Are You A Sabbatarian?

I was almost caught up in the Seventh-day Adventist movement as a teen; however, I was able to study the Scriptures and disprove their legalism. Ever since I have been grace-oriented when it comes to observing the Sabbath. Warren W. Wiersbe mentions that nowhere in the New Testament are believers told to observe the Sabbath--it is the only one of the Ten Commandments not repeated in the New Testament. To me, every day is holy unto the Lord and I don't see a need to just have one day set aside. There is a reason that they called the Christian Sabbath the Lord's Day. (John said, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day.")

The Bible says that to some every day is alike--and to others, they feel compelled to set aside one day a week (cf. Rom. 14:5-6). Actually, the Sabbath was given to Israel as a sign of His covenant forever (cf. Ex. 31:13; Ezek. 20:12,20; Neh. 9:14). Once you realize that you are not under the law, but under grace, you will be free to dedicate every day to the Lord. The principle of rest is still in effect, but there is no sin in working on Sunday, for example. It was because of unbelief and disobedience that the people of Israel failed to enter into His rest. "He leads me beside the still waters/ He restores my soul." (So if you don't get your needed rest, God may give it to you anyway.) "Man was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for man" (cf. Mark 2:27).

Clearly, there is no "hard-and-fast rule for the Sabbath, if you do decide to practice it as a principle of the Word. "My presence will go with you and I will give you REST." The Christian is fulfilling the spirit of the Sabbath by worshiping one day a week and not forsaking the assembling together of the brethren, as is the manner of some (cf. Heb. 10:25). The Christian enters into a permanent Sabbath that the Jews were unable to attain, because of disobedience.   Soli Deo Gloria!

Hearing God Part 2

Many Spirit-led believers get "impressions" or hunches from the Holy Spirit, but some actually quote "their God" verbatim, for instance, "Turn right at the next intersection!" One can be in a near death experience and explain how God saved him. They don't seem to be mentally ill, but I wouldn't rule out hearing voices like a schizophrenic person claims. I don't believe his experiences make him any better of a Christian and that this is highly unusual and not the norm. Our experiences are not the measure of our maturity, but our obedience is.

Some claim to have been "slain in the Spirit" (like falling backward in the power of the Holy Spirit). So they are really into having experiences and talking about them.

I don't think they claim to be prophets with divine revelation, just that God speaks to them with an audible voice on occasion with messages that have no doctrinal relevance. I don't buy into everything so-called self-proclaimed prophets say. Samuel, the founder of the school of the prophets, was the first "prophet" who talked with God as did Moses and Joshua and Gideon and the prophet Nathan relayed messages to David, the man after God's own heart, who was God's anointed, had great faith and also heard audibly from God on occasion.  Soli Deo Gloria!

Hearing God Part 1

Hearing God through the Word of God, I believe is the main way God speaks today. But I know of one that many times says, "God said to me..." and so forth, quoting him verbatim just like you would hear a voice as clear as any one's. I know that the Bible says not to compare yourself with other believers and this is unwise (cf. 2 Cor. 10:12), but sometimes it seems like we are missing something or not doing something right. It is obviously no measure of maturity to hear God's voice audibly, I recall the words of John that quoted Jesus as saying, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed ...."  God is impressed with faith, not experience.

Those who have had strange experiences like to brag about them. Col. 2:18 warns against the mysticism of this sort. Many similar cases are mystical or mentally ill, like so many in the asylums who claim to hear "voices."

I guess it could be said, "To whom much is given, much is required." God says, to my heart, "My grace is sufficient for you...." Jack Hayford, a missiologically-oriented teacher (and spiritual warfare specialist to boot) claims to hear from God audibly from time to time.   Soli Deo Gloria!

Voice of God

I think that some Christians are mystical and think they are hearing God when they are mentally ill, or hearing spirits or voices from within, usually medications will relieve this phenomenon. There are some so-called "prophets" who are "in touch" with God in a special way, and to hear from God and can speak "prophetic utterances"; however, this is rare and not the norm.

The normative way for God to speak is through His Word. "In these last days He has spoken to us through His Son" (cf. Hebrews 1:2). Let us not be skeptics, though, and find ourselves opposing God. Even the Pharisees who opposed the apostles said that may be a spirit or an angel had spoken to Paul. Hearing God's voice doesn't necessarily mean superiority, but possibly being a prophet, as David heard God's voice audibly on occasion, but relied on Nathan the prophet.    Soli Deo Gloria!

Introduction to Work Ethics

Jesus said, "I have... [completed] the work you gave me to do..." (cf. John 17:4)--what a sigh of relief that must've been!

Nehemiah said, "For the people had a mind to work." (cf. Neh. 4:6) What is meant by that?

I accepted a job as a file clerk for the VA. Filing used to be my bugaboo! My pet peeve around the office was that I had to do the filing, because I was the low man on the totem pole, as they say!

How God has changed me! Of course, there is extrinsic motivation like more pay and intrinsic motivations like feeling called to do a work for God for His glory. Like Nehemiah felt "inspired" to say, "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down." (When on the wall of Jerusalem which was built in only 52 days.) Zechariah was also an expert on intrinsic motivation, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord Almighty."

You are only inspired as lofty as your insight, e.g., there was the story of the three stone cutters who were working and someone asked them what they were doing. The first one said that he was cutting stones, the second said he was earning 20 pounds an hour, and the third said he was building a cathedral! Obviously the last one had his eyes on the Lord.

Paul urges us to do our work likewise "heartily as unto the Lord." There is no work that is beneath us (remember Christ took up the "order of the towel"), because God is no respecter of persons; and there is no hierarchy in Christianity or class system--we are all brethren in Christ (God has leveled the playing field saying we are all "one in Christ").   Soli Deo Gloria!

Ethics Conclusion

Conclusion:

The Germans have a phrase: "Arbeit Ehrt." That means work brings honor. They also say, "Arbeit Macht das Leben Suss." (Work makes life sweet.) The so-called Protestant work ethic is part of their culture, and even when a strike takes place it is a scandal. Charles Swindoll mentions a sign outside a concentration camp (Dachau) that read "Arbeit Macht Frei" (work makes you free). That was, of course, a lie; meant to make them work all the more.

Brother Lawrence, the famous Catholic, was a cook in a 17th-century French monastery for the Lord, and he sensed God with him in all his daily activity, no matter what he did. The Practice of the Presence of God is a classic on the subject. It isn't so much what we do, but how we do it and whether we do it as unto the Lord and in the name of the Lord (cf. Col. 3:17; Col. 3:23; 1 Cor. 10:31).

There is one solemn warning in Scripture that needs mentioning: "Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord with slackness" (cf. Jer. 48:10). We must take God's work seriously and not be sluggish or slothful. Billy Graham defines sloth as the sin of doing nothing, it is the root of laziness and is one of the seven deadly sins. So let us gladly do whatever the Lord assigns us to do. We don't have to be perfectionists, just show improvement--with God perfection is the standard, but the direction is the test. "Be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect"  (cf. Matt. 5:48).    Soli Deo Gloria!

Ethics Part 3

God does not call us to success but to faithfulness, according to Mother Teresa of Calcutta, now canonized and Nobel Prize winner. Jeremiah 45:5 says: "Do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not." The Bible condemns "selfish ambition" and doesn't condone complacency. Mediocrity is not good! "Good enough for government work" is the wrong attitude. For example, changing tires doesn't define you, but doing a good job does.

Everyone has a niche or a calling from God (cf. John 3:27, NLT), whether homemaker or president and is judged only by his faithfulness to his own calling. It is not for us to compare ministries, or gifts (cf. 2 Cor. 10:12). God is more interested in what we are in a character, not as much as what we do (for a living.) I'm sick of being asked what I do for a living because God has given me a calling that cannot be defined in human terms. Only deeds done to the glory of God in the power of the Holy Spirit are to be rewarded.

Whatever our hands find to do we should do with all our might, the Preacher says in Eccl. 9:10. We should be 'redeeming the time because the days are evil" (i.e., making the most of every opportunity). We are a people created to be "zealous of good works." Col. 1:10 says we should be "bearing fruit in every good work" and thus we "increase in the knowledge of God." We all should hope to find a "labor of love" to complete God's will. We may retire from our jobs, but never from God's service!

Hag. 2:4 says, "Work, for I am with you." God is with us even in our labor--they can become a "labor of love"!    Soli Deo Gloria!

Work Ethics Part 2

The Protestant work ethic has a long history. St. Francis of Assisi was asked that if he were to die in 30 minutes what would he do. He was the gardener in the monastery and said simply, "Finish this row." (He was really ready to die, now wasn't he?)   Work is part of our being in the image and likeness of God. We feel compelled to accomplish something and feel pride in what we do. Work connects us to the world and you might say we are "hard-wired" (according to Chuck Colson) for work. "Lack of stimulating work is debilitating."

During the time of Paul's writing, there were perhaps as many as 60 million slaves in the world and work was considered a curse and only slaves should do manual labor, while the elite philosophizes, etc. Martin Luther brought honor to work by saying that all work can be done to the glory of God. During the formative years of Jamestown in 1607, Captain John Smith quoted Paul in 2 Thess. and said, "If you will [are not willing to] not work, neither shall you eat." You've heard of the 'idle rich," but those who wear themselves out to get rich are just as wrong. Theodore Roosevelt said, "There has never yet been a man who led a life of ease whose name was worth remembering."

Everyone needs a purpose in life higher than himself. As Rick Warren says, "It's not about you." Dr. Carl F. H. Henry said, "We are creatures made for work and not for idleness." A job doesn't necessarily define us, but doing a good job does. I am sure that there is work in Heaven, too. This life is just a "dress rehearsal" for eternity according to Rick Warren, and I believe we are being prepared for something much bigger.  We are striking a note on a chord that will resonate for eternity.  In a sense, our workbench is our altar where we worship God, do all to the glory of God--Soli Deo Gloria!

Freed FromThe Law?

The antinomians (now sometimes called hedonists or libertines) say, "Freed from the Law, Oh blessed condition, now I can sin all I want, and still have remission." This is also called the abuse of grace. Watchman Nee says that God gave us the Law to break, not to keep. Rom 3:20 says that the Law gives the knowledge of sin. Nowhere in the New Testament are righteous people told to keep the Law.

There are several verses that relate to this: Gal. 2:21 says that if righteousness were through the Law, then Christ died in vain. Gal. 3:10 says that those who rely on the Law are under a curse. Heb. 10:1 and Col, 2:17 say that the Law is a shadow of things to come. Rom. 6:14 says that we are not under the Law. Eph. 2:15 says that Christ abolished the Law. Rom. 7:7 and 3:30 say that the Law brings the knowledge of sin.

When we strive to obey the Law we have "fallen from grace." We don't have to become "somewhat Jewish" to become a Christian. Neither justification nor sanctification is through the Law. Instead, we are subject to the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ. Remember: The Pharisees were guilty of just obeying the letter of the Law and not attending to the "spirit of the Law." "As many as are led by the Spirit are not under the Law."   Soli Deo Gloria!

Mountaintop Experiences?

Do all Christians have encounters with God or do all just experience God? The holiness movement was known for believers being "slain in the Spirit," but this is not the norm. Truly, one would not assert the Billy Graham doesn't have the Spirit or doesn't experience God. We are not to compare our gifts or experiences according to 2 Cor. 10:12. No matter how great an experience you have in the Lord, you cannot walk in the "glow" of the encounter for the rest of your life (you will always need spiritual check-ups).

No matter how much surrender you may do, it is still a moment-by-moment and day-by-day experience and discipline. Like Joshua who "wholly followed the Lord." One mental illness is called bipolar affected, or what used to be called manic-depressive. What goes up, must come down! They were known as "moody" persons who were up and down unpredictably. There are some famous people who have this illness, and it can successfully be treated so that it is not as debilitating as it once was. There are some Christians who have had mountaintop experiences that are just labeled as bipolar.

The Spirit is given without measure so one cannot say that he has more of the Spirit; one can say that he is more yielded, though. Not all believers have unusual experiences to increase their faith, but just like Jesus said to Thomas, "Blessed are those who have not seen," so, blessed are those who don't need bizarre experiences to rest their faith on, which is wrong, too. Our faith should always be in Christ and we shouldn't test our doctrines by our experiences, but our experiences on the doctrines of the Bible. In summary, mountaintop experiences are no measure of maturity in Christ according to Oswald Chambers ecstasies are no measure of maturity.

When our faith gets mature God expects us to rely less on feeling, though feeling will be there. The order is FACT, FAITH, FEELING. Faith must have an object to be valid, and feelings may or may not always be there. It is not the amount of faith, but that the faith is genuine and sincere.  A word to the wise:  Obedience, not experience or ecstasy is the measure of maturity and God's favor.    Soli Deo Gloria!