Tag:

word of God

Never Apologize

by TerryLema

Last Sunday, Pastor Paul brought a message out of Psalm 119:9-16. At one point in the message about the Word of God, Pastor Paul said, “never apologize for the Word of God.”

That reminded me of a time when I did just that.

I was in Bible College and going to a church affiliated with the college. There was one professor, a pastor, that I did not like very well. I really did not like his style of preaching. Sometimes I did not agree with his teaching either. My philosophy for taking exams in that class was, “you may not agree with everything, just give him what he wants on the tests.”

One Sunday I invited a friend to church and as it would happen, that pastor was the one bringing the message. I cringed as he spoke and wondered what my friend was thinking. Then came the end of service and the altar call. I was ready to apology for this pastor and the message when my friend brushed me aside and literally ran down to the altar.

In that moment I heard God say, “never apologize for my word or the vessel I use to bring it.”

Had I been able to block my friend and apologize for the message and the messenger, my friend would not have surrendered her life to Jesus that day.

God was gracious to me. Stopped me in my tracks. God was gracious to her. Set her on the right track. Praise His Holy Name!

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The Sword That Heals

by TerryLema

Somehow, I ended up in Hebrews 4 this week in my personal reading. I love this chapter. It begins with a warning to not miss the “rest” God has for us – as Israel missed the rest God had for her through disobedience.  “Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.”

My favorite part of Chapter 4 immediately follows that warning. “For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.”  [4:12 HCSB]

Ever been stabbed by the Word of God?  Boy, I have.  That double-edged sword has found a work in me on many occasions.  I’ll be going along in life, unaware of (or ignoring) the fact that parts of my life are not fully surrendered to my Lord, and then the Word of God will leap off the pages and stab me in that very place.

It will penetrate thoughts and attitudes to reveal the ones that are rightfully reflecting the image of Jesus, and the ones that are not, effectively dividing my spirit in Christ from my mind, will and emotions still operating in my flesh.

Yet, the one thing that makes that double-edged sword different is that it not only divides, judges and separates, it also heals.  The cut is sharp and straight and slices away those parts that are not fully surrendered to God, those parts where my attitudes still sit on the throne of my heart.  Then healing floods in and wholeness is restored.

I think sometimes those parts where God has had to cut the deepest are now places where He is strongest in me.  Those wounds that were the rawest and hurting are now the places of greatest joys and comfort.

This walk of faith will require costly changes in our minds, our attitudes, and our behaviors.  But as we pay the price of surrender here, we will reap the rewards in eternity.

 

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The Bible

by TerryLema

I was reading a meme on Facebook recently about a Gallup poll. It began, “Americans revere the Bible-but, by and large, they don’t read it – Gallup.”

The post concluded that ministers of the Word cannot assume people will be familiar with the Scriptures, even well-known ones. One minister commented that we have our work cut out for us.

There are probably many reasons why people do not read their Bibles. How many have you heard?  “I don’t have time.” “I don’t understand it.” Etc. Etc.

There is a reason, however, that few will admit to, but it may be the primary one.  It is found in Hebrews.

“For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.”  [Hebrews 4:12 HCSB]

The Word of God is alive and powerful. It is also sharper than a sword. And, as such it judges the thoughts and intents of our hearts.  The Word of God judges us, we do not judge the Word.

The Word of God reaches deep into our souls. It compares our outward parts with our hidden ones. It makes us see ourselves as we really are. To see ourselves in the Word usually highlights a need for repentance and change.

While that can be a difficult experience, it is the only thing that will set us free.

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I’m Hungry!

by TerryLema

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom ….” [Col 3:16a]

When my babies were little, they were so cute and adorable, until they were hungry. Then they got cranky and fussy and demanding. Their empty bellies hurt, and they would not be satisfied until they were filled again.

As preschoolers they learned to tell me they were hungry, and sometimes were adamant about what they wanted to eat. At times it was a struggle to get them to eat healthy. They just wanted what they wanted.

Then they reached their teens (especially my boys) and I could not keep enough food in the house. They raided the refrigerator, the pantry, the cookie jar, the freezer (frozen pizzas!). They fed themselves whenever they wanted.

Paul reminds us to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly. There comes a time in the life of the believer when we must feed on the Word of God ourselves. We do not need any longer to have someone else feed us, nor do we need to blame someone else for our spiritual hunger.

That old reason for leaving a church, “I am not being fed …” is really a warning about our own lack of study and persistence in the Scriptures (unless we really are new babes in the LORD). The Scriptures are quite clear, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” [2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV]

Hebrews 5:11-14 also reminds us that there is to come a time in the life of every believer where we abandon milk and where we seek solid food, a mature walk with Christ Jesus, and become those competent to teach others. As Colossians reminds us, we are to teach and admonish one another with all wisdom.

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