By: Undre Griggs, Jr. Though we understand what God commands and expects of us, we sometimes lean on our own understanding to “help” God. While King, Saul led the Hebrews through several battles against the Philistines. Shortly after a Hebrew victory, the Philistines gathered a large army together for a counter-attack. 1 Samuel 13:5 (NIV): The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Mikmash, east of Beth Aven. This struck fear into the Hebrew army, and they started to hide in caves, holes, and pits (v.6). To alleviate the fear, Saul wanted to reassure his troops that God was still with them. 1 Samuel 13:8-9 (NIV): He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. There is little doubt that Saul was attempting to do a noble and faithful thing for his troops. But similar to the way life is for a Christian today, Saul must worship God in spirit and truth. Saul was only worshiping in spirit because God had specific commandments on who can and cannot offer Him a sacrifice. In this situation, Samuel was tasked with sacrificing the burnt offerings to God. When Samuel asked Saul; “what have you done” (v.11), Saul tried to explain how his desire was to offer God supplication before the Philistines attacked (v.12). God was swift in his repudiation (no matter the good intention) of Saul’s sacrifice. 1 Samuel 13:13 (NIV): “You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. Samuel goes on to tell Saul his disobedience to God would cost him his kingdom over Israel. Remember, Saul was only attempting to offer supplication to God before the ensuing battle. Though there are many thoughts and divisions among the churches who love God, we must remember that we do not have the authority to deviate from God’s word. Our disobedience won’t necessarily cost us our kingdom, but it can cost us our place in the kingdom of God. Let us always be faithful to worship God in spirit and truth.
By: Undre Griggs, Jr There are so many divisions among the churches that it has to be concerning for many. We are led to wonder... why are there so many divisions, are they all correct, and what must we do to reduce denominations. The early church was dealing with similar issues and Paul tried to stop it then as we should do now. He asked simple questions of the church in Corinth; was Christ divided, should His church be divided, and what type of foundation should the church be built on? I am reminded of Moses and his service for the Lord. Exodus 7:1-2 (NKJV): So the Lord said to Moses: “See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command you. And Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to send the children of Israel out of his land. God told Moses he would be as a God to Pharaoh and Aaron would be his prophet. God exalted Moses with immense power and authority, but He reminded Moses he was but an instrument that needed to speak ALL that was commanded by Jehovah. If we want to eliminate the divisions within the church, we have to remind ourselves who is the foundation of the church. 1 Corinthians 3:11-13 (NIV): For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. The authority God provides us to grow His church does not give us the clout to grow it by any means. The ultimate power of any church leader is to speak the words of God found in the Bible without bias and prejudice. Even though leaders may be seen as gods to some, we cannot offer our own revelations and we should not steal God’s glory. If there appears to be a disagreement among members of the church, let us first seek the kingdom of God and follow His will before we are tempted to create another denomination. Let us be humble and not divide over correction, knowing that correction is an action of love and one of our responsibilities as brothers and sisters in Christ. Galatians 6:1-2 (ESV): Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
By: Undre Griggs, Jr. We have all noticed there are thousands of divisions (denominations) among the followers of Christ. A division is defined as the action of separating something into parts. In similar fashion, a denomination is defined as a separate branch of the church. But why are there so many divisions among the church? The Apostle Paul through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit helps us understand what creates divisions. 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV): I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,[a] in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. It is likely we all agree there should be an earnest desire for Christians to be united in fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ. It is less likely we find the same consensus when it comes to agreeing with one another. Divisions come from our disagreements and our unwillingness to be perfectly united in mind and thought with God and the brotherhood. We have to desire truth (fellowship with God) and we have to deeply love one another (fellowship with brotherhood); as love and truth (words of the Lord) will last forever. 1 Peter 1:22-25 (NIV): Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you. Divisions (denominations) will continue as long as we are unwilling to focus on the word that was preached to us in the Bible. Jesus Christ is the founder/perfecter of our faith and we need to remove the opinions that contradict that understanding. We must stop slowing ourselves down with all the additional concepts; standing firm in the principles that our creator set in place over two centuries ago. Reminding ourselves that anything created after or added to perfection would only unsettle the perfection Christ formed. Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV): Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
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Dean Road
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