The Solution to the Problem of Sin

In our last meeting, we discussed the Problem of Sin. We saw the fall of Adam and Eve, when they disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden and we looked at the results of their sin. The Bible says it clear that we are all sinners and that sin brings our physical and spiritual death. However, God has a plan for the salvation of mankind, and we going to start to look at this plan today.

Opening Question: Have you ever had to pay a fine for returning a book late to the library or for violating a traffic rule or regulation?

When we do something wrong, whether it is something small or big, there are consequences that we pay.  At times the consequences extend only to our own lives, but sometimes these consequences can affect other people in our lives, our relatives, friends or even strangers.

We talked last time about the problem of sin.  Sin brought death into our lives - physical death and spiritual death, separation from God.  However, when God created man, He did not want him to live under the power of sin, under the threat of death and separation from God.  God wanted man to live in a close relationship with Him.  And He had a plan since the beginning for this to happen.

In Genesis 3:14-15, we read about the curse that God put on the serpent (the Devil) and the promise that one day an offspring of the woman (Eve) was going to crush the head of the serpent: So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.  And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

God says He will put enmity or strife, warfare, between the serpent the Devil and the woman – between the serpent’s followers and her offspring.  Offspring is her family.  Jesus comes from her family and this is the first prophecy or foretelling of the future about Jesus.  Jesus is going to crush the head of the Devil, whereas the Devil is only going to bruise Jesus (that happens when Jesus goes to the cross to pay for our sins).

John 3:16 is perhaps the best known verse in the Bible.  It says: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

What does this verse tell us?

God loved the world.

God gave His one and only Son.

God wants whoever believes in Him not to perish.

God wants them to have eternal life.

In Romans 5, we read, beginning in verse 1, then verses 6-10: Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.... You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

What does it mean to be justified?

To be justified means to be declared free of blame or of the penalty.   We have been declared free because of the blood of Jesus.

What does it mean to be reconciled?

Reconciled means to be accepted, to re-establish a lost relationship, to be settled, at peace.  We are at peace with God because of Jesus.

In 1 Peter 2:24, we read: “He [Jesus] himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

If Jesus took all our sins, this means that we do not have sins anymore in our lives.  Remember that Adam and Eve were afraid of God and ashamed, because they had broken His laws and His commandments when they ate from the tree God told them not to eat from.  Now, we can approach God with confidence and without any fear because Jesus took the penalty and paid it for us.

But how do we receive this state of peace with God and of salvation from our sins and the promise of eternal life with God? 

We have all taken the first step, which is to learn about these promises and this salvation.  The Word of God is the only way to learn about these things.  If we read it, study it, and meditate upon it, we will learn about the things that we need to obtain peace with God and salvation.  We will learn the commandments of God and what in particular He wants from us to do to be saved.

Hebrews 9:14 tells us that the blood of Christ cleanses our conscience from our sins: How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

In 1 John 1:7, we read: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

The blood of Christ continually cleanses us of our sins.  No matter our sins, if we come back to God and walk according to His commandments, we can have the forgiveness of our sins.

In Matthew 7:7-8, we read: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Conclusions 

God has a plan in place for resolving the problem of sin.  Jesus gave Himself so that our sins may be forgiven. Christians are justified and reconciled with God through the blood of Jesus Christ, our Savior. God has a plan of salvation for mankind and if we seek God diligently, we will definitely find Him. Finding God will give us peace on this earth and eternal life with God in heaven.

Look to our previous Blog entry here for more information on this plan of salvation.

The Kingdom of God on Earth

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “kingdom” and how would you describe a “kingdom”?  Perhaps an old or new movie comes to mind, perhaps an event related to living Kings or Queen or fictional characters from a movie.  Many countries are still kingdoms and are ruled, to an extent, by a monarch.

How does the Bible describe the Kingdom of God on earth?

In Mark 1:14-15, we see Jesus speak about the Kingdom of God.  These verses say: "After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.  “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!"

What was the good news?

The Kingdom of God had not arrived at this time, but it was near. 

The good news also told people how to get to this Kingdom of God.  In another place, Jesus said, in Matthew 16:28: “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

People in the time of Jesus misunderstood Him.  They thought He was talking about an earthly Kingdom.  Even after Jesus died and was risen, His disciples asked whether now he was going to establish His Kingdom. Even today, people do not have a clear understanding of the Kingdom of God.  Some people think that Jesus will come and create a new Kingdom on earth that will last for 1,000 years or for a very long time.

In Luke 17:20-21 Jesus said: Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

The kingdom of God was in their midst because Jesus was there.  And the Kingdom of God is not physical, but spiritual and it was within the people.  So, what was this “kingdom” that was in their midst or within them and that some of the people did not die before seeing the kingdom come?  Of course, this does not refer to Jesus’ second coming or any other physical kingdom.

What happened after Jesus died and was risen?

In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus gave His apostles a command: "Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

These people that believed and were baptized were added to the group of believers that followed the teachings of Jesus.  They continued to do this, to learn, and to teach others about how God had a plan to save them.  This group of believers were called Christians and the church is the Kingdom of God on earth.  This is what Jesus was talking about and what He actually established.

Now, the church is like an image of the Kingdom of God in Heaven, but not the same thing.  Like a photocopy, it is not quite exactly like the original.  Or like a hockey player in training that is not exactly a player yet.  The church tries to be as perfect as it can, but the Kingdom of God in Heaven will be utterly perfect.

How does one enter the church or the Kingdom of God on earth?

Jesus said in Matthew 18:3-4: "And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

What are the qualities that children have?  Why is it important for us to be like little children?

In John 3:5, Jesus told a man who asked Him about the Kingdom of God: "Jesus answered, 'Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.'"

How is one born of the Spirit?  And of the water?  In Acts 2:37-41, we see Peter preaching to the people gathered in Jerusalem.  He tells them what they needed to do to be saved: "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'  Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.'  With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, 'Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.'  Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."

By being baptized, we receive the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of our sins, and the promise of eternal life with God in the Kingdom of God in Heaven.

Conclusions

The Kingdom of God is not like other kingdoms that have been or still exist in the world.  The Kingdom of God is the Church, albeit a blurry image of the true Kingdom of God in Heaven.  We can enter into this Kingdom by being baptized for the forgiveness of our sins and to receive the Holy Spirit and the promise of eternal life.

Trusting in God

We live in a world where trust must be earned and seems to be in short supply. No matter who people are (or think they are), they will one time or another fail us. Most of us have faced disappointments, which have taught us that we can only depend upon themselves. The slogan “If you want a job done right, you’ve got to do it yourself.”

Not so with our Lord.

1. Trust in God

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." ~ Proverbs 3:5

But why trust in God?  Because God keeps his word. "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" ~ Numbers 23:19

Because God has all wisdom. “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” ~ Romans 11:33 

2. Include God in your life and have a relationship with Him

What does it mean to have a relationship with someone?  You take into account not only your own needs, but also the needs of the other. You get to know them, understand them, and include them in your plans.  Proverbs 3:6 says, "in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." 

Plan and pray – praying not as an afterthought, but as a precursor to your plans and your actions.

Read James 5:16: "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

3. Put God first in your life

It’s easiest to put ourselves first. When something good happens, we want to congratulate ourselves with a reward. When something bad happens, we want to console ourselves or find someone to blame.  But look at Proverbs 3:9-10: “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” And see Matthew 6:25-33, too.

The Communion in worship

History of Communion
The communion has its history and roots dating back to Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. The night before they were freed, each family was to kill a lamb, have bitter herbs and unleavened bread. They were commanded to observe this feast through their generation to remember their deliverance. The feast was to start with a week called the "Week of Unleavened Bread.  Look to Exodus 12:1-4, Matthew 26:17-19, Luke 22:7-13.

The inauguration of the communion

As Jesus and the disciples were having the Passover meal, he took the opportunity to institute the communion.  He blessed bread and wine (fruit of the vine, grape juice) and gave them to the disciples to share among themselves. He made a promise to eat with them in his kingdom, the church. The Passover meal and the communion were eaten the night before Jesus was crucified.  See Matthew 26:26-30, Mark 14:22-26, Luke 22:14-20.

The communion in the church

The communion is also called the Lord’s Supper and "breaking of bread."  As Jesus had promised to eat with the disciples in his kingdom, immediately after the church - the Kingdom - was established, the early church had the breaking of bread as part of their weekly worship.  See Acts 2:42.  We take the communion today, so we can fellowship with our Lord. Also read Matthew 18:20.

The weekly observance of the communion

The disciples meet every Lord’s Day, Sunday to remember and proclaim the death of Jesus (Acts 20:7).  Some people do not seem to have a problem with giving, singing, praying, and preaching every Sunday, but they have a problem with taking the Lord’s Supper every Sunday.

The abuse and instruction for the communion

The church in Corinth was abusing the communion by eating and drinking. Paul had to correct them and give guidelines.  See 1 Corinthians 11:17-33:

·         The communion is made of bread and wine

·         The bread and wine are blessed

·         People should examine themselves before partaking of communion

·         The communion is to remember the Lord’s death and proclaim Him

·         Abuse of the communion has consequences

The bread and wine we partake is a memorial

The bread and wine represent the body and blood of Jesus 1 Corinthians 10:16-17.

Historical evidence

The Didache was a training manual for new churches, written around A.D. 50-70.  It says, “Every Lord’s day, gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions.”  And describing the early church’s gatherings, Justin Martyr (100-165 AD) explains how communion was done every week. “When our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying, ‘Amen!’ Then the Eucharist is distributed to each one, and each one participates in that over which thanks has been given. And a portion of it is sent by the deacons to those who are absent.” (Historical Theology, Greg Allison, p.637).

Peer Pressure

Opening Question: What is something you have done because you have been encouraged or pressured by your friends?


Peer pressure is defined as "pressure from one's peers to behave in a manner similar or acceptable to them."  So, peer pressure is the strong motivation from your friends or acquaintances to act in the way they want you to act.


Peer pressure can be good, such as in those situations when our friends motivate us to give up a bad habit, like smoking or drinking.  But peer pressure can also be bad - in those situations when our friends motivate us instead, to start drinking or start smoking.


Let us look at an example from the Bible.  Our message is from Matthew 26:69-75.  This is after Jesus, the Son of God, has been betrayed and arrested and taken before the Sanhedrin, which was a group of religious judges for the Jewish people.  Simon Peter, one of the apostles and followers of Jesus, had told Jesus earlier that he was willing to die for him.  He even fought back when soldiers arrived to arrest Jesus!  However, later on that night, we read:


Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard.  And a servant girl came to him, saying, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee."  But he denied it before them all, says, "I do not know what you are saying." And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those that were there, "This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth."  But again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the Man!"  And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, "Surely you are also one of them, for your speech betrays you."  Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!"  Immediately a rooster crowed.  And Peter remembered the word of Jesus Who had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."  So he went out and wept bitterly."


So what happened here?  Within a few hour, this strong Peter, willing to die for Jesus, denied him three times.  In John we read a few more details that can help us understand Peter's behaviour.  Starting in John 18:15:


And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple.  Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.  But Peter stood at the door outside.  Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in.  Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, "You are not also one of this Man's [Jesus'] disciples, are you?"  He said, "I am not."  Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves.  And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.


And then a few verses below, 25-7:


Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself.  Therefore they said to him, "You are not also one of His disciples, are you?"  He denied it and said, "I am not!"  One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?"  Peter then denied again, and immediately a rooster crowed.


Peter had put himself in a vulnerable, weak position, by being alone in the middle of officers and the servants of the high priest.  Peter was looking for comfort for himself, by seeking the warmth of the fire and Peter became afraid of the people, and therefore was willing to lie.


What can we learn from this?


A. It is important for us to remember that if we are with Jesus, we are not alone.  In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus said that He will be with us always:  "And Jesus came and spoke to them saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all thigns that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'  Amen."


What does this verse tell us about being alone?  Jesus says that He will always be with us, and He is!


B. Peter was trying to find the comfort of men, to fit in with the world, to be like the world.  However, the Bible talks about us being transformed into the likeness of God - not being conformed to this world.  Romans 12:1-2 says: "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.  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." 


What does this verse say we need to do?  We can't look to the world for answers we can only get from God.


C. Peter was afraid, but with Jesus in our lives there is nothing for us to fear.  Peter himself assures of this fact, when in 1 Peter 3:13-7 we read: "And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is god?  But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed.
'And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.' But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.  For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."


Peter regretted his denial of Jesus and went on to not only believe in Jesus but also preach about Him in many cities.  What did Peter learn about peer pressure, according to this verse?


It is better to follow God and face shame and ridicule from others than to be afraid and give in to what others think.


Conclusions
While some peer pressure may be good and helpful in making us reach our goals, we should reject peer pressure when it interferes with our worship to God and us living a Christian life dedicated to Him.


Verses for further study
Galatians 1:10: "For do I now persuade men, or God?  Or do I seek to please men?  For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ."


James 4:4: "Adulterers and adulteresses!  Do you not know that friends with the world is enmity with God?  Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."


Mark 8:38: "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man will also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."


John 15:18-20: "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own.  Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.'  If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.  If they kept My word, they will keep yours also."


Matthew 16:24-26: "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"

Making Decisions Part 2

What is one of the most important decisions you have made recently?

When you make choices in life, what do you consider?  Some of us may take into account the benefit - "What will I receive in the end?"  Others may think about the cost, whether it is in money or time.  Some people may talk to others who know more about the subject in which you are thinking about making a decision.  Most things in life require a decision: even if you decide not to decide, you have already made a decision.

Now, let us consider a few things the Bible says about making decisions.

1. Pray and look for God's guidance in all your decisions
God knows everything.  He knows what we need in our life and we can always ask God about the decisions we make.  The Wise Man Solomon, through the wisdom God gave him, wrote in Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Why does it say to "lean not on your own understanding?"  Because our understanding is limited and we do not know many things.  However, God knows everything.

What does it mean "He will make your paths straight?"  God will provide you the correct way in which you need to follow, so you will not have to wonder where you are going.

Sometimes God works through providence - opening some doors and closing some others.  We do not know the future, but God does and He wants the best for us, and He will give us the best things we need.

Other times, God has expressed His guidance in the Bible.  For example, in Exodus 20:15 God says, "You shall not steal."  This verse serves as guidance so that in our lives we do not make plans to steal or take those things that do not belong to us.  So, one test you can use when you decide on something is whether you can ask God for His help and His blessing in whatever you are deciding to do.

2. Consider the consequences and the results of your decision

Another test of deciding is how the consequences of your actions (or lack thereof) will reflect on you and on others around you.  Will your actions give glory to God and Jesus?  Will your actions encourage others to become Christians or follow God?

In 1 Corinthians 6:9 we read: "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak."

How can something that we do become a stumbling block for the weak?  If we are doing something allowed that is legal, allowed, but not Biblical, then, we are becoming a bad example for others.  In Colossians 3:17: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

So, everything we do, not some things, should be done in the name of God and God will bless us if in whatever we do we give thanks to God through Jesus.

"Do not be deceived.  God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows." (Galatians 6:7)

What does it mean that "a man reaps what he sows?"  Whatever somebody does, whether good or evil, there will be results or outcomes that will be good or evil.  Whatever we do, there are consequences that come.  Sometimes, these consequences seem only to affect us, but because of our interactions we affect others.  So these consequences extend to other people as well.

Luke 14:28: "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower.  Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?"  In the same way that we estimate the monetary cost of our decisions, we need to keep in mind all costs of our decisions.

3. Place every decision in the hands of God

We can do our part - sometimes the majority of the work with regards to a certain decision - but ultimately the decision is in the hands of God.  In Proverbs 19:21 we read that "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."  We can do everything through God who gives us strength (see Philippians 4:13).  God knows what we need and He will gives us exactly that, at the right time that we need it.

How do we place our decisions in the hands of God?  We need to pray to God about our choices, by doing our part, and by not worrying anymore about the issues involved in our decisions.

Whenever we make decisions in our life, we need to consult with God and pray for His guidance in our life.  We also need to consider the consequences and the results of our decisions.  Finally, we need to place our choices in the hands of God, trusting that He will bless us with what we need.

Making Decisions Part 1

What should we do when we have a tough decision to make?  We may have to decide whether or not to take a certain career path.  Or we have to think about what school program to join.  Or we have to choose between doing the right thing or the wrong thing when life challenges us.

Now, before I proceed with the thoughts for this post, I must confess something.  I have adapted this post from notes that I had written in the back pages of my Bible.  However, I did not note the source; I believe that I had written these notes down while I was watching a sermon on YouTube, but I am not sure of the exact one.  I apologize for this!

But having said that, what should we think about when we are facing a hard choice?  Here are some tips that I hope we will all take into account and apply:

1.  Clear the pathway of sin or bad attitudes
In my life, I have noticed that when I come across a trial or difficulty, my sinful thoughts and selfishness are often brought into my view.  Sometimes a friend or relative will notice my fault and mention it.  I may be reading a Bible passage and what I am reading strikes me, prompting me to say "This warning is about me!"  Or I may just be going about my business and suddenly a thought comes into my head saying "You have forgotten this Biblical idea" or "You need to repent of your attitude in this area, Christian."  Listening to this kind of spiritual prompting is essential to the Christian life, because our faith is a journey of constant growth, and not simply the result of a one-time conversion. 

May our attitudes be like that shown in Psalm 139:24: "See if there is any wicked [some translations may say "hurtful" - makes sense, as many times our attitudes can hurt others even when we don't even realize it] way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."  Big decisions often require at least some introspection, and this introspection may lead us to realize that we must change our ways in order to better please God.  A friend of mine has told me that we all need these moments.  She even seeks out this conviction and asks God for it.  This courageous attitude of hers is a good one, for "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (1 Peter 5:5)

2. Neutralize your desires
I see nothing wrong with asking God for anything you desire, of course, as long as your desires are not evil and you are asking with the right motives.  (Side note: if you are struggling with evil desires and impure motives, feel free to ask God for help with these in prayer!)  When it comes to decision making, I think you are perfectly within your right to say to the Lord, "Okay, God, this is what I want to do.  I want to do this thing very badly, and I believe it would be a good thing to do."  But please don't forget to have the attitude that also says, "Thy will be done, Lord.  You know better than I, and I can trust You."  Submit to the will of God, and ask God to give you peace about whatever result comes your way.

3. Be aware of pressure
In one of our recent talks at CBT, we discussed the issue of peer pressure - what happens when your peers want you to do something or even perhaps live their lives through you.  Some peer pressure can be good, prompting you to do something good that you didn't want to do out of fear, pride, etc.  But peer pressure can be harmful, too.  Others will have their own views on a particular issue in your life or they will try to tell you what decision you must make.  They will "know" what you must do, and sometimes they may even say that God is "telling you" through them!  Please, do not use my words as an excuse to ignore the advice or input of others.  After all, "Without counsel, plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed." (Proverbs 15:22)  All I am saying is that another's opinion is not necessarily right.  If something is right, it is right because it is right, and not because others believe it to be true.  Certainly, be willing to listen to others with an open mind and heart.  Sometimes their views may confirm that your plan is correct!  But remember to keep God at the centre of your decision making.  In the end, your choices are between you and Him, and He is the One you must ultimately please, even if other people will disagree.

And you must beware internal pressures, as well.  Our choices may be influenced by so much within our own active, confused, human minds.  Fear can be a big motivator for a certain choice.  This could be the fear of loss, rejection, or criticism.  Anxiety is another factor; this is one I struggle with oftentimes.  When faced with a big decision, naturally-born analysts like myself will try to place choices onto mental Pro/Con charts.  We become like Public Relations staff, analyzing every facet of a decision from every possible angle.  "What will these people think of this?  How will this look?  Are we really making this decision with the right motives?  Are we REALLY pure-hearted when we do this?"  Our intended action may very well be right.  And our motives may very well be pure!  But the anxious thoughts I've just listed can torment us until we finally make our decision.  Not only can this make us dread big choices, but fear and stress can also cloud our judgment.  Remember this: "Cast all your anxiety on Him [God], because He cares for You." (James 5:7)  And "Peace I [Jesus is speaking here] leave with you; my peace I give to you. ....  Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." (John 14:27)

So be careful and selective of whom you listen to.  Try not to stress about your decision.  And ask God for wisdom and peace, and don't constantly fall back into doubt and overthinking when you've made the right choice (James 1:5-8).

4. Be persistent in prayer
A few months ago I posted a snippet from a website about this very subject.  Read it here.  Remember what I have also said throughout this post about praying to God and asking Him for help.  If you do not get an answer right away to your problem, keep praying!  I've had to wait many times for answers to prayers for things very important to me.  Sometimes I only had to wait a few days.  But other times I had to wait for months.  And some answers I have been waiting for for YEARS and they still haven't come yet!  Do I get discouraged sometimes?  Of course, yes.

But this does not mean that God is not listening.  Throughout my times of waiting for answers, I have learned many lessons about myself and grown (including trying not to be so worrisome, as described in Point #3!).  The time of waiting can be a time of conviction and growth; don't waste it.  Keep praying through it because in these times God is shaping us up to become better Christians.  Let God work with you.  And you know, He may just be shaping you and working the circumstances to bring your desired answer to pass!  All it took was a little time and some patience, faith, and prayer on your part.  I have seen this happen in my life a number of times, and these kind of answers to prayer encourage me when I encounter difficulties later.

What does this have to do with decision making?  Very rarely are big decisions made clear right away.  So if you have been praying for months asking God, "What should I do with this?  How should I approach this?"  Don't worry if your plan of action isn't made clear right away.  Keep praying.

5. Rest in God's promise
Read the Bible regularly when you have inner turmoil.  Of course, you've heard this before, and I'm sure that you have applied this principle many times.  But it is worth repeating.  Remind yourself through the Word how God loves you, He wants to use your times of hardship to help you grow, and He will help you if you ask Him and keep His will in mind.

Whatever decisions you have to make in life, God be with you!  We are in your corner, and may you always go to the Lord for your answers to life's tough choices.

~ Christian Basar

"Be doers of the word and not hearers only"

James 1:22-25:

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves, For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;

for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."

What does it mean to “deceive yourselves?”  Think of someone observing his natural face in the mirror. Have you ever noticed something on your face when you look at the mirror - maybe something in your teeth, or maybe your hair is not properly combed, or maybe you have something around your eyes, such as a speck of dust?  What do you do in that case? Do you deal with it right away or do you say to yourself, "Oh, I’m going to deal with that sometime later?"

What does it mean to be a “forgetful hearer?”

A doer of the word is expected to do something - to keep the commandments of the word.

James is, of course, talking about the Word of God.  Jesus Himself had expressed the same thought in Matthew 7:21 and 24. The emphasis is to act upon the knowledge and the power of the word. But how do we do this doing?

The first step is to get to know the Word.

When Apostle Paul was teaching the Bereans they were more noble than the ones in

Thessalonica, because in Acts 17:11-12 we read:

These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness,and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.  Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.

So the searching or the studying of the Scriptures produced belief in these people; it helped them to be doers of the Word. As we know from Romans 10:17:  So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The second step is to start doing what the Word says.

The Lord’s commands are not difficult. In Matthew 11:28-30, we read:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for

your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Jesus also commanded us in John 14:15: If you love me, keep my commandments.

How do we keep Jesus’ commandments?  Where do we start?  We start with those things that we do understand - those that are easier to discern and then we move to the hardest things. As Peter says in 1 Peter 2:2: Desire the spiritual milk...

There are some truths in the Bible that are easier to understand. What are some of

those? For example, Jesus is Lord and God (John 20:28).  "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind." (Matthew 22:37).

We need to have a system in place for reading/studying the Word and for doing what

the Word says. In the same way that we have set a time aside in our day for other

activities (eating breakfast, taking the bus or driving to school or work, watching TV or

entertaining ourselves), we also need to set aside a time for studying the Scriptures and

for doing them into our life.

Acts 20:32: So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is

able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

The Word of God is able to build us up – what does this mean?  Psalm 119:105: Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalms 119:11: I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

We need to learn and study the Word, so that we can be doers of the Word and not

hearers only.

Question: "What is the Difference between the Soul and Spirit of Man?"

We do know that we have the body (we can see it) and God created Adam’s body.  Then
God breathed into Adam and he became a living being.  Genesis 2:7:   And the Lord God
formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life;
and man became a living being.

The soul and the spirit are immaterial aspects of humans.  It is difficult to describe the differences between them.

1 Thessalonians 5:23: "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God
your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ."

The Soul
"Soul" refers to the immaterial part of the human being.  Human beings are souls. In its most basic sense, the word “soul” means “life” or a breathing creature, either in the physical or the eternal sense of the word. Jesus asks what it profits a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul, referring to
his eternal life (Matthew 16:26).  Both the Old and New Testaments reiterate that we are to love God completely, with the whole soul, which refers to everything that is in us that makes us alive (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Mark 12:30).

Ezekiel 18:20 further states, "The soul who sins shall die."

However, beyond this essential meaning, the Bible speaks of the soul in many contexts. The soul is removed at the time of physical death (Genesis 35:18). The soul, as with the spirit, is the center of many spiritual and emotional experiences (Psalm 43:5). Whenever the word “soul” is used, it can refer to the whole person, whether alive or in the afterlife. The soul and the spirit are connected, but separable (Hebrews 4:12). The soul is the essence of humanity’s being; it is who we are. Think of a computer – hardware is the body, and software is the soul.

The Spirit
"Spirit" also refers to the immaterial part of the human being.  Human beings have spirits, but we are not spirits.  Only believers are considered spiritually alive (1 Corinthians 2:11; Hebrews 4:12; James
2:26), while unbelievers are spiritually dead (Colossians 2:13). We receive spiritual blessings when we are in Christ - when we are believers (Ephesians 1:3).  The spirit is the element of humanity which gives us the ability to have an intimate relationship with God; it’s that part of our humanity that “connects” with God, because God is spirit (John 4:24).  It is the part that responds to things that come from the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit or capital “S” Spirit in the Bible).  Unlike the soul, which is alive both physically and eternally, the spirit can be either alive, as in the case of believers, (1 Peter 3:18), or dead as unbelievers are (Colossians 2:13; Ephesians 2:4-5).

Jesus told us in Matthew 5:6: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."

What does this mean?  How do we feed our spirit?

1 Peter 2:2: like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you
may grow in respect to salvation....

The spiritually dead perceive the things of the Spirit to be "foolishness," because, in their spiritually dead condition, they do not have the ability to discern the things of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:12-14). The spirit is that part of us that is enabled by God to know and worship Him, the part of humanity that "connects" with God, who Himself is Spirit (note again the capital "S") (John 4:24).  How can we connect spiritually with God? How do we not do that?

Conclusion
While the two words are often used interchangeably, the primary distinction between soul and spirit in man is this:  The soul is the animate life, or the seat of the senses, desires, affections, and appetites.  The spirit is that part of us that connects, or refuses to connect, to God.  Our spirits relate to His Spirit, either accepting His promptings and conviction, thereby proving that we belong to Him (Romans 8:16) or resisting Him and proving that we do not have spiritual life (Acts 7:51).

Discussion Questions
How can this concept affect our life?
How do we keep our spirit pure?
What about our soul?