Need Answers, Try the Bible

Please read I Peter 1:23-2: Have you heard, the Bible is the answer? Biblical truth must not be ignored. The opposite of ignorance in the spiritual realm is not knowledge, but obedience. Biblically to know and not do is not to know at all. Only the Word understood and obeyed can bring reality into human experience. We must know the Word of God and do the Word of God before we can properly communicate the Word of God. What qualifies a person to communicate the Word? Answer, a person who knows something, and has experienced the reality of something. Only that believer has something worthwhile to communicate. That individual is believable. Some of us old timers remember Super Bowl Eleven, the Oakland Radiers and the Minn. Vikings. The game was a disaster for Minnesota. On game morning George Bealer and Dave Roe, who played for the Raiders, read "Boldness may be given to us that we may speak as we ought to speak." They promised God they would share the Gospel on every occasion. In the locker room show they talked to Dave Roe. The reporter said "Hey Dave I bet this is the most exciting day of your life?" Dave answered "No, the day I received the Lord Jesus Christ was the most exciting day of my life." Note four things about the Word of God. First, it is mighty like a hammer (see Jeremiah 23:29). The might of the Word of God, is the power to smash hard hearts like a hammer. A pickpocket stole a Bible, in time he read it and came to know Christ. God's Word has been a hammer for centuries and when other hammers try to break God's eternal anvil of truth we remember the inscription on the monument to the Huguenots in Paris "Hammer away, you hostile hands, your hammers break; God's anvil stands." The usefulness of the Word of God is attested to by many. George Washington said "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible. Charles Dickens said "The New Testament is the very best book that ever was or ever will be known in the world. Andrew Jackson wrote "That book, sir is the rock on which our republic rests." Abraham Lincoln said "I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book." Second, it's usefulness is like a fire (see Jeremiah 23:29). It has the power to destroy evil. The Bible burns like a refiners fire. The dead will be judged out of this Book. It's warm, Bible reading is God's cure for the common cold heart. It's protective, the Word is our protection from the bite of the serpent, the devil. Third, it's fruitfulness is like a seed. It brings salvation. The Word brings fruitfulness into barren lives. The Word of God is the seed of God. Satan tries to destroy this seed in three ways. Prevention, snatch the Word away. Perversion, through theological heresy. And through politics, when the evil one get control of government the gospel is always suppressed. However God is vastly more powerful than any human government. Forth, it's sustenance is like milk. A babies desire for milk is an evidence of life. Growth is the desire of every Christian who walks in the Spirit. An infants desire for milk is fervent and frequent. This desire comes from a sense of hunger. There are generally two reasons a child loses his appetite. He is sick or dead. The same is true for a professing Christian. How hungry are you for the Word? Do you feast on the Word daily? If you have lost your appetite ask the Lord to show you why? Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill... (Eccl 2:21). The book of Ecclesiastes is an interesting book. It begins with the word translated "Teacher" from which the English title of the book is derived. Ecclesiastes is wisdom literature. This book acknowledges the value of wisdom. "Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun. Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor" (Eccl 7:11-12). This book imparts wisdom in many areas of life, including law and justice: "When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, the hearts of the people are filled with schemes to do wrong" (Eccl 8:11). Our court systems could learn much from the book of Ecclesiastes about the necessity of justice being carried out quickly. The special emphasis of Ecclesiastes is relating the limits of wisdom. First, wisdom is often ignored or forgotten "The wise man, like the fool, will not be long remembered; in days to come both will be forgotten" (2:16). Solomon remembered when a poor man saved a city by his wisdom, yet soon this man’s deeds were forgotten. Solomon concludes: "‘Wisdom is better than strength.’ But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.... Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good" (9:16, 18). But the ultimate limit of wisdom is death: "Like the fool, the wise man too must die!" The "Preacher...boils everything down to two great realities, to the essentials, death and chance" Wisdom ends at death: "In the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom" (9:10). "What a heavy burden God has laid on men!" (1:13). Here is a key to this book. Solomon reflected on his material possessions, seeing them as empty and unable to provide meaning to his life. Many of his musings are somewhat cynical. Admittedly, he acknowledges God’s sovereignty: "I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it" (3:14). Solomon also realizes that the proper attitude toward God is awe and respect: "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God.... Stand in awe of God" (5:1, 7). Solomon even admits: "I know that it will go better with God-fearing men, who are reverent before God. Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow" (8:12-13). But, despite all this, Solomon is wistful that God’s gift to humans is "to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him" (5:18). Solomon accuses God: "God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil" (6:2). Those who cannot see beyond themselves, even if they had the wisdom of Solomon, are bound to have a distorted view of God. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

How Great Thou Art

“How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears” (II Samuel 7:22). As a teenager I attended a youth fall retreat at a Bible Camp. I remember hearing the sound of "How great Thou art." sung by a hundred voices. The message of that song remains with me today. The day is coming in glory when we will hear the same words sung by the saints of all ages. There is no doubt God is great. He is certainly great beyond human comprehension. How great is dependent on how we see Him. I have found the bigger (more Biblical) I see God the smaller my problems become. The transverse is also true, the smaller I see Him, the larger my problems loom. We can be certain that God is Sovereign over the affairs of the universe. He works all things according to "The counsel of His own will." We are not to be shocked at His workings. I remember the Vietnamese War and wondered where God was in that seeming disaster. Years later I found out that a multitude of Vietnamese people accepted Christ during that terrible war. There was a revival going on, God, through the Holy Spirit was working in the midst of it, calling the lost into His kingdom. There is no God like Him, He is the only true and living God in existence. All other gods are make believe or demonic. The enemy is always seeking worship, and he receives worship through sin and false worship. We are seeing the partial destruction of the god of materialism in America today. People tend to worship that which gives them security, purpose, pleasure and protection. Only the True and Living God can do these things. I think this is the time for God's children to start praying about their praying. God was quite serious when He said in II Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." We have become an exceedingly wicked people who have forgotten God. America has never been so much in need of revival. Historically revival always starts with intense prayer. Difficult times bring great opportunity for the gospel. The hearts of people tend to open when they see the destruction of their objects of worship. I remember making a hospital visit on an educated woman who had the reputation of "Eating preachers." I went there on the request of her godly sister. I walked into her hospital room and found a woman whose heart was open to the Gospel and she accepted the Lord. What happened was the cancer that was destroying her body, brought her to the place of desperation. She turned from her sin and whatever gave her security and called on the Lord. I believe the Lord has set before us a great opportunity for the gospel, Lets not waste it. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Discernment

"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned" (I Corinthians 2:14). Did you know Satan is a expert when it comes to fooling us. This is one reason why we need discernment. We need Holy Spirit given discernment. One of my favorite commentators is Paul Harvey. Notice when he speaks you really don't have the whole picture until he gives you the rest of the story. How many times do we have huge decisions to make and we desperately wish we had the rest of the story, that is the whole picture. Every day we make decisions on what we can see, knowing full well there is so much we don't see. This is another reason why we need discernment. Each of my children made a commitment to Jesus Christ as a child. Likewise, each one has updated and reconfirmed that decision as an adult. A child's commitment to Jesus can be very real. In fact, Jesus didn't say children had to believe with adult like faith. He said adults need to come to Him with faith like a little child. I believe a re commitment as an adult shows wisdom and discernment. A wise person makes certain, their relationship with the King of Kings. I have been praying about the subject of discernment. I need discernment in my personal life. The Holy Spirit of God gives wisdom and discernment to those who are seeking the Lord. Have you ever watched an eagle soar? They do so with so little effort and for so long. The eagle waits to see where the wind is blowing and he goes with it. That is how you and I are to make our decisions and forge our plans, waiting to see where the wind of God is blowing in a particular situation and then going with it. This is how "They who wait upon the Lord will mount up with wings as eagles." We need to take care that we are not guilty of spiritual sleepwalking. That is why Jesus told His disciples to "Watch and pray." Being led by the Spirit is for those who are wide awake, and in tune with Him. If we are doing a spiritual sleepwalk we may well stumble into a swamp of crocodiles. The Word of God is a Lamp unto our feet and a Light unto our path, and it will keep us out of the swamp. My friends we live in desperate times. But our Lord is Lord over all seasons of life. When I was in Bible College we sang a timely song that went like this, "In times like these we need a Savior, in times like these we need an anchor." The song then asked the questions "Will your anchor hold in the storms of life?" It is my prayer that a lost and dying world might wake up and realize its our Anchor, Jesus, who has the answers, in desperate times like these. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

The Reality of Spiritual Warfare

I have watched trends in Evangelical Christianity for the last 40 years. The Church from the time of Christ seemed to have been aware of an active enemy who sought to destroy the work of God. Satan is the "Thief who comes but to kill, steal and destroy." Numerous books have been published that alert the church to the enemies schemes and instructed believers in the battle. It seems to me that in the last few years many ministries have turned away from teaching about the enemy. I have numerous friends who serve in Scriptural Warfare ministries, they all tell me the church has become cool toward the subject of warfare. Some of this undoubtedly comes from a abuse of warfare teaching and extremest in the body of Christ. However, their abuse is not an excuse for our non practice of Biblical truth. I believe this gives the enemy a tremendous advantage in very troublesome times. Lets examine a few passages that deal with our common enemy. Paul said "In your anger do not sin: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold' (Ephesians 4:26-27). The word "Foothold" literally means "Place." Paul is saying that it is possible for us to allow the devil a place in our lives if we fail to speak the truth in love or fail to be emotionally honest. Anger that leads to bitterness and spiritual ineffectiveness is an open invitation to demonic influence (see II Corinthians 2:10-11). It is a critical need that each believer understand their vulnerability to demonic influence so they may have an adequate Biblical answer should they fall victim to "The Fowler's snare" (Psalm 91:3) or "The devil's trap" (I Timothy 3:7). Satan may well outwit us if we are "Unaware of his schemes" (II Corinthians 2:11). Spiritual believers don't grow out of coming under spiritual attack. As we grow in the Lord the enemies' attacks may well increase. Anyone who is doing damage to the devil's kingdom will feel his wrath. When we come under attack we must have the discernment to understand the nature of our attack. If we blame God, our confidence in Him will be shattered, and we won't submit to Him and resist the devil. I believe the Biblical balance in warfare is to gaze on Jesus and on occasion glance at the enemy. This is a good time for a glance. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Treasure This

Do you really want to be wise? James asks a penetrating question that we would do well to ponder. “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” (James 3:13). In regard to the nature of wisdom, first the impact of the question in the above verse must be faced: "Who is wise and understanding among you"? For it seems that in any group there are those who do not really care about true wisdom but they only desire the prestige and status that comes from being thought wise. This question becomes a special challenge to them because the answer will expose them for what they are. On the other hand there are those who honestly aspire to being wise, for them the question becomes an invitation. The answer will show them the way to attain their aspirations. James is saying, "I am about to tell you the nature of true wisdom. James is calling us to examine our own hearts before reading beyond the question posed. Do we really want to be wise? Should the answer to this question be yes, then we must submit to James' answer about the requirement of true wisdom. James says "Should a person claim to be wise" then "Let him show it by his good life." The term "The good life" in our culture has taken on the connotation of a prosperous, pleasurable life. James, defines the "Good life" quite differently, he is talking about moral goodness. This phrase means, "good conduct" or "good behavior." Then James says "Let him show it...by deeds." Genuine wisdom, like faith, is a practical matter; it shows up in how one lives. Wisdom, then, is not something I will merely possess in my head; if I am wise at all, it is something I will demonstrate in my conduct. Everyone lives out their belief system. God says "Keep your heart with all wisdom, for out of the heart comes the issues of Life. Humility is the character trait that underlies Christian behavior for the wise deeds will be done in humility. This is the trait to cultivate if we would take James' teaching deeply into our life. James would have approved of what Calvin wrote quoting Augustine, "When a certain rhetorician was asked what was the chief rule in eloquence, he replied, `Delivery'; what was the second rule, `Delivery'; what was the third rule, `Delivery'; so if you ask me concerning the precepts of the Christian religion, first, second, third, and always I would answer, `Humility' " (Institutes 2. 2. 11). When we begin to live a humble life before God and others we will live at peace with each other. The opposite of humility is an unwillingness to learn and a refusal to yield. Should we refuse to humble ourselves, our lives will produce the fruit of bitter envy and selfish ambition that results in disorder. For James, humility is a yielding of oneself in being teachable and responsive to God's word, resulting in an unselfish life of peace with other people. James is addressing the problem of arrogance, which can be present even when correct doctrine is being taught. We can teach the right things in the wrong way. Should our attitude reflect "Superiority of knowledge," our lack of humility would negate our message. Paul tells us that "Knowledge puffs up but love builds up." We are exhorted to "Speak the truth in love." Love and truth balance each other. Truth without love can be brutality, love without truth may result in compromise and sentimentality." Since true wisdom comes from outside ourselves, we have to examine where our reliance is placed. It makes sense of what James has already prescribed for a life of faith. It requires that we cultivate an active prayer life--to ask for wisdom. It requires a conscious dependence on God--in the humility prescribed in our verse today. True wisdom can be had only by people who live in active reliance on God. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Do You Love Life

In our Western culture you frequently hear people talk about living the “good life.” If you were to ask these people to define their idea of this life, you’d hear a multitude of answers. Most of them would involve the indulgence of a particular appetite or taste for pleasure. Years ago this was summed up with a bumper sticker on an expensive motor home or other recreational vehicle, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” Sadly, many people define the “good life” in terms of a toy, not in terms of a godly lifestyle. Note what the Lord has to say about the "Good Life." "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech." (I Peter 3:10). Peter is saying whoever "Wishes to love" life, present and eternal will not involve himself in those things that make this life a burden. He goes on to tell us that we must curb, or cause to cease, using our tongues for evil and deceitful purposes. He is implying that our natural inclination is to speak evil. The Holy Spirit promises a blessed life to those who show patience toward those who are evil. That is why we are to love and pray for our enemies. This takes the wisdom of God being operative in our lives. James 3:17 says "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." A growing Christian will show this kind of fruit in their lives for they depend on God for everything. Depending on God will deliver you from evil for the Lord will be attentive to your prayers. Living the life of Christ is dependent on staying connected to Christ. He is the Vine, we are the branches. Our very life comes from Him. We live the life of Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. We learn the wisdom of God as we saturate our heart and minds with the Scriptures. Part of loving life is walking out of the way to avoid evil. We will not experience the good life by walking blindly into evil, and then pretending we could do nothing to avoid it. We are to discern the difference between good and evil and take specific steps to avoid evil. The other side of this coin appears when we purposefully determine to do good. There is no need to fret about what is good and what is not. God doesn't leave us to on our own to figure it out. This is one reason He gave us the Bible. That is why we read the Scriptures as God's relevant message to us. Loving life and seeing good days has a lot to do with the use of our tongues. The Bible tells us "Out of the heart the mouth speaks." Our heart feeds our tongue. How is your heart doing? Are you feeding from the Word of God? If you wish to love life, the Lord through the Scriptures will show you the way. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Wisdom and the Christian

We learn in the Bible that wisdom is to be sought after with diligence. In contrast we hear worldly wisdom (the Devil's thinking) from many sources. Television programing glorifies sin and mocks righteousness. The daily news hardly sees life through God's eyes. Righteous people are frequently scorned and openly slandered. Immoral people grace the front pages of our magazines. Those who love life are called evil, those who hate life are called "Good". However God offers us another way. He says concerning wisdom "For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death." (Proverbs 35-36). This brings us to the subject of meditating on the Scriptures. King David would wake up at 3:00 AM to delight in the Word of God. He gave the Scriptures priority over sleep. He wrote "Oh, how I love Your Law, it is my meditation all the day." (Psalm 119:97). Note David loved the Law, and he spent his day in meditation on it. As the most powerful king on earth he was a busy man. However the Scriptures were always on his mind. They were his constant companion. How about you, what voices are you listening to, what are you going to choose to meditate on today? Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

The Importance Of Wisdom

Someone defined wisdom as the right use of knowledge. Our world is replete with knowledge but painfully short on wisdom. The book of Proverbs is filled with wise sayings. We read "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." (Prov. 1"7). Many are those who simply grow old rather than growing wise. The Word of God is filled with wisdom for it gives us the thoughts of God. One may be wise and young or it's possible to be foolish and old. God gives wisdom to us as we seek Him and learn His ways. There is practical wisdom that comes by living life according to God's principles. Recently my 19 year old son traveled to Ice Land, he went alone and proceeded to make friends in every town he visited. He got caught in an ice storm in the mountains and lived in a tent for two days until the danger passed. He has a lot of practical wisdom along with a lot of fortitude for trying new things. However he left his (really my) car in a church parking lot while he was gone. He parked it with the emergency brake on. When he returned the right rear brake had rusted and when he tried to drive the car the wheel slid. Backing the vehicle up did not break it loose. Good old dad had the car towed to his drive way and spent an hour beating on the brake drum to get it loose. My wife reminded me our son is only 19. Which reminded me that God said I am dust and that I have feet of clay. However God is my Father and He takes care of me, and is there to help me when I lack wisdom and make poor choices. God is the God of Providence. The word providence comes from two Greek words. One means to see (video) and the other means before hand (pro). Thus the Lord sees to it before hand. He already has it worked out, knowing what we need before we ask Him. That is why He said "Before you call I will answer you." How many times do we fret over circumstances when God has seen to it already. The Scriptured tell us that "Our Lord is an ever present help in the time of need." The Hebrew language carries the idea of "in the nick of time". I believe wisdom grows best in the soil of trust, it is always wise to trust the Lord. The Word tells us "We have the mind of Christ." The mind of Christ is a peaceful mind, it is also a pure mind, a purposeful mind, a single mind, and a disciplined mind. Our minds are renewed as we saturate them with the wisdom of God. David said because he meditated on the Scriptures he was "Wiser than all his teachers." The Word of God is "Able to make us wise unto salvation." Abraham Lincoln said "Many times I am driven to my knees because the wisdom of those around me seems insufficient for the the day." One may be intelligent but not wise. Martin Luther said "If we educated our youth apart from the truth of the Scriptures we will create clever devils." Where are you getting your "Wisdom" from. There are many wells, drink from the one that is not polluted. "If the ax is dull and it's edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but wisdom will bring success" (Eccl 10:10). Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling appointments, and local church meetings.