Category: Food for thought

Having trouble making a decision?  Don’t worry, you’re not alone.  Way back in Elijah’s day, the people of Israel had a dilemma on their hands as well and didn’t know what to do.  There were 450 prophets of Baal and only one prophet of God – Elijah.  They were trying to decide who to follow: Baal or the Lord.

God gave Elijah revelation on what to say.  In other words, God gave Elijah divine wisdom and all the people there agreed it was a good and sound idea.

I Kings 18
21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:
24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

There’s God’s wisdom in action!

James 1
6 But let him ask in faith [believing], nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Ephesians 4
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Ephesians 4 is in the context of the 5 gift ministries to the church – perhaps seeking their council can help.

Often times, fear can be an impediment to decision making, but God has an answer for that too.

II Timothy 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Psalms 34:4
I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

I John 4
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.

Consulting multiple, objective & authoritative sources of information is always a good idea.

Proverbs 11:14
Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Getting a second or third opinion is often a very wise move, as many of us know from experience. If you get a medical diagnosis, or a car mechanic says you need to spend $850 in repairs for example, then seeking wise council can make the difference between victory or disaster.

Confusion is another obstacle when it comes down to the wire to make the right choice.

I Corinthians 14:33
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

James 3
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

If you are confused, you may simply be lacking a key piece of information, or the data you have may be false or incomplete.  If there is confusion, then consider the possibility that Satan may be involved.  You may need to rebuke him in the name of Jesus Christ and claim God’s protection and wisdom on what to do.

Philippians 4
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Ultimately, many times when we are stuck between two options, one is from God and the other is a counterfeit from Satan.  That is when we need an accurate knowledge of God’s word in order to tell the difference between the two.

Sometimes, the difference between two options appears to be razor-thin, but that’s not too much of a difference for God.  Just look how precise God’s word is!

Hebrews 4:12 [amplified bible]
For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the [g]breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

God’s word is sharper than a razor, so use it and his wisdom as your guide.

Matthew 7
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

By the results we will know whether or not it was the right decision.   We don’t want cool sounding theories, but the proof is in the pudding!

James 3 lists the 8 characteristics of God’s wisdom so that you can recognize it if you see it.

James 3 [amplified bible]
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity).
18 And the harvest of righteousness (of conformity to God’s will in thought and deed) is [the fruit of the seed] sown in peace by those who work for and make peace [in themselves and in others, that peace which means concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals, with undisturbedness, in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts].

But watch out for this trick!

Job 13 [amplified bible]
20 Only [O Lord] grant two conditions to me, and then will I not hide myself from You:
21 Withdraw Your hand and take this bodily suffering far from me; and let not my [reverent] dread of You terrify me.
22 Then [Lord] call and I will answer, or let me speak, and You answer me.

We must remember that the devil knows the bible better than most people do. Unfortunately, he will twist or distort it to his advantage.  In Matthew 4 for example, the devil purposely misquoted some verses in psalms in order to deceive Jesus.

Basically, Job asked God for only 2 things.  Satan, our personal spiritual adversary, knows this, so he may offer you 2 of his answers!

Sometimes, you may get into a situation where you are given an ultimatum, and both options appear to be wrong or bad in some way. If this is the case, then Satan could very well be the one offering you the options. He is the one who has rigged the game in his favor.

In those situations, you must  rely upon God and his wisdom to pull you through.

For example, my chiropractor, before he got into the profession, got ulcerative colitis and was told that this was an incurable condition.  It’s classified as an auto-immune disease where the body attacks itself for an unknown reason.  In this case, his colon. He was given many different drugs, but he had several very serious side effects, lost a lot of weight, had a lot of bleeding, but only got worse.

He was told he had to have his colon removed or die.  But the consequences of having his colon removed involved permanent sterility, chronic pain and discomfort, constant infections, a colostomy bag and other major problems, so he was stuck between a rock and a hard place, between 2 bad options.

He decided there had to be a better way, and there was.  He believed there was a better way and God provided his answer.   For him, it was chiropractic.  He had a severe curve in his lower back that was pinching off the nerves from his spine that went to his colon.

After several months of treatment, he steadily got better and was completely healed.

When we are walking in God’s light and wisdom, we will not be caught in the dark with a dreadful disease that the world says is incurable.   Like they said in the TV show the x-files, the truth is out there…

Psalms 91
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence [disease] that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

I Corinthians 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer [allow] you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Definition of “a way to escape”

HELPS Word-studies
1545 ékbasis (from 1537 /ek, “out from and to” and bainō, “move forward, march”) – properly, moving out from and to the outcome (new destination); departure; (figuratively) “the (successful) way out” which also goes on to what is new (desirable), i.e. the Lord’s outcome (1 Cor 10:13; Heb 13:7).

This word is only used 3 times in the bible.  In verse 7, its translated “the end”.

Hebrews 13
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Church leadership, the 5 gift ministries, if they are using God’s wisdom, can be your way to escape.

Beware of the tempter, who may be giving you one or more of your options.

Matthew 4:3
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

The tempter is one of the many names of Satan, revealing one aspect of his nature.

James 1:13
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

It is good to know that God is on our side…

Look at how Jesus Christ came out of a very tough situation victoriously!

John 8
1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Had Jesus Christ did what the old testament law said or came up with his own interpretation of the law, he would have been defeated.  He was torn between the only two options he was given, but he went outside the box, outside the 9 dots, and reached into God’s infinite reservoir of truth to defeat the enemy.

Psalms 147:5
Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

More details on the 8 characteristics of God’s wisdom

Romans 8
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

One of the ways that the bible interprets itself is by way of figures of speech. They are an exacting grammatical science that deliberately puts words out of their normal order in order to draw our attention, to make a particular point. Their purpose is to put emphasis on that which God wants to be emphasized. In other words, figures of speech are God’s way of showing us what is most important in his word.

In John 14:6, there is a figure of speech called hendiatris, which literally means three for one. It means there are 3 words used, but only 1 thing is meant. 2 nouns are exalted to an extreme degree so that they function as emphatic adjectives [truth & life]. The third word is the subject of the sentence [way].

So when you incorporate this figure of speech hendiatris into this verse, it literally reads, I am the way, yes, the true and living way; for no man cometh unto the father, but by me. That implies that since Jesus Christ is the true and living way, there must be false and dead ways also, which Satan, the God of this world, is more than willing to supply.

Proverbs 14:12
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 16:25
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

So Satan uses deception to hide the true nature of his way: death.  God warns us not once, but twice to avoid the ways of death because obviously, some people have already been there, done that and God always wants the best for us.  Therefore, there must be a manner, a method, in which to separate the true and living way from the dead, deceptive and false ways of the world.

That way is God’s rightly-divided truth, which is the bible.  By using it as a blueprint for our lives, we can walk the right path in life and get the right results.

Isaiah 35 [Lamsa bible, 5th century Aramaic text]
8 And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the
unclean shall not pass over it; and there shall be no road beside it; fools
shall not err therein.
9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; they shall not be
found there; but the redeemed shall walk therein;
10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

How about those results?   God’s way is so simple, logical and plain that even a fool cannot miss it!

Proverbs 3
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

Acts 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

This truth corroborates the truth of John 14:6. Isn’t that great? God gives us confidence that we are on the right path of life when we follow Jesus Christ.

Have you ever been lost out in the wilderness and had a compass, but you still didn’t trust it?  But if you had 2 different compasses, made by different companies, yet they
both pointed in the exact same direction, then you would have peace, comfort and confidence that they were accurate.  However, if they both pointed in opposite directions, then all you would have is confusion.  God’s word always gives us a solid footing on which to stand.

The number 2 in the bible indicates establishment or division, depending on the context, so regarding which is the right way, God’s spiritual compasses always point in the right and same, direction, establishing the right way for us to go.

Haggai 1
5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

The phrase “Consider your ways” only occurs twice in the entire bible and both usages are right here in the first chapter of Haggai.  God is showing us the consequences of trying to go about life on our own, without his wisdom and light.

Isaiah 55
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

God’s ways are superior to ours!  Can you accept that, or does your own pride block you from getting on the right path in life?

James 4:4
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

So we want to avoid getting sucked into the spiritually dark, contaminated ways of the world and soak our heads and hearts in God’s love, light, peace and power.

II Peter 2:20
For if after they have escaped the pollutions [spiritual contaminations, indicating there is more than one way to get contaminated] of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

Isaiah 14:17
That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

Do you want to wander around in spiritual darkness and be a prisoner in Satan’s spiritual wilderness, or walk on the way of holiness, singing with joy and peace in your heart?

Deuteronomy 30:19
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

I want you to pay close attention to how the first verses of these 7 books of the bible, specifically addressed to Christians today, in the body of Christ, in the age of grace, are worded.
Romans 1:1
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

I Corinthians 1:1
Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

II Corinthians 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

Galatians 1:1
Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

Ephesians 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Philippians 1:1
Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Colossians 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

In the very first verse of each book, from Romans to Colossians, Paul is always a servant and/or an apostle, but in Thessalonians, he’s just a simple, common man.

I Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

II Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Why?

Ephesians 4
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Paul was one of the gift ministries to the church, the body of Christ whose purpose or function is stated in verse 12: For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

However, the main theme of Thessalonians is the hope of Christ’s return. When he comes back, we will have a brand-new spiritual body [see I Corinthians 15]. We will all be in heaven and will no longer need the gift ministries because we will already be perfected in Christ. When Jesus Christ comes back, it won’t matter what your leadership position was, because the gift ministries will no longer be in operation because they are no longer needed. That’s why Paul is listed as just a simple, common man in the books to the Thessalonians.

Today, before Jesus Christ comes back, what’s important is not our position in the body of Christ, but what is our function in the body of Christ and are we doing it? We all have a unique job to do that no one else can fulfill.

I Corinthians 12:27
Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular.

We all have a unique function, a unique place, a special job to do in the body of Christ.  We can all supply a special need and can contribute something of value that nobody else can.  Belonging to God in the family of God supplies a basic human need: to belong to a group as a valuable and unique member to accomplish a worthy goal.

I Corinthians 12
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
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:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

So I have a great short story with a dual meaning that we can use, not only in our secular jobs and life in general, but more importantly, we can use this as inspiration to fulfill the greatest job of all, doing the will of God as a unique member in the body of Christ with a special function that nobody else has.

Who’s job is it?

This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure Somebody would do it.  Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was it was everybody’s job.  Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized the Everybody wouldn’t do it.  It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

Colossians 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.