Once, a woman told Dr. Erwin Lutzer that she had never communicated with evil spirits but only good spirits. So, Dr. Lutzer asked her how she was able to tell the difference between evil and good spirits. The woman responded by saying that she communicated only with those spirits that come to her clothed in light. Then, Dr. Lutzer reminded her of 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 which states: "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light."
The above dialogue may or may not be a conversation that we will experience in our lifetime; however, if we do experience such a conversation, Dr. Lutzer has stated the truth of God's word. The reality is that there is a devil who has demons as his followers; and, they want to distract anyone from following the one true Light of the world (Jesus Christ). Yet, Jesus was the living Word who revealed to human beings the Word of God (John 1:14). For this reason, any communication with a spirit of light or a projection of Jesus should never contradict the words of Jesus who is the...
A good definition of God's gift of peace is "The peace of God is first and foremost peace with God; it is the state of affairs in which God, instead of being against us, is for us." This definition by Dr. J. I. Packer goes against the idea that the peace of God means that we are happy and carefree. Sometimes, there is a distortion as to what the peace of God really is.
When we think about the definition above, we ponder the importance of having the peace of God. So, often, human beings want to have peace on their terms; but, this definition defines peace in God's terms. It is necessary to have this peace that God is not against us. If God opposes us, there is no hope to be saved as we would have to be perfect (Matthew 5:48). Yet, we are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) through belief in Jesus (John 3:36) as the sacrificial Lamb who died on the cross in our place. At this point, God is for the believer because of what His Son Jesus has done. That is so awesome as this is an incredible gift for all to hear about.
J. I. Packer writes "Strain, or shock, or a leucotomy, can alter the character of a man, but nothing can alter the character of God. ... He never becomes less truthful, or merciful, or just, or good, that He used to be."
Wow, this is awesome news! Our God will not be less forgiving for our sins than He was at the cross. Our God will not be less eternal in which life is found in His Son, Jesus (John 5:21). Jesus' sacrifice atoned for our sins and will not change (Hebrews 13:8). We do not have to worry about His truth changing to which we are saved by grace today and will be saved by works tomorrow. We are never saved by works and do not have to earn our way to heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9). Instead, we do those works out of a love for the God who never changes (Malachi 3:16).
Packer, J. I. Knowing God. InterVarsity Press. Downers Grove: 1973. pages 67-72.
Who Is Innocent?
January 16, 2012
Have you ever heard this question: "What happens to the innocent guy in the middle of Africa who dies without ever hearing the gospel?" David Platt does a great job answering this question when he writes: "The reality is, the innocent guy in Africa will go to heaven because he is innocent, then he has no need for a Savior to save him from his sin. As a result, he doesn't need the gospel. But there is a significant problem here. The innocent guy doesn't exist...in Africa or anywhere else."
This answer by David Platt is right in line with what God's word tells us. Isaiah 64:6a states: "For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment...." (NASU) The reality is that we all sin; so, any righteous deeds that we do, do not meet God's standard of perfection (Matthew 5:48). For this reason, only the One (Jesus) who knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) could meet such a standard of perfection. Through belief in this only innocent God/man, Jesus' perfect righteousness is credited to that believer who then is declared not guilty (justified). So, may we as believers...
David Platt writes: "We say things such as, 'The safest place to be is in the center of God's will.' We think, If it's dangerous, God must not be in it. If it's risky, if it's unsafe, if it's costly, it must not be God's will. But what if these factors are actually the criteria by which we determines something is God's will? What if we began to look at the design of God as the most dangerous option before us? What if the center of God's will is in reality the most unsafe place for us to be?"
David Platt asks some very potent questions. It becomes so easy to assume that the only way we are in God's will is if things are going great for us. Yet, would we be willing to risk our lives and be cannibalized if God called us to be missionaries to a certain tribe? The reality is that it becomes easy to say that God has not called us without ever truly wanting to listen to Him for His calling because we believe that His calling always means that we should be safe. As followers of Jesus, may we continually be...
"Gratitude is a humble, happy response to the goodwill of someone who has willed to do us a favor. This humility and happiness cannot coexist in the heart with coarse, ugly, mean attitudes." In this statement regarding gratitude by Dr. John Piper, gratitude and happiness go together while ugly attitudes and sins also go together. This makes sense when the gratitude towards God is a recognition that He has willed to do us a favor.
When we as followers of Jesus understand that God has willed to do us more favors than we could have asked for, we will find it hard to persist in ugly attitudes. For this reason, may we learn to cultivate a thankful heart in which we recognize all the favors that God has given us. Whether it is life itself or freedom here in America, we have much to be thankful for.
The following question and answer by Dr. John Piper addresses happines. He writes, "What, then, does Jesus mean, 'All these things - all your food and clothing - will be added to you when you seek the kingdom of God first'? He means the same thing He meant when He said, 'Some of you they will put to death.... But not a hair of your head will perish' (Luke 21:16-18). He meant that you will have everything you need to do His will and be eternally and supremely happy in Him."
Wow! In reading the above quote, the first insight noticed is that God's word does not endorse Christians getting all of their wants fulfilled (e.g., material possessions or finances). Instead, God's word endorses our needs being met to accomplish His will. The second insight noticed is that seeking and doing His will means all things will be given. For this reason, the one who does God's will experiences true happiness and not a temporary happiness that passes way. This person will be happy in the provision of God which has been made for him or her to do His will.
Piper, John. Don't Waste Your Life. Crossway Books. Wheaton:...
R. Albert Mohler, Jr. asks this question: "Are there things we ought not to do on the Lord's Day?" Mohler asks this question concerning the discussion over the Sabbath and whether this commandment is for today.
Whether one agrees with his conclusions as to what the Sabbath means for today, his answer to this question is right on. Mohler answers the question by stating: "Certainly there are. ... Anything that would rob the Lord's Day of priority worship should not be done. Anything that would be on our minds when we are worshiping, as if we can only get done with this in order to go do that, is a matter of sin, no matter what it is."
Wow, Mohler's answer speaks to the heart. As much as I like football - if my mind is consumed with excitement to watch the game and wishing for Sunday morning worship service to be over, I am robbing the Lord's Day of priority worship. God desires to be worshiped and to receive all glory from us as He wants to be our priority. This is not egotistic because He deserves it because of who He is. The Supreme God, our Creator, deserves all praise and worship everyday...
"If we believe God' promise, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay,' then we will not belittle God with our inferior efforts to improve upon His justice." This statement by Dr. John Piper cuts to the heart of the problem as to why people will not forgive others after feeling wronged.
So often, people fail to forgive others and harbor bitterness because they feel that those whom they have the bitterness against are not being corrected or judged properly. The bitter unbeliever fails to believe that there will be a judgment by God someday. The bitter believer fails to trust that God will do a better job of judging those than he or she can do. So, in fact, the believer and unbeliever are belittling God through grudges and bitterness. By not forgiving others, people have resolved that God is not capable to administer the correct justice. They must improve on God's standards and policies.
May those of us who are believers and followers of Jesus trust that God is the One who will take vengeance. The unbeliever will be judged with hell and the believer has been judged at the cross. May we remember that God's grace is that we are forgiven at...
When we consider God, A. W. Tozer writes that "we must break ourselves of the habit of thinking of the Creator as we think of His creatures." A truer statement could not be said. So often God is evaluated by human beings' standards. We determine if we think that He is being fair or not. We determine if something should have been different or better.
Yet, when one reads the Bible (which is God's word), God has chosen to reveal Himself in a completely different manner. In Isaiah 55:8-9, God declares that His thoughts and ways are not like human beings' thoughts and ways in the area of forgiveness. However, this statement is not the conclusion regarding God's thoughts and ways. God continues to state that the thoughts and ways are higher than human beings' thoughts and ways. Basically, God is infinite and is way above human beings since He is superior to them. He knows everything and sees much more than human beings see. Human beings are finite and limited; so, how can they assume that they have a correct standard to evaluate God? They do not; since, they are dealing with a limited knowledge. Yet, God is all-wise and all-knowing.
