The ‘full’ gospel series…

Sometimes it seems that only half of the message is preached. I think it’s because in our human wisdom, sometimes we think that we may alienate someone by telling it like it is. We want to candy coat it, so it’s more palatable. I’m of the belief that God didn’t make a mistake when He provided us with the Word in it’s fullness. For instance:

We’ve all heard that God is good. God is love. God is merciful.

But how about the fear of God? Did that get lost in the translation? The teaching is definitely in both the old and new testaments, and yet you may not hear that preached from the pulpit much. Is that wise…or is that human wisdom getting in the way of God’s wisdom?

Pr 9:10  "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Lu 12:5  But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

Where to draw the line…

1 Peter 4:12 ¶ “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.”

Have you ever been persecuted for who knows what? I mean…it may be public knowledge that you are a Bible believing Christian, but you aren’t the type that is forcing your beliefs on everyone around you. You are just living your life, trying to keep a good attitude, and being the best person you can be. It’s not like you are living in the days of the early church where you could be seen as a threat or heretic to other established belief systems. It’s not like you are a missionary in a foreign land that is known to be hostile toward Christianity. You are in your own backyard, so to speak, a predominantly Christian country. But…the persecution comes and it’s ‘strange’ because it’s hard to identify why you are being persecuted and attacked. Ever been there?

In 2 Timothy 3:12-13 he says: “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” I wonder sometimes about where that persecution comes from. Is it flesh and blood (Eph 6:12) or does satan do the persecuting? Does he take people captive to do his will (2 Tim 2:26)? Apparently so. Is satan persecuting you?

Was Jesus GOD?

  Here is what scripture says:   1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord...