. . . and Five Were Foolish

By Dr. Mike Gorrie

This book is the culmination of Dr. Gorries lifes work and passion after thirty-six years in the ministry. If prayerfully tested, this book will challenge and encourage Christians to walk in holiness and implicit obedience to the Lord and move to a higher place in God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Apr 22, 2015
• ISBN: 9781496974853

Dr. Mike Gorrie

Born in South Africa, Dr. Gorrie and his wife of fifty-three years immigrated to New Zealand in 1995–6, where they currently reside in Auckland. Dr. Gorrie is an ordained minister and gifted seminar speaker. He has had successful careers in business management and pasturing, including five years as counselling manager for Cornerstone Christian Counselling (NZ) Trust. A graduate of Bethany Theological Seminary in Dothan Alabama, USA, Dr. Gorrie holds both bachelor of theology and doctor of divinity degrees. Studying subjects such as premarital counselling, understanding people, and pastoral counselling, coupled with his broad experience as a marriage counsellor, gives him a heart to minister to hurting people.

Book preview

… And Five Were Foolish

This book will impact your life and take your thinking to a higher level. It is written primarily for the church. This work explains step by step the vital importance, and eternal significance of what it means to walk in the light.

Dr. Mike Gorrie B.Th., D.D.

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© 2015 Dr. Mike Gorrie B.Th., D.D. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 03/16/2015

ISBN: 978-1-4969-7486-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-7485-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015903686

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Contents

Dedication and Special Thanks

Foreword

Introduction

Keynote

Chapter 1   The nature and properties of light

Chapter 2   Beware of Deception

Chapter 3   Scratching below the surface of Repentance

Chapter 4   Resting in the finished work!

Chapter 5   Saved by the Blood brother!?

Chapter 6   Misconceptions about Biblical Salvation

Chapter 7   How Walking in the light all unfolds

Chapter 8   Response to the light is progressive

Chapter 9   Those who sin deliberately after receiving light!

Chapter 10   Sin need never again be your master!

Chapter 11   Another look at four important words:

Chapter 12   Reflections on the Broad Way and the Narrow Way

Chapter 13   Re-Enter the stage George!

Chapter 14   The anecdote of boiling a frog!

Chapter 15   Walking in the light and Restitution

Chapter 16   True life stories of those who faced and those who did not face the challenge to walk in the light!

Books and Authors cited

Permission granted to quote from various versions of the Scriptures

King James Version Public Domain

R.F. Weymouth New Testament in Modern Speech Public Domain

The Amplified New Testament Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified Bible Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, by Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.lockman.org)

Contemporary English Version of Holy Bible (CEV)

Scriptures quoted from the Contemporary English Version are copyright 1995. American Bible Society. Used by permission The Expanded Bible (EXB) Scriptures taken from the Expanded Bible. Copyright 2011 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved

Good News Bible Scriptures and additional material quoted are from the Good News Bible. Copyright 1994. Published by the Bible Societies/ Harper Collins Publishers LTD.., UK, Good News Bible, Copyright American Bible Society, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1992. Used by permission

The New Living Translation (NLT) Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,

Carol Stream Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The New English Translation (NET Bible) The NET Bible is copyright 1996 to 2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. Http:// net bible.com . All rights reserved.

New International version (NIV) The Holy Bible New International Version is copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved

New King James Version (NKJV) Scriptures taken from the New King James Version are Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Used by permission. All rights reserved

New Testament in the Language of the People

by Dr Charles B. Williams, Copyright 1937 by Bruce Humphries, Inc. Copyright renewed 1965 by Edith S. Williams, Chicago, Moody Press 1963. Used by permission, Moody Press and Broadman and Holman Publishing.

Dedication and Special Thanks

Over fifty six years ago I began my journey of faith in Christ., and it has been the joy and sustaining factor of my life. First and foremost therefore I dedicate this book to my Lord and Saviour who inspired and equipped me to write it.

Secondly I dedicated this book to my darling wife Marion. Over fifty three years ago we began our journey together, and our combined love for the Lord has kept us together for which we give glory to God.

Marion’s invaluable help in editing the manuscript and her many suggestions has fast tracked this book to print.

Thirdly I dedicate this book to my three children, Caroline, Kelvin and Joanne who will always be our pride and joy, and to my granddaughter Julianne whose help and computer skills made this manuscript possible.

Special thanks to Chaplain Stephen Wilcox for helping facilitate the publishing process.

Also grateful thanks to our life-long friends Mac and Glenys Stonehouse for facilitating the publishing process and for assisting in underwriting the costs.

Special thanks also to Eric and Cathy Irwin for their formatting the book cover and their underwriting the costs.

An appreciative thanks also to Martin Frost, former General Manager of Cornerstone Christian Counselling (NZ)Trust for writing the forward.

Foreword

When you know Mike Gorrie, as I do, you know why you are going to read this book. Mike’s most significant motivational spiritual gifting (arguably) is that of the office of Teacher. Perhaps surprisingly, Mike is a very practical person, one who takes that teaching gift and not only applies it to his own life but to the people and the tasks he is involved with. I know that this book will be presented strictly from the point of truth and not tempered by practicality; rather practicality will revolve closely around that truth. In 1997 my spiritual world began to undertake an epiphany – Mike became the Counselling Manager for the Cornerstone Christian Counselling (NZ) Trust in New Zealand at a time when the organisation was undergoing it’s rebuilding. We had already begun the process of writing or re-writing procedures, policies and training materials when Mike’s spiritual gifting and consequent influence began to impact these documents and the operation of the front-line ministry. While this affected me professionally as the General Manager, it was his effect on my personal spiritual life that had by far the greatest impact. Mike was instrumental in teaching me how to merge scripture much more deeply into my everyday life and into the operations of Cornerstone.

Years later when Cornerstone Christian Counselling was closed down and the NZ Christian Prayer line was raised up in its stead, Mike’s profound influence could be found in the policies and procedures of this ministry too.

As you read this book you will experience and take advantage of the wonderful characteristics of the spiritual Teacher – passion, diligence, focus and truth, steadfastness, faithfulness, sincerity … and perhaps a gift that is not so much associated with the gift of Teacher – that sense of a friend who just loves to include you in the impartation of knowledge and wisdom, and feel those last words of Deuteronomy 10:12 & 13 …for thy good.

Perhaps too, a reason why one would consider reading this book is the simple testimony of Mike and his family – all his family are committed Christians, something that many of us would love to be able to say, and they too are still influenced by his ministry and teaching. Mike may be a Doctor of Divinity, and he may be an Honors recipient, and he may have many years of pastoring and teaching, but this simple family testimony stands above all of these.

- Martin Frost former General Manager Cornerstone Christian Counselling (NZ) Trust, New Zealand

Read this First

The title of this book ….and five were foolish is taken from the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:2 KJV. "And five of them were wise, and five were foolish." According to this parable of Jesus, fifty percent of the Christians who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom are not going to make it. To their horror and amazement they will hear the Lord say to them on that day - ‘I don’t even know you.’ What a shock!

I believe that the five foolish virgins had all accepted Christ and felt sure that they were saved. What went wrong? Their lights had gone out. Simply stated - They weren’t walking in the light! That’s what this book is all about.

As you read through its pages, it will stimulate you to think beyond self-imposed boundaries, revolutionise your whole way of life to discover what it really means to walk in the light.

Along the way, at times, the waters may tend to get a little deep and challenging, but keep reading and focus, not on people, but on Jesus and the abounding love of God.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) NKJV

Keep focused on the love of God

Before we progress any further, I want to make one thing absolutely clear. As we get into the body of this book, expressions such as walking in the light, walking with a perfect heart and walking blamelessly will repeatedly be mentioned. Because of the emphasis placed on the obedience of the believer, there will be the tendency to think that it is only if we "walk in the light" or walk with a perfect heart that God will ever love us. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is because of God’s unconditional love towards us, that we willingly respond in obedience, and not because of our obedience that God responds with His love. Keep this thought ever before you as you read through the following pages.

The LORD has appeared of old unto me, saying: Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. (Jeremiah 31:3) NKJV

And this was written of God’s abounding love toward a disobedient, backslidden Israel.

The beloved hymn writer Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) expressed it well when she wrote these words:

Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small. Love so amazing so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.

God is a loving nurturing God who loves us through our weaknesses; surely this demands ‘my soul, my life, my all’.

Let us always bear in mind, that we are not doing God a favour by serving Him, He’s honouring us by allowing us that privilege.

Over the years I’ve come to observe that there are far more Christians out of the light, than in the light. That’s what went wrong with the five foolish virgins. They thought they were saved, being under the impression that the free oil given to them at justification was all that was needed to secure their eternal salvation.

Paying the price to ‘buy extra oil’, would have made their calling and election sure. (See 2 Peter 1:10)

Over two thousand years ago the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Rome emphasising even then, the urgency of the times in which they lived. With passion he encouraged them to wake up, be vigilant and not slothful in their walk with God. He put it this way:

"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." (Romans 13:11,12) KJV

Putting on the armour of light represents the very heart and pulse beat of the message this book contains.

We all know about the armour of God in Ephesians chapter six, and that every Christian is exhorted to put on this armour as protection against the enemy. The shield of Faith, the breastplate of Righteousness etc., but few ever discover that piece of armour hidden away in Romans chapter 13:12. And fewer still discover the vital importance of putting on the armour of light.

The Most Neglected Part of God’s Armour!

This piece of armour is called light. Now think of this: God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. Satan is associated with darkness, and light always dispels the darkness. And as the whole purpose of life is to develop an intimacy with God, putting on the armour of light, is in a sense putting on Godlikeness. Nothing should be a higher goal than setting our heats to reflect the character of God.

So to keep under the covering of God’s favour and protection, we must abide in the light where the Devil fears to approach. That’s putting on The armour of light!

The conscience must be kept habitually honed on the emery stone of obedience, in order to keep it sharp, that it may protect all who walk the Strait and Narrow!

This book is all about the crucial role that walking in the light plays in the Christian’s life.

Man has been given a free will to choose

God has given all of us a free will to choose.. And choice determines destiny. Make the right choice and there will be a result. Make the wrong choice and there will be a consequence. Studying the Scriptures we know that the right choice is to walk in obedience to God’s revealed will for our lives. And that equates to walking in the light. Prove it for yourself. Chose to walk in the light and it will revolutionise your whole life. Strange isn’t it! -When a winner messes up, they admit they were wrong and ask for forgiveness. But when a loser makes a mistake, they immediately look around for someone to blame. Make the right choice and there will be a result and you won’t have to look for someone to blame.

A word about the Saints in the light

Let’s glean something from Colossians, one of the prison epistles that Paul wrote.

The city of Colossae would be somewhere in the middle of present-day Turkey. It was to this church that Paul addressed his epistle.

In Colossians 1:12 the Apostle commended those believers, who through Christ had qualified for an eternal inheritance, and referred to them as ‘saints in the light’. (NKJV)

These believers were determined through deliberate and strenuous choice and effort of the will to walk in the revealed light of God, and thus he called them ‘saints in the light’.

For it is only the saints in the light, who are made partakers of the eternal inheritance.

Because Christians are called the ‘children of light’, they still need to be vigilant and gird on ‘the armour of light’ in order to be protected. 1 Thessalonians 5:6 (NIV) cautions the saints in these words: So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.

Man’s natural bent towards darkness

Ever since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, sin has cast a