Pursuit Of Character

The One who calls you is Faithful!
Originally posted om https://pursuitofcharacter.org/ Posted on January 6, 2019 by Scott C

I had a really hard time getting this message just right. Not because God is not clear on the subject, but because He is so clear. Having come to understand and truly believe in the “Is’s,” God’s Faithfulness seems obvious and without need of explanation. Truth Is… God Is. God is Truth and, as Truth, He can be nothing else. He can be nothing less.

The Hebrew word for faithful is [H539 ‘âman aw-man’] A primitive root; properly to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent; morally to be true or certain; be faithful (of long continuance, steadfast, sure, surely, trusty, verified).

The Greek word we have seen before. It is the same word used for Faith in the New Testament. [G4103 pistos pis-tos’] From G3982; objectively trustworthy; subjectively trustful: – believe (-ing, -r), faithful (-ly), sure, true.

Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold resolutely to the hope [G1680] we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”

[G1680 Elpis] el-pece’ (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstract or concrete) or confidence: – faith, hope.

Just a reminder from “Pursuit Is”: Hope is not a pipe dream or a wish for something seemingly out of reach; it is a “confident expectation.” Hope is to “anticipate” the fulfillment of something. In Biblical terms, that something is God, His promise and His plan. As the passage states... Read full original post at https://pursuitofcharacter.org/2019/01/06/the-one-who-calls-you-is-faithful/

A Day In the Life… Shrewd Investor

God is a shrewd investor. He makes the S & P look like a child swinging blindfolded at a piñata. We as Christians almost always get the lesson from the “parable of the talents” wrong, a point Morgan made very clear in our reading over morning coffee. Rather than take the lazy approach and copy/paste his teaching I will relate what I understood and what it means to me personally.

As someone for whom every part and kind of “Going Out” is foreign and uncomfortable—e.g., way out of my box—Morgan’s correction made immediate sense. While I have an unquenchable desire to see the “Good News” spread, I doubt my ability to be a competent messenger (Matthew 28). I have always had abilities in the area of graphics, but will win no awards. Connected to that ability is the ability to spin a good yarn, but I am unlikely to write poetry that brings you to tears. And argue… I can argue with—actually better than—the best of them. But why bother? Quiet, shy, and stubborn, this is me, and these are the clear ingredients of a minister of Christ. (Do you recognize sarcasm?)

While we are at it, how does someone naturally prone to be quiet and resist interaction, i.e., be shy, organize, run, and lead an Outreach Ministry? This is where Morgan and the Parable of the Talents come in. We typically understand the “talents” to be our various giftings. But if that were true why does Christ specifically distinguish between “talents” and “ability?” “To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability.” (Matthew 25:15)

The talents are God’s investment in our abilities.

I have the ability to see perfect and beautiful scenes in my mind. God has invested in this ability my whole life and now His investment in that ability provides a return through His Pursuit of Character Ministry in the form of Album Covers, Book Covers, Marketing, etc. A similar ability He blessed me with was the ability to put together great stories in my mind. His investment in that ability has returned hundreds of Instructional Posts, three—going on four—Books, my ActsSocial presence, etc. He also invested in my ability to argue stubbornly. I see facts and details many do not, and connect dots most never even see are there. This investment, like His investment in my writing, never ceases to amaze me and everyone that has known me a long time. Through this He uses me to disciple in live events of all kinds.

No man would ever identify these investments much less put their talents behind them! But then... God is no man!

See you next time,
Scott A Caughel
Pursuit of Character Ministries

#ParableOfTalents, #GodsInvestment, #ChristianStewardship, #PursuitOfCharacter, #BiblicalWisdom

A Day In the Life… Roommates

I didn’t think I was going to post anything today. As I said when I started, I would only post as often as the Holy Spirit gave me something to say. The last few days His instruction has been all in on the new book we are writing, nothing else. However, just now as I was cleaning up, He provided me with a thought. So, also as said, that I share with you.

Being avid readers of God’s chosen messengers, and as mentioned, dead ones, we often joke about living arrangements. It always goes something like this: “When I get to heaven I am going to be in the same building as A.W. Tozer.” Or, “Christ has gone to prepare a place for me… down the hall from G. Campbell Morgan.” Sometimes we get the whole gang together. “I have a mansion waiting where Havner, Tozer, Morgan, Nicholson, Bunyan, and I will all live.” You get the picture.

To be honest, as a country boy, and no fan of apartment living, I hope not. I like to think we all will have a place in God’s vast wilderness, and we will come together continuously in a central park to talk about Christ, praise God, and bask in the warmth of the Holy Spirit.

I think if I wanted to get an idea of what the Heavenly Assembly might be like I would look at the Assembly He gathered here.

“The multitude of believers was one in heart and soul. With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. All filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned. With great power the apostles continued to give their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And abundant grace was upon them all.” (Acts 2:46,47; 4:31-33)

Now, isn’t that a picture!

https://pursuitofcharacter.org/revive-the-camp-meeting/

See you next time,
Scott A Caughel
Pursuit of Character Ministries

#HeavenlyFellowship, #ChristianCommunity, #HolySpirit, #PursuitOfCharacter, #ActsChurch

A Day In the Life… Why? & When?

I guess I will just post this today. A friend of mine posted this on another platform. After having not directly talked in years, he called me the other day, sad that a friend, pastor, that he had mentored, was now saying hateful things to him because his Scriptural Truth did not give way to popular political opinion. He did not call to gripe about this pastor but to share his grief with a “brother” who he knew put God’s Word first.

“I truly believe we are in the last days and I’m willing to look like a fool shouting that, you know who else looked like a fool? Noah! and just like in the days of Noah, so will the End be. I mean just wake up and open your eyes, it doesn’t take a PHD to see the signs around us. The Bible repeatedly tells believers to stay watchful and says we will be able to recognize the season of Christ’s return, even though we won’t know the exact day or hour.

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near, at the very gates.” -Jesus
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Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭32‬-‭33‬ ‭

It is a tug and conviction on my heart to use every second I have to spread the gospel and make it known that Jesus is the only way to the Father, because at any second, i could pass, at any second, Christ could return. If you saw someone about to walk into a burning fire, it’s only loving of you to warn them… in the same way it also is loving to tell everyone of the truth of what is to come. This is just another loving plead, please get right with Jesus, I full heartedly believe He is returning soon, I am not sure when soon is, but SOON! For the last year, this is something God puts on my heart every week that feels more intense and different than any other thing God has spoken to me, it is not only myself but many Christian’s are also feeling this exact tug.

He loves you, and desires a full relationship with you! If you have questions about the faith or are curious, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I love you all” (by Dilan Smith)

My comment: “Completely agree. But I would add this. Noah did not wait to be told about the coming of the rain to talk about God, he witnessed to his friends and neighbors for hundreds of years "knowing not the time nor the day." And great Grandpa Enoch talked of God his whole life until "he was no more." Here in Michigan, we just had the worst tornado hit in 46 years. 4 people who moments before may have thought there is no hurry lost their lives. I wonder did their friends, family, local church, talk to them about the opportunity of Christ or were they afraid they would get mad at them and maybe not be their friend anymore. If they did not know Christ, I wonder what they think of their “friends” now?”

See you next time,
Scott A Caughel
Pursuit of Character Ministries

A Day In the Life… Don’t Know, Didn’t Happen

How often do you thank God for the things you don’t know didn’t happen?

So, this morning I grabbed my FOB, went downstairs, out into the garage, got in the car, and hit the button. Nothing happened. I look at the dash, and it says, “no key found.” I’m thinking, “No, I just put it in my pocket.” I pull it out of my pocket and… wrong FOB. I grabbed my wife’s. I get out of the car, go back in the house, grab the right FOB, and head back to the car.

How’s that opening line go? A funny thing happened… Right. A funny thing happened as I walked back in the house. It was impressed upon me that this was only a one-minute delay. Which was followed by, “I wonder what might have happened if I had grabbed the right FOB?” And that was followed by, you guessed it, How often do you thank God for the things you don’t know didn’t happen?

Too often we are quick to bellyache about the “bad” things that we do know happened. We even take what is known as the “what have you done for me lately” position that the Hebrews took as they crossed the desert headed for the Promised Land. “I know this great thing happened just the other day… but…” and we proceed to grumble—also like the Hebrews did—about the latest difficulty He hasn’t prevented or remedied. (Exodus 15:22-27)

I wrote a post many years ago named “…In All Things,” you know, 1 Thessalonians 5:18. This is not that. This is “we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him” (Romans 8:28). This is exclusively used to ease the pain of the suffering and in so doing limits its full value. I looked this up a little while ago, the word is “pas” which means “all, any, every, the whole,” and the definition goes on to show use, “all manner, always, etc.” The point it led to then—and still does—is “all means all.”

Yes, it is a great comfort to know that the “bad” things God allows to happen, happen “for the good of those who love Him.” And it’s great to praise God when something “good” happens, for the same reason. But what about all the innumerable things we never know about? We have all heard the stories… “If I hadn’t caught the red light I would have been in that accident!” “If I hadn’t forgotten my cell phone…” “If I hadn’t run out of gas…” “If I had grabbed the right FOB…”

Nothing of consequence happened that I am aware of, and that’s the point. “That I am aware of.” I got the point! Did you? I thanked God for allowing me to forget the FOB, because, good or bad, large or small, “we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him.”

How often do you thank God for the things you don’t know didn’t happen?

https://pursuitofcharacter.org/2017/01/20/in-all-things/

See you next time,

Scott A Caughel

Pursuit of Character Ministries

Well…Paul Said It?
Posted on PursuitofCharcter.org on December 27, 2017 by Scott C

This week's post pulled from the Pursuit of Character website came from a necessity to address something I didn't know existed until we began discipling. I was quite surprised the first time, after revealing an undeniable teaching, to hear the only argument they could come up with... As I said this post addresses that, and as it turns out, is another of our most read. As always, click the link to read the full message and enjoy, pray, and apply.

"I will not live long enough to address all the ways man uses to avoid the Divine Truth of God. One I have heard on occasion is: “Well… Paul said it, not God.” There are many ways to deal with this dance, but I think Peter did it best. Peter pulls no punches; he says those who try to discount Paul’s writings are “ignorant and unstable people” and that they “distort” Paul’s words. Perhaps a little more translation will add further definition. The Greek word “amathes” means ignorant or “unlearned.” In other words, those who don’t know what they are talking about. Then the Greek word “asteriktos” means unstable or “unfixed.” In other words, those not fixed or standing firm in God. Lastly, the Greek word “strebloo” means to distort or pervert, but even more to “torture.” In other words, these people do not just exaggerate or slightly change, but they go to great lengths, torturous lengths, to change or ignore his words. Let’s put this back together with the rest of Peter’s words: The lawless who are not fixed in God will torture the words of Paul, as they do the rest of the Word of God. Watch out for these deceitful people, they do so at their own peril, to go along with them will mean the fall from your secure stranding (favor) in God.

No one can discount Paul unless they also discount Peter, because Peter says Paul wrote with the “Wisdom God gave him.” If you’re able to discount Paul and Peter, then you must also...” Click the link to consume the full loaf. https://pursuitofcharacter.org/2017/12/27/well-paul-said-it/

A Day In the Life… The Under Oarsman

We studied and discussed something in Fidelity to Hope that I want to visit today. Here it is: “Servants (hupēretēs) ‘(to row); an under oarsman, that is…subordinate (assistant, sexton, constable): - minister, officer, servant.’” From “A Steward’s Job,” Chapter 3.

This simple Truth gives me—and any true Christian—enormous freedom. Not the freedom to be arrogant or haughty, as we talked about yesterday. But the freedom to be humble. The freedom to love. The freedom to forgive. The freedom to strive… but fall short.

Why? I don’t row for you; I row for Him!

It gives me the freedom to overlook the sniper and the troll without getting angry or hateful.

Why? I don’t row for them; I row for Him!

It gives me the freedom to sit beside a rude, disrespectful co-worker and not be stressed.

Why? SAY IT WITH ME… I don’t row for them; I row for Him!

It gives me freedom to hit the highway and never feel RAGE.

Why? I don’t row for them; I row for Him!

It gives me the freedom to take the Good Message of the Oarsman out into the world without concern for judgment, dirty looks, or not-so-silent whispers.

Why? I don’t row for them; I row for Him!

Why don’t you give it a try? In fact, why not make it a daily—and even continuous—habit? Look forward at your day, and all the potential stumbling blocks, and say to each:

I don’t row for you; I row for Him!

Once you have done that and your day commences, don’t leave it lying on the counter, carry it with you. Quick at hand, and “ready on your lips” (1 Peter 3:15), every time any particular negative event or even temptation hits, PULL IT OUT:

I don’t row for you; I row for Him!

“Let a man so consider (logizomai) us, as servants (hupēretēs) of Christ and stewards (oikonomos) of the mysteries (mustērion) of God.” (1 Corinthians 4:1)

This is Who we row for!

To read more about all the freedom Christ offers, read The Hope Series: https://pursuitofcharacter.org/ilp/ilp-packages/

See you next time,
Scott A Caughel
Pursuit of Character Ministries

#PursuitOfCharacter #UnderOarsman #RowForHim #FreedomInChrist #HumbleService

A Day In the Life… The Forest for The Trees

It is unfortunate that gluttony is readily apparent to everyone while other worse sins are not so readily seen. Before you go there, I know all sin is doubt in God, unbelief, infidelity, therefore all sin is the same—I am talking from man’s perspective. It is this very fact that is recognized when the Manual teaches, “God does not see as man sees…” (1 Samuel 16:7). I put it this way to bring to attention behavior all too common amongst those who profess to be in alignment to God’s character.

While a glutton who professes Christ harms others as they demonstrate Christ’s failure to have victory over consumption, the glutton’s infidelity primarily damages themselves. There are many other sins whose primary victims are those around them, and when they profess Christ, those victims are often within His Church.

Let’s take one example, which is demonstrated in what I would call two severities. In the first form, it is not always immediately seen—as gluttony is—by the casual observer. Those proudly embracing this sin may walk around with the only “true translation” under their arm, go to church every Sunday, and even hold the position of elder or preacher. But this poison circulates in their veins as much as any of the Serpent’s other lies. These people are arrogant.

The arrogant—like most of the Jews in Christ’s time—are better than the rest of God’s created, His children, Christ’s siblings. They are the keepers of God’s knowledge more than all around them, and their strut, their tone, their presence makes that self-love obvious. The second is the haughty. Proverbs 16:18 represents both: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” The prideful are the arrogant, but the haughty are much more—and as I said, much worse. The haughty is the person who wields that self-love, that arrogance, like a whip on his brother’s back. The prideful are arrogant, but the haughty love themselves and show “disdain” for those around them—which defies Christ’s second greatest command: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31).

The KJV and the GNV include something very important just preceding this instruction: “the second is like” or in like manner (homoios). Like what? “Love your neighbor with all your heart and all your soul, and with all your mind and all your strength” (Mark 12:31, 30). Now what that “love” looks like in broader application is a larger discussion which might start with Romans 13:9, but the arrogant and the haughty “fall” short of this instruction by a mile. Clipping Luke 14:11 and Matthew 7:3-5 out of their Bible, they walk around with an entire forest in their eye, pointing with disdain at the fat, the drunk, the divorced, etc., and because they cannot see past the lumber, they do not offer help or love, only thinly veiled hatred.

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” They—and we—should probably take a look inside and pray about all of 1 Corinthians 13.

For more on pursuing true character amid sin, check ‘Forged Hope’ at https://pursuitofcharacter.org/ilp/books/the-hope-series/forged-hope/

See you next time,
Scott A Caughel
Pursuit of Character Ministries

#PursuitOfCharacter #LoveOverPride #LogInYourEye #1Corinthians13 #TrueLove