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Question: I understand that we need to diligently seek God in prayer, but I also know there’s a level where we just need to trust Him and stop worrying. It seems that there are those who get into a works mentality about praying instead of just having a relationship with God, but I also see the high importance of prayer (“you have not because you ask not”). Where is the distinction between diligently seeking God and trying to accomplish something by our own works?

James 4:1-2

What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.

Specifically, in the scriptures you asked about, found here in James, there’s context we must understand. This is actually rebuke for those who are entering into jealousies and selfish ambitions. Really James is saying you fight for all this stuff you lust after but you don’t have because you don’t ask, and in context that asking is really talking about asking for wisdom from above. Look then at verse James 4:3, 

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” See, the issue here isn’t that you didn’t pray enough or the right way, per se, but the issue is the reason for what you’re seeking after. A few verses later in James 4:8, we read, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” The purpose of all of this is the idea of drawing near to God, seeking His wisdom, and keeping our motives pure. 

Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” This door being opened for us, is that door that leads to God. Again, the implication is not specific to what you’re asking for,  but rather that you’re asking. For God, it’s about a relationship and seeking that time with Him. 

This word, “works” has become almost a swear word in Christian circles but we also need to look at it correctly. Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” It wasn’t some sort of work or effort on our part that saved us. It was the gift of God in which we found assurance of faith. With this salvation, we were given a job description. Our job on this earth is good works. This is something we shouldn’t dread, but should be excited about! 

But here lies a major problem with Christians, that we look at prayer as work and we look at work as dreadful. It’s time to look at prayer differently. Prayer is not some formula or something so far beyond our comprehension that we should run from it. Prayer is simply talking to God. Prayer is a relationship with our loving Father. Prayer is a gift that accompanies salvation. When we pray, He hears us. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 is beautiful instruction for Christians, “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Our lives should be lived in prayer. As we walk, as we work, as we’re driving in the car, and as we’re alone in times of just quiet. We need to learn to look at our lives as though the Lord actually comes with us wherever we go and to then communicate with Him along the way. 

Consider this, you’re riding in the car and you have a friend with you. Do you ever speak to that friend? It would be strange if you didn’t. When you wake up in the morning and you come into the kitchen and you see your family member do you say good morning? Do you ask what they’re going to do today? God is almighty and that’s important for us to remember, we can’t boss Him, but we also must remember how relational He is and speak to Him from that place of relationship. It’s not work to pray. It’s love for God that brings us to seek and speak to Him. 

Be Blessed,

Pastor Renée 

Question: Do you think we should still observe the Sabbath and what day do you believe the Sabbath was on? I know many things have changed from the old to the New Testament.

This is a great question and actually falls into an important category of commands in scripture. Which of God’s laws do we follow and which do we not? Christian’s debate these things often but I believe that the debate is often just a distraction they don’t see. It’s not wrong to ask the question, as in this case. Not even in the least. However, many people will try to argue these things to put people under some kind of religious control. When we understand God’s heart, we can get our answers fairly easily. 

Before I can fully answer this question we must understand a few things. What was the purpose of God’s laws, what is freedom in Christ, and has the Old Testament passed away? I’m going to answer the last, first. Jesus answered this for us in Matthew 5:17-18 (NASB).  “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” Jesus’s purpose was not to get rid of God’s law, which is and always will be holy. His purpose (in part) was to fulfill it. So what does that mean?

Jesus fulfilling the law meant that He would perfectly do all that it required. The fact was, no one could, so He did. Jesus clearly tells us here that He was not going to abolish it. So what does that mean for us, I thought we weren’t under the law anymore (Romans 6:14)? It is true, grace is our law, but that did not mean that God is ok with our sin and disobedience now. The Bible clearly teaches us that. We are not under the BONDAGE of the law which is something very different. The bondage of the law was the effect that it brought forth, the condemnation or the sentence of death and separation from God. This is why Romans 8:1 says that there is no more condemnation, if… and that’s a big if! If we are IN Christ Jesus. Being in Christ, Romans tells us, is not license to sin but the ability to follow God even if we miss. There is a huge difference between those things! There were people all through the New Testament that thought they could get away with living sinfully and yet the Bible strongly warns against this. It is an extremely dangerous thing to be flippant about sinful lifestyles.

So, continuing to go backward on the questions I posited, what then is freedom in Christ? Galatians 5:13-14 (NASB) gives us a great look at this. “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’” Freedom in Christ is freedom to please God and fulfill His plan for your life, despite the fact you cannot fulfill His law perfectly. In other words, we now have access to God, despite our imperfections. Though we are free, it is still good in the sight of God that we try not to sin. Not that we get into bondage about it, but that we don’t lose hope when we miss it. Remember, Jesus ate and talked with sinners but also said, “Go and sin no more.”

Lastly, let’s look at the purpose of the God’s law. Specifically we will look at the Sabbath (because that was the question), but this can apply to it all. In Mark 2:27 (NASB), Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” God instituted the sabbath because He knew some things. For one, man because of sin would have to toil on the earth (Genesis 3). There is always something to do, something that needs fixed, or done, or conquered, or, you get the point. God gave man the sabbath so he would take some down time, rest, and most importantly, seek Him! We see Jesus direct the disciples toward this in Mark 6:31. The purpose of the sabbath was not so man had a “religious day,” it was so man did not forget in all he had to do was to take time and seek God. Though the sabbath was a particular day of the week, it wasn’t the point. Though there were rules to it, the rules weren’t the point. The outcome and effect it would have on humanity was the point.

We don’t HAVE to specifically follow the Law to a “t” anymore but let me ask you, is it helpful to consider? Is it a bad thing to set aside time in our busy schedules to seek and hear from our Heavenly Father? When we understand what Jesus was saying about love being the greatest commandment we gain the clarity needed. It was repeated by Paul in Galatians 5:14 (NASB). “For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’” The Law of God was always about love and man made it about rules. We are free from specific observances however that does not mean that we should throw it all out either.

To sum this all up, don’t be entangled in the bondage of man’s doctrines and rules but also, don’t throw out what’s good either. I don’t observe the sabbath in the sense that I worship on a certain day and cease from work, but I endeavor to live a lifestyle that makes room for true sabbath in it. I want time with God and His Body. Not because He commands it, but because I love Him.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff 

Question: How do we trust God in the midst of trial?

Proverbs 16:16 (NASB)

16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!

And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.

What a trap, unbridled desire! Desire, although a gift given by God to increase and expand His people, like every gift in the wrong context, can be so destructive. Desire like emotion (often emotion being driven by desire) are a tool in the belt of the righteous, or those with a heart to be right before God. The Lord promises the desires of the righteous one. This is because one who is righteous cannot be self motivated. This does not mean one cannot care for themselves, but there is a difference between self-care and self-motivation.

The above proverb has a lot of direction in it if we would just look. It is not telling us that one cannot be rich and righteous at the same time. That would be an errant view of scripture. It is telling us which pursuit is better. I actually see something more in this as well. Whatever we are after is our focus and our focus matters to God. Often, in times of lack, people have a tendency to over focus on the need. Now this is completely understandable if you are in the world. It’s a shame many believers have not yet realized they’ve been given access to a new world.

For years my wife and I struggled with never having enough. We were faithful to tithe and to give on top of it, many, many times going without ourselves in order to do so. I remember always worrying, always being concerned about where or when we’d get the ability to just hold our heads above water. We lived in a city of hills and winters and brick roads. Once, while driving home one particularly snowy day, I was faced with a real dilemma. I’d start up one street only to have to reverse and try another. It was winter and we could not afford the needed tires. I did this many times, trying many roads and each time failing. I was so frustrated and to add insult to injury, my overburdened and broken windshield wipers left a perfect view-hindering path right at my eye level. I sobbed like a baby that day crying out, “Lord, why are you not taking care of us!”

We made the determination that we had to get tires and we had a local mechanic (also a believer) who found a way to help us out. I got the car to him and waited for the new tires to be put on. As he pulled the car out and I got in, I immediately started sobbing once more. He saw that I needed new windshield wipers and the Lord put it on his heart to just throw in a set for free. God had heard my cries and despite my lack of confidence in His ability to take care of me effectively, proved Himself once again with a well needed humbling for me. Wisdom.

Today if I need windshield wipers I don’t even consider it. Tires or even a vehicle for that matter fall into this same category. In those years I learned some of the most valuable lessons of trusting God that I would ever learn. When I thought I was neglected, He was encouraging me to come up higher.

We learn in trial what it means to be reliant on a God we don’t always see before us. In times of lack we learn the most valuable lessons. How, you might ask. God never promised to remove every trial, He promised to take care of us despite them. He never promised us self sufficiency, but sufficiency in Him. He said over and over again, “Trust Me!” He promised that regardless of what we see or don’t for that matter, He should be the object of our affection, the One we can trust. The One who does not change. This life and earth are temporary, He is eternal.

When lack is present, whatever that lack may be, you have instruction. Seek wisdom. You may not have enough for tires or wipers but you can ask Him to show you, to teach you, to give you wisdom. “Show me, God, what you want me to see, because I trust You are taking care of me.” When you are lacking and are not able to overcome, trust the One who has promised us Himself. If you’ve sought the need and can’t make it happen, maybe, just maybe you’re looking for the wrong thing. Seek wisdom, wisdom never disappoints. 

James 1:5 (NASB)

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff 

Question: I know the Bible talks a lot about anger and how bad it is but it also gives examples of righteousness anger such as when Jesus braids the whip and rebukes those using God’s house as a marketplace. However, what about righteous anger for us? Can we as Christians be righteously angry? For example is it righteous anger to be angry at someone for sin they struggle with because it bothers us? Jesus lashed out and rebuked people at the people in the marketplace but does that mean it’s okay for us to?

Ephesians 4:26-27 (NASB)

BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.

Be angry, and yet do not sin. That seems like an impossible task sometimes but I think it will make more sense when we understand it. 

I love the instruction of Scripture. It has saved me from so much trouble and yet ignoring it has caused me so much. What has caused me some issues at times was not understanding it. This is a wonderful question because instruction on anger misunderstood can cause a person issues including at times loosing their witness. Sometimes, Biblical instruction is written in hyperbole. An example of this are the Beatitudes. Jesus wasn’t really encouraging people to gouge out their eyes if they sin with them. He was stressing the importance of not sinning with them! To understand the Scriptures instruction you will have to spend some time studying, not just reading through. 

So how would one be righteously angry, or you could say be angry and not sin? You gave the example of Jesus in the temple. Now first things first, Jesus is, was, and always will be God. He knew the line so well because He made the line! When He operated in life on earth, He only did so by close contact with and the instruction of the Father through the Holy Spirit. He did exactly what was right in everything He did and in this moment, God was angry. His temple which was supposed to be a place of blessing and prayer, became a den of thieves. Jesus, as God in the flesh, was pronouncing judgement on it. That was righteous anger.

Sin should make us angry, but we learn an important lesson through Jesus and how He dealt with it. To understand we take counsel from all of how He walked, not just one incident. The reason is, with one incident we cannot understand His whole heart. Whenever Jesus dealt with the Pharisees, or the religious leaders of the day, he dealt harshly with them. This was because they claimed to be righteous, but they were actually not. When Jesus dealt with sinners, he did so with compassion. He did this because often they were people lost, caught up in their sin. He never justified the sin, saying things like go, and sin no more, but He gave them room to get it right.

The Bible says in Galatians 6:1 (NASB), “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.” A spiritual person recognizes sin yet seeks to gently restore, not destroy. Now, there can be a time when judgement is necessary, and He helps with this. As a pastor, the most uncomfortable part of my job is discipline. There are times when people just will not do what’s right and they have to be corrected. My goal however is always to do so gently and humbly. In fact, when my first reaction is to jump on someone (metaphorically) God often reminds me of how much and how long He put up with me. Ouch! Now, if someone’s sin is hurting or negatively affecting others, as I have place to, I have no choice but to step in.

When it comes to dealing with people, especially those in public, we have to be very wise with how we do so. I have an example that I’d like to share. My wife and I do a lot of traveling and so when we eat or stay places we often use and rely on public reviews of different establishments. Because we do this often we also review places. If done right, an honest review will actually be a service and blessing to other people. Though I am a Christian, I am also a human, and when I have had a terrible meal or terrible service, I am very tempted to act just like any other angry person would. I cannot tell you how many times I have been writing reviews, and the Holy Spirit has arrested me with this idea, “Is that really how you want to respond?“ I looked down and remember that part of my online profile is “so blessed”. Is so blessed what your creative word destruction is exemplifying?!? I have had to delete or rewrite reviews many times because of the heart behind how I wrote them. Just a little secret, unless I can give a five star review, I generally will not even review local places because of the fact that I pastor near them.

The purpose behind the idea of righteous anger has nothing to do with vindicating ourselves, but in helping others. As a parent, I am going to have to discipline my children. If they have done something bad enough, I may be angry, but I have to check that anger and make sure it’s not just because it hurt my feelings. Responding in any kind of anger because of what an action has done to us is generally not right. Now, I am talking about very generalized things and certainly every situation does not apply here. If somebody is being hurt or abused, then they have right to speak up against that abuse. It does not give them the right to attack back, but they don’t have to be silent either.

In closing, Ephesians 4:27 gives an important truth to being angry. In however we respond we do not want to give an opportunity for the devil to do his work. Some versions say do not give place to the devil. I like that as well. In everything we do we cannot allow the enemy, as much as it’s up to us anyways, to be able to have free course to do his work. This is why it says in James 1:19 (NASB), “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.” We would do well to meditate on this scripture and take heed to it!

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff 

Question: In Job 41, what is your interpretation or knowledge of Leviathan? Some say it is a dragon some say a dinosaur. 

So this is an interesting question and one that when I was a young believer really excited me. I remember pondering, “Does this mean fire breathing dragons really existed?”

I like that the one who asked the question said, “What is your interpretation or knowledge of?” These two, are very different and I want address both for the purpose of learning. On interpretation, we should never seek “our interpretation”, nor anyone else’s. We only want truth. It is true that ideas of truth can be called interpretation but there is a reason I somewhat come against this. The reason is because one of the biggest issues when it comes to scripture is the idea that it’s subject to interpretation. It is only if you don’t want to understand it! I like what one person once said, “If we read any other book the way people read the Bible we wouldn’t know anything!” But you also said knowledge, and for that I commend you! 

My knowledge of Leviathan is somewhat limited although I have listened to a lot of people’s interpretations of it. 😉 I have also heard a real good argument that what is truly being described is an alligator or crocodile and that Behemoth is a hippo. That may sound funny but if you listened to this scholar’s reasons, they were actually truly compelling. To understand what the Bible is saying in various places we have to understand the nature of what is being written. So much will not make sense on the surface only because we may not understand other things.

For example, when the Bible talks about slavery, we instantly think of the slavery that happened in the United States in the early years of this country. But this is not what is being talked about. It is misleading to “interpret” scripture through our world view, yet many American Christians do just this. Many doctrines are built errantly on the misguided “interpretations” of scripture. We must understand, the Bible is not a description of all history. It is also not a book on zoology. Its purpose was not to explain everything but it is intended to explain some things, giving Godly direction. 

This account of Leviathan is not about introducing us to some mythical like creature or verifying that dinosaurs existed. If you consider the context of Job 41, you can clearly see this. The happenings of scripture and what or how God did things was so often answering questions or speaking to specific people groups in ways they would understand. Jesus didn’t just do random things. Everything He did related back to their customs, their traditions, or what was said about the Messiah from the prophets of old. 

In Job 41, God is talking to Job about His greatness and is correcting Job’s thinking. He is using an illustration that Job would surely understand. Think about it this way, it’s like if I’m giving an illustration for a sermon and I started talking about Godzilla. Most people today would surely know what I was referring to yet no one would leave going, “I guess he really does exist!” Now if in a thousand years someone was listening to that same sermon would they be correct in assuming I was talking about something real? Of course not! Yet someone might try and make doctrine on it for sure!

Look at this example in Acts 17:22-23 (NASB). So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.” Was Paul implying that these Greeks had actually discovered the true God? Not in the least. However, he did take opportunity to take something they would understand and relate it to the truth. This kind of teaching is seen all through the Scripture. Jesus never implied that people and sheep in fact are exactly the same, yet He often referred to us in such a way. He is called a Lion and a Lamb. Ok Jesus, which is it?!

There are people that get really hung up on things like Leviathan in scripture. I’m not saying it doesn’t matter, what I am saying is that we need to keep what really matters at the surface and not get distracted by things that are unprovable. Too many times people have taken a stance on scripture in things that are just not profitable. All scripture is profitable, just not everyone’s interpretations of it!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB)

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff 

If God is everywhere then how can demons and the devil exist on earth? God and evil in the same place?

Psalms 139:7-8 (NASB)

Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.

This is a good question and one that is somewhat difficult to answer. Similarly, it’s like, how could Jesus be all God and all man at the same time? 

To understand that God is always everywhere (omnipresent) is somewhat of a hard thing to fully grasp. The reason is because the idea of who God truly is can be hard to grasp. I refer to one of my favorite scriptures, Romans 1:19 (NASB), “Because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.” One version says, that which MAY be known. In other words, we can understand the concept of God, but not really completely.

Throughout scripture, many things are said about God as descriptive but the question is, are they really an actual description? For example, Psalms 91:4 (NASB) which reads, “He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.” Does this declare that God ACTUALLY has wings? The point of this Psalm is not to be physically descriptive but rather descriptive of God’s protective nature.

To say God is everywhere I do not think is as much about describing where God is as much as it is to say He knows what is going on everywhere, that nothing can be hidden from Him. To say He is in all creation is to say that His mark is on it. Once we were being shown a house in California that was made of cob. This is a process of building walls with bales of hay and then making a slurry of mud and hay and coating the walls with it. This coating is applied with the hands, being rubbed on. When you ran your hands along the wall, it was really neat because you could almost feel the makers hands who applied it originally. His or her mark was left behind. It’s very similar with God.

His creation bears the marks or presence of its Maker. God can be seen in everything He has made, and He watches over it! We see other descriptions of God like, He is on a throne in a Heavenly temple, He sits in the Heavens, when Moses was on the mountain the Lord passed by Him, and when He made Adam He breathed into his nostrils. All of these things put God in a specific place and almost give Him some kind of size. Again, how do you explain someone who is infinite, not constrained by any created thing? In fact, this is a good point, if God created all things, He cannot be constrained by anything. Time, does not affect Him because He created it. Matter does not contain Him because He made it. That God is everywhere does not mean that He is specifically filling that space. 

Now onto demons and the like. I’m going to say something that may be hard to swallow, God had to have made them. That does not mean that He made them evil (because He didn’t), but He made them none the less. If He is “in” all creation, then He must be in them too, right? Well, yes in the sense that whatever they were originally made to be, they bear His marks, but not in the sense of their evil and actions. 

Some people erroneously believe that because God is “in” all things that nothing happens without His say so. But let’s look at this logically. Somebody designed and constructed every vehicle that’s on the road. Yet if one of those vehicles given over to someone else strikes and kills someone, does that mean the designer and builder made it happen. I mean, I’ve seen a Ford that has been in a bad accident, did Henry Ford cause it? It bears His mark after all! Of course He didn’t, and it’s the same with God. 

God could stop everything right now, that He hasn’t doesn’t mean He approves of all that happens. It means there’s a greater purpose for it continuing. God is not manipulating the universe to do His will, otherwise it would all be doing His will. God will allow things to happen if it will bring about His purpose, that is very different than making something happen. Have you ever hit an animal while driving because swerving would have been more dangerous to the passengers of the car? Killing that animal and damaging the car may not have been ideal but because that animal had free will to jump in front of you, you chose the better option. And so it goes with creation that is given option.

God will bring all things together in the end, but until the end there is a process. He knows all things, and sees everywhere, but that does not mean He is specifically in all things. In closing think of this, when Jesus died and ascended His Spirit came to live on the inside of believers. If He was already actually everywhere, this would make no sense. God is not physically taking up all space but He is in fact there. Whether it’s by seeing or knowledge or by some other method we don’t know exists yet. Truth is, we can’t fully understand Him now but one day He will reveal Himself fully to us.

1 Corinthians 13:12 (NASB)

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff