8) Romans 11:29. There are failed Christians who still have ability.
Do unsaved people have spiritual gifts?
1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another
discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
12 ¶ For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
Verses 7 and 11 appear to teach that the Holy Sprit gives spiritual gifts to every person, including the lost. But verse 13 clearly shows that Paul is only talking to Christians. And 1 Corinthians 1:2 shows that the book of Corinthians is only talking to saints: 1Co 1:2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
In verse 7, we see that these gifts are profitable for the Body of Christ. And verse 11 shows that the Holy Spirit distributes these gifts as He thinks best, in order to help us. Now, what happens when a Christian has a good gift, and then the Christian falls away from God?
Romans 11:29 tells us "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."
God does not take back His gifts or callings when a Christian turns away from the Lord. Not only is the Christian still saved, but he or she still has the abilities for Christian service that the Holy Spirit gave him.
So, if you deal with a Christian who has a lot of ability, but who is openly disobeying God's commands, it does not prove that the Christian is a spiritual giant. It only proves that God does not take back His gifts.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
Christians Might Be On Your Side
7) There are more Christians on your side than you think, but they are afraid to say so. Romans 11:2-4 1 Kings 19:18
Romans 11:2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God
against Israel, saying,
3 "LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life"?
4 But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
1Ki 19:18 "Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."
1 Samuel tells what happened when King Saul and his son Jonathan went to battle against a superior Philistine army. 1Sa 13:6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits.
Then, it tells what happened when God gave victory to Jonathan and Saul:
1Sa 14:21-23 Moreover the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before
that time, who went up with them into the camp from the surrounding
country, they also joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22 Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden in the mountains of
Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, they also followed hard after them in the battle.
23 So the LORD saved Israel that day...
There is a tendency of people to avoid being on the losing side, even if the losing side is right. Many Christians will actually attribute this to wisdom. Others will claim that if you had not mishandled the situation, you would not have wound up being the loser. But if you win, those same people will want to identify with you.
I was saved in 1969, when I lived in Pennsylvania. Thirty eight years later, I have seen pastors in that area come and go. I have seen Christians who disagreed with a pastor be removed from authority, and years later, when the pastor was gone, the same Christian was a leader. Christians who stay in the same church over a period of decades will sometimes find themselves out of favor for years, and then suddenly be regarded as a fine spiritual leader. And do you know what else? When the Christian becomes a leader, all kinds of people who had never helped him want to be associated with him! Are these
people proof of God's blessing?
And here's a good thing to remember: Jesus entered Jerusalem on a Sunday, while the people cried out "Hosanna to the Son of David!" Four days later,they cried out "We have no king but Caesar!" Your duty is to obey God, whether other Christians will back you or not.
Ac 18:9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be
afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;
10 "for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city."
Romans 11:2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God
against Israel, saying,
3 "LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life"?
4 But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
1Ki 19:18 "Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."
1 Samuel tells what happened when King Saul and his son Jonathan went to battle against a superior Philistine army. 1Sa 13:6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits.
Then, it tells what happened when God gave victory to Jonathan and Saul:
1Sa 14:21-23 Moreover the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before
that time, who went up with them into the camp from the surrounding
country, they also joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22 Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden in the mountains of
Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, they also followed hard after them in the battle.
23 So the LORD saved Israel that day...
There is a tendency of people to avoid being on the losing side, even if the losing side is right. Many Christians will actually attribute this to wisdom. Others will claim that if you had not mishandled the situation, you would not have wound up being the loser. But if you win, those same people will want to identify with you.
I was saved in 1969, when I lived in Pennsylvania. Thirty eight years later, I have seen pastors in that area come and go. I have seen Christians who disagreed with a pastor be removed from authority, and years later, when the pastor was gone, the same Christian was a leader. Christians who stay in the same church over a period of decades will sometimes find themselves out of favor for years, and then suddenly be regarded as a fine spiritual leader. And do you know what else? When the Christian becomes a leader, all kinds of people who had never helped him want to be associated with him! Are these
people proof of God's blessing?
And here's a good thing to remember: Jesus entered Jerusalem on a Sunday, while the people cried out "Hosanna to the Son of David!" Four days later,they cried out "We have no king but Caesar!" Your duty is to obey God, whether other Christians will back you or not.
Ac 18:9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be
afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;
10 "for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city."
Thursday, January 31, 2008
6) The love of money is the root of every kind of evil.
1Ti 6:9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
"Love of money" is one word in the Greek. It refers to covetousness,
usually, but not always, referring to money. The rest of the verse is difficult to translate into English. The Greek means that the love of money is a root that can produce every other kind of evil.
Verse 10 begins with the word "For": it is explaining the previous verse. The previous verse warns that desiring to be rich will cause you to fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts.
When Christian leaders are living in mansions, drawing huge salaries and royalties, wearing expensive clothes, driving expensive cars, etc., this should be a warning. Notice that these "many foolish and hurtful lusts" don't have to be financial. Wealthy, high-living Christian leaders can and do get caught in sexual immorality that has nothing to do with their ministries.
Verse 10 also tells us that they have strayed from the faith. Christians who started out teaching God's Word can eventually begin teaching error after they have acquired wealth through their ministries.
"Prosperity" Verses
While in prison, Jim Bakker realized that he had been teaching and
preaching a false message. He had taught that God wants His children to be wealthy. He also explained that most of the inmates in his medium-security prison were there for the "love of money." Hurting people had been a side effect of their deeds; their motivation had been to get more money. Bakker and other prosperity preachers had misused various verses, such as:
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. The Greek word for "life" is "zoe," which emphasizes spiritual life. Another Greek word, "bios," refers to life that is only physical. The abundant life that Jesus wants us to have is spiritual.
3 John 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. The Greek word "prosper" refers to having a good journey. In Romans 1:10, Paul uses it to describe his journey to Rome. In 1 Corinthians 16:2, Paul uses to describe financial prosperity that is to be tithed. God wants us to be prosperous in our spiritual journeys, as well as being financially provided for.
Deuteronomy 8:18 "then you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.'
18 "And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives
you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He
swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
The Hebrew word for "wealth" usually refers to power, and is used for
armies, valiant people, influence, and money. The context (cp. verse 18) is that God was the One Who gave Israel their power and wealth; they weren't able to do it on their own.
Now look at 1 Timothy 6:5 "...useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself." When someone preaches that Godly living will produce financial wealth, he is acting like a person who has a corrupt mind and is destitute of truth. We are to separate from such people.
1Ti 6:9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
"Love of money" is one word in the Greek. It refers to covetousness,
usually, but not always, referring to money. The rest of the verse is difficult to translate into English. The Greek means that the love of money is a root that can produce every other kind of evil.
Verse 10 begins with the word "For": it is explaining the previous verse. The previous verse warns that desiring to be rich will cause you to fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts.
When Christian leaders are living in mansions, drawing huge salaries and royalties, wearing expensive clothes, driving expensive cars, etc., this should be a warning. Notice that these "many foolish and hurtful lusts" don't have to be financial. Wealthy, high-living Christian leaders can and do get caught in sexual immorality that has nothing to do with their ministries.
Verse 10 also tells us that they have strayed from the faith. Christians who started out teaching God's Word can eventually begin teaching error after they have acquired wealth through their ministries.
"Prosperity" Verses
While in prison, Jim Bakker realized that he had been teaching and
preaching a false message. He had taught that God wants His children to be wealthy. He also explained that most of the inmates in his medium-security prison were there for the "love of money." Hurting people had been a side effect of their deeds; their motivation had been to get more money. Bakker and other prosperity preachers had misused various verses, such as:
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. The Greek word for "life" is "zoe," which emphasizes spiritual life. Another Greek word, "bios," refers to life that is only physical. The abundant life that Jesus wants us to have is spiritual.
3 John 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. The Greek word "prosper" refers to having a good journey. In Romans 1:10, Paul uses it to describe his journey to Rome. In 1 Corinthians 16:2, Paul uses to describe financial prosperity that is to be tithed. God wants us to be prosperous in our spiritual journeys, as well as being financially provided for.
Deuteronomy 8:18 "then you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.'
18 "And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives
you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He
swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
The Hebrew word for "wealth" usually refers to power, and is used for
armies, valiant people, influence, and money. The context (cp. verse 18) is that God was the One Who gave Israel their power and wealth; they weren't able to do it on their own.
Now look at 1 Timothy 6:5 "...useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself." When someone preaches that Godly living will produce financial wealth, he is acting like a person who has a corrupt mind and is destitute of truth. We are to separate from such people.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Every Word
5) We need EVERY Word that proceeds from the Mouth of God.
Matthew 4:4 tells how Jesus resisted Satan: But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"
In the Greek, "word" is "pama": which means not only a word spoken,
but also thing, purpose, appointment, etc.; by implication, a matter or
topic. There is a tendency for Christians to fear certain difficult portions of Scripture, or to avoid teaching or preaching on certain subjects. Like the immature Corinthian Christians, we tend to listen only to Christian leaders within our own group. Genuine, successful Christians who come from a different direction than us can be a great help to us. The commentaries of Matthew Henry and John Wesley, the writings of John Bunyan, etc., can be a great blessing to different types of Christians.
Here in Mexico we have seen some successful works that occurred when
God's people, from different churches, worked together to get out the
Gospel. And we have also seen problems when certain Christians could not deal with the fact that God was blessing Christians from a different group. I do believe that correct doctrine is important, but I also believe that God works in different Christians according to their different needs and circumstances.
Matthew 4:4 tells how Jesus resisted Satan: But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"
In the Greek, "word" is "pama": which means not only a word spoken,
but also thing, purpose, appointment, etc.; by implication, a matter or
topic. There is a tendency for Christians to fear certain difficult portions of Scripture, or to avoid teaching or preaching on certain subjects. Like the immature Corinthian Christians, we tend to listen only to Christian leaders within our own group. Genuine, successful Christians who come from a different direction than us can be a great help to us. The commentaries of Matthew Henry and John Wesley, the writings of John Bunyan, etc., can be a great blessing to different types of Christians.
Here in Mexico we have seen some successful works that occurred when
God's people, from different churches, worked together to get out the
Gospel. And we have also seen problems when certain Christians could not deal with the fact that God was blessing Christians from a different group. I do believe that correct doctrine is important, but I also believe that God works in different Christians according to their different needs and circumstances.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Fruit of the Spirit
4) The opposite of the works of the flesh is the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Notice that the fruit of the Spirit is described immediately after the works of the flesh. Notice also that "fruit" is singular. And notice that this is the fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of the Christian. In other words, a genuine Christian will have ALL the virtues listed as the fruit of the Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit is NOT fellowship with Christ. Luke 13:26-27
"then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.'
27 "But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.'
The fruit of the Spirit is NOT successful Christian work. Matthew 7:22-23
22 "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?'
23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
Christians are sometimes surprised to find that a preacher who did a great work for God has gotten into a major sin scandal. Jesus, however, taught that it would be possible for the lost to do great works for Him. The verses preceding this passage talk about identifying false prophets by their fruits. The verses immediately after this passage state that a person who hears Jesus' words but doesn't do them is not saved.
When we see that a person does not have the fruit of the Spirit, we can
safely state that that person is not saved. But someone might object that we are not to judge another person. However, Romans 2:1 describes the sin of judging: Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
Judging is seeing your own sin in someone else, whether or not it is really there. A person sins by judging the "things" that another person does. The fruit produced by the Holy Spirit is not the same thing as the deeds done by a person. Recognizing that a person lacks the fruit of the Spirit is not the same thing as judging a person's actions.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Notice that the fruit of the Spirit is described immediately after the works of the flesh. Notice also that "fruit" is singular. And notice that this is the fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of the Christian. In other words, a genuine Christian will have ALL the virtues listed as the fruit of the Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit is NOT fellowship with Christ. Luke 13:26-27
"then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.'
27 "But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.'
The fruit of the Spirit is NOT successful Christian work. Matthew 7:22-23
22 "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?'
23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
Christians are sometimes surprised to find that a preacher who did a great work for God has gotten into a major sin scandal. Jesus, however, taught that it would be possible for the lost to do great works for Him. The verses preceding this passage talk about identifying false prophets by their fruits. The verses immediately after this passage state that a person who hears Jesus' words but doesn't do them is not saved.
When we see that a person does not have the fruit of the Spirit, we can
safely state that that person is not saved. But someone might object that we are not to judge another person. However, Romans 2:1 describes the sin of judging: Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
Judging is seeing your own sin in someone else, whether or not it is really there. A person sins by judging the "things" that another person does. The fruit produced by the Holy Spirit is not the same thing as the deeds done by a person. Recognizing that a person lacks the fruit of the Spirit is not the same thing as judging a person's actions.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Carnal, Immature Christians
3) There are carnal, immature Christians.
1 Corinthians 3:1-4 tells us:
1 ¶ And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.
2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive
it, and even now you are still not able;
3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?
These immature Christians attend church and listen to the Bible, yet they are not considered spiritually mature.
Why are they immature?
1) They can't handle difficult doctrine.
2) They have internal strife
3) They act like mere men.
4) They are followers of men.
There is a teaching that when a person accepts Christ, he immediately
becomes an immature Christian. If he turns back or refuses to grow, he
becomes a carnal Christian. However, I cannot find any Biblical
justification for belief. 1 Corinthians 3:1 shows that a carnal Christian and a baby Christian are the same thing.
Unlike tares, immature Christians really are saved. In verse 4, Paul quotes some as saying "I am of Paul." The Greek for "I am" is "Ego eime," which is used as the Greek translation for the Old Testament Name of God "YHWH." Jesus used the phrase several times to refer to Himself. It shows emphasis on the person, and perhaps pride. Paul goes on to explain that God uses different people to do different tasks, and that anything good in either him or Apollos came from God. This would help explain their immaturity: they might have been rejecting the work of God if it came through someone they didn't like.
1 Corinthians 3:1-4 tells us:
1 ¶ And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.
2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive
it, and even now you are still not able;
3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?
These immature Christians attend church and listen to the Bible, yet they are not considered spiritually mature.
Why are they immature?
1) They can't handle difficult doctrine.
2) They have internal strife
3) They act like mere men.
4) They are followers of men.
There is a teaching that when a person accepts Christ, he immediately
becomes an immature Christian. If he turns back or refuses to grow, he
becomes a carnal Christian. However, I cannot find any Biblical
justification for belief. 1 Corinthians 3:1 shows that a carnal Christian and a baby Christian are the same thing.
Unlike tares, immature Christians really are saved. In verse 4, Paul quotes some as saying "I am of Paul." The Greek for "I am" is "Ego eime," which is used as the Greek translation for the Old Testament Name of God "YHWH." Jesus used the phrase several times to refer to Himself. It shows emphasis on the person, and perhaps pride. Paul goes on to explain that God uses different people to do different tasks, and that anything good in either him or Apollos came from God. This would help explain their immaturity: they might have been rejecting the work of God if it came through someone they didn't like.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Works of the Flesh
2) The works of the flesh PROVE a person to be a tare.
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication,uncleanness, lewdness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Most of the sins of the flesh fall into three categories:
a) sexual immorality
b) Christian infighting (selfish ambition & strife)
c) wild living
Notice in verse 20 that "selfish ambitions" is a work of the flesh. The King James Version translates the same word as "strifes." Which is right? M. R. Vincent's Word Studies in the Greek New Testament shows that both translations are correct. He writes: "Strife (eritheia)
More correctly, factions. From erithos a hired servant. Erithia is, primarily, labor for hire(see Tobit. 2:11), and is applied to those who serve in official positions for hire or for other selfish purposes, and, in order to gain their ends, promote party spirit or faction."Strong's Greek dictionary states that the word is better translated "intrigue." The person referred to here is using church office to attain sinful goals. Those goals might be money, prestige, power, dominance, etc., but we are assured in the passage that these people will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication,uncleanness, lewdness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Most of the sins of the flesh fall into three categories:
a) sexual immorality
b) Christian infighting (selfish ambition & strife)
c) wild living
Notice in verse 20 that "selfish ambitions" is a work of the flesh. The King James Version translates the same word as "strifes." Which is right? M. R. Vincent's Word Studies in the Greek New Testament shows that both translations are correct. He writes: "Strife (eritheia)
More correctly, factions. From erithos a hired servant. Erithia is, primarily, labor for hire(see Tobit. 2:11), and is applied to those who serve in official positions for hire or for other selfish purposes, and, in order to gain their ends, promote party spirit or faction."Strong's Greek dictionary states that the word is better translated "intrigue." The person referred to here is using church office to attain sinful goals. Those goals might be money, prestige, power, dominance, etc., but we are assured in the passage that these people will not inherit the kingdom of God.
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