"The Perfect Human Trap"

"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat."
(Gen.3:6)

"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."
(1John2:16)

There is a perfect trap available. This trap works wonderfully and if one uses this trap they are guaranteed success!
This trap is not a new invention, it is of old, from ancient times.
Also, we need to understand that this trap is not engineered to catch four legged critters, no,it is much more advanced and is capable of snaring the most intelligent class of homo sapien!
This trap never needs to be hidden, nor does the bait ever have to be changed, it works for both the male and the female prey!

Isn't it amazing what easy prey we are in the flesh? This trap worked so well on our first parents who were in a state of innocence, how much better will it work on a race that is now at enmity with God and full of self-love?

This world operates and thrives on these three "baits". They all cater to our falleness and appeal to our never satisfied appetites for self-gratification and exaltation.

Where would be without the one who "sets the captives free"?
Where would we be without the renewing of our minds?
Where would we be without a faithful Father who again and again corrects us and brings us back into the safe path?
Without God's prevenient grace I would have no hope!

Satan truly, has the "perfect human trap", but the Lord Jesus is infinitely stronger than this strong trapper of men!

I must constantly be reminded, as I walk through this trap infested world, of the words of our Lord, who did not please Himself, but instead, ever sought to honor and glorify the Father, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Mat.26:41)

Also, Paul's words to the Ephesians apply here: "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
(Eph.5:15-16)

May we walk by the Spirit and watch our steps, lest we place our foot in one of the many traps that surround us and even abide in our own hearts!

Without Him I can do nothing!

"Gifts of the Spirit"

In this post my desire is to invite discussion on the subject of "gifts of the Spirit". Specifically, what are commonly referred to as "sign gifts", that is, the gifts of tongues, healing abilities, etc.
So, my focus will be limited to these particular kinds of gifts and not such gifts as teaching and the like.
I am throwing this together in a hurry and I do not intend for this initial post of mine to be exhaustive but intend for it to simply spur a fellowship of discussion. I will start with the gift of tongues.

Let me begin by asking some opening questions and giving my understanding of these gifts at this point in my life:

1.)What are "tongues"? (a language/Acts 2:4-11, 1 Cor.12:28,13:1)

2.)What were they for? (a sign of the gift of the Holy Spirit/ Mark 16:17, Acts 10:44-46,19:6)
(a sign to the Jew/ of blessing when spoken by a Jew: Acts 2:4-11/ of judgement when spoken by a gentile: Deut.28:49,Isa.28:11,Acts 10:44-46,1Cor.14:21-22)
(for the purpose of declaring the gospel/ Acts 2:4-11)
(for establishing doctrine/ 1Cor. 14:6)

3.)Who used them? (Apostles/1Cor.13:1,14:6,14-15,18)
(some early believers/ Mark 16:17,Acts 10:44-46,19:6,1Cor.12:10,30)

4.)How were they used? (in an orderly manner/ 1Cor.14:13,26-28/ with need of an interpreter)

5.) What was said about them? (Temporary/1Cor.13:8)(a sign to the Jew/1Cor.14:21-22)
(prophesy was better because it edified others/ 1Cor.14:1,3-5,23-25)
(words that could be understood were better and edified the church/ 1Cor.14:9,11-12,14-17,19)

One thing that I have also noted about the "sign gifts" is their apparent focus on Israel and The Jew. The Jews were a "sign nation", that is, their history was one marked by requiring "signs" in order to believe. (1Cor.1:22)
They had begun as a nation under the deliverance of Moses to expect such "proofs"
(Ex.4:1-9)Recall their regular request of signs in the gospels.
It appears to me that in the "early church" period in which the Corinthian letters would fall these "sign gifts" were still in operation and had as their main end a testimony and witness to the Jew as long as priority was still being given to them ("to the Jew first").

Hopefully, this is enough to get the conversation going! As I said, I am seeking input on this subject and have included the discussion starters above for that purpose.

So, I await your thoughts, observations, additions, subtractions, etc!

No Tongue Can Express

"When I am told that God became man, I can follow the idea, but I just do not understand what it means. For what man, if left to his natural promptings, if he were God, would humble himself to lie in the feedbox of a donkey or to hang upon a cross? God laid upon Christ the iniquities of us all.

This is that ineffible and infinite mercy of God which the slender capacity of man's heart cannot comprehend and much less utter--that unfathomable depth and burning zeal of God's love toward us. And truly the magnitude of God's mercy engenders in us not only a hardness to believe but also incredulity itself.
For I hear not only that the omnipotent God, the creator and maker of all things, is good and merciful, but also that the Supreme Majesty was so concerned for me, a lost sinner, a son of wrath and of everlasting death, that he spared not his own Son but delivered him to the most ignominious death, that, hanging between two thieves, he might be made a curse and sin for me, a cursed sinner, that I might be made just, blessed, a son and heir of God.
Who can sufficiently declare this exceeding great goodness of God? Therefore the holy Scripture speaks of far other than philosophical or political matters, namely of the unspeakable and utterly divine gifts, which far surpass the capacity both of men and of angels."
(Martin Luther)

Luther at Worms

The Prayer of Luther at Diet of Worms


Luther at Worms, before the second day at trial:


"O Almighty and Everlasting God! How terrible is this world! Behold, it openeth its mouth to swallow me up, and I have so little trust in Thee! . . . How weak is the flesh, and how powerful is Satan! If it is in the strength of this world only that I must put my trust, all is over! My last hour is come, my condemnation has been pronounced! O God! O God! . . . O God! do Thou help me against all the wisdom of the world! Do this; Thou shouldest do this. . . . Thou alone . . . for this is not my work, but Thine. I have nothing to do here, nothing to contend for with these great ones of the world! I should desire to see my days flow on peaceful and happy. But the cause is Thine . . . and it is a righteous and eternal cause. O Lord! help me! Faithful and unchangeable God! In no man do I place my trust. It would be vain! All that is of man is uncertain; all that cometh of man fails. . . . O God! my God, hearest Thou me not? . . . My God, art Thou dead? . . . No! Thou canst not die! Thou hidest Thyself only! Thou has chosen me for this work. I know it well! . . . Act, then, O God . . . stand at my side, for the sake of Thy well-beloved Jesus Christ, who is my defense, my shield, and my strong tower. — Lord! where stayest Thou? O my God! where art Thou? . Come! come! I am ready! I am ready to lay down my life for Thy truth . . . patient as a lamb. For it is the cause of justice – it is Thine! . . . I will never separate myself from Thee, neither now nor through eternity! . . . And though the world should be filled with devils, – though my body, which is still the work of Thy hands, should be slain, be stretched upon the pavement, be cut in pieces . . . reduced to ashes . . . my soul is Thine! . . . Yes! I have the assurance of Thy Word. My soul belongs to Thee! It shall abide forever with Thee. . . . Amen! . . . O God! help me! . . . Amen”

Truly, in our day also, the battle is the LORD's! He is our mighty fortress!