How
does one recover from Sexual Abuse?
Click to Listen to Jackie Kendall's
Interview on Recovery.
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How do you set up your
prayer cards?
A College Student asked
me how I set up my prayer cards - what were the
categories for the different list of names on my prayer
cards. Here are the categories for my Prayer Cards:
- People Who Need
Jesus (that I know personally)
- Married Couples
(Glorify God)
- Singles (wait for
God's best - Bozo vs. Boaz)
- Youth (God Squad or
Blazing Torches)
- Missionaries
- Spiritual Leaders
(Pastors, Bible Teachers)
- Family Members
- Friends
- Terminally ill
(i.e.. cancer, etc...)
- Emotionally ill
(need healing of heart wounds)
- Card for my heart
dreams and desires
- Individual card for
my husband and each of my children
- Professional
athletes & wives (their influence for Christ)
- Christian
Celebrities (i.e.. Steven Curtis Chapman)
These are suggestions,
you may think of other categories.
"I urge, then, first of
all, that request, prayers, intercession and
thanksgiving be made for everyone..."(I Timothy 2:1)
How do you set up a
prayer journal?
My prayer partner and I
just record our prayer requests each week when we pray.
I don't journal prayers...I journal the new things God
shows me in His Word!
How does one get from A
to Z?
The most common question
I am asked at conferences and through hundreds of emails
is:
How does one get to
do what you do?
How did you get started?
How does one go from A to Z?
I want to answer this
question in such a way to NOT DISCOURAGE. I want to
MOTIVATE (Hebrews 10:24) God's girls to keep
chasing their God no matter how long the road. How did I
get from A to
Here are a few steps:
FIRST: I can honestly say
that I am what I am today because I understand the
magnitude of the truth in the following statement:
"There is no lasting
success, happiness or fulfillment in life apart from
a consistent, daily growing relationship with God
through the Word."
That quote is the
foundation of the success I have experienced. For
thirty-five years I have been studying God's Word and
hundreds of books containing practical application of
the truths expressed throughout the Word (If you would
like a copy of my reading list please email me and
include your mailing address).
SECOND: Another classic
quote captures my going from teaching 6 girls in Sunday
School in a make-shift classroom in 1971 to an
auditorium with 2000 girls in 2001.
"Perseverance is long
obedience in the same direction."
As Jesus said: "Well,
thou good servant: because THOU HAST BEEN FAITHFUL IN A
VERY LITTLE, have thou authority over ten cities."
(Luke 19:17) Faithfulness is the greatest DEGREE to
earn the privilege of serving the King of Kings.
When I was in college, I
used my free time wisely. I was chaplain for my dorm, I
taught a girls Bible Study in a local home, I visited
teen detention centers on Sundays and shared Jesus. I
would give my testimony to anyone who would listen.
FAITHFUL IN LITTLE...
I have honestly been
serving Jesus for thirty five years and for 25 of those
35 years - serving was NOT IN THE LIMELIGHT...it was in
the non-newsy mode of the following:
- Home Bible Studies
- Sunday School (High
School, College, Singles, Couples)
- Volunteer at Youth
Camps
- Vacation Bible
School
- Shared Jesus
constantly with my kids friends and their parents
- Shared Jesus at the
grocery store, dry cleaners
- Retreats for Singles
- Mission Trips
- Too many hours to
count...meeting people one on one to encourage hope
in Jesus!
- Thousands of letters
and notes of encouragement to those struggling
spiritually
- Years of studying
the Word (Isaiah 50:4) to find answers for
the troubled people that flowed into my life on a
daily basis.
FAITHFUL IN LITTLE...
THIRD: I have always been
busy in the harvest...since Jesus said the "laborers are
few" (Matthew 9:37,38) - I have never faced
unemployment in Kingdom Opportunities. I must admit that
even when I was a mom of TODDLERS...I spent daily time
studying the WORD and daily time recording the Truths I
discovered. The truths discovered during all those years
of study became the very OUTLINES I NOW TEACH AT
CONFERENCES...
Ready for this...notes
and outlines that I was given in the early 80's - I
didn't use on a grand scale until 1992. I taught what I
learned in Sunday School classes and home Bible Studies
and then in 1991 while teaching some of the same
principles that I had known for YEARS - I was teaching a
Spring Training Bible Study for the Montreal Expos and
the Atlanta Braves - one random evening I was noticed by
the President of a national conference organization for
professional ballplayers and the rest is history.
NOTE: The opportunity
to teach a Spring Training Bible Study was through a
young woman who I had mentored - years before in our
home - and she started dating a professional
ballplayer and referred my husband and I for this
opportunity. FAITHFUL IN LITTLE...I disciple ONE
COLLEGE GIRL...and it changed my life.
FOURTH: The Publishing
journey...I disciple ONE SINGLE GIRL...and she hooks me
up with a couple - Dr. Bill and Debby Jones...that I
ultimately write Lady in Waiting with...
NOTE: We wrote Lady
in Waiting in 1989 and it took until 1994 for it to
be picked up and published...we went through 5 years
of rejections...Ironically, in 1972 - in a college
room on a dateless Friday night - the Lord
gave me the message "How to Wait for God's Best"
from the book of Ruth...I taught it faithfully to
single gals (Sunday School, home groups, small
retreats) until 1989 when it was transformed into a
book called Lady in Waiting. Seventeen years of
sharing my heart about avoiding a Bozo...and the
Lord still made us wait 5 more years for it to be
published!
FIFTH: WHEN ARE YOU READY
TO SERVE? When I was born again, two days later, I was
asked to share at a slumber party with a group of girls
how I had been born again at a friends home two days
previously. I literally took out a track that had been
read to me...and I read it and only embellished it a
little...and 7 girls prayed to receive Jesus that night.
From the moment I read I Corinthians 5:17-20 I clearly
understood that I had been saved to serve Jesus by
sharing the Good News with whomever He allowed me. I
never had the vision of being a writer, speaker, etc...I
had one desire...to do whatever He wanted me to do on a
DAILY BASIS. Whether I was a waitress who shared her
faith with whomever would listen or a national speaker
who is sharing Jesus with the guy bagging her
groceries...FAITHFUL IN LITTLE...
Just this morning I read
this verse: "...serve Him with wholehearted devotion and
with a willing mind, FOR THE LORD SEARCHES EVERY HEART
AND UNDERSTANDS EVERY MOTIVE BEHIND THE THOUGHTS..."
(I Chronicles 28:9)
The Lord knows our hearts
and He knows who wants to glorify Him and He also knows
who wants to glorify themselves. Just keep in mind that
the Lord knows your heart and if you are passionate
about serving Him...you will NEVER BE UNEMPLOYED!!!!
SIXTH: One final thought,
my first pastor said to me one day..."Jackie, the only
people who remain faithful in kingdom work are those who
are not afraid to walk alone sometimes."
There have been times
when I have looked around and wondered why fellow
Christians were not excited about the obvious harvest in
front of us. And that phrase from my pastor would just
remind me...this is one of those ALONE times...
Then I discovered a verse
that a Christian who understood that ALONE reality:
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if
only I may finish the race and complete the task the
Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the
gospel of God's grace." (Acts 20:24)
Notice: I...may finish
the race...one man...running in his lane...
This is only a glimpse of
the journey I have been on...but I hope it provides a
little clarity for you as you pursue opportunities to
make a difference in this world for Jesus' sake.
Wild for Jesus,
Jackie
How does a Christian
successfully say goodbye to shame?
Although we as Christians
know that Jesus died to pay for our sins, we are
constantly assaulted by Satan's favorite
tool--shame..."shame on you..." Although we as forgiven
believers know that there is NO CONDEMNATION in Christ
(Romans 8:1), we still seem to struggle with
SHAME. Why does shame have such continuing influence on
so many Christians? Well, last night in church, the
Worship Leader read a passage of scripture and the Lord
so rocked my world that I wanted to jump out of my seat
and run to the platform and grab a microphone and share
what God showed me. Instead I am going to try and share
it with you.
The passage read was Luke
7:36-50. In my Bible the passage has a subtitle: Jesus
Anointed by a Sinful Woman. I know this passage and I
actually use it in the first chapter of my book Lady in
Waiting--describing a woman's reckless abandon to Jesus.
But as I looked closer at the passage something new came
into focus. This sinful woman (notorious in her town)
walked into a most condemning situation--the home of
Simon the Pharisee. It would be like a prostitute
showing up for a covered dish dinner at the Pastor's
house! But this sinful woman did not allow condemning
shame keep her from anointing and kissing the feet of
the Holy One of Israel. Now, how did a SINFUL woman walk
past a judgmental, self-righteous man like Simon?????
This sinful woman was so focused on Jesus Christ that
she was not tripped up by a SHAMING SIMON!! This sinful
woman did something so radical--so passionate and her
single-minded attention on Jesus, kept her from being
frozen in her steps by SHAMES CHILLY FINGER OF
CONDEMNATION. The judgmental, shaming Simon's of this
world are daily used by Satan (Revelations 12:10-11) to
accuse, confuse and trip up God's less than perfect
children. When a believer focuses on Jesus, the shaming
Simon's of this world have no influence but when a
struggling believer focuses on the comments of a shaming
Simon...then the believer is stopped in their tracks and
they never get to the feet of Jesus. We are to come
BOLDLY unto the throne of grace...Hebrews 4:15,16 and we
must resist the shaming Simon's who continually whisper
how "unworthy" we are. We need to focus on the forgiving
Savior rather than the judgmental Simon's.
Do you know how God views
our failures?
- He expects them
- He forgives them
- He uses them
Great verses to
memorize--that will break the finger of any shaming
Simon:
"Do not be afraid;
you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you
will not be humiliated. YOU WILL FORGET THE SHAME OF
YOUR YOUTH..." (Isaiah 54:4)
"Instead of their shame
my people will receive a double portion, and instead of
disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so
they will inherit a double portion in their land, and
everlasting joy will be theirs." (Isaiah 61:7)
You will probably
encounter a Shaming Simon this week...stay focused on
Jesus and forgive this blind person. Whenever you get
ready to worship Jesus, don't be surprised if Shaming
Simon is in the room.
Love from one who has
kissed His feet and has also heard the groan of a
shaming Simon in the background!!!!!!!!!!!
His Warrior,
Jackie
Do we need the abuser to
ask forgiveness?
Dear Precious Wounded
One: Do We Need the Abuser to Ask Forgiveness? My father
lived his life denying that he had sexually abused all
seven of us (I am the oldest of seven children)...and
when I told him that I had forgiven him for what he
did...he verbally abused me for falsely accusing him. My
dad died of a heart attack and he never admitted to any
of us his horrible offenses...he said we were all lying
losers! If your uncle asks your forgiveness...that is
wonderful...but your freedom is not based on your uncle
repenting and asking forgiveness...YOUR FREEDOM is based
on forgiving him and forgiving your mom and forgiving
your aunt...and LET GOD TAKE CARE OF CORRECTING<
PUNISHING< ETC>>> "Don't say, I will get even for this
wrong. Wait for the LORD to handle the matter."
(Proverbs 20:22) A wonderful story about Corrie ten
boom:
When the brutal guard
from the Nazi concentration camp came to her after
she spoke in Germany and he asked her forgiveness
for torturing her and her sister...Corrie said when
she saw him her heart was FROZEN WITH HATRED...but
when the soldier extended his hand to her...in a
split second, she found herself extending her hand
to him and in a moment...God's love flooded through
her soul and her arm to her hand...
What was the principle
here: The will can do what is RIGHT even when the heart
has a different temperature! So when my heart is frigid
with anger, my will can by faith--do what is RIGHT and
my obedient behavior will "thaw my frozen heart." I got
so excited about the fact that I have spent 35 years
doing what is right towards those who have hurt me and
the Lord has kept me from having an ALASKAN
HEART...instead I have a FLORIDIAN HEART...warm and
pliable in the hands of GOD.
The best prescription for
a wounded heart is to allow God to love freely through
your life and your obedient love and forgiveness of your
debtors will set you free. Bitterness keeps me tied to
the offender, forgiveness cuts the cords of bondage to
the offender and all the co-conspirators that covered up
the offense.
Forgiveness is a daily
reality...forgive and forgive again...and again until
you look into the eyes of the One Who died so you could
freely forgive. Remember--you are most like Jesus when
you are forgiving. Every challenge in your life that
demands forgiveness is a BE LIKE JESUS MOMENT>>>
Love from One Healed
through Forgiving...
Are you guilty of Achan's
sin?
Whenever you read a
familiar story, one could miss an obvious nugget.
Reading through Joshua I came upon the story of Achan
and his sin of craving the beautiful Babylonian robe,
the silver coins and the bar of gold. We all know the
story how he took these items and hid them in his tent.
We also know that it was a SIN because it directly
violated God's instruction concerning the conquering of
JERICHO (Joshua 6:18,19). When I read this
familiar story I was focusing on the lust that drove him
to disobey and the costly cravings that resulted in his
death and the death of his family. Well, this deadly
craving reminded me of the many addictions that are
destroying homes across the U.S. Then the Lord rocked my
world by taking me into another aspect of the event. I
assumed Achan's sin was lust but it was the deeper sin
of presumption.
When God gave the
marching orders for Jericho, He said..."no plunder for
the warriors." Achan being a warrior heard that
instruction he committed a "presumptuous sin." He
ASSUMED that the "no plunder for the warriors" would be
the marching orders for ALL the cities they were going
to conquer. So Achan, gave into his lust and cravings
because he ASSUMED that God would not provide for him as
a warrior. Sadly, Achan stole what God was going to
FREELY GIVE HIM in the next city of Ai.
When God gave Joshua the
marching orders for Ai, the Lord included..."keep the
captured goods and the cattle for yourselves."
(Joshua 8:2) So Achan's ultimate sin was not only
the lust but the presumption that God would not provide
for him as a warrior. Achan STOLE WHAT GOD WOULD HAVE
GIVEN HIM IF ACHAN HAD ONLY TRUSTED EL ELYON'S TIMING
AND MARCHING ORDERS. How often do we steal what God
wants to give us freely?
- How often do we
impatiently go after what our Father wants to give
us when we are sitting still? (Isaiah 64:4)
- How often do we
panic and assume that God is not going to provide?
(Matthew6:25-33)
- How often do we
assume what God is going to do next and we rush
ahead, drenched in fear that it is not going to be
the best for us? (Romans 8:32)
- How many times have
you and I suffered because we ASSUMED what God would
do and then we were knocked down by the surprise
turn of events? (Isaiah 55:8,9)
"Lord forgive me for a
propensity to sin like Achan...Forgive me for living
even a moment of my life, drenched in fear rather than
drenched in faith."
Who is the abundantly
blessed wrestler?
Many of you would
immediately think of Jacob...wrestling with God in
Genesis 32:28 "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but
Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men
and have overcome." Jacob was blessed after struggling
and wrestling with God and man.
Have you been struggling
with God or men recently? I have and this morning I was
reading Deut. 33:23 and I found nugget that I couldn't
wait to research and then share with those of you I
love.
"Moses said this
about the tribe of Naphtali: "Oh Naphtali, you are
rich in favor and full of the LORD's blessings; may
you possess the west and the south."
Immediately I wondered -
WHY WAS NAPHTALI so rich in favor and full of
blessings???
Rich in Favor: means that
a superior is gracious and kind in reacting to an
inferior; the superior is taking delight and pleasure in
this servant!
Full of the Lord'
blessings: means the completion of something that was
unfinished and the filling of something that was
empty...
Do you need the
completion of something that is unfinished?
Do you need the filling of something that is empty?
Now fasten your
seatbelt...
Naphtali: means wrestling
and struggling...
So if you have been struggling and wrestling...you are a
likely candidate for God's favor and full blessing of
completion of what is yet unfinished in your life. The
struggle is part of the route to completion. The
wrestling match does not mean you have missed the
blessing, the wrestling match is an aspect of the
blessing--like a frame on a great picture.
So like Jacob and
Naphtali...to struggle and wrestle with God or men or
circumstances, etc. is a BLESSED WRESTLING EVENT when
you and I remember that our Superior, Incomparable God
is pleased with us in Christ and He is going to complete
the good work He has begun in each of us.
God is going to use our wrestling and struggling to
continue to sanctify us through and through.
Love from a Naphtali
Warrior,
Jackie
How boldly can we pray?
This morning while
reading a most familiar passage in Luke chapter 11 about
Jesus teaching His disciples how to pray...I almost
missed a most precious nugget. (Luke 11:5-8)
Jesus tells a story of a
VERY INCONVENIENT REQUEST FROM A FRIEND AT
MIDNIGHT...Jesus tells how the friend grants the request
NOT BECAUSE OF FRIENDSHIP but because of the FRIENDS
PERSISTENCE--BOLDNESS.
I decided to look up
persistence/boldness in my New Testament Lexical Aid.
Well...fasten your seatbelt...persistence/boldness in
Greek (anaiden) means:
- "unabashed audacity"
- "shameless boldness"
- "brazen persistence
displayed"
- "in the pursuit of
something"
- "an insistence
characterized by rudeness"
Wow, when was the last
time you or I prayed with "unabashed audacity and
shameless boldness?" As I pondered this question, the
Lord reminded me of the prayer life of my first mentor.
Mamie Hinch would pray with such "shameless boldness"
that I would wonder if I would ever have enough
confidence in God to pray with such glorious audacity.
"I cry out to God without
holding back..." Psalms 77:1
As I continued to ponder
this boldness in prayer, the Lord reminded me of Hebrews
4:16 that speaks about coming before the Throne of God
with confidence...
I looked up confidence (Parresia)
it means:
- "freedom in speaking
all that one thinks"
- "confident boldness
in speaking"
- "plainness and
exactness of speech"
I am excited about Jesus
reminding me today that "shameless boldness" is a
critical aspect of prevailing prayer power.
May we pray with holy
audacity and shameless boldness,
Love His Warrior,
Jackie
P.S. I am reading a book
on fasting and prayer and I am absolutely being blown
away by the reality of the "lack of hunger for God in
America." "The weakness of our hunger for God is not
because He is unsavory, but because we keep ourselves
stuffed with 'other things.'"
A Hunger for God by John
Piper
"I want to be a women's
speaker like you. What do I do?"
QUESTION:
In a recent email I received this often asked question:
"I want to be a conference speaker like you--what do
I do?"
ANSWER:
"I wait quietly
(resting/not anxious) before God, for my hope is in
him." (Psalms 62:5)
Your desire to minister
to women as a speaker is a noble desire. When I told you
to get in the WORD DAILY...that is foundational to
blessing others. You can only export what you have
imported.
The key to being what God
has purposed you to be...is to be faithfully obedient
every day to the many little opportunities that come
your way to be a display of God's splendor. I have been
sharing God's Word with women (and some men) for 35
years...whether I was sitting on a blanket in a backyard
with 7 junior high girls sharing my heart or squeezed
into the tiniest Sunday School room teaching a bunch of
disillusioned singles...or speaking to a mom's group
with so many crying babies that I don't know if ANYONE
heard a complete sentence that I shared...or teaching a
workshop at youth camp and the reward was a bunch of
teens covered me with shaving cream and threw me in the
lake...Whether I am sharing the God's Word with the
cashier at Publix or a businessman on a plane or at a
bridal shower or a funeral...all these opportunities
were part of God's purpose and I would have missed being
effective if I hadn't had my daily dose of God's Word...(Isaiah
50:4)
"To those who use well
what they are given, EVEN MORE will be given, and they
will have an abundance..." (Matthew 25:29) Thirty
five years of faithfulness in God's Word and in sharing
wherever I was...is why I am living the privilege of
EVEN MORE...
Our daughter Jessica is
prayerfully considering the call to women's
ministry...that is why she jumped at a chance to be a
counselor for Senior High girls at camp this week. She
is transferring to Liberty University to be trained for
ministry and prepared ultimately for Seminary which she
knows she will also need to be fully equipped for
women's ministry.
Get as much training as
you can...In 1972 I went to college and got a degree in
BIBLE during a time when it was not VOGUE for a woman to
be teaching ANYTHING other than Vacation Bible School. I
was constantly challenged by the men in many of my Bible
classes who often said, "What are you doing in a class
on Hermeneutics (training in proper interpretation of
scriptures)?"...but I knew that only two things last
forever...PEOPLE AND THE WORD...and I wanted to be on
the FOREVER GOD SQUAD...
If you will send me your
address...I will send you a mentoring sheet of all the
books that have helped shape my life message... I am
actually going back to school this fall...for more
training so that I can be even a more effective women's
minister...I am going to Seminary (via
correspondence)...
I am assuming that you
have DEVOURED the message that is in Lady in Waiting. If
not, let me know because I want to send you a copy of
the book and the BOZO video. If you are going to
minister to WOMEN, the principles in Lady in Waiting are
a basic PRIMER!
How does one handle being
the "third" wheel in friendship with couples?
QUESTION:
I just wanted to tell you
how much the Lord has spoken to me through Lady in
Waiting. It was such a blessing and I have bought many
more copies for my friends b/c it was so helpful to me
and I just want to share it with everyone. I have really
grown in the last month.
I have a question for you
though: Many of my friends have boyfriends but I don't.
I have been friends with both the boys and the girls for
many years before they started dating. Not being like
everyone else and having a boyfriend isn't the issue
(for once) I just feel really awkward and like a third
wheel when I hang out with them. I can't very well
isolate myself from couples either so I guess my
question is how would one handle being around couples
all the time?
ANSWER:
How does one handle being the "third" wheel in
friendship with couples? This is GREAT PRACTICE TIME FOR
YOU...because the WORLD IS FULL OF COUPLES...and
relating to our "siblings in Jesus" is a critical
reality--regardless of your status (single) and their
status--"a couple. One of the coolest aspects of being
around "other couples"...as the THIRD WHEEL you are the
WHEEL OF FORTUNE because you have the most Objective
view on the relationship and when trouble comes - you
will be the BEST counselor and comforter. Share people's
joy...regardless of the "couple thing"...and when you
love them as INDIVIDUALS in Jesus...then you will only
deepen your capacity to be used by God in so many ways.
The Lord has allowed me to minister to men and women for
years and that is because I see them as INDIVIDUALS who
need SOUL CARE...
Don't trip over the
couple thing...many of THOSE dating couples will be
"uncoupled" in the future and your loyal friendship will
be ABSOLUTELY INVALUABLE...Hebrews 10:24; Proverbs
11:25; II Corinthians 1:3-8.
What is a Divine Prayer
Encounter?
"I urge, then, first of
all, that requests, prayers, intercession and
thanksgiving be made for everyone..." (I Timothy 2:1)
While breaking this verse
into bite size pieces, I found something new that I had
an absolute fit about...let me try to summarize what I
found.
First the Lord used the
expression "first of all" to remind me of the PRIMARY
role that prayer is to have in my life daily...
Secondly the Lord used
"everyone" to remind me of the MANY people that God
anticipates my praying for regularly...
THEN I started looking up
requests, prayers, intercession...to make sure I
understood the passage and when I read the definition of
"intercession" I had a holy fit...
Intercession has several
definitions: audience with the king, encounter, social
interaction...I am loving these intimate terms then I
read "chance upon"...now that phrase may not ring your
bell but it cranked my tractor beyond words...let me try
to explain.
Whenever we take the time
to pray...we are positioning ourselves to "chance upon"
intimacy with our heavenly Bridegroom...now--the phrase
"chance upon" radically impacted my life in 1972...when
I read the scripture in Ruth 2:3 where Ruth "chanced
upon" an encounter" with her future bridegroom. Ruth's
"chance encounter" was part of sovereign destiny---yet
such destiny filled encounter's with our "heavenly
bridgegroom" are available 24/7 to each of us.
When Ruth had her "chance
encounter" with her future bridegroom Boaz spoke such
encouraging words to her needy heart...when you and I
pray...our heavenly Boaz/Bridegroom wants to speak very
specific blessings and directions when we "chance upon"
such a holy intimate moment with Him.
We need a more conscious
holy pause when we pray...remembering this is an
opportunity for "chanced upon" intimacy with our
heavenly bridegroom...Maybe the reason so many of God's
people don't hear His voice is they know how to beg and
implore God with their needs but they don't expect to
hear something specific during their audience with the
King. The reality is--most of God's kids know how to
pray but they never make it to intimate intercession
which is ultimately followed by Thanksgiving...such
intimacy with one's heavenly bridegroom produces a
thanks that cannot be restrained...this is the sacred
romance most people are reading about yet still missing
their "chanced upon" intimacy with Jesus.
Why Is It Unloving to Be
Politically Correct?
As I began the book of I
Timothy I was captivated by the fact that it was
addressed to the one that Paul called "my true son in
the faith..." (I Timothy 1:2)...then I
thought--what was the first thing Paul instructed
Timothy about in this first letter. Here is the first
POWER POINT from Paul: "As I urged you when I went into
Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may COMMAND
(pass on an order) certain men not to teach FALSE
DOCTRINES (alien ideas, deviate from truth) any longer
nor to devote themselves to MYTHS (fabricated by the
mind, lying fables of false pretense) and endless
GENEALOGIES. These promote CONTROVERSIES (minister
questions of doubt) rather than God's work-which is by
faith." (I Timothy 1:4)
I am sure you noticed
that I did not include the definition of GENEALOGIES...I
didn't because it was so long...and I was so shocked by
the meaning that I needed to take the time to type it
out in full...
Genealogies in this verse
does not refer to charting of one's ancestors...in this
verse genealogies refers to a way of "misinterpreting"
Scripture. Paul was referring to a Rabbinical practice
of taking ordinary figures and events in the Bible and
treating them as "cryptic" messages. Such a style of
"misinterpreting" the Scriptures lead to "outlandish
stories and legendary personalities" that became nothing
more than myths.
Now what does any of this
have to do with being politically correct? Stay with
me...Myths and so called "Cryptic" Messages are the very
basis of ALL false religions and cults in the world...we
know how many false teachers use the scriptures for
their personal agendas. They take verses out of context
and they teach about HIDDEN (cryptic) Messages that only
the elite can access...anyway...
In the above verse...Paul
is encouraging Timothy to CONFRONT those who deviate
from the truth...then Paul immediately makes a powerful
remark about WHY CONFRONT DEVIATION FROM TRUTH..."The
goal of this command is LOVE..." (I Timothy 1:5).
It is not LOVING to water down the TRUTH...it is not
loving to fearfully remain quiet when a person is
expounding on some supernatural cryptic revelation...
How many times have you
heard people use the name GOD rather than JESUS so they
aren't offensive striving to be politically correct? How
many religious people have you heard expounding on some
supernatural experience of legendary proportion--yet
alien to Truth, yet you have remained quiet...non-confrontive...in
hopes of being LOVING?
Consider the irony that
in Paul's second letter to Timothy, Paul had to address
Timothy's spirit of fear--a fear that would keep one
silent in the presence of "false teachers expounding on
the cryptic messages they have discovered in certain
Bible texts."
Oh that we were so full
of the TRUTH that we would be fearless
confronters..."...speaking the truth in love..."
Ephesians 4:15... Just remember...TO SPEAK THE TRUTH IN
LOVE IS A LOVING GOAL...too many allow fear to keep them
from lovingly telling the truth...
I close confessing to you
that I have feared being "offensive"--a couple times
this year when I have heard some "myths and fables"
referred to by certain believers--I remained silent
because I feared offending...how unloving my silence
was...
I am hoping to be more
like Paul and Timothy in the days ahead...
Love from a perpetual
learner (disciple)...so grateful for the WORD OF GOD
which is an "Adoring Tutor"...
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