What Makes Jesus Unique? No one else made the claims that He did, He is alive...............
All the great religious leaders of history have one thing in common: they are dead. Only one man has risen from a grave never again to taste death. Jesus Christ died, was buried, remained in the grave for 3 days, then was raised to life again.
Jesus is unique. He is the only one proven to be the Son of God because God validated His Kingship and accepted His payment for our sins all with one incredible stroke: He raised Jesus from the dead!
Paul opens his letter to the Romans with this evidence about who Jesus is:
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, which He had promised before by His prophets in the holy scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Romans 1:1-4
Because Jesus Christ is very much alive, five things are true right now that wouldn’t be true if He were just another dead religious leader like Confucius, Mohammed or Buddha.
Because Jesus was raised from the dead and is alive…Prayers are answered, We can talk to Jesus 24/7
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Joseph came from Czechoslovakia where he had been a dentist. The Americans allowed him in but did not allow him to practice as a dentist. That is why you have foreign doctors driving taxis. He was told to go take a 3-year course, well that is how long it takes to become a dentist. Reagan was president then and granted foreign dentists to take the exam and if they passed they could practice. He allowed this only for 2 years span.
Joseph wanted to know if he had a chance,
I remembered that Janet had told me that his wife would die in a car accident.
Of course, I never told him this. Getting Janet alone for a second I asked her if she saw something bad not to tell him. Her answer was; "Whatever I see I will tell him".
I panicked and thought I better pray again, and I did silently.
I had seen Janet use the Tarot cards many times but what I now experienced was a shock. Janet laid out the cards and I saw a frown on her face.
She kept saying; " I don't understand, I don't get it, oh my"
Finally, she looked at Joseph and said; "You must be very confused I can not read the cards today"
Now a little light came into my brain, if this is a gift from God then why when I prayed twice now, God gets confused and won't tell me anything.
I now believed there was a God, what still puzzled me was, what did Jesus have to do with it all. I was now on my way to find that out.
What I now knew was that my praying had canceled out Satan's power.
There are many scriptures in the Bible that tell us; Any attempt to believe you can find out the future is forbidden, Be it tea leaves, Tarot cards, the Ouija board.,etc.
A little minister's boy saw kids at school on the playground with the Ouija board. When he told the kids that it was wrong what they were doing, they laughed at him. The boy then told them okay, ask the Ouija where it gets its power. The boys did and the Ouija answered; “Hitler.”
The boy knew that this was a lie, so he commanded it to tell the truth, this time the answer was; “Satan.”
A family would every night after supper, take out the Ouija board and play the game. They had noticed that the cat liked it also, for as soon as they started to play, it would come out to watch.
One day a Christian happened to stop by at the time they were playing. She was shocked when she saw what they were doing, and told them so.
They too, did not want to believe her, so she said to ask the Ouija what it wanted from them.
When they asked this, the answer came; “Your soul.”
They were so upset that they threw the board in the fireplace where they all saw the face of a woman appear. The Christian said; "You must do this burning in the name of Jesus." The next day the cat was found dead.
Stay away from the Ouija it is not a game! It can bring you into spiritual darkness for years to come.
I sure wished that I had never heard about this diabolical, so-called “Game”
It is dangerous, very dangerous
A Dutch evangelist came to town, and I went with a few friends to the meeting. So when a worker there asked me if I was ready to repent and sin no more, was I ready to accept Jesus as my personal Saviour, I said; “Yes, yes, I will!”
This was at Melody Land Church, one block from Disney World, in Anaheim California.
May of 1975...........
I would tell people that I had found Jesus until someone said to me that they didn’t know He had been lost......... (It is okay to laugh the Lord has a sense of humor too)
I now became a fisher of men in earnest.
Jenny, Jenny He didn't do it. I looked under my bed and there was nothing for me.
I struggled to clear my mind as I had been in a deep sleep, when Monica woke me. I wondered what she was talking about.
What are you trying to say honey?
There is no doll Jenny, there is no doll under my bed.
Ah, now I did remember. Monica wanted very much to have a dolly.
I had told her to pray and ask the Lord for it.
She had done so and now believed that He had not delivered as she thought He would, by putting the doll under her bed.
I tried to explain to her that God was not Santa Claus and that He works through people.
I could tell that this was too much for her to understand, she was only five years old.
That very afternoon her girlfriend, who lived next door, came over to the house. Lisa was very excited.
Monica, my dad just came home from a trip and look at what he brought me, a new doll, and if you want to, you can have my other doll.
Now Monica's eyes lit up and she looked at me with wonder, for she now understood that indeed;
God works through people.
A very famous preacher, Hudson Taylor once said, Lord, that you will answer my prayer, I know! What fascinates me every time is, How you are going too answer.
The Great Commission
From Kay Meyer's column in the St. Louis Metro Voice newspaper from 1994 to 2013.
Have you ever wondered who shares the Gospel with Native Americans? Some years ago I vacationed in Montana and saw the circumstances of these precious people the Lord loves. I wondered if there were any ministries focused on reaching Native Americans for Christ. I did research and learned of the Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots, now known as Lutheran Indian Ministries. They are effectively reaching Native Americans for Christ! Over the years we have featured their ministry on the Family Shield radio program numerous. The following is just part of their story.
Let me begin with the story of how their current executive director, Dr. Don Johnson, came to know Christ. In July of 1962, Don Johnson was a young Native American interested in learning about God. He heard Billy Graham preach at the World’s Fair in Seattle. He heard that he was a sinner in need of forgiveness. He heard that Jesus, the Son of God, had come to suffer and die to forgive Don’s sins and the sins of all people. And that Christ offered forgiveness and eternal life as a free gift. That age-old message pierced Don’s heart like the harpoons of his Native American ancestors in pursuit of the whale. He committed his life to Christ. And then he wondered, “Where do I go from here?”
His journey had begun. After he placed his faith in Christ, God led him to several churches, helped him meet other Christians, and eventually led him to attend Concordia Seminary in Springfield, IL to become a pastor. In the summer of 1972, he was assigned to a vicarage, which is a full-year internship, for seminarians preparing to be pastors. The vicarage was near Lame Deer, Montana on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation.
While on vicarage Don met three Native American men that impacted his life and faith journey. As the vicar, one of his responsibilities was to visit Native Americans and build relationships so that he might eventually share the Gospel with them. He visited with the men in a small run-down house. They were alcoholics and more interested in where they could find the next drink, not a relationship with God. But they listened anyway.
After several hours, he was ready to leave. At that point, they asked if he would drive them to their car. “How far away is it?” he asked. They said, “Oh, it’s not far, they said.” So, they piled into Don’s car and took off. “Now, it’s just over that hill, Vicar Don. Now down that dirt road. Now go a little further.” Many bumps, mud puddles, and miles later they finally saw the car in the distance. It had seen tough times. Badly scorched in a fire, the back tire was shredded. It looked ready for the junkyard. Don groaned, “Oh, no! You’re never going to get that car running.” And he thought; now I’m going to have to take them back to town. It’s the opposite direction from where I need to be. But, they told him, “Don’t worry, Medaris can fix anything. He’ll get the car running in no time.” And, amazingly, he did. Finally, Don was able to leave the men and their old car far behind. He thought!
A few weeks later Johnson saw a newspaper article that told of a horrible accident that had killed a Native American man. It was Medaris, the man who could fix anything. “Why hadn’t I tried harder to tell them about God’s love? What else could I have said to them?” Don began to question whether God could change people so deeply caught up in alcohol addiction, especially Native Americans. Could he make changes when there were years of alcoholism, dysfunctional families, drug abuse, unemployment, low self-esteem, suicide, and loneliness? Ministry to native people seemed as hopeless as the burned-out junk car the three men drove.
He served Makah Lutheran Church in Neah Bay, Washington, his hometown. There he was an elected member of the tribal council and tribal chief. His congregation was small. He never had great crowds rushing to hear him preach or teach, but he ministered to the Native Americans effectively by meeting the needs of his people, caring about them, and building good relationships. He could relate to their circumstances because he had grown up with an alcoholic father. Many of the people he served struggled with alcoholism, depression, hopelessness, felt alone and abandoned by God. He shared the Gospel and was faithful.
In 1993 he was called from his parish and asked to work for the Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots U.S. Today it is known as Lutheran Indian Ministries. In 1995 he became the executive director. Today The Rev. Dr. Don Johnson has been instrumental in leading the organization into new and more effective ways to reach and serve Native Americans. One change has been to rise up indigenous people to be leaders of this organization. So now Native Americans are sharing Christ with Native Americans.
Another way they are expanding is by merging their work with other smaller Native American ministries throughout the United States. They now have many other ministries throughout the U.S. and Canada. You can learn about these ministries on their website at
Recently I featured Don Johnson, Will and Patricia Main of Haskell LIGHT (Lutheran Indians Gathering and Helping Together), a Lutheran Student Ministry housed near the campus of Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas on the Family Shield radio program. The university began in 1884 as a residential facility. Today it is a four-year university. Haskell LIGHT began in 1972 through the work of Wiley and Caryn Scott who recognized the need to share the Gospel through fellowship and Bible study with students. Wiley is a Native American and attended the university.
Haskell LIGHT Campus Ministry recently merged with The Association of Missionaries and Pilots U.S. Will and Patricia told radio listeners about the campus ministry that shares the Gospel and serves the needs of students and staff. Haskell has an enrollment of approximately 1000 students and represents over 130 tribes from over 40 states.
Will, a Lakota Sioux, shared how he came to know Christ. When he met his wife, whose parents had been in Christian ministry in Canada for 35 years, he was not a Christian. “Far from it,” he said! He was intrigued at how Patricia’s parents and siblings interacted with each other. “It was weird to me. They obviously loved one another. And they talked to each other. After a while, it wasn’t weird anymore. I wanted what they had! What they had was Christ in their heart!”
Talking of his faith journey he continued, “Patricia’s mother and father spent years on their knees praying for me! If you would have told me a few years ago that I would be a Christian studying to become a pastor through the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology program at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, and ministering to youth on a college campus in Lawrence, Kansas I’d still be laughing!”
He told of a recent conversation with a young student. “The God you’re telling me about is the God of the white man, not mine,” stated the young man. Will countered, “No, the message of Christ is for all people and nations, not just the white man. Christ came to bring all people forgiveness. But, I know how you feel, because a few years ago I felt the same way. Let me tell you why I know this message is for all nations.”
He went on to talk about how he and their family moved from Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada to Kansas. “The first time we were invited to move from Canada to be the Co-Directors of Haskell University Campus ministry in Kansas we said ‘no.’ Then God began working on us. We felt no peace after saying no. Some time passed. I asked someone at Lutheran Association of Missionaries “Is that ministry opportunity still open in Lawrence, Kansas?” Don Johnson heard that I’d asked that question and called to talk to Patricia and me again about this ministry opportunity. He felt we were the right couple for the job. This time we said ‘yes.’ That we would uproot ourselves from our home in Canada and move to the middle of the United States still amazes me! It has definitely been a God thing.”
Patricia shared, “That God has led us to Kansas in the United States just shows that God’s heart is beating to reach the Native People! Just like my native ancestors beat drums, God’s heart beats to reach my people! The time to reach Native Americans with the Gospel is now.”
She shared numerous stories of the impact of the work. “I was visiting with students in the cafeteria. One young student said, “I’m not interested in what you have to say because I’m an atheist.” “I didn’t try to argue with her but just went on talking to the other students. A few days later I was in the dormitory and that same girl saw me and said, “I’m going through some real difficult times and I wondered…would you pray for me? I did.” God opens doors of opportunity every day!”
Patricia continued, “Will and I understand the struggles of the Native Americans, what it’s like to live on a reservation, dysfunctional families, alcoholism, the loneliness, and suicide. We know there is only one way to find true healing. Healing comes through faith in Jesus Christ. God heals the brokenhearted! He did it for me and my husband—and he can do it for you too.”
Christ came to save all people of every nation, including every Native American Nation “And the Gospel must first be preached to all nations” (Mark 13:10)
by Kay L. Meyer
Regarding Native American Culture and Traditions as Sacred
For hundreds of years Native Americans, Native Alaskans, and Native Hawaiians, compelled by the gospel have chosen to become disciples of Jesus Christ. In doing so, we have affirmed with the voices of the saints that all that is necessary for salvation, a relationship with God and our brothers and sisters, is contained in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We bear witness to the mercy of God through our faith, continuing in discipleship and ministry.
Government and religious institutions intentionally destroyed many of our traditional cultures and belief systems. To assimilate our peoples into mainstream cultures, as children many of our ancestors were forcibly removed to boarding schools, often operated by religious institutions, including historical Methodism. Historically, Native peoples have been targets by those seeking land and other natural resources. Genocide became a tool of greed and a response to fear. While attempting to erase Native people from existence, traditional cultures also fell victim to acts of genocide.
As Native Christians, we affirm for the church and ourselves that many elements of our traditions and cultures are consistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the teachings of the church. We affirm that the Holy Spirit is faithful in guiding us in holy living within our cultures and the broader culture. We recognize that just as in the broader culture, not all expressions of traditional cultures are appropriate for all believers; God is faithful in leading us to acceptable worship and continued growth in grace, as tribal people. We further affirm that our identity as Native, or tribal persons is pleasing to our Creator and vital to the body of Christ.
We affirm for each other that our languages, cultures, identities, and many traditions are pleasing to God and have the potential to refresh the church and offer hope to the world. To be less is to be other than what God is asking us to be in our time.
We further believe that many of our Native traditions affirm the presence of God, our need for the right relationship with our Creator and the world around us, and a call for holy living. Both through corporate and personal conviction our people individually and tribally are led by the Spirit of God to a greater awareness of God. Traditional beliefs, consistent with the gospel and the historic witness of the church should not be understood as contrary to our beliefs as Native Christians. Furthermore, the testimony of historic and contemporary Native Christians should be counted in the historic witness of the church.
Whereas, we believe that God’s creating presence speaks to us through our languages and cultures and that such testimony is vital to the ongoing work of the church among our people; and
Whereas, many Native traditions were erroneously feared, rather than understood as vehicles for the grace of God, and;
Whereas, such fears have resulted in the persecution of traditional Native peoples and Native Christians; and
Whereas, many traditions have been misinterpreted as sin, rather than varying cultural expressions leading to a deeper understanding of our creator;
Be it further resolved, that we believe in the faithful leadership of the Holy Spirit in assisting us as individuals and communities in the preservation of those cultures and the continuation of their faith; that just as there are many parts of the body of Christ, there are many Native traditions, languages, customs, and expressions of faith; that in the best of Native traditions, the church, and the spirit of ecumenism, we allow for the work of the Spirit of God among our communities and tribes without prejudice.
Therefore, be it further resolved, that being justified by faith, we will honor as sacred those practices that: call us back to the sacredness of Native people; affirm as beautiful their identity among the world’s peoples; lead us into the right relationship with our Creator, creation, and those around us; and call us into holy living. We call upon the world, the church, The United Methodist Church, and the people of The United Methodist Church to receive the gifts of Native people as people of God.
Copyright © 2016, The United Methodist Publishing House, used by permission
One Native American student struggles with Christianity
Nicholas Ross-d*ck with Rich Atkinson 4 Minute Read
Testimony
I grew up on the reservation in south central Washington, raised in a traditional spiritual belief system. It was non-Christian: We sang in the Yakama language, worshipped with hand drums and danced in a longhouse with a dirt floor.
When I came to Montana, culture shock hit me. My spirituality has always been a large part of who I am. I felt I was losing mine.
I Rejected a Bible Study Group for Natives
One day, Sydney, who was in my bowling class, asked me to come to a Nations meeting. Nations is a Cru ministry that reaches out to Native-American students. "Hey, I'm starting this Bible study group and I just want it to be for Native students."
I went once, but was turned off and didn't go back for quite some time. I was very skeptical and resistant to Christianity. My family was adamant in keeping me away from any church because of what Christianity had done to our Native-American people.
Could I Find an Answer for My Struggles?
Yet I struggled being away from the reservation, away from my traditions and my family. I tried to do life on my own, but I was lost spiritually. When my grandmother died, I was so depressed that I tried to commit suicide.
The Nations group grew and people kept inviting me to come. I went to a meeting about a year later and have been going ever since.
I was still adamant in my belief structure. This group of individuals at Nations, they are Natives too and they were really open. They acknowledged the fact that I struggled with things. They actually helped me to embrace that struggle.
How Reading God's Word Opened My Eyes
Then I was challenged to read the New Testament. That was my first real attempt in my own conscience of my own choice. One night last fall while reading Matthew 9, I started crying. Sometimes things just speak to you and this particular passage just stood out to me.
I had spent 21 years being raised in a different way of thinking, not only spiritually, but also culturally. It was like I was giving up what sustained me for all those years and that was the hardest thing. It was really heavy on my mind and in my heart and in my soul. I was just finally able to let that go.
I needed to know I was forgiven. I finally gave my heart to the Lord. I was given a better heart and a clearer conscience and a new life.
I've set out to show that it's okay to accept this Christian life and still be Native.
Next: Would You Like to Know God Personally?
Nick is a member of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nations and is pursuing a double major in Philosophy and Sociology at Montana State University in Bozeman. He loves writing, exercising and movies. About 300 Native-American students attend Montana State University on a campus of 12,000 students.
dmit you are a sinner, ask for forvergivevnes, ask Jesus to come into your life and be your Lord and Saviour.
.
I Felt Guilty for Keeping a Secret
While held to secrecy from telling the truth about my friend's death, I found hope
Darling Justiniano Solano with Hayley Newsom 4 Minute Read
Testimony, Grief
img_001-article_00386-darling
My friend and I were riding in a military truck, and one of the drivers was drunk. When my friend fell out of the truck and hit his head, he died there on the road.
It affected me tremendously. I would dream at night that he was with me.
I was in a difficult situation with the military because my immediate leaders told me I shouldn't tell the truth about what had happened and to say that it was an accident.
My Heavy Conscience
I struggled with that even after leaving the military. I felt guilty for keeping the secret, even though I had been threatened. I felt like my friend deserved justice, and I was preventing it from happening.
In 2006, I met Ron Burgin, a Cru staff member. When I told him about the problems during my military service and living with that on my conscience, he gave me hope.
He told me God loved me and had a plan for my life, and He could free me from what had happened.
How I Found a Future and a Hope
Ron and I read the Four Spiritual Laws, and at the part with the prayer, he asked me if I wanted to receive Christ as my Lord and Savior, and I said, "Yep, I'd like to do that." I was ready.
I believe He is the Son of God and the light of the world. I believe He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and to give us new life.
I thanked Jesus for dying for my sins and giving me eternal life. I asked Him to take charge of my life. It's the best thing that has ever happened to me.
My Life is Transformed
Now I am a university student, involved in ministry with Cru. I've seen how God has transformed my life. I have discipleship groups at the university. It's helping me grow a lot as a person.
As someone who has gone through crisis, I have something to offer to others. I never imagined I'd be able to speak so easily to others, but I really like to share with others about Christ.
I can see that the only person that can change a life is Christ. That empty place in our hearts can only be filled by Christ, and so many people need to know Him.
Dear Lord, I thank you for this day. I thank You for my being able to
see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving
God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You
keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done,
said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your
forgiveness.
Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this
day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best
of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.
Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.
Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let
me continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil.
And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my
wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of God.
And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example
to --- slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best
response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't
pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will.
Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me
strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have
words of encouragement for others. I pray for those who are lost and
can't find their way. I pray for those who are misjudged and
misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately.
I pray for those who don't believe. But I thank you that I believe.
I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for
all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in
their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that
they are out of debt and all their needs are met.
I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem,
circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your
hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the
hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses
them willingly.
This is my prayer.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Author Unknown
Johnson Oatman, Jr. lived between 1856-1922. During his lifetime he wrote lyrics for over five thousand Gospel songs and hymns. A large number of his songs are still sung in the church to this day. Some of his most familiar hymns are: Count Your Blessings, He Included Me, Higher Ground, and No, Not One.
?Count Your Blessings -
?When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold.
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your Lord on high.
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
?Count Your Blessings -
Hint: It had something to do with miracles. BY: BART D. EHRMAN
UPDATED: JANUARY 31, 2019 | ORIGINAL: MARCH 29, 2018
The triumph of Christianity over the pagan religions of ancient Rome led to the greatest historical transformation the West has ever seen: a transformation that was not only religious, but also social, political and cultural. Just in terms of “high culture,” Western art, music, literature and philosophy would have been incalculably different had the masses continued to worship the gods of the Roman pantheon instead of the one God of Jesus—if paganism, rather than Christianity, had inspired their imaginations and guided their thoughts. The Middle Ages, the Renaissance and modernity as we know them would also have been unimaginably different.
But how did it happen? According to our earliest records, the first “Christians” to believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus were 11 male disciples and a handful of women—say 20 people altogether. These were lower-class, uneducated day laborers from a remote corner of the Roman Empire. And yet, within three centuries, the Christian church could count some 3 million adherents. By the end of the 4th century, it was the official religion of Rome, numbering 30 million followers—or half the Empire.
A century after that, there were very few pagans left.
Christians today might claim that their faith triumphed over the other Roman religions because it was (and is) true, right and good. That may be so. But one still needs to consider the historical contingencies that led to the Christian conquest, and in particular the brilliant strategy the Christian evangelistic campaign used in winning converts. These are five aspects of that strategy:
Strangely enough, Christianity did not succeed in taking over the ancient world simply by addressing deeply sensed needs of its target audience, the pagan adherents of traditional polytheistic religions. On the contrary, it actually created a need that almost no one knew they had.
Everyone in the ancient world, except for Jews, was “pagan”—that is, they believed in many gods. These gods—whether the state gods of Rome, the local municipal gods, the family gods, the gods of forests, mountains, streams and meadows—were active in the world, involved with humans on every level. They ensured that crops would grow and livestock would reproduce; they brought rain and protected against storms; they warded off disease and restored the sick to health; they maintained social stability; and provided military victories for the troops.
The gods would do such things in exchange for proper worship, which at all times and everywhere involved saying the right prayers and performing the appropriate sacrifices. If the gods were not worshiped in these ways—if they were ignored—they could bring disastrous retribution: drought, epidemic, economic collapse, military defeat and so on.
But the key point is that the gods were principally active—for good or ill—in the present life, to worshippers in the here and now. Almost no one in the Roman world practiced religion
Almost no one in the Roman world practiced religion in order to escape eternal punishment or receive an eternal reward—that is, until the Christians came along.
Unlike pagans, Christians claimed there was only one God and that he should be worshiped not by sacrifice but by proper belief. Anyone who didn’t believe the right things would be considered a transgressor before God. And, most significant of all, rewards and punishments would be dispensed not only in this life, but in the life to come: either eternal bliss in heaven or everlasting torment in the fires of hell. Religion had never promoted such an idea before. Christians created a need for salvation that no one knew they had. They then argued that they alone could meet the need. And they succeeded massively.
It ‘Proved’ Its Superiority
Everyone in the ancient world knew that divinity was all about power. Humans cannot control whether it rains or an epidemic destroys the community or a natural disasters hits; but the gods can. They can provide for humans what mere mortals cannot do for themselves. This stood at the root of all ancient religion. And it became the chief selling point of the Christian message. Christians declared that their God was more powerful than any other god—in fact, more powerful than all the supposed other gods combined. God alone was God, and he alone could provide what people need.
The power struggle between the Christian and pagan gods is on full display in a wide range of ancient texts. Consider the apocryphal book called the Acts of John, an account of the missionary escapades of Jesus’ disciple John the Son of Zebedee. At one point in the narrative, John visits the city of Ephesus and its renowned temple to the goddess Athena. Entering the sacred site, John ascends a platform and issues a challenge to a large crowd of pagans: They are to pray to their divine protectoress to strike him dead. If she fails to respond, he in turn will ask his God to kill all of them. The crowd is terrified—they have already seen John raise people from the dead, and they know his God means business. When they refuse to take the challenge, John curses the divinity of the place, and suddenly the altar of Artemis splits into pieces, the idols break apart and the roof caves in, killing the goddess’s chief priest on the spot. The crowd makes the expected response: “There is only one God, that of John…now we have converted, since we have seen your miraculous deeds.”
Although obviously legendary, the tale conveys an important truth. Miraculous powers were the Christians’ evangelistic calling card, their compelling proof. Jesus himself, the son of God, had performed one miracle after the other. He was born of a virgin; he fulfilled prophecies spoken centuries earlier by ancient seers; he healed the sick; he cast out demons; he raised the dead. And if all that wasn’t enough, at the end of his life he himself rose from the grave and ascended to heaven to dwell with God forevermore. His disciples also did miracles—amazing miracles—all recorded for posterity in writings widely available. And the miracles continued to the present day. People became convinced by these stories. Not en masse, but one person at a time.
It Worked from the Ground Up;
Christianity did not initially succeed by taking its message to the great and the powerful, the mighty Roman elite. It succeeded at first as a grassroots movement.
The original followers of Jesus told those close to them what they believed: that the great miracle worker Jesus had been raised from the dead, and that his wonders continued to be performed among those who believed in him. They convinced others. Not most of those they talked with, but some. And as it turns out, small but steady growth from the ground up is all it took.
One might think that if Christianity went from some 20 people in the year of Jesus’ death, say 30 CE, to something like 3 million people 300 years later, there must have been massive evangelistic rallies, converting thousands at a time, each and every day. That wasn’t the case at all. If you chart the necessary rate of growth along an exponential curve, the Christian movement needed to increase at a rate of around 3 percent annually. That is to say, if there are 100 Christians this year, there need to be only three conversions by the year’s end. If that happens year after year after year, the numbers eventually pile up. Later in the history of the movement, when there are 100,000 Christians, the same annual growth rate will yield 3,000 converts; when there are 1 million Christians, 30,000 converts. In one year.
The key was to reach people one at a time. It grows from the bottom up, not the top down. The top will eventually convert. But you start below, at the base, where most people actually live.
It Cannibalized the Competition;
Christianity succeeded in large measure because it required potential converts to make a decision that was exclusive and final. If they chose to join the church, they had to abandon all previous religious commitments and associations. For the Christian faith, it was all or nothing, so as it fed its own growth, it devoured the competition.
That may seem unusual by contemporary standards, since in today’s world we normally understand that someone who becomes Baptist cannot remain Buddhist; a Muslim is not a Mormon. But we ourselves accept exclusive religions precisely because the early Christians convinced the world that this is how it ought to be. Personal religion is one thing or another, not both—or several—at once.
The pagan religions didn’t operate like that at all. Since pagans all worshiped many gods, there was no sense that any one God demanded exclusive attention. Quite the opposite. Within pagan circles, if you chose to worship a new god—say, Apollo—that didn’t mean you gave up the worship of another, such as Zeus. No, you worshiped both—along with Hermes, Athena, Ares, your city gods, your family gods and whichever others you chose, whenever you chose.
Christians, though, maintained there was only one God, and if you followed him, you had to abandon the others.
In the long run, this meant that every adherent Christians gained was completely lost to paganism. No other religion demanded such exclusivity. For that reason, as Christianity grew, it destroyed all competition in its wake. And it went on like that for millennia, as Christians forged into new territories, toppling Celtic gods, Norse gods and many others.
It Found a Powerful Sponsor;
Even though early Christianity was a grassroots movement, throughout its first three centuries it recognized fully the importance of converting influential supporters. At the beginning, this simply meant converting an adult male who was head of his household—the paterfamilias. In the Roman world, the paterfamilias chose the family’s religion. If you converted him, you got his wife, children and slaves in the package.
I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Refrain:
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.
I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”;
Johnson Oatman, Jr., 1898
copyright status is Public Domain
Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:13; Psalm 18:33; Isaiah 58:14; Micah 4:2
Hi, I thought I was on my way to being a Christian. I feel as though I have grown more in my faith in Jesus since this time last year. I’m wanting to go to Church each week to be challenged and to learn more about Jesus. I (well up until early this morning) believed that in God’s grace and mercy, Jesus had forgiven my sins and I was so thankful to Him for that. I think about Him each day and try to read the Bible daily. I want to live how he wants me to and I try to do that as best I can. However, early this morning I was woken with a terrible, terrible feeling that perhaps I am not right with God and have questioned whether or not I will be saved. About 15 years ago, I did something wrong. I’ve never admitted it to anyone (until just now with my husband) and also Jesus. Now I’m wondering whether I should still own up to what I have done. I am not the same person I was 15 years ago but the guilt I feel now is eating me up inside and panicking that maybe I’m not saved after all. I feel awful. Do I need to make amends for what I did back then and suffer the consequences of my actions? I was young, irresponsible, and not walking with God back then. These are not excuses at all. I would never dream of doing what I did then now. Thanks for your response.
I am really sorry that you feel this way. I do not know what happened 15 years ago but I do know what regrets and guilt over past actions can do. Every so often I find myself cringing at the sudden recall of things done or said in the past. It is hard particularly when those things have involved hurting or disappointing other people.
But let me assure you that no matter how bad the situation may have been, no matter how much pain or anguish you may have caused, no matter how much sin may have been involved, God’s love and Jesus death covers it all. If you have truely turned back from sin to God (and your question certainly seems to indicate this) then you have been forgiven even for what happened 15 years ago and are safe in the love of God.
Paul expresses this so beautifully in Romans 8
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all”” How will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died”” more than that, who was raised to live”” is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ...
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Now that does not mean that we are free of the consequences of such actions. Sometimes the sins of the past have consequences that affect our future and we have to deal with them - they do not affect our salvation but they do affect our lives. For example, an indiscretion earlier in life may lead to driving while under the influence of alcohol and an accident that leaves you disabled - an action resulting in a consequence that affects you even though you have repented of the action many times over. I don’t know what happened 15 years ago but it sounds like it may have been serious and that you may need to make amends for it (even though your salvation is secure). This may be very difficult for you but it also may be part of the process of helping you deal with the guilt. You may need the support of family and friends to do it. But it also may be a means by which you can show how a Christian manages such things.
So pray about it, asking God for wisdom and strength. Talk with your husband about it and maybe one or two other trusted Christian friends. Listen to your conscience and then decide what to do. It may be a really scary prospect but you need to remember that the God who loves you passionately can and will bring good out of all things for those who love him. So do what you think is right and trust that God will do as he promises. I will pray for you as well.
Tony
Hi! I’ve only just recently discovered that any form of o*al sex or even hugging with s*xual hints is sinful in the eyes of the church. The moment I realized this I felt lost, confused, and very sad. I am a Christian girl - I try to God’s will and I attend church every Sunday. I’ve been with my fiance (who is also Christian) for four years. We love each other and we speak about everything to each other. We’ve just got engaged and our dream is to get married and start a family. However, at the moment it is financially impossible as he still has a year left at University and we do not come from well-to-do families so we cannot marry soon. We never made love because we are firm against sex before marriage. However, it is very difficult not to touch each other or give physical pleasure to each other. We talked through this together and agreed that we are physically loving each other by doing so. It did not happen at the spur of the moment but we had long discussions about it. Up till now we never felt that we were sinning precisely because we feel that we are made for each other. So now that I’ve read that we are sinning it feels like everything is crashing down on me. I don’t know what to do anymore…but I still feel that there is no evil in what we are doing. Please help us.- Stefania
Thank you for being open about this. I pray that these few Bible references may be of some help to you and your fiance
Your attraction to your fiance is natural and a God-given good thing. God created man and woman to be united together emotionally, sexually, and relationally as they serve Him. Genesis 2:20-24 makes clear that sex is a good part of God’s creation, however, it was created exclusively for marriage. This means that sex outside of marriage, whether it is pre-marital sex or adultery or otherwise is rejecting God’s design for sex and is a sin. [Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5]
The Bible is silent on other matters like hugging or o*al sex and whether these things are within the boundaries of ‘s*xual immorality’. However, given o*al sex is called o*al ‘sex’, I would think it’s right to consider it as something to be shared within and confined only to the marriage relationship. It’s a good and right thing that you are abstaining from s*xual intercourse until you are married, but I think the Bible points us to the conclusion that you should also abstain from o*al sex too.
Secondly, in 1 Corinthians 6:18 Paul says ‘Flee s*xual immorality’. So with that in mind, it would be good to put boundaries in place so you and your fiancé aren’t put in tempting situations in the future. It’s better to stay clear of those situations than to be constantly battling with temptation and risk giving into it. [see also 1 Thess 4:3-4]
Thirdly, I know your fiancé is still at university, but maybe you could consider getting married sooner rather than having an extended engagement. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7:9 ‘it’s better to marry than burn in passion’. While it may not be easy financially, in Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus says not to worry about our money, because God will provide us with what we need. Instead, we should ‘seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’
FORREST GUMP goes to HEAVEN;
The day finally arrived when Forrest Gump dies and goes to Heaven.
He met at the Pearly Gates by St. Peter himself.
However, the gates are closed, and Forrest approaches the gatekeeper.
St. Peter said, "Well, Forrest, it is certainly good to see you. We have heard
a lot about you. I must tell you, though, that the place is filling up fast, and
we have been administering an entrance examination for everyone. The test
is short, but you have to pass it before you can get into Heaven."
Forrest responds, "It sure is good to be here, St. Peter, sir. But nobody ever
told me about any entrance exam. I sure hope that the test ain't too hard.
Life was a big enough test as it was."
St. Peter continued, "Yes, I know, Forrest, but the test is only three questions.
First: What two days of the week begin with the letter T?
Second: How many seconds are there in a year?
Third: What is God's first name?"
Forrest leaves to think the questions over. He returns the next day and sees
St. Peter, who waves him up, and says, "Now that you have had a chance to
think the questions over, tell me your answers."
Forrest replied, "Well, the first one -- which two days in the week begins with
the letter "T"? Shucks, that one is easy. That would be Today and Tomorrow."
The Saint's eyes opened wide and he exclaimed, "Forrest, that is not what I was
thinking, but you do have a point, and I guess I did not specify, so I will give you
credit for that answer.
How about the next one?" asked St. Peter. "How many seconds in a year?
Now that one is harder," replied Forrest, but I thunk and thunk about that,
and I guess the only answer can be twelve."
Astounded, St. Peter said, "Twelve? Twelve? Forrest, how in Heaven's name
could you come up with twelve seconds in a year?"
Forrest replied, "Shucks, there's got to be twelve: January 2nd, February 2nd,
March 2nd... "
"Hold it," interrupts St. Peter. "I see where you are going with this, and I see your
point, though that was not quite what I had in mind....but I will have to give you
credit for that one, too.
Let us go on with the third and final question. Can you tell me God's first name"?
"Sure," Forrest replied, "it's Andy."
"Andy?" exclaimed an exasperated and frustrated St Peter.
"Ok, I can understand how you came up with your answers to my first two
questions, but just how in the world did you come up with the name Andy
as the first name of God?"
"Shucks, that was the easiest one of all," Forrest replied. "I learnt it from the song,
"ANDY WALKS WITH ME, ANDY TALKS WITH ME, ANDY TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN."
St. Peter opened the Pearly Gates, and said: "Run Forrest, run."
Give us a sense of humor, Lord.
Give us the ability to understand,
And put humor in our life,
And -- pass it on to other folk.
~Author Unknown~
BY
Silverio Gonzalez
POSTED May 31, 2017
In my last year of seminary, almost everything went wrong. I was about to graduate with no job prospects. I was in debt. My wife had just miscarried, and finals were about to begin. My wife wanted me to finish; she wanted us to move out of that stage of life. I didn’t want to let her down, but I felt guilty for studying. As Sunday approached, I didn’t want to go to church; I didn’t feel like a Christian. My faith felt weak.
I had the right answers. I knew the theology. I had received a good education, but I had such a hard time praying. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe God was there, or that I believed God didn’t care, or that God was not good because he had allowed evil to come my way. It was much more complicated. I just didn’t feel well; I knew God wasn't to blame.
I blamed myself. That semester was stressful. In the rush to study and finish strong while trying to secure a job and complete my internship responsibilities at my local church, I was constantly frustrated, exhausted, and irritable. I brought these feelings home to my wife. I caused her a lot of stress as she worried about our future, a future for which I had failed to adequately prepare. This is what I told myself; I couldn’t help it. I remember that as we sat together in the hospital, all feelings of hope dissipated.
As Sunday approached, I didn’t feel like a Christian, but I went to church anyway. My plan was simple. I was going to keep trying to be a Christian. I was going to keep trying to pray, but I wasn’t going to pretend that everything was okay when it wasn’t.
It was hard to go to church. It was hard to attend a worship service where I was supposed to feel a certain way. It was hard to be around people; I worried that I was a downer because I didn’t get over “it” quickly. I fell into a depression that lasted months. I know this sounds strange. I know I’m not supposed to get so depressed; at least, this is what I was told by well-meaning church folk. But continuing to go to church as I was—hurt, worried, and sorrowful—was the best decision I made.
Faith is not a feeling, even though it is often accompanied by profound experience. It does not well up within us. Rather, it is provoked in us—created in us—by the external announcement of the gospel. When the Spirit opens our hearts to the gospel’s beauty, we simply find ourselves believing the report.
Often this is understood as saying “Your feelings don’t matter. Suck it up and keep going.” This is not what he is saying at all. The advice is simple.
1. KEEP GOING TO CHURCH.
The advice here is to trust that God works through the church to help your faith. The body of Christ, the gathering of Christians to worship God and serve one another is a gift from God to help us. God has equipped pastors to pray for us, to preach to us, and even to listen to our complaints and worries, an example of how God himself listens and cares.
2. DISTINGUISH FAITH FROM FEELINGS.
Too often, we reduce faith to a feeling—a pleasant, happy, or exuberant feeling. This leaves no place for sorrow, lament, or sadness. Distinguishing faith from feeling means that you begin to acknowledge that real Christians can feel a variety of ways. One can have a strong faith and yet mourn; one can have weak faith and yet be filled with happy emotions. Your faith and your emotional state are two different things. The Psalms prove this on every page.
Your feelings don’t qualify or disqualify you from being a Christian. In fact, feeling sorrowful may be the most Christian thing you can do given your circumstances. Even Jesus wept at the death of a friend (John 11:35).
Photo of Silverio Gonzalez
SILVERIO GONZALEZ
Silverio Gonzalez is a husband and father. He earned his B.A. in Philosophy from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his Master of Divinity from Westminster Seminary California.
Do you believe that God is the Giver of healing, prosperity, deliverance, peace, salvation, Baptism in the Holy Spirit, a spouse, children, and every other good thing, but don’t feel worthy to receive those things?
Wait, don’t answer just yet…keep reading.
Many Christians are refusing the gifts Jesus Christ has made available to them through His shed blood because they think of themselves as unworthy. Because of their past sins and mistakes, and the past sins and mistakes of others, they do not feel good enough to receive from a holy God.
Now you can answer. Does this sound like you? If you answered yes, then…, we have a problem.
If you’ve been having trouble receiving healing, financial breakthrough, or anything else you need from the Lord, and you struggle with feelings of shame and unworthiness, you may be living in condemnation that needs to be resolved.
What Is Condemnation?
Simple definitions of condemnation include feelings of guilt, shame, regret, fear, and unworthiness…usually stemming from a past mistake or experience. These past sins could have happened 10 years ago or 10 minutes ago. Anytime we miss the mark, and we all do from time to time, the enemy will try his best to bring condemnation on us.
So, what are we to do? We are to believe and stand on the Word of God!
The Bible tells us in Romans 8:1 that there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
Psalm 34:22 says the Lord redeems the life of His servants, and no one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned.
If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
He blots out our sins and does not think of them (Isaiah 43:25).
He does not punish us for all our sins or deal with us harshly as we deserve (Psalm 103:10).
Another important point to remember is that there’s a difference between conviction and condemnation. The Holy Spirit will let us know when we’ve missed the mark by convicting us of sin from our past or present, but He is a gentleman. He doesn’t aim to make us feel guilty, unworthy, and fearful, but He leads us to repentance. Correction usually comes by a quickening from the Holy Spirit as you read and study the Word of God, or through a minister or pastor teaching or preaching from the Word. It can also come from a fellow believer who is walking in love. Condemnation, on the other hand, is brought on by the devil, and he wants to make you feel all the bad things—unworthy, afraid, and guilty. He will often invade your thoughts or use people to accomplish his mission.
But there’s good news! You don’t have to live in condemnation, because Jesus paid the ultimate price for you to be free! So, it’s time to ask yourself, Am I living in condemnation? The devil is sneaky, so it’s always a good idea to check and see if he’s been pulling any of your strings and trying to cheat you out of the abundant life Jesus came to give you.
Below are four warning signs that you may be living in condemnation and that something’s just not right.
Warning Sign No. 1: You Think About the Past—A Lot
“One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead.” –Philippians 3:13
Do thoughts of your past seem to creep up out of nowhere? Sins and mistakes from 10, 20, or even 30 years ago? Or maybe you keep reliving a negative life experience that left you hurt—over and over and over. Perhaps you’ve even found yourself saying on repeat, “I wish I would’ve…” or “If only I wouldn’t have….”
The No. 1 warning sign that you may be living in condemnation and that something’s just not right, is if you think about your past sins and the negative experiences of your life a lot. Recalling these memories can leave you feeling guilty, ashamed, and like you’re never quite good enough.
This is why God tells us to leave what’s in the past in the past and to press forward into our future. God wants to do something new and wonderful in your life, completely apart from your past, but you have to stop looking to your past in order to receive it!
How do you do this? Know that Jesus already took the condemnation for your past upon Himself. As a born-again Christian, you have been made free from every sin you’ve ever committed. Jesus bore all your sin, shame, and guilt on the cross, so you could live free of condemnation—FOREVER.
It isn’t enough to just mentally acknowledge this truth, however. As long as you keep allowing yourself to replay bad choices or experiences, you’ll keep yourself spinning on the condemnation merry-go-round. Are you ready to get off?
Here’s how to do it: Take your thoughts of the past captive and make them obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). When a condemning thought from your past crosses your mind, stop it dead in its tracks by speaking out loud. Say, “No. I don’t live in the past. Jesus has made all things new and given me a prosperous, guilt-free future. I am living fully in the present, and I look forward to what God is doing in my life right now.”
This might be a daily effort at first, so don’t give up if the thoughts of your past don’t immediately stop. Plus, you have an enemy who doesn’t want you to succeed, but remember, he’s already been defeated! So, whenever the devil tries to call you with reminders of past mistakes—hang up on him. Inform him that he’s been placed on your Do Not Call List, and you will not be receiving any more of his attempts at communication.
Make a decision today. Leave the past behind, and focus on the here and now, and your glorious future!
Warning Sign No. 2: You Can’t Seem to Forgive Yourself
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” –2 Corinthians 5:17
If you find yourself beating yourself up for days, weeks, and even years after you make a mistake, that’s a strong warning that you may be living in condemnation, and something’s just not right. Feelings of rejection, fear of failure, insecurity, and depression are all connected to condemnation.
When you became a Christian, you literally became a new creation, a species that has never before existed. The old person you were passed away, spiritually speaking. The best news is that all of your past and future mistakes have been blotted out by the blood of Jesus! If Jesus can forgive you for past and future sins, who are you to not forgive yourself?
To forgive yourself, you must renew your mind to the truth of God’s Word that says you are forgiven and have been made new.
Remember, when you sin or miss the mark, confess and repent as soon as you realize it. Next, receive your forgiveness and cleansing from the Lord (1 John 1:9), and then take the next step and forgive yourself! Holding onto guilt and shame is refusing to receive His forgiveness, and it just wouldn’t be right to refuse this beautiful gift!
This is such a vital concept to grasp, you may need to spend some dedicated time with the Lord to inquire of Him and search your heart for any areas where you have not received God’s forgiveness and have not forgiven yourself.
If you discover that you just can’t seem to forgive yourself, it’s a good time to ask, “Why?” What do you lose by letting go of the past and accepting the truth that Jesus washed away your sins and mistakes? What do you gain by holding onto past hurts?
Living in condemnation because you just can’t seem to forgive yourself is self-focused, and receiving forgiveness is God-focused. So, turn your focus back on God, forgive yourself because Jesus has forgiven you, and start living in victory!
Kenneth and Gloria Copeland pray for their Partners every day. Want to be under their cover? Find out more about the partnership HERE.
Find A Daily Confession to Overcome Condemnation here.
Warning Sign No. 3: You Have a Judgmental and Critical Spirit
“For you’ll be judged by the same standard that you’ve used to judge others. The measurement you use on them will be used on you.” –Matthew 7:2
Another warning sign that you may be living in condemnation is if you have a judgmental and critical spirit about you. What is a judgmental and critical spirit? It is one that looks for flaws and failings in others and forms a verdict or opinion about them. Criticizing and passing judgment on another person can help make us feel a bit superior in areas in which we feel we have the upper hand. At least I don’t do that! you may think to yourself.
Why is this a warning sign that you may be living in condemnation? Often, we judge people because we ourselves “feel” judged either by God or by people. When we feel judged, feelings of condemnation abound. However, often, we are only feeling judged by others because of condemning thoughts replaying in our heads. If we knew the truth of the matter, we’d probably be surprised to find out that the person we “felt” judged by didn’t ever give us one thought!
If you find yourself observing, judging, and criticizing the faults in people—spouses, friends, family, co-workers, political leaders—or even pointing them out to others, the Word of God has some advice for you: Stop it now! The Bible clearly warns us of the dangers of judging others. When you sow judgment, you will reap judgment (Matthew 7:2), leading to more condemnation. It’s a vicious cycle!
Most of all, God loves you so much, He sent His one and only Son to die for you. Because you have accepted this free gift, you are no longer condemned; therefore, you are free from the thoughts and judgments of others. God says there is now no condemnation for you because you belong to Him, so His Word and love for you trump everyone else’s opinion.
Other signs of a critical spirit fueled by condemnation include:
Being highly critical of yourself and comparing yourself to others
Needing constant affirmation from people around you
Craving compliments, while feeling threatened if others are complimented.
How do you go free from a judgmental and critical spirit?
Repent. This means to change your ways to God’s ways! Ask Him to show you the root of the critical spirit. If you truly believe someone is in error, refuse to criticize him or her, but pray instead! The Scripture says, “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand” (Romans 14:4,
Refuse to gossip or speak negatively about anyone, ever (Ephesians 4:29). Be cautious of what you share about others, knowing that love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4.
Walk in love by choosing to speak life and build others up with your words. Go out of your way to say something nice to or about someone. When you’re living free from condemnation, you’ll find yourself eager to build others up.
As you go free from the condemnation that comes from a judgmental and critical spirit, you will begin to naturally overlook the faults and shortcomings of others because you will be so secure in who you are in Christ. You’ll become a cheerleader for the Body of Christ and an excellent representative of the love of Jesus to the world. Instead of saying, “Look what you did,” you’ll say, “We’ve all fallen short at one time or another. But you can do it! I’m with you in this.”
Warning Sign No. 4: You Feel Unworthy;
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” –Romans 5:8
Do you ever feel like you have to prove yourself? In today’s world, that’s what you have to do, right? On the job, among friends, and even at home, the pressure is on to convince those around you that you deserve the salary, the friendship, and even the love they give you. Why? Because you feel unworthy. Feeling unworthy is the next warning sign that you may be living in condemnation and that something’s just not right.
If you’re feeling unworthy of anyone’s love—be it a family member, friend, co-worker, or even God Himself, you have to know and accept the truth: God considered you worthy enough to send Jesus Christ to die for you. That’s how He showed His love for you, and that’s how He showed you that you are worthy. Your life is very important to God.
If you feel unworthy, it’s time to get a revelation of the love God has for you. First John 4:16 says, “We have come to know and to believe the love God has for us…” You can’t just know in your head that God loves you, but you must believe the love, or in other words get a personal revelation of it.
As Kenneth Hagin said, “Believing takes place in our heart, not our head.”
How do you do this? Meditate on scriptures that talk about God’s love for you. Ask God to reveal to you that He loves you. Then, be on the lookout for God to show you. He will. This revelation will revolutionize your whole life! To be loved by God and to believe it from personal experience…it’s a marvelous thing!
Next, you need to understand that, as Christ’s servant, you are called to please God, not man (Galatians 1:10). It pleases Him when you understand the high value He places on your life and when you have faith in His love for you.
Remember, God hasn’t based His relationship with you on your worthiness in and of yourself. He knows where you’ve missed. He knows you’ve fallen short. But when He looks at you, that’s not what He sees. Do you know what He sees? He sees the worthy blood of Jesus covering you. He sees you as perfect in every way, ready to complete every good work He created you to do in this world. You don’t have to struggle to prove yourself to Him. As far as He’s concerned, you’re a proven success.
So, the next time you catch yourself struggling to make up to God for something you’ve done wrong, or you find yourself working to win His approval or the approval of others, stop and rest in His love for you. Remind yourself of how much God loves you. You are worthy to be loved by God Almighty! Your job is to please the Lord with your life. You already measure up.
Well, how did you do? Did you notice any of the four warning signs that you may be living in condemnation?
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, Forever and ever.
Amen.
Kenneth Copeland;
Want to know how to receive a miracle? Find out what actions you can take to participate in His plan for you.
If you need a miracle today, you need to know this: Miracles are not just hit-or-miss. You can tap into a miracle. God doesn’t just sometimes decide to do a miracle, and sometimes not to. No. He is always ready to do a miracle in your life.
Here’s the key.
You are not a spectator. You are an active participant!
If you need a miracle in your life—get off the couch, get involved, and receive your miracle with these 10 faith actions you can take today.
Action Step No. 1: Worship the Lord Every Morning
“His praise will always be on my lips.” –Psalm 34:1 (NIV)
Some people think as long as they love God and are faithful to Him, the blessings will flow in. But worshipping and praising the Lord put everything in the proper perspective. It puts God at the head of your life and circumstances. It announces to the world, the devil, and all your troubles that you are in the hands of Almighty God, and you know it, trust it and have faith to receive a miracle.
That’s why Kenneth Copeland says, “Praise is the big gun of faith.”
That’s how Paul and Silas received deliverance from prison. Instead of begging and pleading with God, or complaining about their situation, Paul and Silas “were praying and singing hymns to God” (Acts 16:25, . The result? “All the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose” (verse 26, All the doors. Every chain. All because of worshipping and praising God.
Kenneth Hagin once shared a testimony of a missionary who had contracted smallpox before there was a vaccine, at a time when it was often fatal. As she prayed, the Lord gave her a vision of a scale with prayer on one side and praise on the other. He said, “When your praises equal your prayers, you will be healed.”
She spent two days doing nothing but praising God. She didn’t ask Him for anything. At the end of the two days, she was completely healed.
That’s how you receive a miracle!
Action Step No. 2: Make a Forgiveness List.
“And whenever you stand praying, forgive.” –Mark 11:25
Think you can receive a miracle with bitterness in your heart? Think again.
If you need a miracle—don’t delay!—sit down and make a forgiveness list today. Get quiet before the Lord and ask Him to reveal to you anyone you haven’t forgiven in your life (this could go way back). Write down everyone who comes to mind. It could be an entire group like a neighborhood, a church, or a school.
There may be tiny little “nothings” on the list, but those are important, too! It’s the small foxes that ruin the vines. Then, ask God to help you forgive. It often takes supernatural help.
From this day forward, keep your forgiveness list empty. Every time someone offends you, forgive immediately. This faith action could be the missing link to receive your miracle.
Action Step No. 3: Sharpen Your Listening Skills
“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” –Romans 8:14
God wants you to receive your miracle, and He has some special instructions for you. Can you hear Him? If you’re wrapped up in thinking about your troubles or needs, the noise may be loud enough to block out His still, small voice.
Be intentional about getting quiet before the Lord. Sharpen your listening skills and expect to hear from Him.
Keith Moore has seen many miracles in his life, and his advice is this: “If you want to see a miracle, you must first hear from Him.” This is the most critical step and one that many people try to skip. Then they wonder why they don’t see a manifestation in their lives.
When you hear from the Lord, He will give you an instruction—something He wants you to do to receive your miracle. That is always how God has worked.
Expect to hear from Him. Then, do whatever He tells you to do, and you will receive your miracle!
Action Step No. 4: Only Speak the Language of Faith
“He will have whatever he says.” –Mark 11:23
If you need a miracle—or want to live in everyday victory—you’ve got to learn to only speak the language of faith. The Bible is clear that our words have the power to release life, death, and whatever we say. So, whatever you’re living in today is likely the result of yesterday’s words.
Until you reach the point of speaking faith every day, you need to do what Kenneth Copeland told Mylon Le Fevre to do years ago when Mylon was new to walking by faith.
Mylon was telling Kenneth all about his troubles, even though he said he was believing God to help him. Kenneth said to him, “Son, you need to learn the language of silence.”
Kenneth was telling him that until he could learn how to speak faith, he needed to keep quiet.
It’s advice Kenneth gives often. Jerry Savelle shares about what Kenneth said to him when he was first learning to walk by faith.
“Before God transformed my life, I asked Kenneth Copeland why nothing was working in my life, and he said, ‘Jerry, your problem is your big mouth. You need to learn the vocabulary of silence.’ And then he said, ‘If you can’t talk the Word, then shut up.’ Once I learned how to ‘bridle my tongue’ (James 3:1-9), things began to change in my life!”
You may already know about the importance of your words, but you will always have to be intentional about only speaking the language of faith.
Action Step No. 5: Don’t Take No for an Answer
“All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen.” –2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJ
If you need a miracle, do you accept a bad report as final? If you need a miracle in your body and the doctor says, “You’re going to be on medication for life,” are you accepting it? Or do you fight?
It can be tempting to tuck your tail between your legs and walk away wondering why nothing ever works out. But that isn’t what we’ve been told to do! The next time you hear a no from the world when the Lord has already said, “Yes,” stop and consider your response.
Be willing and ready to fight for what’s yours in the spirit realm. You have a right to enjoy the promises of God, but they won’t just fall in your lap. Go after them today. God’s yes will always overcome every no. That’s what a miracle is!
Action Step No. 6: Refuse to Doubt;
“Don’t be afraid; just believe.” –Mark 5:36
Once you take a stand against the world’s no, the devil will be right there pulling every trick out of his bag to get you to let go of your faith and grab on to fear and doubt. He’ll say, “You’re not going to get that miracle. You don’t deserve it. Remember how many times you’ve failed God.”
How do you receive a miracle? Refuse to entertain those doubt-filled thoughts. Instead, answer him and say, “Bless the Lord, I don’t get what I deserve. I get what Jesus bought for me. I get the mercy of God. I get a miracle!” That’s why, when Jairus received the news that his daughter had died, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe” (Mark 5:36, He knew that if Jairus stayed out of doubt and unbelief, the way would be clear for God to do a miracle. That’s a good word for all of us who are positioning ourselves for a miracle. No matter what the devil says, no matter what circumstances may say, no matter what our natural senses might try to tell us—if we’ll refuse to doubt, refuse to fear, and keep on believing God, our miracle will surely come!
“Faith without works is dead.” –James 2:26
As important as it is to resist doubt, faith alone won’t get the whole job done. You can’t just sit around believing on the inside and do nothing on the outside. For faith to come alive, you have to take action. If you’re waiting for a miracle today, don’t just sit there—take action! When Jesus performed His first miracle, John 2 tells us that He and His mother were attending a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the host ran out of wine. Mary looked to Jesus to do something about it. She was expecting a miracle when she turned to the servants and said, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
Mylon Le Fevre can attest to this truth. When he first got saved, he had a massive amount of debt, and he knew God had told him, according to Romans 13:8, to get out of debt. So he met with a financial counselor who mapped everything out for him, including how much he would need to put aside each month.
Mylon put everything he had into getting out of debt. He didn’t eat out or purchase anything (he only bought the food he needed and paid his bills). Though the financial advisor said it would take five years and eight months, all of Mylon’s debt disappeared in 18 months! That’s one of the major keys to receiving a miracle. Whatever the Lord says to you—do it! When you take action, He will meet you there with a supernatural result.
Action Step No. 8: Plant the Word of God
“The seed is the word of God.” –Luke 8:11
If you need a harvest today, the big question is, have you planted anything? To reap a spiritual harvest, you’ve got to plant the Word of God in your heart.
A lot of people try to skip that step. They try to believe in a miracle without spending enough time in the Word to change their hearts and minds. They just want to confess it with their mouths and have it instantly appear. But that won’t happen. It’s what we believe in our hearts and say with our mouths that we receive.
If you don’t have enough faith yet to believe for the miracle you need, then you can get it. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17,. So, start planting the Word in your heart until faith for your miracle is born.
Action Step No. 9: Learn the Art of Waiting
“Do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” –Hebrews 6:12 (
The difference between receiving a miracle and not receiving often comes down to your willingness to wait. Faith and patience are the power twins. Patience keeps your faith strong until you cross the finish line.
Learn the biblical art of waiting! Develop the kind of patience that knows if you believed you received it—you have it.
Patience will guard you from your feelings and from watching the clock. Let patience have her perfect work. Patience comes and holds the door of faith open. Praise God! It won’t let the devil slam it. It won’t let anything shut it. It just keeps calling things that be not as though they were. It keeps acting as though it was already done.
Action Step No. 10: Expect the Impossible
“All things are possible to him who believes.” –Mark 9:23
Did you know the spirit of expectancy is key to receiving your miracle? If you only see the natural realm of the possible as what is possible for you—that’s not faith! God works miracles because we believe! We could look at one miracle after another and see that truth in action.
In Mark 5:34, when the woman with the issue of blood receives her healing, Jesus says, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.”
In Luke 17:19, the leper is healed and made whole. Why? Jesus said, “Your faith has healed you.”
In Mark 10:52, blind Bartimaeus received the miracle of his sight being restored. The reason? Jesus said, “Your faith has healed you.”
I
Is it wrong to live lives as secret Christians for fear of reprisal or even death? Should Christians be willing to die for confessing the name of Jesus? Should we keep our faith secret in order to preserve our lives? This is a question that is only hypothetical for Christians in many parts of the world, with the worst persecution they could receive being ridicule and/or insults. However, for Christians in some parts of the world, this question is very real and practical—their lives literally are at risk. It is one thing to not be as bold as you would like in order to protect your own life and/or the lives of your family. It is another thing entirely to make your own life a higher priority than serving, honoring, worshiping, and obeying Christ. So, with that said, is it wrong to keep your faith in Christ a secret?
Jesus Himself gives us the answer: "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matthew 10:32-34). Christ made it clear to us that “if the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19). So, while it is understandable for someone to keep his/her faith in Christ a secret in order to save his/her life, for a Christian, a secret faith is simply not an option.
In the passage above, the word “world” comes from the Greek kosmos. It refers to an evil, fallen world system of godless, immoral people whose hearts and minds are controlled by Satan (John 14:30; 1 John 5:19; Ephesians 2:1-3). Satan hates God. He also hates those who follow Christ. Christians are the focal point of Satan’s wrath. His goal is to “devour” them (1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:11). We should not be surprised that the world’s rulers hate believers simply because we “are not of the world.” The reason why Christians are being persecuted and killed daily for their confession of Christ is that our godly lives serve to condemn this world’s wicked deeds (Proverbs 29:27). It has been this way from the beginning of time with the first murder ever recorded when Cain killed Abel (Genesis 4:1-8). Why did Cain do this? “Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous” (1 John 3:12). Correspondingly, the world today cheers those who practice evil (Romans 1:32) and condemns those who would live righteously.
Another message that Jesus brought to the world: “They [the world] will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake” (Matthew 24:9). Jesus has promised us this: at the end times Christians will suffer severe persecution by this ungodly world. We will be profaned, abused, and cursed. The phrase “will deliver” comes from the Greek word meaning “giving over,” as in the sense of being arrested by the police or military (Matthew 4:12). Many will be murdered. We will be “hated by all nations” for His name’s sake. In the parallel passage of Mark, Jesus declares, “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them” (Mark 13:9). As we are witnessing today throughout the world, being identified with the name of Christ will cost us our freedoms, our rights, our respect, and sometimes our lives.
Christians have a mandate from Christ to “go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
Living for Christ in this world can be difficult, even brutal. This world is not our home. The world is a battlefield. The trials of life are the tools God uses for building us up and making us more like Jesus. It is in those dark times that we look to Christ and let His power work within us. Just before His ascension into heaven, Jesus gave us His final command to spread the gospel to the world. With that He also gave us His final promise. “And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). And that is all that matters.
Going to Heaven—how can I guarantee my eternal destination?
Face it. The day we step into eternity may come sooner than we think. In preparation for that moment, we need to know this truth—not everyone is going to heaven. How can we know for sure that we are going to heaven? Some 2,000 years ago, the apostles Peter and John were preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to a large crowd in Jerusalem. Peter made a profound statement that resonates even in our postmodern world: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Now as then, Acts 4:12 is not politically correct. Today it’s popular to say, “Everyone’s going to heaven” or “All paths lead to heaven.” There are many who think they can have heaven without Jesus. They want the glory, but they don’t want to be bothered by the cross, much less the One who died there. Many don’t want to accept Jesus as the only way of going to heaven and are determined to find another path. But Jesus warns us that no other path exists and that the consequence for rejecting this truth is an eternity in hell. He told us that “whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (John 3:36). Faith in Christ is the key to going to heaven.
Some will argue that it’s extremely narrow-minded of God to provide only one way to heaven. But, frankly, in light of mankind’s rebellion against God, it’s extremely broad-minded for Him to provide us with any way to heaven. We deserve judgment, but God gives us a way of escape by sending His one-and-only Son to die for our sins. Whether someone sees this as narrow or broad, it’s the truth. The good news is that Jesus died and rose again; those who are going to heaven have received this gospel by faith.
Many people today hold to a watered-down gospel that does away with the need for repentance. They want to believe in a “loving” (nonjudgmental) God who never mentions sin and who requires no change in their lifestyle. They may say things like, “My God would never send a person to hell.” But Jesus spoke more about hell than He did about heaven, and He presented Himself as the Savior who offers the only means of going to heaven: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Who will actually enter God’s kingdom? How can I guarantee that I’m going to heaven? The Bible makes a clear distinction between those who have eternal life and those who do not: “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12). It all goes back to faith. Those who believe in Christ are made the children of God (John 1:12). Those who accept Jesus’ sacrifice as the payment for their sins and who believe in His resurrection are going to heaven. Those who reject Christ are not. “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:18).
As awesome as heaven will be for those who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, hell will be that much more awful for those who reject Him. One cannot read the Bible seriously without seeing it over and over again—the line is drawn. The Bible says there is one and only one way to heaven—Jesus Christ. Follow Jesus’ command: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13–14). Faith in Jesus is the one means of going to heaven. Those who have faith are guaranteed to get there. Do you trust in Jesus?
Have you made a decision for Christ because of what you have read here? If so, please click on the “I have accepted Christ today” button below.
\What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy-laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He'll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Charles Crozat Converse / Paul Joseph Baloche / Joseph Medlicott Scriven