Tuesday, July 25, 2006

So, you want to know God's will?

I have good news for you! He wants you to know His will.

Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." NKJV

The Amplified Bible puts it this way; "I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship."

You might want to check out the "therefore" of verse one. In the preceding chapters God's mercy and grace are explained in great detail.

Do you have Romans 12:1 down yet? If so you are on you way to knowing God's will. Verse 2 says, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

In the Bible a sacrifice usually means death. Are you ready to die to your will and motives? Are you willing to be set apart for God's purposes? The Bible says this is "reasonable", not "unreasonable". It is worship to completely surrender to God. He shows up when we give up!

So, do you still want to know God's will?

Friday, July 14, 2006

Is this promise still true?

Genesis 12:
1 Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family and from your father's house, To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

It has been true since it was promised to Abraham by God. Just a cursory look at history, even in the last 200 years, shows that nations who bless Abraham's people are blessed and those who curse them are cursed.

I suppose that in the coming weeks and months we will see this on our TV news. I hope the United States and our allies will not turn on tiny Israel like much of the world has.

I am quite familiar with the arguement that in modern Israel there are only "Zionists" and that they are not really the biblical Israel, the people of Promise. There might be some validity to that line of reasoning, but what about the land?

Gen 13:14-15 "And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: "Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are, northward, southward, eastward, and westward; 15 for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.

A doctorate in theology is not needed to understand the word "Forever".

Royce Ogle

Thursday, July 13, 2006

At rest in Christ

In John 10 Jesus talked about Himself as the Great Shepherd of His sheep. In verses 27-30 He said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.”

Now lets see...."I give them eternal life." I wonder how long "eternal" is? Is it until I mess up? Is it until I disappointnt the Shepherd? Oh, look at the middle part of verse 28. "..and they shall never perish." But what if...??? Or what if I...??? Lord, do you mean I will NEVER, EVER perish? That seems to be the meaning doesn't it? But how can that be?

Perhaps it is because of verses 29 & 30. "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one."

It is becoming clear isn't it? Our heavenly Father is more powerful than any other force in a million galaxies. Jesus and the Father are "one". This Creator God says once He gives eternal life the sheep (Christian) will NEVER DIE!"

In John 17 when Jesus prayed what I think of as "The Lord's Prayer", He said these words to the Father, “I do not pray for these alone (His disciples), but also for those (You and I) who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world."

Is it safe to assume Jesus got His prayers answered? He prayed to the Father that you and I, who believed on Him through the word of the disciples, would be with Him where He is and behold His glory which the Father gave Him.

Do I believe in the eternal security of the believer? How could I not?

Royce Ogle

Monday, July 10, 2006

Things are getting better!

Last month I had my 61st birthday. Except for looking old and feeling old, I am the same old me. I still love a good hearty laugh, the hug of a grandchild, and dozens of other events that make the trip from here to there more tolerable.

This morning just after dawn I was sitting on my front porch listening to the birds and enjoying watching the day wake up. A hummingbird visited my feeder that I hung from the porch two days ago. Three purple martins did an air dance for me and then chased each other out of my sight around the house.

I realized this morning that perhaps I am beginning my second childhood, and I think its going to be fun! Just as my grandkids are keenly interested in each bug, each worm, and have dozens of questions about any number subjects, I too am more inquisitive and interested in things usually taken for granted.

The hummingbird for instance really captured my attention. He wasn't very pretty. It was still a bit before good daylight and in that faint light he just looked black. I watched him intently as over and over he would drink the nectar from the feeder, and then back a few inches away while making a faint clicking sound each time. After a minute or so he would leave and then in about eight or ten minutes there he was again repeating his performance.

I am fascinated by hummingbirds. What other bird can fly backwards, hover effortlessly, and fly from Rockport Texas fifteen hundred miles non stop to South America for the winter? How could I possibly believe a hummingbird "just happened"?

Back to my second childhood. I have noticed I have become a better listener than I was, say twenty years ago. I am more interested in the stories of other peoples lives than before. I think a good cut of beef cooked with a warm pink center tastes better than it used to. I love my wife more today than I did just a few years ago. And, I love God more than I believe I ever have. I am for sure closer to seeing Jesus face to face and realizing my complete salvation when one day this old tent with its aches and pains will instantly be swapped for one incorruptible and eternal, and made by God.

I don't mind one tiny bit that I cry more than I did when I was younger, and I find most are tears of joy. I think I am going to really enjoy my second childhood. Its my last phase before the eternal day break that I am really looking forward to.

Yep, things are getting better!

Royce Ogle

Sunday, July 09, 2006

Don't worry, Be happy!

Thursday, July 06, 2006

GROWING IN GRACE

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen”
2 Peter 3:18

The most usual definition of “grace” in the Bible is “The unmerited favor of God”. Grace is that, but it is more. Grace has been defined also as “God’s riches at Christ’s expense”. That is also true. But grace is more than that. To better understand what grace is, it is helpful to know what it is not. Often, stating a negative sheds light on a positive. For example, to understand peace more completely you could say peace is the opposite, or absence of, turmoil, fighting, conflict, confusion, fear, anger, bitterness, etc.

In much the same way we can say that grace, in the context of the Bible, is the opposite of, or not depending on, self righteousness, good works, deserving God’s favor, having a right to eternal life, and so on. “The unmerited favor of God” is very simplistic, and at the same time, very profound. It is difficult to improve on that definition. There are several words translated from Hebrew ,Greek, and Aramaic, to the English word grace in the Bible. For the purpose of this study I will concentrate on the broadest definition of grace in relation to the salvation of sinners by “grace”.

In the churches today there is what I call a “theological schizophrenia”. A clinical definition of schizophrenia is the condition of a person who has two or more distinct personalities. This condition was clearly illustrated by the movie “Sybil”. The leading character in the movie was a nice, sweet young lady one day and the next was in a fetal position under a table chanting some unintelligible rant. This classic “Dr. Jekel and Mr. Hyde” behavior is demonstrated by preachers and Bible teachers when it comes to the subject of the grace of God toward sinners.

On one occasion you will hear a man say “ Once you are saved God looks at you as if you had never sinned. Because you have trusted Christ, all of your sins, past, present, and future, have been forgiven and you now have the righteousness of Christ credited to your account”. (Truer words can not be spoken) This same good man will on another occasion say, “If you turn your back on God you will loose your soul and go to hell”. Which statement is true? Or, are they both true? I contend you can’t have it both ways. Paul makes this clear in Romans 11:6 “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work”.

Grace and works do not mix. Grace diluted by the tiniest human effort is not any longer grace. Paul asked of the believers in his letter to the Galatians in chapter 3:2,3 “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” To put in in layman's terms, “Did you get saved by what you did or by believing what you heard?”. “Can you now be more safe and secure by what you do?” The obvious answers are, “I was saved by believing what I heard and, no, I can’t be more safe or secure by what I do.” Salvation must be all of grace or not of grace at all.

Grace by definition excludes human effort. If this statement is true, and it is, then you must logically conclude that believers are also kept by the grace of God.
I have had many people say to me “I believe after you are saved you have to live it or you will not go to heaven”. What is meant or implied by “live it”? I’ll tell you what it means. Many people wrongly believe that once you are saved you then have to live good enough to be approved by God to stay in His family. If that is not the answer what does “live it” mean? “It” must refer to righteousness. The difficulty with this line of thinking is that God will not accept any righteousness except the righteousness of Christ. Only perfect righteousness meets his holy standards. Don’t ever forget that as long as you live in flesh you will never live a perfect life. The propensity to sin is ever present from the womb to the grave and it cannot be escaped
Peter said in 1 Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
He says in verse 2 we are elected and set apart. In verse 3 he says we have a lively hope. In verse 4 he says we have an inheritance reserved in heaven. And in verse 5 he says we are kept by the power of God. Now I ask you what happened between verse 2 and the end of verse 5 that required any human effort, or would be null and void by the lack of it? Elected by God the Father, set apart by the Holy Spirit, Jesus was obedient to the shedding of His blood, begotten according to God’s mercy, Christ was resurrected from the dead to make all this possible, and now you are kept by the power of God. Now exactly what was your contribution to being saved and staying saved?

Paul said in Ephesians 1:11 “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Notice carefully that “have obtained”, “being predestinated”, “trusted”, “believed”, and “were sealed”, are all in the PAST tense. In the mind of God, our salvation is already a done deal. I invite you to take the time to study the tenses of the original language here and you will find the Greek to be even more definitive. Your journey from the moment of becoming a Christian to the day you get to your final reward does not depend one bit on you. It is completely God’s initiative and completely by His grace.

At this point you may say “Do you believe you can sin all you want to and still be saved?”. And my answer is found in Romans 6:1”What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid.......” The context of Romans 5 and 6 shows clearly that once saved the believing sinner is no longer controlled or under the “dominion” (Romans 6:4) of sin. We can still sin but are not any longer slaves to a sinful lifestyle. Thus we are to consciously “reckon” ourselves dead to sin. It is a matter of our identification with Christ’s death and resurrection demonstrated by baptism. In Romans 6:11 Paul says “reckon” or count yourself dead to sin but alive to God. In 6:12 he says “let not” sin reign in you body that you should obey it. In verse 13 he says “neither yield” yourself to unrighteousness, “but yield” yourself to righteousness. Reckon, Let not, Neither yield, But yield, you see, we choose how we will live. We can let sin reign. We can yield ourselves to unrighteousness. We can act as though we are still in sins grasp. But, we don’t have to. Residing in every believer is the Holy Spirit who is there to be involved in every conversation, to approve every thought or intention, to love our enemies, and to make Christ known in word and deed. Without Him we are powerless to live “It”, the Christian life. As we cooperate with Him we are able to live abundant, fruitful, holy, worry free lives.

How then do we “Grow in grace”? I believe we grow in grace in some distinct ways.
First we must become intimate with the one who is “full of grace and truth”, the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 1:14) “Full of grace..” what a mouth full! Grace displayed by One who not only taught that one should love and pray for his enemies, but gave Himself to death on a cross to make the forgiveness of their sins possible. “Full of grace” so that He could ask the Father to forgive those who participated in his crucifixion. When Peter had cursed and denied that he even knew Jesus before He went to the cross, Jesus in grace said after He had arisen, “Go tell Peter”. He then chose Peter to be the keynote speaker at Pentecost and to take the gospel to the Gentiles. Peter of all people certainly did not deserve that treatment but Christ is “full of Grace”. The more we know experientially this One who is “full of grace” the more we will grow in grace.
It is only then that we can “rest” from our labor. (Matthew 11:29, Hebrews 4:10)We must not only know Him, but rest in Him. When we learn about our position in Christ, the security of belonging to Him, the certainty of our inheritance with the saints, and the constant presence of the Holy Spirit in us, we can “grow in grace”. Having peace with God and the peace of God by faith in Christ gives us the potential to live holy lives not motivated by fear but by love.

But not only should we know Him and rest in Him but we are to show grace to others. Grace is love fleshed out. Forgiving others who have wronged us grows us in grace. Forgetting past wrongs grows us in grace. In short, allowing the indwelling Holy Spirit to dictate how we treat those around us causes us to grow in grace. The more we love others the more we will be loved by others and the cycle grows and widens.

The grace of God is expressed by love. When we love our spiritual brothers and sisters and everyone else, then we put on display the grace of God. When our love becomes the love defined in 1 Cor 13, then we are able to forgive and forget old wrongs. It is by practicing forgiveness and forbearance that we grow in grace. Simply stated, when we allow Christ to love others through us we show the grace of God to the world about us. Love and forgiveness are not emotions, they are acts. For the believer, they are not options, they are commands. The way to love someone unlovable is to act toward them in a loving way. The way to forgive someone you would rather not, is to treat them as if you have forgiven them. And, the Holy Spirit will enable us to do just that, and God will receive glory because of it.

It is the “grace of God” that brings salvation to a lost and dying people. (Titus 1:11) There is no more powerful testimony for God on this earth than a child of God who loves not only the folks at church, but sinners. God knows our hearts but a watching world is waiting to see our love demonstrated.

Let us purpose to “grow in grace” and make known the Lord Jesus Christ and His redeeming love to everyone around us.

Royce Ogle
Worship?

Over the last several decades I have witnessed phenomena in the churches that I have been a part of and ones I have observed through broadcast media and print. There has been a paradigm shift away from worship to a certain sort of activity passed off as worship.

“Worship leaders”, “worship teams”, and “worship music” are fairly recent terms that are now as common as pews and pulpits. There is nothing inherently wrong with any of these. I question though, just how much they contribute to genuine worship of the Almighty God of the Bible.

In today’s Christian world, worship has been defined as some particular activity that takes place primarily on Sunday morning before the preacher delivers his message. That activity is singing. And, worship has been more narrowly defined as not only just singing, but singing only a certain kind of music, “worship music”, or “praise and worship” music. So the implication is that if you are singing “worship” music you are worshipping. That is foreign to the Bible. Am I to believe that none of Charles Wesley’s songs, Fanny Crosby’s songs, or any of the old hymns were ever used in worship?

The dead give away that this so called worship might be bogus, is the way most of the so called worshippers critique the so called worship. Comments usually follow along this line of thought. “We had a great worship service this morning. The music was so beautiful!” Or, some of our more uninhibited friends might say, “Worship was great today, you could really feel the Spirit in the service”. When worship is measured by the experience or the skill of the human participants, I promise you it is not Biblical worship.

Worship is not something to be experienced, but something given to God. Worship is not about me and you, but rather about God. Jesus said to the woman of Samaria that worship is to be done “in Spirit and in truth”. I fear that we as believers in modern times have not faired well in the “truth” department of worship.

Worship is first and foremost about surrender. I can be bold to say that a person who has hardly given God a thought all week long is not likely to worship on Sunday morning. He or she might go through the motions, sing the songs, or even lead the songs, but in the end, not have worshipped. Paul in Romans 12:1-2 gives some great insight into the real meaning and method of true worship.

My paraphrase goes like this. “I beg you brothers, in view of the fact that God did not condemn you to hell as you and I deserve, but has shown us mercy; Present the whole of who you are to God as a living sacrifice. Surrender yourselves completely to God for His pleasure and purpose. This dying to self in complete surrender to God for his use, is not unreasonable in view of His mercy, but is rather, “reasonable worship”. And, don’t be conformed to this culture, but rather be transformed by having your thinking made new by the word of God.”

Being “transformed by the renewing of your mind..” speaks again to the “truth” part of the equation of the elements of worship. It doesn’t matter how spiritual you might feel after doing a religious exercise, unless you have conformed your activity to the truth of the word of God you have not worshipped.

Not only is worship about surrender, it must be God centered and not people centered. Worship is akin to faith. Faith is vain and useless unless it is directed toward the right object. The strength or measure of faith is not nearly as important as the object of our faith, the Lord Jesus. Worship is exactly the same. Unless the object of our worship is God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, our worship isn’t worship, it is religion.