Elijah Ministries - Upcoming Conferences

Would you like to attend one of these events this summer or fall?

Family Camp in New Jersey - For those of you on the East Coast, I'm speaking at Harvey Cedars Bible Conference Center at a family camp Aug. 24-30 in Harvey Cedars, NJ. Come join us for a wonderful time of fun, fellowship, and study of God's Word. www.stepsoffaith.org

Family Conference at New Life Bible Church in Winnebago, IL. Sept. 4-6. www.winnewlife.com

Marriage Conference at Christian Community Church in Murray, KY Sept. 25-26. www.murrayccc.org

Father/Son Retreat at Good Tidings Fellowship Conference Center in Cornwallville, NY. Oct. 9-12. www.goodtidingsfellowship.com/fathersoncamp

Equipping Men Conference at Evangelical Institute of Greenville, SC, Oct. 16-18. www.eigonline.org.

Father/Son Campout at Walnut Point State Park in Oakland, IL, Oct. 29-Nov.1. www.fathersoncamp.org/

Chariot July 2009 - Norm Wakefield  

The Gift of Scripture

We live in dangerous spiritual times! Never has the world been so aggressive, at least in my life time, and the church in general so weak. Many regular church-attenders are discouraged, apathetic, disenchanted, and disillusioned with the church. The door has been opened�wide opened�to the spread of false doctrines and "new" expressions of church and relationship with God. The emerging church movement thrives on people who are tired of the "same old, same old" and bored with the Bible as they know it. They want something new.

Recently I've been studying the emerging church and its ideas about God, Scripture, Jesus, and spiritual experiences. People who I would have never thought would fall into the pit of false religion have not only fallen in, but jumped in head first! Over a period of time, their views of Scripture, Jesus, grace, and sin take a very destructive twist. God has used my study to engrain an even deeper appreciation for and hunger for the Word of God�a gift of God's grace to me personally and to mankind in general.

In this month's Chariot of Fire I want to invite you to consider the gift of God in giving us the Bible, namely, the progressive revelation of God's acts and words to mankind which was inscripturated by men inspired by God and handed down to us today. Here are some considerations that have heightened my appreciation for and application of the Scriptures.

Have you considered Jesus' regard for and submission to the Scriptures which He inspired?

As one reads through the gospels, one cannot help but notice Jesus� humble regard for and submission to the Scriptures. When tempted in the wilderness (Luke 4), Jesus supported His actions according to the Scriptures. In His argumentation and debates with the Pharisees, the Scriptures were always His basis for response or action. Jesus was not autonomous for one minute of His life. He never did anything on His own initiative and only did what He saw His Father doing or heard His Father say (John 5, 8), which is another way of saying He lived by God's Word.

Therefore it is only reasonable to conclude that one of the ways we know the Spirit of Jesus is guiding our responses or actions is by our regard for and submission to the Scriptures He inspired. If when we make a decision we cannot say, "God's Word says..." then we know it is not the life of Christ expressing Himself nor is it love for Christ since He inspired every written word. To love Christ is to love His Word. To express Christ is to express/live His Word. To not live in this way is like saying, "I love Mexican food", but never eating it!

Have you considered the disciples' and apostles' regard and submission to the Scriptures?

These men were taught by Jesus personally and wrote their gospels and letters while under the inspiration and moving of the Spirit of Christ. We might say they were expressing the life of Christ in them when they wrote. They are His words! When Jesus described what a man lives like when the Holy Spirit comes to live in Him, He said, "In that day (when the Spirit of Truth, the Helper, the Holy Spirit is sent to you) you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and Me in you." How will "you" know? "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him" (John 14:20-21).

How did the disciples take Jesus' words? We answer that question by looking at what they taught about Jesus' words when they wrote their letters. It's important to remember that Jesus was full of true grace when He said this. Also to recognize that these men knew what it was to walk under true grace. The reason I feel compelled to say the above is that many in the emerging church say that since we have the Spirit of Jesus in us and now live under grace, we don't need to read the Bible or submit ourselves to its commands or admonishments. However, consider how different the teaching of the disciples was to such foolishness.

Here's how Peter applied what Jesus taught in John 14:20-21. After writing for elders to shepherd the flock voluntarily, for young men to submit to their elders, for his readers to clothe themselves in humility and humble themselves when suffering under His mighty hand, casting all their cares on Christ, resisting the devil, and submitting to suffering that God brings into their lives, Peter concludes, "I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God" (1 Pet. 5:10). Those were all principles Christ taught His disciples, and in his love for Christ, Peter kept them and wrote them.

How did John, the beloved disciple take Jesus' words? He wrote, "By this we know we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments" (1 Jo. 2:3). And "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome" (1 Jo. 5:3). Where did John get these ideas? From Jesus' last message to them recorded in John 14. He didn't just "come up with them" because Jesus lived in him. These were the words of Jesus Christ when He came in the flesh.

To strengthen the point, these words in John's letter follow his warning to his readers to test every spirit to see if it is from God. "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God; every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God" (1 Jo. 4:1-2).

What did he mean? Here are my thoughts: If Jesus Christ came in the flesh, then the words He said while in the flesh are the words we joyfully and freely keep/submit ourselves to because they are words we know objectively and by which we can test our thinking and actions. False prophets say the words of Christ are not necessary and leave our actions and thinking completely subjective where they cannot be tested by anyone�even Christ! If that's so, then He didn't need to come and speak them and certainly wouldn't have told His disciples that their love for Him is shown by their love for and abiding in His Word!

Paul was taught personally by Jesus for three years. This is what the life of Christ in him expressed when he wrote Timothy. Let's remember, this is the man who ended all of his letters with, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all." Here's what Paul wrote to Timothy in the Spirit of Christ. "But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." And how will Timothy (and us) detect these impostors and deceivers? He continues, "You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings (Scriptures) which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" (marriage, parenting, work, relationships, etc). 2 Tim. 3:13-17.

Clearly we can conclude that Paul believed studying, knowing, and submitting to the Scriptures is the primary provision of God's grace for protection from false teachers and being deceived. Without the objective tests of the Word of God, we are susceptible to being deceived by a spirit which is portraying itself to be Christ.

Have you considered the danger of building the house of your life without a "tape measure"?

To ignore the Scriptures is like trying to build a house without a tape measure. The Scriptures is a "tape measure", a vital gracious gift, that God has provided so we can walk under true grace and not a false grace as we build the house of our lives�His temple. I'm remodeling some rooms right now in our house, and I cannot imagine cutting the boards as I feel like it because I don't want any one to tell me what to do. Every time I use a tape measure, it tells me what to do. It teaches me how long 39 1/2 inches is. When something isn't fitting right, it reproves me because I measure it again and it tells me I cut it 1/4 inch too short. So then it corrects me as I recut the next piece. I am so committed to the tape measure that I have two of them just in case I misplace one! I need it every time I cut a piece of wood to build the walls.

So it is with our lives. Every day we are "cutting wood" and building our houses with our words and actions. When things are not working out right (can't love, can't forgive, get angry, feel wounded and abused, deceive, ignore, reject, etc.) it simply is the fruit of working without a "tape measure". The notion that the person walking in true grace doesn't need an objective "tape measure" is as foolish as trying to build without a tape measure. The house that is built without a "tape measure" is a house that will fall down and need to be rebuilt.

Have you considered that the Scriptures with the Holy Spirit's application help us repent of sin and purify ourselves for His glory?

The debate about one or two natures has been waged for centuries. When we are born again, do we only have the nature of Christ? And when we sin (which only fools deny) are we to say, "Oh, that's not me because I'm under grace. That's my sin nature, and it was crucified with Christ so I'm forgiven and under grace because I'm now identified with Christ and I have a new nature"?

"Nature's" don't sin, people do." No where in the Bible does it say, "Nature's sin". Nor do "nature's do righteousness." People do righteousness. I believe that's one of the reasons why John wrote, "Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope trusts Jesus to live His life in them." No, that's not what John wrote. He wrote, "And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him (who is a true child of God under grace) sins (continues sinning because Jesus lives in Him and is taking away sin and purifying them). No one who [practices] sin has seen HIm or knows Him. Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices [plans and seeks to do] righteousness is righteous (under grace), just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil [in your lives]" (1 Jo. 3:2-8).

John's point is this: If you have truly received the grace of God in Christ and understand grace, then you won't be ho-hum about sin. You will control your "self" because Jesus lives in you to destroy those works. That's what He died for, so that's what He lives in you to do! We can conclude then that sin is important and those in whom Jesus lives will desire and can do away with sin in their lives as soon as they know it is sin. And this is precisely where the Scriptures are so helpful. As we read them, we see what actions and words are regarded by God as sin. Apparently the Spirit of Christ knows that people will be deceived about sin and not take responsibility for it, thus the warning, "make sure no one deceives you." The notion that grace covers all sin and therefore we don't need to worry about sin or seek to lay aside selfishness is not the true grace of God in Christ. It sounds good and is appealing, but next to the "tape measure" falls short of true grace.

In Romans 1, the Apostle Paul described the sins practiced by people who are under God's wrath. His point was this: A person is under the wrath of God if they don't repent of these things when they do them. Instead the person under wrath intends to do them, makes plans to do them, and does them repeatedly without remorse or taking responsibility for them. This is what happens in a person's life when God gives them over to themselves. Their lives, their words and actions, prove that the Spirit of Christ isn't in them.

If Jesus is in a person and he is under grace, the practice of his life is different. One word describes his life�love. Paul described what that love looks like in Galatians 5�joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There's the "tape measure". If we love truth and love Jesus, we apply God's tape measure to our lives, namely the Scriptures, and call it like He calls it. Then we either respond to Him with repentance for our sin or thankfulness for His grace in living His live through us in such a wonderful, Christ-glorifying, others-benefitting way.

Have you considered these things?

The divine "Tape Measure" says, "Test yourselves (measure yourselves) to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-unless indeed you fail the test? (2 Cor. 13:5). What was the test of which Paul wrote? It was the test of love. The Corinthians and Paul were at odds with each other. Someone in their midst was focusing on all of the flesh weaknesses of Paul and saying he wasn't worth following because of those weaknesses. Paul called that person a "thorn in the flesh". (2 Cor. 12:7)

The test of whether Jesus Christ was in them was whether they were able to overlook the weaknesses of the flesh in each other because of the love of Christ and be reconciled to God and each other. Paul's point was this: If you will not reconcile then you fail the test and Christ is not in you. If Christ is in you and you pass the test, then we have the basis for reconciliation. The blood of Christ covers my sin, and thus I view it as covering your sin. Since we both want to do away with sin, we can love and walk together in fellowship for His sake.

This is the true "grace walk." I like how he wrote this: "And working together with Him we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain�giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited" (2 Cor. 6:1,3). And that's my greatest concern too�Jesus' name. The world doesn't benefit if a person receives the gospel of grace in vain. If the grace of God can't overcome other's weaknesses and differences, then whatever grace you have received, has been in vain. It's useless and powerless.

The Scriptures' primary theme is redemption�God's power to accomplish redemption in the world in general and specifically in your life. The greatest act of God in the history of man is the redeeming work through Jesus Christ. And the explanation of that act of God came to us clearly through the words of Jesus Christ when He was in the flesh. His words were inscripturated by holy men so we might discern the presence and work of the Spirit of Christ and the spirit of the antichrist in our experience and in false religions advanced in our generation.

How important is the Bible to you? What are you teaching your children about God's Word as you live your life and instruct them? Is reading and studying the Old Testament necessary? When you lead your wives and children, what place does Scripture have in your decision-making? I hope your response to these questions is the same as mine. I want to make interaction with God's Word an indispensable, everyday occurrence.

May God give us a deeper love for God's Word, His wonderful gift of grace, and a greater longing to experience a relationship with Christ through His Word.

Would you like to be on the Elijah Ministries Prayer Team?

The backbone of Elijah Ministries is the prayer team who pray diligently for God to turn the hearts of men to Himself, their wives, and their children. Before I leave to speak, I send out a prayer team invitation to those who will intercede for God to work for His glory in us as a team for the Kingdom. Not only is it a blessing to those whom I speak and myself; but it is also a reminder to the team about the direction of their own hearts. If you would like to enter into the labor together with me, you may go to my website and click on "Prayer Team".

Has Norm's Chariot or other resources been an encouragement to you? As a nonprofit organization, Elijah Ministries needs support from people like you in order to function. If God has ministered to you through Elijah Ministries and Norm Wakefield, would you consider supporting the work? You can do so here. (Elijah Ministries is a tax-deductible 501c3 and is financially accountable to an overseeing board of 8 non-paid members from around the country.)

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If you haven't visited our website, www.spiritofelijah.com, please stop by sometime. You'll find:

*   Resources to equip you and your family

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I invite you to be a part of the moving of the Spirit of Elijah in your church, community, and the world. How?

1.  Send this article to other men or families that you know would benefit from it. You might inform them of the previous articles available on-line at our website.

2.  Share resources from the Spirit of Elijah Ministries with others. If Equipping Men or Rising to the Call have been a blessing to you, then you know it will be beneficial to others. Either share your resources, tell them about the resources, or purchase a set or two as an investment in their lives.

3.  Share with others what you have learned and put into practice in turning your heart to God, your wife, and your children. If God has done this in you, then He wants to affect others through you.

4.  Join the Elijah Ministries email prayer team and make intercession for others that their hearts would be turned in revival to the Lord, their wives, and their children. This can be done on-line at www.spiritofelijah.com.

            Norm Wakefield
            Elijah Ministries
            P.O. Box 377
            Bulverde, Texas 78163
            830.980.5606
            info@spiritofelijah.com
            http://www.spiritofelijah.com

07.09

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