Grace Martial Arts Fellowship began in 1990, went online with a website in 1995 and began publishing newsletters to the Christian martial arts community in 1998.
Because of the quality of information found in those early newsletter articles and the fact they are no longer available online, we’ve decided to re-publish many of them in the coming weeks and months. Our hope is that a new generation of Christian martial artists will be blessed by the wisdom of those who were on the path before them.
GMAF NEWSLETTER
September – December
2007
Welcome to the GMAF Newsletter! We pray it will encourage you in your life, your martial arts and outreach for Christ.
Thoughts from the Master
“Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. “
Jesus Christ
“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out ofdarkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
The Apostle Paul
Wisdom Notes
“The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.”
Proverbs
“What We Have In Jesus:
The Third Blessing”
by Mark McGee
GMAF Director
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:3-14
The first blessing Paul mentions in Ephesians is that God chose us in Him “before the foundation of the world.” The second blessing Paul mentions is our “adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” The third blessing is that we were adopted by Christ “to the praise of the glory of his grace.” We have a high calling and purpose!
There is nothing small or ordinary about Christians. We have been called by the Most High God to the most high purpose: “to the praise of the glory ofhis grace.” That statement in itself is amazing and almost beyond explanation.
“to the praise”
• Praise is the Greek epainos and means “applause, commendation, approbation, praise.” Jesus Christ is the object of our praise. I like the word picture of applause. I’ve often thought about how hundreds of millions of Christians will react to seeing Christ in Heaven’s great arenas and applause and shouts of adulation come to mind. I can just see and hear the throngs of the redeemed applauding, shouting and singing songs of praise to the Lamb of God as we see Him in all His heavenly glory. We get a picture of that in the Book of Revelation as the heavenly host sing “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” Won’t it be wonderful to join with the angels in heaven to sing their song to Christ? We’ll see the 24 elders worship Christ saying “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” We will praise Christ with our whole body, including mouths for shouting and singing and hands for applauding.
• We don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to praise Christ and applaud Him. We were adopted as children “to the praise” of Christ in this lifetime and for eternity! The singing and praising and shouting and applauding started at our adoption service (our salvation) and will continue forever. The purpose of our entire life is to be to His praise!
“of the glory”
• Our excited praise is because of the “glory of his grace.” Glory is doxa and means a high opinion of someone or something and the honor that would go with it. In the case of Jesus Christ, doxa would be the highest opinion and the highest honor we can possibly give! We know about the glory of Christ through what He created and His life-giving sustenance to everyone and everything (“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.” Colossians 1 … “In thebeginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” John 1)
“of his grace”
• Grace is charis and means “unmerited favor.” Charis has the underlining meaning of favor that causes joy and gladness. The Grace of God brings joy! It brings gladness! It brings hope! We were lost in sin. We were spiritually dead. We deserved God’s punishment, but instead we received His Love and Grace! That’s why we sing! That’s why we shout! That’s why we applaud! God’s Grace is what we praise and honor. Christians were adopted as children of God to the praise of the glory of His grace. We spend our lives praising God, applauding God, singing to God and serving God because of the glory (highest opinion and honor) of God’s Grace (unmerited favor).
There is nothing higher or more important in our life than the high purpose of our calling. We are God’s children. We were adopted as His children to be to the praise of the glory of His Grace!
How do we live our lives to the praise of the glory of His grace? We obey Him. That means knowing what He says about every subject of life, every aspect of life, and obey what He says. That means reading the Bible regularly, intently and fervently. That means praying to God regularly, intentently and fervently. That means living the life of Christ before others regularly, intently and fervently. That means sharing Christ with others regularly, intently and fervently.
Think about how excited Christians get at sports events, entertainment events, church events. We shout and applaud and high-five each other and enjoy ourselves thoroughly. Do we have that same high opinion of Christ?
Does being a child of God bring out that kind of fervent joy and gladness? If not, why not? What keeps us from enjoying our relationship to the Most High God to a higher degree than our favorite team making a touchdown or getting a home run or hitting another basket or making another goal? Why would we become more excited about hearing our favorite singer or group in concert than hearing from God in prayer or study?I think about this often. Nothing in this life should make me happier or fill me with more joy than being a child of God. Christians should be “the” happiest people on earth. We have something that everyone wants, even though they don’t know it. I didn’t know I wanted Christ when I was an atheist. I wanted happiness. I wanted joy. I wanted fulfillment. I wanted satisfaction. I wanted love. I wanted acceptance. I just couldn’t find it in anything or anyone. My search for peace in this life was not fulfilled by anything in this life. What I wanted was to be adopt ed by God. I wanted His love, His grace, His acceptance. I wanted to belong to Him. I just didn’t know it until He found me and wooed me and saved me and cleansed me and taught me about His Grace. That’s when my applause began. That’s when I shouted for joy. That’s when I cried with tears of thanksgiving. That’s when I knew I belonged. That’s when I knew my life had begun. That’s when I knew life had meaning. I was a child of God. We are children of God “to the praise of the glory of his grace.”
(Next newsletter: The Fourth Blessing!)
(Mark McGee is Director and co-founder of Grace Martial Arts Fellowship. He teaches martial arts from a Christian perspective in Tampa, Florida.)
“A History of Man’s Quest for Immortality”
by Mark A. McGee
We are pleased to announce the publication of our new book, A History of Man’s Quest for Immortality, published by Fifth Estate Book Publishing. This 780-page book was written to help Christians understand what non- Christians believe about immortality and how to reach them more effectively for Christ. We also wrote the book for people who are searching for answers to their deep questions about immortality and life after death.
Here is a brief explanation About the Book.
“Immortality. Everlasting life. Eternal bliss. Heaven. Nirvana. Paradise. It is the siren cry that calls all human beings to something better than what we have in this life. What is waiting for us on the other side of death? Will it be eternal joy and rest or everlasting pain and agony or do we just disappear with nothing after our last breath? How can we beat the fast-approaching moment of our own demise and the deaths of people we love? Can we live longer and stronger? Can we find something that will keep us from ever dying? Every people and tongue, city and civilization have asked the same questions you and I ask today. Was there a time when people lived to be almost a thousand years old? Could that happen again in our lifetime?
‘A History of Man’s Quest for Immortality ‘ is about humanity’s search for a way out of the prison we call time that eats away at every cell of our body and mind. Thousands of years of human history are filled with billions of people trying to make sense of lives that begin with a promise and end with a curse. The Garden of Eden, Noah’s Ark, the Tower of Babel, the Temples of Mesopotamia, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Golden Elixir of China, the Philosophy of Greece, the Power of Rome, the Alchemy of Arabia, the Medicine of Europe, the Science of America – all stand witness to the passion of the human race to find a cure for death. The questions are easy. The answers difficult. The purpose of this book is to document the quest and discover the answers.”
You can purchase “A History of Man’s Quest for Immortality” from Amazon.com.
“Greater Grace, Greater Purpose”
(Understanding God’s Grace is to Understand His Purpose for Your Life)
by
Dr. Robert Xavier
Set Free Youth & Family MinistriesConfident Kid Martial Arts
We all break all of God’s commandments in omission and commission. Everyday we break His laws. Therefore, we have no other hope but to put our trust in God’s GRACE and MERCY.
God saves us not because of what we have done, but rather in spite of what we have done. God is not like us! HE IS THE GOD OF ALL GRACE. IT IS IN HIS GRACE AND ONLY IN HIS GRACE THAT WE ARE SAVED!
Romans chapter 12:1-3
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reaonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
Titus 2:11-14
“For the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Does God apart from Grace save and accept anyone?
• God is not giving out His righteousness and acceptance as a reward tous because of our faithfulness to Him. God is giving out His righteousness as a gift to us because of Christ’s faithfulness and service to Him. Jesus Christ always did the will of His Father, even when it came time to give up His life and die on the cross for our sins.
• In Christ and through faith in Christ we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:12)
• Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. He came into this world in order that there might be a Gospel of Grace to preach.
• God the Father made Jesus Christ who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God IN HIM.
• God credited His Son’s righteousness to all of us who believe and receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
• Grace is the highest form of love. God’s Grace transforms something ugly into something magnificently beautiful. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses you and me from all sin. We are all sinners. There is nothing that we can do to gain God’s favor.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Salvation is the work of God on our behalf. It could not be made clearer. Salvation comes to us, NOT on the basis of our works, but on the basis of a FREE GIFT FROM GOD. There are only two religions in the world: Do and Done. You belong to one of these religions.
People in the DO Religion don’t agree.
• The people in the DO Religion are insecure and disagree about how to become acceptable to God.
• New DO Religions are formed every year. People in the DONE Religion all agree.
• The people in the DONE Religion are absolutely secure about their love, accepted, approved, and forgiveness by God.• They know for certain they have secure favor and eternal life with God.
Who is Man?
• Both of these religions believe in the existence of this wild and wooly creature.
• Most of mankind believes they have problems, hangups and difficulties in human relationships.
Words about religion bring up God.
• Most people agree God exists in some form of higher power.
• Both religions believe in life after death, but hot to get in good with God is not agreed.
• The DO Religion – I have tried. I am trying. I live in a way that is pleasing to God.
• The NONE Religion – I have tried, but… I am trying to live right, but… I try to do good, but…
• Some people think you are god, they are god, the son, moon, and stars and nature are god.
• THIS IS WHERE THE TWO RELIGIONS GO IN COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.
Three things people of the DO Religion must do to get on the god side of God to enter into heaven or the place of bliss.
• Chanting a variety of words and prayers. Doing good humanitarian works. Seeing God as the great cosmic scorekeeper in the sky.
• Worshipping nature, even on the gold course or in sports and things that have been created.
NOTE: People of the DO Religion are hoping to tip the scales of their good deeds to outweigh their bad deeds to win God’s favor. The second leading cause of death among teenagers is suicide. No Hope!
What DONE Religion agrees and believes.
• IT IS FINISHED
• They have a textbook called the Holy Bible
Our problem is a 3-letter word: S(I)N• No one is perfect. After all, we are only human.
• SIN is rebelliousness against our holy creator. We all sin every day of our lives.
• God’s standards of righteousness are set forth clearly in the Bible. We should never take God’s Holy Name in vain… honor your mother and father… never lie, cheat, steal, lust, murder, harbor bitterness or act in fits of rage, etc.
• It is appointed for men once to die then the righteous judgment of Almighty God. Everyday we are closer to the final judgment.
The most controversial name in the world.
• (JESUS) “Therefore God exalted him ot the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
• The Lord Jesus Christ left the glory of angels, left heaven, was conceived of a virgin by the Holy Spirit, had two natures, perfectly Divine Creator God, and perfectly sinless one hwo died on the cross. There lies the greatest love story ever told.
• The Lord Jesus came into this world to put sin onto His account. He became sin for us who knew no sin, suffered and died a criminal’s death on a cross for us and rose from the dead three days later.
What makes Jesus different from other dead martyrs or some dead hero?
• Jesus Christ was truly God and truly man.
• He came into this world to redeem mankind from their sins and to die a substatutional death on our behalf.
• He took up His life three days after His death and rose from the grave.
• Many witnesses saw him on ten different occasions after His Crucifixion. Over five hundred witnesses saw him at one time.
“The gospel he [God] promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ ourLord.” (Romans 1:2-4)
“For if, when we were sinners, God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved thorugh his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:8-11)
• We break most all of God’s commandments in word, thought or deed daily.
• Grace is the highest form of love. God’s Son the Lord Jesus Christ came down from heaven and took the form of a human so we could someday live with Him for all eternity. The Son of God became a son of man so that the sons of men could some day become sons of God.
• Grace transforms something ugly into something beautiful.
Faith, Agreeing with God
F.A.I.T.H.
• Forsaking All I Trust Him
• The Lord Jesus Christ who has begun a good work in you will continue it.
• You are now able to do all things through Christ who will strengthen you.
Jesus is working in you
• For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
• Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
(Next newsletter: Now How About You?)“When the Going Gets Tough
“The Christian Gets Tougher”
By
KARL WILLIAM MARX SR.
Founder of Keichu-Do Martial Arts
In Spiritual warfare there are no rules and it’s a no holds barred fight. I used to think I was the dirtiest street fighter in the World. Ha! Satan is so dirty at fighting he makes me look like Mr. Clean. My friends Steve and Roger as well Roger’s wife, we all have something in common. My son Victor and almost every Pastor I know are in conflict with the enemy on a daily basis. I suppose if we were not a threat to Satan he would not have to keep sending fresh troops to out sectors. Without adversity I think we might not be worth his time or effort. “Why attack those who are not fighting for Christ Jesus. Let them alone and attack those who are against sin and the father of lies”.
Sometimes it seems like everything I touch turns into manure. If I did anything right it might be slipping on a roller skate falling through a plate glass window, into a China shop, breaking $10,000 worth of antique wares, but not hurting myself in anyway shape or form. Not even a scratch from broken glass. “If it weren’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all” is an old saying. The truth is, it’s not luck at all. Fate? Karma? None of that is what goes on in life. The Creator starts most individuals off in perfect condition, unless they are very special, and have some physical, or mental difference. When things go wrong with us it is usually our own fault. Take for example a fellow breaks up with his girlfriend and starts drinking. He becomes involved in a car accident because he is drunk. The consequence of that action is not fate or Karma, it’s stupidity. We are not born stupid.
That comes with not wanting to learn knowledge. The fellow with no understanding will not have much Wisdom. Come on, everyone knows that anyone who hates wisdom is stupid. If the fellow whose girlfriend left him would have just thought to use his knowledge that he should have learned by reading the correct Book he would have understood what to do with his situation rather than feeling sorry for himself and getting drunk and driving. If you run in mud, your shoes will get muddy.
Satan has so many areas to attack us that it is difficult to fight back when we never know when, how or with what he will attack with. Something as small as disappointment can bring on anger, which can create depression, then even more serious anxiety attacks. Manic depression and Bi Polar, Obsessive Compulsive Behavior are but a few attack methods used by Satan.
Unfortunately for most people we believe we are crazy and we run to a psychiatrist. I wonder why some folk’s call them shrinks. Do you suppose they might be kinfolk to the Headhunters who shrink their victim’s heads?
Ha! Just kidding. When we start to experience any symptoms of an oncoming attack, whatever kind it is, get tough, get mad, not scared. Pray like all get out. If you have medication, fight the attack with prayer before you resort to taking the medication. But never ,ever not take your medication if you are unable to pray it off. God will always be there for you. Sometimesit feels like HE is not there, however, when the going gets so tough that you can’t take it, or even walk, you might feel deserted, unloved and without hope. Usually you are being carried. That’s why there was only one set of footprints in the sand. The point I’m fumbling so badly to make is that no matter how bad things appear, it will go away. You will always win in the end. That’s the good part. You may have to get tough, I mean tougher, than you have ever been. Also, call your mentor. I you don’t have one, GET ONE. Usually a Pastor or elder from your congregation will suffice.
However, without your mentor to gain knowledge from because your mentor has the wisdom, your fight may be longer and harder. So, now you have at least some information on how to do battle with the enemies of your Creator.
“Teaching the Whole”
by
Joseph Lumpkin
Shinsei as an art is beyond a physical training system or self-defense. It focuses on “teaching the whole.” From a Biblical standpoint, our personhood, our “humanness,” is a three-part essence, embodied in one. We are Body, we are Soul, and we are Spirit. Paul states this in 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, “I pray God your whole spirit andsoul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” Yes, man indeed has a tripartite nature. We find these concepts in the New Testament Greek, soma-body, psyche-mind, and pneuma-spirit. It requires three parts of a man to create the whole. God himself is a Trinity, three in one. God is three persons: God the Father (Soul), God the Son (Body), God the Holy Spirit (Spirit). As God is, so is his creation. Adam was made in the image of God. He has this tripartite nature.
So why the theology lecture, and what does it have to do with teaching martial arts? It is to remind the instructor that we are tripartite beings, and therefore must receive tripartite training. There are three aspects of being which our Shinsei Hapkido system is designed to develop: body, soul, and spirit. These three aspects must be developed in balance for a person to become properly balanced as a martial artist and, therefore, as a person. This balance is represented by the belt being tied with the knot in the center, and either side of the ends being equal in length.
The first part of this tripartite division of the human is the body. Most instructors practice this portion of the training. The body is developed through the physical exercises involved in martial arts training. They may include forms, Kata, sparring, grappling, conditioning exercises, stretching, and other drills. Repetition of the basic and advanced techniques develops the proficiency of the practioner at this level.
The second aspect of the tripartite division is the soul (which includes the mental training, as well). Bible concepts, Biblical meditation, and the development of one’s personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ are essential teachings of Shinsei Hapkido. Mental training must also include studies that will help balance the student in such forms of artistic expression such as writing, painting, poetry, or music.
Shinsei also emphasizes teaching the student to focus his mind and to coordinate his thinking with his movements. Students are encouraged to listen, read, think, and write. Instructors should never restrict themselves to simply teaching the martial arts, but should study all aspects of history,philosophy, science, medicine and other subjects, as well as Biblical concepts. To facilitate the quest for knowledge, Shinsei is unique in the fact that Scripture memorization and applications are intertwined within the system.
The third part, the spirit, is often overlooked as well. Students need a firm foundation of beliefs to guide them. The true martial artist is continously in pursuit of personal improvement. It is not enough to have a strong mind and body; the true martial artist should also strive to be strong in spirit. He should have a well-defined goal in life and a firm foundation of beliefs to guide him. Shinsei offers a vehicle to reach others with the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. It is when Jesus becomes one’s personal Savoir that the Spirit of God takes up residency in the individual’s life. When we ask Jesus to save us, the Holy Spirit comes in and “Christ liveth in me.” (Galatians 2:20)
We must look beyond the obvious, the physical. We must address the reality of the trinity of Man. We can feed the body, and starve the spirit. What good would it do to feed a hungry man and then allow him to die and go to hell?
(From Encounter the Warrior’s Heart: The Philosophy of Shinsei Hapkido)
“A Matter of Lying”
By
Dr. Daryl Covington
What’s so bad about a little lie?
“The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.” Proverbs 11:17 (KJV).
Lies will be exposed: Lying is deceiving someone. It can be direct – “I didn’t touch that cake” (as you swallow the last bite) or it can be indirect, such as telling only part of the truth when it benefits you to do so. But to fall short of truth, in any way, is to lie. Pilate asked, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). Pilate had the answer to his question standing before him, in person. “I am the way, the truth and the life,” Jesus said on another occasion (John 14:6). Think of it! Jesus not only tells the truth, he is truth. We cannot follow the God of truth while we persistently tell lies even “small” ones. We must determine to tell the truth in all matters of life, big or small. Lying is the basic fault line in the foundation of the soul, putting all the superstructure in jeopardy. All the believability a person has, his very integrity, totters on the shifting sand of one lie. Deceit holds hostage all other virtues.
Why do we lie?:
“But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, -And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. – But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? – Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. – And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. -And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. -And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. – And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold theland for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. – Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. -Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. -And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.- And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.” Acts 5:1-12 (KJV).
Holding back:
The sin Ananias and Sapphira committed was not stinginess or holding back part of their money; they were free to choose whether or not to sell the land and how much to give. Their sin was lying to God and God’s people by saying they gave the whole amount while they were holding some back for themselves, trying to make themselves appear more generous than they really were. This act was judged harshly because dishonesty and covetousness are destructive in a church, preventing the Holy Spirit from working effectively.
The curse of hypocrisy:
“In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. -For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.” Luke 12:1-2 (KJV).
Who was that masked man?:
Do you remember the old TV show The Lone Ranger? Whenever the hero, who wore a black mask across his eyes, did a good deed, someone always asked, “Who was that masked man?” I think many observers today are asking the same question of a lot of Christians.They’ll perform a convincing act on the outside while faking it on the inside. In other words, many will be hypocrites. The word hypocrisy means “to wear a mask.” In the Greek theater, actors held masks over their faces to portray different characters.Jesus tells us, in essence, “Beware of hiding behind a mask of hypocrisy.
Don’t try to appear to be something that you really aren’t.” What a curse hypocrisy has been to the church! So many pretend to be something they are not. Yet no mask will stand up to God’s scrutiny. Jesus warns us that “there is nothing covered that will not be revealed.” There are no secrets with God.
In the end, Jesus will pull off every mask and reveal who’s really underneath. Paul speaks of the day “when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” (Romans 2:16).
Proverbs says, “The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.” Proverbs 12:13 (KJV). Sinful talk (lying) is twisting the facts to support your false claims.
“THE PERFECT GIFT“
by
Phil Lewis
Are you looking for the perfect gift? What does he need? What does she want? What would really make them feel special? How can you show that person they are really loved?Well, God did something 2,000 years ago that is just the “ticket. He gave the most perfect gift ever. And He is still in the business of giving to all who would receive. The Bible says that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 And in John 3:16 we read “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
What do you need, more than life? “The wages of sin is death.” Rom. 6:23. And we are all sinners. Jesus said He came to give us life, and life more abundantly. What could you want more than forgiveness and peace with God? “..being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom. 5:1 “There is..no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” And what could really make you feel special and loved more than the fact that Jesus did it all just for you?
He was given, and died for your sins, so that you could live eternally in a loving relationship with the very God who created you, and knows all that you are, what you want, and what you need.
God is still reaching out to you today. He would like you to receive His gift, Jesus. “For as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” John 1:12
“Jesus Ascended”
by
Mark McGee
GraceLife Ministries is in its 18th year of sharing the Love and Grace of God with people around the world through Christian Martial Arts, Bible Studies and answers to serious life questions. Here is one of the questions we received many years ago and the insights we found then and continue to find in God’s precious Word.
QUESTION: I would appreciate your comments on the meaning of Ephesians 4:8-10. I’m particulary interested in Paul’s quote from Psalm 68:18: “When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”
ANSWER: Ephesians 4 is about Unity in the Body of Christ.
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit–just as you were called to one hope when you were called–one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Paul then writes:
“But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: ‘When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.’ (What does ‘he ascended’ mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and becomemature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
Christ is Eternal. He sits on the Throne of Heaven. He descended from His Throne to the “lower, earthly regions” two-thousand years ago to live, minister, die for sins and rise from the dead. After that, Christ ascended “higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.” It was Christ Who gave gifts to men. Those gifts are the gifted individuals we know as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. The reason He did that was to bring Unity out of chaos and Purpose to hopelessness. Christ gave the world people who had specific spiritual gifts that would change the direction of people’s lives from bad to good, from evil to righteousness.
Those gifted people would prepare God’s people for their works of service so the Body of Christ would be built up until everyone reached Unity in the Faith. Those gifted people exist to help us mature and become like Christ.
Those gifted people are to speak the Truth in Love, knowing that’s what helps us grow up into Christ who is the Head of us all. Those gifted people are the supporting ligaments to join and hold together members of the Body of Christ as they grow and build up each other in love, as each part does its work.
Paul quoted from Psalm 68:18 when he wrote: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.” Psalm 68 was Israel’s song of victory and triumph. It’s a tribute to God. It reminded Israel about how God lead them through the desert, how He defeated their enemies, how He chose Mt. Zion to be His home on earth, how He saved Israel and crushed their enemies, how great was the procession of God into His sanctuary, and how God will use His Strength to subdue His enemies. Psalm 68 is one of the most powerful and wonderful of David’s songs. Psalm 68 is about the procession of God’s Ark of the Covenant as Israel took it through the desert and the land of promise up to its special place on high.The Ark was where God dwelled on earth. The Lord Almighty was “enthroned between the cherubim that are on the ark.” (Read 2 Samuel 6 for more insight.) Israel did not move until the Ark moved. The God of the Ark was Israel’s Power and Glory. He was their Victory.
It’s interesting to note that God’s Name, Elohim, is used 23 times in Psalm 68. One commentator wrote that “this Psalm among all the Elohimic Psalms is the most resplendent.” Psalm 68:18 is about when Israel took the Ark of God to its resting place high on Mt. Zion. It was then that God gave Israel the great gifts they would experience during the reigns of David and Solomon. God took many captives as Israel triumphed during their journey from the desert to Mt. Zion.
Those captives would benefit from God’s gifts to the people of Israel. In the same way, Christ has taken many people captive through His conquering Love and Grace.
C.H. Spurgeon said it well many years ago:
“A multitude of the sons of men are the willing captives of Messiah’s power. As great conquerors of old led whole nations into captivity, so Jesus leads forth from the territory of his foe a vast company of the trophies of his mighty grace. From the gracious character of his reign it comes to pass that to be led into captitvity by him is for our captivity to cease, or to be itself led captive; a glorious result indeed.”
C.H. Spurgeon, “The Treasury of David,” Volume 2a, Zondervan Publishing, 1966
Paul’s choice of that Psalm and that verse is strategic. Jesus Christ is God. He came to earth in a human body in the same way God came to earth in the Ark. Both went up from the desert to Mr. Zion conquering enemies and taking captives as they went. They both descended and ascended higher than all the heavens to fill the whole universe. Christ is our Ark. He is our Life. He is our Salvation. We are His captives. We are those to whom He gave gifts for His glory and praise and the blessing of humanity.
“Training Tips for Martial Artists”
We continue a new section of our newsletter that includes training ideas from some of the best minds in martial arts and physical fitness. We hope these insights for better training will help you and your students. Consider reading one insight every day and focusing on its importance in your life and training.
“In martial art philosophy, if the goal is directed toward the highest principle, there is a correct way to achieve it. it is absolutely essential that our physical training coincide with mental and spiritual dimensions. Our minds are limitless and spiritual in nature. When practioners do not make the proper use of their minds, they are cheating themselves and others. Almost everyone will say they emphasize physical fitness in their lives. But if something is troubling them, they will postpone exercise until they have solved their problems, wihch may take a long time or never come. The physical body suffers. Some people think or believe that peace of mind can only be attained through religioin. They try Buddhism or some other cult. But one can get this kind of peace of mind through the study of Keichu-Do. I am not saying one does not need religion. Without God we are nothing. However, it is Jesus Christ that makes the difference, NOT religion, but Christ only. Through meditation, like prayer, one can develop greater concentration and awareness and learn to let the Holy Spirit control your own mind. There are many ways to learn mind control, but the Holy Bible is the best in my opinion. Keichu-Do is another, but only when taught properly.”
“On Fire For Jesus Christ: Martial Art Spirit”
Karl William Marx Sr.
“One of the biggest negatives I hear about my involvement and teachingmartial arts is that I am merely teaching people how to fight. In reality, I teach students so they do not have to fight. When one is confident in their ability to defend themselves, one does not have to fight to prove this fact. I do not have to fight someone to prove my ability. I have proven my abilities in the Dojang, so those issues are long settled in my heart. The first aspect of self-defense is to learn to avoid confrontation all together. Without that as a foundation, martial arts have lost their art form.”
“Purpose Driven Martial Arts”
Daryl R. Covington
“What sense does it make to meet force with force? This strategy pits attacker and defender against each other with equal opportunity for damage. Whether we are going to attack or be forced to defend, we must consider other means. Remaining patient, detached, and unencumbered by fear or ego, we watch as the play unfolds and wait until it is time to play our part. We join the battle in one moment. In a blink of an eye, we enter with one stroke, our force against the enemy’s weakness. We evade the attack, invade the defenses, and there we control and conquer the enemy. The essential question then becomes…how do we evade? Instead of attempting to block, it is best to evade the attack. The rule of thumb is, ‘don’t be there.’ Thus, something must be done to take us out of danger and stop the cycle of his attack and our evasion. If there is a change of direction, the attacker must stop and renegotiate his attack. We must step out of the way at an angle that demands the attacker renegotiate his direction and distance if he is to attack again. This is one of the critical strategies within the martial art of Hapkido. If one goes no further than to evade, there could be another attack, and another, until the attacker exhausts him, or worse, the defender makes a mistake and is killed. Simply evading is not sufficient. We must place ourselves where his next attack would be difficult, and ours would be easy and swift. If our attack is swift, it will be done before his next negotiation or direction. How we invade is extremely important. How we enter his sphere is a matter of life and death. We enter at such a time and at such an angle as to prohibit defense. We enter at his point of weakness with all of our strength. To evade the attack we step in toward the opponent at an angle that will evade the punch or kick and place us behind the attack. We invade hissphere and pass behind his lines of defense. At most, a soft, deflective defense is offered. The block is not obtrusive and is meant to move the punch or kick just enough to avoid contact. This is nothing that would draw attention, nothing to cause him to break off his attack. We want him to continue his attack. As he reaches out from his sphere, we can step in. Wait for him to extend himself, then, attack.”
“Encounter The Warrior’s Heart: The Philosophy of Shinsei Hapkido”
Joseph Lumpkin
“People learn the martial arts to protect and defend themselves and others from evil. Christians use the Word of God and the techniques of martial arts to protect and defend themselves and other from evil and sin that comes from the tricks and strategies of the devil. Christian martial artists believe that the root of evil in the world is the devil, since he influences and takes captive people God made and designed. God said, ‘For every living soul belongs to me.’ (Ezek. 18:4, NIV). Christ offers a second chance to everyone, all sinners, including those who have done the most detestable things.”
“Christian Martial Arts 101”
Wendy Williamson
“Every kid that starts karate dreams of becoming a black belt. Most students at least desire to attain some sort of rank in their respective art. But many drop out soon when they discover it’s not so easy, nor does it come quickly. They desire to learn the ‘good stuff’ right away without mastering the basics first. But a good instructor will make a student learn well the requirements for his present rank before granting a higher rank, or passing on much knowlede to the next. The test reveals whether the student is ready to move on. In some ways this could be compared to our lives as Christians. God allows trials and ‘testing’ to come our way to reveal areas in our lives we still need to work on. Depending on how we handle the trial will determine if we go on towards the next level in our walk with the Lord. It also determines how much we will face the same sort of trial in the future. The trying of our faith works patience (James 1:3). And James tells us to let this patience have a complete work in us (James 1:4). Just as a child, or student, who is granted rank too quickly, will not learn patience, nor perseverance, we to will not develop Christ-like character without the difficulties God allows into our lives.”
“The Ultimate Self-Defense – Devotionals for the Warrior”
Philip E. Lewis
“In my many years of instructing martial arts, I’ve had the pleasure of working with a number of students with both physical and mental challenges. I’ve had students with missing appendages, ADD, Tourett’s syndrome, asthma; I have worked with folks who were confinded to wheelchairs, and even an individual who was blind. In every case, I have walked away learning (and re-learning) two very important lessons. First, the will or spirit can overcome a multitude of challenges. Second, it’s important to be thankful for the blessings and gifts that we have in life, and to focus our attention on what’s truly important. When people are motivated and determined to succeed, little can stand in their way. A few years ago, a student of mine was in a motorcycle accident and suffered both physically and mentally from severe brain trauma. This individual has since overcome incredible odds and has made outstanding strides in his recovery. It’s not because his road to recovery was smooth; believe me, it’s a rough and rocky road and he has many miles yet to travel. It’s because he fights tooth and nail for every ounce of recovery. His determination and willpower is remarkable. Whenever I consider an obstacle too great, I think about him and his success as my inspiration.”
“Street Smarts From Christian Martial Arts”
J. Brown
“Many people want to know the secret of martial-arts training, especially those who train in Kempo. The secret is simple–one must practice. In a most mundane interpretation, the three faces of Kempo–Renshu, Keiko and hugyo–mean practice, practice, practice.”
“Mastering Kempo”
William Durbin
“To learn, one must be sincere and determined. Determination is to follow one’s choice, having made up your mind to devote yourself willingly to what you have chosen. To be sincere and to be determined are necessary attributes for every student. If you have these, you can be a good student. Listen to your teacher and honor him. If your mind is absent from learning, you cannot hear what your teacher teaches you and you cannot see what the teacher shows you. You cannot succeed; you only waste your time. A student who is not devoted to the work at hand has the heart and mind of a tourist.”
“The Chinese Five Word Song: Revealing Secrets of T’ai Chi Ch’uan”
John Chung Li
“The Animal Forms were developed in order to isolate some of the important fundamental skills that beginners need to learn, such as stance, stepping patterns, basic blocking, and whole-body movement. You can also draw a lot of self-defense knowledge from these forms, such as creating effective contact with your opponent (blocking or intercepting skills), quartering capabilities, and counterattacking knowledge.”
“Hwa Yu T’ai Chi Ch’uan: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Five-Word Song.”
Glenn Newth
“The martial arts also teaches conflict-resolution skills which can be useful in social situations throughout life. In accord with the Bible, students learn to love teir enemies (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:35) and turn the other cheek in the face of a conflict (Lamentations 3:30, Luke 6:29). Essentially, they learn how to defuse a conflict before it turns into a fight and use the minimal force in defending themselves. They learn how to apply self-control in their defense; thus, their actions spring forth out of love rather than anger, rage, and hate. Accomplished students are then prepared to take these skills into life, relationships, and jobs, and become much more effective in dealing with people.”
“Martial Arts: The Christian Way”
Wendy Williamson
“To win without fighting is the highest achievement of a warrior.”
“Maxims of Sun Zi”
“…when it becomes necessary, one should not regret laying down one’s life for the sake of lord or parents, courageously sacrificing oneself for the common good. But karate [teaches that] the true meaning of this does not apply to fighting with an enemy one on one. Therefore, in the event that you are accosted by a thug or challenged by an aggressive troublemaker, you should try to avoid striking a mortal blow. You must hold as an essential principle that avoidance of injury to others with your fists and feet is your first concern.”
Yasutsune Itosu
“Karate is a martial art in which the hands and feet are like swords, and it must not be used unjustly or improperly. Karate practitoners must stand on the side of justice at all times and only in situations where there is no other choice should their power find expression through the use of their hands and feet as weapons.”
“The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate”
Gichin Funakoshi
The individualism of the West, which recognises separate interests for father and son, husband and wife, necessarily brings into strong relief the duties owed by one to the other; but Bushido held that the interest of the family and of the members thereof is intact,–one and inseparable. This interest it bound up with affection–natural, instinctive, irresistible; hence, if we die for one we love with natural love (which animals themselves possess), what is that? “For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same?”
“The Duty of Loyalty”
Imazo Nitobe
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