April 2025

#12 Getting to the Heart of the Matter

Proverbs 23:7For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.

Matthew 15:8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Please consider:

It is the disposition of our heart that is of most importance if we are to reap the Blessedness of God's Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Even though this is so succinctly stated in the Bible, it seems often to be neglected in our Christian culture. And it is certainly not a consideration of our secular culture. So much of what we rely on are motivational lectures to comply with God's Will and Way, Highest and Best. Although these are with good intention, they do not necessarily get to the heart of the matter.

If we are merely motivated, we tend to rely on the strength of our flesh to comply. This fleshly strength includes our minds, and it is not sufficient to comply with God's Will and Way, Highest and Best. Again, I emphasize, and the Bible states, it is essential to die to our old ways so that we may be born anew. This is not singularly for the purpose of Salvation. It is subsequently for the purpose of ongoing Sanctification.

As we mature in our Faith, individually and or collectively, these fleshly ways can be eliminated. It necessitates a prayerful process. In essence, we can die to these old ways and be born yet anew. This is God'sprovision for ever greater Sanctification and Freedom in his Spirit and of His spirit to reap his Highest and Best.

#13 Telltale Signs of Less Than God's Best

Please Consider:

Many of us experience unnecessary challenges in our relationships or circumstances. These struggles often have deeper root causes, some of which are easy to identify. Two common underlying causes are offensiveness and defensiveness—yet these merely mask even deeper issues. At first, this might not seem obvious, but I assure you it is true.

Both offensiveness and defensiveness have an abrasive quality. However, God's highest and best ways are never abrasive. As James 3:17 reminds us, "The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable…" It is sown in peace.

Consider this: If someone calls us tall and we are tall, it is not offensive. If someone calls us short and we are tall, it might be offensive. Likewise, if we are truly tall, there is no need to defend ourselves against someone calling us short. We may simply say, "That's incorrect" or even "That's obviously incorrect."

In either case, our response does not need to be abrasive.

Beneath the abrasiveness of offensiveness or defensiveness lie deeper root causes—unforgiveness, anger, resentment, bitterness, fear, shame, guilt, and countless other learned behaviors or conditioned responses. Though these may seem minor, they are, in reality, toxic. To varying degrees, this toxicity contributes to the difficult relationships and circumstances we face.

As we mature in faith—both individually and collectively—these harmful learned behaviors can be overcome. In essence, we can die to our old ways and be born anew. This is God's provision for ever-increasing sanctification, leading us into greater freedom in His Spirit and the fullness of His highest and best.

#14 The Importance of Interdependence

Please consider:

Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 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.

It has been my observation throughout thirty years of counseling that there are a significant number of Christians who do not fully comprehend the profound importance of Gifts of The Spirit. There is profound supernatural power in the Gifts of the Spirit. Everyone has a Gift; however, every Christian has been awakened to their Gifts and even among those who are awakened to their Gifts there are not a great many who have cultivated those Gifts.

It has been my observation that the separate denominations tend to be what I will call "gift centric". By this I mean there are communities of giving. There are communities of mercy. There are ministries of teaching. There are ministries of healing. And there are other gatherings of Christians that tend to coalesce around a limited spectrum of Gifts of the Spirit.

This is sad. If we as a body of Christ are to function as a body, it would seem to me as though all the Gifts should be cultivated and collaborated. They should function as interdependent parts of one body. This would seem to be imperative within denominations and communities of those denominations. Absent of that interdependence, I sense that we, as a Christian community, are relatively powerless and ineffective as a body.

The cultivation and collaboration of these Gifts is essential to cultivate the Fruit of the Spirit by which we all are to be known. The epitome of that Fruit is Love.

We are not, as we are called to be, "Lights upon the hill," drawing people to us and not repelling people from us.

The question then for all of us is "What can we do to play our part to encourage the cultivation and collaboration of the Gifts to function as one powerful body of Christ"?

#15 An Absurdity

Matthew 7:15-20: "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

James 3:13-18: "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Please Consider

With the best intentions, it appears that many within our Christian community are supporting and or encouraging some who are attempting to achieve godly Christian objectives in ungodly ways through ungodly means. To the extent that this is true, it is absurd to expect God's blessings. Let's help one another recognize the futility.

#16 Unending awe and wonder

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me

John 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Daily, I am in awe and wonder of the privilege we have, as Christians, of knowing the Good Shepherd and knowing His still small voice. For many years, I was totally clueless. And then, as time went on, I became more confident in asking, seeking, and knocking. It is now something upon which I rely daily and frequently. It may seem hard to believe. And yet, as we have acknowledged in a prior article, "unbelief" deters our opportunity to enter more fully into the Kingdom blessings on earth as it is in heaven.

Until this very day, February 26th, 2025, I have been reluctant to share boldly my awareness. I know that within my sphere of influence, there are others who also know this wonderful privilege; however, I am also aware of many within my sphere of influence who are clueless.

It was not until this very day that I became consciously aware of the significant parallel of what artificial intelligence (AI) can provide. Believe me, I am not equating the leading of the Good Shepherd with artificial intelligence. I am merely stating that it is similar.

In our current culture, most are aware of the information that we can gather by asking Siri, Alexa or Google. The response to that request is instantaneous. How is that so? Apparently, each of these has access to a limitless resource of information.

Furthermore, it is possible, I am told, to request of artificial intelligence to write a sermon regarding any topic. And I am told that the result is very believable to many.

With that in mind, why then is it so difficult to contemplate that God, who is all knowing, has access to unlimited information? God in His infinite wisdom knows every aspect of every detail of all that is meaningful in our personal lives.

It is beyond my ability to explain artificial intelligence. And certainly, it is beyond my ability to explain God's unlimited intelligence.

As mundane and insignificant as it may seem, I am not at all reluctant to seek God's wisdom regarding even the most mundane things. I ask frequently, "In the name of Jesus Christ, I ask dear Go,d is it consistent with your will and way, highest and best for me too:

Play pickleball today?"
Play water volleyball today?"
Play golf today?"
Go to this activity today?"
Prepare a new article for the Christian Restoration website?"
Review old articles to be shared on the Christian restoration website?"

And I get a corresponding affirmation of "yea" or "nay".

These are among the very least important questions that I ask with frequency. I merely share them because I believe there is nothing that is too insignificant to ask.

Furthermore, when it comes to major decisions, this prayerful process has been paramount in most of our family decisions regarding where to live, home purchase, home sale, major purchases, major remodel, and so much more.

More important even than that stated above, this prayerful process has been primary as I have had the privilege of serving as a Christian counselor for more than 35 years. The blessedness of this process has proved true for hundreds of counselees.

By the grace of God I will say that my wife has come to understand unquestioningly that if I have prayed about something, she can accept my decision with ease and peace of mind. The same is true for me when I know that she has prayed about it.

Worthy of further note is that frequently I have hesitated to ask prayerfully for fear of what the answer might be. I am also aware that there is nothing about which I have prayed and received an answer that I have regretted afterward. With some frequency, I am directed to participate in an activity that I, at that moment, would have preferred not to do. And, I will say, with no exception, that afterward, I have always been able to recognize the conspicuous blessedness of having participated.

I will also say that I have never "heard" God's audible voice. I, and most others, have merely recognized how His still, small voice speaks to our heart with clarity and assurance. I recognize that it may take time to cultivate the prayerful assurance of asking and seeking and knocking in the name of Jesus Christ.

Again, I will say as we come together and share together and reason together and pray together, we can help one another to cultivate these profound awarenesses. In so doing, we are assured. In so doing, we are blessed. In so doing, we glorify God. In so doing,g we are assured of doing the right thing at the right time and in the right way. In so doing, we become a light upon the hill that draws people to us. It is not merely a matter of doctrine or of lip service is a matter of bearing Fruit. The Fruit of God's Spirit is obvious and appealing. It is a self-evident attraction that needs little if any verbalization. The proof is in the Fruit.

Pray about it
Share with a family member, friend, or neighbor
Do your own research
Share your helpful insights by emailing them to us for our comments page
Encourage a local discussion group
Encourage special classes (Spiritual Gifts, etc.)

Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.