Feel The Pain
We have all had pain in our lives. It may have been physical pain, emotional, or even mental pain, but we have all had some type of pain since we were born and began our lives. Some pain we feel is greater than others. Some bearable and some seemingly unbearable. I know, and can speak from experience, that there is pain we think will never end. These types of pains are usually emotional pains.
I believe the greatest pain a person can feel is the pain of separation. This type of pain touches us mentally, emotionally, physically, and even sometimes spiritually. If someone loses somebody to death, their first thought is what are they going to do. This same thought crosses the minds of those who go through the pain of divorce.
What makes the pain of separation greater than any other pain? I believe it is because God's purpose for man was not for him to be alone.
" And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him." Genesis 2:18 (KJV)
Because God had created man in His image and likeness, which means He made man to be like Him in every aspect, He also put in him the desire and need for companionship. Time and again scientific experiments show that people who are deprived from any social contact begin to show signs of mental breakdown. I watched part of a Twilight Zone episode that depicted a futuristic society where the punishment for certain crimes was a sentence of invisibility. A person would not be locked up but rather marked on the forehead. Those who saw the mark of invisibility on their forehead knew they were to act as though that person wasn't there. Totally ignore the person, thus making them invisible. A man who had been sentenced to invisibility acted as though it was fun and great at first, but the more people ignored him and refused to talk to him the more desperate for communication he became. He would beg people to speak to him. Did you ever wonder why solitary confinement was supposed to be so terrible of a sentence for someone? That need for social interaction goes to the heart of who we are and even to our spirit.
I have often heard that the most horrifying thing about hell is not the physical pain that never ends. Not the torture on the damned spirit or burning forever in the lake of fire. Possibly the most horrifying element of hell is total eternal separation from God. Complete and total separation from the one who created us and breathed life into us. I know that when I have missed the mark or for a better terminology, sinned, the distance I feel from God is to the point of depressing. Sin separates us from God. The bible asks the question, how can light and darkness co-exist. God is light and sin is darkness.
For all the pain we experience and feel in our lives, that pain of being separated from God is the one we should strive to avoid. I believe God hurts every time we hurt no matter what that hurt may be, it's just the fact that we His children are hurting. I cringe at the mere thought of one of my children being hurt.
Jesus bore the pain and paid the price of our sin. He felt the excruciating pain of separation as he prayed in the garden of Eden. The mental anguish of being separated from God the Father shook him to his core.
"And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." St. Luke 22:44 (KJV)
It has been said that a person can reach such despair that there blood vessels can burst and they will literally sweat blood, but a person has to be in that extreme state for it to happen. Jesus was obviously in that state of despair. The bible says that God turned His back on Jesus. It has been said that God turned His back because He could not bear to see His son Jesus that way. In a sense that may be true, but Jesus was taking our sins upon himself and God was separating from that sin. Through all of that Jesus still prayed not his will, but God's will be done. When we are feeling pain all we can pray is please take it away.
We live in a fallen world. We are imperfect people living with imperfect people. Hurts and pains will always be in our lives until Jesus returns. The solution to feeling the pain isn't trying to not feel it, but embrace it for what it is and know that it is not a lasting thing. When I went through some of the most devastating and painful times of my life I wanted nothing more than for it to end. I searched and did anything I could to learn how to stop the pain. What I learned was that I wasn't alone in my pain. Jesus was there with me, in the form of friends and things like music and God's word that helped the healing. I also learned that time heals all wounds, if you let it. Feeling pain is just the momentary circumstance. Healing pain is an on going process. The process of Jesus. Bring the pain.
In Christ, Kevin
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
The Truth: Prosperity
Since the "Prosperity Gospel" as it is called began to be preached, mostly by Word of Faith teachers, there has been great controversy and argument over the subject. There are those who contend that God's blessings and particularly prosperity is for us and that we should be living prosperous. Then there are those who say that the prosperity teachings are false and erroneous.
I recently had someone say that they would like to know the truth about prosperity and not just what so and so says about it. Well, in a sense what so and so says is usually what they have heard a prosperity teacher say and usually the truth of the teaching is not conveyed or only a part of it is, which creates a misunderstanding of it. All of this can lead to confusion and frustration. I want to offer what the bible says concerning prosperity and some wisdom and understanding that I have gained on the subject.
I will be honest and say that I do believe in prosperity and that it is God's will for His children to prosper. I also believe that prosperity has been taught in error by some. This is for learning and understanding, not unproductive arguments. I know what I believe and why and stand firm in that. It is my goal to help guide you to that place of understanding also. I encourage you to search the Word for yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you. This is also not everything that could be said on the subject of prosperity, but a beginning at least. Now with that said, let's begin.
First of all, is it God's will for us to prosper? Let's look at this scripture.
" Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." 3 John v2 (KJV)
This is not God directly speaking, but rather John to Gaius. We know though that the writing of scripture was inspired by God through the prophets. John may have been writing to someone else, but God was writing to us. He says that He wishes above all things that we may prosper and be in health. With that we mus understand what prosperity is.
The world's definition of prosperity is financial gain, social favor, good looks, nice cars, and big homes. There is nothing wrong with any of those things if they are kept in their proper place. True prosperity is the ability to use God's ability and power to meet the needs of mankind-regardless of what those needs may be. What that means is, we are to walk in the word of God and be led of the Holy Spirit, doing those things which God directs us. Let me say it this way. You are to be a hose pipe. Yes, a hose pipe. A hose pipe that is used by it's owner stays wet on the inside as it is used to water other things. God uses us as the hose pipe/avenue through which He blesses His people and in that process we stay blessed/prosperous.
The last part of the scripture says, "even as thy soul prospereth". Now we have to understand that our soul is not our spirit. They are two different things. Man is made up of three parts. We are a spirit, we live in a body, and we have a soul. Our soul consists of our mind, will and emotions. So when God says He wants our souls to prosper, He means this; We are to learn and gain knowledge and purpose/will to use that knowledge with wisdom and compassion/emotions for others.
You see I firmly believe that God does want us to prosper, even financially prosper, but not for our selfish, human wants. Financial prosperity is not a sign of God's blessing. If that were so, then wealthy drug lords, pornographers, etc. would be spiritual powerhouses. Material wealth can be connected to the blessings of God or it can be totally disconnected from them.
Now, one verse of scripture that is also commonly associated with prosperity is this one.
" Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye met withal it shall be measured to you again." Luke 6:38 (KJV)
This verse clearly states that if we give/be a blessing, then blessings/prosperity will be given to us. It states that the blessings will be so much that they are pressed down and shaken together to make room and they still run over. The next part tells us who God will use to bless us. He will use men. God uses us to bless and prosper each other.
Some people have used this verse with misplaced good intentions and some have used it with manipulative purposes. Prosperity is not giving to get. Giving to the church or a ministry or into someones life is not a type of heavenly vending machine. I firmly believe it is a matter of the heart. Your heart felt reason for giving something whether it is a financial blessing or blessing someone with a particular thing is what determines the return blessings you receive.
Many have erred in the teaching of prosperity. They have erred in the understanding of what true prosperity is. They have also erred in using what God meant as blessings for His children for their own gain.
I was once involved with a ministry who's uses of church and ministry finances became questionable. Other people who were involved with this ministry were upset and offended that tithes and offerings they had given were possibly being misused. This is how I see it. When I give my tithes and offerings, I am giving in obedience to God's word and from my heart. I am giving to God what already belongs to Him for His kingdom and the gospel. Once I give, then it is no longer my concern what happens with it. If it is misused then that will be between that person and God. I'm not saying that if someone is found to be misusing church funds they should not be dealt with, I am saying that the blessings I receive from my giving doe not depend on what they do with it, only my heart reason for giving does.
The main focus of biblical prosperity is not to prosper, but to seek the one who prospers us. We sometimes unintentionally forget that it is God who has given us the power to prosper and Jesus who has made it possible once again for us to be prosperous.
" But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus"
Philippians 4:19 (KJV)
God supplies our needs. What needs? All our needs, whatever those needs may be. How does He supply them? According to His riches, not ours, His. Now what would God consider riches? How is He going to do it? By Christ Jesus. Jesus who bought back for us everything that Satan tricked Adam out of. Adam owned the world and so do we. That is the truth.
In Christ, Kevin
I recently had someone say that they would like to know the truth about prosperity and not just what so and so says about it. Well, in a sense what so and so says is usually what they have heard a prosperity teacher say and usually the truth of the teaching is not conveyed or only a part of it is, which creates a misunderstanding of it. All of this can lead to confusion and frustration. I want to offer what the bible says concerning prosperity and some wisdom and understanding that I have gained on the subject.
I will be honest and say that I do believe in prosperity and that it is God's will for His children to prosper. I also believe that prosperity has been taught in error by some. This is for learning and understanding, not unproductive arguments. I know what I believe and why and stand firm in that. It is my goal to help guide you to that place of understanding also. I encourage you to search the Word for yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you. This is also not everything that could be said on the subject of prosperity, but a beginning at least. Now with that said, let's begin.
First of all, is it God's will for us to prosper? Let's look at this scripture.
" Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." 3 John v2 (KJV)
This is not God directly speaking, but rather John to Gaius. We know though that the writing of scripture was inspired by God through the prophets. John may have been writing to someone else, but God was writing to us. He says that He wishes above all things that we may prosper and be in health. With that we mus understand what prosperity is.
The world's definition of prosperity is financial gain, social favor, good looks, nice cars, and big homes. There is nothing wrong with any of those things if they are kept in their proper place. True prosperity is the ability to use God's ability and power to meet the needs of mankind-regardless of what those needs may be. What that means is, we are to walk in the word of God and be led of the Holy Spirit, doing those things which God directs us. Let me say it this way. You are to be a hose pipe. Yes, a hose pipe. A hose pipe that is used by it's owner stays wet on the inside as it is used to water other things. God uses us as the hose pipe/avenue through which He blesses His people and in that process we stay blessed/prosperous.
The last part of the scripture says, "even as thy soul prospereth". Now we have to understand that our soul is not our spirit. They are two different things. Man is made up of three parts. We are a spirit, we live in a body, and we have a soul. Our soul consists of our mind, will and emotions. So when God says He wants our souls to prosper, He means this; We are to learn and gain knowledge and purpose/will to use that knowledge with wisdom and compassion/emotions for others.
You see I firmly believe that God does want us to prosper, even financially prosper, but not for our selfish, human wants. Financial prosperity is not a sign of God's blessing. If that were so, then wealthy drug lords, pornographers, etc. would be spiritual powerhouses. Material wealth can be connected to the blessings of God or it can be totally disconnected from them.
Now, one verse of scripture that is also commonly associated with prosperity is this one.
" Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye met withal it shall be measured to you again." Luke 6:38 (KJV)
This verse clearly states that if we give/be a blessing, then blessings/prosperity will be given to us. It states that the blessings will be so much that they are pressed down and shaken together to make room and they still run over. The next part tells us who God will use to bless us. He will use men. God uses us to bless and prosper each other.
Some people have used this verse with misplaced good intentions and some have used it with manipulative purposes. Prosperity is not giving to get. Giving to the church or a ministry or into someones life is not a type of heavenly vending machine. I firmly believe it is a matter of the heart. Your heart felt reason for giving something whether it is a financial blessing or blessing someone with a particular thing is what determines the return blessings you receive.
Many have erred in the teaching of prosperity. They have erred in the understanding of what true prosperity is. They have also erred in using what God meant as blessings for His children for their own gain.
I was once involved with a ministry who's uses of church and ministry finances became questionable. Other people who were involved with this ministry were upset and offended that tithes and offerings they had given were possibly being misused. This is how I see it. When I give my tithes and offerings, I am giving in obedience to God's word and from my heart. I am giving to God what already belongs to Him for His kingdom and the gospel. Once I give, then it is no longer my concern what happens with it. If it is misused then that will be between that person and God. I'm not saying that if someone is found to be misusing church funds they should not be dealt with, I am saying that the blessings I receive from my giving doe not depend on what they do with it, only my heart reason for giving does.
The main focus of biblical prosperity is not to prosper, but to seek the one who prospers us. We sometimes unintentionally forget that it is God who has given us the power to prosper and Jesus who has made it possible once again for us to be prosperous.
" But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus"
Philippians 4:19 (KJV)
God supplies our needs. What needs? All our needs, whatever those needs may be. How does He supply them? According to His riches, not ours, His. Now what would God consider riches? How is He going to do it? By Christ Jesus. Jesus who bought back for us everything that Satan tricked Adam out of. Adam owned the world and so do we. That is the truth.
In Christ, Kevin
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Here's Your Sign !
I usually don't care for church signs. The reason being that most of the time the messages are bad rip offs of some slogan or they are just plain cheesy. Not to offend any brothers or sisters who may attend a church that has had a sign like that. Every now and then I do see one that is a particularly good one.
I was on my way home and taking a side road when I passed a church who's sign said, "Remember Who You Are". That was it, no scripture, no pointing to Jesus as savior, no reference on going to heaven, just simply "Remember Who You Are".
I think that if there ever was a church sign that actually caused you to stop and think, it would be this one. The reason for that is, the question of who we are is often a big question that we keep seeking the answer for. Some of us think we know who we are and may to an extent. Here is what the Bible says.
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Romans 8: 16,17 (KJV)
This verse first says that the Spirit, the Holy Spirit or Spirit of God, confirms or agrees with our spirit that we are children of God. You see when we are born again, saved, or receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our spirit comes alive to Christ and we are set in our place as a child of God. That verse also says that if we are children of God then we are heirs of God. That means we inherit the kingdom and blessings of God. We are brothers and sisters to Jesus and we are to walk/live in the same authority and confidence of that, just like Jesus did. That is who we are.
You may be thinking right now that this couldn't apply to you. You may be thinking that you are born again, but you have a sin problem. Number one, everyone has a sin problem. Sin is in this world and has been since the fall of Adam. Number two, your sin is not what defines who you are. God defines who you are. The word of God and who it says you are defines who you are. I heard a minister say it like this once. " I am a child of God, a minister of the gospel who walks in the power and authority of Jesus Christ, that is who I am, this addiction/sin is just an issue I am having to deal with". Did you get that? Not belittling the seriousness of addictions and sins, but they are not who you are. A drug addict is not who you are, a porn addict is not who you are, those are fleshly things you have to deal with and overcome. Who you are is on the inside of you, in your spirit. Remember when Paul said, " I do the things I don't want to do and don't do the things I want to do"? The things he wanted to do were the things of God the godly desires of his spirit. The things he didn't want to do were those things that his flesh desired to do. How many of us can say we have given in to an addiction or sin only to turn around and say, why did I do that? This may help that understanding.
Anyone who listens to the word and does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:23-25 (NIV)
We have to constantly keep the Word of God before us. I know there are times when I have to "recharge" with with the Word. I to can forget who I am and let the Word slip in my life. We can become like a man who is in a row boat rowing up stream against the flow of the water. He can stop rowing and keep going in the same direction for a bit because of the momentum he has built up, but gradually he will slow and be moving with the waters flow. He may still be facing the right direction, but he is traveling backward the entire time. We can be going against the flow of the world and society, but we can become lax in what we believe or begin to tolerate and allow certain things and not realize we have begun to flow with the world.
Folks, in case you haven't noticed, this world is sick. It's heading south faster and faster and taking people that Jesus died for with it. The Bible says that the world is in turmoil looking for the sons of God to appear. The sons' of God are us. We need to shake off the depression and oppression of the world and circumstances that are slowing us down and rise up and remember who we are and fight the good fight of faith. Here's your sign.
" Remember Who You Are "
In Christ,
Kevin
I was on my way home and taking a side road when I passed a church who's sign said, "Remember Who You Are". That was it, no scripture, no pointing to Jesus as savior, no reference on going to heaven, just simply "Remember Who You Are".
I think that if there ever was a church sign that actually caused you to stop and think, it would be this one. The reason for that is, the question of who we are is often a big question that we keep seeking the answer for. Some of us think we know who we are and may to an extent. Here is what the Bible says.
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Romans 8: 16,17 (KJV)
This verse first says that the Spirit, the Holy Spirit or Spirit of God, confirms or agrees with our spirit that we are children of God. You see when we are born again, saved, or receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our spirit comes alive to Christ and we are set in our place as a child of God. That verse also says that if we are children of God then we are heirs of God. That means we inherit the kingdom and blessings of God. We are brothers and sisters to Jesus and we are to walk/live in the same authority and confidence of that, just like Jesus did. That is who we are.
You may be thinking right now that this couldn't apply to you. You may be thinking that you are born again, but you have a sin problem. Number one, everyone has a sin problem. Sin is in this world and has been since the fall of Adam. Number two, your sin is not what defines who you are. God defines who you are. The word of God and who it says you are defines who you are. I heard a minister say it like this once. " I am a child of God, a minister of the gospel who walks in the power and authority of Jesus Christ, that is who I am, this addiction/sin is just an issue I am having to deal with". Did you get that? Not belittling the seriousness of addictions and sins, but they are not who you are. A drug addict is not who you are, a porn addict is not who you are, those are fleshly things you have to deal with and overcome. Who you are is on the inside of you, in your spirit. Remember when Paul said, " I do the things I don't want to do and don't do the things I want to do"? The things he wanted to do were the things of God the godly desires of his spirit. The things he didn't want to do were those things that his flesh desired to do. How many of us can say we have given in to an addiction or sin only to turn around and say, why did I do that? This may help that understanding.
Anyone who listens to the word and does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:23-25 (NIV)
We have to constantly keep the Word of God before us. I know there are times when I have to "recharge" with with the Word. I to can forget who I am and let the Word slip in my life. We can become like a man who is in a row boat rowing up stream against the flow of the water. He can stop rowing and keep going in the same direction for a bit because of the momentum he has built up, but gradually he will slow and be moving with the waters flow. He may still be facing the right direction, but he is traveling backward the entire time. We can be going against the flow of the world and society, but we can become lax in what we believe or begin to tolerate and allow certain things and not realize we have begun to flow with the world.
Folks, in case you haven't noticed, this world is sick. It's heading south faster and faster and taking people that Jesus died for with it. The Bible says that the world is in turmoil looking for the sons of God to appear. The sons' of God are us. We need to shake off the depression and oppression of the world and circumstances that are slowing us down and rise up and remember who we are and fight the good fight of faith. Here's your sign.
" Remember Who You Are "
In Christ,
Kevin
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