THE INESTIMABLE VALUE OF YOUR TESTIMONY, PART 1

July 22, 2011 at 8:23 PM (Christian Living)

INTRODUCTION

What is the most valuable thing that you possess? Have you ever given any thought to the question? Doubtless, many of us could enumerate a small list of the most valuable things that we possess: a keepsake, a cherished memento, family, salvation, forgiveness, and the like.

I’d like to talk to you about the inestimable value of your testimony. I don’t know if you’ve ever thought about it, but, in truth, your testimony is one of the most valuable things that you possess. Why is that? Because God saved you. And instead of taking you to Heaven right away, He left you here on Earth. Why? Because He has a job for you to do. A big part of that job is He wants you to be a witness for Him. Wherever you go, wherever you live, and work, and play; God wants you to tell people about Him. He wants you to introduce people to Him. And in order for you to do that job, you need your testimony or witness.

DEFINITION

Our testimony consists of two things. (1) First, it consists of our character, conduct, and behavior. Just by being ourselves we’re “telling” people a lot about ourselves. For example, if we’ve got a short fuse, we’re telling people that we’re quick tempered and we get mad easily.  If we refuse to sleep with every Tom, Dick, Jane or Mary, we’re telling people that we’ve got morals; we’re not willing to fornicate or sin for the sake of love, acceptance, or money. Do you see what I mean? WE’RE TELLING PEOPLE A LOT ABOUT OURSELVES JUST BY BEING OURSELVES.

(2) There’s another aspect of our testimony and that is our spoken word. By telling people what Christ means to us, what He’s done for us; we’re introducing Jesus to them and getting them to consider the possibility of having a personal relationship with Jesus. And this relationship with Jesus will profoundly change their life and their destiny. They’ll spend eternity in Heaven, saved from Hell, because you introduced them, you led them, to Christ. THE SALVATION OF SOULS REQUIRES A SPOKEN WORD. IT REQUIRES US TO SPEAK UP AND TELL PEOPLE ABOUT JESUS.

Friends, we have an awesome privilege, opportunity, and responsibility, to change people’s lives by introducing them to the Lord. Think of the many people we can rescue from Hell—think of how happy and grateful they’ll be; that we cared enough about them to tell them about Jesus. Brethren, YOU CAN’T INTRODUCE PEOPLE TO JESUS IF YOU DON’T SAY ANYTHING TO THEM ABOUT HIM. You talk about weather. Work. Current events. Things that really don’t matter in the long run. Why not talk about Jesus who can save them, change them, fill their lives with meaning, purpose, and blessings? And, on top of all this goodness, God will bring them to Heaven where they’ll live happily ever after. Friends, your testimony of God’s love, power, and works in your life can set people on a path of change that will benefit and bless them for the rest of their life.

NAAMAN

We’re all familiar with the story of Naaman. He was a mighty General in the great Syrian Army. And he was very well liked, and favored, by the Syrian King. But the thing of it was, Naaman was a leper. There was no cure for it. And it’d be only a matter of time before the leprosy got really nasty and bad in a gruesome, smelly, and painful way. It would end up killing the great General. So Naaman’s living with a death sentence.

Well, one day he decided to pay the prophet Elisha a visit. And, without even seeing the great General, Elisha sent messengers to him at the door and told him to dip seven times in the Jordan River—after which he would be healed.

Naaman was livid! He was furious! Here was a great Syrian General who came a very long way to see him and the prophet didn’t even have the courtesy to meet with him or speak to him. This was a grievous insult to the General.

But worse than that, the prophet’s prescription for the healing of leprosy just didn’t make any sense at all. Think about it. How can dipping in the River cure leprosy? Naaman got to thinking. Do you know what this is really all about? It’s all about the Israelite prophet—an enemy prophet—humiliating me! He’s trying to make a laughingstock out of me. “Look at that fool Syrian dipping in the Jordan. What’s he thinking? Does he think the Jordan’s going to cure his leprosy? Boy, he’s all wet. He’s sure come a long way to take a bath!” Naaman would be a laughingstock in Israel. And Syria. He’d go back home a leper. No. Strike that. He’d go back home a wet leper. His people would laugh him to scorn and mock him for going all the way to Israel and trying to get healed in an enemy nation, by an enemy prophet, and an enemy God. No, Naaman wasn’t going to fall for Elisha’s trickery. So he turned around, livid and furious, and started his journey home.

Well, one of the General’s attendants turned to him and said, “Sir, we’ve come this long way to get you healed. If the prophet told you to do something big or hard you’d have done it. How much more if he told you do something small. It’s not that big a deal. Dip in the Jordan like the prophet said. It can’t hurt you. It  won’t kill you. And you’ve got nothing to lose, except maybe your pride. And who knows, you might even get healed.”

The General got to thinking about it. He settled down. And for the next twenty miles, as they made their way from Samaria to the Jordan, he saw the wisdom of what his advisor said. Reluctantly, perhaps even grudgingly, Naaman decided to give it a try. So down in the Jordan he went. Once, then twice, then thrice, and still he wasn’t healed. I wonder if he threw his hands up in the air, got all mad again, and said, “This is ridiculous! I can’t do this! It’s not working!”

Well, the General stayed with it. The prophet said seven times, so he continued dipping. And when he dipped the seventh time, he came up out of the water completely healed of leprosy! The leprosy was all gone, just like what the prophet said. It worked! It really, really worked! It’s a miracle! This was a God-thing. So right then and there, on the spot, Naaman gave his life to the Israelite God and he became a worshipper of the one true God.

2 Kings 5:15-17, And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant. (16) But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused. (17) And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules’ burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.

A SERVANT GIRL

Naaman’s life was profoundly changed—not only physically by being healed of leprosy; but also spiritually by becoming a believer and worshipper of God.

Do you know how this change came about? Do you know what made Naaman come to Israel in the first place? It was the testimony of a servant girl. 2 Kings 5:1-5, Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper. (2) And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife. (3) And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy. (4) And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel. (5) And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.

The testimony of an Israelite servant girl—carried away captive from her home in Israel and providentially placed as a slave in Naaman’s house—was what brought Naaman to Israel in search of healing. THE GIRL’S TESTIMONY, IN A WORD, CHANGED HIS LIFE FOREVER.

Coming Up On My Next Blog Post, Part 2. I’ll look at some of the things we need in order to be an effective witness for Jesus. You really can’t afford to miss it. Hang tight. It’ll be worth the wait.

4 Comments

THE UNPARDONABLE, UNFORGIVABLE SIN PART 4

July 19, 2011 at 10:12 AM (Doctrine, Unpardonable Sin)

HOW TO AVOID COMMITTING THE UNPARDONABLE SIN

Like the Scribes and Pharisees, it’s possible and easy to be mistaken in your judgments or accusations against a person. Remember from our Scripture text that even though you’re not out to blaspheme the Holy Spirit, you can end up doing just that when you make a false accusation of demonic oppression and activity against someone you don’t like or agree with. Here are some admonitions to help you not commit the unpardonable sin.

1. Maintain A Christlike Spirit As You Contend Earnestly For The Faith And The Truth. The religious leaders were interested in preserving Judaism from false messiahs. While they were envious of Jesus’ following amongst the multitudes and jealous of His power and miracles; they also wanted to spare the multitudes from following someone they thought was a false messiah. They were against Jesus and they stooped pretty low when they accused Him of being possessed by Beelzebub himself. Their opposition to Jesus in the name of Judaism was tainted and corrupted by false accusations and a bad heart.

Brethren, IN YOUR EFFORT TO MAINTAIN AND PRESERVE THE PURITY OF THE GOSPEL AND THE FAITH, DON’T ALLOW YOURSELF TO HAVE BAD THOUGHTS AND ATTITUDES ABOUT PEOPLE YOU THINK ARE WRONG. It’s easy to start hating someone you don’t agree with. It doesn’t take any effort at all to be malicious and vindictive towards someone you perceive as an enemy. That’s why you’ve got to take it easy, slow down, and get a hold of yourself. DO A LOT OF SELF-EXAMINING BEFORE YOU SCRUTINIZE AND SLANDER SOMEONE. Keep a tight lid on your lip. Remember, the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a sin that’s spoken. MEASURE YOUR WORDS CAREFULLY BECAUSE THE WORDS THAT HURT OTHERS CAN ALSO HURT YOU AND GET YOU IN TROUBLE WITH GOD.

Spiritual things are spiritually discerned (see 1 Corinthians 2:14). Like the religious leaders, when you’re motivated by jealousy, animosity, resentment, pride, or a host of other ungodly emotions; your ability to discern spiritual things is hampered and you don’t think very well. A bad heart makes for bad vision, spiritually speaking. Keep your mouth shut and your accusations to yourself until you can think and see clearly again.

Contend for the truth, my friends. I’m all for that if you do it in love and with a Christlike spirit. Just keep your emotions and tongue under strict control. Don’t lie! Remember that the primary intent of blasphemy is to slander or defame someone’s name, character or reputation. Brethren, WHEN YOU’RE OUT TO SLANDER, RUIN, HURT, OR DISGRACE SOMEONE; WATCH OUT BECAUSE LIES AND BLASPHEMY ARE CLOSE AT HAND.

2. Don’t Be Quick, Thoughtless, Or Indiscriminate In Charging People With Being Oppressed And Working Under Demonic Power. There are demon-oppressed people in this world. There are false prophets and deceivers working under demonic power. Some of them go to churches and are a part of a local church.

WHEN IT COMES TO A PROFESSED FOLLOWER OF JESUS, YOU’D BETTER HAVE ALL THE FACTS RIGHT BEFORE YOU START ACCUSING HIM OR HER OF WORKING BY DEMONIC POWER OR INFLUENCE. DON’T FABRICATE CHARGES against those who you deem enemies of the church and the truth.

The Scribes and Pharisees didn’t like Jesus. They didn’t agree with Jesus. But the fact that they didn’t like Jesus or agree with Him didn’t automatically mean He was demon-oppressed! Friends, JUST BECAUSE YOU DON’T LIKE SOMEONE OR DON’T AGREE WITH HIM DOESN’T AUTOMATICALLY MEAN HE’S A TOOL OF SATAN. HE MAY WELL BE WRONG. BUT HIS BEING WRONG DOESN’T AUTOMATICALLY MAKE HIM OPPRESSED. DON’T DEMONIFY A BELIEVER OR MINISTER UNLESS YOU KNOW BY THE SPIRIT THAT THERE’S DEMONS INVOLVED.

By our standards today, we can be reasonably sure in saying many of the Scribes and Pharisees had spirits of legalism, religiosity, false piety, spiritual pride, and deception working in, and through, them. But it’s interesting to note that Jesus didn’t go around accusing the religious leaders of being oppressed! The only time He brought up the fact of demonic oppression was when He was ready to cast the demon out of a fellow, or shortly thereafter. The records speak for themselves. Jesus didn’t go around calling people oppressed or possessed. He did something about it. He cast these demons out. Friends, if you’re not planning on casting a demon out, don’t be so eager to demonify a believer or accuse him or her of being demonically oppressed. It may be true. They may well be oppressed. But some things don’t need to be said until, or unless, an exorcism is in the works.

(3) Get Your Theology In Line With The Scriptures Before You Accuse A Person Of Speaking and Working Under The Inspiration And Power Of Satan. The Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub. But they were wrong because their theology was wrong. Satan doesn’t cast out Satan. Their accusation against Jesus was made on wrong or errant theology.

To avoid making the same mistake as these Scribes and Pharisees you need to do some thinking and studying before you make accusation against a servant of God. If you were one of these religious leaders, you should have asked yourself if the Devil is capable of casting demons out of demon-oppressed people. Does the Devil do that sort of thing? Is the Devil  involved in deliverance? You see, to discern if a person is ministering by the Spirit of God or by a demonic spirit, you’ve first got to know what the Spirit of God can say and do and what He can’t. You’ve got to know what the Devil can say and do and what he can’t. YOU RISK COMMITTING THE UNPARDONABLE SIN WHEN YOU FAIL TO DISTINGUISH THE WORKINGS OF THE SPIRIT FROM THE WORKINGS OF THE DEVIL. Keep what’s of the Spirit, of the Spirit; and what’s of the Devil, of the Devil. Don’t mix them up, otherwise you’ll be in a heap of trouble.

It’s time for lab. Let’s get personal and practical. Two professing ministers of God are saying the exact same thing—let’s say they’re both teaching Divine healing. Two professing ministers of God are doing the exact same thing—let’s say they’re both casting demons out of the oppressed. You look at both of them and you decide one of them works by the Spirit of God and the other, by a demonic spirit. The question is, How did you arrive at that conclusion or judgment? What reasons, evidence, or criteria did you use to make that judgment? What grounds did you base your discernment on?

Go back to our Scripture text. The disciples of the Pharisees cast demons out of people and Jesus did too. The Pharisees had to decide if Jesus was casting demons out by the Spirit of God or by the power of Beelzebub. Do you know what they based their judgment and accusation on? Well, it wasn’t based on right theology because Satan cannot cast out Satan. Their judgment and accusation were based on the fact that they didn’t like Him, they didn’t agree with Him, He wasn’t a part of their religious clique, He didn’t observe their man-made laws and traditions, He didn’t do things their way, He was cozy with publicans and sinners, He wasn’t separate from the common people, and a host of other reasons.

You see, brethren, the things that these religious leaders based their judgment and accusation on weren’t adequate or sufficient to support the kind of judgment or accusation that they were making. All their reasons centered around Jesus. But what they failed to see was that these many, varied reasons for accusing Jesus of working by the power of Beelzebub centered around them: their jealousy, envy, hatred, and pride.

Friends, WHEN YOUR JUDGMENTS OR DISCERNMENT ARE BASED ON VILE EMOTIONS OF THE FLESH, YOU DON’T HAVE A LEG TO STAND ON. Before you accuse somebody of working by demonic power, you’d better be sure that the Devil is capable of saying the things this person is saying and capable of doing the things this person is doing. If, as in deliverance, the Devil doesn’t say and do those things, then don’t ascribe the words and works of the Spirit to a demonic spirit because that’s blasphemous. HAVING A RIGHT HEART AND THEOLOGY WILL KEEP YOU FROM COMMITTING THE UNPARDONABLE, UNFORGIVABLE SIN. May God bless you and keep you in His love and His truth.

Leave a Comment

THE UNPARDONABLE, UNFORGIVABLE SIN PART 3

July 15, 2011 at 9:20 PM (Doctrine, Unpardonable Sin)

COUNSEL TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE THEY’VE COMMITTED THE UNPARDONABLE SIN

If you believe you’ve blasphemed the Holy Spirit, consider carefully the three things that constitute the unpardonable sin. (1) Was the person you were accusing a true minister or servant of God acting at the time under Divine inspiration, anointing, or power? It’s true that ordinary believers can be oppressed by a demon or demons. It isn’t blasphemous or unpardonable to say a believer is oppressed in some matter or area of their life. THE BLASPHEMY OCCURS WHEN A TRUE BELIEVER HAS SPOKEN OR WORKED UNDER THE SPIRIT’S POWER AND YOU CHARGE THAT AS BEING A MANIFESTATION OF DEMONIC POWER OR ACTIVITY.

Remember, Jesus just got done ministering by the Spirit when He healed the blind and mute demoniac. If there hadn’t been a healing or deliverance, there wouldn’t have been an unpardonable sin committed. BLASPHEMY OCCURS IN THE CONTEXT OF A MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT’S POWER OR WORK. IF THE PERSON YOU ACCUSED WASN’T SPEAKING OR MINISTERING BY THE SPIRIT AT THE TIME YOU ACCUSED HIM, THEN YOU HAVEN’T COMMITTED THE UNPARDONABLE SIN.

(2) Did you accuse the person of having, and working by, a demonic spirit? If not, you haven’t committed the unpardonable sin. You may have said a lot of bad or mean things about that person. That’s lamentable. But it isn’t unpardonable! Remember, the unpardonable sin is when you accuse someone who’s ministering by the Spirit that he’s ministering by a demonic spirit. If you made no such accusation, you’ve committed no such sin. IF YOU DON’T REMEMBER MAKING SUCH ACCUSATION, CHANCES ARE, YOU HAVEN’T BLASPHEMED THE HOLY SPIRIT.

You see, generally speaking, when you commit a sin you know what the sin is. You know what you did. For example, when you steal money you know what you stole and you know that you’ve stolen. If you didn’t steal money do you accuse yourself of having stolen money? Of course not! You don’t accuse yourself of doing things you never did.

Suppose the Devil tells you, you stole money. Do you believe his accusation? Of course not! You didn’t steal it, his accusation is a lie, so you don’t pay him any mind. Now suppose somebody accuses you of stealing money. Do you believe that person’s accusation? Of course not! You didn’t steal a thing. The accusation is false and a lie.

So what’s the point? The point is, you don’t believe an accusation made against you when you didn’t do it. The accusation is a lie. And just because someone’s accusing you of doing something doesn’t mean you did it. To be sure, as the years pass, you don’t always remember details. You don’t remember everything you said or did in connection with a certain event. But if you’ve ever battled condemnation for past sins you know that when it comes to sin, the Devil doesn’t let you forget. The gory details are as fresh in your mind today as they were the day you committed the sin. The point is, when it comes to sin, the Devil and your human mind are very good at remembering details!

Brethren, IF YOU BELIEVE YOU’VE COMMITTED THE UNPARDONABLE SIN, BUT CAN’T REMEMBER EVER COMMITTING IT; YOU HAVEN’T COMMITED THE SIN! YOU WOULD REMEMBER IT IF YOU DID! People and the Devil may tell you you’ve committed the unpardonable sin. But if you don’t remember ever committing it, the accusation—like stealing money—is a lie.

(3) Now if you indeed accused a servant of God of ministering by a demonic spirit, you need to ask yourself two questions. (A) Did you know what you were doing when you made the accusation? You see, it’s possible to say and do the wrong things sincerely out of ignorance. Ignorance is lamentable. But it isn’t unforgivable. In writing of his past life as a blasphemer and persecutor of the church, Paul nevertheless obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief (1 Timothy 1:13). Like Paul, you can be sincerely convinced you’re right about the things you’re saying and doing and still be dead wrong because you’re ignorant and in unbelief about the truth. Brethren, if you were sincerely ignorant and wrong about the false accusation you made against a true minister of God, confess your sin to God and make the necessary apologies. Ignorance is forgivable and God forgives you.

A second question you need to ask yourself if you believe you’ve blasphemed the Holy Spirit is this. (B) What was your motive for making the accusation? Were you sincerely trying to take a stand for the truth and warn God’s people about someone you believed was wrong and a deceiver? Or were you jealous of the guy and your sole intent was to discredit him and make him look bad?  Saying false, wrong things about a guy and dragging him through the mud are truly lamentable. But they’re not unforgivable. If you didn’t accuse him of speaking or working by a demonic spirit, you haven’t committed the unpardonable sin.

BLASPHEMY OCCURS WHEN YOU, LIKE THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, ARE MALICIOUS AND INTENT ON TAINTING OR DESTROYING THE NAME, CHARACTER AND REPUTATION OF A PERFECTLY GOOD SERVANT OF GOD. THE CONDITION AND MOTIVE OF YOUR HEART HAS A LOT TO DO WITH WHETHER OR NOT YOU ACTUALLY COMMITTED THE UNFORGIVABLE SIN.

In their unbelief and opposition to Jesus, the Scribes and Pharisees were hardened to Him. They didn’t have the least bit of regret or conviction for the things they said about Him. They were not interested in believing, following, or supporting Him. They were not sorry about all the false things they said about Him and all the bad things they did to Him. They had a hard, evil heart. Jesus said so. Right after telling us about the unpardonable sin Jesus went on to say in the same time context, Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. {34} O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. {35} A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things, Matthew 12:33-35.

The evil accusation that the Scribes and Pharisees made against Jesus came from their evil hearts. The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is spoken from an evil heart. Brethren, if you’re not like the Pharisees and Scribes, IF YOU STILL HAVE A HEART FOR JESUS AND WANT TO SERVE HIM, THEN YOU HAVEN’T COMMITTED THE UNPARDONABLE SIN. Those who commit the unforgivable sin have no interest in following or serving Jesus. If you committed the unforgivable sin you wouldn’t be concerned about it. You wouldn’t be bothered, convicted or be thinking about it. You’d forget it. If you’re bothered, convicted, or sorry about it, then, believe me, you haven’t committed the unforgivable sin.

Having said that, let me hasten to say that if you’re bothered by persistent thoughts of having blasphemed the Holy Spirit; then there may well be a lying, deceiving spirit of condemnation, torment, or unbelief that’s trying to cut you off from the Lord. Demon spirits are involved whenever thoughts of condemnation, rejection, and unforgiveness nag and bombard your mind. Come against the spirit by name, command them in Jesus’ Name not to speak to you anymore about this false charge of blasphemy. Settle it in your heart that you haven’t committed the unpardonable sin, refuse to entertain the thought again, then continue your walk with the Lord.

Coming Up On My Next Blog Post, Part 4. This final installment contains practical admonitions to help you not commit the unpardonable sin. This is a must-read for all zealous defenders of the faith and the truth. P.S. No mud and rope allowed in the auditorium.

1 Comment

THE UNPARDONABLE, UNFORGIVABLE SIN PART 2

July 12, 2011 at 8:18 AM (Doctrine, Unpardonable Sin)

There are three things that make up the unpardonable sin: (1) the person against whom accusation is being made; (2) the accusation itself; and (3) the falseness of the accusation. Let’s look at each of these.

1. THE PERSON BEING ACCUSED. But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow (Matthew 12:24a). There are two things that you should be aware of here. First, when the religious leaders committed this sin they were talking to the people about Jesus. They weren’t talking to Jesus, nor were they talking to the invisible Personage called the Holy Spirit. Their object and intent was not to blaspheme the Spirit. They didn’t start out their encounter with Jesus by saying, “O.K. guys, let’s blaspheme the Holy Spirit.” You see, from their point of view, they were out to discredit Jesus as the Messiah because of what the people around them were saying and wondering about Jesus being the possible Messiah.

So what’s the point? YOU CAN BLASPHEME THE HOLY SPIRIT EVEN WHEN YOU AREN’T TALKING DIRECTLY OR PERSONALLY TO HIM. YOU CAN BLASPHEME THE SPIRIT WITHOUT EVEN HAVING HIM IN MIND.

These religious leaders didn’t like Jesus, nor did they agree with Him. But, and this is my second point, the fact of the matter remains the same: Jesus was a Man of God and the Spirit of God was working through Him. It’s important for you to understand this truth—that Jesus was a true Man of God—because when you understand that, you’ll understand that the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit applies primarily to an accusation made against a true minister of God. I believe it applies as well to those who operate in the gifts of the Spirit, particularly the gifts of revelation, utterance, or miracles.

In effect, THE BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT IS COMMITTED WHEN FALSE ACCUSATION OF DEMONIC ACTIVITY IS MADE AGAINST ANY BELIEVER WHO’S FUNCTIONING OR MINISTERING UNDER THE SPIRIT’S INSPIRATION, ANOINTING, OR POWER.  You see, it isn’t blasphemous to accuse a false prophet, deceiver, or minister of Satan of speaking or working by demonic power. It’s true. Satan’s ministers work under his demonic power. Brethren, it isn’t blasphemous to say it. The unpardonable sin applies only when false accusation of demonic activity is made against a true minister or servant of God.

2. THE ACCUSATION.  This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils (Matthew 12:24). Remember what blasphemy means. It means to say something that’s untrue in order to slander a person’s character or reputation. Jesus was working or ministering by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Scribes and Pharisees said He wasn’t. They accused Him of ministering by demonic power.

Like these religious leaders, YOU BLASPHEME THE HOLY SPIRIT WHEN YOU CHARGE AND ATTRIBUTE THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE THE WORK OF A DEMONIC SPIRIT. In effect, you’re denying that it’s the Holy Spirit working through an individual. You’re accusing that person of having a demonic spirit and of working by demonic power. When you make this kind of accusation against a true minister or servant of God, you’re not only slandering or defaming his character and reputation: you’re slandering the Holy Spirit who’s working in and through Him. You’re disgracing the Holy Spirit of God by accusing Him of being a devil!

Like the Scribes and Pharisees, you’re not intending to slander the Spirit. You don’t have Him in mind. All you’re doing is accusing someone of working under demonic power or activity. But the truth is, as God sees it, when you accuse a true man of God of working under demonic power you are, in effect, accusing the work of the Holy Spirit through him to be the work of a devil. In other words, the Spirit of God in him is really a demonic spirit instead. YOU COMMIT THE UNPARDONABLE SIN WHEN YOU CHARGE A TRUE SERVANT OF GOD TO BE POSSESSED BY A DEMONIC SPIRIT: HE’S WORKING THROUGH THE INSPIRATION AND POWER OF A DEMONIC SPIRIT.

3. THE FALSENESS OF THE ACCUSATION.  Lastly, the unpardonable sin involves an accusation that isn’t true. And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? {27} And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges (Matthew 12:26-27). The accusation that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub was not true. The Scribes and Pharisees either fabricated this untruth, or else they really believed it in their hearts. Whatever the case might be, the accusation was not true.

You see, their disciples were casting out demons too and the Pharisees didn’t have any problem with that. They didn’t accuse their disciples of working under demonic power. But when it came to Jesus doing the same thing, they treated Him differently. They accused Him of being a tool of the Devil.

In a situation like this, only one of three possibilities or choices is true: (1) all exorcism is by the power of God; or (2) all exorcism is by the power of Satan; or (3) some exorcism is by the power of God and some is by the power of Satan.

Since the disciples of the Pharisees were involved in exorcism, it is clear the Pharisees didn’t believe that all deliverance is by the power of Satan. Simple enough. Let’s scratch out (2).

That done, we’re faced with two possibilities: (1) either all exorcism is by the power of God, or else (3) some of it is by God’s power and some by the Devil’s power. You see, the Pharisees were faced with these two possibilities. Since they didn’t like or agree with Jesus and were envious of Him for amassing such a huge following among the people,  they could not bring themselves to admit that God could work through Jesus. The only choice they had left was, God casts demons out when He does it through our disciples, but when someone else does it Satan is behind it.

But their charge against Jesus was wrong on two counts. First, Satan doesn’t cast demons out of people. And second, the disciples of the Pharisees would testify against them and object to the notion that the Devil was the power behind deliverance. They, Jesus said, shall be your judges (Matthew 12:27).

Brethren, DON’T MAKE ACCUSATIONS BASED ON ENVY, HATRED, OR WRONG THEOLOGY BECAUSE IT CAN GET YOU IN A LOT OF TROUBLE. The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, in conclusion, is when you accuse a true servant of God of doing something by demonic power when, in reality, that isn’t the case at all. It’s the Spirit of God working or speaking through him.

Coming Up On My Next Blog Post, Part 3. If you believe you’ve committed the unpardonable sin, this next one’s for you. God wants you here. He’s saved a seat for you. It’ll be your D-Day and V-Day over the Devil’s lies concerning you. (P.S. Deliverance and Victory achieved only if seat is warmed.)

Leave a Comment

THE UNPARDONABLE, UNFORGIVABLE SIN PART 1

July 8, 2011 at 11:07 AM (Doctrine, Unpardonable Sin)

All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. {32} And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Matthew 12:31-32

 INTRODUCTION

There is one, and only one, sin that can never be forgiven. It is the unpardonable, unforgivable sin. This sin is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. To knowingly commit it even once is to be damned for a lifetime and eternity.

Unfortunately, the Devil likes to run with these words of our Lord. He tells some of God’s people that they’ve committed the unpardonable sin, God will never forgive them, they’re damned for all eternity without any hope of salvation or Heaven. Tragically, some of God’s people believe these lies of the Devil and they end up living very confused, miserable, and tormented lives. It’s really no way to live.

If you believe you’ve committed the unforgivable sin, or you don’t know what this sin is, these blog posts are for you. Let me begin by setting the historical context for you.

THE CONTEXT IN WHICH THIS SIN IS COMMITTED

Matthew 12:22-23,  Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.  (23)  And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

One day, some people brought a man to Jesus for help. The man was blind, mute, and demon possessed. Jesus cured him on the spot and, in a single marvelous moment, the man was able to see and speak. Well, as you could no doubt imagine, this miracle caused quite a stir among the people who were standing by. It got them thinking about who Jesus really was. Obviously, He was no ordinary man. Many of them toyed with the idea that Jesus might just possibly be the Son of David, that is, the promised Messiah.

Matthew 12:24,  But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. There were Pharisees in the crowd that day. In Mark’s account of this same incident, there were Scribes there as well (Mark 3:22). Now the Scribes were the official copiers of Holy Scripture. They were the only ones authorized to make hand-written copies of sacred Scripture. Because of their official duty, they were also experts in the law. They knew the law better than anyone else did. So, naturally, the opinion of these experts concerning Jesus’ identity would carry the most weight.

Well, when the Pharisees and Scribes heard the people hailing Jesus as the possible Messiah, this just roused their dander. They hated Jesus. They didn’t believe Jesus was the promised Messiah at all. To the contrary, they felt Jesus was a law-breaker, a deceiver, and worst of all, Beelzebub himself (see Matthew 10:25). And who is Beelzebub? He’s the prince of devils, namely, Satan Himself. In other words, “Jesus is not the Messiah! This supposed Messiah is a demoniac! He’s the Devil incarnate!” Thus, while many of the people called Jesus the Son of God, Messiah, and Great Prophet; the Jewish religious leaders themselves proclaimed Him to be the Devil himself. By accusing Him thusly, the Pharisees sought to quench the people’s excitement and turn them away from following or exalting Jesus as the promised Messiah of Israel.

Matthew 12:25-29,  And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:  (26)  And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?  (27)  And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.  (28)  But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.  (29)  Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

The charge of the Pharisees and Scribes, however, is utterly incongruous or incompatible with reason. Satan doesn’t cast out Satan. Satan, Jesus tells us plainly, is not in the business of casting demons out of demon-possessed people.  He would be working against himself if he did this. And this is something that Satan just doesn’t do: he doesn’t work against himself! Truth be told, DELIVERANCE OR EXORCISM IS NOT SATAN’S ENTERPRISE, WORK, OR MINISTRY. RATHER, IT’S A MINISTRY AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKING THROUGH HUMAN VESSELS.

In countering the Pharisees’ and Scribes’ accusation concerning Him, Jesus proceeds to tell us about the unpardonable sin. Matthew 12:30-32,  He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.  (31)  Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.  (32)  And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BLASPHEME THE HOLY SPIRIT?

The unpardonable, unforgivable sin is when a person blasphemes the Holy Spirit. Great! What does that mean? Well, the word blasphemy in the Greek text of the Scriptures means to revile or reproach, to calumniate or make false and malicious statements so as to slander or defame someone’s character or reputation. In our day, to blaspheme a person would be to drag his name through the mud and say all kinds of ridiculous things about him, even lies, to make him look really bad. To blaspheme the Holy Spirit, then, is to disgrace or dishonor the Holy Spirit by saying false things about or against Him.

Coming Up On My Next Blog Post, Part 2. I’ll take an in-depth look at the sin of blasphemy against the Spirit. It’ll be so clear and simple that you’ll see quite clearly what this sin is really all about.  Fogged up about it? Drop on by. My Scriptural version of Windex will have you seeing clearly in no time.

4 Comments

LEARNING FROM JUDAS’ MISTAKES, PART 5

July 5, 2011 at 10:11 AM (Christian Living, Learning From Judas)

5. Judas’ Suicide

 Matthew 27:3-5, Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, {4} Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.  And they said,  What is that to us? see thou to that. {5} And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

MISTAKE. Judas, like the rest of the apostles, never believed or expected that Jesus would die. When Judas saw that Jesus was condemned to die because of his treachery he was remorseful and he went to the chief priests. For what purpose? (1)  To return the money that the chief  priests gave him to deliver Jesus into their hands. The gesture, back then, was the same as saying, “let’s call our deal off. Here’s your money back. Let Jesus go.” (2) He confessed his guilt in bringing Jesus before the Court. And (3) he confessed Jesus’ innocence.

Judas’ confession here is hugely significant because, in the eyes of Hebrew Law, this confession would have reversed the Court’s death penalty and set Jesus free. You see, whenever a witness stepped forward to testify to the innocence of the accused the Court was obliged to hear him. The Court may have already passed sentence against the accused. The accused might already be on his way to execution. But as long as the accused was alive the Court was obliged to halt everything and bring the accused back before the Court. In fact, the law required all the judges to remain in their seats while the accused was being escorted to execution. They were to stay in Court just in case a witness steps forward and presents evidence for the innocence of the accused. The court took every measure to prevent killing an innocent man. If the testimony of the last-minute witness was deemed true or reliable by the Court, the Court would immediately release the accused. So what Judas is doing here is he’s seeking Jesus’ freedom and release. He’s pleading to save Jesus’ life!

What Judas does here is admirable and commendable. He’s trying to undo what he’s done. He’s trying to make amends for his wrong. He’s trying to get things right. That’s all good and right. But THE ONE THING YOU CAN’T DO IS TURN THE CLOCK BACK AND UNDO WHAT YOU’VE ALREADY DONE. WHAT’S DONE IS DONE AND YOU CAN’T UNDO THAT. You can make amends or restitution. You can confess your sin, express your remorse, ask for forgiveness, and get it. You can pay the legal punishments for your crime. But YOU CAN’T UNDO WHAT YOU’VE ALREADY DONE.

How Judas must have wished he had never betrayed the Lord! If only he hadn’t, things would have been so much different for him. He would have had a life and a future if only he didn’t strike his bargain with the priests. But, alas, it was too late. He committed a sin and he couldn’t undo that sin or stop the consequences of that sin from coming to pass.

Brethren, LIVE LIFE WITHOUT REGRETS.How do you do that? Simple! DON’T DO THINGS YOU’LL LATER ON REGRET.

THE LESSON.  Notice that Judas returned the entire sum of money that he got for betraying the Lord. He loved money so much that he betrayed his Lord for it. But the money that he thought would buy him happiness bought him, or  brought  him, no such happiness. What he lusted after, and got, now filled him  with remorse and regret.  He never got  to spend, or enjoy, a single cent!   The money that he wanted so much, and got, now meant nothing to him.

Friends, you could live your life for the sin that you presently harbor and hide. It could be money. Pornography. Illicit sexual relationships and love affairs. An addiction to nicotine,  drugs, alcohol. What is it that you’re hiding? What is it that you’re so much in love with? Listen. SIN WASN’T MEANT TO MAKE YOU HAPPY! IT WAS MEANT TO KILL YOU—just like it ended up killing Judas. THE THINGS YOU LOVE NOW YOU’LL LATER COME TO HATE OR REGRET. IT WON’T GIVE YOU THE HAPPINESS YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD. INSTEAD, THE SIN THAT YOU LOVE WILL FILL YOU WITH SORROW AND REGRET.

The Devil, dear friends, is out to kill and damn as many people as he can. And he does that by making sin look so good, advantageous, fun, pleasurable, innocent, and small.

Brethren, don’t minimize the smallness or seeming innocence of your sin. People justify their sins with the self-deluding notion that it isn’t a big deal, they’re not hurting anyone, they’re not committing a crime, it’s not really a sin. But it is a sin. No matter how small or trivial a sin you think it is, sin is still sin. And SIN UNREPENTED OF WILL KILL YOU. Brethren, JUDAS LOST HIS LIFE AND SOUL OVER ONE SEEMINGLY SMALL AND INNOCENT SIN! JUDAS’ LOVE OF MONEY ENDED UP KILLING HIM.

Whoever imagined that the love of money would lead to murder and suicide? Judas never imagined that his hidden sin would end the way it did—in Jesus’ death and his own.

Sin, as I said, wasn’t meant to make you happy.  It was meant  to  kill  you.  SIN THAT YOU DON’T FORSAKE OR REPENT OF WILL EVENTUALLY AND ULTIMATELY KILL YOU—if not physically, then spiritually. In many instances, as it was in Judas’ case, sin kills you both physically and spiritually.

Every sin, regardless of its size or severity leaves you guilty in the sight of God. Every sin, no matter how small or minor you think it is, carries a price. You will pay the penalty for every sin that you leave undealt with, unconfessed, and unrepented. YOU CAN’T COMMIT A SIN—OR KEEP ON COMMITTING A SIN—WITHOUT PAYING THE PENALTY FOR THAT SIN! AS LONG AS YOU’RE   UNREPENTANT   YOU  CAN’T  GET OUT OF SUFFERING THE CONSEQUENCES, PENALTY, JUDGMENT, AND PUNISHMENT OF SIN NO MATTER HOW SMALL, INSIGNIFICANT, MINOR, OR TRIVIAL YOU THINK IT MIGHT BE.

In closing, let me say as emphatically as I can, no one–no sin, no love, no lust, no person, no thing–is worth going to Hell over. A single second in Hell will resound this undeniable, unarguable truth. A fleeting moment of sin’s enjoyment is not worth an endless torment of sin’s punishment. Friend, give up the sin and turn to Christ. Don’t let this opportunity to be forgiven and saved escape you today. You may not have tomorrow. May God help you–may He help us all–forsake sin and serve Christ.

1 Comment

LEARNING FROM JUDAS’ MISTAKES, PART 4

June 29, 2011 at 10:07 AM (Christian Living, Learning From Judas)

4. Judas’ Remorse

 Matthew 27:3-4, Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, {4} Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

THE MISTAKE & THE LESSON. It appears from the written text that Judas didn’t mean for Jesus to die. All he wanted was to get Jesus arrested in exchange for money. But he didn’t expect the chief priests to put Him to death. You see, things didn’t go as Judas had planned. Things didn’t turn out the way Judas thought they would.

Brethren, you may have your life of sin all planned out. This is what you’re going to do. This is how you’re going to live. And after that, you’re going to live happily ever after. Friends, it doesn’t work like this! WHEN YOU GIVE YOURSELF TO SIN THE ONLY THING YOU’RE GIVING YOURSELF IS A FUTURE OF PAIN, SUFFERING, AND REGRET.

Judas didn’t think that Jesus would be killed! He didn’t want to see the Lord condemned and put to death. But that’s exactly what happened! It is both a tragic, and a graphic, lesson to us that SIN HAS CONSEQUENCES AND THESE CONSEQUENCES ARE BEYOND YOUR CONTROL. YOU CAN’T CHOOSE WHAT THESE CONSEQUENCES WILL BE AND YOU CAN’T STOP THESE CONSEQUENCES FROM HAPPENING.

THE ONLY CHOICE YOU HAVE IS TO SIN OR NOT SIN. IF YOU CHOOSE TO SIN, YOU CAN CHOOSE WHAT KIND OF SIN YOU’RE GOING TO COMMIT. BUT ONCE YOU’VE CHOSEN TO SIN, YOU CAN’T CHOOSE WHAT WILL HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF YOUR SIN. Things will happen that you didn’t want to happen, didn’t plan to happen, didn’t expect to happen, or didn’t think would happen.

SIN’S CONSEQUENCES OR RESULTS ARE BEYOND  YOUR  CONTROL!  IF  YOU  DON’T WANT THESE CONSEQUENCES TO HAPPEN, IF YOU DON’T WANT THE UNDESIRABLE AND THE UNTHINKABLE TO HAPPEN, THEN DON’T SIN! YOU WILL NOT REAP SIN’S CONSEQUENCES, YOU WILL NOT SUFFER THE PAINS AND REGRETS OF SIN, IF YOU DON’T SIN!

THE MISTAKE & LESSON.  Notice in the text of Scripture that Judas was remorseful. He now recognized what he did—he betrayed an innocent Man. He confessed his sin. And he was sorry for what he did. He even went so far as to return the thirty pieces of silver. But in his sorrow for sin, Judas didn’t repent! It’s important for you to recognize this fact because the KJV gives us the impression that he repented. But that is not the case.

There are two basic words for repent in the Greek New Testament. The first is metánoia. It means to change one’s mind and go in another direction. This is the repentance that we are most familiar with. It’s the kind of repentance that’s required for salvation and the forgiveness of sin. The other word for repentance is metaméllomai. It speaks of sorrow, regret, and remorse. This is the Greek word that’s used here with respect to Judas.

Now SORROW AND REMORSE ARE A NECESSARY PART OF TRUE REPENTANCE. BUT THEY ARE NOT THE  SAME  THING  AS REPENTANCE. It’s like apple pie. You need dough and apples to make apple pie. But just because you’ve got dough and apples doesn’t mean you’ve got apple pie. You need to roll the dough, put it in a pie pan, then peel and slice your apples, put them in the pie pan, put a crust over it, then bake it before you have your apple pie.

It’s the same way with repentance. Sorrow and remorse are a part of repentance, but they’re not the same thing as actually repenting of sin. You can feel sorry about fornicating without ever changing your mind about fornication. You feel sorry because you know it’s wrong and it’s sin. You feel sorry because you were caught in fornication. But you’ll continue to fornicate because you just haven’t yet changed your mind about fornication! You haven’t given up your love, desire, and intention to fornicate again.

Do you see what I mean?  YOU CAN BE SORRY YOU SINNED AND STILL NOT REPENT FOR THAT  SIN. JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE SORRY DOESN’T MEAN YOU’RE REPENTANT!

Judas was genuinely and sincerely sorry for what he did. But his remorse didn’t bring him to the Lord! All he would have had to do to receive the Lord’s forgiveness was go to the Lord, apologize, and ask for His forgiveness. And do you know what? Jesus would have forgiven him! Jesus forgives those who truly repent of their sins.

The thing that I find so tragic here is, instead  of  going  to  the  Lord,  Judas  went  to  the  priests. If he had only apologized to the Lord—instead of to the priests—his end would have been different!

Learn a lesson here, dear friends. SORROW FOR SIN IS A GOOD THING. BUT IT DOESN’T DO YOU ANY GOOD IF IT DOESN’T LEAD YOU TO REPENTANCE. YOU OUGHT TO FEEL SORRY. BUT GOD WANTS MORE THAN JUST YOUR REMORSE: HE WANTS YOUR REPENTANCE! FEEL SORRY ALL YOU WANT. CRY ALL THE TEARS YOU WANT. BUT IF YOU DON’T CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT YOUR SIN, IF YOU DON’T QUIT SINNING; ALL THE TEARS AND SORROW IN THE WORLD WILL NOT GET YOU GOD’S FORGIVENESS!

To bring this lesson home, consider this sobering truth: Judas never made it to Heaven in spite of the fact that he was sorry! Jesus said in Matthew 26:24, The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had not been born. Judas died a grieved, sorrowful man filled with remorse and regret. But he didn’t go to Heaven because he didn’t go to the Lord. His remorse didn’t lead him to repentance. He was remorseful, but not repentant.

Friends, don’t  fool  yourself and play games with God because your soul is on the line. JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE SORRY DOESN’T MEAN THE LORD’S GOING TO FEEL SORRY FOR YOU AND FORGIVE YOU! THE LORD DIDN’T FORGIVE JUDAS IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT JUDAS WAS SORRY! WHY? BECAUSE JUDAS NEVER REPENTED!

YOU’VE GOT TO REPENT IN ORDER TO BE FORGIVEN. BELOVED, DON’T THINK THAT REMORSE IS ENOUGH TO BE FORGIVEN. IT ISN’T! YOU’VE GOT TO GIVE UP THE SIN AND TURN AWAY FROM IT IF YOU WANT THE LORD TO FORGIVE YOU. NO REPENTANCE, NO FORGIVENESS. PERIOD.

Coming Up On My Next Blog Post, The 5th & Final Installment. Sin will eventually kill you if you don’t give it up. Judas’ sin took his life. It’s such a tragic end to a man who was privileged to spend a few years so close to the Lord. Don’t miss out on these final life-saving lessons!

Leave a Comment

LEARNING FROM JUDAS’ MISTAKES, PART 3

June 24, 2011 at 2:29 PM (Christian Living, Learning From Judas)

3. Judas’ Betrayal Of The Lord

 Matthew 26:47-49, And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. {48} Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. {49} And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

THE MISTAKE & LESSON. It was night out, approaching midnight, and the arresting party needed help in identifying Jesus. So the prearranged sign was whoever Judas kissed would be the Lord.

Now when Judas kissed the Lord Matthew uses the intensive form of the verb, which is to say, he kissed the Lord earnestly and fervently. The implication of the text is that Judas didn’t just kiss the Lord once, but rather, kissed Him over and over again. Here was a display of great affection  and  respect.  If you didn’t know what was going on or what was about to happen you would likely conclude that Judas must have really loved the Lord. But behind this façade of affection and love was treachery and betrayal.

You see, brethren, you can put on a show of great spirituality. By your conduct you can give people the impression that you’re really a good person. You can sing the loudest and talk knowledgeably of the Scriptures in such a way that people can’t help but conclude that you really have a close walk with the Lord. But, like Judas, YOU CAN ACT LIKE A TRUE CHRISTIAN AND STILL BE DOING THE DEVIL’S BUSINESS!

Here’s something else for you to consider. If you piece the Gospel records together you’ll see that there was a lapse of two days from the time Judas agreed to betray the Lord and the time he actually betrayed Him in the garden. In other words, Judas had two whole days to change his mind about betraying the Lord. Two days to look honestly at himself and ponder the ramifications of what he was about to do. Two days to be convicted and remorseful. Two days to back out of betraying the Lord. But, instead of repenting of his treachery, Judas looked for every opportunity to betray the Lord, Matthew 26:16. Judas was set in his avarice and nothing, or no one, was going to talk him out of betraying the Lord.

Brethren, WHEN YOU’VE GOT YOUR MIND MADE UP THAT YOU’RE GOING TO SIN, LIKE JUDAS, YOU’RE ONLY GIVING YOURSELF THE SADDEST, DARKEST, MOST PAINFUL, MOST REGRETTABLE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE. THE WORST IS YET TO COME! AND, LIKE JUDAS, YOU WILL NOT ENJOY THE LIFE THAT YOU’VE CHOSEN FOR YOURSELF.

Friend, this is your wake-up call from the Lord. Deliver yourself from a dark future and sad life by repenting right now and getting your life right with the Lord! YOU CANNOT SIN AND EXPECT NOT TO SUFFER SIN’S CONSEQUENCES, REGRETS, AND JUDGMENT. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7.) If you think you can sin and not go to Hell, then you’re already deceived. God’s no fool. He makes no idle threats. And you can never, you will never ever, prove Him wrong. SIN WILL KILL YOU. Stay tuned and I’ll show you how sin killed Judas.

Coming Up On My Next Blog Post, Part 4. You can be sorry for what you did, but that doesn’t mean you’re repentant. Drop by and I’ll show you the difference.

Leave a Comment

LEARNING FROM JUDAS’ MISTAKES PART 2

June 21, 2011 at 8:51 AM (Christian Living, Learning From Judas)

2. JUDAS’ DEAL TO BETRAY THE LORD

 Matthew 26:14-16, Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, {15} And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.  30 silver shekels is the equivalent of 120 denarii or roughly $21.60 today. The exchange rate, however, is not this accurate. As I pointed out earlier, a denarius is the amount of money that a common laborer made for a day’s work.  If we want to bring that denarius up to today’s standards, let’s suppose that a common laborer today makes $8 an hour and works 8 hours a day. A day’s wage, then, would be $64 and this, roughly speaking, is what an ancient denarius would be worth today.  Since 30 silver shekels is 120 denarii, then its real equivalent in today’s wages is $7,680. {16} And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

THE MISTAKE. The Scriptures do not come outright and give us the exact reason why Judas chose to betray the Lord. But judging by what he asked the chief priests, indications are rather strong that greed, or money, was what motivated Judas to betray the Lord.

Judas, as I said, had a sin problem. And this one sin, left undealt with, created more problems for him. One sin led to another. And the more sin is committed the more serious it becomes. The sin of thievery led to the sin of betrayal. The love of money now brought him into league with murderers. Judas’ love affair with money now goes beyond the realm of money: it will cost the Lord His life. The taking of money now involves the taking of a human life.

One sin left undealt with and unrepented of  leads to more sins. This is the problem with committing just one more sin. Just one more time. You don’t stop with just one sin. Just one more time. Sin is addictive. The more you sin the more you’ll continue to sin and the more addicted you become to it. Like any addiction, you can’t stop. And you can’t help yourself.  A sin addiction is, in reality, demonic oppression. You become the Devil’s slave. To do his bidding. To sin as often as he tempts and drives you to sin.

There comes a definite point in time, unknown to you, when your persistence in sin becomes an opened invitation or right-of-way where Satan comes insides you and oppresses, controls, or possesses you. Luke 22:3-5 tells us, Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. {4} And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. {5} And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

Brethren, IF YOU SIN AND LIVE LIKE THE DEVIL, THE DEVIL WILL OPPRESS YOU AND YOU’LL COME UNDER HIS DEMONIC CONTROL. You’ll become his slave. And you’ll end up doing his bidding. You think you’re free. But you’re serving the Devil, he’s your master, and you’re doing what he wants you to do.

THE LESSON. Brethren, don’t maintain your love affair with sin because you’ll open the door to demonic oppression if you haven’t already done so. And once  that  door  is  open,  you  become  a  slave  to  Satan  and  THE ONLY WAY TO GET FREE FROM HIM IS THROUGH AN ACT OF REPENTANCE AND DELIVERANCE.

BRETHREN, YOU CAN’T ESCAPE THE DEVIL AS LONG AS YOU’RE IN LEAGUE WITH HIM! AS LONG AS YOU LOVE YOUR SIN AND CONTINUE IN SIN, THERE IS NO FREEDOM FOR YOU. FREEDOM WILL COME WHEN YOU TURN FROM YOUR SIN, GIVE IT UP, AND CRY TO THE LORD FOR FORGIVENESS AND DELIVERANCE.

Judas betrayed the Lord for thirty pieces of silver. By today’s standards, that’s about $7,700. Brethren, how much is a sin or a lust worth to you? How much are you willing to pay, and suffer, to enjoy the pleasures of sin? Are you willing to go to Hell for $7,700? Would you spend eternity burning and screaming in Hell’s fire for a measly $7,700?

Jesus asks us in Matthew 16:26, What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? This word exchange is an interesting one. It denotes equivalence. You ransom, trade, or exhange something for something else that’s roughly equal in value. For example, you wouldn’t trade a 2011 Honda for a 2000 Escort because they’re not worth the same; you’ll be losing out on the trade. You wouldn’t trade a $350,000 house for a dilapidated shack at the edge of town. When you trade or exchange, you want to get something of equal, maybe even greater, value than what you’re giving up.

This whole world with all its riches and wealth is not worth as much as the value of your soul! You may not see, understand, or agree with that right now. But, believe me, a moment in Hell will tell the truth: there’s nothing on this Earth that’s worth spending eternity in Hell. A trillion dollars, all the booze and drugs, all the sex and filth that this world has to offer; will mean absolutely nothing to you once you’re in Hell. All you’ll want is out. And if not that, you’ll crave a glass of water to quench your indescribable thirst or a massive dose of morphine to numb the pain you’ll feel every second of every hour of every year for time without time. No, my friends. There’s nothing worth more than the value of your soul.

What are you willing to do to escape eternal judgment and suffering in Hell? Here’s what the Lord wants you to do. (1) Confess your hidden sin or lust. (2) Repent of it. (3) Get delivered so that you’re no longer compelled to sin and no longer enslaved by that demon and lust. And (4) bring forth fruits of repentance and deliverance by living a holy life and abstaining from sin.

Coming Up On My Next Blog Post, Part 3. Judas was determined to sin. And, unknown to him, he was setting himself up for the biggest regret of his life.

Leave a Comment

LEARNING FROM JUDAS’ MISTAKES PART 1

June 14, 2011 at 11:19 AM (Christian Living, Learning From Judas)

INTRODUCTION

One of the things that we parents do is teach and instruct our children. We teach them what’s wrong and what’s right. We teach them to do right. To live right. To believe right. Why do we teach them? Because we love them. We care very deeply about them. And we don’t want them to make wrong decisions that will hurt them or get them into trouble. We don’t want to see them suffer. So we do everything within our power to keep them from getting burned or hurt.

Our Father God is the same way with us. He loves us deeply. So deeply that He sacrificed His Son on the cross so that we can be saved. Since the day we got saved, God’s set Himself to teaching us a lot of things. He’s doing everything He can to make sure we make it to Heaven and stay out of Hell’s fires.

Now God has many ways of teaching us. He uses different methods that are best suited to each person’s style of learning.

  •  Some people learn best by teaching or  instruction. A sermon or Bible study is all they need to learn the lesson and live by it.
  •   Others learn best by example. They look at what other people did and they learn to either do the same thing or else not do it.
  •  And others learn best in the school of hard knocks. No matter how much or how hard you try and tell them, they just won’t listen. They’ll go ahead and make their own decision. Alas, they find out the hard way that their way was the wrong way.

Today we want to learn some very valuable life lessons by example. In the Bible, some people, like Abraham and Moses, set a good example for us to follow or copy. Other people, like Korah or Demas, set a bad example. But even though they set a bad example, their names and deeds are written in Scripture so that we can learn from their mistakes and not duplicate or repeat them.

One person who made big time  wrong decisions is Judas Iscariot. Judas, as you know, was one of the Lord’s twelve apostles. It was he who betrayed the Lord and set in motion the events that ultimately culminated in Jesus’ death. The brief Scriptural record of his life is filled with grief and tragedy, but  it’s also rich in lessons that we must learn.

You see, human nature being what it is, we are not a whole lot unlike Judas Iscariot. You might disagree with me on this point and that’s fine. But I hope to show you the Judas that’s in a lot of us as we go through these blog posts. We all have something to learn from Judas’ mistakes. So let’s begin by looking at five stages in Judas’ demise.

1. Judas’ Objection To Mary’s Use Of Ointment

John 12:1-6, Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. {2} There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. {3} Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. {4} Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, {5} Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

A denarius, or pence, is worth about 18¢ today. Three hundred denarii, then, would amount to $54. That would be expensive ointment even by today’s standards.

But the exchange rate is not as accurate as this. You see, a single denarius was the average wage a common laborer made for a day’s work. If we want to bring that denarius up to today’s standards, let’s suppose that a common laborer today makes $8 an hour and works 8 hours a day. A day’s wage, then, would be $64. This, roughly speaking, is what an ancient denarius would be worth today. Now if we multiply this single denarius by 300, which is what Judas wanted the sell the ointment for, then the ointment that Mary used on our Lord was worth $19,200!

That, dear brethren, is an expensive and extravagant gift of ointment! No wonder why Judas and the rest of the apostles were outraged by what Mary did (Matthew 26:8-9, Mark 14:4-5). If someone here today used over $19,000 worth of ointment or perfume to anoint someone’s feet, wouldn’t you be indignant and critical of this seemingly senseless waste of ointment? I dare say you would! I guess we’re not a whole lot unlike Judas.

{6} This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

THE MISTAKE. The Bible’s first-recorded words of Judas Iscariot were his objection to Mary’s use of a very costly ointment to anoint the feet of our Lord. The ointment could have been sold for over $19,000 in today’s money and the money given to the poor.

Judas’ interest, however, was not in helping the poor, but rather, in helping himself. You see, Judas had the bag. He was the treasurer of the apostolic company. Whenever people donated money to the Lord and the apostles, the money would be put in a single, common, money bag. As treasurer, Judas carried the money bag. He was in charge of the money. Whenever the apostolic company needed to buy things, pay for services, or give money to the poor; Judas was the fellow who made these purchases and forked over the dough (John 13:29).

Unfortunately, Judas was not only the apostolic treasurer, but he was also a thief (John 12:6). Being the thief that he was, Judas regularly stole money out of the bag for his own selfish use or gain.

His objection to Mary’s extravagant use, or waste, of this precious ointment was motivated by the fact that, had this ointment been sold for over $19,000 he could have pocketed quite a bit of this money for himself and still have some money left over to give to the poor. Judas lost an opportunity to enrich himself quite handsomely! And he was mad!

JUDAS HAD A SIN PROBLEM. It was a love, or lust, for money. And this lust caused him to steal money from our Lord. Apparently, Judas hid his sin quite well because no one knew, or even suspected, that Judas was the rotten apple among them. It wasn’t until after Judas’ death that the Lord brought Judas’ sin to light so that by the time John wrote his Gospel account he could look back at what Mary did and understand the real reason for Judas’ vociferous objection: he objected because he lost a golden opportunity to pocket a whole lot of money for himself.

Judas, I am saying, had a sin problem. And INSTEAD OF DEALING WITH HIS AVARICE, INSTEAD OF TURNING AWAY FROM HIS GREED, HE NURTURED AND HID THAT SIN. He hid it so well that none of the other apostles were aware of his sin.

THE LESSON? Brethren, BEWARE OF WHAT SINS, LUSTS, ADDICTIONS, WEAKNESSES, OR HABITS, YOU HARBOR AND HIDE. Numbers 32:23 warns and assures us, be sure your sin will find you out. You can’t hide your sin forever. Sooner or later, you will be caught. You will be exposed. You won’t get away with it. God Himself will see to that. As Judas was consequently exposed as a thief, so you will be too. You can be sure of that!

Sin is like fire: it’ll burn you. Proverbs 6:27 asks us,  Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? When you toy with sin you will be burned! You might enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, but be assured of this one thing: SIN UNREPENTED OF WILL EVENTUALLY KILL YOU—SPIRITUALLY, ETERNALLY, PERHAPS EVEN PHYSICALLY. Brethren, YOU’RE ONLY HURTING YOURSELF—NOT TO MENTION OTHERS—WHEN YOU NURTURE YOUR LOVE OR LUST FOR SIN.

Harboring a hidden sin inside you is like carrying a grenade around. The only thing of it is, the pin has already been pulled and it’s only a matter of time before that grenade goes off and kills you. Your job as a Christian is to get rid of that grenade. For some, the grenade has been ticking away for a number of years and your time is just about up. The grenade is about to go off. And you don’t have a whole lot of time left to make your mind up. You’ve played with sin long enough and the Lord’s giving you what might well be your last chance to save yourself. Be assured of this one thing. If you choose to hold on the grenade of sin, you will be killed.

Brethren, extinguish the fires of your lusts so that you don’t end up in Hell’s fires. THE PROBLEMS IN YOUR LIFE WILL NOT BE RESOLVED OR REMEDIED UNTIL YOU BRING  THEM  OUT IN THE OPEN, ADMIT YOU’VE GOT PROBLEMS, THEN WORK TO GET RID OF THOSE PROBLEMS. You may need help. So get it! THE PROBLEMS IN YOUR LIFE AREN’T GOING TO GO AWAY BY THEMSELVES. THEY’LL GO WHEN YOU PUT THEM AWAY. THEY’LL END WHEN YOU TERMINATE YOUR LOVE AFFAIR WITH SIN.

Coming Up On My Next Blog Post, Part 2. The problem with committing one sin is you don’t stop with just one. One sin leads to more. Sin is addictive. Drop by for a visit next time and I’ll show you.

Leave a Comment

« Older entries Newer entries »