Mentoring Matters

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

What is a simple definition of secular Psychology? A study of the natural, our natures, how they function, and how to fix what is wrong.  Sounds like a good idea except they want to solve all our problems with man’s solutions. The thought of seeking the God of Creation according to them is not rational or reasonable. Why, because we are smarter and have done away with those superstitions and myths about God. We are our own god and can make those decisions for ourselves, man can fix man. (no he can’t)

Grab pencil and paper to jot down a few ideas that are keeping us in turmoil and trauma in how modern psychology has crept into our church lives.  Know the facts as history describes and then see the pattern that leads us down the path of failure.  Do Christians have another option and can we mix secular psychology with a Biblical worldview? The answers may surprise you.

“Don’t let others spoil your faith and joy with their philosophies, their wrong and shallow answers built on men’s thought and ideas, instead of on what Christ has said. For in Christ there is all of God in a human body; so you have everything when you know Christ and you are filled with God through your union with Christ. He is the highest Ruler, with authority over every other power.” Colossians 2: 8-9

 

So what is the purpose of a Christian in these hard times? We talk about changing our troubled culture, but most do not have any idea  - how to and what to change.

As Christians, we are to know and understand the blindness and how we got these cultural views. We are to understand and explain to blinded hearts and minds how our lives are making choices that dethrone God Almighty. We cannot allow our faith and joy to bring us down into negativity, depression, and us questioning; How Then Should We Live.”

As we reflect on man’s attempt to bring about a social society that resolves all man’s problems, let’s search for the real answers that are found in God alone.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

One of the beliefs we entertain and promote is the religious lie that to be spiritual and useful in our walk with the Lord as believers, we must be spiritual giants. The greater the gifts, the more powerful the preaching and teaching, the more popular and well known our own ministry qualifies us as Christians living with a 4-star approval rating. RUBBISH!

Our Bible is filled with calling our attention to: daily dying to self, decreasing in the importance of “MY” ministry, being willing to suffer, and allowing Christ and His character to take center stage in every aspect of our lives.

Settle back in quietly waiting on the Lord for His mind as we look at how God is shaping us into His image through ways that differ from the popular belief that “Bigger is always Better.”

“Do not lie one to another since you have put off the old man with his deeds." Colossians 3:9

How many of us have experience:

The Blame Game, “its your fault”, “You made me so mad”

”You hurt my feelings or you don’t meet my needs”

Have these thoughts ever cross your mind and you used the silent treatment to make someone feel guilty?” How about lashing out in a verbal frenzy assuring the other person they are wrong.  Sounds crazy but many do this?

As we accuse one another do those same pitiful arguments go back to our God for His “mistreatment” of us? Living lies is the surest way to the door of misery, anger, anxiety and blinding us to the Truth.

Is it a lie that we must earn God’s love? Is it ok to get impatient with God’s timing on how He is working in other lives?”

Come investigate how we accept lies to avoid pain and suffering. Learn how we are bombarded daily with lies to keep us under the control of the enemy. Don’t let lies believed as truth affect you as if they were true, even though they are LIES.”

“Do not lie to each other. You have left your old sinful life and the things you did before.” Colossians 3:9

Biblical meaning of a lie: To practice deceit, falsehood, and treachery either by word or action. It is the exact opposite of truth. The sanctity of truth is fundamental in biblical teaching since it is based on the nature and character of God. Therefore, to despise truth is to despise God, and the Scriptures treat this topic with profound seriousness.

“A LIE BELIEVED AS TRUTH WILL AFFECT YOUR LIFE AS TRUTH EVEN THOUGH IT IS A LIE.”

Some in Secular Society will give you a half truth – misguided facts - still a lie

Some in relationships will color the “facts” so not to anger or offend – still lies

Some will pass on “information” that is not checked out and pass it on as truth – still a lie

Some cannot stand the light of Truth – so will speak from a heart of darkness – filled with lies.

 

The Bible says Satan is the Father of Lies. There are many avenues where a person can tell “lies” and believe no harm will happen. Look deep into your heart today as we discuss the “lies of the world” that are not limited to those outside of Christianity but find our old sinful lifestyle still “living a lie.”

Colossians 2:8 “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”

What comprises vain philosophy and empty deceit? At the entry level is Humanism - traditions having  basic concepts that make man a law unto himself.  He can solve all problems and there is no need of God.

We are not sure just how this is working. Tune in and help evaluate the goals for “good” through Humanism.

Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Our world in general has lost or denied the fear of the Lord. Without that wisdom, we are opened to man’s wisdom and the most common definition is “Humanism: faith in man, in science, in education.” Man will use reason, not divine revelation, as the guide for moral action and education; resulting in deception...

Trusting in man is seen in many practical examples. Many Christians buy into humanistic thinking and have weakened their moral fiber, allowing a double standard within the Body of Christ, the true church.

We are digging into how this has crept into believer’s lives. Many sincere Christians are not wanting to follow after strange doctrine or are in known rebellion in their walk with the Lord. Nevertheless, denial of Truth is running at an all-time high.

Today, we attempt to expose lies believed as truth, thinking we are growing in grace, when actually not fearing the Lord is grieving the Spirit and our guidance is hindered. There is a shock value as we discover the results of leaving our first Love; so open your ears to hear what WISDOM from God declares.

Fact Checked and verified that:

. In John 1:1 The Word of God is declared to be GOD

. John 1:14 The Word became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.

. John 6:44 Confirms life that last comes through Jesus Christ from God the Father

. John 6: 48-58 offers an illustration of how this works. The explanation did not

make “sense” to some of his disciples that were listening.

. John 6:63 adds additional understanding to the process via the Holy Spirit. Still

not understanding they were offended and simply did not trust the words of

Truth - Did not agree with the Source.

. They chose to reply of their own understanding and walked with the Lord Jesus

NO MORE. They turned away. Their logic was better and higher than the God who

created them.

There was another group of his followers, his close disciples. They chose to ask

more questions to understand the “hard sayings.” They wanted to trust the Giver

of Truth.

What are we doing today when we are faced with hard sayings? Do we seek and

search to know? Many today are murmuring and complaining about the

difficulties we are passing through. They are NOT asking questions to know

accepting their own thinking, closing their hearts and minds to the facts.

Open you heart to the lessons we can learn by claiming the words of Jesus to be

our only hope and source of lasting living.

This week on Mentoring Matters, Janie Ratzlaff, and Sharon Hoskins discuss the all-sufficient Scriptures as God's Word. It is the truth and final authority and we can depend on it for our everyday living.

Isaiah 30:15: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”

The closing portion of that verse says BUT YOU WOULD NOT. Why would anyone want to reject that counsel? As believers we want a secure relationship with Almighty God and enjoy all the blessings He provides for His family.

When we read this counsel from the Bible but will not apply, we lack understanding or simply do not believe it is our final authority. We then turn onto a detour that takes down a winding road to destruction.

Let’s get grounded in the sufficiency of scripture as it was written to and for us.

Hebrews 4:12: “ For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

The definition of “sufficiency” is adequate to do the purpose intended or to meet a need. 2 Peter defines this as “seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”

The scripture is the best book for offering guaranteed promises filled with hope, but they also instruct us with rules of accountability. In world culture we find resistant to authority that demands any control where we want our “freedoms.” Many look at the scripture as being deficient or inadequate. Therefore, they ignore the Bible as being a guide they want to trust.

Let’s do a “fact check” in affirming the Bible is not just an extra accessory to aid our model of living with philosophy and methodology; it is the REAL DEAL