Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Truth and the Holy Ghost

I want to speak about truth and the Holy Ghost.
Why are there so many denominations, beliefs and churches in the world today? There are a few reasons but four reasons stand out as the biggest. These are: false teachers, lack of God’s truth, compromise and tradition.
We all have access to the same Bible so why do beliefs differ?
The answer is in the Holy Bible

All Christians have access to the truth if we listen. What stops us from listening? If we are proud, arrogant or self centered that is a problem but sometimes we just truly don’t want to hear the truth.

Here is where the Bible shows all Christians have access to the truth, John 16:13
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
The Holy Spirit comes upon every true Christian. This does not say the Spirit of truth will force you to hear all truth. Christians will be guided if they allow it. All men have free will and God did not take that away from Christians. Even after we are saved it is our free will that causes our problems. Since we will be guided to all truth then every Christian should have the same beliefs and all Christians should be united in their traditions as well. Dispute this and you dispute God’s word. Here is an example of Christians blocking the Holy Spirit:

Acts: 15: 1-10
1And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. Circumcision of course was one of God’s decrees in the Old Testament.
2When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. Paul and Barnabas disagreed with this rule.
3And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
4And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
5But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, (the Gentiles) and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
The Pharisees here believed in Christ Jesus but also believed that gentiles needed to be circumcised to be saved.
6And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
7And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; The gentiles had the Holy Ghost so they were saved. The Holy Ghost does not come upon the unsaved.
9And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Peter is saying the hearts of the gentiles was purified by faith and the gentiles had the Holy Ghost. If God purifies us nothing else need be done. There can be no higher purification so circumcision is not required.

What does all this mean? The Pharisees mentioned here were holding onto a traditional law but they did not hear some of God’s truth. Circumcision was a blood sacrifice and after Jesus shed His blood for all sins that put an end to all sacrifices. These Pharisees had the Holy Spirit but their own minds blocked the Holy Spirit from leading them to the truth. They wanted to hold onto tradition.

Sometimes we think a teaching is a new teaching because we have never heard it before but in reality if it is the truth it is a teaching from the beginning. Sometimes what we consider old teachings only came about in this century.

I want to bring forth a teaching many may not have heard because it is rarely taught. Many believe that if a person claims to be saved they can sin all week long and be forgiven every Sunday. This is not entirely true. Let’s go to Hebrews 10:26-29
26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, No more sacrifice for sins means these sins are not covered, perhaps not forgiven.
27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
If you know that a sin is a sin and you commit that sin anyway you need to prepare for judgment and fiery indignation from God.
When you commit a sin that you truthfully know is a sin that is acting as though the sacrifice Jesus made for us was no more than a get out of hell free card. You are trampling on that sacrifice as if it were a doormat! This does not make God happy because you have received the Spirit of truth.

If your mind and heart are truly open to the Holy Spirit once you hear the truth you will know it is the truth. No man “translates” the Bible; the Holy Spirit does that for mankind. The gift of preaching and teaching Bible studies are from God and if these people have truly been called by God they will preach and teach the truth.
It is every Christian’s responsibility to study, keep an open heart and follow the true word from God. If you love God you will not listen to the lies from Satan and mankind but if you block the Holy Sprit from leading you then you will be guilty of denying the truth and God’s word.

I mentioned at the beginning that one reason the Holy Sprit is blocked is because of compromise. When someone that admits he or she is a homosexual and a church allows that person to be a priest or pastor that church has compromised the word of God. The Holy Spirit could not lead that church to that action. If that person is a reformed homosexual and shows they have the Holy Spirit then I do not believe God would have a problem with that. There are thousands of other compromises that occur in churches all over the world and in our personal lives but do not fall into that trap. Never compromise, change, reword, or in any way twist the word of God to suit your feelings or the feelings of this world. Satan already has that job.

May God bless the reader with understanding, love and patience.

Monday, May 25, 2009

The Serpent

Why did God use the serpent as a representation of Satan?
In the mouth of a serpent is poison which causes death of the flesh and in the mouth of Satan we find lies which causes spiritual death. There are serpents that are non- poisonous but these also attack and hold with the mouth.
A serpent has no hands, arms, shoulders, feet or legs. Hands represent work and helping. Arms represent love, comfort and security.
A serpent has none of this and the only way a serpent embraces means death. Jesus however can comfort, protect, love protect and embrace His Children both physically and spiritually.

When reading the Bible think about what the stories mean in the spiritual realm. Jesus often spoke in parables and these stories were told of the flesh world but they were about the spiritual world.

Satan does not care about your flesh body and he is not out to kill your flesh body. Satan desires to confuse your spiritual mind and seduce you away from God. If Satan can use your flesh body as a way to seduce your spiritual mind he will attack your flesh body and mind. Satan cannot destroy your soul but with his lies he can cause you follow him instead of God.

Remember this example so that as you read the Bible you may be able to understand more.