Arguing for the Faith

"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, 'He catches the wise in their own craftiness'; and again, 'The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.'"
(I Corinthians 3:19 NKJV)

It's not always worth debating your convictions. If God leads you to a stream uninhabited by others, especially those who approach with worldly wisdom, be honored that He trusts you enough to bring them your way. We should not be abhorred by their presence. Debating spiritual principles with those NOT of the spirit, is a fruitless endeavor that, more often than not, assists them in becoming more convinced of their stance, even if it's blatantly wrong. Try loving them or, more appropriately, "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you almost must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection." (Colossians 3:12-14 NKJV)

It is rare to experience a heated debate that results in the other person coming to the conclusion that "you know what, I think you're right!" Most of the time, both sides walk away more convinced of their position. But that's not all...both sides will also commonly leave the discussion further away from accepting the other position. If "the other position" happens to be the Gospel, or godly principles, arguing does not build the kingdom.

The way we present what we are convinced of will determine what the listener hears, many times, irrelevant of the words spoken. In this day and age, it is nearly impossible to sway public opinion when it's mixed with judgement and intolerance. Our battle is spiritual and is better left fought in the spirit, unless we can fight in the natural with conduct and speech that confirms the message we are trying to convey. Love and forgiveness (the Gospel) is rejected when it's served with a side order of hatred and judgement.

Hope this helps!

Chuck

Matthew 6:31-33

Matthew 6:31-33--"Therefore, do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

I was recently in a conversation with my son, talking about God's provision.  We were discussing the difference between needs and wants and what prosperity means in the eyes of God, that he supplies our needs, not always our wants.  A few days later, I was praying with the kids about our financial situation.  I was considering applying for food stamps.  When I shared with that same son that I was thinking about food stamps but didn't have complete peace about it because I thought that maybe God wanted to provide for us in a different way, he told me to, "Just wait, then, Mom."  I decided to hold off and wait a little longer.

Two days later (this past Sunday night) on our way home from church, I came to a wounded deer in the middle of the road.  She was alive and suffering.  Her nose had been ripped, and presumably she had some kind of brain damage as she wasn't moving her body except for banging her head on the ground and grunting.  I stopped and called the police.  The officer arrived and started trying to get the deer to move off the road.  He didn't want to have to shoot her.  Then, a hunter stopped to help.  The officer had told us we could have the deer meat if he had to kill her, but when the hunter came, I offered some to him.  He said we could have it all because we had gotten there first, to which I told him how thankful I was, that we have a family of 8, and the deer meat would definitely be appreciated! He helped the cop move the deer off the road and showed him where to shoot her for a clean kill.

When the officer asked me if I was going to be able to take care of the deer right then and there, I told him I had someone coming to help, and I thought we could maybe strap her to the roof of my van to move her. The hunter heard and offered to transport her to my mom's house in the back of his truck.  He then decided to field dress the deer right there on the side of the road before moving her, teaching our oldest son how to do it as he went along.  After taking her to my mom's, he decided to stay and "help"--meaning that he helped hang and then skinned the deer and cut off the feet and head by himself, again, teaching our son how to do it in the future.  I kept insisting that he take some of the meat, and he refused saying, "I only want to help!"  He then offered to take our oldest son hunting with him this year, and he told us we could bring some meat over to his house if we want him to make it into sausage or jerky because he loves doing that and has all the necessary equipment.

Incidentally, there was absolutely no damage to any of the meat because the deer was hit in the face by a car.  The cop shot her in between the ribs, so we didn't lose any meat at all to damage.  She was about 3 years old, so she was a good size.  We got quite a bit of meat from her (34 pounds-decent for a deer).  I am amazed at God's goodness.  What an awesome testimony to our children of the power of prayer and the provision of the Lord!  Not only did He provide food, but he provided a man to transport and prepare it.

I am reminded of I Kings 17.  The prophet Elijah had just given a harsh prophecy to Ahab, that God was stopping the rain and dew from the land, except by the word of Elijah.  God told Elijah to go hide from Ahab at the Brook Cherith.  As Elijah obeyed God, he was provided with water from the brook, and God caused ravens to bring him food.  When the brook dried up, God instructed Elijah again, telling him to go to a widow's house.  As he obeyed, he was provided with sustenance yet again, this time, through the widow.  The widow and her son were also provided for miraculously, as a result of her obedience in giving to the Lord's prophet, even as it appeared her own food had run out.  When her son fell ill and died, he was miraculously raised from the dead.

I also think of Matthew 6 and Luke 12.  We are told not to focus on material possessions or worry about what we will eat or wear.  He provides for the birds and flowers.  He provides for His creatures. We are much more important to Him than the flowers and birds.  If we focus on God's kingdom instead of on material gain, then He will provide our needs.  The key is to obey God and have faith in Him, following His leading and focusing on our relationship with Him.  As we understand and walk in our position as His children, we will begin to live with peace and not worry, and we will experience our Father's provision in our lives.

In Christ,
Lori

To Stand Against

James 4:7 "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (NKJV)

To resist: comes from two Greek words combined. In English we call these compound words. We combine the meanings of these words without losing the meaning of the individual words used. Same for Greek. The two words = "stand", and "against" resisting the devil is to stand against him.

It is unfortunate that this verse is used so often without the qualifier. Being a Christian does not necessarily mean that the devil has to leave you alone. UNLESS you are submitted to God. When we are submitted to the Lord, the devil's schemes cannot take hold and effect us how he intends.

To solve the problems of carnality and the strife it causes, we must resist . This means to stand against devil’s deceptions and his efforts to intimidate. As we resist the devil, we are promised that he will flee from us. James is challenging Christians to deal with Satan as a conquered foe who can and must be personally resisted. James tells us to stand against the devil. Satan can be sent running by the resistance of the believer who comes in the authority of what Jesus did on the cross, when we are submitted to that work.

Submit to God, the devil is already defeated. His intentions as a deceiver is to convince you otherwise. When you are submitted to the work of the cross, you can see that the war is actually won at the cross. This understanding can help you through the next battle, or the battle you might be in now.

Thanks for listening,

Hope this helps!

Chuck

Pursue Pure Religion

Jesus was a man of compassion!  Have you ever noticed that the only people recorded in the Bible that received any hostility from Christ were the religious.  I'm not sure exactly how I feel about the current trend of Christians actually bashing religion.  Jesus was not against following the ceremonies and rites that were spelled out by the law of Moses.  He followed them all...He was the fulfillment of them.  Mathew chapter 23 shows what Jesus' real problem with the Pharisees was.  He says to them"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others." Notice what he says to them at the end of  the verse; "Without neglecting the others."  It seems as though He still expected them to follow "the others."  His problem was their hypocrisy not with the actual following of the law.  The law was what God expected people to do.  As a matter of fact, look through the New Testament and see how many scriptures deal with commands of proper conduct.  There are many.  Jesus' issue was with the religious, not to be mistaken for true religion.  James 1:27- "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world" (ESV).  Notice that this verse includes the requirements for pure religion.  Imagine if Christians spent as much focus on pursuing pure religion as they do rejecting the concept all together.  We might begin to experience the multiplication God intends for His body, instead of just dreaming about it.
Thanks for listening; Hope this helps...
Chuck

Simply Because We Are (Revamped)

When I was a child it never occurred to me to question my worthiness to receive my parents' love. They were supposed to love me; I was their daughter, right? I didn't have to earn their love, and nothing I ever did would stop them from loving me. I was worthy of their love simply because I was their daughter. In a sense, they made me, so they loved me. I have done my best to instill that same knowledge in my own children, that they are loved just because they exist and are my offspring. They have me and their dad in their make-up. When I look at them, I see bits of me and bits of him mixed in, with their own, unique personalities. If I were to dislike them, I would have to dislike myself and my husband, too.

It makes me think about God's love for us. So often I have heard believers say they are unworthy of God's love because they are awful, dirty sinners. As a parent myself, I can only imagine the grief He must feel to hear His children say that. You see, love isn't something that we earn because of our works. Just as a natural parent instinctively loves their child because of who they are, God loves His children. He looks at man and sees our potential and the destiny He desires for us:

          Genesis 1:27- "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him;
          male and female He created them."

          Jeremiah 29:11- "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts 
          of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

He sees His own image when He looks at us (just as our children are made in our image, with our DNA). In fact, He loved all of us before we loved Him, before we could even be His children. That's why He sent Jesus to save us and restore us. It was always God's intention to walk with man as demonstrated in His relationship with Adam. When Adam fell, it wasn't a surprise to God. He knew all along that Adam would sin. God had a plan in place (Jesus) to restore mankind to our position as His children, to restore relationship, because He loved us. He loved us from the very start, and that love didn't change just because we sinned! If He denied His children, He would have to deny Himself.  If He hated us, He would have to hate Himself.

          I John 4:19- "We love Him because He first loved us."

          Romans 5:8- "But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still 
          sinners, Christ died for us."

          Genesis 3:15- "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed 
          and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." (a prophecy to
          Satan about the future coming of Christ, His crucifixion, and resurrection)

          John 1:12-13- "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children
          of God, to those who believe in His name:  who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the
          flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

          Galatians 4:4-7- 'But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born 
          of  a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might 
          receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of 
          His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Therefore, you are no longer a slave 
          but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.'

The state of being worthy or deserving, based on our actions or thoughts, doesn't have anything at all to do with being loved by God, just as our children's actions and thoughts do not determine our love for them. We love our children irrelevant of their actions.  If we at any time start to think that we can do something either to earn or take away God's love for us based on any actions, we demonstrate a lack of understanding of His love.

          Romans 8:38-39- "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor 
          principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor 
          any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ
          Jesus our Lord."

As we go through our day today, let us not focus on all the bad we see in ourselves, thinking that we are unworthy and don't deserve love. The very nature of love has nothing whatsoever to do with our actions. We are loved, simply because we are.

In Christ,
Lori

New Blog...Please Bear With Us

Welcome!  This is our new blog.  We have had a lot of things going on and have had a hard time keeping up with technology and internet things.  Our past blog, Word of Hope Ministries, got somehow mixed up, and we haven't been able to figure out how to get access to the content.  So, we decided to just start up a new one, this time using the official name of our ministry, Dove's Fire Ministries.  It will take some time to get everything figured out and in place, so please bear with us.  We will start posting things immediately, but the site itself will be undergoing changes in appearance and content over the next few weeks as we get organized!

In Christ,

The Relyea's