Tag Archives: spiritual

Christian

In His Presence

I don’t really have anything negative to say about revivals these days. If people are getting together for hours or days to worship and honor God, that appears to be a good thing. Who are we to judge someone else’s servants? Roman’s 14:4.

But if you are driving or flying hundreds of miles to experience the presence of God, you haven’t read the Holy Bible. Jesus said in Matthew 18:20 KJV, For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

This means you can be in the presence of God in your own home, at the coffee shop, virtually anywhere with a friend or a spouse or even a new acquaintance. Jesus said it, he meant it. Why crave the “Holy Ghost experience” elsewhere when Jesus will come to you.

It reminds me somewhat of Jesus telling us that people will say look here or look there. It shouldn’t be about catching a feeling. Strike up a conversation, literally anywhere, We are gathered here today in the name of Jesus Christ or simply visit your local Church.

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Christian

A Smothering

I have heard various preachers say that you need a covering. You need to be under a preacher or teacher. I’ve also heard people describe someone as their spiritual father. What’s wrong with either or both of these?

Under a covering? When I hear someone teach on this, this is what usually comes to mind: Matthew 23:15 KJV says Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

What should come to mind is 1 Timothy 2:5-6 KJV which says, For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; [6] Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

We don’t need a covering. Thanks to Jesus’ actions in becoming the sole sacrifice for sins and our High Priest there is no intermediary between man and God other than him.

A spiritual father? Jesus said call none Father but God. Matthew 23:9 KJV says
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

Through Jesus you can go directly to your Father for wisdom. James 1:5 KJV says If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

It’s okay in my opinion to have spiritual influences here on Earth, the Bible does say iron sharpeneth iron. But remember who your spiritual Father should be: Jehovah himself.

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Christian, Inspirational

Discernment Part 2

I think that a lesson I learned in my first year of law school could be applied to learning or teaching spiritual discernment and development.

When writing an essay on exams first year law students are taught to use IRAC. IRAC stands for Issue, Rule, Analysis, and Conclusion. The question, usually a hypothetical with various facts determines the issue. When the issue is identified you determine the Rule or the law that applies to the facts of the situation. Analysis takes the law or laws into consideration and you provide discussion on how they may relate to the hypothetical facts. Finally your conclusion, how do you think the issue should be resolved.

Dean was wondering if he should lie to his girlfriend about meeting another girl at the bar last night.

Issues: How serious is the relationship with his girlfriend and is the relationship approved of by God’s law? What are his intentions to the girl he met last night? What was he doing at a bar? Should he lie? What are his motives for lying?

Rule(s): Fornication is sin. Hebrews 13:4. Lust is sin. Matthew 5:28. Drunkeness can lead to damnation. Galatians 5:21. Thou shalt not lie. Exodus 20:16

Analysis: Knowing the law, Dean should develop a Christian relationship with his girlfriend in consideration of marriage. Dean should not go to bars and drink too much. Dean should not look on a woman with lust and Dean should not lie.

Conclusion: Following God’s word can be hard. Knowing his law is key. If you know the rule you let the rule govern. Keeping God’s law is crucial to Christian living. The result of keeping his law is strong and healthy relationships on Earth and the promise of a future in Heaven.

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