Polar opposites. (I'm begging us all)

sermonindex Dec 10, 2006

I was reading from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 5, where Jairus, the synagogue leader came pleading with Jesus to heal his dying daughter: and within the 26th verse contains the entire Good News of the Kingdom of God:

"Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue, ~~[b]~~[color=CC0000]"Don't be afraid, just believe".[/color][/b]

~~[b]~~[color=330066]That is the Heart and Crux of the Faith RIGHT THERE, its everything that Jesus was about, what He came down to earth for, it is Faith, it is repentance, it is turning from the old way , fear, and turnning to Faith.[/color][/b]

This Most Holy Faith we have is so simple, that it defys all the conventions, all the traditions of man, we scurry back and forth, trying to interpet every minute dot and dash of Scripture, rupturing and dividing, arguing and fussing over doctrine and theology and its contained in that one single verse.

and if you want to call that "easy believe-ism", think again, for all intensive purposes this girl, in human terms WAS dead, so what did the people do when He said she was just asleep:

verse 40a:

~~[b]~~[color=660000]"But they laughed at him."[/color][/b]

They LAUGHED at Him, they did NOT believe Him.

Why do you think that Jesus said that His "yoke is easy and His burden light"?

We get so caught up in bickering and arguing, about "doctrine" and "systematic theology", get so caught up in straining out that gnat, we forget that the Kingdom of God is near, and we divide ourselves into a 100 different denominations, and we get so involved in "culture wars", and we get so involved with pointing a thousand sets of fingers at "them", that we forget that the "them" is really us, we forget that the Message of Jesus is so so simple:

~~[b]~~[color=663333]"Don't be afraid, just believe".[/color][/b]

so simple:

~~[b]~~[color=CC0000]"Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near you".[/color][/b]

Until we become like little children, we will never enter the Kingdom of heaven, and the Church, the Body of Christ, will be hopelessly divided.

Repent means to turn, on an individual level, and as the Body, we've got to turn AWAY from religion, which is just the outward traditions of man, that doesn't only mean the "yeast" of the pharisees. The condition of the pharisees is just the condition of the religious man carried forward to this very day, pointing fingers, condemning and being condemned.

Don't we see this?

Don't worry about "lukewarm", don't worry about "revival" don't worry about "being right", dont worry about "calling out what you see as apostasy", God will take care of all of this:

Don't be afraid, just believe.

Believe on what? you ask.

Believe on Jesus, that He will heal us, and the word "heal", is the same word as "save".

Jesus will save us.

What profit is gained by controversy? What profit is gained by "calling out" those who sully the Faith? by secretly worshipping mammon whilst they proclaim a gospel, that really is no gospel at all, God will take care of them.

I'm not trying to stymy discussion on the issues of the Faith, but for the sake of God, and the Ministry of Jesus, lets pull back, and become like little children and NOT BE AFRAID, just believe.

In closing, I apologize for using a version of the Bible, the NIV, that some have proclaimed as a bastardized version of Scripture. I read the KJV, its just that I'm more conversant in modern English, and I can understand the NIV better, I pray you see fit to give me grace on this issue, and humbly beg your forgiveness on this.

I know we are all just clay vessels, imperfect, flawed and fallen, but I beg you all, please, lets step back from the toxicity of religion, and just believe.

In Jesus' love, neil

M

mamaluk Dec 10, 2006

Praise GOD by reminding me these 5 precious words bright and early this morning.

"Dont be afraid, just believe!"

It is true, life gets complicated as we age, the childlikeness sadly vanishes away..

thx, Neil, the Word of God is praiseworthy isn't It?

C

ChrisJD Dec 10, 2006

Hi everyone.

Brother Neil, I read something here that I appreciate and would like to comment on by sharing a word from the scripture that really stood out to me as speaking to this very subject recently.

Brother Neil asked

What profit is gained by controversy?

I have been reading from the book of Job in the mornings off and on and something I read really stood out to me a few weeks back. It comes from the dialoge between Eliphaz and Job. After listening to his speech, Job replyed to his friend Eliphaz with this statement:

~~[b]~~[color=000000] How forcible are right words![/color][/b]

I can relate to that! Who of us has not been lashed by strong words before?

but then Job asks this sort of rhetorical question

~~[b]~~[color=000000] but what doth your arguing reprove?[/color][/b]

Another translation(RSV) says it this way

~~[b]~~[color=000000]How forceful are honest words! But what does reproof from you reprove? [/color][/b]

Before this, when Eliphaz was speaking he admonished Job that

~~[b]~~[color=000000]...happy is the man whom God correcteth..[/color][/b]

and instructed him to

~~[b]~~[color=000000]...despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty[/color][/b]

Now that seems like wise counsel to me, but Job asked him, that is ~~[i]~~~~[b]~~Eliphaz[/i][/b]

~~[b]~~[color=000000]...what does reproof from ~~[i]~~you[/i] reprove? [/color][/b]

Brothers and sisters, I see in this how we all need to be reminded of our need of correction... not from men, that is, ~~[b]~~of men[/b], but from God...even ~~[i]~~~~[b]~~the Almighty[/b][/i]. This is not to say that men cannot be his instrument. But perhaps we should ask our own selves, ponting a finger at ourselves, saying

~~[b]~~[color=000000]...what does reproof from ~~[i]~~you[/i] reprove? [/color][/b]

Know what I mean?

I hope this is usefull to God and helpfull us all.

Christopher

sermonindex Dec 10, 2006

Praiseworthy indeed....just the simplest of Gospel Godly nuggets we can hang onto.

soooo simple, this Most Holy Faith,

~~[b]~~[color=993300]"Don't be afraid, just believe".[/color][/b]

thats a feast of great proportion, I thank God that you were able to sup of this nugget, as I was.

neil

M

mamaluk Dec 10, 2006

[color=0000CC]Job 32
1So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

2Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.

3Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. [/color]

I guess times have changed from the old days in most of our Christian communities. I think it has to do with the rapid growth of pride,(including mine), is that wherever there is Christian fellowship of any kind, there are multitudes of the 'friends' of Job. Strangely, someone is always out there to correct someone else till no end !! It is down right bizzare!

The problem is, just when we think we are speaking right for God, we are not. Just when we think we are right, we are wrong. When someone shares his/her heart with words of exhortation, why should one quickly get a correction with a disagreement or counter-exhortation? ?? Do we honestly think that we can assume Elihu’s role without at least waiting it out or praying it through? If nothing else, obeying God’s command into exercising charity ??

I see SI as a place where true Christians gather together, supposedly to edify each other ,and ideally to love one another, in hopes to bring glory to our Lord. To enjoy each other in Christ's goodness.

Truly reprove and corrections are necessary, and probably would always come via Scripture, and the convicting power of the Holy Spirit anyways. It will all be so wonderful when I read posts that uplift the Word of God, especially those that manifest It with the true hearts behind them.

In all frankness, I'm blessed whenever I see postings of Scriptures already, it is just so encouraging to be stared at by Scriptures on the computer screen, with or without the opinions around these verses. A few words from God alone speaks louder than any or all of our opinions, presumptions, presuppositions or suppositions. One shouldn't always have the need to jump to correct others?

If we go on SI carrying an intent of always wanting to instruct or correct others, naturally, as brother Neil is trying to 'beg'/exhort us to stop, and point us back to the simplicity of faith and joy of the Lord, we will wind up bickering and dividing amongst the precious Body till no end.

No doubt, unless one posts blatant and overt insults or heresies against God and His Word. All else, perhaps should just be left alone, at best, leave the corrections with the moderators.

ChrisJD, Job is a fantastic Book for us to learn from, re-visiting Elihu's words from the Almighty is indeed sobering, thanks for bringing it up.

[color=0000CC]Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkens unto counsel is wise.

Proverbs 21:2
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD ponders the hearts[/color]

sermonindex Dec 10, 2006

Sister, you wrote:

Job is a fantastic Book for us to learn from,

I'm taking that as a "Word" (Logos), coz I been reading and re-reading the Gospels and Acts over and over again (I'm in Mark right now) and I feel a leading that once I get done with Acts, I go to Job..slowly, carefully, because if you want to talk about one book, thats a mystery wrapped inside an enigma, its Job, and I do believe (correct me iffin I'm wrong), its the only other Book, written by a Gentile, besides Luke/Acts.

Job to me is like a "graduate course" in Jesus, so thanks, appreciate that.

love, neil

M

mamaluk Dec 10, 2006

Oh, the O.T. is filled with gems of God's precepts, God's wisdom, God's heart, yes, our Father's Heart.. enjoy brother..

For a long while, i will meditate on those 5 words you reminded us of all day, no, all my life..

"dont be afraid, just believe"

Hallelujah !!

I

InTheLight Dec 10, 2006

What profit is gained by controversy? What profit is gained by "calling out" those who sully the Faith? by secretly worshipping mammon whilst they proclaim a gospel, that really is no gospel at all, God will take care of them.

I just wanted to bring a little balance to this thought above. I see sentiment here similar to what Gamaliel conveyed to the Sanhedrin, "For if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God" (Acts 5:38-39). The idea is that there is no use fighting against it. But as Oswald Chambers has said, "the Christian standpoint should be one of positive anger when anyone is caused to stumble. To remain indifferent when there is injustice abroad is to come under the curse of Meroz, who "came not to the help of the Lord . . . against the mighty"(Judges 5:23). A conscientious objector is not necessarily a Christian. Conscience is a constituent in a natural man, but a Christian is judged by his personal relationship to God, not by his conscience."

In Christ,

Ron

sermonindex Dec 12, 2006

I understand what you are saying,

I see sentiment here similar to what Gamaliel conveyed to the Sanhedrin.

what do you expect from a Jew saved by Grace?

:-)

Gamaliel was a wise rabbi, and he was proved correct. The Church grew, as it was of God and from God. Messiah had come.

Personally, I am not indifferent (I know you were not implying that)

Its just that I find the Economy of God, much different from the economy of religion, which is no Gospel at all but the same tired traditions of man to attain self justification on what he does or what anger he displays at the falleness and depravity of both the world and both the religious traditions of man.

Its late, so I can't fully unnveil what I mean.

Forgive me, its just that I've grown weary about arguing about the Deep Things of God, and the diviseness INHERENT in religion.

In Jesus there is only unity, because Jesus is love.

neil