Not Open To Compromise.....

In a time and day when the opinion of people matter more than the truth of God, how are we to live?

Where are we to turn when opinions drown us out? Never has there been more "opinions" about something as what we find in discussions about God----Jesus----Sin-----and the depravity of mankind.

The one thing I have found is that when truth is spoken from the Word of God it does one of two things to whomever hears it. It either draws the heart of the listener to know more............or it uncovers the heart of the listener, revealing sin which causes them to either rise up in argument or run away to keep from being under conviction of the Holy Spirit.

The truth of God is not open to compromise.
It is not even open to personal interpretation.
What it is (the truth of God) open to, is for the Holy Spirit to teach you what God desires you to know.
Here we separate the reality of God from the opinion and words of men (mankind).
God did not send His son to die for those who embrace the right opinion.
Jesus died for those who believed.
Kind of simple.
Either you do (believe)
or
You don't.

This act of God to redeem mankind from the death penalty of sin (2nd death/ separation from God) is not open to be discussed. God doesn't care if you are offended by the "leaving out" of certain other groups or religions. You see, God didn't leave anyone out from coming to Him. There just isn't any other way to receive salvation and eternal life. You can have all the opinions you want, but the word of God trumps anything man has to say that isn't first given by the Holy Spirit at work.

Here at Rapha, we sometimes have men who come through in the program and want to debate the success or failure of this program. That is not open for debate. The success rate of Rapha is 100 %. You cannot argue with this. How can I say that our success rate is 100 % because Rarely (never) have we seen anyone fail who did not follow these simple steps. You may not like that statistic. You may think we are padding our success rate with "word play," but the truth is the truth. Those who have embraced the work of Jesus in their life, and used these 12 steps as a guide, go on to live productive and healthy lives.

You may think me uncaring about those poor souls who, for whatever reason, are not able to live this new found life. Not true. I do care. I weep for those who leave here and you know that you know because this person has not opened themselves up and received, that in all probability they will return to their old lifestyle. We never stop praying for them, asking God to be merciful and open their hearts up to the truth.

What I have found is that AA doesn't work.....for those who don't work it. You see, here at Rapha, we offer two types of recovery.

1.) Recovery - Our aim and goal is to help the individual return to a life of sober and clean living. Usually people who embrace this type of recovery aren't interested in God and do not want anything to do with Church or the Bible. "Just help me to get clean and sober."

2.) Recovery Plus -  This is recovery with a recognition that Jesus Christ is the higher Power that we have been searching for.  The root of my addiction is not the alcohol or drugs, it is a broken relationship with God. I have been trying to fill up my life with all the temporal things of this world. Trying to satisfy and insatiable itch that will not go away. An itch that can only be satisfied by Jesus.  We recognize that the 12 steps are guidelines, boundaries that aid an individual on their journey to this new life.

Addiction? Root problem is Sin.

Psalm 107:4-7

The wandered in the wilderness in a desert region.

The did not find a way to an inhabited city.
They were hungry and thirsty.
Their soul fainted within them.
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble.
He delivered them out of their distresses.

He led them also by a straight way, to go to  an inhabited city.

V. 10 - 11

There were those who dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Prisoners in misery and chains because they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.

The life that God offers to us through Jesus Christ is one of stability.
You cannot escape the work of the cross until you embrace it for yourself and then be resurrected to new life in Christ.

Funny how the cross looks different when you are standing in the tomb.

You bear the scars.

You remember the pain...
But this new life puts everything into perspective.

As the Apostle Paul states...."Forgetting the past, I press on....I strain forward."

So is the life of a new believer who has been delivered from a life of addiction.

God on you.......

mb