Whom or What do you Seek

John 6:26-27 - "Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. ²⁷ Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

Why are you a believer in Jesus Christ? Why are you following Him?

Many a person is a Christian, not because they are seeking Christ but seeking what Christ can give them. Not to long before Christ made this statement, He did the feeding of the five thousand. He had already done many miracles, this is why more than five thousand people were following him. Yes, they loved His teaching, but more than that was what He had done or could do for them. 

Are you following Christ because of what He has done for you? Are you following Christ because you are seeking something from Him? Many a church, this is what they preach. They preach the blessings of God. They tell us we need to do certain things so that we are not judged, but blessed by God. We often preach a Santa Claus God. This is all fine and good, but first of all Christ wants us to recognize that we are sinners who are lost and separated from Him. Secondly, Christ doesn't want us to serve Him because of what He has done or will do. He wants us to seek Him because we love Him and want to know Him. We must be careful that we are not so focused on the blessings that we don't seek the one who gives the blessings. We all know that if we love someone because of what we can get from them. This is not true love. It is a noble endeavor to seek to go to heaven. Yet, it is better to seek Him who is in heaven.

Work Ethics

In I Timothy 6:1-4, Paul tells Timothy to exhort those who are salves to serve their masters well, and especially those masters who are believers. It does seem strange that believers in Paul's day had slaves. Yet, it was not prohibited by the Jewish law and an accepted practice of that day. Therefore, Christians in general did not see anything wrong with it.

Yet, this scripture has applications beyond master and slave relationships. It teaches us to be good workers. We are to serve those over us well no matter what our station or position in life. It doesn't matter whether the person over us is a believer or non believer, we are to be faithful in our duties and obligations. It doesn't matter whether we have a good boss or bad one, we are to work the same for both of them.

Paul says, we are took work even harder and better for those over us who are believers in Christ. Yet, sadly to say this is often not the case. Often a believer who is working for a believer serves them worse because they know the believer is to love them and forgive their faults and short comings. Many believers take advantage of believers in this way because they believe they can get away with it because the one they are serving is a brother or sister in the Lord. They know with an unbeliever they would not be able to get away with their poor work ethics.

As believers, no matter who we are working for, we are to do it as unto the Lord with all our strength and ability. We are to seek excellence. We are to do everything in our power to serve others well. Christian workers should be the best workers in our society.

Ephesians 6:5-9 put is this way, "⁵ Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; ⁶ not by way of eye service, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. ⁷ With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, ⁸ knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.
⁹ And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

Finally bosses, we are to treat those who work for us well. We are not to be harsh or over demanding. We are not to take advantage of our workers in anyway. We are to treat them with honesty and without favoritism. We are to be the best boss we can be. We are to show love, walk in truthfulness, and seek the wisdom of God in all that we say and do.

Trail Left Behind

1 Timothy 5:24-25 - "The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. ²⁵ In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever."

We are all to live godly lives, but the fact of the matter most of us are missing the mark. Most believers are not committing the obvious sins that all clearly recognize and see. We are committing what we like to call the little sins. The sin of holding someone in your heart, a little white lie, unclean or evil thoughts, unrighteous thoughts, an ill spoken word, gossip, back biting, cheating, pride, selfishness, and taking advantage of others to name a few. Others of us may be sinning behind closed door where prying eyes can not see. Yet, even these cannot remain hidden forever.

No matter what kind of sin we are committing, we are leaving a trail behind us. What kind of trail are you leaving behind you? Are you leaving a trail of destruction and a trail of negativity? Are you leaving a constructive trail and a trail of hope? How are our actions affecting those around us? Are the affecting people in a good way or bad way? How are they affecting our own lives? As Newton law says, every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

As believers, we are to be light and salt. We are to walk in love, joy, peace and righteousness. We are to impact those around us for their good. We are to impart the life of Christ.

Church & Family Obligations

I Timothy 5;3-15 talks about many good things. One of the central themes is church and family obligations. More specifically the churches obligation towards widows and the families obligation towards one another.

Let us look at the churches obligation first. The church is responsible to care for widows who are over sixty, have no family to care for them and are truly in need. Yet, the widow must have been faithful to her husband. She must be known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, hers or other. She must have a servants heart and be devoted to helping others as she is able. She must have a life of purity.

Let us look at the families responsibility. The children or great grandchildren are responsible for caring for their mother or grandmother who is really in need. We not only have a responsibility to care for our widowed mother or grandmother, but we are responsible in caring for all those in our family who depend on us to live or really in need. Fist our immediate family, then extended family. 

Hypocritical Liars

Paul in 2 Timothy chapter 4 talks about hypocritical liars who have followed deceiving spirits, and things taught by demons. They not only follow them but teach and persuade others to do the same.

What are some of these things that are taught that do not come from God?

Paul is referring specifically to those who were teaching about abstaining from certain foods because they were sinful. Also, those who were promoting celibacy as godliness. He was referring as well to legalism which was stifling the Spirit of God. Lastly he speaks against those who are teaching godless myths and old wives tales as if they were the very Word of  God.

What would be some demonic teaching taught today? Demonic in the sense that they are not from God and are destructive. The following are not put in any specific order. Some may seem greater evil than others, but all are lies from hell.

1) Macro-evoloution
2) It is fine to be homosexual.
3) Divorce and remarriage, no matter what the reason is not sin.
4) Tithes and offerings are optional.
5) You don't have to be baptized or a member of a local church.
6) Abortion is not evil or a sin.
7) Living together is not a problem or a sin.
8) Rules and regulations on how you dress and comb your hair.
9) The work of the church, Christ's body is for a few (leaders).
10) The Word of God and prayer of not great importance.
11) I  don't need other believers or be accountable. It is just me and God.
12) Anyone who is not a member of my church or denomination is lost and going to hell.
13) Jesus is not the Son of God or put more simply not one of the God head.
14) The greatest sin is adultery or fornication.
15) As long as you believe God exists, and are a good person, you are on your way to heaven.

I am sure there are many others I have not mentioned here.

FLH Protection

I Thessalonians 5:8 - "But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet."

How does faith, hope and love protect a believer?

Faith protects by extinguishing the fiery darts of the enemy. (Ephesians 6:16) In other words through faith we extinguish the doubts and lies of Satan and this world. When we have faith in God and His Word, we will not accept false teachings and the philosophies of the world. When doubt comes in, we don't act on God's Word and often confusion and discouragement comes in. Doubt brings fear and often immobilizes us. Faith releases God's promises and power.

Love protects by keeping us from doing what hurts us and others. Remember all the law and commandments are wrapped up in love. (Matthew 22:37-40) Also, love keeps us from becoming bitter. (Hebrews 12:15) Bitterness poisons us and all those around us. Finally, love promotes unity. Division is destructive and causes the body of Christ to suffer loss.

Hope of salvation protects because we are washed in His blood and sealed by the Holy Spirit. Also, it keeps us focused on our real purpose which is fellowship with God forever. It keeps our mind heavenward. Finally, it keeps us from being discouraged and falling into depression. Many have taken their lives and the lives of others because they don't have the hope of salvation or lost the hope. Hope breathes life into us.

More and More

I Thessalonians 4:1 - "As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.

I Thessalonians 4:9-10 - " Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.¹⁰ And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,"

The Thessalonian church seems to be doing everything right. They have a good reputation among all the churches and a great testimony of the Christian life. It seems that they are doing all the right things. Paul does not condemn them in anyway; rather, he says do so more and more.

As believers we are to never be satisfied with where we are at in our Christian walk. We are never to kick back and say, we have arrived. We are to never set cruise control or autopilot. Paul believes that if you are doing it right, you are to continue to do what you are doing and seek to excel even more in Christ. Don't be content in doing well, but seek to do even better. 

For those of us who are not perfectionist, this is a bitter pill to swallow. Even though Christ wants us to be perfect even as He is perfect, he doesn't want it to become a burden. It becomes a burden when we fall into legalism instead of being empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is He who will complete the good work in us as we yield to Him. (I Thessalonians 5:23-24)

Faith, Hope, Love Action

I Thessalonians 1:2-3 - "We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. ³ We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."

In 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 we see Paul testifies of the churches faith, hope and love. Remember in 1 Corinthians 13:13, Paul says, when we see God there are three things that will remain: faith, hope and love. In other words, these three things are the most important things to have and will be with us forever, even in the afterlife.

Faith, hope, and love are not just some loft thought or spiritual ideal. They are very tangible and real. As result, they will bring us to action. In Thessalonians we see this very clearly. Paul said, their work was produced by faith. The apostle James put it this way, faith without works is dead. We cannot forget the great chapter of Hebrews 11, where it speaks of what all the men and women of old accomplished through faith.

If you have faith that Jesus is the son of God, you will obey and worship Him.

If you have faith God is your provider, you will look to Him for your need and not worry.

If you have faith that you are victorious in God then you will show it by your attitude, speech and in what you do.

If you have faith that you are healed, then you will not go to a doctor, but will live as if you are healed.

Faith will always result in some kind of visible action.

In Thessalonians, he said, their labor was prompted by love. Love is no simply an emotion. It is a life giving force that produces action. If you love someone, you will not simply say it, but you will show it. Love will always spur us on to action. Some have said that compassion is love in action. I would say that love without passion is not love at all. Passion is a driving force, but in itself can be destructive if not accompanied by love.

Thirdly, their endurance was inspired by hope in Jesus Christ. Hope without an accompanying action is not hope at all. Hope is not something stagnant, but a living thing. Hope that is dead will bring inaction or negative action and death. Yet, true hope causes you not to be discouraged or give up. Hope will influence your decisions and actions. Hope will influence the way you see and think about things. Hope will bring life to seemingly hopeless situations.

Peace in the Storm

Mark 4:35-41 - "That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” ³⁶ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷ A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸ Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.⁴⁰ He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” ⁴¹ They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

The disciples were amazed at Jesus power to calm the storm. Many will bring out in this passage that God has authority over nature. Yet, the truth that speaks to me most in this passage is that Jesus was at peace in the storm. The disciples were in a panic. Jesus was sleeping in the storm. Was Jesus not afraid because he was sleeping or was he sleeping because he was not afraid. When they woke Jesus, he didn't begin to panic when he saw the storm, he rebuked the wind and waves and told them to be still. Afterwards Jesus rebuked his disciples because of their fear and faithlessness.

We all have storms in our life. We may be blown around a bit, and even tossed around, but we can be at peace when we have faith in God. Faith in that God is with us. Faith that God loves us. Faith that He can keep and protect us. Faith that He is in control. Faith that He can deliver us. Fear is an enemy of faith. Fear is lack of faith. 

Nothing wrong with having a healthy fear of something, but when it grips us, panics us, and cause us to be anxious, it is not of God. Fear comes when our eyes are fixed on the storm instead of the Master of the storm.