Posted by: missionventureministries | September 19, 2011

John 2:1-11 – MIRACLE AT CANA

“What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which He revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.” –  John 2:11

We read in John 1:1-5 that: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” 

Jesus Christ was the Word and He is God that came to this earth to reveal the Father to us and to save us from eternal damnation. Jesus is the one that gives us everlasting life and He is the Light of men. 

In researching the meaning of the Hebrew word “wine” in the Old Testament, most of us do not realize that there are twelve different words to translate the word “wine” know to us as a fermented alcoholic beverage. We need to realize that 6 words are referred to as grape juice or freshly pressed juice in the Hebrew language including Yayin Mi-gat and 6 are referred to alcoholic beverage including Yayin Yashan or Noshan. When the New Testament was written in Greek, the word used for wine was Oinos and was a generic term used for fresh grape juice as well as the alcoholic kind. This resulted in fresh grape juice, fruit of the vine, new wine, (non-alcoholic) as well as wine (alcoholic), strong drink, etc. being translated as wine and no distinction was made between the non-alcoholic and the alcoholic meaning of the word. 

When we read about Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding feast in Cana we immediately assume that the water He turned into wine was of the alcoholic kind, but as we search the Scriptures like the Bereans did, we will see that “they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11 

As we read in Proverbs 31:4-5 it states: “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink, for they will drink and forget what is decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.” We need to realize that it is our Lord the King of kings that said this since all Scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16), so how can we assume that He would produce a fermented decaying substance or even drink it as He is the greatest King that ever lived? 

When we look at Jesus’ miracles they are always directed to benevolent ends, “for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them,” – Luke 9:56. It is inconceivable to believe that our Lord and Savior would produce 120 to 180 gallons of intoxicating wine when we further read that: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.” – Proverbs 20:1 

Another reason leading us to reject the assumption that “the good wine” produced by Christ was the fermented kind with an alcoholic content, is the negative reflection such an assumption casts upon the wisdom of the Son of God. Habakkuk 2:15 reads: “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors. ” 

In the Roman world of New Testament times, the best wines were those whose alcoholic potency had been removed by boiling or filtration. Pliny, for example, says that “wines are most beneficial when all their potency has been removed by the strainer.” Similarly, Plutarch points out that wine is “much more pleasant to drink” when it “neither inflames the brain nor infests the mind or passions” because its strength has been removed through frequent filtering. 

This kind of wine or pure grape juice is what Paul referred to when told Timothy to: “No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments” –  1 Timothy 5:23. The reason is that grape juice has glucose in it and is beneficial for a stomach ache and other aliments, this was very well know during the New Testament era. Alcohol will damage your stomach and many other parts of your body. It will kill cells and causes cancer. Paul never recommended alcohol to Timothy. To the contrary, “an overseer must be. . . not a drinker. . .” (1 Timothy 3:2-3, a literal translation of the Bible).

The wine Christ made was of high quality, not because of its alcohol content, but because, as Henry Morris explains, it was “new wine, freshly created! It was not old, decayed wine, as it would have to be if it were intoxicating. There was no time for the fermentation process to break down the structure of its energy-giving sugars into disintegrative alcohol. It thus was a fitting representation of His glory and was appropriate to serve as the very first of His great miracles (John 2:11).” 

Ancient rabbinical teachings also indicate that drinking alcoholic beverages was forbidden to the accompaniment of musical instruments in festive occasions such as at a wedding. 

“The wine which Christ provided for the feast, and that which He gave to the disciples as a symbol of His own blood, was the pure juice of the grape, the “fruit of the vine.” To this the prophet Isaiah refers when he speaks of the new wine ‘in the cluster,’ and says, ‘Destroy it not: for a blessing is in it’. . . (Isaiah 65:8). The unfermented wine which He provided for the wedding guests was a wholesome and refreshing drink. 

The wine of the miracle must have been identical to the wine found in the grape-clusters, because this is the only wine that God produces. “There is not a hint,” writes R. A. Torrey, “that the wine Jesus Christ made was intoxicating. It was fresh-made wine. New-made wine is never intoxicating. It is not intoxicating until some time after the process of fermentation has set in. Fermentation is a process of decay. There is not an indication that our Lord produced an alcoholic drink, which is a product of decay and death. He produced a living wine uncontaminated by fermentation.” 

There was little resemblance in the wine made by Christ to the thing described in the Scripture of God as biting like a serpent and stinging like an adder (Proverbs 23:29-32). Without a doubt it was rather like the heavenly fruit of the vine that He will drink new with His own in His Father’s kingdom (Matthew 26:29). 

Let us remember that “He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father, to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” – Revelation 1:6

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Posted by: missionventureministries | September 11, 2011

SECURITY OF THE ONE WHO TRUSTS IN THE LORD – Psalm 91

This is a Psalm that speaks directly to every person’s fears and need for protection and security. It is clear that God’s protection of those who draw near to Him was primarily on the author’s mind. In verses 1 and 2, we find a description of the ultimate place for shelter and refuge. 

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 

In the first verse, the visual picture painted is of one being sheltered in the safest place of God, His shadow and thus protected by His Presence. We must focus on the one who “dwells” or lives in God’s secret place will be protected by His Almighty Presence. It is not the one who claims to dwell in God’s presence that will be protected, but the one who truly lives there. The clear teaching in all this is that for believers to appropriate any of God’s promises they must live in unbroken fellowship with God, never acting in self-will but doing only what God directs in His word. They must be totally consecrated to the service of God and completely yielded to the authority of Jesus. 

Verse two tells us that we need to trust and acknowledge Him as our refuge and fortress. We are not to trust in our own strength and intellect to save us from danger, and need to recognize where our real protection lies. This entails faith. Hebrews 11:6 states, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” 

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

Here the Psalmist wants to makes us aware that God will save us from being entrapped or entangled by an enemy, seen or unseen (Satan and his fallen angels). God will also save us from the “deadly pestilence”. Pestilence refers to deadly plagues, dreaded disease, epidemics, etc. We can be assured that when we live in God’s secret place, He will deliver us from our enemies, visible or invisible. 

4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

God covers and shelters those who are His. Here again the author uses figurative language to describe God’s love, faithfulness and divine protection for those who trust in Him. 

5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 

In these verses the writer shifts his focus to the beneficiary. The believer will be without fear because he is living in the internal sanctuary of the Omnipotent God. Today’s terror may be the unknown threat of the terrorist or the weapons of destruction they unleash. Whatever the threat, they cannot penetrate the defense of the Almighty. Pestilence and plagues in today’s definition could be such as anthrax, AIDS, Ebola, Small Pox and others. However in verse 7 we see that though thousands may fall at our side, those in God’s care will remain untouched. 

 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 

The second result is that we will only observe God’s punishment of the wicked, not experience it. We are to be deeply grateful for the grace of God and His indescribable mercy. 

What we learn from Psalm 91:3-8 is that God protects those who are His. He will not allow any danger or threat into their lives except those filtered through His sovereign hand. But concerning the ultimate disease of sin, those who believe are eternally delivered from its inevitable end. There is no death in the secret place of the Most High. Yes, there are deadly threats confronting us daily. But these can only destroy our mortal bodies. Physical death for the believer is simply an open door to life everlasting in the Presence of God. 

9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.

God makes an incredible promise in verses 9 and 10. It starts with a condition and ends with a result. In a conditional statement, we must always fulfill the condition before we can claim the promise. If we are not experiencing God’s divine protection, we must always ask, “Am I living my life in God’s Presence and in light of His Nature and Attributes?” Then, having fulfilled the condition, we can expect to experience the promise. 

11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

In these verses God reveals the method by which He protects His children. These are specific angels God puts in charge to watch over all the ways of those who choose to live within His shelter and their involvement is personal as lifting you up in their hand. 

13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 

Here we see a picture of the victory that is ours when we stand in the shadow of our Heavenly Father. By God’s Power, we will be able to “tread” and “trample” upon the lion and cobra … the “great lion” and the “serpent”. God is speaking here about our spiritual adversary, Satan, who is described in Scripture as both a lion and a serpent. When you stand close to God, His might stands behind you and not even Satan will be able to defeat you. 

14 “Because heloves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my    name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.” 

In the last three verses, God Himself pronounces eight blessings for those who have consecrated themselves to His service. Love in verse14 in this context means delight in, cling to. This teaches that God has only obligated Himself to deliver those who truly delight in Him from all their troubles, and He will honor them. God will satisfy those who qualify for the blessings with long life and show him My salvation. The full sight of divine grace shall be the believers closing vision. 

It should be noted that the conditions of salvation are the same in both the Old and New Testaments. God has laid down the conditions and they must be complied with in order to be saved. Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ – Matthew 7:21-23

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Posted by: missionventureministries | September 4, 2011

JUDAS ISCARIOT AN UNBELIEVER, TRAITOR AND THIEF – Matthew 26:24

“Woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born” – Matthew 26:24. 

It is important to note that Judas was not a true believer; he was a hypocrite. He had never believed in Jesus (John 6:64-71). Just before the Passover meal took place Jesus washed the disciple’s feet. “Jesus said to him (Peter), “he who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean” – John 13:10-11. Here Jesus is referring to Judas, because he had not been among the chosen ones whom the Father gave to the Son: “I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.’ From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He.” – John 13:18-19 

We also see Jesus’ reference to Judas in His intercession prayer to the Father: While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled. – John 17:12  

It is hard to perceive how close a person can come to salvation and yet be lost forever! Judas was the reasurer of the group. He had the appearance of being “concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it. – John 12:6. The interesting thing to observe is that in that position he must have certainly been held in high regard by his fellow disciples. 

The other remarkable thing is that the other disciples as they sat around the table getting ready for the Passover meal did not know that Judas was an unbeliever, a traitor and a thief, even though earlier in the ministry Jesus had told them: “there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him” – John 6:64. He continues telling them: “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?” – John 6:70, but the disciples did not take it to heart what He was saying, or they did not understand since the Scriptures do not mention them question Him about it. 

Judas was exposed to the same spiritual teachings as the other disciples, yet they did not penetrate his heart. In spite of all that our Lord said about money, and all of His warning about covetousness, Judas continued to be a thief and steal from the treasury. Even with all of the Lord’s warning about unbelief, Judas persisted in his rejection. Jesus even washed Judas’ feet, yet his hardened heart did not yield. 

Now at the Passover meal, when He spoke openly about it at the table, His disciples were perplexed. Peter signaled to John, who was the closest to Jesus at the table, and asked him to find out who the traitor was. The Lord’s reply to John was certainly not heard by all the men; in fact, they were carrying on a discussion among themselves about who the traitor might be: “And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing” – Luke 22:23. When Jesus gave the bread to Judas, it was interpreted as an act of love and honor. In fact, Judas was seated at the place of honor, so our Lord’s actions were seen in that light, He was bestowing a special honor on Judas. No wonder, after Judas left the room, the disciples got  into an argument over who was the greatest. (Luke 22:24-30) 

John was no doubt stunned by this revelation, but before he could say or do anything, Jesus had sent Judas on his way. Even though Satan had taken possession of Judas, it was Jesus who was in charge. He lived according to the purposes given to Him by the Father, and He wanted to fulfill what was written in the Word. Since Judas was the treasurer, it was logical for the disciples to conclude that he had been sent on a special mission by the Lord. Judas had hypocritically expressed an interest in the poor (John 12:4-6), so perhaps he was on an errand of mercy to help the poor during the Jewish Passover Feast.  

Keep in mind that Judas knew what he was doing and that he did it deliberately. He had already met with the Jewish religious leaders and agreed to lead them to Jesus. Judas had heard Jesus say: “woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born” – Matthew 26:24. Yet, he persisted in his unbelief and treachery. 

Judas had also heard Jesus teach: “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him” – John 12:25-26. This lesson however went unheeded by Judas and the tragedy is that it continues being ignored by lost sinners today. People both in and out of the church, will go to hell where Judas went unless they repent and trust the Savior and make Him the Lord of their life.

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Posted by: missionventureministries | August 29, 2011

NOT EVERYONE WHO SAYS TO ME, ‘LORD, LORD,’ SHALL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN – Matthew 7:21-23

“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. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ – Matthew 7:21-23

We need to listen carefully to what Jesus is saying. Keep in mind that Jesus is addressing the Jewish people. Some were already calling Him Lord, however would later refuse to accept the work of the cross.

But he who does the will of the My Father. Jesus is not speaking of works. He is speaking of ‘will.’ In another place, Jesus said, “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” – John 6:40

If we connect these two verses we see that it is possible to speak of Jesus as Lord, but never actually receive Him as our Savior. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast” – Ephesians 2:8-9. Scriptures does not tell us that we are saved by works. The works we are given to do after we are saved, are works assigned to us by the Holy Spirit, and these are not salvation works, they are works that glorify our Father.

We need to keep in mind the difference between ‘will’ and ‘works.’ In Matthew 7:22-23, Jesus said, “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'”

Who are these peoples who placed their acceptance upon ‘prophesy’, ‘casting out demons’, and ‘miracles’ that were supposedly done in the name of the Lord? These are the false prophets and teachers. Notice what Jesus said, “I never knew you.” That can only mean that these people were not born of God’s Spirit. If He ‘never’ knew these people, then they never belonged to Him.

In the Old Testament we read the words that were revealed to Jeremiah concerning the false prophets of the last  days. “In days to come you will understand it clearly. I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with  their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied.” – Jeremiah 23:20-21.

The world is filled with false prophets today who are speaking via lying spirits. These false prophets claim  to speak for the Lord but their message is not a message of repentance and acceptance. It is a message of prosperity and blessings. “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive . . . – 2 Timothy 3:2. And Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:24 that: “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

Jesus describes those who will be able to call upon His name on the Day of Judgment. It will be those who hear His words and put them into practice, the same ones referred to in verse 21 as those who obediently do the will of the Father in heaven. True believers are the good trees that produce good fruit (Galatians 5:22-23), the true sheep who look to Christ, depend on Him, commit themselves to Him, trust in Him, and believe on Him for righteousness, salvation, and eternal life. These are the ones who will enter into the kingdom of heaven.

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Posted by: missionventureministries | August 22, 2011

WHAT IS APOSTASY? – 2 Thessalonians 2:3

“Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:3 

The Bible teaches us about apostasy, and it is important for us to know what this means.  Apostasy does not refer to true believers who have eternal life and then fall away, which is a contradiction in terms.  Instead, it refers to those who profess to be believers who show that they never truly believed by later renouncing the faith. The apostle John explains in 1 John 2:19, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.”  

Apostasy is a very real visible fact and one we should be warned about. It is not enough, the Bible says, to make an initial profession of faith; we must bear fruit and persist by means of God’s preserving grace. Jesus said, in the parable of the soils, that it is our commitment in the face of temptation and trials that reveals true versus false faith. Some people make a profession of faith without there being any real root. “When tribulation or persecution arises… he falls away.” Jesus adds, “The cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” Only the one who “bears fruit” is planted in good soil and last for salvation,
(Matthew 13:21-23).   

In Exodus we see a generation which fell away through unbelief and died in the wilderness, never seeing the Promised Land. These were not true believers, but they were members of Israel. They had seen the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, they had tasted the heavenly manna, they had heard the very voice of God and been delivered by Him, but they still were not believers. The warning, then, is against those who are in the church but have never yielded their hearts to the word of God. There are many like these today in the church.  The light is shining before them; God’s power is evident in changed lives and answered prayers; God’s Spirit is present where they are present. And if, in spite of that, they do not believe – as many do not – it is a dreadful thing. Like Pharaoh the hardness of heart that results, endangers their ability to repent and believe.

The Bible warns us in 1 Timothy 4:1, “but the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.” And Paul tells the Thessalonians that “let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,” – 2 Thessalonians 2:3.

So what are some signs of apostasy?  

Religious leaders and people: 

  • Who deny and or contradict that the Bible is the inerrant word of God. Deviation from the TRUTH is surely apostasy.
  • Who deny the vital Christian doctrines such as the Trinity, the virgin birth, the deity of Christ, the deity of the Holy Spirit, salvation by grace, and moral absolutes as found in the Bible.
  • Who reject that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). 

The sad reality is that so many people participate or join churches where: 

  • “Pastors” are more concerned with growing a church instead of preaching the truth.
  • “Pastors” don’t pray and seek God’s direction for their flock, and run things under their own power. The average Christian prays 2 minutes a day, and the average “Pastor” prays 3 minutes per day.
  • “Pastors” cave in to pressures from the church in contradiction to the word of God and vice verse; churches are caving in to “Pastors” demands. True Pastors are to stand up for God’s word, no matter what the obstacles or the cost.
  • “Pastors” fail to prepare their congregations according to God’s word and rule the church in dictatorial fashion. Instead, there should be mutual accountability through a group of elders or deacons. Pastors, religious leaders, elders and deacons have the responsibility to be knowledgeable and hold fast to sound doctrine so that they may be able to both exhort and convict those in contradiction with the Bible. (1 Timothy 3:1-7) & (Titus 5:1-9)
  • “Pastors” do not teach about hell, because the truth of the gospel is that people will face damnation.
  • Professing Christians gather teachers to themselves to make them feel good. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires” – 2 Timothy 4:3. 

Apostasy is all around us in varying degrees. As Christians, we need to be very sure that we are clinging to the truth of God’s word and resisting the Emergent Church, New Age, Ecumenism and the secularism that is all around us. We need to stand firm on the word of God and never be ashamed of the truth of the Gospel: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” – Romans 1:16. 

We need to warn people against apostasy and the need to press on in the faith, bearing fruit as branches attached to the vine. Hebrews 3:12-13 therefore urges, “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving hearts, leading you to fall away from the living God. But  exhort one another every day… that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”

 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | August 15, 2011

WE REAP WHAT WE SOW – Galatians 6:7-9

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this  he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh  reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap  eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap  if we do not grow weary.”

While Paul encouraged Christians to share and do good; he reminds them of the principle of sowing and reaping. If the past has taught us anything it is that every cause brings its effect, every action has a consequence. Let us look at gardening as an example: If a person plants an orange tree, he will reap oranges; if he sows weeds, he will reap weeds. The same happens in our lives as good produce good and evil leads to evil.
 
Character cannot be counterfeited, nor can it put on and cast off as if it were a garment to meet the whim of the moment. Like the markings on wood which are ingrained in the very heart of the tree, character requires time and nurturing for growth and development. Thus also, day by day, we write our own destiny; for inevitably we become what we do. In the end, we are all the sum total of our actions.
 
Our present state reveals much about our history. What we are today is due to what we did in the past. We are the ones that need to have a desire to change and we must accept responsibility for our actions, for God will demand it of us one day; either at “the judgment seat of Christ” – 2 Corinthians 5:10; or at “the great white throne” judgment – Revelation 20:11-15. It is up to us to decide.
    
In life we are given two options.
1.  Either we sow to the flesh – “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption” – Galatians 6:8a. This entails the works of the flesh described in Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Therefore, those who sow to the flesh reap corruption, sorrow, disease, damnation and they will not inherit the kingdom of God and will instead experience the wrath of God! – (Ephesians 5:5-7)
 
2.  Or we sow to the Spirit – “the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” – Galatians 6:8b. This entails walking in the Spirit – “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please” – Galatians 5:16-17. Therefore, those who sow to the Spirit reap everlasting life, abundant life, salvation. They will also reap the fruit of the Spirit which is: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” – Galatians 5:22-23.
 
We can’t do both (see above – Galatians 5:16-17); so which will it be?
 
We should sow to the spirit by doing good to all, especially brethren – “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” – Galatians 6:10.
 
This is the context of Paul’s remarks on sowing and reaping, “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” – 2 Corinthians 9:6-7. 

What we become tomorrow will be due to the decisions we make each moment of every day. We can change, if we do not like what we are today. We can turn to Christ and He will help us as we make Him the Lord and Savior of our life: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” – 2 Corinthians 5:17.
 
Paul tells us: “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” – Romans 12:1-2. So by practicing His presence we become a new person. There will be a dynamic transformation in your life when you are living under His Lordship; when this takes place, you will know it; others will know it and all of heaven will be aware of the transforming power of the indwelling Holy Spirit in your life.
 
It is vital that you know: What occupies and dominates your life, thoughts, desires and actions each day?  Is my mind fixed on how I can please my God and Savior in every thing that I say, think and do?  Do I long to worship and honor Him more humbly and fervently, can I honestly say that I have unconditionally surrendered my life and will to His absolute Lordship? Or am I still running my life my way? Only thinking of what I desire and want, my plans and goals, what will gratify me now, not considering and obeying the commands of God that He has given me in the Bible; His blueprint and plan for a humble, holy and fulfilling life.
 
Eternal life awaits those who are willing to sow to the Spirit by patiently doing good …“to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life” – Romans 2:7
 
Remember that you reap what you sow, you reap later what you sow, and you reap more than you sow.

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Posted in BIBLE STUDIES, SCRIPTURE

Posted by: missionventureministries | August 8, 2011

REPENTANCE – 2 Corinthians 7:10

“For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.” – 2 Corinthians 7:10 

Repentance is a necessary prerequisite for salvation. No person can be saved without true repentance. When you look at John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus Christ, and see how he preached, we read in Matthew 3:2, “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.”  

When Jesus Christ began His ministry, we read in Matthew 4:17, “From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” And the apostles also preached repentance as a necessary condition for salvation. For example, in Acts 17:30 Paul preached, “In the past God overlooked such ignorance but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.” Without repentance there cannot be salvation, because there is no restoration of our relationship with God. 

Repentance is part of the gospel. Jesus told his disciples after His resurrection in Luke 24:46-47 that they must preach repentance and forgiveness of sins to all the nations. So we need to ask the question: What is  repentance? Well, there are two kinds reflected in the Bible; true repentance and false repentance. 

First let us look at a couple of illustrations of false repentance. In the book of Matthew, chapter 27, we read about Judas who betrayed our Lord Jesus Christ. “Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed.”  However, he never repented to God of his sin.

In Exodus 10:16 we read that Pharaoh repented when the judgment of God came upon him, and he said to Moses, “I have sinned against the Lord your God; but as soon as the judgment passed, he went back to his sin. Pharaoh feared the hardships of the plagues but he did not fear the Lord to turn to Him with a true repentant heart.

True repentance is characterized by deep, godly sorrow for having offended God. We read about this kind of godly repentance in 2 Corinthians 7:10, “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.”   

True repentance is also reflected in the life of Job: “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You; therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes” – Job 42:5-6. And in the life of David in Psalm 51, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.”  

In other words, true repentance is God-centered and God-focused. It is characterized by a deep, godly sorrow for having offended God by violating his commandments.  

You see such godly repentance in the life of Peter who denied Jesus Christ three times. Luke 22:61-62: “The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly”. . . for having denied his Lord and his Savior. That is true repentance; so true repentance is characterized by a deep, godly sorrow for having offended a holy and majestic God.

The prodigal son is another outstanding example of one who truly repented. He extracted himself from the hog pen of sin and admitted his sinful situation was his fault. He returned to his father and said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of thy hired servants” -Luke 15:18-19. 

The biblical definition of repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of action. If there is no hatred for that specific sin you have committed, and you are not turning from that sin, you are not repenting biblically. Without repentance there cannot be any forgiveness of sins, and without repentance no person can experience eternal life, which is fellowship with God. Worldly sorrow produces only spiritual death because the motivation (whatever it may be) is not to please God by conforming to His will. Let us make sure our repentance from sin is godly repentance, because a man or woman does not truly repent in the true sense of the word until he or she really loves Christ and hates sin.

In Acts 26:20 Paul declares, “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.” And Jesus said that “by their fruits you shall know them” – Matthew 7:20.

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Posted in SCRIPTURE

Posted by: missionventureministries | August 1, 2011

ARE YOU TRULY SAVED? – 2 Corinthians 5:17

The Bible is very clear about salvation. As we study the Scriptures we realize that it is a gift that cannot be  earned through works of the flesh.  We know that salvation can only be obtained through faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. We should also realize that before anyone can truly receive this gift, one must first repent of his/her sins, as forgiveness comes through confession of the mouth and repentance of the heart. No one can be forgiven unless they first ask.    

The important thing to realize is that confession alone is NOT enough. Saying “thank you” and “I am sorry” and following a simple prayer is easy to do. Most people miss the crucially important thing in salvation which is REPENTANCE!  The prayer alone is not enough if the person continues living the life he/she lived prior to the confession. Christ died for our sins, but this does not give us the right to continue in sin. If we are continuing to live the lives we lived prior to our profession of “faith”, then we must re-examine ourselves for truly we have yet to receive the gift of salvation through Christ Jesus.  

Repentance brings about a change within. There is a recognizable difference in a person once he/she truly accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. When we say yes to Jesus we automatically say no to the world. Jesus said that: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth (the world)” – Matthew 6:24. Therefore, repentance represents the act of turning our back on our old sinful nature, the life we once lived, and begin living our life for the Lord.   

Paul told the Corinthians that: “flesh and blood (corruption) cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable” – 1 Corinthians 15:50. And in 2 Corinthians 5:17 he writes: “Therefore if
anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come.” 

When we come before the Lord in true repentance, seeking His forgiveness, and accepting the gift of salvation, a change instantly begins from within. We suddenly have no desire to fulfill the lusts of our flesh as we once did prior to coming to Christ. Our desires begin to change from once desiring the things of the world or of our flesh, to the righteousness and things of God and the power of His Word.  When sin tries to creep back upon us, we are
instantly convicted by The Holy Spirit and the shame brings us back to the Father’s presence for restoration. We do not simply continue on as if sin means nothing. We start noticing daily change, as our minds are being transformed and renewed to the things of God. Therefore, the evidence of our salvation is a life transformed from old to new. We cannot continue to serve the old, and partake of the new.  

As we get familiarized more with the Bible we come to understand that: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

The Bible tells us that there is no other way to salvation then through Jesus because He told us: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” – John 14:6.    

Now, we know that salvation cannot be earned but is a gift received by faith through REPENTANCE of sins, confession and belief on the Lord Jesus. We know that there is no other way to be reconciled to the Father except by going through the Son.  We know that Jesus took the weight of our sins to the cross, thus when we come to Him in total repentance, His blood cleanses us from all our sin and reconciles us back to our Father who forgives us because of the sacrifice of His Son. Thus when He sees us, He no longer sees the sin that once had us bound while we were servants to our flesh and the world, but He sees the righteousness of His Son!   

ARE YOU TRULY SAVED? – Think about it . . . REPENT and turn to God while there is still time.

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Posted in SCRIPTURE, SPECIAL MESSAGE

Posted by: missionventureministries | July 25, 2011

LIFE IS GOD’S GIFT BUT OUR CHOICE – Deuteronomy 30:19

“I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants.” – Deuteronomy 30:19 

This verse tells us that the choice is ours to make: the Lord has “set before you life and death, blessings and curses” and people are to “choose life, so that you and your children may live.” 

Life here refers not to just physical life but to blessing and favor in all its dimensions. Moses was not concerned only with the length of the people’s lives, but with the quality of their faith and pilgrimage. God intends abundant life for His children. Jesus said: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” – John 10:10 

Only when our hearts are right can our lives reflect fully the Lord’s purpose and will. That’s why the first  commandment is so important: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Moses recorded it in Deuteronomy 6:5 and Matthew, Mark and Luke witness Jesus proclaiming this commandment in the Gospels followed by the second who is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  As we are told in both the Old and New Testament, we must love God first before the second is possible.  

Unlike the people of Israel let us remember that we have their revelation and more. We have even fuller  knowledge of God’s word and will. We have the complete written Holy Scripture available to us, and we have the Holy Spirit indwelling in us and guiding us to all truth. If we disobey the Lord’s word, we have even less excuse—and consequences just as severe. 

So choose wisely this day whom you will serve. Be obedient and listen to the Holy Spirit that lives in those that have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. When you cannot see the results of such faithfulness, trust God for the future and follow Him in the present. “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” – Joshua 24:15 

Choosing life is a daily decision, therefore we need to choose wisely, because we are all living and dying with the choices we make. Our choices have consequences. Our choices determine the quality of our lives on earth and for eternity. If you reject, disobey or ignore Gods principles you are the one who gets hurt and will have to suffer eternal consequences. 

God sets before people the opportunity to choose to love, obey, and hold closely to Him, which means life. What choices do you need to make about loving, obeying, and trusting in God? Remember, life is God’s gift but our
choice.  

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17

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Posted by: missionventureministries | July 18, 2011

DO NOT GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD – Ephesians 4:30

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” – Ephesians 4:30

To understand what it means to grieve the Spirit, we must first understand that this indicates the Spirit possesses personality. Only a person can be grieved; therefore, the Spirit must be a divine person in order to have this emotion. Once we understand this, we can better understand how He is grieved, mainly because we
too are grieved. 

The Holy Spirit is a fire dwelling in each believer. He wants to express Himself in our actions and attitudes. When believers do not allow the Spirit to be seen in our actions, when we do what we know is wrong, we  suppress or quench the Spirit. We do not allow the Spirit to reveal Himself the way that He wants to. 

As we come to love God more and more, we will want to grieve Him less and less. To grieve the Holy Spirit means that we are causing pain to someone who loves us.   

What, then in us causes de divine One grief?  

  • John 14:17, reveals Him as the Spirit  of truth – so anything false, deceitful, hypocritical, grieves Him. 
  • 2 Corinthians 4:13, reveals Him as the Spirit of faith – so doubt, unbelief, distrust, worry, anxiety,  grieves Him. 
  • Hebrews 10:29, speaks of Him as the Spirit of grace – so that which is hard, bitter, ungracious, unthankful, malicious, unforgiving and unloving grieves Him. 
  • Romans 1:4, tells us that He is the Spirit of holiness – so anything unclean, defiling or degrading, grieves  Him. 
  • Ephesians 1:17, reveals Him as the Spirit of wisdom and revelation – so ignorance, conceit, arrogance and foolishness grieves Him. 
  • 2 Timothy 1:7 speaks of Him as the Spirit of love and self-discipline – so that which is unproductive,  fruitless, disorderly, confused and uncontrolled grieves Him. 
  • Romans 8:2, reveals Him as the Spirit of life – so anything that is lukewarm, dead or indifferent grieves Him. 
  • 1 Peter 4:14, tells us that He is the Spirit of glory – so anything that is worldly, prefers material things or is fleshly oriented grieves Him. 

To summarize, grieving the Spirit is to act out in a sinful manner, whether it is in thought only or in both thought and deed.

Quenching and grieving the Spirit are similar in their effects. Both hinder a godly lifestyle. Both happen when a believer sins against God and follows his or her own worldly desires. The only correct road to follow is the road that leads the believer closer to God and purity, and farther away from the world and sin. Just as we do not like to be grieved, and just as we do not seek to quench what is good—so we should not grieve or quench the Holy Spirit by refusing to follow His leading. 

As long as we are indulging in known sin we are not living in the same abode with the grieved Spirit who is thereby hindered from manifesting Himself full in and through us.  

Paul tells us in his letter to the Ephesians 4:22-23 – “that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”

 

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