February 28
Read: 2 Corinthians 11:1-15
Not all that glitters is gold. Similarly, not everyone that claims to be a follower of Christ is what he claims to be. We are frequently warned in Scripture to beware of the counterfeit, the false and the apostate. Jesus mentioned the deceivers in Matthew 24:4-5. Peter covers the same ground in 2 Peter 2:1 and John in 1 John 4:1 says “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 warns of deceitful workers who transform themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for the devil himself is transformed into an angel of light. It follows that his servants would present themselves as ministers of righteousness. We must be constantly on guard to ensure we are not deceived by the powers of darkness posing as preachers and teachers of righteousness.
Whenever I am reminded of that I think of the Old Testament prophet in 1 Kings 13. The prophet was sent by God with a message for Jereboam the king. Delivering the message, God authenticated it with special signs. Jereboam invited the prophet to go home with him, but the prophet informed him that God had instructed him neither to eat nor drink while on his mission and to return home via a different route.
The Bible continues to tell of an old prophet in Bethel whose son told him of the man of God who visited Jeremiah. The prophet of Bethel followed after him and invited him to come aside and sup. The man repeated God’s instructions, that he must neither eat nor drink until he had returned home, but the prophet from Bethel told him, in 1 Kings 13:18, “...I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spoke unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.” The first prophet believed him and went with him, not discerning that the message was not from God, but from his enemies. Because of his disobedience, the prophet was killed by a lion on the way home.
The old prophet from Bethel was a lion in sheep’s clothing, or a devil cast as an angel of light. He had the right look, he said the right things, but he was a liar. Through deceit, he diverted the prophet of God from his appointed path to a road that ultimately destroyed him.
In spiritual warfare, there is an enemy and there are casualties. Day after day, lives are destroyed, ministries ruined and souls condemned to a Christless eternity through the efforts of the master of deceit. Today, brethren, let’s be alert to the enemy and his devices. Keep your life pure. Let your spiritual senses be honed sharp by the Word of God and amplified by the work of the Spirit in your life. As is so succinctly written, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
Just a servant,
Bro. Tom
Showing posts with label Holy Spirit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holy Spirit. Show all posts
A Plea for Holiness
February 27
Read:2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
2 Corinthians 6:14 is a verse often quoted which has been applied to everything from marriage to business partnerships (rightfully so, I believe). The Holy Spirit directs us to avoid an unequal yoke with an unbeliever, then proceeds to give a number of analogies to demonstrate why this is unhealthy or unnatural. Why, He asks, would you mix unrighteousness with righteousness (v. 14), or light with darkness (v. 14), or Christ with Belial (v. 15), or an infidel with a believer (v. 15), or even the temple of God with an idol (v. 16)? He continues that because God dwells in us, we are the temple of God (v. 16).
Given all of these obvious truths, we are to separate ourselves from things unholy or unclean (v. 17). If we do so, God has promised to receive us, to be our Father, and to make us His sons and daughters (v. 17-18). Chapter 7:1 then puts the conclusion on the passage, “Having therefore these promises (v. 17-18 above), dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
The New Testament, in removing us from under the curse and demands of the law, never permits us to slack off in the area of personal holiness. Time and again the New Testament believer is called to strive for the holiness of God. We are given the New Testament as our guide, the Holy Spirit as interpreter, and Jesus Himself as our standard. Moment by moment, day by day, year by year, we are to be conformed to the image of Christ. It is an image not only of a loving Savior but of a holy God. We who are His followers must strive to be like Him in all aspects of His character. To strive to love our neighbor as ourselves, yet to dabble in the sins of the flesh, is to have a unbalanced view of God the Son.
The Bible tells us that Jesus, “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” His holiness was perfect, ours will never be this side of heaven. Yet we must be always aware of our deficiencies and working toward change. Like most of God’s work, there is His part, and there is our part. His part is expressed in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Our part is expressed in 2 Corinthians 7:1, where the Bible says, “...let us cleanse ourselves...”
Today, let’s make an extra effort to be clean and holy, as He is clean and holy.
Just a servant,
Bro. Tom
Read:2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
2 Corinthians 6:14 is a verse often quoted which has been applied to everything from marriage to business partnerships (rightfully so, I believe). The Holy Spirit directs us to avoid an unequal yoke with an unbeliever, then proceeds to give a number of analogies to demonstrate why this is unhealthy or unnatural. Why, He asks, would you mix unrighteousness with righteousness (v. 14), or light with darkness (v. 14), or Christ with Belial (v. 15), or an infidel with a believer (v. 15), or even the temple of God with an idol (v. 16)? He continues that because God dwells in us, we are the temple of God (v. 16).
Given all of these obvious truths, we are to separate ourselves from things unholy or unclean (v. 17). If we do so, God has promised to receive us, to be our Father, and to make us His sons and daughters (v. 17-18). Chapter 7:1 then puts the conclusion on the passage, “Having therefore these promises (v. 17-18 above), dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
The New Testament, in removing us from under the curse and demands of the law, never permits us to slack off in the area of personal holiness. Time and again the New Testament believer is called to strive for the holiness of God. We are given the New Testament as our guide, the Holy Spirit as interpreter, and Jesus Himself as our standard. Moment by moment, day by day, year by year, we are to be conformed to the image of Christ. It is an image not only of a loving Savior but of a holy God. We who are His followers must strive to be like Him in all aspects of His character. To strive to love our neighbor as ourselves, yet to dabble in the sins of the flesh, is to have a unbalanced view of God the Son.
The Bible tells us that Jesus, “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” His holiness was perfect, ours will never be this side of heaven. Yet we must be always aware of our deficiencies and working toward change. Like most of God’s work, there is His part, and there is our part. His part is expressed in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Our part is expressed in 2 Corinthians 7:1, where the Bible says, “...let us cleanse ourselves...”
Today, let’s make an extra effort to be clean and holy, as He is clean and holy.
Just a servant,
Bro. Tom
All Things
February 21
Read:1 Corinthians 6
A wise pastor once told me the two most difficult things about living the Christian life are keeping your balance and waiting on God (I would add to that list maintaining a consistent, disciplined prayer life). The longer I live as a child of God, the more convinced I am of the truth of his statement.
It’s so easy to get out of balance. It’s much like driving a car down the road; there’s a ditch on either side. For example, we must always keep God’s love balanced by His holiness and justice. To go too far on the love side takes us to a place where all will be saved, regardless of what they believe. To go too far on the holiness side results in pharisaical legalism. Both are heresy. Both are ditches waiting to trap the unwary Christian.
In 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul, inspired of the Holy Spirit, writes an incredible thing. To the Corinthian believers he says, “All things are lawful unto me.” In one sentence Paul has effectively destroyed the law of commandments and ordinances by which the Jews literally ordered their lives. With one sentence, shrimp came back on the menu, Gentile was no longer synonymous with leper and it was okay to make your bed on the Sabbath. Can’t you hear the Judaizers screaming? You can’t say that! They will never live holy lives! You are making a mockery of God!
If Paul had stopped writing there they probably would have been right. But he didn’t, and they weren’t. The balance is placed in the remainder of the verse. “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” Sure, Paul says, all things are lawful. But friends and neighbors, all things are not helpful. All things are not edifying. All things will not strengthen my walk with Christ. And yes, all things are lawful, but none of those things should be allowed to control our lives. It would be tempting to limit this to things that are addictive, but the meaning is much broader. All things are lawful, but I will allow nothing to control me other than the sweet Spirit of God.
Talk about balance. Paul gives us the recipe for life apart from the law with the Holy Spirit in residence. Let Him guide. Limit yourself to those things that are edifying. You will find yourself in a life more abundant and more powerful than the law could ever give. Enjoy the things God has given you, and let the Holy Spirit, and your own Christian walk, be your guides.
Just a servant,
Bro. Tom
Read:1 Corinthians 6
A wise pastor once told me the two most difficult things about living the Christian life are keeping your balance and waiting on God (I would add to that list maintaining a consistent, disciplined prayer life). The longer I live as a child of God, the more convinced I am of the truth of his statement.
It’s so easy to get out of balance. It’s much like driving a car down the road; there’s a ditch on either side. For example, we must always keep God’s love balanced by His holiness and justice. To go too far on the love side takes us to a place where all will be saved, regardless of what they believe. To go too far on the holiness side results in pharisaical legalism. Both are heresy. Both are ditches waiting to trap the unwary Christian.
In 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul, inspired of the Holy Spirit, writes an incredible thing. To the Corinthian believers he says, “All things are lawful unto me.” In one sentence Paul has effectively destroyed the law of commandments and ordinances by which the Jews literally ordered their lives. With one sentence, shrimp came back on the menu, Gentile was no longer synonymous with leper and it was okay to make your bed on the Sabbath. Can’t you hear the Judaizers screaming? You can’t say that! They will never live holy lives! You are making a mockery of God!
If Paul had stopped writing there they probably would have been right. But he didn’t, and they weren’t. The balance is placed in the remainder of the verse. “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” Sure, Paul says, all things are lawful. But friends and neighbors, all things are not helpful. All things are not edifying. All things will not strengthen my walk with Christ. And yes, all things are lawful, but none of those things should be allowed to control our lives. It would be tempting to limit this to things that are addictive, but the meaning is much broader. All things are lawful, but I will allow nothing to control me other than the sweet Spirit of God.
Talk about balance. Paul gives us the recipe for life apart from the law with the Holy Spirit in residence. Let Him guide. Limit yourself to those things that are edifying. You will find yourself in a life more abundant and more powerful than the law could ever give. Enjoy the things God has given you, and let the Holy Spirit, and your own Christian walk, be your guides.
Just a servant,
Bro. Tom
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