Dale Cresap's blog

How much attention do you pay to the devil? You do have an adversary who seeks to devour you but if you resist him he will flee from you. He loves attention and you shouldn’t give him any more than you have to. Are you familiar with the creeds of the faith that are concise summaries of doctrine? Have you noticed that the devil isn’t mentioned in them? My word repeatedly tells you to be as little children and to be as innocent as doves. If you want victory over the devil don’t look to him, but look to me. I can fight him more effectively than you can, and I can keep you better than you can keep yourself. 

Have you ever used humor as a weapon? Do you make different jokes when you are angry than when you are not? Is humor a socially acceptable form of hostility? Humor can be harmless, and even used in a positive sense to diffuse tension, but it can also be used to harm. You know this because you have been on the receiving end of cruel jokes. If you would speak words of truth and life then consider how your words will be received, not only by those present, but by those who are absent as well, because word gets around. Don’t use humor as an excuse to speak words without grace and love. 

My word teaches you that I chose a certain people to represent me on earth, the nation of Israel. Do you assume that this mantle now falls to all Christians collectively? I didn’t claim the Jews for their own sake or for exclusivity, but that they should be a light for all the nations. I told my disciples that I had other sheep who were not of this fold. I was referring to you, and now I tell you the same thing. For I have also called you to let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify me. So I didn’t choose you for exclusivity any more than I chose Israel. Continue to let your light shine to penetrate and overtake the darkness. 

Can you do supernatural acts at will? Perhaps you think this is presumptuous. You know that only I can do supernatural acts. Do you think that the assumption that you could do them at will would place me under your authority rather than you under mine? Yet consider the other alternatives. Many people in the guise of submission to my will take a role of passive indifference. They assume that if I want to act through them in a supernatural way that I know where to find them. I consider this approach as bad as the first. Those who see my supernatural power operate in their lives know that they do not command me, but they are still eager and aggressive in pushing forward for it. Try me. I won’t be offended. 

You would do anything to protect your children from harm and rightly so. Yet your ability to do this is limited and they will be exposed to some cuts and bruises, and some heartache and sorrow in the process of growing up. Do you see that it is better this way? What kind of people would they be if they were shielded from everything unpleasant? How would you have turned out under the same circumstances? You call me Father and you are right. My ability to protect my children from every pain and sorrow is greater than yours, but you can see that I don’t do it. Can you see how this is better for you, and a true expression of my love? 

Intelligence may be the most widely admired trait, and another universally accepted rule is that more is better. So can you be too smart for your own good? You have heard this phrase applied to people and have an intuitive grasp that it is possible. My word does not regard intelligence as the greatest good. It does point out that not many wise and noble by the standards of this world are called to the Kingdom of God. In ancient times I warned against trusting in the arm of flesh. A more modern version that is also Biblical is not to trust in your own reasoning. If your superior intellect keeps you out of my Kingdom then you really are too smart for your own good. 

Is your church your only source of spiritual life? I hope your pastor would not approve of this. It is beneficial for you to have regular direct contact with a particular group of other believers, that you not forsake the assembling of yourselves together. It is not good for man to be alone applies to more than marriage. You make the job of your adversaries easier if you are isolated. But you should think of your life in me as continuous rather than in periodic episodes. My word teaches that when you come together that everyone should bring something to contribute and implies that they should have the opportunity. It is more blessed to give than to receive applies to more than money. 

When you first heard the gospel message, were you presented with an image of God the Father eager to pour out his wrath of judgment upon you for your sins, but Jesus on the cross standing in between to save you? This presents a false image. I came to reveal the Father. My disciples asked me to show them the Father and I said he who had seen me had seen the Father. On another occasion I declared that I and my Father were one. Still again I said that the Father himself loves you. The Father and I are not at cross purposes concerning you. What more could I say? How could I make it any clearer?

Do you like to have a day off? Paid holidays are very popular and even those who do not celebrate the event in question don’t turn down the opportunity to take a day off. I gave my people a day off and called it the Sabbath. It was meant to be a day of restoration, but those who administered it added so many rules that the day that was meant to be the least stressful was turned into the most stressful. When I came I spoke to my disciples on this issue, teaching them that the Sabbath was for healing and doing good; a time to release burdens rather than take them up. Review your own practices of faith to be sure they give life. 

During my ministry on earth I spoke to the people in parables. My disciples were perplexed by this. In some cases I would explain the parables to them, and at the end of my ministry I spoke clearly to them at last. Do you know that I still teach in parables? Parables are stories and I teach you through the story of your life as you live it. I do this for everyone, but as my disciple you have the special privilege that I will declare the parables to you if you ask. You will go through the experiences either way. You can maximize the benefit you receive from them if you look for my purpose in them and listen for my voice to teach you through them.