OUT OF FOCUS

OUT OF FOCUS!

1 Cor 12:18-22

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

Have you ever wondered why God created man with TWO eyes instead of just one? We accept it at face value but it bears investigation. Two eyes enable us to see both left and right and therefore clearly. Those with only a left or right view have a problem with depth perception and have limited peripheral vision. Although I may be very fond of my own opinion and philosophy, I may be seeing only part of the panorama. I need the eyes of others to see clearly.

There is a symbiotic partnership in the arrangement of the parts of the body. Each conducts its particular function so that the body may be whole and robust. The very idea of a particular part of the body rebelling against the rest is ludicrous and this is the very point of Paul in his message to the Corinthians.

1. They preferred one speaker over another!

1 Cor 1:11-13

11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Satan knows that a party spirit is a wonderful method of self destruction. When other methods fail this one has always proved to be effective.

2. Some were incomplete in their knowledge!

Acts 19:1-5

19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

It is clear that Apollonian teaching was incomplete. There would be no need to re-baptize true converts and the absence of Spirit graces indicated a deep deficiency.

(The) Spirit enlightens their minds, and convinces of sin, righteousness, and judgment; quickens their souls, witnesses to their conscience that they are the children of God, and purifies their hearts. Those who have not received these blessings from the Holy Spirit, whatever their profession may be, know nothing better than John's baptism: (from Adam Clarke's Commentary)

3. Most were carnal in their thinking and their practice!

1 Cor 3:3-7

3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal ?

5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Carnal thought and practice fails to recognize and acknowledge the “higher” thought and “purer” practice of God.

Isa 55:9

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

If you are at odds with fellow believers over inconsequential differences of opinion, you may not be wrong but you certainly are not right. The damage done by the contention is far greater than the importance of the point of controversy. Hold to your view for you may be the LEFT eye but give allowance to the view of the RIGHT eye that you both may serve the body with a clear view.

Dear Lord, give balance and clarity to my life today that my place in the body of believers may promote unity and not strife. AMEN

HOW CAN WE TAP INTO GODS PERFECT TIMING

HOW CAN WE TAP INTO GOD’S PERFECT TIMING?

Ps 37:7

7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

REST!  It is the Hebrew word damam (daw-man') which means “to be dumb” or simply to hold your peace. To hush! God is either in control or He is not! If He is then why are we so restless?

WAIT PATIENTLY FOR HIM!  Here the Hebrew is very interesting! It is the word chuwl (khool); or chiyl (kheel). Bringing it into today’s language we might say “chill!” But God knows us better than that because it means “to twist or twirl, to writhe in pain!” Now that is what waiting is for ME!

I remember my sister and I taking turns climbing a tree to watch for the arrival of the ice cream man. It is this kind of anxious, just-can’t-stand-it, waiting that I am most familiar with.

SURRENDER YOUR “WAY”! When I pray, I usually have already worked out a solution and I simply ask God to do it my way. He doesn’t always see things the way I do.

Ps 37:5

5 Commit thy way [COURSE OF LIFE, MODE OF ACTION] unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Young’s Literal Translation puts it this way: “Roll on Jehovah thy way, And trust upon Him, and He worketh.”

An old, perhaps ancient, motion chorus I learned in Sunday school goes this way:

Roll away, roll away, roll away!

Every burden of my heart roll away!

Sweet Jesus, though I may twist and twirl while waiting, let me roll upon you my way! AMEN

MY STRONGHOLD IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE

MY STRONGHOLD IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE!

Nah 1:5-7

5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

           Sometimes it seems as if Gospel ministry is weak and ineffective. Our efforts at stemming the tide of evil seem only to make the breach larger. It is as if we have disturbed a beehive while swatting a bee. The situation is worse than before. We preach righteousness but sin grows – and now sin is angry because of the preaching! We preach faithfulness but infidelity is the result and we are blamed for discovering it.

John 1:5

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

           In the above verse the word “comprehended” is the Greek word katalambano which literally means “to catch what has been thrown.” It means that the darkness dropped the ball and did not, either by failure or refusal, to lay hold on it. It would be easy for the light to blame itself for the failure but it is the darkness that is at fault.

Matt 6:23-24

If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

           We are now beginning to see that the problem of our nation is a sin problem. The economy is broken by our greed! The home is in shambles due to our failure to love! Our government is oppressive due to a lust for power. It is easy for the churches and her pastors to feel responsible but the following verses seem clear enough.

Here is the problem: Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. (Isa 1:2)

And here is the result: Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. (Isa 1:4-7)

Here is the solution: Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. (Isa 1:16-20)

What our nation needs is not another Tea Party but a communion service!

Dear Lord, make our message clear and plain. Open ears and hearts and minds to your truth. Heal our land. AMEN