Category: Commentaries on life and faith

In the beginning — Creation Series

The study of creation, and the Bible’s account of it in Genesis 1 and 2, is available for your listening here, in four parts, in English and Romanian.
Part 1–Genesis 1a
Part 2–Genesis 1b
Part 3–Genesis 2a
Part 4–Genesis 2b

What did they die for? Memorial Day tribute

A video Memorial Day tribute to help us soberly remember, with a song from Twila Paris that looks at the men, and the Man, who died for us and our freedom in this life, and the next.

Upcoming attractions

Coming soon — a devotional message on this parable from Matthew 13:

24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

JW’s convenient misquotation of Scriptures

Just had a meeting with JW cult members. They misquoted a scripture, changing the words to make them match their theology. I asked them to show me where the Bible says that. They deferred, so I asked again. They didn’t again. Then finally I demanded they show me where the Bible says what they claimed, and they read a verse from the OT that they VERY loosely interpreted to be making the claim they had made with their fake quote. I asked them why they lied to us about what the Bible says to support their theology. They said they say what they do because the Holy Spirit guides them in their talk. Which made me angry. I said, “Don’t tell me that. The Holy Spirit did not make you lie to me about what the Bible says.” They were here a few minutes more, but the discussion was effectively over at that point.

Defending the gospel


Dangerous false teachers that deceive people into relying on their flesh’s self-righteous efforts to bring them into God’s favor are prevalent worldwide, including the “evangelical church.” If you are in ministry and not engaged in the battle for sound doctrine that holds firm to the gospel of grace, then you are building a ministry that will not outlive you. A minister of the gospel must also be a courageous defender of it in the presence of wolves, for the sake of the sheep whose blood they crave and whose souls you’ve been given watchcare over. Keep in mind that those wolves always look like sheep on the outside, to every man’s eyes, including your own. And be very clear in your teaching, ceaselessly reminding the sheep that their eternal salvation is both obtained and maintained by God’s grace alone, received by faith alone in Christ alone. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else.

“Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh….” –Philippians 3:2-3

TLC’s “Chilli” discusses her abortion


A video of Rozanda Thomas, better known as “Chilli” from the hip-hop trio TLC, in an interview where she talks frankly about the effect an abortion had on her life, when she was pressured into one. –“the biggest mistake” is how she describes it, before weeping and saying that she “cried almost every day for almost nine years.”

God doesn’t have bad breath


Everything You Need

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
–2 Timothy 3:16-17
Paul’s time on earth is coming to an end, and he is writing the last words that the Holy Spirit will pen through him. The words are addressed to his beloved brother in Christ, the younger Timothy, whom he has mentored and continues to mentor in ministry. His last instruction reminds Timothy of what will be most important to his ministry after Paul is gone: proclaiming the word of God. The exhortation is preceded by the two verses here, which you may have committed to memory. The words of those two verses are worthy of a closer look.
“All Scripture” — Every part of the written word of God is included in this statement. Even the parts that differ with the traditions we have been taught by men. Even the parts that we would rather not agree with because they convict us in areas we want God to leave alone. Even the parts that exhort us to do things we’re afraid or unwilling to do. All of the written words of God are included, and all are to be revered and obeyed.
“is God-breathed” or “given by God’s inspiration” — These words are not merely the sanctified words of men. Not a single verse of the Bible originated in the mind of a human. The Scriptures are the Word of the Lord Most High.
“and is useful” or “profitable” — You’re not wasting your time when you’re getting to know God’s word. Every passage is valuable and will be put to good use in your life for the glory of the Author in heaven.
“for teaching” or “doctrine” — These words are the source of truth that will teach you, so that no falsehood can mislead you.
“rebuking” or “reproof” — The Scriptures will show you the error of your ways, thoughts, words, and deeds. The only way a Christian can persist in willful sin is to ignore the Word, because the Word reproves us.
“correcting” — The Word doesn’t stop at telling us what’s wrong, but redirects us to what is right, setting our feet back on the right path when we have strayed.
“and training (or instruction) in righteousness” — These beautiful, living, powerful words don’t just teach us the right and wrong way to live, but teach us and train us in HOW to achieve and live holy lives.
“so that” — All of the above valuable traits of the Bible are intended for a reason. God had a plan in mind when He authored His word. A purpose it would fulfill in our lives after we trust Jesus and are indwelled by His Spirit:
“the man of God may be thoroughly equipped” — Fully, completely equipped. Nothing is lacking in the equipping power of the Bible for any task in the Christian life. Everything necessary for successful Christianity, evangelism, and church life and growth is in the Book. (But how often we make the mistake of turning to other sources, people, seminars, tapes, and books, when we should just open God’s Word and search it diligently until an answer to our dilemma is found.) “for every” — That’s all-inclusive; God will not call you to accomplish any task for which the Word is not a sufficient source of strength, enlightenment, and guidance.
“good” — These works done by the man of God in response to the Word are not bad and not useless, and not worthless or temporal, and not pointless or in vain; they are good, productive, fruitful, lasting.
“work” — Our response as children of God to the word of God is not to remain passive, but to work in accordance with His will. There is a job to do. His glory and His salvation are to be proclaimed before all the peoples of the earth. The end result of our reading the Word and being equipped is that we will no longer sit back and leave the work to others, but engage in it ourselves, joining Him in accomplishing the works He has foreordained for us.
Brothers and sisters, He has provided everything we need in that Book of books that sits too-frequently-unopened on the shelf or desk or the seat of a car. We don’t have to live the fruitless life that results from remaining busy with lesser things than hearing the voice of God. Go right now, and pick up your Bible. Open it, and start reading. Make that a habit that you unconditionally require yourself to practice in your daily life. Learn God’s word well and obey it. Then you will prosper in everything He has called you and equipped you to do.

Why false teachers don’t want you to read the Bible yourself

There is a reason why cults and apostate churches demand the right to “interpret” the scriptures for their followers–it is because no sane person could ever read the scriptures for himself or herself and arrive at the conclusions the false teachers want their people to believe.
From the Vatican’s teachings that there is a purgatory, and that Mary is the “mother of God” and a co-mediator with her Son between God and man, to the “Jehovah’s witnesses” claim that Jesus is a created being that started out as Michael the Archangel until he was given a body in Bethlehem, that he was killed on a stake, not a cross, and that God is not omnipresent but lives on a particular star in outer space, to the mormons’ assertion that Jesus and Satan are brothers in a cosmic battle of petty sibling rivalry, to the eastern orthodox tradition of baptizing horses, selling communion bread, and doing a divination ceremony for 1 year olds to predict their future–the only way such beliefs can ever take hold is if the leaders intentionally keep the followers ignorant of what the word of God says.
That’s why I have repeatedly instructed those who are hearing my teaching here in Cluj on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays, that they are being held responsible by God to read the Bible for themselves, and to not accept anything that I tell them if they do not find it to be the clear, plain teaching of the Scriptures. While I do not ever want to be in error in my teaching, and I pray and study to try to prevent it, I have to say that if I am wrong in my teaching, it would be a very joyful moment in my life to have one of my disciples bring the Bible to show me the error of my ways. I would commend them publicly and suggest everyone emulate their Berea-like spirit.
Another thought on a somewhat related note–I was thinking on the importance of obeying the scriptures’ admonition to not be too quick to “lay hands” on some young believer, ordaining him for leadership of ministry. The founder of the JW cult, which now has five million-plus members, started out his work as an 18-year-old who was given a Bible class to teach in New York. Another example–David Koresh of Waco, Texas, whose false claims to be the messiah led to the physical and spiritual deaths of many, also began his false “ministry” as a youth, when he was given an adult Sunday school class to teach in an evangelical church.

Don’t Kid Yourself (It’s about obedience, part 2)


“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
–James 1:22
Imagine you’re the parent of a ten-year-old child, and this evening you want your son to go clean up his messy bedroom. You go into the living room and find him and say, “Turn off the TV now, and go clean your room.” He nods, agreeing to do what you’ve said, so you go into the kitchen to start making dinner.
A few minutes later, you listen to the sound from the next room and realize that the TV is still on. Incredulous, you walk into the room and your son is still sitting right where he was when you told him to go clean his room. Raising your voice a bit to get his attention, you say, “I told you to turn off the TV, get up, and go clean your room.”
And he looks up at you and responds, “I know — I heard you,” and turns his head back toward the TV screen again. He sits there confidently, as if you have absolutely no reason to be upset with him.
A little louder now, you say, “Get up now, and do as you’re told.”
“I’m not ready yet,” he says. “I might do it later. But either way, I want you to know that I fully understand what you’re asking of me. You want me to stop watching this program, turn off the TV, and get up and go clean my room. So there is no need for you to repeat yourself, because I was listening closely and I heard you. That’s all that matters, right?” And once again he returns his focus to the television.
How would you respond to that blatant disobedience and rebellion?
Before you answer that, think about this: Is there an area of your life in which you’ve been just like that in your relationship to the Heavenly Father?
You’ve heard God’s commands that you witness to the lost, but are you obeying them?
You’ve heard God’s commands about sexual purity, but are you obeying them?
You’ve heard God’s commands that you give to His work, but do you do it?
You’ve heard God’s commands to praise and worship Him, but do you do so?
James warns us that we can deceive ourselves into thinking we are accomplishing God’s will just by knowing it. “Don’t kid yourself,” he says. “God is not pleased that you merely hear His word, but that you obey it.”
Partial obedience is disobedience. Delayed obedience is disobedience. Understanding God’s word and failing to obey it is sin. It is worthless to know the will of God if you refuse to do it. As one pastor put it, it is far less important how much you mark your Bible than how much your Bible marks you.
If you’ve made it your habit to listen to God’s commands and then pick and choose which ones you will obey and which you’ll ignore, some repentance is now in order.
God is great and glorious. He is our Maker and our Father. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. And He is completely worthy of our immediate obedience in all things at all times. Let us come into His presence with a renewed attitude, saying to Him, “Speak, Lord, Your servant hears with a willingness to know and to do Your will.”
And remember what Jesus told us about His commands: “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” –John 13:17

It’s about Obedience


“Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.”
–Psalm 119:11
Manifold reasons abound to study the Bible. Not the least of those reasons is the one taught us in the verse quoted above. We must learn God’s word to develop a lifestyle of obedience to the Lord and avoidance of sin.
Sins are the “bricks and mortar” that build the wall of separation between an unsaved person and the God Who wants fellowship with him. In like manner, sin in our lives as regenerated believers can put up higher and higher walls that prevent the increase of our intimacy with Him and usefulness to Him. If we’re going to be Spirit-filled and be used of God for His glory, the walls have to come down. So we need to know God’s word. And, more specifically, we need to read God’s word with a humble desire to obey.
That’s why we hide the word in our hearts. Not just to know God. Not just to feel good. Not just to tickle our ego and make us feel intellectually superior that we understand deep doctrinal truths. But to be transformed, and to be made increasingly holy in our conduct.
How tragic it is when we as Christians don’t act on what God teaches us. We hear a great sermon and say “Amen,” but when the service is over, we don’t do “Amen.” The message is forgotten before we reach the parking lot, because we didn’t approach the word with a desire to obey.
My brothers and sisters, let me speak plainly: If the word of God is not continually changing the way you think, speak, and act, then something is seriously wrong with your approach to it. Because God’s word, when served up by gifted teachers and applied to hearts by the indwelling Holy Spirit, produces not just good feelings, but deeply convicting ones. It is a sharp sword, cutting us to the quick and dividing bone from marrow. It searches the core of our being and brings to the surface every impurity, every falsehood, every evil passion, and every defect in our character. It places before us everything in us that prevents us from being conformed to the image of His perfect Son, and says, “This is the way you really are. Now let God change you.”
The flesh all-too-willingly trains itself to ignore the promptings of the Spirit and the Word. If you look into your heart today and find that you have been so trained, run to God’s word like a man parched with thirst in a scorched desert would run when he catches a glimpse of an oasis in the distance. Kneel at your bedside or in your prayer closet with Psalm 119 open before you, pleading with God to return to you a heightened sensitivity to His word and a broader vision of its value. Allow Him to re-train your mind, so that from this day forward, when He speaks, you listen with an ear willing to obey. That’s why His word is in your heart–so that you will obey Him. “My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin.” (1 John 2:1a)
Has church become a place you go each week and unwittingly miss opportunity after opportunity to be changed by God’s correction, encouragement, and instruction? Don’t delay in asking the Lord to remedy the situation. Allow God’s word to awaken you from spiritual slumber this very hour. Then praise Him for this wondrous truth: His word, hidden in your heart, will teach and enable you to “go and sin no more.”