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The Function of Biblical Revelation

The Function of Biblical Revelation

What is Biblical Revelation? Why is it important for a Christian to know this information? That is the purpose of this study. Biblical revelation will be discussed and analyzed and we’ll discuss 3 different functions of biblical revelation.

The first function of biblical revelation is “to reveal God to human beings. God takes the first step by revealing himself so that people can find and know him” (Suwandoko and Duncan 1981, 22). God is gracious to show Himself to people who seek Him. If a father plays hide and seek with his son and the father continues to call out his sons name throughout the game, it is easier for the son to find the father. God is calling out your name today, and He gives you the Bible to reveal Himself in greater ways.

The second function of biblical revelation is to uncover truth that people didn’t understand before. “We may know something about God from His creation or through our reason, but only through biblical revelation can we know God Himself” (Suwandoko and Duncan 1981, 23). When non-believers come to faith in Jesus, they need the truth uncovered about Christ so that they can grow in they relationship with God. God reveals Himself through the Bible so that people can understand the truth of who He is. Psalm 119:130 “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple” (ESV).

The third function of biblical revelation is to provide fellowship. “If two people remain separated and unknown to each other there is no communication or fellowship between them” (Suwandoko and Duncan 1981, 24). God wants to provide fellowship with His children because each of us are very important to Him. After all, we were all created in God’s image, so we have already been special to God since He began mankind. Gen 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” God loved man enough to be created in His image and He wants relationship with us. He made it possible through the reading of the Bible.

The function of biblical revelation is to reveal God to human beings, to uncover truth that they didn’t know before, and to provide fellowship with Him. God loves us so much that He desired to make it easy for people to come to know Him. People must simply search the Bible to come to a closer relationship with their Father in Heaven.

Reference List:

Suwandoko, Roslim and Duncan, David. 1981. The Bible and The Church: An Independent- Study Textbook. Springfield, MO: Global University.

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Five Important Counseling Questions

When engaging in Christian counseling, the kind of questions that counselors ask will make or break the counseling session. For this informational blog, there will be 5 important questions analyzed and discussed that counselors should ask their counselees. These questions will foster a helpful atmosphere in which counselees will be able to bring out their true feelings about the situation at hand.

Question Number 1: What is going on?

This question may seem obvious, but it’s extremely important. By asking the counselee why they are there and what is going on will help the counselor understand the reason for having the counseling session in the first place. This question will give the counselor a glimpse into the persons situation at hand and help the counselee to feel like their thoughts are being heard. Listening during this question is of utmost importance as they counselee will connect better with the counselor if the are truly listening.

Question Number 2: What were you thinking as the situation was in progress?

By asking this question, the counselee is challenged to think about what was going through their head during the time of the incident at hand. It could have been one incident or multiple incidents. Ask the counselee what they are feeling and what was going through their head. This will give the counselor a glimpse into the counselee’s heart and give you an idea of where you need to start in your counseling process. This may also give you insight into their spiritual life as well.

Question Number 3: How did you respond to what was going on?

This is where the rubber meets the road. This is where you understand the motives of the counselee’s heart. You may receive information in this question that you may need to report to local authorities as pastors are mandatory reporters. For instance, if the situation is a father who was dealing with a disobedient 6 year old and the father admits to physical abuse, counselors will need to report this information to authorities. Regardless of how they responded to what is going on, this will give the counselor a good idea of where they are spiritually as well. This will also communicate to the counselee that you hear them and that they are important.

Question Number 4: Why did you do what you do? What were you trying to accomplish?

Sometimes, the person may not know why they did what they did. That is okay. Do not try and force an answer in this question. Most of the time, they will be able to give you a few possibilities as to why they did what they did. Hear them out during this time. Do not react negatively to what they say. Just take in the information, store it, and process later. Most times, counselors will need to vent to another counselor after a session just to get it off their chest. This is okay to do with a trusted colleague or lead pastor. This will give you a look into the counselees heart when they answer this question and give the counselor a good idea of how to help them.

Question Number 5: What were the results or consequences of your actions?

This question may result in a great deal of emotion from your counselee. Sometimes the way that a person responded may have hurt someone else in a terrible way. Again, hear them out, listen closely to keywords that could be used later in counseling to steer them in the right direction, and accept them where they are at.

After these 5 questions are asked, the counselor has a good idea of where to begin in their counseling sessions. Getting all the information possible is very important so that the counselor can confidently give the counselee a basis for how to come to a positive solution.

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SLR - Intro to World Lit

In writing, there are four points of view that people can write from. In this study, we will look at the four different points of view that people write from and analyze each one to understand them.

The first one we will look at is the omniscient point of view. Whether the author writes a short story, a novel, or another type of writing, this point of view dictates the story from the perspective of knowing everything the is going on. Omniscient means “all knowing.” The narrator will describe each character and what they are feeling, what they are doing, and will present the situation as a whole. The narrator will use pronouns such as “he, his, him, she, her, they, their, and them” (Awbrey and VanHuss 2012, 55). Just as God is all knowing and is able to understand the thoughts of the human heart, the attitude of our heart, and interpret our next move, so the omniscient author does the same. Aubrey and VanHuss describe this point of view as god-like, because the narrator knows everything that is happening (56).

The second point of view is the third-person limited - omniscient point of view. This point of view “is like the omniscient point of view except on way: it is limited to the thoughts, emotions, and perspective of only one character” (Awbrey and VanHuss 2012, 56). In this point of view, the narrator is giving his/her point of view for the duration of the story, but they are limited to that one characters emotions and feelings. In this point of view, when the narrator is talking about the character in one scene of the story, the narrator cannot switch back to what another character is doing in another location. This type of switch could happen with the first omniscient point of view, but it does not happen with the third person limited point of view.

The third point of view is the first-person point of view. “Instead of a separate reporter attached to the viewpoint of a particular character and speaking about that person, the reporter disappears into the character. That character… speaks in his or her particular dialect and tone (Awbrey and VanHuss 2012, 56). When reading the story, readers are not reading a perspective on the character, they are reading directly from the characters mouth what is happening in the book. This kind of point of view is interesting because on never really knows what could happen next. Suspense really builds with this type of point of view.

The fourth and final point of view is objective. “The objective point of view can best be understood by thinking of the view camera. It records the actions and statements of anyone within the camera and microphone range. We can take our camera to a wedding and zoom in on the bride and groom making their vows. Then we can aim at various guests to record their reactions” (Awbrey and VanHuss 2012, 57). This point of view make it impossible to know what else is happening in a given story because the author focuses on whoever they want to have in the picture of the story at any given time. This point of view brings “an object record of what took place” (Awbrey and VanHuss 2012, 57).

The four points of views discussed in this study were omniscient, third-person limited, first person, and objective. Each were discussed and analyzed to help readers understand the different perspectives that an author can have. Understanding these points of view help readers to better grasp the information as they read a story.

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Rewards of Faith

Hebrews 11 describes faith as the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not yet seen. Living a life of faith means that you trust God with everything in life. You trust Him with your job, finances, future, spouse, children, your relationship with Him, and all other areas of life. Of course, having faith in God is exactly what we need to get through life, but sometimes the phrasing of it gets to be cliche. Why is faith important? What happens when someone lives a life of faith? These questions will be answered in this study as we look into the rewards of faith. The amazing thing about faith is that it is rewarded by God Himself. Three rewards will be mentioned in today’s study.

The first reward of faith is that your faith is strengthened. “Abraham’s faith was increased until he believed in God’s resurrection power… Sometimes God takes us through trials and even causes us to face death so we will look beyond life here and find Christ, the Resurrection and Life” (Hoff 1981, 223). See, when we look at the life of Abraham, we understand that he was a perfect example of living a life of faith. One of his first encounters with his calling in life was when God told him that him and his wife were going to have a baby at the age of 99. This is far too old for the average person to have a baby, but God told Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. For Abraham to believe this takes amazing faith! Well, God came through with His promise and they bore a son: Isaac. Because of this, when God eventually told Abraham to sacrifice his son on the altar, Abraham followed God’s directions because he had faith that God would carry him through and that God’s plan was far greater than his plans. Abraham got to the point just before killing his son, Isaac, when God stopped him before he was sacrificed. Abraham’s faith was strengthened from early on in his calling, and this is what happens for those who continue to have faith in God.

The second reward of faith is that you know God better as a result. When you have faith in God, you get to know Him better because the more you spend time with someone, the more you know them; the same goes with God. When someone puts their faith in God enough times, they will continue to draw closer to the Creator and get to know Him better. This will help people make decisions in the future, help them in everyday life, and help to trust God’s future calls with more confidence. For instance, I have dreams from God every once in a while, and when I wake up from the dream, I know exactly what they mean and I know exactly what God is trying to tell me. So, it gives me confidence to act upon what God has spoken to me in my dream because God has proven faithful when I do the things I hear Him say. Now, I’m not a dream fanatic, but every once in a while when He speaks to me in that way, I take it seriously, because I’ve grown to know the voice of God better.

The third and final reward for faith is that promises and guidance is given. This is seen clearly through Abraham yet again. “In the renewal of the covenant promises, God added that Abraham’s descendants would triumph over their enemies (Genesis 22:17). He stated that the promises would be fulfilled because Abraham had obeyed Him. This does not mean that God’s promises are to be earned by what we do. All His blessings are gifts of God’s grace” (Hoff 1981, 225). When we have faith in God and stay faithful even through the tests and the trials of life, God will come through with his promises and even give us guidance on what’s to come. This helps us know that God doesn’t leave us in the dust when we go through trials, but it helps to know that He’s with us and He’s carrying us through life’s most difficult circumstances.

Hebrews 11 describes faith as the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not yet seen. It’s important that one sees the rewards for faith seen in the life of Abraham. He died many years ago, but his example is still changing hearts and lives yet today. Whenever your faith is tested, stay faithful to God and He’ll carry you through. Reference List:

Hoff, Paul B., 1981. “Genesis: An Independent Study Guide.” Springfield, MO: Global University.

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Christian Counseling SLR

In Christian Counseling, pastors will most likely be performing marriage counseling at some point in their ministry. This is an important aspect of counseling. In this blog, I will discuss the four stages of the marriage process as it has to do with marital counseling. These phases come from Rozell in “Christian Counseling: An Independent-Study Textbook.”

The first phase of marriage is the “forming phase.” In the forming phase, two people must come together and have the same goals in mind for life. Two people desire to be together for life and commit their lives to each other and eventually get married.

The second phase of marriage is the “storming phase.” You have heard it said that eventually the honeymoon phase ends and the marriage becomes more about a choice than it is about emotion. This is what the storming phase refers to. The first conflict comes up, the first difference of opinion arises, and there are issues to face. The reason that conflict comes up is because it is typically unexpected. Sometimes we have expectations of our spouses that are unmet and we immediately get upset. If we would stop expecting our spouses to do different things, we wouldn’t be as disappointed. Some of these unmet expectations occur at the beginning of marriage because roles are being determined such as taking out the trash, laundry, and doing the dishes. The storming phase isn’t very exciting, but it is a part of life.

The third phase is the “norming phase in which people find solutions to their differences” (Rozell 2002, 304). The norming phase doesn’t ever stop in life as problems never completely go away. Solutions continue being needed throughout all of a couple’s marriage and this is how married people continue to better themselves.

The fourth phase is the “performing phase in which goals are met” (Rozell 2002, 304). This is when married folks finally see the results of the issues that they have worked through. In this phase, there is much joy and excitement that happens because a marriage has been through the fire, worked through the issues, and seen the result of hard work.

When a couple can work through these phases together, they are truly united as one in the Lord and they will grow stronger as a result. Marriage is difficult at times, and God gives people the strength to be married work through the marriage process together.

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Tongues and Interpretation During the Church Service

When it comes to speaking in tongues and prophecy in church services, many people have their own pre-conceived notions about what this means and how it should happen. Some of those notions are based on the church in which people grew up. Some of them are based on what seems best to do in the moment. In this brief overlook of tongues and prophecy in the Church, we’ll cover a few different parts of this topic while using Scripture directly from 1 Corinthians to do so.

Many people rely on their past experiences of tongues and prophecy to determine how they will give a word during a church service. Their past experiences may sometimes give them a skewed perception on how it should be done. For me, I grew up in a church where the same people would speak in tongues and give an interpretation themselves.

Now, this isn’t necessarily wrong, but after weeks on end of the same person giving these words during the service, wouldn’t one get a little skeptical of speaking in tongues and prophecy? Perhaps this person is using a “speaking in tongues” and “prophecy” moment to have their moment of glory in the church. Perhaps this person is looking for a pedestal in which to speak to the entire congregation.

One wouldn’t dare speak these things out loud because that just seems skeptical and rude. However, if you really think about it, I’m sure you’ve thought this at one time or another during the course of your church-going years of years of ministry. I won’t ask for a show of hands, though; don’t worry. Now, it might be ironic that the writer of this blog post has been a worship leader for 10+ years and has heard tongues and interpretation for years on end.

If someone who is doubting tongues and interpretations validity in the church, taking a look into Scripture can help them determine whether or not the word you hear in church is of God or not. Let’s start towards the end of 1 Corinthians 14, then we’ll jump back to the beginning of the chapter.

1 Corinthians 14:29 "Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said.” Paul says that the people in the congregation must weigh what is said. How do the others weigh what is said? Listen to what they say, and if it does not line up with other Scripture in the Bible, then they are most likely not speaking a word from the Lord. If this is so, how does this get taken care of? The first time it happens, the pastor should meet with the individual after service or during the week and have a conversation letting them know that the word was not, in fact, a word from the Lord and help them understand that it did not line up with Scripture.

If they speak a false word again the week after, perhaps the pastor would meet once more individually; however, in my opinion, 3 strikes, and you’re out. If the person does it again on the third week, at this point, it seems to be deliberate, incorrect speaking out during the service and should be handled publicly.

I heard a story a while back of two men in a church service where they had spoken in tongues and the other had interpreted for weeks on end. The pastor met with them individually many times, but to no avail. The next time they started speaking out during service, the pastor got up in front the the entire congregation and shut the men down during service. He asked them not to speak because it was not proper at the time. Pastors will handle these type of things in many different ways.

Another good measuring tool to use is if the person speaking in tongues and interpreting does not have a fruitful, visible, and consistent relationship with God outside of the church service, they probably wouldn’t have a valid word of tongues or interpretation. This sounds harsh, but 1 Corinthians 14:29 does ask us to test the word of interpretation.

1 Corinthians 14:4-6 "A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church. I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened. Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful."  

Scripture says that if someone is speaking in tongues, but there is no interpretation, it is truly of no use unless someone interprets. Paul uses the example of speaking in an unknown language to help them understand this points better. For example, if someone came in and preached a message completely in Chinese to an English speaking church, everyone would walk out not understanding anything from the service. Sure, the Spirit of God would have been present and working, but no one would understand any of the words. Paul relates this to tongues and interpretation during the church service. Words of tongues and interpretation must be tested by Scripture.

When it comes to speaking in tongues and prophecy in church services, many people have their own pre-conceived notions about what this means and how it should happen. Thankfully, we can look into Scripture and understand a lot more about how this functions in the church service.

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Create in Me a Pure Heart

King David searched for love in the wrong place

2 Samuel 11:1-6

In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.

2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.) Then she went back home. 5 The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.” 6 So David sent this word to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent him to David.

David knew that the wives would be alone because this Scripture talks about how the husbands just went out to fight in the war. This shows that David knew that he was committing a sin in the eyes of the Lord. This scripture also says that he knew she was married, so, again, he knew that he was doing wrong. This scripture makes me think that he viewed people as objects instead of people. This could have something to do with his position as king.

2 Samuel 11:7-17

7 When Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were and how the war was going. 8 Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him. 9 But Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master’s servants and did not go down to his house.

10 David was told, “Uriah did not go home.” So he asked Uriah, “Haven’t you just come from a military campaign? Why didn’t you go home?”

11 Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents,[a] and my commander Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!”

Uriah was obviously full of pride and arrogance because Uriah didn’t go home to be with his wife. He wanted to look good in the eyes of the king, so he went to be with the servants instead of going home.

12 Then David said to him, “Stay here one more day, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13 At David’s invitation, he ate and drank with him, and David made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his mat among his master’s servants; he did not go home.

14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15 In it he wrote, “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.” 16 So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest defenders were. 17 When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in David’s army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died.

King David covered up his sin with more sin. Not only did he sleep with another man’s wife; he also put her husband on the frontlines of the battle to be killed. Another thing that we see here is that Uriah cared more about the army than being a husband. David gave him the option to go back and be with his wife for an evening, but he wanted to look good in the eyes of the king, so he slept by the servants. David wasn’t much better as he did whatever he could to make it seem as if he did nothing wrong. David invited Uriah over for dinner to make it seem as if David did nothing wrong.

David realized his wrong

2 Samuel 12:1-6 (MSG)

Nathan said to him, “There were two men in the same city—one rich, the other poor. The rich man had huge flocks of sheep, herds of cattle. The poor man had nothing but one little female lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up with him and his children as a member of the family. It ate off his plate and drank from his cup and slept on his bed. It was like a daughter to him. “One day a traveler dropped in on the rich man. He was too stingy to take an animal from his own herds or flocks to make a meal for his visitor, so he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared a meal to set before his guest.” David exploded in anger. “As surely as God lives,” he said to Nathan, “the man who did this ought to be lynched! He must repay for the lamb four times over for his crime and his stinginess!”

3a. Nathan tells David the story about a rich man stealing a poor man’s lamb, and it frustrates David! David can’t believe someone would be so stingy to a poor man. However, David realizes that he was acting like the rich man stealing from the poor man.

2 Samuel 12:7-13

Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’ “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’” Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

David realizes that what he did was wrong. Have you ever been there? David admits his wrong, and this shows the heart of a repentant man

2 Samuel 12:13 “…Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.”

The Lord forgives David. Grace. David said, “I have sinned against the Lord.” His words didn’t change him. His heart was changed. His words reflected true heart change. He did wrong, he was broken, and God forgave him. 1 Samuel 13 describes David as a man after God’s own heart.

David was searching for romance, searching for love in all the wrong places. After he committed one sin, it turned into many more. People don’t just wake up one day and desire to commit adultery. It’s progressive. As David realized he was in the midst of sin, he desired to made right with God and penned these words in the very next chapter…

Psalm 51:10-12 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

No matter where your heart is today, I encourage you to pray this prayer as King David did. We’re always in need of becoming more and more like Christ.

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Stand up for Your Faith

In this study, I want to talk about standing up for your faith no matter what it takes. I know that a study like this can sound very cliché and sound easier said than done. A lot of people talk about “taking a stand for your faith” and talking about it in a way in which it is very easy and what everyone should do. However, there were some men in the 1300’s that took a stand for their faith and it wasn’t easy. Specifically, they were in disagreement with things that were happening in the Catholic Church.

John Wycliffe was a professor of theology and philosophy at Oxford and was teaching students about the problems in the Catholic Church. He didn’t believe in much of the authority of the popes. “He believed that God directly touched each person and that the role of the popes was of minor importance… He even went so far as to question the validity of some of the sacraments” (Edgar et al. 2008, 435).

Wycliffe died in 1384, but was declared a heretic years later by the Catholic Church. Personally, I disagree with the Catholic Church on Wycliffe being a heretic, because truly, the popes shouldn’t be elevated above anyone else. We have one God, one King, and one master, and His name is God. However, because the Catholic Church dubbed Wycliffe as a heretic, they took his dead corpse out of the ground, burned it, and threw the ashes in a river because they didn’t want anyone to find his grave and honor him.

Another man, John Hus, was a student of Wycliffe that agreed with him and would include different points from Wycliffe in his messages. “In his preaching, he openly acknowledged his debt to Wycliffe and refused to join in condemning him in 1410” (Edgar et al. 2008, 435). He was then excommunicated from the Catholic Church, tied to a stake, burned alive, and his ashes thrown into a river.

The Catholic Church was pretty brutal and resorted to throwing burned bodies in rivers whenever they had a problem with someone! Another man that didn’t appreciate the teachings of the Catholic Church was Martin Luther. If you know his story, you understand that he was against the sale of indulgences, meaning that the Catholic Church would have people pay priests to get their dead relatives out of purgatory faster. Luther created his 95 Theses and nailed them to the Wittenberg church door. They included biblical support for why some of the Catholic traditions were biblically wrong. He was told to recant his Theses, but he refused saying this…

Unless I am convicted of error by the testimony of Scripture or (since I put not trust in the unsupported authority of Pope or of councils, since it is plain that they have often erred and often contradicted themselves) by manifest reasoning I stand convicted by the Scriptures to which I have appealed, and my conscience is taken captive by God’s word, I cannot and will not recant anything, for to act against our conscience is neither safe for us, nor open to us. On this I take my stand, I can do no other. God help me. Amen. (Edgar et al. 2008, 439)

There were men who stood up for what was right in history and they are to be noted. One thing to remember when others come against you in your faith, rejoice because you have a great reward in Heaven coming your way. Luke 6:22-23 “Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets” (NIV 2011). Standing up for your faith may not be easy, but Jesus Christ gave up His life for everyone on Earth to have an opportunity for eternal life. When adversity comes your way, remember what the great men of our early Christian faith did, and understand that it could be worse.

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3 Commitments for Discipleship Leaders

In church, it is important to have a strong discipleship program. Even more important is to have a strong leader over that program. Often times, this role gets given to a lead pastor. If it is a bigger church, the role may be handed to a staff pastor. A wise decision is to find someone in the congregation that is passionate about fulfilling the Great Commission and giving them the responsibility to lead that ministry.

Whoever it is in the church, they should be training other people under them to be leaders as well. This will help other people to help fulfill the Great Commission in their area. Spiritual leaders that are training others should make three commitments that will help in training other leaders. Being a leader can be tough; it is not for the faint of heart. That is the reason why these three commitments should be recognized and implemented.

The first one is the commitment to being a disciple-making leader. “Apart from their own walk with God, spiritual leaders must make equipping and leadership training their first and highest priority. They must not allow other important concerns to overshadow their discipleship responsibilities” (Jaffe 2013, 253)

There are many things that can distract from discipleship opportunities; there are many times that it could even be people in the church. There are many people with many different needs and a lot of times they come to their pastor about their needs. This is not a problem by any means. One of the pastors’ roles is to help give spiritual guidance in life to parishioners in the church; but even then, it should not distract from the important task of discipleship.

The second commitment is being an empowering leader. “Spiritual leaders must not only give responsibilities to individuals who demonstrate solid leadership instincts and the ability to influence others, but also gradually release them to own those responsibilities. They must also give the potential leaders the freedom to fail in order to learn” (Jaffe 2013, 253). It is no doubt that pastors need help to do the ministry of the Church. Pastors cannot do it on their own and it is their job to empower other people to do the work as well. Leaders should empower people to have the freedom to fulfill the tasks allowing them to use their talents and abilities to influence the way it gets done. Part of empowering others is stepping aside to allow them to do the work. The quote above talked about releasing them to own those responsibilities. This means that they may fail, and that is okay. This leadership responsibility needs to be a learning experience.

The third commitment is being a transparent leader. People want to see genuine leaders and not leaders who are unsociable. They need to be open with the people they are leading so that they can see that they are not perfect people. They have struggles that they are going through sometimes just as much as the people they are leading. “We must accept that leaders are real people who will both succeed and fail. Prospective leaders must be able to see how their teachers respond in both instances” (Jaffe 2013, 253). I believe this will help the prospective leaders to learn what to do when trials come their way. If they see their leader curl up in a little ball and get defensive with every issue that comes, they will most likely do the same. However, if that leader rises up, trusts in the Lord, and does not let anything shake them, most likely, the prospective leaders will do the same.

These commitments are not necessarily difficult ones, but are definitely ones that should be mentioned and discussed. If you are a leader, consider these three commitments and analyze how you yourself could implement these commitments into your life.

Reference List: Jaffe, Michael. 2013. “Great Commission Strategies: An Independent-Study                         Textbook.” Global University: Springfield, MO.

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Miracles

I wanted to take some time to write about the miracles of Jesus Christ in the Bible and also in today’s society. It really is a confusing thing to think about and wrap your mind around. Why does God grant miracles to some and not to others? Why doesn’t God give everyone the miracle they’re looking for?

Many more questions can be asked and have been asked by biblical scholars throughout the years. In fact, “possibly nothing in the study of the life of Christ creates more debate than His miracles. The range of attitudes among Bible scholars varies from complete acceptance of His miracles to outright rejection” (McClaflin 1992 254).

Let’s specifically take a look at the definition of a miracle. “We commonly used the word miracle to translate several Greek words in the New Testament. The first word, dunameis, which means “mighty works,” emphasizes the power of Christ’s supernatural acts. The second word, terata, which gives us the idea of ‘wonders,” stresses the effect these miracles produce. The third word, semeia, which means ‘signs,’ indicates the purpose of miracles” (McClaflin 1992, 255).

The problem that many people have with miracles is that they generally go against the natural laws of science, law, and nature. For instance: Mary conceiving a child while still a virgin. This does not happen under normal circumstances. Science argues that somehow the seed had to be fertilized by someone or something. The nature of a miracle argues otherwise. God is the God is the impossible and can make the impossible possible. Luke 18:27 “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”

Now that we’ve researched the definition of a miracle, let’s take a look at a miracle from the Bible. In Luke 18, a blind man came to Jesus and wanted to see.

Luke 18:39–43 “‘Son of David, have mercy on Me!’

‘Be quiet!’  the people in front yelled at him.

But he only shouted louder, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him.

As the man came near, Jesus asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’

‘Lord,’ he said, ‘I want to see!’

And Jesus said, ‘All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.’ Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.”

To the science world, this miracle cannot be explained, which means that they will deny that it really happened. Christians live by faith and not by sight. The man in this miracle, however, lived by faith, and by sight; literally!

The constant thing that is seen by someone who is healed by Jesus is the faith that they have. Jesus said in Matthew 21 that if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can move a mountain. 

What would happen if your faith level was strengthened? Are you in need of a miracle today? Do you have faith in God that He can do it? Then my encouragement to you is to trust that God will do it, have faith that it will happen, and pray in that regard. Amazing things happen as we trust in God.

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Law of Entropy in Relation to Christ

In science, the Law of Entropy states that all systems go from order to disorder unless acted upon by an outside force. For instance, if someone cleans the body of an acoustic guitar, you’ll most likely have dust collect on it again after a given amount of time. If someone were to put water balloons on a trampoline and separate them by color, the second someone jumps on that trampoline, they will go out of order in an instant.

In the same way, when a little child is born, they have done nothing wrong. They are innocent, beautiful, and faultless children; yet, they are born into a sinful world. Have you ever noticed that you don’t have to teach a child how to have a temper tantrum? Any parent who would do that would be foolish in the first place. But think about it… children are never taught how to have a temper tantrum, they just seem to already know how to do this (and some never grow out of that stage).

This is because we are born into a sinful world. This all started with The Fall of Mankind, as explained in Genesis 3. Adam and Eve were given specific instructions by God not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Well, if you’ve read the story, you know they did eat of that tree, and that brought the beginning of sin upon humankind.

As the Law of Entropy states, all systems go from order to disorder. You can just look all around and see the disorder that is taking place. From corruption around the world, to corruption in the hearts of many people, there is obviously sin in this world. John 10:10 explains that Jesus said that “The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” We know that the enemy is the source of every temptation that anyone ever faces. Understanding this concept helps us to understand that our own very lives go from order to disorder. Naturally, we deserve death and we deserve hell as a result of our sinful actions and our nature.

As we understand this about our lives, we need to look at another clause in the Law of Entropy. Again, the Law of Entropy states that all systems go from order to disorder, unless acted upon by an outside force. Friends, there is an outside force for our lives and His name is Jesus Christ. John 14:6 says “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The hope that Christians have is that Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world on the cross. John 3:16 says “God so loved the world and He gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.”

Although the enemy would love to take down people around the world, the outside force (Jesus Christ) has complete power over Satan. Revelation 12:11 says that we have power over the enemy by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. Because Jesus died for our sins and shed His blood, the enemy has already been defeated giving believers the outside force that was needed to go from being in a state of disorder, to going back into order.

We take this for granted so many times and need to be brought back to basics every once in a while and remember the life transforming power of what Jesus Christ did for us. Thank God for the outside force that brings us back into order when we go into disorder!

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Role of the Pastor’s Helpmate

Role of the Pastor’s Helpmate

In ministry, a pastor’s spouse is very important in the pastor’s ministry and life. By saying “yes” to marriage, the spouse is also accepting the call to ministry just as the pastor has. This comes with a great responsibility and requires faithfulness to God. Of course the pastor has a responsibility to his or her spouse as well, but the focus in this short study will be on what the pastor’s spouses responsibilities are.

In this study, we’ll take a look at 3 places that a pastor’s spouse has a responsibility: in the home, in the church and to his or her spouse. These ideas have been acquired from an independent study textbook called “The Work of the Pastor” by Eleazer E. Javier.

1.      The home

“The home is a husbands or wife’s first responsibility. The pastor and his family may not like it to be so, but the people in the community know where the pastor lives and they watch his or her home” (Javier 2013, 98). The pastor and their spouse should maintain a clean home, a mowed yard, and look presentable.

At first glance, this may seem silly, but God has called us to do everything that we do for the glory of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (NIV 1984).

We should take care of ourselves not only for our personal discipline, but also so that others looking at our conduct will be able to see pastors as an example. Javier also mentions that pastors and their spouses should work together in order to make their house look presentable and keep it well maintained. The pastor’s family can then be an example for others to follow.

2.      The church

The pastor’s spouse also helps out in amazing ways in the church. When moving to a new town, some pastor’s and their spouses feel like they have to take on every task because it seems like no one else is stepping up to do anything.

Pastors and their spouses need to protect themselves from getting worn out by encouraging others to step up and lead in areas around the church. The pastor’s spouse can be very helpful in this area, too.

The pastor can suggest for someone to serve all day long, but some people believe that is his responsibility to recruit people for the ministry. When a pastor’s spouse comes along and encourages someone, it may help someone to realize that maybe they actually can do something in ministry.

“The pastor’s [spouse] can help make pastoral calls. Usually the pastor’s helpmate will not need to accompany him or her on routine calls. However, there are occasions when the spouse’s presence is helpful and necessary” (Javier 2013, 98). There may be times of counseling where a male pastor may need to go over to a single woman’s house for counseling.

This situation should really be avoided, but if this does need to happen, that pastor’s wife should come along for accountability reasons. Usually, though, if a male pastor is counseling another woman, they should meet at the church, or at a coffee shop out in the public. That protects the pastor from any liability issues that may arise.

“The pastor’s wife or husband may have a ministry of serving as a model and advising certain members of the community… They might counsel other women and teach them how to be good wives. For female pastors’ husbands, this means modeling what it means to be a godly man and head of the household. They might also be called upon to counsel other men” (Javier 2013, 99). Pastors’ spouses can have a great deal of influence on the people in church whether they like it or not. If a pastor’s wife retreats from everyone and shows no desire to spend time with anyone, there will be an unhealthy disconnect that occurs. Like it was stated before, there is a responsibility for pastors’ spouses, and they accept the call when they choose to marry a pastor.

3.      To his or her spouse

“The pastor’s helpmate gives personal support to his or her spouse. A pastor’s work can be stressful. In addition, there are many times when he or she may be discouraged. On these occasions, the mate can be a real helper because, when the pastor can talk to no one else, he or she can talk to his or her mate about disappointments and discouragements” (Javier 2013, 99). 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

Maybe the pastor had a very difficult day dealing with a lay person who does not like the color of the carpet in the sanctuary. Non-stop emails and phone calls came in all week from this person. Let’s say it got to the point of verbal attacking. (Because we all know that the color of the sanctuary carpet is a BIG deal!!) That pastor can talk to their spouse about the situation and ask them for prayer or guidance. That brings us to our next point.

“The pastor’s helpmate is a faithful critic. There are times when pastors’ spouses must be real friends to them and tell them things no one else can” (Javier 2013, 99). Sometimes pastors can be blind to the issues going on in their own lives. They may get complimented every Sunday about their amazing sermon, and it starts to go to their head and make them prideful.

The pastor’s spouse can most likely see when this is happening and gently approach their spouse about the issue. It may be difficult to hear, but sometimes, these things need to be said in order for them to be properly addressed.

“The pastor’s helpmate keeps confidences. One of the most important and necessary characteristics for both the pastor and his or her spouse is that they never repeat any confidential matters people share with them” (Javier 2013, 99). This may seem obvious, but something that needs to be addressed as a very serious matter.

Pastors may pray about needs of people in the church, but these things that people bring up to them must be held in the highest confidence. Trust can be destroyed between a lay person and their pastor if they find out that their pastor was talking to other lay people about that person’s counseling session. People trust the pastor, and pastors need to make sure to keep that confidence.

In this study, 3 things were discussed about the spouse of a pastor. How a pastor’s spouse is responsible in the home, in the church, and to his or her spouse. Agreeing to marry someone who is called into the ministry is accepting the call yourself. Pastor’s spouses have a great responsibility in supporting their spouse in the ministry.

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4 Moral Dangers of Computers and Solutions

Computers that have access to the internet can be greatly affected by spam emails, pop up advertisements, and scammers trying to access your finances. However, there are many moral dangers that can affect people as they use computers.

This study is not a slam on computers. It is more of an opportunity to be aware of the dangers that computers can produce and a solution to the issues.

The first thing that can affect a person using a computer is addiction. “Connecting to the Internet through a PC exposes a person to a variety of addictions, including online gambling, computer games, and pornography. In fact, in the past few years, research has established that using the Internet, chat, and e-mail or instant messaging (IM) can be addictive in and of themselves” (Laengrich 2012, 182).

One way to avoid addiction is to stay away from any website that specializes in the things listed above. Norton Laengrich mentions in his study guide “Introduction to Computers” that limiting one’s time on the computer is a positive and healthy way to stay away from becoming addicted. Restricting time on the computer to business or communicating with established friends is a great way to prevent temptation. One can also use pop-up blockers to take another step in the right direction. Again, it is not wrong to use a computer, but people should make sure to take steps to stay morally safe while using one.

The second thing that can affect a person using a computer is exposure to violence. Violent computers games that require their character in the game to kill other characters in the game can be dangerous to the believer. “In fact, studies show that violent video games may be more harmful than violent television or movies because they are interactive and require the player to identify with the aggressor… Some games also dabble in the occult, making them even more dangerous” (Laengrich 2012, 184).

Now, many Christians may play video games such as Call of Duty or Halo. When I was younger, we even played Halo at a church lock-in. I, personally, have enjoyed some of those games, and even though they may not make us violent people, we should still protect our minds from danger. The enemy can get a foothold on us even more so if we are participating in things that Satan specializes in: violence. Paul gives us insight in Philippians 4:8: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”

Laengrich suggests that we use internet filters to help keep violence away from our computers. Taking steps in the right direction to protect us will ultimately help us to honor the Lord with our use of computers.

The third thing that can affect a person using a computer is improper relationships. “Defined broadly, an improper relationship is any relationship you would not want your spouse, family, parents, fellow believers, legal authorities, or employer to know about. If one feels that one must keep a relationship secret from anyone, it is likely an improper relationship” (Laengrich 2012, 185). Online chat rooms, video chats, or sending pictures through social media such as Snapchat, can really get people in trouble if they do not have the accountability necessary. To avoid getting into an improper relationship over the internet, it is best to chat with people that you know and trust. Although it may seem innocent talking to a person you do not know, it can quickly turn in to something unhealthy. This is why one should avoid chatting with people you don’t know.

The fourth thing that can affect a person using a computer is pornography and cybersex. (Keep in mind this next statistic is from 2012) “Currently, over sixty percent of all visits on the Internet involve a sexual purpose… Pornography becomes an obsessive relationship with fantasy objects. Because real people cannot compete with fantasy, pornography ultimately interferes with–and may even replace–genuine relationships. Cybersex involves online chat rooms and online sexual encounters and generally includes several aspects of pornography” (Laengrich 2012, 187).

Internet accountability software is extremely helpful in the fight against pornography. Safe Eyes, Covenant Eyes, and X3 Watch are a few software programs that block inappropriate websites from even showing up on the computer. X3 watch also has the ability to set up accountability partners. X3 Watch will send an email to the accountability partner each week letting them know if anything inappropriate was viewed.

It will give the domain of the website that was looked up and it will also tell the partner what the site was flagged for. X3 Watch picks up on flagged words from the website and will create a report stating why the website was flagged as inappropriate. If someone has an addiction or even an “every once in a while” issue with pornography, they need to seek help from an accountability partner in the fight against pornography. This behavior is extremely detrimental to the life of a Christian. 1 Corinthians 6:9 “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters not adulterers not male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders…”

If someone is caught in addiction, there is a way out. Seeking Christian counseling is a great option when seeking guidance to be set free from addiction. Romans 5:8 states that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus Christ paid the penalty for the sins that we have committed. Because of that we can inherit eternal life! 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Because Christ cleanse us from our sins, we can inherit eternal life in Heaven! Let’s never lose sight of what Christ has done for us. All too often we take it for granted, but we should ask God to be reminded of the joy of salvation so that we are always thankful for what Christ has done for us!

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Ministry of Angels

The topic of angels is one that many are interested in. Many people have heard about angels, but may not really know their purpose. In the study guide “God and Angels,” it tells us that angels are ministering spirits and messengers of God. In this brief study, we will take a look at how angels minister to God and how they minister to people.

 First, we’ll examine 2 ways that angels minister to God…

One way they minister to God is by worshipping Him. God is absolutely deserving of our worship as He has created everything. Colossians 1:16 “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him” (NIV 1984). As all things were created by Him and for Him, this would include angels as they were also created by God.

Revelation 5:11–14 “Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’ The four living creatures said, ‘Amen,’ and the elders fell down and worshiped.”

This is a large portion of Scripture, but I wanted to capture all that is going on here. First of all, we see two angels named in the Bible: Michael and Gabriel. The rest of them were not named. So how many angels are there in existence? Verse eleven tells us that there were thousands upon thousands of them. They all worshiped the Lord and expressed their praise altogether. As we worship the Lord in church or in the privacy of our prayer closet, we are joining the angels in their worship of God.

The study guide author tells us that another way that angels minister to God is by serving as agents of judgment. This part is a little more brutal. In Acts 12, we read about King Herod accepting the praises of the people for his own glory. It goes on to say that an angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not give the praise to God. Genesis 19 also mentions how God sent angels to destroy entire cities! 1 Chronicles makes mention of an angel being sent to destroy Jerusalem. God could have done all these things on his own easily, but he sent angels to do it for Him. God is sovereign and He can make decision such as that!

Next, we’ll examine 3 ways that angels minister to people.

First, our study guide author mentions that angels provide. In Luke 22, Jesus is very distressed as he is about to be crucified the next day. He was sweating profusely and he prayed passionately that God would not let Him be crucified, and ended the prayer with “not my will, but Your will be done.” Scripture says that an angel of the Lord appeared to Him and gave him strength to carry on. Even Jesus, the Son of God, needed strength that day. This should be an encouragement to everyone going through a difficult circumstance. Sometimes we feel like we have to be strong on our own, but we need the strength that comes from God. Angels are sometimes used to give strength to people in need.

Second, angels protect people in need. In the book of Daniel, Daniel was thrown into a lions den because he was worshipping God.  Scripture says that God sent an angel of the Lord to shut the mouths of the lions and protected him from all danger. In another story, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into a blazing furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar because they would not bow down to the statue. When the king looked in the furnace, they saw a fourth man standing in the furnace along with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Some believe this to have been an angel of the Lord.

Third, our study guide mentions that angels deliver. This is a quote from the study guide: “Related closely to protection is the concept of deliverance, as the psalmist notes (Psalm 34:7). Scripture indicates that on occasion God uses angels to deliver His people out of dangerous circumstances and situations. At other times, He uses angels to keep them from entering into these perilous conditions.” In Acts 12, Peter was sitting in prison with chains attached to his wrists. Scripture tells us that an angel freed him from the chains, and led him out past the guards that were in the prison. The guards didn’t seize him, but somehow let him go. This is the power of God at work through the ministry of angels!

As we see throughout Scripture, angels minister to God and to people. We may not ever see an angel, but we do know that they are at work as God commands them. Psalm 91:11 “For he will commands his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”

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How To Speak in Public SLR

In communication, many people can give good speeches, but one skill that is very important in communication is listening. Today I’m going to go over a few different aspects of listening.

Listening must be selective, otherwise we would never be able to concentrate on anything. Hearing and listening may be similar, but they are definitely not the same. We may be listening to a speaker during a speech and we may hear be the droning of the air conditioning, the tapping of someone’s pencil across the room, someone closing a door, and the list can go on.

Just because we hear something doesn’t mean we are listening and paying attention to it. We start to listen to things once we notice them. Stop reading this right now and take a second to listen to the things you blocked out to read this Service Learning Requirement…

It’s amazing how many things we can hear once we concentrate on listening for them.

It’s also important to listen for a purpose. Listening for a purpose is an amazing skill, but it may not come easy to some. Over time, this skill becomes improved upon as the skills of listening are practiced. Here are a few purposes of listening...

First, one may listen to be entertained. People will pay good money to go hear an orchestra, jazz band, or Newsboys concert. It’s relaxing to sit back, listen to great music among the company of people you love.

Second, some people may listen to be informed. Some listen to the news, talk radio, directions about how to do a given thing, or listening to a sermon in church. By doing all of these things, you are increasing knowledge, which is a main part of listening for most people

Third, people that are on committees have to listen to certain people to make decisions on things that need to be done. Let’s say that someone is giving a presentation to a city council meeting about a building that they would like to build on a given property. The city council will have to figure out if the person desiring to do this is being legitimate about their desire to do this, how much it will cost, what construction needs to be done, and so on.

Fourth, creative listeners are good at thinking beyond what the speaker is presenting. Maybe a lay person had a better idea on the order of service in a church. After that person is finished presenting, a creative thinker will come in with a different mindset presenting an addition, deletion, or a different way of ordering the service. Creative thinkers are a great benefit to the group if they don’t stray from the subject at hand.

There are a few rules of listening well, too, that I’d like to discuss...

Skillful listening. In skillful listening, the listener is trying to gather every piece of information possible. A few things a skillful listener might listen for are “Recognizing the main ideas, remembering significant details of what is presented, understanding why points were discussed in a particular sequence, knowing the direct meanings of the speaker’s words, and knowing the speaker’s intent.” This will help the speaker understand that you desire to hear their words, and help you to understand what the speaker is saying.

Another rule in listening is attentive listening. A key reason why many people struggle with learning is their lack of attentiveness to the speaker. There are many distractions that come in the way of listening. Children may not pay attention as easy because of so many things going on around them. Teenagers may get caught in day-dreaming, and some people worry about things happening in life and it keeps them from being attentive to what they’re learning. It’s important when listening to a speaker to put those distractions aside to better learn what the speaker is saying.

In applying listening to ministry, it’s very important that when counseling someone, the counselor is a good listener. Some people think that counseling is all about giving great advice and making sure you steer them in the right direction. Advice is part of counseling, but more importantly, listening is key to being a great counselor.

Some people just like to think out loud and process things by telling someone else. Most times, people can come up with solutions on their own if they have someone else to listen. Whether you’re a pastor or a layperson, having a good listening ear is very important.

In this study, the topic of listening was discussed. Sometimes, listening can be very difficult, especially when you have a lot of other noises going on around you. It’s important to be purposeful in your listening, skillful in your listening, and attentive to better understand everything that the speaker is saying. We also discussed the ministerial side of listening and how people just need someone who listens well.

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Is The Idea of a “High Priest” Relevant for Today?

Is the idea of a High Priest Relevant for today? High priest seems like such a big position; way too noble for us to come close to relating to. 

Some people think of High Priest as someone for the old days; maybe someone you’d see in Bible times. 

My mind goes back to Melchizedek from Genesis 14. Abraham identifies Melchizedek as a priest of God Most High.

People in the Old Testament would go to priests to find forgiveness of sins. Priests in the Old Testament would sacrifice animals in order for the sinner to find forgiveness of sin. They would place their hand on the head of the animal on the altar as a way of saying, “Lord, this animal is innocent, and I am guilty; but would you accept this animal anyway in place of me.” They would then kill and burn the animal. The place of the altar tells us that we have no access to God except by the shed blood of the Lamb. Priests would listen to the sins of the people, then they would make sacrifices for the sins of those people and also make sacrifices for the sins of the nation as a whole.

However, priests were not perfect people. They even had to make sacrifices for the sins that they committed.

In my opinion, to find forgiveness of my sins, I would want to talk to a priest who was blameless and without fault. I want a high priest that has never sinned, but could still cleanse me from my sin. I would also want a high priest that could relate to my temptations and know what it feels like to be tempted. I would want a high priest who knows what it’s like to live on this Earth and be tested by the enemy.

Looking at all my desires for a High Priest, that seems impossible. My requests seem too big for reality. But they aren’t! The idea of a “High Priest” IS relevant for today!

So who is our High Priest? You’ll never guess! The answer is pretty obvious... It’s the classic Sunday School answer... you ready for it: Jesus Christ!

Our High Priest is Jesus Christ! Hebrews 3:1 “Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest who we confess.”

The place of the altar in the Old Testament tells us that we have no access to God except by the shed blood of the Lamb. We know that Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice through the shedding of His blood. Jesus talks about this when they were taking the Lord’s supper in Matthew 26:28: “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

I also wanted a High Priest that can understand my temptations... Hebrews 4:15-16 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have on who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Priests of the Old Testament and even priests of today cannot claim what Jesus did. Jesus was tempted, but remained free from sin. He stood through the tests of the enemy and stood firm. In Matthew 4:1-11, we see Jesus being tempted by Satan after fasting for forty days and forty nights. Matthew 4:10 “Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

This is why we have a High Priest who we can trust in to find freedom from sin. Jesus is the perfect High Priest because he never sinned, but he can still relate to us because he was tempted.

Sometimes we think of Jesus as looking down at us with disappointment. We feel like He’s ready to smite us... but He’s not! Jesus is for you! Psalm 118:6-7 “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.”

Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. Romans 8:34 “...Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

As we understand Jesus Christ as our High Priest, let us never be afraid to approach Him for help. Jesus is the one High Priest that has never sinned, but knows the weight of temptation. Jesus is praying for us and is on our side, and although temptation may come up in life, we have the creator of the universe rooting for us. 

So let me ask you... What can man do to you? The answer is simple: Nothing, due to the power and grace of Jesus Christ in you.

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Evangelizing to Muslims

I pulled my information from “Introduction to Islam: An Independent-Study Textbook” by Sobhi Malek.

As we go throughout our ministry we may experience a situation where we have an opportunity to witness to a Muslim

It may not be at this church because you won’t typically find a Muslim in a church, it may be when you’re out and about and the Lord may bring you to a Muslim and you may get opportunity to speak to them

Let’s talk a little about the Islam faith

As much as it may make us cringe to say it, Muhammad was a great leader

He often defended the cause of the poor, the widow, and the orphan. He brought much social reform to the Arabs. One of his important accomplishments was to ban the pagan Arab custom of killing baby girls

Although he did these things, this doesn’t necessarily make him one to look up to. The Qur’an says that only 4 wives at a time is permitted. He had anywhere from 9-15 wives. 

My textbook author also mentions that Muhammad and his followers waged about seventy-six military campaigns against neighboring and distant tribes and towns. Some of these battles were aimed at converting people to Islam. Muhammad and his converts also gained victory over their enemies, slew them, and seized their property and supplies.

He did a lot of other terrible things, too, in his life, but for the purpose of this study, we’ll just mention that he was not someone to live like.

Muslims seem to glorify Muhammad and try and live their life like Muhammad did

They see that God is so great, amazing, mighty, and unreachable. Since Muhammad is human, that believe that he is more available. Muslims are impressed by him. They love to focus on the way he lives his life… they see him as a legend and hero

They will even mention him in prayer saying… “O, the most beautiful creation of God; O, the one with the handsome [pleasant] face; O, the messenger of God.”

They believe that the Qur’an is to be the supreme and final revelation of God to humanity. Certain Muslims even believe that the Qur’an is eternal, not created.

They state that its original form was preexistent as an entity before the world was made, present in eternity past even before it was given to Muhammad. They say he was given every word and letter from the angel Gabriel.

So, as we look at how to evangelize to Muslims, let’s take a look at how they view the Bible. If we know how they view the Bible, there is more opportunity to figure out how to evangelize to them

Here are some reasons that Muslims reject the Bible

The Bible Judges them…

The author of my study guide talks about how “There is no doubt that when Muslims encounter the Bible, they feel its convicting power. Like sharp arrows, its truths hit their mark, and Muslims take refuge behind the accusation that [the Bible] has been corrupted.”

Another reason they reject the Bible is because it has deep, spiritual concepts

For example, Jesus said “If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:39)

It’s difficult for a Muslim to swallow this. It causes amazement among Muslims and brings on a lot of questions. One can try to explain that the weakness that Muslims see in doing this should be understood as strength and victory. It shows the power of self-control and the triumph of patience, love, and forgiveness

Even though they don’t understand the concepts, Christians shouldn’t try to argue with them or be disturbed. Any person who is controlled by the fallen human nature, Muslim or not, will not comprehend such matters until the Holy Spirit comes to abide in them and reveal those truths to them.

I think sometimes Christians become so scared when they hear someone is a Muslim because they immediately put up barriers thinking that they cannot get through to them because of this barrier that has been put up for so many years and the quote on quote “conflict” between Christianity and Islam.

We need to remember that our words do not change people, Jesus changes people. Yes, the Lord will use people to carry out His work, but ultimately John 14:6 gives the fact of the matter… “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

I could do all the research needed in the Islam faith, all the research I can in evangelizing to Muslims, but the Holy Spirit does the work in the heart of the person. I’m not negating the in depth study of Islam at all by saying this…

I believe if the Holy Spirit will work in someone that He will use someone who has done their studying in Islam, but what I’m saying is, don’t feel it is your fault if the person you’re evangelizing to doesn’t get it right away. Give it time… pray and fast on it, and God will do the rest.

Let’s look at tips on practical things to evangelize to Muslims…

First, prayer and fasting. We know that in answer to the prayers and fasting of His people, God does amazing things and works miracles that confirm His Word.

Also, study up on the Qur’an. I know it sounds crazy to read the Qur’an being a Christian Pastor, but as you do it for research to help evangelize to Muslims, it will be a great help in your ministry to Muslims

Get to know their culture. Study their way of life and understand it. There is no substitute for knowing how a person lives. It helps you to relate to them and will give you a better opportunity to have conversations with them. This is a great tip with any group of people

It’s not enough to just know about the Qur’an. You should know what everyday life consists of for their religion. How does their religion work into their everyday life?

Know their history. They talk about it and it will benefit you to know it

And last, love them. Not because you have to, but because you want to. God loves all people of all generations and in order to make disciples of all nations, we must have a genuine love for all people groups including Muslims.

They need to be loved and accepted. This may change our view of Muslims if we understand that they need us. They need you, as a person, individually to love them and accept them. The Muslim is not an enemy to be conquered. I will never be able to win a Muslim to Christ unless I befriend him and with gentle love try to bring him to meet Jesus Christ at the cross.

Also, be a credible messenger. As you go to Muslims with the Gospel, they will watch you like a hawk. They will see your lifestyle. They have heard that quote on quote Christians get drunk and eat pork, they their women have loose morals and appear half naked in public.

Though under grace we are free, if exercising our freedom is our first priority, we will offend Muslims rather than win them

If they are offended by the Gospel and the words of the Bible, that is the conviction of the Holy Spirit, but if they are offended because they see the Christian getting drunk and dressing half naked, maybe that Christian needs to do some adjusting

Christians also need to recognize that conversion is usually a process, not a crisis. Many Christians have a limited view of conversion. We have only come to interpret it as a sudden, crisis experience. We must recognize that a process form of conversion is equally valid.

It would be extremely difficult for a Muslim to become converted without his going through a long period of change. He must study, weigh matters in his own mind, repent, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, change some of his ways, and renounce his past allegiance.

This will involve a lot of patience, but through prayer and fasting, this can be done

So, I could go on for a long time about what I’ve learned and their view on Jesus Christ, but for now, I think I’ve given enough information to give you a basic understanding on evangelizing to Muslims

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