Tag

Christians

Jun 14 2018
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Ready or Scoffing

By | Eyesalve

“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” II Peter 3:4

 

We would expect scoffing to come from the world, but the worse scoffing will come from church members. The more Christians get wrapped and absorbed into the world, the further their mind is from Christ and the less interested they are in His return. Thus they will mock those believers who are excited about the soon return of the Lord. He is coming soon, are you ready or are you scoffing?

Jan 07 2016
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Eyesalve: Hypocrites Get Rewards Too

By | Eyesalve

“Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” Mt. 6:2

 

God is a rewarding God. He rewards even the hypocrites. However, their reward isn’t in heaven, it is for but a moment here on earth. One of the reasons America is so blessed is because our country, even our government, has helped those in need. Not just in our country, but around the world. This does not mean our politicians and most Americans are Christians, they are just collecting their rewards now.

Nov 16 2015
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Hypocrisy, Satan’s Greatest Sermon

By | Articles

Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines hypocrite as: a person who claims or pretends to have certain beliefs about what is right but who behaves in a way that disagrees with those beliefs.

 

Hypocrisy is Satan’s greatest sermon; hypocrites are Satan’s greatest preachers.

 

In my estimation there are few things that are as effective for turning people off from being a Christian than hypocrisy. Jesus showed great mercy on the Samaritan woman who had five husbands and was living with a man who wasn’t. He extended mercy to the woman caught in adultery when He said to her, “neither do I condemn thee.” However, when it came to the hypocritical Scribes, Pharisees and Priests, Jesus really laid into them. He had no problem openly calling these men hypocrites. If you look up the word “Pharisee” in some dictionaries you will find two meanings for the word. One meaning is that a Pharisee was a member of a Jewish religious group that followed the Torah. You will find a second meaning for the word Pharisee to be a self-righteous hypocritical person. This definition came about by the observation of the hypocritical life that the Pharisees lived. They said one thing, but did another. Jesus plainly described them.

 

“Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.” (Matthew 23:2-3)

 

One of the biggest complaints that heathens have against the church of Jesus Christ is the rampant hypocrisy they see in those who profess to be Christians. Even worse, is when they see it in those that are ordained ministers. One reason for that hypocrisy, at least here in America, is we have far too many people that claim to be Christians that are not even born again. They cannot help but to live a hypocritical lifestyle to some degree, especially if they are trying to be religious. Those that are born again are promised power over sin, those that are not born again have no power over sin.

 

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the

sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12).

 

No matter how much a lost person may hate hypocrisy, they can’t help but act in hypocritical ways at times. For the true born again believer, we have power over sin and therefore hypocrisy must be far from us. The devil is waiting around every corner ready to expose every Christian that acts in hypocritical ways. People hate hypocrisy. They hate it when a Christian preaches to others how they need to quit acting like a sinner, but then will go and live like one themselves. Jesus said of the Pharisees:

 

“… Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” (Luke 12:1).

 

Jesus had no problem openly reproving the Pharisees. He spoke out, not just to His disciples, but to the multitudes of people of just who these Pharisees were:

 

“For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders;

but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers” (Matthew 23:4).

 

The scribes and Pharisees were quick to make up their own rules and use them to oppress others, but for some reason they never intended for those rules to apply to their own life. The Pharisees were very judgmental of others, but thought judgment would pass them by. The whole twenty third chapter of Matthew is a record of Jesus warning the people of the scribes and Pharisees and exposing who they were. Jesus even resorted to name calling, something you would think is strictly forbidden for any Christian to do. However, He wasn’t calling them anything that wasn’t true. Jesus called them blind guides, fools, whited sepulchers full of dead men’s bones, serpents and a generation of vipers. It might be hard to see Jesus in this light, but He did not tolerate open hypocrisy.

Seven times in the twenty third chapter of Matthew, Jesus said “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” It is clear to see how much Jesus hates the sin of hypocrisy. Jesus also gave a very strong warning to those who are hypocrites.

 

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation” (Matthew 23:14).

 

Saint of God, let me get right to the point. You can fool people, but you will not fool God. He knows your heart, He knows your mind, and He knows exactly how you live your life. Do you pretend to be something you are not? Do you try to portray yourself to have a greater love and devotion for God than you do? If you have been living a hypocritical life, God knows it, and with great grace He is willing to forgive you of your hypocrisy.

Hypocrisy doesn’t just offend God and irritate people, it is one of the most destructive things when it comes to raising children. I have pondered on why God gives us children while we are so young. You would think that we should have children toward the end of our lives when we have so much more wisdom. Although it may take more energy than wisdom when it comes to raising children (ha ha). It can seem overwhelming for a young couple to be given a child, which is such a wonderful gift from God, and face the responsibility of raising it. Mom and dad can feel so proud of their young one and yet feel so inadequate when it comes to raising the child. I want to give you some advice since I am a father that raised three boys. You may fail your children at times during those child rearing days, but one of the greatest things you can do for your children is DO NOT LIVE A HYPOCRITICAL LIFE. DO NOT BE A HYPOCRITE. Be the same in church as you are in the home; be the same when you are with other believers as you are with your family. I can’t help but to believe that hypocrisy by parents, especially dad, has caused more children to hate Christianity than any other thing they could do.

One thing that hypocrites do really well is talk spiritual. They quote scripture and say all kinds of spiritual things to get the attention of others, but yet their hearts are far from God.

 

“He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Mark 7:6).

 

I wonder how many proclaiming Christians are in church Sunday morning, singing the praises of God and offering up worship and then the rest of the week are living for the devil. That is called hypocrisy and again I will say, God is not fooled. He will reject those songs of praise and worship. Fellow believer, walk in the light God has given you. Be true to God and your fellow man and you will not have to hear, “Woe unto you.”

Oct 29 2015
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Eyesalve Don’t Feel Hurt, Get A Burden

By | Eyesalve

“And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.” I Sam. 8:7

Whenever you stand unwavering for the truth you will face rejection. The rejection that will be the hardest to deal with is when that rejection comes from those who consider themselves Christians. It is hard for any Christian to have to face this kind of rejection. It often leads to hurt feelings that can fester into bitterness. However, if you always remember that when other believers reject you for holding to the truth, they are not rejecting you, but God. I pray that we don’t consider our own hurt feelings, but instead get a burden for our brethren and go before the Lord in prayer for them.

Apr 10 2015
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Eyesalve: Be Christlike

By | Eyesalve

“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” Eph. 4:13

I am reading a book called “Unto Full Stature.” The author, DeVern Fromke, starts chapter six with a quote from A. W. Tozer. Here is part of that quote. “For this reason it is critically important that we Christians should have right models. It is not enough to say that our model should be Christ. While that is true, it is also true that Christ is known mostly through the lives of His professed followers, and the more prominent and vocal these followers are the more powerful will be their influence upon the rank and file of Christians. If the models are imperfect the whole standard of Christian living must suffer as a result. A sacred obligation lies upon each of us to be Christlike. This generation of Christians must have models it can safely admire. That is not the primary reason for seeking to be holy, but it is a powerful one. Many beginners are taking us for their example.”

Jan 30 2015
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Are We Just Sinners Saved By Grace?

By | Articles

There is a little phrase or slogan that is being said quite often in our church generation. That phrase is, “I’m just a sinner saved by grace.” There is even a song that the Gaither’s sing called “Sinner Saved by Grace.” Here are some of the words from the song: “And made me what I am today, just an old sinner saved by grace. I’m just a sinner, saved by grace.” So, is that what we really are? Evidently, many Christians think so, for I hear them say it, and I know many more believe that. I want to deal with this statement, so I ask you to give prayerful consideration to what I will be saying.

I want to start with a simple lesson from everyday life. Before I was married, I was free to live an independent life. I was what is called single. Once I stood before God with my bride and said “I do,” I gave up my independent single life. I became one with my wife at that moment and left that altar a married man. Since that day I got married, I have had some moments of desire for that independent life. There were even some times my wife got frustrated with me for doing my own thing, being selfish. Anyway, let me ask you a question to start challenging your thinking. Would my marital status change if I acted like a single man? Was I not still married even if there were moments I may have acted contrary to that? Now that I have you thinking a little bit, consider this scripture, “Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (1Co 6:10-11) There was a time I was a single man, and such were some of you brothers reading this article, but today you are married. You are not called a single man, but a married man. There was a time in my life, and in yours, if you are born again, when we were called sinners. I was a sinner, and I knew I was a sinner. Some of my sins I liked, some I was ashamed of. One thing for certain, I was in bondage to sin. However, when I got saved, I didn’t just get my sins forgiven and promised heaven, but I was also given power over sin and freed from the bondage of sin in my life. So with that said, I stand confidently before the Lord today and tell you I am no longer a sinner. I am washed, I am sanctified, and I am justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I belong to Him now, and I identify with His life now. I must add that I do sin sometimes, but thank God sin is not my common practice. Righteousness, holiness and obedience to the will of God is the life I identify with.

Let’s go back to the example of marriage. You who are married, would you ever even think to deny you are married just because you failed your spouse sometimes? If I heard a married man say, “I am just a single man that is married to a woman,” I would consider him a selfish man that probably doesn’t want to be married. So I ask, why are some Christians so willing to identify with that old life they once lived, and consider themselves that same old sinner? There can only be a few reasons they would say such a thing. One reason is they may have never really been born again and made a brand new creature, but have somehow been convinced they are saved. Another reason is that, some just repeat what others may teach. A new believer tends to accept what older Christians say as a true Christian doctrine. A final reason is that some Christians may really be unwilling to fully yield to Christ. Therefore, they find some comfort in the idea that they are still just sinners, and shouldn’t be expected to live truly righteous lives.

So I think by now you can see that I do not agree with the statement that we are just sinners saved by grace. Instead, I say, “I was a sinner that got saved by grace.” Here is what the bible calls us that are born again: saints (sacred, blameless), believers, disciples, Christians (first called that in Antioch), brethren, children of God, servants, righteous and a few other titles. In all my reading I have yet to come across a born again believer labeled as a sinner.

Why do I even bring this issue up? Is it really that big of a deal? I think so, and following is one example why I feel that way. I have ministered to prisoners with other fellow servants of God. You may be surprised that many of the inmates that attend our meetings profess they are believers or claim that they once served the Lord. How is it, that men claiming to be Christians, find themselves law breakers to such a point that they have to be locked up in prison? Now if they were in prison because of the testimony of Christ, that would be completely different, but that is not the case. Now some of these men are desperate for an answer, because they don’t want to be jail birds for the rest of their lives. They want and need a minister of God to come in and tell them of the delivering power of God. No matter how good our intentions might be, we must not go in and say to them, “you know what guys, I am no different than you. I too am a sinner, I am just saved by grace.” These men don’t need to hear that hopeless talk. They need to hear that there is more than just forgiveness for sin. They need to hear that there is life changing power given from God to deliver them from the sin that put them in jail to the righteous life that will keep them out. If sinners want to be delivered from the bondage of sin, but you go and tell them that you too are nothing more than a sinner, thinking that will help console them, you are terribly mistaken. I ask, are we delivered from a sinful life or not?

One of my favorite scriptures I use when preaching to the lost is ‘But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (Jn. 1:12). Yes, we are given power to be children of God. We do not remain a people that are overcome with sin. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2Co 5:17). Therefore, I am no longer a sinner, I got converted to a saint. Hallelujah!

I know someone may ask, what about Paul claiming to be chief of sinners? I will deal with that question in next month’s article as I continue on this topic.

Dec 15 2014
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Eyesalve: They Called Them Christians

By | Eyesalve

“And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” Acts 11:26

The word “Christian” means a follower of Christ. Those in Antioch noticed that these believers followed Christ, therefore they called them Christians. Christianity would be much different if those of this world noticed that Christians were followers of Christ, because it was obvious they did follow Christ, instead of Christians having to try to convince others that they are a follower of Christ.