At the end of Matthew 25, Jesus discusses the end times with his followers, and specifically, the final judgment. In order to illustrate his point, Jesus likens those who will enter the kingdom to sheep and those who will be turned away to goats. So what is it that distinguishes the sheep from the goats? Well, let’s first look at the goats. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a goat? Our society has this notion of goats as these ravenous animals that will consume just about anything you put in front of their faces. Here is a clip from one of my favorite shows that reinforces this perception. (Watch from abou 6:30-8:50)
Veterinarians and animal behaviorists have often examined the contents of these creatures’ stomachs and found bits of tin, rope, and other odds and ends. However, the conclusion that this data probably led you to is false. Goats do have strong appetites. But they will not consume anything put in front of them. They are, though, quite curious individuals. They will nibble on something to see if it is to their liking, and, if it does not suit them, then they will move on to the next item. Continuing on in this theme of delineation, goats are quite independent creatures. Like you saw in the video, Jimmy the goat went off wandering around foraging for his own food. He chose what he wanted to eat and what he didn’t want to eat. Now the contrast between goats and sheep becomes quite clear. Whereas goats determine their own diet, sheep are entirely dependent upon and satisfied with what their shepherd provides for them. Whatever he lays before his flock, they gladly consume.
It is my observation that many within the church are embracing the “goat” mentality. What I mean is this: Instead of being content and relying primarily upon what the Shepherd has provided for us to feed on, we go off in search of our own “diet,” consuming whatever the newest or latest gospel or view on God might be. Many of these things that are consumed are not bad things in and of themselves. But when we allow these things by created shape our view of the Creator we have traversed into unsafe waters.
Trust that all we need for knowledge and enlightenment is in the Word that God has provided. The tools and resources that we provide to you are mere supplements to the daily nutrition you should be filling yourself with. Have a healthy diet. Dine on what the Savior has provided. Be a little sheepish!
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:
“He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” — 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
I think that this passage can be misinterpreted by some Christians as a mandate for “health, wealth, and prosperity” but this misses the entire point. It’s all about giving to others, not storing up wealth for yourself. Paul quotes Jesus in Acts:
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ “ — Acts 20:35
2 Days worth of encouraging Scripture in one tidy entry:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sinfor us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”
– 2 Corinthians 5:17-6:2
This reminds me of another VERY familiar verse:
“For God so loved the world that HE gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
I think I can easily forget that it was God the Father’s idea all along to send Jesus. He initiated it. It was HIS idea! God actually loves us! This is the Gospel. Sometimes I just need to be reminded of the basics.
School: I am currently taking 17 hours consisting mainly of upper level Englishes and Greek. Life in the dorm is ok and I’ve become accustomed to the cafeteria. It is different being at a small school after 3 years at Auburn but not necessarily a bad experience (even though I REALLY MISS going to the games/ working with ESPN)
Work: Work is work, 35 hours a week, an hour away from school…overnight shift…etc…whatever…paychecks bring smiley faces
Social Life: Busy is busy but I do strive to spend time with Laura as well as others. I have been going to a Bible Study on Wednesday nights with acouple of young married friends as well. Me and Laura will be in Wichita, Kansas on Halloween for Wicked (the musical). And during the Thanksgiving Break, Laura and I will be flying out of Dallas to Montgomery, AL where we will then drive down to south Alabama for Thanksgiving with my extended family and then we will be attending the Auburn vs Alabama football game the next day (War Eagle!). Then of course I will be at PASSION 2010 January 2-5 in Atlanta, GA (register!!! 268generation.com/passion2010 ) .
On the college ministry front: once college ministry updates become the norm, I will have them transferred back to the findtheupperroom.com webpage but for now I will put them here. I have made many contacts the past few weeks (finally!) and am still wrestling with it all but very excited about the doors and opportunities the Lord has. I still have several contacts to make but strides in the right direction. Not in a hurry.
Finally: I am BUSY. I have unfortunately bitten off more than I can chew with the webpage for now. And I admit it. I will not be continuing the series due to workload and time constraints. I will give updates when possible but probably nothing substancial for a bit. Videos and promos will still be up as well as prayer requests. Also for an internship segment for one of my classes, my boss wants me to write an article on my 2 part series on What We Are to Live For. So when and if I get around to that, I will post the final draft on the webpage. Love you guys and take care. Continue to check out renewingnehemiah.com
PASSION 2010 is coming! Join the movement as 20,000 to 25,000 students from across the world join for 4 days in Atlanta, Georgia to be challenged and inspired. January 2-5. Go check it out at 268generation.com/passion2010/ Also here is the promo video. New post from series next week! Sorry, I have tests this week and it is Laura’s birthday weekend. Crazy! But get pumped for PASSION!!!! Register now before the price goes up! Email me if you have questions.
This series will be some of my analysis but mostly a series of useful resources from both scripture and elsewhere that help focus on the validity and importance of the Bible. We have the most powerful physical weapon in the world at our fingertips. It should be the basis of everything we do, talk about, think about, etc. Enjoy the links,videos, and scripture as we embark on this 9 or 10 week journey through the importance of the Bible together! Also check out renewingnehemiah.com
This is a section showing what the world and scripture says on the definition of morality. It will also give scriptural and Christian resources and worldly views on the issues of abortion, sexual morality, and homosexuality. For GREAT resources on other moral issues in the world and what the living, breathing word of God says about them, click the link here http://www.gospelway.com/morality/index.php
2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
First, what is the world telling us of morality, what it is and how to measure it?
Euthyphro’s dilemma can be expressed with the following question:
“Is what is moral commanded by God because it’s moral, or is it moral because it’s commanded by God?”
It’s a dilemma for the theist because which ever option turns out to be correct, the result seems unsatisfactory. If what is moral is commanded by God because it’s moral, then it means that there is an absolute standard of morality that exists independently of God. And that god is not necessary as a source of morality.
On the other hand if things are moral simply because they are commanded by god, then theistic morality has a completely arbitrary foundation. If he had happened to command that killing your mother was good, it would be good in an absolute sense to kill your mother.
The theist often tries to avoid the dilemma by claiming that God doesn’t simply make random commandments, but that morality and goodness are a part of God’s nature and his commandments are a reflection of that nature.
But the theist is mistaken in thinking that he’s avoided the dilemma by locating ‘goodness’ in gods nature instead of in his commandments. Euthyphro’s question, with a slight modification can be applied again:
“Is what is moral part of God’s nature because it’s moral, or is it moral because it’s part of God’s nature?”
Is it true that God’s nature is good by definition? in other words, whatever God’s nature had been, it would have been good–and the commandments he gave would reflect that. If this was the case then if gods nature had been different, a different set of actions would be morally good. Rape could be good for instance, or killing your mother. In other words , if God’s nature is good by definition, and this is where the absolute standard of morality comes from, then morality is totally arbitrary, it’s an accident.
It seems to me that most Christians would be uncomfortable to accept that the distinction between good and bad is ultimately arbitrary.
The alternative is that God’s nature _could never have been such_ that the moral principles following from it would include a sanction of things like rape and killing your mother. But if this is the case we are saying that God’s character is limited by an external standard of right and wrong; a standard that we apparently already have access to, and one that would exist whether or not God existed.
I don’t think most theists would accept that either of these cases is true, but one of them must be if it is true that God exists and that there is an absolute moral standard.
* ” It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” -George Washington
(my how the tide has turned)
Next, I want to give you guys an unbelievable set of resources regarding SEVERAL different moral and ethical issues facing the world today. How does Scripture address these? And if all Scripture is the basis of our worldview, should we not take its words to be true?
Pro-Choice or Pro-Life: I have done work with Justice For All http://www.jfaweb.org/ and have SEVERAL facts and resources concerning this issue that I will not put on here. If your want them just comment or contact me and I will send them to you or post them on the site.
*please excuse the language in this video…I will be putting resources of the world’s views on these issues just to let you know what you are up against. It is so key that we are prepared to battle these issues and have scriptural evidence of what and why we believe what we believe.
* We must also take into consideration our stances on abortion the case of rape, incest, and how the world would look if all the babies are born. Does this lead to overpopulation? What if the mother’s life is in danger? These are the arguments that come from the pro-choice and apathetic parties. I believe if the mother is going to die that an abortion should be allowed. But how do we respond to the rest of these arguments? We must create a backbone and something to believe in? What is our worldview? And how does the Bible address the issue of morality concerning life?
I can only hope that some of these resources will be helpful either now or in the future as you look to solidify your moral standpoints and beliefs in accordance to the Bible. I hope that it is overwhelming and that it seems out of our grasp to fully understand and have a conviction about these moral issues. That way, we will crave the word of the Lord, and know that scripture is our rock and our weapon and that without the sword, we are powerless and without a backbone.
* I like to end with songs so here is a video with no relevance to the message, just worship. Amen.
Starting soon…very soon, we will embark on a 9 week series that will truly stretch our minds on the Bible, Politics, Community, Culture, Technology, Morality, Worship, etc… I gained access to this list in my Old Testament Class today and I will research it and expound on it relating to today.
Why Should We Study the Bible?
It has the best guide to moral standards.
It has the only solution to our puzzling social, economic, and international problems.
It alone teaches an ideal social order, the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of men.
It stimulates worthy aims; it strengthens the will.
It furnishes hope to men in despair.
It teaches men to worship a loving God.
It reveals our need of a redeemer.
It tells us all we know of God.
It still pictures a suffering savior who loves all men and yearns for men to have a knowledge of the truth.
* I understand I wrote down other topics that we would go over, but actually this series should cover almost every single one of them!! Get excited!!!!
New message soon, but I really aim to challenge what we believe and how we act upon it. I am going to post about 15 videos or so. Take your time. Watch them all please. Respond. Think. I want to hear what you think and would love to dialogue with you through the comments. I agree with some of the videos, I don’t agree with some. At the bottom of the message, I will a recent blog series by Steve Lutz who is a collegiate minister at Penn State. He has some interesting ideas on campus ministries today. Take care and God bless.
My laptop is officially down. I am going to get it fixed very soon. Sorry for the delays. I am having to work from the computer up at the church. I am going to delay part 3 of the series for this reason: basically, I am going to get you guys in touch with organizations, causes, studies, ect.. that can help us reach the world today through all of the lies of our culture. Yet, I have several more series lined up addressing specific things from our culture and would love to put them out there first. I will probably put 1 message up this weekend and hopefully 1 or 2 more by the 25th. I leave that day on my trip (which you can find some details at findtheupperroom.com or later in this update), I will then post pics,blogs,vlogs, and videos on both this site but mostly at findtheupperroom.com concerning my notes and experiences from the trip.
Briefly, I want to update everyone on what will be happening on my trip.
July 25th- I will be traveling from Allen, Texas to Branson, Missouri to see a friend, Carrie, who attend the Focus on the Family Institute with me.
July 26th- Church in Branson, possible stop at Kanakuk West to see old friends, then it is on to Columbia, Missouri where I will attend a small group with a college ministry at a church there. Columbia is the site of the Missouri Tigers.
July 27th-Driving to Columbus,Ohio (The Ohio State University) , prayer walking campus, attending Bible teaching/study at a coffee shop that night called Xenos Campus Bible Study
July 28th- Drive to Ann Arbor,Michigan (Univerisity of Michigan). Visit with a minister there during the day from His House Christian Fellowship (hopefully) and then attend a college YoungLife event that evening and visit with the leaders there. Prayer walk campus in spare time.
July 29th-Drive the short drive over to East Lansing, Michigan (Michigan State University). Prayer walk campus. Still searching for ministries to invest time in there or possibly a Wednesday night church service. Start drive to Iowa.
July 30th-Meet with the director and Freshman leader from The Salt Company at Iowa State University. Prayer walk campus. Hang out with Ben (one of my Kanakuk guys from last summer)
July 31st- 12 hours home. Rest.
I will sit down with each minister that I meet with and ask them specific questions about their ministry and other ministries at their campus. Then, in order to gain wisdom and variety of perspectives, I will ask them their thoughts on the points given in the following link http://stevelutz.wordpress.com/2009/07/10/the-5-big-issues-in-campus-ministry/ along with other theological questions. It should be so fantastic! I am way pumped. Be praying for finances, safe travel, and God’s hand on this trip. Pray that my eyes will be opened to His specific will for me in being on each of these individual campuses.
Message probably tomorrow. Talk to you soon! Peace be with you and God bless, Graham Helms (Nehemiah 4:20)
What are we living for? In the last lesson, I gave the idea of what our world and its’ leaders tell us is okay and the norm. What is truth? What is our actual purpose of being here? How do we do that? How do we become aware of the ideals of this culture and face them?
John 14:6-7 “Jesus answered,’I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.’”
I Corinthians 6:9-11 “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
Some instructions: Colossians 4:2-6 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us,too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Isaiah 50:9-11 “It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me. Who is he that will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up. Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand; You will lie down in torment.”
Very detailed Proverb on how we are to live and why? What are we to live for and how so?
1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you prosperity.
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight. [a]
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline
and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
as a father [b] the son he delights in.
13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;
20 by his knowledge the deeps were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.
21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment,
do not let them out of your sight;
22 they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble;
24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the LORD will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being snared.
27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,
when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
“Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow”—
when you now have it with you.
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.
30 Do not accuse a man for no reason—
when he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a violent man
or choose any of his ways,
32 for the LORD detests a perverse man
but takes the upright into his confidence.
33 The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He mocks proud mockers
but gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise inherit honor,
but fools he holds up to shame.
2 Timothy 3:10-17 10You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Why? How will we succeed? Nehemiah 4:20 “Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!’” AMEN!
Philippians 3:7-11
7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Warning against the laziness the world embraces: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-14
6In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching[a] you received from us. 7For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. 10For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”
11We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. 13And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
14If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed.
Hebrews 3:13 “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 10:24 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
James 3:13-18
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
Message for the pride that the world makes us numb to: James 4:10 ”Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
The world tells us not to respect women, your wedding ring doesn’t count on business trips, divorce is normal, ect.. God-breathed scripture: 1 Peter 3:1-7
Wives and Husbands
1Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
7Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
1 Peter 5:8-11 8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 John 4:17 “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” ( yet we still care so much about possessions…)
*Funny how all the scripture is exactly opposite of what we have grown accustomed to and familiar with in the world today. I just wanted to let you hear and see it in God’s own words. What we are living for, why we live, how to live, what is right, what is wrong, what the truth is, what the lies of the world are, ect… Scripture has not lost its power. Tomorrow, I will give specific ways that we as believers in Christ can take the steps in today’s world to overcome the cultural crisis and live of to the name Christian that we were given. The battle will be tough. The world is easy. But hopefully the ideas, prayers, and programs will encourage you to start fighting for the truth on what we are to live for. Let’s see the world through His eyes.
*original Brandon Heath video keeps getting removed, this will do
