Monthly Archives: November 2016

A guide for Christians

Thousands of voices come at us every day with competing messages: Forget the law, you’re under grace. If you’re not following the law, you’re not following Jesus. Name it and claim it. Don’t trust the prosperity gospel. Vote Republican. Vote Democrat. Don’t vote at all. Yada yada.

Who’s telling the truth?

It’s easier than ever to be deceived, and to head off in a direction that God does not want us to take. Let me suggest four principles to guide us back to truth.

(1) Know your Bible
This is important, and it cannot be delegated to someone else. The Bible is God’s road map to truth. You need to know your Bible. That means reading it from cover to cover, not just once, but again and again throughout your life.

Here’s how I do it: I downloaded the Bible on audio to my phone. I play that audio all night. As I’m falling asleep, I’m listening to scripture. As I wake up and get ready for my day, I’m listening to the Bible. It’s not uncommon for me to listen to 10, 20, 30 or more chapters in a night. This gives me the big picture. When someone comes along claiming that a verse supports their crazy ideas, I’m better able to evaluate whether that passage in its context is really saying what that person claims it’s saying.

That’s one approach. There are many others. If you need help getting into the Bible, contact me. I have great resources for you.

(2) Ask God for wisdom
God is eager to give wisdom to His kids. All you need to do is ask. Hopefully, you’re developing a close relationship with Jesus where you’re able to discern His guidance in your life. How do you know if your wisdom is coming from God? Here’s a verse that might help: “But 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.” James 3:17 NIV

Keep in mind that wisdom comes from obedience. When we disobey what God has clearly revealed to us that He wants us to do, we block any further wisdom from Him. The house of wisdom cannot be built on a foundation of disobedience. This is one reason why some otherwise very intelligent people come up with outlandish ideas—they’re building on the wrong foundation.

(3) Pay attention to history
Biblical, church and secular history has much to teach us if we’re willing to pay attention. The new heresies are recycled versions of the old ones. There’s nothing new under the sun. Philosopher George Santayana famously said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

(4) Examine the fruit
Jesus said that we can tell a tree by its fruit. If someone is walking in the truth, then their lives should be producing more and more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Read Galatians 5 or the Sermon on Mount in Matthew 5-7. A person who walks in the truth should be living a righteous life. If they aren’t, then it’s time to look elsewhere for guidance.

Dwight

Note: This post is an excerpt from Spiritual Self Defense: How to use the Christian faith to defend yourself against anxiety, anger, addiction and all kinds of bullies.

“Once I started reading I couldn’t put the book down.” Jennifer Thorn
“This book has been like “joints of supply” for me—truly a Godsend.” ~ Whitney Moore on Amazon
“…takes us into the heart of a seasoned spiritual leader and shares with us his secret to spiritual victory…a must read book…” Dr. Dwight A. Perry

Find out more here: http://ssdcourage.com/spiritual-self-defense/

Bible trivia:
Answer from last time: 1 Corinthians 13 is called the “love chapter.”
New question: What action of Elijah is only mentioned in 2 Chronicles?

Sometimes God calls us into new territory. In fact, there is no growth without new territory. If we stay where we’ve been, back in our comfort zone, we don’t move forward.

Most people are waiting around for someone else to go first. But that’s not you. You are a son or daughter of the Most High God. You are a leader by definition. You open new territory with God. It’s built into your DNA.

Your bags are packed; you’re ready to deploy. Not literally necessarily, but spiritually. Like Isaiah, we say to the Lord, “Here I am. Send me.”

Where will God send you? “To a land I will show you,” God said to Abraham. The journey into discovering God will take you all kinds of places you don’t expect to go, but in the end you will find yourself safely home.

Bible trivia:
Answer from last time: Hebrews 11 is called the faith chapter. (It’s a great chapter by the way—one of my favorites.)
New question: Which chapter of the Bible is called the “love chapter”?

Imagine if Jesus were living your life in your place. How stressed out would He be? How rattled would He get? How much power would those temptations have over Him?

The Jesus life is the birthright of every daughter and son of God. It’s not just “what would Jesus do,” but it’s “what would Jesus be?” God has for you His joy, His peace, His confidence, His empathy, His love. That’s the real you.

So much of life is just the real you coming out of hiding. The diamond that is you is already there. It’s just a matter of letting Jesus rinse off the mud so you and others can see.

Be blessed!

Dwight

Four things you need to know about God:
1. God likes you.
2. Jesus hurts when you hurt.
3. God is angry at the things that are trying to destroy you.
4. God fixes things; we get to help.

Three things God wants to do for you:
1. Heal all your hurts.
2. Renew your mind.
3. Transform your life.

Something new next time…

Bible trivia:
Answer from last time: The way of love is the “more excellent way.”
New question: Which chapter of the Bible is called the “faith chapter”?

In short, God wants to give you His perspective.

One of the most powerful examples of this is found in the story of David and Goliath. Most people think that this story is about the slaying of a giant. Not really. Instead, it’s about the power of perspective.

For thirty days this super soldier (Goliath) walks out and challenges anyone from the Israeli army to take him on in single combat.

And every day the response is the same: terror. These Israeli soldiers were no dummies. They knew a losing deal when they saw one. No way could any of them prevail against this guy. Put their ten best soldiers against him, and they might have a chance. Maybe. One person against Goliath? Anybody dumb enough to take on Goliath would be squashed like a bug.

Along comes David. Is he stronger than the other Israeli soldiers? No. Is he bigger? No. Is he more experienced? No. Does he have better battle skills? No.

In fact, David only has one thing that the other Israeli soldiers lacked: God’s perspective.

David is like: “Who is this punk that he would defy the armies of the living God?”

I know there are Goliaths in your life. There are battles you can’t win, problems way too big for you to solve. From where you stand, it’s hopeless.

For you, God offers a priceless gift: His perspective. All you gotta do is ask.

Four things you need to know about God:
1. God likes you.
2. Jesus hurts when you hurt.
3. God is angry at the things that are trying to destroy you.
4. God fixes things; we get to help.

Three things God wants to do for you:
1. Heal all your hurts.
2. Renew your mind.
3.

More next time…

Bible trivia:
Answer from last time: The people of Jabesh Gilead risked their lives to recover the body of King Saul because Saul had previously rescued them from the Ammonites.
New question: What, according to Paul, is the “more excellent way”?

God wants to heal all your hurts.

I didn’t always know that. Once upon a time I thought God was this aloof celestial Being who manned the heavenly switchboard taking incoming prayer requests and turning down the vast majority of them because they weren’t “His will.” I figured heaven must be a good place (better than the alternative), but God is and always would be remote.

Not so.

For me the journey started (as it does with so many people) with me coming out denial. Yeah, maybe I am hurt. Maybe I picked up some wounds along the way. I thought they were “dealt with,” but maybe they weren’t.

If I can get to the place where I can be honest with myself, maybe I can be honest with God. Maybe I can take some of those hurts to Him.

Wow. Was I surprised! Did you know that God is actually nice? Did you know that when God speaks into our hurts, everything changes?

I’ve walked away from some of those encounters with God feeling a thousand pounds lighter. The colors outside were brighter. The whole world had changed.

Anyway, God wants to heal all your hurts. Take those hurts to Jesus. I dare you.

Four things you need to know about God:
1. God likes you.
2. Jesus hurts when you hurt.
3. God is angry at the things that are trying to destroy you.
4. God fixes things; we get to help.

Three things God wants to do for you:
1. Heal all your hurts.
2.
3.

More next time…

Bible trivia:
Answer from last time: Jesus’ first recorded miracle was turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana.
New question: Why did the people of Jabesh Gilead risk their lives to recover the body of King Saul?