Is God Enough? - Part 2

The title implies several things: we have needs, sometimes we are tempted to meet our needs with things and ideas other than God, and there are degrees of expectation about how these needs are to be met.

What are our needs? According to Abraham Maslow[1] our needs fall under the following categories, and order of priority: physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. Our physiological needs include breathing, food, water, sleep, and excretion. Safety needs include security of body, employment resources, morality, the family, health, and property. Love and belonging needs include friendship, family, and intimacy. Esteem needs involve self-esteem, confidence, achievement, respect of others, and respect by others. And finally, self-actualization needs include morality, creativity, spontaneity, problem solving, lack of prejudice, and acceptance of facts.

Although we could say that at first glance most of these seem reasonable, what Maslow’s theory is missing is the acknowledgment of the Creator of humankind, and the “Operation Manual” He has written. Who knows better what our needs are than the Person who designed us?

It is obvious that Maslow assumed human life is more than putting food in a body, digesting it, and then disposing of it. There’s more to life than eating, drinking, and surviving. And yet, who determines what those things should be?

Jesus said: “Life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment” (Luke 12:23). We need to fulfill our physical needs in order to maintain our physical lives, but Jesus said that “for all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Luke 12:30-31). Can we come to the point where we can say, “God is enough, and I have everything I need in Him,” even when we lack food, raiment, shelter, friends, family respect from others, and employment?

Where does the idea that we cannot find victory and fulfillment in life unless all our physical and emotional “needs” are met, come from? When our expectations of love and friendship fail us, do we fall into hopeless depression? No doubt, lacking these things can be a great temptation for us, but we are called to endure “hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). And we are called to seek the Kingdom of God above all things, and be willing to die for it!

So, again, the question for us is, is God enough? Is seeking His Kingdom enough, even when everything else is lacking, perhaps knowing we will never again see the light of day as we languish in a dark, cold, and bug-infected prison cell? Is God enough when we have been abused, and feel rejected of our parents, our siblings, our peers?

Do we believe what God said through Paul, “I shall supply all your need according to my riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19)? Remember, that without faith it is impossible, impossible, to please Him; “for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

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[1] Abraham Maslow (April 1, 1908-June 8, 1970), was the founder of what is known today as humanistic psychology "Dr. Abraham Maslow, Founder Of Humanistic Psychology, Dies". New York Times), and the creator of a theory of psychological health (Maslow’s hierarchy of needs) that organized the fulfillment of human needs according to their respective priority.

Is God Enough? Part 1

At times, especially during a hard trial or excruciating pain, we may begin to wonder what separates us from unbelievers in their trials. We may question what the difference really is? We all suffer, we all cry, we all get confused. But there is a difference, an immense difference. The unbeliever’s god is his belly, but our God is the Creator of the Universe, the One who says a word and it happens. So, if God said He will be our Father, guiding, protecting, and loving us, why do we not feel this at times? Although God, who forced His will upon the rest of Creation, does not force His will on mankind, He requires that we, out of our own will, would fill ourselves with the knowledge of His Word, living in a close relationship with Him, humbling ourselves, completely trusting in Him. God truly is enough, but do we live as though He is enough?

As a born-again believer, God has given you and me all we need in order to be “more than conquerors”[1] in life, and live a truly godly life. This is not conditioned by the severity of our circumstances, but is a reality especially in the hardest trials of life. We know this because Paul said he was more than conqueror through tribulation, distress, persecution, nakedness, peril, and sword. How dare we wallow in the mire of depression, self-pity, and bitterness because of past mistreatment, rejection, loss of loved ones, or loss of relationships, when God’s grace will enable us to be super-victorious? Sometimes we may excuse ourselves by saying, “I’m not the apostle Paul”. But the apostle himself said it was only when he was weak that he was the strongest through Christ. It was when he emptied himself of “Paul” that he was the strongest. God is enough, but we must humble ourselves, as Paul did.

You may doubt the statement that God will give you all you need, but the Bible really says so: “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.”[2] Could it be that we fail to experience the fullness of this reality simply because we don’t believe it? God is enough, but without faith we cannot please Him, and much less experience His power in us.

Or maybe we are suffering from a case of “zeal without knowledge”? We are excited for the Lord and want to do what is right, but we don’t know enough of God’s Word to know how to do what is right. The Bible says that God has given us all things “through the knowledge of him”. This means that God can only give us His power when His Word dwells in us, as Paul says in another place: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.”[3] In order to experience the fullness of God’s power, we must have a deep knowledge of the written Word, the Bible, and a deep relationship with the living Word, Jesus Christ. This is clearly taught by Christ Himself in His defense before Satan: “It is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”[4] Do we know every word of God? Are we at least working diligently towards that goal? If not, why are we surprised when we don’t fully experience God’s power in our lives? God is enough, and He has given us all we need through His Spirit and His Word. Are we diligent in feeding from the Bible?

God is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”[5] If we are not experiencing this we dare not blame our circumstances, our father and mother, or God! Rather, we should be deeply ashamed of ourselves for being faithless, claiming to belong to God but failing to identify ourselves with Him and His power. Sin and unbelief in our lives prevent us from experiencing this, and bitterness and pride are two idols that prevent God from taking control of our hearts. God is truly enough, but are we humble, full of faith in God’s Word and provision, living daily in a close relationship with Him?

-E.S. Gutwein

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[1] Romans 8:37

[2] 2 Peter 1:3

[3] Colossians 3:16

[4] Luke 4:4

[5] Ephesians 3:20

Intrusions

A while ago, I stumbled upon an article called “Computer Intrusions” at the FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation website. As I read it, I realized that if the FBI is investing so many resources and personnel on computer intrusions, this must certainly be a serious national threat. In fact, it declares that “today, these computer intrusion cases—counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and criminal—are the paramount priorities of our cyber program because of their potential relationship to national security.”

Can I ask you a few questions? Do you believe that Satan has an intrusion program for your personal life, your home, and your church? Are Satan’s current spiritual intrusion cases the paramount priorities of your spiritual defence program? Do you have a defence program? Is this all God’s responsibility, or do we ourselves have a part to play? What would happen if the FBI would abandon all efforts to counteract computer intrusions? What would happen if you would cease to counteract Satan’s spiritual intrusions?

The article goes on to say, “Some [intrusions] take down vital systems, disrupting and sometimes disabling the work of hospitals, banks, and 9-1-1 services around the country.” You see, computer intrusions are not neutral. And, likewise, spiritual intrusions have a definite nefarious purpose, whether we are aware of them or not.

One of the enemy’s goals is that we be unaware of his intrusions. How does he do this? For example, he will try to convince us that since “we shouldn’t be seeing the devil in every corner”, therefore we should not concern ourselves with the possibility that the devil may be at some corners. Or, he will try to make us think that since “most of a book is good,” there is no need to worry about possible small intrusions interspersed throughout the book. Or, since “the author, or teacher is so sincere,” there is no need to worry about the content of his teaching. In any case, sincerity will ensure he does not communicate any error. Right?

First and foremost, we must believe God’s Word when it says that false apostles and deceitful workers transform “themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:13-14). Are you convinced that your false teacher, whether a preacher, an author, or even a friend, comes to you not as a monster but as a sincere mentor? Believe that a false book will be disguised by mostly sound doctrine, and things that will touch your innermost being. Be aware that once you are emotionally attached to a person, a book, or an organization, it will be very difficult to admit error.

So how do we detect spiritual intrusions? Always have in mind that Satan will target you with dressed up falsehood, and packaged error, gift-wrapped with ribbon, a greeting card, and all! Remember never to allow yourself to be emotionally attached to any man or woman you admire. Be aware that Satan knows what touches your heart, and what strikes you as honest and sincere. Remember that one of the characteristics of false teachers is hypocrisy, or play-acting. They are in essence professional actors who know how to feign faithfulness and sincerity. Don’t let them fool you.

What are other tactics and methods used by the enemy?

The enemy uses confusion. When we are not sure whether a person is a friend or a foe, we are confused as to how to respond. Take Satan’s first question to Eve in the Garden of Eden. “Yeah, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Most often, people get stuck on the first four words, “Yeah, hath God said...?” And proceed to explain what an awful deceiver Satan is, and how he is always trying to make us doubt God’s Word with the question, “Hath God said, hath God said, hath God said?”

Look again, and you will find that the most deceiving part of Satan’s question was not the first part, but the second. Satan first comes to Eve as one who is ignorant of God’s commandments. He knew well that God gave Adam and Eve every tree of the Garden, except one! Remember, “the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field”. Of course Satan tries to make us doubt God’s Word. But the most deceiving method for the faithful believer is not doubt, but confusion.

Related to confusion is the method of twisting and corrupting Scripture. The apostle Peter said that already in his day, the unlearned and unstable were twisting Scripture “unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16). Beware of intrusions that make error look like truth. They are not very obvious, but can look like exciting new insights into Scripture, and at times can take the form of a new term, or a modified definition of an old term.

Sometimes Satan has already corrupted and twisted truth in the past, and now it may look like an “obvious” corruption of truth. Beware of this too. Study the Word. Find out from the Bible whether something is true or not. Do not follow man.

Much more could be said on this subject, but my burden for you is whether you are aware of Satan’s intrusions in your life. Do you live as though you are beyond deception? Do you live as if there’s a water-tight shield around you, and therefore you have only to enjoy the Christian life, drink from the good fellowship of believers, and be merry? The Bible says we are to put on the shield of faith, and the sword of the Lord. We need to be sober and vigilant, for the devil walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

The nations of the world invest millions of dollars on their defence system. They are vigilant, and are constantly studying how to protect themselves from enemy intrusions.

How about you?

-E.S. Gutwein

Question: Does Jesus say we are not supposed to pray in public in Matthew 6?

The Bible is God’s medium for communicating His thoughts, feelings, and instructions to us. Prayer is our way of communicating our thoughts, feelings, praise, worship, intercessions, and confessions to God. The above question is a good one, because in Matthew 6 Jesus instructed His audience to pray in their rooms, and close the door!

It is evident that prayer must first be a personal exercise; it must be a part of our personal lives before we can share it with others. But what does Scripture say about public prayer?

Prayer can be both personal as well as collective for the following reasons:

Jesus Himself prayed in public. Matthew 11:25 finds Jesus praying in front of a multitude of people. In another occasion, just before He was crucified, Jesus said a beautiful prayer out loud before His disciples (John 17).

In Acts 1:14, after Jesus ascended to heaven, 120 of his followers were gathered in an upper room praying together.

The Apostle Paul referred to public prayer in 1 Corinthians 16-17. He instructs us to pray in a language that people understand, or else have a translator to interpret. Otherwise "when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified."

Therefore, when I pray in public it is understood to be a collective prayer, rather than a mere public prayer, where I display my oratory abilities before others. Collective prayer is where one person prays, and others listen and give assent to what he is saying as if they were praying themselves. It is when the person praying uses pronouns such as  "we" and "us" rather than "I" and "me". The Bible gives room for collective prayer.

What then did Jesus mean in Matthew 6?

He said,
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.


What the scribes and pharisees were doing, first of all, was saying public prayers without including their audience. Their prayers were public but not collective. They were using prayer for personal gain, prestige, and self-exaltation. Secondly, as a result they were not sincere in their prayers, and their personal lives were not consistent with the spiritual impression they were trying to convey to the people. They were praying hypocritically, such as actors in a movie set. The scribes and pharisees were good actors, but poor examples.

Therefore, when Jesus said we are to pray in our rooms and close the door, he was possibly speaking to those who admired hypocritical praying, and those who engaged in hypocritical praying. He said that if we are looking for true rewards, we should pray in private, and God will reward us in public. And as we take the rest of the New Testament into consideration, when we do pray in public, we should pray in the language of the people, including our audience as part of the prayer; sincerely, honestly, and without pretense. Public prayer is collective prayer.


What's your opinion on prayer walking?

Prayer walking as a technique is not the same as praying while you are walking. The Bible instructs us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17); therefore we may pray while we are kneeling, sitting, standing, or walking. Scripture tells us that if we abide in Christ, God will answer our prayers--without any location restrictions or requirements. I believe it is necessary to know some details about the people we are praying for, and their situations. But to think that God is limited to our own understanding of a situation or place is not biblical. And thinking that our prayers are more effective depending on our location or position is equally unbiblical.

Someone had this to say about prayer walking:
Prayer walking is a relatively new phenomenon, the origin of which is not clear. There is no biblical model for prayer walking, although since walking was the major mode of transportation in Bible times, clearly people must have walked and prayed at the same time. However, there is no direct command that prayer walking is something we should be doing. To believe that prayers offered in any setting, or while in any position, are more effective than those offered at another time or in another manner is not scriptural. In addition, while we may feel we need to be close to a location or situation to pray more clearly, our heavenly Father, who is everywhere at all times, knows exactly what needs are present and will respond to them in His own perfect will and timing. The fact that He allows us to be part of His plans through our prayers is for our benefit, not His (http://www.gotquestions.org/prayer-walking.html).

A passage that teaches that one must "pray nearer to pray clearer" is not forthcoming. But I believe Scripture is clear that we may pray at any place, at any time, and am fully convinced that "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16).

-E.S. Gutwein

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Is it true Christians are supposed to love even their enemies?

Indeed, loving an enemy is difficult to rationalize. How does one explain a person who, in spite of being hated, abused, persecuted, or even tortured by another human being, says to him, “I love you, no matter what you do to me.”

One might ask, “Who is my enemy?” Matthew 5:44 defines an enemy as someone who curses, hates, abuses, and persecutes us. Do you have any enemies? Does someone hate you? Does someone abuse you verbally or physically? Then you have enemies.

Jesus said: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy” (Matthew 5:43). Have you ever heard that? It is not something we need to be taught. Our human nature naturally thinks and feels this way. But Christ requires all Christians everywhere: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).

The person who has not been born again, and received God’s Spirit cannot understand or accept this. But the believer, the true follower of Christ, understands that if God did not love us, His enemies, we could not be saved. We would be hopeless!

Yes, it is true. Christians are to love even their enemies, just as Christ loved His enemies.


So, if I am being abused and mistreated repeatedly, does God ask me to just take it, and do nothing about it because I must love my enemies?

There are many examples in the Bible of Christians or other people of God fleeing from persecution or harm. At times, God's people were even protected by the civil authorities, and God has given them the mandate of protecting us from evil people.

The Bible does not command us to stay in abusive relationships, but it teaches us not to avenge ourselves. We are not to take revenge on people who have caused us harm, but we should love them, and do good to them when we can. We are not to hate them, or wish them evil.

So, dear friend, continue to love your enemies, but by all means seek to escape abuse or mistreatment if you can!

A Fully Functional Body

The Bible compares the church to a human body. All the members in our body have a specific job to fill. But, for example, the hand does not help only the mouth with food, or only the foot with tying the shoe laces. The hand will reach up, and comb hair, remove an eyelash from the eye, and help the other hand in lifting a heavy weight. We know a body could not properly function without interaction between all its members.

Why then do great portions of a congregation sometimes withdraw their participation, whether vocally or physically, and allow just a few select members to operate and mobilize a thus handicapped body in its mandate to reach out to the world, and in its efforts to overcome the obstacles of life? How can we expect a thus impaired congregation to function as God intended, when in the physical realm we don’t believe a body can achieve its full capacity with paralyzed members, or without eyesight or hearing?

The biblical analogy of the body is not just a beautiful picture to look at from time to time, as if it had no practical implications. We must ensure it is a reality in our congregation. The Bible says that it is God who gives believers spiritual gifts, not the church or the pastors. In the same way that God did not place our hands where our eyes belong, or our nose where our feet should be, He does not wish for us to give believers tasks they are not spiritually prepared to fill. Furthermore, it is not God’s desire for us to say to the hand, or the foot, “I have no need of you” (1 Corinthians 12:21).

A congregation whose other members reciprocate important church matters only with the pastors, and not also with each other, will lack the healthy development that occurs when all believers have the opportunity and freedom to share with each other. The pastors are as much a part of the body as the other members. It is obvious that it is impossible for a body to perform all its functions with only its mouth or hand. Why then do believers sometimes expect a congregation to function thus? Everyone needs equal chance to share their thoughts, opinions, and gifts in order for a congregation to function in a healthy way. Pastors need to share and hear feedback from the body of believers, and the congregation must hear and share their thoughts with the pastors as well.

Am I neglecting the gift that is in me, given to me by the laying of hands (1 Timothy 4:14)? Am I unfairly expecting one, two, or three men to fill the place God called me to fill? Am I willing to soothe a wound, or sound the alarm when something is not functioning properly in my congregation? Do we as a congregation have a viable way for each member to exercise his gift? Are all members able to participate and have a positive impact within the body of believers? A body that is all hand, or all mouth is a handicapped body, unable to spread the Gospel, feed the flock, or grow spiritually.

"Let your light so shine"

Take a look at Matthew 5:14-16, and let’s think for a moment about letting our light shine.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Sometimes a passage in the Bible becomes so familiar that we don’t pay enough attention to the details. How many times have we heard the phrase, “We should be a light to those around us.” Or “Let your light shine.” What does Jesus mean by “let your light so shine” in this context?

Christ says that we ourselves, as His followers, are the light of the world. He doesn’t say here that our words or our actions in themselves are the light of the world. But He seems to be stressing the importance of who we are as individuals, and as a Church. Of course, who we are will affect what we say and what we do, but sometimes we can say all the right things, and do all the right things, and our light continues to be overshadowed, covered up, or fogged up by the mist of the human Self. Jesus illustrates this by a bushel covering a candle.

Another clue that “light” in this context is not what we do or say is found in verse 16. “Let your light so shine before men”, it says, “that they may see your good works”. You see, we already are doing good works, but something is not letting the world see them in the proper light. We do kind deeds, we help our neighbour, we participate in church, we give to the poor, we spread the Gospel, but there is still something that is coming in between us and the world we are trying to reach.

As followers of Christ, it is imperative that we be genuine disciples. When our selfish motives and our fleshly passions rule our good works, the light of our testimony is obscured by our dishonesty and our hypocrisy. We must be genuine. We must not be only Sunday Christians, but Christians all week. We must not only be Christians on the outside, but also on the inside. In fact, we must experience an inner transformation before we can be true disciples of Christ.

Finally, verse 16 instructs us to “let our light so shine before men” that others may glorify our Father which is in Heaven. People can’t see God, but they can see us.

In what state is the lamp of your life? Are we genuine, or are we hypocritical? Can the world see the true meaning behind our good actions, or do they see Self stamped all over them? Can they glorify our Father?

"Awake Thou That Sleepest"

   Let’s picture a child sleeping on his bed, and the sun slowly rising to shine through his bedroom window announcing the start of day. From the kitchen, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the smell of sliced bread in the toaster make their way to his nose declaring that breakfast must be ready at any moment, but he does not wake up. Soon, Mother calls for breakfast, but he does not hear. What will it take to stir him up?

   Shortly, older Sister knocks at the door, and comes running into his room to shake his arm.

   “Wake up! Haven’t you heard Mom calling you?”

   “Let me sleep a little longer,” He whimpers annoyed without opening his eyes.

   “No! It’s already time for breakfast.”

   In Romans 13:11-12 we read, “Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”

   All throughout the Old Testament, godly men and women rose up to sound wake-up calls among the people. Christ came at the “fullness of time” to preach repentance, and to redeem us from sin so that through him we can “awake to righteousness” (1 Corinthians 15:34). And all throughout New Testament history, there have been faithful believers calling out to people to awaken from their religious drowsiness. What was their fate? They “have suffered like (similar) things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved” (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16). 

Symptoms of Drowsiness

   What are some symptoms of a dormant spiritual life?

   When we are very knowledgeable and wise concerning the things of this life, but not about the things of God, we are spending too much time in bed. When we always have a ready word for sports or the state of the economy, but are not “ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh [us] a reason of the hope that is in [us]” (1 Peter 3:15), it is high time to get up and leave our pillows behind. When we cannot discern between good and evil because we don’t exercise our spiritual senses by studying God’s Word, and aren’t interested in engaging in spiritual conversations with our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Hebrews 5:14), it is time to make up our beds, and begin to dig into our Bibles.

   In some circles, this drowsy or indifferent attitude is displayed, for example, in the strong emphasis on book studies in church, instead of Bible studies. There is a place for study guides if necessary, but these have to be selected carefully. We will not be able to discern evil merely by studying other men’s ideas, because our discernment will be limited to their own discernment. Bible study meetings should be a time to study the Bible, and not other books. Shouldn’t it be? We must “beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Colossians 2:8).

   Another sign of sleepy Christianity is when I am approached by a caring brother about an issue in my life, and I don’t consider his concerns. Or if it bothers me when he does it to another brother or sister, and I say to him, “Shh, don’t startle him. Can’t you see he’s having a really good nap?”

   We have already heard it said in the world, “Live and let live.” May it not be said in church, “Sleep, and let sleep”, for it is “high time to awake out of sleep…the night is far spent, the day is at hand”.

Living on the Alert

   What are some dangers we should be looking out for in our world today?

   We are living in a time when the world’s attractions are becoming greater and more pervasive. The things of the world are even becoming the things of the church, and many are not catching on. How is it that the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life can be sitting in church, and preaching from the pulpits, and we think they are part of us? When Christians crave sports, music, leisure, and other pleasures instead of God’s Word, the lust of the flesh is sitting in church. When Christians decide they need more elaborate churches and houses, and more expensive cars, and when they think they need to improve on how God made them by piercing their ears, and painting their finger and toe nails, the lust of the eyes is sitting in church. When Christians cannot settle for less than the most prestigious positions at work and at church, the pride of life is sitting in church.

   The apostle John says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). Today we hear a lot about peace, love, tolerance, and unity in the world, and also in our churches. Are we sure the world is not sitting in on this one too? When the world speaks of love, what kind of love is it? When the world speaks of peace, what do they really mean? When they push for unity, what type of unity is it?

   In 1 Thessalonians 5:3-6, the apostle Paul says that “when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them…and they shall not escape…. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” The world today is stressing the importance of peace: peace in the home country, and peace abroad, which is commendable. But let me assure you, this is not the peace and safety that comes from Jesus, because He Himself said that His peace is not “as the world giveth” (John 14:27). The world’s peace kills people with machine guns for not being peaceful, and its tolerance persecutes Christians for not being tolerant of sin. When a brother or sister is put down for pointing out what the Bible says, and when he is labelled intolerant or critical for having enough love and compassion (Jude 1:22) to show kindly to a brother that he is departing from God’s Word, saving him “with fear, pulling them out of the fire” (v. 23), the peace of the world is in church!

   We know that the society of this world is completely opposed to God, because Satan is the god of this world. Therefore, though it may contain a great number of high moral values, the very heart of society is evil, and its agenda does not consider the true love of God. Our society, you will observe, will be quick to encourage, accept, and tolerate all voices that do not oppose its political and social values, and will silence all others. That is why we see a rising hostility to Bible-believing Christianity, and great tolerance to most of the other religions and practices, such as Eastern disciplines and religions, occultic practices, Islam and Sharia law, and immoral lifestyles. As in Ezekiel’s time, today we see many in the world, as well as in the church who “with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness” (Ezekiel 33:31). We cannot afford to have the world’s love and tolerance in church. Today, it seems, many churches tolerate sin and disobedience with patience as a pretext, but will not tolerate members who will share their concerns about the direction of their church’s programs and agendas. This love and tolerance does not come from God, but from the world.

   Furthermore, the world’s unity (ecumenism) has made its way into most mainstream churches, and I’m afraid, it is sleazing its way into many of our conservative Mennonite churches as well. What is the world’s unity? The world’s unity emphasises joining efforts with the opposition or the disagreeing party, and finding common ground at the expense of truth and good morals. It promotes the idea that differences in our beliefs are irrelevant to harmony in society. This “unity in diversity” is not the unity of the Spirit found in Scripture, but merely a spirit of unity. The unity of the Spirit joins the hearts and minds of the believers by the truth of God’s Word as they submit and obey it. The difference between the unity of the spirit and the spirit of unity (unification) is that the one comes as a result of being one in the Word and in the Spirit, and the other is a product of human effort. The unity of the world attempts to unify differences in beliefs not by conforming them to the Word, but by finding a way to make them work together without too much trouble. That is not the unity that comes from God.

   In light of the age we are living in, we are faced with at least two choices. We can listen to the voice that calls, “Awake thou that sleepest…and Christ shall give thee light…See that ye walk circumspectly (with caution), not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:14-16). Or we can “stop our ears” as those in Acts 7:39, and continue in that ever deepening spiritual slumber, where we say annoyed, “let me sleep a little longer”. But let us remember that we have heard the wake up call.  The Bible says that the day of the Lord will come suddenly as a thief in the night. May this day not overtake us unexpectedly. “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:2-6).

-Published in Midwest Focus.

The Secret Place of the Almighty--An exposition of Psalm 91

Are you being ruled by fear? Do you feel alone as you face trying times in life? Read with me Psalm 91, and let's look together at how the Lord protects all those who trust in Him. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty" (v. 1). Let this psalm guide you to that fortress who is God, while you find your way through unknown and dangerous territory.

When we face very difficult problems in life, or when we suffer physically, it certainly isn't easy to say like the psalmist, "I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust" (v. 2). But it is a motto every Christian can make his own in times of fear, anxiety, and confusion.

This psalm says that if we draw near to the Lord, and live in His presence, He will cover us with His protective shadow. "He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust" (v. 4). In the same way a hen beckons her chicks to hide under her wings, the Lord calls us to His side to shield us from the dangers that are out there. He will deliver us from the snares and traps of Satan, and from anyone who makes it a sport to deceive us with false teachings (v. 3). His wings protect us from sin and its eternal consequences.

Many think they are safe enough without God's protection, and slowly begin to pull apart from their congregation, not participating in the work of the church, not attending church regularly, or even failing to attend any church at all, preferring to face the trials of life without the advice and the help of their brothers and sisters. This is why the Apostle Paul tells us not to forsake "the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25). We know what happens when we separate a glowing coal from the fire. Away from the other coals, it soon begins to cool down until it looses all its heat and all its glow. Under normal circumstances, a person who does not meet with other believers will become cold. The Bible says that the last days will be dangerous times, and we need to dwell within the refuge God has prepared for us through the church, so that we can survive spiritually.

When we are born again, and we leave the old way of life, God will free us from our superstitious fears if we let Him. Satan and his servants are powerful beings that desire to subdue every person who does not trust in the Lord. Satan uses certain people to harm and cause fear in others (v. 3), because he knows he can use fear to control them. We must forsake all our superstitions because now God is our refuge (vv. 5, 6). Let's show our enemy that now we can trust in the Lord. God will not fail us!

While under God's protection we can observe what occurs in the lives of others who choose not to trust in Him. We will see that those who lives in sin will accumulate many painful consequences, something that doesn't happen to us anymore because we have left sin behind, and live in the light (vv. 7, 8). God does not promise that we will not suffer physically, and that we will never have problems, but He wants to help us see that when we trust and obey Him, He will bless us, and will not allow anything to happen to us without His divine permission. "Thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling" (vv. 9, 10). What a relief to know that the great God of the universe cares so much for us that He sends His angels to watch over us! It doesn't matter how hard or dangerous the circumstance may be, the Lord will make sure we have the victory (v. 13).

The Lord Jesus teaches us that the most important commandment is, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matthew 22:37). Verse 14 of Psalm 91 says that if we obey this commandment, and set our love on God, we will be delivered and honored, because we know the Lord.

If you are about to give up, thinking that the Christian life is too hard, don't be so foolish (borrowing from someone else's words) as to gamble your eternal destiny for the comforts and pleasures of this temporal life. Maybe the Lord has chosen to bring you into His presence tonight or tomorrow. Surrender your fears to Him, and He will hold you up even in the hardest moments of life. He promised, "He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him" (v. 15). Let's not give up, because if we are faithful, the Lord also says, "with long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation" (v.16).

-Translated and adapted from article "El que habita bajo el Altísimo", Luz de la Vida

Projecting Poverty Where It Doesn't Exist

Projecting Poverty Where It Doesn’t Exist