Is There Something Dangerous About Jesus' Teaching?

Is there something that is dangerous about the teaching of Jesus? He himself warns that there is in John 12:35.

"Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going." John 12:35, NIV

JUST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER
This is a temporary world, and our lives here are temporary. Although the one who believes in Christ is eternally secure, which means that salvation cannot be lost, the opportunity to be the light in this world is only for a short time.

WALK WHILE YOU HAVE THE LIGHT
Jesus used the word walk to describe the totality of life. Walking is one of the most common activities of a healthy human being. It is a metaphor for the travel through our lives to the destination we all face at the end.

THE LIGHT
You may hear a powerful and convicting sermon, or go on a wonderful mountain-top retreat or participate in an eye-opening mission service but if the lessons you learned from God in those times are not lived out every day thereafter they will wither away inside you and instead of being a blessing become a weight holding you back in every area of your life.

The phrase, while you have the light, suggests these blessed truths will not always be there or that we are in danger of losing it at any time. In the context of John 12:35, the disciples must have thought that Jesus was referring to his death when His light would be taken then, but we must all take warning to live the truths we have been given.

WHOEVER WALKS IN THE DARK
Many people fail to be true to the light of Jesus' teaching. They have little understanding, mix it all up, and hurt people in the name of God. They wander in the dark and cause others to stumble after them.

Neglecting the teaching we have received is dangerous. If we fail to live out the light we have been given, that light will become darkness inside us. We must all be diligent about staying in the light of Christ's teaching and practically living that light.


If you want to learn more about having the light of Jesus in your life follow THIS LINK.

(c)Adron Dozat 8/31/17 

Should You Pray To Be Happy? Prayer John 16:24

Is personal happiness something we could get through prayer?

Jesus said, "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." John 16:24.

"ASK"
To ask someone for something is to take a position of being inferior to the person you are making the request of, at least at that moment.  The very act of asking is humble.

This verse has no reference to earning- just asking.  Asking implies relationship; you need to know the one you are asking.

You do not come with an offer to earn or buy, but you must simply ask.

"AND YOU WILL RECEIVE"
This is a promise, but Jesus did not say exactly what you will receive.  You may receive what you asked for, but the answer may be no, or wait while God works in your heart to change your desires.

HAPPINESS VERSES JOY
The word happy refers to good happening, so happiness is circumstance driven since it is our positive response to the events around us.  We are made to respond to our circumstances, if things go well you are likely to be happy.

Joy has no regard for circumstances; you can experience adverse events and still have joy.  Joy is from within; it comes by the spirit and is a fruit of God's Spirit living in us.  Joy may find expression through prayer.  God makes a promise that in prayer we will experience joy.

"IN MY NAME"
We represent Jesus in our prayers to the Father.  We are bringing his kingdom interest before God. On one hand, this is very open and on the other, this is very restraining.  Open because it suggests anything may be asked for since he represents the authority of God's power, and restraining since it is saying your request represents his desires.  Meaning we would pray for the things he wants, and we would not pray for things that are opposed to his holiness.  For example, we would not pray for revenge since Jesus taught love and forgiveness, or we would not pray for idle wealth when Jesus taught to sell all you have and give to the poor and follow him.

As in all things Christian, this is tied to our relationship with Jesus.  We cannot pray in his name if we do not know his interest or his desires.  We cannot pray in his name if we do not know him and his teaching.

PRAY ON
We all make mistakes in prayer but we must press on and pray.  It is worth the effort to know God better through prayer and to experience the spiritual joy He gives.

Note: There are other conditions of prayer in scripture, such as prayer must be according to God's will and not for self-gratification, but this verse is one of the foundations to prayer.


To learn more about how to have a relationship with God CLICK HERE.

(c) Adron 2/5/16

How To Tell If Someone Is A Christian.

What is the real test of being a Christian?  Is it doing great works of good, is it by enduring persecution, having beautiful worship or something else?

"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35.

WHAT CHRIST DID NOT SAY
It is interesting that Christ did not say going to church makes people know you are his disciple, or giving to charity, owning a Bible, wearing a cross, or experiencing a miracle.

EVERYONE
Our lives are on display. We may not like it, but it is the truth—the world sees. If a person is following the Lord, it will be on public record through the eyes of each person they meet.

IT IS ABOUT JESUS
Jesus's teaching is unique and unmistakable. If we follow his teaching, we will naturally love one another. If we follow anybody else's teaching, we will not have this supernatural love for Christ's followers.

We need his teaching, and we need it in our lives. We need to sit at his feet, read his word, and listen to his spirit.

LOVE
Love is not just good feelings. It involves many actions, such as giving, service, and sacrifice. The Lord gave the ultimate example of love, for the Bible says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16.

ONE ANOTHER
Christ said this love does not have favorites.  His disciples will love not just nice people, but all people.  Jesus spent a lot of time with the maimed, messed up and underclasses.  It cost him his reputation and earned the disdain of those who cherished earthly status over the spiritual treasure.

IF YOU DON'T LOVE
Not to love is very bad.  It suggests that a person has never experienced the Gospel's saving power.  Jesus spoke of salvation as a new birth, which means we have a new life and a power to love which comes from a union with Christ in his life and death.  If love does not characterize your life reconsider the question of your salvation.

To find out more about becoming born again by faith in Jesus visit my other blog: Click here.

(c)Adron Dozat 8/30/13

How Does a Believer Show They Love Jesus?

We know we should love God but how? It is not like you can give him a hug. But Jesus said there is a way.

"The third time he said to him."Simon son of John do you love me?" Peter was hurt because he asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" he said, "Lord you know all things; you know I love you." Jesus said. "Feed my sheep." John 21:17

SIMON

Simon also called Peter denied Jesus three times on the night Christ was crucified. Simon must have been full of self-doubt, that his position as leader was forfeit and unworthy of being a disciple of the Lord.

Then Jesus returns from the grave, having overcome the judgment of sin and victorious over death. Three times the question is put to Simon, "do you love me?"

DO YOU LOVE ME

He asks not because he is narcissistic but because he is worthy of Peter's love and our love; we are at our best when we love God and live out an expression of that love.

LORD...YOU KNOW...

Peter called him Lord here, and if Jesus was only a good teacher or rabbi, he would have had to correct Peter, but he instead accepts it as the correct title. As Lord, he knows Peter's heart. He knows all things, and he knows our hearts too.

FEED MY SHEEP

Jesus said to feed his sheep or lambs three times. It may have been because Peter denied him three times, or because the Bible is full of the threefold representation of God, or the progression in the questions the Lord asked Peter and his answers. Each time the duty was more demanding, they went from feeding lambs to leading the sheep to tend them. Christ covered all the duties, and Peter could not doubt the totality of the request.

To care for sheep is hard unending work full of heartbreak and frustration. If we love Jesus, we will love his sheep- all those people with problems who make foolish choices and come to us all the time with needs and problems. He loves them, and if we love him, we love those who are his too.

There are many ways we can do this.

     * Give them the encouragement of the Word of God.
     * Guide them where we can.
     * Protect them when it is possible to do so.
     * Give them what they need when we have it.
     * Find them when they stray.
     * Lift them up when they fall.

Do we love our Lord? The way we treat his people will show just how much.

(c) Adron Dozat 8/18/13

Can I Lose Salvation? John 10:28

Is eternal life really eternal, or is it only good so long as I hold on?

"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one shall snatch them out of my hand," John 10:28, NIV*.

WHAT IS ETERNAL LIFE?
The idea of eternal life is the hope of all mankind. Eternal life is more than eternal existence. A living thing is moving, growing, interacting, experiencing, and in the case of eternal life, it is aware. Eternal existence may imply eternal darkness or eternal sleep or something worse.

Eternal life must be a life of thrilling fulfillment and abundance that is completely gratifying. In this world, we can only conceive of it in vague generalities.

JESUS SAID
Jesus said I give them eternal life. Eternal life is not earned or merited by good deeds but is clearly a gift, and the surprise is that it comes from Jesus, not our efforts. A gift must be received; we must take the gift, or else it is just an offer.

Only God can give eternal life. Since God is the Eternal One and the Author of life, the logic of Jesus's statement is that he is claiming to do something only God can do—therefore, he is making another claim to be God.

NEVER
It is not only eternal life but also that those who have it will never perish; this double statement is very reinforcing. There is no doubt that Jesus is talking about life unending without the fear of annihilation or death. The possibility of death is removed for those who have eternal life.

NO ONE
When Jesus says, "No one shall snatch them..." he claims superiority over all powers, human and demonic. He says no one- no leader of any religion, devil, or even our own actions can remove us from salvation.

SNATCH
Some translations say snatch; others say pluck, take or seize. The idea is the same; neither speed, power, subterfuge, nor barter can overpower the grasp Jesus has on us.

THE HAND
Hands hold, and it is Jesus' hand that holds us, not our own. We have eternal life secured by Jesus, not by us; he holds us; we don't hold him. He says, "My hand..." We are not held by the hand of a religion, a church, or a creed but by the hand of a person: Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

There is no doubt that eternal life in Jesus is eternal!

To learn more about how to have eternal life in Jesus, follow this link. Salvation.
To read this verse in other translations, use this link: John 10:28.

(c)Adron Dozat 8/26/12

Is Everybody A Child Of God Or Only Some? John 1:12

What does it mean to be a child of God?

People talk about being a child of God. Is it just a statement of optimism, New Age pantheism, or are some of us possessing something different from the rest- something truly Divine?

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" John 1:12, NIV.

Why are we not automatically children of God? The answer is unpopular, but if you get past the bad news the good news is truly Gospel. We are not automatically children of God because we have sinned, and our sins offend His holy nature and this separates us from God, but He has provided the answer to our need.

GOD'S OFFER

God offers something to us we can't have any other way; salvation and forgiveness; and not only that but adoption as sons and heirs. He did the hard part, He sent his son to die in our place on the cross; all he wants us to do is receive it. To receive something is to take it. If someone has a package in their hand and they hold it out to you have not yet received it; it has been offered and the giver is willing and maybe you are willing to have it, but until you take the gift from his hand into yours you have not received it. God is offering salvation through faith in His son's work and death on the cross for our sins. He is holding it out to us but we must take it.

ANYONE

Anyone can receive Jesus no matter what your background or history or education or status. The Bible says "Yet to all..." There is nothing that you are, or you have done that can make the offer of receiving Jesus void. "Yet to all" is God's word in the Bible to all. Whoever you are you can receive Jesus and become a child of God.

ALL
We can’t receive some of Jesus and reject some of Jesus, it is all or nothing. We must receive his divinity, his teaching, his sacrificial death for us, and his resurrection power. The hardest for many is to receive him as Lord of their lives.

NEED
According to this verse we need to become children of God, but not by good works, or giving, or membership in a faith community, it is by receiving Jesus. If you have not yet received Jesus won't you do it now?

To learn more about the plan of salvation follow this link: click here

(c) Adron Dozat

What is Eternal Life? John 17:4

You hear about finding eternal life. People quote John 3:16 which ends with “…shall not perish but have Eternal life.” But what is “Eternal Life?”

“Now this is eternal life; that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”  John 17:3.

This verse is from the prayer of Jesus in John 17; it is recommended to read it all.

ETERNAL LIFE

To some, eternal life is fire insurance to escape hell; to others, it is a heavenly resort in the clouds where we are wondrously entertained and amused forever. We are grateful to receive forgiveness and look forward to heaven's blessings, but these are the beginning considerations of what eternal life is about.

Jesus believed in Eternal life. He spoke about it several times in the Gospels. The tone of this statement is absolute and positive.

KNOW

The first truth about eternal life is to "know" The Father and Jesus Christ. This is experience knowing, not just facts in your head, but knowledge through a living growing connection. It is intimacy and relationship. It is a picture of companionship and friendship. Mankind lost that when Adam sinned, and one of God's purposes is to restore man's fellowship with his Creator and with Christ, who is our Savior. To know God is to have a relationship with God.

GOD

We must know the "only true God." We all have misunderstandings about The Lord. One of his purposes is to correct our thinking about him. We must know the True God, not the watered-down god the world represents, the Santa Clause god who grants wishes, or the mushy god of sentimental love, but to truly know the Almighty.

IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU

Eternal life is not about you or your rewards- it is about the One who gives blessings and rewards. It is about discovering the wonders, depths, and beauties of our Redeemer. The focus of all angels and saints in heaven is the Lord, and the focus of our life ought to be God. Heaven is a place of blessing, and He is the biggest blessing of all.

JESUS

We cannot know the Father without knowing the Son. We begin to know God when we receive Christ as Lord and Savior. If you have not trusted Jesus as your Savior, then you do not know God. Come to Him today and accept his offer of free salvation. Then you will be fulfilling God’s eternal plan for you.

If you want to know more about eternal life, follow this link: click here.

Thank you for visiting and reading my blog. I sincerely hope this post is helpful and an encouragement.  For more like this, see the most popular post in the left sidebar, or use the search box above.

(c) Adron 11/24/9

If Jesus Wants Me To Follow Him Why Does He Say Such Hard Things? John 12:25

Do you wonder what Jesus is about? What is the purpose of the Christian life? These questions are not always eased by the words of Jesus.

“The man who loves his life will lose it while the man who hates his life in the world will keep it for eternal life." John 12: 25, NIV.

These words go against human nature. There is so much to love in this modern world with its gratifications and pleasures. Who would not love all it has to offer?

LOVE LIFE
We love life by living for comfort, pleasure, our own interest, money, food, entertainment, pleasure, family, and the list goes on. Life is more than the living breathing body of flesh and serving its needs. We are spirit and have souls. The body is the vehicle of our souls, and this world is the stage where we serve and glorify God. It is easy to see our time on earth as all there is and our body as who we are and what we do here on earth as the end results of life. To ignore the spirit and focus on the temporal is to use up our resources that were meant to fulfill God’s purpose and will result in missing the blessings of God.

HATE LIFE
We must say "no" to those things treasured among mankind and seek those things treasured by God. To hate your life is to love Christ more than to love your own interest, importance and concerns.

CHOOSE LIFE
We make thousands of decisions each day. Often we choose to love ourselves instead of doing that which would fulfill love for God.

We are of two worlds; we live out one existence now but will spend eternity in another. Our lives become a constant choosing between the two, and a continuous choosing between God and self. If we live for this world we are losers in the next, if we live for the next we are winners in both.

To learn more about how to have eternal life see my other blog.

Thank you for visiting and reading my blog. I sincerely hope this post is helpful and an encouragement.  For more like this see the most popular post in the left sidebar, or use the search box above.

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(c) Adron

Can We Be More Like Jesus? John 3:30

Who wouldn't want to be like Jesus? He was so compassionate, merciful, wise, and bold; he went about doing good wherever he went. John the Baptist knew the secret of this.

“He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30, NIV.

MUST

This word is repeated twice, and everything depends on it. This "must" means it has to happen, and it is the highest priority. There is not secondary plan; it means all or nothing.

BECOME

The imperative words of this verse are “must become,” “Become” can be defined as “grow to be.” It is a process. Something has to change in our lives when we come to Jesus: growth is not an option in God’s plan. We “must” be progressing in becoming more of what Jesus values and less of my own values.

HOW

We become like the people we spend time with. They influence us gradually and slowly; their passions become our passions. We who came to God through Jesus are in a dynamic spiritual relationship with him. In that relationship, Jesus does not force himself on us. Neither do we absorb him through osmosis; we must invite him and be intentionally open to him.

A few actions that help me become more like Jesus are…

     * To spend more time with Jesus.
     * To learn and adopt his agenda.
     * To talk to him in prayer.
     * To listen to him in Bible.
     * To do the things he does.
     * To yield me to him.
     * To commit me to become like Jesus.

LESS

We must become lost in becoming like Jesus, but this does not mean we have our own personality and identity.  Jesus was a living example of his own personality, so we are assured that these things are vital: you are who you are, and Jesus does not take that away. Rather in Jesus, you can realize a more fulfilled and completed you.

We can be more like Jesus, and it will make us richer in character, wiser in mind, gracious in speech, humble in relationships, courageous against evil, a servant to all, and so much more. 

Thank you for visiting and reading my blog. I sincerely hope this post is helpful and an encouragement.  See the most popular post in the left sidebar or use the search box above for more like this.

(c) Adron 11/6/09