Repentance and Faith and Works

Repentance and Faith and Works 

If you watch a lot of news, you are probably afraid to leave the house.  If you really watch a lot of news, you are probably afraid even when you do stay in the house.  No one is safe anywhere.  If you aren’t robbed or murdered by gang members or drug addicts, you may get attacked in a different way by the EPA or some other out of control branch of your own government. It is time for Christians to stand up and do something.  But what is there to do?  What can be done to make this a better world where people have the freedom to enjoy those inalienable rights with which were endowed by our Creator? (inalienable = unchallengeable, absolute, indisputable, undeniable, unassailable…..) 

We can definitely say that 2 Timothy 3:1 is coming to pass.  It says, ‘This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.’

In these perilous times the duty of the Christian has not changed.  The duty of every Christian remains EVANGELISM.  The hearts of those who know Christ are changed.  The world needs at least a chance to hear about Jesus.  Many haven’t heard at all.  Others need someone to tell them again.  What an individual does with Jesus is up to that individual.  It is the job of Christians to tell others about Jesus.

 Christians do want those living apart from reconciliation with God to understand their need to make peace with God Almighty and to be saved.  Christians also understand that any reconciliation between an individual and God must be a free will choice of the individual.  Forced conversions are not conversions at all.

 There is currently a growing danger to evangelicals around the world.  Consider the Christian pastor in Iran who has been jailed for more than two years for being a Christian.  He is under a death sentence because he won’t renounce his faith in Jesus Christ.  The Christians of the world have been praying for his safety and release.  He has made national news on numerous occasions.  He has a wife and two little boys.  (Youcef Nadarkhani   http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/international/christian-pastor-sentenced-to-death-in-iran-for-apostasy  Please take a moment to pray for our brother in Christ and his family.)

 Persecution in Sudan  http://www.gracemagazine.org.uk/articles/mission/sudan.htm

Samaritans Purse Sudan bombed in 2012  http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/bible_camp_bombed/

And – numerous news stories over the past few years regarding the ‘terrorist threat’ of fundamental Christians and those with traditional conservative views.

 Christianity is definitely not the religion for cowards.  And, evangelists seems to be really asking for trouble.  Yet, those working to spread the Gospel keep on preaching Jesus Christ even in the face of death. 

 On our own, we Christians have no more courage than anyone else.  The pastor in an Iranian prison awaiting execution is just a human being like the rest of us.  I know it is the Lord who has strengthened him to refuse to renounce his faith.  Non-Christians who are watching this news story may wonder what it is that strengthens him to cling to his faith in the face of death; and we can hope that some watching this man will seek out Jesus Christ for themselves.  I expect our brother in Christ has had times of despair, times of overwhelming loneliness, times of terror over the fate of his family.  Probably his worst nightmare is that his sons would be forced into Islam.  Of course we can’t know what thoughts are going through his mind, but we do know he is a human being, subject to the same weaknesses as everyone else. 

 I love the old hymn ‘Just as I Am’.  One line says, ‘fightings and fears, within without, O Lamb of God, I come’.  That pretty much describes us all. The hymn was written by a woman describing her journey to faith in Christ.  It is also appropriate when describing a Christian beginning a work for Christ.  Evangelism is often thought of as a preacher or missionary preaching to a congregation.  This is true.  However, it is also one on one.  It is a Christian like you or me telling someone else that God Himself has made a way for people to be reconciled to God and to escape hell.

(Just As I Am  http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/j/u/s/justasam.htm )

 When Christians set their minds to take Christianity seriously, evangelism on some level becomes an integral part of their lives.  Their hearts desire becomes that others will be saved.  But, they recognize their own frailties.  We Christians have no power to compel others to be saved.  The evangelist must witness by faith in the mighty power of God to convert the lost soul.  

Here is a very good quote from an Author Pink sermon on faith.  If we are going to witness by faith, then a better understanding of faith is necessary.

 ‘In order to please God, four things must concur, all of which are accomplished by faith.

First, the person of him that pleaseth God must be accepted of Him (Gen. 4:4).

Second, the thing done that pleaseth God must be in accord with His will (Heb. 13:21).

Third, the manner of doing it must be pleasing to God: it must be performed in humility

(1 Cor. 15:10), in sincerity (Isa. 38:3), in cheerfulness (2 Cor. 8:12; 9:7).

Fourth, the end in view must be God’s glory (1 Cor. 10:31).

Now faith is the only means whereby these four requirements are met. By faith in Christ the person is accepted of God.

 Faith makes us submit ourselves to God’s will.

Faith causes us to examine the manner of what we do Godwards.

Faith aims at God’s glory: of Abraham it is recorded that he “was strong in faith, giving glory to God” (Rom. 4:20).’  Author Pink    http://www.eternallifeministries.org/pink/STUD-A32.pdf

 From a selfish point of view, faith is necessary for our own comfort. 

First, faith that God is with us and will help us gives us courage to go forward into whatever the future holds. By faith we Christians know we have a traveling companion who will never leave us nor forsake us. 

Second, faith in God takes the pressure off the Christian to bring about a specific outcome.  Christians are bound by duty and love to do the things Christ says to do.  Christians are to do the things Christ says to do with all their might.  But the ultimate outcome of our efforts is not in our hands.   

 Those wanting to have greater faith can follow the example of the apostles who requested, ‘“And the apostles said unto the Lord, increase our faith” (Luke 18:5).  Of many examples worthy to be followed in the Bible, this is one of the stands out to those seeking to please God.

 Faith leads us to follow the instructions in Colossians 3:2 which says, ‘Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.’  Christians understand that we will not ‘transform’ this earth into a utopian paradise through evangelistic efforts.  The lives of Christians in the United States have certainly been blessed by God.  God has provided us with a stable government and blessed the efforts of His children to prosper.  But, as we watch or freedoms erode we are reminded that our citizenship is in heaven.  That is the place where we will life eternally. 

 The more your affection is set on things above the more you are moved to act on your faith and to do the things Christ says to do.

 The more your affection is set on things above, the more you work to lay up treasures in heaven instead of here on earth.

 For Christians, their first ‘repentance’ is repentance that leads to salvation.  It is acknowledging their sins have separated them from God, turning from a life apart from God, and setting their face to walk in the narrow way.  Then, individual sins require repentance. This is not repentance to salvation, but repentance that maintains or restores fellowship with God.  As Christians grow in maturity, specific sins are brought to light.  They repent and turn from them.  Christians also realize there are things they should be doing, or should have been doing that have not been done.  Something often left undone is evangelism.  Perhaps they have not spoken out for Christ when the opportunity presented itself.  Perhaps they have not supported missionary and evangelistic efforts.  Perhaps they have not lived in a way that represents God in a manner pleasing to Him. 

 When a Christian begins to take his or her faith seriously he or she begins to work for the Lord full time.  I don’t mean they go into full time service as a missionary or evangelist or preacher, although that may happen.  I mean they begin to take very seriously doing the things Christ says to do every moment of every day. 

 I want to encourage you to do things Christ puts in your path today.  Often it will be a very normal day, filled with the same people and problems you had yesterday.  Honestly, repetitive days are really good.  On days that are pretty much the same as yesterday, you have an opportunity to ‘tweak’ things a little bit.  You can be kinder to the difficult person.  You can manage a recurring difficult situation a little better.  Your day-dreams can be put to better use.  You can think on the good things of God instead of the problems you are facing.  You can change your schedule to find more time to pray.

 ‘I Surrender All’

http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/i/s/u/isurrend.htm

All to Jesus, I surrender;

 All to Him I freely give;

 I will ever love and trust Him,

 In His presence daily live.

 Refrain

I surrender all, I surrender all,

 All to Thee, my blessèd Savior,
 I surrender all.

 Alll to Jesus I surrender;

 Humbly at His feet I bow,

 Worldly pleasures all forsaken;

 Take me, Jesus, take me now.

Refrain

All to Jesus, I surrender;

 Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
 Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
 Truly know that Thou art mine.

Refrain

All to Jesus, I surrender;

 Lord, I give myself to Thee;
 Fill me with Thy love and power;
 Let Thy blessing fall on me.

Refrain
All to Jesus I surrender;
 Now I feel the sacred flame.
 O the joy of full salvation!
 Glory, glory, to His name!
 
Refrain

Kind Soothing Words versus the Truth

We have all heard so-called Christians say things like:

‘We are all going to the same place anyway’

‘We are all praying to the same God’

‘God wouldn’t send anyone to hell’

‘He/she is a good person’

And a host of other phrases that sound kind, good, unifying, and pleasing to the itching ear.

Such words are spoken with the idea of just getting along.  The speakers want to sooth and assure.  They also want to avoid conflict.

 These kind soothing words may make a momentary situation easier.  Such words may make people feel good, or at least feel better; but the long term effects can be eternally damning.

The truth is that all these words are lies.  What people need is to hear the truth. 

Christians should ask themselves, ‘If I were lost, wouldn’t I want to hear the truth about actually getting into heaven?’  If that is the way we would want to be treated, shouldn’t we treat other people that way?

 It is the duty of every Christian to be ready to tell people, ‘The God of the Bible is unique.  And the Bible tells us:

If you are praying to any other god, you are NOT praying to the same God to whom followers of Jesus Christ pray.

We are not all going to the same place. 

We are all going to one of two places. 

Followers of Jesus Christ are going to heaven. 

Those who don’t follow Him are going to a place called hell.

According to the Bible, those who reject Jesus Christ will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 

The Bible says we are saved by grace through faith, so just being a good person won’t get anyone into heaven.’

We may wonder why it is that Christians are prone to let falsehoods regarding the way of salvation stand instead of at least attempting to correct them. Many Christians have shut themselves up in selfish indifference and unconcern. On a kinder note, perhaps they are just overwhelmed with the cares of the world. These Christians know the way of salvation.  They know the eternal destination of those who reject Jesus Christ.  But, they can’t seem to just tell the truth that Jesus alone is the way to eternal life.  Regardless of the reasons, they remain unwilling or afraid to confront error in Bible theology in the culture in general and in friends specifically. 

One strong reason Christians are willing to speak sweet words of agreement like those already mentioned is Christians forget God’s continual presence with them personally.  While words like ‘we all pray to the same God’ may sooth the ears of a visible friend or companion they hardly sooth the ears of God Almighty.  Christians need to take very seriously the constant presence of God.  If it must be that someone is made uncomfortable or his/her feelings are hurt by a Christian pointing out that to pray to the God of the Bible is not praying to a generic god, then it let it be a human companion.  Don’t let it be God.

Christians should take God’s companionship seriously all the time.  It will keep them from sin.  For instance, a Christian who is walking with their spouse will hardly venture into adultery at the same time.  A Christian who is constantly aware of God’s presence will be much more mindful of his conduct. 

 As a Christian becomes more aware of God’s continual presence, the more useful that Christian becomes to God.

 Here is another sad truth. Compromise in the name of getting along brings the things of the world into the church – it brings in sin – things unacceptable to God.  Misguided and marginal Christians are prone to bring ungodly things into the church in the name of reaching out to the lost.  So many things of the world are in some churches that the congregation might as well be attending a high school pep rally.  People may come to church somewhat depressed and leave emotionally charged up, but they haven’t really heard a lesson from the Bible.

 What are the consequences of Christians not confronting the culture?  Are more people actually restored to fellowship with God by speaking kind soothing words, or are more people restored to fellowship with God Almighty by quoting John 14:6 which says, ‘Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’

 Another very common sin that leads to mixing the things of the world in with the things of the church is impatience.  It is the same sin that got Abraham and Sarah into all that trouble when they came up with the plan for Abraham to have a child with Sarah’s maid.  They knew God’s promise, but they just didn’t have the patience to wait on God to do what He had promised to do. 

 A zealous Christian today can easily fall into the same trap.  They honestly want to see souls reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.  They go out and tell people about Jesus, but they don’t get the desired results.  Perhaps they don’t get any results.  So, instead of continuing to use the anvil of Bible truth, they begin to look for other ways to ‘reach out’ to the people of the world.  Church growth becomes the measure of their success instead of souls actually saved.  Then, when church growth becomes the measure of success, anything and everything becomes acceptable as long as it increases the size of the church congregation.  It is certainly possible to have a church that is very large and preaches fundamental truths of the Bible.  It is also possible to have a very small church that is so far away from Bible truths that it shouldn’t even be called a church.  The size of the congregation should be up to God.  The church members need to stick to the same story that Paul stuck to in Acts when he got himself kicked out of two towns for preaching the gospel, and went straight on to preach the gospel in the third town. 

At the end of every day, a Christian can evaluate his/her day by this one thing.  ‘Did I do the best I could do to say and do the things pleasing to Christ today?’  When the answer is yes, then a ‘well done’ is awarded for that day.  The outcome of action is not in the hands of mankind. It is like a farmer fighting the nature and the weather.  He can plant, fertilize, plow, irrigate, and stand ready to harvest when the crops are done.  That is all he can do.  He has no control over storms, fires, drought, floods, locusts, crop blights, late frosts, early frosts, or anything else.  All he can do is what he can do.  All we can do is to be like Paul and keep hammering away with the truth of God’s word.

 The word of God is more effective than any program ever devised.  Hebrews 4:12 says, ‘For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.’

 Something else Christians should take into consideration is that an opportunity to speak to someone about Jesus Christ has to be brought about by God.  Personally, I don’t get out of the house much.  I am not around a lot of people except at church or in the grocery store.  I just don’t meet that many people.  I have a few people now that I know personally that I am praying for.  I haven’t been able to have a real discussion with them about the Bible.  I have made a real effort to engage them in a conversation about their religious beliefs, but I haven’t made any progress.  I am ready to talk to them, but the opportunity to talk is going to have to be set up by God.  We have no power to make people willing to listen.  We do have the choice to keep praying and to be ready to speak the truth when an opportunity is given.  I was able to give one dear person a gospel tract, and of course I pray that time will be made to read it.  Acts 8:26-40 gives a wonderful example of God setting up an opportunity to lead someone to Him.  You probably already know that story.  An important man was reading scripture.  God sent someone to him who explained the scripture, explained Jesus; the man was saved and baptized.  Obviously, an opportunity isn’t usually that dramatic, but it still must be set up by God.  Probably the only way to tell if it is an opportunity is to make an effort to engage in conversation about Jesus.  If they respond to your question or statement, then go from there.  In even a sentence or two, you may plant a little seed of a question, and someone else may plant another, and someone else another.  Who knows who will actually be the one to have the experience of being present when a person you witnessed too actually turns to Jesus?  If you get a chance to say something appropriate regarding Bible truth at any given time, you have planted or watered a seed already planted by someone else.  Remember 1 Corinthians 3:6 which tells us, ‘I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.’

 A very interesting Bible passage is Luke 10:2 which says, ‘Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.’

 When we read or hear this passage we most often think of people out on the streets preaching or of missionaries away from their native land trying to preach the gospel in a language not their own.  But, we can make it a lot more personal if we begin to think of the labor of prayer.  Prayer is the beginning of success.  What do you think would be the result if Christians doubled their time in prayer for the souls of the lost?  Is God calling you to pray for the lost?  Pray for the lost, and pray for God to call others to pray for the lost. 

 Remember 1 Timothy 2

1. I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

2.  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

3.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

4.  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

5.  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

6.  Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

And

1 Thessalonians 5:17   Pray without ceasing.

 Ultimately there are no kinder or more soothing words than the truth of the Bible.  Jesus saves. 

Hearing God When He Speaks

Hearing God

‘My God will hear me’ is a promise made in Micah 7:7b.  I love that. My God will hear me.  This is so wonderful that it is almost incomprehensible.  One could get carried away with a continual string of requests.  There is certainly no problem or request too small to bring to God’s attention.  He wants to be involved in every moment of your life.  However, what we want to remember is good manners.  If God is listening to us, shouldn’t we listen to God?  Or, let’s make it more personal.  If God is hearing ME when I pray, shouldn’t I hear God when He communicates with me?

 You have undoubtedly been in close contact with at least a few people in your life who have an ability to ‘talk your ear off’ while having no ability to hear a word you say.  Encounters with these people are not pleasant.  It is only good manners to listen to what other people are saying as well as talk yourself.  In a private conversation between two people, both people should be able to not only speak but to be listened to by the other person as well.  It is an overwhelmingly wonderful blessing that God will hear His children when they pray.  It is an equally overwhelmingly wonderful blessing that God speaks to His children.  It would be wise to try to listen to what He has to say!

 How then do we ‘hear’ God?

 The first way is obvious.  We read what is written down in the Bible. The Bible is written specifically for every individual Christian, and through it God speaks directly to each of His children.  It is speaking directly to you personally, as well as to me personally.  We have been given rules of conduct by which we are to live in the word of God.  We have the commandments.  We have the love one another clause.  We have the forgive one another clause.  We have the treat others the way we want to be treated clause.  These things are definitely God speaking directly to every individual believer.  Once we hear what the Bible says, we are to do what the Bible says.  This is all very straight forward and easy to understand.  If we really hear what God speaks to us, then we will follow His instructions.  After all, we want God to hear us and do the things we ask.  How rude to ignore the things He asks of us. (It is also plumb stupid.)  Those wanting God’s full attention when praying should rightly give God their full attention when He speaks.

 Hear the Lord when He says in Psalm 119:11, ‘Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.’ 

 Also remember James 1:22 which instructs to not only hear the word of the Lord, but to do the things we are instructed to do.  It says, ‘But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.’   There is a stern warning in that verse.  If someone calls themselves a Christian but is able to continually habitually set aside the things God says to do, perhaps they are deceiving themselves regarding their faith.

 What then is a ‘doer of the word’ supposed to do?  We have instructions in Micah 6:8 which says, ‘He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?’

 A similar verse of instruction is in Deuteronomy 10:12 which says, ‘And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,’.

 God is not first looking to see how many souls His children point toward Him.  He is looking to see how well each one of His children obeys Him.  If God’s children aren’t conforming to His image, how are they going to point others to Him?  Conforming to the image of Christ is progressive.  No one is converted one day and a mature Christian the next day.  However true converts begin the life long process of being more Christ-like in their actions as soon as they are born again.  They should want to tell others about Jesus and the way of salvation.  However, the true mark of a believer is that they do the things Christ says to do regarding their own personal actions.

 God also speaks to you through your conscience.  There are things you know to be wrong.  Don’t do them.  How simple is that?  Something to think about is that if you want to do something, but you know it will not lead you closer to God, then you should not do it.  For instance, that beautiful singing voice God gave Melodye Smith may get her an offer to travel and sing with a country band.  Melodye knows the band plays in nightclubs and bars.  She really wants to do accept the offer.  But, she has misgivings.  She KNOWS her Christian life will suffer.  More money than she now earns is offered.  Melodye is tempted.  What do you think she should do?  Based on the simple truth that she will not be led closer to the Lord by accepting the offer, Melodye should turn down the offer. 

 That is obviously a fanciful example, but people face choices every day.  Often the issue is clouded by ‘more money’ or ‘more prestige’, but the question is still the same.  Will this hinder my Christian walk?  Listen to your conscience.  If it is telling you ‘not a good idea’, listen!

 Remember that God will NEVER EVER lead you to go outside the boundaries He has set for all His children.  The most important thing a child of God can do is to be obedient to God.  Through obedience His children have an avenue to a life that is blessed by God.  The boundaries set by God are for the protection of His children.  They are not for set up to cause us grief.  Jesus says his yoke is easy and His burden is light.  I just love that passage.  Matthew 11: 28-30 tells us, ’(28)  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

(29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

(30)  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

 Any child of God who would like to lighten his or her own burden should begin with obedience to God. 

It is by faith that we know ‘My God will hear me’.

It is by faith that we know God will help us to hear Him.

What we do with what we hear is the measure of our Christian walk. 

 It is absolutely true that our salvation is received by grace through faith.  (Ephesians 2:8

 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:’.)

 But to show evidence or verification of salvation, then look to the works of your own self.  This is NOT to look to see if you have completed some mighty deed that attracts the attention of the world.  But rather look inside yourself. 

Have you hidden God’s word in your heart?

Are you a doer of the word as explained in Micah 6:8 and Deuteronomy 10:12?

Strive to become a ‘Bible driven Christian’ – someone who hears what the Lord has to say.

 Come Unto Me

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/o/comeunto.htm 

Hear the blessèd Savior calling the oppressed,

 “O ye heavy laden, come to Me and rest.
 Come, no longer tarry, I your load will bear,
 Bring Me every burden, bring Me every care.”

 Refrain 

Come unto Me, I will give you rest;

 Take My yoke upon you, hear Me and be blessed.
 I am meek and lowly, come and trust My might.
 Come, My yoke is easy, and My burden’s light.

Are you disappointed, wandering here and there,

 Dragging chains of doubt and loaded down with care?
 Do unholy feelings struggle in your breast?
 Bring your case to Jesus—He will give you rest

Refrain

Stumbling on the mountains dark with sin and shame,

 Stumbling toward the pit of hell’s consuming flame.
 By the powers of sin deluded and oppressed,
 Hear the tender Shepherd, “Come to Me and rest.”

Refrain

Have you by temptation often conquered been,

 Has a sense of weakness brought distress within?
 Christ will sanctify you, if you’ll claim His best.
 In the Holy Spirit, He will give you rest.

Refrain