Fire Journal - Sharing the Fire of God

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them….” – Matthew 7:15-16

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.” – 2 Peter 2:1

Why is it that we allow some guy on Sunday or some guy on a radio station tell us what we believe?  Why is it that there are Christians who have been saved for many years and yet have trouble explaining the trinity to someone else? (I’m guilty of this one)  Why do we still struggle to remember what’s written and where? (yup, guilty of this one too)

We are instructed in a few different places in the New Testament that there will be a time when false teachers are among us and how are we going to identify these false teachers if we do not know what is written?  It says in Ephesians 6:17 and Hebrews 4:12 that the word of God is a sword and not only that is it’s the sharpest sword.  We need to learn how to wield this weapon better so that we can fight against lies, false doctrine, and heresy; so that we may know that what we teach and believe is correct.  How well do you know this weapon that has been given to you?  You don’t become a better soccer player by leaving your ball on the shelf!

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” – John 1:1*

By getting into our bibles and truly studying it, asking questions, digging deeper we are furthering our understanding of our creator, connecting with Him.  The main character of the bible IS God and as we dig in the word comes alive.  This is not just some random old book; this is the word of God, passed down so that we may know Him better.  Roll up those sleeves, dive in and do some heavy lifting!

Some hard questions:

Do you know where it teaches that we are saved by faith in Jesus?

Where does it say that we are sinful and need salvation?

Using scripture can you show me that Jesus was fully God and fully human?

How many passages have you got committed to memory?  Oh, think it’s hard?  How many songs do you have memorized?

Can you show me where it says there is only one God?

Using scripture can you show me why I should go to church? Be baptized? Take communion?  Tithe?

I know I can’t do some of this and I’ve been a Christian for 7 years!!  Geez….get cracking Koz!

* Thank you Alicia Siffring for the thought and verse reference

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
-Matthew 5:8

Fellow men, how much do you desire to be blessed and to see God? How often do you allow yourself that second look at a beautiful woman walking down the street? How often do you allow yourself to watch a particular scene in a movie? How often do you not change the channel when that ad for Victoria’s Secret or Sports Illustrated comes up?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.”
-Matthew 5:27-30

Understand that Jesus does not teach this in a literal sense. Otherwise I would have been blind, without speech, lobotomized, handless and footless before the age of 10! He is stressing the utter importance of keeping free from sin and walking in purity. He is explaining just how serious God takes sin. Paul even writes in 1 Corinthians 6:18 to FLEE sexual immorality. Don’t even go near it! So the question remains Men, to what lengths will you go to see God? Will you stand up, fight the world’s standard and respect and honor your lady friends around you?

“I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,”
-1 Timothy 2:9

Ladies you have your part in this whole thing as well. Men need your help too. Paul expressess the first step to this. Be fully aware of how you dress and aid your brothers in Christ to live full lives.

Lets take this a step further ladies, if you are dressing less than modest, what kind of attention are you attracting? What kind of man are you attracting? Do you really want that type of attention? You are meant for so much more!

Lust is a matter of life or death. That second look will cost you. How badly do you want to truly live?