Tasty Ted Bits Pastor Jon Oletzke is giving a series of messages this Month from CS Lewis’ book Narnia. The opening thought was what is in the box, which represented a gift? Do we ever know what is ahead of us? Do we really understand the gift the Lord has given to all mankind this Christmas season? What are we looking for as men and women in this world we live in? There is a Kingdom of this world and a Kingdom of God on this planet earth. Just as CS Lewis wrestled with the way his father treated him as a professional man, he wrestled with God as a young man. It seems like everyone at one time or the other wrestles with God, until they come to accept the Gift of eternal life, which begins as soon as we turn our lives over to God and stop questioning God. When we do not accept the gift we suffer the consequences of sin. As I work with people incarcerated in Yakim, I understand just a little of what sin does to the human heart. Not only does sin effect men in jail, it affects people throughout the world that are locked into the prison of sin. Satan in the very beginning wanted to let Eve know, if she took of the forbidden fruit she would be just like God, ever since man has tried to do his thing with no regard for the consequence. We make comments like don’t tell me what to do! Who do you think you are for questioning me? Let’s be careful we understand being made in the image of God means to choose what is right. My last article was entitled Culture, how it is destroying our lives, preventing us from doing what is right and truthful. Now here Pastor Jon is warning us to make sure we understand the consequence of reaping what we sow. As I took notes on the message I would like to share with others what I experience as a lay person at Stone Church. I am thankful for the way God speaks to us all, each of us have the ability to apply what is taught to our own lives. This is my thoughts as I heard the message. So forgive me if you had a different interpretation, I just want to share with those reading this, that they would want to ask the Lord to draw them closer to Him this Christmas season. Pastor Jon used James 1: 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Are we tempted? This is a question that is proper to ask, for we can say yes, every man is tempted, but do we need to fall to temptation and suffer, broken relationships, broken lives, broken bank accounts, and loss of reputations? NO! We are in the hands of the Lord, but you can get out anytime you want to, by your own natural desires, or lusts. Sin brings pleasures for the moment, but then we want to hid, just as Adam and Eve did. We get what we want and I hope we really get what God wants us to have. Pastor Jon had us look at the 10 tasty tidbits about Turkish delight. 1. Sin is appealing when we are weak. It really doesn’t make any difference if it is the body, soul, or the spirit, if any part of us is weak, we need to accept it. Many times we have gone to the Doctor, Dentist, Counselor, and Pastor, friend, or some one that understands the remedies. In the case of Sin, Doctor Jesus understands us the most for He created us. Do we master sin, or does sin master us? We are products of who masters us. We are living in a world of bitterness, and it is as witchcraft. One does not have to look far to see confusion in every area of life, who can you believe? Lord I need Help! How about you? 2. Sin Clouds the sin and we can’t see how evil it really is. I teach Imagination X’s Vividness equals reality, and we are seeing and hearing so many things today that cause us to doubt reality. Religious Town Hall Sunday morning talked about the subject of, “is there any such thing as certainty.” They had a difficult time with this, because most felt that the Bible does have errors. I am one of many that believe the Bible is the way the truth and the life, with out error. That is certain and gives assurance needed to over come sins clouds. 3. Sin appears as you want. What do we want? Power and control is affecting us all. Power is not authority, for authority comes as we are lead of the Lord. That is why we have terrorism rampant in our world. Some one wants to dictate to us, what they feel is the truth. They are willing to fight and blow themselves up for a cause. Lord help us as Christians to know what to fight for, to continue in freedom! 4. Sin Clouds Judgments and puts others in jeopardy. Look at David, Saul, Peter, Jonah, and others in the Bible who did not understand the consequences of their sins. Good Judgment comes from God and it is always just, for we do not fear mankind, we fear God and want to do what pleases Him. 5. Sins Pleasure can’t last long, they are for a season. Look at the picture Hollywood would like us to see, broken relationships, broken homes and always looking for more. Lets learn to find our satisfaction as we wait upon the Lord, renewing our strength daily, moment by moment. 6. Sin will kill the soul, your prayer life, dedication, who you worship, reverence and have faith in. Sin takes away the joy of the Lord, and peace of God, that brings satisfaction. 7. Sin promises a better day; tomorrow will be a new day. Tell that to one that is bound by alcohol and drugs, does it get better and better? That is insane, it’s what causes people to never get out of there tracks of sin, don’t tell me what to do, or say? That is addiction at the greatest degree, and in reality it brings depression and heartache. 8. Sin lies about your importance. When we think we are better than someone else and have more value than anyone else, it stinks in the nostril of God. For the Bible say to honor and prefer others over ourselves. It is Jesus, others and you, that spells joy. That is having the ability to empower people to be themselves, and help them by teaching right principles of behavior. 9. Sin leads to betrayal of others. We see betrayal in every area of life, and we do not know who to believe, it seems any more. But God does not change and He wants us to make sure we are united in purpose and show the world by what we do and say, we are truly Christ like. 10. Sin destroys good things. Nothing satisfies but Jesus and we think, its things that make us happy. Note again our culture we got to have it, its new, it speeds up things, and we do not have to wait. This thinking drives people to insanity because we need it now. Look at what we are doing with music it is robbing joy out of our lives, for it is debasing human kind. Everyone is a blank blank, blank, women’s image is portrayed as terrible and its so degrading we act less than human. Thank the Lord sin is forgivable when we ask the Lord to cleanse us and help us, so we do not do it again, as we see the light. John 8: 12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. Who are we following, is it giving us peace, love and joy unspeakable? Where is the light in your life? John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness . Then in Ephesians 5: 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. We can’t save ourselves, we need the Lords help in convicting us of sin, and so we repent and flee even the appearance of sin. Only Jesus can satisfy the longing of the body, soul and spirit of man. So may this Christmas, be the greatest Christmas, as you abide in the vine and let the Gentleman Farmer, take you through all the stresses of the world as you abide in the Vine. John 15. Lets not hid, because we have done something wrong, for we will be exposed sooner, or latter. Be sure your sins will find you out. We are all performers, and the Lord is going to bring all unto the light and reward us for our works. Revelations 20 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. Only the Lord is able to allow us to work out our own salvation, with fear and trembling, as we desire His will. His will prevents us from holding on to sin, and seeing the chains Satan places upon us removed. May the Lord Minister to you as you look to the Lamb of God who is our peace good will to all men! |