Know Your Rights!!!

This blog is read in 15 countries around the world.  Unfortunately what I write today may seem particularly American.  Sorry about that.

I think it is vital that we all understand our laws and know our rights.  There are many Christians that think we should always just acquiesce and not question authority.  If government says that is the way it is, then we should just shut our mouths and accept it. 

Let's see if Scripture gives us any guidance on this.

Acts 25:9-12(NKJV)

9But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?”

10So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. 

11For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”

12Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!”

In this example Paul knows that the Jews are trying to railroad him.  Does he sit there and take it?  Nope.  What happens?  Paul clearly knows his rights and he exercises them.  He doesn't just sit there and go off like a lamb to slaughter (that part has already been played!)

I think that is a good lesson for us all to learn.  We need to try and be agreeable and get along with all but we don't have to sit there and take it if someone tries to violate our rights.

Bound In the Spirit

Have you ever felt bound in the Spirit?

Acts 20:22(NKJV)

22And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 

To me it sounds like a description of when you feel God compelling you to do something.  I think we've all felt that at one time or another.  A lot of times we resist, at least in the beginning.  But the feeling won't go away.   The sooner we give in and go with the flow, the sooner life gets back to normal. 

Being bound in the Spirit is a good thing.  Next time you feel it coming on, don't fight it.  God has something great in store for you!

"let us not fight against God."

Acts 23:9(NKJV)

9Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; £but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”

Have you ever been in a situation where you have wrestled with God?  You know what I mean.  You know God is trying to tell you something.  He is trying to lead you in the direction He wants you to go, but you resist.  We've all been there haven't we?

How did it work out for you?  Personally I have found out, time after time, that God' usually get's His way.

That's why I'd say the above Scripture is good advice.  Save yourself some time and aggravation.  If God takes the time to communicate with you directly, just say yes and get to work!  :)

"TO THE UNKNOWN GOD"

Acts 17:23(NKJV)

23for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 

Man seems to have in inner need to search for and worship God.  What's interesting though is that some people think they are smarter than God.  I'm reminded of the people  who pick and choose.  Their hearts are in the right place.  They want to do good and they want to worship.

The problem I see is that they seem to pick and choose what they consider to be the "best" from several religions and throw them together.  As if their judgment is superior to God's. 

Folks there is only one way to Heaven and that is through Jesus Christ.  That is what the Bible tells us.  Now it is either 100% true or it isn't.  If you think it isn't then you are saying that the God of the Bible is a liar because His Word clearly tells us that it is true.

If you think it is true then you have already accepted Jesus as your savior haven't you?  If you still haven't made that commitment, why not do it right now?  Just ask Jesus to come into your life and lead you.  Tell Him that you believe He is the only way to Heaven.  Just have a conversation with Him.  "Dear Jesus…."

Oh no, please don't go!

 

Acts 21:10-13(NKJV)

10And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 

11When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”

12Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 

13Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Now not many of us are going to be called on to sacrifice our physical lives for Christ.  But symbolically speaking God will call many of us to surrender our lives in other ways.  It may be in the way of giving up a lucrative career to go into ministry.  It may be a call to the mission field.  It could be any number of things.  It could happen to us or to others we know.

Here is a question.  If it happens to others would you be supportive or would your first response be like many of the people in this Scripture who tried to  persuade Paul not to follow God's plan because you feared for their safety? 

If it were you that were called how would you respond to the concern of others?  Would you let it sway you from God's purpose or would you hold fast?

Having been in one of those positions in the past let me offer my prospective.  Never get between someone else and God.  If they feel called then be as encouraging as can be.   Don't focus on the possible sacrifice they may make, focus on the great reward that will be theirs for being willing to serve God, no matter what.

Nothing else in life will compare to following God's plan!

I am innocent of the blood of all men

This verse sheds light on the true redemptive power of Jesus.

Acts 20:26(NKJV)

26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.

This is Paul speaking.  Innocent of all blood?   Before he met Jesus he had sent a lot of people to their death for believing in Jesus.  How can he be innocent?  Forgiven maybe, but innocent?

But that is what the Bible tells us.  That is what the saving grace of Jesus Christ does.  We aren't only forgiven, we are cleansed and innocent.  That's a whole lot more than just being forgiven. 

Do you let things from the past haunt you?  Why?  If you are a believer in Christ there is no need.  You are innocent.  You get a fresh start!

If you aren't a believer yet, why not?  Wouldn't you like a fresh start as well?  It's easy to do.  Just ask Jesus to come into your life to guide you.  Have a conversation with Jesus.  Let him know what is weighing you down.  "Dear Jesus….."

Great, now you too can experience the fresh start if innocence! 

Job the Enabler

One of the saddest things I see in my financial practice is families that don't know how to say no to the kids, especially adult kids.  They enable them.

Job was a famous Biblical enabler.  Here is how Job enabled his kids.  Anyone remember who that worked out for him?

Job 1:4-5(NKJV)

4And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 

5So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed£ God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.

A Nice Promise From God.

Weird day today.  Can't tell you how many times I meant to start by study and got side tracked.  So I found myself sitting her watching TV around 8:00PM thinking I had done this when I realized I hadn't.  Oh well.  Some days are like that.

Simple promise today from Scripture.  No matter how bad things get, if you have faith and maintain hope, you will smile and rejoice again!

Job 8:21(NKJV)

21    He will yet fill your mouth with laughing,     And your lips with rejoicing.

Does the Almighty Pervert Justice

Job 8:3(NKJV)

3    Does God subvert judgment?     Or does the Almighty pervert justice?

That's an interesting question isn't it?  Does God pervert justice?  Or to put it another way, how important is justice to God? 

One of the characteristics we hear about God is that He is a just God.  That would indicate that justice is important to God.  Let's see what else Scripture has to say on the subject.  There are 129 instances where the word justice is used in Scripture.  I'm not going to list them all but lets start with the first time it appears in the Bible which is in Genesis and then I'll give a sampling from there.

Genesis 18:19(NKJV)

19For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” 

Exodus 23:2-3(NKJV)

2You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. 

3You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute.

Deuteronomy 10:17(NKJV)

17For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. 

Deuteronomy 16:19-20(NKJV)

19You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. 

20You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the Lord your God is giving you.  

So where am I going with this?  I think a lot of Christians have a very mistaken idea of what justice is.   Take a look at Ex 23:3.  God specifically mentions that you not show partiality to the poor.  I think that is exactly what we are seeing in the "social justice" movement. 

As an example there are a lot of people clamoring for $15/hr burger flipper jobs because people can't live on minimum wage and that's not fair they say. 

Really?

In most cases those people have not made any attempt to make themselves more valuable to an employer.  In other words they have failed to develop anything more than the rudimentary skills needed to get a starting level job.  How is it not fair or just then that they are still earning an entry level wage.

I believe that this is just one example of how Christian's with the best of intentions are showing partiality to the poor.  According to God, that is not just. 

Does God give us any idea how this may affect our lives?  He sure does.  Take a look at Duet. 16:19-20.  Here is what I believe it is telling us.  If we follow and do what is just in God's eyes we will inherit the life and the blessings  that He has for us.  If however we pervert justice… well I'll let you reach your own conclusions on that! 

Is Confrontation Christian?

One of the things I try to do is dispel some of what I believe are misconceptions about God and Jesus.  I've written many times about Kumbaya Jesus.  Today let's talk about weak and wimpy Jesus.  Pacifist Jesus if you will.

There are many who think that a good Christian should be meek and mild, never making waves, never questioning authority, and never being confrontational.  They should just do what they are told by society and be quiet about it.

Let's take a look at these verses from Acts.

Acts 16:35-40(NKJV)

35And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, “Let those men go.”

36So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.”

37But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”

38And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. 

39Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city. 

40So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.

Here we have a case where the authorities have done Paul and Silas wrong and they know it.  They try to sweep things under the rug by letting Paul and Silas go quietly.  But what does Paul say?

Oh hell no!  You did us wrong and we are now going to stand on principal and make you own up to it.

Now does that mean that we should automatically act this way all the time?  Nope.  What I am pointing out is that it isn't automatically un-Christian to be confrontational and to stand up for your principals.  So if you find yourself in a situation like that don't let the other side cow you into silence with the old "you sure aren't being very Christian' routine.  Just look at them and say
 

"Acts 16 baby!"

Man Just Can't Resist, Can He?

One of the things that strikes me about man is his inability to just follow directions.  Even when God gives simple instructions it seems that man just has to interject his touch.  My example today is from the book of Acts. 

Acts 15:5-10(NKJV)

5But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

6Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 

7And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 

8So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 

9and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 

10Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 

OK, so we have Peter say look God gave them the Holy Spirit without requiring these other things.  Apparently that was good enough in God's eyes.  Who are we to add additional burdens? 

I find that logic good.  But what do they do in the next breath? 

Acts 15:23-29(NKJV)

23They wrote this, letter by them:          The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,         To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:         Greetings.

24        Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, £saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment—

25it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 

26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

27We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 

28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 

29that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.£ If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.          Farewell.

They added conditions or guidance.  Now I'm not saying the conditions were bad, I'm just pointing out that we humans just can't seem to help ourselves in trying to improve on what God has given us.

Here's a suggestion.  Next time God slides up and whispers what He'd like you to do, just say "OK", don't try to improve on it.  You'll be surprised at how simpler life will become. 

The Poetry Of the Bible

The Bible has such a great way of putting things.  So many instances of what I would refer to as a nice turn of phrase.  I found one today.

Job 5:7(NKJV)

7    Yet man is born to trouble,     As the sparks fly upward.

Doesn't that just paint a great mind picture?  Have you seen many fires where the sparks don't fly upward?  What are the chances that any of us will go through life without running into trouble along the way?  Based on the mind picture this phrase paints I'd say pretty close to zero.

So we know we will run into trouble along the way.  The question is, to what purpose?  As I've written before, I think it is one of the best ways that we grow into the people God wants us to be.  I just believe that we all get way more personal growth from the struggle than we do from the fat times. 

As God tells us in Romans:

Romans 5:3-5(NKJV)

3And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 

4and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 

5Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

There is a purpose.  There is always a purpose.  Our job is to just trust God enough to know that His purpose will be revealed in due time. 

Is Boldness Christian?

Scripture tells us the meek will inherit the earth.  Based on that Scripture alone a lot of people think that to be a Christian, you have to be meek and mild and wimpy.

As I have said many times,  the Bible is a book of balance.  You have to take the whole thing in context.  Let me offer a balancing view.

Acts 13:46-47(NKJV)

46Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 

47For so the Lord has commanded us:      ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,     That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’” £

Is there any one that would argue that Paul and Barnabas were not good Christians?  That they weren't men after God's own heart as the saying goes?  And yet it says right here that they weren't meek in this instance, they were BOLD.

Sometimes we have to be bold, challenging, and in your face.  Sometimes we are called on to simply tell it like it is.  Sometimes we need to be meek while representing God but sometimes we need to be bold.

Are you prepared to be bold for God?

The Power Of Our Minds

The Bible tells us over and over and over again not to worry.  Did you ever wonder why that is?  Now obviously less worry means less stress but I'm looking for more of an answer than that.  Here is a reason that we find in the Bible.  It is from the story of Job.

Job 3:25(NKJV)

25    For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me,     And what I dreaded has happened to me.

Our minds have incredible power to attract both positive and negative things into our lives.  When we spend all of our time worrying, especially if it is unnecessary worry, we can actually attract the negative things we are worrying about. 

Let's look at a couple of examples.  Suppose for example you are tied up on some railroad tracks and there is a train bearing down on you.  That is justifiable worry.  But even in that case, instead of worry about getting run over, pray that God is arranging a miraculous rescue.  In other words, focus your mind on a positive outcome, pray with a positive expectation, not on worrying about getting squashed by the train.

The next example is people that worry about things incessantly.  They even worry about things that have little likelihood of actually happening.  Those are the people that I think this verse is really speaking to.  If you worry too much about stuff like that, pretty soon even the stuff that wasn't likely to happen starts to happen?  Why?  Because they were so focused on it that they drew it to themselves.   

So what is the answer?  The peace that passes all understanding.  How do you get that peace?  By asking Jesus to come into your life and guide you.  Have you done that yet?  Why not right now?  Have a conversation with Jesus. 

"Dear Jesus…."

When Were the Disciples First Called Christians?

Found an interesting bit of trivia.  When were the disciples first called Christians?

Acts 11:25-26(NKJV)

25Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 

26And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Chapter 10 and 11 of Acts is interesting from the standpoint that it is where God shows Peter that salvation is for everyone.  I am glad to see this because I have always found the separation of the Jews in the Old Testament troubling.  Jews were only supposed to marry Jews, etc.

I'm glad to see that change in the New Testament but it is one of the most troubling things in the Bible to me and I look forward one day to asking God what was the deal with that.