THESE TRUTHS SHALL BE SELF-EVIDENT
There are many approaches to understanding the real ministry of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. As Thomas Jefferson did, you can take the miracles out of the Bible and at the same time can create one of the most complex and powerful documents on human freedom: ”These truths shall be self evident…” Many of us believe in what the Constitution of The United States of America says about human freedom with more zeal than what the Bible says about spiritual freedom. The best of us can be mesmerized by scriptures and at the same time deny 50% of its content.
“These truths shall be self evident.” In my opinion, the truth of the Bible is not only self evident, but desperately needed today in our world filled with turmoil. The problem here is that our interpretation of the scriptures is so damaged. We accept the cross as self evident, but we do not accept the miracles. We accept the ministry of Jesus but the Acts of the Apostles are taken with a grain of salt. We accept the ministry of Jesus as the Son of God, but have a hard time accepting His virgin birth. We will accept the book of Mark, but the epistles of Paul are not to be given equal weight. In a way, the evidence of the truth is not good enough for us. Many of us are intent upon fitting the scriptures to our own spiritual taste.
The growth in the third-world church is astonishing. Millions are coming to Christ in South America, Africa, and Asia. We have seen a revival that has swept through Brazil and continues to burn. Even the Pope is worried that his beloved Catholic Church in Brazil will be in the minority within the coming decade. Yes, my brother the Pope needs to worry. The Protestant Church in Brazil is electing senators and congressman and congresswomen to represent them in the capital of Brasilia. In the third world, it seems that the scriptures are “self evident.”
There is no question about the truth of the scriptures. The result is that miracles happen in Brazil daily. In our mission trips we see people being saved by grace in the hundreds. The people going on our trips to Brazil are changed forever to become leaders and anointed servants of the kingdom of God.
How about you? What have you done with the truths of the scriptures? Are they “self evident” to you?
Rick Bonfim
Edited By Betty Mckinney
Rick - bless you, thank you for this post. You are so right. It hurts my heart to see how “low we have turned the dial” on the power of God in our US churches. “No, we have never even heard of the Holy Spirit,” is the response not just of the Ephesians, but of too many American Christians.” Jesus is hobbled and made to be primarily human through unbelief. As a pastor, as I have pressed forward with the message of His divinity and humanity, I have found such opposition - in the church!!!! Trying to do “miracles in Nazareth” - just hard. But, we must keep pressing forward, praying forward. Thank you, Rick, for your constant encouragement.
Comment by Rev. Pam Morrison — February 9, 2008 @ 11:01 am
Rick: I praise God for your insight & truths to what our hearts are to hear & receive from your teachings. Thanks, Janette
Comment by Janette — February 10, 2008 @ 5:20 pm
Rick,I agree that the Bride of Christ stands at a crossroads just as the Israelites stood at a crossroads on Mt. Carmel in I Kings 18:21. Jesus is asking His Bride the same question Elijah asked: “How long will you hesitate betwen two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” There is far too much vacillating between two opinions in the church. We need to pray that the God who answers by fire will purify His Bride by turning up the heat so that the dross can be skimmed off and the world will see His reflection in our lives. May it begin with me! Thank you so very much for being iron that sharpens iron for the Body of Christ.
Comment by Kay Harris — February 11, 2008 @ 9:05 am
Rick, you are right on target. The biggest obstacle to God’s grace in today’s world is, as it has always been, unbelief! God doesn’t stutter. He said,says what He meant, and meant what He said.
It’s interesting to hear about the Pope’s anxiety about the church in Brazil. Too bad the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is advocating sharia (Islamic law) in the land of the Wesleys. Too bad he’s doubting the veracity of the scriptures and leading many otherwise good Anglicans down the primrose path of destruction, as well as pointing the formerly Great Britain to a 7th century Muslim caliphate.
The great miracle of this century just might be that he, along with other denominational leaders might realize that we serve a God of miracles whose purpose and timing are without question, amen? Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Comment by Eric Sizemore — February 11, 2008 @ 3:53 pm