Spiritual Nuggets For
12-28-2008
111. Is it possible for the godly to undergo times of trouble and calamity even when they are faithfully following God’s ways? Besides Job, the most detailed answer to that question, we have the following:
But now you have rejected and humbled us; you no longer go out with our armies. You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us. You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations. You sold your people for a pittance, gaining nothing from their sale. (Psa 44:9-12)
All this happened to us, though we had not forgotten you or been false to your covenant. Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path. But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals and covered us over with deep darkness. If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart? Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. (Psa 44:17-22)
We can’t always understand why certain things happen to us or others. The important thing to remember, regardless what happens is, remain faithful to the Lord Jesus in the good times and bad times and keep on praying.
112. Are Paul’s epistles grace and to the church, while Jesus’ teachings are law, which don’t apply to Christians now? Some who profess to be Christians believe like this.
In other words, though such people claim to be Christians, they are not following Christ’s teachings by their own admittance! Shocking isn’t it! If that is you, let the following Pauline passage take root and change your theology:
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (Col 3:16)
If Jesus’ teachings were different from Paul’s, which some erroneously claim, then Paul could have never written the above verse. From that verse alone, it is clear that Christians are to heavily base their teachings, admonishments, songs and thanksgivings on Jesus’ teaching. Many other similar truths demolish the idea that Jesus’ teachings were law and different from Paul’s.
113. Negligence and lukewarmness can be associated with losing one’s salvation. Scriptural proof is:
He [the Heavenly Father] cuts off every branch in me [Christ] that bears no fruit .... (John 15:2)
Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9)
So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Rev 3:16)
Are you in this danger? Change now while you still can. Many in hell would love to have the chance you do now to repent.
114. Why prayers are not answered can be very complex and detailed. There are various reasons, including the following:
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. (1 Pet 3:12)
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. (1 John 3:21,22)
Sin hinders prayers from being answered, as just shown, but is not the only hindrance. Read this for more details http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/hindranc.htm
(According to the eternal security proponents we are all sinners and none are righteous, even after getting born again. If that was true then the righteous mentioned in 1 Peter 3:12 shouldn’t be there, especially since such are contrasted to those who do evil.)
115. No doubt there are many false prophets in our day, but what about true prophets? Do they still exist?
During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. (Acts 11:27-30)
There were various prophets in the early church with Agabus being one. He prophesied a famine and before it hit, the disciples sent monetary gifts to help. Agabus apparently was an established true prophet who had a solid track record. (NOTE: his prophesy was unlike much of today’s, which speak only in general, non-specific ways. Agabus was specific and his prophecy could be proven false.) Agabus is mentioned again in Acts 21:10-12.
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