Tuesday, March 17, 2009

looking for the principle

I would like to encourage everyone to look for the Godly principle behind the commandments in God's word. Even the ceremonial laws in the old testament were given to produce Godly character, and not just ritualism.Unfortunately we have a tendency to focus on the commandment and somehow miss the main purpose that God wants. Israel was called out from among the nations and separated to be a holy nation, the principle is to be holy not the separation. the separation was necessary to produce the desired character. The task of raising us up in to the character of God is tedious process that requires certain disciplines, looking for and recognizing the principle will help us to have the proper perspective. All the detailed process that God commanded Israel to do regarding the temple and the sacrifices, their civil laws, and the order that they were to follow had a purpose to produce the Godly character that he still desires today. Jesus came and fulfilled the principles in the law, although at times he did not keep the Sabbath or do the ceremonial hand washing or maybe some other law or tradition, he understood what his Father was after and he never failed to please his Father. In our modern culture we have certain guidelines and traditions that are given to produce the same principles, if we can recognize the principle, then we will not fall into the trap of religion or ritualism.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

The Power in Praise

I remember hearing my father teaching the laws of reaping and sowing in the spiritual realm. He taught that for every fruit of the spirit there was a corresponding root that must be sown. One Saturday night service he was preaching on the fruit of Joy, and I was going through a very difficult time, and was not feeling very much joy. As he preached , I spoke out loud "but what if you don't have this joy" I'll never forget the look on his face as he turned to me and said, "son joy is a fruit, in order to have it you must sow the seeds of rejoicing". What a difference when a person begins to rejoice in the Lord! Thanking and praising and worshiping, counting the many blessings that God has bestowed on us, it surely will bring joy into your life when you really cultivate this wonderful principle. I love the connection that Jesus makes in Mathew 21:16 "out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise" which is a quote from Psalms 8: "out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast ordained strength". He makes praise and strength interchangeable, is'nt that fantastic! Here are a few others to consider...Believing, humbling, respecting, forgiving, praying, loving, long suffering and mercy. Sow these and reap a bountifully harvest!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Principles, Doctrine and Prophesies

The Bible could be categorized into these three groups, Principles, Doctrines and prophecies. All are in the bible, all are important. However in the levels of importance, principles would come first. Essentials is a word we've been hearing that I think applies here. Heb.5:12 says "for when for the time you ought to be teachers,you have need that one teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat. The teachings of Jesus in Matt.5,6 and7 are perfect examples of principles, and is a pattern of teaching that can be found throughout the bible

. Every one starts with faith, as small as it may be its the beginning, Gods spirit began to draw us and through whatever chain of events we humbled enough to believe and see are need. Faith is a word that is all inclusive, from believing that God is to the in depth understanding of his word. "The faith" as used in Jude1:3 is a good example of what I mean. Humility is a foundational principle, the first beatitude taught by Jesus, blessed are the poor in spirit for theres is the kingdom of God. 1Peter5:5 quotes Prov.3:34 "for God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble", showing the essentuallality of these principles. The principles describe the charater of God's love which is the ultimate goal.

Doctrine would be strong meat because it takes a spiritually mature person ,one having there sense's exercised by reason of use, to rightly divide the scriptures and understand teachings such as Babtisims,and of laying on of hands,and of resurrection of the dead,and of eternal judgement. This type of understanding is important but without the principles developed in your character you will not be able to receive them. Knowledge puffeth up but charity edifieth, without the character of God's love as a foundation in your life then knowledge will create a spirit of pride and you will be blinded from the truth on many of these doctrines because you wont be humble enough to receive it.

The right principles in a persons life will cause the right standards in the right spirit. Standards without the right principles cause phariseeism, self righteous,critical of everyone different than you. And unrepented of will ultimately cause persecution and murder(spiritually and naturally). And so we see how all the divisions come about, by people who do not have there priorities right.

Prophecy is in the bible for us to know, for direction so we have hope and can face difficult circumstances with the right spirit . Daniel responded to the Babylonians based on the prophetic teachings of Isaiah and Jeremiah. It is important to know where we are right now, in our world, so we can proceed accordingly. Are we as a nation on the verge of collapse? should we be stock piling money, food, ect. Are we to be involved in politics?trying to save the government of are nation. these are some of the questions that prophecies will answer. Hope is very important and we should be filled with it.

Godly character can not be acquired by will power alone but when we respond to the leading of the holy ghost. Humble under the mighty hand of God, Forgive when the circumstance comes, submit to one another in the spirit of love not as men pleasers but as unto the Lord. Salvation is a gift for everone who will receive it.