Is God's Word Our Authority? (Authority over Creation)

This week will begin a series based on God and His Word. Is this Word authoritative? Can we trust it’s guidance for our lives? These are some questions that have been debated for centuries and are very prevalent today.  With God’s Word becoming less of a priority in individuals lives (even some Christians today) it is necessary that we ask this question: Is God’s Word our authority? We will investigate this question by looking at God’s Word in regards to Creation, Miracles, Christian Evidences, and Our Lives. 

If Christians believe that God’s word is verbal plenary inspiration (word for word from the mouth of God – 2 Timothy 3:16), then we should investigate God’s words in and of themselves. Do they have authority? Well, let us begin this week by looking at the Creation. 

It is interesting to see how God made or created all that we see around us. When we think about our creations, physical effort seems to be implied. What did God have to do in order to make or create the earth and the stars and galaxies?  Every time God makes or creates something during the six days of creation all that is accounted are these words, “Then God said…” (Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 14, 20, 24, 26, NASB).That’s all it took – a spoken word. “Let there be light,” “Let the earth bring forth living creatures…” “Let Us make man in Our image…” etc. A spoken word is the only evidence given us as to how the creation came about. We see the same said in Psalm 33:6-9 when it says, 

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,

And by the breath of His mouth all their host.

He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;

He lays up the deeps in storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the Lord;

Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

For He spoke, and it was done;

He commanded, and it stood fast.

All it took was a word, a simple command, and the Lord created all we see around us. Does that not sound like authority to you? It sure does to me! If anyone can create anything remotely as beautiful and as complex as this earth, the galaxies and all of creation by a simple word, then their words deserve to be trusted. But, our investigation of the authority of God’s word does not stop here, this is only the beginning. Come back next week to see God’s word in regards to Christ’s miracles.

Learning to be Content

Last week’s article was on jealousy, and we examined Paul’s actions. Even when he was being harmed by certain individuals, Paul rejoiced that Christ was being proclaimed (Philippians 1:15-18).  He did not let his pride get in the way and become jealous for his own cause, but instead rejoiced. The focus was on who’s reputation is at stake when it comes to jealousy. It is not our own, but Christ’s. 

If you think about it, our lack of contentment from time to time stems back to jealousy. We see something we want and we get jealous. The end result is that we are not content in the situation we are in – instead, we get jealous. With this in mind, we are again going to look at Paul’s example within the same book. 

“…for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11-13).

 

Paul was able to live in any area of life, both “with humble means,” and “in prosperity”.  He “learned to be content” in these areas of life. How did he do this? Because he, “learned the secret,” in regards to these life styles. What was his secret to contentment? It is found in verse 13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” 

If we have a problem with contentment, let us focus on the good things instead (Philippians 4:8), and “Rejoice in the Lord always…” (4:4, 10) leaning upon His strength (4:13). If we are not content, we are losing our foothold in the strength that God gives. Christ wants us to stand up in any situation we are in, whether we are rich or poor, married or single, popular or not. He wants us to stand up in the strength that He gives and live our lives for Him. If we can do this, we will learn to be content in all things and live a happy and fulfilled life for Christ!

Rising Above Jealousy

There are a lot of different ways one could look at jealousy. Today, we are going to discuss a simple idea, and that is rising above jealousy for Christ’s-sake. I’m pretty sure all of us already know that jealousy is wrong and harmful in so many ways, but let’s look at why we must chose to rise above jealousy.  In order to do this, we will look at Paul’s example in Philippians chapter one.

In this chapter, Paul is imprisoned and thankful for the situation he is in for the gospel’s sake (Philippians 1:12-13). Many, because of his example, are speaking, “…the word of God without fear.”(1:14, NASB), while others, “…are preaching Christ even from envy and strife...” (1:15). The men who do this, do so because of “…selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me [Paul] distress in my imprisonment.” (1:17, Emphasis mine). 

Many times when we get jealous over our brothers and sisters, it is over petty things, such as job status, popularity, or characteristics. Think now about what Paul was going through. He was not dealing with a simple feud as we do, he had these individuals preaching the gospel, not out of “pure motives” (1:17), but to slander Paul’s reputation in order to cause him “distress”. Don’t you think that if anyone had a right to be jealous it would be Paul? However, what was Paul’s reaction to this?

Paul said, “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.” (1:18). Even when Paul’s reputation was being slandered, he did not get jealous, but rejoiced in the fact that Christ was proclaimed by these selfish and jealous individuals. Why did he do this? Because he knew what was at stake – the reputation of Christ.

The next time you have the urge to get jealous over petty little things that revolve around pride or personal status, think carefully about the cost. We must remember that it is not our reputation that is at stake, it is Christ’s. That means when we feel that our pride has been struck, we must step down and resist the urge to be jealous, for Christ’s sake. That means when we feel we deserve the thanks, but another is getting it – forget about it, because Christ’s reputation is at stake.  Let us chose to rise above jealousy for the sake of Christ!

Thoughts on the 4th of July

Is the United States of America really “united”? It seems that in this country there is a lot of division. There are different political parties, and there are different beliefs between those parties. Even within each and every party there are differing beliefs. All these differences point to one word, and that word is division. Party is fighting party, and man letting down his fellow man. There are courts held with differing opinions. There are lawyers fighting lawyers. There are news stations competing with others over the recent political battles. This nation is full of division. 

Isn’t it funny that on Independence Day, or the 4^th of July, our country gets united with a patriotic mindset? We forget about our differing ideas. We forget about who said what and who believes what, and we come together to celebrate the liberty of this nation.

This is sad when a nation cannot get together in unity except for important days in our county’s history, but what about the church? Do we ever find disunity within the church? Unfortunately we do.  This sister is talking about that sister. This brother is arguing with that brother. This preacher is talking badly about that preacher. This elder is criticizing the other elder. These deacons are in an uproar. But, when Sunday comes around, we all come together to worship God as if nothing happened! 

What? Is this the way God intended the church to be? No, in fact, it is the exact opposite. God wanted his church to be unified as one solid unit (e.g. Ephesians 4:4-6).  He wanted the church to look out for each other’s needs as the priority, even above self’s (Philippians 2:3). He wanted us to “…love one another, for love is from God” (1 John 4:7, NASB). 

If we, as the church, are arguing, gossiping, and hurting one another outside of worship, but then coming together in “unity” during worship, what are we accomplishing? The answer is nothing, because, “the one who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:8).  If we do not love each other, then we do not know God. If we do not know God, then we are not His children, and if we are not His children our worship service is in vain. 

Am I saying that all of the church is this way? Not at all. But, we must be careful how we treat one another, because the sad fact is, sometimes this is the case. We cannot live in disunity six out of the seven days of or our week and expect to be alright. Instead, let us lift up one another and seek each other’s needs above our own, so that we can live in oneness, and truly be a united church under our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!