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    Ever Learning

    January 29th, 2012

    By: Assistant Pastor, C.L. Green

    2 Timothy 3: 1 – 2 – Paul says, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy”. Verse 6 picks up with, “For of this sort are they which creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, EVER LEARNING, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth”.

    Ever learning. Continuously learning. Non-stop learning. Sitting in church, hearing the gospel. Hearing tapes by ministers. Going to all the events and retreats that they can find. Hearing the Word. Listening. Learning. EVER LEARNING.

    I’ll share with you a letter I received several years ago from a woman whom I’ll call “Alma”. Keep in mind that she goes to a church. She reads the bible. She is “ever learning”.

    ….Back about 8 or 9 years ago I prayed and asked the Lord to send someone in my life. I have always heard ask God for what you want and be specific.
    Well about a year after that, I met someone through a mutual friend and I thought at the time this is who God sent to me, only to find out 5 years later that he was not the one. But my experience with him made me turn to the Lord for help. I loved this man with all my heart and soul. I guess that’s why it’s been a struggle for me to get over him (because I have learned about soul ties). Anyway, there was nothing I would not do for him. All I wanted  for him to do was to be true to me and he wasn’t.

    We had been to church together a few times and we were happy, so I thought. Then I found out this man was cheating on me and plus we could not get married because he was already married. I was the giver in our relationship and he was the receiver. I try not to harp on this because some of the things I gave him, I did it from my heart and I believe God allowed me to receive those exact same items that I had given him back. I think aboutgive and it shall come back to you press down and shaken together.

    I have been hurt in several different relationships and I am beginning to wonder why and what is it that I am doing wrong. I have been crying for months and seeking a word from God to tell me what to do. I believe God removed him out of my life because I asked Him to but I did not know it would hurt so bad and break my heart to pieces. [edit…..due to length I removed part of letter]

    This long letter ends with:

    I have to pray every day not to be double minded (I mean praying asking God to bring this person back in my life because I miss him so much and I am still in love with him after nine months). I contacted him a few weeks ago trying to get him to come back to me and he rejected me. I was hurt all over again and then I got mad at God for allowing me to go through this pain. But I think it’s all for my good and God has a purpose for me and my life. I just wish I knew what it was. I feel empty and broken on the inside. I want to stop loving this man and not hate him and be forgiving just as God has forgiven me…

    Thanks you,
    Alma

    Over the years I have received many letters from women like Alma. Such women, out of loneliness ignore scriptures and become what Paul calls “silly women”. They allow themselves to be abused in the name of having a man.

    There were several red flags in Alma’s case:

    1. It took her five years to figure out that this was not the right man. Question, where was God in all this? Why was she under the impression that God would send this man into her life?
    2. She found out he was “cheating” on her, apparently with another mistress.
    3. She indicated that she knew she could not marry him anyway because he was already married.  Isn’t that Elementary Christianity 101?  Thou shalt not commit adultery!  I have to pause there because clearly in the 9 years that she was with this married man, sneaking around meeting with him—she had to know that she was in sin.  YET…she started off her letter making it clear that she believed that God had sent this married man into her life.  Ever learning. Every learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth.  Silly women.
    4. She admitted that she was the “giver” and her married man was the “receiver”.  That’s so backwards. Heaven only knows what all she lost why trying to purchase another woman’s husband.

    Sadly, after all that pain, she attempted to rekindle her relationship with the married man and he rejected her.  Every learning. Alma spoke of not wanting to be double minded. Ever learning!  Clearly she knows the scriptures.

    In Proverbs 29:3 we learn that adultery brings forth poverty. Alma has given plenty and would do well to run before she has nothing left.  In John 8:1:11, Jesus tells the woman caught in adultery to “Go and sin no more”.  Surely Alma is familiar with that common scripture. Ever learning.

    What is the root of the “ever learning” crew who know the Word and ignore it?  In 2 Timothy 3:6 the Apostle Paul said that such women are “silly”. In verse 5 he said that they have a form of godliness.  And then in 2 Timothy, verse 4 the Apostle Paul indicated that such women [and men] are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.

    The scriptures advise us to examine ourselves.  If we find ourselves lacking…ever learning, we need to get right with God.

    Feel free to stop by Followers of Christ Church any Sunday at 11:00 to hear God’s Word, untainted and raw.  Blessings to you!

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    Jesus Vanished

    March 6th, 2011

    By: Assistant Pastor Cathy Green

    I will never forget it as long as I live. I was a teenager at the time. I was reading my bible when suddenly the Holy Spirit led me to a verse of scripture that I had never before seen or knew existed. It was the first (and up to this point, only) time in my life when a verse of scripture shocked me speechless, left my mouth hanging open, and sent goose bumps up and down my spine.

    Go with me to Luke 24. I am going to share this, but be certain to read it for yourself.

    Jesus is dead at this point in scripture. The disciples are grieving and devastated. The town is basically depressed and in despair. People are walking around in a daze, now sure how to react. The reality has not fully hit them that Jesus truly is dead. Dead. That perfect being who had loved everyone, including His enemies. Why do the good die young? He was only 33 years old! That loving being who never cursed a day in His life—dead. Always honored His parents—dead. Stopped whatever He was doing to heal and help others—dead. Never was a snob, but treated everyone equally—dead. The Brother was D-E-A-D. Yes, they knew it was coming but wow! It really happened? Dead?

    The Road to Emmaus

    Verse 13 shows two disciples traveling along the Road to Emmaus. It was a 7 mile journey. The men are shocked and grieving. Jesus (who is risen at this point!) approaches the men from out of nowhere. They don’t recognize Him because He does not allow them to, not just yet.

    He questioned the disciples about their conversation and inquired as to why they were sad. Cleopas seemed surprised and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”

    Jesus answered, “What things?”

    The disciples went on to talk about Jesus Christ of Nazareth, how He was a Prophet of God who had done mighty things for the people. They ended by sharing how He was turned over to be killed—and how they were hoping that He would be the One to redeem Israel.

    Jesus then went into teaching mode. You see, a true prophet is compelled to teach. A true prophet’s primary goal and need is to teach, teach, teach. If you ever find a prophet who does not teach anything, you probably have encountered a false prophet! Don’t ever forget that!

    And so Jesus went all the way back (scripturally) to Moses in the Old Testament and He talked about how all the prophets of God confirmed that a Savior was coming. He told them that it is imperative that they believe what the authentic prophets foretold. He told them that Christ had to suffer the things the He suffered.

    Dinner with Jesus

    Verse 28 finds the disciples nearing their destination. Jesus told them that He needed to leave them (they still have no idea that they have been talking to the Lord). They had been so comforted by Him that they pleaded with Him to stay and have dinner with them.

    In true, “JESUS” style, He allowed Himself to be talked into giving up more of His time. May I pause for a few seconds to brag on Jesus? Isn’t He sweet? I cannot get over Him. He is a sweetheart. Period. He approached the disciples and spent His time ministering, comforting, and teaching them, reminding them of His Word. Then He allowed them to talk Him into remaining for dinner. He is just too much! I feel bad for anyone who is worshiping any deity other than the only true and living God!

    It was at this point that He broke bread with the disciples (communion). What happened next is the thing that shocked me speechless when I read it for the first time as a teenager:

    Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with the, them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyess were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

    Blew my mind. That verse of scripture took my breath away and floored me. Can you imagine dining with a stranger who has just taught and blessed you — and suddenly (after communion or dinner) you notice that the stranger is Jesus and He disappears before your very eyes? Lord, have mercy!

    The pleased disciples then said, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” Readers, always remember that it is GOD who opens scriptures to us. No human mind is capable of opening scriptures. Every time you read the Bible and comprehend what has been said, remember that it is JESUS who walked with you and talked with you along the way, as you studied His Word and it is HE who opened those scriptures up for you. Don’t ever forget that!

    Good news!  He vanished but what a blessing it is to know that He reappeared and WE know where He is! He lives inside of our hearts. He sits at the right hand of God the Father in Heavenly places.    In life, we might not know where our loved ones are.  We might not know where our friends are when we need them most.  But what a comfort to know that at all times, Jesus CAN be located without appointment and He is always in our presence, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Friends may disappear with a trace but Jesus disappears WITH a trace.  And finding Him is EASY!

    We serve a God who will never leaver nor forsake us. And that’s a promise and a comfort!

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