First let me say, "I am NOT a financial consultant". Not every one should consider bankruptcy. It may not be right for everyone and like any other financial plan should be used with extreme caution and you should get financial advise from a certified financial consultant.
With that being said, if you are considering bankruptcy, you should first understand that losing is your first key to learning. If you lost something or someone you need to take a step back and ask yourself what can I learn from this?
We read in the second half of Nehemiah 10:31, "Every seven years we will let our fields rest, and we will cancel all debts." This is where we get today our moden day rules and laws and regulations for today's bankruptcy.
Most Christians feel an overwhelming duty to pay their debts, even if that means sacrificing basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter. To go bankrupt and to be unable to repay what you promised still carries a stigma that has driven many during this current crisis to even commit suicide in an attempt to escape the shame and of course the burden of debt or bankruptcy. Despite our society's current beliefs, make no mistake, the Bible clearly states that although Christians are required to repay their debts, no one is obligated to repay debts if, through no fault of their own, they become bankrupt.
A matter of fact, according to Jewish law, in the Bible it is required that debts be forgiven every 7 years.
Deuteronomy 15:1-2, "At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts. And this is the form of the release: Every creditor who has lent anything to his neighbor shall release it; he shall not require it of his neighbor or his brother, because it is called the Lord's release."
As Christians, there is no shame in releasing debts through bankruptcy if you truly cannot repay them.
Remember, if you do go through such a process there are scriptures to hang onto:
Ecclesiastes 7:14 - In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him."
Is there life after Bankruptcy? Joel 2:25,26 - I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wonderously with you: and my peopl shall never be ashamed."
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Backsliding
I have taken a strong stand on this subject since 1980 when I first began to study the subject. I take a strong stand against the teaching that God’s sovereign will completely overrides man’s free will to accept and serve Him. In view of this, I believe it is possible for a person once saved to turn from God and be lost again. Also known as Backsliding. However, I do not go to the other extreme of teaching that mankind’s choice of receiving or rejecting Christ makes a person totally responsible for his own salvation apart from Christ’s atonement.
My position follows the Assemblies of God bylaws--Article VIII of the Assemblies of God Bylaws opposes unconditional security with the following statement:
Now the Assemblies of God leans toward Arminianism, though it accepts scriptural truth found in both positions. We agree with the Calvinist emphasis on God's sovereignty or supreme power and authority. But they also firmly believe the Arminian emphasis on mankind's free will and responsibility for his actions and choices. I believe the Bible teaches both truths.
"Eternal security," according to Calvinists, means "once saved, always saved." The key passage for this position is John 10:28,29— "No one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand." There is great assurance in this passage and in Romans 8:35,39—"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? . . . Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." I also stand on these wonderful truths knowing we need not fear that something external will overpower us and take away our salvation. Only our willful choices can do that.
But because we are creatures with free wills, we must be vigilantly on guard because the enemy of our soul, the devil, "prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith" (1 Peter 5:8,9). In my own life I have come to believe carelessness can lead to apathy, apathy to neglect, and neglect to a conscious decision to sin. This spiritual decline is known to me as backsliding. I believe one who backslides is in danger of losing his salvation if the individual persists in rejecting the Spirit's call to repentance and restoration.
Luke 8:13 makes clear the fact that believers can lose their salvation. It says some "believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away." Revelation 22:19 says "If anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life, and in the holy city."
Certainly there are true Christians who believe and teach Calvinism; there are also true Christians who believe and teach that men and women have free will. Unfortunately, both sides have spent more time arguing doctrinal terminology and interpretations of theology than reaching out to a lost world. The irony of the disagreement is that Calvinists, who believe in predestination, are sometimes more active in witnessing and evangelism than Arminians who believe that man has a free will and should be encouraged to accept Christ as Savior. God, of course, looks on the heart and the actions rather than on the eloquence with which one defends a position.
Although the Assemblies of God adheres basically to the Arminian position on the spiritual security of the believer, there are extremes and potential abuses which must be avoided. The Christian life is not a roller coaster of Sunday salvation and Monday through Saturday backsliding. On the other hand, no Christian, no matter how spiritual, can claim perfection and sinlessness (1 John 1:8-10; 2:1). Therefore as Christians we must continually come to God sincerely asking His forgiveness for living below the potential He makes possible through the gift of His Holy Spirit.
The truth of God's marvelous and free grace has sadly led some to imagine and indulge in a cheap grace, a grace that covers all sins with no need to live a holy life. Such an attitude is an insult to the great price Christ paid to purchase our salvation. Though we may fail and fall, and sometimes sin, the heart of the true believer always regrets, repents, asks forgiveness, and seeks never to sin that way again. To carelessly participate in sin, expecting to gain forgiveness later, is itself an act of backsliding that will lead ultimately to losing one's salvation. We therefore reject any "once saved, always saved" doctrine that excuses sinful lifestyles.
Once saved can mean forever saved–if one continues in faith, growing in sanctification and holiness day by day. But God will not arbitrarily usurp mankind's free will. Our sovereign God does not overrule free will just to prove He is sovereign. When its all said and done and if you got this far down to the bottom of this blog, it is worthy to note: The gift of choosing releases more ability then the gift of LOVE. For God so loved...but we must choose.
My position follows the Assemblies of God bylaws--Article VIII of the Assemblies of God Bylaws opposes unconditional security with the following statement:
In view of the biblical teaching that the security of the believer depends on a living relationship with Christ (John 15:6); in view of the Bible's call to a life of holiness (1 Peter 1:16; Hebrews 12:14); in view of the clear teaching that a man may have his part taken out of the Book of Life (Revelation 22:19); and in view of the fact that one who believes for a while can fall away (Luke 8:13); The General Council of the Assemblies of God disapproves of the unconditional security position which holds that it is impossible for a person once saved to be lost.
Now it seems complex I know, but it is so important to know that the Christian religious world divides basically into two schools of thought concerning the spiritual destiny of people. One is Calvinism, named after John Calvin (early 16th century); the other is Arminianism, traced back to James Arminius (late 16th century). The theological debate is thus centuries old.
Calvinism teaches (1) the total depravity of man, (2) God's unconditional election (or predestination) of those who will be saved, (3) that Christ died only for the elect, not for every person, (4) that God's saving grace toward the elect cannot be resisted, and (5) that once a person is saved, he can never lose his salvation.
Arminianism teaches something different on each of these points: (1) Though born a sinner, mankind is given a spark of divine grace that enables him to respond positively to God. (2) God does not arbitrarily consign some people to eternal damnation; their willful rejection of God’s salvation makes them responsible. (3) Christ died for every person, even though some refuse to accept the provision for their salvation (4) No person is forced against his or her will to become a Christian. (5) One’s salvation can be lost through willful disobedience. Rather than the unconditional predestination of Calvinism, Arminianism teaches conditional predestination. We are predestined to eternal life if we accept God’s provision of salvation.
Now the Assemblies of God leans toward Arminianism, though it accepts scriptural truth found in both positions. We agree with the Calvinist emphasis on God's sovereignty or supreme power and authority. But they also firmly believe the Arminian emphasis on mankind's free will and responsibility for his actions and choices. I believe the Bible teaches both truths.
"Eternal security," according to Calvinists, means "once saved, always saved." The key passage for this position is John 10:28,29— "No one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand." There is great assurance in this passage and in Romans 8:35,39—"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? . . . Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." I also stand on these wonderful truths knowing we need not fear that something external will overpower us and take away our salvation. Only our willful choices can do that.
But because we are creatures with free wills, we must be vigilantly on guard because the enemy of our soul, the devil, "prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith" (1 Peter 5:8,9). In my own life I have come to believe carelessness can lead to apathy, apathy to neglect, and neglect to a conscious decision to sin. This spiritual decline is known to me as backsliding. I believe one who backslides is in danger of losing his salvation if the individual persists in rejecting the Spirit's call to repentance and restoration.
Luke 8:13 makes clear the fact that believers can lose their salvation. It says some "believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away." Revelation 22:19 says "If anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life, and in the holy city."
Certainly there are true Christians who believe and teach Calvinism; there are also true Christians who believe and teach that men and women have free will. Unfortunately, both sides have spent more time arguing doctrinal terminology and interpretations of theology than reaching out to a lost world. The irony of the disagreement is that Calvinists, who believe in predestination, are sometimes more active in witnessing and evangelism than Arminians who believe that man has a free will and should be encouraged to accept Christ as Savior. God, of course, looks on the heart and the actions rather than on the eloquence with which one defends a position.
Although the Assemblies of God adheres basically to the Arminian position on the spiritual security of the believer, there are extremes and potential abuses which must be avoided. The Christian life is not a roller coaster of Sunday salvation and Monday through Saturday backsliding. On the other hand, no Christian, no matter how spiritual, can claim perfection and sinlessness (1 John 1:8-10; 2:1). Therefore as Christians we must continually come to God sincerely asking His forgiveness for living below the potential He makes possible through the gift of His Holy Spirit.
The truth of God's marvelous and free grace has sadly led some to imagine and indulge in a cheap grace, a grace that covers all sins with no need to live a holy life. Such an attitude is an insult to the great price Christ paid to purchase our salvation. Though we may fail and fall, and sometimes sin, the heart of the true believer always regrets, repents, asks forgiveness, and seeks never to sin that way again. To carelessly participate in sin, expecting to gain forgiveness later, is itself an act of backsliding that will lead ultimately to losing one's salvation. We therefore reject any "once saved, always saved" doctrine that excuses sinful lifestyles.
Once saved can mean forever saved–if one continues in faith, growing in sanctification and holiness day by day. But God will not arbitrarily usurp mankind's free will. Our sovereign God does not overrule free will just to prove He is sovereign. When its all said and done and if you got this far down to the bottom of this blog, it is worthy to note: The gift of choosing releases more ability then the gift of LOVE. For God so loved...but we must choose.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Authority
The greatest teachers teach by example. Jesus did not just teach from a position of authority because he was the son of God. He wanted to teach you how to operate in brother authority. In other words, Jesus is our brother and we operate in the authority that our elder brother shows us. Matthew 7:29 says "For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." The scribes were so intent on getting every word correct that they left out authority.
Now it is important for us to understand there is a difference between power and authority. Authority is the badge, power is the gun when we see a policeman. The gun is power but the badge on his or her uniform is enough authority of the whole state or county to stop a moving vehicle when their hand is raise out to say STOP!
Now.."Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth." Matthew 28:18 Jesus has given us His power but He has release His authority to us as believers too.
Luke 9:1,2 says that He called His twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And He sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick." It did not just stop at 12 it went to 60 then 120 and now to us! His vision and release of power and authority is within us now.
God given authority is awesome to think about but it is important to know that if we cannot submit to earthly authority here in the now, how in the world can you submit to God's authority? And if you cannot submit to HIS authority, how can you operate or exercise in it? At a young age we should obey our parents. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right." Ephesians 6:1
It is also important to submit ourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:" I Peter 2:12,15
Likewise ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. I Peter 5:5
Once someone said, "The proof of Legitimate Authority is provision, protection and promotion."
Now sometimes it will seem odd when God asks you to walk in authority. Even in Jesus day it seemed odd to some why he cursed the fig tree. Matthew 21:18,19. Some critical writers feel that Jesus' cursing the tree is out of character. Their rationale is: "Jesus went about doing good. Why does He now reverse course and start cursing instead of blessing?
The economics of God are different from the world's economics. All living organisms function to produce abundance and reproduce. That's why the DE-GENERATE behavior of homosexuality is not only a sin to God but an abomination to God. Everything God created was created to produce abundance and reproduce. This tree was occupying space in an already crowded world. It's roots were taking valuable nutrients out of the soil. Its branches were soaking up sunshine. Its leaves were drinking in the valuable rain water. The tree was TAKING and not giving! Sound familiar? It was serving no purpose, yet was draining resources. So the creator removed it with AUTHORITY by speaking to it harshly.
Whats taking up valuable space in your life because of a lack of authority in your own life? Fear, poverty, insecurity, bodily infirmities? Anything taking up your time, space or energy without producing positive results should be removed from our lives. It will only be removed when you learn to walk in God given authority.
Now it is important for us to understand there is a difference between power and authority. Authority is the badge, power is the gun when we see a policeman. The gun is power but the badge on his or her uniform is enough authority of the whole state or county to stop a moving vehicle when their hand is raise out to say STOP!
Now.."Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth." Matthew 28:18 Jesus has given us His power but He has release His authority to us as believers too.
Luke 9:1,2 says that He called His twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And He sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick." It did not just stop at 12 it went to 60 then 120 and now to us! His vision and release of power and authority is within us now.
God given authority is awesome to think about but it is important to know that if we cannot submit to earthly authority here in the now, how in the world can you submit to God's authority? And if you cannot submit to HIS authority, how can you operate or exercise in it? At a young age we should obey our parents. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right." Ephesians 6:1
It is also important to submit ourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:" I Peter 2:12,15
Likewise ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. I Peter 5:5
Once someone said, "The proof of Legitimate Authority is provision, protection and promotion."
Now sometimes it will seem odd when God asks you to walk in authority. Even in Jesus day it seemed odd to some why he cursed the fig tree. Matthew 21:18,19. Some critical writers feel that Jesus' cursing the tree is out of character. Their rationale is: "Jesus went about doing good. Why does He now reverse course and start cursing instead of blessing?
The economics of God are different from the world's economics. All living organisms function to produce abundance and reproduce. That's why the DE-GENERATE behavior of homosexuality is not only a sin to God but an abomination to God. Everything God created was created to produce abundance and reproduce. This tree was occupying space in an already crowded world. It's roots were taking valuable nutrients out of the soil. Its branches were soaking up sunshine. Its leaves were drinking in the valuable rain water. The tree was TAKING and not giving! Sound familiar? It was serving no purpose, yet was draining resources. So the creator removed it with AUTHORITY by speaking to it harshly.
Whats taking up valuable space in your life because of a lack of authority in your own life? Fear, poverty, insecurity, bodily infirmities? Anything taking up your time, space or energy without producing positive results should be removed from our lives. It will only be removed when you learn to walk in God given authority.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Attitudes - expecting less from people more from God.
Your attitude towards God and God's business directly effects your attitude towards people. Someone once said, Attitude determines our altitude. Although it would be correct to say that when flying and aircraft, it is also correct to say that in our personal lives.
Have you ever asked God to help you correct your attitude? I have. I have often been obedient but not willing. I have at times done things in obedience to God's word but my attitude was not willing. Is 1:19 says that the willing AND the obedient shall eat the good of the land. Just because you were obedient doesnt qualify you to enjoy the blessings. No, you have to be willing too.
I heard a motivational speaker once say, "The attitude of the servant controls the atmosphere of the Palace." I always thought that was a powerful statement.
In the book of Daniel we read (Daniel 6:3) "Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set hiim over the whole realm." Promotion comes because and excellent spirit created an attitude that is worth promoting.
Someone is looking for a good attitude to promote. Could it be yours. Sometimes we get synical towards life and the let downs that occur. Watch your thoughts and your behaviors and your attitudes towards life and learn that by keeping a good attitude, you will be empowered to minister to GOD.
Hannah of the Bible had a very important prayer. Hannah was a barren woman in a time when not only the wife's worth, but the husband’s esteem was measured by how many sons they had. She was the wife of Elkanah, a man who had two wives.
Because Hannah was barren, he took a second wife, Peninnah, who bore four sons. Hannah was treated contemptuously by Penninah because of her barrenness. Penninah jeered and mocked Hannah relentlessly until Hannah could not even eat. It was not long before Hannah became, in her own words, bitter of soul. But she believed God answered fervent prayer! So in I Samuel 1:10-11 we read her prayer:
In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."
Sure enough, that night God "remembered Hannah"! (1 Samuel 19-20)
Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her.
So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, [literally "heard by God"] saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him."
Now Hannah had promised God that if He would give her a son, she would give the son back to God. By this she meant when the son was weaned at the age of three, she would make the long journey back to the Temple and leave her son with Eli, the Priest.
As one author had said, "why a mother who was so grateful for the one son she had would be willing to leave him with Eli the Priest"? As you dig deeper into the unhealthy family, we could say she was wise. She knew her son would be better off serving the Priest than he would be fighting off his half-brothers who would treat him as their own mother had treated Hannah.
The big day comes, and Hannah and three-year-old Samuel make the long walking journey to the Temple. She leaves her precious son with a the man of God (who had two evil sons who Hannah probably was unaware of). Really, Samuel was probably left in an even more sinful environment than the home into which he was born. And instead of crying, Hannah prayed a prayer of rejoicing. I want to show you a small part of her prayer, taken from 1 Samuel 2.
Then Hannah prayed and said:
"My heart rejoices in the LORD;
in the LORD my horn [strength] is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.
"There is no one holy like the LORD;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God."
I'm wonder what your attitude and my attitude would be if we left our only son behind?
So determine to begin your prayer with praise. Who is God? Why is He worthy to be praised? Next comes gratitude. What are at least three things for which I am grateful today? Next comes my petition. What exactly was I asking God to do? And finally, thanks for God's faithfulness to His Word and to me.
Something begins to happen in your attitude when you pray like this. You will find yourself being more positive in your thoughts, actions, and words.
Have you ever asked God to help you correct your attitude? I have. I have often been obedient but not willing. I have at times done things in obedience to God's word but my attitude was not willing. Is 1:19 says that the willing AND the obedient shall eat the good of the land. Just because you were obedient doesnt qualify you to enjoy the blessings. No, you have to be willing too.
I heard a motivational speaker once say, "The attitude of the servant controls the atmosphere of the Palace." I always thought that was a powerful statement.
In the book of Daniel we read (Daniel 6:3) "Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set hiim over the whole realm." Promotion comes because and excellent spirit created an attitude that is worth promoting.
Someone is looking for a good attitude to promote. Could it be yours. Sometimes we get synical towards life and the let downs that occur. Watch your thoughts and your behaviors and your attitudes towards life and learn that by keeping a good attitude, you will be empowered to minister to GOD.
Hannah of the Bible had a very important prayer. Hannah was a barren woman in a time when not only the wife's worth, but the husband’s esteem was measured by how many sons they had. She was the wife of Elkanah, a man who had two wives.
Because Hannah was barren, he took a second wife, Peninnah, who bore four sons. Hannah was treated contemptuously by Penninah because of her barrenness. Penninah jeered and mocked Hannah relentlessly until Hannah could not even eat. It was not long before Hannah became, in her own words, bitter of soul. But she believed God answered fervent prayer! So in I Samuel 1:10-11 we read her prayer:
In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."
Sure enough, that night God "remembered Hannah"! (1 Samuel 19-20)
Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her.
So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, [literally "heard by God"] saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him."
Now Hannah had promised God that if He would give her a son, she would give the son back to God. By this she meant when the son was weaned at the age of three, she would make the long journey back to the Temple and leave her son with Eli, the Priest.
As one author had said, "why a mother who was so grateful for the one son she had would be willing to leave him with Eli the Priest"? As you dig deeper into the unhealthy family, we could say she was wise. She knew her son would be better off serving the Priest than he would be fighting off his half-brothers who would treat him as their own mother had treated Hannah.
The big day comes, and Hannah and three-year-old Samuel make the long walking journey to the Temple. She leaves her precious son with a the man of God (who had two evil sons who Hannah probably was unaware of). Really, Samuel was probably left in an even more sinful environment than the home into which he was born. And instead of crying, Hannah prayed a prayer of rejoicing. I want to show you a small part of her prayer, taken from 1 Samuel 2.
Then Hannah prayed and said:
"My heart rejoices in the LORD;
in the LORD my horn [strength] is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.
"There is no one holy like the LORD;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God."
I'm wonder what your attitude and my attitude would be if we left our only son behind?
So determine to begin your prayer with praise. Who is God? Why is He worthy to be praised? Next comes gratitude. What are at least three things for which I am grateful today? Next comes my petition. What exactly was I asking God to do? And finally, thanks for God's faithfulness to His Word and to me.
Something begins to happen in your attitude when you pray like this. You will find yourself being more positive in your thoughts, actions, and words.
You will expect less of people and more of God.It was similar to a reformatting of a computer's hard drive: negative out, positive in! An added bonus is that it makes you more hungry for God's word and all HIS attributes!
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