Where's the word?

How many of you remember a series of Wendy's commercials in the mid eighties that featured the kindly old lady shouting out, "Where's the beef?” As a follower of Christ, I have a similar sentiment, "Where's the Word?” The more I'm exposed to Christendom (i.e. Christianity collectively) the harder it is to find the Word of God. Let me tell you the motivation for my writing this article. Earlier today I received an E-mail inviting me to attend a Men's Bible study. Okay, nothing wrong with a Men's Bible study, right? Here's the concern, "they weren't studying the BIBLE". As I continued to read the E-Mail I discovered that they would be using a book written by an Atlanta based motivational speaker/life coach entitled, "The 4:8 principle". This book is supposedly based on Philippians 4:8 and teaches you how to think rightly in order to change your life so that you can achieve your God given goals and success. Read one of the reviews of this book by one satisfied customer: "The 4:8 Principle is a fantastic book that we, as a family, are using as a framework to guide daily decisions."

Did you get that last part? They are using this guy's book as a, "...Framework to guide (their) daily decisions". Folks, isn't that the role the Bible should play in the lives of people?

Why in the world are Christian men studying a book ABOUT the Bible, and not the Bible itself?

One reason I believe is because we have lost CONFIDENCE in the SUFFICIENCY of Scripture.

As I close, allow me to remind us of three (3) important truths about Scripture:

First, it is the Scripture alone that sanctifies us (cf. John 17:17a). The word Sanctify means, “to make holy", "to set apart". Friend, ONLY God's word makes us Holy.

Second, it is Scripture alone that is truth (cf. John 17:17b). The word "truth" means, "that which corresponds with reality". Brother and Sister, Only God's word corresponds totally and absolutely with reality.

Third, it is Scripture alone that is inspired (2 Tim 3:16). The Greek word translated by the English word inspired is the word, "Theopnuestos"(pron, the-op-new-stoss). This Greek word speaks concerning the character and communication of God's word (in the original autographs). In the Greek NT this word is found only one time, in 2 Tim 3:16, and means, "breathed out by God". When the Scriptures were orginally penned God insured that what the authors wrote, they wrote without error. What this one Greek word tells me about Scripture is that the ONLY thing on planet earth that is without error is Scripture. The ONLY writing on planet earth that bears the character of God is Scripture. Our books aren't inspired, our dreams aren't inerrant, our visions aren't sufficient, and our songs aren't complete. Therefore, if the Bible alone Sanctifies, if the Bible alone is Truth, if the Bible alone is inspired, WHY, are we as Christians studying in our so-called "Bible studies" everything BUT the Bible itself?

Lord, where's the word, where's the word?

For His Glory,
CoolImprov

Desiring the pure milk of God's word (1 Pet2:2) - Todd McCauley

                         

I've been reminded afresh that like newborn babes we should crave the pure milk of the word (1 Pet 2:2). If you've ever been around a newborn Baby, you know that newborn babies crave only ONE thing, MILK. Peter states that followers of Christ should have the same focus. Ideally, there should be only ONE thing that we crave, the pure, sweet word of God.

Listen, if you have no appetite for God's word, the Bible, then you must realize
that there is a problem. The problem could be one of several things:

1. You were never born again (I.e.. You are not a Christian and therefore have no appetite for the things of God ).

2. You've spoiled your appetite with junk food (too many of you have eaten from the Creflo Dollar menu and you've contracted a case Olsteen disease).

3. You're sin sick (someone said, "Either the Bible will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from the Bible").

The solutions to these above-mentioned problems are as follows:

#1. Repent and believe the Gospel.

#2. Change your diet. Lay off the Junk. Try this! For one whole month, every day, read the entire book of 1st John. That means read all 5 chapters in one sitting every day for 30 days. You will be amazed where your heart will be after just 30 days. During this 30 day fast, you should avoid any other books outside of what you are reading in first John, also, stay away from TBN, CBN, TCT, ESPN,
anything with initials.

#3. 1st John 1:9 has provided a wonderful solution to our daily sin problem, it's called confession. Once you've honestly fessed up to God about your issues, then press forward in obedience.

Why is craving the Word of God important? Well, finish reading 1Pet 2:2. The Word of God is to be craved because it is the means of the Christians Growth. When a Christian continually imbibes the Word of Truth, he/she will continually grow. It's also true, that when a Christian stops partaking of God's Word, he/she stops growing. Here's the myth, time fosters Christian growth. Wrong!!
a person can be a professing believer for 25 years and have never grown an inch spiritually, Why? Because Growth (I.e. Maturity) has nothing to do with time. Christian growth is based on diet.

Last thought, if you happen to find yourself in a church where the Spiritual food is inadequate or missing in action. My suggestion is to find a place where the pure word of God is clearly taught. Your spiritual health depends on it.

For His Glory,
Rev. Todd

Lessons learned from Josiah

Take your Bibles and turn to Second Kings, once you’ve located second Kings turn to chapter twenty-two. In this chapter and the next you find one of my favorite historical accounts in the entire Old Testament, the account of young king Josiah. Since this blog is all about reform and revival, there is not a better real-life illustration of attempted reform than Josiah’s.
Chapter twenty-two begins during a time in Israel’s history when things are a mess because of the sin of the people and her leaders. Through the leadership of the rulers, Baal worship was introduced (1 kings 16), the people of God are in total rebellion (2 Kings 17:7ff) and the house of God, the place of worship is in need of repair (2 Kings 22:6). Under the reign of Hezekiah there was some reform for about 29 years. Hezekiah dies and his son and subsequently his grandson take over leadership and Israel is plunged right back into moral and spiritual depravity.

In an earlier post I declared, “As go your leaders, so go the followers”
Well, it’s true!

Now stepping up to the plate is a young man named Josiah. Chapter twenty-two verse one states, “Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem….”
How did young Josiah avoid the corruption of his father and grandfather? Verse one states, “…..his mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.

Thank God for Godly mothers!!!

Verse two reads, “He did right in the sight of the Lord and walked in all the way of his great, great, great, etc,., grandfather David, nor did he turn aside to the right or to the left”.

Verse three declares, “Now in the eighteenth year of King Josiah (he’s 26 yrs old). Jump down to verse 8 it states that Hilkiah the High priest said to Shaphan the Scribe, “I have found the book of the Law in the house of the Lord”. Hilkiah then gave the book (The OT Torah; the first 5 books) to Shaphan who also read it.

Look at verse ten, “…Shaphan the Scribe told the king saying, Hilkiah the priest has given me a book, and Shaphan read it in the presence of the King”. Verse eleven reads, “When the king heard the words of the book of the Law, he tore his clothes”.
When Josiah was confronted with God’s word, he was soo convicted by what he heard that he took action immediately,

First, he dispatched his royal staff to go and get further clarification, “concerning the words of this book that has been found” (vs 13). They went to Huldah the prophetess to get clarity (vss 14-20).
Okay let’s not get sidetracked, Yes, God can and does use women, but looking at the whole of scripture her prophetic gift and ministry was not like that of the men who prophesied before her nor after her. In the New Testament we see another woman who had a prophetic gift. Her name was Anna (see Luke 2:36ff). She lived her life after the death of her husband in the Temple and for the remainder of her life continued to speak (the nature of the prophetic gift) to all those looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. Therefore can a woman have a speaking gift? Absolutely!! But the use of her gift or anyone’s gift must be regulated by the Scripture and God’s sovereignty.
Okay let's get back on course

     Second, according to chapter 23, he sent for the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem-the Southern kingdom -The Northern Kingdom of Isreal had been taken captive by Assyria several years earlier because of her sin and rebellion - He gathers the leaders together in the house of the Lord along with the men, all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and prophets and all the people small and great and he read in their hearing all the words found in the book of the Law that was lost in the house of the Lord.

     According to chapter twenty-three, verse three, the king in the presence of all made a covenant before the Lord to do several things:
1. To walk (i.e., live) after the Lord
2. To keep (i.e., obey) all his commandment and
Statutes with total whole-hearted commitment
3. To carry out the words of this covenant written
In the book.

     The remainder of chapter 23 records the reforms that came about as a result of rediscovering God’s word. Let me list a few:
1. All the idolatrous vessels were removed from the house of God (vs 4).
2. The apostate priests who served in God’s house were removed (vs 5).
3. Sexual immorality in the house of God was brought to an end (vs 7).
4. The Passover was reinstituted.

These are just a few of the reforms that took place in Jerusalem all of which were motivated by a rediscovery of the Word of God.

I stated at the outset of this article, that this historical narrative is a great illustration of what’s going on and what’s needed in our day.

What’s going on in our day?

1. In our day many of our UC (i.e., Urban Church) leaders are corrupt and immoral.

2. Many of the people who make up the UC are corrupt and immoral (They have good examples).

3. The local UC has in many places become a den of thieves and robbers and a hideout for the sexually immoral.

4. The Word of God is lost inside many of our Local Urban churches (Suburban churches too).

5. The key ordinances that should remind us of our Holy obligation no longer exist in some of our churches. In some churches, the baptismal is used for storage.

So what’s needed?
Is it not clear?

The key to reform in the UC is a rediscovery of the Word of God.

In the next series of articles I will attempt to help us rediscover what God’s word says about the church and how it should be run.

For His Glory,
CoolImprov