Sin In Lives Around Us

When someone we love falls into a sin that is destroying your life, theirs and all that around you what should you do? We seem to take the wrong approach on it.

One of the first things we do is rationalize it. We find every way to justify it in our mind. We will say oh well its not that bad or it is not as bad as it can get so I can take more of it. Doing that is wrong, it is allowing sin to continue without correction or consequences. Christ never rationalized sin and neither should we.

After things don’t change at all we get tired of what is happening and consider giving up. We say they are hopeless or that things will never be the same. What we are doing by this is failing to have faith that God can work in that persons life in this area. When God looks at us he sees someone who is full of hope.

Things that change fast usually don’t last. When we see some change we get hope and tend to think “its all better now”. If it changed so quickly then how do you know it is genuine? People can put on an act for a time but all things will be exposed one day. Time will test to see if it is the real thing or not. However when we see something we should not just ignore it. We should look for the good things about it. Then watch to see if it is a lasting result or not. Are there more results than just one? Step back and observe. Find out what other people see, are they seeing the same thing as you? That does not mean tell them what you see then ask what they see

Don’t just run from every trial that comes your way. Some things that can encourage you are as follows. When you are doing good for the Kingdom of God the evil one will fight you. Trials make you stronger. When you stop and think trials are good. We should be thanking God for the because they glorify Him no matter the outcome.

Don’t focus on the past. When you focus on the past you cant see where you are headed. Think of it like this. If you were to get in your car and start driving down the road with traffic and decided to keeping going forward but you decided that you should only look in the rearview mirror. You would hit all sorts of things without even realize that is what you were going to do. It causes a mess for all those around you. Look forward and keep your focus on the good not on the bad. If you focus on the bad you will end up just seeing what you want to see and miss the great gift of live you have been given. You should want to see the most and take it all in. when you go on a trip do you just stay in the hotel the whole time? Of course not you get out and see as much things as possible. Life in general should be the same way.

Something else that we should be doing is not focusing on other peoples wrongs. You have more than enough wrongs in your life that you should not be worried with other peoples. Work on your own more than those around you. If all you do is work on others what will you have to show at the end of life? Your life will still be a mess but others will have been a little better. You need to keep an eye on your life first.

Remember we are fallen beings. Our tendency is to do whatever it takes to escape painful or trying circumstances, to fix our problems and direct our lives as we see fit. As we see fit is not as God sees fit most of the time.

I hope this got you thinking.

A Hidden Immorality

This is a touchy subject. I see this topic avoided by many Christians. What are people afraid of? It seems like there are a few types of sins that Christians are not willing to discuss. All sins need to be talked about and shown for what they really are. Some seem to be harder to break than others.

These are some thoughts that were somewhat inspired by something that I read. It seems to be a major issue for people to break sexual immorality. Here are some things that have helped many people. They will not work free of the others. They are not listed in a more important to least. These are some ideas. Maybe they will help you or someone that you know.

1. Make a commitment to God. Don’t make the commitment for your own selfish purposes. Do it for the purpose of, I want to live for God.

2. Get help. Use a program, something to help guide you. Accountability partner.

3. Stop lusting. Appreciate the beauty that God created. Don’t let your mind wonder where it needs not to go.

4. Limit yourself from going after pleasure.

5. Read the Bible. You don’t have to pick up the Bible everyday. Starting with A devotional book and you will eventually start going after the Word. Saturate yourself in the Word. Preferably daily.

6. Don’t feel shame if you fail. The devil wants you to feel bad. Instead, turn to God and read His good Word. There’s a lot of love to be had in Christ. His love is real. It’s out there but you have to reach out to Him.

7. Be more loving. Really devote yourself to God and loving others. Smile more, do random acts of kindness.

8. Replace bad habits with good ones. If you start going down the old path stop and do something productive. Getting into the Word is very helpful.

9. At the end of the night be greatful of what God has given you.

A sin that is not taken care of in your life will destroy your Christian walk and keep you from growth in Christ. You may think that a sin has you completely and that you cannot get out of its grasps. That is wrong, the Bible says:

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians. 10:13

You can escape the grasps of the sin. God will help you but you must want the help and be willing to do whatever the cost is to remove the sin from your life.

We should want God the “potter” to mold us into what He wants us to be. It will hurt, it will cause discomfort, we may seem to miss out on the “fun” that others have. We should be satisfied in the Lord and the work He has done and will do in our lives.

Focus on Christ and be willing to go where He leads you. The more you saturate yourself in the Word the more you are going to be focused on what is good for eternity and glorifying Christ and not yourself or how people perceive you.

You can see this post on knowing the will of God in your life. http://levithoughts.blogspot.com/2010/02/will-of-god.html

The Will Of God

We have asked what the will of God is many times but it seems like we all seem to think it is hidden. It is in plain sight but we don’t look for it.

This is inspired by a sermon that I listened to by John MacArthur.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. 1 John 2:17

The word “will” in this verse is the Greek word “Thelema” is best translated into English as what God wishes to be done by us (commands). The will of God is to do what he commands and that is what the six points that are listed below are.

1. God’s will is that you be Saved.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

1 Timothy 2: 3-4

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

The word “willing” in this verse is the Greek word “Boulomai” it is best translated into English as to desire. Keep in mind that not everything that is desired by God does not come to pass. If anything that God desired were to come to pass than there would be no need for hell.

God’s will starts with you being Saved from eternal damnation.

1. God’s will is that you be Spirit Filled

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Ephesians 5:17-21

Being Drunk with wine/ alcohol is equated with lose of reason. It is letting an object control your life rather than an All-knowing Being. Spirit Filled would be being guided by the Holy Spirit. It does not say let the Holy Spirit fill part of your life. It says be completely filled (controlled) by the Holy Spirit.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.

Romans 8:9

When Spirit Filled you are lost in the Wonder, Love, Praise, dominated in Worship, Thankful, and Subject to one another in Christ.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

Ephesians 6:1-9

A Spirit Filled child honors his/ her parents.

A Spirit Filled parent does not provoke his/ her children to anger.

A Spirit Filled slave, servant, or employee is obedient to his master/ boss as if unto Christ.

A Spirit Filled master/ boss will do things to the people under him to Honor the Master (God)

Colossians 3:16-23 and 4:1 have the same exact results of being Spirit Filled only saying it when you are filled with the Word of God.

The Spirit controls us when we are saturated in the Truth.

If you don’t know God’s will you are foolish.

1. God’s will is that you be Sanctified (Separated from sin)

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor;

Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8

We cannot do the will of God when we are not separated from sin.

It’s not about your lusts (will) but the will of God.

4. God’s will is that you be Submissive.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7

Submit to One Another

Submit to Church leadership

Submit to Government

Women Submit to your husbands

5. God’s will is that you Suffer. (Suffer for doing right)

For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

1 Peter 3:17- 18

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

1 Peter 4:19

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

2 Timothy 3:12

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James 1:2-4

Suffering is what perfects you in Christ.

6. God’s will is that you Say Thanks.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

James 1:2-4 could be listed here also.

Conclusion

If you are all six of the things that are God’s will for you. Do whatever you want. If you are all six of them the Spirit is controlling you and you will be doing the will of God.

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Psalm 37:4

God will plant His desires in your heart. Doing the six things is delighting yourself in God.

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Psalm 37:5

If you commit to Him He will do His will in you.

Apple’s New iPad, and My Thoughts…

So Apple officially released the iPad today. People have been speculating about the iPad for a long time. People have speculated everything from the name to the OS. I have been following it fairly closely because I am starting to be in the market for a new mobile computer and have been looking into options.

Lets look at the specs of the iPad. (Taken from apple.com)

Size and weight

Height:

9.56 inches (242.8 mm)

Width:

7.47 inches (189.7 mm)

Depth

0.5 inch (13.4 mm)

Weight

1.5 pounds (.68 kg) Wi-Fi model;

1.6 pounds (.73 kg) Wi-Fi + 3G model

Display

9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology

1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi)

Capacity

16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive

Processor

1GHz Apple A4 custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip

Wireless and Cellular

Wi-Fi model

Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n)

Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology

Wi-Fi + 3G model

UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)

GSM/EDGE (850, 900,1800, 1900 MHz)

Data only

Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n)

Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology

Battery and Power

Built-in 25Whr rechargeable lithium-polymer battery

Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music

Charging via power adapter or USB to computer system

When reading the Specs It sounds like a great device. I like the general idea of it but there are a few things that will keep me from spending my money on it.

As you look at the iPad it looks like a giant iTouch. Which when it comes down to it that is really what it is. From what I gather they took where the iPhone and iTouch fails on being so small and where the Mac Books fail and went to a middle place. They took some great ideas and I think messed it up. It is running about the same OS as the iPhone OS, which limits you, so much on you on your computing power. The iPhone OS will no let you run multiple programs at once. If I wanted to just run one program at a time I would stay with the iPhone or iTouch.

They did come out with some cool software just for the iPad.

The iBookstore is a great idea but I think Apple is getting into the e-readers a little late. It is a great idea but only will do well for those who have yet to buy an e-reader.

The iWork for the iPad is great. iWork is basically just Microsoft Office for Mac. They did a good job on the pricing of it. They are charging $9.99 each part of the iWork suite. Why buy the whole thing when you wont use the whole thing.

Another issue that Apple has with the iPad but not limited to the iPad but also to the iPhone and iTouch is that they don’t support Adobe Flash. Many websites these days use Adobe Flash on the site somewhere. Why cant Apple the most “graphic friendly” computer be a friend to Adobe Flash who is one of the kings on graphics? Maybe Apple with get this fixed soon just like the running multiple apps issue.

Everything I have seen on the iTunes Store, App Store, Youtube HD, Maps, Home Screen, and Mail look great compared to the iTouch and iPhone version look great.

The iPhone apps are great and there are so many to choose from but running those over normal computer programs is a major issue for me.

Apple did a great job on making a dock and optional keyboard for the iPad. That is a big plus but not enough for it to be worth buying in my opinion.

The pricing is not horrible but I know that Apple could do better.

It starts at $499 for 16GB, 32GB for $599, and $699 64GB. Adding 3G costs a $130 per model, so the most expensive model (64GB / 3G) is $829.

Apple did a great job on getting good deals with AT&T with 3G plans.

$14.99 for up to 250 MB

$29.99 for unlimited data

Now that is a good deal. About we see a good data deal for a computer.

To recap what I think of the iPad. I think the iPad is cool but not useful. I think it should have been done like the early iPad rumors talked about. An Apple tablet that would run OS X and be like a Mac Book. It would run regular programs and actually be useful for more that just people who love the App store and have tons of money for the good apps. Needless to say I will not be purchasing one because of the lack of good features. Maybe a few years down the road when Apple gets the iPad right I will be willing to buy one but until then I will have to stay with a PC for an ultra mobile computing device.

Apart From the Name of Christ

I have been thinking about Christians and how what they do. We are supposed to be in the world but not of it. Which does not mean that we cannot do anything that is considered worldly. Your motives will make a difference on how worldly it is. Don’t forget to weigh everything in light of what the Bible says. Just because you don't think you should do something should not be your final answer. You need to be living the Bible not your opinion. Yes your conscience has its place but that never out weighs the Bible.

I have been greatly bothered by the slogan a radio station that is broadcasted nation wide that is a Christian station but they refuse to identify with Christ by name it seems. Their slogan is “The Positive Alternative.” Let me pick the logic of that apart. Positive is something that is happy, a good way to see things, not down. Those a just a few ways to look at positive. Now lets look at alternative. Alternative is something that is not the same as others, different, something that someone sees as better. That is a simple break down of it.

If you are Alternative you should be playing different music from what the other stations play. When you turn on the station and hear some of the very same songs that other stations play that is not different. Not to mention the songs are not ever Christian in any way. If you were to look at other songs by those artists you would see that they are not a good artist to listen to if you want to only listen to Christian based moral songs. I am not saying Christians should only listen to Christian music.

I don't see how you can on one side clam that you are a alternative but really you are not. That would be lying to people. Then when people look deeper into your station and see that the base of your station is Christian and that your station below the surface is Christian you are being a bad name for Christ.

If you are trying to teach the good morals of Christ without the name of Christ you have lost your authority to teach His morals. Satan is not opposed to good morals he is opposed to Christ. If you have not see the movie Time Changer I would strongly suggest that you watch it. It explains my view on good morals apart from the name of Christ.