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God is not an Option

Joshua 24:15

People in Church and the world think that believing in God or giving His son Jesus true worship is an option. When we look at those iconic words Joshua said in 24:15 “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Now, when Joshua made that statement, he was making one in the face of the world you might say because we still read this today. We are still hearing his declaration to the whole world about whom he believed in without a doubt. He detached himself from the world around him, including the people whom he led across Jordan.

People in the world say that to believe in God is an option. I can have faith in Him or not have faith in Him, I can believe in Him or not believe in Him; I don’t have to because He isn’t really real anyhow. If He turns out to be true, then He is God. He is understanding, plus He’s faithful. He understands my heart, “He understands what I’m going through; He will take me into heaven still. He knows that I really love Him, even when I didn’t believe in Him.” People will defend their beliefs. People will be quick to say God is not real, but when the evidence came out that the places the Children of Isreal traveled were found, people said “I have the right to believe what I want  to believe.” God says yes you do have the right. However know this, your life is an opinion but God is not.

Hebrews 11:6

But with out faith it is 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.

How can anyone please God when they don’t know Him? If you didn’t believe in Him.  How all of a sudden can you say you love Him, if you’ve not had a relationship with Him. Some might say “I kind of figured He was true; I kind of knew He was always in my heart.” Jesus said in John 20:29 “…blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” The whole point is, we have to realize that God was never false, He’s always been real. You need to search the scriptures to find Him. So having the faith that God is, and that He is a rewarded of those who diligently seek Him, you have to realize that whether you believe in Him or not, He is real. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord God.

Most people want an option. “If God turns out to be real, then I’ll worship Him, I’ll believe Him, and He’ll understand me and I will go back with Him. It is not that easy. You can’t go back with someone who does not know you. If there were several babies in one room with all their mothers, and one of the babies cries out, are all the mothers going to go to that child? No, only the mother which belongs to that child; that mother who knows the cry of her child. That is the same way with those in the world, who have no relationship with God, yet try to cry out to Him. Will He hear the cry of those who are His or those who aren’t His? Only those who are His. He won’t touch something that is not His. He will not hear the cry of a sinner to help them continue in sin, unless their cry is to deliver them from this life of sin. He reins on the just and the unjust, Matt. 5:45. He loves all  of his creation, but if He does not know you personally, then who are you calling on and you don’t believe in Yeshua (Jesus) Messiah (Christ), then again, I ask you who are you calling on for help? The false gods of this world which are demons and evil spirits.  But if you don’t believe in the real and true God then who hears you pray,  if your life is linked to this world system and philosophy which is totally against the words of God and His son Jesus (Yeshua)?

You’ve got to know who you serve. People think they have options. We’ve been given options so much in our lives, we don’t even recognize that options were started by the devil. It happened during the time of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Option A: don’t eat of the tree and be obedient to God. Option B: eat of the tree and you’ll be like God. We are taught to look for options. With God, there are no options. Either you live with Him in the Kingdom to come forever or you die in the World in sin, and can look forward to live forever in Hell. God does not give options. It is the choices we make that determine our end.

Rev 21:8

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Many people are going with option B. They will flip the script when they find out God is real.” He is ever loving, ever faithful and will accept me so I can get in”. That is not the way it’s done. You have to have a relationship with Him. This life is the training ground for living with God forever in heaven. If you can’t do what is right down here, how will you do it in heaven? God does not give options, Satan does!

1 Kings 18:21

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

We need to understand that this is our preparation for going to heaven. How can you do what you want to do, not listen to God, and think you’ll go back with God. How can you live lavishly in this world, doing drugs, drinking, crimes etc, and at the last minute finally decided to believe in Jesus when He appears? While you are allowed to see another day, let that time be spent trying to find out who He is now. Build a relationship with Him.

God does not want us to rely on options. He wants you to have life, but you can choose either life or death.

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Understanding Spiritual Gifts

Understanding Spiritual Gifts

Their Origin and Purpose

Notes from Dr. Dale A. Robbins & Pastor Tony Catron

Quotations are directly from Dr. Robbins

 

“The ministry of Spiritual Gifts originates in the New Testament…the Holy Spirit [was sent] to equip His [Jesus] church with power and spiritual gifts (Greek— charismata)…” Ephesians 4:11 lists gifts of the 5 fold ministry, which every ministry should have to show the fruit of their calling the Jesus. Anyone can set up a ministry, or call themselves a Pastor or Bishop, yet what are their fruit presenting?

Ephesians 4:11 states the following: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Moving on to Romans 12:3-7 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-12;28, we find more gifts.

Romans 12:3-7

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

1 Corinthians 12:1-12; 28

12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

People rush out and try to operate in a gift that they don’t have. Jumping out ahead will cause you to have a shipwreck, bringing discouragement in ministry. People go out without no foundation and no support. Be careful. The gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11, Romans 12:3-7 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-12;28, are “generally assigned to one of three categories , as listed below”:

  • Ministry (office) gifts: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher.
  • Motivational (practical) gifts: Service, Exhortation, Giving, Leadership, Mercy, Helps and Administration.
  • Charismatic (spiritual) gifts: Wisdom, Knowledge, Discernment, Prophecy, Tongues, Interpretation, Faith, Healing and Miracles.
Are Charismatic Gifts for Today?

1 Corinthians 13:8-10 is as follows:

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

This passage is often cited to say that spiritual gifts are done away with. However, history says otherwise. “Church History clearly refutes any notion that charismatic gifts faded away after the apostolic era. Other than diminishing somewhat during the middle ages (probably due to the inaccessibility to scripture by the common people), it is obvious that spiritual gifts were never completely absent from the church. Scores of statements to this effect were recorded by church leaders such as Irenaeus, who wrote around A.D. 150 ‘…we hear many of the brethren in the church who have prophetic gifts, and who speak in tongues through the spirit, and who alos bring to light the secret things of men for the benefit…'”

1 Corinthians 13:8-10 does not describe gifts coming to an end, it means that prophecies can fail die to people not being moved by the Holy Ghost, and that tongues and knowledge will fail for the same reason.

Next week will will continue with the 9 Charismatic Gifts.