"…the pure milk of the word,…"

I personally think that being in God's Word on a consistent basis is the single biggest factor in developing your relationship with God.  There are several reason that I think it is important but this verse highlights one of the reasons.

1 Peter 2:1-3(NKJV)

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 

as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 

if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

The pure milk of the Word.  I like the sound of that.  Once you have the Holy Spirit to guide you, being in God's Word is your second most direct link to God.  Your most direct link of course being prayer.  But being in God's Word with the Holy Spirit allows you to know God in a direct way.  You aren't receiving God's Word as filtered through other people's perceptions and circumstances.  You are receiving it directly from God!

How do you get the Holy Spirit to guide you?  By asking Jesus to come into your life and guide you.  Just have a conversation with Jesus and invite Him in.  "Dear Jesus…."

An interesting example of God's timing.

I found this kind of interesting.  If you have walked with the Lord for any amount of time you have probably experienced the issue of God's timing.  There are things for example that we pray for and it doesn't happen, doesn't happen, doesn't happen, but we keep praying and all of a sudden it happens.  I believe that is an example of God just telling us the time wasn't right yet.

So take a look at this.

Acts 16:6-10(NKJV)

Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 

After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 

So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 

Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

What I found interesting is that we know Scripture tells us it is God's will that all be saved who believe in Jesus.  We also know from Scripture that God wants His Word spread around the world.  So why when one of God's most ardent disciples is on the border, ready to preach the Word to a whole new culture does God say "Hold up there.  I forbid you to go preach my word to those people." 

Why would He do that do you think?  We know that the word is eventually preached throughout Asia and millions are saved but why did God stop Paul from doing any of it?

I can think of a couple reasons but I think mainly it comes down to God's timing of the execution of His plan.  God had a specific mission field and plan for Paul.  I'm sure that even way back then God already knew who he was going to send in to Asia and when they were going to go.  It may have been decades in the future but God had it planned out.

God's timing is everything!

The Disciples substitute their Judgement for God's.

This just seems to be one of those human conditions that is hard to tame.  I happen to be of the opinion that many in the clergy today are simply modern day Pharisees.  By that I mean that they like to add their own twists that really aren't in Scripture.  It is just their interpretation.

Unfortunately that is an impulse that goes all the way back to the disciples.  Read through this story and I'll explain what I mean.

Acts 15:1-21(NKJV)

And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 

Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.

So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. 

And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. 

But 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.”

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

And 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. 

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

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

Now 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? 

But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”

Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. 

And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: 

Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 

And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:

    ‘After this I will return      And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;     I will rebuild its ruins,     And I will set it up;

    So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,     Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,      Says the Lord who does all these things.’ 

“Known to God from eternity are all His works. 

Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 

(So far so good.  But then look where James goes next. )

but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 

For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

Here is what I am getting at.  Why is it that James felt that they had to respond by giving them some other do's and don'ts instead of simply following God's example and calling it good if they believed in their heart?  And why did he go back to the Old Testament for his reference point? 

Now let me be clear that I don't think that the things they warned about are bad to warn about but I don't think this was the proper venue to do that.  The questions was simple.  Should we add on other things (in this case circumcision) to the Gentile's requirements for being saved.  I believe that God was pretty clear by giving them the Holy Spirit that they had already done all that God felt they needed to do. 

Unfortunately the Disciples couldn't refrain from substituting their judgement for God's. 

"…for whatever is not from faith is sin."

One of my favorite issues in the Bible is the tension between faith and fear.  Scripture is replete with admonitions like "do not fear" and "faith and fear cannot live in the same body".  Things like that. 

As I have written before, I believe that fear is a physical manifestation of lack of faith.  Now I am not talking about the jolt of fear you might experience if you happened to see an out of control bus about to run you over.  That is normal.

What I am talking about is the deep internal fear that things aren't going to work out or that some nebulous "something bad" is going to happen.  That type of fear.  That is the fear that I believe shows God a physical lack of faith. 

Now one of my life principals has been don't make life decisions based on fear.  Well this Scripture takes it way further than that.  Check it out!

Romans 14:23(NKJV)

But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

Wow, that puts a whole new light on it doesn't it?  Not only is it a lack of faith but according to Scripture it is a sinful lack of faith.  Hmm.

"…I should not call any man common or unclean." Never???

Here is a verse that I think is ripe for misunderstanding.  Take a look at these first verses and then we will contrast and compare it to another verse. 

Acts 10:24-29(NKJV)

And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. 

As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 

But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” 

And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. 

Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 

Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”

Here is a verse that I think gets misused in the same way that thou shall not judge is misused.  Here is what I mean by that.  There are many who like to use the "thou shall not judge" as a shield.  Well as I have documented in the past thou shall not judge is only one verse.  There are many verses where Jesus Himself tells us to make judgements. 

I think we see the same type of thing with this verse.  "Hey he is one of God's children.  You can't call him unclean!".  That type of thing. 

Now take a look at these verses and then I'll tell you what I think the whole thing means.

Acts 13:9-11(NKJV)

Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 

and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 

And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 

Umm, isn't Paul kind of calling this person unclean?  "You son of the devil" seems to fall in that category to me.  So is Paul committing a sin here?  Is he going against God's word?

Not at all in my opinion.  In the first case I think it is more of a general don't prejudge people type of thing.  Take God's word to all people and give them a chance at Salvation.  Don't leave out the Greeks.  Don't leave out the Samaritans, etc. 

On the other hand when someone provides evidence of their "uncleanness" I don't believe God has a problem with us calling things as we see them.  Jesus was always telling us to compare the fruit.  Isn't that just another way of Jesus saying hey contrast the good with the bad, the clean with the unclean; based on the evidence provided?

Does that difference make sense? 

Once again a picture of proper ministry in my opinion.

Once again I am struck by the picture of ministry presented here by Paul as contrasted with what I see in the Christian world today. 

Acts 13:44-52(NKJV)

On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 

But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 

Then 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. 

For 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.’” 

Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. 

But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 

But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 

And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

I know I have written about this before but this passage brings it to light again.  Notice how once people have made a choice, either for or against Jesus, the disciples move on.  They don't waste a bunch of time trying to change minds or even worse watering down the message to make it more palatable to those who initially reject Jesus.  They simply "shake the dust from their feet" and move on.

As I have said before, I think we spend too much time and effort on those who have already heard the message and made a choice instead of focusing on bringing the message to those who haven't heard it yet.

God is….Faithful

I have completed the second word.  Faithful.  What does it mean to be faithful?

faithful

1. strict or thorough in the performance of duty:

a faithful worker.

2. true to one's word, promises, vows, etc.
3. steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant:

faithful friends.

4. reliable, trusted, or believed.
5. adhering or true to fact, a standard, or an original; accurate:

a faithful account; a faithful copy.

6. Obsolete. full of faith; believing.

Now let's look at a few Scriptures that stood out to me.  There are 81 uses of the word Faithful in the Bible.

Deuteronomy 7:9-11(NKJV)

“Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; 

and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face. 

Therefore you shall keep the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which I command you today, to observe them.  

One of the things I am getting regarding faithful is that faithfulness is a two way street.  God will be faithful to us provided we are faithful to Him.  I also find it interesting that this Scripture makes the point that God will be just as faithful in dealing out punishment as He will be in dealing out mercy and reward.  God will be faithful in ALL of His promises.

Psalms 78:8(NKJV)

    And may not be like their fathers,     A stubborn and rebellious generation,     A generation that did not set its heart aright,     And whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Psalms 78:37(NKJV)

    For their heart was not steadfast with Him,     Nor were they faithful in His covenant.

Psalms 101:6(NKJV)

    My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land,      That they may dwell with me;     He who walks in a perfect way,     He shall serve me.

Isaiah 49:7(NKJV)

    Thus says the Lord,      The Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One,     To Him whom man despises,     To Him whom the nation abhors,     To the Servant of rulers:     “Kings shall see and arise,     Princes also shall worship,     Because of the Lord who is faithful,     The Holy One of Israel;     And He has chosen You.”

Hosea 11:12(NKJV)

    “Ephraim has encircled Me with lies,      And the house of Israel with deceit;     But Judah still walks with God,     Even with the Holy One who is faithful.

1 Corinthians 1:9(NKJV)

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 10:13(NKJV)

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

2 Corinthians 1:18(NKJV)

But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. 

2 Thessalonians 3:3(NKJV)

But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 

1 John 1:9(NKJV)

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

So it seems to me that God will be faithful to the ends of the earth; to those who are faithful to Him in return.  Does that mean we have to be perfect?  I don't think so.  But as always it is a balance of the heart issue. 

Do you like that phrase?  Balance of the heart.  When you weigh all of the evidence, God knows where your heart is.  As Jesus makes very clear throughout the Gospels, it is a heart issue.