Knowing God

Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. JohN 12:3

GIVING OUR BEST TO GOD

Living for Christ in this current time is becoming much more difficult for those who believe they are called directly into the work of the ministry. With the rising tide of governmental support for behaviors and lifestyles clearly condemned by Scripture it is hard not to conclude that those who are making such decisions don’t believe the Bible is God’s Holy Word. Interestingly enough our leaders don’t seem to have a problem saying the words, Holy Qur’an when speaking about the book of Islamic teachings for fear that they may insult someone and bring the wrath of radical Islam upon themselves.

We have seen them run from the homosexuals, run from the abortionists, run from the atheists, run from the A.C.L.U. and now they run from the Muslims. In the case of Islam what they don’t realize is that an obedient Muslim is a radical Muslim. The others are considered apostates by true followers of the Qur’an. If they can stand up for all of these who live or endorse such clearly perverse behaviors, why can they not stand up for The Bible? I believe the answer is simple: they don’t believe it!

We who call ourselves by that precious name of Jesus Christ (Christians) must not cowar down as the hour of trial comes upon us. We must be prepared to bring the best and most valuable of what we have and administer it to the Lord. Though we cannot do it directly to the feet of Jesus as Mary did that day, we must remember that whatever we do for and to the least of His we do for Him. And we must remeber the words of the Apostle Peter who wrote, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” 1 Pe 4:12

As those who sat with Mary that day experienced, “. . . the house was filled with the odour of the ointment”. And what was the odou that filled the room? The odor of total commitment. Where there is little or no sacrifice there is or no little fragrance. If the Church of our generation is to be purified it will be accomplished just as have those in past generations: by fiery trial.

With the new laws which label Biblical preaching to be hate speech you can be sure that the price of speaking Bible Truth will become more costly day by day. When they come for our tax exemptions or 501(c)(3) like they are already doing in Canada we may find out where we really stand in these matters. If we can turn back this tide through political action we must support those who are on the forefront of that battle, but we must remember our history and be prepared to stand fast regardless of the cost.

Remember the words of Paul from Romans 1:16  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” (II Cor. 4:1,2)

TRUTH ON THE INSIDE

It is a wonderful thing to hear the truth. There’s something about it that rings in the heart if you are looking for such things. Some people are very blunt and like to pride themselves that they speak plainly and honestly, but that isn’t always the same as truth. Truth has with it the desire to reveal something beneficial inside, while honesty often is just a stating of someone’s opinion or of what someone believes to be true. Honesty may often be cold and cruel and used to demean someone or shame them. Truth seeks to edify and often can provoke change in a heart that desires to have it.

Sometimes when I have preached a message I recognize that there are those who do not want to hear what I have to say. In that way truth can be a divider. This is what Jesus meant when he said he came to bring a sword. (Matt. 10:34) What a privilege it is to be able to speak the Word of God and know that it represents the highest form of Truth to be found. Jesus said He is the Word of God and He is the Way the Truth and the Life.

It can be easy to use the Word to control others or to make them believe a specific idea or philosophy if one desires to do so. Most people are busy struggling to make their life work and take care of their family or business; they look to ministers to tell them the truth and sometimes this makes them easy game for deceit or manipulation. I have often heard messages that were geared to get a group of people to support a program or follow a doctrine that will ultimately benefit the speaker more than the hearers. I would not want to be the minister who chose that path.

To receive the Truth is a great privilege. Jesus told Peter this when he correctly ascertained who Jesus really was. “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”, replied Peter.  Jesus answered, “Blessed art thou Simon Barjona”. To know the Truth is to have a divine revelation from God.

Do you take this for granted? Do you understand that if you believe the Gospel and understand the truth about who Jesus is you are blessed? Most of the world, indeed, many of those who call themselves Christian, do not know this truth in their inner man. They believe Jesus was a good man, a kind man and some would even say a gifted prophet or healer, yet they are not sure he is truly ‘the only begotten Son of God’. (I John 4:9)

Some think maybe God manifested himself as Buddha to the people of the East or Mohammed to the Arab peoples. Some would ask, “Who am I to say Jesus is the only way?” This shows that “the god of this age has blinded the[ir] minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God”. (II Cor. 4:4)

Many today preach a Gospel that is different from that which Jesus told us to preach and they are handling the word of God deceitfully. I would not want to stand before God on that charge.

Have we lost our courage today to say boldly ‘that is not the Truth!’ Are we afraid to offend someone or alienate ourselves from the flock and be branded as being judgmental? In this area especially we must be clear as to what we believe. True there are some doctrines that are not essential, but the Gospel message is not one of them.

This does not mean that we are to spend our time fruit inspecting everyone who comes into our path. But we do need to be ready as Paul told Timothy: “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves;” (II Tim. 2:24,25)

I remember when I first began to preach the Gospel and there were many new doctrines arising that were labeled New Age, or New Thought. I heard them and often thought, People won’t believe that; it is too far fetched. I was wrong. These things have now permeated the church and many have become mainstream thought for some.

Beloved I adjure you to hold on to the Truth of the Gospel as delivered unto us by the Holy Apostles and the Lord Jesus himself. If you do this you show yourself to be enlightened and blessed by God. But don’t take it for granted! Realize it is a privilege to see the Light of the truth. Many will go to the grave thinking all is well and will hear the words, Depart from Me. I never knew you.

May the Lord show you His wonderful Light of Truth and keep you close,

Craig Marlatt

“His foundation is in the holy mountains. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee. O city of God! Selah” Ps. 87:1,2

On April 28th I celebrated my 36th anniversary of the day I surrendered my life to Christ in Cross City Correctional Institution. It was a quiet day that actually found me meditating on the week before and the previous four months of writing and getting ready for our first presentation of the play the Lord called me to write. I had focused so intently on preparing for the play that I didn’t even notice that it was my anniversary until the following day.

They say, “time passes quickly when you’re having fun”. I have found that it does so whether you’re having fun or not. Especially after you reach a certain age; for me that was fifty. After that it seemed as though time took on another pace altogether and I was racing toward the finish line at breakneck speed. Maybe the Lord does that so we can focus on the important things and have a good showing when we cross the line.

When I think back about all the changes that have come and gone in my life, in the world and in the Church, I realize how special it is that we serve a God who never changes. “The Lord loveth the Gates of Zion.” Why? Because Zion represents His everlasting covenant with a people: His undying commitment to do that which He set out to do in the beginning: create a family of those who desire to be with Him eternally.

We recently passed another wonderful mark in our family. It was just over a year ago that my wife Jolyn was lying in a hospital bed on total life support for five days. By God’s mercy she suddenly awoke and three days later she left the hospital as though nothing had happened. She spent those days in the presence of God and He sent her back with a message: Tell the people about my unconditional love and tell them to get ready.

It is hard for us as humans to imagine unconditional love. We make stabs at it randomly throughout our time on earth and even find ourselves making fresh commitments occasionally to love others that way but, sad to say, we usually come short of the goal. Yet we keep plodding along hoping to get better at it as we go. “It wouldn’t be so hard if it wasn’t for all those ‘other people’. What’s wrong with them? Why do they make it so hard for me to love them like God loves me?” That’s a good question. They probably feel the same way about you and I.

Phew! That’s what I say when I think about all the different doctrines and methodologies that I have seen and heard along my road to the gates of Zion. After thirty-six years I think I’ve heard them all but nope, I’m sure there are more yet to come before it’s all over. God must have incredible patience. It seems we are always looking for a new way to get God on our side. To get Him to validate that our truth is the right truth. When all else fails it’s great to know that God is still the same as He always has been, and that in spite of our flailing about to get our own way, He still loves us.

I’ve come to understand that it’s not about rules and regulations, it’s about relationship; not about right and wrong, it’s about the incredible love that God has demonstrated in the giving of His son Jesus Christ as an offering for our sin and disobedience. “Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? Who can declare all His praise?” (Ps. 106:2 NKJV)

A few months ago I spoke in a service saying that ‘God loves us so much that He has even prepared a place for those who don’t want to be with Him’. Some who were there commented that they thought that was funny but not true. I still believe that what I said was right. Think about it. How many people have you known in your life — and maybe even in the churches you have attended — that seem like they don’t want anything to do with God? They don’t want to worship Him; they don’t want to honor Him; they don’t want Him in their lives. For that person heaven would really be hell, if heaven is truly like the Bible says it is.

The question that comes to mind is this: Is Jesus the Lord of your life or just the Lord of your death? I think that many people want God to be there for them when they die, but to stay in the background while they live; a backup plan so to speak. I used to think like that before I knew Christ through his Word.

In reality God has made it easy for us to do what pleases Him. We only need to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God. (John 6:29) If we truly do that the rest will take care of itself. He will do His part because He is a covenant keeper.

Yet as I write these words I realize that life is still tricky. Who can understand why a little child dies of leukemia before even getting a chance to experience life? Why some people get healed when we pray for them and others do not? Why good people seem to go before their time and bad ones seem to live forever? Why some people struggle all their lives and others seem to drift on a cloud of ease and comfort? So many unanswered questions in this life . . . and sometimes God seems to be silent.

And then I see Jesus “. . . who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2) When I read this I realize that if all other questions go unanswered God has still given me something beyond all I could ask or hope for in my own strength: the privilege of a relationship with Him through the sacrifice of Christ.

I pray for you today that you will know the unconditional love of God in your own life and that whatever you may be going through at this time you will look to Him for the answers. He will not fail you though He may not do things the way you think He should. As I learned last year at the bedside of my wife, God is in control. Our job is to trust and obey.

May the Lord watch over you in these troubled times and forever

Craig

by Craig Marlatt  ©1984, 2008

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Galatians 4:4,5

MAN SEPARATED FROM GOD

            Did you know that man has been separated from his original relationship with God? If you have ever read the account of mans creation written in the Genesis Chapters 1 through 3 you will see that there was a time when the first man, Adam, had great favor with God. He lived in a place called Eden where there was an abundance of the things that he needed, and he had peace with all of God’s creatures. His only requirement was to keep God’s command not to eat of the ‘Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil’ – as God had told him that if he did that he would die.

            Adam (man) failed to keep his agreement with God and fell into sin, so God withdrew from man’s presence. He also made Adam leave his beautiful garden in Eden and go out into the wild to make it on his own.

MAN STILL SEEKING GOD

            It’s a very sad story but it’s true, and since that time  man has been striving to regain that original friendship he once had with God, but to no avail. It was sin that separated man from God and still today it continues to do the same. There is no hope for man to find favor with God again until this block of sin is removed.

ALL HAVE SINNED

            All sin stands in the same category with God. Sin is sin, whether it’s that of the drunkard or the prostitute; the man who cheats on his taxes (just a little), or the little girl who lies to her mother. There is no difference. All sin comes from the root of our fallen nature, and all sin has the same result: separation from God!

            The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 that, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”, and in Romans 6:23 it say’s, ”The wages of sin is death”. If all have sinned, and the wages of sin is death, then all must die!

GOD IS MERCIFUL

            Does this mean that God is cruel and harsh? No! Because the same verse in Romans 6:23 say’s, “ . . .the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. Though all men deserve eternal death, God has made an offer of the free gift of eternal life through his Son, Jesus Christ. This is our only hope of being joined again to a life in union with God. God in his mercy sought a way to restore man from his fallen state and there was only one answer: the Holy Son of God must take upon himself the limitations of the flesh and be born in the likeness of men.

LOVED BY THE FATHER, HATED BY MEN

            For over thirty Jesus Christ lived on the earth. He did many wonderful miracles while He lived and was very pleasing to his Father God. Above all Jesus Christ never sinned; not with his thoughts, words or deeds. He was perfect in every way. He was the Father’s perfect sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the world. God would be satisfied.

            The religious leaders of the time hated Jesus because He told them the truth about their own sins, and the truth about God. Because of this they had him beaten to a pulp and then nailed his bloody carcass to a wooden cross. Then they hoisted it up before a screaming crowd who jeered, and mocked, and shouted horrible blasphemous things at God’s only Son. For several hours Jesus hung there in excruciating pain, naked before the world. While He hung there Jesus said these words: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”(Luke 23:24) Before He died Jesus cried out: “It is finished” (John 19:30), signifying that He had completed the work of salvation which God the Father had sent him to accomplish. Three days later Jesus Christ arose from the tomb where He was buried, triumphing over death, hell and the grave.

BELIEVE AND BE SAVED

            All who believe these words in their heart and repent from their sins will receive the forgiveness of God. To repent means to have a change of direction: to turn from your life of sin and unbelief and give your will and the leadership of your life over to Jesus Christ.

            When you acknowledge that you are indeed a sinner in need of God’s salvation, and confess your belief that Jesus Christ has made the full payment required by God to atone for your sins, that He rose from the grave, and that you are ready to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life, you shall be saved. (see Romans 10:9-10) It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have done. The blood that Jesus shed on the cross nearly 2,000 years ago is still sufficient to remove your sins. You will be ‘born again’ and receive a new heart of obedience so that you can serve God and obey his word.

THERE IS NO OTHER WAY

This is God’s Plan of Salvation for you and it is impossible to be forgiven through any other means then through Jesus Christ.

You must:

1.      Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus

2.      Believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead

3.      Repent from your sin and disobedience to God

4.      Receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior

Do it now! Don’t put it off. God is dealing with your heart and this is the most important decision you will ever make. Satan will try to make you doubt, but it is only because he desires to rob you of this gift of Eternal Life.

             Find a Bible believing and teaching Church gathering where you can  find fellowship and grow, and begin to study your Bible regularly. Ask God to direct you and He will lead you to the right people, but be careful as there are many wolves out there who want to steal what you have. Trust in the Lord and He will direct your path.

             Write or email me if you have any questions, need any help, or just want to share the good news of what God has done for you. Share your faith with others around you and God will surely bless you. May He keep you in his loving care,

Craig Marlatt   craig@craigmarlatt.org

“The greatest freedom is the freedom to believe. Without belief there can be no real freedom.” One might respond that the freedom to not believe is also a freedom, but it is not so. True freedom has borders. The borders are the will of God and the express purpose of God. Unbelief is the greatest of sins because it is in direct conflict with the revealed will of God. Unbelief is to freedom what wishing is to prayer. Wishing is an expression of a desire, frustration or imagination which may or may not coincide with the will of God. When it coincides with the will of God it is prayer.

Often wishing can be the discovery process that leads to prayer, but it can never be prayer. Prayer begins with God the Holy Spirit churning or calling within us or echoing His will through the spoken or written Word of God. God leads us through our frustration and need from imagination to prayer by revealing His will. Often we resist God’s Will because it does not meet with the expectation of our own desire. It is usually our desire that manifests the fallen nature of man and it is through the revealed will of God that we are called to ‘cast down’ imaginations and every thing that is in enmity (exalts itself) against the will of God. It is the nature of the fallen will to resist the borders of God’s perfect will. (2 Cor. 10:5)

Because God cannot be usurped, He is the only example of True Freedom. God is God and can never be less than God therefore He is in perfect union with Himself. He has no fear because there is nothing that can upset His reality. God is perfect love and “perfect love cast out fear”. (1 John 4:18) God is Reality and all that comes from His imagination is the lesser reality of the creation. It is not the Creator, but a manifestation of His expression, His idea. Because it is His idea it is His will that enables the creation to have existence. Because its existence is linked and supported only by His will, its freedom not only is in obligation to God but cannot exist without Him. There is no true freedom outside of the will of God.

It is the futility of man to resist God’s will by trying to usurp something that cannot be overcome. That is why many briefly successful (and horrible) expressions of human government are stolen from the principles of God’s revealed will. They are in fact attempts to capture God’s power without God’s will. For an example consider communism: this is merely an attempt to build governmental and human reality and authority without the revealed will of God. It is an attempt to accomplish the life of the early Church as recorded in the book of The Acts of the Apostles without God and without love. It is to human government what wishing is to prayer. Its history is based upon the frustrations of someone who liked God’s ideas, but not His borders.

Humans are the highest expression of God’s imagination in Creation for in them He has revealed Himself by imprint. Each is expressly different in some way as God himself differs from all things. Some have said that God is everything except that which is not God. But this cannot be true in essence, anymore than to say that a man’s ideas are not the man. Because they come from him they are indeed an expression of some part or idea which is him. Therefore man, God’s creation, is not separate from Him and cannot function or exist outside of Him. Even in complete rebellion from which there is no return he still exists only by God’s will. As David wrote, “Where shall I flee from Thy Spirit or where shall I go from Thy Presence Lord? . . .though I make by bed in hell, Thou art there”.

In marriage God allows the creation to create. God, being not endangered by the result, allows man to express himself in the fullest way through pro-creation. It is an opportunity for man to express his will through the act of creation. God does not interfere with the process but offers a blessing in marriage. In marriage I say, and not just sex, because it is within the boundary that God has supplied for the benefit of man and his offspring. By marriage I mean a union between two persons of the opposite sex who, under God, have covenanted together to form a family. Of course I don’t mean to infer that the laws of the land mean nothing, but since they differ from society to society let us presume that they are being upheld, Righteous Law being one of the clear borders the Lord has assigned for the benefit of man.

Through the act of union with one spouse, man can begin to exercise the nature of God that is given through imprint (Gen.1:26). He also can experience the complexity of that relationship in its development and growth. As man made God in His image and likeness, so has He made woman in the image and likeness of man and children in the image and likeness of their parents: the union of two expressed in one creation, a child.

Freedom, expressed through creation, is not exempt from suffering. God himself suffered separation and the loss of His son Adam in the Garden of Eden and later when Christ went to the Cross, because he endowed the man created in His image to have freedom of will. He could have avoided suffering by making him an obedient robot like creature, but in doing so He would have forfeited family. To create family one must accept with that the potential for disharmony and suffering when free wills come into conflict with each other. God proves His love for man in that He created him a free will creature, thus enabling man to cause suffering in and to God.

                             (to be continued)