and abundant life in Christ and that we all come to a greater revelation of what He has accomplished for humanity through His death, burial, resurrection, ascension and glorification.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Bad Things Do Not Come From God - Part 7
In the previous parts of this series, the conclusions have been based on New Testament principles which we will discuss in greater detail in future. However, please keep in mind some of the things that we have discovered in the Old Testament which have clearly revealed the source of the bad things that come upon humanity. Some of these things are; Adam's rebellion which opened the door for Satan and sin to have their way in humanity; that bad things can happen to God's people, but it is certainly no indication that it is God's will whatsoever; that when God's people met His conditions they could expect exceeding great blessings:
when God's people rejected and rebelled against His conditions they would remove themselves from God's authority, place themselves under Satan's authority and would reap the destructive nature of sin and Satan; that God is just and everything that comes upon man is according to his works and ways.
With that said, let's look at some additional Old Testament passages of scripture that reveal God's true nature as one who does not bring bad things upon humanity, but one who blesses.
Psalms 34:19-22 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.
If it were God's will that His people have many afflictions, then He would not deliver them from them ALL,
redeem their soul and keep them from being condemned.
Psalms 91:9-10, 16 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."
What wonderful promises for those who trust and rest in the LORD. They will be free of evil, (Satan, the epitome of all evil and the evil schemes of man) all sickness and disease and have long life on the earth.
Psalms 103:1-5 Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Please look at these five benefits from the LORD and notice the word ALL in some of them. Honestly, does this sound like bad things come from God? Here we see that God forgives, heals, protects, satisfies, renews and is fondly affectionate toward His people.
Psalms 107:17-22 Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all manner of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing.
Who brought affliction on the people? The people did through their transgression and iniquities, NOT GOD! The people opened the door for Satan and sin to have their destructive way with them. However, we see that it is God who sent His Word to heal and deliver them. It is the LORD who pours out goodness and wonderful works upon men!!!
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'
As we have seen previously, fear is from the devil, it gives him place and it prevents God from working in ones life. However, with the absents of fear and the calm assurance that God is with you, He will strenghten, help and uphold His people.
Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me," says the LORD.
No instrument of war, no sword, or spear; no persecution or torture and no accusation either natural or spiritual will overtake one of God's children, but on the contrary. God's children will put them all to flight because it is their inheritance as a child of God.
These are but a few Old Testament passages that reveal the true nature of God. Although they may point to Israel, they also apply to the believer today who has been grafted into Israel through faith in Christ. (Romans 11:17-24) The point is, whether Israel or the believer today, bad things do not come from God, they never have and they never will. Even in the judgment to come at the end of time, it will be justice being served to the sons of disobedience, Satan and all that is evil. It has never been God's will to have evil infiltrate humanity, nor to cast man into hell. It all come down to mans rejection and rebellion against God which places him under the authority of Satan and the destructive nature of sin which prevents God's blessings and all of His goodness from flowing.
when God's people rejected and rebelled against His conditions they would remove themselves from God's authority, place themselves under Satan's authority and would reap the destructive nature of sin and Satan; that God is just and everything that comes upon man is according to his works and ways.
With that said, let's look at some additional Old Testament passages of scripture that reveal God's true nature as one who does not bring bad things upon humanity, but one who blesses.
Psalms 34:19-22 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.
If it were God's will that His people have many afflictions, then He would not deliver them from them ALL,
redeem their soul and keep them from being condemned.
Psalms 91:9-10, 16 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."
What wonderful promises for those who trust and rest in the LORD. They will be free of evil, (Satan, the epitome of all evil and the evil schemes of man) all sickness and disease and have long life on the earth.
Psalms 103:1-5 Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Please look at these five benefits from the LORD and notice the word ALL in some of them. Honestly, does this sound like bad things come from God? Here we see that God forgives, heals, protects, satisfies, renews and is fondly affectionate toward His people.
Psalms 107:17-22 Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all manner of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing.
Who brought affliction on the people? The people did through their transgression and iniquities, NOT GOD! The people opened the door for Satan and sin to have their destructive way with them. However, we see that it is God who sent His Word to heal and deliver them. It is the LORD who pours out goodness and wonderful works upon men!!!
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'
As we have seen previously, fear is from the devil, it gives him place and it prevents God from working in ones life. However, with the absents of fear and the calm assurance that God is with you, He will strenghten, help and uphold His people.
Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me," says the LORD.
No instrument of war, no sword, or spear; no persecution or torture and no accusation either natural or spiritual will overtake one of God's children, but on the contrary. God's children will put them all to flight because it is their inheritance as a child of God.
These are but a few Old Testament passages that reveal the true nature of God. Although they may point to Israel, they also apply to the believer today who has been grafted into Israel through faith in Christ. (Romans 11:17-24) The point is, whether Israel or the believer today, bad things do not come from God, they never have and they never will. Even in the judgment to come at the end of time, it will be justice being served to the sons of disobedience, Satan and all that is evil. It has never been God's will to have evil infiltrate humanity, nor to cast man into hell. It all come down to mans rejection and rebellion against God which places him under the authority of Satan and the destructive nature of sin which prevents God's blessings and all of His goodness from flowing.
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