Posted by: missionventureministries | May 24, 2018

THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST – Luke 6:46

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” – Luke 6:46 

It is vital to understand that Jesus Christ came to earth to reconcile us to the Father; He died on the cross to save us from an eternity in hell and to give us the free gift of salvation. It is critical to understand that when accepting Him as our Savior that we also need to make Him the Lord of our live. 

Many say, “Jesus is my Savior, but I haven’t yet made Him the Lord of my life.” Please understand that the only people ready for His return are those who daily seek to bring every area of their life under His Lordship. Obedience, is the mark of a true Christian and if you are not sure examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5), because, those who are ready for Christ’s return seek to follow Him as Lord. 

Paul said, “You are not your own, for you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). 

Lordship teaches that a true profession of faith will be backed up by evidence of faith. If a person is truly following the Lord, then he or she will obey the Lord’s instructions. A person who is living in willful, unrepentant sin has obviously not chosen to follow Christ, because Christ calls us out of sin and into righteousness. Indeed, the Bible clearly teaches that faith in Christ will result in a changed life (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:22–23). 

To be ready for Jesus’ coming, we must live in expectation of His imminent return as He states: “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching” (Luke 12:37), and He continues, “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Luke 12:40). 

If you’re expecting a guest, especially an important guest, you live differently. Your house will be spotless; all the beds will be made. Your yard will look presentable and you might even have some flowers in the house. You want things to be clean and neat because you are expecting a special guest. 

If you’re expecting the King of kings and Lord of lords, how should your life look? Would you be comfortable if He comes while you are watching an improper TV show, have undesirable magazines on your coffee table?  Jesus says that we should be ready immediately to open the door to Him when He comes and knocks (Luke 12:36). We shouldn’t have to yell, “Just a minute,” while we shut off the TV and hide a bunch of embarrassing stuff in the closet. 

So to be ready for Christ’s return, make sure that He is your Master; be involved in serving Him every day; and, live as if you expect Him to come back at any time. 

You might ask ourselves, am I living for today only, with no regard for the Master’s return and the accountability that He will demand? Are you unwisely putting it out of your mind by thinking, “I’ve got time”? Jesus says that we should be “like men who are waiting for their master when he returns.” We should live each day with the expectancy that one day “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16), and that we will be blessed when the Master finds us ready when He comes for us. 

Here are some points to think about: 

  • Repentance is a change of mind from living in sin and rejecting Christ to accepting Him and rejecting sin (Acts 3:19). Genuine repentance, comes when a person submits to the lordship of Christ, resulting in a change of behavior (Acts 26:18–20). 
  • Faith is belief in Jesus Christ, not a promise, a prayer, or a creed (John 3:16). Faith must involve a personal commitment to Christ (2 Corinthians 5:15). It is more than being convinced of the truth of the gospel; it is a forsaking of this world and a following of the Master. True faith always produces a changed life (2 Corinthians 5:17). The inner person is transformed by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 2:20), and the born again has a new nature (Romans 6:6). 
  • Those who submit to the lordship of Christ follow Jesus, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). They love their brothers (1 John 3:14), obey God’s commandments (1 John 2:3), do the will of God (Matthew 12:50), abide in God’s Word (John 8:31), and keep God’s Word (John 17:6). 

Scripture teaches that Christ demands unconditional surrender to His will (Romans 6:17–18). Those who live in rebellion to God’s will do not have eternal life, for “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble” (James 4:6). 

Please understand that those who truly believe in Christ will love Him, and those we love we long to please (John 14:23). If a person remains unwilling to obey Christ, they provide evidence that their “faith” is in name only (1 John 2:4). A person may claim Jesus as Savior and pretend to obey for a while, but, if there is no heart change, his true nature will eventually manifest itself. This was the case for Judas Iscariot. On the other had a genuine believer may stumble and fall, but they will persevere in the faith (1 Corinthians 1:8), and this was the case for Simon Peter. 

Now, a “believer” who completely turns away from the Lord plainly shows that he was never born again to begin with (1 John 2:19), because a sinner who refuses to repent is not saved, for he cannot cling to his sin and the Savior at the same time. And a sinner who rejects Christ’s authority in his life does not have saving faith, for true faith encompasses a total surrender to God. Thus, the gospel requires more than making an intellectual decision or mouthing a prayer; the gospel message is a call to discipleship. The sheep will follow their Shepherd in submissive obedience and make Him the Lord of their life. 

We should not give unrepentant sinners false hope; rather, let us declare the whole counsel of God: “You must be born again” (John 3:7) and warn them that Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

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Posted by: missionventureministries | May 17, 2018

JESUS’ ASTONISHING DOCTRINE – Matthew 7:28-29

“And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His doctrine. For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Matthew 7:28-29) 

The Bible says they were “astonished at His doctrine” (teaching). They were flabbergasted; and who could blame them, they had truly never heard anyone speak or teach like Christ. 

The crowds were amazed at our Lord’s teaching, since their ears were used to listening to the Pharisaical teachers of the Law who were a mere reflection of authority, and not a very good one at that. Jesus on the other hand was and is the ultimate Authority. He possesses all power and knowledge; and this difference was extremely obvious to His hearers! 

The Pharisees were a mere pretense, unable to fulfill what they preached; they were reciting memorized passages, while Jesus, who spoke the world into being, spoke with authority. 

There were plenty of ‘rabbis’ who had devoted a lifetime to studying the Scriptures, yet Jesus’ teaching struck the crowd as special. He reminded them of the rewards for perseverance in loving God, He exposed God’s words as the bedrock they could trust, and then He revealed its meaning, contrasting His authority with traditional teaching. 

Jesus taught with an assured understanding of the law’s intent, and He was not simply reciting what the Scriptures said or quoting the prevailing opinions of the scribes; the professional theologians of their day and the authority in matters of ‘religious law’. His message was radically different from theirs and this left the crowd astonished. 

In Matthew 7:28 we find the first mention of “doctrine” (Greek didache) in the New Testament, and as such it is significant that it refers to the doctrines taught by Christ in the Sermon on the Mount. It is also significant that there are four other verses telling us that His hearers were “astonished at His doctrine” (Matthew 22:33; Mark 1:22; 11:18; Luke 4:32). 

No wonder He could speak with authority since: “My doctrine is not mine,” He said, “but His that sent me” (John 7:16).  

Paul could also teach this astonishing doctrine because he was careful to teach only the Word of God. And so can we if we likewise believe and teach only in the context of the inerrant, doctrinal authority of God’s Word.

Unfortunately, it has become fashionable today, even in many evangelical churches, to avoid “doctrine” in favor of “discussion” and “personal Christianity.” This is a great mistake and largely accounts for the increasing secularization of our society and the weak testimony of the Christian church. The Bible clearly tells us to hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that we may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it – Titus 1:9. 

Doctrine and teaching are the same, and therefore the Lord’s parting words to His disciples is to teach “all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). This is an integral part of Christ’s great commission. It is imperative that we, like Paul, teach “all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27), for “whosoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, does not have God.” However, “he who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 1:9). 

So why should we study and teach Christian doctrine? 

  • Because it reveals truth about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures, salvation, mankind, sin,  future events (etc.), giving us a correct perspective of the world we live in (John 17:17; 1 John 5:20). 
  • It reveals God’s work of redemption. It is truth that leads to salvation (John 8:31-32). 
  • It gives us instructions on how we should live (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 
  • It makes us aware of error and false teaching. We must first know the truth in order to recognize error (2 Timothy 2:15). 
  • Then, it enables us to defend the truth against error (1 Peter 3:15; 2 Timothy 4:3-5). 
  • It grows and strengthens our faith. (Ephesians 4:14).  

And the most important fact is that by applying doctrine, it will give us a greater motivation to live a holy and sanctified life for Him! (Colossians 2:6-7). 

Blessed are those who keep His testimonies (doctrines, teachings), and who seek Him with the whole heart! (Psalm 119:2)

 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | May 10, 2018

WARNING AGAINST JUDGING OTHERS – Romans 2:1-4

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2:1-4)

Chapter one of Romans portrayed a deplorable moral picture of the Gentile world; evil, idolatry, sexual perversion, and debauchery of every kind.   

Now we see Paul addressing the Jews who thought that they were better than the Gentiles and were passing judgment on them. He begins to address Jews without mentioning them by name, but telling the so called moralist that: “You are just as guilty as they are!” 

While “moralist” may not indulge in gross manifestations of sin as some do, all people have thoughts, motives, and attitudes at times that displease God. Paul’s point is that even “nice sinners” who pass judgment on others stand condemned. We need to remember what the Bible tells us that: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8); and that we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). 

The Jews had disguised their piety through “keeping of the Law”. If they had been honest, they would have confessed that the Law was impossible to keep and welcomed the opportunity to serve God faithfully and not in a hypocritical way. 

The Jews had accurately condemned the practices that Paul outlined in Romans chapter one, but they also practiced the things that they were condemning! This was hypocrisy of the highest order. They thanked God that they weren’t Gentiles, and then acted like the Gentiles that they looked down upon. 

We need to remember that many Jews esteem the Pharisees; Jesus knowing that the crowds faced spiritual peril if they follow these teachers in their actions reprimanded them sharply: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are” (Matthew 23:15). And He called them “snakes and a brood of vipers” in (Matthew 23:33). 

The Jews assumed that because they were God’s chosen people they would escape His wrath, just as many think today. In the Old Testament, they resisted the pronouncements and warnings of the prophets, feeling that calamity would never come, even though they were not keeping God’s commands. They felt that as children of Abraham, God somehow needed them; but they were wrong. It is so easy to feel spiritual superiority to others because of our spiritual heritage or because of our pretending to obey God. 

As Paul writes this, it is possible that he looked at his own life, since he had once been guilty of the same. Before he met Christ he was one of those proud, self-righteous people who looked down at the “bad” people around him. But when he met Jesus on his way to Damascus to kill the Christians, he began to realize through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that he was guilty of the same sins he was judging in others. 

We all have a tendency to criticize in others the sins we excuse in ourselves. We need to be aware that our own sins to which we are blind, do not distort our judgment of others. 

“We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things“ (Romans 2:2).

God judges on the basis of truth, the actual condition of the person. He judges, the way things really are, not the way they appear; and one day, we personally are going to answer to Him. 

“Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:3-4). 

At times we might ask ourselves: Why doesn’t God judge adulterers, child-molesters, mass-murderers, pedophiles, etc.? When we should focus on ourselves and ponder, “Why hasn’t God judged me yet for the things that I have done and still have not repented of or changed?” 

God delays His judgment because He’s kind and patient and wants to give us time to repent. But if we refuse to repent, the judgment will come; we can count on it. 

Please remember that God’s kindness, tolerance, and patience is not an opportunity to sin; it’s a call to repent! Repentance means we examine our own mind and heart first before we judge anyone else. God is patient: He used Noah to call wicked people to repent; Noah preached and taught about God’s love forgiveness, wrath and judgment for hundreds of years. Not one person repented – 7 billion people became more evil and wicked every day that they lived. They were so evil and rebellious that God had to kill all of them in the flood and He saved only 8 people; Noah and his family. 

The point in these verses is made very clear: if the moralist is just as guilty as the obvious sinner how will they escape the judgment of God? At the first coming of Jesus, the loving character of God was revealed with greatest emphasis; at the second coming of Jesus, the righteous judgment of God will be revealed very clearly. 

Jesus taught: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:1-2). 

So where do you find yourself?

 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | May 3, 2018

STUBBORNESS LEADS TO GOD’S WRATH – Romans 2:5-6

But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God will repay each person according to what they have done. (Romans 2:5-6) 

The Bible divides the entire human race into two classes; the righteous who rejoice before God (Psalm 68:3) and the wicked, with whom God is angry every day (Psalm 7:11). The righteous are those who have true faith in Christ, and who have been renewed by the Holy Spirit. Their original selfishness and stubbornness is subdued and slain, and they live a new life through the ever present grace of Christ Jesus. 

Every sinner has the opportunity to experience God’s grace while he is alive; but needs to understand that in hell there is no grace. Man will be without any excuse at the final judgment and there will be no escape from the omniscient, omnipresent, almighty God. Jesus said, “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?” (Matthew 23:33). Neither atheists, pagans, false Christians or unbelieving Jews can escape God’s final, eternal judgment.

Paul writes, “Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4). All sinners experience God’s abundant goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering. In other words, God created us and provides for our every need; He does not leave us when we sin; and He is longsuffering toward us. He does not punish us instantly for our sins but waits patiently to see whether we will repent and think differently about Him, before it is finally too late. He waits to see whether we will forsake all our sins and turn to serve Him with all our mind, heart and soul. We need to understand that the purpose of God’s grace is to lead us to repentance.

God could have judged us long ago, instead, He shows the abundance of His kindness; yet many are willfully ignorant of the purpose of God’s goodness, are stubborn and refuse to repent. Peter tells us that God is patient with us, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Sadly, the majority of people today abuse the goodness, patience, and longsuffering of God by stubbornly refusing to respond to God and making their hearts more hardened and unrepentant. Engaging in ever-increasing sin, they become more violent, wicked, and filthy, thus storing up for themselves God’s wrath as they live a sinful life, damned for an eternity in the Lake of Fire.

God’s judgment is a righteous judgment. “But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed” (Romans 2:5), and all unbelievers must look forward to such judgment.

“God ‘will give to each person according to what he has done’” (Romans 2:6). Every individual who ever lived shall be judged for what he has done while in the body. Every man, being God’s creation, is to obey God and worship Him only, and he will be judged for his actions. Did he conform to the truth of God, or exchanged the truth for a lie? Did he suppress the truth to practice wickedness? Paul is saying that each of us will be judged for what we have done. Then he writes, “There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil” (Romans 2:9).

Either we produce good works, evidencing our justification by faith, or we produce dead works, demonstrating our unbelief, stubbornness, un-repentance, and enmity against God. Those who are saved by grace through faith are to produce good works: “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

Good works are God’s works; it is the fruit produced due to our vital union with Christ the vine. If we produce no fruit of obedience, we have no vital connection with Christ. It is true that we are not saved by works, but by faith alone; however, saving faith will always conform in obedience to God. Paul writes, “Jesus Christ, gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14); therefore, for a Christian, doing good works is a delightful and natural thing to do.

So what is the final verdict of God’s judgment? Paul writes, “God ‘will give to each person according to what he has done.’ To those who by persistence in doing good, He will give eternal life, “but for those who are stubborn and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil” (Romans 2:6-9).

What can we do in the light of this sober truth of the final and eternal judgment? First, we must realize that those who have already died can do nothing. Their destiny has been sealed (Hebrews 9:27); but for those who are still living, there is great hope. Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved. Jesus is the Judge, but He is also the only Savior of the world. The cross reveals God’s justice and wrath, but it also reveals His great love: “There is now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

No man can escape the Judge or the judgment, therefore, seek Christ and eternal life, and seek peace with God through repentance and faith. There are only two kinds of peoples, believers and unbelievers; only two ways, the broad and the narrow; and only two destinies, eternal life and eternal death. 

Which one will you choose? As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)

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Posted by: missionventureministries | April 26, 2018

THOSE WITHOUT THE SPIRIT CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE WORD OF GOD – 1 Corinthians 2:12-15

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. (1 Corinthians 2:12-15) 

In these first 2 verses, we learn that God is delighted to reveal His deep thoughts to us as Paul writes, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.” 

How is it that some people can read a biblical passage and find it tiresome, confusing, or even foolish, whereas others receive great understanding and blessing from the very same passage? The answer is that many are functioning only by the spirit of the world, “the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2), while others are indwelled by the Spirit of God, having received the Holy Spirit when they trusted Christ for forgiveness and salvation. 

The moment we trusted in Jesus Christ and decide to follow and obey Him, we were given the Holy Spirit as a “guarantee” of your salvation (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:14). Therefore, the Holy Spirit has been provided to every believer so we can get God’s answers through the truth of His Word; and the Spirit of God, who knows the innermost thoughts of God communicate these realities to us. 

In contrast, Paul explains why some people do not respond to the Holy Spirit: “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” 

The “natural man” is a person who does not have the Holy Spirit. Their natural values are physical and material. A person like that cannot understand spiritual things. They are controlled by feelings, moods, urges and desires. They can only think by natural reasoning, logical choices made on the basis of goals centering like success, wealth, power, and pleasure. Such a person does not “accept the things of the Spirit God for they are foolishness to him.” This literally means they do not welcome the things of God and therefore cannot discern those things which are true, because they do not have the spiritual receiver, the Holy Spirit, to enable them to appreciate God’s truth. 

If you say that the Bible is too difficult to understand, that you do not have time for it because it is too boring, you need to understand that you have not been born again and you don’t have the Holy Spirit living in you. 

A newborn Christian may not have much knowledge about the Bible, but they have the desire to learn more and so seek the truth of God and are eager to ask questions, which is a sign that the Spirit dwells in them. 

As Paul continues he now gives a contrasting perspective: “But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.” Spiritual persons are those Christians in whom the Spirit has become the fundamental power of life, and who consistently obey the teaching of Scripture. As a result, they have great potential for being used of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul understood and preached the message of the cross he was a spiritual person with the ability to discern the hearts of the Corinthians. In contrast, their inability to comprehend the cross revealed their unspiritual condition and disqualified them from critiquing Paul (verse 15). 

The mature believer can therefore discern, appreciate, and understand the essence of spiritual truth. They pray about difficult issues and check God’s word for answers in everything they do; and by doing so; they have the assurance to take a position on values and issues that the natural world is totally confused about. In reality, the natural world can’t figure us out. We are a mystery, and they can’t understand why someone would volunteer for children’s ministry or youth ministry year after year, or give 10% of their income to the Lord’s work. They can’t appreciate why someone would want to talk about Jesus all the time and make Him the center of their attention. Our lifestyle appears strange to the people of this world and we hold convictions that other people don’t, we are kind and compassionate when others are cruel; this, because we have insight into the mind of Christ. 

Paul closes out this section with these dramatic words: “For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). Here Paul quotes Isaiah 40:13 where the prophet was extolling the majesty and unfathomable mystery of God, and remind us that we can’t know the mind of God apart from the Holy Spirit. For without the light of God’s Spirit, we’ll be in the dark. 

The mind of Christ is the disposition to serve rather than to be served and to give our lives as servants for others, and this can be seen in a person’s understanding of the cross and whether they take up their cross daily to follow Christ (Luke 9:23). 

If you’ll commit your life to Jesus Christ, He will send the Holy Spirit the truth teacher to live in you and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free (John 8:32). You will finally have the ability to understand and will have a desire to learn and to obey His Holy Word. It is sad to see however that, light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds are evil (John 3:19). 

You have a choice though, “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

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Posted by: missionventureministries | April 19, 2018

WARNING TO NOT CAUSE SOMEONE TO SIN – Matthew 18:6

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6) 

This is such an important message that Mark and Luke also refer to it. 

Being a stumbling block to “one of these little ones that believe in me” is a serious offense. The reference here is to a person that has been converted and becomes humble like a child. Jesus portrays the seriousness of causing a believer or an innocent child to fall into sin in a very graphic manner by saying that it would be better to have been killed by drowning in the deepest sea with a heavy millstone around ones neck. 

The millstone described here is a heavy and large rock that was hewn into a wheel shape and pulled around by a donkey.

This form of execution was used on occasion by the Romans to kill a criminal. This type of pagan execution would have been unimaginably horrible to Jews, yet Jesus said that suffering such a terrible death would be better than to cause one of these little ones to sin. 

As we read on, Jesus pronounces “woe” upon those that are such stumbling blocks and states that stumbling blocks are inevitable. It is certain that they are going to occur for two primary reasons. The first is that the world is sinful and hates God. Jesus said in John 15:18-19, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” Because the world hates God, it also hates those that belong to Christ, and those who are worldly will use multiple means to try and cause people to stray from God. Methods used will include false doctrine to entice people’s desires, and some of those efforts will be demonically inspired and empowered (Ephesians 6:12). Sadly many of these methods will be by people who are friendly and appear to want to do something good for you, and the common element will be lies that depart from the truths of God’s word. 

We need to be aware that stumbling blocks are also cause by immature Christians that are still battling sin and will tear one another down instead of helping each other. That should not to be, but that is reality as seen both in the Bible and in the experience of your own life.

 Let’s take a look in the Bible since it is dangerous to think that only those who are not Christians will be stumbling blocks; since we need to be fully aware that Christians can also become stumbling blocks if we are not careful. 

Here are several warnings concerning this. Romans 14:13 tells believers to determine “not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.” And 1 Corinthians 10:32 warns believers not to be an “offense” or a point of “stumbling” to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God. Christians should not cause believing brethren to fall into sin, nor prevent non-Christians from coming to Christ because of their conduct in promoting sin. 

What are some of the ways that believers may entice or be enticed into sin? Direct enticement to sin may come about through counsel that proves to be ungodly. Giving unbiblical advice promotes sin, and the one giving such advice is causing God’s children to stumble. These people are in grave danger of being addressed one day with the same words the Lord warned in Matthew 7:23, “I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.” 

Direct inducement to sin also comes when you try to get someone to agree to your own sinful practice. For instance: A husband or wife that takes their spouse out to some immoral form of entertainment, when Ephesians 5:25-27 tells husbands to lead their wives into purity, not impurity. Another way is watching violent demonic and pornographic movies in your home in the presence of your children and disregarding their pleas to turn it off because they are scared. 

People can also stumble through our actions, since the example we set may lure another person into sin as they imitate us. This is especially important in the home because children are so easily impressionable and emulate what their parents are doing. We need to also understand that new Christians and immature Christians are also very impressionable; and because they are not yet well acquainted with God’s word, they often end up believing that godliness is whatever the “more mature Christian,” is doing. 

Here are some questions to ask yourself: How faithful are you to the Lord, your wife and to your family? What is your attitude towards tithing? What do you watch on TV or what movies do you go to see? What kind of employee are you, do you steal from your boss? What kind of clothes do you wear…do you reveal too much? 

There is a story is told of a man that loved drinking more that his family. On night he snuck out to go to his favorite bar. On his way home he heard soft footsteps in the snow behind him. There was his five year old boy who said when he caught up to his father, “I’m trying to follow in your footsteps, daddy.” 

What kind of example are you setting for those who are following you? Each of us needs to heed the admonition that Paul gave Timothy, “. . . in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:12).

You can also be a stumbling block by the manner in which you deal with others. When you speak, is it the truth in love? Or do you speak with the condemning judgment that Jesus warned about in Matthew 7:1-4? Do you respond to other believers in ways that will build them up or tear them down? Parents are specifically told in Ephesians 6:4 “Do not provoke your children to anger.” And Colossians 3:21 adds, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children, that they may not lose heart.” The principles in these verses have a wider application than just for parents. 

Frustration and anger can easily result when you show favoritism or demand unrealistic expectations. If you are critical more than encouraging you can cause another person to lose heart. When you are insensitive, unloving and unkind, you can cause fellow members of the body of Christ to fall into sin. 

1 John 2:10 speaks to the primary issue of how to prevent from being a stumbling block telling us that, “anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.” The more you abide in the light, that is, walk in the Spirit obeying the directives God has given in the Scriptures, and the more you love your brother, the less you will be a cause of someone else falling into sin. 

The pursuit of holiness is the cure for both problems of either being led astray or leading someone else astray. Anything that morally or spiritually traps you, causes you to fall into sin or to stay in sin, should be eliminated quickly and totally. 

Every Christian is to consider himself to be crucified with Christ, dead to sin, and alive to righteousness. Therefore, examine yourself and make sure you are in the faith and that the Holy Spirit lives in you. This  will end the selfishness that prods pettiness, discontentment, being controlled by emotions and a host of other sins. 

Each of us needs to abide in the light, strive after holiness, and love one another so that there will be no cause of stumbling.

And remember that: “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen” (Jude 1:24-25).

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Posted by: missionventureministries | April 12, 2018

HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST – Philippians 2:5

“Let this mind or attitude be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5) 

Jesus Christ’s example of humility helps us to see the apex of virtue from which the apostles drew illustrations and admonitions for us. Jesus gave up inexpressible glory to take upon Himself the humble form of humanity and perform the lowliest of services for us. He consented to be without distinction or honor and was willing to be despised and rejected by mankind. When He laid aside his former rank and dignity, He became a lowly servant, yet now He is exalted above everything and everyone. He set this example for us that we might overcome self-exaltation and develop true humility. 

His humility was the highest example that could be provided for us. Jesus left heaven and all His majesty, and took upon Himself the most inferior form of humanity, so that He might benefit us with a renewed relationship with the Father. 

We need to understand that although salvation is free, it is not cheap since it required the Creator Himself to become man and submit to an agonizing death on the cross. And, by the same token, although our salvation is not conditioned on any meritorious acts of our own, the standard by which we must measure our lives is nothing less than the perfect life of Jesus Christ. In the first place, our words and deeds are to be compared to His: “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21). Our standard of holiness is to be the same as His life of holiness as Peter stated: “But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior” (1 Peter 1:15). 

If we truly follow His steps, they may well lead to suffering and persecution, but “the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked” (1 John 2:6), and this involves a willingness to be “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20). 

One of the things that we need to keep in mind is that God the Father did not withhold suffering from His Son and our Savior Jesus Christ. He shared suffering with us despite His high status as God in the flesh and lived a totally sinless life. He did this to be our Savior. He did it in order to be our example. 

Jesus maintained a perfect attitude in every situation. He prayed about everything and worried about nothing. We, too, should seek God’s guidance about every aspect of our lives and allow Him to work out His perfect will. Jesus’ attitude was never to become defensive or discouraged. His goal was to please the Father rather than to achieve His own agenda (John 6:38). In the midst of trials, He was patient. In the midst of suffering, He was hopeful. In the midst of blessing, He was humble. Even in the midst of ridicule, abuse, and hostility, He “made no threats . . . and did not retaliate. Instead He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23). 

When Paul writes that our “mind or attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus,” he had summarized in the previous two verses what such an attitude was: selflessness, humility, and service. “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). 

In other words, the attitude a Christian should reflect is one that focuses on the needs and interests of others. Without question, that does not come naturally to us. When Christ came into the world, He established a whole new attitude to relationships with others. One day when His disciples were arguing among themselves regarding who was to be greatest in His kingdom, Jesus said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28). 

Jesus is teaching us that, when we become preoccupied with our own things, it can cause conflicts and other problems with people we know. Instead, God wants us to have an attitude of serious, caring involvement in the concerns of others, meaning “let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” 

Paul speaks more about this Christ like attitude in his letter to the church in Ephesus: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24). Many religions of today, including the New Age philosophies, promote the old lie that we are divine or that we can become gods. But the truth of the matter is that we will never become God, or even a god. Satan’s oldest lie was promising Adam and Eve that, if they followed his advice, “you will be like God” (Genesis 3:5). 

Each time we try to control our circumstances, our future, and the people around us, we’re only demonstrating that we want to be a god. But we must understand that, as creatures, that is an impossibility. God doesn’t want us to try to become gods; instead, He wants us to become like Him, taking on His values, His attitudes, and His character. We are created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24). 

Finally, we must always keep in mind that God’s ultimate goal for His children is the transformation of our minds into the attitude of godliness. He wants us to grow spiritually, to become like Christ. This doesn’t mean losing our personalities but transforming our minds to be Christ like. Again, Paul tells us, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2). 

It is God’s will that we develop the kind of mindset described in the Beatitudes of Jesus (Matthew 5:1-12), that we exhibit the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), that we emulate the principles in Paul’s great chapter on love (1 Corinthians 13), and that we strive to pattern our lives according to the characteristics that Peter describes in (2 Peter 1:5-8). 

So being, “let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).

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Posted by: missionventureministries | April 5, 2018

MARKS OF A TRUE CHRISTIAN – 1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)

What are distinguishing marks of the people of God which separate them from the world? 

Believers are blessed, being chosen to be royal priests represent the fact that we have been united with Christ. We are His body, and whatever glory Christ receives we receive as well. Romans 8:17 calls us coheirs with Christ. It means we will reign with Him eternally, and here on earth, our responsibility is to draw men unto Himself and to lead people in the worship of Him as priests. 

Peter wants us to realize that Christians are different from the world because they know Christ. 

Believers have been saved from the darkness of sin and out of this world, in order to be a unique people who worship God. 

Like Peter, Paul urged the Ephesians from prison that they would live a life worthy of the calling they had received (Ephesians 4:1). 

We are “called to be saints” (Romans 1:7). Therefore, the purpose for which we have been called by God to become one of His chosen is to be holy! Everything in our lifestyle should center on the fact that “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Ephesians 2:10). 

We are to be teachers of God’s commandments to the nations. We are to be the light to the world revealing the way to God. We are to be those who draw people to God, and not to be a hindrance to their acceptance of Jesus. We are set apart as priesthood, so we are not acting like the world, but imitating Jesus. But this separation does not mean that we are not interacting with the world. Often Christians get the idea that we need to stay away from the world because of its sinfulness. But we are called to access the world, while maintaining our holiness. We interact with the world and show them the way to God, teaching God’s truths.

While it is true that believers are different, it is the believers’ standing as the adopted children of God, joint heirs with Christ Jesus, and God’s own unique people that make us “God’s special possession.” 

Since we are God’s special possession we must proclaim the goodness of being God’s people. In being different and being set apart, we need to tell people what a blessing it is to live this way. It is not tiresome to be God’s special people, on the contrary, we want to tell people and show people that this is the good life. In fact, not acting as the people of God will cause people to stumble and fall in life. But those who are God’s will not be put to shame. 

Christians are God’s special possession who has obtained mercy. They are a royal priesthood, and living stones. Believers are part of God’s spiritual house and a holy nation; and as such, we must abstain from the passions of the flesh. 

Our calling is identified as “the heavenly calling” (Hebrews 3:1), and we are told that the called (Romans 1:6) are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). But we also are told to “give diligence to make your calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10). There is much in Scripture about our calling, and although the calling is God’s work and prerogative, we are expected to add to our faith “goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love” (2 Peter 1:5-7).

Those who are born again are different from the world around them because they are being transformed by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. They are also different because, having been born again by the Spirit of God and believing in Christ for salvation, they have received “the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

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Posted by: missionventureministries | March 29, 2018

THE DANGER OF REFUSING GOD’S MESSAGE – Hosea 4:17

“Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.” (Hosea 4:17) 

Ephraim, meaning the whole people of Israel, the 10 tribes, had been warned again, and again, and because they did not pay attention to the warning, but refused the message of God, and continued in their sin, at last God was provoked by them, and said to His servant Hosea, “Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.” He basically said, no longer waste your energy on these backslid-den minds, their case has become utterly hopeless; cease your labor, go somewhere else where hearts will be touched, and ears will be opened to the Word – leave them alone. 

God’s grievance against Israel charged her with an apostate spirit and many lawless and wicked deeds. Truth and loyalty had been replaced by lying and immorality. Rebuke was pointless because it was ignored. Israel had forgotten the law of their God and, therefore, was “destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Not only the people, but also the priests who encouraged sin for their own advantage would be eliminated. “The spirit of prostitution” had caused Israel to go astray (Hosea 4:12). 

Our God is long-suffering and full of mercy, but there is a line which must not be crossed. It is dangerous to presume that God will always continue to forgive; for those who refuse to obey and believe, He will one day become a “consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29). 

Every time you refuse to listen to the message of mercy, you strengthen yourself in unbelief. Every time you fail to open the door of your heart to Christ, you become more and more unwilling to listen to His voice and you diminish your chance of responding to the last appeal of mercy. Let it not be written of you, as of ancient Israel, “Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone.” Let not Christ weep over you as He wept over Jerusalem, saying, “how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate” (Luke 13:34-35).  

For those who refuse to turn back from their evil ways the Scriptures contain many similar warnings.

  • “My spirit shall not always strive with man” (Genesis 6:3).
  • “Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:14).
  • “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces” (Matthew 7:6).
  •  “Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done” (Romans 1:28). 

The danger for those who refuse to walk in the light is when God brings upon them the terrible crisis of being left to follow their own ways. They start making their own unwise decision, and the conscience becomes more seared and the voice of God seems to become more and more distant, and the person is left to their own passion, lies and hypocrisy. When this happens, the person resists every appeal, despises all counsel and advice, and turns from every provision made for their salvation. . . . The Spirit of God no longer exerts a restraining power over them, and the sentence is passed, “their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the Lord” (Hosea 5:4). This is the process through which the soul passes that rejects the working of the Holy Spirit and refuses to hear God’s warnings, they are too far gone. 

These should be sobering words to anyone who is becoming rebellious, and is being enchanted with, witchcraft, idolatry, occultism, perversion, harlotry or any form of humanism. As we see, the enemy promises pleasure, comfort, escape, and excitement. But what he actually gives is a life of bondage to lust, pornography, immorality, and adultery and eternity in the Lake of Fire, a bondage that ruins relationship with God and people.

For those that are unaware or have not given it much thought, to commit adultery or to participate in committing adultery which refers to the manner society dresses provocatively to allure the opposite sex by leaving nothing to the imagination but by flaunting and reveling all they have. All that the spirit of harlotry can really deliver is death. Jesus said: “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28); and in this generation that goes as much for men as for women. 

Unfortunately, people are so oblivious to their behavior, disobedience, lack of knowledge, and their actions that they can not realize that they will not be part of an eternity in heaven but will spend eternity in hell apart from God (1 Corinthians 6:9). 

On a positive and hopeful note, as long as a person has any uneasiness of conscience there is hope that they might yet turn to the true God of creation; however, to continue in their present course, is presumptuous and deadly. The time will come, perhaps sooner than they think, when God will say: “Let him alone.” 

As we read though the book of Hosea we see that God will not allow sin to go unpunished, however, it also tells of God’s mercy (Hosea 1:10-11; 2:14-17, 2:21-23). God’s earnest desire was that His people would repent of their sins (Hosea 14:1). God wants us all to serve Him because that is what our hearts truly should desire to do. He wants our “words” to reveal a heart of humility and subjection to His will (Hosea 14:2). God desires His people to “earnestly seek Him” (Hosea 5:15) and confess their sins (Hosea 14:2). 

Nothing has changed through the years. God still demands our interest, humility and subjection (Matthew 12:33). The Christian today must be careful not to allow an interest in this world to interfere with their eternal interest in God. Therefore, “Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous will walk in them, but transgressors will stumble in them.” (Hosea 14:9). 

Remember God is full of mercies but if we continue in rebellion against Him, there will come a time when He will say: “Let him alone.”

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Posted by: missionventureministries | March 22, 2018

SUBMIT YOURSELVES TO GOD – James 4:1-3

What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? …You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. (James 4:1-3) 

Our prayer life or lack thereof reveals the focus of our heart. James is intensely practical and approaches the topic of answered prayer with realistic clarity and insight. When you do not receive what you pray for, do not be surprised look at your bad motives and why your request remains unheard. When you do this, the reason becomes painfully obvious, that you are egocentric and greedy, and this behavior obviously does not guarantee the fulfillment of such selfish requests. 

So often when we’re in a relationship conflict, we scheme, we tell our friends our side of the story, we go for counseling, we read self-help books on how to deal with difficult people, instead of taking the problem to God in faithful prayer. Maybe one reason that we fail to pray is that it’s hard to pray for someone and be upset with them at the same time. As sinners we want to justify our resentment by making the other person pay; and don’t want to let it go. But Jesus clearly taught that prayer is not to get our will done, but to get God’s will done, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Prayer is not so that we can use God; it is so that God can change us and use us for His kingdom. 

Jesus also taught, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7), He did not say, “Ask and it will be given to you instantly.” God may have good reasons to delay the answer. Often the delays strengthen and test our faith. He knows the right timing to answer. Our responsibility is to ask, and with correct motives. 

Our main reason for asking God to bring peace into our home or into some difficult relationship is so that God be glorified. Christ is not exalted by constant conflict but He is glorified when people crucify self and allow His love to flow through them, even toward those who treat them wrongly. Ask God for Him to be glorified in your relationships, and you will get the most amazing answers to your prayers. 

We need to come to the realization that the first step to resolve conflicts with others is to judge our own selfish motives. Wherever is happens, at home, work or church if we do not put to death our sinful, selfish desires, we will have war. People that behave in an inappropriate way are living in the flesh and not by the Spirit. So who do we want to please, ourselves or God? 

The decision to judge our own selfish tendencies is not optional for believers because Jesus said “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). 

It is a daily requirement to take up our cross because, “whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it” (Luke 9:24). So to the true believer, there is really no choice between pleasing oneself or pleasing God. When we live to please God by denying self, we will not only gain our life but also joy, peace and freedom. 

So, “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?” (James 4:1). The way to resolve conflict with others is not to win the war. Rather, it is to wage war against those powerful forces that are waging war in our soul! We need to judge our selfish motives, daily put self on the cross, and we will move in the direction of peace in our relationships. 

The psalmist wrote: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear” (Psalm 66:18); therefore, we need to learn to abide in Christ and to submit our will and our desires to His Lordship in order to be able to know how and what to pray for. If we long to know the will of God, and to pray according to the purposes of God and in submission to His will then we will see our prayers answered. “But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer or His mercy from me!” (Psalm 66:19-20)

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