Wisdom From Above

Politically Correct or Biblically Correct?

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 03:35:50 +0000

Politically Correct or Biblically Correct?
The Bible says that the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable. Purity always takes priority over peace! We live in a culture of political correctness. We live in a culture of compromise. We live in a culture that promotes doing what is right in men’s eyes rather than doing what s right in God’s eyes. Consequently, far too many Christians, far too many churches, and far too many denominations are compromising Biblical convictions and following political correctness.
In his 5-04-2011 Blog, “When the Lights Go Out: The Death of a Denomination,” Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr. writes, “When a church forfeits its doctrinal convictions and then embraces ambiguity and tolerates heresy, it undermines its own credibility and embraces its own destruction.”
We must be willing to take a stand for what is right. We must keep our hearts and minds firmly planted in the foundational truths of the Bible! The Bible is our final authority for what we believe and for how we behave. We must be salt and light! We must refuse to sacrifice truth for the sake of tolerance. We must refuse to sacrifice purity for the sake of peace. We must take a stand for the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible, the deity of Jesus Christ, the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, the substitutionary death and physical resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the literal physical second coming of Jesus Christ.
We must refuse to undermine the Word just to fit in with the world. If we forfeit our doctrinal convictions, we forfeit our strategic place in this world and undermine our God-given mission!

Trusting ourselves or Trusting our God?

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 02:00:45 +0000

Trusting ourselves or Trusting our God?
We face situations that are beyond our control and beyond our ability to handle, but they are not too difficult for God. Troubles and trials may overwhelm us, but they cannot overwhelm God. We can lean on ourselves and look to ourselves, or we can lean on God and look to Him. We serve an awesome God. Nothing is too difficult for Him!
Listen to these words from Jeremiah. “Ah Lord God! Behold You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too difficult for You!” Jeremiah 32:17
Charles Allen was right on target when he wrote these words: “When you say a person or a situation is hopeless, you are slamming the door in the face of God.”
Our God is greater than any difficulty we encounter. Let’s turn to Him and trust in Him!

Truth or Supposition?

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 01:55:00 +0000

Truth or Supposition?
Most people are as confused as a termite in a yo-yo. They do not know where they came from and they don’t know where they are going. Oh sure, they have heard about creation and evolution and heaven and hell… but they do not know what they believe about any of those things. They have no way to distinguish truth from supposition. In fact, for some people, there is serious doubt about whether anyone can truly know the truth. Some have even been taught that there is no absolute truth. And yet, after several years of life on this planet, most people come to realize that there are absolute truths. For example, they discover these truths: water is essential to life, gravity causes things to fall, things left to themselves deteriorate, oxygen is essential to life, earth revolves, wind blows, fire burns, water refreshes, etcetera. There is no question about it. There are absolute truths. There are truths we can know are true because of the evidence.
Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus is the truth! There is an abundance of evidence to support that truth. For example, the Bible declares that there are many convincing proofs of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus said the Bible was true. God’s Word – the Bible – is truth! The Bible itself is authenticated by internal claims and, fulfilled prophecy, and supporting archaeology.
Sir Winston Churchill once said, “Truth is incontrovertible. Panic may resent it; ignorance may deride it; malice may distort it; but there it is.”
Samuel Chadwick expressed his thoughts this way, No man is uneducated who knows the Bible and no one is wise who is ignorant of its teachings.” (Pentecostal Evangel, Dec.8, 1974, p.2.)
Woodrow Wilson said, “I feel sorry for men who do not read the Bible every day. I wonder why they deprive themselves of the strength and the pleasure.” (Herald of Holiness, Dec. 8, 1974, p. 18.).
Jesus Christ is the truth! God’s Word is the truth! Get to know them both and you will be set free form the confusion of theories and the bondage of ignorance!

Acceptable or Authentic?

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 01:53:16 +0000

Acceptable or Authentic?

The church has been so busy making Christianity acceptable that we’ve failed to make it authentic! Entertaining has replaced educating. Pleasing men has replaced pleasing God. Electricity has replaced authenticity. Tickling the ears has replaced preaching the Word. The passing has replaced the permanent. Meology has replaced theology!

It is time to get back to: the absolute truths of the Bible, the authentic heart of worship, the agonizing need of the lost, and the agape love for God that transforms lives!

Harlan Betz

Sitting or Serving?

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 01:16:38 +0000

Sitting or Serving?

Professor Howard Hendricks lamented that far too many churches are like the typical football game… where you have 55,000 people in the stands who are desperately in need of exercise watching 22 men on the field who are desperately in need of rest. That is the exact same problem we experience in the local church! A minority of the people are doing the majority of the work.

The Bible talks about equipping every believer to do the work of the ministry. The Bible tells us that every believer has a speaking kind of gift or a serving kind of gift. The Bible tells us that the church will grow as every believer does his part.

My dear fellow believer, you cannot just sit on the sidelines and watch others serve. Far too many have left far too much to far too few. You must do you part. Your part is important. Your part is significant. Your ministry is needed. Find out how you can serve and do it!

Edward Everett Hale expressed his resolve with this commitment… which I hope will also be your commitment: “I am only one. I can’t do everything, but I can do something. And what I can do, I ought to do. And what I ought to do, by the grace of God, I shall do!”

Harlan Betz

Salesmanship or Discipleship?

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 01:16:09 +0000

Salesmanship or Discipleship?

The church is being lured away from the truths of the Bible to the techniques of Madison Avenue. Success and salesmanship have replaced obedience and discipleship! The Bible says, in 1 Timothy 4:1 that “In the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” The Bible explains this further in 2 Timothy 4:2-3 where we read, “They will not endure sound doctrine… they will turn away from the truth.”

Are you seeking salesmanship or discipleship? Are you wanting truth to be taught or are you wanting your ears to be tickled? Are you hungry for success in man’s eyes or for faithfulness in God’s eyes?

Do not let the voices of this world drown out the voice of God. Do not let the attractions of things that are temporal distract you from things that are eternal! God is calling us to be disciples. God is commanding us to preach the Word. God is challenging us to be faithful.

Harlan Betz

Activity or Avocation?

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 23:06:46 +0000

Activity or Avocation?

Non-witnessing Christians have become the norm while witnessing Christians are too often the exception. Witnessing is not to be a spare-time occupation; it is to be a lifetime avocation. Witnessing is not a once-in-a-while activity; it is an all-the-time priority. Witnessing is not just something you do, it is something you are! You are either a missionary or a mission field. If you know Christ… you are a missionary (a witness). If you do not know Christ… you are a mission field (in need of a witness).

Most of the early disciples were fishers of men, while most of today’s disciples seem to be content to be keepers of the aquarium. Don’t settle for just worshiping; commit yourself to witnessing. Ask God to give you a burden for the lost. Ask God to give you opportunities to share the good news of His love and His offer of eternal life. Don’t settle for mingling with men, be a fisher of men.

Don’t let witnessing simply be an activity, make it your avocation! We have good news, and good news must be shared with others!

Harlan Betz