Year: 2016

Why Do We Argue and Fight?

Dr. Mike Bible Life Questions

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? James 4:1

 

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Why do we quarrel? Why do we fight one another? Not only does James raise the question, he also answers it. He goes right to the heart of the matter.

Most of the time the problem isn’t with the other person, it is with us. As James writes, because we strongly desire something which we do not have, we are willing to murder someone for it. Maybe not physically, but like Jesus said, even if we hate someone, we have committed murder in our hearts.

Or if there is something we covet and believe we deserve, but are having difficulty in obtaining it, what do we do?  Don’t we end up quarreling and fighting over it. We may even steal it.

Even when we pray and ask God for what we desire, why do we become angry with Him because He doesn’t grant us our desire? Over time we learn that He knows what is best for us. As we learn over time, trust takes time to build between two parties. And God knows what it will take to build a stronger relationship between Him and you. Another reason James gives  why God may not grant us the matter is because we want to spend it on our passions. Again, God doesn’t want us to behave like the ungodly but to learn how God lives.

Generally speaking, James is saying our heart is not in agreement with God’s. We allow pride to lead rather than humility. We are double-minded. Our hearts and head and hands are not focused on building our relationship with our heavenly Father. Instead we seek to gratify our inner desires rather than focus on the good for others. So what is James’ recommendation?

To draw near and submit ourselves to God.

When our focus becomes aligned with God’s Will, Purpose, and Plans, we are not so easily tempted by the world’s passions. Instead we seek to strengthen the relationship with the God of the Universe – The Father-Son-Spirit that owns everything and has created everything so Jesus Christ may lead the family Business for now and into eternity. Through the Holy Spirit that opens our eyes to see the ways of God, we learn how we may best serve others, God, and ourselves without our passions controlling us. Eventually, God even blesses us with our old desires when they no longer are more important than the relationship we have with HIM.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Does a Friend need some Encouragement…Share Today’s Message!

 

 

 

Are We Hypocrites?

Dr. Mike Bible Life Questions
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Matt 7:3 ESV.

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Who among us is without sin? Who has never made a mistake in judgment? Who has not made a poor choice from a critical situation? Who among us hasn’t lived up to God’s expectations for us? When you find that person, let me know. For the fact is, everyone we meet is like you and me, imperfect. They may think they are perfect. They may act like they are perfect. But deep, down inside, they are hiding behind a log in their own eye. Hypocrites.

I can imagine when Jesus spoke these words, he probably brought out a chuckle from the audience. For people who realize and live imperfect lives, know people who live in the illusion of perfection. These super righteous people establish high standards for themselves and expect others to live by them. Though they may forgive themselves when they can’t live up to them, they expound judgment toward those who can’t live up to their higher-than-God expectations. Hypocrites.

In fact, Jesus more than once gave a tongue lashing at the religious leaders of his day for being hypocrites. He even told his disciples to do what the religious leaders say to do, but don’t follow their examples and act like they do. For they don’t do what they teach others to do. Hypocrites.

Hypocrites are blind to their own humanity. Instead of exercising mercy and grace like God does for us, they play the god of religion. They establish standards and regulations that they themselves find difficult to perform, but expect others to live by them. Hypocrites.

When Jesus Christ is allowed to express Himself in and through you, you become disdained for the hypocrisy in you and others. Yet you are thankful for the mercy and love that God has bestowed upon you and long to share the same experience with others. You slowly become more transparent in your relationship with others. You gain confidence in your walk with the Spirit and rejoice in the new creation that God is morphing in you.

You recognize the lie of hypocrisy in yourself and in others. However, you first focus on removing the large beam you have been carrying in your eye before you help address the small splinter in your associates eye. Isn’t this what we do as we allow Jesus Christ to remove the hypocrisy in us as he morphs you and me into his new creation?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Does a Friend need some Encouragement…Share Today’s Message!

Do You Understand What You Are Reading?

Dr. Mike Bible Life Questions
So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Acts 8:30-31 ESV.

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There are those who shy away from reading the Bible because they believe it is an outdated manuscript. Then there are others who have attempted to read the Word but gave up when they became confused with the story content. Then there are those like the treasurer of the queen that Philip was led through a divine appointment to meet and expound the scriptures to him.

As a seventeen year old who just surrendered to the Triune God without a minoot understanding of anything that is important with God, I can relate. The first book of the Bible that I ever read was Ecclesiastes. This is the book that King Solomon wrote about his search and discovery for the meaning of life. When I first read it, I was dumbfounded, dismayed, and discouraged. But when I searched out various teachers of the Scriptures, they made the book become alive through the Triune God’s eyes.

Like any class where the student wants to learn, a teacher or mentor provides the catalyst that opens the mind of the pupil. Iron sharpens iron. As the teacher helps expand the student’s view of the subject, both the teacher and student grow from the experience.

Back in the first century, instruction came when two or more people personally met in the same location to discuss a subject. Today we live in a global schoolhouse where knowledge is a computer screen away. Though more convenient, the danger of searching the worldwide web is deciphering solid knowledge from speculative advice.

When studying any subject, we will generally gravitate toward those who are like us. The danger though is becoming narrow-minded. The advantage of broadening one’s scope is the ability to communicate with others from their point of view.

So when studying the Bible one needs to understand the background of the teacher, writer, or instructor. What is the filter they use to discern scripture? Everyone reads the Bible from a preconceived filter. For example, it could be a denominational filter, a twenty-first century western civilization filter, or a middle-eastern filter. It could be a socialistic filter, a communistic filter, or a democratic filter. Or in other words, everyone reads the Bible with a theological bent. The majority of today’s Biblical teachers generally have been trained from an Arminianism, Calvinism, or Trinitarian bent. Do you know the difference?

When you know where the person is coming from, than you have the general foundation on how they believe reality works. From there you can more easily discuss and understand the framework of their concepts and teachings.

The bottom-line: If the central core is Jesus Christ, listen and learn. Whatever differences come about are generally the preferences of the holder or their theological position of a perceived reality. We can argue and discuss preferences all day. However, if peace and grace is what you seek, than focus on building bridges in and through Jesus Christ. For when we read Scripture from a Christ-centered, Trinitarian perspective, our heart-filled eyes are open to see the Word in an eternal-to-earth dimension: God’s. Yes, I am bias.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Does a Friend need some Encouragement…Share Today’s Message!