Michelle

Today, I’m at peace and happy. I don’t have much to share apart from saying that I awoke one morning feeling happy that even in my dreams, I can say no to sin. It’s actually not a bad thing to know that even in my subconscious, I was able to say no. It might not be a big deal to some but for me knowing that I’m choosing not to give in to temptation, says a lot and in some ways, helps me see what’s fueling my motives.

It felt good waking up that morning to face myself and Jesus, knowing that there wasn’t anything that I was ashamed of, that I had to repent of and plead for the blood’s washing. Pastor would often speak about waking up in the morning and feeling clean. Each day, I understand this statement more and more and it’s become a personal testimony (not a second hand testimony) for me.

Live Call-In Radio Starts March 1^st!

Mark you calendars! On March 1, 2012 the National Prayer Chapel launches Pilgrim’s Progress, a weekday radio program on WAVA-AM radio in the Washington, D.C. Metro area. Pastor Ray Greenley not only returns to the airwaves, but returns to a live, call-in format.

Isn’t Pilgrim’s Progress “just a story”? No, it’s meant to be much more than entertainment. The Pilgrim’s Progress radio show will be a daily guide for the journey from death to life, from this world to that which is to come. Join us Monday through Friday from 1 PM to 2 PM to share together the journey towards the Celestial City!

Live, Streaming Video: Something new will be added—live, streaming video of the broadcast. Thanks to our technical guru, Kwashi Zilevu, the stream will be available here on NationalPrayerChapel.com from 1 PM to 2 PM every weekday.

Pastor Ray

A Pure Heart By Faith

Scripture Readings: Romans 5:8-9, 12, 15, 20; Romans 6:11; Galatians 2:20

“What must I do to be saved?”  When we die to the law and to our old life of sin, we become a new person with new power to live a clean life before God.  It is a common myth that we can be saved and continue to walk in our sin.  If you want a pure heart, you must walk by faith and not by works, and He will give you the desire of your heart.

Jim Kerwin’s Show Notes for Kernels of Wheat Podcast
Episode 010 – That Uncomfortable Word – Part 2

Reviewing the Article So Far

Most of the “notes” for this week can be found in the online article entitled That Uncomfortable Word–Conviction!

• What is sin? Sin is anomia–lawlessness, to be outside of God’s revealed Law (1 John 3:4).
• The Questions We Seek to Answer:
• What is conviction?
• How does God accomplish conviction?
• How may we yield ourselves to God to see true conviction of sin–and thus true and real conversions–through our ministries?

Six Tools the Holy Spirit Uses to Accomplish Conviction:

For Next Week: The Love Meter

Feedback

Your feedback is appreciated. Leave a comment (below) or drop us an e-mail.

More teaching by Jim Kerwin and others can be found on the Finest of the Wheat website.

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(Stock photo used under license from 123rd.com.)

Michelle

Lately, I’ve been giving much thought to the need for making adequate preparation for some of the things that I do on a frequent basis. I find that the slightest postponement of a simple task or an oversight can really throw me off. There’ve been times when I’ve failed in performing a task due to inadequate preparation. It’s gaining my attention since it strikes a parallel for me with making adequate preparation for the Kingdom of God.

I’m not concerned about not being able to do everything I have on my list. What really concerns me are the things that fall through the cracks because I don’t follow through on completely preparing. I had the unfortunate experience of canceling a Sunday school class recently after I realized that I had forgotten the materials. While I had painstakingly selected the lesson for that day, I dismissed the Holy Spirit’s nudge to pack it and have it ready. My thought was that I could pack it the next day, not realizing that it would be too much in trying to leave the house. I remember the old saying to “Never put off for tomorrow what you can do today.”

Sometimes, I find that when I don’t prepare as I should, everything becomes jammed and there’s little time to do everything, then the rushing starts. I can’t picture myself rushing to meet Jesus with everything in place. My experiences all seem to point to the fact that preparation is done overtime and that it can’t be rushed, as I sometimes try to disprove. My salvation can’t be rushed and I don’t think that I can leave off preparing for the Kingdom of God and try to quickly complete it when I Jesus appears.

I think that sometimes the way I approach things is an indicator of how I am spiritually, at least to some extent. I’ve now given myself something to pray about. More specifically, in discerning the things that I’ve left uncompleted because of pain, the expense of time or simply being unwilling to face the facts. I can’t afford to be foolish like the five virgins and think that I have time to hurriedly buy the oil before the bridegroom comes. I’ve missed out on doing certain things and I don’t want to miss Jesus because I didn’t take the time to adequately prepare my soul.

Deborah

As I continue to reflect on taking up my rightful place in the body of Christ, I am concerned about bringing harm to the body. According to the scriptures, we are all connected in a unique way just like the human body. It makes me tremble at the thought of adversely affecting the Lord’s body.

I cried out to the Lord this week and repented for not being there to support the body because I was too consumed with self, for envying someone else’s position in the past and, for not practicing honest biblical fellowship.

This repentance came about as the Lord used my health crisis to drive home in my heart how the whole body is affected when something goes wrong with one part. The infection I had caused gave me a temperature of 104, chills with awful shakes, nausea, affected many organs (bladder, heart, kidney and thyroid), plus caused excruciating pain. After all was said and done, the treatment set off more dysfunctions due to side effects.

This was the perfect example for me to grasp hold of the importance of my part as a body member and a need to share with others via this blog their importance. I will be more mindful of the unique gifts and callings of my family and give more support and encouragement, in bringing harmony to the body.

I’m anxious to see what will be dealt with next.

Show Notes by Jim Kerwin for Kernels of Wheat Podcast
Episode 009 – That Uncomfortable Word

Very uncomfortable indeed...

Introduction

“Sinning Christians” (an oxymoron) aren’t entirely responsible for being careless about continuing in sin, since they came in under a “gutted Gospel,” one that omits not only taking up one’s cross to follow Jesus, but also omitting the key Gospel element the Holy Spirit uses to expose sin and convict of it.

Key Scripture from 1 John:

What is sin?  1 John 3:4 defines what sin is—”Sin is anomia” (a = without + nomos = law):

• NASB & NIV: “Sin is lawlessness.”
• KJV: “Sin is the transgression of the law.”
• Phillips: “…that is what sin is, by definition—a breaking of God’s law.”
• Amplified: “…for [that is what] sin is, lawlessness [the breaking or violating of God’s law by transgression or neglect; being unrestrained and unregulated by His commands and His will].”

Key Resource for This Week:

The show notes are short this week because most of the content comes from an article entitled That Uncomfortable Word—Conviction! on the FinestOfTheWheat.org website, but Bible passages referred to include:

• John 16:7-11
• Jeremiah 17:9-10
• 1 John 3:4
• Romans 7:7-14
• 1 Timothy 1:8-11

For Next Week: Conviction, Part 2

Feedback

Your feedback is appreciated. Leave a comment (below) or drop us an e-mail.

More teaching by Jim Kerwin and others can be found on the Finest of the Wheat website.

Subscribe to the Kernels of Wheat weekly podcast:
(Stock photo used under license from 123rd.com.)

Michelle

As I began preparing breakfast, my thoughts began to trail to something that became quite exciting. Some may not, at this very moment, understand why I’m so excited over something that I already know. I can only say that it was the word of the Lord to my heart.

I had a new experience in understanding that I’m a part of the seed of Abraham. It seemed as if time stopped for me and returned to the day when God promised Abraham that in his seed all the nations would be blessed. The promise came closer to me when previously, it seemed so far away.

I started thinking on the fact that I’m actually a part of this prophecy being fulfilled. I’m a descendant of Abraham’s seed because of my faith in Christ. (Although, I must say that my grandfather was also named Abraham). It’s like I had to pinch myself, as I took a hard look at this prophecy.

It really is a blessing to be brought into the family of God. Reading the account of Abraham will always have a special meaning for me because as a Christian, God made mention of me thousands of years before I came into existence. It’s awesome to be alive today and to be able to take note of this prophecy that continues to revolutionize so many lives, all because of Jesus. The ensuing question for me each day, as it was for many throughout the ages, is will I walk in righteousness by faith, even as Abraham did? Can Jesus birth righteousness in me, which can be passed on to my children? I give my heart to Jesus for this to be so.

Deborah

My heart is grieved as I think about all of the distractions that take me away from being about my father’s business. I know that distractions can be used as a crafty and cunning device by the adversary. However, I also know that the flesh is so used to dominating in areas of self-centeredness and self-gratification. I struggle at times maintaining discipline especially, when I have health problems.

Most recently, I had a major illness that left me feeling like a dish cloth. The fatigue and all of the intricate details of recovery sucked so much out of me that I could not be about my father’s business. I learned how much of a battle it really is to be physically capable of serving.

In conjunction with dealing with the health issues, maintaining family relations, church/ministry service, employment matters, and much more is very time consuming. There were so many balls up in the air prior to the illness that were so traumatic that I couldn’t keep up during the illness. I began to see how much of a Martha I was rather than a Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus. All of the busyness caused me to even compromise spending time alone with the Lord.

During the recovery from the health crisis, I spent time re-assessing and re-evaluating all of the activities in which I am involved. It is important to ensure that the service is ordered by the Lord. It has already been revealed to me that the expectations of others will have to be seriously weighed and proper adjustments made.

I have learned that all of the busyness was masking the true kingdom value of the service. My spiritual tank was not full enough since my time spent with the Lord was not quality time. Repentance was definitely in order and I will be very mindful from here on about my output outweighing my input. I will also make sure that I am conducting the Father’s business and not that of myself or of others. Sometimes, there is a very thin line between people pleasing and pleasing the Lord particularly, as it relates to ministry and church duties.

Michelle

“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” — II Cor. 7:1-2.

I found these words resonating within my heart, in such a strange way. Undoubtedly, the richness of God’s word has this effect on a man or woman but this time the experience went a bit deeper than water being poured on dry earth. It was the conviction of the Holy Spirit in my heart. There was something contaminating my spirit, which blocked the perfection of holiness.

As I sat and listened to the preaching of God’s word on Sunday and as the Holy Spirit came and made His inspection of my heart, I started questioning my actions of the past week. Of particular interest to both of us, was my reaction to a friend, to whom I sensed I was a bit harsh on account of being guarded and watching my friend’s actions.

At the women’s meeting, I looked at the matter more closely and realized that I was in fact relentless in reminding my friend of past decisions. I fear that in so doing, my action stymied a time for us to merely share freely with each other how we were walking.

Of course, no one had to tell me what the next course of action should be. I thanked Jesus for allowing the Holy Spirit’s inspection of my heart and for showing this contaminant. I repented and asked my friend to forgive me. I don’t know yet what restitution, on my part, toward my friend will look like but I know I can trust the Holy Spirit to guide in that direction (smile). I find that there’s more worth to be gained from putting the word of God into practice than in gaining money.

Pastor Ray

The Ugliness Of Sin

Scripture Readings: 2 Chronicles 23; 24:4,6,15,18,20; Jeremiah 2:5-25

What is sin?  1 John 3:4 defines sin as lawlessness.  Sin then is a voluntary rebellion against the will of God.  Sin is an offense against God that I choose when I walk in my own will.  Righteousness is innocence.  We see the consequences of sin in our daily life—in our finances, in our relationships, and in the pain that fills our hearts.  Are you carrying a burden of sin on your back or are you unconscious and dull of spirit?  At the cross of Jesus the burden of sin can be cut from your back!  You can be made alive in Jesus!!!

You can subscribe to the Springs of Living Water Podcast in a variety of ways:

Studies in the Book of Romans with Pastor Ray Greenley
#13: A Man Clothed In Rags

Do you have a great burden on your back? When you begin to read the book of Romans, if you will not use the modern churches’ tinted glasses, conviction of sin will grow in your heart. You will feel the heavy burden on your back. But a pathway of escape has been opened for you by Jesus. The forgiveness of sin is by faith. Righteousness is by faith and not by works, but it is not make-believe righteousness. In this study we will look at the provision made for us.

Romans 5:9-21

Michelle

January was a month of great intensity for me. I began the year with a determination to read the bible through in 30 days. Now, I think it’ll take me another five days to finish up since I lost time attending to unforeseen circumstances. While committing to walk through this kind of a fast for the entire month, I don’t think that I’ve ever had to work as hard as I did on my job. I’ve had many late nights at work but they weren’t as intense and demanding, not to mention the added strain of experiencing the pain of death and the scare of a family crisis.

In all of this rocking of my boat, I was pushed to the extreme physically, emotionally and spiritually. Part of me wanted to just cry and say it’s too much; I can’t deal with it, to even walk through it. Then I realized that I wasn’t a child anymore and if I didn’t make a decision, the circumstances weren’t going to change. Somehow, my reality check propelled to make a responsible decision to approach Jesus and plead for His intervention. Being responsible for my actions is one aspect of maturity that I’m gaining wisdom in but being accountable for the actions of others is also another aspect of maturity that I’m painfully learning.

Having been exposed to these life lessons and recognizing them as such, is something worth cherishing. I get to see where I am in my relationship with Jesus and what I have to go through, if I really want to draw closer to Him. In reflection, the events in January opened a new chapter of maturity for me but it also demonstrated that through Christ the impossible can be accomplished.

Joshua Gravis

**As I have been struggling in my personal and spiritual life, I have decided to take a 60 day sabbatical from journaling and from hosting events**

I recently changed my Facebook profile picture to represent my stepping back from leadership roles. My previous photos have been with fellow hikers that I’ve led on Saturday outings; my current photo is a group of friends 3 and ½ years ago holding up a surprise homecoming/birthday banner. I had gone away at that time for 8 months to Pure Life Ministries (PLM), a Christian training center for men who were trapped in various types of sexual sin.

I now work back in the same office complex that I did before I went down to PLM in Kentucky, and in the same line of work. I have also fallen back into some of the same sins. In recent weeks, I have committed sexual sin with multiple partners, but turned down offers for sex from some of them, as well as multiple other potential partners. This partial sexuality tells me that I was not so much looking for the physical pleasure as I was seeking to feel fulfilled through physical touch, companionship, and getting someone to want me. This explains – but does not justify – my sin.

While I had planned to post a solo photo of myself, somehow the friends welcoming me home from PLM seemed appropriate during this time, as that was where I was cleansed by Jesus. I want to be clean; I cannot stand feeling so dirty and distant from Jesus, as well as from other people. I’ve been thinking about what it means to have someone as a “close friend.” I had listed about 100 out of my 600+ friends on Facebook as close friends, but I recently paired that number down to 20, with most of them being close friends in the past, but not now. I am not very close with anyone now, I don’t think.

I have terribly hurt my ability to exchange true intimacy with anyone. I’ve learned to let the public (and individual acquaintances) into my private life, giving us a sense of being close, while keeping my heart safely tucked behind a wall. Worse than the sin of sexuality outside of marriage has been my sin of speaking and acting emotionally intimate with women outside of a proper courtship setting. I have used women to fill physical and emotional voids in my heart without considering the deeper holes that that pseudo-intimacy creates in them (and in me).

As I enter into this time of stepping back from public ministry, I’m asking that my friends do NOT attempt to comfort me. Once I’ve come through into full repentance and am restored to a righteous walk in Jesus, I’ll welcome all the comforting words, but until then, I need to sit uncomfortably confronted with my guilt. What good is it to feel warmed during this life, only to burn for eternity? I’d rather go through some fire now, and enjoy the warmth of my Savior forever.

The Turning Point

Pastor Ray

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Show Notes by Jim Kerwin for Kernels of Wheat Podcast
Episode 008 – Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire! (1 John 1:6-2:6)

Recycled-Tin Artwork by Jenny Fillius at jennyfillius.com. (Click on image for full link.) Website image used by permission. Original is currently being used by the Seattle City Department of Cultural Affairs.

To get the most out of this ongoing Bible study:

Read through 1 John once a week.

Review and Context:

• Walking with or before God = being pleasing to God
• “I write these things to you that you may not sin.” (1 John 2:1)
• The blood of Jesus Christ continually cleanses us from inward sin IF we walk in the light.

The Heart, the Covenants, and “God Who Knows the Hearts”

• Under the Old Covenant
• Jeremiah 17:9-10 — Who can know the deceitful, desperately wicked heart? “I, the Lord!”
• The Promise of the New Covenant
• Hebrews 8:8-13
• Jeremiah 31:31-34
• Ezekiel 36:26-27
• The Heart of the New Covenant
• Acts 15:7-9 — hearts purified by faith by “God Who knows the hearts.”

Today’s First John Passage: 1 John 1:6—2:6

• 1:6 — Lying, and the truth not being in us
• 1:8 — Self-deceit, another form of
  lying
• 1:10 — Making God a liar
• 2:4 — Saying one thing, doing another = liar

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire!

The lie too many of us believe and repeat, in it themes and variations:

1. Sin is “okay.” Sin isn’t important, so God understands and forgives. That’s a lie.
2. Jesus is my Savior, but not my Lord, so I don’t yet have to give up sin. That’s a lie. If Jesus isn’t Lord, are you really saved? The Scripture says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13), not “the name of the Savior, but not yet my Lord.”
3. “As long as I don’t die while I’m in the act of sin, and I confess my sin, everything is all right.” That’s a lie.
4. Pointing out people’s sins, especially the sinful lives of many Christians is legalism. That’s a lie.
5. A variation on the Flip Wilson/Geraldine Jones defense – “The debbbbill made me do it!” – I can’t ever be free from sinning because of my sin nature. (“My sin nature made me do it.”) Lie.
6. “When God looks at me, He sees Jesus, not me. He doesn’t see the sins I keep committing willfully, He sees Jesus’ righteousness. God isn’t ‘hung up’ about sin.” That is a MONSTROUS lie. Yes, God is very hung up about sin—Jesus was ‘hung up’ on a cross to save you from sin. If HE thought it was that serious of an issue, everyone who names the name of Christ had better see it as equally important.

1 John 1:9 and Confession

• The word confess in Greek is homologeo, that is, to say the same thing. Do we say — and believe — the same thing as God about our sins (and our sin)?
• What God says about continued, willful sin can be read in Hebrews 10:26-31. Bear in mind that these word were written to and about believers, not unbelievers.
• Those who confess and forsake sins find mercy (Proverbs 28:13). With that kind of deep “confession” comes comes God’s “faithful and righteous” forgiveness and cleansing.

Food for thought — “Christian” sin?

For Next Week: That Uncomfortable Word

Feedback

Your feedback is appreciated. Leave a comment (below) or drop us an e-mail.

More teaching by Jim Kerwin and others can be found on the Finest of the Wheat website.

Subscribe to the Kernels of Wheat weekly podcast:

Michelle

I’m very exhausted, having collaborated on submitting a major proposal at work. I’m placing all my hope in Jesus to see our company receive the award of this contract. I’ve been praying and asking the Lord to show favor to my boss, not for my sake, but for my boss’, as He’s extended much kindness to me over the years.

I’ve also been praying that Jesus will bring new business to our company that’s outside of my boss’s networking and marketing efforts. As I humble myself at the job, I want Jesus to raise up for Himself a testimony that He is the Almighty God and that whatever business revenue we receive at this point, came from Him and not from any of our efforts. I want my boss and his family to be brought into the Kingdom of God. They’ve not really seen and understood the richness and power of the Gospel of Christ. The treatment of so called Christians toward them has been hurtful and shameful, which has only caused them to cast off becoming followers of Christ. I sometimes struggle as I walk with them and they see my actions contrasted with those in church, which often repel them from building trust in my God― Jesus.

My boss gets to see how I live my life for approximately 8 hours every day and I don’t walk the normal way some Christians do. I don’t have a ‘normal’ Christian life. My investment into the Kingdom of God isn’t normal. I’ve not established boundaries with God so it’s not normal. So my investment in my job, is for Jesus and if He wants to use me and/or circumstances to save the souls of my boss and his family then that’s fine.

My point in writing today’s blog is merely to say that as I’ve sought after Jesus and submitted to His instruction in the way of holiness, I want this family, whom I’m serving in this part of the vineyard to experience God’s love, forgiveness for sin and be washed by the blood and to be truly happy in finding completeness in Jesus.

Joshua Gravis

A friend recommended I meditate on two verses of scripture as I endure my current circumstances:

Philippians 4:13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Romans8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

It is good to be reminded that God is in control. My job is to trust him and do the little things that I know I should be doing each day. He’s not asking some grand conquest of me; he’s simply asking me to care for my mother in the midst of her time of need. He’s giving me strength to get through this all, and he’s even using the difficulties to shape me into the man he wants me to be. What an awesome Creator/Father/Master!

I feel like I am being confronted by all my weaknesses at once. My patience is being tested to the greatest degree, and I’ve had many temptations of the flesh thrown in my face, as well. I’ve had so many conflicting advisers that I’ve had to throw my hands up and just ask Jesus for his will. I’m doing what I think is right in all this, but I’m sure I’m making mistakes. Thank God that he doesn’t condemn me for my mistakes, but only if I walk in willful rebellion!

With all this in mind, I am constantly asking his help that I will not run back into sin as I walk through the fire of testings. He is faithful, loving and strong..to not only keep me out of sin, but to use this all to grow me in his righteousness.

Show Notes for Kernels of Wheat Episode 007 – Walking in Freedom (1 John 1:6-7)

The Kernels of Wheat podcast

Teaching and Bible study notes by Jim Kerwin

Verse: 1 John 1:6

If we say that we have fellowship with Him
and yet walk in the darkness,
we lie and do not practice the truth;

• Lying about fellowship with God; poor excuses for Christians.
• If we say (or imply) that we are Christians – that is, that we live in close fellowship with God – but our lives and hearts say otherwise, that is a serious form of hypocrisy or lying.
• Walking in darkness is a description of the opposite of living in close communion with God.
• Walking in darkness is characterized by continuing in sin (even “acceptable” sin), worldliness, and selfishness, all things which grieve God’s Spirit.
• Walking in darkness is the opposite of taking up your cross, denying yourself, and following Jesus.
• Isaiah 59:2—But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Verse: 1 John 1:7

…but IF we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light,
[THEN] we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all SIN.

• Remember that the “one another” is fellowship with God and God’s fellowship with us.
• Walking first, then cleansing (not the other way around); we would have it backwards
• Cleansing is ongoing and deals with sin, not sins.; Greek tense is present active indicative.
• “Ask, and keep on asking,” etc., as in Matthew 7:7 and Luke 11:9
• Conditional statement; that is, it’s an IF/THEN statement
• IF – we walk in the light (the condition)
• THEN two results follow:
• We continue in fellowship with the Godhead and other Christians who abide in this same fellowship; AND,
• The blood of Jesus continually cleanses us from all SIN.

Walking in God, Who is Light, means that every dark thing in us is dealt with thoroughly and radically:

• Every pet sin, and every excuse for sinfulness
• Every worldly thing which we love
• Every selfish ambition, goal, or reaction that we have
• Every thing which God Who is Light points out to us as darkness…

We confess, repent of it, release it, crucify it, leave it behind; and we keep on walking in the Light, until all the dark things are burned away, all the dark corners are illuminated.

Verses 7-10: Sin (the nature, vv. 7-8) and sins (the acts of rebellion, vv. 9-10) are distinct.

The early Church’s current concept of sin

• “If any man sins…,” not when. (2:1)
• Instant death of Ananias and Sapphira for lying. (Acts 5)
• Sin shall not have dominion over you (Romans 6:14)
• “Go and sin no more.” (John 5:14; 8:11)
• “Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 20:7; 1 Peter 1:15-16)
• This is the will of God, even your sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
• And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He Who calls you, Who also will do it! (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

Too much of the modern Church’s concept of sin sounds something like this:

God wants you to be free from sin, but He knows that you can’t be. While victory over sin can happen, it’s only temporary, or only available for super-spiritual people. You have a sin nature that you can’t completely overcome, so the best you can do is to stuff it down in your heart and sit on the lid, and go through the same, sad failure cycle repeatedly. You have to put up with this inner turmoil until you die, fighting an inbred enemy variously called:

• the sin nature
• the carnal mind
• the old man, etc.

and then Death (which is your enemy and Jesus’ enemy, according to 1 Corinthians 15:26) will kindly do for you what Jesus either couldn’t or wouldn’t do during your earthly lifetime – it will free you from indwelling sin.

Prejudice Against God and His Truth?

Through many decades of excusing sin, watering down the Gospel to make it more palatable to sinners (who really aren’t “sinners” – they’re just “unchurched”!), we have been prejudiced against God and His truth by a theology that minimizes sin and sinfulness and God’s hatred of both. Worse, we’ve been asked to accept something just short of a blasphemy against a holy God – the lie that the God Who commands us, saying, “Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy,” made no provision for us to live holy lives before Him.

Walking in the Light—communing with God—enlarges our hearts and minds, and frees us to believe God-sized thoughts. Dwelling in that Light changes dark thinking, and causes “the eyes of our understanding to be enlightened” (Ephesians 1:18).

Without meaning to, we have made the Sin problem bigger than God. Think about how serious the sin problem was and how God tackled it:

• God is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent — all-knowing, present everywhere, and all-powerful.
• The only—and best—solution God could provide was to come Himself, the Logos, the second person of the Trinity, in the person of Jesus Christ.
• Interposing Himself as the solution for sins and their penalty and for sin itself, do you think God decided to do the job only halfway?

The “sewer in the living room” analogy: Do you clothes-pin your nose and keeping stomping on cockroaches or go for a more permanent solution?

Saved to the “Uttermost”

And this is the solution God provided, something additional we haven’t usually been told – as we walk in the Light in intimate fellowship with God, we experience freedom from indwelling sin, because the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s son, continually cleanses us. If you’re continually cleansed, you’re clean!

Hebrews 7:25 says of Jesus that He “is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

• uttermost – some translations give this out as “forever,” and that’s a true, but incomplete, rendering. “Uttermost” also means thoroughly, completely, leaving nothing undone.

The Hymn: Walk in the Light, by Bernard Barton (1784-1849)

Walk in the light: so shalt thou know
That fellowship of love
His Spirit only can bestow,
Who reigns in light above.

[Click this link for the complete lyrics.]

For Next Week: Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire!

Feedback

Your feedback is appreciated. Leave a comment (below) or drop us an e-mail.

More teaching by Jim Kerwin and others can be found on the Finest of the Wheat website.

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#12: The Devil’s Paradise

Every evil thought and every violent act is flooding our world. America, once a bright light on a hill, has been stripped and turned into a prison filled with greed, anger, lust, and every other unclean thing! We are living in the “Devil’s Paradise!” But Jesus has opened a “Way” of escape. This “Way” is not the way of religion; it is Jesus Himself. Jesus is a narrow pathway of holiness out of this “Devil’s Paradise” straight into the Paradise Of God! Are you traveling this high way to heaven or are you stuck in the “Devil’s Paradise?”

Staked To The Ground Like Eagles

Pastor Ray

The American Church is filled with little people, little people who are staked to the ground, when God has called us to soar like  eagles.  We are people who are preoccupied with our own little world, indifferent to the needs of others.  We seem to have no concern for those without any personal reference.  The tragedy of little people is that they are unavailable.  We don’t need “big shots,” but people with big hearts, people with vision — people whose feet are on the ground, but whose eyes are on the far horizon where God is beginning to open the way for the salvation of the lost.  We need people who have been touched by God!  We need people who are dedicated to Jesus and His high and holy purposes!  We need people of integrity who will give all for the Kingdom Of God!  If you are such a person or would like to become such a one, come join us at the National Prayer Chapel!

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Michelle

It’s almost 10pm and we’re here with mom at the hospital to check on some pains she felt earlier this afternoon. After my last post, it’s been beyond hectic at work and to face news of my mom being at the emergency was like so unbelievable. I was just on the verge of freaking out but pulled myself together and began praying.

To those who have been quietly praying for me and my company- THANK YOU! Your prayers and encouragement gave me strength to continue clutching to Jesus, as He’s carried me.

May the Lord Jesus continue to watch over His people and hear their cries.

Joshua Gravis

I idolized having a partner. I wanted more than anything to have that person who would be symbolized by changing my Facebook status to “In a Relationship.”

Because I had set “her” up as an object to obtain, that would make me feel whole, the LORD handed me over to the lusts of my flesh. Though I sinned against Jesus by acting in that wickedness, the original sin was to set up a human partner in the place of my Divine Partner in my heart. I rediscovered a devotional book (in the ancient/deep, rather than modern/light sense) today that I have not read in many months. I’ll share a few quotes from Imitation of Christ, by Thomas a Kempis, to help me express myself.

From ch. 11 ~ “The greatest obstacle, indeed, the only obstacle, is that we are not free from passions and lusts, that we do not try to follow the perfect way of the saints. Thus when we encounter some slight difficulty, we are too easily dejected and turn to human consolations. If we tried, however, to stand as brave men in battle, the help of the Lord from heaven would surely sustain us. For He Who gives us the opportunity of fighting for victory, is ready to help those who carry on and trust in His grace.”

From ch. 13 ~ “Many people try to escape temptations, only to fall more deeply. We cannot conquer simply by fleeing, but by patience and true humility we become stronger than all our enemies. The man who only shuns temptations outwardly and does not uproot them will make little progress; indeed they will quickly return, more violent than before. Little by little, in patience and long-suffering you will overcome them, by the help of God rather than by severity and your own rash ways. Often take counsel when tempted…”

From ch. 15 ~ “that which seems to be charity is oftentimes…man’s own inclination, his own will, his hope of reward, and his self-interest… On the contrary, he who has true and perfect charity seeks self in nothing, but searches all things for the glory of God. Moreover, he envies no man, because he desires no personal pleasure nor does he wish to rejoice in himself; rather he desires the greater glory of God above all things. He ascribes to man nothing that is good but attributes it wholly to God…”

I am entrusting myself to my faithful Creator. My Heavenly Father knows my wants and needs, and He wants to provide for me. He will not, however, provide me with people or things that I am seeking as a replacement for His Spirit as my true fulfillment. Similarly, I cannot run away from all my temptations, but I am turning back to Jesus to get through them in victory. I wrote a text in response to a friend just now, “I appreciate you checking in on me, and I am also glad to help you endure the difficult days you are going through. I am finding, however, that as much of a blessing [as] my friends are in this trial, turning to Jesus is giving me more strength by far!”

I entered into sin because I turned to the idea of someone else other than Jesus as my fulfillment, strength, pleasure, etc. I am exiting sin by turning back to my Savior. Only He can replace my lust with his love, and He can only do that as He and I are “In a Relationship”.

Michelle

It’s been very tough this week. Having encouraged a friend to keep trusting in Jesus and to not sin, little did I know that I too would be dealt with my share of oppressive circumstances. I would’ve never expected that I would so quickly be in a place where I would have to clutch the very words of encouragement I had offered just a day earlier.

If being wrung out at work because of concentrating our efforts on meeting a deadline was too much to handle, discovering that a co-worker had died at home when he failed to show up for work was altogether, unimaginable and overwhelming.

There is a physical and emotional lag in my body that have yet to catch up to where my spirit is. At times, staying focused is difficult due to the grief in my heart. The tears flow unbidden and an already small team, now seem so insignificant.

These circumstances would cause anyone to want to run into a cave but I’ve sought refuge in Jesus with the unexpected woes, the current afflictions of the brethren and the demands on my life. I’ve found a quiet place hidden away in Jesus, as I’ve persevered reading the word. When I’m there the tears cease flowing and my heart is soothed.

Joshua Gravis

I am going through possibly the greatest time of trial in my life. I am being severely tested: passing and failing on various points. My heart is broken from several failed attempts at courtship over the past couple years, and my heart has been hardened from choosing to sin after feeling broken repeatedly. Also, Mom is not well, physically or mentally, and I am having to move out of our house to give her space and to be in a safe place, myself. My pastor has reminded me not to feel sorry for myself. He’s also warned me not to walk off into rebellion, because I might not have another chance to return to Jesus. Prayers and encouragement are appreciated.

Michelle

It’s mid-January and I’m just about halfway through the bible. If I finish my required portion of reading today, I would have just started Proverbs but I’m still in the Psalms.

It’s amazing what’s happened so far since I started reading through the bible again. Oh, boy! There’ve been so many lessons and warnings to my heart. A couple things stood out. One was seeing how God honored David’s love for him through covenant. I’m reminded in my life that God takes covenants very seriously, which includes the ones that He’s made to my heart and those I made to Him. After reading through much of the historical account of the children of Israel, I can rightly say that God keeps His covenant.

The question that I have to answer every day and the one that Jesus wants to know is if I will keep my covenant to Him. In the world of business and contracting, always to win a contract, there is that question of how strong is a company’s past performance in doing a particular job. The company that demonstrates its capability of fulfilling the terms of the contract will, no doubt, win the contract and the trust of that new client. Jesus has to be the judge on how strong my past performance is and determine whether I need more experience in a few areas, in order to win His trust and be fortified in His Kingdom. Even though I know, I have to remember that He is a God that keeps covenant and based on this, I’ll know how to approach Him when I’m in His presence.

My second lesson is more of an encouragement to be undivided in my heart toward Jesus during trials. What Job said had new meaning for me. “My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go” (Job 27:6). I thank God that I’m not alone, that there were others who stood their ground and by their actions said yes, I’m going to walk holy. It’s provoking me to continue in Jesus and keep choosing Jesus, even if it may mean distress over comfort, a lower-paying job over a higher-paying job or simply speaking up and saying the truth and risking reprisal.

I know it’s one thing to be motivated by the story of Job but it’s a different thing to actually walk in his shoes and still maintain one’s integrity before God, especially when the stakes are so high. I’m thinking that there must have been times when Jesus submitted my name in a wager, with me sometimes meeting His expectations and other times not, but I trust that there’ll be no accusation left in my heart toward Jesus.