Don't follow your heart. Don't tell people to follow their hearts, don't receive it if someone tells you to follow yours.
In this culture, we are experts in giving bad advice. Telling one to follow their heart is the same as telling them to go to hell, because that is precisely where our hearts will lead us. Let's examine the scripture.
In Genesis 6:5 God himself saw that every inclination of man's heart was only evil all of the time.
In Matthew 15:19 Jesus said out of the heart come evil thoughts, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
In these passages we can see that our hearts are corrupt and evil. The desires of our heart are worldly, lustful, prideful things. We need to resist our hearts and follow God's Spirit that he put in us. The next time you want to give advice, don't tell anyone to follow that wicked thing. Instead, tell them to search the scriptures and pray.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Narrow Minded
Brothers and Sisters,
It is my goal to continously keep the work of the enemy in front of us so we may know it when we hear it, or see it. I was listening to sermon by Vodie Bauchum on SermonAudio.com, and he was talking about the Wide Gate and Narrow Gate. I was so convicted by the message that I am compelled here to address the topic as it relates to a function of modern culture to condemn Christians for being "narrow" minded.
Matthew 7:13-14
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Clearly, Jesus intends to explain to the Christian that the way to life is narrow. Remember, the word life, is how Jesus descrisbed himself. The way to Him is narrow, and one must enter it intentionally. When we enter through the narrow gate, we must allow our worldly attachments and lusts to be stripped away. The strait gate is lonely, because there are few that find it, and less that enter it. But Heaven is on the other side. On the other hand, the wide gate is crowded. I imagine it is lit up with neon signs, music playing, people dancing and having a great time. Most people will take that gate and that road. That road leads to hell.
The enemy has made it offensive, and insulting to be a narrow minded thinker. However, we know that to do something intentionally (like enter into the narrow gate) we must first concieve it in our mind. We must think it. Therefore, bretheren, I say to you that every true Christian must be narrow minded. We must adhere to the word of God and live our lives within the culture, but not be influenced by the culture.
As we can see from the text, being narrow minded is a wonderful thing. It means we have a purpose and have intentionally entered into a straigt gate that lead to heaven, our true home. My brothers and sisters, don't let the enemy convince you to broaden your mind! The culture tells us we need to be broad thinkers and experience all that life has to offer. I write to you today to warn you to beware of anyone that tries to sell you that. Broad and wide are synonyms. We don't want to be broad thinkers as Christians, we want to be deep thinkers, with a narrow focus, Jesus. Broad thinkers are on their way to hell.
One last thing. To complete the analogy, I think it is appropriate to say here that the people on the narrow road and the people on the wide road can see one another as they are travelling. And, as the people on the narrow road, it is imperative that we carry ourselves quite differently from the people on the wide road. They should look at us and see that although our road is much harder, we are determined to stay on it because we know paradise is on the other side. They should look at us and want to take the road less travelled.
It is my goal to continously keep the work of the enemy in front of us so we may know it when we hear it, or see it. I was listening to sermon by Vodie Bauchum on SermonAudio.com, and he was talking about the Wide Gate and Narrow Gate. I was so convicted by the message that I am compelled here to address the topic as it relates to a function of modern culture to condemn Christians for being "narrow" minded.
Matthew 7:13-14
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Clearly, Jesus intends to explain to the Christian that the way to life is narrow. Remember, the word life, is how Jesus descrisbed himself. The way to Him is narrow, and one must enter it intentionally. When we enter through the narrow gate, we must allow our worldly attachments and lusts to be stripped away. The strait gate is lonely, because there are few that find it, and less that enter it. But Heaven is on the other side. On the other hand, the wide gate is crowded. I imagine it is lit up with neon signs, music playing, people dancing and having a great time. Most people will take that gate and that road. That road leads to hell.
The enemy has made it offensive, and insulting to be a narrow minded thinker. However, we know that to do something intentionally (like enter into the narrow gate) we must first concieve it in our mind. We must think it. Therefore, bretheren, I say to you that every true Christian must be narrow minded. We must adhere to the word of God and live our lives within the culture, but not be influenced by the culture.
As we can see from the text, being narrow minded is a wonderful thing. It means we have a purpose and have intentionally entered into a straigt gate that lead to heaven, our true home. My brothers and sisters, don't let the enemy convince you to broaden your mind! The culture tells us we need to be broad thinkers and experience all that life has to offer. I write to you today to warn you to beware of anyone that tries to sell you that. Broad and wide are synonyms. We don't want to be broad thinkers as Christians, we want to be deep thinkers, with a narrow focus, Jesus. Broad thinkers are on their way to hell.
One last thing. To complete the analogy, I think it is appropriate to say here that the people on the narrow road and the people on the wide road can see one another as they are travelling. And, as the people on the narrow road, it is imperative that we carry ourselves quite differently from the people on the wide road. They should look at us and see that although our road is much harder, we are determined to stay on it because we know paradise is on the other side. They should look at us and want to take the road less travelled.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Going Home
I was recently blessed enough to attend a funeral service for a beloved family member. She was older, and her health had declined greatly, so her transition was not altogether unexpected. In my role, I was not certain if it was appropriate or not to get up and say what I was really itching to say. So, I must settle for writing it hear for no one to read.
First, I would like to say a few things about her. She was the kind of person who never met a stranger. In an entire family of people, I felt closer to her than anyone. She was full of life and laughter. Even in my foulest of moods (cursed be my flesh) I was always happy to see her.
I met this lady before I got right with God. I was in the church, but I was playing church. Even then I was drawn to her. I loved being around her and I felt relieved when she showed up at any family function. It was not until much later, when I truly received the Holy Spirit and began walking with the lord that I realized several things about this remarkable woman.
I recognized that she was always joyous. Even in her pain and illness, she had an incredible amount of joy. I get a headache and I'm mad at the world. She had far worse and she was still able to smile, and make other people smile. What I know now is that her joy is a reflection of the life of Christ in her. It is not humanly possible to obtain that level of joy without Christ. And when I was in sin, I was still drawn to her. I realize now that when the word says be 'salt and light' in the world; that her example is what that should look like. It draws people in; the same way Jesus did. She was a light that was always on, even in her own dark places.
When I was in the world there was a saying that I used. It was this: game recognizes game. What that means is that we recognize ourselves and our habits in others. For example, an addict recognizes another addict immediately. They know, because when we view other people we see little flickers of ourselves. The holy spirit is the same way. Only those who have been given the spirit can recognize that spirit for what it is in others. Those who are not in the faith may be drawn to it, but they may think it is personality, or what people call charisma. But I am here to tell you, when I received the Holy Spirit, I could recognize the spirit in her always.
The service was full of rejoicing and happiness. The saints in the building knew that one of their own had made it home, our true home. It was beautiful. But it was also a wake up call! If you are outside the faith, or halfway in and halfway out, please make up your mind to get all the way in. Time is short on this earth and you have a choice to make. Are you going to have a funeral, or are you going to have a Homecoming?
First, I would like to say a few things about her. She was the kind of person who never met a stranger. In an entire family of people, I felt closer to her than anyone. She was full of life and laughter. Even in my foulest of moods (cursed be my flesh) I was always happy to see her.
I met this lady before I got right with God. I was in the church, but I was playing church. Even then I was drawn to her. I loved being around her and I felt relieved when she showed up at any family function. It was not until much later, when I truly received the Holy Spirit and began walking with the lord that I realized several things about this remarkable woman.
I recognized that she was always joyous. Even in her pain and illness, she had an incredible amount of joy. I get a headache and I'm mad at the world. She had far worse and she was still able to smile, and make other people smile. What I know now is that her joy is a reflection of the life of Christ in her. It is not humanly possible to obtain that level of joy without Christ. And when I was in sin, I was still drawn to her. I realize now that when the word says be 'salt and light' in the world; that her example is what that should look like. It draws people in; the same way Jesus did. She was a light that was always on, even in her own dark places.
When I was in the world there was a saying that I used. It was this: game recognizes game. What that means is that we recognize ourselves and our habits in others. For example, an addict recognizes another addict immediately. They know, because when we view other people we see little flickers of ourselves. The holy spirit is the same way. Only those who have been given the spirit can recognize that spirit for what it is in others. Those who are not in the faith may be drawn to it, but they may think it is personality, or what people call charisma. But I am here to tell you, when I received the Holy Spirit, I could recognize the spirit in her always.
The service was full of rejoicing and happiness. The saints in the building knew that one of their own had made it home, our true home. It was beautiful. But it was also a wake up call! If you are outside the faith, or halfway in and halfway out, please make up your mind to get all the way in. Time is short on this earth and you have a choice to make. Are you going to have a funeral, or are you going to have a Homecoming?
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