“Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, ‘Rabbi, eat.’
“But He said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you do not know about.’
“So the disciples were saying to one another, ‘No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?’
“Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.’
“’Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.’” (Joh 4:31-35)
Journal,
As I was meditating on my morning devotion, this thought began stirring in my heart, ‘I must be about my Father’s business.’ My mind was drawn to what Jesus said to His first disciples concerning the harvest field. He said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.”
The work that Jesus was to accomplish was the work of the cross. Listen carefully to the prayer of our Great High Priest –
“Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. ‘This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
“‘I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.'”(Joh 17:1-4)
The work of the cross would be God’s finished work of salvation in Jesus Christ. From the moment of Christ’s ascension into heaven the eternal gospel was to be sent into all the world. The message could encapsulate in this one statement,
“And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Cf. Acts 2:21; Rom 10:13)
In the meantime we have this instruction from the Lord –
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Luk 10:2)
Much Work to Do
In 1976, the Lord gave me a work to accomplish. It began in an old store-front building. On the right side of the entrance a simple sign read, ‘School for Christian Workers.’
This March 9, 2012, will be 36 years since the CCI School for Christian Workers has come into being. Since that time we have trained hundreds of workers for the harvest fields of the Lord.
The motto of Christian Challenge International is, ‘How Beautiful Upon the Mountians’. The motto for the School for Christian Workers is, ‘Preparing Servants for the Nations.’
Has the work that God gave me to do been accomplished? Not yet. There is much work to be done. And if the Lord tarries, it will continue after my departure. (This applies to the whole body of Christ.)
Where are we now? It is now time for out 48th School for Christian Workers.
Is the Lord stirring your heart for service in His kingdom? Perhaps our 48th School is where you need to be.
The CCI School for Christian Workers is quite unique. Our entire emphasis is on true Biblical discipleship. For your consideration here is our class schedule for the school.
Class Schedule for the CCI 48th School for Christian Workers
The School begins January 22nd and 23rd, 2012, and runs 13 weeks. Tuition is $35 per course. Disciples Heart I is $25 for CCI members only.
The Disciple’s Heart Training Program – Sundays 5:00 PM [Required training for anyone serving with CCI]
The Disciples Heart II Training Program – Sundays 5:00 PM
Shepherd’s Heart Mentoring Program – Every Other Wednesday 6:30 PM
Old Testament Bible Survey – Mondays 6:30 PM
Conversational Spanish – Mondays 6:30 PM
Financial Peace University ($100) – Mondays 7:00 PM
God’s Creation – Mondays 6:30 PM
Registration is required. For additional information call the Christian Challenge office at (318) 640-4300.
For your listening here is the theme song of Christian Challenge – How Beautiful Upon the Mountains.
“The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple. The Lord GOD has opened My ear; and I was not disobedient nor did I turn back.” (Isa 50:4-5)
Journal,
My wife and I instituted Christian Challenge International in 1976, as a School for Christian Workers. Since that time we have been able to train several hundred believers for service in the vineyard of the Lord.
The School is non-denominational and non-sectarian in nature. It is our sole purpose to introduce believers into the world of a Biblical disciple. Every course we offer has that focus at heart.
We are not a seminary nor a Bible College. While those venues are good and necessary in many cases, our School has a different design. Each of our classes meet only once a week. But it is out of these weekly classes that the world of the disciple begins to flower.
All I can tell you is that beginning with the first class of the Disciple’s Heart Training Program, you will realize the uniqueness of the CCI School for Christian Workers. (Sorry – We do not offer on-line classes.)
The motto of the School is, ‘Preparing Servants for the Nations’. What we emphasis is what the prophet stated, “He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.”
The Disciple’s Heart Training Program I, is the mother course of our school. We have had graduates from this program tell us that they gained more of a spiritual nature from this one course than they did from their entire time at Bible college. There is a reason for that. It is found in the term, ‘Biblical-Discipleship’.
Note: The Disciple’s Heart Training Program I, is a need for anyone who wishes to serve with Christian Challenge. It is also a required course before ‘The Disciple’s Heart II’ or ‘The Shepherd’s Heart’ can be taken.
Think about it. Pray about it. Do you wish to develop your spiritual life? See if the CCI School for Christian Workers is what the Lord would have you involved with.
Here is an outline of the classes we offer.
“Jesus answered them, ‘To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.’” (Mat 13:11)
“If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
(Gen 4:7)
“For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” (Rom 6:14)
Journal,
Here it is, January 1, 2011, the first day of a new year. And here we are setting out once again with making new year’s resolutions. And here we are once again with our little traditions that supposedly will set the tone for a prosperous year to come. (Sharing a meal of cabbage and black-eyed peas, etc.)
I’ve never been one for making a list of resolutions although I do consider in my heart things that I wish to have a fresh start on. Oh yes, we all struggle. However, the problem goes far beyond making resolutions. The greater issue is how to gain a hold on life itself, and how to live a life of victory over our many struggles and failures.
I woke up this morning wondering how to begin my first journal entry for 2011. My mind kept going back to the email I had just received from a young Christian soldier concerning his struggles with sin issues. I was impressed that sharing my exchange with this young man would be an excellent way to help others who may be facing the similar struggles.
In sharing my exchange with this young soldier I’ll make adjustments for the sake of confidentiality and privacy. I’ve also reworded some of my responses for additional clarification. In the following exchange place your cursor over the Scriptures references. They will appear while you are reading. If you are a woman, transpose this exchange to suit your own life.
Here goes…
The Struggle Over Thoughts
Young soldier:“How can I stop having these bad thoughts and stop asking, why God did this and that? And sometimes make jokes about things I see in church?”
Response:“The thoughts of the heart determine our life at that moment. This is why Jesus dealt with sin as an issue of the heart. I want to encourage you to meditate on Pro4:23; “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs (issues or forces) of life.” (Read all of Proverbs 4.)
“Another thing that can help you is to stop questioning God and start trusting Him for all the issues of life. God is far greater than you and I. His understanding is inscrutable. Here are some more Scriptures that you should consider: Isaiah 40:25-31; Isaiah 45:6-11; Romans 11:33-36.
“You really need to ask the Lord to open your understanding with regard to life and to His ways.”
Note: A temptation is not a sin of itself. Jesus was tempted in all measures just as we are. A temptation is an allurement or solicitation to do evil. It is the enemies attempt to gain control over part of our life by way of our thinking and our imagination. The Lord supplies strength and power to overcome the enemies solicitation. Here are our instructions: Isaiah40:28-31; 2Co10:3-5; Col3:1-5; Phil4:6-9.
Young soldier:“…I can be in church and serving and praising the Lord and in such a great feeling. But then there are times that in my mind I start looking around and having thoughts on how nice this lady looks. I’m a little ashamed to say but while in church I have thoughts of actually seeing myself going out with other women besides my wife. Then I catch myself and in my mind I ask God to please forgive me for such thoughts and to help me stop thinking of things like that. But it happens again and it scares me because I know this is the house of God and I shouldn’t be thinking of being with other women or on how silly such person looks or how nasty that men is!”
Response:“Keep in mind that temptations are common to all men and to all women. The fact that you are able to judge things while they are still in your heart is a major plus. Also that you do pray about these things is another major plus. The Lord is going to help you work this through. Some of this is habitual. Bad habits can be replaced with good habits. (Even spiritually)
“Another thing that can help is to keep your marriage before you. Think about your wife. She is your companion for life. Then think about this — How would you feel if you knew your wife had those same thoughts running through her mind about other men? (Lustful thoughts.) Would it please you if you knew your wife wondered what it would be like to take so-and-so to bed for a sexual encounter? Would you not be very displeased.
“You need to start thanking God for your marriage and for all that He has given you. Did you know that the Bible says the wife is a gift from God. One of the greatest gifts that a man can receive from the Lord is his companion for life.
“Here are some more Scriptures for you to meditate upon:Prov5:15-23; Prov19:14; Eccl9:9; Mal2:13-16; 1Co7:2.(Take time to meditate on all the Scriptures that I am sharing. They will help strengthen your spiritual and mental life.)
Young soldier:“It Is not only in church but basically everywhere I go. I try to not make fun of people but then I catch my self doing it again! It really concerns me because I want to do the right thing. I even accepted Jesus Christ as my savior, but I’m so scared that God gets tired of me asking him to forgive me because of what I was thinking or what I said!”
Response:“God will never tire of you asking for forgiveness. It is when you stop asking for forgiveness that the Lord will need to bring a different correction in your life. (Punitive judgment.)”
Young soldier:“I grew up visiting the church. Then as a teenager I started going in other ways and use to do drugs and dated many, many women and cheated on many of them with other women, but I have changed my ways. My tour in Iraq made me appreciate many things so decided to come back to God and here I am. I pray every day and even at work while working. I’m asking God to forgive me and to take me through his path so that I can learn more of his ways. But all these thoughts keep coming to my mind. And I just fear because I know that Jesus is coming soon and we should all be in the right track!”
Response:“You are doing the right thing in keeping this before the Lord.”
Note: God gives us His own Spirit to help us maintain a strong walk before Him. There no way that we can walk in victory if we depend on our own power. The Lord knows that. Every child of God has in the deep of their heart what the Bible calls ‘a fountain of life.’ One of our greatest needs is to learn to draw from God’s fountain. Cf. Psa36:7-9; John4:14; John7:37-39; Rev22:17
Young soldier:“I hope this wasn’t too much but I’m really concerned. I love Jesus and I know he is the way but it seems so hard to earn your way to heaven and so easy to fall, I’ll still keep fighting but still wonder what God would think! Thank you and God bless you!!!”
Response: “You do not have to earn your way to heaven. You are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. He took all your sins to the cross, past, present, and future sins have already been judged in Him. Does this mean we are free to sin? Not at all. It means that sin can never again Lord over us or be our Master.
“That you love the Lord and continue to wage a fight against the issue of ungodliness is proof in itself that you belong to the Lord. A sinner sins by nature and feels no remorse. (Unless caught.) A child of God sins by temptation but sin in itself is contrary to the nature of a child of God. This is why you struggle. It is not in your Christian nature to maintain a life of sin.
Think about these things. And let me know how you are doing.
May the Lord richly reward you with a full victory in all areas of your life.
In Christ always,
Buddy”
Note: I realize there is much more that I could share with this young man. Hopefully he will continue to write me. What I wanted to do was keep my response simple and leave it open for further discussion. Also — To any of my readers. Feel free to write me by using the ‘Questions’ at the top part of my blog.
Here is an update on class schedules for the 46th CCI School for Christian Workers
May the Lord richly bless you in 2011. Why not set aside time to invest in your spiritual future. It is as the apostle Peter said:
“Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls off, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.’ And this is the word which was preached to you.” – (1Pe 1:22-25)
“…in [Christ] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. … Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” (Col 2:2,6 NASB)
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Journal
Our salvation begins the moment we truly believe in Jesus Christ and receive Him as our Lord and Savior. It is in this moment that the Holy Spirit enters our heart with God’s eternal seal of redemption. Every true believer is sealed for eternity.
From this moment on the Spirit of the Lord is in our lives to help process life according to the will and purpose of God. Listen carefully to the apostle:
“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Php 2:12-13 NASB)
Far too often the afore statement is cut off in mid stream with the words, ‘work our your salvation with fear and trembling.’ This is a grave mistake. The focus is not on ‘fear and trembling.’ Rather the emphasis is on ‘God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.’
Keep in mind that the Greek word for salvation carries into English in the sense of preservation and deliverance. Thus the Holy Spirit is always at work in our life with deliverances and preservations. (Sometimes we need to be preserved from ourselves.)
It can be said that the Lord saved us, is saving us, and will save us. (Positionally our salvation has already been secured eternally in Christ.)
So then, what is our need? Our need is to learn to trust the Lord in all the affairs of life. Walking according to the spirit is a trust issue. We must learn to trust the Lord in all circumstances of life and not simply lean on our own understanding. (This is one of those ‘relax and let go’ things.)
The apostle said,
“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1Th5:18)
Trusting in the Lord requires that we humble our own hearts and recognize our special need for spiritual guidance. This is where the idea of ‘fear and trembling’ come in. These two words have to do with deep respect and awe for the Lord and for His Word. Jesus told the apostles, “Without Me, you can do nothing.”
Listen to what God said through the prophet Isaiah:
“Thus says the LORD, ‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? For My hand made all these things, thus all these things came into being,’ declares the LORD.
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“‘But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.’“ (Isa 66:1-2 NASB)
If you wish to know how to pray a prayer that deals with this aspect of walking with the Lord, pray what David prayed:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” (Psalm 139:23,23– It would do you well to meditate on the whole of Psalm 139.
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A walk in reality
Another issue of living from the Spirit is to understand that ‘walking in the Spirit’ means to walk in the very reality of the living God.
Jesus explains it this way:
“But when He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and disclose it to you.”(John 16:13,14)
True believers know the reality of God in their lives. The word ‘truth’ (aletheia) addresses what is true in itself, in opposition to either an error or a falsehood, or even a misguided perception about a thing.
Jesus shared with the disciples how a walk of truth and of salvation would play itself out in the lives of believers. Follow this incident:
“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.’
Let me touch briefly on a belief held by the Jews. The Jews believed in what is called ‘the transmigration of the soul.’ They believed that the soul of a person could transmigrate forward in time and become the soul in a person in the future. Similar in many respects to reincarnation. This is why the people identified Jesus with one of the prophets.
“He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’
Here it begins to get very interesting. Something was going to happen that would show how the Holy Spirit would work in the new covenant.
Notice what Peter says:
“Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’
Why did Peter say this and not speak to the transmigration idea? The answer is given. Listen carefully and you will see it:
“And Jesus said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.’
Did you catch it? The reality of who Jesus really is came as a revelation from the heavenly Father. Peter did not come to this conclusion on his own. Thus you have how the Spirit of revelation works in the life of every true believer. It all has to do with the opening of the eyes.
Jesus continues,
“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.’
So many get confused over this statement. Jesus was not calling Peter ‘the rock’ upon which He would build His church. The rock was Jesus and the church would be built upon the revelation of who Jesus really is.
“’I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.’” (Mat 16:13-19 NASB)
The short side of this is that the keys would be the revealing of Jesus through the preaching of the gospel. The door to heaven is Jesus Himself. (There is more to be said about apostolic authority but you get the idea.)
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Learn to live by the instructions…
This is also where the Bible itself plays an important role in our learning to walk in the Spirit. There is no book on this planet like our Bible. It carries in it the very presence of the Lord. It carries between its covers the very voice of God.
Look at your Bible as a garden of delights. Don’t read it like a newspaper. Read it like you are looking into the eyes of God. Read it for the pure joy of discovering the things of the Lord. Read it for the joy of hearing.
David gave some insight into this when he said,
“Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.” (Psa 119:18 NASB)
When David spoke of God’s law, he is not limiting this to the letter of the law of Moses. The term translated Law in Hebrew, Torah, simply means ‘instruction.’ When David said ‘Wonderful things’, you can be sure He included God’s Messiah. But he was also asking for spiritual instructions from God.
David was a man after God’s heart, and the heart of God is His Son. The faith we live by originates in and is written in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. A true new covenant spiritual faith walk wraps itself around the Lord speaking into our hearts.
Thus we hear the Lord say,
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”(John 10:27)
Here is where we need to see the very heart of the new covenant. The prophet Jeremiah had this to say about God’s new covenant in Christ:
“‘This is the covenant I will make with them after those days,’ says, the Lord; ‘I will put My laws [instructions] upon their heart, and on their mind I will write them.’ He then says, ‘And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.'”(Heb 10:16-17 NASB)
Isn’t the new covenant wonderful! God writes both His love and his life instructions in our own hearts and minds.
While you think on these things, here is a song. Perhaps the Lord would like to speak something into your heart.
“Drip down, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds pour down righteousness; let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, and righteousness spring up with it. I, the LORD, have created it.”(Isa45:8)
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Journal,
What a celebration to be remembered. Saturday was my 70th birthday. I could not have had a more wonderful day. All my family gathered, children, grandchildren, great-grand children. And of course the church had to pull a sneak attack with a surprise party. And to top everything, there was a request for the Martin family to share some gospel music.
My, how the time does fly. Seems of late I find myself traveling more and more down memory land.
I’ve often thought, ‘Who am I that the Lord would grant to me such a stewardship as Christian Challenge. This is such a wonderful ministry. Seems all our members carry the heart of a disciple. We are a family.’
Its not that we are bigger or better than any other ministry. Actually we have never been very large. It certainly doesn’t have anything to do with me personally. I’ve always felt very small when it comes to kingdom work. And yet the Lord has helped us to gather much fruit for His kingdom.
The Psalmist said it best of all…
“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth.” (Psalm 115:1)
Christian Challenge began as a fledgling ministry in 1976. We had no financial backing. No denominational support. What we had was a stewardship
Through the years we’ve trained hundreds of believers for service in the kingdom of God’s beloved Son. Some have entered the mission field. Others are now pastors. But every student that has come through our School has carried something of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ from the School.
Yes, the CCI School for Christian Workers is very unique. It all relates to our ministry philosophy. We center exclusively on Biblical discipleship. The motto of Christian Challenge International is,‘How Beautiful Upon the Mountains.’The motto for the School for Christian Workers is, ‘Preparing Servants for the Nations.’
So, here we are again. For those who would like to know more about the world of a disciple, the 45th CCI School for Christian Workers is forthcoming. Pray about it.
Would you like to know how a fourteen week course can radically change a believers spiritual life view. Here is your chance. (Note: The School is nondenominational. We’ve trained believers from a number of Christian backgrounds.)
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Here is a short study on some of what we teach in our Disciple’s Heart Training Program.
Learn to Extract the Precious from the Worthless
This is what the Lord had to say to the prophet Jeremiah:
“Therefore, thus says the LORD, “If you return, then I will restore you– Before Me you will stand; And if you extract the precious from the worthless, You will become My spokesman. They for their part may turn to you, But as for you, you must not turn to them.” (Jer15:19)
It is crucial that believers learn how to appraise spiritual things accurately. Those who are born from above have a unique ability to recognize the things that are of God. The believer’s ability to place a value on all things becomes more acute with spiritual maturity.
Paul said that a spiritual man ‘knows’ and ‘appraises’ all things.
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God.” (1Co2:12)
The word ‘know’ is *eido* in Greek. It means ‘to see, perceive, to turn the eyes, the mind, or the attention to anything; to get knowledge of; to be skilled in, or to know the meaning of.”
Then in verse 15, Paul says,
“But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.”
The word ‘appraises’ is *anakrino* in Greek. It means to examine, to ask questions, search, discern, and enquire into, to scrutinize, to sift. In a forensic sense it means to hold an investigation to determine the excellence or the defects of any thing.
The apostle is bringing out the strength and beauty of a believer’s spiritual life. The crown of a believer’s walk is his ability to know that which is of the Lord. It is this spiritual ability that protects a believer from error. Satan cannot successfully mislead a mature child of God.
This brings us to the importance of discernment. The ability to know if a thing is of God is important because the supernatural realm makes up more than the things of God. Satan is a spiritual being. The hallmark of Satan’s work is deception. Paul said,
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this spiritual darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Eph6:12)
We are especially warned that in the last days there will be a great increase of deception at work in the earth. The Lord said that this deception would be so acute that even the very elect will have to maintain a special guard. (Cf. Matt24:24; 1Tim4:1-6; 2Tim3:13.)
To take this a step further, the work of demons is closely linked to the prideful flesh of man. Demons work with fleshly people. And what the fleshly person attributes to God are ‘soulish’ powers that are in cooperation with spirits of darkness. (Cf. Gal 5:19-21)
How do we know if it is a soulish power at work in a person, or if it is truly of the Spirit? When prideful flesh is at work it glories in itself. The balance comes in where God’s people are told to keep a pilgrim attitude about life. We are to hold tightly to Jesus, and loosely to the world. Paul said,
True Biblical discipleship has a spiritual base. It is an outflow of a proper relationship with the Lord. This proper relationship has a heart attitude that is set forth in the word ‘humility.’ We are to live with humble hearts before the Lord, never striving after things of the world. The Lord Himself said that if we will seek first God’s kingdom, and His righteousness, then everything else will be provided for us.
Here are some things that can help you to maintain a proper balance in your walk with the Lord:
First – Keep in view that not all supernatural things are from God. Don’t be afraid of offending the Lord by questioning. Remember that everything the Lord has, the enemy has a substitute.
Second – Understand that anyone can be deceived, if but for a time, even the most devoted of believers, if the believer is ignorant of how Satan works. It is this knowledge that will help keep you on guard.
Third – Learn to trust your own spiritual judgment. This is what the renewing of the mind is about. As we consecrate ourselves to God’s service, we find our ability to judge becoming keener. (Cf. Rom12:1-3)
Fourth – Understand that discernment and testing aren’t necessarily the same thing. You discern by the Holy Spirit. You test by the Word of God. Therefore when you may sense a thing is wrong, don’t ignore that sensing. But the more you become acquainted with God’s Word, the more you will be able to determine why what you sense is wrong. [Be willing to test every experience; dreams, visions, etc., by the Word of God.]
Fifth – Be willing to adjust the way you do things. Even the apostles had to make changes. Peter would not go to Cornelius’ house until the Lord opened his understanding. (Cf. John7:17)
In all this, every believer must study the Scriptures to make sure they have a clear understanding of the gospel message.
The above us just a sample of what you can expect. in our School. There is so much more.
OK, let’s not leave without a song. Here is ‘Sanctuary, by Randy Rothwell…
x May the Lord richly bless you as you learn the walk of obedience,
“Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ And He said, ‘Come!’ And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.” (Mat 14:28-29 NASB)
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Readers,
Is it possible that out of thousands of church groups today there could be one that says, ‘You must walk on water to be saved.’
I’m pretty sure there isn’t such a group. At least I hope not. But is this any different from a group that makes dogmas out of any sovereign act of God? [A dogma is a religious doctrine that is proclaimed as truth yet without stated Biblical validation.]
There is a great difference between a religious dogma and a church tradition or a custom. A dogma is a definitive code of beliefs that is declared essential to one’s own belief system. Making dogmas out of sovereign acts of God will always be a major point of contention among Christian groups.
Dogmas draw fences where fences should not be drawn. Dogmas set boundaries where boundaries do not belong. Dogmas can become restraints to a true Biblical walk of faith. Dogmas always place limitations on how the Lord can work in our lives.
Can there be a dogma in your life that is hindering your walk with the Lord. Keep in mind that dogmas never have a clear Scriptural mandate. They are normally doctrines that are based on experiences that are seen in the Biblical text yet with no direct teaching that these experiences are to be taught as essential doctrines.
Dogmas are ‘laws’ or ‘special conditions’ added to Bible truths that actually turn truths into something other than truths. Where a dogma becomes especially serious is when it is made an issue of salvation.
Let’s talk about
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The Biblical walk of rightness with God
It is very important for believers to understand what it is that establishes salvation in a person’s life and what it is that brings forth a walk of righteousness before God. This may be a good time to check up on your own personal walk. Remember what David said;
“Heleads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”
Paul makes a statement in Romans 10:8, which can easily be misunderstood. Listen carefully:
“But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’–that is, the word of faith which we are preaching.” (Rom 10:8 NASB)
This Scripture is often rooted from its context of use and made into a message where people are taught to design their own future by using ‘words of faith.’ What people don’t realize is that the aspect of using words to control events is basic to witchcraft. Paul is certainly not teaching witchcraft.
The word of faith that Paul is drawing attention has to do with the law of salvation. Paul is reaffirming to the Christians in Rome as to how a person is actually saved. The word of faith is a message of the Lordship of Jesus Christ, that He alone is Lord and Messiah, and that by calling upon Him as Lord a person is taken from the domain and authority of Satan and transferred into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son, and after this…lives under the sovereign grace of the Lord.
Listen carefully to the background of what Paul is teaching about the obedience of faith–
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them [the Jews outside of Christ] is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.
“Fornot knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” (Rom 10:1-4 NASB) Dogmas have to do with establishing our own righteousness with God.
“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith.” (Rom 16:25-26 NASB – The obedience of faith has to do with coming to the Lordship of Jesus.)
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The rule of salvation
Now take a closer look where Paul sets forth the rule of salvation.
“But the righteousness based on faithspeaks as follows: ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down), or who will descend into the abyss? (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”
“But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’–that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
“For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.’
“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for ‘Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” (Rom 10:6-13 NASB)
Now, how hard is that to understand?
There are no ifs, ands, or buts, attached. Salvation is based on a single and a simple mandate — turn from your life under sin, turn to Jesus Christ, believe in him with your heart and confess that He is Lord and receive Him as Lord over the whole of your life.
What makes adding dogmas to God simple plan of salvation so grievous is that it can place the proclaimer under a curse. There are very few curses noted in the New Testament, but this is a major one.
The apostle Paul said that if any one preaches a gospel of salvation that is contrary to what is taught in Romans 10, that person potentially places themselves under a curse.
You aren’t sure about that. Take note:
“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!” (Gal 1:8-9 NASB) — Paul tells us in Romans 10 what the apostles preached concerning salvation.
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Adorning your heart with Jesus as Lord.
This is where it all begins. Paul says that the testimony of righteousness is an issue of the heart. Note again Romans 10:9,10;
“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness…”
When we are convinced that the gospel is true, that God loves us, that Jesus died for us, that He was raised from the dead, and that He is Lord, it is here that our confession of faith in Jesus results in the reality of a heavenly new birth.
John said,
“He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
“But as many as received Him [as Lord], to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (Joh 1:10-13 NASB)
A true Biblical Christian is someone whose heart has been adorned with Christ. From the moment of our new birth, there is a new life principle at work. Christ directs our life from within.
Pay close attention to these Scriptures:
“But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Gal 3:25-27 NASB)
“Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” (Gal 4:6-7 NASB)
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Seven simple aids to a true righteous walk of faith
1st Seek to know the Lord in all your ways. Cf. Prov3:5,6.
2nd Seek to live in a state of forgiveness. This includes forgiving others and living without judgments.
3rd Seek to discern things of value. Cf. Rom14:7,8,13,18,19.
4th Seek for a continuous stream of holy thoughts. This requires discipline of our thought life. The battleground for all believers is the mind. It takes help from the Holy Spirit. Cf. Phil4:6-8,13.
5th Seek higher things. Faith will take you where angels fear to tread. Doubt will leave you in the dust. Don’t let the devil tell you that you can’t attain a deeper walk, or that you can’t live by faith. Cf. Col1:12,27,28
6th Seek to live in love and learn the language of faith. This is not the same as the hyper-confession teaching. The language of faith is merely your mouth speaking in line with God’s truths that are resident in your heart. It is important to learn to verbalize your faith walk. This includes learning to bless others with your words. Cf. 1Pe3:8-12
7th Seek that the Lord be glorified in all your life. Cf. Psalm 115:1
So the moral of this journal entry — Let the Lord be sovereign over all your life. Discard anything that reeks of a dogma that hinders His sovereignty. Learn to live like Jesus lived.
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There is a new generation of Christians arising
This new generation is moving into the Christlike maturity that Paul spoke of. Jesus only did the things the Father showed Him to do. Are you ready to get past the deadness of unfaithful dogmas that do not belong to the Christian walk?
Hear the apostle:
“…until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
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“As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
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“… but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”(Eph 4:13-16 NASB)
This song pretty much says it all. Thanks ‘Redemption’ team at Christian Challenge. Take time to listen…
44th School for Christian Workers – February 21, 2010
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To my Readers,
Have you ever wondered what the world of a disciple is really like? If so, then you will want to take a look at our upcoming Christian Challenge International School for Christian Workers. The CCI School for Christian Workers offers training programs that are unique to Biblical discipleship.
The focus of the school is not on academics or scholastics, or even on religion. The total focus of the school is on teaching the believer how to live and function in the world of the Biblical disciple. If this is where your heart is, then this is the school you should consider.
Our 44th school will begin Sunday, February 21, 2010. Classes are held on Sunday and Monday evenings.
This is the graduate course of the CCI School for Christian Workers. It is foundational to both the Disciple’s Heart II and the Shepherd’s Heart programs. The purpose of this training program is to open up the world of the Biblical disciple. The course will absolutely revolutionize a believer’s spiritual life. It is required training for anyone who wishes to serve in a ministry role or a leadership placement with Christian Challenge. – Sunday evenings 5 p.m.
Instructor: Rich Carlisle
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The Disciple’s Heart IIx
This course takes the believer into the next step of the world of the disciple. The course sub-title is, ‘Learning to walk with God.’ The class concentrates on a more personal level of discipleship by taking the believer into the very heart of our walk with the Lord. The student will learn much about himself and his own personal calling in life. – Sunday evenings 5 p.m.
The primary focus of this course is on providing skills that have to do with the teaching or preaching ministry. The course includes sermon and teaching preparation to Bible interpretation. The student learns forms of speaking. While its focus is on a teaching ministry, it would benefit any believer who would like to know better how to study Scripture. – Sunday evenings 7 p.m.
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Instructor: Lawrence “Buddy” Martin
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Old Testament Bible Survey
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This class provides the student with a better understanding of the Scriptures by bringing history, places, peoples, and festivals in the Old Testament together in a way that the students can see God’s plan of redemption working through the ages. This is an excellent course for anyone who would like to take a journey through the Bible itself. – Monday evenings 6 p.m
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Instructor: Robert Hazmark
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Vision For The Nations
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This course analyzes the World Christian Movement based on the Perspectives study program produced by the US Center for World Missions. Its focus is on Biblical and historical foundations for missions. Training includes video presentations by leading missiologists and missionaries from around the world. A great course for those who have a heart for missions. – Time open
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Instructor: Nathan Martin
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Conversational Spanish
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The focus of this course is to give the student a working knowledge of spoken Spanish. It is a perfect introduction to the world of Spanish and is great for those planning short-term mission trips. Opportunity is given for the student to have a testimony translated for use on a mission’s trip. – Monday evenings 6 p.m.
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Instructor-Spanish I: Jonathan Martinez
Instructor-Spanish II: Nathan Martin
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Tuition and Class Information
Tuition is $35.00 per course (some courses require additional textbooks). The School runs 13 weeks and concludes with a graduation banquet. It is recommended that students use the New American Standard Bible since most Scripture references are taken from this translation. A completed registration form (with tuition) must be turned in before School begins.
The 34th CCI Homecoming Jubilee – March 19 – 21, 2010
The weekend of March 19th through the 21st, 2010, will be our Christian Challenge 34th Homecoming Jubilee. Joel Dyke is our special speaker. He and his wife Angel will also lead a ‘Couple’s Retreat’ on Friday evening and Saturday morning.
Jubilee is always a special event for Christian Challenge, with worship, special singing, preaching, drama, and dinner-on-the-grounds. All I can tell you is to be ready to,‘expect the unexpected.’
There they were, a boy and a girl hitchhiking. It was 1971, and I was on my way to Lafayette, Louisiana. We had just completed our last revival. My former company asked me to come back to work with them. Off I went to scope out everything.
It never bothered me to pick up hitchhikers if my family wasn’t with me. After all I had hitchhiked all across the country from California to Louisiana. The two young people got in the car. I asked, ‘Where are you going?’ ‘To the Maranatha House across from USL.’ (University of South Louisiana.)
And thats where our friendship began. These kids were part of the tail end of the Jesus movement of the 60s. The Maranatha House was an unofficial sorority for campus kids. (It was known earlier as the Mustard Seed.)
How I fell in love with these young people. They were so idealistic in their antiestablishmentism. But their love for Jesus was refreshing and even a bit disarming. It wasn’t long before they ask me to share Bible studies with them. What a joy. They would sit around me on the floor in rapt attention. They were all like sponges.
Now I must tell a precious story. At that time I was still involved in a very conservative Pentecostal church group. As things went a number of the Jesus kids asked me if I would baptize them. Checking with the pastor to make sure it was alright to use the church Baptistry, he gave his OK. It was on a Saturday. Several of the church people wanted to see the baptism. They heard of my work with these young people. But there was a problem that I had not prepared everyone for. In fact I hadn’t even thought about it.
I had failed to tell the Jesus kids how to dress. Here they came with their swim suits, some two-pieced for the girls and shorts for the guys. You should have seen the faces. Chins began to drop and eyes were wide open. It was certainly a new experience for everyone. The Jesus kids got to meet the church kids. (By the way the Jesus kids were often mocked at with the term ‘the Jesus freaks.’)
And, yes, the Jesus kids had their own struggles and failures just as we do. But they could make beautiful music. Their love for Jesus radiated. I guess you could compare them to diamonds in the rough. Aren’t we all? Oh how I could tell some hilarious stores about these kids. Maybe some other time.
Well, if you would like to see what the Jesus kids looked like back in the 60s and the 70s, here is a clip you will truly enjoy. Just look at their faces and the sincerity in their worship.
Children of the Day. ‘For Those Tears I Died.’
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Sometimes a song will reach deeper into our heart than anything else. Let’s move forward a number of years and listen to another group who loves Jesus dearly. This song is entitled, ‘He Understands My Tears.’ It is by the Jewish Christian group, the Isaacs.
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Jesus gave the most important object lesson to be had about life’s struggles…
The point is that we all sin. We all miss the mark. We all have issues where we’ve been the cause of our own failings. It is like the apostle wrote,
“There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turn aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one.”(Rom3:10-12 nasb)
Did you catch it? There is not a person on this planet who can claim personal righteousness before God. Did you know that Paul called himself the chief of sinners?
So, what is the object lesson that Jesus gave us. It is found in this simple statement, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7 nasb)
What does this mean? It means to stop pointing your finger at others when you yourself have your own struggles and failings and sin issues.
The Lord was not excusing sin. He was dealing with two very important issues. His first words were to the accusers of the lady caught in adultery. Those who dragged her before Jesus were guilty of a sin that can be very damaging to our own lives. The sin of self-righteousness.
What about the lady? Her sin was not self-righteousness. Jesus also had words for her. See if His words tell you anything:
“Straightening up, Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.'” (Joh 8:10-11 nasb)
Again did you catch it? The only one who could have condemned her was Jesus, and He would not. He did not come to condemn her, but to save her. Jesus came to help her get her life straightened out.
Our job is not to go about condemning people. We are in the business of helping to save people. It is like the preacher who said, ‘We preach best when we preach out of our own wounds.’
John wrote,
“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged…” (John 3:17,13 nasb)
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Lord, save us from ourselves…
We need someone who can reach into our lives and save us from ourselves, from our foolish mistakes, from our own self-destructions, as well as from all the destructive forces at work in the world. We need grace! We need a mighty Savior. And that is what Jesus came to give us. Jesus saves eternally.
This is what Paul was talking about when he said that the letter kills, while the Spirit gives us life. The Lord give us His Holy Spirit to help us walk the journey of life. There are too many situations in life where only the Spirit of the Lord can help us to maneuver correctly. Our problem is that we tend to beat each other up with the letter, or even beat ourselves up, rather than allow the Lord to bring healing where it belongs.
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So, does God understand our tears?
Yes He does. He actually weeps with us. He knows our heart, our pain, our struggles. But He also knows our future. The Lord decided in eternity past that He would be our Savior. And He decided in eternity that He would give us the victory of the cross, and that no weapon ever formed against us would ever prosper.
He decided to take our place in this sin filled world, and to share with us His place in His eternal kingdom.
This is why I often make the statement, ‘Jesus saved us. Jesus is saving us. Jesus will save us.’
What about the Jesus kids?
Well, we are those kids. People will always be the same. Maybe it is a good sign that the world calls us ‘Jesus freaks.’ We should consider it a great honor.
I will never lose my love for ministering to those the world sees as misfits. Seems I will always have the heart of an evangelist.
We just graduated our 43rd School for Christian Workers. They now belong to that select group of believers who have entered the world of the Biblical disciple. And now we get to watch these new disciples branch out into their respective stewardships from the Lord.
Some will continue their training. All of them have responded to how Jesus directed us to pray. He said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to sent out laborers into His harvest.” (Luke 10:2)
The Christian Challenge logo has a story to tell concerning the disciple. The elements of the logo consists of the dove, representing the Holy Spirit, the Bible, representing the gospel of Jesus Christ, the mountains, representing the kingdoms of the world, and the rising and setting sun in the circled background, representing the gospel age. Yes, I firmly believe that we are at the closing moments of the gospel age as we know it.
The logo is based upon Isaiah, which reads,
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion. Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
(Isa 52:7-10)
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion. Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” (Isa 52:7-10 kjv)
This Isaiah passage is also the theme song of Christian Challenge International. You can listen to a non-professional rendering of it here:
Then we have this passage that speaks to the world of the disciple.
“From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised.” (Psa 113:3 nasb)
The Christian Challenge International School for Christian Workers is not a Bible college.
We have structured our courses for the work-a-day believer. This is why the classes are generally evening classes. Our courses have been extended to other areas and also in Mexico.
While we don’t propose to take the place of a Bible college, it needs to be pointed out that all our courses have a specific goal, which is to open up a believer’s spiritual life by way of introducing him or her to the walk of Biblical disciple.
We’ve had students tell us that they received much more of a spiritual value in our one course, ‘The Disciple’s Heart’, than they did in two years of Bible college. The primary reason for this again is our emphasis on the walk of a Biblical disciple. A second reason is because most Bible colleges are concerned primarily with a denominational setting. That is not the case with Christian Challenge. We are non-denominational and non-sectarian. We have one interest alone, and that is to take the gospel of Jesus Christ into all the world.
The 44th School for Christian Workers begins in February, 2010.
We normally offer two schools a year. Because of interest, sometimes we squeeze in an extra school. The dates and additional information for the next school will be forthcoming.
However, with this next school we will be offering a new course, the Disciple’s Heart Class #2. This class expands on the world of the disciple. It is for those who have taken the initial Disciple’s Heart course. The Disciple’s Heart #2 serves as a bridge between the Disciple’s Heart class #1 and the Shepherd’s Heart class. The theme of this class is ‘Learn to Walk with God.’
At present our line up of classes will consist of the following:
The Disciple’s Heart
The Disciple’s Heart #2
The Shepherd’s Heart
Old Testament Survey
New Testament Survey
Conversational Spanish
If you would like to know more about the School for Christian Workers, you can call our office at 318 640-4300. You can also email me at Buddy@ChristianChallenge.Org
Finally, for those within driving distance of Pineville, Louisiana, you may want to consider registering for the next school. (We’ve had students drive 100 miles each way to attend the school.) Those who are able to relocate, or are praying about a relocation, see if the Lord has Pineville on your scope.
In the meantime here is a short video to share a bit of history on Christian Challenge…
“Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, ‘Rabbi, eat.’
The Disciple’s Heart Training Program – Sundays 5:00 PM [Required training for anyone serving with CCI] 
“The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple. The Lord GOD has opened My ear; and I was not disobedient nor did I turn back.” (Isa 50:4-5)
“If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
do evil. It is the enemies attempt to gain control over part of our life by way of our thinking and our imagination. The Lord supplies strength and power to overcome the enemies solicitation. Here are our instructions: Isaiah40:28-31; 2Co10:3-5; Col3:1-5; Phil4:6-9. 
Response: 
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