What about the mediums that help solve crimes against children or anyone else. They are helping to keep evil doers off of our streets. I am grateful for those.

Before we discuss this further, let me suggest that you check out two places on the web related to your comment. The first is an article by Joe Nickell entitled, Police Psychics: Do They Really Help Solve Crimes? Click here to go to it. Then look at this page on ABC News website. John Stossel did an investigation around this subject and here is what he reported on the air click here. The overwhelming evidence when investigated is that psychics and mediums DO NOT solve crimes. I am reminded of Isaiah 8:19, “When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?”

 

While you’re at it, here are some other Scriptures to check out: Leviticus 19:31 and 20:6; 2 Kings 21:6 and 23:34; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Isaiah 19:3 and Jeremiah 27:9.

 

-David Corts

 

 

Are abilities to help others not God given? (I.e. Sylvia Brown, missing children?)

Sylvia Browne may not have been as helpful as the reports you’ve read or heard about. In the response to the next question I’ve given some links to read before you accept the fact that Sylvia Browne has helped find missing children. She is specifically mentioned in John Stossel’s report on ABC 20-20. click here

 

-David Corts

Jesus knows our thoughts. Does Satan have that ability?

The answer is “no”! Satan has powers different from ours but they certainly are not even close to God’s power. Satan didn’t know the true heart of Job, for example, but God did. God is everywhere present, Satan is not. God is all-knowing, Satan is not. God is all powerful, Satan is not. Since he is a fallen angel, he would have the powers and abilities of an angel but not of God. You may put I John 4:4 in your heart to remember. It says, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

 

-David Corts

Does God tell us the future today? If so, how does He do it?

I recognize there could be varying responses to this question. I personally believe that God does. How does He do it? He does it as He did through the prophets of old, through dreams, visions, and revelations. The second coming of Christ is accurately predicted by the prophets of old and recorded in Scripture. Their words are up-to-date and many prophesies are still to be fulfilled. This is still a valid study for knowing the kind of things that will happen in the future.

 

In addition to this, there are individuals who appear to be used by God in the present time to issue us reminders and warnings before his wrath is administered. Such information will never contradict the written Word and will never go contrary to the Spirit of God. Remember also, the test is the same as mentioned in the previous question. It must be 100% accurate if it is a word spoken from the Lord (Deuteronomy 18:21-22).

 

-David Corts

How do you minister to someone who believes in astrology, psychics and spirit guides without seeming judgemental?

I think you will find in the life of Jesus, that ministry always precedes message. So the quick answer is that you love and serve them as best you can without consulting them or letting them try to deceive you into believing they have special powers.

 

If you are thinking of witnessing to them, it would be helpful to have in mind some biblical truths about this. READ the following passages as a beginning: Leviticus 19:31 and 20:6; 2 Kings 21:6 and 23:34; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Isaiah 19:3 and Jeremiah 27:9.

 

Next, be aware of the fact that the Bible gives us the test for someone who believes they can foretell the future or uncover secrets of the past by psychic means. It is the same test given to prophets who predict things and claim to be speaking on behalf of the Lord. The test is 100% accuracy according to Deuteronomy 18:21-22, “You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?" If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.”

 

When you have earned the right to speak more directly, you might quiz a psychic about how revelation comes to them. The conversation might be developed in such a way as to learn their accuracy rate. From there, your conversation can go in a number of directions. You might point them to the 100% accuracy of Jesus Christ and the value of taking all of your inquiries to the Lord through Jesus Christ.

 

This is very brief but hopefully it gives you a track to run on.

 

-David Corts

 

Allowing God to fight my battles sounds great but it sounds too easy. Do I have any responsibility?

You are correct in thinking that we do have responsibility! But let us remember that man’s part is not always as complex as you might suspect. I think you will find that in most of our dealings with the Lord, there is God’s part working in tandem with man’s part. God does allude to this in 2 Corinthians 6:1 when he says, “As God's fellow workers…”  Having said that, I think you will find that many of our personal battles are really the Lord’s and not ours. This is especially true for those who make it their aim to please Him. Try to imagine a circumstance you have faced when there was little more to do than to “Stand firm and see the deliverance of the Lord” (Exodus 14:13)! But notice, one is still to “stand firm” and “see the deliverance” – which is man’s part.

 

Prior to the Iron Curtain coming down, several friends of mine were part of a ministry that smuggled Bibles into the Soviet Union. The penalty if caught could be imprisonment after a period of torture. Every one of them had some hair-raising experiences at the individual borders. But they also testified of remarkable instances of how God delivered them supernaturally. God would actually make the Bibles invisible to the border guards and other phenomenal things like that. Even in such instances, the individuals had responsibility. They had to be willing to trust God and approach the danger regardless of the price they could have paid. Even though man had a part, it was God who came through big time and his servants could only say, “God won the battle.”

 

Pastor Steve mentioned Jericho as the “Place of Battle” where Elijah returned as he approached being taken to heaven. Part of remembering included the dramatic way in which God brought the walls of Jericho down in the time of Joshua. While God did that difficult part, man’s part was to march around the city seven times, blow the trumpets, and take the city. When you partner with God, your activity will always be associated with demonstrating trust and faith in the Lord. Again, our Pastor told of Naaman going to the Jordan River and dipping seven times – his part – and yet when healed of leprosy, he could only celebrate that God had performed the remarkable cure by Himself. Elijah became part of a drama like that when he struck the water and it parted so he and Elisha could cross the river on dry land. There was again man’s part and then God’s mighty acts.

 

I guess the point is the perspective we use to view the activity of God in our lives while recognizing that man’s part is to trust and obey God.

 

-David Corts

 

 

 

 

What does building an altar look like in 2008?

Altars do not need to be elaborate things. Sacred spaces are being created by many people in ordinary places around their homes such as closets, bedrooms, and quiet places on patios or in backyards. They are places prepared especially for prayer and meditation - places that often serve as soul-quieting antidotes to modern stress. I remember Dick Eastman at his Change the World School of Prayer encouraging us to set up a devotional spot in or around our home called The Gap. It was based on Ezekiel 22:30 “"I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.” He urged us to pursue intercessory prayer on behalf of our nation and the nations of the world. I did that in our home at the time and kept it for a number of years. It was a surprising experience of great worth. But really, as Pastor Steve mentioned, God’s people set up altars in many places and for varied reasons. One can use picnic tables at State Parks, desolate areas in woods or wherever you find an environment that is conducive to embracing God. An altar is a place that you make sacred space because of the way you use it to carry on two-way communication with God Almighty. It is a space where He has done some special work on your heart or in your head in the past and you might return from time to time to ask God to do it again. It is a place to commune with our Maker remembering that it is in Him we live and move and have our being.

 

-David Corts

 

 

 

Tom Spangler, 928-526-6441 or 928-606-4440, re: golf meeting

Marie Meyer
Christ's Church at The Crossroads

42201 N. 41st Drive - Suite 100

Anthem, AZ 85086

Office: 623 466 7964
Fax: 623 547 5368
marie@thecrossroadsaz.com
www.thecrossroadsaz.com

I appreciate your message today. How do I not repeat the sin that pulls on me? I just don't want forgiveness, I need freedom.

Perhaps, you need to know first that we all struggle with sin. The Apostle John says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” These sins will vary depending on the season of your life and the maturity you are achieving in Christ. One sin conquered, however, allows you to begin dealing with the next sin. Satan is relentless with his temptations.

The first order of business is to get acquainted with how Satan operates and how one led to sin. James 1:14-15 lays down the process like this. “Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” The frontier for gaining freedom is in the heart where desire is initiated. Desire has a short shelf life when ignored. So one has to feed it, massage it, linger on it, for it to give birth to sin. Once you identify the battleground, you can take some other steps.

One action is to shield yourself from the things that cause the desire. The biblical words are “flee from” (see I Corinthians 6:18; 10:14; I Timothy 6:11, etc.). Avoid the situations where harmful desires arise in your heart. I have a friend who took his clothes each week to a cleaners that was next to a topless bar. One time he left his clothes at the cleaners and had a momentary battle with himself about taking a peek inside the bar. He didn’t and the next week he started going to a cleaners located in a different place.

A very important next step is to allow yourself to be accountable to others. There are a few accountability groups that have already formed in our church for this purpose. These are excellent because no one can conquer temptation and sin alone. One of the lines from Satan himself is “leave me alone. I can do this all by myself!” Biblically, we are urged to “confess our sins to one another” (James 5:16). An accountability group is three or four men or women (never mixed sexes) who get together intentionally on a regular basis to ask a few questions regarding sin and righteousness in their lives. Over time, you get to the place where you trust one another with everything that is going on in your life. Also, each person prays for one another. Permission is given to contact any of the others when temptation arises in your heart even between meetings. More help can be given in this area by contacting our iCare Ministry. They can give you more assistance about organizing one yourself.

One principle I believe applies to the process of achieving victory is this: develop a new passion in your life that will compete with the one that is dragging you toward sin. When you occupy your mind and heart with some new activity that is pure and useful, something that calls for new skills and techniques, you will find there is less time for the thoughts that drag you into sin.  In a way, this is what Peter is suggesting when he says, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord” (I Peter 3:15).

-David Corts

Are there prophets that speak for God today?

Yes, I believe there is. The literal meaning of the word “prophet” is one who foretells future events, and/or one who declares the truth of God. Some scholars have described a prophet as one who foretells, and or forth-tells the things of God. I believe that both are still in existence. Deuteronomy 18:18 and following speaks about the role of a prophet. The test for a true prophet is given to us in Deuteronomy 18:21-22. God says, “You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD ?"  If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.” One hundred percent accuracy is the standard.

-David Corts

When speaking the truth to someone what place does grace play if any?

The Apostle John tells us that Jesus was “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Think about that for a moment and you will realize they are opposites. Truth hurts while grace is warm and fuzzy, the loving-kindness we all like. Jesus was able to hold those two opposites in perfect balance. Our goal is also to hold them in balance. If one majors only in truth to the exclusion of grace, they will become legalistic and rigid thus missing many of the joys of life. On the other hand, if one majors in grace, they tend to show only loving kindness overlooking the truth that is violated. After doing this so often, they can easily find themselves off the path of righteousness.

Truth can hurt. Grace overlooks error and accepts a person as she/he is. If someone walks up to you and says your deodorant has failed and you stink. That hurts, even if it is true. If it is handled in grace, it would probably leave off the word “stink” and be done only by someone who has earned the right to speak frankly with you. It would also be done in a private place and may even be couched in different language all together and remain truthful. Proverbs 25:11 says, “a word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”  That’s not a bad formula.

Spiritual maturity is characterized by one who is capable of “speaking the truth in love…” (Ephesians 4:15). That is another way of saying “keep your balance between truth and grace.”

Truth is always received best from people you know love you and have spent some time building a relationship with you. Jesus speaks the truth about our sin, but holds out the offer of grace simultaneously with it. Perhaps you remember the “sandwich method”. When presenting the truth, begin with a compliment, state the truth, then repeat the compliment or add a different one.

Just one other thought. Most people’s shortcomings are very closely related to a strength of character. If you can identify the strength, you have the material for a genuine compliment when using the “sandwich method”.

-David Corts

How do we know what God wants us to do? vs Is it maybe just our random thoughts ?

This is excellent question. God has given us a great guidance system but it takes a little time and skill to use it with confidence. If you think about it, effective guidance systems use three points of reference to line up their pathway. I didn’t grow up on a farm but I married a woman who did. Her father taught me how to plow the first furrow of a field using three points of reference. The tractor was one, a fence-post at the end of the field was the second, and a tree or some landmark beyond the field as the third. He told me to align those three and keep my eye on that line and not the ground in front of me and I would make the first furrow very straight. Planting rows used the same system.

Later in life, I learned that guidance systems on aircraft use the same concept to land by instruments. The nose of the plane, the electronic beep marking the end of a runway, and a third the emits from those white cone-like things you see over the land.

The Christian has three things also: the Word of God, the inner urge, and the outward circumstances. If you line up all three, you can move with certainty that it’s the will of God. If the first two line up, one can proceed also, if for the third item you do not go against common sense or common duty. If there is a clear directive from the Lord, you can proceed without any other verification. This is the first and overriding principle in guidance. Many decisions do not have a corresponding directive from the Word of the Lord. In these instances, you look for precedents or examples in the Word. If there is nothing that seems to apply, then use the five filters that come from Romans 14 and are mentioned in an earlier entry.

The second point of guidance is the inner urge. This is where the Holy Spirit uses our trained consciences (Hebrews 5:14) as a second reference point to form a straight line with the Word of God. The Apostle Paul teaches that we can know God’s will through our consciences. He says in Romans 2:15, “they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.” It is important to remember that consciences can be cleansed and trained but also they can be damaged (I Timothy 4:2).

Thirdly, outward circumstances play a role in discerning what God wants you to do. Circumstances play a role in our understanding of law and grace (Romans 4:10). The Apostle Paul wanted the church in Colosse to know his circumstances (Colossians 4:8).

Some of the circumstances that are important in decision-making are: where you live, your family, your financial situation, and the influence your life can have. Again, God does not ask you to do anything that goes against common duty or common sense. He would not prompt you to run in a race, for example, if you have no legs. He would not ask you to forsake your family for some mission adventure. So these cautions are necessary.

Outward circumstances also include the advice of family, friends, counselors, pastors, etc. Proverbs 15:22 says, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”  Circumstances include even things such as personal likes (if the first two points are in alignment), financial considerations, etc.

When all three of these points line up, you can act in confidence that God is directing you. If just the first two line up, you may move with caution. If only one is the basis for action, wait.

There is not room here to explore all three items in detail, but let me suggest a great book that has been reprinted entitled Does God Still Guide? By J. Sidlow Baxter.

-David Corts

Where is the line where grace ends and judgment begins?

This question is a good one since it prompts some serious reflection on two life-changing concepts – grace and judgment.

The grace of God most often is distributed on the conditional basis of faith and repentance. That is, it settles on the hearts that have put their trust in God completely. This makes it difficult to picture grace and judgment in linear terms.

Grace is also administered “unconditionally” as seen in the selection of Israel as God’s chosen people and in other covenants of God. For example, the covenant of the rainbow that God made with Noah is given unconditionally. Despite the floods of 2008, we are assured by God’s grace that mankind will not be destroyed by water. Since God can extend grace on whomsoever He pleases (without our permission, I might add), we still find it difficult to picture this in linear terms. This is supported by the teaching in Romans 9:15. The Apostle Paul quotes God speaking to Moses in Exodus 33:19, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

Judgment, on the other hand, begins at the point of un-repented sin whenever and wherever it appears. Sometimes God allows the fruits of our own sinful choices to bring judgment on ourselves. We generally view this as consequences to our actions. It is based on the biblical principle, “

But if you are thinking of the specific judgments for the unbelieving, God usually allows a prolonged period of time interspersed with many warnings. I believe you will find that in every instance of specific judgment being administered, God always precedes it with warnings. The Elijah Chronicles show us a pattern of this. God sends prophets ahead of judgment to alert and to warn of impending trouble. Elijah issued a warning to Ahab and accompanied the warning with a drought to allow him and the people of Israel time to change their worship habits. Then, he upped the ante with the dramatic intervention at Mt. Carmel. Finally, several thousand people repented as Pastor Steve taught us. It is God’s mode of operation again and again throughout the Bible when judgment is impending.

Pastor Steve told us of Ahab’s envy and covetous desire for Ahab’s vineyard. Jezebel’s cunning plot brought death to Naboth’s family and seized the vineyard. God sent a warning to Ahab through His prophet Elijah. The Prophet expressed God’s aroused anger with these firm words, “I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and have caused Israel to sin.' And also concerning Jezebel the LORD says: 'Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of [a] Jezreel.' "Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds of the air will feed on those who die in the country."

There is an interval of several weeks between Elijah’s warning of King Ahab’s doom and when it was fulfilled. Think of the period of grace given for opportunity to make amends. For Jezebel the interval was several years, but God kept His word and judgment did come. There was a Pastor several years ago named R.G. Lee who preached a sermon on this theme of Naboth’s vineyard entitled “Payday Someday!” It highlighted the reality that what God says will happen always comes true. But even with Judgment there is evidence of God’s grace.

Most people are given 30 days “grace” if they miss paying the premium on their life insurance policy. God gave Ahab and Jezebel weeks and years to repent and change their ways. When repentance didn’t happen, the judgment foretold came just as Elijah had said.
You see how extensive the loving-kindness of God is, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

If there is a line, it is where genuine repentance is set in motion by a believing person. When a person’s heart has grown so hard that they are incapable of feeling genuine sorrow for their wrong-doing and lack desire for God’s favor, they have approached the end of God’s grace. This is not because God isn’t willing, but the person becomes incapable of wanting it or receiving it. They no longer care about it at all. Hebrews 10:26 puts it this way, “no sacrifice for sins is left”. Here is a principle that appears to me to be operating in our sin life. With every sin left un-repented, a process of heart-hardening begins. There is a point when one’s heart becomes too hard to feel sorrow for their sin and they no longer care what God or anyone else thinks. That is the line where grace ends and judgment comes. God alone knows when that is.

God’s grace is amazing and beyond a mere human’s ability to fully comprehend. God has made it possible for us to know enough about it to receive it and live in it. The Bible says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). This reality covers all of us but another reality is also found in the Bible, “where sin increased, grace increased all the more” (Romans 5:20). I love the captivating words of Titus 3:4-7: “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

-David Corts