The Way to Heaven

The way to heaven
The following is what Christians believe is the way to heaven. I place it here so that you the reader may decide for yourself if you agree with it or not.
The writer of Hebrews tells us,
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3  
Christians believe Jesus is God incarnate. God in the flesh. That He came to earth to show mankind the way to heaven.
Jesus speaking of himself said,

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 

that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,

 but to save the world through him.” 

                                                         John 3:16,17.

Christians believe that no one can live a life good enough to stand before a Holy God. That we sin. Sin is failing to do what God wants us to do, consciously or otherwise. The apostle Paul tells us,

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

 and are justified freely by his grace 

through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

                                                                                 Romans 3:23,24.

The apostle John noting,

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins 

and purify us from all unrighteousness.  

If we claim we have not sinned, 

we make him out to be a liar

 and his word has no place in our lives.” 

                                                               1 John 1:9,10.

The apostle Paul tells us,
It is by faith we get to heaven, by the grace of God. We cannot work our way to heaven.,

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith

and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God

 not by works, so that no one can boast.”  

                                                             Ephesians 2:8,9

Faith defined by the writer of Hebrews as,                                              Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.” 

                                                 Hebrews 11:1

The same writer noting

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”

                                                                     Hebrews 11:6

Thus the question becomes. Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God, God incarnate, the Saviour of mankind. The one who died for your sins?
If so are you willing to confess your sins directly to God and accept God’s saving grace that comes through Christ Jesus?
Please think about it.

You and God

You and God
The Psalmist wrote,

“For you created my inmost being; 

you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 

your works are wonderful, 

I know that full well. 

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. 

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

 your eyes saw my unformed body. 

All the days ordained for me were written in your book 

before one of them came to be.” 

                                              Psalm 139:13-16.

Here is a scripture that says it all for me when it comes to the individual and God. The Psalmist makes it clear God knows all about us. That He knit us together in our mothers womb.
Put in modern terms God knows our genetic make up. He knows why we are the way we are. We can never stand before God and say you didn’t know what it was like to be me, because He does.
The Scriptures also tells us,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  
He was with God in the beginning. 
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-3,14.
Here the apostle John makes it clear that Jesus is God that he made the world and everything in it. That God in the form of Jesus Christ came into the world that he made.
That being said, no one can stand before God and say you did not know what it was like to be human. We cannot say it because Jesus walked this earth. He knew what it was like to be human. He felt the everyday things humans feel, the sun on his face, the rain, the smell of dust. He knew what it was like to have loving friends and family. He knew what it was to have enemies that wanted to put him to death.
He knew what it was like to be accused of a crime he didn’t do and of being wrongfully convicted of that crime. He felt the pain of a Roman whip. The agony of a cross.
Jesus knew what it was to be human. Thus when we stand before him we will be without excuse.
We will be without excuse because he knows why we are like we are and what it is like to be human. Thus He can judge us fairly.
As a believer in Christ Jesus I believe that we can know here in this world whether we will enter Heaven or not. The apostle John states,

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, 

he gave the right to become children of God—  

children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision 

or a husband’s will, 

but born of God.” 

                            John 1:12,13.

The apostle Paul makes it clear we cannot work our way to heaven it is a gift of God. Paul writing
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9.
Thus the question becomes are you willing to accept the saving grace of God that comes through Jesus. Are you willing to believe Jesus is the Son of God the Saviour of mankind by faith or are you not.
The choice in yours.
Please think about it

On Life

On Life

The apostle John speaking of Jesus said,                                                                    

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, 

he gave the right to become children of God—  

children born not of natural descent, 

nor of human decision or a husband’s will, 

but born of God.” 

                            John 1:12,13 

The poet wrote,                                                      

Where are the people?

Where?

Are they but shadows in the mall?

Are they?

Are they shadows in time?

Shadows wandering looking for the latest trinkets, bobbles and beads?

What is life?

What?

Is life but a wisp of smoke carried in the air?

A wisp in the eternal aether? 

Are people wisps of smoke?

What of man’s or woman’s!

 accomplishments?

What of them?

Is the sum total of all ones life simply a pile of shinny tin, brass, and wood?

Is that life?

Is life simply a cacophony of sounds travelling through endless time?

Is it?

Is life a finite opera?

An opera played out on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam?

Are we as Shakespear said simply actors?

Does life end?

No!

No!

Life is real!

Played out before God.

In a world suspended between Heaven and Hell

We,

 While mere mortals here.

we are really eternal beings.

Waiting to stand before God.

Are you ready to stand before God?

Are you?

What is the sum total of your life?

What?

Individuals lives in deeds,

What will your deeds say about you?

What will “they” say about you when you pass on?

What will God say?

Jesus said,

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. 

If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, 

I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” 

                                                      Revelations 3:20.

Jesus speaking of himself said,

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 

that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, 

but to save the world through him.  

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 3:16-18

The apostle John speaking of Jesus said,                                                                  

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, 

he gave the right to become children of God—  

children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision 

or a husband’s will, 

but born of God.” 

                            John 1:12,13.

Do you believe in Jesus? 

Do you believe He is the Son of God, Saviour of mankind?

Please think about it. 

A Life of Mercy

A life of Mercy
James the half brother of Jesus said,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2:12,13.
As true followers of Jesus we must live a life that reflects Him. A life of unconditional Love for God, one’s neighbour and even one’s enemy.
Showing the love of Christ means not judging them.
Jesus said,

Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  

For in the same way you judge others, 

you will be judged, 

and 

with the measure you use, 

it will be measured to you.” 

                                                   Matthew 7:1,2.

Billy Graham the American Evangelist said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict,

 God’s job to judge 

and 

my job to love, 

                    Billy Graham

Jesus said,

“So in everything,

 do to others what you would have them do to you,

 for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” 

                                                                                         Matthew 7:12.

Are you treating others the same way you would want to be treated?
There is a very famous prayer by Francis of Assisi that all who call themselves followers of Christ should think of taking to heart it states,
The prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, 

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled

 as to console; 

to be understood as to understand; 

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; 

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; 

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

                                                               St Francis of Assisi

Please think about it.

Overcome with Good

Overcome with Good

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

                                                                                       Romans 12:21

Question, do you? Do yo overcome evil with good?
The apostle Peter states,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12.
Do you do this?
Many years ago I was told by my first pastor to memorize the words of Jesus who said,

“So in everything,

 do to others what you would have them do to you,

 for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” 

                                                                                         Matthew 7:12.

He told me if you sincerely believe what Jesus is saying you will always remember to present the gospel of Christ in a respectful manner to all who will listen.
In following these words of Christ you will find yourself respecting those of different faiths, lifestyles, and positions in life.
Not only that you will find yourself being respected by others. And those who have the respect of others find it easier to present the gospel of Christ to non-believers.
The writer of Hebrews states,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men

 and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 

                                                                                       Hebrews 12:14.

Please think about it.

Put it this way

Put this way
Jesus taking to His disciples and through them to us, said,

“So in everything, do to others 

what you would have them do to you,

 for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” 

Matthew 7:12.

Put this way in the year 2018 this means,

If you are

demonstrating against anyone. 

You are telling them 

they can demonstrate against you.

Put it this way in the year 2018 this means,

If you are 

speaking out and trying to restrict the rights of others 

given to them by the lawfully elected government.

You are telling others 

they can try to restrict your rights.

Put it this way in the year 2018 this means,

If you are 

imposing your morals however good they may be on others.

You are telling them 

they can impose their morals on you, 

even if they are not as good as yours.

Put it this way in the year 2018 this means,

If you are 

trying to impose your faith on others rather than presenting your faith.

You are telling others 

they can impose their faith on you.

And you might not like their faith.

Put it this way in the Year 2018 this means,

If you are

judging others.

You are telling others 

they can judge you in the same way.

Put it this way in the year 2018 this means,

If you 

are telling the world you are a Christian

You should be telling the world 

I love you as Jesus loves you,

unconditionally!

Jesus when asked,

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 

Jesus replied: 

“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart 

and with all your soul 

and with all your mind.’ 

This is the first and greatest commandment. 

And the second is like it: 

‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ 

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 

                                                                             Matthew 22:36-40.

Jesus also said to all who believe in Him,
“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  
If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.  
Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.  
Do to others as you would have them do to you. 
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them.  
And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that.  
And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full.  
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:27-36.
Please think about it. 

The Lukewarm Church

The Lukewarm Church
The book of Revelations records Christ speaking to the Church at Laodicea. A Church referred to as the Lukewarm Church.
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.  
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!  
So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.  
You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.  
I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.  
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.  
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelations 3:14-22
Here Jesus addresses a church that thinks it is doing well. It is a rich church that thinks it needs nothing. In reality it is as Jesus puts it, it is,
“Wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”
As someone once told me in deep need of spiritual healing.
The call of Jesus is to turn to Him that they may receive that healing.
Churches and individuals today especially I find here in North America think they are rich. They may be in a material sense rich. They are however if you look closer at them spiritually “Wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” They need deep spiritual healing.
They need to turn to God. To pray and study God’s word as often as they can. They need to take the teachings of the Scriptures to heart.
Jesus tells us,
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelations 3:20.
One thing I have learned over the years is that no matter how close we think we are to Jesus we can get even closer. We must never think because we appear to be rich that we are.
Just because we may appear to be rich especially in a material sense does not mean we are spiritually rich.
Our cry to God should always be “Draw me closer to you Lord.”
Please think about it.

The Faithful Church

The Faithful Church
In the book of Revelations we see Jesus speaking to the church in Philadelphia saying.
“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.  
I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.  
I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.  
Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.  
Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.  
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelations 3:7-13
Here we have what scholars call the faithful church. Jesus says to this church,
“I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” Revelations 3:8
Jesus tells this church
“I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.” Revelations 3:9.
Jesus tells them,
“Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.” Revelations 3:10 
He tells them the reward for their faithfulness. Saying
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.  
Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.”  Revelations 3:11,12.
The message of Jesus here to faithful believers is,
1. That those who oppose them will one day fall at the feet of the faithful believer and acknowledge that Christ has loved them.
2. That the true believer will be kept from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the world.
3. That the true believer will become a pillar in the temple of God. The strongest part of the temple.
4. That they will never leave it.
5. That Jesus will write on the faithful believer, the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.
The question is are you such a believer?
Many in the Christian world would like to think that they are like the church at Philadelphia but in reality are not.
The key however here is to know that we can be like the church of Philadelphia. In order to do so we must put Christ first in everything we do.
Jesus acknowledged that the Philadelphia church had little strength yet they remained faithful. Thus if they can do it. We can also.
Please think about it.

The Dead Church

The Dead Church
The book of revelations speaks of the Church at Sardis. It states,
“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: 
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.  
Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.  
Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. 
Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.  
He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.  
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelations 3:1-6. 
Here is a church that appears to be alive but is in fact dead.
It is possible for a church to seem to be doing all the right things yet not be doing what God wants them to do.
There are many churches that hold great orchestrated praise services. That follow a systematic study of the Bible. That even have prayer meetings. These churches on the outside look fine but all they are doing is following an empty scripted program. They are ministering to their congregation but not doing what God wants them to do.
That’s true for people to. An individual can seem like they have got it all together. They attend church both on Sunday and during the week. They go to prayer meetings even go to other Christian events. The trouble is they are simply doing it because they feel this is what a person should do. They are not doing what God wants them to do.
Matthews Gospel records,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
    Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
The church has a duty to perform. That is presenting the gospel to all the world and to teach new converts all that Jesus taught them.
If a church or individuals are not doing so they are dead. Thus the  call of Christ to such churches, is to waken up and serve Him to the fullest.
We must always remember that the job of evangelism will not end until Christ returns to earth. That we must continually work for Christ until His return. The reward for people who do this is as Jesus said,
“He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.”
Question. If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus, are you truly serving Him?
Please think about it.

On Immorality

On Immorality
The churches in the book of Revelations as I have said in previous blogs can be taken as relating to individual church congregations and denominations today and throughout history as well as relating to the individual.
Here the church at Thyatira
“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.  
I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 
Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.  
I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.  
So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways.  
I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.  
Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come. 
To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery’— 
just as I have received authority from my Father.  
I will also give him the morning star.  
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelations 2:18-29
The church at Thyatira is commended for their love, faith, service and perseverance in the faith. That they were even doing more that when they first believed in Christ.
That being said, Jesus states,
“...I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality...” 
This church is tolerating a woman named Jezebel. Some say that may be a real name or a nickname equating her to Jezebel in first and second Kings in the Old Testament. Either way it doesn’t matter what this person is doing is teaching leading people into sexual immorality.
As believers in Christ Jesus we cannot tolerate sexual morality in any form.
Sadly for many years churches and denominations have covered up sexual immorality in their ranks. This should not be so.
Our church congregations, denominations, our pastors, evangelist and teachers should as far as is humanly possible be examples of good moral behavior.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15.
The apostle Paul also makes it clear,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” James 1:21.
The reward for following the moral path and keeping our faith strongly rooted in Christ Jesus is that we will rule with him. Jesus saying the Church at Thyatira
 “To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations” Revelations 2:26.
Thus I would ask this question.
Do you tolerate immorality in any form?
Please think about it.

The Compromising Church

The compromising Church
As I have said in previous blogs many scholars say that the churches in Revelations can be taken several ways. They can represent various churches or denominations throughout history and even today. They can also be seen as speaking to individuals.
Here we have the church at Pergamum the compromising church.
“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: 
“These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.  
I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. 
Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.  
Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.  
Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.” Revelations 2:12-17.
Here Christ realizes that the that they live “where Satan has his throne”. That they did not renounce their faith even when Antipas a member of their congregation was put to death.
Still this church has a problem they are compromising with the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans heretical groups.
As believers in Christ Jesus we cannot compromise our beliefs. We must live by our beliefs.
Today in the twenty-first century we the Nicolaitans and believers in Balaam are not much of a threat to the church but other things are. Things quite often we may not think are compromises. Mixing politics with our faith for example. It happens it seems all the time in the United States.
Now there is nothing wrong with believers in Christ Jesus getting involved with politics in a democratic society. I believe every believer in Jesus that can vote, should vote.
We must however put away the childish notion that the Governments of Canada and the United States or for that matter any government, anywhere are Christian. They are not. They are secular. As someone has said they are like the Roman empire. As such they are not bastions of Christian morals.
By holding the view that any government is Christian places one on a slippery slope leading to disaster.
Thus when we get involved with politics we may without even realizing it start to compromise our faith. Start to incorporate our political beliefs with biblical teachings which can have disastrous effects.
Remember what the apostle Paul said about teachers in the church can apply to politicians seeking the vote of Christians. Paul said,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4.
Within our church congregations and denominations we must also be careful that the pastors, evangelist and teachers we listen to are not as the apostle Paul puts it, gathering, “around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”
Teachers, pastors, and evangelist that are turning to myths.
It is very easy to use the bible to say what you want it to say. To take things out of context which is what the Nicolaitans were doing. This is what is happening in some churches today.
The call of Jesus to the church at Pergamum and to any who would call themselves followers of Christ Jesus is to turn away from compromise. To stand firm on the teachings of the scriptures, of the apostles and of Jesus. To as Jesus says,
“Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”
Thus the question for those who would call themselves believers in Jesus Christ is:
Am I compromising my beliefs in any way shape or form?
If so, Am I willing to right now willing to repent?
Please think about it.

The Persecuted

The Persecuted
Through the book of Revelations Jesus speaks to seven churches. As I said in my previous blog. Scholars have noted that these churches can be taken in several ways. They can speak to individual churches throughout history and today and they can be personalized by individuals.
The Second church mentioned is Smyrna. That was located at a major port city just north of Ephesus. The Imperial Roman cult was presence in the city as was a large number of Jews. Both of whom may have persecuted early believers in Christ.
The book of revelations records,
“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: 
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 
   I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.  
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.”Revelations 2:8-11 
Here Jesus identifies Himself as “the First and the Last, “who died and came to life again.”
He notes that the church has gone to affliction and poverty.That they are slandered, yet they are rich
Today around the world there are churches and individuals who are as one person said “dangerous neighbourhoods”. Areas of the world where being a follower of Jesus Christ can get you put in jail, attacked or even murdered.
Jesus in addressing the church at Smyrna is addressing them. He calls on them not to be afraid. That while they may be put in prison and suffer persecution they will be given a crown of life.
For anyone going through persecution it can be hard. No one deserves to go persecution for their faith not matter who they are. That being said however as believers in Christ Jesus we have the assurance that in the end we will receive the victors crown and live eternally in Heaven with God.
If you are a Christian living in the west that is not undergoing persecution take time to remember the persecuted church. Men and Women who are suffering for their faith. Take time to pray and if you are in the western democracies especially write to your member of parliament, or prime minister. Ask them to bring up the plight of persecuted Christians. It can’t hurt but it may just do a lot of good.
Perhaps even bring up to your pastor and Church congregation the need to keep praying and doing what you can to help believers in Christ that are being persecuted.
Please think about it.

First Love

First Love
The book of Revelations widely believed to be written by the apostle John speaks of seven individual Churches.
It is also been said that each church is representative of Churches that have existed throughout history and are around today. Further more one can personalize these churches.
Thus we can look at what is said to the church and see if it like the church congregation or denomination we attend. At the same time we can look at ourselves and see if we are acting like the church described.
The first Church addressed is Ephesus John writes,
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.  
You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.  
Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.  
But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” Revelations 2:1-7.
Here the Ephesian church is commended for what they have gone through, for their hard work. He commends them for not tolerating wicked men. For their testing of false prophets. He even commends them for hating the practices of the Nicolaitans a group of heretics.
He then says,
“I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.”
Our first love as believers must be God.
It is possible for a church or an individual to seem to be doing everything right yet not be truly following God.
Church congregations can hold bible studies, prayer meetings, help the poor, do all a Christian is suppose to do yet not have God as their first love.
There are Churches and denominations today that require a believer in Christ to follow a very strict set of rules in order to be a member of their group.
The Pharisees in the time of Jesus were a good example of this. Intellectually they believed in God. But God was not their first love. They believed that in order to follow God correctly one had to follow a carefully crafted set of rules. Following the rules became more important to them than worshipping God.
Recently here in Canada there was a minister who said she was an Atheist but still wanted the denomination she was ordained in to keep her on as a minister.
This person was a good person doing everything a minister does. Which to this persons mind meant she could still qualify as a minister. She missed the point.
In order to be a Christian cleric, one must first believe in God. Our faith in God must come first.
If our church congregations, denominations, ministers or even we as individuals do not have God at the root of our faith. Do not have God as our first love, we are falling short of what Jesus wants for our lives.
This is the lesson to be learned from Ephesians. The church in Ephesus had gone through a lot. For a time they were a shining light. But at the writing of the Book of Revelations they had lost their first love.
We as believers in Christ Jesus go through a lot in life. However we should never let what we are going through take us away from our first love.
Why not take some time to evaluate your relationship with Jesus, with God. Is He truly the first love of your life?
Please think about it.

Build yourself up

Build yourself up
Jude the half brother of Jesus writes,
“But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.  
They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”  
These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. 
But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.  
Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” Jude 1:17-21.
Jude’s message to believers in Christ Jesus is simple. He reminds believers that in the last days there will be scoffers who “Follow their own ungodly desires” That these men will divide believers.
He tells believers to build themselves up in “your most holy faith...”
To “keep yourself in God’s love”, as they await the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is important that believers in Christ Jesus read at the very least the New Testament. It is the sole authority for the Christian faith. The New Testament tells the believer in Christ Jesus how they are to live.
Thus the more we study the scriptures the stronger our faith becomes.
When I was a young believer in Christ Jesus a pastor gave me some good advice. He told me to remember these three points,
1. Pray and study the Bible.
2. Study the Bible and Pray.
3. Never forget to Pray and Study the Bible.
It was sound advice when he gave it to me. It is sound advice today to all who would call themselves believers in Christ Jesus.
If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus ask yourself these questions.
How often do you sit down to pray and study the Bible?
Do you think you do it enough?
Please think about it.

Jesus is

Jesus is
Jude whom scholars tend to agree is the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.  
For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.” Jude 1:3,4
Jude makes to points,
1. He writes a warning to the church that godless men have secretly slipped in among the believers. That these men are heretics who pervert the word of God.
They believe because they are saved they can do anything they wish good or evil. Nothing could be further from the truth.
If we are truly saved by the grace of God we will desire to be more Christ like. We will want to do the will of God. We will shun evil. We will love those around us.  Our desire will be to present the gospel of Christ to all who will listen.
2. The other point Jude makes is that there are those who have slipped into the church that deny that Jesus is the Christ our only Sovereign Lord.
You cannot be a Christian and deny that Jesus is our Sovereign Lord, that Jesus is the Son of God. The one who paid the price for our sins.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:3.
The apostle John referring to Jesus as “The Word” writes,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  
He was with God in the beginning. 
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  
In him was life, and that life was the light of men....
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-4,14
Henry Ward Beecher said,
“If Christ is not divine, every impulse of the Christian world falls to a lower octave, and light and love and hope decline.”  Henry Ward Beecher.
Thus the question becomes, who do you believe Jesus to be?
Please think about it.

Unconditional

Unconditional
The apostle John wrote,
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins “1 John 4:7-10.
C. S. Lewis notes,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”  C.S. Lewis.
As human beings we have the capacity to do many things. Among those things are love and hate.
If a person is truly a believer in Christ Jesus they will not have anything to do hate. They will love unconditionally.
The apostle Paul defines love as,

“Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                          1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

Love is the greatest asset a believer in Christ Jesus has. Martin Luther King jr. the great American civil rights leader at the height of the civil rights movement said two things about love,

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy 

into friend.”

                                    Martin Luther King, Jr.

He pointed out,
“Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” 
                                                                           Martin Luther King Jr.
Jesus knew this that’s why when asked,
Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
      All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
Jesus also went as far to say,

“You have heard that it was said,

 ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  

But I tell you: 

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” 

                                                                     Matthew 5:43,44

As believers in Christ Jesus we must love. We must love unconditionally.
Over and over again throughout the New Testament love is a recurring theme. 
If you claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ are you showing the unconditional love of Christ to those around you, even your enemies?
Please think about it.

This is how we Know

This is how we Know
The apostle John writes,
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:16-18.
Jesus showed us the ultimate expression of love for us. He died for us.  According to the apostle John we ought to be willing to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
John calls on us to act in word and in deed. He states,
“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?”
Tony Campolo the American evangelist states,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.” Tony Campolo.
Tony Campolo is right. It’s pure biblical teaching to help people irrespective of who they are, James the half brother of Jesus said,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.  You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” James 2:14-20.
Francis of Assisi wrote this prayer,

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, 

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; 

to be understood as to understand; 

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; 

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; 

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

                                                              St Francis of Assisi.

If you claim to be a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus, is this your prayer?
Please think about it.

Walk as Jesus Walked

Walk as Jesus Walked
The apostle John speaking to believers in Christ Jesus about Him states,

“Whoever claims to live in him 

must walk as Jesus did” 

                        1John 2:6.

It’s just a few words but it says volumes to those who call themselves followers of Jesus Christ. Look at the words carefully.
“Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”
Do you walk as Jesus walked?
Here is something to think about.

Jesus never voted in an election.

Jesus never protested against anything.

Jesus never spoke against anyone outside of His own faith.

Jesus submitted to the governing authorities even though it meant his death.

Jesus sat down with sinners.

Jesus discussed his beliefs with those outside his faith with respect.

 Jesus lived by what he said when he said,

“So in everything, do to others 

what you would have them do to you,

 for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” 

                                                             Matthew 7:12.

Question, Do you walk as Jesus walked?
                         Do you live your life in the same way Jesus did?
Please think about it.

False Teachers

False Teachers
The apostle Peter writes,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:1-3.
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4.
As believers in Christ Jesus it cannot be emphasised enough that we must be on the lookout for false prophets. For false teachers.
In our multimedia world where anyone can preach anything from anywhere in the world and make it sound good. It is essential that we carefully check what we are listening to with regards to biblical teaching.
It is therefor essential we know what we as believers in Christ Jesus believe. That is why we must read and study the Bible for ourselves.
Now while there may be slight differences about how we should worship and other minor points in the scriptures we as believers should at least have an understanding of the basics all Christians the important things that make us believers in Christ.
For me the key points that make a person a believer in Christ Jesus is expressed in the Apostles Creed. While it was not written by an apostle of Jesus it expresses the basic doctrine all believers believe.
The Apostle Creed reads,
1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth
2. I believe in Jesus Christ God’s on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.
3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin        Mary
4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.
5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.
6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost
9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,
10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.
11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.
12. I believe in life everlasting.
Question, Do you believe these twelve points? Do the men and women that you listen to, that claim to be believers in Christ Jesus believe this?
Please think about it.

Not Clever Stories

Not clever stories
The apostle Peter writes,
“We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  
For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”  
We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.” 2 Peter 1:16-18.
I have been a believer in Jesus Christ for over forty years now. In that time I have heard people say God does not exist. People have told me Jesus is a myth. Some while admitting Jesus lived said he was no more than a good man.
Nothing could be further from the fact. Jesus is real. He is everything Christians believe him to be, the Son of God, Saviour of mankind, God incarnate.
If Jesus is simply a man then the apostles and Jesus himself have created the greatest lie in history.
C. S. Lewis in he book Mere Christianity said of Jesus,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God.
 That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. 
You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. 
You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
Thus the question becomes. Who do you think Jesus is.
Please think about it.

Sound Advice

Sound Advice
The apostle Peter writes,
“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.  
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.  
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 
He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:8-12.
Here to my mind is some good and logical advice to all who would believe in Christ Jesus. Peter tells us,
1. Live in harmony with one another,
2. Love as brothers,
3. Be compassionate and humble
4. Do not repay evil with evil, insult with insult, but with blessing.
5. Keep your tongue from evil speech.
6. Seek peace and pursue it.
Peter then adds a seventh point, “the eyes of the Lord are no the righteous and he ears are attentive t their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
Even if you are not a believer in Christ Jesus. Living your life by these ideals is a good way to live your life.
Please think about it.

Live as Freemen

Live as Freemen
The apostle Peter writes,
"Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.  
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.1 Peter 2:13-17
When it comes to telling believers in Christ Jesus how they should act the apostle Peter here makes is simple.
1/ Live as free men
2/ Do not use your freedom to cover up evil
3/ Show proper respect to everyone
4/ Love the brotherhood of believers,
5/ Fear God
6/ Honour the king
Believers in Christ are called to be model citizens. It is that simple. In doing so we can better show the love of God to those around us.
We are to live as free men. Which means we can do as we wish. However that being said Peter warns us “do not use your freedom to cover up evil”.
Believers in Christ should not have anything to do with evil in any form.
We must show respect for everyone. That means we must respect those with whom we disagree be it their way of life, their lifestyle, their politics, or their religious beliefs.
Showing you respect someone can open dialogue and the opportunity to express your beliefs to them.
We are to love the brotherhood of believers. While we may have minor differences in with other believers in Christ we must still love them.
We must fear God. That doesn’t necessarily mean be afraid of God but rather have a healthy respect for Him as the almighty creator of the heavens and the earth. Who ultimately will determine our fate.
We must honour the king which means we must honour those who rule. We may not agree with all they do but we must honour the position they are in.
That being said many Christian teachers would put a caveat on this. When the government starts acting immorally by preventing people from worshipping. When the government starts putting people in prison without a fair trial or murdering them simply because they disagree with them,  Christians are called to stand up.
The prime example of this is Nazi Germany when Hitler and his henchmen put their political opponents along with Jews and others in concentration camps.
They were doing evil plain and simple. Believers in Christ cannot have anything to do with evil.
Still if our political leadership is acting in a responsible manner and not deliberately hurting anyone, even if we disagree with some of the laws they may pass we must honour them.
So what I would ask is take a second look at the list above, 
 1/ Live as free men
2/ Do not use your freedom to cover up evil
3/ Show proper respect to everyone
4/ Love the brotherhood of believers,
5/ Fear God
6/ Honour the king
Ask yourself are you doing these things?
Please think about it.