Walkng in Mud part 2

Pastor Scott Griese — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:18:35 +0000

Ephesians 4:17-24 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, (18) Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: (19) Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. (20) But ye have not so learned Christ; (21) If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: (22) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; (23) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

If I am not going to be dirtied as I walk through the mud of the world, the first thing I must do, by God’s grace, is not to be conformed to the present form of the world spirit in the world of my thoughts.

We who are Bible believing Christians can say we are not conformed in the areas of doctrine and theology. That is good, but let us move on. Once we understand God’s truth, we must then put it into action. True Bible believing Christians not only affirm the authority of Scripture but must also live on biblical principles. We must accept the doctrines of the Scriptures and then apply them to our lives. James 1:21-24 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. (22) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (23) For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: (24) For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. Note the man centeredness of James’ statement For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: (24) For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. When we only hear His Word, but do not live it, then we are really only focused on ourselves. We are supposed to be servants of God. What is a servant? One who sets aside their needs and wants for another’s. When you go to a restaurant, you tell the waiter what you want to a T-Bone steak. If the waiter brings you tuna fish, then he is not serving you properly. Likewise, God wants us to serve Him in His fashion, not our own.

We who are Bible believing Christians must not be contaminated by the world’s standards of morals. Today’s world does not just have false moral standards – it has no moral standards in any absolute sense. There is no standard and everything is judged by the situation rather than judged by God’s Word, which is absolute. When there are no absolutes, there are no true standards.

MESSAGE AND MESSENGER

Pastor Scott Griese — Wed, 27 May 2009 02:01:45 +0000

Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ:

At the store the other day I saw a CD collection of Johnny Cash reading the Gospel According to John in which he also sings some hymns. I also saw a couple collections of Elvis Presley singing hymns.

I would not encourage anyone to buy these.

“Why?” you may ask, “Both men are singing songs that praise God.” That may be, but did their lives praise God? The drugs, the alcohol, the debauchery does not demonstrate a life that is pleasing to God. The words are important, but if the words are delivered by an unrepentant man, then the words lose their effect.

Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Salt adds flavor to food, but if the salt has lost its savor — it has lost its flavor and will actually decrease or hurt the flavor of the food. Likewise, when Elvis Presley is singing Amazing Grace does it really have the same effect on the hearer when they know the lifestyle he led? Elvis Presley may have sung Amazing Grace, but did he really understand what God’s grace means?

There is a story that says that Elvis wore a cross and a Star of David on a chain. When he was asked why, Elvis explained that he wore both because he “did not want to miss Heaven on a technicality.” There is no “technicality” with God’s grace — you either have it or you do not.

The message may be wonderful and true, but if the messenger is not right with God, the message loses its savor.

First Baptist Church in Fernwood, NY » conversation

Walkng in Mud part 2

MESSAGE AND MESSENGER