June 28, 2008 at 10:31 am · Filed under Religion Parlor
In Ephesians 5:1, Paul urges us to imitate or follow God–not an easy thing to do. It takes many qualities, not the least of which is good character.
The dictionary defines character as “the combination of qualities that distinguishes one person, group or thing from another.” It is moral or ethical strength, integrity, fortitude, excellence. It derives from a word meaning “a letter of the alphabet.”
An English word not found in the Bible, character comes from a Greek word meaning “to engrave, mark or brand.” A brand designates ownership. If we have the character necessary to follow Christ, in effect, we wear His brand.
The most unique definition that I have heard for character is “what you do in the dark.” Dark, as used here, is both literal and figurative. Darkness hides what we do. Most crimes are committed under cover of darkness, and probably more sins occur at night as well. That is its literal meaning.
What about its figurative meaning? Satan is often associated with darkness, and conversely, God is linked with light (cf. Acts 26:18). Nothing is hidden from God. Everything we think, do and say should withstand the light of day. In other words, character is a way of life, not a show you put on for others, not a false front. Character is doing the right thing whether or not anyone is there to see it.
The Example of Joseph
Joseph is a good example of this kind of character. Sold by his brothers into slavery in Egypt, he becomes the property of Potiphar, a high-ranking government official. Despite what Joseph has been through, hated by his brothers, sold into slavery and separated from his father, he maintains his good character.
Seeing this, God is with Joseph and allows him to prosper (Genesis 39:2). Instead of sending him to the fields where the labor was hard and the conditions bad, Potiphar assigns him to work in his house. His master notices that all Joseph does prospers, so he makes him his personal servant. Eventually, he puts Joseph in charge of all that he has (verses 3-5).
Considering his slavery, Joseph’s life is good–then his character is tested. “Joseph was good-looking and handsome. By-and-by his master’s wife cast her eyes on him: ‘Lie with me,’ she said” (verse 6-7, Moffatt translation throughout).
Now here was temptation!
But he refused. He said to his master’s wife, “My master does not trouble himself about anything in the household, but has left everything in my hands, so that my authority is equal to his own; he has kept nothing from me except yourself, for you are his wife. How then can I commit this great crime, and sin against God?” (verses 7-9)
Well-spoken words for a young man in his late teens or perhaps early twenties! Joseph had faced temptation and withstood it. But wait–”Day after day she spoke to Joseph . . .” (verse 10). The seduction of Joseph by this undoubtedly attractive and powerful woman continued.
Joseph’s character was strong, though: “. . . but he would not listen to her appeal to lie with her or to be with her” (verse 10). Oh, this woman is clever! She pleaded with Joseph just to sit with her, but he knew what that would lead to!
One day when the house was empty (according to first-century Jewish historian, Josephus, the Egyptians were celebrating a pagan festival, but Potiphar’s wife had pleaded sick), she escalated her assault on Joseph’s character. As he was working, “. . . she caught him by the robe, saying, ‘Lie with me.’ But he ran off, leaving the robe in her hands, and got away” (verses 11-12).
How many men would be strong enough to withstand this kind of sustained attack on their character? Remember, none of Joseph’s family or friends were around. Who would know if he succumbed?
Moral Character
Josephus writes:
For when his master’s wife was fallen in love with him, both on account of his beauty of body and his dexterous management of affairs; and supposed that if she should make it known to him, she could easily persuade him to come and lie with her, and that he would look upon it as a piece of happy fortune that his mistress should entreat him, as regarding that state of slavery he was in, and not his moral character, which continued after his condition was changed…(The Antiquities of the Jews, 2.4.2)
Though a slave, his “moral character” remained intact. “How can I commit this great crime and sin against God?” he asked (verse 9). Who knows how long Potiphar’s wife kept this up? Weeks, perhaps months.
Undoubtedly, Joseph prayed, meditated and fasted about this problem. He knew that to deny this woman was to face her wrath, yet he never wavered. As a result, Potiphar’s wife had him thrown in jail on false charges. By not giving in to sin, he found himself behind bars! Yet God continued to bless him even in prison, and he ultimately ruled Egypt.
Joseph had made a courageous decision. But he had the character to do so because he had made right decisions in the past. Character does not just happen, but is built over time by making a series of courageous, right decisions.
In his letter to Rome, Paul reminds us:
It is far on in the night, the day is almost here; so let us drop the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of the light; let us live decorously as in the open light of day–no revelry, or bouts of drinking, no debauchery or sensuality, no quarreling or jealousy. No, put on the character of the Lord Jesus Christ, and never think how to gratify the cravings of the flesh. (Romans 13:12-14)
Character is what you do in the dark!
Mike Ford is a contributing writer to the Forerunner magazine, produced by the Church of the Great God (http://cgg.org). The original article is available at http://cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/ARTB/k/646/What-Do-You-Do-in-Dark.htm
May 21, 2008 at 4:09 pm · Filed under Religion Parlor
The religious debates forth going illustrate our lack of
knowing God. The story states it’s the lack of that knowledge of
God why we perish. The story is presented to us through written
print but all lack the perception of its account. Our vanity has
endorsed self established views to the fact of the story. The
story relates we can not hear or perceive this statement
detailed in its account. We lack the insight to discover the
ways of God. We perish as the original Adam did believing the
lie of the existence rather then the truth. The story confirming
these views by adam (earth placed man) lack the knowledge of
God. There should be no doubt to the believer of this lack since
the story states itself we fall short of God’s glory. Our vanity
will not allow the view of something more then the thought we
have about any issue. The story place adam a victim of
circumstance. The story define an enslave condition on the life
of adam. Adam did not have the ability to change the condition
of their livelihood. The opinionated view on the story about God
has not increase the awareness of Him but has become a pit
trapping us. The game we play will never establish the glory God
expect of us. It’s in the proper interpretation of the story
about God we have enlightenment. We can not assemble together as
one voice because of the deception. The Deceiver who snares us
knows the one voice would be the word of God.
The account of the story states we can not perceive the
statement: take it as fact. This fact states the truth we do not
know about God. The thought of even God coming to question due
to this lack define by the story account. The reasons why we can
not perceive the story fact become the issue. The believer has
one fact to the reality of God. Adam application of their fact
into this message causes the doubt and non-perception of the
stated details. The story states these facts with early man to
its current. The problem is the denial of the story due to our
lack of perception. That pride of heart about things without the
facts. The story even coming to a conclusion with the spirit of
truth bring all things to our remembrance. It’s the
confrontation of this reality that we have to be told the fact
to understand the story issue. We are the problem. The story
assures the fullness of the message without confusion or doubt.
They who believe must hold to the fact of the story account. The
best that could be declared about our belief is the statement
that there is a God. The thought is a possibility each should
consider about the life.
We are the children of God. This fact about the story we should
know. We are family. So with all these things known what is the
problem? The problem is the story states a reality we can not
disclose. We all pride ourselves in self acclaimed glory. The
diversity of our family has its division even in a single
household. The worshippers of the world cut of its division
magnify the complexity. The story meaning not perceive has not
formed into our hearts. God has a role in the story. Angel has
their role in the story. So do adam in the account of the story.
If we take the story for its face value, what makes our truth
right beyond the stated ideals of others? We must expose this
indifference to assure our way to that glory of God. In the
sequence of events detailed in the story are we the cheerleaders
on the sideline rather then the players on the field. The son
who talks about what he can do in comparison to the son who did.
We have a need to examine the ritual performances we illustrate
to honor God. We need to define what is this act we do in the
name of God? The story words states the lack of God knowledge?
The story denies this act we do is the truth of God. First we
have to find the path to the way to God.
The truth about the story of God has to start with its
beginning. Adam states this beginning centered on the fact of
the earth. The thought of this fact is mere vanity. The story
relates the acts of angel. The story states God appointment of
angels to watch over adam. The story states angel journey with
adam throughout the account history. The story of God concludes
with the punishment of angel and adam. We all have these facts
stated about the story account. Even with these statements we
fail to relate the whole thought conveyed about the account. In
our definition we forget the host of angel there at this start
of the earth. The beginning with angel starts this fact of the
story. With this confrontation on this beginning is our lack of
its stated fact. We can stay in the darkness of our self
proclaimed awareness. Or we can perceive the fact we could not
see about the story account. So I will lay the first brick to
this foundation. I have a question pertained to the initial
statements of the creation. The question is “who” is telling
this account of the creation?
I through my own study understand the fact that Moses related
these details of the creation story. Moses gave this statement
by God or angel about the start of the world of adam. This is
the first brick to the foundation of discerning the story
account. The thought is the one who told Moses about the
creation. We know there are two Lords in the story account.
David made this fact clear. David who was a Lord spoke of his
Lord that turn to another Lord. The story of Moses holds the
fact of God on the mountain but also an angel in a flaming bush.
The story states no man has ever seen God. The story states that
no man has heard God voice either. The story states God in the
Garden of Eden appointed one to be God. These facts ignite the
flow and reality to be known of the story account. The beginning
of adam creation starts before there was a garden or a earth.
There at that moment was one God. God appointment of a fill in
God to watch adam holds the journey from the garden to our
current state. Jesus states God worked six days and on the
seventh day he worked in His stead. Jesus relates Moses wrote of
him. Jesus said he knew Abraham as well. The thought coming full
circle to one told fact about the beginning. This beginning of
adam starts in the world of angel.
Listening to fellow believers I have come to discern an
indifference to the teller of the creation account. Most discern
the initial statement as God proclaiming His act of the heaven
and the earth creation. This is fine except the “and God said”
mentioned in the story account. The “and God said” could be the
thoughts of Moses to the blind. Or the “and God said” could be
the conveyed fact given to Moses by the angel. The believer
doesn’t have to get lost in the array of views. The sequence in
the account suggests its fact account. The “let us make man” in
the creation account reflects the world of angel. The world of
angel was made before the world of adam. God made the world of
angel as He had made the world of adam. Both angel and adam made
in the likeness and image of God. The fact of adam not there in
the state of the existence to relate these acts of creation
about God is the truth. God was not alone and these acts of
creation were in the state of angel domain. Religion concepts of
this defined act start with God state in nothingness. The fact
of angel relates this account start in the world of its host. My
concern is the proper and improper illustrations of the creation
acts by God. Adam concept of God is in a state of a dark void
and angel state of Him in abundance.
Here is the first brick to the foundation. The act of this
deception rooted in the host of angel prior to the creation of
the earth. The logic of such a statement places a thought
outside the known fit of our awareness. The ideals of a world
not part of God immediate or the created state of the earth. The
truth is the real value of anything we state to the story
account. If the fact doesn’t relate the reality disclosed in the
story account we need to remove the lie. God doesn’t take the
lie as part of His worship.
May we all grow in the wisdom and prosperity of God
will, Alexander Coppedge Tpac Manager
href>http://www.tpacmindfood.com
March 31, 2008 at 11:48 am · Filed under Religion Parlor
Our Text
“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man
came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all
through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent
to bear witness of that Light.” (John 1:6-8)
“Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests
and Levities from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you.’ He
confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, ‘I am not the
Christ.’ And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ He
said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the Prophet?’ And he answered, ‘No.’
Then they said to him, ‘Who are you, that we may give an answer
to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?’ He said,
‘I am
The voice crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the
Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said.’ Now those who were sent were
from the Pharisees. And they asked him saying, ‘Why then do you
baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?’
John answered them saying, ‘I baptize with water, but there
stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming
after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not
worthy to loose.’ These things were done in Bethabara beyond the
Jordan, where John was baptizing.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said,
‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
This is He of whom I said, “After me comes a Man who is
preferred before me, for He was before me. I did not know Him;
but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came
baptizing with water.”‘ And John bore witness saying, ‘I saw the
Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon
Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with
water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and
remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.’
Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And
looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, ‘Behold the Lamb of
God!’ The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed
Jesus.” (John 1:19-37)
“After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land
of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. Now John
also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much
water there. And they came and were baptized. For John had not
yet been thrown into prison. Then there arose a dispute between
some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. And
they came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, He who was with you
beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified - behold, He is
baptizing, and all are coming to Him!’ John answered and said,
‘A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from
heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, “I am not
the Christ,” but, I have been sent before Him. He who has the
bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who
stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the
bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He
must increase, but I must decrease.’” (John 3:22-30)
John The Baptist
He is not to be confused with John, the apostle, who was the son
of Zebedee and authored; John’s Gospel, the three letters of
John, and the Revelation of John.
John the Baptist was the son of Zachariah and Elizabeth (Luke
1). His birth was foretold by an angel to his parents, when they
were elderly. His birth preceded that of Jesus’, who was his
cousin. He became a “Hell-fire and Brimstone” preacher.
Preaching “repentance to the Jews.” His dress was very crude,
that of camel’s hair. His diet consisted of locusts and wild
honey. However, even though he was not a “polished” preacher, he
drew the crowds. He baptized Jesus in the Jordan. Due to his
straight forward preaching, he ended up having his head removed
(Matthew 14:1-12). The name “John” means “Gift of God” and is a
Hellenized form for “Jonathan.” There is a similarity between
John and his Old Testament namesake. They both gave up the
opportunity to be popular for someone else. Jonathan stepped
aside for David, while John stepped aside for Jesus. When we
find the name “John” in the fourth Gospel, it is always in
reference to John the Baptist, and never the Gospel writer. John
realized that he was born to witness.
John had a tremendous amount of people that followed after him.
He was very careful to inform them that he was not the Christ,
but only the one to point to Him.
Quite often a preacher has problems with having “Preacher
Lovers” in a congregation. That is, people want to follow him,
rather than Christ. If he is not teaching or preaching because
he has to be out of town, they don’t even attend services. One
preacher never tells his congregation that he is going to be
gone, because he knows that “when the cat is away, the mice will
play.” One has a poor religion if it is “built upon a preacher”
instead of Christ. If a preacher “falls,” so does their hope of
Heaven. John made it very clear that he came to witness of
Christ. Any preacher worth anything today, will do likewise.
In John 3:25-30, an argument broke out among some of John’s
disciples over ceremonial washings. They came to John to settle
the dispute. He was quick to tell them that Jesus must be given
the pre-eminence in all things. John said that he (John) must
become less and less in the eyes of man and Jesus must become
more and more. The disciples of John were having problems with
Jesus gaining popularity, and John had to resolve this problem.
John showed how “big” he was by his willingness to take second
place. This is a “monument” to his character. It is one that all
of us Christians would do well in duplicating. When Christians
are willing to work in the Lord’s Church and not care who gets
the credit, a great deal can be accomplished. However, if a
person fears doing anything, due to not getting a “pat on the
back,” then the Lord’s work is drastically limited. If John
taught us anything, it was a life of servanthood.
The Mission
In John 1:6 the word “sent” is from a Greek word (Apostello)
from which we get the English word “Apostle.” This word normally
means “one sent with a message.”
No one has ever had a greater sender (God), nor has had a
greater message than to point people to Jesus Christ, as John
did. John’s purpose of coming was to testify of Jesus. Day by
day people enter court rooms to testify on behalf of others
(witness to accidents, business frauds, martial disputes, etc.).
However, no one can give a greater testimony than to inform
people how Jesus saved them from their sins, when they accepted
Him as Lord and Savior, by allowing their faith to cause them to
repent of their sins, confess Him publicly, and permit someone
to immerse them in the watery grave of Christian baptism.
Now - some people may THINK they are saved, but were really not,
according to God’s Word. Some would say they were saved when:
they heard a voice; they prayed the “sinner’s prayer” (not found
in the Bible); laid their hand on the radio or TV; recited a
confession or creed; got goose bumps when hearing a Gospel song;
signed a commitment card at a religious service; or “prayed
through” at an alter.
In John 1:8, John made it very plain that he was not the Light,
but came to be a witness of the Light. All Christians today need
to do likewise. That is, make it plain: who Jesus is (God in the
flesh); what the church is (God’s redeemed family); there will
be a Judgement Day; there is a hell, as well as a heaven; and
the Lord’s Plan of Salvation.
Just as John realized that he was born to witness about Jesus,
today God needs men, women and youth to do likewise. Too many
church members go to the gridirons, ball diamonds and gymnasiums
and shout, scream and yell for some athletic contest and then
become closed-lipped and yellow-bellied when it comes to
“speaking up” for Jesus. Shame on us if we are guilty of such.
If we are a “Born Again” child of God, we have been born to
witness! Let’s do it, every day that God allows us to live.
All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James Version unless
otherwise noted.
