Favor with Men

Is it scriptural to pray for "favor with men"?


PRECEPTS
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Psa 5:11 But let all who put their trust in You rejoice; let them always shout for joy, because You defend them. And let those who love Your name be joyful in You.
Psa 5:12 For You; O Jehovah, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.

-- For those who take joy in the Lord, He is our defender (our advocate) and acts on our behalf. His favor surrounds us like a shield and protects us from the devices of the wicked.


Psa 90:16 Let your work appear to your servants; your glory to their children.
Psa 90:17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us; establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands.

-- God blesses and multiplies the effectiveness of our efforts


Psa 35:27 Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. Yes, let them say continually, "The LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!"

-- There are rewards for those who help the cause of one of God's children


Pro 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let your heart keep my commandments;
Pro 3:2 for they shall add length of days, and long life, and peace to you.
Pro 3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; tie them around your neck; write them upon the tablet of your heart;
Pro 3:4 and you shall find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Pro 3:5 Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

-- When we walk in God's wisdom, mercy, and truth we will be sensitive to His will. When we walk in line with His Word, His Spirit goes before us preparing our way and planting favor in the hearts of men we have to deal with in the natural. This favor promotes good understanding of both sides of the issue.

-- Satan attempts to whisper lies and author confusion in the minds of those we do business with in an effort to steal away what God has given to us. While we don't have authority over other people's will, we DO have authority over satan and his minions in Jesus' name. We can rebuke the efforts of satan to sow confusion in not only our minds, but the minds of others as well.


Pro 8:32 "Now therefore, My sons, listen to Me, for blessed are those who keep My ways.
Pro 8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise. Don't refuse it.
Pro 8:34 Blessed is the man who hears Me, watching daily at My gates, waiting at My door posts.
Pro 8:35 For whoever finds Me, finds life, and will obtain favor from the LORD.

Pro 14:9 Fools laugh at sin, but among the righteous there is favor.

Pro 21:10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

Pro 11:27 He who carefully seeks good gets favor; but he who seeks mischief, it shall come to him.

Pro 14:35 The king's favor is toward a wise servant, but his wrath is against him who causes shame.

Pro 13:15 Good understanding wins favor; but the way of the unfaithful is hard.

-- Notice a trend, using God's wisdom in dealing with people results in favor with men.


Pro 28:23 He who rebukes a man shall afterwards find more favor than he who flatters with the tongue.

-- Being upfront and honest wins favor, just remember to speak the truth in love.


Pro 16:7 When a man's ways please Jehovah, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

-- Here we see a promise that God will intervene and make peace with our enemies, but first we must do our part.


Jos 11:20 For it was of Jehovah to harden their hearts, to come against Israel in battle, that he might utterly destroy them, that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as Jehovah commanded Moses.

-- This makes a connection between hardness of heart and favor.


Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema.
Gal 1:10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.

-- Keep in mind the goal is to please God and gain God's favor. Favor with men follows those who put God first. We ask God to help give us favor among men in order to help further God's causes, not our own. To ask for favor in faith, we must first be sure we are carrying out God's plan.



EXAMPLES OF FAVOR
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1Sa 2:26 And the child Samuel went on growing both in stature and in goodness, both with Jehovah and also with men.

Luk 2:52 And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

-- These two verses show a growing in wisdom and goodness that parallels a growing in favor.


Act 2:46 And continuing daily with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread at every house, they were sharing food with great happiness and simplicity of heart [fig., generosity],
Act 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people. So the Lord was daily adding the ones being saved to the Assembly [or, Church, and throughout book].

-- Here the overflowing of love and cooperation in the early church won favor for the christians among all the people.


Gen 39:21 And Jehovah was with Joseph, and extended mercy to him, and gave him favour in the eyes of the chief of the tower-house.

-- This is the story of Joseph and how God promoted Joseph to the second most powerful man in egypt due to Jospeh's faithfulness and wisdom.


Gen 50:4 And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found favor in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,
Gen 50:5 My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.

-- Here favor of the pharoh is sought so that Joseph can carry out a covenant Joseph made with his father (Israel).


Act 7:9 "And the patriarchs having become jealous, sold Joseph into Egypt; and [yet] God was with him,
Act 7:10 and delivered him out of all his afflictions and gave to him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he appointed him [as] a ruler over Egypt and all his house.

-- This recounts the story of Joseph


Dan 1:8 And Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not pollute himself with the king's delicate food, nor with the wine which he drank; and he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not have to pollute himself.
Dan 1:9 And God granted Daniel favour and mercy before the prince of the eunuchs.

-- As with Joseph, Daniel found favor with men. Later, favor of the King would lead to Daniel being promoted.


1Ki 11:19 Chadad found great favor in the sight of Par`oh, so that he gave him as wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tachpenes the queen.

-- Example of favor at work


Est 2:17 The king loved Ester more than all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

-- Example of favor at work


Neh 1:11 O Master, listen to me, listen to your servant's prayer--and yes, to all your servants who delight in honoring you--and make me successful today so that I get what I want from the king." I was cupbearer to the king.

-- Nehmiah praying to God for favor with the king so that Nehmiah could go and rebuild Jerusalem.

-- (from Matthew Henry's Commentary) He concludes with a particular petition, that God would prosper him in his undertaking, and give him favour with the king: this man he calls him, for the greatest of men are but men before God; they must know themselves to be so (Psa_9:20), and others must know them to be so. Who art thou that thou shouldst be afraid of a man? Mercy in the sight of this man is what he prays for, meaning not the king's mercy, but mercy from God in his address to the king. Favour with men is then comfortable when we can see it springing from the mercy of God.


Act 26:27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
Act 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
Act 26:29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
Act 26:30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
Act 26:31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
Act 26:32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

-- Here Paul find favor of King Agrippa after giving a wisely worded and annointed defense


Exo 3:20 And I will put forth my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.
Exo 3:21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty.
Exo 3:22 But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall despoil the Egyptians.

Exo 11:2 Speak now in the ears of the people, and let them ask every man of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.
Exo 11:3 And Jehovah gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people.

Exo 12:35 And the sons of Israel did according to the word of Moses. And they asked from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing.
Exo 12:36 And Jehovah gave favor to the people in the eyes of the Egyptians. And they granted their requests. And they plundered Egypt.

-- Here God plants favor toward the Israelites in the hearts of the egyptian peoples. Notice that the egyptian peoples generously give away their valuables to the Israelites.



WHAT NOT TO PRAY FOR
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Sometimes it helps to understand what something is by describing what it is not...

1) Don't pray to override someone's will, God does not force anyone's will
2) Don't pray for *unfair* consideration or preference
3) Don't expect God's blessing on something that he forbids or something you do for any reason other than for His glory.
4) Don't pray for bad things, punishment, or evil to befall another person
5) Don't pray that your screwups be covered up (Note: if you do make a mistake and plant a seed of discord, after you sincerely confess and repent, i believe you can curse the seed that it not take root or bear evil fruit - Mat 21:19)



CONCLUSION
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At this point, I do not believe it is necessarily scriptural to "pray for favor with men" the way I've seen some folks do it.

I believe that the way I have seen people praying this way is actually not done in faith and if it isn't explicitly witchcraft, then it is really close. What I have observed is people asking God intercede for them that they be given them special preference above other people to:

1) cover up their mistakes,
2) get unfair advantage,
3) manipulate people,
4) get something that they want without any consideration or submission to God's will.

There are no examples of Jesus, His disciples, or Paul praying this way.

The only example I can find is in the old testement (Neh 1:11) where Nehmiah asks God for favor with the King so that Nehemiah could go and rebuild Jerusalem, which was something that

God had put into Nehemiah's heart to do in the first place (Neh 2:12)

There are examples of humans favoring God's people and good things coming of that. In all cases the recipients of the favor were not seeking the favor from men, but were seeking God's will, God's grace, and God's glory. God then worked in the hearts of the decision makers to "smooth" the way.

Now having said all that, if someone hasn't yet found scriptures to pray fullly in faith, and in the meantime in prayer asks for "favor with men", if in their heart they understand that to mean that they get fair treatment and that these "men" not stand in the way of God's will and purposes, then I'm not going to say they are doing something necesarily wrong.

However, if in their hearts they are trying to get God to manipulate people so that they get an advantage or that their own purposes are accomplished, then that is clearly witchcraft, and it isn't God that hears or answers that kind of prayer.

Instead, I would pray for God's wisdom and that I would be faithful to Him. That is scriptural as in James 1:5 "But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

There are oodles of examples in scripture of people whose faithfulness and wisdom results in them gaining the favor of God and men. Jesus, Samuel, Joseph, Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack, Abendigo, Paul are just to name a few.



SOME THINGS TO PRAY FOR
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Here are some things we can do (this just scratches the surface)...

What to do:
1) Thank God that no weapon formed against you will prosper (Isa 54:17)

2) Know that greater is He in you that he that is in the world (1John 4:4, John 14:30)

3) Rebuke satan from authoring confusion, strife, circulating lies, gossip, or evil speaking (Isa 54:17, 1Co 14:33, James 3:16)

4) Make sure what you are doing is in faith and to the glory of God, then you know that God will bless it and will promote you before men. (1Pe 5:6)

5) Ask God to bless and multiply the effects of your efforts (Deu 14:29, Isa 65:23)

6) Ask God for His wisdom in what you say and do and that you recognize opportunities that are placed before you (Jam 1:5, Pro 12:14, 1Cor 2:16)

7) Ask God to bless and grant wisdom to those you are transacting with (Pro 12:14)

8) Ask God for grace in the hearts of the decision makers that a way is made for you to carry out God's will (Neh 1:11)

9) Agree with God's Word that all things work together for good for those called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28)

10) God exalts us when we humble ourselves Mat 18:4 "Therefore, whoever will humble himself like this young child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of the heavens."


Also, have no fear

1) Thanks be to God who gives me the victory through Jesus, He always causes me to triumph (1Cor 15:57, 2Cor 2:14)

2) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13)

3) If God be for me, who can stand against me? (Rom 8:31)

4) God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2Tim 1:7, Psalm 27:1, Joshua 1:9, Heb 13:5-6, Rom 8:31, Isa 54:14, Psa 91, Psa 23)

5) God will keep me in perfect peace because my mind is stayed on Him (Isa 26:3, 2Cor 10:5-6, 1Pet 5:7, Phil 4:6-7, Phil 4:8, Joh 14:27, Col 3:15, Psa 119:165, Heb 12:14, James 3:16, Mat 5:9)


Above All:

Thank God and give Him glory for every good thing.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning. (Jam 1:17)

Decide in advance, that regardless of the outcome of any endeavor, you will praise and glorify the Lord.

Good Thing

Pro 5:18 So be happy with your wife and find your joy with the woman you married-
Pro 5:18 Let thy fountain be blessed; And rejoice in the wife of thy youth.

Pro 12:4 A helpful wife is a jewel for her husband, but a shameless wife will make his bones rot.
Pro 12:4 A good wife is her husband's pride and joy; but a wife who brings shame on her husband is like a cancer in his bones.

Pro 18:22 A man's greatest treasure is his wife-- she is a gift from the LORD.
Pro 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.

Pro 19:14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife is from Jehovah.
Pro 31:10 A truly good wife is the most precious treasure a man can find!
Pro 31:10 "Who can find a wife with a strong character? She is worth far more than jewels.
Pro 31:10 How hard it is to find a capable wife! She is worth far more than jewels!
Pro 31:10 A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds.

Pro 31:11 Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it.
Pro 31:12 Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long.
Pro 31:13 She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing.
Pro 31:14 She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises.
Pro 31:15 She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day.
Pro 31:16 She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden.
Pro 31:17 First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
Pro 31:18 She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
Pro 31:19 She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking.
Pro 31:20 She's quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor.
Pro 31:21 She doesn't worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
Pro 31:22 She makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
Pro 31:23 Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers.
Pro 31:24 She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
Pro 31:25 Her clothes are well-made and elegant, and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
Pro 31:26 When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly.
Pro 31:27 She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive.
Pro 31:28 Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise:
Pro 31:29 "Many women have done wonderful things, but you've outclassed them all!"
Pro 31:30 Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-GOD.
Pro 31:31 Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her life with praises!

Excuses

Eze 18:2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

Eze 18:3 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.

Eze 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.


The people were using an old "saying" or proverb as an excuse for their condition.

Basically blaming their current condition on the sins of their fathers and "excusing" their own behavior.

As long as they use this excuse they are denying the delivering power of God in their lives.

Value of Advice

Pro 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Consequences

Forgivness does not necessarily wipe out all the consequences.

If you knowingly go into a situation that God has said not to do, or that there are bad consequences to doing a certain thing, God will forgive you if you repent -- however, you will still have to deal with the consequences of your decisions.

Truly, God forgets our sin when we repent and the eternal consequences are mitigated; however, the temporal consequences we still have to deal with.

Can think of there being both "vertical" and "horizontal" consequences to sin, disobedience, and foolish behavior.

Jesus' death on the cross paid for the "vertical" consequences and restored our relationship with the Father. When we confess our sins and receive what Jesus did for us, then our sins are forgiven and God remembers our sin no more.

What folks sometimes get confused about is when they still get hit with the "horizontal" consequences of their behavior.

When we have wronged someone else, it is important that we take the initiative to do everything we can to seek restoration.

Immediately They Are Offended

Think of a time that you were offended by someone.

You very probably had every justifiable right to be offended by someone else's actions.

They could have done something that would be considered as hurtful by any reasonable person in the same situation.

It was something that would have caused anyone to be hurt, and so you feel fully reasonable and justified in feeling hurt by their actions.

Now, at this point you have a choice.

Yes, even though you might be completely justified in being hurt, you still have a choice.

Popular psychology, society, your parents, friends, and favorite tv personalities would all say that you don't have a choice. That if someone does something hurtful to you, you don't have a choice but to feel hurt. That if you don't accept the hurt and learn to cope with it, that you are in denial.

I'm not talking about denying that someone did something hurtful. I'm not talking about saying that what they did was in any way "right", "ok", acceptable, permissible, or something that can be ignored or rationalized away. I'm not even saying that they don't deserve to be punished for what they did.

Truly, if someone does something hurtful to you, they are responsible for those actions and the consequences regardless of how you react to it.

Hello, did you get that? If someone does something hurtful to you, they are responsible for those actions and their consequences regardless of how you react to it.

Choosing not to react in kind to someone's offense does not alleviate that person of the responsibility for what they have done; all you do is decide to let God judge them instead of you.

Trust me, God is a much better judge than you ever could be.

What I am saying is that you have a choice in how much you let what they did impact your life.

It will only impact you as much as you let it. It will only have as much power over you as you let it. It will only be as big as you make it. It will only control you as much as you tolerate it. You will only be victim to it as much as you allow it.

It doesn't take any faith or special talent for you to accept the hurt and let it take root in your heart. Anyone can do that.

It is the natural reaction of your flesh. The flesh will want to internalize the hurt, and use the hurt as an excuse to have a pity party and pass that hurt on to someone else.

Your flesh loves pity parties. Your flesh loves it when people feel sorry for you and sympathize with you. Your flesh wants to have everyone agree with you, that you have been wronged, and the other person is the bad guy. Your flesh wants the excuse of being a victim for your own poor behavior. Your flesh wants the excuse to turn around and do hurtful things back and feel fully justified in your reaction. Your flesh wants you to listen to your emotions and feelings.

I tell you, when you do that, when you internalize that hurt and react to it, it is its own "reward".

Otherwise, when you do that, you are reacting under your own power and not trusting God to act on your behalf. If you are not trusting God to act in your behalf, then He won't.

By not trusting God to act, you are effectively saying: "God, this person deserves my scorn and I don't want you to interfere. I can handle it, I can punish them better than you can."

Interestingly enough, people will react this way, and then turn around and get mad at God for not doing anything about their situation.

They will let the evil act plant a seed of bitterness in them. They will water those bitter seeds by "meditating" or rehearsing/replaying the hurt over and over (oh, yeah, the flesh really loves to do that too!) that way they can feel the hurt over and over again.

The more they do this, the stronger it takes root in their heart. Out of the overflow of hurt and bitterness in their heart, they turn around and pour it out on people around them. This continues the cycle of hurt, it sows hurt and bitterness in others around you.

Instead of letting it get so far, nip it immediately. Choose not to be offended.

If you choose not to be offended, if you choose not to be hurt, then this is effectively saying: "God, I trust you to take care of me. I see your love as being bigger, more influential, and more powerful than anything anyone else can do to me."

Romans 12:17-21
Repay no one evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as far as is in you, being in peace with all men. Not avenging yourselves, beloved, but giving place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord." Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him. If he thirsts, give him drink. For in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The Message Bible puts it this way:
Rom 12:19 Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."

Would God tell you how to react without giving you the ability to choose to do it that way?

What does it mean to do something in faith?

Particularly in this case, reacting in faith is to choose to put more trust in God's Word than in feelings. Acting in faith is to obey God's Word rather than what your flesh is crying out for.

We can do everything God says we can do because of the strength that Jesus has given us. the Holy Spirit (the Comforter; the Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind) gives us the strength to manage our thoughts and reactions. change the way you think, your feelings will eventually catch up.

Pro 23:7 for as he thinks in his heart, so is he

When you put your trust in God, then that is saying to God: "I trust you to hold this person accountable for their actions. I know you can have a greater impact on them than I ever could myself."

When you react spitefully, all you will accomplish is returning bitterness back to the person who hurt you. You react this way because you doubt that God will do anything about the situation, even though scripture clearly says that He will.

Reacting out of bitterness will only serve to harden their hearts. Within their own minds they will reason that now they are a victim and are justified in reacting... and so on the cycle goes.

By your choice you can break this cycle.

By choosing to react with love and grace this leaves the other person's heart open to the ministering of the Spirit and the person will be more likely to realize the hurt they have done.

"For in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head"

Ok, so how do we prepare ourselves to react this way? Here are two areas to work on for starters.

The first area deals with what you are full of.

When offenses come, just like any other form of stress, it is a kind of pressure or press. Just like a grape (or a bug) when the pressure is on (when it is squished), whatever is inside will come out.

Luk 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

What is inside of you? What have you been spending your time on? What have you been "consuming"? What have you been meditating on?

The second area involves the importance you place on yourself -- a topic being treated in a future article.

Bound by Deceptive Conditions

I come across people everywhere I go who are held bound by deceptive conditions, and these conditions have come about simply because they have allowed the devil to make their minds the place of his stronghold. How are we to guard against this? The Lord has provided us with weapons that are mighty through God to the pulling down of these strongholds of the enemy, and by means of which every thought shall be brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. The blood of Jesus Christ and His mighty name are an antidote to all the subtle seeds of unbelief that Satan would sow in your minds.

Smith Wigglesworth, Ever Increasing Faith, 1924

Blessings

Deu 7:15 And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.

Deu 28:1 And it will be, if you shall listen carefully to the voice of Jehovah your God, to observe and to do all His commandments which I command you today, Jehovah your God will set you on high above all nations of the earth.


Deu 28:2 And all these blessings shall come on you and overtake you, if you will listen to the voice of Jehovah your God.

Deu 28:3 You shall be blessed in the city, and be blessed in the field.

Deu 28:4 The fruit of your body shall be blessed, and the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your cows, and the flocks of your sheep.

Deu 28:5 Your basket and your store shall be blessed.

Deu 28:6 You shall be blessed when you come in, and blessed when you go out.

Deu 28:7 Jehovah shall cause your enemies that rise up against you to be stricken before your face. They shall come out against you one way, and flee before you seven ways.

Deu 28:8 Jehovah shall command the blessing on you in your storehouses, and all that you set your hand to. And He shall bless you in the land which Jehovah your God gives you.

Deu 28:9 Jehovah shall establish you a holy people to Himself, as He has sworn to you, if you shall keep the commandments of Jehovah your God and walk in His ways.

Deu 28:10 And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of Jehovah, and they shall be afraid of you.

Deu 28:11 And Jehovah shall prosper you in goods, in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your cattle, and in the fruit of your ground, in the land which Jehovah swore to your fathers to give you.

Deu 28:12 Jehovah shall open to you His good treasure, the heaven to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. And you shall loan to many nations, and you shall not borrow.

Deu 28:13 And Jehovah shall make you the head, and not the tail. And you shall be always above, and you shall not be beneath, if you listen to the commandments of Jehovah your God, which I command you today, to observe and to do them.

Deu 28:14 And you shall not go aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right hand or the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Mr. Know-It-All

Pro 14:6 A scorner seeks wisdom, and it is not found, but knowledge is easy to him who understands.

"him who understands" is translated "open minded" in other translations. I prefer "teachable", otherwise the scorner is a "know-it-all" and refuses wisdom even when it is right under his nose.

Spirit Testisfieth of Jesus

Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:


2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.


Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.


Neh 9:30 And many years You had patience with them, and testified against them by Your Spirit, by Your prophets, but they would not give ear. And You gave them into the hand of the people of the lands.

Test the Spirits

1Jo 4:1 (GNB) My dear friends, do not believe all who claim to have the Spirit, but test them to find out if the spirit they have comes from God. For many false prophets have gone out everywhere.


1. Will know them by their fruits

Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.


Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.


2. The Spirit of God will Confess Jesus as Messiah, God's Son, the Word made flesh

1Jo 4:2 This is how you will be able to know whether it is God's Spirit: anyone who acknowledges that Jesus Christ came as a human being has the Spirit who comes from God.
1Jo 4:3 But anyone who denies this about Jesus does not have the Spirit from God. The spirit that he has is from the Enemy of Christ; you heard that it would come, and now it is here in the world already.


1Jo 4:2 (MSG) Here's how you test for the genuine Spirit of God. Everyone who confesses openly his faith in Jesus Christ--the Son of God, who came as an actual flesh-and-blood person--comes from God and belongs to God.
1Jo 4:3 And everyone who refuses to confess faith in Jesus has nothing in common with God. This is the spirit of antichrist that you heard was coming. Well, here it is, sooner than we thought!


3. False Spirits Talk the World's Language. Instead of the Truth, they tickle the ears of listeners with what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear.

1Jo 4:4 My dear children, you come from God and belong to God. You have already won a big victory over those false teachers, for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world.
1Jo 4:5 These people belong to the Christ-denying world. They talk the world's language and the world eats it up.
1Jo 4:6 But we come from God and belong to God. Anyone who knows God understands us and listens. The person who has nothing to do with God will, of course, not listen to us. This is another test for telling the Spirit of Truth from the spirit of deception.



4. Love for one another just as He first loved us. The Spirit moves us to show our love to God by loving people.

1Jo 4:7 My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God.
1Jo 4:8 The person who refuses to love doesn't know the first thing about God, because God is love--so you can't know him if you don't love.
1Jo 4:9 This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him.
1Jo 4:10 This is the kind of love we are talking about--not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God.
1Jo 4:11 My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other.

1Jo 4:19 We, though, are going to love--love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.
1Jo 4:20 If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see?
1Jo 4:21 The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got to love both.



5. Keep His commandments. The Holy Spirit and messengers from God will never say or do anything contrary to God's Word.

1Jo 5:2 The reality test on whether or not we love God's children is this: Do we love God? Do we keep his commands?
1Jo 5:3 The proof that we love God comes when we keep his commandments and they are not at all troublesome.

Gangs are nothing new

Pro 1:10 My son, if sinners lure you, do not be willing.
Pro 1:11 If they say, Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, we will watch secretly for the innocent without cause;
Pro 1:12 let us swallow them up alive as the grave, and whole, as those who go down into the pit;
Pro 1:13 we shall find all precious goods; we shall fill our houses with plunder;
Pro 1:14 cast in your lot among us, and let us have one purse.
Pro 1:15 My son, do not walk in the way with them! Keep back your foot from their path,
Pro 1:16 for their feet run to evil and make haste to shed blood.
Pro 1:17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird,
Pro 1:18 And they lie in wait for their own blood; they watch secretly for their own lives.
Pro 1:19 So are the ways of everyone who gains unjust gain; it takes away its owners' life.

Smell of money

Pro 14:4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox."

It is easy to believe a lie, just ignore the truth

Isa 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!


Rev 22:15 But outside are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and makes a lie.

-> Everyone who loves a lie, and everyone who makes a lie

It is easy to believe a lie, just ignore the truth.

"Everyone who loves a lie" are people who like to have thier ears tickled with what they WANT to hear. They will ignore the truth because it is not what they want to hear.


2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.


People go "shopping" for whichever "truth" legitimizes their behavior.


Pro 17:4 (KJV) A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
Pro 17:4 (MSG) Evil people relish malicious conversation; the ears of liars itch for dirty gossip.


Jer 9:4 "Be wary of even longtime neighbors. Don't even trust your grandmother! Brother schemes against brother, like old cheating Jacob. Friend against friend spreads malicious gossip.
Jer 9:5 Neighbors gyp neighbors, never telling the truth. They've trained their tongues to tell lies, and now they can't tell the truth.
Jer 9:6 They pile wrong upon wrong, stack lie upon lie, and refuse to know me." GOD's Decree.


The decietful develop lines of reasoning that have a false basis. The line of reasoning sounds "reasonable", however it has a faulty assumption at its root.


Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Joh 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
Joh 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
Joh 8:47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.


Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.


Rom 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,


Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?


Gal 5:7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?


2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.


2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.


2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.


Jam 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.


1Jo 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:


1Jo 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.


1Jo 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.


1Jo 4:6 (KJV) We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
1Jo 4:6 (MSG) But we come from God and belong to God. Anyone who knows God understands us and listens. The person who has nothing to do with God will, of course, not listen to us. This is another test for telling the Spirit of Truth from the spirit of deception.

Love is a Choice

Response To: "My wife of 10 years has recently asked for a divorce. ... Is it even possible we can work this out or am I holding on to false hope."


I've recently gone through a similar situation with my wife. We have been married 9 years, and things basically have gone down hill from the day we got married until about 6 months ago.

Things aren't perfect, but definitely for the first time I have hope about our marriage, that it can really work, and that it can really be more than just getting by but actually great.

Basically years of my going to counselors, her going to counselors, us going together, each of us going on and off meds, reading books, etc didn't make for any kind of lasting change.

Here are a few points, let me know if you have questions about any of them and I'll go into further detail. None of them really work on their own, but build off each other in no particular order

- I had to realize was that there was nothing I could do to change her, I could only change myself. Trite but true.

- I had to decide to love her whether she love me or not. Even if she never love me, I would first love her.

- I had to decide to love her even if she never changed or even if she changed for the worse.

- I had to decide I was in love with her and not what she did or didn't do.

- Notice these are all DECISIONS, at no point did I guage success on anyone's feelings. Feelings eventually catch up with whatever you DECIDE.

- Look it up, the bible says in two places "Husbands, love your wives". Eph 5:25, Col 3:19. We are told to love our wives. God wouldn't tell us to do it if we couldn't. We can do everything He says we can do because Jesus strengthens us.

- It is NOT about what you can GET out of the relationship.

- It is ALL about what you GIVE into it.

- Relationships must be built. You must contribute love into the relationship.

- If each of you are expecting the other person to fulfill you, then you are each taking from the relationship until there is nothing left.

- A relationship is only built if both are contributing love into it. You may have to contribute in faith until you rebuild the trust. Do not expect your wife to contribute until she begins to trust you.

- If all you have to give is of yourself, then you will give yourself out. Draw your strength, hope, shelter, and love from God. He will fill you to overflowing, and out of the abundance of your heart direct that love to your wife.

- You may be right or have legitimate grievances. You must decide which is more important: to be right or to rebuild your relationship.

- Take responsibility for your actions and for your house. Do not pass the buck. The buck stops with you.

- Take this on like a project you might be assigned on your job. Realize that you will need a plan, a way to measure progress, milestones along the way, and a definite goal.

- You must fight for your marriage harder than you've fought for anything in your life. Do not stop or give up.

- Your wife is NOT the enemy.

- Direct your anger and battle at the true enemy that seeks to steal your joy, kill your relationship, and destroy your marriage.

- Reconciliation. Your wife may forgive you, but forgiveness does not mean immediate reconciliation of trust.

- You can love and forgive someone, but that does not mean you trust them or approve of everything about them immediately.

- Trust can only be earned and/or regained over time.

Fear of Man brings a snare

Pro 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
Pro 29:26 Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.

Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

The Fundamentals

A group of theologians, pastors and laypeople published a series of volumes titled "The Fundamentals". Published between 1910 and 1915, these booklets defined what had been the non-negotiables of the faith since the Apostles' Creed:

1) the infallibility of Scripture
2) the deity of Christ
3) the Virgin Birth and miracles of Christ
4) Christ's substitutionary death
5) Christ's physical resurrection and eventual return.

These were then, as they are today, the backbone of orthodox Christianity. If a fundamentalist is a person who affirms these truths, then there are fundamentalists in every denomination - Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Brethren, Methodist, Episcopal .... Everyone who believes in the orthodox truths about Jesus Christ - in short, every Christian - is a fundamentalist. And we should not shrink from the term nor allow the secular world to distort its meaning.

- An excerpt from "The Body" by Charles Colson.

Intercessions

Luk 1:17 And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.


1Ki 19:15 And Jehovah said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, thou shalt anoint Hazael to be king over Syria;
1Ki 19:16 and Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.

3 Annointings

Hazael - Government
Jehu - Military
Elisha - Ministry


1Ti 2:1 First of all, then, I exhort that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
1Ti 2:2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
1Ti 2:4 who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1Ti 2:5 For God is one, and there is one Mediator of God and of men, the Man Christ Jesus,
1Ti 2:6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
1Ti 2:7 To this I am ordained a preacher and an apostle (I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie), a teacher of the nations, in faith and truth.
1Ti 2:8 Therefore, I desire that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.


- Pray for All Men
- Pray for Kings and all in authority
- Pray for Ministry

My Sheep Know My Voice

Joh 10:4 And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him. For they know his voice.
Joh 10:5 And they will not follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.


I'm not sure where i got it, but somehow "my sheep will hear my voice and not hear the voice of another" got stuck in my head. I can't find a verse like that. Instead it could be summarized "my sheep will hear my voice and not HEED the voice of another". Otherwise, according to John 10:5, the sheep can hear the voice of the good sheepherd and the voice of the stranger, however, they follow the voice they KNOW and flee from the voice they don't recognize.

Now, how do we KNOW the Master's voice? The answer is to have His word abide in us. What you spend time on, you will be sensitive to.

Joh 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Joh 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Joh 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Cost/Benefit Analysis

Luk 14:28 "For which of you*, the one wanting to build a lookout tower, does not first, having sat down, calculate the cost, whether he has the [resources] for [its] completion?
Luk 14:29 "Lest perhaps, after he has laid a foundation, and not being able to finish, all the ones watching begin to be ridiculing him,
Luk 14:30 saying, 'This man began to be building and was not able to finish.'
Luk 14:31 "Or what king going to engage another king in battle, does not, having sat down, first consider if he is able with ten thousand [soldiers] to encounter the one with twenty thousand [soldiers] coming against him?
Luk 14:32 "But if not, while he is still far away, having sent a delegation, he asks the [terms] for peace.
Luk 14:33 "So likewise, every [one] of you* who does not give up all his own possessions is not able to be My disciple.


Mat 13:44 "Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like treasure hid in the field, which a person having found hid, and as a result of his joy, he goes, and all, as much as he has, he sells, and buys that field.
Mat 13:45 "Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a person, a merchant, seeking precious pearls,
Mat 13:46 who having found one very valuable pearl, having gone away, has sold all, as much as he has, and bought it.



If you truly understand the greatness of God and weigh that against any of your wordly possessions, then it is obvious that the cost is miniscule compared to the gain.

Contrary to the opinions of many media moguls, those who follow Christ are not uneducated fools who don't know what they are missing. All the believers I have ever met have been very intelligent, educated individuals who have tried what the world had to offer and found it wanting. They finally found what they were looking for by following Jesus, and the kingdom of heaven caused anything in this world to pale in comparison.

Pride is the source of contention

Pro 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

Pride is the source of contention.

The well-advised are those who are willing to listen to others. Pride prevents you from listening to correction or good advice.

Jam 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.


2Ti 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.


Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Love God, Hate Sin

Note: This is a study in not tolerating sin. There is a difference between hating sin and hating people. Nowhere in the bible is there an advocacy that we should hate people. We are to love people even if they are unlovable the same as God has shown us love when we were unlovable.  What we cannot give place to is the bondage of sin. Loving someone does not mean you approve of their behavior.


Mat 6:24 "No one is able to be serving as a slave to two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other; _you_ are not able to be serving as a slave to God and to worldly wealth.


Lev 19:17 Let there be no hate in your heart for your brother; but you may make a protest to your neighbour, so that he may be stopped from doing evil.


Amo 5:15 Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish justice in the gate: it may be that Jehovah, the God of hosts, will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.


Zec 8:17 and let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith Jehovah.


Psa 5:4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
Psa 5:5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
Psa 5:6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.


Psa 11:5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.


Psa 26:5 I hate the assembly of evil-doers, And will not sit with the wicked.


Psa 97:10 O ye that love Jehovah, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of his saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.


Psa 101:1 I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.
Psa 101:2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
Psa 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
Psa 101:4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.
Psa 101:5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
Psa 101:6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.
Psa 101:7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.
Psa 101:8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.


Psa 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.


Psa 119:113 SAMECH. I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.


Psa 119:127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.
Psa 119:128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.


Psa 119:163 I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.


Psa 139:20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
Psa 139:21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
Psa 139:22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
Psa 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
Psa 139:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.


Pro 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
Pro 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Pro 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Pro 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.


Pro 8:13 The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate.


Psa 31:6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.


Isa 61:8 For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.


Exo 18:21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:


Deu 12:31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.


Deu 16:22 Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the LORD thy God hateth.


Rev 2:6 But you have this, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.


Jud 1:23 But save others with fear, snatching them out of the fire, hating even the garment being stained from the flesh.

Storms

It rains on just and unjust alike.

The same storm came against the man who built his house on the sand as came against the man who built his house on the rock.

After the storm, which house was still standing?

Thought on Thinking

Ain't nothing or nobody going to occupy my thinking that I don't want to.

Don't be a victim

I'm 34 years old, married for 9 years and have two great kiddos. I spent the majority of my 34 years struggling and drifting from extremes of guilt on one side, to trying to rationalize or legitimate the sin in my life on the other.

Finally I got to a point where I found I had to stop struggling under my own power and submit to God and trust Him to show me. What I needed was a teachable heart that would receive God's Word and wisdom. I also began asking God to plant in my heart a desire to learn everything I can about Him, about what Jesus has done for me, and about what it means to have His Holy Spirit living in me. Since then, I have had the greatest turnaround in my life and I have learned so much (though have barely scratched the surface), and am eager to learn more.

Below are some practical things that I found I could do to overcome sin. Each point could easily be a book on its own, but I'll hit on some ideas and explain them further in future posts. I encourage folks to get a bible and concordance and dig further.


1. Get a revelation of what Jesus has done for us and who we are in Christ.

The devil's #1 priority is to make us forget who we are. The fact is, Jesus took our sin and iniquity to the cross and bore the curse so that we don't have to. Satan lies to us and tries to make us a slave to sin in order to separate us from the love of God. What we can do is resist these lies by speaking back to them according to the Word, according to the fact that we are set free through Jesus. The battle has already been won, Satan is defeated. He has no power over us except that which we allow him.


2. We are not victims.

Everything that God has commanded we know we can do, because we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We can't do it alone, but we don't have to. Jesus has already promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us. He wants you delivered and free more than you do. God has delivered us and given us the strength to resist. It is up to us to believe it and not let it pass out of remembrance. God has set before us death and life. The ball is in our court, it is up to us to choose.


3. God is not in love with our behavior -- He is in love with us

God loves you unconditionally and independent of your behavior. We are saved by grace, through faith in Christ Jesus. It is not by works of the law that we are saved.

When we get a realization of this, what Jesus has done for us, how much God loves us, how much it hurts God and breaks His heart when we rebel against Him our actions cannot help but change. We have works of Love and His love reflects in our lives.


4. Crucify the flesh

Jesus took away our sin and our spirit is reborn. It is then up to us to master our desires. The more you feed the flesh, the hungrier it gets -- it always wants more. Satan cannot tempt us except with that which is common to man. Where God works through our spirit, Satan comes at us through our flesh. The more we feed the flesh in any one area, the more we "give place to the devil" and the stronger foothold he gets.

I had problems with masturbation, internet porn, overeating (gluttony), hiding things from my wife, lying, slothfulness, fear, depression, feeling sorry for myself, complaining, (just to name a few).

Each of these would feed off each other. Guilt from one would drive me to indulge in another to try and quiet or at least "drown out" the guilt and the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. Trying to tackle these individually under my own strength did no good.

Realize that God has already delivered us. Receive that in the spirit as a fact and you will have the strength to resist. We have an alternative.

The key is to believe God's Word and not feelings.

Ok. So... Now what. We are supposed to be doers of the Word. What are some practical things to do to demonstrate being an overcomes instead of a victim?

If you try to just fight and suppress thoughts and/or urges, they only come back stronger.

Get the focus off of the sin, the more you spend time thinking about and dwelling on the sin, the stronger the hold it has on you.

Redirect thoughts and attention onto God's Word.

Here's some things I started doing (in no particular order):

A. Have verses ready to fill my mind with and/or speak them out loud (keep a bible handy, put verses on notecards, put up sticky notes, have a bible program in the PC)

B. Thank Jesus that He set me free

C. Sing songs of praise and worship (praise God in all things. Don't wait around for feelings. Feelings will catch up when you offer a sacrifice of praise)

D. Look at pictures of my wife and kids and pray for them

E. Listen to bible teaching tapes/CD's

F. Listen to Christian music/radio

G. Pray in the spirit and with understanding, fellowship with God

H. Fasting. Fasting definitely disciplines the flesh. Keep in mind, that you are not trying to kill your body, your body needs food and water. The goal is to subjugate the flesh. Start out small: fast off sweets/sodas, fast for a meal, or fast for a day or two. Continue to drink water. You are not out to do "penance" or try and impress God. You are telling your flesh that it isn't in control anymore and that you are no longer a victim.

Over time there have been lots of things that I quit doing, but I didn't realize I quit doing them because the desires of my heart have changed. What my attention is focused on, I want more of.


5. Hardness of heart

'Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable; if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things.' (Phil 4:8)

It is very true and worth repeating. Matter of fact, in the bible, repetition is used as a way to emphasize a point. It is repetition and "mulling" God's Word over and over that gets it off the page, in your mind, and dropped down into your heart.

Your heart "softens" to whatever you dwell on, and hardens to whatever you don't spend time on. The more time you spend meditating on God's Word, the "hungrier" you will be for more.

God never leaves us or forsakes us, He speaks to us all the time. The reason we don't have a sense of His presence or hear His voice is because our hearts are hardened to Him.

Don't take my word for it, find out for yourself. If you don't know where to start, then personalize Ephesians 1:17-23 as a prayer for yourself. Read Romans, Galatians, the Gospels and James. Prepare your heart to be fertile ground, plant seeds of the Word, fertilize with repetition and prayer, water with love.


6. Passion is not bad

Feelings, emotions, and passion are not bad things. God created them. Just like everything else they can be a positive tool for you to use to be an overcomes, or they can utterly defeat you if you let them.

One example I'll deal with here is that you need to hate sin.

As long as you are tolerant of sin--as long as you justify, legitimate, make excuses for, and rationalize sin--it will rule your life.

Does that mean you hate or are angry at people? Does this mean you get angry at youself? Absolutely not. I'm talking about hating the sin, hating the bondage, hating the sickness. Hate the same things God hates.

You love people, you are compassionate with people, you listen to people.

Listening empathetically does not mean that you condone, approve of, or tolerate their behavior. Focus in on what is causing pain in people's lives. If you spend time judging people, that means you are focusing on the sin and not the person.

In our personal lives, we need to get back to the point that the mere mention of adultery or fornication get us angry and outraged. The mere thought of lying to your wife should cause anger to rise up in you. The thought of participating in any kind of sexual impurity should get get you mad at the devil.

This whole politically correct society that wants you be tolerant of every kind of sin is right out of satan's playbook. Today's society wants everyone to be passive watered down milquetoast where nobody gets angry about anything and men are supposed to be passionless wimps. If you tolerate sin, it will rule your life.

We are taught that these "negative" feelings are bad, and we should feel guilty because we have them. This is wrong, the problem is that we not being taught how to deal with them and direct them into the right things. So we end up striking out at people and the ones we love. Anger and hatred need to be directed at sin, the devil, bondage, and slavery; not at people.

Hating sin will harden your heart against sin, and you won't hear the voice of the stranger.

--

Whew, ok I'm off my soapbox. I haven't "arrived" yet, but I believe that I've left the station and am on my way. In and of myself I'm not better or different than anyone else. There's nothing special about me, God's love and deliverance from bondage is available to everyone. The only thing we need to do is choose to believe God and His Word instead of our feelings and circumstances.

the test

If your child were to die right now would you:

A) Curse God and wonder why He would allow this to happen
B) Cry "Why Me" and fall into depression
C) Miss them dearly, yet rejoice that they are in heaven
D) Pray in faith that they be raised from the dead

compassion

How "compassionate" is it to try and make someone feel "ok" about being sick or "learn to cope".

Wouldn't it be more compassionate to see the person healed and freed from the bondage of sickness. Isn't living in health a more preferable condition?

Look in the bible for instances where Jesus had compassion on the people. How did He demonstrate this compassion?

Did He pat people on the back and sit in on their pity party?

No, He did something about thier situation.

Mat 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Mat 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Mat 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

Mat 20:34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.


Mar 1:40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
Mar 1:41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
Mar 1:42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.


Mar 6:34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.


See Also:
Mark 5:1-20, Mark 8:1-8, Matthew 15:3--38, Luke 7:12-15


Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luk 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Thoughts on Feelings

- It's not our problems that make use feel a certain way, it is what we think of them that makes us feel that way.

- All too often we look for something that gives us a "tingle in the flesh" to distract us from what is really bothering us.

- We look out to someone else expecting them to fill the void but then we are disappointed when they don't.

- It really isn't the other person that makes us feel a certain way, it is what we think about them that makes us fell one way or another.

What I Don't Believe: Heresy and Apostasy

Heresy and Apostasy

Please note that the following points are not meant to be an outright condemnation of people who may hold to one or more of these beliefs.  Pointing out that something is contrary to scripture is not the same as saying that someone who holds this view is going to hell.  I may speak passionately against false doctrines, but the motivation is a love and compassion for people and the truth, not hatred or malice toward anyone.  I, myself, have held several unscriptural views and as I've grown to better know God through scripture, I have been corrected; and, continue to be corrected...

(a) Calvinism - worships a different "god", perverse understanding of God's nature and motivations, based on Augustine's gnostic and manichaeistic influences. You know these folks because they say you are going to hell if you don't believe in all 5-points of Calvinism. The ultimate "man-centered" gospel is the one that is defined by man and not God.  Often hides behind terms such as "historical Christianity" and "reformed theology".  Claims to literally interpret the Bible, however, places more emphasis on what select reformers said above what the Bible actually says.

And, no, I don't agree with Arminianism either.

Total Depravity (also known as Total Inability and Original Sin) - we are dead in sin, cannot save ourselves  [scripture reveals that we would not be able to choose salvation without the drawing of the Holy Spirit and each man being given a measure of faith]

Unconditional Election - God creates some destined for heaven and others destined to hell [outright false]

Limited Atonement (also known as Particular Atonement) - Jesus only died for the elect [false, Jesus died for the WHOLE world John 1:29, John 3:16, John 4:42, 1Tim 4:10, 1John 2:2, 1John 4:14]

Irresistible Grace - Because God is soveriegn, we have no free will or choice in response [false dillema, in God's sovereignty He gave us a free will to choose whom we will server, our free will is not a challenge to God being Almighty]

Perseverance of the Saints - Unconditional Once-Saved-Always-Saved [false, more of a Conditional Once-Saved-Always-Saved, nothing can take us out of His hand, but we can walk away, we cannot preserve ourselves, God preserves those who endure to the end]

(b) Mormonism/Latter Day Saints - Generally really nice people... however, they are polytheists who follow a works based religion, deifying man in that man can become a god, and believes Jesus was God's first creation.

(c) Roman Catholicism - works based religion, idolatry of Mary, invests priests with power to forgive sins, dictates of the Pope and tradition supersede scripture, forbidding marriage is a doctrine of devils, advocates praying to saints and Mary instead of Jesus.

(d) Emergent/Emerging Church - incorporation of new age and pagan spirituality into Christianity. For example: "contemplative prayer" is really repackaged transcendental meditation. They keep changing names to stay ahead of criticism, so also known as "New Spirituality", "Hipster Christianity", "Attractional", etc. Includes Spiritual Formation, spiritual disciplines of the "desert fathers", walking labyrinths, breath prayers, contemplative prayer, mindless repetitions, in addition to various Roman Catholic mystical practices.

(e) Kingdom Now/Dominion Theology/Reconstruction-ism/New Apostolic Reformation - believes that it is up to Christians to establish God's kingdom on earth before Jesus will return.  This puts them in the position of God in that they can glory in their works to change the world.  The Glory of the Kingdom belongs to God alone.  The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus Himself will establish His Kingdom with a single word when he returns in the same manner that He departed and sets his foot on the Mt. of Olives.

(f) Social Gospel/Liberation Theology/Christian Socialism - believes salvation is achieved by transferring wealth and power from oppressor to the oppressed

(g) Replacement Theology/Antisemitism - believes the church replaces Israel, sides with Satan against God's chosen nation

(h) Universalism - belief that everyone is saved regardless of what they believe

(i) Ecumenism/Syncretism - merging of diverse faiths (note: classical ecumenism was cooperation between different Christian denominations, contemporary ecumenism is merging of Christian and non-Christian religions)

(j) Happiness Gospel / Easy-Believism / Cheep Grace - this says that if you follow these steps or join this church (or sometimes even "receive Jesus"), then your life will be carefree and full of happiness. Tell that to Stephen or any of the other martyrs who have died for the sake of the cross. While there are innumerable benefits and blessings to following Jesus, there is also pruning, correction, and persecution.

(k) Prosperity Gospel - this is a perversion of scriptural giving. Basically says "send me money and God will make you rich." While God does bless us greatly, He meets our "needs" NOT our "greeds". Our giving should be to helping fellow believers, helping unbelievers in order to open their hearts for the Gospel, and spreading the Gospel -- not making TV preachers rich. (see 2 Peter 2:3)  If it really worked the way they say, then those TV preachers should be sending me money...

(l) Faith in Faith - this heresy believes that the power is in OUR faith and words. That if you have strong enough faith, then you can get what you want and if something bad happens to you or you don't get healed it is because you don't have enough faith (or are not donating enough money).  This exalts man to "godhood" and reduces God to a vending machine.  God is our provider and we look to Him to provide as He wills for the purpose of equipping us for performing His service.

(m) "Law of Attraction" / The Secret / hedge witchcraft / positive confession - this heresy believes that if you visualize, concentrate, or repeat affirmations over and over then you can draw things to yourself and reshape your world.  This is witchcraft, divination, and doctrines of demons.  This has infiltrated the Church and also exalts man to "godhood" and reduces God to a vending machine.  God is our provider and we look to Him to provide as He wills for doing His service.

(n) Sacred Names - believes only the hebrew names and pronunciations for Yaweh and Yashua are valid and anything else is the name of a false pagan god.  The problem is, nobody can agree on the right spelling and pronunciations of.  It is not knowing the right symbols, spelling, syllables, and sounds to produce with your vocal chords, it is knowing the character and personality that is important.  Over emphasis on syllables and pronunciation is called "enchantments" in the Bible and has more in common with kabbalah, mystery religions, and witchcraft where the belief is in the power of certain words...   God's truth is that He is the source of power and it has more to do with trust in Him than enchantments and incantations.

(o) Judiazers - beware of Judiazers and legalists that seek to put believers back under the law.  I agree that it is good to get to know the culture of the people in biblical times, however, we should be careful about being lured into legalism often accompanied by kabbalism Gal 5:1; Gal 2:14-16, 21; Acts 15:8-9; 1Tim 4:3

Part 1 - What I Believe

Part 2 - What I Believe: Positions
Part 3 - What I Believe: Concerning Doubtful Things

Part 4 - What I Don't Believe: Heresy and Apostasy

What I Believe: Concerning Doubtful Things

Non-fellowship-breakers

The following doubtful things are things that I may not agree with, however do not see them as necessarily "fellowship-breakers" or "salvation issues".  Of course, some of these things followed to their extreme may lead to apostasy, but for the most part folks adhere to some things just because that's all they've ever heard.

(a) Old earth creationism, gap-theory, pre-Adamite, day-age, Theistic evolution - with the preponderance of evidence against them, I don't know why anyone holds to these beliefs anymore. Theologically, if there was death before Adam sinned, then how could through one man (Jesus) death be defeated (Rom 5:12-17)?

(b) Moderate Calvinism - we probably don't disagree as much as you'd think we would. If you read Scripture in context without adding in the traditions of men, then there is no real controversy.

(c) Cessation-ism - I can find no support for the doctrine of "cessation-ism". While I do not necessarily consider this doctrine outright "heresy" or a fellowship-breaker, it sadly does practice a form of godliness but denies the power thereof and robs Christians of part of their inheritance and empowerment to carry out God's work in their lives. Also, people robbed of true Biblical spirituality are likely to be drawn into forms of occult and new age mysticism to satisfy a desire for spirituality. 

(d) Hyper-Charisma - While the work of the Holy Spirit has not "ceased", I do know that the Holy Spirit does not contradict Himself.  He does all things "decently and in order", and He glorifies Jesus and the Father.

(e) Preterism/Amillenialism/Post-Millenial - Most of these folks think anything that doesn't agree with them is heresy, but I'm willing to have lunch with them and discuss it.

(f) Harpatzo - I only know two points regarding the catching away or "rapture" for sure: 1) there will be a catching away, and 2) it will happen sometime between now and when Jesus places His feet on the Mount of Olives at His second coming.  

The only debate is concerning the timing, which will become clearer and more apparent the closer we get to the time.  Many of the details concerning end time events have been sealed up until the appropriate time, so while there is no "new" revelation, there is an increased understanding of what has been revealed the closer we get to the time of fulfillment.

The danger concerning many teaching of the rapture is the belief that we will escape all persecution and rise of the anti-christ system.  Jesus tells us in John 16:33 that in this life we will have tribulation.  While we will be preserved from the outpouring of God's Wrath (1Thess 5:9), we do need to be prepared to experience and endur the wrath of the enemy and the world system against God's children and the shaking of the world leading up to our Lord's return.

Part 1 - What I Believe

Part 2 - What I Believe: Positions
Part 3 - What I Believe: Doubtful Things

Part 4 - What I Don't Believe: Heresy and Apostasy

What I Believe: Positions

Section 1: Priorities

1.1. The scientific aspects of creation are important, but are secondary in importance to the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ as Sovereign, Creator, Redeemer, and Judge.

1.2. The doctrines of Creator and Creation cannot ultimately be divorced from the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Section 2: Foundations

2.1. The books of the Bible are the written Word of God. The Bible is divinely inspired and inerrant throughout.  It is the supreme authority in everything it teaches. Its authority is not limited to spiritual, religious, or redemptive themes but includes its assertions in such fields as history and science.

2.2. The final guide to the interpretation of Scripture is Scripture itself. The account of origins presented in Genesis is a simple but factual presentation of actual events and therefore provides a reliable framework for scientific research into the question of the origin and history of life, mankind, the earth and the universe.

2.3. The various original life forms (kinds), including mankind, were made by direct creative acts of God. The living descendants of any of the original kinds (apart from man) may represent more than one species today, reflecting the genetic potential within the original kind (variations within kind). Only limited biological changes (including mutational deterioration) have occurred naturally within each kind since creation.

2.4. The great Flood of Genesis was an actual historic event, worldwide (global) in its extent and effect.

2.5. The special creation of Adam (the first man) and Eve (the first woman), and their subsequent fall into sin, is the basis for the necessity of salvation for mankind.

2.6. Death (both physical and spiritual) and bloodshed entered into this world subsequent to and as a direct consequence of man’s sin.

Section 3: Theology

3.1. There is one God, the Godhead is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

3.2. All mankind are sinners, inherently from Adam and individually (by choice), and are therefore subject to God’s wrath and condemnation.

3.3. Freedom from the penalty and power of sin is available to man only through the sacrificial death and shed blood of Jesus Christ and His complete and bodily resurrection from the dead.

3.4. The Holy Spirit draws the sinner to repent and believe in Jesus Christ.

3.5. The Holy Spirit lives and works in each believer to produce the fruits of righteousness.

3.6. Salvation is a gift received by faith alone in Christ alone and expressed in the individual’s repentance, recognition of the death of Christ as full payment for sin, and acceptance of the risen Christ as Savior, Lord, and God.

3.7. All things necessary for our salvation are expressly set down in Scripture.

3.8. Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.

3.9. Jesus Christ rose bodily from the dead, ascended to heaven, and is currently seated at the right hand of God the Father, and shall return in person to this earth as Judge of the living and the dead.

3.10. Satan is the personal spiritual adversary of both God and mankind.

3.11. Those who do not believe in Christ are subject to everlasting conscious punishment, but believers enjoy eternal life with God.

3.12. The only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. Any forms of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, incest, fornication, adultery, pornography, polyamory, etc., are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex in the context of marriage.

3.13. It is the duty of Christians to share the Gospel with the lost and fellowship with other believers, as portrayed in the New Testament.

Section 4: General

4.1. Scripture teaches a recent origin for man and the whole creation, spanning approximately 4,000 years from creation to Christ.

4.2. The days in Genesis do not correspond to geologic ages, but are six [6] consecutive twenty-four [24] hour days of creation.

4.3. The Noachian Flood was a significant geological event and much (but not all) fossiliferous sediment originated at that time. The gap theory has no basis in Scripture.

4.4. The view, commonly used to evade the implications or the authority of biblical teaching, that knowledge and/or truth may be divided into secular and religious, is rejected.

4.5. By definition, no apparent, perceived or claimed evidence in any field, including history and chronology, can be valid if it contradicts the scriptural record. Of primary importance is the fact that evidence is always subject to interpretation by fallible people who do not possess all information.

Controversial Topics

1. Scripture - God's word is so simple to understand, you have to have help to misunderstand it... (1Cor 1:27)

2. Baptism of the Holy Spirit

(a) The Holy Spirit indwells believers when the believer is born again in Jesus Messiah. However, the Holy Spirit is a "gentleman" and does not impose anything on the believer that they do not accept, trust, and/or understand. The "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" is the point, after salvation, where a believer understands and receives who the Holy Spirit is, that the same power that raised Messiah from the dead now dwells in them, and what gifts, ministries, and fruits can now work in their lives due to the empowerment and influence of the Holy Spirit.

(b) The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, according to Acts 2:4, is given to believers who ask for it. The Holy Spirit in a person’s life is evidenced by changes in his life, including a renewed love for God, and people, a commitment to the scriptures and holy living.  All believers are entitled to, and should ardently expect and earnestly seek, the promise of the Father, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, according to the command of Jesus Messiah. With this comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowal of gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry: This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:4-8, 2:38-39, 10:44-46, 11:14-16, 15:7-9; I Cor. 12:1-31).

(c) The Holy Spirit is continuing the work He started at Pentecost, empowering believers to live a godly life and continue in all the works of Jesus. The full consummation of the Baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is evidenced by the subsequent manifestation of spiritual power in public testimony and service. Can be and often is accompanied by speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance (Acts 1:8, 2:4, 10:44-46, 19:2,6).  The spirit filled believer has the capability of speaking with new tongues whether or not he or she chooses to exercise this gifting.  However tongues or emotional experiences should not be construed as "proof" of the Holy Spirit. Instead we know the Holy Spirit indwells us the same way we know we are saved, because scripture says so and we can recognize the source from its fruit (Matt 7:16)

(d) The Holy Spirit will not contradict Himself. Supposed "new" revelations or prophecies that contradict, add to, or "reinterpret" scripture are doctrines of demons or traditions of men and are NOT from the Holy Spirit.

(e) Everything is to be done "decently and in order", to the glory of God, to bring attention to Jesus and NOT to bring attention to self.

(f) The gifts, ministries, and fruits of the Holy Spirit are spiritual and supernatural. While the gifts may at times complement and cooperate with your natural talents, interests, and abilities; the gifts of the Holy Spirit should not be confused with natural talents. Which gift is exercised and when it is to be exercised is directed by the Holy Spirit for the purpose glorifying God and edification of fellow believers (the church). It is not for our convenience or to bring attention to ourselves. (Note that really the "gift" is for the one who benefits from the gift, not the one through whom the Holy Spirit works through to "deliver" the gift).

3. Israel - Israel is still God's chosen people.  Neither the church, America, or any other nation replaces the children of Israel as recipients of God's covenant with Abraham.  Gentile believers are spiritually reborn, grafted, and adopted into sharing the inheritance of Abraham.  The best and highest way to show your love for Jews is to let them know that their Messiah has come and is coming again.

4. Body, Soul, Spirit - The Bible clearly teaches that man is a unified being. However, this unity is divisible into at least two aspects, material and immaterial. In the Bible these aspects are variously termed, body and soul (Matt 10:28), body and mind (Rom 12:1-2), body and spirit (1 Cor 7:34; James 2:26), flesh and spirit (1 Cor 5:5; 2 Cor 7:1), flesh and heart (Rom 2:28-29), and the outer man and inner man (2 Cor 4:16). Human beings, though they were created to live in the physical world, are also capable of existing in the spiritual realm as a soul/spirit without the physical body (Heb. 12:23; Rev. 6:9-11). While at times the bible uses spirit and soul interchangeably (when referring to the human spirit, not the Holy Spirit), the bible also makes a distinction between the soul and spirit (Heb. 4:12; 1 Cor. 14:14). The doctrine of body, soul, spirit is known as "Trichotomy" or "Tripartite" and can be substantiated -- however, conclusions about the distinctions between soul and spirit and what it signifies cannot go any farther what is actually in Scripture.

5. Healing - The bible instructs us to pray for and anoint the sick and expect them to get well (James 5:14). Healing is part of the Atonement.  Jesus bore the curse of sin, sickness, and death on the cross (Isa 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24).  Does this mean we don't go to the doctor or don't take medication?  No, we should pray before, during, and after going to the doctor and/or taking medication.  If I'm not healed, is that because I don't have enough faith?  It is NOT the "power of faith" that heals you, it is the power of God and you put your trust in God.  God heals for His glory and purposes (which ultimately is in your best interest) and not for your immediate convenience.  The work on the cross was complete and eternal, however any healing we experience currently in this body is still incomplete and temporary as this body was born under the curse and still grows old and dies. In the future we will have a new body that is created free of the curse, this new body was purchased as part of the atonement as well.  We will finally have the manifestation of complete and eternal regenerative healing in the resurrection body being prepared for us.

6. Free Will - God reveals in scripture that, in His Sovereignty and according to His Design, He gave man free will to choose who he would serve.  The gift of free will does not limit God, in fact it demonstrates that God is so Great that His Sovereignty is not challenged or compromised by our having free will.

7. "Once saved, always saved" - No, you don't have to get re-saved again after every sin you commit and live in worry about dying suddenly with an unconfessed sin and loosing your salvation. Jesus died once for your sin and you cannot re-crucify Him. (1Peter 3:18; Heb 6:4-6)

This, however, is not a license to sin.  The Bible does speak of "falling away" and "he that endureth to the end shall be saved".  While God will not reject one of His children and nothing can take you out of His hands, you can walk away from Him. If someone is habitually living in blatant sin and never comes under conviction to change their ways, then that is a sign that they either have willfully and knowingly rejected the Gospel or never really received salvation to begin with.

Probably the most pervasive problem among so-called Christians is false-conversion.  There are "false converts" who may mentally ascend (agree with in their mind) to the gospel, but do not truly receive it (Mat 7:21-23). For a time or in some areas of life they may appear to be christian in their works, but their secret sins will eventually bear fruit and be brought out into the light.  It is also possible for someone to knowingly and willfully reject the Holy Spirit (reprobate).  You cannot accidentally "lose" your salvation, but you can reject your salvation. This article actually says it better than I can: http://www.crivoice.org/security.html

How do you know if you are reprobate or have committed the unforgivable sin?  If it concerns you, then you can still be saved.  A reprobate is no longer concerned about salvation because their hearts have been seared and can no longer respond to the Holy Spirit.

Believers cannot preserve themselves in their own strength.  It is God who preserves the believer.  The part for the believer is to continue in the faith (act of  will) and God does the preserving.

Who is preserved?  Those who endure to the end.

8. Dispensationalism - God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  While He has not changed, He has dealt with individuals, families, nations, and mankind in differing ways over time as appropriate to the generation. This should not be seen as dividing lines where one replaces the other, but more of building of one off the other.  It is similar to the way a parent treats a child differently as he/she matures: a six month old baby is treated different than a toddler, a six year old, a teen, young adult, older adult, etc. The nature of the parent does not change, but the way the parent treats the child changes as the child matures.  From cover to cover, scripture is a consistent and unveiling revelation of God's nature and Jesus.

All scripture if profitable.  Rightfully dividing does not mean chopping up the Bible into pieces and picking and choosing which pieces you want to follow.

Salvation has always been and continues to be salvation by faith through grace.  The law never saved anyone.  Before the cross it was about looking forward to Messiah's coming (old testament).  After the cross, it is about looking to Jesus's completed work on the cross and Resurrection (new testament).

9. Laying of Hands - Biblically based "laying on of hands" is still valid today.  However, Satan is a deceiver and seeks to pervert everything of God. Keep in mind that Satan has a false, perverted version of most every work of the Holy Spirit.  False religions such as Reiki also use laying of hands to impart a demon spirit that imparts a form of "healing". This does not mean that all healing or laying of hands is "of the devil" -- it is just doubly important that you know and follow the Bible when it comes to these things and not get duped into a false practice.

10. Canon and Bible Versions - If we are to be held accountable to a standard, it is imperative that we have that standard available to test against.  God promised to preserve His Word through the ages for this purpose.   I spent over two years researching before I came to the conclusion that the canon of 66 books in what we call the Bible can be reliably trusted as scripture.  I then spend another two years learning about bible versions before coming to the conclusion that the 1611 Authorized Version (aka King James) is God's preserved word in English.

As far as material not considered cannon, here are three categories:

a) Gnostic books - there are hundreds of these "so-called" books written by other apostles, but they all appeared well after the first century church, these are clearly heretical as many of the epistles directly warn against gnosticism

b) Apocrypha - the apocrypha has some historical background information for the 400 silent years of the inter-testamental period between the time of the prophet Malachi and John the Baptist.  These were not preserved with the same rigor and reliability of the canon.

c) Extra-Biblical Texts - the books of Enoch, Jubilees, and Jasher are referenced and quoted in the Bible.  Their trace-ability and text has not been preserved with the same rigor and reliability as with the canon, so one must be careful about anything in these books that is not mentioned in the Bible or seems to go contrary to something in the Bible.  These books may give additional information relevant to events described in the Bible; however, doctrine should not be based on them.

11.  Ordinances -vs- Sacraments

There are many who confuse the meanings of the terms ordinance and sacrament.  When I use the terms I differentiate between them as follows:

a) A sacrament is a work that contributes to or necessary for salvation.  If an institution portrays a religious activity as a requirement for salvation, then it is a sacrament regardless of what they call it otherwise.

b) An ordinance is merely an outward expression of something that has already taken place internally and spiritually.  The two ordinances identified in scripture as continued practices of believers include immersion (baptizo) and the "Lord's supper".

Jesus was immersed to fulfill all righteousness and believers throughout the gospels, the book of Acts and the first century church were immersed as an outward testimony of their belief.  They weren't saved by immersion, but immersion was an expression and testimony to others of their salvation.

The same with perceiving the body and blood of Messiah represented by the unleavened bread and wine used in the Passover meal.  Jesus instructed "As often as you do this, this do in remembrance of me" and Paul goes on to say that we should not partake of it unless we understand this representation (1 Cor 11:23-27)

  

Part 1 - What I Believe

Part 2 - What I Believe: Positions
Part 3 - What I Believe: Doubtful Things

Part 4 - What I Don't Believe: Heresy and Apostasy