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Friday, August
22, 2008
Back To The Drawing Board
Williams New Testament translation
of James 1:13-16:
13. No one must say, when he is tempted
to do evil, "I have a temptation from God to do evil," for God
cannot be tempted to do evil, and He never tempts anyone to do so. 14. But
anyone is tempted to do evil when he is allured by his own evil desire and
enticed by a bait. 15. Then evil desire conceives and gives birth to sin,
and when sin is completed, it brings forth death. 16. You must avoid being
misled, my dearly loved brothers.
James 1:13-16 Let no man say when he is
tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither
tempteth he any man: (14) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away
of his own lust, and enticed. (15) Then when lust hath conceived, it
bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (16)
Do not err, my beloved brethren. (KJV)
While mankind over the centuries has
tried to blame God for their own shortcomings and faults, even some to the
point of claiming God tests His people, the truth be known it is the people
that do the testing and put themselves in a bad place. When one goes back
to their own spiritual drawing board they will find out that the reason
they were drawn away in the first place had nothing to do with God despite
many teaching to that effect, thus why we are warned not to err. God does
not tempt or test His people with evil, never has and never will because
that would make Him a liar. That is why when we read accounts throughout
the Word we need to rightly divide the truth and learn from people’s
mistakes, not like many who make it look like God made a mistake by
tempting people, like Job. Nothing and I mean nothing happens in the realm
of God by chance or luck, but it is a sure thing to those that are willing
and obedient to His word and what He promised for His people to inherit.
Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD's hand is
not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot
hear: (2) But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and
your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. (KJV)
Do you wonder why people lose confidence
in their prayer life, and rather than put their hand to their mouth and
listen to the answer some have the nerve to actually blame God for their
own shortcomings, or lean to their own understanding like with the book of
Job where many claim God randomly picked him out as an example? If there is
a fracture in the relationship between man and God, be assured it was not
on His end, but rather happened here first. The Bible is consistent
throughout to point out that we serve an infallible God; so if there has
been a breach in the Spirit it was because you were inconsistent in your
walk and hearing of His word of truth and rightly dividing it. You know it’s
not like God has a history of hit or miss, good or bad days; it’s not like
He got up this morning on the wrong side of the throne and was moody like
we are sometimes. The point is, don’t always try to compare God to man,
because man is limited and so are you if you choose to limit yourself to
just the understanding of man and not operating with the mind of Christ that
we have access to.
2 Timothy 3:15-17 And that from a child
thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto
salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (16) All scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God
may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (KJV)
You know, if you spent the time in the Word
like you should then you wouldn’t be caught up in these false doctrines and
limited understanding of childish people who claim to know God. All
scripture, all the Word is for our benefit so that we can mature or grow up
and not be tossed to and fro like we were when we were younger. If this
scripture is what you are putting into your heart then that is what will be
flowing from it, while anything else you allow into the heart is what will
be spewing out of it; and so will God spew those that don’t speak His
language. So while mankind has come up with many doctrines, many so called
faiths, it is up to you personally to know for yourself the doctrine of
Christ, which by the way is singular, one Lord, one faith, and only one
doctrine our Lord accepts as His. This doctrine will only be found in the Word,
your time spent studying for yourself so that you can stand approved before
God and able to rightly divide the word of truth.
Proverbs 15:28-29 The heart of the
righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil
things. (29) The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of
the righteous. (KJV)
If you didn’t take the time to study the Word
today, what did you find that was more important? You know, you can go from
righteous back to wicked; just a few nasty words you let pour out of your
mouth can put you back into a realm separated from God. Thus the reason why
we are encouraged to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness so
that we can remain in good standing with Him and know that He hears our
prayers. Some people think God plays favorites or only approves their
denomination, but to those in Christ they do not fall for man’s titles and
approval, but rather are only concerned with that which is from above, His
truth that sets us free.
James 4:7-8 Submit yourselves therefore
to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (8) Draw nigh to God, and
he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your
hearts, ye double minded. (KJV)
Instead of entertaining the devil we
should be resisting Him, which can only be done by remaining steadfast in
the faith. If you notice it’s when we draw nigh or close to God that He
does the same in return, but it is up to us to be clean before Him, which
can only happen by the washing of the living waters of His word. When you
decide to purify your heart, being single minded and not double minded,
then the two are able to walk together again being in agreement.
Isaiah 5:18-21 Woe unto them that draw
iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope: (19) That
say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let
the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know
it! (20) Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put
darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and
sweet for bitter! (21) Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and
prudent in their own sight! (KJV)
Where do you stand today, or should I say
are you taking a stand today? There are many that call evil good and good
evil because they haven’t taken the time to rightly divide the word of
truth, which has drawn them away from God instead of closer. Do you know the
difference for yourself of what is the doctrine of God and what is of
mankind, have you made it a priority? Are you drawing closer to God, or are
you withdrawing from His realm? If you are not sure then it is time to get
back to the drawing board.
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