This is the most eloquent word I've heard about religion

This is a beautiful, touching video on the power of Christ, and how He does not equal religion. Jesus Christ said "I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE." John 14:6
Religion is man seeking God, Christianity is God seeking man.
You will be touched.

New Blog: The Noble Art of Music

http://thenobleartofmusic.blogspot.com/

I've finally created an additional blog for all my music thoughts. Check it out :)

Meditations on time and eternity

Lately the Lord has been convicting me about how I utilize my time. Are we really and truly living like the Lord Jesus will return any moment? Our time on this earth is so short compared to an eternity with God.

Let's live each day like our last. Pray diligently. Walk circumspectly. Seize each moment and do everything to the glory of God. |

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.then that you walk carefully, not as fools, but as wise,Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.Therefore be not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is Eph. 5:15-17

Walk in wisdom toward them that are outsiders, redeeming the time.Col. 2:5

Ye are all the children of lightTherefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  I Thess.5:5-6

The Blessing of Singlehood

Are we doing all in our power to serve the Lord? We all have a responsibility to serve the Lord in whatever capacity He has called us in.

I have personally talked to single girls who cannot abide the fact that there are no men in their lives. They pine their days away daydreaming, romanticizing scenarios in their minds, watching love movies and reading love books. 
This is a topic that I have battled with in the past. But by the Lord's grace, I  feel I can now speak out of experience about this issue, which has become much less of a struggle for me through as I have passed through my teenage years and grown in a closer walk with Christ.
I would like to 
 share a passage that has greatly helped me concerning the issue of singlehood and marriage:

1 Cor. 7:32-34 
But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:  But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

Firstly, Paul is in no way condemning marriage. He consistently establishes throughout chapter 7 that marriage is not a bad thing, but rather a good thing ordained by God. However, there is no denying that single men and women have the advantage of whole-hearted, undivided care and attention to God and God alone, whereas a married person's care is divided between both. 

Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.  Prov. 18:22

I am not going to argue about which is "better", marriage or singlehood, because I do not believe there is an answer to that question. Different people are called to different gifts; and for some men and women, marriage is God's best plan for their lives. For others, such as Paul, God has a life of singleness in mind.

Imagine if Paul had to tend to a family on top of his overwhelming itinerary, imprisonments, persecutions, and Church visits. Such a lifestyle would have been near impossible!

These are years in which we can be fully, whole-heartedly sold out to Christ, without distraction or divided allegiance.What I would like to expound on is the blessing which is singlehood. I don't think we realize enough what an outstanding opportunity their years between childhood and marriage are.

 Though many people have covered this topic much better than I, I would like to share just a few thoughts that have helped me on the duty of single men and women.

1. Seek First the Kingdom of God

Matthew 6:33 is such an amazing promise in the scripture. If we make God NUMBER ONE in our lives: seeking Him, His pleasure, His commands, His divine order, ALL our needs will be added unto us. God will direct our paths. 

Trust in the LORD with all thie heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:6

So when it comes to desiring a spouse you admit, "Of course, I'd like to be married. And Lord, would you work that? Would you do that?" And then you rest in him. Delight yourself in the Lord. Get all of your desires focused on him, and then those desires will be managed in such a way that in due season God will satisfy them. That's what we're doing for our Fighter Verse this week. "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4).-John Piper 

Listen to John Piper's How can I long to be Married without obsessing About it?

Once we understand that God does not need our assistance to bring His perfect will to pass, we can calmly rest in the assurance that all things are working together for our good. In the meantime, we can dedicate our lives fully to Him, and let Him do the work that we cannot. If we have yielded our hearts, minds, and bodies to the Spirit of Christ, and are allowing Him to have rulership over our lives, we can be confident that He desires to give us everything that we need! Girls, this means that we do not have to flirt or beautify our ways into snagging a husband. Guys, you don't have to plot and scheme your way into getting a girl's attention. In fact, if we spend our days submerged in prayer and the Word, seeking God first, we can be sure that "all these things will be added unto" us, in God's perfect 
 timing! What blessed assurance! 

So I urge you single young people to remain faithful in your Bible study and prayer time with God. Let His desires become your desires as you draw closer to Him each day. The results of such a Spirit-filled life are enormously satisfying, and will result in a settled peace that God is directing the course of our lives, including the area of an earthly relationship. 

2. Make Jesus Christ the Love of your Life

O my friends! There is no love but a superlative love that is any ways suitable to the transcendent sufferings of dear Jesus. Oh, love him above your lusts, love him above your relations, love him above the world, love him above all your outward contentments and enjoyments; yea, love him above your very lives; for thus the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, saints, primitive Christians, and the martyrs of old, have loved our Lord Jesus Christ with an overtopping love.
                                -Thomas Brooks (1608-1680)

If you want to personally experience the fullness of all that Christ is, then it's time to tune out the voice of your flesh and follow the example of Paul: "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death". Phil. 3:7-10


The more we fall in love with Jesus Christ, the more He fulfills every longing of our hearts. It is our flesh that keeps us from having a personal, intimate walk with God; the kind of walk that will satisfy our hearts and fulfill our desires. And by flesh I also refer to the discontentment that marks the lives of so many single young people. Of course, falling in love with Jesus Christ is a process...it takes constant prayer, obedience, and putting the flesh to death. And staying in love with Him is a life-long process.

Yet the rewards of such a sacrificial Christian life are immeasurable! Christ desires that we look to Him alone for our needs, such as intimacy and fulfillment, to be met. If we cannot do this during our single years, how do we expect Him to entrust us with a spouse? Our complete, undivided satisfaction and joy should be in our bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

If you catch yourself "putting off" happiness until you finally get married and thinking that when you finally meet your spouse all of your dreams will be fulfilled, that's a sign that Christ hasn't fully captured your heart. If Jesus Christ isn't enough right now, He won't be enough after marriage either.  -Leslie Ludy

3. Seek God for Wisdom in Ways to Serve Him


As Paul pointed out in 1 Cor. 7, the single man and woman have a window of opportunity in which they can serve the Lord without responsibility of a spouse or children. Therefore, as we draw closer to Christ during our single years, we should humbly and constantly consult Him for ways we can serve with our talents and abilities. If you don't know what talents and abilities you have, ask the Lord to show you. Pick up skills. For you young women serving your parents at home, learn the art of cooking, sewing, candlemaking, card-making. Cook meals for the sick, write cards of encouragement to saints. If you are musically skilled, play at Church or for other people. Sew clothes for the poor. Sell your baking wares and give to a ministry. The possibilities are endless! 

There are simply too many opportunities we single young men and women have to be pining our days away in hopes of a future spouse. 
From what the Lord has taught me, our main priorities as single young people should be 
1. Serving our Family
Serving our family is such an important and blessed duty. And if you consider that one day God may call you to marriage, it is a wonderful training-ground for the future. We should never feel ourselves too old or too important to be our mom and dad's number 1 helpers. Whether young men help financially and share the workload, or young women pick up skills and share in teaching younger children, there is always a place for us to serve our family!

2. Serving our Church
This is where talents, hospitality, and encouragement can come in to play. If you see a need in the Church, reach it. Otherwise, ask God to bring you opportunities to serve your local assembly.
Romans 12: 5-10

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord

3. Reaching the Outside World

The great commission is not just for a select few! Even if we are not called to go to a mission field abroad, we can still 
witness through passing out tracts and talking about the Lord whenever we go. 
The Lord has convicted me, personally, to use the money I make teaching piano lessons to give to my family and to Gospel for Asia. There are so many wonderful mission organizations that we can give to. If your church supports missions, give to that! With prayer and sacrifice, God will give the increase!

In summary:
:As young people, we need to build our existence around Jesus Christ. He must be enough, even if no earthly relationship comes your way.
God may have given you the desire for an earthly love story, but remember to always give that dream back to Him with an open hand. No matter how beautiful a God-scripted marriage may be, it pales in comparison to the intimacy that Jesus Christ desires to have with you. As we continue to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness within your life, everything else He desires for us will fall in place within His perfect timing. 

GFA: Revolution in World Missions

Do you have a desire to see souls saved?

Would you like to help in the great commission of Jesus Christ to the lost world?

This is a book that has greatly blessed my life and convicted my heart, and I strongly encourage you to request a free copy. It will change your view on world missions and reevaluate the way you think about your part in God's work overseas.

Brother K.P. Yohannan truly is a man of God with a heart for the people of Asia (of whom I have been deeply burdened for). His ministry Gospel for Asia, is fully dedicated to getting the gospel to this region. They do not take a penny of the money given to the organization, and they have a variety of avenues you can choose to help out in. 

I am in the process of becoming a volunteer for GFA, as I feel led of the Lord.

However, whether you feel led to help in the gospel work of Asia, Europe, South America, or Africa, this book will be a help to you. It does not stress the importance of being involved in missions for any particular country or continent; just missions in general.
Again: please request a copy of this book, and be prepared for some serious conviction!



 
 
FYI: Gospel for Asia Doctrinal Statement

Financial Accountability 

Mission distinctives  

K.P. Yohannan

The Importance of Unity Among Believers

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! - Psalm 1:33

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1 Cor. 1:10

It is in the persecuted countries such as China that these brothers  and sisters have little choice but to remain unified. They are their only support.

Often among Christians, the line between unity versus division can become severely blurred. How unified is being too ecumenical, and how divided is too divisive?

Clearly, the Bible does not call believers to “coexist” with non- believing groups of people.
Christianity is not a religion that makes allowance for respecting and tolerating the beliefs of other religious groups. At the very heart of Christianity, we believe Jesus Christ the way, the truth, and the life. Because of this, it is our duty to reach the hearts of those who believe there are other ways to eternal life. It is quite simply the only loving thing to do for the unsaved. Therefore, coexisting is impossible for a true believer in Christ Jesus.   

Christ said in Mark 16:15- Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

I am not aiming to argue about whether Christians should divide themselves from non-believers. My aim is to discuss the importance of unity among believers. Yet I feel it is important that I first differentiate between the ecumenical view that all peoples of religions assimilate, and the Biblical view that believers are to be unified.

Coming from a strong fundamental, independent, Baptist background, I am all too familiar with the pain, suffering, bitterness, and contempt that taking an ultra-divisive approach can cause among Christian brothers and sisters. It is an indictment our faith when churches split, believers gossip and slander eachother, news is

Clearly, the Bible does not call believers to “coexist” with non-believing groups of people.

spread and lies are fabricated- and worse of all, the word of God is blasphemed. 
This is a problem that must be dealt with. As Christians, we represent our Master Jesus Christ, and the constant division is not helping His cause.

Three beautiful verses on unity are found in Galatians 5.

13-15: For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
As the Church, we represent the Lord Jesus Christ! Shouldn't Christians be willing to put aside their strife, anger, envy, pride, and selfishness for the sake of furthering HIS cause?

There is, quite frankly, little that I find more repulsive than Christians who nit-pick and squabble over issues that are hardly relevant to the furtherance of the Kingdom of God.
I'm not referring to major doctrinal differences, or gross sins committed by another Christian that begs the need for separation. Division is certainly necessary in such cases. This leads me to my next point:

TO separate or NOT to separate. That is the question.

This issue certainly gets tricky when you compare the following passages:

FOR THE CASE OF NON-DIVISION:

Romans 14:10-13

 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

FOR THE CASE OF DIVISION:

Romans 16:17

 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

2 Thessalonians 3:6

 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

In comparing the passages, we see three very clear things:

1. We must not judge our brothers and sisters in Christ
2. We must separate from disorderly brothers and sisters
3. We must separate from doctrinally-unsound brothers and sisters.

So how exactly are we supposed to make the discernment of separating from disorderly and doctrinally-unsound brothers and sisters without making judgments and evaluations?

I think that, based on the context of the issue of judgment and discernment in the Bible, it is clear that Christians are not to "play the judge".

 We are commanded to separate ourselves from impurity and corrupt doctrine, but it is not our place to play God and pass the judgment on a brother or sister.

                               
It all Boils Down to spirit of the Matter

Christ Jesus has so much to say about the spirit of commandments, rather than the mere commandments themselves. If you make the choice to separate yourself from another Christian due to unholiness or doctrinal-unsoundness, the spirit in which you separate is essential. Are you separating in the spirit of love, hoping to restore that brother or sister, or are you doing it in a spirit of hate and spite?

The second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. If you truly love your brethren, you will wish only for their prosperity and success. Thus, separating will be an act of desire for restoration and reuniting.

When it comes to passing judgment, we need to always check our motives before we make an evaluation about  another believer. If what we are doing is not based squarely upon God's Word and a love for our brother or sister in Christ, then it is best check our own hearts.

So we have now established that: under the circumstance of a need for repentance and restoration, it is commanded that Christians separate from disorderly Christians.

As I said before, I have seen the side of the spectrum in which Christians cut-down, criticize, gossip, slander, and despise other brothers and sisters. This is wicked sin needed to be repented of.

No matter what Church you come from or amount of holiness you have believed yourself to have attained, you are no better than your brother and sister in Christ.

 How will we ever reach a needy world
if we cannot even reach our own?

Jesus Christ died for all of us; and taking the "holier-than-thou" attitude toward a brother is communicating that you believe you've earned some sort of merit with God due to your actions. In this case, you are suffering from pride and delusion. We are all sinners under the gracious mercy of the Lord God, equally in need of His grace and help. 

Is the furtherance of the gospel of Christ important to you? If so, it is time that we swallow our pride, die to ourselves, and pursue unity and peace as believers.
We must love our brothers, pray for the wayward, restore the sick, and help those in need.
In doing so, we will be united as the Bride of Christ, strengthened by edification and encouragement of the brothers, and ready to bring the good news of the gospel to the world.