Are You Growing?

 

Are You Growing?

     What is God working on in your life? Are there things that you know needs to change? Are you praying for God to show you and help you to overcome things in your life? Pray and ask God to show you what He sees about you. Ask Him to reveal to you, your sins and anything wrong; so you can confess them to Him and start working on them.

      

     Recently, I’ve prayed about anxiety in my life. My mind often runs amok, with all kinds of concerns and accusations. God has given me a means to resolve this, and I am working on it. That is what I am growing into now. That is what I’m working on. God is working too.

      

     You might have Anger, Pride, Fear, Doubt, Negativity, Addictions, Materialism, Hatred, Gluttony, Lust, or any number of other things. Are you trying to overcome them? Are you giving them to God?

      

     Are you working on something to improve yourself? It should be spiritual things. But, it could also be learning a new subject. Learning a new hobby? Are you trying new things, new books, new foods and new travels?

     

      Are you growing? Are you growing straight or crooked? Maybe you need to be tied up straight? Maybe you need pruned, or fertilized? Maybe you need more light or water? Maybe more space to grow? Maybe there are too many weeds, or insects gnawing at your growth?  

     Are you growing? Only live things grow. Pray and ask God to save you and bring you to life in Christ Jesus. Pray for Him to grow you, and let Him show you where and how to work on yourself. Let God grow you.

 

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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, Poet and blogger from Southern Illinois.

Photo by the writer.

A Terrible Christian

 A Terrible Christian

I’m a terrible Christian. It’s a fact. Other Christians look at me and say “He said what?” or “He believes what?”  Or they might say, “That’s not very Christ-like.” And it’s true. I sin wickedly. But, they do also. They just commit the socially acceptable sins. They commit the churchy sins.

      

     There are so many people who have asked God to save them, and God has saved them. But, then those same people are driven away because they do not obey all the churchy rules. They don’t say the right thing. They don’t go to the right church. They still smoke, drink or chew, or hangout with girls who do. They haven’t read the Bible or can’t find the verses fast enough. But, at some point in their life, they heard God calling them and they prayed to receive Him. They are saved, but church people drive them away.

    

      I got saved when I was young. Then, I started living like the devil. I was saved, but knew nothing about living a spiritual life. All I knew was that I still sinned, and all the church people were perfect; or at least acted perfect. They never failed. They had perfect families, and perfect teeth. But, I was a failure, even at that age. I was not important to them.

      

     So, what is wrong with me? My Christian experience has not been perfect. I don’t obey all the rules. Even when I try, I fail in a dozen other ways. I lust. I anger. I hate. I doubt. I want possessions. I’m a glutton. I’m a liar. I’m disobedient. I’m an addict. I’m a rebel.

      

     I am not that perfect Christian. But, I am saved. He has shown me, and He gives me his perfection, and continues to work on me. I am better than I was, not because of my works but because of His victory. I did not become a mess over night, and I won’t get out of it over night either. Spiritual growth is a process. I am already saved, but I am getting better too. It’s like getting a shot to heal a disease. I am healed, but the scar and symptoms are still going away.

      

     Those perfect Christians were born in the church and never left. They have not experienced the depths of evil that many of us have experienced. They are the Elder brother. Do not let them drive you away from God. Abide in Him no matter how bad you seem to be. Keep turning to Him and confessing your sin, and asking Him to work, and save. He will.

      

     We need to stop acting like we are perfect, of our own power. We live in a fallen world that needs God. Christ did not come for perfect people. He came for all of us. Our failure shows that He is working on us. It shows we are human and need God. It shows that we are real.

 

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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois.

Photo by the author.

Iron Sharpens Iron

 Iron Sharpens Iron

Spiritual Truth by Chris Bunton

“Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” –Proverbs 27:17

    As Christians we often hear or have this belief that we are to always be happy and joyful. That we are to never have a complaint or conflict among brethren, and some believe we should never argue with those who oppose us.

      

     But, that is really not the truth, nor is it reality. “In this world you will have tribulation.” We will have trouble, we will have conflict, but ultimately we are to realize that Jesus has overcome the world, and we overcome through Him. He works in us and through us. That does not mean everything is always daisies, as some try to maintain. We remind ourselves that He has overcome, and it works to help us, but it does not always remove the tribulation.

      

     Believers often have disagreements about things in God’s Word. These disagreements can get very heated and even hateful. It’s claimed that this stuff drives people away from Christ. But let me ask you; does it drive people away from football when folks disagree or hate on different teams? Humans argue about politics, we argue about philosophy, we argue about academics, we argue about money, we argue about everything. It’s part of communication and learning. Does it drive us away? People are driven away from Christ, because they have listened to the demons whispering in their ear. Satan will show you all kinds of things that offend you, if it will keep you from getting saved, knowing Christ, growing in faith and serving God.

      

     Remember, that iron sharpens iron. When this happens, heat is created as friction occurs. Bits of iron fly off, but both pieces become sharper. There will be conflict as God works to teach and improve us. There will be heat. There will be things removed. If not, then are we being changed? How can we grow stronger if we do not have more weight added to the bar we lift?

      

     As we grow and learn in our spiritual walk, we will encounter challenges. When we express our view from God’s Word, we might encounter resistance. As we speak what God is teaching us, we might face others who disagree. There are people who have seen or gotten different views or who dwell in different stages of growth. They won’t totally agree always.

      

     As we continue in discussing or arguing these points, we learn. We will get sharper and improve our arguments, or we will finally see that we were flawed in our reasoning, and let God change our minds. How you respond to this, is what matters. Understand that God is working on us, and that we should try to show love and forgiveness to those we disagree with. It’s hard to do this, to be sure, but even that is part of our training.

      

     Now some people will quit, when they face resistance. When they quit, they cease to grow and learn in that area. You have to have your beliefs and views challenged, or else how do you know if you believe false things?

      

     Some people act like it’s a sin to argue or debate. It’s not; Jesus and Paul both discussed and debated. Be angry but sin not. The sin comes in how we treat others. It also comes by arguing for the sake of arguing, or never coming to a conclusion. I have debated or discussed things with people and it has been a joy. But, other times it has led to conflict.

      

     Having your views challenged, sharpens your arguments. This is how you learn to organize your thoughts, and to become a more capable soldier for Christ. We learn among our brethren, how to discuss the truth, and share our values and beliefs. Then, when we face opposition, we can give a proper answer for why we believe. We can lead people to Christ, and not sound like a buffoon. We gain confidence in hearing the Spirit speaking into our hearts, as we serve Him.

      

     We need more debate and discussion of God’s Word in our churches, so we can grow and learn how to engage the world around us for Christ. It’s not something to fear. Its part of our growth and it is good. It is difficult to deal with growth, and to keep a proper mind about these things. But, we must grow, and it’s better to do it among brethren. That’s what the body of Christ is for.

 

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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois.

 

Photo by the author.

Brokenness

 

Brokenness

 

 

     First, we must define brokenness. Now when I define things I try to define them, as the scriptures define them. So, brokenness is a condition of having been broken for the Master’s use. Jesus said “Blessed is the meek for they shall inherit the Earth.” (Matt. 5:5) Some want to equate meekness, with weakness, and that is not the case. Meekness involves brokenness.
      
     It is a picture of a wild horse. It is beautiful, defiant, full of power and free. But, it is useless for any purpose other than running free and making baby horses. It has great potential, but not until it is broken.
    
      So, what happens? The Master purchases or captures the wild horse. This is a picture of our salvation. The horse was chosen then captured. You are saved, because God called you and worked to get you to accept Him. He has captured you. He purchased you. Yes, being captured is a form of brokenness, but there’s more. God starts working on you to make you usable for His purposes. Likewise with a horse, the master starts breaking the horse. Driving the wildness and self-will from the creature until the animal finally submits and becomes useable; then, comes more training. Meekness is strength under control.
     
      Humans have a nature in us that is corrupted by the Plague of Sin. Not necessarily just our own sins, but our corrupted nature that leads us to commit sins. That is why brokenness is needed. It is not just a correction of our sinfulness, but also of something in us that is deeply wrong with us. This sin nature came into us at the Fall of Man in the Garden. We were created perfect, but when Adam fell it came into us and has warped us. This Plague of Sin, Death, and the Curse from God is the cause of all our trouble in this world.
      
     The scriptures give many images of this brokenness, and training. We see in the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve fell. God drives them from the Garden, and delivers several curses. (Genesis 3) First, he curses the woman, stating among several things “I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conceptions;” Then, he tells the man “cursed is the ground for thy sake.” Now many translations will render this verse “Because of you,” casting guilt and blame. But, the idea in my opinion is more of “For your good” For your SAKE.
      
     The Plague of Sin and Death is contrary to us. It destroys us; it pulls us from God and drags us into ruined lives and Hell. But, the Curses from God are different. They are designed to make life tough, so that we will wake up and turn to God. God is our only real help. When a mother worries about her children, it draws her to pray for them or give them to God. When a man struggles to make it, and to survive, it causes him to turn to God for help. The Curse, is the answer to Death and Sin. We could have great lives, living in Sin, and dying and going to Hell. But, the Curse made it tough. So, that we will turn to Him and be saved.
      
     But, that is where the problem lies. Do we allow this life, or this world to turn us to God, or do we let it drive us away from Him? Do we get broken and turn to Him, as He reaches out to us? Or do we get angry, bitter and resentful, turning away over and over again throughout our lives? The more we resist the more we get broke. God is desperate to save us, and mold us. It is more important than anything else in our lives; our salvation, and relationship with Him, will last forever.
      
     Other images of brokenness include “The Potter and the Clay” (Jer. 18:2-6) It is a picture of God desiring to mold us into vessels that He can pour his Spirit into, and do His work through us. You must understand that we never really do anything for God.  God does his own work through us. Our works are as filthy rags, but when God does the work it actually produces something that lasts for eternity.
      
     This is not just a play on words, or attempts to deceive ourselves or others. This is real. There are times when we know that some act we did was not of us. It was not of our own power, but something worked through us or strengthened us, or enlightened us for a task. Brokenness comes before we can be molded into the proper vessel. It happens at salvation, when we really submit to God, but it also happens throughout our lives and takes time. That is why one of the fruits of the Spirit is Patience. We might know that God has used us; but brokenness will make us more usable, and more often used. In fact as we step out to be used, we get used more and we get broken more.
      
     Another image is the “Refiner’s Fire” (Mal. 3:2-3)  As the refiner seeks to purify gold or silver, he must turn up the heat on the boiling pot to melt the metal, in order for the dross, or impurities to rise to the surface and be scraped off.. As in our lives, trials, troubles, failures and difficulties, cause heat that brings impurities up, so we can confess them to the Lord, and He can start working on getting rid of them, we let God use them to cause us to turn to Him, and learn from, to grow and serve Him and help others. We become Gold or Silver that can be used.
      
     That does not mean the troubles cease, but we are with God, and He is the only one who can really help us. The enemy will tempt us to become angry and bitter against God or life. That is a trap. It causes us to turn from God, and miss seeing Him work and grow us. Of course, God still works to break us. But, it’s better if we work with Him rather than against Him. You must realize that I am not saying that God does things to hurt us. He is our friend, and our Father. We have an enemy who attacks us, and we have our own flesh and the effects of this world that work on us. It’s our choice to turn to Him or away from Him in all these cases. We have the authority in Jesus name to do battle against the enemy and drive him out. But, even that works to break us, and grow us. Let the Holy Spirit guide you, and turn to God. Use your faith to stand for Him and fight the enemy.
      
     Jesus gives us another example of brokenness, in the prodigal son story. A man went and lived wildly in the world, like the wild horse. But, trouble came and it beat him, and broke him, until finally he “came to himself” and realized that he needed to go back to the Father. This happens not just with salvation, but can happen daily. It can happen even more drastically several times in our lives. (Luke 15:11-32)
      
     Brokenness is good. But, as you notice in all these examples it involves trouble, or pain, or heat, or molding, or unpleasant experiences. Again, please understand that these things come in life. I am not saying that God brings you misery, or that He makes people sick, or suffer. What I am saying is that we and He can use these things to grow us, break us, teach us, and turn us to Him more and more, if we let Him.
      
     Take a soldier whose friend steps on a landmine and a piece of shrapnel hits us. We mourn our friend, we mourn our wound, but we learn from the experience and we use it to teach others about battle. We are in a war. It is a tough world, which breaks us. But, that brokenness can be turned for good, and for God’s use; if we always turn to God.
      
     I want to make another comment on brokenness. It involves the Church in these last days. When we read of the Church of Laodicea, and other churches in Revelation we plainly see that the Lord, puts them or allows them to go into Tribulation, and even Great Tribulation, in order to refine them and to make them as Gold. (Rev. Chapter 2-3)
      
     There are tough times coming upon the Church. The entire Bible screams of it. The entire Bible seeks to prepare for those days, and to provide comfort in them. Tribulation, can lead to brokenness, and to growth. The fires of tribulation where men gather together the twigs and throw them on the fire can cause people to turn to the Lord, or turn them to ashes and be trampled under the feet of men. Great Tribulation can lead to a great falling away and make lamps lack oil.
      
     Always turn to the Lord. No matter where you find yourself, and whatever suffering comes. It’s far better to suffer with God, than to suffer without Him. Let God build your faith, and fight the enemy, leading people to Jesus.

 

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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois

 

Photo by the writer, Pennsylvania wilderness in winter

Read more from Chris Bunton: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/2023/06/abundant-life.html

10 Virgins

 10 virgins

Before we start, there are certain things we cannot prove. Bible prophecy is one of them. We can read the verses, and have beliefs and faith, but until it happens we cannot state it as fact.

Ministries have been ruined, friendships destroyed, reputations crushed, simply because of a different interpretation of Bible prophecy.

That is not what God desires.

We do not know exactly how God is going to fulfill the prophecies in His Word.  The Pharasees thought they knew and were wrong.

Second, I do not believe in a Pre-tribulation rapture. My view reflects this. I will no longer argue about such things.

I think that believers will be here until Christ returns and we will be ruptured when He comes. My view is a Pre-Wrath view, or near to it. It is what the Apostles believed. Just before God pours out His wrath.

Before he comes we will endure lots of trouble.  

The parable of the 10 virgins shows that there will be people prepared for his coming and those who are not. ( Matt. 25:1-13)

All the virgins have lamps, but they do not all have oil.

The 5 virgins with oil says to go buy oil.

Some people believe that the oil is the Holy Spirit, but it plainly shows in Acts 8:8-24 that the Holy Spirit cannot be purchased. Also, Jesus says the Holy Spirit is given to those who ask. It's not bought. (Luke 11:13)

The oil, is faith. 

Now, you must take this in context. First, all people are given a measure of faith so they can be saved. (Romans 12:3) 

 

It is believed by some, that people do not have faith until they get it from God, or hear the Word..."Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." (Romans 10:17)  This verse is referring to faith in Jesus Christ. You cannot believe in Christ until you have been told of Him.

All humans have faith. When you sit down in a chair you have faith it will support you. That is faith. "It is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)

All humans have faith, but faith does not save you. You must put your faith in the right place. Which is Jesus Christ. 

 

He calls you.  This is Grace. This is hearing the Word (Romans 10:17)  Then, you turn to Him (Repent) and give yourself to Him. Confessing Jesus is The Lord. (Romans 10:9-10)

This is salvation. this must be understood to understand the parable of the 10 virgins.

First understand that 5 virgins are wise and 5 are fools.  Fools are always people who do not believe in God. The 5 foolish virgins have no faith in God. They have not put their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. They have a measure of faith, but not in Christ.

 

All the virgins slept while the bridegroom tarried. We currently wait for Him.

 

When He comes the fools are told to go purchase oil.  How do you purchase faith?  You give yourself to Jesus Christ.   You are bought with a price. You buy a pearl of great price. You purchase your salvation by giving yourself to the Lord. Then, as you grow in Christ your faith grows as well.  So, as time goes on you have more oil in your lamp.

So, understand that these foolish virgins are in the Church. But, they were never saved. They are there for business or politics, or tradition, or any number of reasons, but they never gave themselves to Christ and are not saved.

So, as the day of Christ's return draws near, trouble will get worse and worse. Persecution and tribulations will arise and these foolish virgins will not have the faith to endure, because they never knew Him. They are like the seed among the thorns. They are as tares among the wheat.

They will fall away and form the Apostate Church. They will think they are saved, and will think they do God's service when they kill the real believers.

Then, when Christ returns, they will learn that they never had oil. They were never saved, They never knew Him.
 

And He will confess that he never knew them, "Depart..."   He will say.  "But, Lord did we not do wonderful WORKS?"   He will say "I never knew you"

Don't be a foolish virgin who thinks they are saved by works. Give yourself to Christ alone, and know Him as Lord. 

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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois.

Photo by the writer, a winter hill behind Frank Lloyd Wrights Kentuck Knob in Pennsylvania