Below are some quotes on Truth from our web site Hope Triumphant. We hope you find them challenging and interesting. We would encourage you to visit Hope triumphant by following the link on this page.
"No matter what the postmodern world concludes about God and truth, reality is that God is still God, and He is still trying to reconcile men unto Himself." (Dr. Sam Horn)
'Truth is incontrovertible. Panic may resent it; ignorance may deride it; malice may distort it; but there it is." (Winston Churchill)
"It is truth that passes into action that produces righteousness." (Richard Bennett)
"To hear the truth and not accept it does not nullify truth." (Brotherhood Journal)
"Truth is not ultimately a matter of pride or humility, it is a matter of fact." (Unknown)
"Always tell the truth. Then you don't have to worry about what you said last." (Robert Cook)
"Your teeth may be false, but always let your tongue be true." [unknown]
"Beware of a half truth; you may get hold of the wrong half." [unknown]
'Truth fears nothing but concealment.' [unknown]
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Compassion
“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.” 1 Peter 3:8
God is a God of compassion. While walking among men on earth, the gospel writers tell us that Jesus was moved with compassion in His dealings with others. As followers of Christ, we have been commanded to show compassion to others.
What does it mean to be compassionate? It is our constructive, caring, remedial response to the needs of others regardless who they are. Compassion is not the same as sympathy or empathy. These are feelings but compassion is not about how we feel but what we do in response to what we feel. Joseph Stowell defined compassions as “our commitment to activate ourselves as channels of God’s love, mercy and grace in tender thoughtful, understanding acts of help delivering forgiveness and restoration toward those in need.”
Love is an act of the will whereby we do what is right regardless of the cost or another’s response. When love functions alone there is the tendency to be cold and/or formal in doing the right thing. Compassion acting alone can cause us to be very selective regarding to whom who we minister. When love functions alongside of compassion it keeps us from being selective in regards to those to whom we chose to minister. When compassion functions alongside love it keeps us from being cold and formal in our dealings with others.
Vance Havner said, “Our Lord worked with people as they were, and He was patient – not tolerant of sin, but compassionate.” Our prayer should be “Lord help me to be like Jesus.”
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Foolishness
“There is desirable treasure, and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man squanders it.” Proverbs 20:21 NKJV
Wise people are willing to endure short-term difficulty for long-term benefits. Foolish people seek immediate gratification at the expense of long-term benefits. The area of greatest disaster for people is how they handle their money. We need to learn the value of short-term sacrifice for long-term benefits.
We live in the “I want it now” generation. Just look at the problems we face because of our charge it now pay for it later attitude. Why all the problems? We have not learned to look at the long-term consequences of our “I want it now” attitude. We fail to see the value of sacrifice and the benefits of delayed gratification.
Solomon said it bluntly, “a foolish man squanders” his treasure. What have gained by using credit to buy what we don’t have the money to purchase? You become a slave of the credit card industry. “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” [Proverbs 22:7] You pay outlandish interest rates running as high as 20%. This adds up to paying a minimum of three or four times the original cost of the item. How things have you bought on credit that are long gone or broken before you pay for them. You are robbing yourself of the freedom to prepare for your future.
It is time to exercise some discipline in money matters. Discipline produces a plan to save for both short-term specific items and long-term savings for our future needs. Discipline rejects the idea that immediate gratification is what is best and teaches us the value of sacrifice and delayed gratification.
One of the greatest examples of these concepts is Joseph. For seven years he systematically put away grain for the coming seven years of famine. If he did not exercise the most stringent discipline in the storing of grain what would have happened in Egypt to both the Egyptians and his own family? Joseph knew the seven years of famine were coming. Our hard times often come upon us unexpectedly making a financial plan that includes no debt and long-term saving an absolute necessity. There are two ingredients that must be an integral part of any plan. The first is being able to distinguish between real needs and wants. This allows us to implement the second concept. Setting aside immediate gratification for long-term benefits.
Where are you financially today because you failed to exercise discipline in your money matters? How many credit card companies own you? How large is your debt? What can’t you do today that you want to because of unwise spending in the past? It’s time to honor the Lord by changing the way you spend you money.
Final words of wisdom from God’s Word: “Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith” [Proverbs 15:16]. “A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked” [Psalm 37:16]. "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise" [Proverbs 12:15].
Friday, October 16, 2009
The Power of God
God’s power is infinite power. His power goes beyond anything man can conceive or any power man can create. It enables Him to do what He wills. The Apostle Paul gives expression to this power in Ephesians 3:20, 21 when He wrote, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Jesus Christ throughout all ages, world without end. Amen”
Paul’s ascription of praise to God’s power allows us to see the greatness of the power of God. Consider the follow statements by Paul regarding God’s power.
1. He is able to do. God is not idle, inactive or dead but alive at work in the world and in our lives.
2. He is able to do what we ask. He hears our prayers and answers our prayers not with vain promises because He can do what He promises.
3. He is able to do what we ask or think. He knows our thoughts and even when we dare not ask of him certain things, He is able to do what we think.
4. He is able to do more, beyond. We may be limited by our knowledge when we pray but God is omniscient and able to do more than we ask because He understands what is possible even though we do not.
5. He is able to do all we ask or think. There is nothing we can ask God to do that he cannot do.
[I must caution here that God is not our servant but in prayer all that He does in response to our prayers is governed by His will. Paul also stated in Ephesians “who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. 1:11] The fact that God does not because what we ask is not because He is powerless but because we have asked something out of His will.
6. He is able to do more abundantly than we ask or think. He doesn’t just scrape by but his power is exceedingly great.
7. He is able to do more abundantly. There are no limits to His power.
As we grasp a full understanding of what Paul said, we can with Paul proclaim, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” [Philippians 4:13] Why because power is not beyond our reach. It is the power that works in us. His power is found in the Word of God [this is why we should memorize it] and in His Holy Spirit. It is the power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead. It means we can have victory over temptation, break bad habits and have hope in difficult times. We can have hope triumphant.
2. He is able to do what we ask. He hears our prayers and answers our prayers not with vain promises because He can do what He promises.
3. He is able to do what we ask or think. He knows our thoughts and even when we dare not ask of him certain things, He is able to do what we think.
4. He is able to do more, beyond. We may be limited by our knowledge when we pray but God is omniscient and able to do more than we ask because He understands what is possible even though we do not.
5. He is able to do all we ask or think. There is nothing we can ask God to do that he cannot do.
[I must caution here that God is not our servant but in prayer all that He does in response to our prayers is governed by His will. Paul also stated in Ephesians “who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. 1:11] The fact that God does not because what we ask is not because He is powerless but because we have asked something out of His will.
6. He is able to do more abundantly than we ask or think. He doesn’t just scrape by but his power is exceedingly great.
7. He is able to do more abundantly. There are no limits to His power.
As we grasp a full understanding of what Paul said, we can with Paul proclaim, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” [Philippians 4:13] Why because power is not beyond our reach. It is the power that works in us. His power is found in the Word of God [this is why we should memorize it] and in His Holy Spirit. It is the power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead. It means we can have victory over temptation, break bad habits and have hope in difficult times. We can have hope triumphant.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Testimony
"But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony." [Luke 21:12, 13 NKJV]
We are called to testify of our faith. There many different ways and different places where we can be a testimony for the Lord. There are good and bad ways to be a witness for the Lord. Consider the following possibilities. One, you can be a spurious witness by not telling people the whole gospel or by not living in accordance to the witness we bear. Two, some Christians are shirkers. They fail to share the gospel because they don't want to stir things up or do not want to get involved in the lives of others. Thirdly, some people are forced to give witness to their faith because they are put on the spot by others. In these circumstances people sometime take the easy way out and deny any relationship with the Lord. A perfect example of this is Peter the night Jesus was betrayed. When confronted by the little servant girl, he denied knowing the Lord. Fourthly, some people are sporadic in their witness. One day a ball of fire and others as cold as ice. Lastly, there is the spontaneous witness. The spontaneous witness naturally shares his faith in a faithful manner whenever he has the opportunity.
One of the most difficult times to be a faithful testimony is when we called to suffer for our faith. The Lord told His disciples that times of testing should be an occasion for being a witness of our faith. We bear witness in two ways. The first is by the way we conduct ourselves and secondly by the words we say. The best example is that of the Lord Jesus. "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously" [1 Peter 2:21 - 23]. Why is it important for us to be a good witness? Peter told us that is the "...will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men" [1 Peter 2:15] What kind of testimony are you for the Lord?
We are called to testify of our faith. There many different ways and different places where we can be a testimony for the Lord. There are good and bad ways to be a witness for the Lord. Consider the following possibilities. One, you can be a spurious witness by not telling people the whole gospel or by not living in accordance to the witness we bear. Two, some Christians are shirkers. They fail to share the gospel because they don't want to stir things up or do not want to get involved in the lives of others. Thirdly, some people are forced to give witness to their faith because they are put on the spot by others. In these circumstances people sometime take the easy way out and deny any relationship with the Lord. A perfect example of this is Peter the night Jesus was betrayed. When confronted by the little servant girl, he denied knowing the Lord. Fourthly, some people are sporadic in their witness. One day a ball of fire and others as cold as ice. Lastly, there is the spontaneous witness. The spontaneous witness naturally shares his faith in a faithful manner whenever he has the opportunity.
One of the most difficult times to be a faithful testimony is when we called to suffer for our faith. The Lord told His disciples that times of testing should be an occasion for being a witness of our faith. We bear witness in two ways. The first is by the way we conduct ourselves and secondly by the words we say. The best example is that of the Lord Jesus. "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously" [1 Peter 2:21 - 23]. Why is it important for us to be a good witness? Peter told us that is the "...will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men" [1 Peter 2:15] What kind of testimony are you for the Lord?
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Worship
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24
Jesus conversation with the woman of Samaria moved from His request that she draw Him water from the well to a discussion about worship. The woman said that she worshipped in the mountain while the Jews worshipped in Jerusalem. In response Jesus contrasted the worship of the Jews and the Samaritans with true worship.
The Samaritans worshipped in ignorance but with enthusiasm. This made their worship nothing more than enthusiastic heresy. On the other hand, the Jews had the truth but lacked the spirit. Their worship had become nothing more than cold, baron, lifeless orthodoxy. The problem the Jews faced was not form but heart. Later on in Jesus ministry He again focused on the problem when he said, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me [Matthew 15:8]. Jesus statement brought together all the elements of worship.
Jesus explained to the Samaritan woman the essence of worship. He said there are two essential parts to worship. We are to “worship him in spirit.” There is an inwardness to worship. Worship must come from the heart. Jesus does not rule out external forms but places emphasis on the need for worship to be more than form. Then Jesus said worship must be “in truth.” For us to understand that worship must be “in truth,” we need to consider two separate concepts. First, there needs to be intelligence in worship. It is essential that we know God and His Word. We must worship the God who has revealed Himself in the Word of God not one created in our imaginations. Secondly, there needs to be integrity of worship. Jesus rules our pretense by requiring unity of heart with our acts of worship. This means our knowledge [intellect] must govern our choices [will] and our emotions must harmonize so that our acts of worship are not hypocritical.
Worship must be more than duty, more than ritual. It must be in spirit and truth.
Monday, October 5, 2009
God's Faithfulness
“They [God’s mercies] are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” [Lamentations 3:23]
One of the marvelous perfections of God is His faithfulness which is best described as being reliable, steadfast, dependable and trustworthy. Believers often refer to God’s faithfulness as it relates to His promises to them but God’s faithfulness also extends to the unbeliever. God faithfully keeps His promises made to them. In order for to us to begin to fully understand God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises we must also recognize the inter-relationship between His faithfulness and His other perfections. In order for us to experience God’s faithfulness, we need to realize He is also sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient and truthful.
In order to understand the depth of God’s faithfulness, we need to consider the following ideas:
1. God is faithful in ALL that He has said.
2. God is faithful in preserving His people [1 Corinthians 1:9; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 1:12];
3. God is faithful in the discipline His children [1 Corinthians 11:30; Psalm 119:75];
4. God is faithful in glorifying His people [Romans 8:28 – 30]
In our times of difficulty after we have prayed much and there seems to be no response from God to our prayers, there is a tendency on our part to begin to question the faithfulness of God. Our lack of understanding of our circumstances and the will of God produces this result but when we begin to factor in the fact that God is faithful to Himself and His purposes and to our plans, we will begin to see the depth and magnitude of God’s faithfulness. It is then we can sing:
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever will be.
Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided;
great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. Refrain
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Refrain
One of the marvelous perfections of God is His faithfulness which is best described as being reliable, steadfast, dependable and trustworthy. Believers often refer to God’s faithfulness as it relates to His promises to them but God’s faithfulness also extends to the unbeliever. God faithfully keeps His promises made to them. In order for to us to begin to fully understand God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises we must also recognize the inter-relationship between His faithfulness and His other perfections. In order for us to experience God’s faithfulness, we need to realize He is also sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient and truthful.
In order to understand the depth of God’s faithfulness, we need to consider the following ideas:
1. God is faithful in ALL that He has said.
2. God is faithful in preserving His people [1 Corinthians 1:9; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 1:12];
3. God is faithful in the discipline His children [1 Corinthians 11:30; Psalm 119:75];
4. God is faithful in glorifying His people [Romans 8:28 – 30]
In our times of difficulty after we have prayed much and there seems to be no response from God to our prayers, there is a tendency on our part to begin to question the faithfulness of God. Our lack of understanding of our circumstances and the will of God produces this result but when we begin to factor in the fact that God is faithful to Himself and His purposes and to our plans, we will begin to see the depth and magnitude of God’s faithfulness. It is then we can sing:
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever will be.
Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided;
great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. Refrain
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Refrain
Response to My Blog on Hell
I have edit the following response because the writer was directing people to another website for the purpose of drawing attention to his book. I do not believe my editing damaged the intent of the writer, Rick's response.
"...let me share one of the many points I make in it.If one is willing to look, there's substantial evidence contained in the gospels to show that Jesus opposed the idea of Hell. For example, in Luke 9:51-56, is a story about his great disappointment with his disciples when they actually suggested imploring God to rain FIRE on a village just because they had rejected him. His response: "You don't know what spirit is inspiring this kind of talk!" Presumably, it was NOT the Holy Spirit. He went on, trying to explain how he had come to save, heal and relieve suffering, not be the CAUSE of it.So it only stands to reason that this same Jesus, who was appalled at the very idea of burning a few people, for a few horrific minutes until they were dead, could never, ever burn BILLIONS of people for an ETERNITY!
"...let me share one of the many points I make in it.If one is willing to look, there's substantial evidence contained in the gospels to show that Jesus opposed the idea of Hell. For example, in Luke 9:51-56, is a story about his great disappointment with his disciples when they actually suggested imploring God to rain FIRE on a village just because they had rejected him. His response: "You don't know what spirit is inspiring this kind of talk!" Presumably, it was NOT the Holy Spirit. He went on, trying to explain how he had come to save, heal and relieve suffering, not be the CAUSE of it.So it only stands to reason that this same Jesus, who was appalled at the very idea of burning a few people, for a few horrific minutes until they were dead, could never, ever burn BILLIONS of people for an ETERNITY!
MY RESPONSE: Jesus did come to save, heal and relieve suffering but the fact of the matter is that not all men were or are saved nor did Jesus heal every person He came in contact with. Taking scripture out of the total context of scripture creates false teaching. The teachings of Jesus on the subject of hell are found in the following passages [I limit refernces to Gospel of Matthew]: Matthew 5:21, 22, 27 - 30; 23:15, 33; 10:28; 25:41, 46; 8:11 - 12; Matthew 13:30, 40 - 43; 13:49 - 50; 18:6 - 9; 24:51.
If there is no hell, there is no God. While people constantly say loving God would not send people to hell they also fall into the same problem but in this case they take the love of God out of the context of the whole person. God is more than a God of love. He is also a holy God, righteous God, a God of justice. God's holiness demands justice and the faithfulness of God demands He keep His Word. Would a loving God send a person to hell? Yes, because He is also a holy, righteous and just God.
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