jeff mikels

Most popular posts in '006 Calling God to Act (Habakkuk)' category.

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006-04 — We Cry for Renewal

Comment Published by Jeff Mikels, on November 25th, 2001 in 006 Calling God to Act (Habakkuk).

SCRIPTURE: Habakkuk 3

Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away…Doesn’t it seem that all the greatest stories happened in the distant past in far off locations? Doesn’t it seem that God’s activity is just a part of history? When was the last time you saw God divide the waters of Lake Michigan? If God is eternally the same, then shouldn’t he be doing miraculous things today?

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006-03 — God Promises Judgment

Comment Published by Jeff Mikels, on November 18th, 2001 in 006 Calling God to Act (Habakkuk).

SCRIPTURE: Habakkuk 2:2ff

Finally, we’re getting somewhere. God promises Habakkuk that he will judge the wicked people of the world. However, the promise is not all rosy and happy. God’s promise for judgment contains some things that would scare even the most faithful follower. Do we have reason to be scared?

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006-02 — We Cry for Consistency

Comment Published by Jeff Mikels, on November 11th, 2001 in 006 Calling God to Act (Habakkuk).

SCRIPTURE: Habakkuk 1:5-2:1

God is sometimes very confusing. Just when we think we understand Him pretty well, He goes and does something that surprises us. This week, we will eavesdrop on Habakkuk’s prayer for God to show some more consistency in His dealings with people. Is it right for someone to ask God to be more consistent?

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006-01 — We Cry for Justice

Comment Published by Jeff Mikels, on November 4th, 2001 in 006 Calling God to Act (Habakkuk).

SCRIPTURE: Habakkuk 1:1-4

I’m frustrated with a world full of rotten people who seem to succeed in life despite their wickedness, but I’m not alone. Habakkuk was a man who lived quite some time ago, but the issues he faced in his day are remarkably similar to those we face today.

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Some of my Best Posts

24 Theological Questions
Here are 24 key theological questions that I plan to answer here as I get the time. I should probably just make a commitment to do one answer per day… We’ll have to see! Follow my progress by clicking on the category link -> 24 Theological Questions

What is Scripture’s major theme and purpose? How would you defend the authority of Scripture? Where do you stand on the inerrancy of Scripture? Why? What were the standards followed to develop the canon of Scripture? Explain and defend your view of the Trinity. How do you understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit and His gifts in the church today? What are the conditions of salvation? (believe? repent? confess? surrender? subsequent obedience?) Assurance of salvation: Can I lose my salvation if I continue to sin? How can someone know with confidence that he or she is a Christian? What is your understanding of church government? (a) Can women be elders in your church? Why or why not? (b) Does the pastor have a greater authority than other leadership positions? (c) What are the functions and qualifications for your leaders? Support the ministry priorities of your church from Scripture.
Questions on Tithing
This last Sunday, a lady in my church gave me a blue card with some questions on it regarding tithing. Since my email to her was rather long-winded, I thought I would share some of those thoughts here.

Deuteronomy 26:2-15 Verse 2 says to take “some” of the firstfruits.
What Are You Afraid Of?
If you like to talk to tomatoes. If a squash can make you smile. If you like to waltz with potatoes up and down the produce aisle, then you need to talk to my son.
The Resurrection of Jesus (Easter 2005)
Every year at this time, I begin to think critically about the resurrection of Jesus. Yeah, you heard me right. I said, “critically“.
Thoughts on the Problem of Evil
It seems so capricious and uncaring that a God would allow his own son to suffer, until you get the bigger picture that God loved the sinful world so much that he sacrificed one son, for three days, to gain billions of children for a sinless eternity.

We look at all pain and suffering from the human side of the cross, from the perspective of the disciples on Friday. From that angle, the crucifixion is the most terrifying work of evil ever done.
Why does God let us face trials?
James 1:2-3 gives the standard Christian answer to this question:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance…

Of course, knowing the Sunday school answer and being okay with it are two different things entirely, but this week, I have gained a new perspective on the question that I thought I would share with you. Here are some significant verses from my devotional reading this week:

Judges 2:20-3:4 (New International Version)

20 Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel and said, “Because this nation has violated the covenant that I laid down for their forefathers and has not listened to me, 21 I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. 22 I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the LORD and walk in it as their forefathers did.
There are no unplanned pregnancies
Yesterday was Mother’s Day 2005, and I preached a message on three women in the beginning of the gospel of Luke—Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna. While I was preparing for the message; though, God helped me to understand something that I had never really seen before. There are no unplanned pregnancies.
What if God chooses not to “elect” my children?
During the Summer, I worked through the book of Romans in my Sunday messages at Lafayette Community Church. To hear the messages, visit the Great News II page.

One of the topics that Romans raises is the notion of election vs.
What I believe about God’s Revelation
I know that some people are especially interested in the bigger details of faith, so I decided to post here my full “Doctrinal Statement.” This is the first post in this series, and it reflects the “short form” of my Doctrinal Statement. If you wish to download my entire Doctrinal Statement in either short form or its more detailed version, I will have those links posted soon.
Is there “Recovery” for the homosexual?
In the living room of my in-laws’ home I watched an episode of Law and Order that I haven’t seen before, and it bothered me quite a bit.

The victim was a young man who had tried unsuccessfully to “recover” from homosexuality through the counseling and support of a religious group called Regenesis. One of the supporters of the organization was a local doctor who had been promoting research that homosexuality was a reversible condition.

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Thanks Rich for your comments. You are right that we should agree to disagree. In fact, people have been agreeing to disagree on this very topic for thousands of years. However, the biggest disagreements on this issue come from one side not truly understanding the other side, and from neither side truly understanding the middle road taken by the overall text of the Bible. Therefore, I need to clarify just a couple items from your comments so that we have greater clarity on both positions and greater clarity on the middle-road taken by the Scripture.

First of all, I AM willing to say that some people have no chance to come to God depending on how you define chance. If by chance you mean it is a hypothetical theoretical possibility, then I say that everyone has a chance to come to God because God has given free will to each creature. The Bible clearly indicates that everyone has a theoretical possibility of choosing God (Romans 1, John 8:31-32). If however, you mean by chance the reality of what is actually able to happen, then I say that no one has a chance because in fact sin has enslaved everyone. I am not alone in this. Both Jesus and Paul claim the same thing. (Romans 6, John 8:34-36).

Both Jesus and Paul also indicate that every human being has already rejected God, is in a present state of rebellion, and will never choose God unless God does a work to draw that person to himself (John 6:44, Romans 9:16-18, Ephesians 1:11-12). However, the Bible also indicates that humans have the responsibility to choose God (Ephesians 1:13, etc.).

I operate on one assumption and one assumption only, and it is this: if the Bible clearly teaches two concepts that appear on the surface to be contradictory, it is because I am unwilling or unable to see the relationship, but both must be true. In this case, I believe the Bible teaches two concepts of human responsibility and human inability. In response to that dilemma, the Bible clearly teaches that some are chosen and some believe.

My conclusion, along with Paul in Romans 9-11 and countless scholars through the centuries is that God chooses first, and we choose in response.

Finally, I do have the guts to say that some people will never get to heaven because they continue to reject God. I also have the guts to say that those same people would be able to accept God if God chose to work in their lives. I finally have the guts to say that if God chooses NOT to save someone, he has that right.

I don't believe any of this because it makes the most logical sense to me. I only believe what I believe because it is the only way I can see to reconcile the Biblical teaching on the subject. I'm committed to balancing the two notions of human responsibility and sinful inability because the Bible teaches both.

And therefore, I proclaim grace to any and all who will hear because grace through the death of Christ is the only thing that can save us (Ephesians 2:8-9).

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Most popular posts in '006 Calling God to Act (Habakkuk)' category.

Archive for the '006 Calling God to Act (Habakkuk)' Category

006-04 — We Cry for Renewal

006-03 — God Promises Judgment

006-02 — We Cry for Consistency

006-01 — We Cry for Justice

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jeff mikels

Most popular posts in '006 Calling God to Act (Habakkuk)' category.

Archive for the '006 Calling God to Act (Habakkuk)' Category

006-04 — We Cry for Renewal

006-03 — God Promises Judgment

006-02 — We Cry for Consistency

006-01 — We Cry for Justice

About

Author

Subscriptions

Some of my Best Posts

Search

Tweets

Google Shared Items

My Friend Feed

Latest Comments

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DISCLAIMER