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Technical Briefs & Biblical BloggingDennis Hill (86)    Dennis Hill    Sagacity LLC & Boundless Partners, Inc. Where is Your Head?Posted Tuesday, April 22, 2008 (1 year 214 days ago.) Viewed 33 times. In recent decades much has been made among Christians about leadership. Unlike the Jews portrayed in the Gospels who claimed no other king than Caesar, believers have accepted the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ. Then why so many books written, conferences held, and a variety of structures implemented on leadership? The Bible makes God's intentions and direction quite clear – He is to be our God and Ruler of all. That Christ is to be our Head is explicitly declared, and as we're instructed by the Spirit-led reading of His Word, we are expected to respond in obedient submission. Fundamentally, it is His mind which we are to "put on" daily, and wondrously, we observe the grand diversity of God in the diversity of His flock in Christian worship, fellowship and service rendered by His beloved. Many of those who receive this newsletter have been found guilty of crimes because of their covetous desire for power and control over others. Some sought (and continue to seek) a personal need for approval from those whom they regard with respect and authority. The Biblical fact remains that those who are alive in Christ are already approved by God and are exhorted to stand on the ground-work laid alone by Christ (! Cor 3:10-ff). He has provided and preserved an inerrant, infallible, direct communication to the believer in the Scriptures, and we are encouraged to seek His truths therein, even confirming in the Word what we're taught and preached by men raised by Him. So what's a disciple of Christ to do individually? (1) Read the Bible as much as possible…don't skimp – feast on the Word. (2) If he doesn't understand or get the point of certain Scripture, pray for wisdom and guidance from the Lord… (3) And if he still doesn't get it, move on and rest in the Lord, waiting on Him and His timing to dispense the wisdom and understanding sought in that particular verse – press on. Now, some identify from Scripture the corporate relationship as a place where people come together in bible study, fellowship and worship. This is true and soundly patterned in Acts 2:42. However, one whose head is Christ decides whether to put on His mind or continue in his own way or in that of another person. On this last point, one must never surrender headship to another person, despite their charisma or Bible knowledge? The wisdom of God is first pure (James 3:15) and directly imparted by the Holy Spirit to the believer. It is the Holy Spirit who teaches all things freely given by God (1 Cor 2:12-13). The Lord, Himself, declared the veracity of His Word and who would impart it to us…it is none other than the Holy Spirit through the Scriptures. ?25?These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. ?26? But ?the ?Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will ?send in My name, ?He will teach you all things, and bring to your ?remembrance all things that I said to you.1 And what about the record of the Lord's teaching for our remembrance? Where is that contained, but in none other than the Holy Bible? As He appeared to the men on the road to Emmaus, the Lord is reported in Luke's Gospel as having related the Scriptures to Him… ?27?And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. 2 All Scriptures concern the Lord Jesus Christ – Old and New Testament. As a blessing, the Word of God penetrates man's humanity and stirs his heart, as these Emmaus-bound travelers confirmed later in the same account… ?32?And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" 3 Reading the Word is not merely an intellectual exercise or investigation - the Word is of God - His personal communication, plain and simple. God has promised us a Helper who teaches us all things, and the God raises some to be instruments of His divine will… 11? And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ?12? for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, ??for the ?edifying (building up) of ?the body of Christ, ?13? till we all come to the unity of the faith ??and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to ?a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; ?14? that we should no longer be ?children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of ?deceitful plotting, ?15? but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ- ?16? ?from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.4 Too many so-called "leaders" in churches insist on substituting themselves as a temporal or local "head" for believers, hanging their credibility on extra-biblical requirements and even man-made credentials, such as theology degrees and seminary training. While some well-intentioned people have developed these systems to prevent false teaching, mankind's corrupt nature and inclination to synthesize or add-to God's plan (and Scriptures) has prevented some godly men from being formally recognized. Nonetheless, God's will is not thwarted since the sheep hear His voice. Much to the envy of some in authority, these men raised by God and not recognized by men are well-used of God – some are forced to go underground like in oppressive countries, or God makes a way as well-lit as a runway for them to deliver the Gospel. While such persecution has no place in the body of Christ, it is evident in the temporal churches of men. The church, established in Acts 1:8 really did not comply with the directive to take the Gospel to the whole realm until Acts 8:1 when it was persecuted and dispersed. We should not forget that the Jews who declared Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah were among fellow Jews, and today – unlike the militant period of the Reformation - we see divisions and splits among brethren over nothing more than politics and personalities. But it is in unity in Christ that we come together. When men operate outside the Bible and reject the leading of the Holy Spirit, instead basing their actions on the way one's father may have done things, or doing things the way other local churches or denominations do things, or perhaps even the way they, as a local body, have done things historically, running on automatic and not examining their actions and standing on the Word of God in each case, then the result of such man-made, extra-Biblical, albeit expedient processes are often man-made results. Ultimately, the lamp light dims, sin rises and becomes open, and the fellowship breaks-down into cliques and divisions. God's Word declares the individual is better off trusting in the Lord than in men and princes (Psalm 118:8-9). All pointing the believer to trust in the Lord, the purpose of local assembly is contained in Acts 2:42, ?42?And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' ??doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 5 First note the order of these – the first being steadfast in the apostles' doctrine or put another way, studying the Word of God – the Old and New Testaments. Sadly, we find entire families attending church cook-outs and movie nights who rarely, if ever, attend Bible studies. Even sadder are those meetings which are labeled as Bible Study, but in actuality study uninspired books and commentaries, histories and analyses about the Bible, often excluding the examination of God's Word directly – chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse. Such teaching discounts the "whole counsel of God" as declared in the Scriptures (Acts 20:27) and suggests the uninspired works of men are somehow on the same level of authority as the Scriptures. We ought to remember that God's communications are worthy of our trust. Believers develop a discernment of God's Word from that of men by being immersed in God's Word. Moreover, many believers today abdicate their responsibility in developing a personal relationship with the Lord by avoiding personal study in His Word. They choose to go to church each week to listen to eloquent speakers who drop this name and that name, quote this commentary or that encyclopedia. They are mere scribes, repeating what God led others to write when they themselves may not even believe in what they are saying. Recall that the scribes by the time of the Lord's own ministry on the earth had degenerated into a class of religionists devoid of authority (Matthew 7:28-29). Men – even good and godly men – must never replace the headship of Christ in the believer's life. Likewise, such men must never substitute a work of man for the Word of God. The Jews of two thousand years ago, the Apple of God's Eye, were the first to receive God's offer of salvation, yet they rejected Him. Today, the same diseases of rejecting the headship of Christ, placing man's works on par with Scriptural authority, and ignoring the promise and blessings associated with instruction through God's Word by the Holy Spirit are leading many down the road to perdition…as Peter warns… 14? Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent ?to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; ?15? and consider that ?the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation-as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, ?16? as also in all his ?epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 17? You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; ?18? but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 6 The Scriptures – the words of God - empower and refresh while the words of men enslave. Meanwhile, be encouraged by the fact that God is in control and makes all things work for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Read the Bible – pray for wisdom and understanding – and wait patiently on the Lord for His goodness and timing if you don't "get it" right away. He is with you always! (Matthew 28:20) Trust in Him to complete what He has started in you (Phil 1:6). Make Him your head daily. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 7 For further reading and meditation: Ezekiel 34 2 Corinthians 9:8, Hebrews 13:20-21 1 John 14:25-26. 2 Luke 24:26-27. 3 Luke 24:32. 4 Ephesians 4:11-16. 5 Acts 2:42 6 2 Peter 3:14-18. 7 1 John 4:6. Boundless Partners PO Box 04084 Milwaukee WI 53204-0084 ©2008 Boundless Partners. All Rights Reserved. 
Permalink Comments (0) Called to Repent, Called to ChangePosted Tuesday, October 02, 2007 (2 years 52 days ago.) Viewed 138 times. One of the great truths of Scripture is our being called to repent. The word, itself, is offensive to our senses because it asserts that our ways are incorrect in the eyes of God. And so they are… Luke 5:30-33 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" 31 And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." 33 And they said to him, "The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink." In these few verses the Word of God contrasts the emphasis on outward piety by those who are self-righteous, while at the same time makes the distinction of our Lord’s purpose and mission, the very Gospel available to the repentant sinner. In recognizing that our human nature is utterly corrupt and deceitful, we are brought to our knees seeking mercy and forgiveness. The repentant sinner joins in the chorus of many who, with Job, exclaims to Yahweh: Job 42:5-6 5 I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You; 6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes." God echoed this call to change through the Prophet Ezekiel: Ezekiel 14:6 6 "Therefore say to the house of And like the days of Jeremiah, when men showed their contempt for the Unseen God of Heaven, there are many today who continue in their sinful ways, rather than turn toward the Lord’s way: Jeremiah 5:2-5 2 Though they say, "As the LORD lives," yet they swear falsely. 3 O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You have struck them down, but they felt no anguish; You have consumed them, but they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to repent. 4 Then I said, "These are only the poor; they have no sense; for they do not know the way of the LORD, the justice of their God. 5 I will go to the great and will speak to them, for they know the way of the LORD, the justice of their God." But they all alike had broken the yoke; they had burst the bonds. There are thousands sitting in churches today believing that they are saved, but they fail to know from what since they never reckoned what they truly are and the extent of God’s love which redeemed them – the life of Christ. Their lives are marked by the same deeds and lack of compassion for others as before, having repented from nothing more than a bad conscience, a numbing sense of religion, or a lack of self-esteem. These days are filled with feel-good messages and cotton-candy Christianity proclaiming a white-washed salvation apart from the death we each deserve and which Jesus Christ bore upon Himself, alone! We should make no mistake about it – faith without repentance at the foot of the cross is a false doctrine and counterfeit. The Apostles taught the need for repentance as a crucial component of receiving the True Gospel… Acts 3:18-21 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. The key phrase is apparent – “the Christ appointed for you, Jesus.” Counterfeit Jesus is preached openly today to tens of thousands in stadiums and on television stations with the purpose of making the undiscerning or unlearned find rest in themselves. Under such delusion, many find comfort in knowing that their words and deeds couched in Christian terms somehow justify their behavior as worshipful, even projecting the “love of Christ.” But beyond the thin sugar-coating, the object of their worship remains themselves and the work they do in their own strength to attain peace.
Paul notes the call to repentance as a distinctive aspect of his evangelism, manifesting a new reality in the deeds of the faithful:
Acts 26:19-20 19 "Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. As in the Old Testament and Apostolic eras, the false gospels preached today are characteristically devoid of repentance, and subsequently bloodless. We cannot save ourselves by our own sweat or blood or tears; therefore, the gospel of good works to overcome our evil tendencies is neither true nor liberating. Likewise, the gospel of faith in any manner of God apart from the shedding blood of Christ is equally false and deficient. The Christian assemblies addressed in Revelation Chapters 2 and 3 draw the apostates to focus on repentance:
Thyatira Revelation 2:21-23 1 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead.
Only
The Gospel is very good news for those who come to the Lord, Jesus Christ, humbly dressed in filthy rags, but the season nears which will witness His return (read Matthew 24) and time is ever-shortening…put yourself in the position of Joshua as envisioned by Zechariah:
Zechariah 3:3-4 3 Now Joshua was standing before the Angel, clothed with filthy garments. 4 And the angel said to those who were standing before Him, "Remove the filthy garments from him." And to him He said, "Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments."
God has done the work, as Isaiah also proclaims:
Isaiah 26:12 12 O LORD, you will ordain peace for us; you have done for us all our works. What a contrast between our efforts and those of a loving God on our behalf, having provided the narrow path to salvation for all who would hear:
Our Works Isaiah 59:6 Their works are works of iniquity, and deeds of violence are in their hands.
God’s Works Psalm 139:14 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
The Gospel is about the perfect work of God in Christ, Whose blood was shed for each and every sinner so that all could come to salvation.
Ephesians 1:7 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace…
Ephesians 2:13 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Let us determine our limits and limitations, trusting in the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and not in ourselves. In these last few passages to the Ephesians from Paul, we see a few decades later the criticism through John’s Revelation to the same body of believers.
For in our Lord, admitting our deficiencies and short-comings, we are called to repent, turning away from our way of doing things to a better way, the way God originally intended and presented for all time in His wonderful Living Word.
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