JACQUES GAUVIN, RELIGION

How Does God Want Us To Live?

There are many who are very confused about the scriptures. Many who do not see the holiness of the scriptures and therefore many who do not follow or obey the scriptures, the word of God, the Bible. The fault lies to a great degree with teachers, past and present. The fault does not lie with God nor with His Word the Bible, though no translation is perfect. Fault also lies with those who, in this day and age, refuse to read the Bible and prefer to hold fast to myths, errors, lies and deceptions that have been propagated for thousands of years, and some new ones too. Many fail to search for God whole heartedly and fail to find truth that to a large extent is spread through His church and His ministers. They fail to find God’s church and to become members. Many hardly get exposed to any truth let alone study it daily to be filled with knowledge, to have a living relationship with God and to live in agreement and obedience to Him in wisdom.

Having said all this let us begin with words from Peter talking about Paul.

2 Peter 3:14 to 16 (GNB)
And so, my friends, as you wait for that Day, do your best to be pure and faultless in God’s sight and to be at peace with him. Look on our Lord’s patience as the opportunity he is giving you to be saved, just as our dear brother Paul wrote to you, using the wisdom that God gave him. This is what he says in all his letters when he writes on the subject. There are some difficult things in his letters which ignorant and unstable people explain falsely, as they do with other passages of the Scriptures. So they bring on their own destruction.

This is fair warning. The Bible is not to be taken lightly or casually. It requires an attentive mind and careful study and really requires the gift of God’s holy spirit to be understood as it is meant to be. Not many attain this skill but it is attainable to everyone who sets his or her mind on it.

John 16:13 (NKJV)
However, when He (it), the Spirit of truth, has come, He (it) will guide you into all truth; for He (it) will not speak on His (its) own authority, but whatever He (it) hears He (it) will speak; and He (it) will tell you things to come.

John 14:26 (NKJV)
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He (it) will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I (Jesus) said to you.

John 14:15 to 18 (NKJV)
If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He (it) may abide with you forever, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him (it) nor knows Him (it); but you know Him (it), for He (it) dwells with you and will be in you. I (Jesus) will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

This is none other than the spirit of God working within you as you study the Word of God as you read the writings of His teachers, the prophets and apostles and others. This is the spirit that opened the minds of the writers of the New Testament, Peter, Paul, John and others.

Remember this promise from God from the “Old” testament.

Deuteronomy 4:29 (NKJV)
But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Proverbs 8:17 (NKJV)
I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me.

Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV)
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

But if your heart is set on scoffing, jeering , deriding, mocking, pooh-poohing, ridiculing or sneering expect this:

Proverbs 14:6 (NKJV)
A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it, But knowledge is easy to him who understands.

Unfortunately for most, God’s way is not being sought. People are interested primarily with the things of the world and not with the things of God.

Luke 17:28 (The Living Bible)
And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot: people went about their daily business, eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building

It looks like they went about their daily business even on the Sabbaths and bought and sold on the Sabbaths and treated the Sabbath like any other day.

Luke 17:27 (NKJV)
They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

What is missing here is that there is no mention of them giving thanks to God for His many blessings.

Acts 17:17 (NKJV)
Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.

It looks like he went into synagogues on the Sabbath and in the marketplace on the remainder of the week days. Even if this went on on the Sabbaths as well it would have been acceptable as Paul was teachings them Jesus.

Paul preached all night on at least one occasion.

Acts 20:11 (NKJV)
Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed.

Preaching the truth about Jesus and the plan of God to establish His kingdom on earth to all who are ignorant is not the only duty of man. A man who does not provide for his family is worse than an unbeliever.

1 Timothy 5:8 (NKJV)
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Countless articles have been written about praying , fasting, tithing, meditating and studying and also about the ten commandments. These are important and not to be neglected but I want to look at other things here in this composition. Read a little more of what Peter warned us all about thousands of years ago.

2 Peter 3:10–17 (NKJV)
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation, as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 17You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;

Some say that the Old Testament is done away with or is of no use or is of no practical use or is just plain old. Or that the laws of God are foolish and that it is even stupid to obey them today. It is true that there were laws that were written for the Levitical priesthood and since there is no Levitical priesthood in Christianity then those laws do not apply, they are done away with for all practical purposes. But let’s just look at an Old Testament law as an example.

Leviticus 19:5 to 7 (NKJV)
And if you offer a sacrifice of a peace offering to the Lord, you shall offer it of your own free will. It shall be eaten the same day you offer it, and on the next day. And if any remains until the third day, it shall be burned in the fire. And if it is eaten at all on the third day, it is an abomination. It shall not be accepted.

But now we have special packaging and double doors at grocery stores and refrigerators in stores and at home to keep contaminating flies and bacteria away from the meat. Meat can become contaminated in a short period of time when exposed to the elements. Those laws seem to me to have had a very practical purpose for those times. The Levitical priesthood was also setting an example for people to follow. Consider too that the meat we eat today is not part of a religious ritual and so we apply different standards. If you were to go camping without modern appliances these old laws would probably be very appropriate even today thousands of years later.

We are not all meant to be preachers.

1 Corinthians 12:27 to 13:13 (NKJV)
27Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
28And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?
30Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
31But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
9For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
10But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Some are teachers. Some lead by example. So what should we do, what should we be doing? All things with love. And what should we avoid? Here is even more insight.

Romans 12:1 to 21 (GNB)
1So then, my brothers and sisters, because of God’s great mercy to us I appeal to you: offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer.
2Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God, what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.
3And because of God’s gracious gift to me I say to every one of you: do not think of yourself more highly than you should. Instead, be modest in your thinking, and judge yourself according to the amount of faith that God has given you.
4We have many parts in the one body, and all these parts have different functions.
5In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body.
6So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us. If our gift is to speak God’s message, we should do it according to the faith that we have;
7if it is to serve, we should serve; if it is to teach, we should teach;
8if it is to encourage others, we should do so. Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully.
9Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good.
10Love one another warmly as Christian brothers and sisters, and be eager to show respect for one another.
11Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion.
12Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times.
13Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers.
14Ask God to bless those who persecute you, yes, ask him to bless, not to curse.
15Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep.
16Have the same concern for everyone. Do not be proud, but accept humble duties. Do not think of yourselves as wise.
17If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good.
18Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody.
19Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God’s anger do it. For the scripture says, “I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord.”
20Instead, as the scripture says: “If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing this you will make them burn with shame.”
21Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good.

Furthermore, we are to develop our character to produce the fruit of the spirit in all walks of life.

Galatians 5:22 to 26 (NKJV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Ephesians 5:8 to 10 (NKJV)
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

We are to constantly direct our paths toward peace and cooperation and improvement of circumstances helping one another each in our own capacity.

Hebrews 10:24 (NKJV)
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,

Matthew 5:9 (NKJV)
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

James 3:18 (NKJV)
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

We must keep our guards up against fraud, conspiracies, ulterior motives, treason, betrayal, negativity, deterioration of motivation, lies and deceptions.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 and 4 (NKJV)
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Guard yourselves against this evil.

1 John 3:7 and 8 (NKJV)
Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He (Jesus) is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

The other day, September 20, 2016, the President of the United States emphasised in his last speech to congress how the world is progressing in a very positive way. And a minister of God recently wrote pointing out how mankind is sliding fast down a slippery slope of evil and consequent impending devastation. One spoke to deceive, the other to warn.

Ephesians 5:6 to 7 (NKJV)
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Do not be deceived by smooth talkers.

Isaiah 30:9 to 11 (NKJV)
this is a rebellious people, Lying children, Children who will not hear the law of the Lord; Who say to the seers, “Do not see,” And to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Get out of the way, Turn aside from the path, Cause the Holy One of Israel To cease from before us.”

These are the ways of evil people. Many people only want to hear smooth things. They have itching ears. But God has a better purpose for man, for all, and it has lasting value, eternal value.

2 Timothy 4:1 to 5 (NKJV)
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Life is simple yet complex. Can you explain how it is that life is in blood, how blood is so highly skilled at handling the many remarkable tasks required to sustain the life of the body?

Isaiah 55:8 to 9 (NKJV)
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

2 Corinthians 11:3 (NKJV)
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Jesus spoke a parable about a plank and speck that people have in their eyes.

Matthew 7:1 to 6 (NKJV)
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

I believe that the plank represents the ways and teachings of false religion and false beliefs and wrong attitudes, generally, the ways of the world. The spec represents an inconsistency or diversion from the word of God, perhaps a little doubt or a little uncertainty or some hesitation or perhaps only a needed moment of meditation.

I think it is important to consider another translation of this passage because it shows how delicate an operation or task it is to remove something that has been logged in an eye for God only knows what reason.

Matthew 7:5 (AMP)
You hypocrite, first get the beam of timber out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the tiny particle (or splinter) out of your brother’s eye.

One last concept on the topic, God has a gift of eternal life as a reward for the obedience of His chosen ones. This gift will be given through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, to the first fruits at the end of this age and then to the rest of Their chosen ones at the Great White Throne Judgement.

John 11:25 and 26 (NKJV)
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

John 14:6 and 7 (NKJV)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”

John 14:21 (NKJV)
He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.

1 John 2:17 (NKJV)
And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

2 John 2 (NKJV)
because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:

2016 Jacques Gauvin

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