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Spiritual Maturity

Bible Studies

Unleashing God’s Power

by Tony Evans
written by Tony Evans

Electric vehicles have become more popular in recent years. There are many kinds of electric cars, but only three major types: hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric. Plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles have batteries that must be charged by plugging into a main electric power source. These cars cannot run or reach their maximum fuel economy potential without being plugged in to charge. In the same way, believers can only achieve their God-given calling if they are plugged into the Holy Spirit. He is the agent and the power source that brings Kingdom reality into the life of believers.

As the third member of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit bears all the attributes of God. He is a divine person. Like electricity, He provides the power we, as believers, need. The Holy Spirit is also a relational person. We can relate to Him and call on Him personally. Therefore, He is not merely a power to be used but a person to be known. The more we interact with Him, the more His Kingdom power can be manifested through us.

The Kingdom of God means that God will rule. God wants to demonstrate His rule through the Holy Spirit working through us, His Kingdom people. The Holy Spirit empowers us to witness about Christ, share our testimony and proclaim the Kingdom. The Holy Spirit also enables us to do the works of Christ, and without Him, we can do nothing. When we testify about Christ, we connect to the Kingdom. But if we abandon the truth of God’s Word, we cancel the Holy Spirit’s work and power in our lives. We can either align our will with God’s or pursue our desires. We can either do things in our own power or connect to the power of the Holy Spirit. If we want to experience God’s Kingdom power in our lives, we must seek to know the Holy Spirit and allow Him to be our source of strength.

GETTING STARTED

  1. What are some things that do not work unless they are plugged into a power source?
  2. What drains your power and energy? How do you get refreshed and reenergized?

LET’S GET PERSONAL

  1. How have you relied on your own power rather than the power of the Holy Spirit? How has that impacted your life and your relationship with God?
  2. How often do you share your testimony and proclaim Christ to others? What prevents you from sharing?
  3. Where have you abandoned the truth of God’s Word and canceled the work of the Holy Spirit in your life? Where have you been aligned with God’s will?

TAKE THE NEXT STEP

  1. How can you spend more time each day with God? How will seeing the Holy Spirit as a relational person change your daily life?
  2. How can you develop your testimony so that you will be prepared to proclaim Christ at any given moment?
  3. Want to go deeper? Take time to look at the following passages: Acts 1:1-8; Luke 11:13; John 16:12-15; Luke 24:49; Romans 14:17; Ephesians 5:18; Acts 28:30-31; John 7:37-39; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; Acts 2:1-4; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Galatians 5:13-26; 1 John 2:20-27; Romans 8:18-29; Acts 8:12; Acts 19:8; Acts 20:25; Acts 28:23.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.’”

Acts 1:8

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Sermons

Build Wisely

by Jack Schull
written by Jack Schull

We are each building a life. We’re building on a foundation. We each get to choose what that foundation is and at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is calling us to choose him as that foundation. He is the one to build your life upon and the only foundation that will help you and I withstand the storms of life. To build your life on Jesus means that you trust him and that you not just appreciate what he says, you actually do it. Doers of the word, not just hearers.

Elements City Church, Tucson Arizona.

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Articles

How to Lead Your Family Spiritually

by John Beeson
written by John Beeson

Angel and I have a nineteen-year-old and a seventeen-year-old. On the precipice of empty-nesting, I’ve been reflecting upon what has worked and what hasn’t worked as I have tried to lead our family spiritually over the years.

I have experienced ebbs and flows of successes and failures as the spiritual leader of our family. By God’s grace, our kids are faithfully following Christ and have vibrant spiritual lives. Angel and I give God all the credit and glory for the ways in which we have been able to encourage Camille and Soren’s spiritual development; anything good we gave them the Father first gave us.  We cannot lay claim because “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17) We own the times we have unintentionally and foolishly put obstacles in their spiritual path. Perhaps our wins and losses might help you walk a wiser course.

The Basics

None of the basics will surprise a mature Christian. While uncontroversial, these are more important than my suggestions for spiritual rhythms below. If leading your family spiritually is playing jazz, the basics are the structure that keep the music cohesive, and the spiritual rhythms are the improvisation that make the song unique to your family.

I’m not able to properly lead my family into spiritual health if I myself am not intentionally growing spiritually. They are watching you closely: lead through your example. There is no faster way to give Christianity a bitter taste than for your kids to sniff out that you don’t take your walk seriously.

Similarly, the spiritual temperature in your marriage will impact your children. The depth of spiritual intimacy in your marriage will directly affect the depth of spiritual intimacy in your family.

If your spouse isn’t a Christian or isn’t committed to the spiritual development of your children, it’s far better to act alone than to wait for your spouse to get on board.

Just as your relationships with your children change as they get older, so too will your spiritual relationships with them change. Expect this to happen and welcome their growth in spiritual maturity.  As you walk alongside them, you will be blessed watching God transform them and even through their struggles you can experience joy in seeing God sanctify them.

Spiritual Rhythms

I’m that dad – the one who introduced his kids to great books about two years too early. A great book isn’t great if the reader isn’t ready for it. Similarly, I often made the mistake in our family’s spiritual life of trying to push the kids ahead of where they were developmentally. How about you? Our goal as parents isn’t to have the most theologically astute eight-year-old, but rather a child whose walk with Christ is marked all the days of his life as having run the race well.

Infant and toddler stage: this was the most straightforward stage for me. The main goal is to create a warm environment where children come to love singing praise to Jesus and reading his Word. For us, this meant that our bath and bedtime were times where we sang simple songs of praise (such as “Jesus Loves Me” and “God is so Good”) and read Bible stories (The Jesus Storybook Bible and The Biggest Story Bible are both excellent).

Elementary stage: this transition was very hard for me because of several challenges. First, most families will begin to have after-school activities (sports, music, and clubs) that impact dinner and bedtime. If you also have toddlers and other elementary-age kids, this is exacerbated. It took me far too long to ditch a bedtime routine and switch to a morning routine. Your family might be able to create healthy daily rhythms in the evening, but our schedule made our evening family devotion times too haphazard for us.

The other challenge is that, if you’re a fellow eager beaver, you might become too focused on the content of your family devotions. I must have bought half a dozen books that we tried out as a family. While solid theologically, most of my efforts of taking us to the next level removed the joy from our family devotions. Whether trying to memorize catechisms or jumping too early out of children’s Bibles to the regular Bible, I tended to focus on theological formation too much which made our devotions too long. Just as important as not rushing your children to develop theologically is having your children intrinsically enjoy devotional time as a family.  Is it more important that your child loves spending time singing, praying, and reading the Bible together, or that they can explain the atonement or the Trinity? If I were to do it over again, I would have worried far less about theology and far more about having the kids love our time together.

Teenage stage: as your kids enter middle and high school, they gain autonomy and their schedules become busier. For us, switching from evening to morning devotions were vital at this stage. While we tried to keep as many family dinners a week as possible, the reality of their busy lives meant that trying to protect family devotions at night wasn’t realistic. More than ever at this stage make sure to create rhythms and an environment that your kids want to be a part of. Allow them to have more and more leadership in family devotional choices. If they are interested in studying specific topics, follow their interest. Let them have the loudest voice in choosing worship songs. Encourage them to lead in prayer. The most important thing is engagement and warmth. During this stage, give your kids nudges to begin studying the Bible on their own as well. It is healthiest for family devotions not to replace individual quiet times, but to be done in addition to them. But again, the goal here isn’t to lay down the law for your children, but to invite them into a deeper and richer spiritual life.

In each of these stages consistent involvement in the church is significant. Build into your children the rhythm of gathering in worship. Include them in corporate worship (regular church) earlier rather than later. Invite them to serve alongside you when they are young and let them discover their giftings and place in the body of Christ when they are still kids. Church ought to be a place where they form friendships with peers and also with those younger and older than they are. Teach them to love the family of God.

General tips

Think of your family devotions not like a sermon or a Bible study, but rather as an invitational time of spiritual engagement. Your role, then, isn’t to have done a lot of homework beforehand and deliver your talking points, but rather by the Spirit’s leading to pull your family into honest and vulnerable conversation.

The foundation of your devotions ought to be God’s Word and prayer. Generally, for us the best rhythms from later elementary age on have been to read one chapter of the Bible, ask some basic questions about the chapter, sing a song, and pray. Don’t overly complicate the time. It’s better to go shorter than longer. I would rather have five ten-minute family devotions a week than one hour-long devotion. The daily rhythms help draw us into closer intimacy not only with Christ, but also with one another.

Our daily bedtime rituals were as equally important as our daily devotions. For most of my children’s lives (even when they were teenagers), we closed the day by praying blessings over them before they went to sleep. Those prayers of blessings call them back to the truths of who God says they are and remind us of who God is. Our rhythms of devotions in the mornings and prayers of blessing in the evenings allowed us to begin and end the day at God’s feet. One of the things I focused on in our evening prayers were prayers of blessing over their character. I tried to lift those prayers beyond the day-to-day and pray big prayers for who God was forming them to be. Every day I wanted them to hear promises of God’s faithful work in transforming them into the woman and man of God he was calling them to be. Parents, we have a big Jesus, so pray big prayers over your most precious ones!

Finally, consider your family’s life more broadly in spiritual terms. How are you engaging in the Christian community as a family (going to church, attending a small group)? How are you serving as a family? How are you being generous as a family? All of these components contribute to a healthy spiritual environment in your home.

At the heart of your family’s spiritual health is your own. When I look back to times when we struggled as a family, my spiritual struggle was usually the root of that struggle. When I wasn’t spending enough time with Christ, my anxieties would often come out in fear-based parenting that moved toward my children with control, not love, with law, not grace. The best thing you can do for your children’s spiritual health is to first ensure that you are spiritually healthy.

If you are interested in reading more, I have appreciated Jefferson Bethke’s Take Back Your Family and Justin Whitmel Earley’s Habits of the Household.

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Sermon Starters

Proverbs: How to Make Wise Decisions

by Jeff Jones
written by Jeff Jones

Many people tell me that they want wisdom for decisions, as a lot of people are making really big decisions in life. We’ve all heard of the great resignation, as people are quitting careers and jobs and starting new ones—which involves big decisions. It seems like in all areas of life, coming out of the pandemic is causing us to rethink our lives, and people are making decisions that will affect the trajectory of the rest of their lives. So, people want some help in getting those decisions and other decisions right, which is smart—because our lives are determined largely by the decisions we make. When I was in high school, this grumpy guy in our church used to say this statement when people said they wanted to do something, and he felt like they wouldn’t actually follow through. He’d say, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” That’s pretty grumpy, going all the way to going to hell. But he is right that good intentions will never get us to the destination we want. It’s way more about the path we are on and the decisions we make. Wouldn’t it be great to have a guide to make sure we make are on path and making good decisions?

 

A couple of years ago some wonderful person treated me and Patrick, a pastor friend from Houston to go fly-fishing in Montana. I had never done that, so I was excited about learning how. Patrick and I were in this little boat with a guide whose job it was to know what kinds of flies that would work on the particular day to catch fish, to teach us how to cast and catch a fish, to untangle all of our tangles and so on. We were with him for two days, and I felt so bad for him. Patrick is even more ADD than I am, so he had trouble concentrating on the little float. You would cast and then watch the float for a while and then cast again. He got distracted and stopped watching the float. When he looked up, he didn’t see it, so he shouted to the guide, “Hey! Somebody stole my float!” The guide was like, “It’s a fish! Pull up!” My challenge was different. I grew up bass fishing, where you jerk back really hard when you get a bite, and where you cast with a lot of speed. Flyfishing is much more Zen than that, everything smooth and slow. It took me all that first day to figure that out, as he would tell me to relax and be rhythmic instead of whipping it around so hard. That first day I sunk the fly with the hook into my back nine times, and in my hat two more times. Each time the guide had to get his little pliers and pull it out of my back or hat. At the end of the day, I asked him, “So, nine times, plus the two in my hat…how does that compare to other first timers? Is that above average or below average.” His response, “Let’s just call it record-setting.” So, there you go, I set a record on my very first day!

 

I did enjoy it, but I would not want to flyfish again without a guide. Imagine having a guide for all of life like that, who was there to walk with us in life, to get us out of tangles, to lend wisdom for every significant decision. The great news is that we all have a guide available. Proverbs 3:6 tells us:

 

SLIDE__________________) Proverbs 3:6

“Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

 

 

That is a wonderful promise, and God is committed to guiding our lives when we are open and seeking.

 

However, what you see in the Bible and experience in life is that he does not always guide us the way we want to be guided. What I mean by that is that he doesn’t generally make the decision for us, just part the skies and reveal to us the specific answer to our guidance questions. That’s often what we want, and occasionally that happens, but typically he guides our process of decision making, which is why the Bible gives us wisdom on how to make decisions.

 

Why doesn’t he just push us out of the way and make decisions for us? I’m sure at times he wants to, just like my fishing guide had to roll his eyes quite a bit watching me struggle. Wouldn’t it be so much easier if he just took the fly rod and said, “Hey, can I just catch some fish for you so you can stop sinking hooks in your back?” If he did, I would never have learned how to cast and catch—which I did learn. The next day was way better, because I was actually catching fish and not just catching me. God wants us to grow in wisdom. Occasionally in my life I have sensed God leading toward a specific direction in a very strong way but usually he allows us to make decisions as he ultimately guides the process and grows us.

 

So, if God guides our process of making wise decisions, then how to we make wise decisions? God has provided a lot of help in his revealed will, the Bible, to let us know how to make good choices. All of us have a significant choice or two looming, so get that in mind as we talk about how to make wise decisions.

 

SLIDE_____________________)

Get on a Biblical Path.

 

Andy Stanley wrote a helpful book called The Principle of the Path, which simply is that wherever you end up depends on the path you take, not the intentions you have. You will never end up at the right place if you are on the wrong path. If you are on a good path, you will have some options and choices, but as long as they are part of the path you know you are going to end up where you want to end up.

 

Psalm 119:105 says,

 

SLIDE__________________) Psalm 119:105

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”

 

 

God has revealed his general will in the Bible, and those principles form the boundaries, the guard rails, for every decision we make. God’s Word lays out the path.

 

Let’s talk about choosing whom you are going to date or marry. The Bible is not going to give you names of girls or guys to consider, but it does give boundaries to that choice. 1 Corinthians for example tells us that we should as Christ followers marry only someone who shares that commitment. Listen to how he says it for widows:

 

SLIDE______________________) 1 Corinthians 7:39

“A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if he loves the Lord.”

 

 

Note, she is free to marry whom? “Anyone she wishes.” That’s not as romantic as the thought that God has just one person for us, and we’ve got to find that one person. That maybe sounds better but think about it. If we had to find our one person and there was only one person for us, then all it takes is for one bozo to pick the wrong one, and guess what? The ripple effect of that means it is ruined for everybody. Now, God is ultimately in control, and on his end, there probably is just the right person for us, but on our end, we would never be able to figure that out. So, on our end, we marry whomever we want. But he does give a guard rail: “but only if he loves the Lord.” If you love the Lord, then you are free to marry anyone who also loves the Lord. So, if you are considering marrying someone who does not yet have Christ in his or her life and you do, then you really don’t need to pray about that choice. God’s Word is clear. The answer is no, at least not until that person gets on the same page spiritually.

 

Or let’s say you are contemplating a major purchase, like a car. You kind of like the Bentley convertible (show pic), which could be fine.

 

 

SLIDE_______________________) Special Sermon Slide

Picture of Bentley Convertible

 

 

But let’s talk about a biblical financial path. It starts with choosing to live on less than you make, and to build your budget around generosity rather than consumption. If you’ve been around Chase Oaks, you’ve heard Give, Save, Live. Meaning choose a percentage to give, to save, and then live on the rest, which is just a summary of biblical teaching. How much? You decide. The starting point we talk about is 10/10/80, but you choose. The Bible also talks a lot about debt, how to be wise with that and not end up becoming a servant to your debtor or your car. Does the Bentley fit? It might, but if it doesn’t, don’t get off path to get the Bentley. You might end up with a Kia, but you are going to end up at a better financial destination if you stay on path.

 

I find that when people come and talk to me about major decisions, that at least 50 to 60% of them are already laid out in the Bible. Those become easy decisions because they are a no brainer. Should I spend a bunch of money on lottery tickets? Should I move in with my boyfriend? What does the Bible say? Should I fudge on my taxes? What does the Bible say? The Bible gives us guidelines, and within those we are free to make decisions. The guidelines themselves will reveal God’s will for about 50-60% of the decisions we make, but what about when you are deciding between options within those boundaries, in areas where the Bible is not clear? God has given us help here, too. Let’s keep talking about how to make wise decisions.

 

 

SLIDE______________________)

Pray for Wisdom.

 

James 1:5 gives this wonderful promise: 

 

 

SLIDE__________________) James 1:5

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

 

The God who has all wisdom will share it generously if we ask. When we have a big decision to make, we can ask God for wisdom in the process of making that decision. That’s different than making the decision for us. Part of every big decision should be prayer where we, with confidence, ask God for wisdom and then move forward in confidence that God will guide the process of making that decision. Jesus modeled this, where you see him before big decisions, like choosing the twelve disciples, go out and pray for an extended time. He also occasionally chose to fast, a spiritual discipline where you choose to not eat for a period of time as you focus on prayer as it heightens your sense of dependence on God. Jesus is God, but he wanted to do the will of the Father, so he fasts and prays. If you have a big decision, why not try what Jesus modeled? Fast and pray, asking God for wisdom. If it’s a smaller decision, still ask God for wisdom. This should give us a lot of boldness to make decisions and move forward, because God promises to give us the wisdom, we need to make tough decisions.

 

 

SLIDE___________________)

Seek Out Advice from Wise People.

 

 

Listen to these few Proverbs about how to become wise and make good decisions:

 

SLIDE_________________) Proverbs 1:5

“A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wisdom.”

 

 

 

 

SLIDE________________) Proverbs 19:20

“Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.”

 

 

SLIDE____________________) Proverbs 15:22

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”

 

 

SLIDE__________________) Proverbs 12:15

“The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.”

 

Pretty clear. We need other people’s perspective to make wise decisions. That is so important because often in big decisions we can easily lose objectivity about our own lives. We get emotionally connected and lose perspective. Like the Bentley you want. You may know you can’t really afford it, but it is so easy to rationalize. You can picture yourself in the Bentley. You feel like you could really serve God better if you had the Bentley, ride poor people around in it and stuff. You rationalize. If you can’t really afford it, you need otherwise people to knock you on the head and say, “How about the Kia?” Or you are a Jesus follower and meet someone who is not, and they are really pretty or really handsome. Sure, they have some character challenges, but you start to talk yourself into how you can change them over time. You need someone who loves you enough to say, “Really? You think you are going to change someone?”

 

This is why it is so important to surround ourselves with people who are on the path of following God with us. As Solomon says in Proverbs 13:20:

 

 

SLIDE_________________) Proverbs 13:20

“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”

 

 

In the Bible, a fool is not someone with a low IQ. They might be a genius. A fool is a person who goes down an alternative path from the path of wisdom God has laid out for us. If you want to make godly decisions and wise decisions, make sure you have people around you who are godly and wise, people who are on the path with you. If we don’t do this, what the Bible is saying is that we will eventually make some really bad decisions that will lead to regret. And the best way to become wise is to hang out with those who already are.

 

I had dinner with a friend from my life group last week, and he is a wise and generous person. He was passing on wisdom for me that I really appreciated. Then the conversation moved to generosity, where he said, “Jeff, how can we help people move to greater generosity, because if they don’t, they miss out.” The biblical answer is all about who you hang out with. If you want to become wise, which includes generosity, then hang out with people who are wise. Get in a group with people who want to help each other down a biblical pathway.

 

The biggest gift you can give yourself is the gift of teachability around wise people. Some people just want to be right, and seen as right, and they don’t really listen to others. Better than being right and seen as the one who is always right is to make the right decision by being teachable. I like to move fast, I really do. But I have learned the hard way that it is almost always worth slowing down to get advice from wise people. I can learn a hard lesson listening to myself or save myself a lot of pain by listening to others who are on the path and who are wise.

 

SLIDE___________________)

Consider your Purpose and Priorities.

 

Don’t make a decision in a vacuum, but ask yourself, “Which decision best furthers God’s purposes in this world and the priorities I have committed myself to?” I talked with a young adult a few weeks ago with a highly responsible job title and a young family. He was feeling tremendous pressure from his CEO to cheat his family to win more at work. He got that occasionally in a season you might have to do that, but he could see this was no season. It’s just the expectation, and he let his boss know that he would work really hard within appropriate boundaries but not at the expense of his family priorities. That’s tough to do, but wise if his family really his big priority.

 

In addition to priorities, consider your purpose. One of my concerns with the great resignation is people thinking about their comfort over their purpose. Here’s what I mean. In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul talks to various groups of Jesus followers in uncomfortable situations who assumed the best decision was to get out of the uncomfortable situation, but Paul says, “Not so fast.” Here is his principle:

 

 

SLIDE____________________) 1 Corinthians 7:17

“Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you.” 

 

 

The key word is “placed,” that where you are is not random but an assignment. God has placed you there for a reason, to be light in an otherwise dark place, and if you leave too early you leave that place in the dark. The 1 Corinthians 7 placements were more binding than being in a job—he’s talking about Christians married to non-Christians and slaves bound to serve a household, but he also applies the principle to single believers who are considering getting married. It’s okay to get married, but have you fulfilled your single assignment. It’s okay to take another job or pursue another career but ask the purpose question first. Have you fulfilled your assignment where God has placed you, because where he placed you is not random. You may say, “Yep! I’ve fulfilled it,” and then cool—go do something else. But at least consider the question. We are not here to be comfortable but missional. And sometimes when things get hard, it is an opportunity to persevere, to toughen us up. Other times, we are free to go. But tap the brakes first and ask the purpose question.

 

 

SLIDE___________________)

Get on a Biblical Path.

Pray for Wisdom.

Seek Out Advice from Wise People.

Consider your Purpose and Priorities.

 

 

So, let’s put all of this together. The most important thing you can do in life is pursue a biblical path—to live a life within the wise guard rails of God’s revealed wisdom. If you get on that path, whatever specifics you choose, you are going to end up at a good place. However, on that path, you will have some choices to make. He occasionally will make a direction more obvious, but generally, he gives us the freedom to make a choice, going through the process of wise decision-making. You may go through that whole process of considering what the Bible says, asking God for wisdom, seeking godly counsel, considering your mission and purpose, and it’s still a tough call. If that’s your situation, then at some point you’ve got to do what every other godly person has had to do through the centuries. You make the best decision you can by faith, trusting that what God says is true, that if you really commit your ways to him and make decisions the wisest way possible, he will indeed direct your path and superintend the whole process. You make the best decision you can, and you leave the rest to God.

So, all that’s left to do then is to pray, to commit these decisions to God, and ask him to give us wisdom in the process. Do you have a decision looming? Let’s take it to God right now. And some of you may be off path, and you know it. That’s okay but be wise enough to get on path. Wherever you are right now, no matter how far off, there is a way to get on God’s pathway. I always appreciate that with GPS apps like Google Maps. My google GPS person never says, “You big dummy. Why are you here if you want to go there?” He just helps me get on a path from wherever I am that leads to where I want to go. God is not here to shame you but to guide you, so let’s get on path and ask him for wisdom with the choices we have.

 

Let’s pray.

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Articles

19 Ways to Stay Christian in College

by Matt Smethurst
written by Matt Smethurst

Michael J. Kruger’s book, Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College (Crossway, 2021) is a wonderful resource for high school or college students preparing to live for Christ in a potentially hostile environment.

Don’t confuse not having an answer with there not being an answer.

The two are not the same. Even if you don’t have answers to difficult questions, that does not mean there are none. . . . Here’s the big point: you’re not going to be able to answer every objection to Christianity that you hear. And that’s okay. It’s not a reason to doubt your faith. (31, 32)

Apart from the Spirit’s help, people are hardwired to reject Christianity. . . .

Thus, the widespread rejection of Christianity by intellectual elites has nothing to do with whether Christianity is true. . . . Truth is not determined by majority vote. (45, 46, 49)

Is Jesus arrogant to claim that he is the only way to God?

Well, that depends on [his] identity. He didn’t claim to be a mere human or simply a prophet, but rather the divine Son of God. And as such, he would certainly have the authority to tell us about how one goes to heaven. (55)

Relativism only works if the statement “There is no objective truth” is objectively true.

Thus, relativism only works if it exempts itself from its own rules. . . . In order for relativists to condemn others for making absolute truth claims, they must make their own absolute truth claims (namely, that there are no absolute truths). Thus, what seemed to be a humble position ends up being as dogmatic and absolutist as the positions it condemns. (59)

Stand your ground. And always do so with kindness. It’s the combination of these two things that is so powerful.

Some Christians stand their ground but are unkind to those who disagree. Other Christians are kind to those who disagree but abandon their belief that Christ is the only way. You are called to do both—stand your ground on the uniqueness of Christ and show kindness. The two are not mutually exclusive but belong together. (62)

Most of your friends are both moral relativists and moral absolutists at the same time.

For some behaviors, they are one; for other behaviors, they are the other. They pick and choose. So when it comes to environmentalism and the treatment of refugees, they abandon moral relativism and act as if there are moral absolutes after all. But when it comes to their sexual behavior, they suddenly become moral relativists again, insistent that morality is determined by each person and culture. They want to have it both ways. (70)

Your moral views (particularly about sex) are not really your views at all; they are God’s.

That means that if people think your views are hateful, then they would have to think that God himself is hateful. If people get upset with you, just remember that they are really upset with the God you serve. The goal of your conversations, therefore, will be not so much about helping your friends understand your views as about helping them understand your God. (74)

If Christians change their view of homosexuality simply because they discover that homosexuals are nice people, then that actually reveals a very embarrassing reality, namely, that they had assumed homosexuals must be awful people.

Sexual purity is not based on personality, but on the truth of the Word of God. In other words, it reveals that they had a form of prejudice—they had assumed that people who are different from them must be mean, cruel, and unpleasant. But that is a decidedly anti-Christian way of thinking. (79)

Most people find hell unimaginable because they measure themselves by a standard that they can already meet.

But what if the standard was not easy to meet? What if the standard was God’s perfect holiness, and what if we were corrupt, fallen sinners who violate God’s law even more than we know? (95–96)

What should surprise us is not that God would judge sinners (that actually makes sense) but that he would save any of them.

Heaven, not hell, is the real mystery of Scripture. (102)

Either God exists and there’s good and evil in the world, or God doesn’t exist and there’s no good and evil in the world. . . .

The problem of evil is very real. But it is more of a problem for the atheist than it is for the Christian. (117)

Far from being a hindrance to science, belief in God is the very thing that makes science possible in the first place.

Christianity doesn’t need science; science needs Christianity. (125)

One of the best pieces of evidence of the resurrection of Jesus is the existence of the church itself.

If Jesus had remained in the tomb, there would be no such thing as Christianity. (142)

If [the Gospels] were written between twenty and sixty years after the life of Jesus, that means they were written when people who had witnessed these things were still alive.

In other words, they were written when someone could step forward and say, “That’s not how it happened. I was there.” We might say, then, that there was at least some level of accountability surrounding the publication of these four Gospels. If the authors were fabricating their stories, it is difficult to imagine how they would have been so enthusiastically received. (164)

[The New Testament] might just be the most well-established text in all the ancient world.

If it cannot be trusted, then no ancient text anywhere can be trusted. (176)

The teachings of Christianity, rightly understood, were the foundation for the defeat of the African slave trade. (206)

Despite the modern impression that Christianity is a hostile place for women, Roman women didn’t agree.

On the contrary, they flocked to the new faith in droves. Our best estimates indicate that women made up nearly two-thirds of early Christian communities—basically the opposite of that found in the broader Greco-Roman world. Apparently, women found the church to be a place where they could find honor, dignity, fair treatment, and healthy marriages. Indeed, so popular was early Christianity among women that it was often ridiculed by Roman critics as a religion for women. (208–9)

Skeptics are appealing to a moral standard in order to object to the God of the Bible.

But they need the God of the Bible in order to have a coherent moral standard in the first place. In effect, they are sawing off the branch they are sitting on. (214)

It’s not just belief that affects behavior, but it’s also behavior that affects belief.

When we don’t obey God, we can begin to doubt God. Indeed, if we don’t obey God, we can begin to fight against God. He can feel like the enemy, rather than a friend. (224)

Reprinted from www.thegospelcoalition.org.

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Bible Studies

Why Do I Need to Go to Church?

by Tom Terry
written by Tom Terry

 

Christianity is a faith of relationships. This means that we were created to be with one another. From the beginning of creation when God saw that the first man, Adam, was alone he said, “It is not good that man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). Then God created a woman, and the two began a family, and that family expanded and eventually became a group of societies.

Church is a group in society that is purposed to teach and encourage believers and allow them to experience their relationship with God corporately. Christians who are not part of a group of believers (church) are not experiencing all that the Christian life has to offer. Every Christian needs encouragement and training. Church is where we go to acquire these important benefits. It is also where we gather to take part in sacraments that are designed to turn our affections toward Jesus in remembrance of all he has done for us.

This study will look at the three basic functions of a body of believers:

• Teaching the Bible
• Worshipping God
• Encouraging one another

These basic functions of a local body of believers help the Christian grow in his or her faith into spiritual maturity. Without church the Christian cannot experience all that God has for him or her.

Let this study encourage you to get involved with other Christians and together, to grow in your faith.

WHAT IS CHURCH?
Read: Acts 2:42,46; Luke 22:14-20; I Cor. 11:23-26; Heb. 10:23-25

Church is where a group of believers in Jesus meet together for Bible teaching.
(Acts 2:42,46)

Since the foundation of Christianity, Christians have met together weekly to learn the principles taught in the Bible. Knowing the Bible is a vital part of the Christian experience. Learning together under the leadership of a pastor increases our knowledge of God.

Have you been reading the Bible on your own? Do you meet regularly with other believers to study the Bible?

Church is where a group of believers in Jesus partake in the sacraments of Jesus—this is part of our worship of God.
(Luke 22:14-20; I Corinthians 11:23-26)

The Christian sacraments include Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Obeying these practices is part of our obedience and worship of Jesus. Because Jesus commanded them, we do them.

Have you been baptized? Do you take part in the Lord’s Supper? Talk with your pastor or lay-leader about taking part in these rites.

Church is where believers in Jesus meet for encouragement in their walk with God.
(Hebrews 10:23-25)

Christianity was never meant to be a faith that people practice alone. Christianity is a relationship with God through Jesus. So too, Christians must be in active relationship with other Christians to encourage one another in following of Jesus.

Do you need encouragement in your faith? You can find that encouragement with a group of other believers! Are you part of a group of believers now?

WHY GO TO CHURCH?
Read: Hebrews 10:24-25; Romans 12; I Corinthians 12:12-14,25-27

The Bible commands us to be part of a local group of believers.

(Hebrews 10:24-25)

In the Old Testament God commanded Israel to gather at certain times for worship in Jerusalem. After many centuries the Jews practiced weekly gatherings in local houses of worship called synagogues. Christians continue this practice by meeting weekly in church gatherings. The Bible commands us to be part of this practice.

How often do you meet with other believers in church? Are you prepared to make a commitment to participate in church?

Christians must be involved in the corporate worship of God.

(Hebrews 10:24-25)

Throughout the history of the Bible God’s people have gathered together for corporate worship. This happens through reading the scripture, singing songs of worship to God, and observing certain rites that remind us of God’s commitment to his people.

Taking part in church is an expression of worship to God. How do you express your worship to Jesus? Is corporate worship missing in your life?

Believers in Jesus are all part of the body of Christ and thus we should function together—this encourages believers.
(Romans 12; I Corinthians 12:12-14,25-27)

We are meant to live and worship together in unity. Read the passages above. You will recognize that all Christians have a role to play in our corporate church life.

Read the passages above. What role motivates you? What role would you be interested in playing with a group of fellow believers? How can you serve the needs of others?

WHAT DO I DO AT CHURCH?
Read: II Timothy 2:15; Psalm 95:6, 100:1-5; Hebrews 3:13, 10:25

We take part in regular Bible study to build up our knowledge of God.
(II Timothy 2:15)

Paul encouraged Timothy to teach the Bible in his church. From this we see that God intends for us to meet together and sit under the teaching of the Bible. The more we learn, the better we come to know God.

How much do you want to know God? How can attending church help you learn more about Jesus?

We spend time corporately worshipping God.

(Psalm 95:6; 100:1-5)

Worship is both a private and a shared experience. It encourages us when we can meet with like-minded people to worship our Savior. Singing songs of praise and reading scriptures that extol the Lord brings God honor. Only he is worthy of such affection and worship.

What kind of commitment are you prepared to make to your local group of believers? Will you join them for regular, weekly worship of Jesus?

We encourage one another in our common faith.

(Hebrews 3:13; 10:25)

Church isn’t just about worshipping God. Church is also about encouraging fellow Christians in their spiritual service. Everyone needs like-minded people to encourage them. You can encourage others in their relationship with Christ—and you can receive the same encouragement from others!

Make a commitment today to take part in regular, weekly church gatherings.

 

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Devotionals

Seek God’s Rewards!

by John MacArthur
written by John MacArthur

“He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).

All who come to God in faith will receive the reward of eternal life.

We’ve seen that without faith it’s impossible to please God. And the first step in faith is believing that God exists. In addition, we must also believe that He answers our prayers—more specifically, that He redeems those who come to Him in faith.

Scripture repeatedly tells us that God not only can be found, but also desires to be found. David said to his son Solomon, “If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever” (1 Chron. 28:9). The Lord says in Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jesus said, “Everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened” (Luke 11:10).

At first glance those verses may seem to contradict Paul’s teaching that “there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside” (Rom. 3:11-12), and Jesus’ statement that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws him (John 6:44). But really they’re two sides of the same theological coin.

On one side you see man believing God and receiving Christ for salvation. On the other you see God enabling man to do so. Prior to salvation, a person is spiritually dead and utterly incapable of responding to the gospel. God must grant him or her saving faith. That’s why the Bible contains statements like, “To you it has been granted for Christ’s sake . . . to believe in Him” (Phil. 1:29); “As many as had been appointed to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48); and “The Lord opened [Lydia’s] heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul” (Acts 16:14).

God is the Great Rewarder, extending His love and grace to all who call upon Him. “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed” (Rom. 10:11).

Suggestions for Prayer

If you’ve been praying for someone’s salvation, don’t become discouraged. Only God can grant saving faith, but He gives us the privilege of participating in His redemptive work through faithful prayer and evangelism (Rom 10:1).

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Ask Roger

What Can We Learn about Treasures in Heaven?

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

Dear Roger,
I’m a new Christian, and I have been reading in the Bible about the crowns, treasures, and rewards that Jesus will give to Christians who live God-honoring lives here on earth. Recently, I came across a passage where Jesus talked about storing up treasures in heaven. What exactly are the treasures in heaven He’s talking about? And how do I earn them?
Thank you, Ana

Dear Ana,

I took a survey of several thousand people, asking them your questions. I think you’ll relate to some of the answers I received:

“I don’t know what the treasures are—do they have something to do with the mansions Jesus promised for us?”

“I don’t get it. If our salvation doesn’t depend on ‘good works,’ why does Jesus tell us we have to earn something?”

“Don’t we get treasures if we do good things? Like every time I do something that the Bible tells me to do, that puts a ‘treasure’ in heaven?”

“Aren’t the ‘treasures’ just one of those parables? They’re not real?”

I understand the confusion! Yes, the treasures are part of a parable—a story Jesus told with simple examples to help us understand complex spiritual truth. But they’re also very literal, because they’re mentioned many other times in Scripture.

God’s Word also tells us exactly how to “store up” heavenly treasures while we’re here on earth, why earning them matters, and what they’ll eventually be used for in heaven. So, let’s dig in!

1. What are “treasures in heaven”? How do you store them up?

From one end of Bible to the other, storing up treasure in heaven is consistently associated with giving to people in need. In Luke 12, Jesus explained,

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (12:33-34)

Jesus had just shared the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:14-21). The rich man had an abundant harvest, but rather than giving a portion to those in need or sharing with the community, he simply built bigger barns. He saved it all for himself, saying, “Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry” (Luke 12:19).

God immediately called the rich man a fool, saying that he would die, and his wealth would go to waste. Jesus concluded, “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21).

His solution? Give to the poor.

To make it simple, let’s suppose that you earn $1000 a month.

You follow good biblical economics. First, pay your 10% tithe to God. Then, you pay taxes to the government. You pay all your bills and essential living expenses. You are out of debt on all depreciating items. You save 10% or more for the future.

Then, at the end of the month, you have $100 left. There are only two things we can do with that $100. We can either store it in heaven—by giving to those in need or supporting ministries that accomplish Kingdom work—or we can store it on earth.

Jesus challenged the ‘rich young ruler” who came to ask how he could become one of His followers; “Go, sell everything you have give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then, come follow Me” (Mark 10:21).

But WHY?

2. Caring for the poor identifies us as God’s people. He often uses our compassion to draw people to Himself.

Jesus taught His disciples how to live on earth so that the world would see Him in them:

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34-35)

The love He’s talking about isn’t a nebulous emotion. It’s an action. It’s not only in our hearts; it’s in our hands. We show love by caring for one another—by meeting each other’s needs.

One of my favorite truths about sharing the gospel is, “They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

When people are hurting, struggling to meet their basic needs for food, shelter, and medical care, they can’t think beyond the physical. Can you imagine sitting on the side of the street, not remembering when you last ate, when someone comes up to you and tries to start a deep conversation about spiritual things?

You can’t focus on anything but the rumble in your stomach. You don’t want or need to talk. You need a meal. Dr. Tony Evans said it well; “They don’t need your words! They need your refrigerator!”

But when we generously share what we have, meeting critical needs first, people are often willing to listen. They see and experience God’s love through us, and they’re drawn to Him.

One of the ways we “store treasures in heaven” is by loving others and introducing them to the Savior. We will see each one in heaven for eternity.

3. Earthly riches come with no guarantee that they will last. Moth, rust, and thieves will eventually take it all.

In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Jesus is saying that your earthly wealth and possessions will fail. They’re temporary. No matter how hard we try to hang on to them, they won’t last.

In Jesus’ day, wealth existed primarily in three forms:

First, if you had several changes of garments, you were considered to be wealthy. But the moths could eat up your clothes. Today consider the moth of “style” which can eat up your clothes. They won’t last.

Food was another form of wealth in those days. If you had grain and oil stored up, then you were considered wealthy. But rust could eat it up. “Rust” is the translation of a Greek word which literally means “the eaters.” It could include rodents, insects or even bacteria. Rust can eat away your food. Think about all the food in your fridge that goes bad before you have a chance to eat it! It won’t last.

Money existed primarily in the form of gold and silver. There were no bank vaults, so people tried to hide it or bury it to keep it safe, but thieves could easily find it and take it away. Even with the banking system, our wealth in money is dependent on many outside factors, from inflation to stock market fluctuation to the global value of currency. It won’t last.

Even if you’re able to stockpile wealth here on earth, you won’t take it with you when you die. It won’t last.

4. We cannot chase after both God and money. We have to make a choice.

Jesus divides all people into two categories: those whose goal is to store up treasures on earth and those whose goal is to store up treasure in heaven. He warns us,

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)

But, of course, Jesus knew that we would attempt to pursue both goals, didn’t He? He knew that all generations—even His trusted followers—would attempt to gather wealth for themselves AND please God or “do the right thing” by giving to those in need.

Notice what Jesus didn’t say: “It’s inadvisable to serve two masters … unwise … difficult.”

He said, “It is impossible!” We can’t do the impossible. No man can serve two masters, so we must make a choice between the two.

I am convinced that the typical 21st-century Christian is attempting to do the impossible.

The typical Christian will swear his allegiance to Jesus Christ outwardly. Make no mistake about it. He or she will identify with the church in its mission and ministries, be faithful to the church, teach Sunday School class, give to missions, etc.

But inwardly, he or she clings to the love of things. His or her heart is torn in allegiance between two masters.

No matter how faithful we look on the outside, God knows our hearts.

5. Just because we choose to follow Jesus doesn’t mean that our thinking is straightened out on this subject.

Unless we have made a conscious choice—asking the Holy Spirit to guide us—to think biblically about material things, we will fall right into the trap of materialism. It’s part of our sinful humanness, and it takes God’s work in our lives to change our priorities.

We will naturally swear allegiance to Jesus, but we will still hold onto our things at all cost.

We want to be Christians and we want to be materialists.

We want to store up some treasures in heaven, and we want to have some stored up on this Earth as well.

We are choosing the impossible option. We must make a different choice.

Jesus told us exactly what to do in Luke 12:14; “Watch out! Be on our guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

6. Not all treasure bound for heaven will end up in heaven. God will use some of it to meet our needs on earth.

It is a grave error to believe that treasure stored in heaven is reserved exclusively for eternity!

By urging His followers to store treasure in heaven, Jesus had no intention of denying them their earthly needs. He declared,

Why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:28-33)

If God clothes billions of flowers with a beauty that cannot be duplicated in the laboratory or in the textile mill, throws them all away, and does the same thing the very next day, don’t you think that He can put clothing on a Christian who is concentrating on storing treasure in heaven?

He knows that the believer who is concentrating on storing treasure in heaven has earthly needs. He will not overlook that fact. He will meet your needs.

But there is no promise in the Bible that God will meet your needs if your goal is storing treasure on earth. In fact, the whole thrust of this passage is that storing treasure in heaven is the only means of assuring that our earthly needs will ever be met. This is our only guarantee of security on earth.

Imagine that God has a bank in heaven, and we have deposited treasure in it. If you have a need, God utilizes those resources to meet your needs. However, if you have made no deposits in Heaven, God has no resources with which to work.

That may be why some of you are in financial trouble and your needs aren’t being met by God—and your prayers seem to bounce.

6. Are you afraid to store your treasure in heaven? Are you worried about not having “enough”?

You may be afraid to store treasure in heaven. You may be afraid that you are going to run out on the earth. You may be afraid of losing financial security here, or you may be afraid that you will miss out on some joy or pleasure from that money.

I think we’ve all asked, “Lord, if I’m not laying up treasures on the earth, what assurance do I have that my earthly needs will be met?”

Jesus knew that you were going to ask that. Let’s look back at Matthew 6:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (6:25-26)

This passage is a conditional promise. Notice that it hinges on the word, “Therefore.” In Greek, it means, “assuming.” Jesus is tying together everything he just taught:

“Assuming that you have made a commitment to store up treasure in heaven instead of on earth … assuming that you actively move possessions from earth to heaven, then all the promises that are about to follow will be yours.”

Notice that this is not a blanket promise. There is no promise that God will provide for the Christian:

…who sets his or her heart on laying up treasure on earth.

…who refuses to work.

…who overspends his or her income.

…who mismanages his or her money.

…who lives contrary to the biblical principles of finances, such as tithing or caring for the poor.

Do you follow what Jesus is saying here? “If you follow my instructions here, then you will never have to worry about having your earthly needs met.”

Ana, I know it takes faith to store treasure in heaven because we can’t see it or measure it or count it in our checkbook. It takes faith to believe that it is really there. I think that’s why Jesus declares, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom” (Matthew 6:32). He keeps His promises. Always.

Love, Roger

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Ask Roger

What Do I Need to Know When Fighting Satan?

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

Dear Roger,
I believe I’m in a spiritual battle right now. What are some things that I need to keep in mind when I’m fighting Satan?
Sincerely, Paul

Dear Paul,

God’s Word tells us that as His children, we will encounter the evil one—that we are fighting a spiritual battle. As a long-time warrior, I’d be glad to share with you a list of key truths to keep in mind when you’re fighting against Satan. My hope is that you’ll find them helpful and encouraging in your struggle:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)

1. Demons Really Exist!

Jesus, Paul, and Peter certainly said they did. In their hearts and minds, they fought numerous spiritual battles over temptations and trials:

For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. (1 Thessalonians 2:18)

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:3-4)

Did you know that the demons that Jesus battled in the first century are still around today?

The manifestations and infiltrations like the ones encountered by Jesus, Peter, and Paul occur often in Third World countries. Ask some of your missionary friends for verification.

But you might ask, why don’t we see that sort of activity in America?

The answer is twofold. First, most satanic work is hidden. Second, Satan does not need to bring out his big guns for America, he has us drowning in materialism.

2. Deception Is Satan’s Fundamental Tool for Attacking Christians. Beware!

Think about it. Before the Fall, Eve was perfect.

And if perfect Eve was deceived into eating the fruit, what chance do we imperfect people have? (See Genesis 3:1-6; 2 Corinthians 11:3-4.)

Fortunately, we have a good chance. God gives us the tools we need to avoid being swallowed up in deception.

First, when we are preparing for an action, we can check that our intended behaviors line up with the truths of Scripture. Next, God can speak to us in prayer as we seek His guidance. Finally, Solomon tells us that there is much wisdom with many counselors. Seek out the advice of godly people in order to ascertain that you are not being deceived.

3. Recognize That There Are Three Classes of Christians

It’s important to know your “class” when you’re fighting Satan.

Class 1: Unsurrendered – Deceived 

These Christians have yet to fully surrender their lives to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. However, they still think that everything spiritual comes from God.

Class 2: Surrendered – Deceived 

These Christians have surrendered their lives fully to Christ, but they still think that everything spiritual comes from God.

Class 3: Surrendered – Undeceived 

These Christians have fully surrendered their lives to Christ, and they understand that not everything spiritual comes from God.

4. Can a Christian Be Possessed? Can a Christian Be Oppressed? The Answer Is Both Yes and No

Let’s get our terms straight.

The terms “demonic oppression” and “demonic possession” are not in the Bible. The term used to describe demonic battles is the Greek word “demonized.”

“Demonized” means that every area of our lives not “filled” with the Holy Spirit is open to attack by demonic spirits.

That’s why Paul constantly encouraged Christians to be on guard against Satan and his demons. We Christians can be attacked and defeated if we are not careful (see 1 Peter 5:8; John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 1 Thessalonians 2:17-18).

They will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:26)

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4).

5. Spiritual Young Men and Women Have Overcome the “Evil One” (1 John 2:12, 14)

There are several levels of spiritual maturity. “Young men and women” is the middle range of spiritual maturity, between children and mothers and fathers. One of the characteristics of this level is the ability to overcome the evil one.

“Overcoming the evil one” has several dimensions. First, it means that we are no longer deceived by his attacks. We can see them for what they are. Next, we are able to fight against Satan in overt demonic manifestations.

I was in the process of counseling an elderly grandmother who had been involved in demonic spiritism. Others taught her how to pray to receive a “spirit guide.” She had experienced an “out of body” experience and was terrified. She wanted help.

I was not quite certain what to do. I was still a spiritual child at the time, and I had yet to learn how to overcome the evil one in a battle like this.

“They are going to kill me,” she repeated again and again.

“Who are ‘they’,” I asked.

“The spirits,” she replied.

Finally, I got her settled down and prayed for any demonic spirit attacking her to be bound and unable to touch or hurt her. That’s the best prayer that I knew to pray. She left.

The next morning her daughter called to tell me that the woman had slipped in the bathtub, hit her head on the spigot, and died.

I performed her funeral three days later.

If you know Jesus as your Savior, you are protected. You will never engage in a spiritual battle like that. But the spiritual world is real. You will encounter people who are experiencing demonic oppression, and as you grow in your faith, you will have the opportunity to help.

Long-term discipleship is the best way to help someone demonized in a particular area of their life. And remember, every demonic attack is a prayer project.

6. What Does it Mean to Be “Taken Captive” By the Enemy?

Pray… that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:26)

When Christians are involved in sin, illicit behaviors, or backsliding away from Christ, they are behind the lines and in Satan’s territory. These Christians are ripe for taking. Satan can enslave, confuse, and trap them in all kinds of horrific situations and activities. They become useless for the kingdom of God.

Do not give the devil a foothold. (Ephesians 4:27)

7. The Battle Is Over Who Will Control Our Minds

Paul tells us to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

God wants us to be in control of our minds, growing in our relationship with Him. The Holy Spirit wants us to be free, so that we might respond positively to his guidance and to enjoy the “abundant life” that He promised in John 10:10.

The Holy Spirit may guide and lead, but He will never take control. It’s up to us to open our hearts and minds to Him.

Satan, however, is delighted to take control of our thought life. Spiritual warfare is all about having freedom in Jesus Christ so that we can choose God’s way. Satan’s attack strategies and tactics are designed to take control of our thought life in order to do his dastardly work in and through us.

8. Stay Away from Doors Leading into the Occult

Paul mentioned a number of these entry points, like dabbling in occult practices like Ouija boards and spiritism, personal invitation, perpetual sin, drugs and alcohol, transference from one person to another, and believing lies.

God delineates a litany of occult practices in Deuteronomy 18:9-12;

When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.

9. Submit to God; Resist the Devil, and He Will Flee from You (James 4:7)

If we are struggling with a particular sin, “submitting to God” is the basic tool that He uses to set us free. First, we confess our sins and repent. If we find freedom, then we know that this sin was a sin of the flesh.

But, if we have submitted our lives to Christ as Lord and Savior and still find little or no freedom from this particular sin, we know that we are struggling with a “sin of the spirit,” and we need spiritual warfare to find freedom.

Then, we put the third part of the verse into play. We rebuke the devil and his lies, and then we demand that he leave us because of the power of Jesus Christ who lives within us.

10. Put on Your Spiritual Armor Daily (Ephesians 6:13-17)

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

I try not to leave the house spiritually naked. I pray that each of these seven things might be a significant part of my life that day.

Finally, Peter, let me encourage you that sharing your personal testimony of receiving Jesus Christ as your Savior is absolutely critical. You and I have been called to help open the eyes of lost people who have been blinded by Satan; “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:14).

I hope this helps. May God grant you spiritual power as you overcome the evil one.

Love, Roger

For further study, please read:
https://piti.wpengine.com/bible-studies/detail/the-battlefield-for-the-mind/

A complete curriculum is available by Dr. Jerry Wilkinson on this topic in conjunction with my spiritual warfare sermons:
https://piti.wpengine.com/bible-studies/detail/know-your-enemy/
https://piti.wpengine.com/bible-studies/detail/weapons-with-divine-power/

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Bible Studies

Traits of a Spiritual Child

by Tom Terry
written by Tom Terry

THE TRAITS OF A SPIRITUAL CHILD

Read: I John 2:12-14

Their sins have been forgiven and they are just coming to know God
(I John 2:12-13)

The word “know” in this passage means, “Coming to know” God. In other words, the new Christian has come to know God, but does not yet know much about His character. He does not yet know Him intimately. What are the character traits of an intimate relationship?

They have overcome the world
(I John 2:17 & 5:3-5)

This passage is very clear, if you have received Jesus Christ, you have already overcome the world. What are the characteristics of the world that you have overcome?

They still struggle with the flesh
(I Corinthians 3:2-3)

The “flesh” means our sinful human nature. We all have a propensity to sin—it is part of our natural human desire. What kinds of sin does this passage encourage us against? Define these traits in your own words.

The are ignorant of the deeper truths of God’s Word and the tactics of the Evil One
(Hebrews 5:14, 6:1-2)

Notice what the writer says are the “elementary” things. List them; put them into your own words.

They exercise their faith for their own benefit
(I Corinthians 3:2-3)

The new Christian’s focus is often: MY salvation, MY walk with God, MY spiritual life, etc. Read the passage again. What can a focus on self, lead too?

TESTING YOURSELF. HOW OLD ARE YOU?

Read: Hebrews 5:12-6:2

If the last three previous points apply to you, you are still a spiritual child.

  • Struggle with the flesh
  • Ignorant of the deeper truths of God’s word and the tactics of the Evil One
  • Exercise their faith for their own benefit

How would you evaluate yourself on these three? Ask someone who knows you to give you their opinion.

If you are not studying God’s Word, or applying its principles, you are still a spiritual child.

The first step to knowing God and growing in the knowledge of God is to know and apply His Word. How do you evaluate yourself in this area?

If you are not concerned about your own spiritual condition or growth, you are still a spiritual child.

Write a short list of the things that occupied your mind the most. At what point did God’s purpose, plan, or principles occupy your attention?

A.C.T.

A – Action Point. What will I do in light of what I have learned?

C – Commune (prayer) What will I commit to God and ask Him for to help me put what I have learned into action?

T – Tell Others. What kinds of things can I say or do to others to demonstrate the biblical truth I have learned?

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Bible Studies

Spiritual Growth Stages: Two Natures

by Tom Terry
written by Tom Terry

 

Almost every spiritual conflict is fought on a specific battlefield. This is because the Enemy, Satan, only has access to a specific area of our lives where we might be influenced. This is very important to understand. Satan does not have the ability to control our bodies, or our hearts, or make us do anything we do not want to do. God has not granted that Satan should have that level of power. However, Satan does have the ability to influence every person, including Christians—primarily through deception and pride. To do this, he needs access to the most important battlefield where he can exercise his influence and attempt to defeat the Christian.

 

Satan cannot claim “new ground” in spiritual warfare. “The whole world [already] lies in the power of the Evil One” (I John 5:19). Rather, he can only defend what he already holds. It is we; God’s chosen people, who are on the offensive, taking back that which the Enemy has stolen. This study will introduce you to the battlefield of the mind.

 

THE NATURAL MAN

Read: Romans 7:18-25, Galatians 5:17-25

 

The natural man sets its desire on the things of the flesh

(Romans 8:6, Galatians 5:17)

 

Man’s basic nature is sinful. This is what we mean when we use the word, “flesh.” It is man’s normal propensity to give his mental and emotional attention to the things which Romans 7 says are “hostile to God.”

 

What kinds of things do you find yourself dwelling on from time to time? Do all of your thoughts and actions always please God?

 

The natural man chooses self-satisfaction

(Galatians 5:19-21)

 

Man’s desire is to satisfy himself—often at the expense or exclusion of others. The list in Galatians 5 contains character traits we often resort to when we are confronted with the possibility of not having our desires met. Another way to say this is, “It’s all about me.”

 

There are some personal desires that are not sin, but can become sin. Look at the list and write down some acceptable desires that might be turned to evil through the application of sinful behavior.

 

The natural man operates in the realm and ways of the world

(I John 2:16)

 

“The world” is defined as the operation of man’s sinful nature in the world that results in a system of life hostile to God. When men live their lives according to the sin nature, they create worldly systems as a natural byproduct of that nature that are contrary to the principles of God’s word. Satan is the “god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4), and thus, is interested in maintain this system of operation in opposition to God’s will.

 

When you sin, how does that take part in the system of the world? How can you defeat it?

 

Discuss or write your personal reflections.

 

The Spiritual Man

 

Read: Romans 8:5-6, Galatians 5:22-23, Philippians 4:8-9, II Peter 1:3-8

 

The spiritual man sets his desire on the Word of God and the person of Jesus Christ

(Matthew 22:37-38)

 

Giving our attention to the Word of God, and applying its principles, is a powerful safeguard against sin and the world system. By setting our minds on the things of God, we begin the process of changing our thoughts (mind), which leads to a change in ideas and emotions (heart), which is in turn expressed in our behavior and actions (body).

 

List three areas of difficulty or sin in your life that you want to change, and how you can apply new Godly desires to them.

 

The spiritual man chooses Godly conviction over self-satisfaction

 

Think of different times in your life when you made a wrong or sinful decision. Do you do it out of a deep conviction of right and wrong, or from personal convenience, satisfaction, or escapism?

 

The spiritual man operates in the world, but not as part of the world

(John 16:33, I John 2:15, 4:4)

 

Notice the progression in the above passages. (1) Jesus has overcome the world (2) He provides power for us to overcome the world (3) We have overcome the world through obedience to Him.

 

Look at the progression again. If we sin, and begin operating “in the world,” where does our breakdown first occur, and why? 1, 2 or 3?

 

Discuss or write your personal reflections:

 

II Peter 1:3-8 makes it clear that God has provided all the power we need to resist sin. If we don’t avail ourselves of that power, what happens?

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Sermons

Humility: Your Rule of Life

by Mark Batterson
written by Mark Batterson

Humility is not thinking less of yourself or having low self-esteem, it is thinking of yourself less, by thinking of others and God more. As the Spirit of God dwells in us, and we focus on His glory, His ways, and His thoughts, humility blossoms. As we take time to worship God, we turn the tables on idolatry and embrace a Christ-like humility. This turning of attention gives us the capacity and motivation to follow Jesus’ example of washing the feet of others.

 

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Bible Studies

Are You Ready for the Judgment Seat of Christ?

by Tony Evans
written by Tony Evans

A very wealthy gentleman offered a poor young boy the opportunity to earn some extra money by watching over his home while he and his family went away for a vacation. Upon returning, the wealthy gentleman discovered that the poor young boy had wasted all his time enjoying the home instead of taking care of it. Judging his performance, the gentleman declared the boy an unfit worker. Unlike this poor young boy, believers must be good stewards of the resources God has graciously given us. We must refrain from getting too comfortable and instead remember that
we are to merely manage these resources. It is essential to remember that we did not earn these resources by merit but instead received them by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Upon his return, all believers will be judged based on their good works for Jesus and his Kingdom. Our salvation cost Jesus his life; therefore, He wants to know how we made the most of that gift. Jesus will evaluate every believer on the use of their time, talents, and treasures.

The evaluation of our stewardship will be accounted for through our faithfulness, productivity and profession to Jesus and his Kingdom. The accountability of our faithfulness will be seen through our consistency and dependability. Could he count on us? Jesus will account for our productivity by witnessing whether we cared about the quality of our effectiveness within our faithful works. Jesus will account for our profession by the measure at which we remained true to our Kingdom assignment despite unfavorable circumstances, in which our witness may have been rejected. Jesus Christ will purposefully, personally, and publicly condemn useless believers for the Kingdom. As a believer, if you are not taking the return of the King seriously, you are missing the principle of accountability, which will lead you to condemnation. Jesus is keeping a detailed record of all the ways in which we are utilizing our resources. In the end, he will ask every believer how we managed the resources given to us. Our responsibility is to accept the challenge of usefulness for the Lord and his Kingdom and use what we were given for his glory.

Getting Started

1. What does good stewardship look like to you?

2. What are some of the challenges of being faithful in your productivity to Jesus and the Kingdom?

Let’s Get Personal

1. How would you evaluate the use of your time, talents, and treasures for the Kingdom of God?

2. Sometimes our witness is rejected, but we must fulfill our call. How will you fare in the judgment of your accountability to your faithfulness to Jesus in difficult circumstances?

3. In what ways are you taking the return of the King seriously on a daily basis?

Take The Next Step

1. How can you improve the use of your time, talents, and treasures to better glorify Jesus?

2. How can you strengthen your witness of Jesus to expand his Kingdom and bring him honor?

3. Want to go deeper? Take time to look at the following passages: 2 Corinthians 5:9- 11; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; Romans 14:10-12; 1 Peter 1:17; Matthew 12:36- 37; Matthew 10:42; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Mark 10:28-31; Romans 2:12; 1 Corinthians 4:2; Colossians 3:23-24; 2 Timothy 2:12; Matthew 16:27; Ephesians 2:8- 10; Revelation 21:4; Ephesians 6:8; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Luke 19:17; 1 John 2:28; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Matthew 19:29; John 12:26; 2 Timothy 4:8; Revelation 22:16; Hebrews 1:14; Hebrews 10:35-36; Hebrews 9:15; Romans 8:17; Matthew 25:14-30; Hebrews 10:29-31; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5; Matthew 8:12; Matthew 13:38; Matthew 22:11-14; Isaiah 30:15; Acts 3:19; Mathew 3:2; Matthew 3:8; 2 Corinthians 7:10-11; James 4:1-10; Matthew 12:41; Matthew 22:1-14

Renew Your Mind

He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away.’ Luke 19:26

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Ask Roger

Could You Renounce Money and Fame Like Moses Did?

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

Dear Roger,

 

While I was reading through the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11, the author challenged our faith by describing Moses’ renunciation of the treasures of Egypt in exchange for poverty with the people of God. It seems like we are not seeing much renunciation in the American church today.

 

Do you agree?

 

Luke

 

Dear Luke,

 

Yes! I agree. It seems to me that many Christians are adopting a worldly lifestyle, chasing the attractive, temporal things of the world instead of renouncing them in favor of those things which are eternal.

 

The author of Hebrews uses Moses’ renunciation as a guideline. He places the principles out front where we can’t miss them.

 

We need to look carefully at these principles, because the choices that Moses faced are the same as the ones that we face today.

 

Let me answer your email with a look at Moses ’principles of renunciation.

 

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking forward to his reward. (Hebrews 11:24-25)

 

FIRST, A GODLY FAMILY IS HELPFUL IN PREPARING US FOR THE WORK OF RENUNCIATION.

 

You are fortunate if you were raised in a godly family. It somewhat easier to make right choices when your mom and dad were godly and functional.

 

However, even if your mom and dad weren’t that good, God can certainly use other people in your life, as well as Bible study, prayer, discipleship, and a number of other tools to build within you great character and a godly lifestyle.

 

By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw that he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the King’s edict. (Hebrews 11:23)

 

The Jews in Egypt were becoming so numerous that Pharaoh feared a rebellion. He sent out a decree to drown every newborn male child in the Nile River. The penalty for hiding a baby was death.

 

But by faith Amram and Jochebed, Moses’ parents, refused Pharaoh’s decree. They risked their lives for Moses’ sake.

 

Then, by divine providence, his parents placed him in a small basket and floated him down the Nile River where he was found by Pharaoh’s daughter. She was so enraptured with the child that she took him home and raised him as her own. She even chose Jochebed to be the nursemaid for Moses! He was raised in two successful families.

 

As we study the life of Moses, I am most impressed with his parents. They had only a brief exposure to the child, from birth to 12 years, and they shaped Moses’ character in an indelible way.

 

Faith cannot be inherited. But it can be instilled. Miriam received it. Aaron received it. Moses received it. Joshua received it. Caleb received it.

 

I still remember coming into the den early in the morning and hearing my dad on his knees in prayer. I don’t suppose you ever get over that.

 

SECOND, EVALUATE THE ISSUES INVOLVED.

 

Moses was a famous man in Egypt. History records that he was next in line to be Pharaoh. He had everything going for him. Egyptian education … riches … military commander.

 

When the Ethiopians invaded Egypt and were threatening the capital of Memphis, oracles were consulted and Moses was entrusted with the command of the royal troops. He took the field, routed the enemy, captured their principal city, Marol, and brought home great spoils of victory.

 

Yet, there is no sphinx in Egypt in his honor. No pyramid. No mortuary temple that bears his name. These were people who honored their dead! The Egyptians had a saying. “To speak the name of the dead is to make him live again.” Where is Moses’ sphinx? His pyramid?

 

There is none! Why not? Because of what is written for us in Hebrews 11:26; “There came a day in which he decided no longer to be called the Pharaoh-Elect.”

 

We all at one time or another experience a little taste of greatness. It feels so good … but it doesn’t last.

 

I remember playing basketball in junior high. When I left the ninth grade, I looked at the record board on the gym wall and nine of the eleven records were mine. When I came back back the next year and looked at record board and saw that I only held five. I came back two years later, and someone had lost the record board.

 

Moses considered the power and prestige that would come to him as Pharaoh. He knew that those things wouldn’t last forever.

 

Moses evaluated the treasures of Egypt.

 

The world is too often concerned about prices instead of about values. The truth is; the price tags are all confused.

 

Moses evaluated the pleasures of sin.

 

David probably had great fun with Bathsheba. But he saw his family disintegrate before his eyes because of it—murder, rape, rebellion, and death. He had great fun with Bathsheba, but I bet that he wouldn’t do it again.

 

Moses evaluated what it would cost to save of his own people. Was it worth it?

 

At the burning bush, Moses encountered God Himself—in that moment he knew following God’s call would be worth everything.

 

THIRD, MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE.

 

An unbelieving Egyptian, looking at Moses, would conclude that this prince had everything worth living for: prestige, authority, wealth, an exciting future.

 

But Moses looked at these same things and decided that they were cheap! He wanted neither the pleasures nor the treasures of Egypt because he had something far better—an intimate relationship with God and a home in heaven.

 

So, Moses came to the conclusion that the renunciation of Egypt was the only option.

 

He evaluated what it would be like to be Pharaoh with all the power and prestige that goes with that position. However, God is not interested in how much money we have, what family we are from, how much education we possess, or our position in life. God is interested in how well we live by faith.

 

However, the choice to follow Jesus is never an easy thing. And the closer we come to the cross, the more exacting become His demands.

 

One day, Jesus preached to a crowd of 20,000 the toughest sermon that He ever preached. He shared, “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no part in me.” He was preaching about commitment.”

 

One by one, 19,988 the people walked away until only 12 were left. With a heavy heart Jesus asked, “Will you go away, too?”

 

Peter replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of life” (John 6).

 

Shakespeare’s “Merchant Of Venice” provides a perfect allegory of the choice involved in following Christ.

 

The heroine is Portia, a beautiful and wealthy heiress. Many suitors of noble birth wanted to marry her. However, her father proposed a test to select her husband. Three chests were prepared, and she would belong to the one who selected the correct chest.

 

The Gold Chest was inscribed with these words, “Who chooses me will gain what many men desire.”

 

The Silver Chest was inscribed with these words, “Who chooses me shall get as much as he deserves.”

 

The Lead Chest was inscribed with these words: “Who chooses me must give and hazard all he has.”

 

Which would you choose?

 

A multitude of suitors soon arrived.

 

Many chose the Gold Chest. Inside was a skull!

 

Several chose the Silver Chest. Inside was the picture of a fool.

 

Finally, Bassanio arrived and evaluated the three chests. Finally, he chose the Lead Chest. Inside was a picture of Portia.

 

Bessanio chose the winning chest and won the hand of Portia in marriage because he was willing to give everything he had for the sake of the one that he loved.

 

This is to be our attitude toward Christ. And whoever chooses Christ must give all he has.

 

Several years ago, the treasures of King Tutankhamen were paraded around the United States. Unbelievable riches were found in his tomb. But what the average person doesn’t know is that Tutankhamen was just a fifth-rate Pharaoh. He was at the bottom of the totem pole. He was a nobody.

 

Read the inscriptions of some of the prominent Pharaohs. His collection paled in comparison.

 

So, we can go to a museum and see a fine collection of mummies. Moses could have been one of them. Instead, he earned a berth in God’s Hall of Faith.

 

Well Luke,

 

I really appreciate your email. I hope that everyone is encouraged to renounce the things of the world in order to live a godly life in Christ Jesus.

 

Love,

 

Roger

 

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Sermons

Decide to Take Back Your Life

by Craig Groeschel
written by Craig Groeschel
Do you ever wish you knew how to make decisions that would help you reach your goals? What if becoming the person you want to be starts before you make a decision? Before you click “buy,” or before you take one more bite. Can the decisions you make today help you live the life you want tomorrow? Let’s learn in our new series, Pre-Decide. 
www.lifechurch.tv/open.
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Sermons

Follow the Ark

by Mark Batterson
written by Mark Batterson

We live at the intersection of two theologies, two realities. The faithfulness of God is pursuing from the past—SO FAR SO GOD. And the sovereignty of God is setting us up for the future. We live forwards, but God is working backward. God is ordering our footsteps. God is preparing good works. We live in a fallen world, a broken world, but heaven is invading earth right here, right now.

We don’t believe in happily ever after. We believe in something so much bigger and better and longer—happily FOREVER after. THE BEST IS YET TO COME.

Sermon begins at 16:15.

www.theaterchurch.com.

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Ask Roger

How Do I Worship with My Whole Life?

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

Dear Roger,

I was just reading Romans 12:1-2, where Paul says that total devotion to Jesus Christ is our spiritual worship. I sensed that Paul was talking about a level of worship that I have never experienced. Help me understand. I’d like to move deeper in my worship. 

Sincerely,

Roscoe

Dear Roscoe,

 

I’ve studied the Scriptures about worship many times over, and every time, I conclude that the kind of worship God calls us to is what we might call “Whole-Life Worship.”

 

In Romans 12:1-2, the apostle Paul summarizes this key teaching:

 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 

Let me make this concept very simple. We can’t live any way we want to from Monday through Saturday and expect to come to church on Sunday ready to worship. One of my favorite preachers, W.A. Criswell, said it this way: “You can’t live skim milk all week and preach cream on Sunday.”

 

Real, authentic worship that pleases God encompasses our whole lives. It’s everything we say. Everything we do. Everything we are. All the time.

 

Worship like this is what Paul means by the term “living sacrifice.” We make the choice to live according to God’s will and His Word, no matter the cost. In this way, we truly honor Him.

 

HOW DO WE PRACTICE WHOLE-LIFE WORSHIP?

 

Three specific instructions in Paul’s teaching stand out. Let’s examine each in turn.

 

  1. Offer Your Body as a Living Sacrifice.

 

  1. Do Not Be Conformed to this World.

 

  1. Be Transformed by the Renewing of Your Mind.

 

 

FIRST, OFFER YOUR BODY AS A LIVING SACRIFICE.

 

The term Paul uses for “body” represents our everyday lives: our talents, possessions, physical makeup, dreams, intellect, personalities, emotions, todays, and tomorrows. It’s the very essence of who we are.

 

Paul is saying that we are to present our bodies to God, like a priest presented the sacrifice in the Old Testament. He laid it on the altar, backed away, and God took over, consuming the entire sacrifice with fire.

 

Everything we do is to be an act of holy sacredness unto Him.

 

Note that in the Jewish religious system, the priests never put a living animal on the altar. It would try to crawl off and run away!

 

However, this is exactly what God asks us to do. He wants us to lay down our lives, remain on His altar, and sacrifice ourselves on the cross with Jesus.

 

Let me make several observations about what a self-sacrifice might entail.

 

God asks for our “bodies,” not our time, talents, money, or anything else. He says, “Present yourself! I want you!”

 

Next, wholeheartedly surrendering our entire selves to Jesus is a matter of choice. We must consistently choose to follow Jesus at any price.

 

In fact, saying, “Lord, I give you my life,” is not an emotion; it is a decision. Make a wholehearted decision to stay on the altar and then don’t try to wiggle off. Jesus will consume your sacrifice.

 

Once upon a time there was a divorced father who was raising his only son.

 

His boy was a handful. He was kicked out of three private schools before they found one that would accept the son on the condition that the dad spend a volunteer day at school helping children once every three weeks.

 

The dad’s volunteer day arrived, and he didn’t want to go. So, he purchased several hundred dollars worth of toys and returned to work. Shortly thereafter, all of the toys were returned in his office.

 

Attached was this note: “As a gift, it is too much. As a substitute for yourself, it is not nearly enough.”

 

Jesus wants a full-fledged sacrifice.

 

The problem with many of us is that we’re trying to pass off part as the whole–-and God will never consume a partial sacrifice.

 

Cain learned this lesson the hard way. Abel brought the full sacrifice, and God accepted it from the altar by fire. Cain brought an incomplete sacrifice and his rotted on the altar.

 

Now, a living sacrifice is to be a final sacrifice.

 

The term “present” or “offer” in the original language means to do something once and for all.

 

Paul is writing to people who have been saved for years, but who are still struggling with total commitment. It’s like Jesus is saying, “I want you to make a once and for all commitment to me.”

 

Total commitment is driving a stake into the ground. We don’t keep making the same decision for total commitment over and over and over again. Once is enough. Don’t take it back.

 

Many Christians keep falling into sin because when faced with temptation, they have to decide all over again whether or not to sin. They’ve failed to drop a stake into the ground. Driving stakes into the ground becomes itself an act of worship.

 

For example, when my brother and I were young, my mother and father made a commitment that our family would attend Sunday night church worship services every week. They drove a stake in the ground, and we never had to ask again whether or not we were going to church. The stake was in the ground. We were going to church.

 

SECOND, DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD.

 

In other words, stop following the patterns of this world. Literally, in Greek the words mean don’t conform to the “the schemes of this age.”

 

The essence of the “world” never changes. The “world” may manifest in various ways, but underneath the façade it still the same sin-filled, broken place. The temptation to yield to the world’s system is an everyday battle.

 

In 1 John 2:16, the apostle declares, “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.”

 

The temptations of the world are many. Watch out for things like self-reliance and self-centeredness, which are the essence of pride. Lust is sneaky; gluttony is widely acceptable, even encouraged. Laziness and selfishness are par for the course.

 

Let me give you the preeminent biblical description of the man who started strong and ended conformed with the world.

 

In Paul’s letters, God gives us three snapshots of Demas, three points on a graph, which show him drifting rapidly downward from “fellow worker with Paul” to an apostate who has conformed to the world.

 

The first snapshot is in Philemon 23-24: “Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.”

 

Demas is a “fellow worker” with the apostle Paul. There are a few honors better than that. He is in the company of spiritual giants.

 

The second snapshot shows him beginning to slip: “Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. … Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you. … Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings” (REF).

 

Eight individuals are mentioned in this passage, and it is no accident that seven of them are pointed out for some good work while Demas is passed over in silence. I believe that at this juncture, Paul was beginning to suspect that something was wrong with Demas.

 

The third snapshot is 2 Timothy 4:9-10; “Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.”

 

“Demas, my fellow laborer” … “Demas” … “Demas has deserted me.”

 

I’ve noticed that it’s easy for Christians to be like Demas. Many begin with Christ, but then some comfortable corner of this present age invites us and we nestle down. Our Christian profession lapses and we do not amount to much in the end for Jesus.

 

If I should accuse some of us of being Judas, we would be indignant. We would never deliberately sell out. But Demas, how many of us have been like him?

 

THIRD, BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND.

 

The term Paul uses here for “transform” comes from the Greek word “metamorphous,” which means to change or morph into something else. In this context, Paul is teaching that we are changed into completely new creatures in Christ. As such, we have minds which no longer see as the world sees. We now see as Jesus sees. Our hearts are in tune with His.

 

Remember that God does not take us out of the world; He allows us to remain as a witness to our Savior and to bring Him glory. And as our minds are made new, we begin to experience “Whole Life Worship” and an intimacy with Christ like we never knew before.

 

Well, Roscoe, I hope my answer will help to guide you into deeper dimensions of worship.

 

Love,  

Roger

 

 

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Devotionals

How to Have the Mind of Christ

by Skip Heitzig
written by Skip Heitzig

One of my favorite authors, Donald Grey Barnhouse, said, “Love that reaches up is adoration. Love that reaches out is affection. But love that stoops is grace.”

Philippians 2:5-11 deals with the incarnation of Christ, the miraculous event of God stooping to show His love and grace to humankind. In verses 5-7, we get an amazing look at Christ’s humility: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”

These verses describe what Christ did in coming to the earth. Now, don’t think for a moment that Jesus stopped being God when He came to redeem us. Jesus, who had the unchanging essential nature of God, also took on the unchanging essential nature of man, meaning He did not hold onto His privileges as deity nor His own individual authority. He was, in fact, fully God and fully man in one person.

When Jesus took on “the form of a bondservant” (v. 7), He didn’t just act like a servant; He served people. He said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). Jesus was the Creator who surrendered to being a creature. That is love stooping.

In verse 8, Paul explained the humility of Jesus’ death: “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” This is the ultimate act of service. He willingly gave His own life for a mission that could be summed up in one word: forgiveness. So on the cross, He could say, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34).

And God the Father responded to this humility: “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (vv. 9-11).

If you ever wonder if the pain of humility is worth it, take note of Jesus. When you humble yourself and obey God, He will, in His own time and by His own means, exalt you (see Luke 14:11; 1 Peter 5:6).

Now, this leads us to the central point of Paul’s passage: the mentality of Christ. Go back to verse 5. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” That’s the motivation for humility. We are to humble ourselves and serve others because Jesus did it.

What does humility look like? Go back even further to verse 3: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” Humility is not thinking badly about yourself; it is not thinking of yourself at all. Humility is the willingness to give up your will for another’s good.

And I guarantee you, if we as the church practice these few verses, we’ll stand out in our communities. If you do this in your business, there’ll be no other business in town like yours. If you do this at home, you’ll stand out on the block. As believers, we’re called to be like Christ, and this is Christlikeness in a word: humility.

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Ask Roger

7 Ways to Know and Fulfill God’s Purpose for Your Life

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

Dear Roger,

 

Please help me understand God’s purpose for my life. It seems that all of us at one time or another ask the question, “Why am I here?” When I stand before Jesus at the Judgment Seat of Christ, I want to be sure that I understood clearly what He wanted me to do and carry out His calling. Tell me, what is God’s purpose for my life?

 

Thank you!

Jackie

 

Dear Jackie,

God’s purpose for our existence is the same for everyone. He wants to put Christ on display in our lives for entire the world to see. And God fulfills His purpose by molding us into the image of Christ.

So, let’s search the Scriptures together, looking at seven different ways that we can know and fulfill God’s purpose for us.

 

1. Be certain that you understand the “good” of Romans 8:28-29.

 In this letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul was teaching the church how to live the Christian life in a very secular culture. He explained that we will experience difficult painful things. We will suffer. But even then, we can be assured that:

All things work together for good to those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For Those that he foreknew, he predestined to be conformed to the image of his son.

How often we hear these verses claimed by Christians in times of trial and tragedy! The trouble is that too many misunderstand what God means by “good.”

Aunt Suzie is in the hospital dying of cancer.

A Christian friend arrives to encourage her, saying, “Don’t worry; you are a Christian, and the Bible says that all things work together for good to those who love God. And you do love God. So, don’t worry, God keeps his promises. You’re going to be fine.”

Shortly thereafter, Aunt Suzie dies.

Tommy is in a horrible car wreck, and his parents are in agonizing pain as their son lingers between life and death.

Some well-meaning friends come to comfort, saying, “Don’t worry. God has promised that all things work together for good to those who love God. And you love God, don’t you? Everything will certainly work out well. Tommy is going to be all right.”

Three years later Tommy is still in a coma.

“Good” is NOT a blanket promise that every situation in life will work out well for those who love God. “Good” is God’s promise that He will use every circumstance, good or bad, for the purpose of molding us to look like Christ.

 

2. Understand that the image of God is now visible all around the world.

God created Adam in His own image (see Genesis 1:26).  If we want to know what God is like, all we need to do is look at Adam before the Fall.

Unfortunately, Adam sinned. That means the pure, real image of God was no longer available to be seen in the world. Man is now made in his own image.

But then, baby Jesus entered the world in the manger. Once again, the image of God was on display.

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by side his son, . . . The Son is the exact representation of his being. (Hebrews 1:3)

To see God’s image, study Jesus during his three-year ministry:

Philip said to Jesus; “Just show us the Father and we will be satisfied.”

Jesus said, “Oh, Philip, have I been so long with you and you still don’t understand. He that has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:8-9)

In the upper room, Jesus said something that caused great consternation among the disciples. He proclaimed, “It is good for you that I go away.” They couldn’t imagine anything worse!

But when He was limited by His earthly body, Jesus could only physically be in one place at one time. When He was healing people in Galilee, He couldn’t be talking to the Pharisees in Jerusalem.

But, when filled with the Holy Spirit, His followers could be in multiple places … they began to fulfill God’s purpose all over the world.

So, on the day of Pentecost, 120 followers of Jesus were together in one place. Suddenly, “a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from Heaven . . . . All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:1-4).

If we want to know what God looks like, we can see the image of God in a Christian who is filled with the Holy Spirit. In other words, the image of God is the life of Jesus lived through the lives of His followers.

 

3. Pray to become a spiritual mother or father at any price (1 John 2:12-14).

The greatest tragedy in the Christian church is the spiritual child who refuses to grow up. Our first-born child was full-term and weighed just three pounds at birth. Severe genetic issues were incompatible with life. She couldn’t grow up. She died when she reached 5 pounds.

We were heartbroken. I imagine this is how God feels when one of His newborn spiritual children doesn’t grow up … when we never show His image when He never has the opportunity to mold us into the image of Christ.

Find hope and challenge in this; asking to become a spiritual mother or father at any price is one prayer that God guarantees He will answer. It will cost you everything. And in the process, you will discover and fulfill His ultimate purpose for you.

 

4. Seek to emulate the personality of Jesus Christ.

Only once in all of Scripture does Jesus give us insight into His character. He told the disciples, “I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29).

What a goal! This reminds me of David’s prayer in Psalm 131 (paraphrased):

My heart is not proud, Lord, and my eyes are not haughty.

I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.

But I have calmed and quieted my soul like a child quieted at his mother’s breast, like a child that is quieted is my soul.

It IS possible to cultivate gentleness and humility.

 

5. Deeply ingrain fellowship, prayer, and Bible study into everyday living.

I regard these three pursuits as the fundamental basics of the Christian life. Used generously, these three divine activities are the primary tools that God uses to mature us into the image of Christ.

Don’t miss this; we can only develop into the image of Christ in the context of other Christians. We experience intimacy with God through prayer. We absorb the teachings of Jesus with our Bibles.

 

6. Beware of distractions that stymie God’s plans to make us into Jesus’ image.

Pay careful attention to this declaration from the apostle John; “For everything in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world” (1 John 2:16).

Many Christians are distracted by a lazy materialistic love for the world!

Others simply move on to other things. Many try briefly and see little change. They consciously or unconsciously decide that it really doesn’t matter whether they grow up spiritually or not.

Following Jesus is far down their list of priorities. And in that, they refuse to seek, know and fulfill God’s purpose. How sad they will be at the Judgment Seat of Christ!

 

7. Walk in the spirit and not in the flesh.

Paul’s command, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18), isn’t the simple “no alcohol rule” many have preached.

In essence, Paul is calling us to be sensitive to spiritual things while carefully avoiding anything that would distract us from following Christ. Cultivate a strong, consistent focus on the things of the Spirit.

Jackie, I would take the time to consider each of these keys. How can you implement them? Where are you struggling? What is keeping you from following Jesus with your whole heart and life?

Then consider this; How much do you look like Jesus? Or what do people think of when they think of you?

I keep that question in front of my mind all the time. I don’t want people to look at me and think, “What a good man!” “He preached great sermons and wrote great articles.” “He loved people.”

All of those things are wonderful! But they don’t fulfill the ultimate purpose God has for my life.

I want people to look at my life and say, “Ah, Jesus, what a wonderful Savior!” Don’t you?

 

Love,

Roger

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Bible Studies

Knowing God from the Inside Out

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

 KNOWING GOD FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Ephesians 1:15-19; 3:14-19; Colossians 1:9-12

 

Imagine before we had the Bible, how would we know what God is like. Imagine you lived on the Yucatan Peninsula. Is God good? Loving? Kind? Capricious? It would be hard to tell from circumstances or certainly from nature.

 

Plant crops and great harvest; gentle rain and sunshine and great harvest. Would say that God is very good.

 

Hurricane hits, destruction and death; God is not so good.

 

Loved one sick and you pray and he lives, God is so good.

 

Loved one sick and dies – God’s not so good.

 

If we’re always trying to know what God is like by the circumstances around us, then we’ll never know what God is really like.

 

But we have a Bible. The Bible reveals to us what God is like, and He stays like that no matter what the circumstances.

 

Purpose of prater is to know God. Good to pray through Scriptures because we’ll get to know the character of God.

 

Man’s basic definition of prayer is to have our needs met. God’s basic definition of prayer is that we may know Him.

 

Too often we allow our view of God to be altered by the circumstances around us.

 

God always desires our greatest good. In tragic circumstances we often miss God’s hand in things and see only the painful moments instead of His overall holiness, love, and perfect plan.

 

Kathryn Kuhlman told of a young couple who found Christ through tragedy.

 

A few days before Christmas as Joe and Dora made preparation for the holidays. One morning Joe left for work as a TV repairman. Dora let Steve and Mike, their two boys, out to play on the front driveway. Boys soon return to warm cookies she was baking. Twenty minutes passed and terrified neighbor pounded frantically on the door. “Two boys fell into the pond – I think that they’re yours.”

 

Joe and Dora soon found themselves standing sadly in a funeral home, the boys lying in twin caskets. Following a solemn service, burial was held in freezing wind and rain.

 

Imagine asking God, “Why?”

 

Follow Dora home as she tries to forget. Enters kitchen and notices two little gifts Mike and Steve made at school the day they died. She silently reads, “To the best mom and dad in the world.” Dora now serves dinner, but two empty chairs rest beside the dining room table – two constant reminders. Goes to boys’ room and find a rumpled pile of little boys’ clothes. Pulls out drawers of nearby chest and notices all the things that little boys collect – bottle caps, empty shotgun shells, children’s books.

 

Consider Joe’s anxiety. Can’t sleep, eat, work begins to fail, eyes constantly bloodshot, body soon covered with huge boils. Reminds us of Job. Imagine his thoughts as a school bus full of children pass. Remembers times Mike and Steve snuggled close to him. Tears flow freely now.

 

“How can this possibly be the Father’s will?”

 

I have seen moms and dads and others change their whole view of God over less than this.

 

Yet, God is still the same, love, all-knowing, all-powerful God He was before the boys fell into the water!

 

Dad watches boy killed in train wreck. Anguished father grieves. “Where was God when my son was killed?” “I suppose where He was when his own Son died.”

 

They hold art of prayer… of spiritual maturity… is learning to transfer from the temporal to the eternal.

 

There is a reason behind all that God allows.

 

Juanita Bennett struggling when Nicholson baby rode tricycle into pool and drowned. Why? Where’s guardian angel? Why didn’t God have some adult walk out? Why? Asked Al Johnson. He replied, “What is God’s ultimate plan for believers?” “To be with Him.” “Where is that little boy?” “Now he’s with Jesus.” Ultimate plan already accomplished. That’s transition from temporal to eternal.

 

Recently Steve and I flew to Lake Charles, Louisiana, to interview a prospective Associate Pastor. Had some bad times in some churches but was so highly recommended that he was worth a look. Jack Harris. Recently resigned from second church because of trouble with some church leaders. Carpenter work! Praising God, many churches talking with him… more work than he could handle. Praising God for answering prayer and for His goodness.

 

He called me this week. “How are things?” “Not so good. $200 in bank, and $1000 in bills. No work! No churches…” “How’s your wife?” “She cries a lot. God won’t answer her prayers.”

 

How tragic.

 

Such a typical response. Soon the anger and the bitterness sets in against God.

 

How many bitter people do you and I know who hate God or who have rejected Christianity because God hasn’t made everything just right from their perspective?

 

Yet, God is just right whether we like our circumstances or not.

 

Show you difference between our humanity and God’s sovereign deity. Turn to 2 Corinthians 4.

 

My humanity says, “God heal my body… God fix these circumstances… God turn around this tragedy…” But God says, READ 1 CORINTHIANS 4:16-18.

 

There is a basic Biblical presupposition with which you and I must come to grips. God is all powerful. God is sovereign. Nothing occurs that He does not allow in our best eternal interest and for our best eternal good.

 

Most of us have trouble comprehending and complying when the Bible says, “Give thanks for all things” or “Rejoice in all things.”

 

*1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “Give thanks in all circumstances…”

 

*Ephesians 5:20 – “Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything.”

 

When tragedy occurs we are to praise and thank God for it. It’s hard. But when we finally praise and thank God for it we overcome a tremendous psychological and spiritual hurdle.

 

When we praise and thank Him for it we acknowledge His control and that He’s working it out for the best.

 

To fail to give praise or thanksgiving is to subconsciously or consciously say that here is an area which is out of God’s control… and it will not be long until the bitterness and anger begin to set in.

 

Effective praying… and effective living deals with the eternal aspects of life. Then comes our temporal needs.

 

READ ROMANS 8:28-29

 

We will never sustain our eternal prayer life unless we determine to develop an eternal perspective. We must never allow temporal discomforts to destroy our view of God.

 

The art of prayer is learning to transition from the temporal to the eternal.

 

That’s what Psalm 27 is all about!

 

READ PSALM 27:1-8, 13-14.

 

Transitioning from the temporal to the eternal is accomplished by learning to pray from the inside out.

 

READ 1 THESSALONIANS 5:23

 

Notice order of priority – spirit, soul, body.

 

Spirit – inner man; “pneuma”; God-consciousness; area where I am able to see and experience God. Holy Spirit deals with me and contacts me at the point of my spirit – eternal.

 

Soul – “psyche” or “nous” – mind, emotions, will, conscience, thinking interface between my spirit and soul at the point of my conscience.

 

Body – “some”, “sarx” – give senses, natural biological desires. Temporal.

 

God is much more concerned that we’re praying for our spirit which is eternal than for our body which is decaying and which will soon perish.

 

Read Prayer for Inner Man. Ephesians 1:15-19; 3:14-19; Colossians 1:9-12.

 

God allows and creates circumstances so that we may know Him better. He wants to sensitize our God-consciousness.

 

Satan wants to get our minds on ours bodies and circumstances in order to desensitize our God-consciousness.

 

When we pray in the area of our spirit, God answers a thousand out of a thousand times. “God make me like Christ… make me a man of God… give me your wisdom and discernment, etc.”

 

When we pray in the area of our soul, God is often hindered from answering our prayer. Problem here is my will. “God help me not to lust after women.” You know God wants that… but our will is involved and we see a pretty girl and think wrong thoughts. Harder to have answer here. God is hindered in giving what I ask for because my will is so involved. When my will is in line with His will, God can easily answer my prayer.

 

The body is the place where God has the most difficulty in answering my prayer. Reason is because my body is so temporal. We pray, “God, heal my body… make me well… change these circumstances…” We’re totally obsessed with removing pain and tragedies and problems; and God is totally obsessed with making us God-sensitized in our spirit because this is eternal. It is a great day in our growth to maturity when we understand that God often allows sickness and calamity and tragedy in our body and circumstances in order to make us God-sensitized. The body is decaying and temporal and created. God will even destroy the body in order to save the eternal. READ 1 CORINTHIANS 5:1-5 – “…allow flesh to be destroyed and his spirit saved.”

 

Here is an eternal Christian presumption: God is more interested in the eternal than the temporal. He reveals that all through His Word. He will sacrifice the temporal (body, situation, etc.) every time in order to develop and mature and save the eternal.

 

So we pray from the inside out. We pray for the development of that which is deep within us and interpret and pray for our bodies and circumstances in the light of how it affects our inner man.

 

Praying ineffectively for the temporal, be it body or circumstances will greatly damage our view of God.

 

Viewing physical illness and circumstances with man’s interests in mind will hinder our understanding of God’s purpose.

 

And it’s so easy for us to do that. After a great confession, Peter is commended by Jesus. Then Christ says, “I must suffer and die,” and Peter is horrified. “No, you won’t die!” was to Peter’s best interest, he thought, for Christ not to die. “Get behind me, Satan!” Peter was trying to put Christ’s eyes on man’s interests, not on God’s.

 

Praying from the inside out allows us to see things from God’s perspective.

 

Illustrated with praying for person with cancer. Pray and pray and pray for healing. Can be healed of cancer seven times, and they’ll eventually die. It is not eternally effective. Life is a terminal disease.

 

People get all hyped up over some healing. We’re all in a tizzy. But angels rejoice when bodies are healed? No. When soul is saved! That is the eternal thing.

 

We are to seek God and His desires first and then ask for whatever our heart desires. Our desires will be His desires.

 

Yet most people ask and beg and want things and situations changed and bodies healed and don’t have the slightest idea what God wants to do.

 

When my will is in line with His will God can easily answer. When my will is not in line with His will there is conflict. Guess who usually wins!

 

But not always. If you pray without being enlightened, without knowing His will, God will sometimes give you what you want with devastating results.

 

READ PSALM 106:14-15. Wanted quail. Tired of manna. God sent quail; got sick and died.

 

Story of woman with sick baby. Pray for my baby to be healed… lived to watch son mount stairs of village gallows to be hanged for murdering family of six next door.

 

Deal for just a moment with praying for the sick.

 

Three basic broad purposes for sickness.

 

*Unto death – John 11:4 – Some sicknesses are for the purpose of death.

 

*Unto chastisement – punishment for sin.

 

Jesus heals man at pool (John 5) and says, “Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”

 

1 Corinthians 11 – Eating Lord’s Supper in unworthy manner. “Don’t you know that’s why many are sick and some have died?

 

Relates to sin – common cold relates to sin n Garden, reminds us of our sins before God. Puts our need for a Savior in proper perspective.

 

*Unto glory of God.

 

John 4:11 – Lazarus’ sickness for glory of God.

John 9:3 – Man born blind, for glory of God.

Luke 18 – Man at pool sick for glory of God.

 

Seek God’s face – Is this a sickness unto death?

 

Is it for chastisement?

 

If so, confess sin and God promises to heal. Confess with Psalm 139:23-24; Psalm 51; 1 John 1:9 – Instructions given in James 5:13-16. Deals with context of sickness caused by sin. Confess, elders, ask God to heal, pray in faith. God will heal. If no healing, sins not confessed and repented of, or maybe it’s for the glory of God.

 

Is it for God’s glory?

 

READ 1 CORINTHIANS 4:15-18

 

Paul’s thorn.

 

Stop asking for healing and seek God’s power and glory through the sickness.

 

Proper responses to adversity.

 

*Give thanks for all things. Praise God for all things. Remember that God uses all things to develop our inner man, the eternal. What could be better than that? Remember that praise transforms.

 

*Don’t immediately attempt to remove the adversity. Allow it to reveal our true weakness. READ 2 CORINTHIANS 12:7-10, and see Paul and his thorn.

 

*Realize that we are dealing with unseen spiritual powers. We need to avoid focusing our attention on the outward physical circumstances and look at the spiritual issues involved. Ephesians 6:12.

 

*Seek God and have His heart and mind; then we have the power source to determine what’s going on from God’s eternal perspective – James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom” (about trials).

 

*Realize that Jesus Christ must live in us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 2:20 – “I am crucified with Christ.”

 

*Find out what God’s doing and pray for Him to accomplish it. Does God intend to heal here? Does He want to straighten out this tragedy now? Later? Perhaps never? Why?

 

The holy art of prayer, or of Christian living, is to transition from the temporal to the eternal.

 

It’s accomplished by praying from the inside out. Let’s do that.

 

Pray theol

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Devotionals

Finish Well

by Julie Barrier
written by Julie Barrier

“I have fought long and hard for my Lord, and through it all I have kept true to him. And now the time has come for me to stop fighting and rest. 8 In heaven a crown is waiting for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that great day of his return. And not just to me but to all those whose lives show that they are eagerly looking forward to his coming back again.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8 LB

I’m thinking the key to the spiritual walk is not the sprint, but the marathon. Sprinters like Eric Liddell and Robert Murray McCheyne shone brightly during their short lives, but gutsy, crusty old Paul just makes me smile.

Faith is hard. It’s living like a boxer in the ring or a tackle on a football team. We love the underdog stories where the guy gets beaten down time after time, overcomes insurmountable obstacles and just keeps getting up.

That’s something I love about my two heroes-my father and my husband. Both of them were supposed to die early, but they just kept coming back, kept loving, kept giving to others and kept serving God.

Roger told our kids one day that being a grown up was about doing a bunch of stuff that you really didn’t want to do, but you did it anyway because it had to be done.

Come crisis, criticism, death threats, public slander, risk of financial ruin, tough calls and mishaps of all kinds, they both said to me, “Julie, at the end of the day, I just want to be able to say, ‘Lord, I’ve done my duty. I finished what you asked me to do whatever the cost.’”

A spiritual mother or father, like Jesus the Shepherd, will daily lay down their lives for the sheep-plump and puffy or smelly and scrawny. So, every day you get on your knees and grab onto God. Be prepared for Satan to sideswipe you and be glad when you can cruise down the road.

Faith is hard. It’s not for wimps. You’ll skin your knees or trip along the course.

But be like crusty old Paul. He was a tough old bird. Climbing mountains, shipwrecked, beaten and worse. His best work was done when the apostle was chained with a quill in his hand. His letters faced the shape of Christianity.

He said:

  1. Faith is a race. Finish it.
  2. Perseverance produces character.
  3. At the pinnacle of my walk with God, I realize that I am the chief of sinners.
  4. And above all stay standing, armed to the teeth with God’s armor.

Get on your knees, grit your teeth and grab onto God.

Remember the finish line is not the end of the race. Eternity begins. And THAT’S the starting line.

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Devotionals

Build Your House on Christ

by Julie Barrier
written by Julie Barrier

“Unless the Lord builds the house, they that build it labor in vain.” Psalm 127:1 KJV

“Unless the Lord builds” is a conditional clause. If God doesn’t lay the foundation, if Jesus is not the cornerstone of your life, you’re living on condemned property and one day you will be evicted. Jesus taught a parable about building a foundation on sand in Matthew 7:26: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” NIV

If you are your own real estate agent, you’d better think again. You may be building on sand. The rains will wash your house away. My father was a contractor by trade. When he retired, he built a home in a new suburban development. My parent’s house was the smallest in the neighborhood. Hotel-like mansions popped up around them shortly after they moved. Each showplace was replete with Porsches, country-club wives and 2.5 preppy children. Two years later, every elegant edifice had John Deere bulldozers hacking giant holes in the front yards. Workmen were shoveling dirt and concrete under cracking foundations as fast as they could. You see, those wealthy buyers looked inside the homes but not underneath them.

My father, on the other hand, knew that the soil in his neighborhood was sandy. Before he laid the foundation for his home, he poured concrete piers 150 feet beneath the foundation of his house. The only upheaval going on in his yard was transplanting gerani- ums.

A mature Christian realizes, like jaded King Solomon, that everything in life is dust—its vanity, it’s vapor. Only the godly man or woman will have deep roots like the righteous person in Psalm1:3: The godly man “will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season. And its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.” Lives built-by- God are works in progress. Laying down your life daily to the Master-Contractor is like handing Him the blueprints, and allowing Him to do His work onsite.

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Articles

How to Live with Spiritual Purpose

by John Beeson
written by John Beeson

What plan do you have for your spiritual life? Where do you want to go spiritually? And how are you going to get there?

My hunch is that most of us don’t have a plan for our spiritual life. Most of us live hoping that we’ll drift into a better spiritual life. But that is a faulty assumption. Have you drifted into losing weight? Or becoming a better father? Or into your Master’s degree?

For some reason, we think that even though we make plans for improvement and we set goals in other areas, it’s not necessary or spiritual for us to set out these kinds of plans for our spiritual walk.

Jesus himself lived an incredibly purposeful life. If you pick up the gospel of John, you see that Jesus is very sensitive to discerning and following God’s purpose for his life. His purpose was not about self-fulfillment but self-giving at the cross. In John 17:1, Jesus prays, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you.”

How do we live a spiritual life with such purpose and awareness?

Just as we need a plan to study for a business exam, or to lock in our workouts to lose weight, so we need a plan for our spiritual life. So, what’s your plan? What do you want? How are you going to grow in your understanding of God’s Word? Or how are you going to grow in your prayer life? What current habits do you have? Do they need to be changed to grow? Do you need a shock to your system? Or maybe you need to expand what you’re doing?

We need both the habits and the goal. On the one hand, there is a power in developing purposeful habits that we consistently practice over decades. On the other hand, many of our spiritual habits are without purpose or have lost their purpose. We need habits directed toward a finish line.

Paul says this to the Corinthian church:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control…[i]

That is pretty abrasive language. Are we disciplining our spiritual life so as to run the race God has called us to run with the same purpose as a marathon runner? How are you disciplining your life purposefully? The thoughtful pastor and author, Eugene Peterson, in his book, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, encourages us to look not for quick fixes or spiritual jolts, but rather for patterns of discipleship that will stand the test of time. What in your spiritual life will stand the test of time?

The first question for us then is what is the finish line? Paul says that he doesn’t run aimlessly. He had a specific aim in his spiritual life. We see in his letters that his aim was the proclamation of the gospel to the Gentiles, all the way to Rome and then Spain. Paul knew exactly where he was running. Do you?

What is your destination? What is the lasting impact you hope to have? The spiritual legacy you hope to leave your children, your friends, your church? Start by fixing the destination. For me, that has led me to write and revise a personal mission statement that reminds me of my identity of Christ and then sets my calling as a husband, father, and pastor in front of me.[ii] I don’t want to run aimlessly.

The next question is: how are we training to get to the finish line Christ has set before us?

Our tendency is to do what we’ve always done, but just as the guy with the lopsided body in the gym who only bench presses and curls and never does cardio or lower body has a body that displays that workout routine, with biceps the size of cantaloupes, a generous gut, and legs that don’t look like they should be able to support the structure, so too do many of us have spiritual routines that have created top-heavy spiritual health.

If our spiritual disciplines have created imbalances, we need a change.

Do you read the Bible every day but your prayer life is constrained to inch-deep requests to God? Do you journal daily but are disconnected from meaningful community? Do you study scripture deeply, but don’t serve the body of Christ meaningfully? When was the last time you fasted? Meditated? Memorized scripture?

Is my spiritual life aimless? Is it a lot of effort without actually moving me toward my destination?

May we dream, plan, and go after what God has for us: for his glory and our good.

Next we will dig deeper into the question of what the destination is that God is calling you to.

www.thebeehive.live.

[i] 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

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Bible Studies

Deleting Your Demons

by Tony Evans
written by Tony Evans

Introduction

Some people have a compulsion to hoard things like collectibles, sentimental items or even garbage. When someone accumulates garbage, that waste attracts insects and rodents, making a bad situation worse. In the same way, many problems people experience are caused by uncleanness and sin in their lives. The uncleanness and sin attract demons (i.e., fallen angels), and the demons take up residence in those individual’s lives. The demons amplify the sin, leading to a crisis or disintegration—depending on the scope of the uncleanness and the number of demons present. The demonic amplification develops into oppression, and the oppression causes the person to feel trapped.

The only way to resolve the demonic oppression is through a confrontation with Jesus Christ. Demons are confronted with Jesus when we worship and exalt Jesus’ person as the Son of God. Demons flee when we recognize Jesus Christ as the only One who can exercise authority over demonic influences in our lives.

While demonic oppression can only be overcome when addressed spiritually, when the oppression has been overcome, there are spiritual as well as physical and ministerial transformations. When Jesus frees us from demonic oppression, our lives will be ordered and no longer chaotic. We will be able to function and communicate properly, and we will find mental stability. We will also have desire to tell others about Jesus and exalt Him as a lifestyle. If we need relief from demonic attacks and influence, we should look no further than Jesus because only He can remove demonic oppression and bring us the transformation we so desperately need in our lives.

Getting Started

1. Have you ever received a painful hangnail or paper cut? How did it feel?

2. In what ways can collecting or hoarding be harmful?

Let’s Get Personal

1. How has this message changed your perspective of demonic oppression? What new things did you learn?

2. Are there areas in your life that are chaotic or disintegrating? What led to the chaos or disintegration in those areas?

3. After hearing this week’s sermon and understanding the impact demonic oppression can have, do you think there has been a time you experienced or witnessed demonic oppression? How did the demonic oppression affect you or the another person?

Take the Next Step

1. How can you begin to turn over the chaotic areas of your life to God to be transformed?

2. How should worship and exaltation of Jesus be a part of your lifestyle? What can you do this week to incorporate this lifestyle of worship?

3. What are some ways you can proclaim Jesus this week and witness to others about how Jesus has transformed your life?

4. Want to go deeper? Take time to look at the following passages: Matthew 12:22-28; 1 Corinthians 10:20-22; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Luke 11:24-26; Acts 16:14-21; 19:11-16; 1 John 4:1-5; 1 Timothy 4:1-5.

Renew Your Mind

“The demons implored Him, saying, ‘Send us into the swine so that we may enter them.’ Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea.”

Mark 5:12-13

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Bible Studies

Using Satan’s Tools for God’s Blessings

by Tony Evans
written by Tony Evans

Introduction

Whenever a teacher in school gave you a test, they never had much to say during the test. The teacher had nothing to say because the test was designed to show what you knew based on what the teacher taught you. Often, God uses Satan to bring difficulties into our lives to test us and deepen our experiences with God. What we sometimes fail to realize, though, is that the devil is not just the devil—he is God’s devil. So while God is awesome and holy in nature, He can use evil to bring about good, as demonstrated in Paul’s experience. God allows you, much like Paul, to be needled by thorns to keep us dependent on Him and to address actual and potential sins. Like Paul, we must endure tests from God in the form of satanic thorns. But like the master teacher He is, God has already gone before us and given us the provision we need to deal with these thorns.

Because of the gift of sufficiency and empowerment of grace, God has already equipped us—just as he did Paul—to drive us in the right direction when confronted with thorns. Therefore, whatever is needling you, God gives you all that you need to handle it and deal with it until He decides to remove it if he removes it at all. When we shift our mindset to what provision we have in Christ, we drive ourselves to prayer, praise and peace in our circumstances. God never allows us to have pain without purpose. Thus, when God allows Satan to attack you, it is an opportunity to grow in your dependence on and trust in Jesus; thus, the devil becomes a benefit to you!

Getting Started

1. Have you ever received a painful hangnail or paper cut? How did it feel?

2. Are you more attentive to your hand and finger once you have a hangnail or paper cut? Why?

Let’s Get Personal

1. When has God allowed Satan to bring a thorn in your life?

2. How would you describe your perspective of the thorns in your life prior to this message?

3. In light of this message, how do you now view the thorns in your life, past or present?

Take the Next Step

1. Do you know someone who is being needled by a thorn? How can you demonstrate God’s gift, sufficiency, and empowerment of grace to them?

2. What satanic thorns can you commit to prayer this week for yourself or others?

3. What is your go-to praise song when you feel the needling of your thorn?

4. Want to go deeper? Take time to look at the following passages: Psalm 119:67, 71, 75; Isaiah 40:29-31; John 11:4-6; Philippians 4:10-13; James 1:5; 1 John 1:5-10.

Renew Your Mind

“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

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Sermons

The Giant of Overwhelming Odds

by Skip Heitzig
written by Skip Heitzig

By now you have discovered that we who are Christians are surrounded! There seems to always be more who are against us than who are for us. We face the reality (and we feel it, too!) that we are living in enemy territory. That doesn’t give us permission to be adversarial or combative, for we’ll attract more flies with honey than with vinegar (see 2 Timothy 2:24-25). But Christians are either overcome by their unbelief or they are overcomers because of their faith. How do we navigate through life when the odds are stacked against us and circumstances seem overwhelming?

www.connectwithskip.com.

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Devotionals

Follow God’s Plan

by Tom Terry
written by Tom Terry

Getting The Lay of The Land

“The house of Joseph also went up against Bethel, and the Lord was with them. And the house of Joseph scouted out Bethel…and the spies saw a man coming out of the city, and they said to him, ‘Please show us the way into the city, and we will deal kindly with you.’ And he showed them the way into the city. And they struck the city with the edge of the sword, but they let the man and all his family go” (Judges 1:22-25).

 

In the summer of 2002 the Lord called me into a TV ministry in the country of Mongolia. I had never been to Mongolia before. I didn’t know anything about it. In fact, Mongolia seemed to be so foreign to me that I wasn’t even sure I wanted to go. So, working with the organization that operated the ministry there, I set out on a week’s journey to visit Mongolia and get the lay of the land. I wanted to find out as much about Mongolia and the TV ministry as I could before I committed to moving my family to that far away country. The Lord rewarded my work and we spent ten years ministering in Mongolia.

 

The Lord was with the tribe of Joseph. He called them to conquer the land and settle it. But he didn’t’ call them to go in blindly. Joseph set off on a plan to scout out the land so he would know its weaknesses and strengths so he would know how to plan his conquest.

 

What has God called you to? What opportunities lay before you that you want to pursue? Instead of just going in blindly, take some time to scoot things out. When Jesus called his disciples he didn’t simply send them out in his name. He spent three years training them. When God called Paul to missionary service he spent years training him in the desert. Even today when God calls pastors, most of them go to seminary to be trained, and then visit the churches they are called to before making a commitment. Scouting things out is a wise practice, to see how God might use you.

 

Memory Verse

 

“It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out” (Proverbs 25:2).

 

Application

 

Whatever your situation, don’t stumble into things blindly. Take time to research what you will do and the opportunities that lie before you. Then, make a careful, wise, and informed decision.

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Articles

My Miraculous Missionary Story

by Tom Terry
written by Tom Terry

I never would have believed God could use me! I didn’t grow up in church. In fact, I was an atheist as a young man. I stumbled into a midweek evangelism meeting because I wondered why so many cars filled a church parking lot. That’s where I met Jesus. And that’s how I met pastor Roger Barrier. My ministry story is nothing short of astonishing. I hope that Christ could convince you that you can see God work in your life more than you can imagine.

’ve been in broadcasting for 37 years in Arizona, New Mexico, and Turkey, with ten of those years in Mongolia serving as manager of Eagle Television, the first independent TV station in that country following the fall of communism.

Eagle TV was the first independent TV station in Mongolia that was not owned by politicians or programmed by government officials. Because Eagle TV was independent it afforded me a special status. I had everything in Mongolia that a TV manager could want.

In Mongolia I had status, power, finances, powerful friends, and powerful enemies. I interacted with ambassadors, parliament members, presidents, and prime ministers. I was awarded with medals twice by the Mongolian government, including once from the President who also gave me a signed letter of recommendation.

I had a staff of 136 people and a budget around $70,000 a month to use for our ministry. We saw thousands of people become familiar with the Gospel and our ministry planted 50 new church groups. Anywhere from 9% to 23% of people responding to our call center made professions of faith in Christ. It was all I could have hoped for and more. Yet, after ten years, it was time to leave Mongolia and return to the States for a new ministry assignment.

I’ll come back to Mongolia in a moment.

Now

I currently serve at the headquarters of Cru in Orlando, in two capacities:

(1) Director of Global Broadcast Strategy for the Jesus Film Project.

(2) Broadcast Consultant for Christian radio and TV in the developing world.

My role is to help facilitate the airing of the JESUS Film, and several other films, on TV stations all around the world. Our goal is to give every person who sees our films a chance to say yes to Jesus. Let me give you a little background on the JESUS Film.

The JESUS Film

The JESUS Film, first released in theaters in 1978 has been called the most accurate depiction of the life of Christ ever put to film. It is still shown all over the world in a variety of venues to tell people the story of Jesus.

Why is the JESUS Film important for evangelism and fulfilling the Great Commission? Because it is the single most effective evangelism tool ever created in the history of the church. JESUS has been viewed over 7 billion times, more than any other film in the history of the motion picture industry.

600 million people have made decisions for Christ after seeing the JESUS Film.

60% of all new church plants involve a JESUS Film showing.

In my current role as director of Global Broadcast Strategy, since 2016, JESUS has been viewed or heard over 850 million times through TV and radio in 155 countries.

Starting in 2022, our goal is to have 500 million people a year see the story of JESUS on television.

Engagement

94% of people watching TV watch with a device in their hands—a tablet or smartphone.

71% of people watching TV are looking up information on their device about what they are watching. In case you think that’s not a lot, consider this: In a country where 10 million people might be watching JESUS, 7.1 million are looking up information about the film or about Jesus while they are watching.

41% are messaging family and friends about what they are watching. Prior to the age of the Internet, we could only address those who were watching at that moment. But because of how people are using their smart devices while they are watching, we are picking up millions of additional people seeing the films that we might not have reached before.

In view of this behavior, we place website addresses and WhatsApp numbers on many of our films so that we can direct people where to go to learn more about Jesus.

Some Results

Since 1979 over 600 million have made decisions for Christ watching the JESUS Film.

Our West Africa broadcasts of JESUS in December 2020 saw 634 people in Nigeria, Ghana, and Liberia sign up online for discipleship materials to help them grow in their faith.

In 2017 in Orissa, India a showing of JESUS to 11 million people on TV resulted in more than 4,000 phone calls from people wanting to know more about Christ.

Our December 2020 airing of the JESUS Audio Drama resulted in more than 4,700 calls and emails from people in dozens of countries wanting to know more about Jesus and looking for discipleship.

During 2020, 42% of all viewings of JESUS happened through broadcast! That’s near half of all views of the film globally.

In 2019, 22 million people made decisions to follow Chris through the JESUS Film.

Testimonies

“I have studied Islam and discovered that it is not the truth. I listened to the drama about the life of Jesus. I’m scared to believe in Jesus, but I know that Jesus brings comfort and peace.”

“My husband never liked to listen with me to your programs, but the JESUS drama has moved him very much. There are very few gospel radios, but I believe that the Spirit of God works through you. You should air JESUS often, more often, as often as possible.”

“I was released from prison on Sunday. I heard Luke’s Gospel (JESUS), and the world has made sense again.”

“One of my friends used to be very negative about anything I tried to share with him, and totally rejected the idea of Jesus’ death. But eventually, after many years of friendship, he started to show some interest in stories about Jesus. Every time we would study a story together, he would show more and more understanding and interest. I knew that it was a very sensitive topic, but eventually I shared the Good News with him about Jesus’ willingness to bear everyone’s sin on the cross. I was hoping he would not be offended at my boldness, but to my surprise he said, “Oh yes, I believe that. I’ve believed it for quite a while.” “I was shocked and wondered how he could have changed his mind so dramatically. He told me, ‘It’s true that I used to be confused about Jesus. But then I started watching the JESUS film on TV every night. I learned about the history of what happened and then I understood. It’s true, Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for sin and if we follow him, he will take responsibility for our sin.’”

Here is a brief story about an Iranian man who was watching the JESUS Film in Iran on TV. “Mohsen was addicted to drugs for many years. He tried AA meetings, going to boot camps, nothing helped. Watching the JESUS Film on Mohabat TV, he prayed; ‘Lord, if you really are who you claim to be, please set me free of this addiction!’ The next day he was sober and has never again used drugs to this day. He witnessed to his friends that only Jesus can set them free, and many have come to faith as a result of his testimony.”

Comparison

Now, let me draw a comparison with our Mongolia work.

I noted earlier that our ministry in Mongolia saw many thousands exposed to the Gospel with many coming to Christ. We had a budget of $70,000 a month to make our ministry work. However, when we left Mongolia after ten years, everything changed.

Upon leaving Mongolia, we lost 90% of our personal ministry support. We nearly drained our bank account in the first year just to make ends meet. But once we got resettled in the US, I began working with JESUS Film Project on global broadcast strategy. And something remarkable happened.

When I reported to Orlando, I was given a tiny workspace, no assistants, no staff, no authority, and no budget. Yet, in the last six years we’ve had over 850 million views of our films in 155 countries. The Lord gave us partnerships with key people around the world to make our efforts for television possible. Millions have come to faith in Christ because of our TV showings.

The lesson: You don’t need a big office or powerful friends to make a difference for Christ. You don’t need a big budget or massive resources, you just need the partnership and support of the right people, willingness, faithfulness, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Look at the Apostle Paul: When he got started, he had no office, no staff, no car, or smart phone, or plane, or horses, and no budget. He likely walked from country to country. Yet, Paul did have three important things:

(1) He had a sending church,

(2) He had partnerships, and

(3) He had the leading of the Holy Spirit.

With just these three things Paul changed the world.

If you get involved in fulfilling the Great Commission, you may have precious few resources to use to bring those you know to faith in Christ. But if you walk faithfully, trusting the Holy Spirit for your efforts, you too can see fruit from that faithfulness.

To learn more about how to support our ministry, please visit www.thomasterry.com.

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Devotionals

Are You Living in the Flesh or in the Spirit?

by Neil Anderson
written by Neil Anderson

SO I SAY, WALK BY THE SPIRIT, AND YOU WILL NOT GRATIFY THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH.
GALATIANS 5:16

One of the most dangerous heresies that confronted the Early Church in the second century was Gnosticism. The Gnostics taught that the spirit is good and that matter is evil. Therefore, our natural bodies are evil, but God is good because He is a Spirit. Salvation comes by special knowledge (gnosis is Greek for “knowledge”) that enables us to escape from the body. The Gnostics denied the fact that Christ came in the flesh. Anyone who did not acknowledge Jesus as coming in the flesh was a deceiver (see 1 John 4:1-3; 2 John 1:7).

 Some people influenced by Gnosticism taught that Jesus only seemed to have a body—a heretical view called Docetism. Others held that the “divine Jesus” joined the “man Jesus” at His baptism and left before the “man Jesus” died—a heresy called Cerinthianism. Because the body was evil, it was to be treated harshly.

The term “flesh” has many meanings in Scripture. In some instances it refers to the physical body. At times it refers to the whole person. John said of Jesus, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). In such uses there is no concept of sinfulness or evil. Jesus never sinned, and His body was never evil.

The common thread for all the uses of the word “flesh” is the idea of weakness or a transitory nature. Compared to the spirit, which denotes life and power, the flesh is weak. It is this concept of weakness that has contributed to the use of the term “flesh” for that which is sinful or contrary to God. Humans, as flesh, are not only frail as creatures but also frail morally. Apart from God, humans are no match for the power of sin and consequently come under its bondage.

The use of the word “flesh” in reference to humankind’s propensity to sin is prominent in the New Testament (this is translated in the New International Version as “old nature” or “sin nature” in such cases). It may be defined as existence apart from God. It represents our “old nature” before coming to Christ when we were “in Adam” or “in the flesh.” Paul wrote, “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him” (Romans 8:8-9, NASB, emphasis added). In that one verse, Paul described the Trinity, interchanging “Spirit of God” with “Spirit of Christ.” Because all believers are “in Christ,” they are also “in the Spirit.”

In Galatians 5:17, Paul wrote, “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another” (NASB). They are in opposition because the Holy Spirit and God the Father are one. The flesh is self-centered and functions independently of God. The flesh seeks life on human terms and standards rather than on God’s.

Our bodies are not sinful, but our minds retain certain flesh patterns that we learned before we came to Christ. In addition, we still have certain physical cravings that we have to subdue. Satan will work through those mental flesh patterns and cravings enticing us to live independently of God.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What was Gnosticism? How did it represent a problem for the Early Church?

  2. What does the term “flesh” mean in Scripture?

  3. How can you know whether you are living according to the flesh or living according to the Spirit?

  4. Why do you still have the propensity to sin? Do you believe you have the power to say no to sin? Why or why not?

  5. How can you manage self-control if it is a fruit of the Spirit?

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Devotionals

You Can Experience Spiritual Victory!

by John MacArthur
written by John MacArthur

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy word. . . . Thy word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee” (Ps. 119:9, 11).

Scripture is the source of spiritual victory.

Many Christians struggle with spiritual defeat or recurring sins because they haven’t learned to apply biblical principles to specific situations. Perhaps they don’t know God’s will because they haven’t matured in the Word. Or maybe they know what He expects of them but disregard His counsel. In either case, the result is the same.

Jesus Himself repelled Satan’s attacks by quoting specific portions of Scripture that applied to specific temptations (Matt. 4:1-11). He knew the Word, believed it, and refused to compromise its principles. In so doing He set a pattern for us to follow.

Using metaphorical language, the apostle John emphasized the priority of the Word when he described three levels of spiritual maturity: children, young men, and fathers. In 1 John 2:13 he says, “I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.” Spiritual children aren’t yet mature in their faith, but they know who their Heavenly Father is. They know they belong to God.

John continues: “I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one” (v. 14). Spiritual young men are healthy, vibrant, and aggressive because the Word abides in them—it has found a home in their hearts. They’re victorious over the evil one because their doctrine is sound and they’ve cultivated spiritual wisdom and discernment (Phil. 1:9). They recognize Satan’s lies and reject them.

First John 2:14 says, “I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning.” Spiritual fathers have a deep, mature relationship with God that comes from prolonged time in prayer and the Word.

Which of those terms best describes you: spiritual child, young man, or father? What specific things can you do today to move toward a more mature and victorious Christian life?

Suggestions for Prayer

Ask God to help you love Him more deeply and know His Word more completely. Therein is the key to spiritual victory.

For Further Study

Memorize Psalm 119:11. Recite it often as a reminder of the priority of hiding God’s Word in your heart.

From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.
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Bible Studies

How to Examine Our Hearts: 1 John

by Tom Terry
written by Tom Terry

Let’s do a little Bible study together through I John 3:19-4:4. First, let’s look at our passage.

By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

Test the Spirits

4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

EXAMINATION

Let’s break down our passage verse by verse, looking for the main theme in our passage.

(v.19-20) “By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.”

Every person who is a true Christian will be convicted about their sin, even during their Christian experience. If we have no conviction about our sin, then we may take that as a sign that perhaps we are not really in Christ. But, in this passage there is also hope. Because John says, “God is greater than our heart.” In other words, the believer has the forgiveness of God.

Then John goes on to say (v.21), “If our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God.”

Here is the opposite. If we have no conviction about specific sins, then we should not worry and can be confident that our relationship with God is unbroken, uninterrupted.

(v.22) “We keep his commandments and do what pleases him.”

First, I want to ask, what pleases the Lord? Do we want God to take pleasure in our lives? We can recall what kind of joy and happiness we have when we see our kids or our grandkids learning and experiencing life and doing good. Imagine that same kind of reaction that you have being the kind of reaction that God has when he looks at your life, through Christ. He feels pleasure about your life as you follow and love him.

Now, notice something else in this passage. Three times in two verses John uses the word, command. (v.23-24). “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God.”

Remember that in the past we’ve said when something is repeated it is important. So, let’s stop down and ask why John uses the word, command so often in just two short verses. Look at the structure. First, he says to believe in Jesus is his command. Then he says to love one another is his command. Then he broadens it to saying that he who keeps these commands abides in God.

Consider these questions: How can God “command” us to love him? Isn’t love an expression of the heart? Aren’t there people we love and don’t love and can’t help ourselves either way? Why is it legitimate for God to “command” us to love him?

“God does not want us to perform for him; he wants us to please him. He wants our obedience to arise out of love for him not merely out of obligation” (“Sure of Victory,” Bible Studies for Life, Senior Adults, Fall 2021).

(v.24) “By this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.”

Here is a follow-up to his use of the word command. John finalizes his statement by saying that the Spirit is within us. We follow his commands because the Holy Spirit indwells us. It is actually God who makes love for others, possible. When we were in Mongolia, I was challenged to love someone who was my enemy.

I was accused of a crime by a former employee. She filed 46 counts of slander against me. In Mongolia slander is a criminal offense that carries a sentence of as long as 10 years in prison. Thankfully, the prosecutor threw out the case since there was nothing to it. But God had to work on my heart. I had to learn how to love this person, and forgive her, by faith. Eventually we reconciled and forgave one another our wrongs. It was only possible for me to forgive her through the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus, I can abide in love for someone who made me their enemy because of the power of the Holy Spirit to work forgiveness in my heart.

(4:1) “Do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.”

What kinds of “tests” can we do to know that we are in Christ? And what are the tests we need to use to determine false prophets and teachers from the genuine?

Now, there are two things going on here. First, we test ourselves to be sure we are in the kingdom. But these same tests can be applied to others to see if they are in the kingdom as well. So, let’s go through some tests we can apply to ourselves and others so that we can know if someone, or if we, are truly Christians. First, an example.

I had an employee who confessed that she was a Christian. Said she was a Christian but in our last meeting she said about Jesus, “I hate him. He never did anything for me. I hate him.” Though she made a profession of faith down the isle, in reality, she was not a believer. No true believer can say they hate the Lord. I Corinthians 12:3 says, “I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says, ‘Jesus is accursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit.” My friend failed the test of being a true Christian.

John has already given us a few tests in our passage.

Verse 20 gives a first test. It says, “For whenever our heart condemns us.” When we are convicted about our sin it demonstrates that we are sensitive to the Spirit’s conviction.

Verse 22 says, “We do what pleases him.” What pleases God?

Verse 24, “Whoever keeps his commandments.” What does it mean to keep God’s commandments?

Verse 24, “The Spirit is within us.” How do we know we have the Spirit? We know by faith, trusting Jesus words when he says the Spirit will come to those who believe.

Carefully consider what John says here: (vs.2-3) “Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.”

There are other tests so that we may be assured of our salvation or know if someone is a true believer or not.

Test by the scriptures. Acts 17:11 says, “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” If we examine our lives against the teachings of Jesus, what do we come away with? The people in this passage, the Bereans, tested the apostle Paul’s teaching against scripture and came to a positive conclusion about who Jesus is. We can do the same thing with our lives.

Does it take away or add to scripture? Revelation 22:18-19 says, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”

When you consider your life or the life of another against scripture, are you tempted to reject, or disregard, or ignore a passage because it makes you uncomfortable or contradicts something in your life? This is no different than changing scripture itself. We must not bend the scripture to fit our desires. And we must not bend ourselves to fit scripture. Instead, we must be broken before the Lord, submitting everything to God in totality. Break, not bend.

We have the conviction of the Holy Spirit about who Jesus is. John 16:8-9 says, “When [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me…” If you have no conviction about who Jesus is then that is a warning sign that something might be wrong.

There is a major test of authenticity that God gave us through Moses in Deuteronomy 18. It is the first test we are given about the genuineness of a prophet or teacher, and we may apply it to our own hearts as well. Deuteronomy 18:20-22 says, “The prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.”

Here are more tests that we can apply to ourselves to see whether or not we, or someone else, are in Christ.

We talk about the Lord. Notice what Moses said about this in Deuteronomy 6:7. “You shall
teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and
when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

Surround myself with things of the Lord. “You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:8-9).

Love the scripture. Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 32:47 about the place that scripture should have in our lives. Scripture, speaking of itself says, “This is not an idle word for you. Indeed, it is your life.” Jesus reiterated this when he said, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word…whoever does not love me does not keep my words” (John 14:23-24). Here’s one more from Deuteronomy, “These words that I command you today shall be on your heart” (Deuteronomy 6:6).

Bring my thoughts under the control of the Holy Spirit. What do you think about the most?

How often in a day, or even a week, do you contemplate spiritual things? The Apostle Paul said in II Corinthians 10:5, “Take every thought captive to obey Christ.” When we are faced with temptation or have troubling thoughts that disturb us, we should be engaged in intentionally submitting our thought life to the control of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes this takes work. We all have bad thoughts from time to time. When this occurs, we should confess them to God and begin to think of scripture or biblical principles that are the opposite of what we are struggling with. For instance, if I feel the temptation coming on, I say to myself, “No. I don’t want to go there. I will think and commit acts of faithfulness.”

We want others to love the Lord.

Consider what Jesus said in the Great Commission. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). This principle is built into the Christian experience. It is the primary command in scripture that tells us what we should be doing with our Christian life. If you have no desire for others to know Jesus, or to grow to maturity in Christ, then you may not have your heart right with the Lord.

Love others as Jesus loved us. This is a little different than what I just mentioned. Jesus raised the bar when he said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34). How did Jesus love us? He sacrificed himself for us on the cross. What greater love is there than this?

Now, to be honest, this is probably the hardest way to love someone. And we don’t usually come upon it early in our Christian experience. But we should at least be growing in this direction. So, check yourself. Are you willing to become this kind of person? Consider the example of Jesus who forgave those who crucified him. Think about this for a moment. This is the first thing Jesus said from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Jesus decided to forgive them while they were in the process of murdering him at that very moment. What a difficult thing to do. Just like forgiving my employee, but the Holy Spirit can empower us to do that very thing.

But a word of caution: When we examine the life of others, we should be careful that we do not do what the apostle Paul warned against. That is, “Do not pronounce judgment before the time” I Corinthians 4:5 says, “Do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.”

There are some of whom it is obvious that they are not Christians, or they are open about their rebellion from Christ. These are the obvious who are not saved. But there are others who say they are Christians, but we have trouble seeing the fruit of that confession. We must be careful that we don’t accidentally judge them wrongly.

(v.4) “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

The one who is in us is the Holy Spirit. The one who is in the world is the Evil One, the spirit of the antichrist as John mentioned in 4:3. The world cannot overcome you because the world system, which is run by the enemy, will some day pass away, but you, sealed with the Spirit, will live forever.

INTERPRETATION

What is John’s Big Idea? I think we can take away two major lessons that John wants us to remember.

1. You can know, beyond a doubt, that you, or someone else, is a Christian.

2. You can know, beyond a doubt, that you, or someone else, is not a Christian.

Notice John’s progression in the text. He discusses the condition of our hearts, even using the word, “confidence,” about our relationship to God (v.3:21). Then he moves to what pleases the Lord, obeying his commands, then he gives a second assurance about abiding in Christ. How do we abide? By doing what he just commanded.

Then he moves to testing the spirits, which includes testing ourselves.

If you are in agreement with these things that test us, then you can know you are a Christian and do not need to entertain any doubt. But if you find that these principles are not growing in you, then you may have reason to doubt, or perhaps you are in a phase where you may be ignoring what God is doing in your life. Either way, the scripture gives us encouragement that we can get on the right track. In 4:5-6 John says:

“They are from the world; therefore, they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”

So too, we can know by these guidelines, these tests, if we are truly in Christ or not.

APPLICATION

Now, the tests presented in our passage are actually meant to apply to others. However, we must first always examine ourselves before others. So, I will apply these to us. But they can also be applied to others. Our application is rather simple. Test yourselves to see if you are in the kingdom. Go through each of these principles and answer honestly to yourself, does my life reflect this truth? If not, what must I do to make it true in my life?

1. Verse 20 gives a first test. Does my heart condemn me or not condemn me?

2. Verse 2, do I do what pleases God?

3. Verse 24, do I keep his commandments?

4. 4:2-3, Do I confess that Jesus Christ has come in human form?

5. Test myself by the scriptures. Acts 17:11 Do I define my beliefs by scripture?

6. Do I take away or add to scripture? I.E., do I prefer culture over commands?

7. Do I have the conviction of the Holy Spirit about who Jesus is?

8. Do I talk about the Lord?

9. Do I surround myself with things of the Lord?

10. Do I love the scripture?

11. Do I bring my thoughts under the control of the Holy Spirit?

12. Do I want others to love the Lord?

13. Do I love others as Jesus loved us?

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Articles

Welcome to McChurch!

by John Beeson
written by John Beeson

The days of being buried in the church where you were baptized and married are long gone for most. Ours is the age of the McChurch.

There are realities embedded in that truth that are good and bad alike. Every cultural location has its own blessings and challenges.

Believe it or not, I don’t think that the problems attendant with our consumerism are wholly bad. Imagine, for instance, how difficult it would to have your congregation embrace the truth that each member is part of a “royal priesthood” (1 Pet 2:9) in France circa 1200 AD. Why would that be so difficult? Because in that culture serfdom would have permeated the identity of the congregation. In a congregation of serfs, it may be easy for them to understand their identity as servants of Christ, but far more challenging for them to internalize the truth that they are priests.

Let’s consider then how our cultural identity as consumers impacts the way we engage with the local church. How does our McDonald’s world shape us?

Here are five statements that shape us as consumers:

1)      “I’m broken, therefore I shop.” We look for churches that latch onto our deficits, insecurities, and offer fulfillment to those desires. The pulpit has always been a place where the timeless truth intersects with the cultural questions of the day, but that reality has been heightened in a consumer-driven world. The blessing of this is that the Word of God does offer healing for our brokenness. The problem is that we can be drawn not to the whole counsel of God, but only those portions that we believe help us at any given moment.

2)      “I shop with others.” Our consumerism is driven by our pre-existing social networks. Unless you are completely new to a town and without a social network, your church shopping is driven by your network of friends. We go where we are already connected and accepted. In fact, it is totally normal that one frequents several churches where one connects with different sets of friends. The gift of this is that we can step into connected life together in the family of God more naturally. The problem with this is that the family of God is far more than just those who look like us and have similar interests. And our commitments to the people of God ought to be far thicker than even our commitment to our friends.

3)      “I shop therefore I am.” Consuming shapes identity. We the consumer ask that the hour and fifteen minutes we spend in the worship center on Sunday morning create and be sufficient in shaping our Christian identity and experience. It should provide for us the feelings and catharsis we desire. The goodness in this is we come with the expectation of an identity-forming experience. The problem is that we are not willing to do the work to become the people we are called to be the other six days.

4)      “I am in control.” We are in charge when we shop. We choose the product, the store, and even how quickly it is delivered. We will serve the church and engage in calls to action, but only when we feel as though our needs are being met and that we can trust the leaders. The gift of this can be a healthy sense of ownership. The problem can be the lack of a servant’s heart and submission to authority.

There are a number of weaknesses attendant with trying to be faithful Christians in the culture we live in.

What would it look like to truly live lives where we are so invested in one another that we are characterized by our exhortation of one another (Heb 3:13), by our consistent commitment to gather together (Heb 10:25), by our sharing meals and possessions with one another, and praying with one another (Acts 2:42-45)? That community would stand out starkly from the world we live in. Perhaps that strangeness might have a compelling quality. Is it something that you long for? I bet there is something in you that wants to experience that type of community.

This engagement and giving of ourselves to our brothers and sisters in meaningful long-term relationships cannot happen as long as we are consumers of the product of our local churches and not participants and ministers of the gospel (Eph 4:12). When we stand as consumers of a product that is offered, we will never engage and own the ministry to which we are called. To paraphrase (rather cornily, I admit), John F. Kennedy, we should ask not what the church can do for us, rather ask what we can do for the church.

Churches and congregants alike can’t avoid the reality of the consumerist sea we swim in. But both those in church leadership and those who fill the worship centers are called to an awareness of and to fight against our impulses. We are no mere spiritual shopping mall, but are in fact “living stones… built up as a spiritual house” (1 Pet 2:4). Let us not, fellow Esaus, sell our birthright for the McStew offered us by McChurch.

www.thebeehive.live.

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Devotionals

Starting and Ending Well

by Skip Heitzig
written by Skip Heitzig

To call someone a fool is serious business. Jesus warned against it in the Sermon on the Mount: “Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matthew 5:22). But it’s quite another matter when someone refers to himself or herself that way.

Such is the case in 1 Samuel 26, where King Saul said to David, “I have sinned…. Indeed I have played the fool and erred exceedingly” (v. 21). Those last nine words form an autobiographical statement of Saul’s life. In fact, they form a banner statement of anyone who squanders the call of God on their life.

Saul started out so well. He had such advantages at his disposal, both naturally (see 1 Samuel 9:1-2, 21; 10:20-23) and supernaturally (see 1 Samuel 10:6-7, 9, 26). So what caused him to be so remorseful at the end of his life? How did he “play the fool”?

First, Saul played the fool by arrogance. He started out humble, but the more elevated he became, the greater he declined inwardly. He took the credit for a victory his son Jonathan earned (see 1 Samuel 13:3-4). He sacrificed a burnt offering—a job only a priest was allowed to do (see 1 Samuel 13:7-14). He built a monument to himself (see 1 Samuel 15:12).

Saul also played the fool by indifference. In one bizarre story, he didn’t seem to care that his son Jonathan would die by his own command (see 1 Samuel 14:1-46). In addition, Saul played the fool by outright disobedience. In 1 Samuel 15, he disobeyed the prophet Samuel and then tried to use spiritual words and shift the blame when he was called out on it (see vv. 13-15).

Finally, Saul played the fool by preeminence. He couldn’t stand it if somebody else got the attention, and nowhere was this jealousy more obvious than in his relationship with David (see 1 Samuel 18:6-11; 19:9-10).

Was there anything Saul could have done so that he wouldn’t have ended up saying, “I have played the fool and erred exceedingly”? Let me give you four important points:

1. Saul should have lived before his God. He mentioned God. He acknowledged God. He even praised God. But there’s no evidence that he allowed God to rule in his life or that he had a healthy fear and reverence of the Lord.

2. Saul should have learned from his past. Twice he said, “I have sinned” (see 15:24, 30), but he never did anything about it or tried, by God’s grace, to change his behavior.

3. Saul should have leaned on his friends, but he wouldn’t have anything to do with befriending those around him.

4. Saul should have looked after his character. Instead, he looked after his reputation. How he looked to other people on the outside was more important to him than who he really was on the inside.

Let me tell you: you don’t have to end up like Saul. No matter how you’ve begun or what you’ve experienced in the middle, you can end well. You can choose wisdom over foolishness. And it can all start right here, right now, before God. Simply and humbly acknowledge that you need God’s help, and He will walk with you and give you the power to overcome.

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Rear view man under life crisis problems stand facing leaning against brown brick wall pounding smashing , hands raised up, wants to overcome obstacle, reach a goal, leader, motivation. Looking up.
Devotionals

Have You Hit a Wall?

by Christine Caine
written by Christine Caine

I love to run—with friends, alone, on a trail, anytime, anywhere.

I love the challenge and the press of reaching new milestones and levels of exertion, so I know what it’s like to hit a wall. It’s that roadblock moment mid-run that’s actually a form of a collapse of the entire system: body and form, brains and emotion. Your legs feel like concrete, your breathing becomes labored, and you begin to shuffle. It’s where the brain works fine, but the legs up and quit.

When you hit a wall, you have two choices: keep going even though you feel your strides shift into small steps, or give into all the negative thoughts flooding your mind and stop. Your body is responding to the press—and it’s telling you it needs the energy to overcome.

Sometimes, in pursuit of our purpose and destiny, we hit a wall, too. Where once we were full of energy and faith, we suddenly realize we’re not moving forward as fast as we once were. And the wall begins to talk to us night and day: “You cannot get over me, you cannot get around me, you cannot get through me.”

Whatever our wall is, it’s in those moments that we have a critical decision to make. We can cave into discouragement and all the negative thoughts and quit. Or, we can look to the Lord who knows the solutions and how to bring down even the toughest walls. 

He proved he can in Joshua 6 when the children of Israel hit the mother of all walls—the walls of Jericho.

Jericho was a city inside the Promised Land with walls made of heavy, mud bricks—30 feet at its highest, 5 feet at its thickest. And it looked just as impossible to them as your wall does to you.

But impossible is what God does (Mark 9:23).

To bring down the wall, God instructed them to: “March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in” (Joshua 6:3-5).

And it worked. “By faith, the walls of Jericho fell after the people had marched around them for seven days” (Hebrews 11:30).

God wants your wall to come down as much as you do, but it will require faith—just like it did for the Israelites. When the walls did fall, it was after seven days of preparation—of God working in them and through them.

Let him do the same in you. Let him use these five steps to build your faith and bring down your walls.

1. LOOK UP AND FALL DOWN.

Before the children of Israel marched around the city, Joshua was surveilling the walls, and as he looked up, Jesus appeared to him as a man of war (Joshua 5). When Joshua realized who he was, he immediately fell face down in humility and surrender. Like Joshua, look up and see the one who can give you a plan. Then fall face down letting go and giving all the control to God, trusting him.

2. WILLINGLY OBEY.

Jesus will give you a plan, so make sure you’re prepared for unconventional instructions and unconditional obedience. Marching around a city, blowing horns and shouting had no military value, but it worked. I have discovered that strange plans call for strong faith, but we can always trust what God tells us to do.

3. WALK AND DON’T TALK.

Even though God promised Jericho would be delivered into their hands, they had to keep walking—they had to take the first step of faith and continue for seven days in silence (Joshua 6:2). Sometimes we have to keep walking in the right order, along the right path, for the right amount of time—even when nothing changes. Like the Israelites, we have to learn patience and diligence—and see the victory by faith before we experience it. God wants us to see his promise to us as bigger than the obstacle we’re facing.

4. REMEMBER GOD IS IN YOUR MIDST.

When the Israelites marched, the priests led the march carrying the Ark of the Covenant which represented the presence of God. Having the Ark out front was God saying, “I am leading the charge.” It was God who made all the difference at Jericho, and it’s God who will make all the difference in your life. It does not matter how big your wall is, God is with you, and no wall is too big for him. He is fighting for you!

5. JUST TAKE ANOTHER LAP.

With each lap the Israelites took, the walls did not get smaller—but they kept taking laps anyway. So don’t grow weary in your well doing, even when you feel like you’re in a holding pattern (Galatians 6:9). Every lap you make around your walls is strengthening your faith, because there’s power in doing the same thing over and over. It’s the process God uses to build your faith muscles. Even though God tore down the walls at Jericho, the people still had to march, shout and take the city. So keep putting your faith in action and take another lap.

Yes, God could have knocked the walls of Jericho down the first day, but he had a bigger purpose in mind. He wanted the people to grow in their faith, to keep going regardless of how they felt, to look to him to tear down the walls.

And that’s what he wants from you too—even when your stride slows down to a shuffle. So keep going. Keep believing. Keep propelling forward. Your wall is coming down.

www.propelwomen.org.

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Devotionals

How to Be Strong in the Lord

by John MacArthur
written by John MacArthur

“Be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God” (Eph. 6:10-11).

Spiritual victory is not passive; it involves the discipline of daily obedience to Christ and His Word.

When I was a child, my father and I watched a boxing match on television. After going through the ritual of punching the air, kicking his feet, and putting rosin on his shoes, one of the fighters knelt in the corner and crossed himself. I asked my dad if that helped. He said, “It does if he can punch. If he can’t punch, it doesn’t help at all.”

That illustrates a point we touched on yesterday and will explore further today: God’s part and our part in spiritual warfare. Many Christians believe that spiritual victory comes simply by surrendering more completely to God. They quote verses like 2 Chronicles 20:15 to support their view: “The battle is not yours but God’s.” “Stop struggling and striving,” they say. “Instead, yield and completely surrender yourself to God. He alone does the fighting and gives the victory.”

Such people are often called “Quietists” because they view the Christian’s role in spiritual warfare as passive or quiet. Their anthem is “Let go and let God.”

But Scripture gives a very different view of the believer’s role. It pictures the Christian life as a war, a race, and a fight. We depend on God’s energy, power, and strength, but are by no means passive. We’re commanded to apply ourselves to good deeds, resist the devil, bring our bodies under subjection, walk in wisdom, press toward the prize, cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, work out our salvation with fear and trembling, and perfect holiness in the fear of God. Those are calls to fervent action.

In Ephesians 6:10-11 Paul says, “Be strong in the . . . strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God.” That’s the balance. God supplies the resources; we supply the effort.

Suggestions for Prayer

  • Thank God for the strength He gives for spiritual victory.
  • Ask for His wisdom in living a balanced Christian life.

For Further Study

Read 2 Peter 1:3-7.

  • What does God supply for Christian living?
  • What must you as a believer supply?

gty.org. rom Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993.

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Sermons

How to Stand When Others Fall

by Skip Heitzig
written by Skip Heitzig

If you have ever tried to walk straight while aboard a ship being tossed by the ocean’s waves, you know how hard that is. The motion around you challenges the strength and the stability within you. If the New Testament repeatedly warns against falling away (see Matthew 13:1-9, 24-30; 1 John 2:18-19), if the apostles predicted that many would “depart from the faith” (1 Timothy 4:1; see also 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Timothy 3:1-14), what are we to do? Jude gives his audience a five-fold corrective for when people around you (even in the church) seem to be dropping like flies, carried by the current of this world.

Preached at Calvary Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

https://connectwithskip.com.

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Bible Studies

Blooming in Scorched Places (Bloom in the Desert 5)

by Jan Shrader
written by Jan Shrader

Yellowed and shriveled up, the sight before me was inconceivable. The cactus looked dead but was flush with flowers. Gently and carefully my coworker moved around the thorns to pick up the forgotten pot and return it to retail. The soil had shrunk and its dryness made the plastic container easy for her to lift, but the cactus hung precariously over the edge of the pot and seemed eager to plop out. It desperately needed to be transplanted. Why was this homely and neglected cactus, mysteriously in full bloom?

I often found my coworkers’ scope of knowledge about cultivating cacti was better than searching google. From my perspective, it seemed like my co-workers were all plant savants. Resolving the bizarre mystery of why this half-dead cactus was flowering was a good example of their innate wisdom. Back in the retail section, my boss explained that plants often go into bloom because of stress and drought conditions. Blooming is often a last-ditch effort by a species to reproduce itself, because blooming is the first step in producing seeds which allow the species to survive. You can’t grow seed from a plant without first growing a blossom, after the bloom the fruit grows and finally from the fruit comes the seed.

Blooming is hard work for any plant. Producing fruit is even harder and it takes a lot of resources. Unfortunately, like the desert flora it often can be stress that causes us to bloom. Flowering is something we naturally do when we are close to death. It might be the death of a dream or it might be a physical death, but we blossom and show our true colors when we are near the end of life as we know it.

The first time I witnessed this principle was when our young pastor and his wife, Roger and Julie Barrier, lost their first child. During that awful tragedy I watched our church grow spiritually as well as numerically because Roger and Julie were learning lessons only discovered when you survive a death.

It was while I was caring for my dying my parents that I first caught a glimpse of my own desert flowers. Near the end of their lives I was also busy teaching two different Bible studies. Friends often suggested I take a break from teaching during this stressful season, but I was experiencing the presence of God as I studied for teaching and those times of refreshment were sustaining me. Both studies flourished in spite of my deep sorrow and one even experienced an evangelism explosion. I hated losing my parents, but during their death I also witnessed God’s favor.

Recently, I have experienced another great loss, the love of my life and my husband, Gary Shrader, died of a brain tumor. Though I am sad, I am grateful he is no longer suffering. Surprisingly though, during my grief I am able to reset my priorities and again catch the scent of desert blooms.

Isaiah 58:11 says, “And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.” ESV

One of the many purposes of blooming spiritually is to manufacture seeds for the next generation, so faith can survive and reproduce again and again. In a parched land we wake up and realize how short is the time we have to make a difference, how fleeting are the days we can live for Jesus. Facing the reality of a loss allows us to see the true condition of our surroundings and with a sobered heart we now can pray with genuine surrender.

In our last lesson we focused on Isaiah 35:3,

Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees. ESV

We learned from this verse that one of the reasons we make a trip to the desert is so that God can heal us. God takes us to a quiet, dry place and he speaks tenderly to us in our hurt and pain. God desires to bless us and restore us to spiritual health.

Why did Isaiah choose these two parts of the body for healing? Why didn’t he say we needed to heal our broken hearts or our troubled minds? Why does he use our hands and knees? I think he had something very important in mind when he began writing poetically about our weak hands and feeble knees. Specifically, I believe Isaiah was referring to the healing which needs to take place in our lives, so that we can pray.

In scripture we are often urged to lift up holy hands in prayer, a state of worshipful prayer, and we also are taught to bow our knees in prayer. So, the next principle we see from this passage is if we want to bloom in the desert, we must surrender to God’s plan and practice worshipful prayer. God wants our prayer life to blossom.

God heals us because he wants to know us and be known by us. Prayer is one of the main practices God uses so we can know him and learn to trust him. What is the international symbol of surrender? We lift our hands up so everyone can see that we are holding no weapons. When a person is about to be arrested, lifting up their hands is a signal to the police they are unarmed. What does your toddler do when she wants you to hold her? She holds up her hands and by this nonverbal sign she is saying, “Mommy, hold me.” When we lift up our hands in prayer to God, we communicate our willingness to surrender to him and our desire to be held by him.

Secondly, when we think of bending a knee, visions of surrender again fill our mind. Whether it is a man humbly falling to his knees and asking his girlfriend to marry him or a subject bowing before a sovereign king, a bended knee is another international symbol of surrender. I once heard a pastor preach on giving a blessing to others. He shared that the Hebrew word most often translated “to bless” in the Old Testament means “to bend the knee”. So figuratively speaking, healing our spiritual knees is critical if we are to engage in surrendered prayer.

Both lifting our hands and bowing our knees involve prayerful surrender to God. Can we express our surrender and worship if we are hurt, angry and don’t trust God? It would probably be difficult to do this with any genuineness. A feeble knee will not bend and a droopy hand cannot be lifted until healing occurs. We must let the dryness of our personal desert become a place of rest and health.

It is important to understand that surrendered prayer is not a passive form of prayer and neither is it an attitude of self-protection. Sometimes we are so obsessed with a desire to eliminate the heat in our desert that we think we are surrendering, but we are really choosing a form of self protection or passivity. All of us who work with children have experienced the child who on them surface seems to be obeying, but is resisting our directions in a very polite way. When I taught art, I had students in my class who were so polite I hardly noticed they were not doing what I told them to do. True surrendered prayer, worshipful prayer comes from a heart of trust. We can’t surrender when we do not trust God.

Can we preempt a desert excursion by choosing to surrender in prayer without an emergency motivating us? Yes, of course. At the cactus nursery our preferred method for making a cactus flower was not to create stress, but to produce blooms by fertilizing the cactus. We needed plants at their optimal best for customers to find them appealing, so we avoided stressing them; unless we uncharacteristically lost one in the bowels of a distant greenhouse.

Like plants in the natural world, we prefer to blossom without enduring stress. We worship and seek God’s face because he is worthy of all our praise. While this is reason enough to seek his face, great refreshment comes to the worshipper who lingers in the Lord’s presence. The next time we find ourselves living in a parched land, we need to remember it is ok to ask God to hold us.

In Psalm 34:18-19 the psalmist said, The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. ESV

God desires to know us and be known by us. If we want to bloom in the desert, we must recognize that in the desert, surrendered and worshipful prayer grows.

Consider for a moment these thoughts.

1) Have you ever bloomed in a spiritual drought? Explain.

2) Have you ever needed God’s embrace? Explain.

Surrendered prayer means coming to grips with the goodness of God’s plan for our life. When we surrender, we are saying that we believe God is on our side. In our strength we think we know what is best for us and our loved ones. In reality, we simple do not have all the facts to make an informed decision for our lives or for the lives of others. Our scope of evaluation is very microscopic and limited to what we can know in the present. We can’t envision what God is protecting us from in our future by allowing us to experience this parched earth today (Isaiah 55:8-9). God and God alone can see the end from the beginning and as the author of time, God is not bound by his creation in any way. God lovingly embraces us as victors because he knows with certainty that we will be victorious in the end.

Keep bathing in the truths found in Isaiah 35. Consider reading this passage as often as you can. Take a moment now and review what you have learned in five lessons about three short verses.

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Bible Studies

How Spiritual Dryness Facilitates Healing (Bloom in the Desert 4)

by Jan Shrader
written by Jan Shrader

The instructions were simple, but I was struggling to actually believe them. “Make sure you transplant the cactus and succulents with dry soil.” Really?

These directions confused me because before I came to work at the nursery, I was an avid grower of African Violets. African Violets are a rainforest plant and I had been growing them in a desert city, Tucson. Early on, I learned when transplanting African Violets to always work with wet soil, and water immediately after transplanting.

Now here at the cactus nursery, they wanted us to transplant with dry soil. When we were transplanting a cactus, we never used wet soil. Not only that, but after we had transplanted them, we didn’t water the cactus for a week. This was true whether we were putting them in a new pot or transplanting them into the landscape somewhere. The reason we did this was because cactus and succulents are more susceptible to rot when their roots have been damaged. The stored moisture within a succulent will easily sustain the plant for more than a week. The truth is the roots of a succulent need to heal before it can take in moisture.

Just like the cacti, I have noticed that God often uses my deserts so he can heal me. When I have been wounded or my roots have been disturbed, may be a quiet dryness is exactly what I need to heal. God is very intentional in what he is allows into our lives. One of the major reasons we find ourselves in what feels like a dry land, is God’s desire to heal us.

Before we move on, let’s review for a moment. Remember that in past lessons we learned that Isaiah 35 is a passage of Hebrew poetry and prophecy about the restoration of a kept garden. Within this chapter, we will also discover how God uses spiritual deserts. Today we want to focus on the next verse in the chapter, Isaiah 35:3.

Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees. ESV

Isaiah is speaking poetically about two parts of our bodies, weak hands and feeble knees. The way he words this, by choosing phrasing like “strengthen” and “make firm”, implies the need for healing. One of the principles we learn about our desert experience is that if we want to bloom in the desert, we must see the desert is as a place of healing.

Another passage that speaks of the healing God performs in the desert is Hosea 2:14

Therefore I am going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. NIV

God speaks tenderly when we are hurting and he blesses us in circumstances which are of his choosing, not ours. These circumstances initially may feel dry and lifeless.

One of the key purposes of us coming to the desert is healing, but there is an amazing spiritual paradox for desert dwellers. Once we have been healed, our newfound spiritual health can lead others to peace. We will talk more about this in future lessons, but I mention it now because there is a profound mystery at play here. We can’t love others if we are constantly unkind to ourselves.

It is not selfish to recognize we are wounded and need healing. Acknowledgment of our wounding can lead us to the wise step of seeking God’s healing. Look at Hebrews 12:12-13. This is a good companion passage to Isaiah 35:3

Therefore, lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. ESV Notice that the writer to the Hebrews uses similar imagery to Isaiah 35, drooping hands and weak knees which need to be cured. He goes on to explain that we need to be healed, so we will not become disabled.

Many times when we have a small physical injury like a twisted knee or a sprained wrist, it does not feel very serious and we may try to ignore it. What happens if we don’t pay attention to this small problem? It can lead to a much worse ailment, even causing a disability or the need for surgery.

The writer to the Hebrews is pleading with us to get help while we only need to be strengthened and before our injury leads to a disability. It is almost like he is saying, “You need to get physical therapy, because if you are not careful, you are going to need major surgery.” One of the main purposes of a desert experience then, is to seek God’s healing. We know we can’t do anything to bring about our own healing, but we need to understand God values our willingness to be healed. We need to realize our time in the desert will expose our wounds to us.

Dry experiences do not cause our hurts, but they illuminate them so we can learn to be kind to ourselves. God meets us in a quiet, dry place to show us our deep fears. When we are able to identify our fears, we know where we have not trusted God, where we have been unable to see him as bigger than our problems. We must be able to identify our real fears before we can believe God and trust him. Self-discovery is an important part of this holy adventure in which we allow God to lead the charge and teach us about our real needs.

Each time we are wounded it is an opportunity to trust God in a new way. Identifying our fears will always be the first step. The cause of our hurts will be numerous, but the first temptation will always be the same. When we are hurt, we find it more difficult to trust God. God takes us to a dry place to sort out these emotions. He speaks tenderly to us there. In difficult circumstances, he woos us and is always asking, “Can you trust me with this?” Today, do we hear his voice?

Take a moment to apply these principles.

1) In today’s lesson, we learned that a time of dryness might actually protect us when our roots have been damaged. When we can’t drink in refreshing liquids, we need to be safe from the danger of root rot. Has a time of emotional dryness ever exposed or revealed an area of hurt to you? Explain.

2) How can you practice being more kind to yourself today?

If in your reading God is illuminating a specific wound which is festering, please don’t feel you are being selfish by recognizing you have a need. We must first learn to practice genuine selflove. Maybe it is time for you to talk with a professional counselor.

Whenever we experience a drought, we need the assurance that blooming is God’s idea. God is on our side and he equates blooming with gladness and joy. God wants to heal us.

As we continue our study of Isaiah 35, keep reading the chapter. These ten verses are a deep well of sweet water worth the exertion it takes for us to haul up the bucket.

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Bible Studies

Time to Grow Up

by Tony Evans
written by Tony Evans

Introduction

Certain things hopefully come with age as we grow and mature: more understanding, more wisdom, more responsibility and more expectations. Parents recognize this as they approach their children in different stages of development. A father would never sit his young baby down and demand that they start picking up their toys or feed the dog each day. However, as the child grows in understanding of the world around him or her, a father’s expectations increase.

In the same way, God expects every Christian to become a spiritually mature follower of Christ, using their growth and God’s wisdom to influence those around them. This principle of spiritual maturity happens when a believer consistently lives his or her life from a spiritual perspective rather than a fleshly one. When a Christian starts to function out of a divine view rather than a human one, he or she can begin to see a deeper understanding of the things of God. The apostle Paul likens it to the difference between an infant and an adult. In his letter to the church at Corinth, he said, “And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as spiritual people, but only as fleshly, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to consume it. But even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like ordinary people?” (1 Cor 3:1-3). An infant can only consume milk, not solid foods. There comes a time when the child should be eating meat rather than merely drinking milk, and that was precisely what Paul was pointing out to that church and us. They should have been further along in the process. Still, their lives were showing an immaturity that did not reflect their chronological age.

How do we move spiritually from infancy to maturity? The process begins as a Christian grows in his or her knowledge and application of God’s Word. Rather than simply consuming truth, the mature believer lives it out. This progression of growing in spiritual maturity often happens most through the struggles and trials of life. These struggles and trials offer the believer an invitation to move to the next level of spiritual growth. The process takes time, but with consistency in Scripture and its application to real-life challenges, one can heed the words of the author of Hebrews: “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity” (Heb 6:1a).

The end result of spiritual maturity is a faith worthy of imitation. As we grow in our understanding and application of truth, we can begin to discern, having been “trained to distinguish between good and evil” (Heb 5:14b). With that depth of spiritual character, we can be part of other believers’ spiritual development through God’s wisdom that comes through time and a hearty diet of God’s Word. Ultimately, we get a deeper experience of the priesthood of Jesus Christ as we pour out and help others grow in their spiritual journey. Through this stage of our development, we understand what Jesus is doing in heaven and how that grace is poured out to us here on earth. No matter how long you’ve been a believer, there is always room to grow in spiritual maturity.

Getting Started

1. When you consider your faith walk right now, are you where your spiritual age suggests you should be? If you’ve been a committed follower of Jesus for some time, are you teaching truths to those around you?

2. What are some of the signs of maturity? What are some ways that a child becoming an adult learns to become more mature?

3. What would you say are the marks of a spiritually mature believer? Describe someone in your life who has developed in their faith.

Let’s Get Personal

1. Would you consider yourself spiritually mature? Why or why not?

2. How can a person learn to operate from a God-centered spiritual perspective rather than a human-centered one? What are some practical ways you have learned to function from a divine perspective instead of a secular one?

3. How well do you apply God’s Word to your life? In what ways do you struggle to do so? In what ways have you learned to respond to the truth appropriately?

4. How have trials matured your faith in Jesus? What struggles have grown you and taken you to the next level in your spiritual journey?

Take the Next Step

1. In what ways do you need to mature in your faith? What are 2-3 practical, next steps you can take to grow in that way? Who can you ask to hold you accountable?

2. How committed are you to the spiritual development of others? Who can you influence and help develop in their walk with God? What is one way you can work toward that this week?

3. How can you ask the Lord to grow you spiritually? Pray and ask God to help you grow up.

4. Want to dig deeper? Take a look at these passages: Hebrews 5:11-15; Colossians 1:28-29; and 1 Corinthians 2:14-16.

Renew Your Mind

“I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to consume it. But even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like ordinary people?”

1 Corinthians 3:2-3

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Bible Studies

Hearing God’s Voice

by Tony Evans
written by Tony Evans

Introduction

Believers should seek to get spiritual clarity through prayer as they listen for God to speak to them. Because of spiritual warfare, we should prioritize our need to hear God’s voice. In doing this, we can receive spiritual guidance and clarity regarding His direction for our lives. It can be easy for an individual to be stuck or static because of the difficulty we often face as we fight spiritual battles and face the opposition of the enemy. God wants to guide us through His Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

We are spiritual creatures; however, we operate in the natural realm. We have limited information without the impact of God’s view and His thoughts about the earthly decisions we must make. We have to stay in communication with God because it’s possible His specific instructions to us may change from situation to situation. His Word doesn’t change, but the application of His Word in our lives in various seasons very well could change. Ongoing communication with God over time, and throughout different seasons, is important. How God worked in our lives yesterday may not be the same as how He wants to work in our lives today.

In order to hear God’s voice, there is a requirement: we have to have open lines of communication. Prayer is the point of contact between the physical and the spiritual, and it helps us to seek fulfillment of our requests within the will of God. Our diligence in prayer results in the opportunity to receive anointed and divinely inspired illumination. Our goal in prayer is to align our desires to God’s will. In giving God our attention, He can speak to our minds and hearts, giving us direction for our unique circumstances. When we position ourselves through prayer to hear God’s voice, He gives us spiritual direction in our thinking, spiritual power in our obedience, and spiritual victory in our battles.

Getting Started

1. Many people talk about hearing from God, but mean different things in terms of how they hear from God. Whether you think you hear from God or not, what do you think it looks like to hear from God? How do you think someone knows when they have heard from God?

2. Even among believers, people who want to hear from God say they struggle to do so. Why do you this is?

Let’s Get Personal

1. Have you experienced receiving God’s guidance as you’ve prayed? Share that experience with your group.

2. Is prayer a priority in your life? What does prioritized prayer look like in practical terms as you incorporate it in your life?

3. Many people feel stuck in their lives because of the battle that they are facing or the crisis in front of them is bigger than what they feel they can handle. Have you ever felt this way? If prayer is an option, have you used this tool for fighting spiritual battles? Why or why not?

Take the Next Step

1. Ongoing communication with God requires intentionality. We lead busy lives with interruption and distraction. What distraction can you move to hear God’s voice more clearly?

2. How will your prayer life change in light of this message? How did the message convict you and how will you incorporate a new priority of prayer in your life?

3. Want to go deeper? Take a look at the following passages: 2 Kings 6:14-17; Psalm 34:4-7; John 14:26; 16:13; Acts 13:22; 1 Corinthians 2:9-16; 1 John 2:20

Renew Your Mind

“I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.”

Psalm 34:4

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Sermons

How to Stand Firm in the Holy Spirit’s Power

by Mark Batterson
written by Mark Batterson

Hebrews 12:27 moment—everything that can be shaken will be shaken. God is shaking false securities and false identities, false assumptions, and false narratives, false idols, and false ideologies.

But we are STIRRED, not shaken. Why? We are grounded in God’s word, standing on God’s promises, and filled with God’s spirit. We don’t take our cues from cultural talking points. We don’t put our trust in horses and chariots.

STIRRED is rising above the rhetoric and living according to your convictions. STIRRED is giving the Holy Spirit veto power. STIRRED is operating in the power of the Holy spirit while obeying the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Preached at National Community Church.

 

 

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Devotionals

How to Slow Down Your Anger

by Drew Anderson
written by Drew Anderson

“He who is slow to anger has great understanding [and profits from his self-control],
But he who is quick-tempered exposes and exalts his foolishness [for all to see].”
Proverbs 14:29 (Amplified–AMP)

The first time I saw a husband and wife really fight I was in ninth grade. I was spending the night with a friend, and at some point during the day his parents started to argue. One thing led to another, and their voices began to raise. Their hands were in motion, and the air in the room was sucked out like a vortex tornado sweeping across the land. My stomach knotted up, there was a tight pinch in my throat, and I hoped with all my might that it would end as soon as possible.

On another occasion, as I was driving I looked over and saw a man violently swinging his arms while in his vehicle. He was obviously unsettled by another driver, and though his words were muted by the fact that his windows were rolled up, he nevertheless expressively promoted his disapproval with his actions. I shook my head and thought to myself, “I wish this guy could see himself…he looks like a fool.”

And then there was the time that I allowed my frustrations to get the best of me. It was early on in my parenting journey, and one of my daughters was clearly advancing her agenda over mine. I had had enough and I let her know it with my voice and slamming my fist on the table. In that moment–the flash of anger–I intuitively knew what the verse above points out.

It’s the same thing that everyone does–whether they know it or not.

Quick-tempers exalt (or display) foolishness.

When unfettered unrighteous anger begins, so too does the display of foolishness. There’s just no other way to put it.

What’s the way forward? How can we not display foolishness?

  1. Self-control
    • The word for slow (as in slow to anger) in Proverbs 14:29 literally means to be long. The word is used 15x in the Old Testament Hebrew. Of the 15x it is used, 9x refers to God being “slow to anger” as it relates to His relationship with His people (Ex. 34:6, Num. 14:18, Joel 2:13, Jonah 4:2, Nah. 1:3, Ps. 86:15, Ps. 103:8, Ps. 145:8, Neh. 9:17). It is found in the very heart of our God.
    • A good way to think about this word–slow–is something like a plane landing on a runway. The longer the runway the easier for the plane to land.
    • Thus, (1) being slow to anger means I have a long runway with my emotions–planes of disruption and frustration and surprises and hurts have a long runway to land, and (2) I get this long runway through the strength of the Lord–Who, by His very nature, is slow to anger.
    • Practically, I have the greatest potential to exhibit daily self-control when I’m reading God’s Word and I’m praying. Simple, but not easy.
  2. Understanding
    • This word is used 42x in the Old Testament, and it generally means to have skill. The idea is that one who has understanding demonstrates proficiency and connected knowledge in his actions.
    • It’s sort of like a clockmaker who has been making cuckoo clocks all his life. He has an understanding–that most do not have–as to how the proper mechanical internal design impacts the relationships between the chirp of the bird, the spinning of the Bavarian dancers, and the metal pine cone weights dropping with gravity. His understanding helps him not only design, but build beautiful, functional, and long-lasting clocks.
    • In the same way, one who has self-control–is slow to anger…doesn’t exalt folly–is like the cuckoo clock maker. In other words, he studies (as in seeks knowledge) the how to be slow to anger.
    • Practically speaking, he knows what are the hot-buttons, the flash-points, the triggers that spark his frustrations. Whether it’s proper planning to avoid traffic, taking a snack to eat, walking away to take some breaths before he speaks, memorizing passages such as listed above or others, etc. One who has understanding on self-control seeks to understand rather than to be understood.
  3. Confession
    • The reality. Every human struggles at some level with lacking self-control that leads to the exalting of folly for all to see. So, we need to confess–agree–when we don’t have it. We need to reconcile when we do put folly on a billboard by our anger.
    • When we confess, many things are happening, but the logic of it needs to be addressed with three points:
      1. Confession means you have to humble yourself.
      2. God exalts the humble.
      3. Thus, confession leads to the proper and wisdom being exalted (instead of folly).

We press on…with self-control, understanding, and confession…letting God exalt that which is right and proper…the opposite of foolishness!

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Bible Studies

30-Day Bible Reading

by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth
written by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

Revive Our Hearts

Day 1: What You’ll Find Between the Covers

We’re so glad you have taken the challenge to read the Bible daily for the next thirty days. It’s going to be a true challenge, because it won’t always be easy. But as with most worthwhile choices in life, you won’t regret it. God will use Scripture to help you know Him better and to discover His wonderful plan for all mankind—His plan for YOU! As you get into His Word, you’ll begin to see how all of it fits together, with the wonderful story of God’s redemption woven through each and every book.

As you read, verse by verse and chapter by chapter, you’ll begin to sense God speaking to your heart. He may give you some marching instructions for your day or awaken you
to a truth you’ve never seen before or show you an area of your heart or mind that He wants to transform so He can make you more like Jesus.

So let’s get started.

“Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” — Proverbs 30:5 ESV

We hope you’re enjoying your time reading the Scriptures. No matter where you read, you’ll find that God’s Word is an extremely practical, relevant, and timeless book.

Use what you learn from Bible characters’ examples—good and bad—to challenge your own walk with God. Life’s struggles aren’t meant to discourage us, but to help us grow as we apply the truth of His Word. Some of the stories in the Bible will be familiar to you, but ask God to help you read with fresh eyes. You may see something you’ve never considered before! Let Scripture reading become your daily delight . . . the joy and song of your heart.

If you’ve chosen to read through the Bible from beginning to end, you’ll discover that the first books are foundational. Genesis is the book of first things. It teaches us about the origin of our world as well as the early history of God’s people. Many of the things you see in our world today—especially the ugly consequences of sin and the struggles between nations of people—are a result of what happened in that early history.

History, poetry, romance, prophecy, wisdom literature . . . there’s so much to discover between the covers of God’s book, and it is all “profitable” for us (2 Tim. 3:16). It’s our prayer that your biggest discovery will be that God and His plan for the world is much bigger than you can imagine.

Keep up your reading, with joy!

Action Step: Today as you read, look for something you never knew before or for something that speaks to a personal need.

Day 2: Hey, That’s Mine!

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” —Hebrews 4:12 ESV

It’s fun to check emails—to see if friends have written us or if a special message has arrived—but imagine if someone else read your messages all the time and then just passed along parts of them to you. After a while, you’d likely say, “Hey! I want to read those messages myself, thank you!”

It’s the same with Scripture reading. Perhaps you’ve heard lots of sermons or read books about the Bible. That’s great, but it’s not the same as reading the Bible yourself. It is God’s love letter to you; it’s meant to be personal.

When you read a letter, you notice who wrote it, but also what they said, when they wrote it, perhaps where they were when they wrote, and even why they wrote. Follow that same observation technique as you read the Bible. Ask the questions, “Who, what, when, where, why, and how?” Look for the people involved. Look for the subject, event, or action. Try to determine when and where the verses were written. Determine why nGod wanted you to hear this message.

Finally, ask questions for application, like: “How does this apply to my life?” “How can I change my thinking or behavior so it lines up with biblical truth?” “How does God want me to respond?” Ask the Holy Spirit to be your teacher and give you insight and wisdom. In this way, you’re not just getting into the Word; the Word is getting into you!

The Word of God is alive and powerful (Heb. 4:12), and God will use it to transform your life.

Keep on reading; keep on listening; keep on growing!

Action Step: As you read the Bible today, ask yourself application questions like the ones above.

Day 3: It’s All Good

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” —2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

If you’re like most people, you’re going to have favorite Bible passages. There are some we simply return to over and over again—passages in the Psalms, Proverbs, Philippians, etc. We love certain Scriptures because they speak to us in our needs, satisfy our curiosity, comfort us in struggles, etc. But have you ever heard a pastor speak about reading “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27)?

Every Scripture is important, because each passage has a purpose. Even those socalled “boring” genealogies have nuggets of amazing truth in them, for those willing to search them out!

Discipline your life to read in an area of the Bible you’ve never (or seldom) read before, and watch God stretch your thinking. The Bible will help you know God, but it can also help you discern error, make wise choices, gain insight into human nature, understand the times, and so much more. The Scriptures will ground you in a shaky world, because you will discover God’s perspective and priorities—usually so different from the world’s.

Reading the Bible is a huge adventure of faith, because God will likely give you opportunities to “try out” your new understanding of Scripture in the circumstances of life. God wants to transform you and make you more like Jesus (Rom. 8:29), and He will use His Word to challenge, encourage, and teach you, and sometimes even to warn you, because He loves you.

The entire Bible is God’s precious gift to us. We hope you’re enjoying it!

Action Step: Choose a part of the Bible you’ve never read before (or one you seldom read), and make note of what God teaches you through it.

Day 4: Lovin’ the Word

“I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.” —Psalm 119:162 ESV We all want to spend time with the people or things we love, don’t we? Think about that a moment. Do you love a particular sport or hobby? You probably can’t wait to finish work so you can take some time out for those activities. Do you love someone with all your heart—a family member or friend? It seems like you can’t get enough time with him or her, right?

George Mueller, a godly man of prayer who established many orphanages in England in the 1800s once said, “The one main thing to which I attribute my lifelong happiness is that I’ve been a lover of the Word of God.” Mueller said he loved the Bible, and it made him a happy, blessed man.

How about you? Is Bible reading a passing fancy, or do you genuinely love the Word ofGod? It’s easy to have “devotions” without having true “devotion.” Yet throughout Psalm 119, the psalmist said he delighted in God’s Word—he loved the Word! It was precious to him, his greatest joy. Does that express your heart?

If not, how can you increase your love for the Scriptures? It’s simple. You need to fuel (or feed) your hunger. In other words, the more you “eat” the Word, the more you will desire it . . . and ultimately, the more you will rejoice in it (Jer. 15:16). Little snacks on the Word will help with some of your soul’s cravings, but substantive, daily meals are what really satisfy.

We pray your love for God’s Word will increase!

Action Step: Identify the things that sidetrack you from spending time in God’s Word. Then identify what helps you get “hungry” again.

Day 5: What’s A-E-I-O-U Have to Do With It?

“But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” —James 1:25 ESV

We can approach the Word of God in so many ways, and some of these techniques help us get a fresh vision of God’s purpose in giving us the Scriptures. The AEIOU method of Bible reading and study is a fun way to approach the Word.

“A” stands for “ask questions.” (We mentioned some of those in an earlier email—the “who, what, when, where, why, and how” questions you can ask for clarity and understanding.) “E” stands for “emphasize key words and phrases.” Notice what words stand out in the text or are repeated. “I” stands for “in your own words.” Try writing a brief summary of the text. Paraphrase it. (This will help you keep alert when you’re sleepy!) “O” stands for “other related Scriptures.” Notice the cross references, or try to think of other places in the Bible that refer to something about what you’re reading. Check a concordance or other reference books for additional insight. And finally, there is the “U”, which stands for “use what you’ve read—make application to yourself.”

That last letter is a key point. You don’t want to just read and go away unchanged or unmotivated. Find something to put into practice, to memorize, or to share with others. In other words, respond to what you’ve read. It’s not enough to know the truth; we need to obey it (James 1:22).

We’re in your corner as you seek new ways to keep your Bible reading fresh.

Action Step: Has God motivated you to respond to something you’ve read? How? Step out, and act in obedience today.

Day 6: Victory Is Yours!

“For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” —Romans 6:14 ESV

When was the last time you thought about our victory in the risen Christ? Your enemy, Satan, wants to sidetrack you in your commitment to Bible reading, because he knows how powerful it is—but remember, Satan is a defeated foe!

You can claim and live in victory every day. The power of the gospel of Christ was not just to give us salvation, but also to give us all that we need to conquer our sinful habits and tendencies to ignore the things of God that will help us grow in righteousness (Rom. 6).

Do you hear the whispers of the enemy today? “You don’t have time for God’s Word.” “You can do that later.” “You’ve already read the Bible; read something else.” We need to surrender our ears to the Lord and listen to Him calling us to dig into the Scriptures.

Jesus died and now lives so that you can enjoy the fullness of eternal life with Him forever. His story is told in the Bible you hold in your hands every day. But there is so much more God wants you to know that pertains to “life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3).

Christ is risen, and He is your victory! Remember that when the enemy tempts you to ignore God’s Word.

Action Step: Look for ways that God is giving you victory because of something you read in His Word.

Day 7: Too Busy? Schedule an Appointment.

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” —Luke 10:42 ESV

It seems that most of us have three speeds these days—busy, super busy, and crazy overwhelmed-coming-unglued busy! Sometimes technology comes to our aid, and sometimes it just creates more work and distractions. Perhaps you’ve found that if you don’t take time out to read God’s Word in the morning, it’s not going to happen.

If at all possible, plan time with God and His Word before all other work. Quiet times are the soothing oil that makes the gears of our busy lives function. Without it, we may find our lives clogging up with busyness, anxiety, and frustration. We don’t know whether Jesus rose up early to read the Scriptures, but we do know He got up very early in the morning to spend time with His Father (Mark 1:35).

But there’s no need to get on a guilt trip if your mornings are “impossible.” If you can’t make morning Bible reading work, you can always plan in a special time later in the day, scheduling it just as you would an important doctor appointment or time with your family or friends. The important thing is to make a plan and follow through.

While we’re thinking about our busy days, take a moment to ask this question: “Is there anything I’m doing that I could set aside for a while or give up entirely in order to make more time for Bible reading?” Maybe it’s a television show (or several). Maybe it’s time on the Internet or with Facebook. Watch out for time killers.

If you want to read more, you can! We’ll pray that you will in the days ahead.

Action Step: Look at how you spend your time, and identify any time killers that keep you from reading the Bible. What can you change or eliminate from your schedule?

Day 8: When Not to Steer Clear . . .

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” —James 4:8 ESV

When we have offended someone, we tend to steer clear of them. We don’t want to be reminded of our offense, insensitivity, or sin.

The same is true with God and His Word. Christian author C. S. Lewis once said, “Either the Bible will keep you away from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.” The truth is, when we are living in sin or harboring a secret sin, we don’t want the Word of God to remind us of our shortcomings or how we are failing to obey God—so we avoid His Word.

As you’ve been reading, has your conscience been pricked? Have you sensed something between you and God? The Bible says that if you will agree with God about your sin, He will forgive and cleanse you (1 John 1:9). Also, if you are holding on to a grievance with others—bitter and unwilling to forgive—this can also get in the way of your relationship with God and His Word. God wants you to forgive others in the same way the Lord forgave you (Col. 3:13). As the old hymn says, “Nothing between my soul and the Savior, so that His blessed face may be seen. Nothing preventing the least of His favor; keep the way clear! Let nothing between.”

God may have spoken to you about a specific sin that is clouding your view of Him in the Word. We encourage you to take care of that with Him. His Word is part of the cleansing process (John 15:3).

Don’t let sin keep you away from the Bible. Keep the way clear!

Action Step: Is there any sin that’s clouding your vision of God? Ask Him to search your heart and show you anything you need to confess.

Day 9: Can’t Concentrate? Try These Ideas!

“I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.” —Psalm 119:16 ESV

Do you struggle with concentration as you read the Bible? A practical way to help you focus is to write things down in a journal or on paper in a notebook. 
 You can simply write out portions of the Word of God that speak to you—or passages you want to memorize. You might want to write out topics you want to research from your reading. Maybe you can write out your personal responses to what you’ve read or insights and wisdom God gave you.

You can do something as simple as the “S-A Method,” which stands for SummaryApplication. Write down one or two sentences that summarize what you’ve read and then one or two sentences of personal application—how the Scriptures spoke to you or what it meant to you or what God asked you to do as a result of the reading.

If you don’t want to write in a journal or notebook, you might at least use a simple marking system in your Bible. You can circle repeated words or phrases, and develop your own code for quick reference—such as drawing a heart next to any verse that deals with the heart or a smiley face next to a Scripture about joy. You might want to write down the date next to a Scripture God used in your life on any particular day. The point is, try to interact with the Scriptures. This simple practice will help you concentrate, and when you’re done, you’ll have a record of your time in the Word.

Blessings to you as you read and record the lessons God has for you today!

Action Step: Choose a method that helps you interact with Scripture, and start using it today.

Day 10: S-L-O-W-I-N-G D-O-W-N As You Read

“Blessed is the man . . . [whose] delight is in the law of the Lord.” —Psalm 1:1–2 ESV When we were children, many of us heard our teachers say, “Put your thinking caps on.” Our teachers wanted us to pay attention and consider what we were learning. This is how we should approach the Word of God. We don’t skim quickly over the words; we take time to read the Word carefully and thoughtfully.

Stop as you read . . . pause . . . think about what the passage is saying. Let the Word of God absorb into your system as you take time to dwell on key phrases. Ponder the words—mull them over in your mind. Read the Scriptures as a gift and love letter, a precious text from your Father God. Take time to meditate on them. Fix your thoughts on what the Word is saying with the goal of knowing God, His words, His ways, and His will. God promises success to those who meditate on His Word (Ps. 1:2–3; Josh. 1:8).

Also, many of the psalms were the psalmists’ meditative thoughts put to music, and they bless us as we read them. Try putting Scriptures to music or singing them. Another way to meditate is to memorize Scripture, so you can think about passages anywhere, anytime. For some help, check out the Scripture Memory section on our website.

When it comes to Scripture, there are many ways to “put on your thinking cap”—try them all!

Action Step: Choose a Scripture passage that’s meaningful to you, and start committing
it to memory.

Day 11: They’re Watching You Read!

“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” —Deuteronomy 6:6–7 ESV

How are you doing with your reading? The reading of Scripture is a blessing and encouragement to your own hearts and one way to honor God, but did you know that when you spend time reading the Bible, you may be influencing others?

Whatever you spend time doing in life indicates to others what you value most. Those who know you best will see your commitment to the Word of God and know you value the Bible and your time with the Lord.

Every one of us is leaving a legacy for the next generation. The Bible you mark up as you read, your journal notes, and even your quiet times with God—observed by your family or friends—are a living legacy of faith. And even if you have no one in your home to observe your daily practice, know that God is watching. He is your most important audience. He knows how much you love Him and His Word when you spend time reading.

You can be a woman of influence—a woman of living faith—every single day!

Action Step: Look for a way to start leaving a legacy to someone you love.

Day 12: He Wants to Spend Time With YOU!

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” —Jeremiah
29:13 ESV

Have you ever kept a friend waiting? Or perhaps, you waited for a friend to arrive—and when the friend never came, you left, disappointed. The wonderful truth is that the Lord is always waiting for you, no matter when you come into His presence. He is longing for your company. Your quiet time with Him in prayer and your time reading the Word are how you enter into His presence.

Our friend, pastor Bill Elliff, once said, “Everything flows from the presence of God.” Everything you need comes from resting in God’s presence—His power, peace, provision . . . everything! Have you found it true that when you read God’s Word, you always find something that you can apply to your life? Maybe a story about a Bible character’s struggle gives you hope or a psalm comforts your anxious spirit or a teaching from Paul gives you understanding about your finances or relationships. There is so much to glean from the Scriptures.

The psalmist said, “My hope is from him” (Ps. 62:5). When you come to your Bible reading time, come with the expectation that God wants to give you something or teach you something. Ask Him to speak directly to your heart with a clear message.

Are you eager to spend time with the Lord today? He is always waiting.

Action Step: Have you sensed God’s Spirit asking you to do something? Today is the time to take action.

Day 13: Making a Difference!

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” —2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV

We like to know that what we are doing makes a difference, don’t we? We don’t want to feel that we are just spinning our wheels, going nowhere. The good news about Bible reading is that when you are consistent, you will see four practical effects of spending time in the Word.

First, when you read God’s Word and commune with Him, your heart will be brought into submission. You will sense the need to adjust your will to agree with God’s will.

Second, God will give you direction. No matter your season in life, God will offer wisdom for your relationships, your finances, your work, your habits, your choices, and so much more. Just ask Him for it (James 1:5)!

Third, God will bring things to your attention as you read that can be turned into prayer requests. Maybe you’ll read about anger, and pray for an angry relative or coworker. Maybe you’ll see an example of servanthood, and ask God to make you a better servant.

Fourth, you will experience transformation, becoming more like Christ. We tend to take on the characteristics of those we spend time with or are close to; when you look into the Word of God, you will behold the glory of God (2 Cor. 3:18) and see ways that you are not like Him. You will see how much you need to grow in godliness.

God wants to use His Word in us, but we have to spend time with Him!

Action Step: Has the Word of God made a difference in your life in any of these four areas? Share it with someone.

Day 14: Infused with Scripture

“For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.” —Deuteronomy 32:47 ESV

Do you sense how important the Bible is to daily living? Unfortunately, many people
tend to think of the Bible as an “add-on” to life rather than a vital central core.

If you have ever made a cup of tea, you know what infusion is. When a tea bag is placed into hot water, the tea infuses into the water—it becomes part of the water itself. In a similar way, your faith will be transformed by the consistent infusion of the Scriptures into your heart.

Some women are content to carry the Word of God with them to church every week; others want to be identified as women of the Word. The Word becomes part of who they are.

The third “we will” commitment statement of the True Woman Manifesto affirms women’s desire to behave in ways that reflect the truth of the Scriptures. It says, “When will be women of the Word, seeking to grow in our knowledge of Scripture and to live in accord with sound doctrine in every area of our lives.” Can you say, “Yes, Lord . . . that’s what I want!” to that statement? Do you want to grow in knowledge of the Bible and embrace the sound doctrine of Scripture?

The incredible truth is that you will never know God any better than you know His Word, and beyond that, the Bible can protect you from sin, guard your heart, renew your mind, and refresh your spirit. It’s vital to your faith and growth!

Are you a woman of the Word? Let it infuse your life today!

Action Step: How have you seen God’s Word become a part of you?

Day 15: Building a Firm Foundation Starts . . . Now

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” —Matthew 7:24–25 ESV

One of the blessings of reading the Bible is that it helps to build a firm foundation for the future. The truth is, it’s harder to build the foundation of your spiritual house after a storm starts. You build it long before a storm comes. You build it now.

In Matthew 7:24, Jesus said that if anyone hears His words and does them, he is like “a wise man who built his house on the rock.” We build on the solid rock of the Word when we listen and obey. It’s foolish to just read the words of God with no intention of obeying Him. If we have a flimsy foundation, we won’t be able to stand in times of trial.

Every one of us will face varying degrees of struggles. Disasters and crises come to each one of us at some time in our lives, but those who have a strong foundation will be able to stand. A strong foundation includes knowing God as He reveals Himself in the Word, knowing His plan for salvation through Christ, and knowing His will for us in daily living—a godly perspective.

An old hymn says, “How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word.” How strong is your foundation? Is there some part of your spiritual foundation that is weak or crumbling? Don’t be afraid to reach out for prayer.

Commit yourself to reading the Word of God, and ask God to firm you up!

Action Step: How strong is your foundation? Ask God to show you any areas where it might be weak and to “firm it up.”

Day 16: Who Are You Turning to for Advice?

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” —John 16:13 ESV One of the blessings of reading the Word of God is that we have the opportunity to receive counsel from the Lord.

We can ask God to counsel our hearts according to the Word of God—the Word of truth —and enable us to understand it. The Bible says that Jesus is our “Counselor” (Isa. 9:6), and the Spirit of God counsels us, as well (Isa. 11:2), giving us wisdom and understanding. It is the Spirit of God who illuminates and interprets the Word of God for our hearts and minds (John 16:12–13; 1 Cor. 2:9–12).

It’s so easy to get our counsel and advice from the world, even from well-meaning friends. Christian friends may even give us some pretty good advice, and yet it may not be what God wants us to do. We need, first and foremost, to search the Scriptures prayerfully, and then listen for the voice of God in our hearts. He will never counsel us to do anything that is contrary to the Word of God. As we read, we can also ask, “Lord, what is Your agenda for my life? Is there something You want me to do today?“

The counsel of God and His Word is precious. Thank Him for it today.

Action Step: Write down how God has counseled your heart and given you a greater understanding of His Word during this challenge.

Day 17: A Fresh Start

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” —Lamentations 3:22–23 ESV

Our schedules seem to gain momentum even after they’re already full, don’t they? The danger is to just go through the motions of spirituality instead of communing with God in His Word and seeking His direction for each day. Remember that you are on a pilgrimage with God, and accepting your reading challenge today is as important as it was on Day 1.

If you are discouraged in your reading because you’ve succumbed to the rush, don’t despair. You can start fresh today. Proverbs 24:16 says the righteous man falls down seven times and gets up again each time. Don’t give up, Friend. Get up, get your Bible, and get going again.

God is faithful and His mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:22–23). He is faithful to help us (1 Cor. 1:9). Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22), and God expects us to be faithful to what we’ve said we will do. In Psalm 15:4, the writer commends the righteous man “who keeps his oath even when it hurts.”

Stay faithful, friend.

Action Step: Has God enabled you to be faithful in reading the His Word? Did He remind you of your commitment, or clear your schedule to give you more time? If so, thank Him for that.

Day 18: Before, During, and After You Read

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” —James 1:5 ESV

How are you doing with your reading? One thing we’ve learned is that your enemy, the devil, doesn’t want you to enjoy your Bible reading. He doesn’t want you to grow spiritually. He doesn’t want your life to be transformed as you renew your mind (Rom. 12:2). That’s why it is so important to saturate your time in Scripture reading with prayer.

Before you read, ask God to open your eyes and give you understanding. Ask Him to reveal Himself in the Word and show you His heart and ways.

As you read, ask God for wisdom—ask Him to teach you. Be a learner. Ask the Holy Spirit to make the words come alive in your heart make the words fresh to you. Acknowledge your dependence on the Spirit of God.

And then, as you end your time with the Bible, ask God to help you obey and respond to the truth you read. Pray for a submissive heart. Confess any sins God has revealed to you during your quiet time. Ask God to help you live a life that is consistent with the Word of God.

This prayerful approach to Bible reading will help you focus on the Lord and His will, rather than your own desires.

It is our prayer that God’s Word will become more meaningful to you every day.

Action Step: Try this prayer approach before reading Scripture. Did it change your thoughts as you read, or how God spoke to you about His Word?

Day 19: Hanging Onto Every Word

“And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.” —Luke 10:39 ESV

Are you a “Mary,” sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to His words? The beautiful picture in Luke 10:38–42 is of Mary, Martha’s sister, hanging on every word Jesus spoke. Jesus said Mary did well in this devotion to His words. It is the one thing that was “necessary.”

Jesus didn’t say “serving is necessary,” or “singing is necessary,” or “giving is necessary”—no, He said this one thing is necessary—listening to what He says . . . really listening, with the intent to obey. Everything else we may do for God may be good, but reading the Bible to hear His voice is necessary. It’s foundational and essential. Mary made the choice to sit at Jesus’ feet, to hear His words, and to worship Him; and Jesus said her good choice would “not be taken away from her.” What she gained in hearing His words would last.

As you make the choice to read the Word of God, realize anew that God is talking to you and that what you are learning will stick with you. God will use it in your life so you can stand and be strong as a believer.

Action Step: As you read today, pray, “God, I want You to speak to me.”

Day 20: Fighting for Time with God

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” —Ephesians 6:10–11 ESV

Are you a warrior woman when it comes to the Word of God? Sometimes we have to go to battle to protect our time alone with the Lord.

There are many good things we can do—for ourselves, our families, our friends, our community, and our church—but we won’t be fruitful and we won’t be a threat to the enemy’s agenda for our lives if we’re not taking time to be alone with God.

So how do you “do battle” and protect this precious time with Him? First, get prepared. Start the night before! Prepare your place and materials (Bible, journal, pen) so it will be ready. Second, get a plan for a regular routine, a habit connected to a time and place, and as regular as brushing your teeth or eating dinner. Third, get alone. Follow Jesus’ example (Mark 6:45–46) and be sure you are alone and undisturbed. For us, that might mean turning off the radio, television, and other distractions. Fourth, get creative. Don’t be afraid to try new things or adjust how you read. For example, if you’re reading through a difficult part in the Bible, you might also want to read a few verses in another passage to encourage your heart. In other words, don’t throw out a routine just because it’s a routine. Keep it fresh!

Bible reading is so crucial. Be a warrior woman, and protect that time with God!

Action Step: Ask God if there is something new you can do to protect your quiet time of reading.

Day 21: Heart-Ready for Scripture Seeds

“As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.” —Luke 8:15 ESV

Are you enjoying your reading? Is what you read sinking deep into your heart?

In Luke 8, Jesus told an interesting parable about four kinds of soil. A sower sowed seed, and some fell on a hard path where it didn’t take root; it was trampled and birds ate it. Some fell on a rock, but as the seed grew, it withered because there was no moisture to keep it alive. Some seeds fell among thorns and were choked out. But some fell into good soil, and the seed grew and yielded a big harvest.

If we listen with the ears of our heart, we’ll understand that the seed was the same in each case, but it was not “received” in the same way. The seed represents the Word of God, which is necessary for salvation but also for growth. The condition of the soil of your heart will make a difference in how you receive the Word of God.

Sometimes the Word enters a hard heart. The Word just stays on the surface and doesn’t penetrate the heart. Sometimes the Word is received with joy, but there are no deep roots because the truth isn’t watered daily. Sometimes the cares, riches, and pleasures of life choke out growth and there is no maturity. But when the seed falls into a heart that is eager to hear from God and obey Him, there will be fruit. It may take time to develop, but it will come.

Guard your heart, and prepare it for the precious seed of the Word!

Action Step: Is your heart ready to receive the Word of God? If not, ask Him to prepare your heart and allow the truth to take root and produce a harvest.

Day 22: If Not for God’s Word . . .

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” —Psalm 119:103 ESV

Have you noticed how your time in the Word has grown increasingly sweeter over the past few weeks? You are on the final stretch of this challenge now, and God can give you strength to complete it!

As we move toward the end of the month, let’s take some time to actively thank God for His Word. Did you know that one of the ways you can express your gratitude for the Scriptures is to spend time reading the Bible? It’s true. We spend time with the people and things we love and are grateful to have.

What are you grateful for that you have because of Scripture? Take time to list them today. Here are just a few ideas:

• A relationship with God Himself!
• God’s power to overcome sinful habits.
• Understanding of God’s character and heart.
• A perspective of hope for a crazy, mixed-up world.
• The promise of eternal life.
• Understanding of God’s provision and protection for His people.

I’m sure you can think of other reasons to be grateful. Bible translators have worked for years and years to get the Bible to people groups all over the world, because they knew how much everyone needs to hear the story of salvation. When many of these native people receive a Bible in their own tongue, they have tears in their eyes. They are so grateful. You may have many copies of the Bible in your home, but people in lands where the Bible is rare or banned are grateful for even a page or two.

Are you truly glad to have the Bible? Have you told God “thank You” lately?

Action Step: Make your own list of things you’re grateful for because of the Bible.

Day 23: Tyranny of the Urgent

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” —Mark 1:35 ESV

Life never lets up, does it? To-do lists lengthen and are replaced with more to-do lists. Sometimes, even the weekend doesn’t provide much time to catch your breath.

Some things go on like clockwork. Bible reading will go by the wayside if you haven’t established it as part of your regular routine, but if you have made time in the Scriptures as crucial as your daily meals, you’ll be more likely to keep doing it.

If you’re not careful and intentional to keep first things first, the nagging pressures of the urgent will crowd out your time with God. But today is always the perfect time to realign your priorities.

George Mueller said this out of personal experience: “Since God has taught me this point, it is as plain to me as anything that the first thing the child of God has to do morning by morning is to obtain food for his inner man. As the outward man is not fit for work for any length of time, except we take food, and as this is one of the first things we do in the morning, so it should be with the inner man . . . and here again not the simple reading of the Word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water runs through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering over it, and applying it to our hearts.”

Do you consider food for your “inner man” as much of a priority as your daily meals?

Feast on the Word today!

Action Step: Think through one way to prioritize your “spiritual meals.”

Day 24: Light for Living
“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” —Matthew 4:4 ESV

We know from letters we’ve received that many of you are blessed by your Bible reading. What an answer to prayer! God wants the Word to be your very life (see Matt. 4:4). He wants to continue to revive you in the Word.

We can live in light of the Word one minute, and depart from it in the next. We need to have fellowship with God all day, because without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5); but we need to intentionally walk in the light of the Word (Ps. 119:105) as children of light (Eph. 5:8), or we will stray into darkness. It’s an ongoing process for every child of God.

God also wants to use the Word of God, flowing through your life to others, to dispel the darkness in your corner of the world. Use the Scriptures personally, practically and powerfully, shedding light wherever you go!

Spend some extra time in the Word today to celebrate the blessing of the Scriptures in your life.

Action Step: Look for ways that God has given your light for your journey.

Day 25: Make Melody in Your Heart

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord . . . Come into his presence with singing!” —Psalm 100:1, 3 ESV

When we add music and worship to our time of reading, it can serve as a precious aid toward worship.

Just as you gather materials and resources for in-depth Bible study, you might want to grab a hymn book for your Bible-reading time. Something you read may bring a hymn or spiritual song to mind, and you can stop and “make melody” in your heart to the Lord (Eph. 5:19). If you don’t have a hymn book, you might find the music you’re looking for at The Cyber Hymnal.

As you read about how God takes care of His people, you could sing “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” When you read about the cross, “Amazing Grace” might come to mind.

If you prefer, you can begin your reading time with music on your CD player or iPod. Music will get your mind and heart in a right frame of mind to be receptive to the Word. Or you could end your quiet time with music for some lingering “takeaway thoughts” for your day that you can sing over and over again.

Action Step: Choose a song you would like to meditate on today.

Day 26: Be Intent to Obey

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” —James 1:22 ESV

Do you sometimes feel you are “just reading” the Word? It’s a common problem. God wants us to listen with the intent to obey.

An opening prayer can encourage you each day, because your receptivity will be increased as you invite God to work in your heart and to prepare it—like cultivated soil —for the seed of the Word.

Here is a suggested prayer, straight from the Scriptures, that will encourage this process of receptivity:

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. . . . Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. . . . Make me to know your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. . . . ‘Teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’ (Ps. 119:18, 34; 25:4–5; Job 34:32).

Read . . . listen . . . obey. It’s a beautiful sequence.

Action Step: Take time to pray today before you read, asking God to prepare your heart to receive His Word.

Day 27: Try a “Megadose” of the Word!

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” —Psalm 1:1–2 ESV

Do you feel you are reading and reading and “getting nothing” out of the Word of God? One of the reasons for that is we simply don’t read enough of the Bible in one sitting. We’re too content with “snack bites” of Scripture. Instead, try to get a “megadose” of the Word of God, no matter how busy your day.

What you get out of the Bible might depend on what your goal is as you read. Are you reading to cover a lot of territory and “get finished”… or are you reading to “find God”? If you get through the entire Bible, but you don’t get to Him, you’ve missed the whole point. Dig for the treasure hidden in the Word (Prov. 2:3–5).

If you feel you’re getting nothing from your Bible reading, put more into it! (A boy who struggled with math once told his mother that he hated the subject. Her response: “Dig in deeper!” Soon, that boy began to work math puzzles as a way to develop more of an interest. Today, that grown boy is a math teacher!)

Another way to get more from the Scripture is to respond to it. When God shows you something, teaches you something, or warns you about something, respond to God in prayer or write down immediately how you will respond. Maybe you read about the children of Israel forgetting God, and the Spirit of God prompted you to examine your own heart. Decide right then how you will not forget the Lord.

Take your megadose of Scripture today. You won’t regret it.

Action Step: Write down your response to what you’ve read today.

Day 28: Let Truth Change Your Core

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” —Romans 12:2 ESV

What you are reading cannot help but affect your behavior. That’s true of anything you
read. If you read cookbooks every day, don’t be surprised if you find yourself becoming
better in the kitchen! If you read good literature, you will become more “literate.”

As you read the Word of God, there are many potential results. You might become more spiritually literate, knowledgeable about biblical stories and truths. You might be motivated to do something with what you’ve read—to teach, to counsel others with biblical truth, etc. You might find something in your life changing, because you see that your lifestyle doesn’t quite line up with the Scriptures. What you believe will eventually affect action . . . or to say it another way, the way you live reveals what you really believe.

Truth will always make a difference in your life. It’s not to be stored away; it’s to
penetrate the core of who you are.

Pause and think about this a while. What are your core beliefs? How many of them come from the Word? How many align with the truth of the Word? God’s Word is truth, and it’s not going to change. It is our hearts and minds that must change. The enemy wants us to believe many lies, but when we are armed with truth, we can confront those lies and find freedom through the power of the Scripture.

What does your lifestyle reveal about your beliefs? Time to read some more truth?

Action Step: Has God shown you that something you used to believe was actually a lie? What is the truth?

Day 29: You’re Almost There!

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” —Matthew 13:45–46 ESV

Can you believe how quickly this month has passed? The daily commitment to read the Bible may have been hard, but what a blessing you’ve received! Any struggles you’ve experienced have been worth your time and effort.

We all instinctively know that rewards are good motivators, and the Word of God speaks of rewards. Everything done through the power of the Lord will earn rewards that last! The Bible says that Jesus will give rewards to every person according to the work they have done for Him while living on earth (Rev. 22:12; 1 Cor. 3:8). God has taken notice of your hard work to read and learn.

Take a moment to think about what you have learned as you’ve read the Bible this month. This 30-day challenge is closing soon, but this is just the beginning of a newlyformed habit of being in the Word! Studying the Word of God isn’t an activity we do once
and master; it’s a lifestyle change and commitment.

Just as you surrendered to the challenge to read the Scriptures, surrender now to continue obeying God in everything He has taught you. Let your heart be revived in His Word (Ps. 85:6).

To God be the glory; He has done great things!

Action Step: List out your spiritual goals moving forward after this challenge.

Day 30: The Beauty of Jesus

“Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, every one who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory.” —Isaiah 43:6–7 ESV

As you get into the Word today, remember that the entire purpose of the Word of God is to help us see and experience God in all His beauty and glory.

From Genesis 3:15 until the cross and the empty tomb, and then all the way to the promise of Christ’s return in the book of Revelation, the Word is united by the thread of God’s radiant majesty. Isaiah 43 tells us we were created for God’s glory. This isn’t selfish of God—on the contrary! He expresses unimaginable love to us by directing our attention to Christ’s majesty, to give us fullness of joy as we meditate on Him (Ps. 16:11). We were designed to worship Him now and throughout all eternity; nothing short of His presence can satisfy our thirsty hearts.

Have you seen this thread of God’s glory in your reading throughout the past month?

Take time to see Jesus as He is—as the King of King and Lord of Lords, your Savior, the coming Prince of Peace. Perhaps you have seen Jesus more clearly and known Him more intimately this month.

Let’s continue to press ever deeper into the Word to behold fresh visions of God in His beauty, igniting our hearts to worship. May our hearts reflect the same cry as the saints in Revelation 4:11:

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power.”

Action Step: Take time to praise Jesus for who He is.

Share Your Encouragement with Others!

How has this challenge changed your heart and life, dear friend? Did God encourage you as you read His Word? Were there difficult days where you simply needed to leave the results to God? Remember that God is faithful, and He will bless you for your willingness to obey Him. One thing is sure—you will never be the same because of your commitment to be more like Christ!

Would you take a moment to share with us how this challenge has affected your life?

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Devotionals

The Thief in the Night

by Julie Barrier
written by Julie Barrier

Paul, in his first epistle to the Thessalonians, clarified further what the concept of “being ready for the coming of the Lord” is all about. He used the same analogy-being awake instead of asleep-and then described what “being awake” looks like:

“But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:4-11 NIV

Jesus used the “thief in the night” imagery in the Olivet discourse (Matthew 24:42-43) and in Luke 12:35-40. The burglar’s approach is sudden, unexpected, and surprising. John the apostle stated the profound truth that “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5-7). The beloved disciple also taught that we are “children of light.” Walking in the light connotes that we are open to the conviction and revelation of the Holy Spirit-we live clean lives with no “secret skeletons” in the closet. Christians of integrity have nothing to hide. What you see is what you get. A person who walks in the light also lives in the light of God’s truth. If Jesus taught us to be “in the know” about the signs of His coming, we would be informed, watching and waiting. A well-trained hunting dog remains on point until the hunter commands him to retrieve the prize. As believers, we must live with such alertness and sensitivity to God’s commands.

Why must we be ready? John tells us in 1 John 2:28:

“And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.” NIV

We have an opportunity to make every day count before Christ’s return. We can be confident when we walk intimately with Jesus. Living in the light of the urgency of our call and the hope of His rewards changes everything. Instead of walking in fear of future tribulations, we look forward to a bridegroom who has prepared a place for us!

What are your greatest fears about the future? List them here. God says that “perfect love casts out fear.” (1 John 4:18)

How would your daily priorities change in light of Jesus’ immediate return? Who would you see? What would you say? What opportunities would you take?

When you love someone who is away, you often call send them a card saying that you miss them and can’t wait to see them. Write a letter to Jesus and tell Him that in your own words.

APPLYING THE SCRIPTURES

Read the following and write your observations on the back of this sheet:

Genesis 3:1-14; I Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 23-25; 2 Thessalonians 2:2-4; Romans 8:9, Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 John 1:5-7; 2:28; 4:18; John 10:27-30

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Devotionals

How Well Does Jesus Know You?

by Julie Barrier
written by Julie Barrier

How well does Jesus know me? Well enough for me to trust Him with my life? The answer is “yes.” In the following verses we will learn that Jesus knows us intimately and desires to interact with us every day.

He created me

At the moment of conception God was there. The psalmist says, “You made my body, Lord. (Psalm 119:73a LB) “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body, and knit them together in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:13 LB) God is present from the very beginning, when the sperm meets the egg and the cells start to divide. He oversees the process as cells continue dividing into different cells that become various parts of the body: bones, internal body organs, the head and skin. God knows all that is happening. When the baby is born and grows, both the parent and later on the teen, can be assured that God intimately knows their body and when there is a problem like a tumor or heart condition because He created your body, He is the ultimate healing physician. God often heals outright, but He also uses human medical inter- ventions to demonstrate His power.

He is with me 24/7

Our God is a 24/7 God. “How precious it is Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly!” (Psalm 139:15 LB) “…when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!” (Psalm 139:18b LB) “He keeps his eye upon you as you come and go, and always guards you.” (Psalm 121:8 LB) These verses are especially comforting to parents of young people who are away from home. God knows where they are at all times.

From the beginning of time He has a plan for me

From the very beginning, God has plans for each of us. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart…In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV) “…But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the Lord his hope and confidence.” (Jeremiah 17:7a LB) “Your words are a flashlight to light the path ahead of me, and keep me from stumbling.” (Psalm 119:105 LB)

Abiding in God’s plan is our purpose and challenge.

If I make a mistake, God will help me

God knows that we make mistakes and He will help us when we call to Him. “…the Lord who created, …says, Don’t be afraid, …I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up—the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, your Savior, the Holy

One…” (Isaiah 43:1-3a LB) God does not expect perfection. He looks for obedience and promises to support us.

  • Every day we make choices about our lives with or without God’s help. Review your day. How many times did you ask for God’s help?
  • Re-read the previous verses. Highlight the verses that touch you and write down what you are thinking. How will the verses impact your life?
  • Jesus desires to walk with you every day. On the back make two columns. In one column describe your choices to- day and in the second column revise the choices based on Jesus walking beside you. Are they the same? If not, why?
  • God calls us to a life in focus. When you awake each morning, God is thinking of you. Take a few minutes to praise Him for who He is and ask Him to keep your life in focus for the day.

 

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Bible Studies

Idolatry: What You View

by Tony Evans
written by Tony Evans

Satan has a trap. He wants us to think the word “idol” doesn’t apply to us. However, because sin affects everyone, so does idolatry. As Pastor Evans mentioned, “idolatry is the most disgusting sin because all other sins come from it.” Idolatry is defined as any person, place, thing, or thought that we look to as our source. It is anything in God’s kingdom that competes with God himself.

Chapter 14 of Ezekiel explicitly states God’s stance on idolatry:

Therefore speak to them and tell them, “Thus says the Lord God, ‘Any man of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling block of his iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will be brought to give him an answer in the matter in view of the multitude of his idols, in order to lay hold of the hearts of the house of Israel who are estranged from Me through all their idols.’”

Even though Christians may recognize that idols are sinful, all humans have a propensity toward idolatry. The reason why we look to idols is that they make us feel like we are in control of our lives. Despite that feeling, it is actually the idol that has control over us. Idols are so deceptive that they will simultaneously block the flow of God’s grace and attract demons to situations in our lives.

We can begin to address our own issues with idolatry when we remember a few key points:

  1. God is transcendent: He is outside of time and space and distinct from all of creation. When we operate outside of His timing, we are competing with Him.
  2. When God says, “I am that I am,” He means that He is not subject to our definition of who He is. Furthermore, He does not accept our excuses for participation in idol worship.
  3. Additionally, “I am that I am” means God is self-sufficient. He does not need our help to do anything.

Once we acknowledge that idolatry is intimacy with a false image, we can open our hearts to intimacy with the true, living God.

 

GETTING STARTED

  1. Scripture makes it clear that God wants absolute exclusivity as the ruler in our lives. Make a list of the specific area(s) that you have not given Him total reign over you.
  2. When we want to pick and choose the areas of life that we want God to enter, we are using a cafeteria approach to our relationship with Him. Say a prayer reverencing God’s authority in your life, and give Him total and complete dominion over the things that you listed above.

LET’S GET PERSONAL

Another factor in understanding idolatry is that who or what we worship, we become. When we worship God, we reflect His image and likeness. When we worship other things or people, we are not honoring God, advancing His kingdom, or giving Him glory. We can’t expect answers to our prayers if we are not positioned under His authority properly.

  1. Make a list of three things you can do to eliminate the current idols in your life.
  2. Ask a friend or family member to pray with you daily and hold you accountable for dealing with your specific idols.

TAKE THE NEXT STEP

Meditate on the following verses: Psalm 135:18 and James 4:3.

RENEW YOUR MIND

“Therefore say to the people of Israel, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!”

Ezekiel 14:6

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Articles

Jesus’ “Greater Works”?

by Tom Terry
written by Tom Terry

Recently, someone asked me if I was familiar with John 14:12 where Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do.” The implication of the question was that when Jesus said this, couldn’t it apply to teleportation? This question actually brings up other passages where Jesus seems to tell us that Christians will do remarkable things if they have enough faith to believe—things like moving mountains (Matthew 17:20), withering trees (Matthew 21:18-22), make trees fly (Luke 17:6), walking on water (Matthew 14:22-33), or even controlling the weather (James 5:17), all by faith. There is only one problem with this line of reasoning. In the nearly 2,000 years since Jesus walked the earth, no one has ever moved a mountain, instantly withered a tree, made a tree fly, or walked on water. So, what is going on here? If we are Christians and believe in Jesus, the cross, and the resurrection, why can’t we do these things? Is this a matter of, as some would say, faulty faith?

I don’t think so, and I’d like to tell you why.

The first thing we must do is get a proper understanding of what Jesus meant when he said that we would do, “Greater works” than he did. Then we must look carefully at Jesus’ statements about moving mountains and withering trees (and so on) and see if there is another legitimate meaning. Then we must examine faith. What did Jesus mean when he referred to the “mustard seed” of faith (Luke 17:6). Does faith come in greater or lesser volumes, sizes, or weights, or is something else going on? As I examine these issues with you I’d like you to consider an important truth about scripture.

Jesus didn’t always mean what he said.

I’m not saying that Jesus didn’t believe what he said, or that he lied about what he said. Rather, Jesus sometimes employed verbal (or literary) devices to help him make his points. When he did this he did not intend for his hearers to take him literally on certain subjects, rather, he was employing a verbal tool to illustrate a greater truth. Many people read the Bible and take it quite mystically. Some Christians think that everything in the Bible must always be taken literally. But if that were true, then a camel might really go through the eye of a needle (Mark 10:25). Clearly, that is impossible. Jesus didn’t mean it literally, he was using a literary device to make a point. Understanding these literary devices in scripture is necessary if we want to understand the Gospel author’s intent and original meaning. While the Bible has some difficult passages, it should be approached like any other book that uses a variety of literary styles, genres, and devices. I’ll touch on this as we move ahead. First, let me address what Jesus meant by “Greater works.”

Greater Works

Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do” (John 14:12). What was Jesus referring to when he said, “Greater works?” There were, essentially, two things that Jesus did in his three years of ministry. He taught the people and his disciples and he did miracles and healing. It is clear from scripture’s testimony that Jesus’ disciples exceeded Jesus’ work in both areas. Consider that when the Apostle Peter preached his first sermon 3,000 people came to faith in Christ (Acts 2:41). Jesus never did that. That was a “Greater work.” The disciples spread around the known world, lead thousands to Christ and planted numerous churches. Jesus never did that. That was a “Greater work.”

We find another example in the Apostle Paul. Paul wrote 13 books of the New Testament. Jesus authored nothing. This is a “Greater work.” Paul gave the church most of its theology. This is a “Greater work.” All of the Apostles and their disciples spread the Gospel from Europe to India within the first 60 years of the church. Jesus never ministered outside of Palestine. This is a “Greater work.” All of the Apostles, except James the brother of John, lived far longer than Jesus and ministered for decades longer than Jesus ever did. This is a “Greater work.”

What about miracles? The disciples did some of the same miracles that Jesus did. They healed the lame (Acts 3:7). They restored sight to the blind (Acts 9:18). They healed illness (Acts 28:8). In one instance, handkerchiefs that touched Paul healed people (Acts 19:12). Jesus never did that. I believe that these things are “greater” in that they were miracles performed by the Holy Spirit through sinful, forgiven men, rather than from the sinless, righteous Jesus. It is amazing that sinful men had been given such power. This is a “Greater work.” But noticed what none of the Apostle’s did—they never moved mountains, withered trees, or walked on water. And they certainly didn’t teleport. Now, if the Apostles had the faith to do these things, why then didn’t they move mountains? In fact, Jesus said, “If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20). Jesus said that. Jesus only spoke truth. So why don’t we move mountains today? In fact, why hasn’t anyone in the last 2,000 years moved a mountain, ever? Is it a problem with our faith?

A Literary Device

I don’t believe that Jesus literally meant that we would move mountains anymore than Jesus meant that camels would go through the eyes of sewing needles (Mark 10:25). Rather, Jesus was using a literary device we commonly call, hyperbole. Now, this is a difficult thing for some Christians to accept because many Christians see hyperbole as a form of lying. An exaggerated statement is not necessarily a true statement. In one sense that is correct. However, an exaggerated statement can also be a statement of truth when used in a way to illustrate that truth. This is what hyperbole does. It doesn’t employ falsehood. It is a literary device that employs the absurd to illustrate a common sense truth. This is what Jesus was doing when he said a person with faith can move a mountain.
Jesus often used hyperbole to make a point. Look at these examples: Luke14:26, “If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” Did Jesus literally mean for us to “hate” our families? How about Matthew 6:3? “But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” Hands don’t “know” anything. In Mark 10:27 Jesus says, “All things are possible with God.” Really, all things? Can God sin? No! God is incapable of sinning. This is using hyperbole for effect.

Many Christians read the Bible without considering that the text they are reading falls under different genre or type as the text progresses. In order to understand the text’s meaning you must understand what genre is being used, otherwise it will be easy to misinterpret what is being read and discover a meaning that was never intended by the author.

Faith

Some Christians object to the idea that Jesus employed hyperbole in these passages because Jesus said that anyone who has enough faith will be able to do the things he said, like move mountains. But is that really the case?

How much faith does it take to move a mountain? A quarter cup? Two-and-a-half gallons? Three pounds? Jesus said that if we have faith as “A mustard seed,” we would move mountains (Matthew 17:20). So the question becomes, do you have the faith of a tiny mustard seed? If that is all that is required to move a mountain, then certainly we need much less faith to command a single grain of sand to move one inch from left to right. Yet, do you have the faith to move a single grain of sand? Have you tried?

While I am employing a little hyperbole myself, like Jesus, I am doing so to make a point. Consider that in order for us to be saved and have eternal life we must believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead bodily never to die again. If you are a genuine Christian then you must believe this. Moreover, you must also believe that someday you will also rise from the dead never to die again, as Paul explained in I Corinthians 15. Do you believe this?

Here is my point. Believing in the resurrection of the dead is a hard thing to believe. Remember the Greek’s response to the Apostle Paul when he mentioned Jesus’ resurrection? They laughed at him (Acts 17:32). In Acts 23:6-10 Paul cries out that he believes in the resurrection of the dead and the dissension in the room becomes so great that the people became violent. When Paul stood before Festus at his trial in Acts 26:23-24, upon simply stating his belief in the resurrection of the dead, Festus yelled at Paul, “You are out of your mind!”

Believing in the resurrection of Jesus is not an easy thing. There is nothing more miraculous than this. Nothing turns the laws of physics and biology on their heads more than the miraculous resurrection from the dead. Yet, if you believe in the resurrection then you must have the faith to move a single grain of sand one inch from left to right. Which takes more faith, believing in moving mountains or the resurrection? Indeed, the resurrection! Thus, if you believe in Jesus you have that mustard seed of faith and more!

So, why haven’t you moved a mountain? It’s not because you don’t have faith, or enough faith. It’s because Jesus was using hyperbole. Besides, moving a mountain is incredibly destructive. Do you imagine Jesus would willy nilly give us all that kind of power? I think not.

If you believe in the resurrection then you can believe anything. You have all the faith you need. So, faith is not the issue. Literary genre is the issue.

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Articles

How Are Paul’s Prayers Different Than Our Prayers?

by Jan Shrader
written by Jan Shrader

As a celebration for our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary my husband, Gary and I saved, sacrificed, and trained to carry backpacks across Italy on a Eurail Pass.  Now, that Gary has graduated to heaven I am especially grateful we took the time and the money to take such a priceless trip.  While we were in Rome after seeing the catacombs and the coliseum, we decided to visit the Mamertine Prison where both the Apostles Paul, and Peter were separately imprisoned.  I can’t even imagine writing a positive message from that deep hole, and yet Paul did.  The ceiling was, so low neither Gary nor I had the ability to stand up straight in the cell.  At the top of the ceiling in the center was a round hole that was Paul’s only window or light source, and when it rained it became his leaky roof.

 

When Paul chooses words like “riches or lavished” in the book of Ephesians to describe the abundance and unmerited spiritual wealth we find in Christ, it is easy for us to forget he is writing from a rotten prison.  Paul’s heart was so enthralled with Jesus his mind became fixed on eternity, because of this he often overlooked his earthly troubles.  Look at his prayer in Ephesians 1:15-23

 

15) For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16) I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18) having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19) and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20) that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21) far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.  22) And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23) which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all. ESV

 

How is Paul’s prayer different than our prayers? 

 

When we analyze Paul’s prayer we see him asking God for spiritual blessings to be given to the church in Ephesus.  We also seek spiritual blessings in our prayers, but if we are honest we would see that most of our prayers are consumed with asking for God’s intervention in temporal needs.  Did the church in Ephesus not have worldly needs?  Oh yes they did, the believers in Ephesus had some serious problems.  In the book of Acts we learn that the great city of Ephesus was the epicenter for the worship of the goddess Artemis.  People came from throughout the known world to this port city in Asia minor, which is modern day Turkey, to worship and purchase idols of Artemis.  When the silversmiths discerned Paul’s teaching would destroy their ability to market Artemis’ image a riot broke out in Ephesus and a great uproar filled the city.  The Ephesians felt the veneration of idols were essential to a strong economy in their city and this attitude made the life of the believers in Ephesus much more difficult.  This conflict is only one example of the intense religious persecution the early church would suffer under the Romans, and yet Paul does not ask God to free the Ephesians from this trial in his prayer.  Why?

 

Paul believed spiritual blessings were more important than temporal blessings.  Remember, Paul is writing this prayer from a less than ideal location, prison.  Let me be clear it is never wrong to ask God to meet our physical needs, it is just curious that in this prayer and the other one in Ephesians 3:14-21. Paul only asked for spiritual blessings.  Do you think that while Paul physically suffered for his faith he gained a special insight?

 

Paul knew that inner spiritual strength was more important than having our troubles disappear.  He knew that spiritual blessings would strengthen us now, so we could not only endure the trials of this world, but would even show us the riches of eternity.

 

1) God wants us to know what is the hope to which he has called us.

 

Our hope is that the God who created the universe can be known.  And, that specifically he desires to know us!  The Greeks had more than one word to describe “knowledge”.  In verse 18 the Greek word translated “know” means:   to understand, to recognize, come to know, or to experience.  The hope to which God has called us needs to be understood, it needs to be recognized, and even experienced and felt.  This phrase, “the hope to which we have been called” is an interesting phrase to explore because we know from verse 15 that the believers in Ephesus already possessed a substantial faith in Christ Jesus that Paul admired and they had readily shown a deep love for all the saints.  But, Paul wanted more for these believers.

 

Why would Paul want their knowledge of this hope to grow?

 

Paul knew that experiencing this hope would give their hearts greater courage.  Jesus’ call is a call to a relationship with him.  God is always pursuing us and even after he has caught us he wants us to come to know him deeper.  Sometimes scripture calls this pursuit “eternal life” and sometimes it is referred to as “the abundant life”.  For example in John 17:3 Jesus said, “And, this is eternal life that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ who you have sent.” ESV  Eternal life is more than a spot we reserve for ourselves in heaven when we die.  Eternal life is a relationship that starts on this earth, but extends into eternity and will last forever.  Paul wants our faith in Jesus to grow and become our heart’s desire.  Paul knows if our perception of this undying hope increases it will make a huge difference in how we live out our lives in the present.  Paul who writes from a damp prison truly understands the liberating effects of this eternal hope.

 

God loves us and we will never mature past our need to acknowledge his loving nature.  Our infant faith must enlarge to an emotional rest where we are convinced God is for us no matter what the circumstances are that we are living with.

 

2) God wants us to know what the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints are.

 

Who is doing the inheriting in this prayer?  This is the important question.  If we look at how the word “inheritance” is used through out the New Testament and in Paul’s other writings (Ephesians 1:14, 5:5, Colossians 1:12) we see the inheritors are the believers of Christ.  For example in Ephesians 1:14 we read this about the Holy Spirit, “who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it…” ESV  Paul is teaching that Christ followers are the inheritors and the Holy Spirit who lives within us is our guarantee we will come into this spiritual wealth.

 

What are these glorious riches we inherit in Christ?  Look at Paul’s words to the elders of the church in Ephesus in Acts 20:32.  “And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” ESV  Paul is asking that we would experience the rich legacy of relationships, teaching, comfort, help and support we find among the body of Christ.

 

We are endowed with these riches when we participate in the fellowship among those saints who are being sanctified.  Ours is a joint inheritance where we learn to rely on and bless each other.  The word “sanctified” begs for a definition and sometimes the simple definition is the best. To be sanctified is to become what we already are in God’s eyes.  When God looks at us he see us through Jesus’ glorious work on the cross.  The word “Saint” in the scriptures is not used to describe extraordinary Christians, but every day believers.  It is this transforming power of Christ’s sacrifice that invites us into sainthood, not our behavior.  Sanctification is the lifelong process of growing to look like Jesus.  Someday in heaven we will all perfectly reflect Jesus’ image.  Today, Paul desires our hearts would be enlightened so we could begin drawing on this inheritance while we still walk upon the earth.

 

Even in our conflicts with each other our lives can be enriched as we grow and learn how to relate to each other with greater honesty, kindness and emotional strength.  In Prov. 27:17 the Bible says, “Iron sharpens iron and one man sharpens another.” ESV  One of the more painful aspects that Covid inflicted on us was our isolation and separation from our faith community.

 

In Christ, I have inherited a wealth of spiritual and physical resources to help me survive and process the death of my husband.  And, all these riches have passed to me through the hands of loving Christians.  Whether it is my friend Jenny coaching me on how to buy my first car without my husband, or my brother-in-Christ, Rick, stepping forward to sell my camping trailer on Craig’s list, the support of the saints of God have deeply enriched my life and met my needs.  Like the hope to which he has called us, we begin enjoying our inheritance in Christ while we still reside on the earth.  It is also a blessing of eternity.    

 

Another way we can gain access to this spiritual wealth is by studying the writings and the lives of the saints who have gone before us, or who might come from a different culture.  Writers of past generations or from another country will expose us to biblical truths that are often neglected in our day.  Reading truthful biographies of flawed individuals will enrich our lives. Digging into church history will unveil the commonness of all our struggles.  Trust me, there is a glorious inheritance of wisdom, courage and experience in the trials of the saints that will protect us, and we can emotionally relate too.  Can you imagine the leisurely conversations we will someday enjoy with spiritual greats like the Apostle Paul, Hudson Taylor, Corrie ten Boom or Elizabeth Elliott?  If I could recommend only one book on Christian history it would be a biographical history of missions by Ruth Tucker, called From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya.  Tucker’s honest portrayal of imperfect people that God’s still chose to use was liberating for me.

 

3) God wants us to know the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe.

 

Paul wants our hearts opened to this power.  Have we truly experienced this immeasurable power?  God wants us to have confidence in his strength.  After Paul makes this statement he is now going to describe the power of God.  Look again at Ephesians 1:19-21.

 

19) and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20) that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21) far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. ESV

 

This is the dynamic power God employed to raise Jesus from the dead and then, seated him above all earthly and spiritual powers.  And like our inheritance, and the hope to which he has called us, we become versed in this resurrection power while we still live on earth.  In the glory of heaven we will more fully know it when we are truly raised from the dead, but our learning experiences begin now.  What a great prayer Paul has prayed here.

 

God wants us to know three things

1) what is the hope to which we have been called –  our hope that the God who created the universe desires a relationship with us,

2) what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints – a joint inheritance we only experience as we live among other Christ followers, and

3) what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe.

 

Why is it significant that we begin owning these spiritual riches on earth before we die?

 

How can we now more fully explore this inheritance found among the saints?

 

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Ask Roger

Take Up Your Cross: What Does It Really Mean?

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

Dear Roger, 

I’m puzzled. When Jesus said that we are to take up our cross and follow Him, what did He mean? What is the cross, and what does it look like? 
Sincerely, Alicia 

Dear Alicia,

In Matthew 16:24-26, Jesus said, “If any man come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” 

When He refers to “the cross,” He isn’t talking about the literal cross He carried to Calvary. He’s talking about the tools, experiences, and teaching God uses to shape us to look like Jesus.

Sorrow and Suffering

First, the cross involves sorrow and suffering. Those are what Jesus endured to be Jesus! Consider these verses:

Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. (Hebrews 5:7-9) 

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through him everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. (Hebrews 2:10-11) 

The student is not above the master. If Jesus must suffer on the cross, so must we, as we seek to honor and imitate Him.

John chapter 6 records the story of Jesus feeding the 5000. The next morning the crowds followed Him around looking for breakfast. Christ preached the most demanding sermon he’d ever preached: “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you’ll have no part in me.”

That was a hard saying. No one wanted to hear that. 4,988 walked away. Only 12 remained.

Jesus declared, “You’re going to go away too, aren’t you?”

Peter replied: “To whom shall we go?  You have the words of life.”

The essence of discipleship is when we finally understand that there is no place else to go except to Jesus!

Now, where did Jesus take his cross? To Golgotha. What did he do there? He died on it.

Like master like student.

I love Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book, The Cost of Discipleship. In it, he summed up the essence of Christian discipleship in these words: “When Jesus Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.”

Jesus is calling us to take up our cross and follow Him.

Let me be very clear: Where did He take His cross? To Golgotha. What did He do on it there? He died on it.

Note that there is not just one big cross that we carry.

We will carry many different crosses as we travel on our journey to spiritual maturity. The crosses that we carry are custom-designed by the Holy Spirit especially for each one of us.

3 Key Truths About Dying on a Cross

1. Dying on a Cross Hurts.

2. Dying on a Cross Takes Time.

3. There Is No Such Thing as Self-Crucifixion.

1. Dying on a Cross Hurts

A.W. Tozer, one of my favorite authors and teachers, said: “It is doubtful that God can use a man greatly until He has first hurt him deeply.”

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:6-7) 

Have you ever watched how they temper steel?

It’s fashioned and molded and heated in the fire until it’s glowing a fiery red. They then drop it into oil and brine, and it just screams like an animal would scream. Now, it’s tempered, so it will stand the tests for which it is designed.

That’s what God’s crucible does.

The Goldsmith puts gold ore into a hot crucible. The impurities float to the top while the heavier gold sinks to the bottom. He skims off the on top impurities again and again. When he looks in the crucible and sees his face perfectly reflected, he knows that he has pure gold.

Being determined to perfect His saints, God puts His precious children into His crucible. Then He sits by and watches. Love is His thermometer, and love marks the exact degree needed for the processing to occur.

As soon as Jesus sees Himself reflected in our lives, the trials cease, and He turns off the heat until He’s ready again to deal with us in the crucible.

Let me illustrate with the prophet Elijah.

1 Kings 17:1 begins with the statement, “Elijah the Tishbite.” Then, 1 Kings 17:24 ends the chapter with these words: “Elijah, the man of God.”

What occurred between these two verses is the story of how God changed Elijah from being just any old man into Elijah, The Man of God.

God told Elijah to go before King Ahab and deliver this message: “There will be neither rain nor dew for three years until I pray again.” Then, God told Elijah to go to the brook, Kerith, and pray for a drought.

The Hebrew word Kerith means “to cut or file.” There was a drought in the land; animals were dying; and Elijah was eating old, dead, animal carcasses. He was suffering.

Then, one day, the brook dried up.

A dried-up brook is often a sign of God’s pleasure, not his disappointment. If we miss this, then we miss the point of everything.

God spoke to Abraham at the height of his career and said, “Sacrifice Isaac,” and Abraham’s brook dried up.

On his first missionary journey Paul was stoned at Lystra, and his brook dried up.

God will use all sorts of upraised knives, trials, troubles, prisons, stones, and storms in order to renovate our inner spirit.

The Word of the Lord comes again to Elijah, “Go to the city of Zarephath, where there is a smelter. A widow will take care of you.”

“Zarephath” means “to melt.” God said, “First, I’ve cut you and now I’ll melt you.”

When God wants to drill a man and thrill a man and skill a man,

When God wants to mold a man to play the noblest part,

When He years with all his heart to create so great and bold a man

That all the world shall be amazed 

Watch God’s methods, watch His ways,

How He ruthlessly perfects whom He royally elects

How He hammers him and hurts and with his mighty blows converts him

Into trial shapes of clay which only God understands 

While his tortured heart is crying and he lifts beseeching hands.

How God bends but never breaks when His good He undertakes,

How He uses whom He chooses and with every purpose fuses him

By every act induces him to try His splendor out,

God knows what He’s about. 

–The Shaping of the Disciple by Dale Stone 

Only after God cut and fashioned Elijah at Kerith, and then melted him at Zarephath, is the processed man of God ready to call down fire on Mt. Carmel (see 1 Kings 18:16-46).

2. Dying on a Cross Takes Time

The Roman historian Tacitus tells us that most criminals lingered for hours and hours before they finally expired on a cross. He recorded that he watched one man suffer for three days.

God is in no hurry. He is working for eternity.

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6) 

God doesn’t measure time like we measure time. Psalm 90:4 teaches, “For one thousand years in your sight are like a day that is just gone by.”

Time slows down as speed increases. In fact, there are places in our universe where time is totally stopped. Like the event horizon of a black hole.

God, who created the universe, transcends time. What may seem like forever to us may be just seconds for Him.

I got out my calculator and decided to have some fun. If one day with God is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as a day, I figured out that one year on earth equals 86.4 seconds in heaven.

Of course, Psalm 90 is poetry. It is not literal. David was simply teaching us that time is nothing to God!

But, to continue the illustration, one year on earth would equal about 2.5 minutes in heaven.

One of the most asked questions I get when a spouse dies is, “Will he/she miss me?”

I respond, “Let’s imagine that you outlive your spouse by ten years. By my calculations, this means that he dies and goes to heaven and 15 minutes later here you come! He’s probably still in line to see Jesus. He may even give you a ‘cut.’”

God’s not in a hurry. Many of us imagine that God’s design for our spiritual maturity seems so slow. God says, “No, from my perspective everything is right on schedule.”

It is often God’s way to set aside a person after the first start so that his or her self-confidence can die down.

Many new Christian converts begin at a fast pace. God will often modify the pace.

God waited a long time for Moses to learn that the victory belongs to God and not to himself.

God said, “Moses, I want you to set my people free from Egypt.”

“You bet,” he boasted. “No trouble, I can handle that.”

However, at the age of forty, on his first day on the job, the proud missionary became a murderer.

For the next forty years, Moses continued to stay in the wilderness, tending sheep while being processed by God. Finally, at the age of eighty, God said to Moses, “Now it’s time. Go set my people free.”

Moses said, “Are you kidding! I can’t do that.”

I’m sure that God smiled and said, “Perfect. I’ve got you just where I want you.”

At the age of eighty, Moses could do things that he could never do at forty. He led God’s people out of Egypt.

Paul became a Christian when he was 32. God waited until he was 49 before sending him on his first missionary journey.

This is not to discourage us, but to help us settle down with our sights on eternity: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Jesus Christ took hold of me (Philippians 3:12-14).”

It takes God a hundred years to make a mighty oak. He can turn out a squash in six weeks. Which would you like to be? An oak? Or a squash?

3. No One Can Crucify Themselves

We cannot self-engineer the journey that God has in store for us.

It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13) 

When is the last time you read that someone committed suicide by crucifixion?  You’ll never read that. It cannot be done.

Crucifixion is God’s work, not ours. Some of us He just bends.

Some of us have so much pride and self-dependence that He has to break us. God uses different means with each of us.

In other words, how He works with me is not necessarily how He’s going to work with you. He has many different tools to mature us to look like Jesus.

But with all this, His purpose is to chip away at our self-reliance, self-centeredness, and self-condemnation, so that we can mature to look like Jesus.

We can’t speed up God’s process of maturity, but we certainly can slow it down.

Are You Ready to Die on a Cross?

It’s time for a prayer, and I encourage you to join me: “Dear Jesus, would you please mature me to be a spiritual mother/father at any price. I don’t care what it costs.”

The truth is, we may very well care what it costs. Nevertheless, I will do it anyway.

I’ll close with an old Chinese proverb that illustrates what it means to die on the Cross of Christ.  

Once upon a time far off in the heart of the Western Kingdom, the master came to walk day by day. In the midst of his garden was the most beautiful bamboo tree that ever grew in all the earth. And the master would come by and look at his plants, but he had a special affinity for that old bamboo tree. He watched it as it grew. He nurtured it almost to complete maturity. 

One day, as the great master was walking through his garden, he came to that bamboo tree. On impulse that bamboo tree bowed down in adoration of the master, and the master said, “Little Bamboo, most beautiful of all the trees in my garden, I think that you’re just about ready to become useful to me.” 

And the bamboo said, “Oh, great master, if I can do anything for you, I will. Just take me. Use me.”  

The great master said, “Bamboo, Bamboo, most beautiful of all the trees in my garden, if I’m going to use you I have to cut you down.” 

The wind stopped blowing, the birds stopped singing, and all the butterflies were still.   

The bamboo said, ‘Well, master, I’m yours. You yourself said that I’m the most beautiful of all the trees in the garden; must you cut me down?”  

The great master said, “I must, if you’re going to be useful to me.” 

The sounds of the garden were hushed in silence as that great bamboo bent his neck, and the master cut him down. 

Then the master said, “Bamboo, if you’re going to be useful to me, I must cut off all your branches.”  

The bamboo said, “Oh, master, not that. You’ve already cut me down. Isn’t that enough? Please don’t cut off my branches.”   

The great master said, “No, I must cut off your branches.”  

Once more the garden was silenced, and all the plants looked on with rapt attention as the great master snipped off branch after branch and bared that great bamboo. 

Then the master said, “Bamboo, there’s one more thing. You’re not useful to me yet. If you’re going to be useful to me, then I must split you open and cut your heart out.”   

Bamboo said, “Oh, master, you’ve already taken away all of my beauty. There’s nothing left now, just me. Must you scrape my heart out?” And the great master said, “I must if you’re to be useful to me.”   

Once more, the garden was hushed and silenced as the great master took that bamboo, split him down the middle, and scraped his heart out. 

Then the great master took that bamboo shoot, now hollowed out and scraped clean, and he walked over to a spring which was bubbling with water. He laid one end of that hollowed-out bamboo shoot down in the stream of bubbling water. He placed the other end of that bamboo shoot in the channels that led to the irrigation ditch that watered his garden. 

The waters began to flow, and the fields began to grow. The winds began to blow again. The birds began to sing. The rice was planted, and the harvest came. And that bamboo who standing all alone in the garden was the most beautiful of all the master’s plants … that bamboo, which meant so much to himself … when he was stripped bare and hollowed out … was then and only then useful in the great master’s garden. 

Dear Alicia, I hope that my answer has helped you.

Love, Roger

 

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Ask Roger

Is There an Age of Accountability?

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

 

Dear Roger,

How young can you be to ask Jesus to be your Savior? Can a 3 or 4 year old truly believe?

Sincerely, Liz

 

Dear Roger,

What happens to babies and young children when they die? Where do I find the age of accountability in the Bible?

Sincerely, Kendall

 

I’m going to combine your questions into one answer. I think my answer will help provide a profitable response for both of you.

 

There is definitely no age requirement for salvation. Jesus Himself declared, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14).

 

As soon as children are old enough to understand that they have sinned (Romans 3:23), that Jesus died to pay the penalty for their sins (Romans 5:8; 6:23), and that they must place their faith in Jesus for salvation (John 3:16), then they are old enough to be saved.

To say it another way, children may make a salvation commitment to trust Christ as Lord and Savior when they come to the point that they realize that they are not saved.

 

To put it another way, we are talking about the growth and maturing of the human spirit.

 

The Bible teaches that we are three-part beings (1 Thessalonians 5:23). We have a body, a soul, and a spirit.

 

The body is our five senses. The soul is our mind, will, and emotions. Our human spirit is the place where God lives deep within us. It is a place of worship, intuition and communion where we meet with God, Holy Spirit to human spirit.

 

When our innermost spirit matures to the point of understanding the spiritual issues involved, a decision to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior is ready to be made.

 

Our human spirit does not come ready to operate. It must be matured.

 

Moments after his birth, Jesus did not sit up in the manger and say, “What’s for breakfast?”

 

No, he was a baby. For example, he could not add 4+5 = 9. Jesus is fully God but he is also fully human (the hypostatic union). He learned 4+5 equal 9 as his mind matured and he grew up.

 

“Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52).

 

I imagine that as soon as Jesus could talk, Mary was putting him on her knees and explaining to him Psalm 22, the Psalm of the cross. “Jesus, this Psalm is all about you.”

 

Just as our bodies grow physically as we grow up, so our inner spirit matures as it is cultivated by ourselves and others.

 

It’s essential that parents cultivate a child’s inner spirit as soon as a child can talk and interact. Reading Bible stories, attending Sunday school, experiencing Christian Fellowship, praying, learning Bible verses and singing spiritual children’s songs are just a few of the ways mom and dad can help mature their child’s inner spirit where God dwells.

 

Just as we are concerned about a child’s physical health, we must be concerned about a child’s spiritual health.

 

We must concentrate and focus on helping our children grow in spirit.

 

Obviously, Jesus’ body, mind and spirit were quickly maturing as he grew up. By the age of twelve we see that his inner spirit was rapidly developing.

 

Returning from the temple in Jerusalem Mary and Joseph went looking for Jesus when they realized that Jesus was not with them.

 

“After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “son why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.

Jesus replied, “Why were you searching for me, didn’t you know that I had to be in my father’s house?” (Luke 2:46-50).

 

We know absolutely nothing about Jesus’ activities from the age of 12 to 30. Nevertheless, during these silent years, it may well be that his body, mind and human spirit were growing and maturing as he prepared for his three and half years of intense ministry.

 

The “age of accountability” is a term used by many to identify the age at which a child’s spirit has matured enough so that he/she are ready to become a Christian.

 

We are defining the moment when a child’s innermost spirit has matured enough to understand the difference between moral right and moral wrong. They are now accountable for their actions.

 

In other words, we are defining the age of accountability as the time when a child understands the significance between being a Christian and not being a Christian.

 

It’s obvious from Jesus’ teachings that he certainly believed that children could reach a point where they are ready to be saved.

 

“Then little children were brought to him for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said’ let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. When he placed his hands on them he went on from there” (Matthew 19:13-15).

 

“He took a little child and had him stand before them. Taking him in his arms, he said to him, that whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me” (Mark 9:36-37).

 

Let me answer directly one of the questions that you asked. I think that it is unfair to think that three and four-year-old children can be saved. After all, commitment to Jesus is a lifetime decision. It’s hard to imagine an eight-year-old committing to lifetime surrender to Jesus. Three and four-year-olds don’t have a chance! One of the reasons why so many children grow up to turn away from Christ is because their childhood decision was made too early and was not fully developed.

 

The preacher was teaching on Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep. The shepherd had 100 sheep, and he lost one. So he left the 99 and went searching for that one lost sheep until he found it (Luke 15:3-7).

 

Suddenly, I knew that I was a lost sheep. I didn’t know what that meant; nevertheless, I knew that I was one. For the next three days mom and dad helped me understand sin and why I needed a Savior. I made a decision to follow Christ as my Lord and Savior and my commitment has never wavered.

 

I was seven years old. For sure, I believe that the age of accountability can be reached as early as the age of seven; but usually not.

 

However, we must be careful as we deal with young children that we don’t push them along before they are ready. A century ago the age of most people who came to Christ averaged 18 to 20 years old. At this age they were quite ready to make a lifetime commitment to Christ.

 

Unfortunately, I think that we have dumbed down the gospel to what I call, “instant Christianity.” We have instant television, instant TV dinners, instant world-wide communication and instant coffee. Why not have instant salvation where we tell someone that all they have to do is say a little prayer, and raise their hand, and they can be saved?

 

What we ought to tell them is that following Jesus will cost them their very lives.

 

By the way, a child does not have to understand all the complex issues that are part of the doctrine of salvation.

 

Some things are essential. For example, we must believe in faith that Jesus is 100% God, in the validity of the virgin birth, Jesus’ substitutionary atonement for our sins on the cross and that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. If we have those things in place, we have the essentials.

 

However, when I became a Christian I did not understand the virgin birth. I didn’t even know what a virgin was! It’s okay for these truths to come to be fully understood over time.

 

The Bible often encourages us to have faith like a child: “He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:15).

 

It is important that adults as well as children understand and successfully navigate the basic issues regarding their age of accountability. The promise of Acts 16:31 is equally true with regard to an adult or a child: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”

 

Finally, you asked if babies go to heaven when they died.

 

While the Bible does not especially use those words, my opinion is that they do. God told David that because of his sin with Bathsheba their baby would die. When the baby died David said, “He can’t come to me. However, one day I will go to him” (2 Samuel 12:21-23). This implies that the baby is in heaven and one day David will be there, too.

 

Also, I believe that Jesus’ invitation for the children to come to him on earth includes an invitation from Jesus to come to him in heaven.

 

Dear Lia and Kendall,

I hope that my answer covered your questions. If not, let me know.

 

Love, Roger

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Peace concept. Conceptual photos to show the Freedom of White Origami Dove or Pigeon Flew from the Water into the Sky. International World Peace day, Human Rights, Love and Hope
Ask Roger

Crisis Lessons from the Book of Hebrews

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

Dear Roger,

All over the world, wars, persecution, plagues and famine are everywhere. People seem frightened, frustrated and angry. I know that we are continuing to face an uphill battle. Does the Bible have anything to say about how to survive the chaos both now and in the future?

Sincerely, Blakely

Dear Blakely,
God’s Word, the writer to the Hebrews intentionally focused his book on navigating the rough waters of persecution and suffering. Today I’d like to examine the parallels of the first-century persecution with the advice from Hebrews on how to handle the pandemic we’re facing right now.

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. (Hebrews 12:4)

Persecution in the first-century church was on the way but had yet to arrive. The “bloodletting” of COVID-19 has already begun.

1. The Most Important Thing of All Is to Be Certain You Are a Christian

If you are not already a Christian, today’s the day to trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest (salvation) still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it (salvation). For we also have had the gospel preached to us just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard it did not combine it with faith. Now just as we who have believed enter that rest. (Hebrews 4:1-3)

The family of a 78-year-old non-Christian prayed for years for Grandpa to become a follower of Jesus. He was in the hospital when his son asked me to stop by one more time and share the gospel with his dad. So, I did. When I finished, he said to me, “Thank you for coming; but I’ve said “no” to Jesus so many times that I couldn’t become a Christian now even if I wanted to.” That broke my heart. He was wrong; Jesus died and rose again for ALL of us, and we can accept His free gift of salvation at any time. But this man had hardened his heart. He refused one last time. Don’t say “no” because you always have … Jesus’ love is real, eternal, and His arms are always open wide.

2. Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despised it shame and sat down at the right hand at the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful man, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:1-3)

Peter was walking on water until he took his eyes off Jesus and sank. Fortunately, Jesus came to his rescue … and He will come to yours when you lift your eyes to Him. Told that he would be set free if he denounced Jesus, Polycarp, the second century Bishop of Antioch, replied, “Eighty-six years I’ve served him. I’m not about to give up on him now. “ The Romans set him on fire. Jesus ushered him into heaven.

3. Keep Going to Church. We Need the Fellowship!

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-26)

Trying to meet together in-person for church during the COVID-19 quarantine has been very difficult. Fortunately, in our technological age, we can tune in worship services from anywhere. We can also encourage one another through calls, texts, and social media if we make a deliberate effort. We meet together with Les and Marita, our across-the-street neighbors, every Sunday at their house to watch our church’s online worship services. Then, we pray and enjoy lunch together. We follow the rules, social distance, and are all COVID-19 free, praise God!

4. When or If Disaster Hits Home Personally, Don’t Get Angry Because Anger Leads to Bitterness.

See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitterroot grows up to cause trouble and defile. (Hebrews 12:15)

I have suffered debilitating health challenges my whole life. I have to work hard every day to keep my body moving and healthy. I’ve also had to accept that there is no cure. Occasionally, I find myself wanting to get angry at God. But then I remind myself if there’s ever a time that I need the triumphant power of Jesus Christ, it’s now. He understands my frustration, calms my fears, and gives me the strength I need to survive.

5. Do Your Best to Stand against Depression. Don’t Quit. There’s Always Room for More Hope!

My son, do not make light … and do not lose heart. (Hebrews 12:5)

People look for hope in the present. If we can’t find hope in the present, we look to the immediate future. If we can’t find hope in the immediate future, we will look to the distant future. If we can’t find hope in the distant future, we will place our hope in the next life.

Let me illustrate. African American Spirituals are all based on hope deferred.

Tied up and thrown into the crowded holds of slave ships, slaves had no hope of escaping in the present. So, they looked for hope in the immediate future. Standing on the auction block, they saw their hopes for the immediate future dashed. So, they postponed their hopes to the distant future. Hopefully, one day they would be freed.

As the years went by, they no longer had the future hope that one day they’d be released. So, they turned their hopes to the distant future and began to look toward eternity. Listen to their singing:

“When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound … When the role is called up Yonder … Deep River, my home is over Jordan … I’m gonna ride that chariot in the morning … I’m dwelling in Beulah Land.”

It’s critical that we draw our hopes for the future into the present where we can enjoy them! I also think of a cemetery as a symbol of our hope for eternity and for the life beyond. We see people weep over gravestones. Some weep, saying “Momma’s dead. Thank God for some good times and marvelous memories. How wonderful that we will see her again!” The family leaves the graveside with peace and a smile.

On the other hand, those who have no hope weep at the graveside and are miserable. Their loved one is gone forever.

6. Surrender to Jesus and Find Life and Triumph in Every Circumstance

How much more should we submit to the father of our spirits and live! (Hebrews 12:9)

The key to real living is found only in submitting our lives to Jesus Christ. Whenever He speaks, we listen and obey. Then, and only then, will we experience the life and purpose He has planned for our lives. As my father used to say to my brother and me, “When I say ‘jump’ you ask, “’How high?”’ We trusted him to know what was best for us, and he did.

Finally, This Earth Is Not Our Home. Our Home Is in Heaven

This is our most important motivation for submitting to Jesus!

For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. (Hebrews 13:14)

Hoping in heaven gives us a different perspective on life. Our understanding of the here and now is like observing the underside of an unfinished embroidered pillowcase. The backside is knots and dangling threads that are not yet woven together. The “heaven” side reveals a beautifully crafted masterpiece. Thinking about heaven makes me happy. Think about it, we are going to chow down at the Marriage Feast of the Lamb and not gain an ounce!

Let’s Get Practical Together

1. Remember that eternal life starts now (John 17:3).
We have true victory, thanks to Jesus Christ. It’s time to live in light of eternity.

2. Jesus’s presence fills us with joy and pleasure (Psalm 16:11).
Take a moment to quiet your heart, mute your cell phone and let his love wash over you.

3. Jesus will be glad to see us (Matthew 25:23).
Imagine God’s absolute delight in our celestial arrival! He says, “Well done, good and faithful servant … Come share your Master’s happiness.” Have you spent your life trying to please God and others? You will find forgiveness, grace and rest in heaven (Psalm 103:12); Hebrews 4:10). Imagine Jesus smiling at you, and welcoming you with open arms into heaven, instead of shaking his finger at you in reproof.

4. We will have fulfilling work to do (Revelation 7, 22).
We will not work riddled with fatigue and frustration (the result of the Fall). Instead, we will fulfill all of the potential God placed within us with unlimited resources and energy.

5. Those we love and miss are a crowd of witnesses cheering us on in our earthly struggles (Hebrews 12:1).
Our dear ones do see us, but through an eternal lens (Revelation 6:9).

6. Our worship will be unceasing before God’s Throne (Revelation 4:1-11).
All are singing “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” Why don’t you take a little time and enjoy worship now: sing, shout, thank and praise God. God’s presence hangs around when we praise!

Well, Blakely, I hope that these insights from the book of Hebrews are helpful in bringing you peace as we endure suffering together.

Love, Roger

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Devotionals

What Are the Most Important Questions to Ask Before You Die?

by Thabiti Anyabwile
written by Thabiti Anyabwile

This morning, I’m reflecting on the fact that I’m going to die soon. I don’t know how soon. I don’t know whether I’ll live to be 90 or just have 90 more minutes. But, I’m going to die soon. Even if I live to be 90, I’ll look back at my life and it would have been a vapor. I’m going to die soon. And you are too.

I asked the people yesterday how they would be remembered at their funeral. It’s a good question for the preacher, too, not just the pew. I’m going to die soon, and I wonder how I will be remembered.

Will I, like Abraham, be remembered as a “man of faith” (Gal. 3:9)?

Will I, like Abraham, be remembered as a friend of God (James 2:23)? Will people say I plead with God as a man pleads with a friend (Job 16:20-21)?

Will anyone think that I, like David, was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22)?

What will be said about my service in the church? Will I, like Moses, be faithful in all the house of God (Num. 12:7; Heb. 3:2)?

Will those who knew me say I loved my wife as Christ loves the church (Eph. 5:25)?

Will anyone testify that the Lord hid nothing from me because I was trusted by God to teach my entire household His wonderful deeds, “to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just” (Gen. 18:17-19)?

I am going to die soon, and these questions receive far too little of my time. Moreover, these questions seem occupied with what other men think. I suppose that’s okay on one level, given how the questions are asked. But what will God say when I die?

Will it be written of me: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saint,” Thabiti (Ps. 116:15)?

I suppose some men will spend their lives in the ministry, and at the end cry out with Balaam: “Let me die the death of the righteous, and may my end be like theirs!” (Num. 23:10). Yet, like Balaam, they may never see such a death and their end may never be like “the dust of Jacob.”

I’d rather hear the Lord say, Thabiti “was as zealous as I am for my honor” (Num. 25:10, 13). Oh to be like Phinehas son of Eleazar! To live only for God’s honor!

For the saint, death is but a carriage to eternal life and the glories of Christ on high. All the commendations that attend our processional will have been earned by Christ our Savior. All the fruit of our lives leading to honor among men will have been produced by God’s Spirit. To God be the glory, great things He has done.

But we would be better prepared for that day if we live now with the certain knowledge that we are going to die soon.

www.thegospelcoalition.com.

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Devotionals

What Does God Say about Self-Denial?

by Tom Terry
written by Tom Terry

Denial is a concept found in virtually every major religion. Various ideas on the practice of self-denial can be found in Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and other religious and philosophical streams. In most religious practices, like Buddhism, self-denial is a means to achieve an end. Ironically, self-denial is a means of attaining something for oneself – selflessness. Some have thought that the Bible teaches something similar, noting as one example Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:39, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Are these concepts similar? Not in the slightest.

Unlike Buddhism and the other major religions of the world, self-denial in Christianity is not a means to an end, nor is it a religious practice. Self-denial is a loving expression of benefit for others, in obedience to God.

There are three great differences between most religions and Christianity regarding self-denial:

Buddhism & Other Religions:

  • Self-denial is a means to spiritual enlightenment,
  • Self-denial is a religious practice,
  • Self-denial is performed for the benefit of oneself.

Christianity:

  • Self-denial is an indicator of pre-existing character
  • Self-denial is not a religious practice, rather it is an expression of love for others and for God
  • Self-denial is not performed for personal spiritual benefit, it is always performed on behalf of others.

Let’s take a look at the Bible’s teaching on self-denial, and how the biblical concept of self-denial is firmly rooted in the expression of love.

Self-denial is not an end unto itself. The scripture commands that we deny ourselves of sin, and sometimes of things that are not sin but fall under the realm of conscience. Self-denial as modeled in the Bible usually has three purposes, pointing to a much greater fourth purpose:

1. Self-denial reveals and tests our love for God

In Genesis 22:1-13 Abraham was commanded by God to sacrifice his son Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham was heartbroken, but trusted God’s character. God’s response to Abraham’s obedience was to prevent the sacrifice and declare, “Now I know that you fear God.”

2. Self-denial reveals that we truly love other people

It is impossible to express love for another person without denying oneself in deference to the other person. In I Samuel 23:17-18 Jonathon, the heir to the throne of Israel willingly sacrificed his right to rule because of his love for his friend David. Jonathon didn’t simply give up the throne to pursue something else for his own benefit, rather he recognized the better man and denied himself the throne because of his love for David.

3. Self-denial indicates we are growing in our love for God and for others

Denying oneself for oneself is not an expression of selflessness, rather it is a misguided expression of selfishness. I Corinthians 10:23-33, and I John 3:16 teach a much better expression of self-denial: The benefit of others.

4. Rightly expressed self-denial is an expression of love.

1 Corinthians 13:3 states, “If I give away all that I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” Every facet of self-denial, from denying sin, to personal pleasures, to God giving us His Son, and giving away our own lives is wrapped up in love. Self-denial without love is a self-denial without substance and is meaningless.

Self-denial is engaged by some as a religious practice to attain enlightenment or some greater spiritual standing. In such cases it is nothing more than a form of “self”-expression. The Bible teaches something far nobler, and more practical. Jesus said that the one who “loses his life for my sake shall find it” (Mark 8:35). The key to understanding Jesus’ meaning is found in the words, “for my sake.” Immediately after saying this Jesus went on to declare, “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38).

The correct path of self-denial is not to deny oneself for ones own benefit; rather it is to deny oneself for Christ. Jesus Christ denied himself that we might have eternal life. How small a thing it is for Him to ask us to sacrifice ourselves for Him and for others considering all that He has already done for us.

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Sermons

How to Pray Spiritual Warfare Prayers

by Tony Evans
written by Tony Evans

“Heavenly places” means the “spiritual realm.” When you are under assault, when your life is being shattered, when you are trying to be in the will of God, you have to see your circumstances from the location of heavenly places. Pray in the authority and power of Jesus.

 

Preached at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. www.sermons.love.

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Devotionals

God’s Best Work is in the Dark

by Tony Evans
written by Tony Evans

Have you watched the pages of the calendar flip by or listened to the tick-tock of the clock counting out the hours year after year, wondering where God is in your life?

God has not forgotten about you.

God has a plan for you.

If you are still here, that means there is still hope for a fresh encounter with God.

If you are still here, that means there is still hope for a fresh encounter with God.

God does some of His best work in the dark, in those times when we don’t think He is doing anything at all. While you may be wandering in the wilderness, God is working out the details of your destiny.

A lot of people want an experience with God but do not want to hang out where God is located. They choose to place themselves outside of His vicinity. But if you want an experience with God, the first lesson to learn is that you must hang out where He is. The pursuit of God includes the willingness and intention to go into His presence. Don’t settle for a long-distance relationship with God.

Don’t settle for a long-distance relationship with God.

If you are open to a divinely-ordained kingdom encounter, remember that it may come when you least expect it.

When you experience something outside of normal patterns of your life, open your eyes. When you see things that don’t make sense, pay attention. If stuff just doesn’t add up, focus in. Because you may be on the verge of a divine kingdom encounter.

If you are still here, that means there is still hope for a fresh encounter with God. 

www.tonyevans.org.

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Devotionals

6 Things to Do When You Are Overwhelmed

by Randy Carlson
written by Randy Carlson

One of the callers on the Intentional Living program said, “I’m a single mom. I’m feeling overwhelmed with life. I’m trying to go to work. I’m trying to raise my kids.” And if you’ve been a single parent, you know some of that stress.

You may not be overwhelmed with parenting or grand-parenting. It could be your health, your finances, your work or any number of things. But we feel overwhelmed at times. And I’ve learned over the years in working with people that when we get really overwhelmed, sometimes we can do some stupid things. People have made decisions when they’re overwhelmed that they later look back and say “I shouldn’t have done that,” or “I could’ve made a better decision, but because I was feeling so overwhelmed, it just seemed like the right thing to do.”

So, let’s look at six things you can do when you’re feeling overwhelmed with life.

1 – Embrace what you’re facing

We usually want to hurry through life; we want to get to the next stage, especially when the current situation is overwhelming. We tend to ask the question, “Are we there yet?” We tend to have an expectation that once we arrive, we’ll have peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (NKJV). When you’re feeling overwhelmed in life – whatever stage you are in – embrace the season that you are in because there’s always lessons to be learned, experiences to help you grow.

When we are feeling overwhelmed, we should be able to say, God, I don’t know why I’m going through this. I’m not quite clear on what this experience is going to teach me, but, I’m going to embrace this season of my life.

2 – Picture a better future

There is something about being able to see a brighter, more hope-filled future. And I don’t mean only in eternity. God’s mercies are new every morning. The sun is going to come up again tomorrow. You are not always going to be facing the situation you’re experiencing right now.

3 – Understand God’s intentions for you are always good

In Jeremiah 29:11, God is saying “Hey, listen! I know what I’m doing. Just relax. I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you – plans to give you a future that you’ve hoped for” (MSG). It’s assuring to know God’s intentions for us are always good.

4 – Declare your intentions

When I declare, not only what I believe, but what I’m going to do, it’s transformational in my life. Look what Paul says when he’s talking about the declaration of our intention spiritually: “It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word of God, Jesus is my master” (Romans 10:8 MSG). Paul says it’s important “we declare with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead and we will be saved. Embracing and body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead” (Romans 10:9-10 MSG).

This passage reminds us God doesn’t need to hear us speak audibly to know what’s going on in our hearts. Declaring it helps us.

5 – Act in faith

I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. “The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see” (Hebrews 11:1 MSG).

We have faith in people we’ve never seen, people we don’t even know. So, why can’t we have faith in a God who is always there for us?

6 – Build confidence

When you act in faith, it builds confidence in your life. The first time you got on a bicycle, you acted by faith to be able to ride it. After a while, you had the confidence to be able to get on it and do it.

The word intention comes from the Latin meaning to stretch. Intentional living is all about your faith being stretched to its limit – knowing what scripture teaches, taking that step of faith and stretching to that next level.

Paul says in Philippians 3:14, “I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back” (MSG). He’s saying – I’m going to stretch towards this goal and get it done.

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Ask Roger

Who is the Holy Spirit and What Does He Do?

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

 

Dear Roger,

We hear a lot about God the father and Jesus the Son but we seldom hear anything about God the Holy Spirit. The subject of the Holy Spirit came up in one of our recent Bible studies and most of us had no idea what He did. Can you give us a short summary of his work, His responsibilities, what He does for us and how He interacts with us?

 

Sincerely, Kendall

 

Dear Kendall,

 

The Short Answer Is That God The Father Was The Architect Who Designed The Universe. Jesus The Son Was The Contractor Who Built the universe. The Holy Spirit Is The Person Who Keeps It All Running.

 

THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING

 

“Now I am going to him who sent me . . . Because I said these things you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: it is for your good that I’m going away. Unless I go way the counselor will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you (John 14: 6-7).

 

Up to this time, Jesus had always been there.  Now He’s going away.  While the disciples were filled with consternation, He said that Another Person just as divine, just as helpful, just as compassionate as he was coming to take His place.

 

There was nothing encouraging about his leaving that sounded good to his disciples.

 

The Greek word “parakletos” is the word Jesus used to describe the one that he was sending. The word may be translated in several ways; “comforter; one called alongside another; encourager; counselor or exhorter.”

 

Up to this time, Jesus had been their “parakletos”, their divine friend always near and at hand. For example, on one occasion, they were perplexed on the subject of prayer, and they said to Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray,” and He taught them to pray.

In his earthly body Jesus could only be in one place at one time. When he was talking to Nicodemus in Jerusalem (John 3: 1-21) He couldn’t simultaneously be with the woman at the well in Sumaria (John 4:1-36).

 

When the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost and indwelt 120 Christ Followers, the Holy Spirit could be with all of them, everywhere, all the time (Acts 2:2-4).

 

By the way, the Holy Spirit is the one who actually regenerates and indwells our soul at the moment of our salvation.

 

When we are leading someone to Christ we often say, “Let Jesus come into your heart.” That’s not exactly correct. The Holy Spirit is the agent of regeneration. It is the Holy Spirit who now indwells our spirit at conversion as we receive Christ as our personal Lord and Savior.

 

Then, where is Jesus? Jesus is now at the Right Hand of the Father in heaven (Acts 7: 54-56).

 

Don’t over or under react to the idea of whether or not it is all right to tell someone that they can the invite Jesus into their heart. Since both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are God, there is no contradiction (John 3:20).

 

It is the presence of the Spirit in one’s life which makes him a Christian.  He permanently indwells every believer.  His entrance is not to be repeated (Romans 8: 28-35).

 

THE DISPLACED MEMBER OF THE GODHEAD.

 

Since the passing of the first few generations of Christianity, no doctrine of Christian faith has been so neglected as that of the Holy Spirit.  The Apostle’s Creed contains ten articles on the Person and Work of Christ, but only one on the Holy Spirit.

 

Practically, most of us Christians could well identify with the answer of the Ephesian disciples of John the Baptist to Paul when Paul asked them:  “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”  The Ephesians replied:  “No, we have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit” (Acts 19:2).

 

HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT INTERACTS WITH US

 

  1. Living the Christian life is a daily focus on walking in the spirit, listening to his voice and doing what he says. The Holy Spirit is the “enabler” who makes it possible for the Christian to live daily for Christ.

 

  1. The “filling of the spirit” means a full surrender to the life of Christ. Our experience upward in the life of Christ is in direct proportion to our experience downward in ceasing from self.

 

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to democracy. Instead, be filled with the spirit” (Ephesians 5:17-18).

 

  1. The fullness (or filling) of the Spirit is a variable and must be repeated often (Ephesians 5:18).

 

  1. Sin dirties our souls and inhibits our ability for the Holy Spirit to work in and through us. Quenching the Spirit closes our ears so that we are unable to hear his directions.

 

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

 

  1. The Holy Spirit prays for us (Romans 8:26). He is actively making intercession (praying) for us before God the Father.

 

“And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (Romans 8:27).

.

 

When we pray with our minds we pray about what we know. When we pray with our spirit we enter into the very throne room of God during which we speak to God human spirit to Holy Spirit.

 

“So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit; but I shall also sing with my mind” (1 Corinthians 14:15).

 

  1. The Holy Spirit teaches us. Can it get any better than for the author of the Bible to teach and interpret it for us!

 

“But the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I’ve said to you” (John l4:26).

 

  1. The basic work of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Christ (John 16:14).

 

“He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you” (John 16:14).

 

One of the best ways that we glorify God is to let people see how we handle victoriously our troubles and trials.

 

  1. From a practical standpoint, if the Holy Spirit is considered as merely an influence or power, our thought will constantly be, “How can I get hold of the Holy Spirit and use it.” On the other hand, recognizing Him as a person, our thought will be, “How can the Holy Spirit get hold of me and use me?”

 

  1. The Holy Spirit is intricately involved in the convicting dimension of evangelism.

 

He convicts people of the sin of not believing in Jesus. He convicts of righteousness to show people that they’re not good enough for heaven. He convicts of judgment to come because Satan now controls the world (John 16:8-11).

 

AT LEAST SIX SYMBOLS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT HELP US UNDERSTAND THE TRUE NATURE OF HIS WORK.

 

Read each symbolic description carefully and then picture yourself living out each characteristic in conjunction with the Holy Spirit.

 

Then, think of some practical ways that you can actually experience each symbol along with God the father, God the son, God the Holy Spirit – and yourself – in daily walking with the Spirit.

 

  1. A DOVE

 

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my son whom I love; with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:l6).

 

In Scripture the Dove has many traits:

(1) Love (Song of Solomon 5:2)

(2) Purity (Song of Solomon 5:2)

(3) Peace (Genesis 8:8-12)

(4) Modesty (Song of Solomon 2:14)

(5) Innocence; (Matthew10: 16)

(6) Beauty (Psalm 68:13)

(7) Gentleness (Isaiah 59:11)

 

  1. WATER

 

Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me as the Scripture has said streams of living water will flow from within him. By this he meant the Spirit (John 7:37-39).”

 

The Spirit is like a spring overflowing.  As the Spirit is in the believer, he/she overflows like spring water to refresh and quench the thirst of him/her and others.

 

Jesus offered the woman at the well (John 4) a bucket of running water which would last forever. It took her a while, but finally she understood what he was offering. The bucket overflowed to reach an old town with salvation.

 

  1. WIND

 

 

“You should not be surprised at my saying, you must be born again. I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.. . . The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear it’s sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the spirit” (John 3:8).

 

Air is everywhere, touching and sustaining all things.  As wind can get into every nook and cranny, so the spirit is able to move throughout a believer’s life analyzing, judging and empowering whatever their need might want what was the matter be.

  1. FIRE

 

Fire in the Scripture mainly represents the presence of God. For example, this is seen in the burning bush (Exodus3: 1-3) and from Elijah’s calling down fire from heaven to defeat the 400 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 17 and is climaxed with the Holy Spirit coming as tongues of fire on Pentecost.

 

The fire is also a symbol of God’s purifying action.  So the Holy Spirit is seen as showing God’s presence as well as his work of cleaning and burning (purging, if you will) the sins out of the life of every believer (Acts 2:3).

 

  1. OIL

 

Oil in the Bible is usually used to signify power for service and as illumination.

 

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18).

 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you . . .” (Acts 1:8).

 

The mighty works of Jesus were done in the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:18; and Acts 10:38).  We have no power in ministry before God without the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

 

We may equate the anointing of the Holy Spirit with the filling of the Spirit as described in Galatians 5:18.

 

Just so, upon us the anointing of the Holy Spirit must come (Acts 1:8) in order for us to provide for powerful service and for shining the true light that has come into the world (John 1:4-9).

 

Oil is also used to give light.  In the Old Testament, holy oil alone continually lighted the temple.  In the same way, the Spirit lights and illumines Christ before our eyes.  The most beautiful illustration of the work of divine oil is found in Zechariah 4:2-6.

 

  1. OUR GUARANTEE

 

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14).

 

The word “guarantee” in Greek is “arrabon”, which refers to a down payment or first installment.

 

The Holy Spirit is God’s first installment of a greater life which is waiting for us in heaven.

 

Our inheritance, our salvation, our glory, our fellowship with God, our likeness unto Him, our freedom from sin and its evils, are all down payments represented and assured by the “first installment or guarantee of the Holy Spirit.

 

Well, Kendall, I hope this answers your question. If you have more, please let me know.

 

Love, Roger

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Articles

Long-Distance Spirituality

by Tim Keller
written by Tim Keller

Years ago, on the advice of an older and wiser Christian, I began trying to pray through the Psalms once every month. Don’t be too impressed—I seldom make it through all 150 of the psalms every 30 days. However, by making that the goal I am able to eventually ponder each one at least several times a year.

One psalm especially has always caught my attention—Psalm 71. It might be entitled a ‘Psalm for Old Age.’ In verse 5 the psalmist says, “For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth,” and in verse 9, “Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.” This text has been of more interest to me as I have grown older, but I usually think, “no use preaching on this psalm to a young congregation like mine.” And yet, I’ve come to see there is a lesson here for all of us, and especially for the young.

The psalmist says that from his youth he has relentlessly worked at three things. He has “always” taken refuge in God during times of distress (verse 3), “always” praised God as an act personal discipline (verse 7), and “always” put his hope in God for his future. The first practice has to do with how he has processed his suffering and disappointments, and the second practice has to do with daily prayer. He recounts that he has never let anything turn him aside from these disciplines:

Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up … I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; my lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you—I, whom you have redeemed. (Psalm 71:20, 22–23)

The third is the most foundational of all. He does rigorous self-examination regarding the fundamental trusts of his heart. He is careful to know what he actually rests in and lives for, and he continually re-focuses his soul’s deepest hopes on God. Over the decades, the Psalmist has simply not let up on these commitments. As a result, he is literally bursting with desire to let people know what he has found in God.

Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come. (Psalm 71:17–18)

In 1836, Charles Simeon retired after fifty-four years of ministry at the Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge, UK. There he had been engaged in a ministry of expository preaching that had sent several generations of young Christian leaders out into British society. He had accomplished far more than 99.99% of ministers ever do. Yet a friend discovered that this elderly man was still rising at 4:00 a.m. every morning to light his own fire and to spend time reading the Bible, praying, repenting, and spending time with God. His friend thought this was over-kill. “Mr. Simeon,” he pleaded, “Do you not think that, now that you are retired, you might take things more easily?” “What?!” replied the old Charles Simeon, “Shall I not now run with all my might when the winning-post is in sight?”

I am neither of advanced age nor a young man, but I know why Simeon could not imagine taking things “more easily.” It was because the praising, the hoping, and the resting becomes better and better if you are willing to give it daily attention for years and years. The one hundredth time through the Psalms or the Proverbs will yield astonishingly sweet, comforting, and convicting insights, because the more you know the Bible as a whole the more sense its particular parts make. And the more you know your own heart the more you know how to work on it, how to move past your discouragement, your peevishness, and your self-pity. But it takes years of relentless discipline. It is similar to how it takes years of practice to enjoy the power of playing the piano beautifully, but what we are talking about goes beyond even that in complexity and depth.

When it comes to the spiritual disciplines, don’t be a sprinter. Be a long-distance runner.

www.timothykeller.com. Used by permission.

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Devotionals

Encountering God’s Process

by Tony Evans
written by Tony Evans

In Genesis 32:24-32 we find the story of Jacob, the son of Isaac and Rebecca and the twin brother of Esau.  After deceiving his brother, Esau, out of his birthright (Genesis 27), Jacob returns to Canaan twenty years later and is faced with meeting Esau again.  Jacob feared that his brother planned to kill him, so he sent messengers ahead of him with valuable gifts to attempt reconciliation.  He eventually sent his entire convoy, including his two wives, ahead of him (Genesis 32:22-23).

At the point when Jacob felt most alone, a man appeared in order to wrestle with Jacob until daybreak.  Jacob later realized he had struggled with the Angel of the Lord Himself.  Jacob named the land, “Peniel, for he said, ‘I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved’” (Genesis 32:30).  Jacob had proven himself to be able to swindle his way to the top.  However, God intended to demonstrate to Jacob that neither wit nor wealth would be able to free him from this struggle.  Like Jacob, believers will enter periods of desperation and struggle that can lead to brokenness.  But brokenness has the potential to rid us of flaws in our character and sin in our flesh.  The process of brokenness is God’s way of stripping us of our self-sufficiency.  God often allows deep and painful spiritual struggles in our lives to take us to the next spiritual level.

After a full night of struggle, the Angel of the Lord dislocated Jacob’s hip.  Even with a broken hip, Jacob continued wrestling with the Angel because he was committed to battling until he received a blessing.  At this point, the Angel of the Lord informed Jacob, whose name means “deceiver,” that his new name would be Israel, which means “one who God has helped” (lit-translation, “God fights/contends/prevails”).  Jacob’s decision to fight, even after being broken, revealed his commitment.  Like Jacob, believers must make a spiritual connection to our struggles (seeing God) and commit to holding on to God (trusting God) during the process of brokenness.  God uses this brokenness to change our identity and build our character just as He did with Jacob.

Out of Jacob’s struggle came a greater spiritual blessing as he had a deeper experience with God.  Experiencing God at this level changed the trajectory of his life.  Though he had to live with a limp, his life and legacy were positively impacted.  As believers, we can expect purification throughout our struggles coupled with priceless blessings when we hold on to God.  Many believers don’t get the blessings God intended because they are not willing to stay in the battle.  Instead, they allow discouragement and frustration to overtake them, and thus they give up the fight.  You may begin to doubt that good can come from your struggles, yet, you must trust God’s strategic, intentional, and ultimately beneficial growth process for your life.

GETTING STARTED

  1. Why do you think God allowed Jacob to wrestle with the Angel of the Lord as opposed to being immediately overcome?
  2. What was the significance of Jacob’s name being changed to Israel? What changes in his character did you observe that were consistent with the name change?

LET’S GET PERSONAL

  1. Many of us often feel as if “life” has broken us down. We lack awareness that it was the process of brokenness orchestrated or allowed by God.  Has God taken you through a breaking process?  Tell your group about a period in your life when God was breaking you.  What did you learn?  What was the blessing you received?  What identifiable growth did you experience?
  2. In what areas does God need to break you now?
  3. As you listened to this week’s sermon, did it change your perspective on pain?

TAKE THE NEXT STEP

  1. Have you considered that your current struggle is actually one with God? Do you need to commit to holding on or “wrestling” with God until He blesses you?  Spend time this week praying about these areas of your life.
  2. Want to go deeper? Take a look at the following passages: Genesis 46:30; 48:3, 8-9; 2 Corinthians 1:8-10; 4:11; and Hebrews 11:21

www.oakcliffbible.org

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Sermons

Prayer and Spiritual Warfare

by Tony Evans
written by Tony Evans

Everything visible and physical is preceded by something invisible and spiritual. The consequences we are dealing with in our lives, in our homes, in our culture, we are dealing with them because there is a gap between where God is and where we are.

If you want to address in the time of your attack the visible and physical, you need to do it from the perspective of the invisible and spiritual. He gives you the term that he uses throughout the book of Ephesians of “heavenly places.”

He says, during those times, you have to view things from the location of heavenly places or the spiritual realm if you’re going to be strong, to walk through, work through the times of those attacks, submit to God and live by the power of prayer.

www.tonyevans.com. sermons.love.

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Sermons

Embracing a Slower Lifestyle

by Jeff Jones
written by Jeff Jones

Jesus never seemed to be in a hurry. He lived and interacted with others at the speed of walking. He had time for people. He was relaxed. However, for most of us, slowing down is one of the hardest things to implement about the Jesus way of life. Jesus has much to teach us about managing our pace and succeeding in the things that matter most. Join us online this week as we learn to change our pace and embrace slow.

www.chaseoaks.org. Used by permission.

 

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Devotionals

Understanding Spiritual Authority

by Tony Evans
written by Tony Evans

It is of the utmost importance that believers understand the spiritual authority they possess.  In Ephesians, Paul prayed that the believers would grasp the depth and breadth of their authority because he was concerned they would not maximize their power.  Just like Paul prayed for a greater comprehension of the believer’s authority, we ought to pray for more understanding, wisdom, and knowledge of spiritual authority (which is Kingdom authority).

The authority Paul prayed for, that other believers should also pray for, is available to us based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ and it is a power that God wants to transfer to believers.  However, this power exists in the spiritual realm and in heavenly places (Eph 6:10-12).  It does not exist on earth, and that is why prayer is critical in the life of the believer.  Believers should ask for power and ask to see life the way God sees it (Ps 119:18).  If the person who trusts in Christ’s resurrection power does not pray, then they are only oriented towards earth and will not experience the power that God gives.  Jesus is seated in heavenly places (Eph 2:4-6) and that connection to Him is the key to our spiritual kingdom – oriented on Earth.

Submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ is critical for experiencing His power; and our submission to Christ is accomplished through the church (Eph 3:10).  When people skip God’s spiritual source, the church, or skip the spiritual connection to heavenly places, or skip the Lordship of Jesus Christ, who is the head of the church (Col 1:18; 2:10), then they are not plugged into the system through which God delivers His power.  Disconnection from the lordship of Jesus Christ and the authority of Christ from the church dumbs down the flow of power and authority that God has for His people.  Every believer who wants to see God’s power fully at work in his or her life should understand the authority they have access too, how God’s authority works, and pray for a greater understanding of God’s power.  This is so that they are able to maximize their contribution to the Kingdom while on earth and personally experience the fullness of God’s abundant life!

  1. In your own words, share your understanding of God’s authority and power. What does it look like for a believer to walk in spiritual authority?
  2. Do you pray to experience spiritual authority and power in your life? Why or why not?
  3. God’s authority has a delivery system. The delivery system includes the local church.  Are you in submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ as it relates to your engagement and involvement in the local church?  Why or why not?
  4. What can you do today to increase your submission to Christ so that you are positioned to experience maximum power?
  5. Want to dig deeper? Take a look at the following passages: Ephesians 2:4-6; 3:10; 6:10-12; 2 Kings 6:15-17; Psalm 119:18; Colossians 1:15-20; 2:8-15

Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship.

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Ask Roger

Who is the Wisest Man I’ve Ever Met?

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

“Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.” Proverbs 18:24. MSG

 

I hired Gary Shrader over the telephone. I was 26. Gary was 24, green and newly graduated from seminary.

 

Our fledgling church needed a youth pastor. I received Gary’s resume and was so impressed that I didn’t even bother to bring him out for an interview. I noticed on his resume that he was valedictorian of his high school class. I thought that anyone who was valedictorian would be a great hire. Several months later, I discovered that there were only 13 in his graduating class. Gary pulled up to the church with a tiny U-Haul trailer. I asked, “Where is the rest of your stuff?” “This is everything I own,” he replied.

 

Hiring Gary was the best decision I ever made.

 

He was a splendid youth pastor. He was also hilarious. I loved his rendition of “I’m a Little Teapot, Short and Stout.” Imagine Gary painting lipstick around his belly button and making it talk. He played foppish King George in the Christmas Pageant, the Young Messiah, and brought down the house. He dressed as Albert Einstein when he played the Bionic Baptist in a sketch promoting missions. Gary sat on the lap of our Education Pastor and played a ventriloquist’s dummy. Gary, the deadpan puppet, told so many jokes off the cuff that people were falling out of their chairs. No one at youth camp can ever forget the story about “Diarrhea: it runs in your jeans.”

 

Gary was the only one brave enough to accompany my wife Julie on youth mission trips. I tried to go once. I almost had a nervous breakdown. Julie was scatter-brained and was never afraid of anything. Gary was not afraid of Julie.

Gary was our only eligible bachelor. He was a catch. Young women lined up at the door of the church office hoping to curry Gary’s favor. Only one woman won the prize: Gary’s heart. Jan Wooten became his bride. Jan was a pastor’s kid. Gary had a formidable father-in-law. When Pastor Henry Wooten performed Gary and Jan’s marriage ceremony, Henry said, “Do you promise to love, honor and cherish this woman?” Gary replied, “Yes.” Henry snarled, “If you don’t, I’ll break your neck!”

 

Gary is one of the most spiritual men I’ve ever met. We were leading summer camp in the mountains of Northern Arizona. Gary and I got up early every morning to go to the chapel to pray. Long before there was ever a Prayer of Jabez book, I heard Gary praying the prayer of Jabez for himself. I heard him pray for God would expand his boundaries. God answered his prayer. He mentored young pastors and missionaries all over the globe.

 

He was loyal, honest and faithful. He was always forward thinking, adaptable, open to change. That’s why he succeeded in every pastoral position he assumed. Gary was a renaissance man. I once asked him, “How did you get so wise?” He admitted that driving a tractor on his Oklahoma farm gave him time to think. Perhaps we all need to spend time on the farm. Billy Graham did also!

My friend gave me the best advice I ever had. Once upon a time, we were facing a church split and I was deciding how to handle it. Gary appeared at my office door and said, “Roger, now is the time the average pastor does something stupid.” I kept my mouth shut as Gary advised, waited it out and God worked it out.

 

I remember when I was a 30-year-old pastor with PTSD, the church leadership recommended I take a sabbatical to recover. I assigned Gary the job of holding the church together until I returned. He did.

 

He gave his wise counsel in a number of different ways. He had the ability to sit quietly in a meeting, synthesize everything that was said, and then frame an answer that was directly from God and imminently practical.

 

For example one of our worship leaders committed adultery. I was traumatized. I wasn’t sure to make it public. Gary encouraged me to handle it up front with the congregation. I preached the Sunday service. I preached on what to do biblically when a church leader sins, and Steve, head of our counseling department, shared with our congregation how to heal their grief and disappointment. Speaking the truth in love allowed the couple to stay in our church for a time, and paved the way for an easy staff transition.

 

Gary was my go-to guy. Whenever the church had a problem, I asked Gary to fix it. We had a charismatic Sunday school teacher who convinced 100 people to follow him and make his own church. Instead of getting angry and vengeful, Gary said to pray a blessing over all of them. A year later, his church fell apart and most of our former members returned. It was our blessing that opened the door for their return.

 

He was quite versatile. During his career he was a youth pastor, a missions pastor, a church administrator and an executive pastor. Gary excelled at every post. He was the steady hand that kept our ship aright.

 

Gary consulted on every decision to hire church staff. I wanted his advice. He was an excellent judge of character. Gary helped me select hundreds of church personnel over the years. He helped me fire a few, too!

 

Gary and I were always passionate about growing the church. We made an attendance chart on the back of the bathroom door in my study. Every Monday we would look at the numbers and see if we were doing enough to reach people for Christ. We were chatting in my tiny bathroom one Monday afternoon and Elsie Robinson, my secretary, knocked on the bathroom door. She looked in the door, saw both of us crammed into the tiny bathroom, shook her head and left.

 

Gary called the 1980’s the “Camelot Years” at Casas. There was only one level of staff, we were all good friends, and the church was exploding. But we outgrew our old site.

 

It took twelve years to re-locate our church to a 100-acre plot five miles north of our church. We faced almost insurmountable obstacles. Gary stood beside me in every challenge we faced. He helped coordinate the sale of the old property and secured continuing income for the Casas ministries today. Gary orchestrated plans to get the church debt-free by the time I retired. And he did!

 

One thing that most impressed me was Gary’s vision to make our church a mission-minded church that spanned the globe. Casas gave millions of dollars to support world missions, and sent out hundreds of missionaries. I remember one summer we had over 500 people involved in long and short-term mission projects overseas.

 

Gary and Dwight Nelson travelled to India to do mission work. Gary asked for bottled water. He looked out his window and saw the waiter fill a plastic bottle with a water hose. Gary also ventured to Kenya and went off into the bush to take photos. Suddenly a nearby elephant trumpeted and began to charge. He escaped to his tent not knowing if he and his wife would be trampled underfoot. Finally the elephant lost interest and lumbered away.

 

When the Libyan Embassy became available in Pakistan, our church purchased the building. I assigned Gary to start a seminary for native pastors. We trained several hundred pastors over the next few years. It was all Gary. I never even went.

 

Gary coordinated our 40-year partnership with Pastor Roberto Morales in Mexico. He also coordinated short-term mission trips throughout the year with our sister church. Pastor Roberto expanded his ministry throughout Mexico and Peru. What a legacy!

 

Gary was a fabulous teacher but he hated to preach. He taught me what to do if ever I accidentally said a bad word in the pulpit. Gary was preaching on Jonah and used an illustration about a garbage scowl that confessed, “I wanted to be a beautiful ocean liner and all I ended up being is a stinking shi*.” He kept right on going. Everyone in the congregation said, “Did he really say that?” Gary never admitted it. I used his sage advice the next time that I bungled my words. I kept on going. I adopted his recommendation. “If you try to fix it, it will always be worse.”

 

Gary had a personal prophecy for me. He said that my ministry after 55 would be greater than before. I grieved having to retire early for health reasons, and Gary’s words rang true when we began our web ministry. Preach It, Teach It fulfilled my dreams to help pastors and missionaries around the world. I counsel pastors on every continent every day. Our site reaches millions. His words have always given me God’s perspective instead of my own.

 

He was a great encourager. When I was down, he had an open door to listen. The one thing I remember most was that Gary was always at my side. In every phase of my ministry, he never left.

 

When I suffered through so many health challenges, crises and criticisms, Gary said, “Roger, you are the toughest man I ever met.”

 

He was wrong. Gary was the toughest man. He fought a battle for his life. Inoperable brain cancer was his greatest challenge. He handled excruciating pain and relentless setbacks with grace. He even laughed in the face of adversity. Jan, his faith-filled wife, showed grace every day in his suffering.

 

I have never known anyone like him. I will always love him and admire him. He truly is the friend who sticks closer than a brother.

 

 

 

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Sermon Starters

Discover Your Spiritual Gifts

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

Before Christ we are wired to consume. When we meet Christ we are wired to serve. We have been gifted to make a contribution vs. constantly consuming. The eternal consequences of Christian service compel us to serve around Casas and in the community.

Jesus described Himself as a servant and urged His followers to serve one another (Luke 22:25–27). The apostle Paul connected serving one another to the Great Commandment (Galatians 5:13–14). “Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant” (1 Corinthians 12:1-13).

What is the difference between spiritual gifts and natural talents? Natural talents result from physical creation. Spiritual gifts are given through spiritual re-creation. Natural talents are often the vehicle through which spiritual gifts can be used.

The spiritual gifts are found in three separate passages in the New Testament (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12–14; and Ephesians 4). The lists are not exactly identical. Some overlap occurs.

Perhaps we should look for our ministry on the left hand side (Ephesians 4 and Romans 12). Once we find our ministry, we look to the right hand side (1 Corinthians 12)) to see which gifts God may give to help us to carry out our ministries.

“MINISTRIES OF CHRIST”

Ephesians 4:11
(Building and Instructing)

Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastor-Teacher

Romans 12:6-8 (Supporting) Prophecy

Helps
Teaching Encouragement Giving Administration Leadership Mercy

Does Every Believer Have A Gift?

Can A Believer Have More Than One Gift?

“GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT”

1 Corinthians 12:8-10 (Tools For Ministry)

Wisdom
Knowledge
Faith
Healing
Miracles
Prophecy Distinguishing spirits Speaking in tongues Interpreting tongues

1 Corinthians 7:7 Singleness (celibacy)

How Are Spiritual Gifts Given Out?
An Apostle is one who is sent to establish a foothold for Christianity in unevangelized areas by

proclaiming the Gospel and establishing churches.

A Prophet applies a message from God to a particular situation in relevant terms. This is mostly a preaching gift; however, in  biblical times it predicts the future.

An Evangelist is spiritually anointed to persuade people through a variety of relevant methods to surrender their lives to the Person of Jesus Christ. They are quite successful at it.

A Pastor-Teacher oversees the care and spiritual feeding of a church congregation. His/her teaching clarifies and preserves the truths of God.

The gift of Helps is a God-given gift for meeting the practical needs of people.
The gift of Encouragement exhorts people to active to Christian living through loving

encouragement and/or firm discipline if and when needed.

The gift Giving is the ability to make money and/or resources and to give them freely away with joy and delight.

The gift of Administration is the spiritual capacity to organize and manage the church. The gift of Leadership is the spiritual capacity to energize people by creating a vision and

inspiring them to make the vision a reality.

The gift of Mercy brings the empathetic love of God to hurting people in practical ways.

The gift of Wisdom synthesizes concepts, facts and truths in order to find a God-inspired solutions.

The gift of the Word Of Knowledge is a supernaturally revealed communication for a particular reason.

The gift of Faith is the spiritual ability to see something that God intends to do and to live accordingly even before God acts.

Miracle gifts are explained in Scripture in this way:

The gift of Healing refers to the healing of physical disease in response to the Holy Spirit’s promptings through confession, laying on of hands and prayer.

The gift of Miracles is a supernatural event to authenticate the Word and/or reality of God. The gift of Distinguishing Between Spirits is the ability to differentiate between holy, human and demonic powers.

The gift of Tongues is the ability to speak fluently in a previously unlearned language (dialektos) or in a Holy Spirit inspired spiritual prayer language (glossalia).

The gift of Interpreting Tongues is the spontaneous ability to translate the language of one who is using the gift of tongues.

What is the purpose of a spiritual gift?

Spiritual gifts are for the common good. For victory, the church body must work together in harmony, fellowship and love under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

When utilized properly in a church setting, spiritual gifts intertwine to paint a picture of Jesus Christ.

By the way the heed for utilizing spiritual gifts in a group setting speaks forever to the person who wants to go out on the hillside all alone and worship God all by himself/herself as the basis for his/her religion.

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Ask Roger

Why Is God Silent?

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

Dear Roger,

I’m not even sure how to ask this question. I am terribly discouraged. I am so overwhelmed with what is happening in the world. I’ve prayed and prayed, but I feel that God will not answer me. I’ve been experiencing God’s silence my entire life, 52 years. In the Bible, people had to go through seasons of hardships, seasons of God’s silence. But what if your season is your entire life? I live and pray, and I feel I’ll die of old age still suffering God’s silence. Will God ever answer me? How long must I endure the agony of silence?

Sincerely, Kenneth

Dear Kenneth,

I am grieved for you during this difficult time. If ever you needed to hear feel God’s peace and believe He is listening to your prayers, it is now. I hope that my answers will help you navigate this journey.

I can’t imagine what it’s like not to hear God speak. It sounds scary, hopeless, fearful and disappointing.

After considering your situation, I decided that it might be profitable to make a checklist of some of the reasons why Jesus at times seems so silent. I’m certain that you’ve already considered them. Nevertheless, maybe one of my suggestions may offer you a sort of “spiritual spark,” that opens the door for you to cut through the silence and hear God speak.

I’d like to use your situation in the hope that it might help others who are struggling with the same sort of issues. Let’s look at nine reasons God may seem silent sometimes:

When our spiritual receptors are turned off. Only Christ can turn them back on!

Our spiritual receptors are turned on when we receive Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. Then and only then can he speak clearly to us. Here is how you can be sure you know Jesus Christ, and the Sinner’s Prayer for Salvation.

God created man with three parts. Our body (soma) is our organ for world consciousness.

Our soul (psyche) is our organ of self-consciousness. We have a mind, will, and emotions that are the essence of personality. Our soul is where we think and plan and make decisions.

God lives in our inner-human spirit where we worship, commune and hear God speak Holy Spirit to human spirit. I call my human spirit my “knower.” You know what it’s like. Down deep inside you just know that God is speaking with you.

We often say when someone receives Christ as their personal Savior, “Jesus came into my heart.” Technically he did not come into our hearts, but into our spirits.

Think of a three-story building. The first floor is our body. The second floor is our soul. The third floor is our spirit. When we receive Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, Jesus comes to live in our spirit.

When Adam sinned, a bomb went off in his third-floor. He would now die both spiritually and physically. He was kicked out of the garden so he could no longer hear God speak. His ability to hear God was blown away and now God was silent.

Intimate Worship Fuels Connection

In essence, his spiritual receptors were ruined. Instead of intimate worship and open fellowship with God, Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden with dastardly consequences. The entrance to the Garden was shut tight by angels with blazing swords.

Another way to say it is that sin turned off the light. Only Jesus can turn it back on.

Our now malfunctioning human spirit and ability to hear God speak commences when we surrender to Christ as personal Lord and Savior, confess and repent of our sin, receive Jesus into our lives and declare that Jesus is our Lord and Savior. Then and only can we hear the voice of God speak into our lives.

Read Your Love Letter

Two men, one a Christian and the other not, were discussing how to interpret the Bible. The non-Christian related that he really couldn’t understand it. The Christian said, “The Bible is a love letter to Christians. That’s what you get for reading other people’s mail!”

This doesn’t mean that God never hears the prayers of non-Christians, it just means that God is under no obligation to answer the prayers of people who are not his own born-again children.

Reason #2: Salvation Deserves a Re-Check

Paul instructs us that it is occasionally good to re-check our personal salvation to be certain that all is in place!

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble (2 Peter 1:10).

I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders; I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. (Galatians 2:2)

Another word for this might be: “double-check.”

Julie and I go to the bank and withdraw some money. About 2 miles later I ask, “Are you sure you have the money?”

We leave for the grocery store and about 10 minutes later I ask, “Did you remember to close the garage door?”

Julie replies, “Why are you always double-checking me? Don’t you trust me?”

“I don’t know, I say, it must be my obsessive-compulsive disorder.”

Many of us can tend to obsess a bit too much about money, safety, and other daily matters. But when it comes to matters of salvation, it’s okay to somewhat obsess, or feel compelled, to double-check the authenticity of your commitment.

Reason #3: We Haven’t Accepted Our Full Access

Jesus tore open the temple curtain during his crucifixion to give us full access to God. This was symbolized when the temple curtain was opened from top to bottom and not from bottom to top.

As Christians, we are invited to enter boldly into his throne room where we can enjoy his glory and presence and where he can speak directly to us, and we to him.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51)

We receive Christ as our Lord and Savior. Then, and only then, may we “boldly enter the most holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain…and since we have a great high priest over the house of God that has drawn near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:19-25; Matthew 27:51).

Standing before God in the Holy Place with the curtain torn from top to bottom we have full, unencumbered communion with God through the forgiving blood of Jesus Christ that allows us to see and hear from God. He is not silent; he is here.

Why don’t you take a moment now and go into his throne room?

Reason #4: We Give Up on Diligently Seeking

We will hear the voice of God (or feel conviction in our Spirit from him) when we diligently seek him. Jesus said:

But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29)

If we make seeking his face the top priority in our lives, we may hear him in all kinds of ways, in all kinds of places.

God seldom breaks into our lives with thoughts and ideas out of the “clear blue.” It’s when we are sitting quietly, reading the Bible, thinking about spiritual things, sharing the Bible with friends, listening to a sermon, meditating, listening in our inner spirit—or otherwise actively inviting God to speak to us—that he will no longer be silent.

Reason #5: We Need to Purify Our Heart

Jesus said: blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8).

God may be speaking but he seems silent because sin dirties our inner-human spirit so that we cannot see or hear from God.

I once knew a pastor who got caught up in porn addiction. He was devastated; but couldn’t seem to get free. He tried willpower; but that didn’t work. He was flying over Colorado, closed his eyes, and begged for God to strike him blind. When he opened up his eyes, mountains were everywhere.

He finally found freedom while reading a prayer book written by a Catholic priest in the 15th century, which said:

You can see Jesus or you can see your pornography; but you can’t have both. Clean up your spirit and hear God speak!

The pastor decided that looking at porn did not come close to the beauty of seeing Jesus.

Reason #6: Our Motives Are Wrong

God does not speak to those who pray with wrong motives.

You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your own pleasures. (James 4:2-3)

I’m reminded of many sports teams that have a habit of bowing in prayer to ask God to help them win.

All the while, just before the game begins, there opponent is praying the same prayer.

Perhaps a much better motive is to pray for the players to play their best, be free from harm, and compete with integrity.

Many Christians end their prayers by saying something like, “In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.” It’s almost as if we are putting a stamp of approval on what we’ve asked for! Our prayers often take so little thought.

In addition, if we listen carefully, we’ll discover that most of our prayers are about us. We must first determine whether or not what we’re asking for is God’s will, or simply ours.

Godly prayers are for Jesus’ sake, not ours.

Reason #7: We Aren’t Seeking with All Our Being

We must diligently seek God with all of our being.

But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29).

If we seek his face by making the search top priority in our lives, we may hear him in all kinds of places.

God seldom breaks into our thoughts out of the, “clear blue.” It’s when we are sitting quietly, reading the Bible, thinking about spiritual things, meditating, listening in our inner spirit, or asking God to speak to us that he will no longer be silent.

Reason #8: God Is Speaking, We Just Don’t Recognize It

God may not be silent at all. It just may be that we don’t recognize his voice for what it is.

After defeating Baal, Elijah was incredibly exhausted and depressed. In 1 Kings 19:11, God told Elijah to stand on the mountain while he passed by. God was certainly not silent. But He also wasn’t in the howling wind, the violent earthquake, or the fire. He was in a gentle whisper.

I was talking with my nine-year-old daughter about how God speaks to us.

She said, “I’ve never heard God speak to me.” She expected God to speak in an audible voice. I explained to her how it didn’t work that way, but she was in no way satisfied.

Over the years we’ve discussed at least 17different ways by which God might speak to us.

Just so we don’t miss the fact that God is not silent, here are 17 different ways that God may speak to us, and is not silent:

17 Different Ways God Speaks

1. The Bible (Psalm 119:105)

2. Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-3)

3. Signs And Wonders (Acts 3:6-7)

4. Tests (Judges 6:36-38)

5. Godly People (Proverbs 8:32-34)

6. Creation (Romans 1:20)

7. Preachers and Prophets (Acts 11:27-28)

8. Bushes (Exodus 3:1-4)

9. Angels (Luke 1:26-28)

10. The Angel Of The Lord (Genesis 22:10-11)

11. God’s Glory (Exodus 33:18-19)

12. Circumstances (Acts 16:6-8)

13. Reasons (Isaiah 1:18)

14. Dreams (Joel 2:28)

15. Visions (Joel 2:28)

16. Failures (Matthew 26:75)

17. The Human Spirit (Jeremiah 29:12-13)

Reason #9: We’re Not Listening, Even if God Shouts

God may actually be shouting loudly, and it’s possible we’re just not listening.

After running 90 miles away from Queen Jezebel because he had killed her 400 prophets of Baal, Elijah was exhausted and deeply depressed. Angels attended to him and then God was not silent. He spoke.

“Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. (1 Kings 19:11-13)

We listen because sometimes the winds are contrary.

We listen because sometimes an earthquake is shaking the core of our being.

We listen because sometimes it feels like a walking through the fires of hell.

We listen, fortunately, because sometimes his voice may be hard to hear…but he is not silent.

In his own quiet way, Jesus is giving us the strength and grace we need for every situation.

Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” (Mark 4:9)

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear. (Matthew 3:43)

God is not silent. He is speaking. He loves you deeply, and even if you don’t feel it, He is in control.

Why don’t you take a moment to listen quietly? God may be speaking to you right now.

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Why I Am a Better Pastor for You than Big-Name Preachers

by John Beeson
written by John Beeson

Pastor John Beeson describes why a local pastor and a local congregation is key to your spiritual growth and well-being:

“You have access to the best pastors in America.

You have at your fingertips access to a trove of virtually endless content by some of the wisest and most powerful thinkers and speakers on the planet. As soon as you finish this post you can have them piped into your office, car, or living room and be impacted by their words. And I hope you do!

What a ridiculous gift we have! If you were born five hundred and fifty years ago in Europe, in all likelihood not only could you not read the Bible, but it was likely that your parish priest didn’t own a whole copy of the Latin Bible and since he knew only a handful of Latin words, he couldn’t even read the Bible. Fast forward a few decades to the Reformation and now, for the first time, you would hear the Bible read in your own language and its words applied to your life.

Fast forward five centuries to today and not only do we (in the West) have unfettered access to the Bible, but we have almost limitless access to some of the very best Bible teaching. What a gift we have!

And yet, that begs a question: how is a normal pastor like myself supposed to compete? Why should you even bother with attending your local church? Why settle for the best I can offer when you can watch the best that Tim Keller and Albert Tate and (fill in your favorite preacher here) can offer?!

The truth is that I can’t compete. I’ll never be on an “America’s Best Preachers” list like this. And frankly, I have no aspirations for that.

But here is what I can offer that those other great preachers can’t: I’m here. I can shepherd you. I can (if you are patient and give me a bit of time) know your name and know your story. I can pray for you. When I preach I probably thought about you or a friend of yours at New Life as I prepared the sermon. If you have a question about the sermon, or are seeking wisdom as it comes to picking a college, dating, your marriage, parenting, I promise I’ll respond to your email. I will be there when you get married and I would be so honored to dedicate your children. I will pray with you when your mother dies and I commit to pursue you (if you’ll let me) if and when you go astray.[i]

I’m a flawed pastor, but if you commit yourself to New Life, I promise to commit myself to you.

In 1 Peter 5:1-3, Peter commends the elders (pastors) in the local church:

“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”

I love that little word “among” in verse 2. That’s the word that separates me from all of the better preachers and teachers of God’s Word when it comes to you. I’m among you. I’m a fellow sheep in God’s flock. And he’s gifted us with each other. You bless me with the many ways God has gifted you and I promise to do my best to bless you with the best of how God has gifted me.

And because we are “among” one another, you are invited to speak into my life, so that I might live out Christ’s calling and exercise my compulsion humbly and in a God-honoring way.

That best won’t win me any awards, but because of God’s purpose and design, it will impact you. And I’m grateful for that fact: I’m the pastor God intended for you.”

[i] At my church, New Life, I speak not just for myself but all of your pastoral leadership. And if you attend another church, I’m sure I speak for your pastoral leadership as well.

www.thebeehive.live. Used by permission

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How to Be SURE God Will Answer Your Prayer!

by John Piper
written by John Piper

John Piper teaches a powerful lesson on God’s conditions for answering your prayers. Here’s how to pray more powerfully!

“God never ignores his children. He is never too busy. Never lacking in resources. Never confused. Never ill-disposed. He is always attentive. Always gracious. Always eager. Always wise. Always loving. He hears every request from his humble, trusting children, and he answers with whatever is best. It always pays to pray. Always.

That does not mean a life of prayer is not perplexing. My aim is to encourage you in your prayers by answering three especially difficult questions: (1) What does it mean to ask God for things “according to his will” (1 John 5:14)? (2) Why are we not told to pray for the forgiveness of “sin that leads to death” (1 John 5:16)? (3) What does “whatever” mean in 1 John 3:22, when it says, “Whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him”? I think a text-based answer to each of these questions is a great encouragement to pray.

I focus on these three questions because, in trying to answer the first one, I realized that the context led to answers for the other two as well. Here is the text that raises, and answers, the first two questions:

This is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life — to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death. We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. (1 John 5:14–18)

Two Wills in God

What does “according to his will” mean in verse 14? “If we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” There are two possible meanings for “God’s will” found in the Bible. On the one hand, God’s will is what he commands, or what he tells us is right to do. On the other hand, God’s will is whatever God decides will come to pass. We can call the first meaning God’s will of command. And the second we can call God’s will of decree.

For example, you can see God’s will of decree in Ephesians 1:11: “[God] works all things according to the counsel of his will.” Or in James 4:15: “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” In both of these texts, the will of God refers to God’s control over all that happens: “All things.” Staying alive and doing “this or that.” This is God’s will of decree. Everything that happens is God’s will in this sense. “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases” (Psalm 115:3; cf. Psalm 135:6).

On the other hand, you can see God’s will of command, for example, in 1 John 2:17: “Whoever does the will of God abides forever.” Or Mark 3:35: “Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” Or 1 Thessalonians 4:3: “This is the will of God, your sanctification.” We can see that “will of God,” in these verses, does not mean “all that happens.” It refers to what God commands as right for us to do.

The fact that there are two biblical ways to speak of “God’s will” means that a single act might be God’s will in one sense, but not in another. For example, it was clearly sinful and contrary to God’s will of command that innocent men would be crucified. God commanded, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). But men murdered Jesus, according to God’s plan of redemption. Isaiah 53:10 says, “It was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief.” And Acts 4:28 says that these murderers (Herod, Pilate, Gentiles, Jewish crowds) did “whatever [God’s] hand and [God’s] plan had predestined to take place.” So the killing of Jesus was God’s will in the sense of his will of decree, but not his will in the sense of his will of command.

Now, which of these is intended when John writes, “If we ask anything according to his will he hears us” (1 John 5:14)?

Do Born-Again People Sin?

The answer is found as we keep reading in verse 16:

If anyone sees his brother committing . . . sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life — to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.

This concern with “sin that leads to death” and “sin not leading to death” is part of John’s larger concern in this letter. From beginning to end, John is concerned to guard against two opposite errors: (1) treating ongoing sin lightly and (2) despairing that if a believer sins he is lost. Both are errors.

Some of John’s community seem to think that you can continue sinning and still be born again. Others seem to think that, if you are born again, you don’t have any sin in your life. To the first group, John says, “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning” (1 John 3:9). To the second group, he says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves” (1 John 1:8). In other words, Christians sin, but Christians do not settle in with the practice of sin. Born-again people confess their sin as abhorrent (1 John 1:9), and make war on their temptations (Romans 8:13).

Sin That Leads to Death

So when we come to 1 John 5:16 and read about two kinds of sinning, we should not be surprised. One kind “leads to death.” And the other kind does “not lead to death.” John is not referring to a particular sin. What, then, is he referring to when he says, “there is sin [not a sin] that leads to death”?

Verse 18 gives the clue. Right after saying, “There is sin that leads to death” (v. 16) and “there is sin that does not lead to death” (v. 17), John says,

We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God [Jesus] protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. (1 John 5:18)

So the sinning that does not lead to death is the sinning of those who are “born of God,” but whose sinning is restrained by Jesus. Jesus protects and keeps his own. He restrains their sinning. He does not make them perfect in this life. But neither does he leave them to the power of sin. He protects them. And the evil one does not touch them in the sense of bringing them to ruin.

This implies, then, that “sin that leads to death” is the sinning of those who are not born of God. Their sinning is not restrained by Jesus. In fact, they are not true believers. They may be part of the church for a time, but they give way to patterns of sin and fall away. John describes them in 1 John 2:19:

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

The reason I say they are not true believers is that John says, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God” (1 John 5:1). In other words, saving faith is a sign that one has been born of God, and we just saw in 5:18 that those who are born of God are kept by Jesus. He does not let them go on sinning — that is, he keeps them back from “sin that leads to death.”

So I am concluding from 1 John 5:18, and the wider context of 1 John, that “sin that leads to death” is not a particular sin, but a pattern of unrestrained sin that leads one away from Christ, and shows that one was never born again (1 John 2:19; 5:1, 18). It “leads to death,” therefore, in the sense that it leads to destruction. Final ruin. Hell.

‘I Do Not Say to Pray for That’

Now we are in a position to circle back and see how verse 16 (“There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that”) sheds light on the meaning of verse 14 (“If we ask anything according to his will he hears us”). Does verse 14 refer to God’s will of decree, or to his will of command?

To answer this, we should ask why John writes, “I do not say that one should pray for [the sin that leads to death].” The reason is that there is no point in it. The prayer would be for repentance and forgiveness and life (as in v. 16a). But John has made clear that this sinning leads to death. There will be no life. That’s the whole point of saying there is sin that leads to death. If one could pray successfully for life, the sin would not be sin that leads to death.

Now here’s the implication for the meaning of praying “according to [God’s] will.” It is clearly God’s will of command that we pray for sinners that they would repent and be saved. Paul said, “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved” (Romans 10:1) — including those who are “accursed and cut off from Christ” (Romans 9:3). And he prayed for believers, that they would be “kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

So, if it is “according to [God’s] will” that we pray for straying people, why does John say, “I do not say that one should pray for [the sin that leads to death]”? The answer is because God does not intend to save them. They have crossed a line. They are like Esau in Hebrews 12:17, who had sinned in such a way that he could not repent and find forgiveness.

In other words, it is not God’s will to save those who have sinned in a way that “leads to death.” He will not grant repentance. His will of decree is to let them go. No praying will change it.

According to God’s Will of Decree

But why does John not come right out and say, “Do not pray for that,” instead of saying, “I do not say that one should pray for that”? It’s because he does not assume we can always know who these people are. To command us not to pray for them would imply we can always recognize them. But we can’t. We can’t always tell when someone has sinned to the point of being beyond repentance. So John only says that praying for them would be ineffectual. God has willed to leave them alone. “I do not say that one should pray for that.”

Which means that if you ask for their repentance and forgiveness, you will not get it.

But verses 14–15 say, “If we ask anything according to his will . . . we have the request.” Therefore, I do not take “according to his will” to mean “according to his will [of command],” because, as we’ve seen, it is according to his will of command that we should always pray for straying saints and unbelievers. Rather, I take “according to his will” in verse 14 to mean “according to his will [of decree],” because verse 16 shows that God has decreed not to save these people. So you need not pray for them, and if you do, you will not receive what you ask. It doesn’t accord with God’s will of decree.

So when John says, “If we ask anything according to his will he hears us” (1 John 5:14), he means, “If we ask anything that accords with God’s all-wise plan — his all-wise decrees for the world — he hears us and grants our request.”

The reason I say they are not true believers is that John says, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God” (1 John 5:1). In other words, saving faith is a sign that one has been born of God, and we just saw in 5:18 that those who are born of God are kept by Jesus. He does not let them go on sinning — that is, he keeps them back from “sin that leads to death.”

So I am concluding from 1 John 5:18, and the wider context of 1 John, that “sin that leads to death” is not a particular sin, but a pattern of unrestrained sin that leads one away from Christ, and shows that one was never born again (1 John 2:19; 5:1, 18). It “leads to death,” therefore, in the sense that it leads to destruction. Final ruin. Hell.

So, if it is “according to [God’s] will” that we pray for straying people, why does John say, “I do not say that one should pray for [the sin that leads to death]”? The answer is because God does not intend to save them. They have crossed a line. They are like Esau in Hebrews 12:17, who had sinned in such a way that he could not repent and find forgiveness.

In other words, it is not God’s will to save those who have sinned in a way that “leads to death.” He will not grant repentance. His will of decree is to let them go. No praying will change it.

This Does Not Make Prayer Pointless

A common response to this conclusion is that it seems to make prayer pointless, because answered prayer happens only when God has decreed that something be done. Wouldn’t the decreed event happen anyway? So why pray?

But that kind of response does not come from careful biblical thinking. Careful thinking would see that God really does things in response to prayer. “You do not have, because you do not ask” (James 4:2). God wills that events be caused by prayer. And careful biblical thinking would also see that, just as God decrees effects, he also decrees the causes of those effects. As he decrees ends, so he decrees means. As he decrees that a straying saint repent and return, so he decrees the prayers that bring him back.

Prayer is a real cause of real events in this world. God has willed it to be so. And so it is.

Because We Do What Pleases Him’

Now what about our third question? What does “whatever” mean in 1 John 3:22 when it says, “Whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him”? The answer is connected to what we have seen.

A different condition is laid down for answered prayer here in 3:22 than was laid down in 5:14. There the condition was that the answer to prayer comes, if we pray according to God’s will — according to God’s all-wise plan, his will of decree. Here the condition is that the answer to prayer comes, if we “keep his commandments and do what pleases him.”

How do these two conditions go together?

What Pleases God Is Glad Submission to His Sovereignty

Here is my suggestion. The condition of 3:22 includes the condition of 5:14. That is, doing what pleases God includes consciously and gladly submitting to God’s will of decree. This decree will always be the wisest and most loving response to our prayers.

John says that whatever we ask we receive, if we “do what pleases [God].” What does please God? When it comes specifically to prayer, at least these three things:

  1. According to 1 Peter 5:6, it pleases God if we are humble before God: “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God.” So it pleases God when we gladly admit we are not God. We are in no condition to run the world, or to take the reins of the universe out of God’s hands.
  2. According to James 3:2, “We all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man.” It pleases God for us to admit this. And the words “what he says” include “what he says in prayer.” We don’t suddenly become perfect when we pray. We are finite and fallible. We make mistakes. God is pleased when his people admit this.
  3. According to James 4:15, Christians “ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’” We ought to say this. That is, it is pleasing to God, when we actually say (in prayer!), “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that!”From these three biblical descriptions of what pleases God when we pray, it seems to me that the condition we must meet, according to 1 John 3:22, in order to receive what we pray for, includes the condition we must meet in 1 John 5:14. The condition there was this: “If we ask anything according to his will [of decree] he hears us.” I’m suggesting that implicit in this condition is the God-pleasing disposition to embrace God’s decreed responses with confidence that they are best. In other words, what pleases God is a humble mind that confesses our finiteness and fallibility, and says, “If the Lord wills, the people we pray for ‘will live and do this or that.’”

    God never ignores his children. He is never too busy. Never lacking in resources. Never confused. Never ill-disposed. He is always attentive. Always gracious. Always eager. Always wise. Always loving. He hears every request from his humble, trusting children, and he answers with whatever is best. It always pays to pray. Always.

    That does not mean a life of prayer is not perplexing. My aim is to encourage you in your prayers by answering three especially difficult questions: (1) What does it mean to ask God for things “according to his will” (1 John 5:14)? (2) Why are we not told to pray for the forgiveness of “sin that leads to death” (1 John 5:16)? (3) What does “whatever” mean in 1 John 3:22, when it says, “Whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him”? I think a text-based answer to each of these questions is a great encouragement to pray.

    I focus on these three questions because, in trying to answer the first one, I realized that the context led to answers for the other two as well. Here is the text that raises, and answers, the first two questions:

    This is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life — to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death. We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. (1 John 5:14–18)

    ‘Whatever’ Is Best for Us

    What then is the answer to our third question — the meaning of “whatever” in (1 John 3:22)? “Whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.”

    The meaning of “whatever” is shaped by the all-wise, all-encompassing, loving plan of God for the good of his children and the glory of his name. By “shaped” I mean limited or expanded, hastened or delayed, purified and completed, but never ignored. If we ask for bread, he will not give us a stone, but he may give us cake, or cornbread, or cod liver oil. If we ask for a fish, he will not give us a snake, but he may give us steak, or stew, or lutefisk (Matthew 7:9–11).

    He is our Father. His resources are infinite. His love is perfect. His wisdom is unsearchable. He is never at a loss. Therefore, he will only give us whatever is good for us (Romans 8:28, 32; Matthew 6:33). That is what I think “whatever” in 1 John 3:22 means.

    So, be encouraged to pray. Set yourself to please the Lord in all humility, admitting your fallibility, and submitting to his perfect plan and his all-wise decrees. He has decreed millions of things to do in answer to prayer. Our prayers are real causes of the events God planned — just as much as flipping a light switch is a real cause of light in the room, or turning a faucet handle is a real cause of water in the sink, or swinging a hammer is a real cause of a well-sunk nail. It is absolutely true that we “do not have, because [we] do not ask” (James 4:2). So, ask. Keep God’s word. Do what pleases him. And ask.

    Of course there are things he will not do. That was the point of 1 John 5:16. He does not forbid us to pray for those, because we cannot always know what they are. But he does tell us that only his wise decrees will come to pass. And he calls us to please him by being humbly submissive to his sovereignty in what he brings to pass. Therefore, it always pays to pray. Always.”

    www.desiringgod.org.

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Sermons

Are You on the Rock or on the Sand?

by Tony Evans
written by Tony Evans

In the Bible, Jesus tells us a story about two men who built their houses on two very different foundations. While one was built upon the sand with little difficulty, the other was built upon a rock with much greater difficulty. Join Tony Evans as he compares these foundations to our application of God’s truth in our lives and how having the correct Biblical foundation can impact your future.

www.sermons.love.

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When and How to Say No

by Caroline Leaf
written by Caroline Leaf

All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Matthew 5:37

We all know that community is important for mental health, but what happens when people demand too much from us? How do we know when and how to say no before we feel drained and burnout?

Dr. Henry Cloud, bestselling author and psychologist, teaches boundaries are as important as community when it comes to our mental health. It is not selfish to say no or give ourselves a break.

We all need space, or what Dr. Cloud calls “property lines”, in our relationships. These lines set healthy limits in a friendship, and make sure people don’t throw their “trash” into your yard (figuratively speaking) or try control what you do and how you live. These are not walls: they are permeable. Ideally, we open our boundaries to let in good relationships, but we close them to keep out to threats and danger.

But, you may ask, what can you do when you feel obligated to say “yes” all the time and let people in all the time? How do you set boundaries without affecting the quality of your relationships? When and how can you actually say no to protect your mental and physical health?

1. Remember the golden rule: 

Relationship boundaries should have consequences, like everything we do and say in life: what you sow you should reap, and boundaries are only boundaries if they are enforced.

If you are in a relationship with a toxic person who is irresponsible and abusive, for example, that person ought to reap what they sow, and the relationship should come to an end. However, if there are not clear boundaries in this relationship, then you can become an enabler, and the toxic behavior continues to negatively affect both of you—that person is throwing their “trash” across your property line, and now you have become dependent on the hope that maybe one day they will stop causing you pain…maybe one day they will change. If, on the other hand, you decide to leave the toxic relationship, recognizing that you can’t control the other person but you can control your own boundaries, and that you need to do so to protect your mental and physical health, you can take back control of your own property: your life. The other person is now left with the consequences of what they have done, and that just may be the spark that kindles their desire to actually change, because they see that their behavior has definite consequences.

Saying no to people that are self-centered, draining and co-dependent is not only acceptable, but often necessary for our mental wellbeing. You can still be there for someone if they are in dire need, but you do not have to let them affect your day-to-day life. You have limited energy to invest in people, so choose your relationships wisely. I also recommend asking yourself these questions when deciding whether or not the relationship is worth investing in:

  • Do you like who you are or who you have become in the relationship? If you have changed, how so? Are these good changes or bad ones?
  • Do you feel that the other person makes an effort to develop the relationship, or do you feel that you are the only person trying?
  • Do you feel loved and appreciated, or manipulated and used? 
  • Do you actually like this person? Ask yourself if the negatives outweigh their positive attributes.
  • Do they keep saying they will change, but never make an effort to do so?

At the end of the day, only you will know if you should end a relationship or not, because only you know when your boundaries have been crossed one too many times.

2. Be clear about your boundaries: 

Often, we keep our boundaries secret out of fear of affecting a relationship or affecting how someone sees us, and we end up saying yes to things we don’t want to do, or do not let others know when they have invaded our personal space and upset us, which can make us feel trapped, out of control, uncomfortable, resentful and anxious. This, in turn, will impact not only our mental wellbeing but also our physical health, because our feelings will become embodied and change the way our brain and body functions—right down to the level of our genes.

Boundaries, like property lines, need to be clear, so that other people know when they are crossing them, and when they are causing pain. When you understand why you need space, and how important this space is, you can let other people know in a calm and collected way what you want and need. Say, for example, a co-worker keeps wanting to go out for drinks or dinner after work; instead of saying yes and dreading it, or shouting “stop bothering me!”, say something like “It has been a long day and I need some ‘me’ downtime after work, as it helps me function better, so I am not going to go out today.” Let people know when they have crossed your boundary.

At the same time, don’t feel the need to overexplain! You have a right to rest and relaxation—the brain does not function well without it. In fact, when we go into a directed rest state (that is when we are intentional about relaxing and giving our minds a break), we enhance and increase the effectiveness of our thinking, which allows us to be a more helpful and better friend and family member. So, if you find yourself feeling guilty for saying “no” and trying to make someone else happy by giving long explanations and stumbling over why, stop, take a deep breath, and just say calmly “no, I need a break because of…”. If the other person does not understand or reacts negatively, don’t take it personally: you are not responsible for how they choose to react to the situation, but you can choose to control your own life—don’t let them take that control from you.

3. Know your own boundaries:

All relationships are different, and require different types of boundaries. This is particularly case with romantic relationships, when two people are so close that they have essentially redefined their boundaries around each other: they have become “one”, but there is still two people experiencing that “oneness.”

When you enter a romantic partnership, you are essentially opening yourself up to someone on a much deeper level, which means you affect each other more profoundly. This, in turn, requires that you both have greater knowledge and control over your feelings and attitudes, so that you don’t inadvertently cross the boundaries between each other and cause havoc in the relationship.

For instance, if you feel that your boundary has been crossed and your partner has hurt you, you should be able to say in a reasonable way “hey, we need to talk about…, because what you did really hurt me.” You let them know about the boundary that has been crossed, and you deal with it in a loving way. However, if you are not in control of yourself, you can end up screaming and shouting at your partner, and can end up crossing their own boundaries and causing a huge fight, which will impact your relationship and leave you both distressed and in pain.

When you know your own boundaries, you can be more in control of how you react when those boundaries are crossed, and how you communicate your boundaries to the people in your life, whether they are lovers, friends, family or coworkers. You can begin to see that being able to say “no” is not antithetical to a good relationship; it defines a good relationship. Knowing your own boundaries means knowing yourself on a deeper level, which will only enrich your relationships because you are comfortable and happy with being fully you with another person.

But you cannot truly know your boundaries if you do not know how you uniquely think and react to your experiences and relationships, that is how you think, feel and choose as an individual. As Socrates once said, the “unexamined life is not worth living”; when you know yourself and how you think, you not only understand yourself better, but you understand what you need and want in a relationship, and can communicate this clearly to a partner, friend, family member and co-worker.

I have found that keeping a journal of my thoughts and experiences can be incredibly helpful when it comes to organizing my thoughts and understand my unique perceptions and reactions to life.

4. Protect your own mental health when helping someone in need.

When it comes to dealing with people who need help, knowing your own needs and boundaries can help protect your mental health. Of course, we are designed for community; we thrive in environments when we are needed and where we need others, but this need can become challenging if we are not careful. So, if you feel stressed out by someone you are trying to help, set definitive boundaries: be there for them when you can, but be clear you are there to support them in their journey where you can, not to fix them. Make sure you have a designated partner, friend or family member you can talk to to help you process the situation and your emotions.

I personally love to use my time in the sauna as a mental health break if I feel drained by a relationship. I also incorporate “thinker moments” into my day. These moments help me switch off to the external and switch on to the internal, giving my brain a rest and allowing it to reboot by letting my mind wander and daydream. This increases my clarity of mind and ability to problem-solve and be there for the person I am trying to help. So, be intentional about creating mental health boundaries throughout your day, especially when you are dealing with challenging relationships!

www.drleaf.com. Used by permission.

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When Becoming Nothing is an Improvement

by Francis Frangipane
written by Francis Frangipane

In the beginning, the earth was formless and void, but that did not deter the Almighty. He looked into the fathomless depth of its darkness and concluded, “All it needs is light!” Likewise, in the beginning of our spiritual lives, we also are “formless and void” and God, just as confidently, is still saying, “All they need is a little light!” Remember: it’s the Lord’s responsibility to create and our responsibility to submit to His creating.

The Lord only needs three things to fashion life. First, He needs a “nothing.” The Almighty always begins His great, creative works with a “nothing” (this is very important because this is where we come in.) Then, His Spirit needs to be hovering over the “nothing.” And, finally, He needs His Word, which is the “something” He’s going to put in the “nothing’s” place.
God has no difficulty at all creating something out of nothing. The only obstacle He faces is when the nothing doesn’t know it is nothing but instead thinks it’s something. At that point God has to break it back down to nothing before it is good for anything. (Are you still following me?) Paul said this better than I when he wrote,

“If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself” (Gal. 6:3).

Even as Christians, if we think we are “something” so that we look down on others or we are wise in our own eyes, we deceive ourselves! The only something there truly is, is God.

If we know we are nothing without God, and we can simultaneously recognize that the grace He has worked in us is so we can bless others. If we have such an attitude, then there is no limit to how much God can use us. Our knowing we are nothing is a great attainment in His eyes. For then our energies are no longer spent exalting or defending ourselves but in clinging to Christ and relying upon Him.

You see, God is not offended by chaos. There will be times when, like the pre-creation universe, you discover your life seems “formless and void.” Do not be over-concerned. When you discover there is “chaos” in the deepest part of you, do not fret. You are at a new beginning. It has taken the Lord quite a while helping your to appreciate your “nothingness.”

So, let all who know they are nothings rejoice: you are miles ahead of everyone who thinks they are something! The proud, who consider themselves something special, do not deal with the lightless regions of chaos in their souls; they simply hide them. But if we are transparent with our need, the Spirit and Word can work in us to bring life and order. All we need do is to open up and confess our nothingness to the Holy Spirit.

“For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6).

This is the very way our great Creator creates. He causes light to shine out of darkness! The only thing He requires of us is to be honest about the darkness—to confess it instead of hiding it.

“Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them . . . But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light” (Eph. 5:11,13).

When darkness is exposed to the light, it becomes light. In fact, the very reason our darkness becomes visible is because God shines His light on it. If you persevere—if you continually thrust your darkness into the light of God’s grace and power—that light will ultimately shine out from within you. Your darkness will actually become light.

Beloved, if you know you are nothing in yourself, you’re a prime candidate to become something in God! Consider again Paul’s view of himself:

“If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ” (Phil. 3:4-7).

To become nothing in ourselves, to be excavated of pride and of being consumed by our attainments and pedigree, is part of the path to sonship. Paul actually saw all his human, religious attainments as obstacles. Certainly, in time the Lord used all of the elements of Paul’s life, but not before Paul gave them up to the Lord.

John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). You see, though self-confidence dies, God-confidence comes to life!

So, do not fret. You can admit that you have areas within that are dead and dark. Romans 4:17 says, “God . . . gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.” God gives LIFE to the dead. Do you sometimes feel dead? Good. You’re qualified to get God’s life! Look to God. Trust Him as your Creator. Do not fear when you discover you are nothing. There is a time when becoming nothing is an improvement.

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Ten Things You Do That Aren’t Church!

by Carey Nieuwhof
written by Carey Nieuwhof

Why is church attendance declining? Why are churches failing? Carey Nieuwhof reveals the hearts of many Christians today. He writes:

 SPIRITUALITY HAS BECOME AN INDIVIDUAL PURSUIT

First, spirituality is increasingly seen an individual pursuit, not a community activity.

Honestly, I get it. In a world that has gotten noiser, louder and angrier, there’s a part of me that wants to retreat into myself more every day.

Add to that the brokenness of true human community and unhealthy (or toxic) cultures, and it’s so much easier to say “I’m just going to figure this out on my own.” Which many people are trying to do.

I feel the pull too.

But I have to remind myself that for the most part, my desire to skip, pull away and do my own thing on my schedule isn’t solitude, it’s isolation. And while solitude is a gift from God, isolation is a tool of the enemy.

And there’s no faster way to render a community ineffective than to isolate its members.

ATTENDANCE MAY BE A NEW SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE

Second, because of how withdrawn and individualistic we’re all becoming, I wonder if—in an age in which people are devoted mostly to themselves—the mere act of attending church is becoming a spiritual discipline.

Devoting yourselves publicly to God and to a wider community is a countercultural act.

DECREASED ATTENDANCE OFTEN EQUALS DECREASED DEVOTION

Finally, there’s a paradox developing that I don’t hear many people talking about publicly, and that’s spiritual growth.

In my observation, rarely does decreased church attendance produce increased devotion.

Sure, there are popular bloggers, authors and podcasters who might claim it does, but get out onto the streets and have a conversation with many people who used to go to church that don’t anymore, and you’ll meet a lot of people whose faith hasn’t grown.

If anything, it’s diminished.

10 THINGS THAT AIN’T CHURCH

So where does this leave us?

In an age where everyone is looking for alternatives to gathering together, here are 10 things that—helpful as they may be in some respect—aren’t church.

If it gets a bit feisty in the points below, just know it’s because I’m challenging the gravitational pull I feel sometimes in me and I see all the time around me.

So here goes. Here are 10 things that still ain’t church.

1. WATCHING CHURCH ONLINE

Watching church online has exploded in the last decade.

We have an online campus at our church, which I love, because for many people it’s a step into church can be if it’s a step back in if you’re  out of town or on vacation, but for too many people people church online is a step out of church.

It’s a step toward lower devotion, not greater devotion. And to less mission, not deeper mission.

Here’s a little exercise I want to propose. If you’re watching online because it’s easier (or honestly, you’re just lazy), get yourself into a real human community.

Yes, a real church is going to be worse than your online experience. You will have to sit next to people you don’t like and who aren’t like you.

You could get hurt. You’ll have to do something. And you may have to give.

You’ll get into awkward conversations with people as you invite them to come with you. And you may damage the friendship as a result and feel all worried.

This is church. (Have you ever read 1 Corinthians? I mean really….)

Dating is easier than marriage. Especially first dating. But marriage is where the real reward is after you’ve disliked each other long enough to fall in love again and remember that in the midst of the mess God is writing a deeper, more powerful story than you could ever write on your own.

A C+ real life church experience is better than an A+ online church experience because real life is messy, and it’s going to force you grow.

So go find a real-life C+ church and get involved. And remember, you are not the solution to the C+ church’s problems. You’re part of the reason it’s a C+ church. So am I.
2. LISTENING TO A PODCAST

If you want to 1.5x speed God into your life while you’re on a run or driving to work, go ahead.

I love podcasting, but in the end, what it gives you is information and not much more.

Podcasting (and church online) should function like online dating. Everyone I know who met online and fell in love gets married. You rarely meet someone who says “We met online, have been married for five years but we’ve never actually met.” Of course you meet, that’s the point.

And I think that’s the point of church podcasts and church online…they lead to something greater: real human interaction around a mission bigger than you.

But 1.5xing a sermon podcast every week probably only gives you a .5 dose of God.

3. VIRTUAL PASTORS

Because there are thousands of churches online and thousands more who put their content online via podcasts, many people have multiple preachers they listen to and think of as their ‘pastors’.

It’s great that you’re listening,  or that you follow 10 megachurch pastors or local pastors on Instagram, but that’s not church.

You may have a charcuterie board of favourite speakers and feel full, but true discipleship is not measured by how much you know, it’s measured by how much you love, and how much that love flows out of you and into the lives of others.

4. THAT CHARITABLE THING YOU STARTED

We live in an amazing time where it’s easy to start almost anything you imagine, including a charity.

Charities are amazing, but they’re not church.

When the church gathers in worship, prayer, community, joins together on a mission to baptize people and grow people into the likeness of Christ…well that’s church.

I have a company outside the church that helps produce this blog, my podcast, books etc. Guess what? I think of it as a ministry, and it has huge ministry implications, but it’s not the church.

It never will be. Sure, we think of it in many ways as a ministry. And yes, we’re on mission to help leaders. But it ain’t church.

5. COFFEE WITH FRIENDS

If you stop attending a local church, it’s easy to come up with substitutes for it, like having coffee (or meals, or whatever) with friends.

The early church didn’t change the world by gathering with friends for coffee.

By all means, be social. Hang out. Cultivate deep friendships. Hang out. Connect. But don’t fool yourself—that isn’t church either.

6. THE GATHERING AT YOUR HOUSE

I understand that this one will be a little controversial, but most of the time, that gathering in your house ain’t church either.

Even if you gather to pray, study scripture, fellowship and celebrate communion, it may still not be the church. Why?

Too often house church functions as a community of people who are fleeing the church, who have been hurt by the church, or who are rejecting the local churches in their neighbourhood.

Rarely (I mean rarely, it’s not like it never happens) do I see a house church really embrace the full mission of the church, which would include evangelism  baptizing new disciples, community service, giving financially beyond itself and an outward focus that brings more people into the Kingdom.

If that happens—and occasionally it does—then that is church. The problem of course, is that when you embrace all of that, it won’t be long until you outgrow your living room…and you start gathering in public space because you can’t squeeze into a home anymore.

But if it’s just the eight of you year after year after year after year…it probably ain’t church.

7. A WALK IN THE WOODS/ON THE BEACH

I love nature. My wife really loves nature.

Almost all of us feel closer to God in nature. And some personality types feel extremely close to God in nature—maybe even closer than they feel in church.

But your subjective feeling is no substitute for a timeless mission. God didn’t just call us to feel him. He calls us to serve him.

8. FAMILY DEVOTIONS

I love my family. You love yours. And family devotions are wonderful.

When you’re on vacation, I get that you may do family devotions on a Sunday rather than a long drive into a local church.

But a steady diet of family devotions—even daily devotions—isn’t church because your family isn’t baptizing people, reaching out into the community, serving, or even moving beyond itself to engage the world for which Christ died.

Authentic mission has to go beyond you to someone else and embrace and include them.

Family devotions may be sincere and convenient, but they’re no substitute for the Kingdom of God.

9. CHURCH SURFING

Church shopping is one thing. But I’ve met a growing number of people who are doing what I can only call church surfing.

They may go to the 9 a.m. service at one church, and then sample the later service at another, and then they switch it up against next weekend, adding maybe a third church into the mix.

It’s like serial dating with no engagement, commitment or even investment.

Once again, it’s an expression of a consumer culture—take, but feel no obligation to give.

Of course, a significant life is rarely measured by what you consume. It’s measured by what you contribute.

Church surfing contributes almost nothing to the true mission of the church.

10. ANONYMITY

So let’s say you show up at the same church whenever you attend, but you sit in the back row, anonymously. You don’t engage, don’t serve, don’t invite, don’t join the mission. You just…sit.

That’s not much different than just consumption, except it’s analog, not digital.

It’s hard to build the future of the church on someone who consumes and never contributes. And it’s hard to build a meaningful, resilient life, when all you do is consume, not contribute.

So contribute. Serve. Invite. Give. Do community.

You’re called to be the church, not just attend one.

THREE QUESTIONS

If you find your church attendance declining or evaporating, ask yourself:

  • Are my current patterns leading me to greater devotion to Jesus?
  • Am I serving, inviting, giving and helping to make new disciples?
  • Is this really about me, or is it about seeing the Kingdom of God flourish and expand around me?

www.careynieuwhof.com

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Seniors, Heal Your Loneliness!

by Julie Barrier
written by Julie Barrier

My Daddy was an extrovert. He never met a stranger. Dad, a consummate salesman, built a successful construction company from the ground up. Pop was a joiner! He served as a church deacon, a Rotary club member, and president of the Dallas Woods and Waters Club. Daddy knew every Baptist, businessman and bass fisherman in North Texas. He loved them all!

 

But as my father grew older, his world grew smaller and smaller. My Mom and Dad moved away from their hometown of seventy years to be near their kids and grandkids (they are precious, by the way)… Dad was a newcomer in this new town. Few people knew how beloved, gifted and successful he had been as a younger man. Most of Daddy’s friends were old and sick. Many had already gone to heaven.

 

If your world is shrinking as you age, join the club. You may be one of the 42.6 million older adults who experience loneliness every day. Shrinking social circles, poor health, financial limitations, life changes, and even transportation challenges can mean isolation for older adults. Isolation can have a devastating on health and quality of life.

 

Jesus promised He would be with His children.

 

“I will never leave you or forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5. KJV

 

When Christ ascended to heaven, He promised, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20.  KJV

 

Enjoy Jesus, but learn how to develop a support system for those “golden years.”

 

Let’s look at the lives of two famous Bible kings. One knew how to build a life-long group of loyal friends. The other died rich, cynical and lonely.

 

King David cultivated deep friendships his entire life. David’s son, Solomon, died a dour, depressed old man. How could the richest, wisest man in history fail to build a network of supportive pals?

 

“A man who has friends must show himself friendly.” Proverbs 18:14 (NIV)

 

Read the psalms. David knew how to express his feelings and to freely show love and joy. He sang. He wept. He worshipped. And he did all of it in front of others. David was an open book. Solomon was guarded. He was rich and wise, but not as approachable. He was often suspicious of the motives of others.

  • “Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of a man who gives gifts.” (Proverbs 19:6 NIV)
  • “Wealth brings many friends, but a poor mans’ friend deserts him.” (Proverbs 19:4 NIV)

Jonathan, Saul’s son and David’s dearest friend, should have been his mortal enemy. David was a war hero, anointed to succeed Saul as king. Jonathan was the rightful heir. Instead, David and Jonathan became best buddies:

“By the time David had finished reporting to Saul, Jonathan was deeply impressed with David—an immediate bond was forged between them. He became totally committed to David. From that point on he would be David’s number-one advocate and friend. (1 Samuel 18:1).

 

David inspired great loyalty and trust from his army. His three mighty men risked life and limb to bring the warrior king a drink from his hometown well in Bethlehem (2 Samuel 23:15-17).

 

David fled from Saul’s sword and found refuge in enemy territory. King Achish, King of Gath (1 Samuel 21:10) was the sworn enemy of the Israelites. In just a few short months, David won Achish’s favor and trust.

 

Even near the end of David’s life when his son Absalom almost succeeded in overthrowing David’s empire, David’s countrymen still rallied around him (2 Samuel 17:10). Such devotion for one man is astounding!

 

Solomon must have learned a lot about friendship from watching his father. But Solomon struggled to make and keep friends. He was richer and smarter than everyone. You’d think with 700 wives and 300 concubines, the king would find a few close companions! Solomon’s only true friend on record was his Shunammite bride, his first love. She called him “my lover and my friend” (Song of Solomon 5:16).

 

Where was his beloved bride during his later years? In Solomon’s last writings, Ecclesiastes, we see a sad man, jaded and cynical, with many regrets.

 

“So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me….So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. Every day is pain and grief; even at night my mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 2:17-23 NIV)

 

Many of us spend our lives investing in projects instead of people.

 

Samuel Johnson said, “If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life he will soon find himself left alone. One should keep his friendships in constant repair.”

 

My husband and I recently faced the challenge of retirement, relocation and isolation. Our health challenges and family needs seemed almost insurmountable. God was faithful. He gave us wisdom in hard times.

  • Manage your expectations.
  • Grieve your losses.
  • Don’t live in the past.
  • Wait for God to reveal His new plans for you.

We determined not to live our “golden years” the way Solomon did. Roger and I joined a church and immediately began to serve and connect with small groups. We found prayer partners. We led Navigators programs on spiritual growth and evangelism. Roger continues to teach as a layman and joined the Gideons. We began a web ministry, teaching pastors and missionaries around the world. We worked to spend quality time with our children and all of our wonderful neighbors.

 

Believe it or not, pastors and wives are often introverts. You may be shy, too! Stepping into a new life takes courage. Though rewarding, all of these activities require resolve, effort and perseverance. Living Christ’s abundant life in the moment is key.

 

My Dad always said, “Old age is not for sissies!” He was right. Our world may shrink, but God’s grace grows and grows. He will NEVER leave you. He will NEVER forsake you. And He will provide you with the friends you need and a ministry you can manage.

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Articles

Sarah and Me: Her Story is My Story

by Julie Barrier
written by Julie Barrier

Sarah is my favorite woman in the Bible. Flawed but faithful, she inspires me to finish my race well. Although I stumble and struggle along the way, I know I will enter heaven and hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

If Sarah can be included in the Hall of Faithful Heroes, you and I can, too. In Sarah’s story, I see a divine resemblance to my own. Maybe you do, too.

Sarai Journeyed Bravely into the Unknown

Sarai (whose name meant Princess, and was later changed by God to ‘Sarah’ which meant ‘mother of nations’) was the daughter of a wealthy Chaldean tribesman named Terah. She married Abram, her half-brother. This gorgeous Bedouin debutante had no idea she was in for such a wild ride when she married this man!

Sarai left her family, her wealth and position to follow her crazy husband to “a land God would show him.” (1,426 miles)

She willingly obeyed. She was spunky.

I don’t know how I’d respond if my hubby packed a U-Haul, declared he was uprooting me to go to a strange land he knew nothing about… to do God knows what…Oh, wait, he did! It was the best decision of our lives.

My husband, Roger, answered God’s call to preach in an unchurched desert town 1,000 miles away from our friends and family. But Sarai was even more brave. She didn’t even know where the U-Camel was going!

Sarai’s Test of Trust and Submission

The journey to this new home was difficult for Sarai. Searing heat and famine almost destroyed their brood. Abram and his entourage took a detour to pagan Egypt. It was a risky move for any nomad (Genesis 12:10).

Sarai’s next test was to lie for Abram to Pharaoh. She was gorgeous. Abram willingly offered Sarai to the powerful Egyptian ruler because he knew Sarai was beautiful and he feared Pharaoh would want her as his wife. Sarai obeyed Abram, though she shook in her sandals and hid in Pharaoh’s harem.

She trusted God even when her husband didn’t protect her.

By the way, her spouse gave Sarai to King Abimelech later for the same reason (Genesis 20)! Maybe she had plastic surgery? At any rate, she was older and still considered quite gorgeous.

Some theologians say the Egyptian harem is where Sarai first encountered God for herself. God sent a plague on Pharaoh’s house and Sarai was returned to her husband with riches and livestock in tow.

Roger never shipped me off to a stranger. He was brave in the face of deacons and demons. But I was not so courageous. If you don’t know this, pastor’s wives are at the mercy of their husbands. Every word from the pulpit carries weight. Every decision could change the future. And every church member had an opinion about what our family did or didn’t do!

Sarai trusted God in a tough situation. I applaud her. And so did Peter:

…for this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. – 1 Peter 3:5-6

Sarai’s Test of Patience

Sarai, like all of us, often faltered in her faith. God promised to make Abram the “father of many nations” (Gen. 17:4) but she was barren. So, like most conniving (or desperate) women, Sarai went into “fix-it” mode and gave Abram her maidservant Hagar to produce a son.

It was a lousy practice, but it was customary in her society. Sarai grew impatient and ran ahead of God.

Let’s try to put ourselves in poor Sarai’s shoes. Dr. Julia Blum writes,

“What a horrible disappointment! What a terrible moment to arrive at! All these years, the echo of His magnificent promises kept Sarai through the hunger, the endless wandering, the Egyptian humiliation, and those sharp pangs of loneliness that would seize her whole being whenever she thought of what she had left behind to follow her husband. Sarah was able to go through all of that because she firmly believed that someday she would give birth to a son, and then finally, everything that God promised would start to be fulfilled. After all, God promised her husband: 

“I will make you a great nation, I will bless you, and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing.” He promised: “And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.” (Genesis 17:4)

Didn’t that mean that she, Sarah, would give birth to a son who would become a father of this multitude of descendants?

Abram’s wife waited for an unfulfilled promise for decades. Had God forgotten her? She went through the mood swings and hot flashes of menopause with nary a sign of morning sickness. Abram, her husband had heard God speak, but Sarai had to trust her husband’s divine revelations.

Like All of Us, Sarah Endured Suffering

Roger and I waited a long time for God to fulfill His promise to us. Our church site was too small. We were holding five services and further growth was impossible. Roger had God’s vision to relocate from our current site to a 100-acre parcel of land five miles north of our current church site. The move and the buildings would cost millions and supposedly take two years to complete.

Cost overruns plagued the project. Instead of taking two years to finish the project, it took twelve. Three ulcers and two heart attacks later, my husband entered the doors of the sanctuary to preach for the first time. We were not spiritual giants like Abraham and Sarah, but we camped in the scorching desert for more than a decade, and the wait was agonizing.

I’m still impatient. When God doesn’t work as quickly as I expect, I run ahead of Him. Instead of letting my kids grow up and make their own choices, I continually rush to advise them or bail them out. I don’t relinquish control and allow them to be adults.

Sarai suffered, waiting and waiting for this “child of promise.” I try to wiggle out of the trials and suffering God uses to mature my faith. Pastor Craig Groeschel calls such actions “Christian atheism,” because Christians often live their lives as if God doesn’t exist. God is not small, simple or shortsighted. He is eternal, all-powerful, and omniscient. And we are not.

My husband Roger often describes the hard journey of spiritual growth in this way: “It takes a hundred years to grow a mighty oak. He can turn out a squash in six weeks. Which do you want to be?”

Sarah eventually grew to be a mighty oak.

Sarah Became Angry

Can you imagine going through the mood swings and hot flashes of menopause, knowing God had promised her a baby? How frustrated Sarai must have been! But God didn’t reject her for her wavering faith. She still is mentioned in Hebrews 11, the Hall of Faithful Ones.

Hagar, Sarai’s maidservant, flaunted her rotund baby belly and belittled her mistress. Sarai, filled with jealousy and rage, cruelly threw her out of the family tent, much to Abram’s dismay. She didn’t trust God to give her a son. (Genesis 16)

Sarai’s impatience caused tension between her son and Hagar’s son Ishmael for 4,000 years. What a cat fight those two women must have had!

I don’t tend to anger easily. I just stuff my feelings and let them emerge as “thinly disguised contempt.” Sarcasm and acerbic humor take the place of confrontation. But the results are still the same.

Someone always gets hurt, and my sin distances us from God and others.

Sarah’s Reward

However, this is not the end of Sarai’s story. God did give Abram and Sarai a baby. In our world, that would be two wrinkled senior citizens becoming new parents just as they qualified for Medicare.

Isaac, their son, means “Laughter.” And God really does have a sense of humor. And He keeps His promises! Though she may have previously laughed in disbelief and secrecy, now Sarah laughed with joy and wanted her situation to be known: God had been faithful to His promise and blessed her. (Genesis 21:6-7)

I never thought I’d have another baby. My first little girl died a long, agonizing death. The docs told me it would be risky to try to have another child. But God miraculously gave our family two daughters, Brianna (Gift of God) and Bronwyn (Pure Heart).

We even had holy puppies! Goody (Goodness) and Surely (Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life). We never got around to adopting Mercy, but I foresee a “Mercy” mutt in our future.

Abram’s Test of Faith

One test still remained for the couple. God tested Abraham’s faith by asking him to sacrifice his promised son, Isaac.

Abraham was willing to give up his son, trusting that God would somehow still remain true to His promise (Genesis 22; Hebrews 11:17–19). The Bible never says that Sarah was aware of Abraham’s command to sacrifice her son.

But Abraham’s moments on Mount Moriah foreshadowed God’s sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus.

God’s Renames Abram and Sarai

God only gave a few sacramental names-names that were given in association with His covenant declaration. God re-named Abram. Abram, “Exalted Father,” became Abraham, “Father of Many Nations.” Sarai, “Princess,” became Sarah, meaning “Mother of Many Nations.” (Genesis 17)

Paul writes that Abraham and Sarah began a lineage that continued through all who believe in Jesus, the Messiah:

The Jews, the people of Israel-theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! However, it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son. – Romans 9:4-9

As Christians, Jesus has given you and I new names, too. I, Julie Gail (Windy July), and you, became “Beloved Child of the King.” We can’t even imagine what God will do through us if we trust His promises and wait for Him to work!

And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. – Hebrews 11:11

The key to Sarah’s success was that she considered God faithful, even when she was not. You and I can hope in a faithful God in our frailty. What a promise!

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Articles

Let’s Put First Things First

by Max Lucado
written by Max Lucado

Max Lucado teaches that God never gave us leftovers. He gave us His best!

“Suppose I were to drop by your house holding a foil-covered saucer. “Hello, friend,” I say. “A few days back Denalyn made a strawberry cake. It was so good. It came out of the oven hot, moist, and sweet. I wish you could have tasted it. Today, as I was eating the last piece, I thought of you. Just before I took the final bite, I put my fork down and thought, I’m taking these crumbs to my friend.”

How would you feel?

Contrast that emotion with the one you feel if I were to knock at your door holding a cake pan with oven mitts. “Denalyn pulled this out of the oven a few minutes ago. It’s still hot. No one has touched it. I got here as fast as I could. I want you to have the first piece. I want you to have the whole cake (although I did bring my fork in case you want to share).”

How would that invitation make you feel? Or, better asked, how does that make you feel? God offers you the whole cake. You do not receive crumbs or leftovers. You have received his best. Why? Because he loves you based on the “Principle of Firsts.”

Since this is the first day of a new year, it’s appropriate to re-visit the theme of “firsts” in the Bible. Open a concordance to the word and prepare yourself for an avalanche of entries. First. Firstborn. Firstbegotten. Firstfruit. Firstling. First-ripe. My concordance contains seven columns of tiny-fonted words and verses. Apparently, “first” is a big theme in scripture and a big thing to God!

Is it possible, with all these references, to reduce them to a single message? I think so.

God went first. We love because he first loved us (I John. 4:19).

God made the first move. God took the first step. God placed the first call. We did nothing and do nothing that wasn’t and isn’t prompted by God. He went first. He not only went first, he gave his firstborn son. The Bible calls Jesus “the firstborn among the brethren” (Romans 8:29). In the great, expansive, innumerable family of God, there is a firstborn: Jesus Christ. What did God do with his firstborn Son? He sent him as a sacrifice. He didn’t redeem us with apostles, angels, prophets or preachers. He gave the best gift.

Jesus is not only the firstborn, he is the firstfruit. “But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (I Corinthians 15:20 NKJV). First-fruit is an agricultural term used to describe the initial harvest. The farmer would take the best portion of his harvest to market and tell the customer, “Taste and enjoy. There is more to come.” Jesus is the firstfruit of God’s eternal harvest. He will do with his children what he did with Jesus: he will call us out of the grave. How do we know? Jesus is the firstfruit.

In addition, God gives us the “firstfruits of the Spirit” (Rom.8:23). Love, joy, peace, patience…all the fruits of the Spirit are ours because God gives, not leftovers but firstfruits. These are foretastes, samplings of the full harvest that awaits us in heaven.

God gives us firstborn Son and the firstfruit of the Spirit. We have received his best. Let’s follow his lead.

Go first to God with your problems.

Don’t take your problems to the bar. Don’t numb your fears with narcotics. Don’t hide from or deny the existence of struggles. No, go first to Christ. Jesus tells us, rather bluntly, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will put on” (Matthew 6:25 NKJV).

He then gives two commands: “look at the birds” (vs. 26) and “consider the lilies” (vs. 28). If God cares for the birds and the grass, won’t he care for us? For that reason, he commands: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you” (Mathew 6:33). Would you like a word of advice that will save a thousand headaches and heartaches in 2017? The moment a problem surfaces is the moment you take it to God. Take it to him first.

Honor God with the firstfruits of your income.

In the thirteenth chapter of Exodus, God unveiled a beautiful, yet challenging principle. “Consecrate to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is mine” (Exodus 13:2).

The firstborn lamb belongs to God. The firstborn donkey belongs to God. The firstborn child belongs to God. This was true, not just with flocks and family, but with harvest and salary. “The first of your firstfruits of your land you shall bring to the house of the Lord your God” (Exodus 23:19).

If a farmer has an apple tree that bears ten baskets of apples, he sets aside the first basket as holy, belonging to God. “All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or the fruit of the tree, it is the Lord’s, it is holy to the Lord” (Leviticus 27:30).

Nine-tenths of the farmer’s harvest was common. But the first tenth, or the tithe, was holy. It was unique; set apart for a special purpose. Our relationship with God is built on firsts. He loved us first. We love him first. No crumbs. No leftovers. No Sirree.

Let this be the year that you excel in this grace of giving. And, one more, let’s

Gather on the first day of the week with God’s people.

Let six days be used for work and acquisition. But set one aside for spiritual and physical restoration. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” (Exodus 20:8). Under the older covenant, this day was Saturday. As Christians, we set aside Sunday, though many Christians still observe a Saturday Sabbath. The day of the observance matters less than the message of the observance: God wants us to worship and to rest. He designates the first day of every week as holy. This was the practice of the New Testament Christians (see Acts 20:7).

Would you like God to bless your six days? Then give him the first day. Make it your aim to gather with God’s people in God’s house for corporate worship.

Why?

God has something to say to you. He may say it through a hymn, through a friend, through a prayer, or through a passage.

God has something to say through you. The story is told is told of a west Texas rancher who attended the same church for decades. Even in his later years, when he was half blind and hard of hearing, he sat on the front row. One day a young man asked him: “You can hardly hear and scarcely see; why do you keep coming to church?” The old rancher replied, “I don’t come for me; I come for you.”

What if your church attendance is less about what you receive and more about who you can encourage?

I want to be crystal clear: we are under the new covenant, not the old. We are saved by grace, not by works. No tithe or attendance will ever add one iota to the finished work of Christ on the cross. These disciplines are part of God’s plan to keep us from drifting. “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it” (Hebrews 2:1 ESV).

Most people who grow cold in their faith do so incrementally, gradually, inch by inch over a period of time. These disciplines of the firstfruits recalibrate us day by day, week by week. I hope you will consider them.

I have a feeling that someone is groaning inside. “Max, my life is already burdened. So many obligations. So much work. And now you talk to me about firstfruits and first days of the week. I can’t take another load.”

If those are your thoughts, I must have underemphasized the promise of Jesus. He said, “Seek first the kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33 NIV).

If you find this message to be burdensome, I must have failed to share God’s promise from Malachi 3:10-11: “Bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my Temple. Test me in this and see if I don’t open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams” (Malachi 3:10 MSG).

If this teaching on firsts weighs you down, I must have forgotten to tell you about this verse. “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10 NIV).

When God’s people put God first, God’s blessings began to flow.

God gave you his firstborn Son. Jesus is the firstfruit of the resurrection. The Holy Spirit gives you the firstfruits of heaven.

Let’s make this the year that we respond in kind.

©Max Lucado, January 1, 2017

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Ask Roger

How Do We Take Up Our Cross and Follow Jesus?

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

Dear Roger,

I’ve always wondered what Jesus meant in the Gospel of Luke about taking up our cross and following him. Just what is this cross and how do we pick it up?

Sincerely, Mandy

 

Dear Mandy,

 

Of course you are referring to a referring to Luke 9:23:“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me”.

 

Luke 14:27: “Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

 

This cross doesn’t mean following him to be a missionary in Brazil, or following his plan for us to enter into politics, or enduring some painful or difficult problem for his sake, or anything else like these.

 

Our cross is his cross.

 

What did he do with his cross? He carried it to Golgotha, and what did he do there? He died on it.

 

Jesus Christ is talking spiritually here about our own cross which we take the Golgotha and die there as we follow him at any price

 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the Lutheran pastor who was executed by the Germans three days before the end of World War II, put it best: “When Jesus Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.

 

The purpose of the cross of Calvary is to mature us to look like Jesus.

 

I’d like to make this practical for you.

 

There are three aspects of dying on a cross which describe the cross we carry to Calvary.

 

First, dying on the cross hurts.

Second, dying on the cross takes time.

We can’t crucify ourselves.

 

FIRST: DYING ON A CROSS HURTS.

 

He wept in agony at Gethsemane.

 

He was tried and convicted illegally and then beaten by the Pharisees. He was betrayed by his disciples and ridiculed and mocked by King Herod. Then he experienced the rejection of the crowds as they yelled “Crucify him! Crucify him! Then, he was scourged by Pilate and forced to carry his cross up to Golgotha. Can we imagine the pain? I think not.

 

He must have screamed as three spikes were pounded into his flesh. Then, the cross was lifted vertically and the bottom dropped into a stabilizing hole. He gasped and shook violently as the cross bottomed out.

 

Three hours later he cried, “My God My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 6:34). Imagine the pain of separation. For the first time in all eternity he was separated from fellowship with his father. That hurt.

 

Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last” (Luke 23:46).

 

Crucifixion hurts!

 

As we struggle atop Golgotha, God brings us to a place of God dependence. He does this by allowing all sorts of trials and troubles.

 

After all, Hebrews 5:8 tells us that, “Although Jesus was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” If Jesus needed trials in his spiritual development (Luke 2:80), how much more do we!

 

Alexander McLaren used to say, “Please be kind to everyone you meet, because everyone is fighting a battle.” Many of our battles are God designed to bring us to maturity. That hurts!

 

Peter described the process of what happened on the cross: “Now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith, of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by the fire, may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

 

In the same way, God uses the heat of the cross of Golgotha, to melt off our impurities and mature us to look like Jesus.

 

At the beginning of 1 Kings 17 Elijah is known as “Elijah the Tishbite”. First, he battled with King Ahab. Then, God led him to the brook Kerith where he was fed by God-sent ravens. Next, the book dried up. The word “Kerith” means “to cut.” Next, God led him to the smelter at Zarephath where he was humiliated by having to ask a woman for a meal. The word “Zarephath” means “to melt”. Then and only then, is he called, “Elijah, the man of God.”

 

“God can never use a man greatly until he first hurts him deeply.”

 

SECOND, DYING ON THE CROSS TAKES TIME.

 

It takes 100 years to grow a mighty oak tree. God can turn out a squash and six weeks!

 

God is in no hurry. He is working for eternity.

 

“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

 

God doesn’t measure time as we do. He has his own timetable.

 

One day, I got to thinking about Psalm 90:4. “For 1000 years in your sight are like a day that just passed by.”

 

I decided to calculate that out. I figured that one year on earth equals approximately 84.6 seconds in heaven. Let’s imagine that your friend dies and you outlive them by 10 years. What that means is that your friend dies and you have 10 more years. Fifteen minutes later you show up in heaven! Your friend is most likely still standing in the line to meet Jesus. They will most likely give you a “cut” In line.

 

It is often God’s way to set a person aside so that self-confidence may die down.

 

It is well documented that Paul was called to be a missionary when he was 32 years old. However, he began his missionary ministry at the age of 49. God worked on him for 17 years before he set him free to minister.

 

A survey was made of spiritual men of the last generation, like Samuel Goforth, George Mueller, Hudson Taylor, F.B. Meyer, Mad’am Guyon, and Robert Murray McShane, asking the question, “How many years was it from the time you entered your life’s work until you begin to know Christ as your life? The combined average was 15 years.

 

This is not to discourage us, but to help us settle down with our sights on eternity.

 

“Not that I have already . . . been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me . . . But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining forward toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize to which Christ God has called me heavenward in Christ” (Philippians: 3:12-14).

 

Spiritual growth is a gradual process. The finer the organism, the longer the process.

 

THIRD, SELF CRUCIFIXION IS NOT POSSIBLE.

 

No one ever committed suicide by crucifixion. Think about it, we may be able to nail in one hand, and both feet, but there’s no way we nail down the other hand.

 

Crucifixion is God’s work not ours!

 

Stop trying to figure out how and when God intends to do his work in your life.

 

Since we are all different, and need different processing, He custom designs the plan that he will use with us.

 

Some need more processing than others. Some he simply needs to bend. Others he must break.

 

The amount of processing is often a reflection of the work that he has for us to accomplish in the Kingdom. Some are called to be martyred in Pakistan. Others are called to take care of babies in the church nursery. Obviously, both are needed. However, how he applies the cross to one group will be different from how he applies the cross to another.

 

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1).

 

Remember, the problem with a living sacrifice is that it always wants to crawl off the altar!

 

Miles Stanford wrote: “It is more than comforting to realize that it is those who have plumbed the depths of their own failure to whom God invariably gives a call to shepherd others. This is not a call given to the gifted, the highly trained, or the polished as such… It takes a man who has discovered something of the measure of his own weakness to be patient with the foibles of others.”

 

Mandy, I hope this answers your question and gives you insight into how we take up our cross daily and follow Christ at any price.

 

Love, Roger

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Articles

Are You Just a “Fan” of Jesus?

by Lisa Bevere
written by Lisa Bevere

Do you really know Jesus or simply know of Him? Is He a celebrity crush or Lord of your life?

Lisa Bevere writes her observations:

“Has there been a person in your life you thought you knew, but you really didn’t? Could that person be Jesus?

Stay with me as we explore this pivotal question!

The anchor that keeps us grounded throughout our journey of faith is a revelation of Jesus. Because of this anchor, Paul could not be shaken, confessing, “That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until the day of His return” (2 Timothy 1:12 NLT). Notice Paul does not say, “I know what I believe” but rather, “I know the One in whom I believe.” The Amplified Bible records, “I know Him [and I am personally acquainted with Him] whom I have believed [with absolute trust and confidence in Him and in the truth of His deity].” Simply stated: Paul possessed a personal revelation of Jesus. He knew Jesus intimately.

Many can recite facts about Jesus—much like many can recite facts about their favorite celebrities. However, knowing about someone does not equate to knowing them personally. Can you too say with conviction, “I know the One in whom I believe”

Lovely one, Jesus is not a philosophy; He is a person. Therefore, believing in Jesus is more than adhering to a creed; it’s an awakening of the heart. We see Him for Who He really is—the Son of God.

In the sixteenth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus entered the region of Caesarea Philippi and asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” (Verse 13 NKJV). Several disciples answered promptly. The common response was, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (Verse 14). Once the opinions of the crowd were shared, Jesus looked at them and asked them directly, “But who do you say that I am?” (Verse 15).

There was a moment of silence as they were confronted by a moment of truth. The men who were so eager to air the opinions of others were now lost for words. With this confrontation came the realization that they had no answer—except for the fact that they were living off the speculations of others, rather than establishing in their own hearts who Jesus really was.

Simon, whom Jesus renamed Peter, was the only one of the disciples who could answer. With boldness, he confessed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Verse 16). With a smile and a sparkle in His eyes, Jesus responded, “Blessed are you . . . for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven” (Verse 17). One translation says, “My Father has supernaturally revealed this to you” (TPT).

The source of Peter’s revelation was God Himself, not the opinion of man. It came through direct revelation. This is what Jesus meant when He shared, “The only way people come to Me is by the Father who sent Me—He pulls on their hearts to embrace Me . . . It has been written by the prophets, ‘They will all be taught by God Himself.’ If you are really listening to the Father and learning directly from Him, you will come to Me’” (John 6:44–45 TPT).

So we see clearly that the illuminated truth of Jesus must be solidified in our heart. Jesus firmly stated, “And this truth of who I am will be the bedrock foundation of which I will build my church—My legislative assembly, and the power of death will not be able to overpower it!” (Matthew 16:18 TPT).

The revelation of Jesus is the foundation the church will be grounded on. Without this truth firmly planted within us, we’ll easily be swayed by the shifting current of public opinion. Beloved, there is a stability that results from revelation knowledge.

Are you living off secondhand information about Jesus? Who do you say that He is? Are you convinced that Jesus is the Son of God?”

If you’re tired of being confused about your beliefs, click here to dive deeper into my Foundations course! Start this course for free with a 7-day trial and become anchored in your faith.”

www.messengerinternational.org

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Loving Advice for the Long-Married

by Julie Barrier
written by Julie Barrier

I have two sets of parents. Both couples were wed during the Jurassic period (not really). Both were married almost 60 years. I watched each twosome grow old together.

One pair barely tolerated each other at the bitter end. My folks were sweethearts until death parted them. Mom and Dad had a caregiver in their final years, and they confided that they wanted her to arrive later in the morning so they had time to snuggle and kiss!

My Mom had mid-stage Alzheimer’s, but Daddy didn’t care. He patiently reminded her where to find her shoes and never scolded her for asking the same questions over and over again.

Such long-lasting love!

Yet long-lasting marriages can also become challenging.

My in-laws struggled greatly in their latter years. Although they loved each other deeply, their days were filled with snapping, nagging, impatience, and frustration. Mom-in-law yelled. Pops pouted. At the end, they clung fast to each other and grieved that so many years were wasted in frustration.

“Precious and Papaw” were excellent parents, phenomenal grandparents, and wonderful Christians. They just rubbed each other the wrong way. Their golden years were a bit rusty.

Ancient Sarum wedding vows encourage:“For better or worse. For richer or poorer. In sickness and health. For as long as you both shall live.”

My husband and I have taught a bazillion marriage conferences around the world. We explained the “marital satisfaction” scale as fantastic during the honeymoon stage, good during the childhood years, terrible during the teenage years, better as the kids left home and best during retirement-the “golden years.”

We were wrong!

Retirement is not always easy. Marriage can be challenging after partners stop working and spend long hours puttering around the house together. Some couples are healthy, wealthy, and happy. Others are strapped for cash, suffering with debilitating illness, grieving the loss of family and friends, and fearful of the future.

So how do we finish the race with grace?

God promises strength to persevere, but we have to submit to His plan and learn acceptance with joy. Here are three “Scripture nuggets” to revive the romance and survive the challenges:

1. Accept one another just as Christ has accepted you.  (Romans 15:7)

The whirlwind of family life may mask flaws that exist between couples. Toothpaste tubes, chewing loudly and leaving laundry on the floor become battlegrounds. Let’s face it. I have mentioned trivial irritations. However, there are more devastating differences.

We reject each other when one spouse is anxious and the other is carefree. We fight when one partner is disciplined and the other procrastinates.  Jesus accepted everyone, even tax collectors and prostitutes.

Acceptance means loving someone, affirming them and appreciating them whether they change or not.

2. Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)

Burdens come in all shapes and sizes. They can be mental, physical, emotional, or spiritual. Some are little backpacks. Some are boulders. A farmer yokes his oxen together to get the job done. That’s why Solomon observed,

Two are better than one…if either of them falls down, one can help the other up…though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

“Two are better than one…” is Solomon’s way of describing the power of support and protection that marriage provides. The threefold cord is a picture of the amazing bond between God and two marriage partners.

Prayer is the most important way we can bear our partner’s burdens.

Christ is the ultimate “burden bearer.” He took our sins and suffering to the cross. Burden-bearing for an aging spouse may include dressing, driving, or helping with housework.

Don’t try to do life without help. God provides family, friends and church homes to come alongside the elderly.  I have observed that those couples actively develop a support system will find it much easier to survive.

3. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another just as God in Christ has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)

Be gracious, polite and courteous, not rough, rude or blunt. When my husband Roger was alive, he always opened my doors, walked on the outside of the sidewalk, and pulled out my chair. He was as chivalrous as Sir Walter Raleigh.

Be thoughtful and helpful, not insensitive and selfish. Be understanding and compassionate, not callous or unconcerned.

Be patient and tolerant, not edgy or easily annoyed. Be big-hearted, not begrudging. Be forgiving, not vengeful.

Be gentle, not rough or harsh.  It takes energy and effort to be kind.

Only Christ can accomplish such sweetness in us. Many husbands and wives don’t want to go the extra mile. It’s exhausting. But when your loved one is gone, you miss the inconveniences. The extra time is filled with loss and regret. Love while you can. Each moment is precious!

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5 Ways God Can Use Stress for Your Good

by Randy Alcorn
written by Randy Alcorn

How can God use stress in our lives to produce good. How can it conform us to the image of Christ. Randy Alcorn writes:

1. God uses stress to get our attention. God created our bodies. He designed them to send us messages. If I stick my hand in fire, my body will send me a message, quick and clear. If I ignore it, I’ll pay the price.

C.S. Lewis said “pain is God’s megaphone.” Some of us are hard of hearing. We ignore physical, mental, and spiritual warning signs. We’re like the stubborn mule the farmer had to hit over the head with a two-by-four to get his attention. God wants us to tune our ears to the messages He sends us through our minds and bodies.

2. God uses stress to help us redefine or rediscover our priorities. By abandoning our God-given priorities we set ourselves up to learn a hard lesson. In essence we do what the Israelites did: lived in paneled houses while God’s house became a ruin (Haggai 1:4). In response, God sent lack of fulfillment, disillusionment, and failure as His messengers. He withheld His blessing till His people rediscovered their priorities:

Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house [of God], so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands” (Haggai 1:5-11).

God’s people are twice admonished “Give careful thought to your ways.” Stress should take us back to the basics. It is an opportunity to re-evaluate our priorities and bring them in line with God’s.

3. God uses stress to draw us to Himself. Time and again it was said of the people of Israel, “But in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them” (2 Chronicles 15:4). It was in Jonah’s darkest hour, in his most stressful circumstances that he said this: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me” (Jonah 2:2). The Psalms are full of references of turning to God, seeking Him and finding Him in times of intense stress.

In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears (Psalm 18:6).

In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud; I tested you at the waters of Meribah (Psalm 81:7).

I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me (Psalm 120:1).

When our lives are comfortable and stress-free, too often we withdraw from the Lord into our own worlds of spiritual independence and isolation. Smug and self-satisfied, we forget what life is really all about. But as the thirsty seek for water, those under stress often seek God. Many non-believers have come to Christ and many believers have returned to Him in times of stress.

4. God uses stress to discipline us. Quoting Solomon’s words to his son, the writer of Hebrews offers what he calls a word of encouragement:

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,

and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

because the Lord disciplines those he loves,

and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons (Hebrews 12:5-7).

(The word son, of course, is generic for “child,” and applies equally to daughters.)

To some of us, this doesn’t sound so encouraging. But we fail to realize how essential discipline is. Scripture says that to withhold discipline from a child is, in essence, child abuse: “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him” (Proverbs 13:24).

Discipline is corrective. It is remedial, not revengeful. God sends stresses not to get back at us for doing wrong, but to deepen our dependence on Him in order to do right. Though the stressful experience may seem excruciating at the time, it is ultimately all for good:

God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:10-11).

5. God uses stress to strengthen our faith. 1 Peter 1:7 tells us: “These [trials] have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

There is only one way a muscle grows—through stress. A muscle that is rarely exercised atrophies; it shrinks into uselessness. A muscle seldom stretched beyond its usual limits can only maintain itself. It cannot grow. To grow, a muscle must be taxed. Unusual demands must be placed upon it.

Stress is a demand placed upon our faith. Without it our faith will not, cannot, grow.

Ever seen grass grow through asphalt? It’s amazing if you think about it. How does grass, pressed flat and robbed of light, persevere? Yet we’ve seen it. Somehow God made those tiny blades of grass to rise to the greatest challenge. Nanci and I have seen many people rise against odds just as great.

In the crucible of stress, as we draw on our resources in Christ, He gives us faith and strength to crack through and rise above the asphalt coat. That hard demanding surface buries some forever, but is to others the defining point of breaking through and thriving by the grace of God.

For more, see Randy and Nanci’s book Help for Women Under Stress.

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Decision-Making and the Will of God

by Tommy Nelson
written by Tommy Nelson

“How do you know the will of God?”  At every Campus Crusade Christmas Conference that was the title of the workshop that always drew standing room numbers.  Because every Christian has wondered in the midst of crucial decisions if they were deciding in keeping with God’s will.

So how do you know the will of God?  Before we answer the question we must discuss the question of the will of God.  There are three distinctives to the will of God.

  1. There is God’s decretive will:  It is also called the moral will of God.  It is the Bible. Those things that God expressly forbids or allows.  There is no decision on these things.  One merely reads and obeys.
  2. Then there is the providential will of God.  These are those things that God has allowed or caused to happen.  We don’t make decisions on these things either.  We only decide how we will respond to what has taken place.  We trust then do what we can.
  3.  And then there is what we shall call the non-moral will of God, or perhaps the right or left will of God as opposed to the right or wrong will.  Some have called it the neutral will of God.

This is the decision that we fret over.  It’s not moral.  It’s not biblical.  It’s a personal decision. There is no ordained sense of guidance.  Can I be wrong?  Culpable?

Should I take the job offer?  Marry that Christian man or woman whom I truly love?  Homeschool or private?  Private or public?  Buy this house? Have this surgery?

If there is revelatory guidance, how do I know it?

Am I responsible to find it?  Are feelings my guide?

At what point am I free to make my “own” decisions?  The restaurant I choose?  My car?

Does God allow choices?  Free ones?  Does He still guide me in my direction?

So how do you make a right and left decision?

  1. Don’t worry about finding “the dot.”  I’ll use the word “dot” as meaning “the specific revealed will of God.”  God doesn’t ask us to find it and besides – how would you find it?  Would you hear a voice or receive a sign or an angel appear or a dream?  Or (and be honest – we’ve all done this),  you would read your Bible and interpret whatever you read as leading you one way or the other.  How about opening the Bible and sticking your finger down at random?  Your Bible now becomes your tea leaves or runic stones or crystal ball.  Your means of divination.  Perhaps the biggest problem with trying to find “the dot” is that you’ll find it!  You will interpretsomething as the will of God and that can be dangerous.  All kinds of ignorance has been laundered this way. God certainly can speak audibly but that is what He can freely do, not what we are commanded to hear.
  2.  Know that it’s ok to choose.  Part of being Adam was that he acted freely as God gave him the freedom.  Whatever he named the animal that it was.  He was to subdue, cultivate, and rule as he saw fit.  God gave him direction and boundaries but within them Adam was free.  It’s ok.  You’re not proud in choosing or disobedient or self-willed.  You are a redeemed human, a mature son or daughter of God.  You’ve had your Bar-Mitzvah through Christ.  You can choose.  Robots do not glorify God, sons do.  NO one in scripture is ever punished for making a neutral or non-moral decision.  Halted or redirected maybe, but never judged.
  3. Check your motive:  “All a man’s ways are right in his sight but God weighs to motives.” (Proverbs).  Why do you want what you want?
  4. Check your heart:  The burden of the heart is a very real and good thing.  The Book of Nehemiah says that Nehemiah told no one what “God had laid upon my heart.”  Paul spoke of his longing to come to Rome and his desire to go to Spain.  God gives us “the desires of our hearts” as we trust Him.  He “wills and works” in us for His good pleasure.  He can produce a longing.

A point needs to be clarified here.Paul said, “All those led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”

(Romans 8:14)  But the leading of God’s Spirit is toward morality and conduct not in an extra-biblical knowledge.  People often misapply this verse to support God’s special knowledge through the Spirit instead of His guiding in conduct.

  1. Ask around:  “Where there is an abundance of counselors there is victory. (Proverbs)  Others who have walked the paths of life have made many of the same decisions.  You may find your decision is a lot more black and white than you thought.
  2. Pray for the providence of God:  Though God lets us choose still He guides us.  We are given the privilege to choose but we are not at the mercy of our choices.  Paul longed to go to Rome but God prevented him because He had more immediate purposes. (Romans 15:20-22).  We perceive in the scripture God’s purposes and pleasure then we plan, long, act and choose as we prayerfully trust His headship.  He can say “yes, no or later.”
  3.  Make certain you are obeying God in the things He has revealed so you can be guided in what He has not:

“Being in the way the Lord led me.” (Psalms)

“Walk before Me and I will establish My covenant with you.” (Genesis 17)

Are you in church, walking in purity, honoring God financially, in subjection in the areas God calls you to submission?  God doesn’t steer parked cars.  Faithful folks will always be led.

The girl I dated for four years was a sweet girl but I had developed a new direction in the things of the Great Commission.  I felt, reasoned, and surmised from what I read and from the counsel of three older men that she was the right girl, but for another man.  I heard no voice from heaven but made a choice.  I met Teresa and made another decision.  (The fact that her father owned his own oil company meant nothing.)  I chose as wisely as I could and God directed me.

·        I chose to do evangelism living hand to mouth for one year.  God blessed the choice.

·        I chose to be a college director at a Methodist church.  God blessed the choice.

·       I felt the need for deeper knowledge so I chose to go to Dallas Theological Seminary.  They said no to the degree program I chose but I had reasons for doing the two year rather than the four.  I continued to press – they said yes.  God has blessed it.  No voices, just guidance.

·       The Methodist job shut down and I had three choices.  Methodist, Baptist or a young Bible Church meeting in the Optimist Gym.  I felt and surmised from my doctrinal position and the counsel of good men to go with Denton Bible.  I did.  God blessed it.

My wife and I have made decisions on birth control, home schooling, home buying, our son’s college direction, our son’s military desires, caring for parents and on and on.  I have never heard the voice of God nor have I sought for it.  God did not call me to be mystic or robotic but to be wise, well read, prayerful – and a man – assertive, of sanctified willfulness, initiating – and trusting His guidance without hesitation or apology.

So . . . relax.

Do right, be free, be strong, be wise . . . then trust.

www.dbc.org. Used by permission. 

 

 

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If I’m Not Happy, Am I Sinning?

by Randy Alcorn
written by Randy Alcorn

Many Christians ask me, “Am I sinning if I’m not happy as a Christian?” In answering this question, I’m assuming two things of readers:

  1. Happiness and joy are synonyms, and how Scripture uses a number of related words to express gladness in God.
  2. You understand the importance of walking in God’s revealed will in Scripture, and not seeking so-called “happiness” through sin and “whatever makes me feel good.”

God Commands We Find Our Joy in Him

The question is “Am I sinning if I’m not happy in Christ?” We need to understand that God doesn’t simply suggest that we find joy in Him; He commands it:

  • Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. (Philippians 3:1)
    • Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. (NLT)
    • So now, my Christian brothers, be happy because you belong to Christ. (NLV)

  • Be glad in the Lord always! Again I say, be glad! (Philippians 4:4, CEB)
    • Delight yourselves in God, yes, find your joy in him at all times. (Phillips)

Does God mean it when He says “always”? Yes. The reasons for gladness in Christ are constant, like an ocean tide. The water doesn’t remain in the same place, always lapping over our feet. But even at low tide, it’s still there, poised to move in again.

Paul followed verse 4 with this encouragement: “The Lord is at hand,” which itself is a reason to rejoice. God is with us, never abandons us, and will deliver us soon, whether by death or by His return.

In light of such passages, I believe that a Christ-follower’s resignation to unhappiness is unbelief and disobedience. That may sound harsh, but I’m convinced it’s true, and actually hope-giving. (Since I’m not naturally chipper or bouncy, but more melancholic, this isn’t my personality speaking!) God wouldn’t command all His children to rejoice in Him always if only the naturally gleeful could obey.

A Measure of Obedience

Since God repeatedly commands His people to be happy, our happiness is a measure of our obedience. Don’t rush past that statement: our happiness is a measure of our obedience. Reread it. Ponder it. And consider that God in His grace would never command us to be happy without providing us the necessary resources to do so, including His indwelling presence.

I’m well aware that some readers of this blog may be experiencing deep suffering and sorrow, whether through the loss of a loved one, a debilitating disease, a difficult season of depression, or other painful life circumstances. My wife Nanci was diagnosed with colon cancer early last year, and went through several months of treatment and painful side effects. There were some very difficult days for her. So no, we won’t constantly be “bubbling over” with gleeful happiness every moment of every day. In a world under the curse of evil and suffering, something would be very wrong if we were!

But if we’re always focusing on life’s difficulties and trials, we won’t be happy people. Instead, if we focus on the Lord and His abundant grace, we will be happy. Paul said, “His glorious power will make you patient and strong enough to endure anything, and you will be truly happy” (Colossians 1:11, CEV).

Joy Through Hardship

Rejoicing always in the Lord seems unrealistic at times. But we must remember that this rejoicing is centered not in a passing circumstance but in a constant reality—Christ. Scripture doesn’t command us to rejoice in:

  • the condition of our nation
  • the direction our culture is headed
  • the attitude of a spouse
  • the struggles of our children
  • painful events at our church
  • the loss of a job
  • poor health

We’re to rejoice in the midst of these things, but of course they won’t be the source of our gladness.  We’re told to rejoice in the Lord. Rejoicing in Christ is superior to all other delights, but it’s not always separate from them. Rejoicing in a friend, a parent, a child, a spouse, a job well done, or a glorious walk in the forest can in fact be choosing to find happiness in Christ.

The Bible never pretends that happiness is easy or constant. It’s unrealistic to expect perpetual happiness while the Curse is in effect. But the day is coming when “there will no longer be any curse” (Revelation 22:3, HCSB). Believing this can bring us great happiness even today.

When I am grieving over what God grieves over, I am not sinning. But if I am always grieving and always unhappy, if that is the normal state of my life over the long haul, then something is wrong. God wants something better for me. He really wants me to experience gladness in Him, instead of consenting to perpetual unhappiness.

I’m not always happy, any more than I’m always holy. I’ve experienced seasons of depression, both before and since coming to faith in Christ. This is partly due to my personality type and emotional makeup (and perhaps genetics), while some is triggered by my long-term physical illness (insulin-dependent diabetes), and some is the result of adverse circumstances. So I’m not a stranger to unhappiness—I really do get it!

But by God’s grace, I’m more supernaturally happy in Christ now than I’ve ever been. And as many other believers throughout history have, I’ve also learned to make choices that increase my joy. Great pain certainly dulls—and at times even overshadows—happiness, but it can’t destroy happiness that’s grounded in our ever-faithful God.

Sometimes sorrow and joy do battle; sometimes they coexist, but when our hearts and minds are on Christ, joy is never far away: “You changed my sorrow into dancing. You took away my clothes of sadness, and clothed me in happiness” (Psalm 30:11, NCV).

The Seriousness of Failing to Seek Happiness in God

So just how serious does God take His commands for us to rejoice in Him? Consider this statement: “God threatens terrible things if we will not be happy.” I’ll bet that got your attention. I never would have put it that way myself. Standing on its own, it sounds shocking, even outrageous! But Scripture supports it.

God’s Word Translation renders Deuteronomy 28:47, “You didn’t serve the Lord your God with a joyful and happy heart when you had so much.” Whether we find joy and happiness in God and His abundant gifts dramatically affects how He views our service for Him. He is not a master who cares only that His servants do what they’re told, but a Father who cares deeply about His children’s love for Him and the heartfelt emotional gladness we find in Him as we obey.

The obedience of dutiful drudgery is better, but only marginally so, than outright disobedience. Indeed, God sometimes disciplines His people who fail to find happiness in Him by sending unfavorable circumstances. Here’s the whole verse I quoted with the jaw-dropping one that follows: “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you” (Deuteronomy 28:47-48).

This passage prompted British clergyman Jeremy Taylor (1613–1667) to write the striking words I used above: “God threatens terrible things if we will not be happy.” [1] Read this passage, and you’ll see that Taylor’s statement is true. If we refuse to serve the Creator and Redeemer of our souls in happiness, we will surely end up serving the enemy of our souls in unhappiness.

God’s severe mercy in bringing adversity when we don’t serve Him with joyfulness and gladness of heart may turn us to God, where we’ll find in Him the only heartfelt and lasting happiness available to us.

I am well aware that after reading such strong language some people will feel guilty. Some will say, “Okay, I’m already unhappy, so now you’re trying to make me feel guilty for being unhappy?” That is not my goal. My goal is to believe Scripture when it says that God who truly loves you, and Jesus who gave His life for you, has vested interests in you being happy in Him. He offers you the strength in the Holy Spirit to experience this happiness. Yes, there will be times of sorrow, but God can truly transform our default condition to one of happiness rather than sorrow. 

Now, if your normal temperament lands you on a happiness scale of 2-3 out of 10, maybe the work of God’s Spirit won’t take you to a 10 but to a 6-7. But wouldn’t that be a greater miracle, then a naturally happy person (which again, I am not) becoming another 10% happier? So you don’t have to be the happiest person at the party to still enjoy God and find greater happiness in Him than you’ve ever known.

Remember, God’s commands are not to burden us, but to free us—the truth, including the truth about Him wanting us to be happy in Him—should set us free (John 8:32). Be encouraged, because everything God commands us to do He empowers to do, and He does it not only for His glory but for our good.

His Empowerment of Our Joy

The moment after death, all who know Jesus will experience a flood of happiness greater than we’ve ever known. We might ask ourselves in Heaven, if we are called upon to evaluate our lives here, Given Christ’s finished work on my behalf, with the indwelling Son and Holy Spirit, why didn’t I experience more of this happiness in God before I died?

The permanence of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling in our lives allows us to continually access a supernatural happiness even now. So we can “confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help” (Hebrews 4:16, NET). Our God of happiness has made the way for us to come before Him freely and draw deeply from His mercy, grace, and help at any and all times, including when we’re feeling drained of joy.

If the happiness in our walk with Christ is consistently gone, we’re wise to ask God and ourselves what needs to change. We should join David in praying, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:12). This is a prayer God is always eager to answer.

www.epm.org. Used by permission. 

[1] Jeremy Taylor, as quoted in C. S. Lewis, George MacDonald: An Anthology (New York: HarperCollins, 2001), xxxv.

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Articles

Is Jesus a Casual Acquaintance or the Love of Your Life?

by Lisa Bevere
written by Lisa Bevere

Has there been a person in your life you thought you knew, but you really didn’t? Could that person be Jesus?

Stay with me as we explore this pivotal question!

The anchor that keeps us grounded throughout our journey of faith is a revelation of Jesus. Because of this anchor, Paul could not be shaken, confessing, “That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until the day of His return” (2 Timothy 1:12 NLT). Notice Paul does not say, “I know what I believe” but rather, “I know the One in whom I believe.” The Amplified Bible records, “I know Him [and I am personally acquainted with Him] whom I have believed [with absolute trust and confidence in Him and in the truth of His deity].” Simply stated: Paul possessed a personal revelation of Jesus. He knew Jesus intimately.

Many can recite facts about Jesus—much like many can recite facts about their favorite celebrities. However, knowing about someone does not equate to knowing them personally. Can you too say with conviction, “I know the One in whom I believe”

www.messengerinternational.org.

Lovely one, Jesus is not a philosophy; He is a person. Therefore, believing in Jesus is more than adhering to a creed; it’s an awakening of the heart. We see Him for Who He really is—the Son of God.

In the sixteenth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus entered the region of Caesarea Philippi and asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” (Verse 13 NKJV). Several disciples answered promptly. The common response was, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (Verse 14). Once the opinions of the crowd were shared, Jesus looked at them and asked them directly, “But who do you say that I am?” (Verse 15).

There was a moment of silence as they were confronted by a moment of truth. The men who were so eager to air the opinions of others were now lost for words. With this confrontation came the realization that they had no answer—except for the fact that they were living off the speculations of others, rather than establishing in their own hearts who Jesus really was.

Simon, whom Jesus renamed Peter, was the only one of the disciples who could answer. With boldness, he confessed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Verse 16). With a smile and a sparkle in His eyes, Jesus responded, “Blessed are you . . . for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven” (Verse 17). One translation says, “My Father has supernaturally revealed this to you” (TPT).

The source of Peter’s revelation was God Himself, not the opinion of man. It came through direct revelation. This is what Jesus meant when He shared, “The only way people come to Me is by the Father who sent Me—He pulls on their hearts to embrace Me . . . It has been written by the prophets, ‘They will all be taught by God Himself.’ If you are really listening to the Father and learning directly from Him, you will come to Me’” (John 6:44–45 TPT).

So we see clearly that the illuminated truth of Jesus must be solidified in our heart. Jesus firmly stated, “And this truth of who I am will be the bedrock foundation of which I will build my church—My legislative assembly, and the power of death will not be able to overpower it!” (Matthew 16:18 TPT).

The revelation of Jesus is the foundation the church will be grounded on. Without this truth firmly planted within us, we’ll easily be swayed by the shifting current of public opinion. Beloved, there is a stability that results from revelation knowledge.

Are you living off secondhand information about Jesus? Who do you say that He is? Are you convinced that Jesus is the Son of God?

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Ask Roger

If You Are Going to Judge Others, Do It Right!

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

Dear Roger,

It seems like many people use the phrase, “Don’t judge me,” to justify any sort of behavior. In Matthew 7:1-2 Jesus says, “Do not judge or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” What does this mean?

Dear Lee,

I believe that today’s eroding culture with no absolutes is developing into a society where people feel free to do anything they want with no consequences.

Hence, we often hear “You have no right to judge me because I have the freedom to do anything that I want.”

We need to remember that the framers of the American Constitution were clear in saying, “We have the freedom to do what is right.” The idea that we can do anything we want is foreign to the United States Constitution.

We would expect a “don’t judge me” attitude from a humanistic, self–driven, uninhibited, and spiritually lost world of people who do not know Christ.

Unfortunately, we often find the same sort of attitude from Christians. When that occurs, we have to make ‘judgment calls.’

For example, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently” (Galatians 6:1).

We find here two judgment calls we must make. First, we have to choose which Christians are spiritually qualified to confront those in sin. Second, we must choose whether or not this person’s behavior is a sin.

If you ever go to the Chicago airport you want to be certain to stop by Mrs. Paul’s Cookies. They are big, juicy, and filled with nuts, chocolate, fruit, and cinnamon. I try to stop there every time we fly through Chicago.

I love this story:

A woman passing through O’Hare airport bought a small package of Mrs. Paul’s cookies. A young man sat alone at a table for four. She asked if she could sit down; he graciously consented. She pulled out her newspaper and proceeded to read. Presently she heard the crinkle of paper. She peered over her newspaper to see the young man take a cookie out of the bag. She was incensed. So, she took a cookie and pulled the bag to her side of the table. Moments later the bag crinkled. The young man was at it again. She glared at him, pulled the bag back over to her side and took out another cookie for herself. She watched incredulously as he reached in the bag and withdrew the last cookie. She glared as he broke the last cookie, slid one half across the table; put the other half in his mouth. Angry, incensed and fuming, she proceeded to her gate and waited for her plane to board. Finally, it was time to get on. She opened her purse to retrieve her boarding pass, and there right on top was her bag of Mrs. Paul’s cookies.

Lee, making accurate judgment calls is difficult. So many things get in the way. If we choose to enter into the judging arena, here are eight truths about how Christians can do it right:

1. Jesus warns us not to live with a judgmental heart. However, when we must make a ‘judgment call,’ our work is not finished until we help with restoration.

Understanding Jesus’ teaching of, “Don’t Judge,” needs all the verses from Matthew 7:1-12.

Let me summarize Jesus’ teaching. Then we can more clearly understand and apply his teachings on judging.

– Don’t judge.

– Take beam out of your own eye—then you will be able to take twig out of your brother’s eye.

– Discriminate carefully who you can or can’t approach.

– Don’t cast pearls before pigs.

– Insight and compassion are essential.

– Ask, seek, and knock and the Father will give you what you need to help those stuck in the mud get cleaned up and on their way again.

– Follow the ‘Golden Rule’ to treat people as you would have them treat you.

2. Christians are primarily in the loving and need-meeting business—not the judging.

Do not judge or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. – Matthew 7:1-2

This critical spirit reminds me of the conscientious wife who could never please her ultra-critical husband. At breakfast, if the eggs were scrambled, he wanted them poached. If they were poached, he wanted them scrambled. One morning, the wife had a stroke of genius. She poached one egg and scrambled the other. He peered at the plated and snorted, “You scrambled the wrong one.”

A number of church surveys, including those by Barna.com, asked non-Christians why they didn’t go to church. The comments were alarming:

For example, they said things like: “Christians are those who are against this and that. They’re always protesting something.”

78% of those surveyed said that evangelical Christians are “the most judgmental people in America.”

Many lost people today are staying away from church in droves. Why? They feel more condemnation than compassion.

The early Christians were known as the people who loved God and loved each other. Somewhere through the years we lost that reputation.

Jesus is warning us of the sin of seeking out the worst instead of the best in others. I know some people who are always looking to find the worst in others. 

3. The job of the Holy Spirit is to judge and convict. The job of a Christian is to love and meet needs.

The Holy Spirit’s job is to judge and convict.

Jesus told his disciples that he would send the Holy Spirit to convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment (John 16:7-8).

The Christian’s job is to love and meet needs.

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).

We often get these two mixed up.

The time has come to stop playing someone else’s Holy Spirit.

4. If we choose to enter the judging arena, we must first clean up our own lives.

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. – Matthew 7:3-5

Christ is saying that in our condition we are quite incapable of condemning or judging anyone.

We each need to fix our own eye before working on our brother’s eye.

I remember the story of a woman who spent most of her life judging people as worthy for heaven or hell. When she died and went to heaven she was shocked to discover that no one expected her!

Judging work is for the spiritually mature.

5. We approach people as “brothers and sisters” who need to be restored—not as targets who need to be condemned.

This involves time and sacrifice on our part.

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:1-2

Who is our brother/sister? Someone with whom there is a relationship, and to whom there is a measure of accountability. The purpose is always remedial, to correct and restore.

All of this flows out of a context of relationships.

Can you imagine that shouting at people you have no relationship with might not do much good?

Once upon a time I marched in a pro-life demonstration. We circled the abortion clinic calling the women who entered things like, “murderer” and “baby killer.” Some women turned away. Others hung their head in shame and still entered the office.

Then, I bowed my head in shame. Paul said, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently (Galatians 6:1-2).”

I stepped out of line and decided that my energy needed to be more with the Crisis Pregnancy Center whose goals are to support, love, and care. Love stands by and gives solutions. Yes, the babies must be saved, but the mothers need redemption and salvation too.

Am I willing to walk with them through the process of redemption?

The ultimate goal of any discipline or criticism is to leave the person with the feeling that he has been helped, not condemned.

6. We discern receptivity. Not everyone is approachable.

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces (Matthew 7:6).”

This verse is easy to understand if you know that Jesus used a literary form called a chiasm

The first phrase rhymes with the fourth phrase and the second phrase rhymes with the third phrase.

I’ll write it out for you: “Do not give dogs what is sacred. If you do, they may turn and tear you to pieces. Do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet.”

Will the person you’re approaching be receptive or not? Will they perhaps mock and make fun?

Jesus may have been thinking of Proverbs 9:7-8 when he said “Don’t judge.” Rebuke a wise man and he will love you. However the opposite is also true.

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. – Proverbs 9:7-8

7. Eventually we will seek God’s wisdom on how best to minister to brothers and sisters who have slipped off the track.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! – Matthew 7:7-11

We usually look at these verses in such a selfish, personal perspective. Look again. They are in the context of getting good gifts so we can help meet the needs of others.

God is showing us the heart of a Father for His kids.

This is the heart we are to have in helping people who have messed up their lives. If all you are going to do is criticize then keep your mouth shut. If you are going to intercede and bear their burdens then figure out how to meet their needs and go help restore them.

The right heart motivates us to intercede for these people.

Could you imagine that taking the time to minister to real, deep-seated needs—instead of instantly wanting to judge people’s faults—might be what God calls compassion?

8. We treat people as we would like to be treated.

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. – Matthew 7:12

Who likes to be yelled at? When you have messed up your life, who do you want to help you? Someone who criticizes you and tells you all the things you did wrong and leaves you feeling condemned and destroyed?

Or, do you want someone who comes along side of you and puts their arm around you and helps you out of the mud?

I think we know the answer to that.

Well, Lee, if you’re already spiritually mature, judge well. If not, continue spiritual growth until you’re ready and able.

Love, Roger

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Ask Roger

Is Spirituality in the Right Brain?

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

Dear Roger,

 

I’ve been doing some studying about our right and left brains and I find it fascinating. I did not find much about the implications of spirituality and the two brains. Is it possible for you to integrate the two? I would appreciate that greatly. 

Sincerely,

Rebecca 

Dear Rebecca,

 

In 1981, Robert Wolcott Sperry won the Nobel Prize for deciphering the different anatomies, organizations and neurological activities of the left and right halves of our brains.

 

I’d like to utilize some of Sperry’s work, some old teachings by Calvin Miller and some personal insights to answer your question.

 

The left and right hemispheres are not the same. They are connected by the corpus callosum that consists of neurons connecting one side of the brain to the other. Women have more connections between the two halves than do men. This often makes women generalists who are more likely to use both halves of the brain together. On the other hand, men have fewer connectors. They are more likely to be lateralized on one side of the brain or the other.

Interestingly enough, God designed it so that the left brain controls the right side of the body while the right brain controls the left side of the body.

 

The Left Brain is more logical, verbal, mathematical, structured and rational.

 

The Right Brain is more emotional, intuitive, creative, and thinks in pictures.

 

With great oversimplification, we may say that men may tend to be more left-brained. Women may tend to be more right-brained. This is why many men are engineers. This is why many women are more likely to choose creative and/or artistic professions. Before GPS came into common use, men frequently navigated with maps. They followed the lines. Many women navigated by looking for landmarks like buildings, service stations and restaurants.

 

Both brain hemispheres know reality; however, they know reality in very different ways. Many relationship problems in the church, or life in general, occur when a right-brain person tries to communicate with a left-brain person and both insist that their way is right.

 

The right and left brains fight for dominance.

 

One of the first split-brain patients was filmed doing a block arrangement test. The film shows the right hand (left brain) obviously in control. The left hand (right brain) is impatiently trying to help the right hand (left brain) do the work. The patient finally sits on his left hand (right brain) to keep it still. The Experimenter tells the patient to have both hands do the work and a battle ensues as both hands tear down the others’ work.

 

The left brain is verbal and contains all of the words. The right brain is nonverbal and knows no words. The experimenter puts a spoon in the patient’s right hand (left brain) and immediately the split-brain person says, “spoon”. When the experimenter puts a spoon in the left hand (right brain) the patient says, “I know what it is… But I can’t think of the word.”

 

The left brain makes plans for life. It decides what it wants to be and works to make it happen. The right brain has little input because of the left brain’s dominance.

 

In an intriguing experiment, researchers were able to isolate the right brain in such a way that they could ask it a question! When asked what it would like to be, with incredible awkwardness, the right brain scratched out the words, “a race car driver.”

 

The right brain plays ball much better than the left. The left brain thinks it plays better.

 

Imagine throwing a ball on a windy day on a side-hill slope to a friend. The left brain can certainly figure out how to make that happen. Using algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus the left brain can calculate angles, vectors and velocities to get the ball into your friend’s hands. Unfortunately, by the time the left brain computes all of that information, the ball is miles away.

 

The right brain pictures the wind, the slope, your friend’s speed and direction and throws the ball right to your friend.

 

I was having physical therapy for my knees. The trainer had me jumping rope. I got caught in the rope several times. Then I got angry. I told my left brain to stop talking and I began to picture myself jumping cleanly. Immediately, I cleared the rope ten times in a row.

 

Jesus used both brain hemispheres in perfect balance.

 

Jesus used his left brain to explain the rules and regulations for living in the Kingdom. He gave the proper procedures for fasting and prayer. He explained what to do about adultery. He listed the Beatitudes and detailed each segment of the Lord ’s Prayer (Matthew 5-7). He gave explicit instructions on what to do if you and your brother are at odds with each other (Matthew 18:15-17).

 

This is left brain activity.

 

Jesus used his right brain to feed the 5000. In John 6:1-15, Jesus declared Himself to be the bread of life. When He finished His sermon, He proceeded to make bread. Who planted the grain? No one. Who turned the grain into flour? No one. Who lit the oven? No one. Who baked the bread? No one. Jesus just created the bread in His hands. While the disciples were passing out bread, Jesus was creating fresh fish right in his hands. Who fished for fish? No one. Who caught the fish? No one.

This is right brain creativity.

 

Understanding the work of the left and right brains can give us a better overall picture of Christianity and produce oneness and unity instead of anger and division.

 

Let’s talk about the contrast between the right and left brain hemispheres and the implications for Christianity and spirituality.

 

1. THE LEFT BRAIN TAKES THINGS APART. THE RIGHT BRAIN LOOKS AT THE WHOLE.

 

Salvation can only be understood and implemented when we use both sides of the brain. If we only use the parts, or if we use the whole without the parts, we will miss the Truth.

 

We left-brained Evangelicals try to develop a formula for salvation. For example, if we follow the Roman Road we will be saved:

 

“All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

 

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

 

If we confess our sin, Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

 

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (1 John 1:12).

 

The left brain says, “I have believed the formula and I am saved!”

The right brain asks, “What does your Christian life look like?”

 

Paul wrote in Philippians 2:12: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

 

Jesus said, in Matthew 7:20: “Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” 

 

Left-brain people might say, “All Christ Followers should be able to relate the moment that they surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ as Lord.”

 

Right-brained people might say, “I can’t say for certain, but I began to sense the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Over time I began to realize that I needed Christ as my Savior. So, one day, I invited Him into my heart. My life has never been the same.”

Normally, the Greek word “belief” (pisteuo) is followed by the Greek particle “in.” (en). “Belief in” means to believe in something-like the teachings in a book.  

However, in describing “belief in Jesus,” the New Testament writers break the rules of Greek grammar to follow the word “believe” with the particle “in.” “Eis,” in the English Bible, is also translated as “in”; however, a little study reveals that “into” means to believe in something so deeply that it changes your life!

 

It’s one thing to “believe” in the teachings in a book. It’s quite another thing to believe “into” a book so deeply that it changes your life (Acts 16:31).

 

It’s one thing to believe “in” Christ. However, it’s quite another thing to believe “into” Christ.

 

The difference is what Dietrich Bonhoeffer meant by describing the difference between cheap grace and costly grace. Cheap grace doesn’t cost much and leads to Hell. Costly grace will cost us everything we have and leads to Heaven.

 

2. THE LEFT BRAIN THINKS IN WORDS. THE RIGHT BRAIN THINKS IN PICTURES AND SYMBOLS.

 

Roman Catholics place the sacrificial altar in the middle of the building. It is a picture symbol of the death and burial of Christ. The priest taught from the side of the church so that the view of the table was unhindered. By doing so, experiencing the mass at a centered table is more important to them than the teaching and preaching.

 

During the Protestant Reformation, the Eucharist table was moved to the side. The preaching and teaching took place in the center to show the importance of the Word of God.

 

Teaching the Bible is left-brained. Experiencing the Lord’s table is right-brained.

 

When we have a profound experience with Christ, we often describe it as being beyond words. Paul wrote in Romans 8:26:

 

“Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

 

In the gospels, Jesus says, “I am the Door.” “I am the Bread of Life.” “He is describing a picture of who He is. The Book of Mark is written from a left-brain perspective. It is focused on the earthly activities of Jesus. The Book of John is written from a right-brain perspective. It is full of metaphors and mystery.

 

Right brain poetry is really a collection of pictures which allow us to experience truth. Psalm 60:8 is a good example: “Moab is my wash pot, over Edom I have cast my shoe…” God intends to step all over Edom.

 

This is why Jesus Christ taught in parables (Matthew 13:35). Jesus was strongly right-brained (in perfect balance with his left brain). Why does Jesus Christ tell these silly little stories? What do you do with the story of a woman sweeping the floor to look for a dime? Left-brain Pharisees say, “We have built a great religious system, and Jesus is telling little stories!”

 

3. THE LEFT BRAIN IS “EITHER-OR.” THE RIGHT BRAIN IS “BOTH-AND.”

 

The left brain abhors paradox. The right brain treasures paradox. A paradox occurs when two things are polar opposites, both can’t be true, but they are.

 

Jesus used a paradox when he said to the Pharisees: “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up again.” To reconcile both opposites means that both can’t be true. But they are.

 

This is sort of how God designed the world. Three Quarks make up a proton, except when they make a neutron. Light is a wave of energy, except when it is a particle.

 

Think about Calvinism and Arminianism. In its base form, Calvinism proposes that God specifically elects those who will be saved, and if you’re not chosen, you can never be saved.

 

They base their doctrine on verses like these:

 

Romans 8:29: “For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

 

1 Peter 1:2: “…who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

 

On the other hand, Armenians teach, “Whosoever will may come.” While Calvinism emphasizes the sovereignty of God, Arminianism emphasizes the responsibility of man. These doctrines are much more complex than this, but this illustration is used in its simplest form.

 

John 3:16: “for God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, for whosoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

Wisdom is when we can hold both extremes together (the Sovereignty of God and the free will of man) in creative tension. Fortunately, one day God in heaven will explain what’s going on. There are seven mysteries described in the New Testament. This is one of them.

 

These facts have great implications for church unity.

 

As soon as someone doesn’t say something our way, we tend to label them as heretics. “If you don’t say it with this particular word or phrase, then you are not saved.”

 

“Either-Or” does not unite. It tends to divide.

 

“Both-And” thinking builds bridges.

 

4. THE LEFT BRAIN IS ORDERED AND LOGICAL. THE RIGHT BRAIN IS CREATIVE.

 

The left brain looks for causes and effects. The right brain looks for meanings and connections.

 

In Luke 17:11-19, ten lepers came to Jesus for healing. Jesus told them to go to the Temple, and as they were on the way they were healed. The cause was Jesus; the effect was healing.

 

Nine of them rejoiced at what happened.

 

But there was another, a Samaritan, who looked for meaning and connection. He bowed down at Jesus’ feet and worshipped. He was healed like the others; that was left-brained. But he took it a step further in connecting himself to Christ. That was right brain.

 

Right-brained people are often artists, prophets, visionaries.

 

They know how to make connections. How do you understand life and eternity? How do you make sense of apocalyptic prophecy? These are right-brained mysteries of an inscrutable God.

 

Creative people make connections with pictures in the right brain.

 

Albert Einstein, a theoretical physicist, was an artist. He was a poor mathematician who discovered relativity by picturing it in his mind.

 

Mozart heard the melodies in his head: “How they got there, I don’t know.” He used to have his wife read to him while he composed: “I could hear the music in my head better that way.” He was a genius who kept his left brain occupied so that his right brain could work without interference.

 

The left brain is the source of order. The right brain is the source of creativity.

 

5. THE RIGHT BRAIN TAKES US INTO THE REALM OF THE SPIRIT.

 

1 Corinthians 14:15: “So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind”.

 

Personally, I have a list of things that I pray for daily. When I hear of prayer needs, I lift up a prayer. There are people and situations that lead me to pray. This is praying in my mind.

 

On the other hand, there are times when I quiet my mind in order to better listen for God to speak. I then respond to those promptings. This is praying in the spirit.

 

“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.”

“Do not be quick with your mouth,
do not be hasty in your heart
to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven
and you are on earth,
so let your words be few.
A dream comes when there are many cares,
and many words mark the speech of a fool.” Ecclesiastes 5:1-3

 

The Left Brain has difficulty connecting with the spiritual world.

 

The Left Brain is effective in the external world, like tests in school, how to balance a checkbook, how to plan budgets, how to buy and drive a car, how to manage promotions by succeeding in a busy office, how to buy groceries for dinner, how to succeed at a job and how to memorize and study Bible verses. On and on goes the list of left brain activities that are effective in the external world.

 

Most Christians don’t know how to be spiritual. What we do know is how to be religious. We easily get caught up in a religious system. We’ve been fed a large dose of religion and not much spirituality.

 

But, if we want to succeed in the internal world, if we want to enjoy God and know him intimately, we had best develop our right brain.

 

Meditation is the key to developing our right brain. We begin by quieting our mind. Anyone can follow David’s advice in Psalm 131:1-2:

 

“My heart is not proud, Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a child that is quieted at its mother’s breast,

like a child that is quieted is my soul.”

 

Here’s what meditation might look like:

 

•Quieting our left brain with its intrusive thoughts (“centering down”)

 

•Reciting again and again a biblical truth to settle our minds. A good example is: “Jesus Christ is Lord” (this was the cry of the first-century Christians when they refused to say, “Caesar is Lord.”

 

•Sitting quietly and waiting for God to speak

 

•Thinking about God’s great character and creative powers;

 

•Contemplating on a Bible verse or passage like, “The Lord is my shepherd.” (Imagine that you are one of Jesus’ sheep as you look up at your shepherd. Is this a beautiful experience or what!)

 

•Imagining a Bible type story (like how did the last Israelite feel as he raced for the far shore of the Red Sea as the Egyptians thundered behind him?) Meditate on the lessons you learn here.

 

Don’t be in a hurry.

“God never reveals the deep things of the spirit to the Christian who just stopped by for a little chat.

 

Like Christ, we need story-tellers, visionaries and prophets to lead us on to God. We need prophets who understand the soul.

 

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit” (Joel 2:28-29).

 

Left Brain is teaching. Right Brain is prophecy.

 

Paul says prophecy is the most important gift; but most prophets have been burned at the stake.  For thousands of years there has been no room for prophets in the church.  If you didn’t speak the party line, you were kicked out.

 

How left-brained we have become…intolerant of mystery…Yet God is wholly mystery.

 

We cannot control this God. We can’t put Him in our catechetical boxes. We can only approach Him in humble prayer and adoration.  And let Him be Yahweh.

 

We use left-brained words to lead us into the realm of of the right brain where we can begin to experience the mystery of God.

 

Rebecca, I hope this helps. Let me know what you think.

 

Sincerely, Roger

 

 

 

 

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Top Ten Christ-Follower Traps

by Carey Nieuwhof
written by Carey Nieuwhof

#1 Thinking of Prayer as a Way to Manipulate God

We’ve all done it.  Prayed a certain prayer and then when things don’t turn out the way we want them to, we let God have the full fury of our anger.

I’ve seen some deeply spiritual people fall into this trap (just claim it in Jesus’ name and it will happen!!), some well-meaning people, and just about every other type of person you can think of fall victim to this one.  At some point, most of us spend time praying for a dying relative or a sick child or friend.  While illness and death are not simple to deal with, I’m honestly shocked at how many times people make the assumption that God somehow let us down because our prayers weren’t answered our way.

I won’t pretend for a second to trace out cause and effect — why some people recover and others don’t.  Do I believe that God can and does intervene and heal people?  Absolutely.  Would I suggest that it’s always a direct intervention?  Not sure.  Would I say that God directly willed the death of someone who didn’t recover even though they were prayed for?  Stated that way, and you can begin to see the problem with our thinking.

So what fixes this? Respect.  So many biblical writers and figures had a very healthy respect for God.  They did not pretend to be able to figure God’s every move out.  When they prayed, there was a deference to the wisdom of God.  When they prayed, their prayers were honest, gut-wrenching, real dialogues that laid out the whole array of human emotions before God.  (Read the Psalms for example.)  And at the end of it all, many were simply able to worship God in the face of their loss and worship God in the face of a healing.  They just worshipped God because they knew Him to be good.

But in our culture, God is good when He does what we say.  God is bad when He doesn’t listen to us.  Ouch.  I think we all long for a God who is far deeper than that. Thank God He is.

2 Expecting Your Pastor to Be Your Personal Chaplain

Somewhere along the line, a lot of us fell into the belief that somehow the pastor was supposed to be there for us at every key moment of our lives.  He was supposed to visit us in the hospital, be there for weddings, funerals, crises and through most of the every day moments of life.

There are four problems with this view.

  1. It kills pastors once their church grows beyond 200 people (one guy just can’t do all that, and if you hire more, it just gets irrationally expensive in staffing).
  2. It keeps pastors from their real calling: leading, prayer, and teaching the Word.
  3. It perpetuates spiritual infancy among people in the congregation, never maturing them to a place of direct reliance on God or looking to other Christians to walk with them.
  4. Oh yeah.  It’s completely unbiblical.

The Apostle Paul didn’t sail from Corinth to Thessolonica to do hospital visits.  Nor did he sit around drinking tea and eating crumpets with congregational members.  Nor did he forbid average Christians from praying for each other, visiting each other, being there for each other and loving each other in Christ so he could swoop in and do it for them.

God’s dream of a church is to see leaders equip people to be the church (Ephesians 4). A true biblical community is equipped by its leaders to care for each other, pray for each other, get into the bible together, do life together and be there for each other and the wider community.

I love it when I see Christians caring for each other.  And it’s cool that I get to be a part of that in my own community group and little world, and get to equip others to care for each other and more fully rely on God.

#3 Confusing Emotion with God’s Leading

I hear this all the time:  I feel God is leading me to….I feel God wants me to….It just doesn’t feel right to me so the Holy Spirit must be telling me to…..I felt like God was so totally in it so it must be right. And often those sentences are completed with things that really don’t stack up with scripture, or seem to be reflections of a person’s personal struggle for recognition or appear to be linked to some insecurity or struggle they are facing, rather than a reflection of God’s priorities.

I’ll say it out loud: I’m just not sure our feelings are a reliable indicator of anything except how we feel.

Christians today confuse emotionalism with faith, moods with promptings, inclinations with divine leadings.  I’ve heard Christians say “I’m not going to serve in ministry until God tells me exactly what to do.” Let me use my outside voice again: isn’t that just…arrogant?  Who are we to expect God to directly reveal specifically to us what we are supposed to do?  Who are we to think we get exempted from the biblical directive to serve God and others because we “feel” we need a special revelation? 

Feelings are mostly just that…feelings.  If I acted on my mood all the time, I’d probably be nominated for sainthood one hour and then commit a crime the next.  My feelings seem to wander all over the map.

God does speak to us, but mostly He speaks to us in His Word.  And in His Word He gives us direction about what matters to God and how followers should live.  That pretty much applies to all of us. 

The discernment comes in when we try to apply God’s clear teachings to our specific situation.  Through prayer over God’s word, community and listening to those God has given particular wisdom to, we can figure out how to live in the moment for Christ.  And true humility would move us to serve selflessly. Scripture directs all of us to serve, to give, to devote ourselves, to read the Bible, to worship, to show compassion.  Honestly, what the Bible tells each of us to do is not rocket science.  We know the drill. Often we just don’t want to do it.

How do you feel about feelings?  Or better yet, what do you think God feels about your feelings?

#4: Expecting Someone or Something Else to Share Your Faith
If you don’t invite your friends enter a growing relationship with Jesus, who will?  Almost every follower of Jesus I’ve met wants their church to grow and people to go to heaven, but most of them don’t live that way.  There is an expectation that the church had better grow, but a minority take personal responsibility for being a part of the solution by inviting their friends and family.

Increasingly, we seem to count on a church’s marketing to “sell” Jesus for us. Billboards, radio ads, flyers, web marketing are all supposed to “drive” people to the church.   In my former ministry, we grew rapidly and at the same time became “famous” (in such a tiny way) for our direct mail flyers.  But it bothered me that most of the people came because they saw our flyers or someone who didn’t go to our church told them to come to our church.

When a church loses a bit of a growth curve or stagnates, members blame everyone but themselves.  Hear me — as a leader, I take full responsibility when we hit a tough spot, but imagine what would happen if we all shared that responsibility and took action by telling the world about Jesus.  Imagine in eternity when our friends find out that we sat on forgiveness, hope, healing, mercy and grace and kept our mouths shut.  (Friends don’t let friends go to hell.)

In the Bible, when people met Jesus, they left him only to run and tell their friends what this incredible man had done for them.  We call that dynamic investing and inviting.  Invest in real relationships with people who don’t go to church.  Hang out with them.  Pray for them. Develop great friendships.  And then invite them with you into a relevant environment (like Sundays or community groups) where they can meet Jesus.

The number one reason people don’t go to church?  No one invited them.  A recent poll on hypocrisy revealed that while Americans (sorry, no Canadian data) generally dislike Christians, 78% of people who don’t go to church would have a conversation about faith with a Christian if the Christian was willing.  God’s mercy is bigger than we realize.

#5 Expecting Someone Else to be Responsible for Your Spiritual Growth
My basement flooded last week.  Thankfully, it appears my insurance is covering it and, after some initial long hours of hard work, contractors and clean up crews will pretty much do the rest.  (Which works well with my non-existent handy-man gift set).    We delegate and outsource so much these days.

How many of us expect something/someone other than us to be primarily responsible for our spiritual growth?  I think Christians look to their churches to “grow” them spiritually, while not asking the tough personal questions or doing the hard soul-work that comes in an authentic relationship with Jesus. 

We become so much more effective when church leaders work in partnership with parents to leverage every day at home plus the time together at church to shape a child’s future.

The same is true of us.  The more we put into our relationship every day — personally — the closer we grow to Jesus. 

# 6 Lousy Devotional Life
I just hear it all the time from people who come to tell me they’re not growing spiritually (often they begin by saying it must be the services…they’re not “deep” enough.)  Then, after a few questions and some listening,  I usually ask how their personal walk with Christ is going.  Too often (and sadly) this is what I hear:  I pray when I’m in the car.  Six days go by and I realize I haven’t picked up my Bible.  I pray in the shower.  I don’t pray much.  I’m just so busy. I heard part of James MacDonald this morning on the radio – that’s all I do.  I find the Bible difficult.  I get to it when I can.

So imagine if that dialogue was your approach to food.  If I eat at all, I eat in the car…grab it mostly through drive thrus.  Six days went by, and I realized I just hadn’t eaten.  I really only drink when I’m in the shower.  I just don’t each much…never got into a routine.  I get to food when I can, which is a couple times a month.

You get the point. 

This week, change your pattern.  I use a one year Bible.  It’s so easy.  I open the Bible and turn to January 13th…the readings are all there.  I reflect on those readings, pray over them, and pray over all kinds of issues.  Some days it’s dry.  But over time, regular devotion becomes a harvest that offers the finest food.

An amazing thing happens…when you go deep with God, He goes deep with you.   

#7 Living a Dual Life   

Too many of us have different personas for different environments.  We’re one way at home, one way at work, one way at school, one way at church, one way with friends, and in the end, we don’t know who we are. 

I remember struggling with this a lot in my teens and twenties.  I had a set of Christian friends and non-Christian friends and I was mostly a chameleon. Put me in a different environment and my colors changed.

I remember losing a lot of self-respect in the process and sensing it was a real impediment in my relationship with God.  So, I decided I wouldn’t play the game anymore.  I spent a number of years figuring out who I authentically was (that takes a while), making a list in my mind of the things I wanted to stop doing and others I wanted to start doing, and then mustering up the courage to step into environments and face rejection because I didn’t always play along.

I’m always hesitant to say a struggle is in the “past”, but since making the change I feel much more peace and like my life is aligned with a purpose worth the effort.  I rarely have to worry about what I said or did because it really doesn’t matter who’s in the room or who saw what: I’m basically the same wherever I go.  And that means people see my faults, not just my good side.

I’m relieved when I hear people say “One thing about Carey — what you see is what you get.”  I still don’t like everything people see or what I bring to every setting, but at least the consistency is refreshing.

#8: Changing Nothing, But Expecting Everything to Change   
Christians are great at blaming others (including God) for their shortcomings, and a bit famous for being lazy when it comes to personal change.  We sometimes change nothing but expect everything to change.

Many of us get stuck in life on harmful habits, patterns behaviors. (I think the Bible calls that sin.) But rather than acknowledging that we might need to face reality, deal honestly with our role in the problem, and come before God willing to change, we change nothing but expect the results to be different.  When things don’t change, we blame God for the misery in our lives.  It amazes me how at times I can change nothing but still expect everything to change.

The antidote is to face reality.  Reality is our friend.  If I’m stuck, what role did I play in getting me here?  (God is not some cruel puppeteer pulling our strings to make our lives miserable.) Confess it (Trap #9), and then begin to study the scriptures to get a fresh perspective on how to live and rely deeply on God each day for the power and strength to correct the problem.

When you change your attitudes and behaviors (God giving you the power and strength), that’s when things finally begin to change.

#9: Failing to Confess Sins   

I just don’t hear people talk about confession much any more. (Not like the priest/booth thing…the confess your sins while praying thing).    And honestly, I’m not sure how good my confession prayers really are.

Confession is so raw..so scary.  It means we stand naked, exposed before God for who we really are. The Bible even says we should confess our sins to each other.  No wonder we duck it.  It’s easier to justify behaviour, blame others, play the victim or just limp along and try again tomorrow.  Confession takes us into the jaws of our own shortcomings.

But it also takes us into the arms of God’s mercy.  Because when we see ourselves for who we really are, we also see God better for who He really is.  And He is merciful….deeply kind and able to love us into change.

What would we Christians be like if we really, deeply confessed our sins?  What would change? How would we be different? 

Confession.  Maybe becoming real with God about who we really are is one of the best catalysts to change we’ve got. 

#10. Confusing How You Serve God with Your Identity as a Follower of Jesus
I’ve seen this way too many times.  Serving God is great, and biblical.  But too often we get so hooked on what we do for Him that it becomes our identity in Him.   

We are worshipers of Jesus first, and servants of Him second.  In the church, so many people fuse their identity with what they do (their role) that it becomes deeply unhealthy.

If you got cut from your worship team, stepped back from the usher team, told you weren’t need to do sound again, would your love for God be threatened?  Would you still worship?  Would you dig deep into the Word?  Would you pray with gratitude?  I’ve seen too many people only go to church when they serve or play or preach.  That’s not really worship.  That’s a gig.  Underneath it (often) is a very insecure person who feels they need something to make them “acceptable” or “meaningful”.   Nothing could be further from the truth.  We have value — enough for Jesus to die for us.  That should be where we start.

If your service/job could be taken away from you and you could still have full participation in the life of Jesus, then you’ve probably got a healthy attitude toward how you serve God.  You serve Him because you love Him, and you serve Him out of gratitude for what He’s done for you.

How do you combat this trap?  I remind myself virtually every week that what I do is a privilege.  It’s not why God loves me and not why I love Him.  I also read daily Bible passages that have nothing to do with what I preach and pray about lots of things that are about “life”, not just church.  I remind myself I’m a worshiper first, a servant second, a preacher third.  It helps.  Ironically, when I get that order right, it actually frees me up to serve God far better than when I’ve got it wrong, because when it’s wrong my service is about me, not Him.

www.careynieuwhof.com. Used by permission of the author.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Don’t Let Toxic People Destroy Your Emotional Health

by Caroline Leaf
written by Caroline Leaf

How do we stay emotionally and physically healthy with toxic people around us? Dr. Caroline Leaf writes:

“Let’s face it: people can be too much at times. In fact, occasionally things will get so toxic that a deserted cabin in the middle of the wilderness can sound quite appealing!

We cannot run from the ugly side of humanity. Every day we can potentially face a toxic experience in one form or another, whether this is an email, text message, conversation, meeting and so on. We need to learn how to deal with such situations, not run from them. As I am sure you know, toxic people can be upsetting and mess with our emotions and mental health, so the sooner we learn to manage the way other people choose to react, the better off we will be (both mentally and physically).

Even friends and family can unknowingly, or knowingly, create toxic environments! Yet, as Warren Buffet wisely says,

“You will continue to suffer if you have an emotional reaction to everything that is said to you. True power is observing things with logic. True power is restraint. If words control you that means everyone else can control you. Breathe and allow things to pass.”

This quote has helped me so much, so I wanted to share it with you and give you some tips that I have developed that have really helped me and others learn how to manage toxic situations.

First, you need to realize that you can’t control what another person chooses to think and say, but you can control your emotional reactions to them, as I discuss in my books Switch on Your Brain and Think, Learn, Succeed. If you choose to give people power over you by continually ruminating over what they said or did, you will to continue to suffer, damaging your brain and mental health in the process. And, if you have developed a pattern of overreacting and being too sensitive (for more on overcoming this see my recent blog post), you can get stuck in a toxic reaction cycle that will directly affect the quality of your mental life.

You need to stop and ask yourself “what kind of person am I becoming?”. Are you developing a victim mentality? Do you want to keep suffering like this? Are you becoming overly self-involved and inward-focused? As Buffet said, true power is restraint. This is key in managing toxic situations: most people are way too reactive and do not develop their self-restraint and self-regulation; living this way makes them miserable!

This type of restraint particularly applies to your thought life. You may be thinking something about someone’s motives, but it is not necessarily true. It is important to remember that assumptions are, by and large, the mother of all mess-ups! You can never truly know what another person is thinking, even if you know that person well.

Restraint also means taking a step back and observing a situation logically, as Buffet says. It means reminding yourself that you have control—you aren’t under someone’s power unless you allow it. Indeed, you can’t be offended unless you take offense!

If you let your toxic emotions grow unchecked by constantly thinking about them and ruminating on your feelings, you will feel worse because the resultant neurochemical chaos will cause brain damage and dramatically affect your mental and physical wellbeing. Do you really want to give people that much power over your life? Remember, “if words control you, then everyone can control you”!

You need to be honest with yourself: are you letting other people control you? Are you walking around hurt and upset? Do you constantly see yourself as a victim? Is everyone always attacking you? If you answered yes to any of these questions, it may be time to shift your thinking!

When you are faced with a toxic person or situation, the best thing you can do is STOP, allow some time to pass, and do a 5-step “mental autopsy”. This has really helped me learn how not to react to toxic people or situations, and can help you too:

1. Practice breathing in and out deeply to control your cortisol and adrenalin levels (which are good but can cause havoc when they flood the brain and body) and calm your HPA axis. This, in turn, will help you get clarity of thought and defog your mind. For example, say you were just sent a really nasty email from a colleague. Don’t respond in a reactive way! Stop, breathe in for 3 counts, and breathe out for 3 counts. This will dissipate excess cortisol and help your mind clear and your emotions stabilize.

2. Recognize and name your reaction. For instance, using the email example above, describe how you feel out loud: “I feel hurt, attacked, defensive…” and ask yourself why. Observe your thinking, and have a discussion with yourself.

Writing down your thoughts can also help you manage and examine your thoughts and emotions. Don’t do this for too long, just a few moments—the purpose of this exercise is to help you name your emotions, such as “I feel hurt because I…”. Writing down your emotions and naming or putting your feelings down on paper can help bring fluency and clarity to your thinking and reduce the overwhelming effect of your emotions.

My new app Switch is a great tool for helping you go through this process. It is based on my 5-step program, which is designed to help you identify and eliminate the root of your toxic reactions, and help you build a healthy new thinking habits through the mental process of reconceptualization.

3. Next, I want you to intentionally and deliberately separate the toxic emotions behind your thoughts and words and the logic of the situation apart. Visualize this: imagine a scary, ugly, toxic tree with all your negative emotions and attitudes. Imagine ripping the emotions off this tree, and seeing the well-defined branches with all the information of the situation hanging on the tree in a clear and clinical way, which will give you insight into what to do next. You are essentially imagining taking the threat of the turbulent emotions away from the thought “tree”.

4. Now, focus on the content and words of this tree, which will help you see the actual problem or issue that was previously blocked by your toxic emotions. When you try see things through a veil of emotions, it is like trying to drive through a storm with no windscreen wipers–you can’t see properly and can end up in some serious trouble!

So, using the email example above, when you mentally divorce yourself from your immediate emotional reaction, you can perhaps see that the person who sent the email is frustrated because of “so and so…”, and, putting yourself in their shoes, you can choose to see if there was something you can learn from the situation in order to improve your communication with this person and so on. By doing this, you can transform a potentially explosive situation into a productive learning experience! 

The key is to focus on the logic of the situation, which is separated from your emotions and feelings.

5. This brings me to step 5: work out a solution in order to progress forward in a way that can transform the toxic experience into a good “ahah!’ moment.

Once again, using the email example above, you can respond in a composed and logical manner to your colleague, and set up a call or in-person meeting to calmly discuss the situation and improve your future communication, even if you don’t agree on something. This kind of reaction can not only improve your relationship, but also your productivity!

We can’t just focus on our feelings, even though it is important we acknowledge them. We need to find concrete solutions or come up with a plan of action, which is the only way we can truly move forward.

To sum it all up, we need to learn to be kind to ourselves and to others. It is so important that we control how we react and respond to people—this can mitigate relationship disasters and improve our own mental health.

Of course, this does not mean that we agree on everything, but we learn how sometimes it is okay to “agree to disagree”, and that sometimes we don’t know everything! Indeed, at the end of the day, you will never truly know what really motivates someone’s words or actions. You may be able to guess to a certain extent, but you will never get beyond a 70% accuracy rate, so stop yourself going down that dangerous road. Assumptions are often toxic: you can end up wasting a lot of your mental energy on things that do not contribute to your quality of life or your success. As the saying goes, ‘ain’t nobody got time for that!'”

www.drleaf.com. Used by permission.

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How to Be Strong in Weakness

by John Beeson
written by John Beeson

The most important influence to my pastoral counseling is from David Powlison. Powlison was a professor at the seminary my wife Angel graduated from and has had an indelible impact on her counseling. I had the chance to meet Powlison face-to-face a handful of times and was deeply impacted by his ministry both through Angel and through his writing. Seeing with New Eyes is the most important book I’ve ever read on Biblical counseling.

A month ago David Powlison died of cancer at age 69. He lived his last months as he lived his life: full of grace. In the midst of diminishing strength, Powlison used his trial with cancer as a trumpet for the gospel. In my Angel’s words, “He longed for God’s glory and God gave him that gift early.”

Weeks before Powlison died he wrote the closing comments at Westminster Theological Seminary’s graduation where they were delivered by his friend and colleague, Mike Emlet. Powlison’s call to step into God’s grace in the midst of our weaknesses is doubly powerful because it is a truth spoken in the midst of an extreme trial. It is a very picture of what he is speaking of: strength in weakness.

May we too be unafraid to be weak for the sake of the revelation of the strength of God.

Here is what Powlison said:[i]

I grieve not to be with you this afternoon. I very much looked forward to walking with you, worshiping with you, listening to our God with you, and cheering you on as you set forth into the next season of your life. After being diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer in November, I returned to work half-time at CCEF [Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation], serving a future that I am not likely to be part of. Part of why I have so looked forward to this graduation day is because it is something fully in the present tense of my experience. And I grieve. I truly grieve not to be present with you. But my health has become fragile and I recently entered hospice care.

I want to share words of encouragement with you. I first graduated from Westminster thirty-nine years ago! I still remember the specific details of one sermon that I heard in seminary chapel. Dick Gaffin was speaking from Romans 8:26 about how the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. He made a point I’ve never forgotten — that “weakness” is singular. It does not say “weaknesses” as if there were a finite list of sins A-B-C, and sufferings X-Y-Z in your life. “Weakness” singular is a comprehensive description of our human condition. We are perishable. We are mortal. We face a multitude of afflictions in our lives. And we are sinful, bent from the heart towards pride, self-righteousness, fear of man, and a multitude of desires and fears that beset us. The mercies of God meet us in this comprehensive condition of weakness.

Something I long admired about Pope John Paul II is that he was unafraid to be publicly weak. He was willing to be in front of people when it was evident that he was failing. I deeply respected that. It’s so countercultural to people who want to say, “We are STRONG!” and “You can do it!” On the contrary, we are fundamentally weak. That weakness is a most unusual door into all the ways God enables us to be strong.

One of my favorite novels is Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton. I’ve always admired one of the characters. Msimangu is an Anglican pastor living in South Africa under apartheid. He is very generous to a grieving older pastor, Steven Kumalo. When Kumalo expresses deep, tearful gratitude for how generous Msimangu has been, he responds: “I am a selfish, sinful and weak man, but God has put his hand on me. That is all.”

Being unafraid to be publicly weak was true of King David. The end of Psalm 40 has always resonated deeply with me. This psalm contains a great deal of fruitful ministry and joyful worship, yet David summarizes himself this way: “As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me.” David’s strength grew out of his comprehensive sense of weakness, and his confidence in God’s strength.

We see something very similar in the life of the apostle Paul. He pleads with God to take away a very distressing affliction, but the Lord says, “No, my grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Paul goes on to say, “I will gladly boast of my weakness as the doorway through which the strength of God enters my life.”

Supremely we see fearlessness of public weakness in the life and words of Jesus himself. The Beatitudes sound the keynote of Jesus’ keynote talk, the Sermon on the Mount. What Jesus says to us captures what he himself embodies. When we think about how the image of Christ is expressed in our lives, the Beatitudes show us how the right kind of weakness, a fundamental sense of neediness, then leads directly to the right kind of strength, a strength grounded and founded in need.

Think about the qualities of strength that the last four beatitudes portray.

·        “Blessed are the merciful” — to have your life characterized by a deep concern for the welfare of others, to be generous, open-hearted and open-handed.

·        Jesus says, “The pure in heart are blessed,” describing the ability to approach all people free from duplicitous motives, free of self-serving.

·        Jesus says, “Peacemakers are blessed — they’re nothing less than the children of God.” Peacemaking is the ability to be candid, constructive, and caring; to pursue peace in a world that is full of war, dissension, conflicts, arguments, and avoiders.

·        Jesus says, “Those who are persecuted are blessed.” He calls us to joyful purposefulness, finding courage in affliction, finding perseverance in opposition. These are wonderful traits. These are the traits of leadership and loving fruitfulness in Jesus’ life — and ours as well.

The right kind of strength comes from the right kind of weakness. The right kind of weakness is expressed in the first four beatitudes:

·        “The poor in spirit are blessed” — those who know they need help outside of themselves. Jesus is described as one who, though he was rich, became poor. He became poor for you. He became utterly dependent, utterly needy. He died in the ultimate weakness and perishability of the human condition.

·        Jesus is portrayed throughout his life as one who mourns: “He is a man of sorrows, acquainted, well-acquainted, deeply-acquainted, with grief.” “Blessed are those who mourn.” He mourns for your sake, he mourns his own suffering that he must face, he mourns all the things that are wrong in this world, and he comes on a mission of mercy to make wrongs right.

·        “The meek are blessed.” Jesus describes himself as meek and lowly in heart. Meekness is not weakness in the negative sense. It’s weakness in the positive sense, being under the hand and voice and will of Another, heeding the voice of his Father. He was meek for you and for me, fully trusting God’s promises, fully obeying God’s will. He is the one in whose image we are to become.

·        Jesus is blessed because he hungers and thirsts for righteousness. He makes right what is wrong. He makes true what is false. And he remakes what is evil for the good of His people. He who is all-righteous hungers and thirsts for righteousness for our sake.

So we see in the very life of our Lord that he is all these things. He is fruitful, he is strong, but he is fruitful and strong on the foundation of this abiding sense of weakness and need. And it’s that weakness and need that we see supremely exhibited at the end of his life when he goes to death in our place, casting Himself on his Father’s mercy and power. He was raised in strength, while retaining compassion and sympathy for our weakness and our need. He warmly welcomes us to the throne of his grace, that we might receive the mercy we need and the grace specific to whatever difficult situation we are in.

My deepest hope for you is that in both your personal life and your ministry to others, you would be unafraid to be publicly weak as the doorway to the strength of God Himself.

[i] https://www.ccef.org/a-special-note-from-david-powlison/?

fbclid=IwAR1r0FA76u7TWsU89_4CR3pp105cCilVCdRLda2iJUDLapcioS67Z_qpgGw

www.thebeehive.live. Used by permission.

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How to Have Effective Intergenerational Friendships!

by Deborah Haddix
written by Deborah Haddix

God wants to bless every relationship you have! In John 15:13 Jesus says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Deborah Haddix writes:

I think we are all guilty – at some time, to some degree – of having preconceived notions and prejudices. They may not be of a racial or socio-economic nature. Nonetheless, we have them.

Members of the younger generations ASSUMING members of the older generations are stiff, unyielding, “just wouldn’t understand.”

Those of us who fall into those “older” generations ASSUMING that the younger generation is too lax, uncommitted, “just doesn’t understand.”

No matter the generation we were born into, when it comes to connecting with members of other generations, we face a gap – one that may seem uncrossable. We can ASSUME that intergenerational friendships aren’t even possible.

Exploring the Gaps

“The further removed we are from another person—financially, racially, generationally—the number of potential connection points we have diminishes.” 

– Joseph Rhea, Why the Church Needs Intergenerational Friendships

For our conversation on intergenerational friendships, it’s necessary for us to first look at the 4 generations to which our conversation would most apply. While they have many names, we’ll refer to these generations as: Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Gen-Xers, and Millennials.

To help us in our understanding, it’s important for us to know that, generally speaking, each new generation is born during an approximate 20-year period, and each one is shaped by shared experiences that occurred while its members were coming of age. Therefore, the members of each generation will commonly possess shared values and behaviors that were influenced by parenting, education, politics, social, and cultural issues.

With this in mind, take a look at just a few brief “influencers” from each of the 4 generations:

Traditionalists – born prior to 1946
  • Have experienced the most amount of conflict: World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War
  • Raised by parents who lived through both World Wars and the Great Depression
  • Grew up in largely pre-feminist era where women tended to not work outside the home
  • Loyalty to one’s company and job was strong
  • Most often, the same job was held for lifetime
  • Often described as “disciplined, self-sacrificing, and cautious”
Baby Boomer – born 1946-1964
  • Referred to as the “me” generation
  • Began the wave of changing common values (including women working outside the home and the social acceptance of divorce)
  • Television was common in the home
  • Generally welcome and respect hierarchal structure and tradition
  • Members of this generation are typically hopeful, motivated, and team oriented
  • Baby Boomers are often described as “self-righteous and self-centered”
Generation Xers – born 1965-1979
  • Children of this generation were often home alone while both parents were at work
  • Has been said that television raised this generation
  • During their formative years, a shift was made in the way knowledge was accessed – from paper to digital
  • Tendency toward being individualistic and preferring to rely on self
  • Often retain a strong sense of family and want to be “present” parents
  • Prefer to commit to themselves rather than to organizations
  • Concerned for individual rights, particularly those of minority groups
Millennials – born 1980-2000
  • Raised by hopeful, present, and active parents
  • Taught to believe that they are unique and valuable
  • Prefer to schedule activities and like to work in teams
  • Experience significant levels of academic pressure and have high expectations of themselves
  • Prefer a relaxed work environment with support and feedback
  • Have not lived without computers
  • Due to the accessibility of information, tend to hold strong views

Reflecting on This Generational Snapshop

Let’s think about this a little. Go back into the generation of your birth. Are there any “influencers” from your generation that you hadn’t really given any previous thought? What core value and/or attribute do you see as a result of this “influencer?”

Now look back at one of the generations neighboring yours (one generation away). Do you notice an “influencer” on that generation that you’d never given any thought to before? What core values and/or attributes do you see as a possible result of that “influence?”

What about two generations away from yours where there are even more diminished connection points? Any “influencers” that may help to explain core values and/or attributes of members of that generation?

Implications for Intergenerational Friendships

Were there any “Aha” moments?

I know there were several for me, a Baby Boomer –

— the caution and patriotism exhibited by the Traditionalists in my sphere.

— the need for my younger Millennial associates to schedule every little thing and their tendency to share all of life on social media.

This “generational” insight and understanding has many implications for our lives. First, it can help us get beyond our ASSUMED barriers. Instead of making assumptions and sitting in judgment, it can help us begin to recognize and acknowledge our differences… and the reasons for them. And it can help us see that, sometimes, where we thought there was a problem – there wasn’t!

It’s Your Turn

How about you? Did you experience any “Aha” moments as you browsed the “generational” information? Especially as you looked at generations one or two away from yours?

How might you use this “generational” information this week as you interact with members of generations other than your own?

www.deborahhaddix.com. Used by permission of the author.

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What Are Our Priorities in Prayer?

by Tom Terry
written by Tom Terry

What do you want out of your Christian experience? If you’re like most people you might answer that you are looking for peace, strength during difficulties, or even some level of personal prosperity. Would these be your answer? If so, you might want to consider God’s list of priorities for us in prayer. When you pray, what are your priorities—your spouse or kids, your job, your finances, for your friends and family?

Lo and behold, none of these are God’s priorities in prayer. Don’t get me wrong. We can and should ask God for these things. But we need to have our prayer priorities straight. Think back to your prayers. Whatever you pray for first, or most often, is your priority in prayer. So let’s compare that to God’s priorities in prayer and see how we fare.

Jesus provided his disciples with a model prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Let’s take a look:

Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

In this model prayer, Jesus has given us five prayer priorities. What is number one on God’s list?

God’s reputation. Note Jesus says, “Hallowed be your name.” God’s reputation is very important to him. In fact, our reputations are important to us as well. We don’t like getting slandered or accused falsely, do we? In our case we might deserve a little accusation, but not God. As Christians, how we behave is a reflection on God’s character. You may remember the days when people used to say that if children misbehaved it was a bad reflection on their parents. This is true spiritually. Because the Holy Spirit indwells us, because we are made in God’s image—to think what he thinks, to feel what he feels, and to do what he does—our behavior is supposed to be a reflection on who he is. What do you pray for? How important is God’s reputation to you? For Jesus, it is his number one priority in prayer.

Note God’s second priority in prayer: God’s will. What do you want out of your life? What do you want out of your Christian experience? Following on the heels of God’s reputation is God’s will. Some might think it should be the other way around, that if we focus on doing God’s will then we will then protect God’s reputation. But in reality it’s the other way around. A high view of God’s name, his character, will drive us to do God’s will. We will care about God’s will because we value him so much. But if we focus first on doing things, even on obedience, we will lose the motivating reason for doing his will. Our obedience will then become a work of man instead of an outpouring of responsive love that comes from honoring his reputation.

Part of praying for God’s will also involves evangelism. Wrapped around the statement, “Your will be done,” is “Kingdom come,” and “Earth as it is in Heaven.” God want those on earth who do not yet know him to be prayed for, that their eyes may be enlightened, and their hardened hearts softened to receive the Gospel. It is part of God’s will that we pray this way (I Timothy 2:1-4).

After getting things right with God’s reputation and his will, then we focus on the lesser things. They are important, but lesser compared to God’s reputation and will. Jesus says to pray for our daily bread. In other words, pray for your physical needs. But elsewhere in scripture Jesus says that God already “knows that you need these things” (Matthew 5:32). Here it is that we discover that God wants to meet our physical needs. He does not ignore our earthly needs, but wants to give us what we need to sustain our lives. So why does Jesus instruct us to pray for something that he also says God fully intends to give us anyway? You might have guessed it—it’s a matter of God’s will and reputation. He is a God who provides. If he did not provide for his children, what kind of reputation would he have? Why would his will matter to us if he didn’t provide?

Thirdly, Jesus instructs us to pray for forgiveness. God is a forgiving God. Without his forgiveness we would have no hope of eternal life, heaven, or experiencing his love. We would forever be cut off from God. Though it’s fourth in the list God considers forgiveness as foundational to the Christian life. It’s so important that it is the only thing we are instructed to pray for that has a proviso attached, “As we also have forgiven our debtors.”

Finally, deliverance from temptation and Satan are listed last. Satan is a powerful foe. Why would Jesus list him last if we are to understand this prayer as including a list of priorities? Because Satan is already defeated. This doesn’t mean that he can’t pull the wool over our eyes or tempt us greatly. It means that we have everything we need in Christ to defeat him as Christ also defeated him. We do not need to be spiritual victims if we keep alert.

What do you pray for? How high on your list is God’s reputation? Even Jesus’ prayer in John 17 puts God’s reputation first. Jesus uses words like “glorify,” “name,” and “true God” when addressing God’s character. In fact, Jesus’ prayer in John 17 contains all of the elements of the Lord’s prayer (except for forgiveness since Jesus needed none and he had already forgive his disciple’s sins).

If we lift high God’s reputation in our lives and prayer, if we will become jealous for his name (Ezekiel 39:25, Numbers 25:1-13), God will honor our hearts and prayers by granting those other things we seek that are according to his will.

So, what do you want out of your Christian experience? What do you pray for?

guywithabible.com

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How Jesus Prayed for Himself

by Drew Anderson
written by Drew Anderson

Is it biblical to pray for yourself? Jesus did! His prayer in John 17:1-5 gives us a model for how we should pray for ourselves. Drew Anderson writes:

Jesus starts His prayer with a request for the Father to glorify Him. He then moves to praying for His disciples and their actions within the world. Finally, He prays for the unity of all those who might believe in Him unto the salvation of their souls. This prayer is nestled at the end of His life and conclusion of His public ministry–which only lasted approximately three years. All throughout His public ministry, His message was consistent and clear, “…a kingdom is coming.” Listen to His words as He began His ministry…

“…Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Matthew 4:17

The problem for those who were hearing this message then, as well as for those of us today is that no one is able to enter into this kingdom because of its high standards of entry. The gate isn’t swung open for anyone to just drop in. No, no, there is a standard of righteousness required for any and all people. In other words, you have to be as righteous as God to enter His kingdom. And that’s where and why Jesus entered our world.

Thus, God, in His wisdom, sent His Son into our world so that through His perfect–righteous–life, He could offer Himself for us who are not righteous, in order to stand as a substitute in our place–paying the penalty for all our sin (incidentally, a penalty is incurred, because the Law or standard has been broken–by everyone. God doesn’t turn His head or wink at anyone breaking His standards). And so, the result of His perfect–righteous–life sacrificed on behalf of (or in the place of) unrighteous people means that His righteousness is now available to any who—by grace through faith—believe that His sacrifice (dying on the cross) was for them in particular–and they accept and believe that this is God’s only provision made for them in order to be a part of His kingdom. No law to keep. No standard to maintain. No sin to avoid. It’s a simple yet God-sparking recognition of who you are in light of who God is, and a turning from depending upon yourself to be righteous (i.e. trying your best to be good), and turning to God’s provision–Jesus.

The standard (or Law of God) of entry into God’s kingdom is not intrinsically bad or an impossible requirement handed down by a hateful god, but was rather given because of transgressions that served as a tutor until Jesus came, as well as pointed (as a copy and shadow) to its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus. And so, Jesus spent His earthly ministry preaching about the coming kingdom, as well as keeping its standard of entry (the Mosaic Law) for us! In the meantime, He trained His disciples for His departure.

And, it was at the end of this training–just before Jesus’ sacrifice for all humanity–that John’s gospel provides insight into a most intimate moment of…The Prayer of Jesus.

Jesus’ Prayer for Himself

“Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”
John 17:1-5

Jesus begins His prayer acknowledging that His life—His purpose—has reached its final point. He thus requests that God glorify Him as a result of the completion of His earthly work in fulfilling the kingdom’s standards (God’s Law) perfectly. This glory request is not strange for Christ to ask of the Father, because He had previously (and eternally) dwelt in the same glory with the Father before the world existed as the second person of the Trinity. Since Jesus emptied Himself of this glory by becoming a servant and sacrifice in order to fulfill the kingdom’s standards (or Law), He is now requesting that it be restored. In other words, Jesus is stating in so many words that all of history has pointed to this moment, and its ultimate fulfillment is now reaching its apex. Mankind’s righteousness has always been short of God’s righteousness, and as history has unfolded this reality has only proven its point. Therefore, Jesus–the God-man–came to deal with it, and to offer His life of righteousness to all who are unrighteous, so that those who are unrighteous could enter into His kingdom without fear of its perfect righteous standard. Therefore, the prayer of Jesus begins with profound importance–God is dealing with mankind’s failure…Jesus is proclaiming this new reality for all of humanity…

Thus, Jesus prays…

My mission is reaching its completion…

Restore my glory…

Amen and Amen.

How Does This Apply To Us Today?

Because Jesus ended perfectly what He began (thus fulfilling His mission on earth), you and I now have hope for life after death, as well as purpose (and mission) in (and for) our life today. Our Lord–King Jesus–is not a defeated god, but One who reigns in all His glory, and who stands in our place–ever mediating on our behalf. That’s our God…that’s our Lord…that’s our King, Jesus! Mission fulfilled. Glory restored. Amen!

Therefore, worship. Worship your King Jesus who forever receives worship! Worship Him, and let the world see you do it!

www.staffandstones.com. Used by permission.

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Here Are Ten Things That AREN’T Church

by Carey Nieuwhof
written by Carey Nieuwhof

In an age where everyone is looking for alternatives to gathering together, here are 10 things that—helpful as they may be in some respect—aren’t church.

If it gets a bit feisty in the points below, just know it’s because I’m challenging the gravitational pull I feel sometimes in me and I see all the time around me.

So here goes. Here are 10 things that still ain’t church.

1. WATCHING CHURCH ONLINE

Watching church online has exploded in the last decade.

We have an online campus at our church, which I love, because for many people it’s a step into church can be if it’s a step back in if you’re  out of town or on vacation, but for too many people people church online is a step out of church.

It’s a step toward lower devotion, not greater devotion. And to less mission, not deeper mission.

If we’re really honest, for too many people church online is a step out of church, not into church. It’s a step toward lesser devotion, not greater devotion.CLICK TO TWEET

Here’s a little exercise I want to propose. If you’re watching online because it’s easier (or honestly, you’re just lazy), get yourself into a real human community.

Yes, a real church is going to be worse than your online experience. You will have to sit next to people you don’t like and who aren’t like you.

You could get hurt. You’ll have to do something. And you may have to give.

You’ll get into awkward conversations with people as you invite them to come with you. And you may damage the friendship as a result and feel all worried.

This is church. (Have you ever read 1 Corinthians? I mean really….)

Dating is easier than marriage. Especially first dating. But marriage is where the real reward is after you’ve disliked each other long enough to fall in love again and remember that in the midst of the mess God is writing a deeper, more powerful story than you could ever write on your own.

A C+ real life church experience is better than an A+ online church experience because real life is messy, and it’s going to force you grow.

So go find a real-life C+ church and get involved. And remember, you are not the solution to the C+ church’s problems. You’re part of the reason it’s a C+ church. So am I.

A C+ real life church experience is better than an A+ online church experience because real life is messy, and it’s going to force you grow.CLICK TO TWEET

2. LISTENING TO A PODCAST

If you want to 1.5x speed God into your life while you’re on a run or driving to work, go ahead.

I love podcasting, but in the end, what it gives you is information and not much more.

Podcasting (and church online) should function like online dating. Everyone I know who met online and fell in love gets married. You rarely meet someone who says “We met online, have been married for five years but we’ve never actually met.” Of course you meet, that’s the point.

And I think that’s the point of church podcasts and church online…they lead to something greater: real human interaction around a mission bigger than you.

But 1.5xing a sermon podcast every week probably only gives you a .5 dose of God.

1.5xing a sermon podcast every week probably only gives you a .5 dose of God.CLICK TO TWEET

3. VIRTUAL PASTORS

Because there are thousands of churches online and thousands more who put their content online via podcasts, many people have multiple preachers they listen to and think of as their ‘pastors’.

It’s great that you’re listening,  or that you follow 10 megachurch pastors or local pastors on Instagram, but that’s not church.

You may have a charcuterie board of favourite speakers and feel full, but true discipleship is not measured by how much you know, it’s measured by how much you love, and how much that love flows out of you and into the lives of others.

True discipleship is not measured by how much you know, it’s measured by how much you love, and how much that love flows out of you and into the lives of others.CLICK TO TWEET

4. THAT CHARITABLE THING YOU STARTED

We live in an amazing time where it’s easy to start almost anything you imagine, including a charity.

Charities are amazing, but they’re not church.

When the church gathers in worship, prayer, community, joins together on a mission to baptize people and grow people into the likeness of Christ…well that’s church.

I have a company outside the church that helps produce this blog, my podcast, books etc. Guess what? I think of it as a ministry, and it has huge ministry implications, but it’s not the church.

It never will be. Sure, we think of it in many ways as a ministry. And yes, we’re on mission to help leaders. But it ain’t church.

5. COFFEE WITH FRIENDS

If you stop attending a local church, it’s easy to come up with substitutes for it, like having coffee (or meals, or whatever) with friends.

The early church didn’t change the world by gathering with friends for coffee.

By all means, be social. Hang out. Cultivate deep friendships. Hang out. Connect. But don’t fool yourself—that isn’t church either.

6. THE GATHERING AT YOUR HOUSE

I understand that this one will be a little controversial, but most of the time, that gathering in your house ain’t church either.

Even if you gather to pray, study scripture, fellowship and celebrate communion, it may still not be the church. Why?

Too often house church functions as a community of people who are fleeing the church, who have been hurt by the church, or who are rejecting the local churches in their neighbourhood.

Rarely (I mean rarely, it’s not like it never happens) do I see a house church really embrace the full mission of the church, which would include evangelism  baptizing new disciples, community service, giving financially beyond itself and an outward focus that brings more people into the Kingdom.

If that happens—and occasionally it does—then that is church. The problem of course, is that when you embrace all of that, it won’t be long until you outgrow your living room…and you start gathering in public space because you can’t squeeze into a home anymore.

But if it’s just the eight of you year after year after year after year…it probably ain’t church.

7. A WALK IN THE WOODS/ON THE BEACH

I love nature. My wife really loves nature.

Almost all of us feel closer to God in nature. And some personality types feel extremely close to God in nature—maybe even closer than they feel in church.

But your subjective feeling is no substitute for a timeless mission. God didn’t just call us to feel him. He calls us to serve him.

Your subjective feeling is no substitute for a timeless mission. God didn’t just call us to feel him. He calls us to serve him.CLICK TO TWEET

8. FAMILY DEVOTIONS

I love my family. You love yours. And family devotions are wonderful.

When you’re on vacation, I get that you may do family devotions on a Sunday rather than a long drive into a local church.

But a steady diet of family devotions—even daily devotions—isn’t church because your family isn’t baptizing people, reaching out into the community, serving, or even moving beyond itself to engage the world for which Christ died.

Authentic mission has to go beyond you to someone else and embrace and include them.

Family devotions may be sincere and convenient, but they’re no substitute for the Kingdom of God.

9. CHURCH SURFING

Church shopping is one thing. But I’ve met a growing number of people who are doing what I can only call church surfing.

They may go to the 9 a.m. service at one church, and then sample the later service at another, and then they switch it up against next weekend, adding maybe a third church into the mix.

It’s like serial dating with no engagement, commitment or even investment.

Once again, it’s an expression of a consumer culture—take, but feel no obligation to give.

Of course, a significant life is rarely measured by what you consume. It’s measured by what you contribute.

Church surfing contributes almost nothing to the true mission of the church.

A significant life is rarely measured by what you consume. It’s measured by what you contribute.CLICK TO TWEET

10. ANONYMITY

So let’s say you show up at the same church whenever you attend, but you sit in the back row, anonymously. You don’t engage, don’t serve, don’t invite, don’t join the mission. You just…sit.

That’s not much different than just consumption, except it’s analog, not digital.

It’s hard to build the future of the church on someone who consumes and never contributes. And it’s hard to build a meaningful, resilient life, when all you do is consume, not contribute.

So contribute. Serve. Invite. Give. Do community.

You’re called to be the church, not just attend one.

You’re called to be the church, not just attend one.CLICK TO TWEET

THREE QUESTIONS

If you find your church attendance declining or evaporating, ask yourself:

  • Are my current patterns leading me to greater devotion to Jesus?
  • Am I serving, inviting, giving and helping to make new disciples?
  • Is this really about me, or is it about seeing the Kingdom of God flourish and expand around me?

If you’re a church leader, I hope this helped frame or at least spark some thinking on what’s happening around us, within us and in our culture.

In an era where everything is become hyper-individualist and hyper-convenient, it’s wonderful to get together and participate in something that inconveniences me, challenges me, stretches me, grows me, makes me uncomfortable and does something great for the world in the name of Jesus.

When the early church did just that, it changed not only millions of lives, it changed history.

www.careynieuwhof.com. Used by permission of the author.

 

 

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Six Important Ways to Know God

by Tom Terry
written by Tom Terry

Have you ever considered the words of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who, when told by Moses to let Israel go, responded, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go” (Exodus 5:2). As rebellious as Pharaoh was, this was actually a good answer. To Pharaoh, the Lord was an alien god, not part of the Egyptian pantheon. He, literally, did not know him. But, through a series of judgments, God worked miracles against Pharaoh stating, “By this you will know that I am the Lord” (Exodus 7:17). Through his judgments, God took Pharaoh from knowing nothing of the Lord to knowing who he was, though he ended up condemned.

What process have you gone through to come to know the Lord? I’d like to suggest that there are six stages we go through to come to the knowledge of who God is, and specifically, to come to know him intimately. In your Christian experience you should be able to identify where you are on this scale.

Now, I don’t want you to think that this is some gnostic means of gaining some secret knowledge. Not at all. What I’m about to share is nothing more than a helpful description designed to aid us in coming to know the Lord intimately. It is not exhaustive, but it can be helpful.

Here are the six levels of knowledge that we grapple with as we come to know the Lord.

  • Theoretical knowledge
  • Learned knowledge
  • Revelatory knowledge
  • Experiential knowledge
  • Practical knowledge
  • Intimate knowledge

First, a little background. During biblical times, people of the Old Testament had a view of knowledge that was a bit different from ours. “The people of Old Testament times viewed knowledge as a relational understanding of the present based on an experiential understanding of the past.” (1) Most things, to ancient people’s, were an expression or working out of a deity’s will. For Ancient Near East people, whatever happened on earth had a parallel to what happened in the heavens. The two were not as separate as what we think of today. This is very much like African or Asian animism is today. Animism believes that whatever happens in the spiritual realm has a corresponding event in the earthly as well.

In New Testament times, the ancients carried the Ancient Near East ideas forward, but expanded upon them with a different kind of knowledge sourced from the Greeks. “For the Greeks, knowledge was based on reason and philosophy. The most common verb meaning ‘to know’ (????, oida) in the New Testament literally means ‘to have seen’ and as such is related to the audience’s having experienced something in the past prior to knowing it in the present.” (2) In other words, something could not be known in the present without also having knowing it in the past. The Greeks also believed that true knowledge was that which was reasoned out in the mind, but not necessarily experienced. So, where does this take us biblically?

Biblically speaking there is knowledge we can learn, but there is some knowledge that without the aid of God, can never be attained. This is Revelatory Knowledge. Let me break down the six kinds of knowledge with a little definition to help you understand what the Christian goes through in the development of his knowledge of God.

Theoretical knowledge applies when we speculate about spiritual things but have no true knowledge of them. This includes wondering about the afterlife, if God exists, what God might be like, and so on. Interestingly, the unregenerate person doesn’t usually wonder about knowing God. He usually wonders about going to heaven or some celestial place after he dies. It’s not about God. It’s about himself. It is also the beginning of inquiry. Many people wonder about spiritual things but never move beyond asking questions that seem to them to have no answer.

Learned knowledge is when we begin to research spiritual things, specifically, reading the Bible to learn about God, or come to know other, seemingly, spiritual people and interact with them about what they think are spiritual things.

Revelatory knowledge is the knowledge of God we get when he reveals himself to us. We cannot discover God on our own (Romans 8:8, John 14:6), he must reveal himself to us in order for us to gain knowledge of him (Matthew 16:17). Without revelatory knowledge there is no way anyone can know God personally. 

Experiential knowledge comes when we have made a commitment to Christ and begin to apply scripture to our life. We begin to experience God’s love and grow in the conviction of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit convicts during the process of revelatory knowledge (John 16:8-11), but as we grow in Christ that conviction continues as the Holy Spirit brings to our minds issues that need addressing, such as sin to repent of or situations where we can express trust in God or share our faith. 

Practical knowledge comes as we mature in Christ and discover the practices of the faith and how to live day-by-day in a way that pleases God. This happens over time until we hit the ultimate in knowledge.

Intimate knowledge is to become close to the Lord in our relationship and in the application of scripture. God wants us to know him intimately. This is more than knowing about God. This is knowing God personally. This is when our thoughts, feelings, and actions continually turn toward the Lord, his ways, his word, and his kingdom. Christ becomes first in all things in all we think, feel, and do. This is true love for the Lord.

The key to all of this is right in the middle, Revelatory Knowledge. Many people, having never come to Christ, go through these five other steps (in a general way) if they are interested in what they think are spiritual things. This applies to any religious idea or system: Buddhism, Islam, even atheism. They seek, they learn, they experience what they learn, they apply it practically, and even become intimate or well-educated about it. But without the revelation of Jesus to us by the Holy Spirit, all of this so-called spiritual knowledge is incorrect, wrong. No one gets to God through wrong knowledge. That would be like a stranger knocking on my door asking for Peter. I’m not Peter. He may have made a series of discoveries that led him to my home, but not knowing me correctly means I’m not letting him in the door. So too, God does not let us into his heaven without a right knowledge of who Christ is. 

Now, the ultimate goal of this progression of knowledge is the last of the six. God wants us to have intimate knowledge of himself. This is because Christianity is not simply a matter of rules or philosophy. Christianity is a matter of relationship. God not only wants us to know him personally, but to know him intimately. “Let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:24). 

Intimate knowledge requires time to know God in a deeper way. “I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning” (I John 2:14). “From the beginning” indicates a long period of time. 

Application

Now, where does this take you in your relationship with the Lord? Have you ever thought in terms of Intimate Knowledge of God? For many people who claim to be Christians, this is where they stumble. We study the scripture, but don’t have an intimate knowledge of God. Jesus talked about this when he rebuked the Jewish leaders, saying, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life” (John 5:39-40). 

All of these types of knowledge are actually tied together. We cannot have an intimate experience with the Lord without Experiential Knowledge or Practical Knowledge. If we think we can, then perhaps we don’t know the Lord at all.

So, where are you on this scale of knowledge? Where do you want to be? What is the Lord convicting you of right now?

——

 

(1) (2) Garrett, J. K. (2016). Knowledge. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Bro
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Ask Roger

Six Important Ways to Know God

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

Have you ever considered the words of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who, when told by Moses to let Israel go, responded, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go” (Exodus 5:2). As rebellious as Pharaoh was, this was actually a good answer. To Pharaoh, the Lord was an alien god, not part of the Egyptian pantheon. He, literally, did not know him. But, through a series of judgments, God worked miracles against Pharaoh stating, “By this you will know that I am the Lord” (Exodus 7:17). Through his judgments, God took Pharaoh from knowing nothing of the Lord to knowing who he was, though he ended up condemned.

What process have you gone through to come to know the Lord? I’d like to suggest that there are six stages we go through to come to the knowledge of who God is, and specifically, to come to know him intimately. In your Christian experience you should be able to identify where you are on this scale.

Now, I don’t want you to think that this is some gnostic means of gaining some secret knowledge. Not at all. What I’m about to share is nothing more than a helpful description designed to aid us in coming to know the Lord intimately. It is not exhaustive, but it can be helpful.

Here are the six levels of knowledge that we grapple with as we come to know the Lord.

  • Theoretical knowledge
  • Learned knowledge
  • Revelatory knowledge
  • Experiential knowledge
  • Practical knowledge
  • Intimate knowledge

First, a little background. During biblical times, people of the Old Testament had a view of knowledge that was a bit different from ours. “The people of Old Testament times viewed knowledge as a relational understanding of the present based on an experiential understanding of the past.” (1) Most things, to ancient people’s, were an expression or working out of a deity’s will. For Ancient Near East people, whatever happened on earth had a parallel to what happened in the heavens. The two were not as separate as what we think of today. This is very much like African or Asian animism is today. Animism believes that whatever happens in the spiritual realm has a corresponding event in the earthly as well.

In New Testament times, the ancients carried the Ancient Near East ideas forward, but expanded upon them with a different kind of knowledge sourced from the Greeks. “For the Greeks, knowledge was based on reason and philosophy. The most common verb meaning ‘to know’ (????, oida) in the New Testament literally means ‘to have seen’ and as such is related to the audience’s having experienced something in the past prior to knowing it in the present.” (2) In other words, something could not be known in the present without also having knowing it in the past. The Greeks also believed that true knowledge was that which was reasoned out in the mind, but not necessarily experienced. So, where does this take us biblically?

Biblically speaking there is knowledge we can learn, but there is some knowledge that without the aid of God, can never be attained. This is Revelatory Knowledge. Let me break down the six kinds of knowledge with a little definition to help you understand what the Christian goes through in the development of his knowledge of God.

Theoretical knowledge applies when we speculate about spiritual things but have no true knowledge of them. This includes wondering about the afterlife, if God exists, what God might be like, and so on. Interestingly, the unregenerate person doesn’t usually wonder about knowing God. He usually wonders about going to heaven or some celestial place after he dies. It’s not about God. It’s about himself. It is also the beginning of inquiry. Many people wonder about spiritual things but never move beyond asking questions that seem to them to have no answer.

Learned knowledge is when we begin to research spiritual things, specifically, reading the Bible to learn about God, or come to know other, seemingly, spiritual people and interact with them about what they think are spiritual things.

Revelatory knowledge is the knowledge of God we get when he reveals himself to us. We cannot discover God on our own (Romans 8:8, John 14:6), he must reveal himself to us in order for us to gain knowledge of him (Matthew 16:17). Without revelatory knowledge there is no way anyone can know God personally.

Experiential knowledge comes when we have made a commitment to Christ and begin to apply scripture to our life. We begin to experience God’s love and grow in the conviction of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit convicts during the process of revelatory knowledge (John 16:8-11), but as we grow in Christ that conviction continues as the Holy Spirit brings to our minds issues that need addressing, such as sin to repent of or situations where we can express trust in God or share our faith.

Practical knowledge comes as we mature in Christ and discover the practices of the faith and how to live day-by-day in a way that pleases God. This happens over time until we hit the ultimate in knowledge.

Intimate knowledge is to become close to the Lord in our relationship and in the application of scripture. God wants us to know him intimately. This is more than knowing about God. This is knowing God personally. This is when our thoughts, feelings, and actions continually turn toward the Lord, his ways, his word, and his kingdom. Christ becomes first in all things in all we think, feel, and do. This is true love for the Lord.

The key to all of this is right in the middle, Revelatory Knowledge. Many people, having never come to Christ, go through these five other steps (in a general way) if they are interested in what they think are spiritual things. This applies to any religious idea or system: Buddhism, Islam, even atheism. They seek, they learn, they experience what they learn, they apply it practically, and even become intimate or well-educated about it. But without the revelation of Jesus to us by the Holy Spirit, all of this so-called spiritual knowledge is incorrect, wrong. No one gets to God through wrong knowledge. That would be like a stranger knocking on my door asking for Peter. I’m not Peter. He may have made a series of discoveries that led him to my home, but not knowing me correctly means I’m not letting him in the door. So too, God does not let us into his heaven without a right knowledge of who Christ is.

Now, the ultimate goal of this progression of knowledge is the last of the six. God wants us to have intimate knowledge of himself. This is because Christianity is not simply a matter of rules or philosophy. Christianity is a matter of relationship. God not only wants us to know him personally, but to know him intimately. “Let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:24).

Intimate knowledge requires time to know God in a deeper way. “I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning” (I John 2:14). “From the beginning” indicates a long period of time.

Application

Now, where does this take you in your relationship with the Lord? Have you ever thought in terms of Intimate Knowledge of God? For many people who claim to be Christians, this is where they stumble. We study the scripture, but don’t have an intimate knowledge of God. Jesus talked about this when he rebuked the Jewish leaders, saying, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life” (John 5:39-40).

All of these types of knowledge are actually tied together. We cannot have an intimate experience with the Lord without Experiential Knowledge or Practical Knowledge. If we think we can, then perhaps we don’t know the Lord at all.

So, where are you on this scale of knowledge? Where do you want to be? What is the Lord convicting you of right now?

——

 

(1) (2) Garrett, J. K. (2016). Knowledge. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Bro
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How Healthy Are You?

by John Beeson
written by John Beeson

“How easy is it for you to handle the stressors of life today? How hard are simple decisions?”

A few months back, Josh Reich, pastor at Revolution Church and author of Breathing Room, shared with a pastors’ group I recently started attending. He asked a series of questions that have served as a great mirror for me in the past few months to assess my health.

It’s a strange thing that it’s a difficult thing for us to assess our own emotional and spiritual health. We’re usually pretty aware when our physical health is off, whether it’s an upset stomach or a headache or a sore back. And yet, I suspect that you have those days where you really don’t know how well you are doing emotionally and spiritually.

In Matthew 11, Jesus casts a vision of what following him looks like. You’re probably familiar with the verses. Read Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase and ask yourself how much this resembles your life:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Isn’t that a beautiful vision of the Christian life? Are you living into Jesus’ “unforced rhythms of grace”? Can your life be characterized by its lightness?

For many seasons of my life, if I was honest, my life was best characterized by its heaviness. A grey fog hung over and distorted my perception of everything.

When that fog lingers for long enough it’s hard to even identify it is there. How light is your life? How clear is your emotional and spiritual vision?

In ReSet, David Murray reflects that ours is a “burnout culture”: a never-off, always accessible, fast-isn’t-fast-enough culture, and we are in desperate need of a cure.

Here is a list of questions Josh suggested (with a couple of my own mixed in) that you might consider asking to help evaluate your health:

·        How hard is it to fall asleep? Do you need alcohol? TV? Pornography?

·        How hard is it to get started in the morning?

·        How fuzzy is your vision of your future?

·        When was the last time you prayed?

·        How many times have you been in the Word in the past week?

·        When was the last time you laughed or had fun?

·        How healthy has your diet been in the past week?

·        How many times did you exercise last week?

·        Are you playing?

I would encourage you to walk through those questions and provide honest answers to them. What I like about the questions is that they not only help me assess my health, they also help me to identify the areas in which I need to get my life in alignment.

When I’m honest, there are always at least a couple questions on that list that trigger a need for re-evaluation and correction. For me, to really make that correction stick, I need to make sure that I’m actually scheduling time for the activities that will lead to health. It’s fine and well to know that I need to get more exercise, but if I don’t put it into my calendar, it’s probably not going to happen.  

We are creatures, not the Creator. In Murray’s words, “He is infinite, we are finite; he is unlimited, we are limited. Although none of us would say we are unlimited, most of us think we are less limited than we actually are.” At the heart of so much of our emotional and spiritual sickness is our refusal to admit our finitude and make substantive changes that acknowledge our need.

www.thebeehive.live. Used by permission.

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How We Fight Satan and How We Win

by Francis Frangipane
written by Francis Frangipane

Scripture says that the Lord left nations in the promised land “to test Israel by them (that is, all who had not experienced any of the wars of Canaan); only in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war” (Judg. 3:1-2). To complete our spiritual maturity, the Lord must “test” us with enemies; like Israel, we must be “taught war.” 

I realize that most of us prefer peace. Yes, as much as it depends on us, we should live at peace with all men (Rom. 12:18). Our fight is not against flesh and blood, but we are in a worldwide conflict with principalities and powers (see Eph. 6:12). You see, there is a “time for war” (Eccl. 3:8). As Christians, we must accept and adjust to this truth.  To stand victorious, we need to expand our understanding of who Jesus Christ is. The Bible says Christ “will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies” (Isa. 42:13).  Even the rapture must be understood in military terms: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thess. 4:16).

The imagery of the Lord’s coming is explosive: He comes with a “shout” (or “cry of command,” a “war cry”). He’s followed by the stunning “voice of the “archangel,” then a blast of the “trumpet of God,” so loud, so undeniable that the powers of the heavens are confronted and collapse! Finally, the very “dead in Christ” begin to rise! The whole operation is fiercely militant in nature.  One may argue, yes the Lord is coming to war, but His first goal is to rescue us. Well, I am certainly not against being rescued, having been rescued many times by the Lord! But the picture of the church is also one of militancy.

Remember, Jesus said, “I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matt. 16:18).

Consider again the imagery: it is the church that is advancing against the gates of hell, and it is hell that is not prevailing! The Need for War Truly, I am for peace, but I recognize that I cannot have peace unless I am first trained for war. It is my training for war that secures my ability to have peace. Indeed, it was during the times of warfare – of struggle and battle – when I have grown the most in courage, in faith, in sacrifice, and in love. The battle stretched me beyond the boundaries of my spirituality.

Yes, when I was fighting for my family, church or community, it was the fight itself that defined and established my spiritual growth. Indeed, as I have grown older, I have come to understand that every generation is ordained to confront and defeat the enemies of its era. In the last hundred years, men and women fought in WWI; then came the Great Depression, and poverty and fear were conquered. WWII began, and again a generation rose and saved the world from unspeakable tyranny. Next, America rose to stand against the spread of godless Soviet communism. 

You see, every generation, at some point, will face a war that must be won. In that fight we learn lessons of courage. Do we see this generational warfare? Thus, we cannot interpret the fallen conditions of our world and assume the end of the world is upon us. No! What we are seeing in our world is the battleground of our war against the godless enemies of our times.  Remember, I believe in the rapture; I also believe we are in the season of the end. But I cannot excuse myself from facing the giants of today’s wars.

As our forefathers had to succeed on the battlefield against great and highly trained enemies, so we too must overcome the radical agenda of those who seek to mainstream perversion into our society. Some of us have fought in the physical wars in the Middle East – and we must pray righteous conclusions for these wars as well. Others are fighting to see our nation returned to Christ. I know some are weary, yet it is time that we too “might be taught war.” Regardless of the battle before us, no matter how dark the spiritual atmosphere becomes, we must fight for the purposes of God in the earth. We cannot relax our intercession nor surrender our vision for our nation’s future. We have not entered the day of irreversible darkness.

You are no doubt familiar with the Lord of the Rings trilogy written by J.R.R. Tolkien. Tolkien, an Englishman, denied that his work mirrored the realities of World War II. Yet much of his manuscript was written during the height of that great conflict, when entire kingdoms were at war. He was clearly influenced by his time. His book is a metaphor for all times and conflicts, especially highlighting the role of common men to attain uncommon levels of valor and victory against forces of evil. In a scene from the third Lord of the Rings movies, The Return of the King, King Aragorn seeks to inspire his outnumbered men to fight in spite of what seems like sure defeat: Hell’s swarming legions have amassed before them and the courage of Aragorn’s fighters is weakening. Riding along the front lines of his gathered, but lowly army, he shouts:

“I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship. But it is not this day. . . . This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand, men of the West!”

Let us also put aside our fears and especially the burden of a passive, prayerless existence. Let us take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And let us fight for all we hold dear in our times and culture. Yes, a day may come when the world will fully succumb, for a sprinkling of years, to the forces of evil. But it is not this day. This day we fight!

Adapted from Francis Frangipane’s book, “This Day We Fight” available at www.arrowbookstore.com.

 

 

 

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Awakening to the Power of Prayer

by Jan Shrader
written by Jan Shrader

Recently, my loving husband had surgery to remove a brain tumor.  When we learned of the tumor, some doctors were moving fast and some painfully slow.  I experienced two prayer miracles during this time.  While I was texting my frustration to a sincere prayer warrior, medical professionals started calling on Gary’s cell phone giving us the information and care we needed.  I have never had a prayer request answered so quickly, and it happened twice during that day.  Gary’s successful surgery was two days later.  I value the gift of praying friends. 

 

In Luke chapter 9 is the surprising story of Jesus taking Peter, John and James to the Mount of Transfiguration to pray.  We don’t think of the Mount of Transfiguration as a story about prayer, but that is what Luke was emphasizing.  But unfortunately, they fell asleep instead of engaging in prayer.  Whenever I read this story my heart is saddened for Jesus.  How could they not see the importance of a prayer invitation with Jesus?  But, if I am honest I have to admit I am more like the disciples in their prayer slumber.  

 

I often have trouble discerning the importance of and time for prayer.  Unless I am listening very closely I can miss the call to come away with Jesus.  I can easily practice a life of prayerlessness like these disciples.    

 

Peter, John and James eyewitnessed Jesus’ majesty on the Mount of Transfiguration.  God the Father called them to listen carefully to what he was revealing about his beloved son.  Sadly, the disciples failed to comprehend that this lesson was important. 

 

Deeming the prayer lesson unworthy or boring, they fell asleep.    

 

This would not be the last time the disciples fell asleep when Jesus called an important prayer meeting.  They also fell asleep while praying in the Garden of Gethsemane the night Jesus was arrested. 

 

Matthew and Mark’s version of the Mount of Transfiguration leave out that they climbed the mountain to pray.  This is foundational information if you want to understand the priority Jesus is putting on prayer.  Check out Luke 9:28-36. 

                       

            Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.  And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white.  And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.  Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.  And as the men were parting from him Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here.  Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.  As he was saying these things a cloud came and over shadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.  And a voice came out of the cloud saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One, listen to him!”  And when the voice had spoken Jesus was found alone.  And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.  ESV

 

 Jesus modeled the importance of prayer.

 

Sometimes in scripture Jesus teaches us what to do, but sometimes he modeled how to walk with the Father.  If the Son of God needed the refreshment of prayer, how much more do we need it?  It sometimes seems like Jesus would rather pray than eat or sleep.  Even though he was fully God, Jesus sought strength in prayer.

 

Jesus blazed a trail for us to follow by his belief in the trustworthiness of the Father. 

 

Jesus demonstrated that prayer is not about getting what we want; it is about agreeing with the Father’s plans and purposes.  On the Mount of Transfiguration and in the Garden of Gethsemane we see Jesus’ deep commitment to the Father.  He could only do that because he confidently knew the Father was trustworthy.  He knew God’s plans were good and perfect.  Prayer for him on those nights when his friends fell asleep was about surrendering to Calvary.

 

Jesus often retired to a solitary place for prayer. 

 

During these quiet moments Jesus expressed and cemented his commitment to the Father’s will.  Sometimes God’s purposes may appear scary to us, but we need to realize that doing things our own way will not satisfy. In the end God’s plans will not be thwarted and we may hurt ourselves more if we continue chasing our own selfish desirers.  When Peter awoke on the Mount of Transfiguration he completely missed that Moses and Elijah were there to prepare Jesus for his departure in Jerusalem.  This is why he was spouting such nonsense about building three tabernacles.  With a voice coming out of a cloud God’s rebuke was frightening.  When the disciples awoke in the Garden of Gethsemane they were ill-prepared for what would happen next.  On the night Jesus was arrested they fled in terror.  Peter denied he even knew Jesus. 

 

1)  What might have changed if the disciples had stayed awake, and prayed with Jesus?    

 

2)   What are some of the costs of our prayerlessness?

 

 

Luke 9:32b says,  “…but when they became fully awake they saw his glory…” 

 

We need to fully awaken from our spiritual slumber.  When we don’t heed Jesus’ call we miss more than a blessing and comfort.  We miss seeing the glory of the living God. 

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Shaken or Standing?

by Lisa Bevere
written by Lisa Bevere

“My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things. And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking” (James 1:2–4 TPT).

Outward pressure is always an opportunity to be inwardly transformed.

An experiment was done in the Arizona desert called Biosphere 2. The goal was to create perfect growing conditions for trees, fruits and vegetables, as well as humans with the hope of replicating this environment on Mars and potentially other planets. A huge glass dome was constructed to house an artificial, controlled environment with purified air and water, healthy soil, and filtered light.

For many months at a time, people lived in the biodome doing life as usual and everything seemed to be going well . . . with one exception. When the trees grew to a certain height, they would suddenly collapse. It baffled scientists until they realized their controlled environment wasn’t as manageable as they original expected. Interestingly, they forgot to include the natural element of wind. Trees rely on the resistance of the wind to blow against them for their root systems to grow deeper, which will support the tree as it grows taller.

Sometimes the very things we try to eliminate from our lives are the things we need to appreciate.

Let’s face it, who among us doesn’t long for a perfect growing environment for ourselves, with no disruptions from outside influences? Often, because of this longing, we attempt to create a controlled environment, striving to avoid any form of adversity or challenge. When confronted with hardship, the normal tendency is to find the quickest route of escape—choosing rather the path of least resistance. However, what if our trials and challenges were working for us rather than againstus? With this consideration, listen to what the apostle Paul had to say on the matter: 

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17 NKJV).

I wonder if trees could talk, would we hear them complaining whenever the wind blew against them? When you carefully consider how a tree gracefully bends and sways when the wind blows against it, you will notice it does not stand rigid, resisting the force of the wind nor does it push back. The tree accepts the strong wind as a gift that helps it grow stronger while its roots dig deeper. Similarly, if we allow the winds of adversity to work for us rather than against us, God can use the adversity to develop our character and deepen our spiritual roots. When our roots run deep, we can remain standing.

Remember, outward pressure is always an opportunity to be inwardly transformed.

www.messengerinternational.org. Used by permission.

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The “Jonah” in All of Us

by Deb Waterbury
written by Deb Waterbury

Have you ever run away from something, and I don’t mean something that might threaten your life?  I mean, has there been a time in your life when you ran because you didn’t want what was in front of you, so you did a 180 and took off like lightening in the opposite direction?

Most of us, if we’ve lived for any length of time, can remember at least one of those times, maybe even more than one.  As Christians, that running most likely involved running from God.  Not too many believers would say that in some way at some time they didn’t run from what God was telling them to do.  After all, there is a little Jonah in all of us.

Abraham Kuyper, the journalist, once wrote,

“Our heart is continually inclined to rebel against the Lord our God.  So ready to rebel, that O, so gladly, were it but for a single day, we would take from His hands the reins of His supreme rule, imagining that we would manage things far better and direct them far more effectively than God.”

What do we do when we find ourselves running?  What do we do when we see someone else running?

If it’s us who’s running, chances are that we don’t even see it.  But if it’s someone that we simply know, either from church or just an acquaintance, we may be tempted to sit in judgment, as if it’s simply their weak constitution or their lax moral integrity that might cause such a detour.  We might simply shake our heads in feigned remorse, thinking, “What is he thinking?  Doesn’t he know that he can’t run from God?”

If it’s a loved one, maybe a child or a spouse or sibling, the pain can be almost immobilizing.  Suddenly all memories of our own course changes are almost non-existent, and the only things we can think are, “What is he doing?  Doesn’t he know that he can’t run from God?”

I don’t know….can we?

Let me remind you of how Jonah did.  In Jonah 1:1, we read:

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah…

That means that God literally let Jonah know exactly what He was thinking.

Then in verse 2, God said to Jonah,

“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.”

This was not what Jonah expected.  After all, he was the Lord’s prophet.  He was supposed to go and direct his prophecies to the nation of Israel.  He wasn’t supposed to go to Israel’s enemies and prophesy so that they might be saved.  What in the world was God thinking?

Maybe we should think of this in terms that are closer to home.  Maybe the little Jonah in you might sound more like:

“God doesn’t want me in this marriage!  He wants me happy, and I’m not happy here!  What is God thinking?”

Or maybe this:

“God wouldn’t want me to miss out on a better lifestyle.  He says that I will get the desires of my heart, and my heart desires that car or that dress or that house (that I can’t afford).  He wouldn’t keep me from it, would He?  What is God thinking?”

Or maybe our child’s little Jonah says this:

“I’m sick of living under my parents’ thumbs!  God would want me to be independent and do my own thing, no matter who I hurt in the meantime!  He wants me happy, doesn’t He?  What is God thinking?”

The little Jonah in all of us might say slightly different words, but it’s pretty much the same thing.  All of us have listened to the little Jonah some time or another, and we all run for exactly the same reason that Jonah ran.  Verse 3 says,

But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

The truth is that this running isn’t literally from God, since we, as His children, are always and forever His and in His loving care.  However, what we can and do run from is what the literal translation says is the “face of the Lord.”  Jonah was trying to get as far away from where he would be confronted with all that God is.

When we run, we run from the same thing, which generally means we run from the church or our church family or anything else that might remind us of who God is.

There is a reason that many have called Satan the “travel agent of distraction.”  If he can get us away from the “presence of God” or the “face of God,” then he can also deceive us into thinking that we can get away from it, which consequently keeps us from healing and love and peace.  Warren Wiersbe wrote in his book, Be Amazed,

“It’s possible to be out of the will of God and still have circumstances appear to be working on your behalf.  You might be rebelling against God and still have a false sense of security that includes a good night’s sleep.  However, God in his providence was preparing for Jonah a great fall.”

But the good news is that God always provides a fish, doesn’t He?  He always provides exactly the right storm at exactly the right time so that even though we may be distracted temporarily, we are never permanently lost.

Jesus said in John 6:39,

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose none of all that he has given me.

If you are running from the face of God today—refusing to go to church, avoiding your Christian friends, finding every excuse in the book for not getting involved with your believing family—genuinely reflect on the little Jonah in you.  God will not lose you, but I can promise you that it is no fun in the belly of the fish!  Bow before the throne of the One who will never leave you nor forsake you and come home.  Unless it is God you are running toward, you’re headed for the storm.

And if it is a loved one who is running from God’s loving face, take heart and never lose hope.  The promise that Jesus gave in John applies to every one of His children.  The fish is coming.  Keep praying and keep your eyes fixed upward.  God will bring him home.

After all, there is a little Jonah is all of us, but there is a great God who owns our hearts!

www.debwaterbury.com. Used by permission.

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When You Say “I’ll Pray for You” and Don’t

by Jon Acuff
written by Jon Acuff

Sometimes, saying “I’ll pray for you” is just the Christian equivalent of ending a date by saying “I’ll give you a call.” It shouldn’t be, in a dating situation you usually tell the person you’ll give them a call because you’re all out of words and the night needs some sort of punctuation. You know deep down you will not be giving that person a call, but they are just standing there, and they weren’t a horrible date, just not the right person for you.

So you’re faced with two choices – either you throw your house keys and hope that the moonlight reflecting off the key chain blinds them and the sound distracts them allowing you to escape inside or you tell them, “I’ll give you a call.” And since you need your keys for getting in the house, that option isn’t great, unless you carry a spare set of “bad date keys” but then you have to wonder, how many bad dates are you going on that you had a special set of keys made just to throw?

Instead you say, “‘I’ll give you a call” because it’s easier that way. Or maybe we mean it at the time. Maybe we intend to call that person, but life gets busy and we just forget. I think that’s similar to what happens when we say “I’ll pray for you.”

Right now I have about a 17% success rate when it comes to actually following through on my “I’ll pray for you” statements. I know that’s horrible, but it’s a ten year average and from 1996 – 2004 I was batting about 0%. I’ve done better these last two years to pull up my average but you know what they say about prayer statistics, “it’s a marathon, not a sprint.” (I think there was an analogy traffic jam in that paragraph, whoa.)

But what if there was a better way? What if instead of saying “I’ll pray for you” and then not, we could all do something else? What if we learned five new ways to end a Christian conversation without saying, “I’ll pray for you?” I think we should.

Five new things to say instead of “I’ll pray for you.”

1. “Here, have some pocket candy.”
Conversations, much like Saturday Night Live skits, are often difficult to end. What started out funny and enjoyable just kind of slowly deteriorates until you’re both standing there saying, “so yeah, that’s what’s going on.” I think it might be nice, when you sense that a conversation has lost its momentum and it’s time to move on, if you offered the person you’re talking with some pocket candy. Instead of saying, “I’ll pray for you,” you could say, “I need to go now, but I’d like to leave you with these hard candies. Here, have some pocket candy.” Everyone loves candy, and even if they don’t, they’ll be too stunned to really say anything as you fill their hands with delicious treats instead of an empty promise to pray for them.

2. “Razzle Dazzle, Razzle Dazzle.”
This one makes no sense and that’s kind of the point. It’s just really fun to say, and at the bare minimum, it will be awkwardly funny. Just imagine if your friend says, “so anyway, that’s what’s going on, not much else, whatever” and you reply, “Razzle Dazzle man, Razzle Dazzle.” (Bonus points if you combine this one with #1 and actually give your friend a handful of Razzles, the candy that turns into a gum. Remember that stuff? It somehow managed to suck as both a gum and a candy. Phenomenal.)

3. “I’m sorry, I can’t multiply your negativity.”
Occasionally, a friend will ask you to pray for something that you completely disagree with. They’re in a depression right now and if what they’re praying for came true, the negativity would be multiplied. Maybe they’re in a horrible relationship and they’re praying they’ll get married or they’re trying to quit their 47th job that year and when they ask you to pray for a new one you can’t do anything but shot block it. You don’t want to, it won’t feel loving at the time, but you don’t want to multiply the negativity by praying for something you adamantly feel like God is clearly against. So be upfront and work in a little George Clinton/Prince type language to soften the blow.

4. “That’s interesting.”
If you’ve ever worked in a corporation, you’ve heard this phrase. This term is so large and undefined that when someone shows you an idea at work you can say “that’s interesting” and it can mean everything from, “I like that idea, I think we should turn it into a project” to “that is the worst idea I have ever heard in my life.” Try it today, you can use it in almost any situation. Someone spills a coke in your computer keyboard, “that’s interesting, the vowels don’t work anymore.” Someone offers to give you a raise and an office with a door, “that’s interesting, I would like a promotion.” It’s great for work and is a pretty handy “I’ll pray for you” replacement. Not because it’s a dishonest phrase but because it buys you time to gather your thoughts and reflect on the conversation instead of just throwing out an instant “I’ll pray for you.”

5. “Let’s pray right now.”
Rock the PRT, Prayer Right There, if you really want to pray. Don’t let the push and pace of life swallow the request. Even if you write a prayer request down, you might lose that piece of paper or have your wife throw it away because she thought it was trash even though it also had a great book idea on it. Hypothetically speaking of course. So just pray. Or if that feels weird, pray while you walk away or drive away or Ruckus away, if you are so lucky to own a Honda Ruckus scooter. (I love that word, “ruckus.” That’s what I want to do with God, create a ruckus and the idea of creating a ruckus while at the same time riding a scooter named Ruckus makes my head spin.)

If we ever have the chance to hang out and we find that our conversation starts drawing to a close, and neither of us knows what to say, I hope you’ll say, “Razzle Dazzle” and hand me some Razzles. Because even though it’s a sucky candy and then a sucky gum, it’s still free candy, and hey, I like free candy a lot more than fake “I’ll pray for you” shout outs.

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What Questions Should I Ask Before I Die?

by Thabiti Anyabwile
written by Thabiti Anyabwile

Yesterday, I had the privilege of preaching a funeral for the grandmother of a former elder of the church, a man I count as a Barnabas to me, and a dear, dear family.

This morning, I’m reflecting on the fact that I’m going to die soon. I don’t know how soon. I don’t know whether I’ll live to be 90 or just have 90 more minutes. But, I’m going to die soon. Even if I live to be 90, I’ll look back at my life and it would have been a vapor. I’m going to die soon. And you are too.

I asked the people yesterday how they would be remembered at their funeral. It’s a good question for the preacher, too, not just the pew. I’m going to die soon, and I wonder how I will be remembered.

Will I, like Abraham, be remembered as a “man of faith” (Gal. 3:9)?

Will I, like Abraham, be remembered as a friend of God (James 2:23)? Will people say I plead with God as a man pleads with a friend (Job 16:20-21)?

Will anyone think that I, like David, was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22)?

What will be said about my service in the church? Will I, like Moses, be faithful in all the house of God (Num. 12:7; Heb. 3:2)?

Will those who knew me say I loved my wife as Christ loves the church (Eph. 5:25)?

Will anyone testify that the Lord hid nothing from me because I was trusted by God to teach my entire household His wonderful deeds, “to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just” (Gen. 18:17-19)?

I am going to die soon, and these questions receive far too little of my time. Moreover, these questions seem occupied with what other men think. I suppose that’s okay on one level, given how the questions are asked. But what will God say when I die?

Will it be written of me: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saint,” Thabiti (Ps. 116:15)?

I suppose some men will spend their lives in the ministry, and at the end cry out with Balaam: “Let me die the death of the righteous, and may my end be like theirs!” (Num. 23:10). Yet, like Balaam, they may never see such a death and their end may never be like “the dust of Jacob.”

I’d rather hear the Lord say, Thabiti “was as zealous as I am for my honor” (Num. 25:10, 13). Oh to be like Phinehas son of Eleazar! To live only for God’s honor!

For the saint, death is but a carriage to eternal life and the glories of Christ on high. All the commendations that attend our processional will have been earned by Christ our Savior. All the fruit of our lives leading to honor among men will have been produced by God’s Spirit. To God be the glory, great things He has done.

But we would be better prepared for that day if we live now with the certain knowledge that we are going to die soon.

www.thegospelcoalition.com.

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Here’s Hope for the Battle-Weary

by Lysa TerKeurst
written by Lysa TerKeurst

Lysa encourages us to persevere when life gets hard:

 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20

Do you ever worry that all of your hard times and suffering will be for nothing? That all of this pain you keep trying to press through is completely and utterly pointless?

I deeply understand that kind of fear and fatigue. What it’s like to pray the same prayers over and over with little to no change, all while the disappointments linger on and on.

That’s why I wish I could give you a gift today. It’s actually one that I received myself in the middle of the most heartbreaking season of my marriage.

When Art and I realized our marriage wasn’t going to make any progress without some professional help, we started seeing an amazing counselor. We spent more than seventy-five hours in his office. It was all with the understanding that we were on the same page and moving ahead together. All the devastation would be repaired and restored and made right.

But during one of our sessions, my counselor knew we were going to leave his office and walk into one of the fiercest seasons of this battle. He took a professionally done frame off his office wall and tore the backing to open it. He pulled out a real purple heart. The high honor the government had given to his family when his brother-in-law was killed in the line of duty trying to save others.

Then he knelt in front of us and placed this priceless medal in my hand.

“Hold on to this, Lysa, for as long as you need it. When the battle gets so fierce you wonder if you will survive, remember this moment of my telling you that you will make it through this. If God gave out purple hearts, you would absolutely receive this high honor. What you are going through won’t be for nothing. Your hurt will not be wasted. It will be for the saving of many lives.”

I looked down at this beautifully outrageous gift, speechless. The moment stole all my words, and I had nothing to offer back to him but tears. I mouthed the words “thank you.” I felt brave that day.

Less than a month after we returned home from that counseling appointment, my heart was devastated again.

I couldn’t breathe. The medal was the only physical thing I felt I could hold on to when every bit of my life was flying around as shattered debris. I had thought we were almost done with that horrific season, and then I realized we hadn’t even started the healing.

And while that purple heart couldn’t heal me, it sure steadied me for the next two years as Art and I did the hard work to put our marriage back together again.

I want to be that friend who helps steady you today, sweet friend. Because I know what it’s like to feel battle weary.

I am sure Joseph, the man who spoke the words of our key verse, was also familiar with feelings of discouragement and fatigue. How could you be thrown into a pit by family, sold into slavery, and then unfairly imprisoned without wondering if any good could ever come of your story?

But God had a plan. From pit to palace, Joseph was positioned to spare not only the lives of his family, but the entire nation of Israel. This is why his words to his brothers in Genesis 50:20 are such a beautiful picture of redemption and hope, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” 

God has a plan for your life too. The enemy is going to try to trip you and rip you to shreds with the hurtful hisses that all of this suffering is for nothing. Don’t you dare listen.

I’m holding a purple heart in my hand that tells me something different. And it’s not just for me. It’s for you too. I knew it the minute the counselor put it in my hand, it should be pinned on your chest too. And if you were here with me today, I’d do just that. I would remind you that your story, surrendered into the hands of God, will not be wasted.

Close your eyes and breathe. You’re brave and beautiful and handpicked. A decorated soldier in this horrible battle with a glorious ending. I’m declaring over you that the Lord will restore you, redeem you, and write His glorious story onto the pages of your life. The journey might not look anything like you planned, but I’m believing with you that God is working things out in ways you cannot yet see.

Lord, I’m so thankful to know that there isn’t a single thing the enemy can send my way that You can’t overcome… that You can’t redeem… that You can’t use for my good and for the good of others. I’m choosing to surrender every heartache and every difficult circumstance into Your loving and mighty hands. Amen. 

www.proverbs31ministries.org. Used by permission.

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Sarah: When Hiding from God is No Longer an Option

by Lisa Bevere
written by Lisa Bevere

A lot can happen in a year. In Genesis 18, God visits Abraham. While sitting at the entrance of his tent, Abraham notices three men standing before him by the oaks of Mamre. Abraham runs to them, bows down, and compels them to stay, referring to them as “Lord.”

After providing a lavish meal for his visitors, a question arose, “Where is Sarah, your wife?”

“She’s inside the tent,” Abraham replied.

Then one of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!” Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent (see Genesis 18:9–10 NLT).

Sarah listens from the darkened confines of a tent, close enough to hear but separated from their conversation. She is careful not to make a sound, but Scripture reveals her thoughts:

Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?” (Genesis 18:11–12 NLT)

Was this the first time Sarah heard this? She is obviously caught off guard. Sometimes a promise is drawing closer when it has never seemed more impossible. What I love about this discourse was that the Lord is determined that Sarah is part of the conversation.

Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh.” But the Lord said, “No, you did laugh.” (Genesis 18:13–15 NLT)

Sarah not only laughed . . . she lied! She was scared because it was one of those “You’ve got to be kidding!” laughs. God spoke to the deep desire of Sarah’s heart, which shook her to the core. Her heart was shaken like a gold minor drilling the hard earth searching for the promise concealed in her heart. Perhaps she had died to these dreams but these dreams had not died–they were only buried alive deep within her.

Strength comes when God visits your life with promise. It turned out to be a year like no other for Sarah. The truth is that there is no substitute for hearing God speak directly to you. You need to jump in on conversations with God that concern your destiny. We need what you carry on your life. This is not the time to hide. It is time for you to come out of confinement and call to the Lord, “I’m here! Speak, for Your servant listens.”

If you want to live the life God has planned for you, hiding must no longer be an option. Like Sarah, this year could be a marker year for you—the year you both receive promise and have promise fulfilled.

Don’t lie and say that you do not long for more. Don’t deny your dreams. When you do, there is first a laugh and then a lie as the door of your heart shuts. Bravely throw open your heart and embrace all the miraculous wonder you’ve been invited into.

So, what are you hiding from? What is the dream that you now mock? Beloved, maybe this year has begun in the shadows with a laugh . . . but can end with embracing a promise!

www.messengerinternational.org. Used by permission. 

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Proverbs: How to Have the Courage to Change

by Randy Carlson
written by Randy Carlson

What is it in my own life that I need to change or should change?  

Change starts by first taking 100 percent responsibility for our thoughts, actions and attitudes.  It requires changing our thinking, our attitudes, and our behaviors.  This theme of the failure that many of us have – and let’s face it – many of us do – is we fail to take personal responsibilities for our lives.

When you think about it, we grew up in a time where it’s hard for us to take personal responsibility.  In fact, our culture does anything but take responsibility.  Every group in our culture points to another, saying it’s their fault. We need to have the courage to change, and until we accept the reality of this law of personal responsibility, we cannot fully mature into a spiritual and relational point of being an adult.

Christianity is not a passive religion; it’s an act of faith. The Bible uses words like choose, defend, fight, forgive, love, plant, seek, teach, train, visit, worn, work, and worship.  The Bible is full of verbs that demonstrate a very active faith. God’s design for us is to be intentional in taking these verbs and living them out:

·       When we’re obedient to know what the scripture teaches about how we’re to treat our spouses, there’s a payoff for that.

·       When we’re obedient to be intentional, to take the verb, and we use the verb, and we act on that verb in our lives, when it comes to how we live, with our finances or with our faith or our health, there’s going to be a payoff for that.

·       There’s always a positive return on investment for being intentional.

Accepting personal responsibility should cause us to have the courage to change by facing the reality as it is today, resulting in actions that will glorify God and bring benefit to ourselves.

Do you know the condition of the things that are most valuable in your life?

Two verses, Proverbs 27:23 and 24, which are two steps and a warning that we see in these two verses when it comes to change in our lives.  Proverbs 27:23-24 says, “Be diligent to know the state of your flocks and attend to your herds for riches are not forever nor does a crown endure to all generations.” There is a profound truth in these two little Proverbs worth considering.  If we dissect it for a moment, the first part says to be diligent and know the state of your flocks.  In other words, the wisdom is to know the condition of what is most valuable in your life.

Change is not going to occur until we stop and assess what needs to be changed, and the wisdom here is to know the condition of your flocks.

Many people are careless with what is most valuable in their lives. For example:

·       Someone who knows being involved with pornography will destroy their marriage yet becomes involved in pornography.

·       Someone realizes being abusive to another destroys relationships (at a minimum), and yet, they are abusive.

·       Or a person who knows wasting time leads to ultimate failure but still chooses to waste time.

·       How many of us, when it comes to our health, know what we should do, but we don’t do it anyway.

Why?  We become careless.  We are not diligent to know the state of our flocks.

As you read this, take a self-assessment for your own benefit of ten vital areas of your life and determine if you are weaker or stronger than you were a year ago. There are really more than ten, but these are the ones I’d like to focus on. If you answer the questions honestly, you’ll see the area of your life that is weaker or stronger than it was because, as I mentioned in Part 1 of this two-part series: the law of change is nothing stays the same.

1.     Is your family life weaker or stronger today than it was a year ago?

2.     What about the state of your marriage? If you’re not married, consider the close relationships that you have.

3.     Where are you today as you look at your view of God, your relationship with Christ, your relationship with God. Is it something that is stronger than it was a year ago, or is it weaker?

4.     How about your thinking and your attitude? Is your attitude in life either up or down, or your thinking about the things in your life weaker or stronger than a year ago?

5.     How you view your work? Do you see yourself being stronger or weaker as an employee carrying out what God has given you to do?

6.     What about your personal life? When you look inside your own life, would you say your personal life is stronger or weaker?

7.     How about friendships?

8.     Now consider your health. There is the ongoing tendency to grow weaker with years, especially if you don’t evaluate it. Do you think your health is weaker today or is it stronger than a year ago?

9.     Are your finances in better shape? It doesn’t necessarily mean you have more, but do you have a better handle on it than you did a year ago?

10.  What is the condition of your property, the stuff that you own? Do you take care of the things the Lord has given you?

Now, these ten things are all tied together, and it’s important to stop from time-to-time and ask the question, how am I doing in these important areas of my life?  And then from an Intentional Living perspective, ask the question of what one thing could I do in the next 30 days that would make the biggest difference in this area of my life?

Will you do that today?

 www.intentionalliving.com. Used by permission.

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Why Should We Linger in God’s Presence?

by Margaret Feinberg
written by Margaret Feinberg

“Wait for the Lord;  be strong, and let your heart take courage;

wait for the Lord!” Psalm 27:14  NIV

Margaret Feinberg explains why waiting in God’s presence is key to experiencing God’s power in our lives:

“My prayer life contains so many off-ramps.

Dip into distraction. Settle into self-centeredness. Tread into the to-do list. Slip back to sleep.

Maybe you have them, too.

 

This reflects the deeper questions, the deeper longings in my life to connect with God through prayer. To shift from living for God to with God. To rediscover God as my every inhale and tender exhale.

In spending more time in prayer, in simply being with God, I’m rediscovering the power of lingering.

 

I described God as one-part asking and one part-waiting and one part-listening.

 

Perhaps I should have added a fourth-part: Lingering.

Lingering is a lost art in a rushed, deadline-driven, always-running-behind world. People who linger long after an event is over are sometimes seen as awkward or even annoying, but they never look that way to God.

 

God always welcomes those who linger.

Those who linger stay in a place longer than necessary.

They wait.

They stay.

They remain.

They endure.

They last.

They keep on.

They persist.

They continue.

They are not rushed.

They are not hurried.

They are not scrambling.

 

Read these short statements again. Do you recognize them?

Many of them are the embodiment of faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13).

 

Those who linger with God radiate the character of Christ.

In the lingering… 

God waits for you.

God meets you.

God surprises you.

In the lingering…

Your spiritual receptivity is heightened.

Your spiritual questions are given space to go deeper.

Your spiritual eyes are opened to experience God in new ways.

In the lingering…

You can shift from working for God to being with God.

You can invite God to reveal and heal.

You can talk with God instead of about God.

 

Those who linger with God find that God lingers with them.

 

The lingering mindset shifts the way we re-emerge in the day. We are no longer leaving a prayer or study time—prayer and study come with us. The presence, the stillness, the grace follows us and transforms us…and those we encounter.

 

My hope and prayer is that today you’ll take time to linger with God…to embrace Him as He embraces you.”

From “The Sacred Echo: Hearing God’s Voice in Every Area of Your Life.”

www.margaretfeinberg.com.

 

 

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Ask Roger

What Are the Seven Deadly Sins?

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

Dear Roger,

A man in our small group mentioned the seven deadly sins. I’ve heard about them but I’m wondering just which sins they are. Why are they more deadly than any other sin? Can you explain this to me?

Sincerely, Jack

Dear Jack,

“Why don’t you pastors get together and make a list of sins so we all will know what they are?” she asked.

“The problem,” I replied, “is that every pastor would have a different list!”

The idea of the seven deadly sins isn’t new. The seven deadly sins have been around since early Christianity. The Roman Catholic Church came up with the list and declared that every possible sin was spawned, in one way or other, from these seven. Personally, I would narrow it down and say that pride is the root of all sins.

These seven are often tied to Proverbs 6:16-19 where we find a list of the six things that God hates

The early Roman Catholic Church taught that these sins could not be forgiven. However, according to the Bible these seven deadly sins are completely forgivable by God.

The only sin which cannot be forgiven is the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit., This occurs when the Holy Spirit tells an individual that he/she needs to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. When that person says, “No, I don’t need him to forgive my sins,” he/she has called the Holy Spirit a liar which is the meaning of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. This is the unforgivable sin. God can forgive every sin except saying “no” to Jesus and his forgiveness of sin.

PRIDE

Once upon a time a loving mother told me how proud she was of her son and the good choices that he was making.

“What I want to know,” she asked,” is if it is okay to be proud of my son when the Bible says that pride is a sin?”

“Of course you can tell your son how proud you are of him,” I said.

Pride is an over-concern with myself.

Pride is a two-edged sword. On the one hand, some people are all out front in a way that purposely calls attention to themselves and to their accomplishments. When they enter the front door, everyone else is backdoor. Pride says people, “I’m better than you.” Pride was Satan’s problem at the creation. He thought that he could be as good, if not better, than God himself.

It’s one thing to think too highly of yourself; it’s another thing to think too little of yourself. These self-deprecators are often gathered at the back door, reluctant to move out into life because they are afraid of what people may think of them. I call this the flip side of pride. It is a twisted over-concern with themselves.

Romans 12:3: “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”

Don’t think of yourself too lowly either.

LUST

When we think of lust we think of sex. However, we all know that it’s possible to lust for things other than sex–like money, power, fame or control.

As a result, we might define lust as an over-craving, inappropriate, desire in any number of areas.

Of course, we naturally associate lust with sex. Most all of us will be tempted with lust at one time or another. Remember that it is not a sin to be tempted. The sin comes when we began to dwell on it. You have probably heard the old adage, “We cannot keep the birds flying over our heads; but we certainly can keep them from nesting in our hair.

GREED

Greed is an overarching desire for material wealth or gain.

The saddest manifestation of greed is hoarding whereby an individual gathers material wealth that is never released to help people in need.

First Timothy 6:9-10: “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

“Pierced themselves,” are Greek words that describe roasting meat on a spit over an open fire. Paul says that the greedy are slowly roasted by the very things they consider so near and dear to their hearts.

SLOTH

Sloth is excessive physical laziness or the failure to utilize one’s talents. Sloth is avoiding work.

Let me say a word to parents about lazy teenagers. Children are programmed to get up early— full of energy and ready to go. Teenagers on the other hand, are programmed to sleep a little later. This has to do with energy.

It has always intrigued me that many school districts begin school early for teenagers and later for children. This is exactly the opposite of human behavior.

In our culture we have extended adolescence into the middle and late twenties. This is an aberration to the normal order of things. In most cultures females are considered ready for marriage when they began menstruation. The main function of young females is reproduction. Therefore, their bodies are programmed to save energy that’s needed for the baby.

Colossians 4:5: “Walk in wisdom towards them that are without, redeeming the time because the days are evil (KJV).)

WRATH

Wrath transcends anger. It’s possible to be angry and keep our feelings and emotions in line so that we may respond properly.

On the other hand, when anger degenerates to wrath our intentions turn to hurting and bringing pain to those who hurt us.

While anger itself isn’t a sin, out of control anger and hate often lead to wrath which is a sin. When wrath begins to take over, we forget about forgiveness.

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, … for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord’”. (Romans 12:19).

ENVY

Jealousy wants what someone else hands. Envy wants them not to have it.

Proverb 14:30: “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”

GLUTTONY

Gluttony is an inordinate desire to consume more than we need. Gluttony overindulges to the point that waste enters the picture.

We usually associate gluttony with overeating. However, gluttony can occur in many arenas. Gluttony leads us to waste things needed by others. The operative words here are, “self-control.”

Proverb 16:32: “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.”

Proverb 25:28: “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.”

By the way, don’t miss the fact that of the seven deadly sins, gluttony is the only one that is a sin of the flesh. All the others are sins of the spirit.

What is the Cure for These Sins?

The cure for the seven sins it’s like the cure for any sins. We experience godly sorrow by picturing Jesus’ broken heart as he watched us do what we did.

2 Corinthians 7:10: “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

Next, we confess to God that what we did was wrong and we repent by declaring that we’ve turned around and have no intention of continuing in that sin.

Finally, we ask God for forgiveness, and fill our hearts with gratitude because he promises to forgive us fully.

1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Jack, let me close my thoughts with a favorite passages which describes how God cleans us up after we sin.

Ezekiel 36:26-27: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you will keep my judgments and do them.”

Love, Roger

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James: How Do We Find Joy in Our Struggles?

by Drew Anderson
written by Drew Anderson

“Count it all joy when you encounter various trials…”  James 1:2 

The day had arrived. It was beyond sad. It was solemn, and it was heavy. Without hesitation we were there to support, to console, and to be present. In what seemed like a dream, we were getting ready to speak at the funeral of our dear friend who had just lost her battle to cancer. She had just rounded the corner past 25 years old, and was in every other way a healthy beautiful young lady. But, her life on this earth was over. She was surrounded by her husband who served her until she drew her last breath, she was nurtured and cared for by parents whose baby girl passed before their very eyes, and she was loved and admired by so many friends and family for not only the life she lived, but the strength exhibited in the way she died.

This dear friend was a Christian. She loved Jesus, and she served others. She wasn’t ostentatious, and she wasn’t callous or judgmental. She displayed dignity and compassion. Always quick to listen and slow to speak, she was endearing and she carried herself with class. You wanted to be around her, because she was characterized by joy. Her life exuded joy, and she displayed it until her Lord called her home. And it was into this untimely and tragic situation that her mom, whose name is Joy, has wisdom for us today.

When Joy–months after her daughter’s passing–had others praying for her to have a “better year”, she responds by saying, “A better year? You cannot give me a better year. This was the best year of my life.”

How can a mom–who stared down and continues to stare down the reality that her baby girl is gone–say that? This is almost too much to bear, but it is nevertheless the resolve of this mother when considering the loss of her daughter’s life on this earth.

 

1.    “Joy” is a noun that is here preceded by the adjective “all”. Thus, implying an un-mixed or unsoiled-ness to experiencing joy. But, the word is also preceded by another word, consider. Which means to think. In other words, while this joy is certainly an unmixed experience of gratefulness, it is also something that you set your mind to. It’s a conscientious choice that–after the evaluation of your circumstances–you choose to live in this unmixed joy. Hence, Joy’s resolve for joy as she considers her daughter’s life and death.

2.    “Trials” are not if, but when. The reality of our world–riddled with sin–is that we face trials of varying proportions and causes everyday. To prove this, James places the preceding word, various, before trials, which essential means manifold. In other words, the trials that are faced are not going to be the same. It’s as if we live in a world that has built-in and diverse challenges to face.

3.    Thus, we are needy. We are vulnerable. And we are unable to do this alone. And so, it was into this manifold trial-filled world that God sent His Son. It was into this world that we have One who overcame sin and death, and therefore promises those who love Him that their death won’t be the final say about their life. No, no, Joy–the mother to the dear lady who passed–knows that her daughter may not be here in person, but she lives on in her (and many other minds), and that her daughter simply passed from life to life. Joy knows that she will be reunited with her daughter because of Christ; and so, she chooses–considers it all–joy.

Glory, because of Christ there can be joy. We can have true joy beyond, outside of, and above our circumstances. Glory.

What is the personal benefit to choosing joy amidst trials?

Ultimately, trials are an inevitability of what it means to live in a broken world made up of broken people. But God, in His wisdom allows trials to be the filter through which He cultivates joy in the life of His followers. Not merely for the sake of the struggle, but instead what the struggle produces.

Consider for a moment your own life. Consider the trials and struggles you have endured. Certainly, there are elements of the struggle(s) that you would eliminate, but can you nevertheless agree that it was through struggles that something good was produced in you or in those around you? Maybe you’ve said, “I’m glad I went through that, because it produced _____, but I sure wouldn’t want to endure it again.”? There are many things in my life I wouldn’t want to endure again, but I can say that those things certainly changed me–for the better.

And so, after James instructs followers of Christ to consider their struggles with joy, he then goes on to help us understand why they should do just that…

 

“…Knowing that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

 

In so many words, James reveals that the trials are a testing ground of faith. It is where the rubber meets the road. Life–for the Christian–is not about the milk toast, but instead about the struggles that test one’s faith for the production of something. That something that is produced–James says–is endurance. 

The word endurance means literally to bear under. In other words, “the capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty” (BDAG, 1039). What James is instructing the follower of Christ is that the reason you should consider your various trials with joy is because the trials produce the ability to bear up in difficulties. In other words, it is through the trial that the strength is given to remain faithful. 

How Does This Apply To Us Today?

1.    It is through the trial(s) that God grows the faith of His followers–the stick-to-it-ness of His people. 

2.    Jesus endured to give us grace to endure. This grace is His free gift extended to a broken humanity to be received by us in faith. In other words, a follower of Christ is one who looks to Christ in the midst of his trials as the answer to their questions of “why me, why us, why now, etc.“. Christ’s endurance is not only an example to follow, but the means of grace through which to lay hold of and believe it is available to His followers even today. “The grace of God has appeared…” Titus 2:11.

www.staffandstones.com. Used by permission. 

 

 

 

 

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Praying Scripture for Your Grandchildren

by Deborah Haddix
written by Deborah Haddix

You simply cannot go wrong when praying Scripture.

To be honest, as I look back over my life of prayer I must admit there have been times when I simply did not know what to pray – blank mind, no words.  There have also been times when my prayers seemed mechanical – rote, repetitive, even dull.

 

On occasion my prayers have even felt powerless – ineffective, as though they made no difference.

 

Can you relate?  Ever feel like you are praying “wrong” or your prayers are of no benefit?

 

Over the past year or so, I have discovered that there are many ways to “breathe new life” into my prayers when faced with any of these scenarios.  

 

Just what do we mean when we say, “PRAY SCRIPTURE?”

According to Evan B. Howard, author of Praying the Scriptures, “To pray the Scriptures is to order one’s time of prayer around a particular text in the Bible.” 

 

This can be done in one of several ways including:

  • Praying Scripture word-for-word as you read a chosen portion of Scripture in a prayerful manner.
  • Personalizing the Scripture by inserting your own names or names of your loved ones as you pray.
  • Reading through a passage or verse several times emphasizing a different word each time.
  • Praying through topics using Scriptural texts.

PRAYING SCRIPTURE is not only one of my favorite ways to “breathe new life” into my prayers, it is one of my favorite tools for praying for my grandchildren.

Some Scriptures especially suited to praying for grandchildren are Numbers 6:22-27, Ephesians 1:15-23, Ephesians 3:14-21, Philippians 1:9-11, Colossians 1:9-12, Psalm 91, Psalm 139, and The Book of Proverbs.

 

Let’s take a closer look at PRAYING SCRIPTURE using one of these passages as it might be prayed for a grandchild:

 

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.  And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.  — Ephesians 1:15-23 (ESV)

 

One way to pray this Scripture for our grandchildren would be to personalize it by reading it as though it were written specifically for one’s own grandchild.

 

Additionally, the pray-er could personalize it even more by making personal petitions on behalf of their grandchild as they read/pray.

 

For example, at “give thanks” a grandparent could stop and take a few moments to thank God for a grandchild or all of their grandchildren by name.  While giving thanks, a praying grandparent might also want to offer thanks for the privilege of being a grandparent and for God’s very gracious blessings.

 

At “may give you the Spirit of wisdom,” ask God to give your grandchildren spiritual wisdom for the purpose of making godly decisions.  Pray that your grandchildren would develop a sense of holy reverence and awe of the Lord.

 

As you pray for “the revelation in the knowledge of him,” pray that God will help your grandchild to grow in knowledge of and love for Christ.

 

As you continue, pray that each of your grandchildren will have the eyes of their hearts enlightened; that they will get understanding and hate every false way (Psalm 119:104).

 

When you pray “that [your grandchild] may know what is the hope to which he has [been] called,” ask God to help your grandchild live with an eternal perspective.  Pray that your grandchild would come to know Christ, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).

 

Thank God for the eternal inheritance He has in store for your grandchildren (Ephesians 1:14, Colossians 3:24, Hebrews 9:15, 1 Peter 1:4).

 

Ask God to enable your grandchildren to live obediently through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Thank Him for the life-from-death power that is accessible to your grandchildren.

 

Pray that the Holy Spirit would provide strength to enable your grandchildren to resist temptation and to live brave.

 

Finally, pray that your grandchildren would be established in love and grasp the love of Christ.  Ask God to help your grandchildren love others, walk in love, and live in the freedom of Jesus’ unconditional love.

If you have never PRAYED SCRIPTURE before, why not begin here?  Then try praying some of the other passages for your grandchildren.  As you become more comfortable with the practice, you might even pray Scripture for others or yourself.

 

PRAYING SCRIPTURE:

  • Provides us with the WORDS to pray.
  • Allows us to use the emotions of the Bible as we pray.
  • Strengthens our “prayer” confidence.
  • Teaches us how to communicate with God.
  • Deepens our relationship with our Heavenly Father.
  • Makes us pliable to His shaping.
  • Combines the spiritual discipline of engaging with Scripture with the spiritual discipline of praying to provide more benefit to the soul.

I’d love to hear how PRAYING SCRIPTURE has impacted your life or how you might choose to pray Ephesians 1:15-23 for your grandchildren.  Please share by leaving a comment.

www.deborahhaddix.com. Used by permission. 

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Five Surprising Reasons People Leave Your Church

by Carey Nieuwhof
written by Carey Nieuwhof

No matter how long you’ve been in leadership, it still hurts when people leave your church.

It’s somewhat easy to understand people leaving when things are going poorly— when there’s conflict, division or dysfunction.

But what most leaders aren’t prepared for is the reality that people will leave when things are going well. Even when they’re going really well.

In fact, some people leave because things are going well, or because you’re getting healthier.

As surprising as this sounds, every time you make progress as a church, you’ll lose people.

This comes as a shock to most leaders. And it can be very disheartening, especially if you don’t realize some loss even in great seasons is ‘normal’.

So why do people leave even when you’re making progress at your church?

Simple. The people who are at your church today are there because they like it the way it is.

Change that (even for the better), and some will leave.

It will shock you. It will disappoint you. It will leave you scratching your head. And it’s unavoidable. But you need to keep moving or else you’ll be paralyzed by focusing on who you want to keep, not who you want to reach.

So why do people leave when things are going well?

Here are 5 rather startling reasons people leave your church when you’re least expecting it.

1. YOU CAST TOO BIG A VISION

What? Casting a big vision can cause people to leave?

Absolutely.

A big vision is inspiring. It’s also threatening.

Vision threatens people because, inherently, vision challenges the status quo. It calls out the best in people. It asks people to think bigger, to think beyond themselves, to push past the status quo and to sacrifice.

And not everybody’s up for that.

As a leader, it’s critical to sift through you motivation every time you cast vision. If the vision is really about you, your ego, or your insecurities (you need to grow bigger to feel good about yourself), healthy people will resist it. (Wise, godly people can help you sort through your motives and see them accurately.)

But you can have a beautifully motivated, compelling vision and still have people walk out the door.

As exciting as the future is, some people prefer the present. Others live in the past.

You can’t build the future church on people who live in the past.

2. YOU GREW

Growth can be an awesome thing. Healthy growth means you’re reaching new people, baptizing people and seeing hope beat in the hearts of people who never knew hope, and so much more.

But growth is threatening.

You’ll see a few patterns emerge.

First, people who love being a big fish in a small pond will immediately get uncomfortable. They’ll want more say…more power, more control.

Others won’t be comfortable with the crowds or the parking issues or having to wait in lines when they were used to accessing everything instantly.

And you’ll probably hear vague comments like “it’s just not the same anymore” or “we simply like it better when it was smaller.”

So what do you do with that?

Well, first, empathize. They’re right…things have changed and it’s not the same as it used to be.

Second, ask them to invite their friends and get in on what’s going on.

What you’ll likely discover is that some do, but most (or at least many) don’t. And for them, it might all boil down to this: the church isn’t really about accomplishing a mission. It’s about meeting their needs.

The challenge, of course, is that the heart of the Christian faith isn’t about satisfying yourself, it’s about dying to yourself.

So what do you do?

If you’re going to make progress on your mission, focus on who you want to reach, not who you want to keep.

The moment you focus on who you’re trying to keep, both the present and the future slip away from you.

3. YOU’RE REACHING DIFFERENT PEOPLE

As a church realizes its mission, it means that you’ll reach your community, which when fully realized, means you’ll have a cross-section of your entire community.

Rich and poor.

Professional and blue collar.

Republicans and Democrats.

Black and white.

Latino and Asian.

It means you’ll have people in your church who are sober, and others who are working on it, and others still whose addictions are far from under control.

Which is exactly what the church should be. The New Testament church was all those things. If you’re not convinced it was, please re-read 1 Corinthians.

This can be really threatening for people who think church is for the righteous and for people who have all their issues worked out, which of course, is none of us.

Tim Keller gets to the heart of the problem with modern Christianity in recounting this conversation he had with a woman about her self-righteous faith:

I asked her what was so scary about unmerited free grace? She replied something like this: “If I was saved by my good works — then there would be a limit to what God could ask of me or put me through.

I would be like a taxpayer with rights. I would have done my duty and now I would deserve a certain quality of life. But if it is really true that I am a sinner saved by sheer grace — at God’s infinite cost — then there’s nothing he cannot ask of me. (Tim Keller, Prodigal God)

If everyone in your church looks like you, acts like you, votes like you, believes like you and thinks like you, you’re probably not the church.

4. YOU GOT HEALTHIER

When I look back at over two decades of leadership, I realize that so much of my journey has been toward greater and greater emotional and spiritual health.

I’ve seen counselors over the years, hired coaches, read books, gone on retreats and done whatever I can to become more emotionally, spiritually and relationally healthy. And like every leader, I’m a work in progress.

But here’s the good news.

Leaders, when you get healthier, your church gets healthier.

But it also means that sometimes, people who don’t want to get healthy leave.

In the same way that healthy people are drawn to healthy leaders, unhealthy people are drawn to unhealthy leaders.

Gossipers love other gossipers.

Troublemakers love other troublemakers.

Selfish people feel better around other selfish people.

You get the picture.

As your church gets healthier, unhealthy people really have two options: get healthy, or find a less healthy environment.

It’s quite possible that the vast majority of your church will get healthier with you, particularly if you lead and teach out of what you’re learning.

But some won’t want to make that journey.

They’ll leave. And sometimes they make a scene when they go.

Let them go. That’s what healthy people do…they invite, they encourage, and when refused, they move on.

So…keep moving your church toward health.

5. YOU FINALLY MOVED INTO THAT NEW FACILITY

So many people think a move into a new building is a positive step that will only cause growth.

For a church that has momentum, that’s almost universally true. (Although a move into a building will not cause a declining church to grow…I explain why here.)

But even when things are going well, you will lose people.

Some people will love the portable days even better. Some won’t like the new location. Others may not like the design. Others may feel displaced.

For some people, there’s also a sentimental association with past places of worship as well. Maybe the sentiment is because they became Christians there, were baptized there, or even got married there.

For sure, that’s understandable. Most people get past the sentiment, but some don’t. And they’ll leave.

The church has to keep moving though…advancing the mission. After all, you cannot build a future by living in the past.

WHY DOES THIS MATTER?

All of this can leave you feeling discouraged unless you realize one core truth.

Even if the handful of people who might leave aren’t unappeasable, the people you need to reach are far greater in number than those you’re trying to keep.

The people you might lose always have other churches they can go to.

The unchurched people you will reach by changing…don’t.

Don’t burn bridges with those leaving (be gracious…thank them for their time with you), but don’t sacrifice the mission for the sake of a handful of people who don’t like the future.

The challenge, of course, is to reach more people than you lose and to keep unnecessary departures to a minimum.

www.careynieuwhof.com. Used by permission.

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Growing Older and Growing Godly: Are You Caleb or Asa?

by Francis Chan
written by Francis Chan

The older I get the more intense I feel about this. I think we do things backwards in the Christian church. We do these amazing things for God when we’re 18 to 25 years old. But as we get older we tend to mellow out. We get more comfortable, and we do fewer things by faith. I look at that, and I think that’s so backwards.

 

We’re in a race. There’s no time to celebrate, there’s no time to fight. Anything could slow us down. That’s what our lives should be like. But we do it backwards. We slow down as we get older. I get some of this. When we’re 18, we have nothing to lose. But as we get older, we get married, we have a career, we have some kids, and we don’t have the energy we had earlier in life. 

I don’t want to slow down.
 
I don’t want to get comfortable.
 
I want to take bigger steps of faith every year.

 

To me, “Happily ever after” starts at my death, standing before God. That’s when I can celebrate.

 

Look at Caleb.

 

He was over 40 when he was sent to spy on the Promised Land, and he was one of only two who came back who was convinced that Israel could take the land. 45 years later, he’s 85, and he was ready to march in and take the land. That’s who I want to be.

 

2 CHRONICLES 16:9 – “The eyes of the Lord roam to and fro throughout the Earth, looking to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.”

 

Do you believe this? God is looking throughout the Earth. He knows my heart. He knows my mind. He knows yours. He’s actively looking to give support to those whose heart is blameless towards him. He’s looking for someone to support. We ask, “God, please support me!”

 

And he’s saying, “I’m looking. Is anyone’s heart really for me? Are you really seeking my kingdom?” Do you want my will?”

 

God sees that.

 

I want to be that person where God stops and says, “Okay, him. I’m going to strongly support him, like Caleb and Joshua. They just kept believing God and serving Him confidently and faithfully!

 

What I love about this verse is the context — the real story of this verse. These words were spoken to a king named Asa. He was an amazing king. When there was a good king, good things happened. But that was rare.

 

Early in King Asa’s reign, a prophet said to him, “Take courage. Do not let your hands be weak. Your work shall be rewarded.” As soon as Asa heard these words, he took courage. Think about that. “Take courage.” It’s something we have to take.

 

We see in 2 Chronicles 15 what Asa does. He rebuilds the altar, he removes the idols, and he makes a covenant with the Lord along with all the people. He even removed an idol that his own mother had made. Don’t you want to be a man or woman of God like that?

 

God rewarded his faithfulness. For 35 years, there was no war.

 But in the 36th year, the King of Israel started a war.

 

At this point, Asa made a deal with the King of Syria, to help defend his kingdom. Most of us would think that this was a good idea. But in verse 7, Hananiah the prophet came and told Asa that because he had relied on the King of Syria and not on God, that Asa had acted foolishly and that there would never be an end to war.

 

Asa had changed his ways from his earlier years because he had gotten a little success. He’d gotten comfortable. It wasn’t like the early days when he cried out to God, and this prophet was reminding him of that. God’s looking for people who always seek him throughout life, but what does Asa do?

 

He’s been a king for 35 years, and he’d made other king buddies, so they’d join him. Asa was told that this was a very stupid thing to do. He would be at war from then on. The really sad thing is, after hearing this, did Asa change his ways? No. He got angry at the prophet and had him imprisoned.

 

In Asa’s 39th year, God gave him a disease in his feet. He still refused to pray to God, and he died. I’ve seen this happen in my life.

 

I speak to so many college-age kids, and they’re all longing for an elderly mentor whose life makes sense to them in light of the Gospel. I want my kids to model the same intensity that they see in me. I want my two-year-old to see an even more intense me than my 18-year-old did.

 

If I can hear “Well done” from God, that’s all I want. I want that for you. Is there anything you’re going to care about that’s more important than when Jesus says, “Well done”?

 

Older saint, Join me!

I’m going to take courage.
 
I’m going to turn around.

 

I’m going to live for God for the rest of my life, and I want to hear God say, “Well done.”

 

God will say, “You know I had something better for you, so come in and enjoy the riches of my kingdom.” There’s that “Happily ever after.” Live life faithfully and seek God’s rewards.

Taken from “Finish Strong: Caleb” by Francis Chan

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Ten Big Questions about Future Church Attendance

by Carey Nieuwhof
written by Carey Nieuwhof

 

Talk to any church leader, and they’ll tell you it feels more challenging than ever to get people to come to church on a Sunday.

Even in growing churches (like ours), the competition for peoples’ time, attention and devotion seems to get more intense every year.

You’ve felt it too.

So what’s up? And where is future church attendance heading?

I’m a firm believer in the future of the church and the gathered church. It’s here to stay not because we always get it right, but because the church is Jesus’ idea, not ours.

Still, with everything in the culture changing, how do you navigate toward a better future?

One step is to start asking solid questions.

Why? Because usually the future isn’t pioneered by the clarity of the answers nearly as much as it by the quality of the questions.

Ask the right questions, and you’ll eventually get the right answers.  Fail to ask the questions, and you’re sunk.

Here are ten questions I’m asking right now and I’ve seen other leaders ask. I think they can help frame your discussion and move you toward better answers and a strategy to match.

I’ve also included my hunch when it comes to an answer to the questions, not because I’m certain it’s right, but because answering the question moves you toward a more strategic and proactive future.

So, with that in mind,  here are 10 really big questions about future church attendance.

1. WILL INFREQUENT CHURCH ATTENDANCE BECOME THE UNIVERSAL DEFAULT?

If you grew up in church, you were likely raised never to miss a Sunday. Well, those days are pretty much gone.

Frequent church attendance (say 2-3 weeks a month) seems to be most prevalent among

  • Volunteers
  • Long time (and older) church attendees
  • Families with very young children
  • Some new attendees and new Christians (at least for a season)
  • Quite honestly, lower-income families for whom travel is not an option

For everyone else, regular church attendance is giving way to non-engagement or online attendance.

As infrequent in-person attendance becomes more normative, it raises a series of other questions.

My Hunch:

Infrequent church attendance is usually a sign that people don’t see value in what you’re doing. And that’s a problem.

When parents who never ever miss their kids’ soccer practice regularly miss church, it’s a sign that they’re more engaged in soccer than they are in church. In other words, they just don’t see the value in attendance.

2. DOES INFREQUENT ATTENDANCE LEAD TO LOWER DEVOTION AMONG CHRISTIANS?

Some might argue frequent church attendance is not an indicator of devotion to Christ. But the bigger question is Is infrequent church attendance a sign of lower devotion to Christ?

Obviously, there is nothing that inherently says that’s the case, but generally speaking, people are less committed to things they attend less often.

Naturally, the goal of faith is to get people to commit to Jesus, not to a local church, but still, Christ and his church are intricately connected.

But consider this: showing up at the gym once a month rather than 3 times a week usually communicates something. Skipping a weekly date with someone you’re supposed to be in love with is usually a sign of something deeper.

People usually commit to things they’re devoted to. Until they’re no longer devoted to them.

My Hunch:

Infrequent attendance is almost always a sign of lower devotion. We participate in the things we value most.

3. WILL ONLINE CHURCH REPLACE IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE FOR MANY?

So if people aren’t attending church as regularly anymore, then what’s the new normal?

In addition to simply staying away, many are substituting online options for in-person attendance. The launch of Churchome’s Global App is one more step in that direction.

The last decade has seen an explosion of online options for Christians, most of which are free: from social media to podcasts and to services streamed both live and on demand.

The opportunities are endless and will only grow from here.

Even if your church doesn’t have any online presence, don’t worry—thousands of other ministries do. There’s no way to shield your congregation from a changing world.

And actually, come to think of it, there’s shouldn’t be. The church has always adapted to a changing world because Jesus loves the world.

My Hunch:

While I think that (at least at this point) increased in-person engagement almost always leads to higher devotion, for some people online will be their only form of church. I don’t love this, for reasons stated elsewhere in this post, but if you ignore your online strategy, you lose the chance to reach new people, even if it means some of your less-devoted people step back.

4. DOES ONLINE PARTICIPATION FEED CONSUMPTION OR DRIVE ENGAGEMENT?

One of the key goals for Christians is to engage the mission in front of us: to share the love and salvation of Christ with the world.

But does online participation drive Christians into deeper engagement with that mission or does it drive us deeper into consumerism?

The challenge with technology, of course, is that we are both its parent and its child. We shaped it, but we’re unclear on how it’s shaping us.

So, given the rise of digital options, are Christians increasingly seeing their faith as something to be consumed?

The Gospel by nature demands sacrifice, engagement, and risk.

Christianity at its best has never been about consuming much and contributing little. We shouldn’t start now.

In many respects, online consumption builds the kingdom of me. We’re called to build the Kingdom of God.

My Hunch:

When you design your online strategy, you can shape it to fuel consumption or to fuel engagement. While many churches will shape it to fuel consumption, the more effective churches will shape it to fuel engagement.

5. WHAT HAPPENS TO EVANGELISM IN A LOW ATTENDANCE WORLD?

Of all the things that concern me most about lower attendance patterns, this one is the highest on my list.

If you’re consuming your faith online and only attending sporadically, how do you invite your friends into that? That’s right, you don’t.

Sharing a pin on Instagram is not the same as personally sharing your life with a friend.

Sure, theoretically, you can share your faith around a kitchen table. But let’s be honest, not many people actually do that. And something tells me that most people who attend infrequently rarely share their faith.

Christians should live like the good news is good, not just for them, but for everyone.

My Hunch:

Many Christians will continue to see their faith as something to be enjoyed, not shared. But they won’t be the future church.

The future church will be followers of Jesus who unite around a mission to change the world through the love and hope of Christ.

6. WHAT HAPPENS TO DISCIPLESHIP IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT?

Christian maturity is not marked by how much you know, it’s marked by how much you love.

And love has an outward thrust.

Sure, to grow as a disciple you need to consume. So listen to messages and podcasts, take online seminary classes… do what you need to do.

But consumption has never been the goal of true discipleship. Jesus never asked you to be a disciple; he called you to make disciples.

If your mantra in avoiding other Christians on Sunday and consuming what you feel like on Monday is to build yourself up, you’ve lost the mission.

My Hunch:

The future church will be filled with Christians who realize they’re called to make disciples, not just be disciples.

7. HOW MUCH OF A VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE ACTUALLY TRANSLATES?

With more and more congregations streaming their services, it raises the question of what happens on the other end?

First, I suspect the attention span of viewers and listeners is fractured and intermittent. Watching while running on the treadmill is not the same experience as being in the room live when something is taking place. Listening while cooking dinner and while the kids are running up and down the hall is not the same as being seated and attentive for a sermon. Sure, people have been distracted in church for centuries, but it’s a different kind of distraction.

Second, even if you sit in rapt attention to what’s being streamed on your device, is it the same as being in the room? If you only watched online for a year or attended for a year, would your faith be different?

Hunch

Because so online content consumption is often done while people multi-task, it will lead to a distracted discipleship if that’s the only form of church people experience.

8. IS A DIGITAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRISTIANITY ENOUGH?

As physical attendance continues to decline and digital engagement increases, will it be possible to have 100% or near 100% digital relationship with Christianity, much the way you have a completely virtual relationship with gaming, movies or Hollywood?

I really think something gets lost by a mainly digital experience.

A high percentage of couples today meet online. But no couple who meets online wants to stay online: the goal is to meet in person and (maybe) start a life together.  Should Christians be different?

If the goal is to do life together, to engage in a mission together, to quite literally change the world together, well… that involves actual human relationships.

But in a world where more and more are choosing virtual connection over real, we’ll have to see what that produces.

9. WHAT HAPPENS TO KIDS WHOSE PARENTS ONLY ATTEND ONLINE?

This one bothers me more than most. Parents will often skip out on attending church because they’re busy or want a day off.

And parents can easily catch up on a message and maybe even still get to a small group.

But what about kids?

I think the Gospel is inherently relational.

You can’t download a relationship or a friendship.

When parents skip church, kids lose far more than the parents.

What happens to a generation of kids who grow up relationally disconnected? Actually, I think we’re seeing the results of that already. Just read the news.

10. WILL FRAGMENTED INDIVIDUAL BELIEVERS CARRY THE MISSION FORWARD?

Whether the future trends are toward more online engagement or just more sporadic attendance with no online supplementation, the question is whether fragmented individual believers will carry the mission forward?

The church has always been strongest when it’s been a movement of people gathered around a common set of mission, vision, values and strategy.

The hyper-individualism of our current culture (I’ll do what I want when I want to) runs at crossed-purposes to the Gospel and the mission of the church.

I realize many Christians argue they’re done with church, but that still doesn’t change my view that the only one who believes Christians are better off alone is the enemy.

www.careynieuwhof.com. Used by permission.

 

 

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Articles

Will Everyone Be Equal in Heaven?

by Randy Alcorn
written by Randy Alcorn

Is everyone equal in heaven? What does the Bible teach?

All people are equal in worth, but they differ in gifting and performance. God is the creator of diversity, and diversity means “inequality” of gifting (1 Corinthians 12:14-20). Because God promises to reward people differently according to their differing levels of faithfulness in this life, we should not expect equality of possessions and positions in Heaven.

If everyone were equal in Heaven in all respects, it would mean we’d have no role models, no heroes, no one to look up to, no thrill of hearing wise words from someone we deeply admire. I’m not equal to Hudson Taylor, Susanna Wesley, George Mueller, or C. S. Lewis. I want to follow their examples, but I don’t need to be their equals.

There’s no reason to believe we’ll all be equally tall or strong or that we’ll have the same gifts, talents, or intellectual capacities. If we all had the same gifts, they wouldn’t be special. If you can do some things better than I can, and I than you, then we’ll have something to offer each other.

We live in a culture that worships equality, but we err when we reduce equality to sameness. It’s illogical to assume everyone in Heaven will be able to compose a concerto with equal skill or be able to throw a ball as far as everyone else. In a perfect world, Adam was bigger and stronger than Eve, and Eve had beauty, sensitivities, and abilities Adam didn’t. In other words, diversity—not conformity—characterizes a perfect world.

Scripture is clear that we’ll have different rewards and positions in Heaven, according to our faithful service in this life. Since everyone will be happy, what could be the nature of these differences? Jonathan Edwards said, “The saints are like so many vessels of different sizes cast into a sea of happiness where every vessel is full: this is eternal life, for a man ever to have his capacity filled. But after all ’tis left to God’s sovereign pleasure, ’tis his prerogative to determine the largeness of the vessel.”[i]

A pint jar and a quart jar can both be full, but the larger jar contains more. Likewise, in Heaven all of us will be full of joy, but some may have a larger capacity for joy, having been stretched through their dependence on God in this life. John Bunyan said it well: “He who is most in the bosom of God, and who so acts for him here, he is the man who will be best able to enjoy most of God in the kingdom of heaven.”

Our different personalities, rewards, positions, and names in Heaven (see Revelation 2:17) speak not only of our individuality but also of how God finds unique reasons to love us. I love my wife and daughters, and I love different things about each.

We’re like unique instruments, played by an orchestra to produce one beautiful sound, rich in its variety. We all have our unique part in glorifying God. We bring something singular and vital to the concert of praise.

www.epm.org. Used by permission.

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30 Life-Transforming Proverbs

by Tommy Nelson
written by Tommy Nelson

Crossroads

  1. Birth: “The rich and the poor have a common bond, the Lord is the maker of them all.” (Prov. 22:2)
  2. Authority: “The eye that mocks a father and scorns a mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out…” (Prov.30:17)
  3. Chores and responsibilities: “An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.” (Prov. 20:21)
  4. Family: “Like a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his home.” (Prov. 27:8)
  5. Submitting to discipline: “Discipline your son while there is still hope, and do not desire his death.” (Prov. 19:18)
  6. God: When the faith becomes your own. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” (Prov. 1:7)
  7. School: “A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.” (Prov. 14:6)
  8. Peer pressure: “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” (Prov. 13:20)
  9. The Bible: “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law.” (Prov. 29:18)
  10. True religion: “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination…” (Prov. 15:8)
  11. Boys and girls: “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” (Prov. 31:30)
  12. Mastering the body: “And he who rules his spirit, [is better] than he who captures a city.” (Prov. 16:32)
  13. The ability to relate to people: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls.” (Prov. 11:30)
  14. Sensitivity to others: “Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda, is he who sings songs to a troubled heart.” (Prov. 25:20)
  15. Flexibility: “Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, but much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.”(Prov. 14:4)
  16. Critical thinking: “The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, but the naive go on, and are punished for it. (Prov. 22:3)
  1. Anger: “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,” (Prov. 16:32)
  2. Choosing a vocation: “Train up a child in the way he should go (his way), even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6)
  3. Drugs and alcohol: “Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup,… at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper.” (Prov. 23:31-32)
  4. The ability to achieve short term success: “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent is made fat.” (Prov. 13:4)
  5. Control of the tongue: “There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing,” (Prov. 12:18)
  6. Handling of money: “There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up.” (Prov. 21:20)
  7. Values: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe. A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his own imagination.” (Prov. 18:10-11)
  8. The workplace: “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.” (Prov. 22:29)
  9. Getting rich quick: “Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.” (Prov. 17:24)
  10. Marriage: “It is better to live in a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a contentious woman.” (Prov. 25:24) “Do not associate with a
    man     given to anger; Or go with a hot-tempered man, or you will learn his ways…” (Prov. 22:24-25)
  11. Caring for parents: “He who assaults his father and drives his mother away is a shameful and disgraceful son.” (Prov. 19:26)
  12. Raising kids: “A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother.” (Prov. 10:1)
  13. A legacy: “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children…” (Prov. 13:22) “The memory of the righteous is blessed…” (Prov. 10:7)
  14. Grandkids: “Grandchildren are the crown of old men…” (Prov. 17:6) 
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8 Tests to Know If Your Faith is Growing

by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth
written by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

Almost everyone tries to develop new habits and make improvements at the beginning of a new year. But by the time March rolls around, most of the diets have crashed and the gym memberships have gone unused. Nancy identifies the true power you need for lasting change in the series “Adding to Your Faith.” Below are follow-up questions to deepen your understanding of 2 Peter 1:5–7.

Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love” (2 Peter 1:5–7).

Faith

  • Do you have genuine faith in Christ?
  • Who or what are you trusting for your eternal salvation?
  • What evidences are there that you have true faith: that you have believed and placed your faith in Christ? (Faith without works is dead.)

Virtue

  • Is your life characterized by moral excellence?
  • Do you choose to think, read, be entertained by, and look on things that are virtuous and excellent?
  • Is your character (speech, actions, and choices) morally excellent?
  • Do you have a heart and appetite for things that are excellent, good, and pure?
  • Do you have an energetic, vigorous faith? Is it active, alive, and growing?
  • Are you fulfilling your intended, created purpose? What does your life reflect to others about the nature and character of God?

Knowledge

  • Are you growing in your knowledge of God’s Word and His ways?
  • Are you growing in your knowledge of God, in an intimate relationship with Him?
  • What are you doing to nurture your relationship with Him and to get to know Him better?
  • Are you spending consistent time seeking to know Him through the study of His Word and prayer?
  • What things are you most motivated and interested to learn about?
  • Are you able to take the Word and apply it to your life circumstances and to use it to minister to the needs of others?

Self-control

  • Do you have any recurring or besetting sinful habits or areas of bondage in your life?
  • Are you enslaved or addicted to anything?
  • Do you exercise self-control
    • with your tongue and words
    • in your moods and emotions
    • with your body: food and drink
    • with your time: entertainment, hobbies, and habits
    • in your spending
    • sexually
    • with the computer and the Internet
  • Is there any area where you frequently and habitually give in to sinful or fleshly desires, drives, or passions?

Steadfastness (Perseverance)

  • Does your faith hold up? Do you endure under pressure and testing?
  • Do you keep trusting, loving, and obeying God even when His providence and choices are not what you would choose?
  • When hard times come, do you throw in the towel and give in to discouragement, fear, or resentment?
  • What trials or afflictions are you facing at this time? Are you enduring them steadfastly, or have you grown weary and fainthearted?
  • Are you responding to these trials with joy?

Godliness

  • Is your heart orientation and inclination toward godly things?
  • Is your heart devoted to God?
  • Is your life God-centered? Is what you think about, dwell on, and seek after God-centered?
  • Is the essential orientation of your life God-ward and heavenward? Or is it self-centered and earthly (earthbound)? Is it temporal or eternal?
  • Are you training to be godly? What are you doing?

Brotherly Affection

  • Do you genuinely care for the people of God? Are you fond of them?
  • Do you enjoy their company? Are you cultivating rich friendships with other believers?
  • Do you think of them as your brothers and sisters?
  • Are you kind to and considerate of your fellow believers?
  • Do you assume the best about other believers?
  • Are you warmhearted toward them?
  • Do you look for ways to encourage and bless them?
  • Do you treat them with honor, respect, and goodwill?
  • Do you speak charitably and well of other believers?
  • Are you quick to serve and minister to their needs whenever possible?
  • Are you hospitable? Do you welcome God’s people into your home?
  • Do you receive others as Christ has received you?

Love (1 Corinthians 13)

  • Is your life characterized by selfless, sacrificial, serving love?
  • Do you seek the Kingdom of God and the interests of others above your own?
  • Do you love God (evidenced by obeying His commands)?
  • Do you love your family?
  • Do you love the lost?

www.reviveourhearts.com.

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Five Steps to Creating Disciple-Makers

by Warren Bird
written by Warren Bird

I wonder if out of reverence for Jesus being divine, we sometimes dismiss his disciple-making practices and think, Well, that’s because it’s Jesus; he’s God. Of course he’s the best people-developer in the universe. So we admire how he mentored others who went out and changed the world, but we dismiss it as only possible for someone who is God incarnate. I’ve done that.

 

The apostle Paul didn’t make that mistake. He heard Jesus’ vision of God’s kingdom, how we can bring that to be, and he recruited a young apprentice named Timothy (Acts 16: 1–3). I love that Paul picked Timothy, because Timothy was a guy who didn’t have a perfect life, and that makes him very relatable. Timothy’s dad was not around; either he was an absentee father or he had abandoned Timothy and his mom altogether. Scripture describes Timothy as timid (1 Cor. 16:10–11). He was very apprehensive about whether his life could make an impact.

But Paul grabs him and even writes to him how they’re going to change the world together: “The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Tim. 2:2).

How many generations of apprenticeship do you see in that verse? Paul is saying, in effect, “Timothy, don’t be content with being a Christ follower; think about others, the rest of the world. I know you have a hard time thinking about impact, but I want you to think exponential impact! Let’s live our lives so as to impact at least four generations.”

 

·       First-generation apprenticeship: Jesus to Paul

·       Second-generation apprenticeship: Paul to Timothy

·       Third-generation apprenticeship: Timothy to “reliable people”

·       Fourth-generation apprenticeship: “reliable people” to “others”

This verse calls us to mentor disciple multipliers to the fourth generation. That’s exponential impact!

Paul was explaining to Timothy (and to us) that if we want to see disciples made in all nations—a movement of kingdom multiplication—it will happen through apprenticeship. Apprenticeship is the core competency of any movement of God.

What Paul discovered is the difference between impact and exponential impact. If we are Spirit led and committed to the mission, our lives can have an impact. But when we add the reproducing piece and even multiplying through apprenticeship, that is when exponential impact is possible. That’s when we begin to see a movement of hero makers.

A Simple Tool for Apprenticeship

If Paul’s goal of developing four generations of apprentices seems unreachable for you and your church, then I have good news for you. It is not. This goal is very doable if you and your church follow five simple steps.

Eric Metcalf is a disciple multiplier, and he has used these five steps of apprenticeship with other leaders as often as anyone I know.

Here’s his process:

1.     I do. You watch. We talk. As the experienced leader, Eric leads the group and tells Grace (his apprentice), “You just observe everything that happens in our small group, and then we will find a time to meet and discuss what you observed.” Before the next small group meeting, Eric and Grace debrief, and this includes asking the following questions: “What worked?” “What didn’t work?” and “How can we improve?” This time for debriefing needs to continue throughout the five steps.

 

2.     I do. You help. We talk. In this step of development, Eric gives his apprentice, Grace, an opportunity to help lead part of the small group meeting. In this case, Eric asked Grace, “Could you lead the icebreaker time at the beginning if I lead the rest?” Grace agreed. Again, the small group meeting should be followed up with a one-on-one debrief between leader and apprentice.

 

3.     You do. I help. We talk. Now Grace transitions from helping Eric to taking on most of the leadership responsibilities for the small group. Since Eric has had an exceptionally busy week, he takes the opportunity to ask Grace, “Could you lead most of the meeting this week? If you do, I will handle the icebreaker at the beginning and the prayer time at the end, plus I will be there with you the whole time.” Grace agrees, and since she has seen him lead the group enough times, she feels very comfortable and does great. Eric is gradually releasing responsibilities to his new, developing leader.

 

4.     You do. I watch. We talk. The apprentice process for Grace is almost complete as she grows increasingly more confident in her role as a leader. Eric has her lead the entire meeting each week while he watches her, and he gives her the responsibility of finding a service project for the group. At their debrief time, Eric says, “I think you are ready for leadership; do you think you are ready?” With a smile, Grace says, “I think I’m ready.” With both leader and apprentice feeling ready for the next step, they begin to plan whether Grace will take over the group or lead a new group, and what Eric will lead next.

 

5.     You do. Someone else watches. This is where the process of multiplication comes full circle. Eric says, “Grace, you have done great! Have you started to think about who you can mentor and repeat this process with?” Grace says, “I already have two people who have expressed interest, and I’m meeting with one this week.” Grace, the former apprentice, is now leading, and she begins developing new apprentices. Since Eric has developed and released several apprentices, he continues to work with Grace and other leaders in a coaching capacity.

 

 

The five steps to apprenticeship are really that simple! If you will constantly use these five steps, you can develop other leaders who will already know how to develop other leaders.

A World of Disciple Multipliers in One Generation

In a commencement speech, Admiral William McRaven provoked graduates from the University of Texas with this exhortation: “If every one of you changed the lives of just 10 people, and each one of those folks changed the lives of another 10 people—just 10—then in six generations this class will have changed the lives of the entire population of the world, eight billion people.”

The admiral’s words are a great challenge, not only for college graduates but for me, you, and the church! To change the world, we need to not only change people but also mobilize those people as change agents. Since the church is far bigger than that graduating class, we’ve already got a running start. We also have the Holy Spirit in us, and the God of the universe wants it to happen. We can do it!

www.christianitytoday.com.  

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Ask Roger

How to Make Your Prayers More Powerfull

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

Dear Roger,

Is there any one thing that I’m not doing now that might transform my prayer life?

Sincerely, Brooke

Dear Brooke,

SEE ALSO: When You Pray for Your Children with No Results”

Yes! Practice praying a spiritual prayer.

A spiritual prayer is based upon biblical passages which focus on our bodies, souls, and human spirits. We are three-part creatures.

”May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow (body) it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

SEE ALSO: Why You Don’t Want to be a Spiritual Baby

Regarding our bodies, we are all concerned about praying for healthy bodies, for others as well as for ourselves.

Some prayers originate in our souls. Our soul is the essence of who we are. We feel, think and make choices in our souls. In our souls we pray for people and things. Praying through a “prayer list” is an example of prayers that originate in our souls.

Most of us are not so familiar with praying in our inner-human spirit. At the moment of our conversion, God the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our human spirit. The human spirit is where we commune with God and experience true worship. Our human spirit prompts us to pray in our souls for things that are not on our “prayer list.”

1. A spiritual prayer begins with praise.

SEE ALSO: How to Recover from a Spiritual Backslide

Praise occurs when we tell God and others how impressed we are with God’s majestic character. Praise means focusing upon his love, compassion, mercy, righteousness, purity and holiness.

Praise also occurs when we call to mind the demonstrations of his awesome power. He stood on the edge of nothingness and spoke the universe into existence! He turned the Nile into blood, split the Red Sea, and resurrected Jesus from the dead.

Finally, praise occurs when we thank God for both his character and power.

As we praise him for his marvelous character and awesome power, our faith is stimulated. We are encouraged that he is able to handle, in a loving way, any difficulty that comes our way.

2. We quiet our souls.

We refuse to let our minds run away in multiple, uncontrolled directions.

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Fortunately, we have complete control as to whether we want to quiet down our souls or not. David wrote:

“My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, like a child quieted and its mother’s breast; like a child that is quieted is my soul” (Psalm 131:1-3 RSV).

3. We enter into a time of mindful meditation.

Meditation means that we quiet everything down as we prepare ourselves to enter the throne room of Heaven.

As we seek to pray spiritual prayers, we focus cut on biblical and godly themes.

For example, imagine Psalm 23, Jesus is your Shepherd. Imagine what he may look like. Do you picture him in a brown robe with long chestnut colored hair? He’s wearing sandals. You look up into his eyes as he looks down into yours. He’s smiling. Can you sense his love and compassion? Are you sensing his mercy and care? Imagine him putting his arms around you as he tells you how much he cares for you.

Are you anxious? Meditate for awhile on 1 Peter 5:7: “Cast your anxieties on him because he cares for you.”

Consider putting yourself in a Bible story. I often imagine that I am the last Israelite in line hurrying to get across the Red Sea before being caught by the thundering Egyptian army. I make it just in time as the waters close. What a sense of relief!

4. We’re ready now to transition from soul to spirit.

Don’t be in a hurry here. We did most of the talking when we prayed in our souls. Now, it’s time for us to be quiet while God does the talking.

“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool” (Ecclesiastes 5:1-3).

Here we listen for the promptings and guidance of the Holy Spirit. He may give us answers to questions. He may give us a better understanding of his will, or his plans for our lives. He may tell us about people and things who/which need our prayers that we would miss if we only focused on praying in our souls.

While we’re praying in the spirit, it’s a good idea to spend some time in worship. Jesus said, “God is looking for worshipers who will worship him in spirit and in truths”(John 4).

Well Brooke, thanks for asking this question. I hope that my answer will bless your heart, and the hearts of many others.

Sincerely, Roger

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Ask Roger

How To Know If God’s the One Who’s Speaking

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

Dear Roger,

How do I know if God is speaking to me?

Sincerely,

Tom

During the worship service, a woman whispered quietly to Julie: “I have a word from the Lord for you. You will be like the prophetess, Anna, in Luke 2. You will be widowed after seven years and spend the rest of your life ministering in sweet service to Jesus.”

“Don’t you see me standing here?” I wanted to ask. “Julie’s my fiancé. We’re getting married in June.”

I held my tongue and looked at the young girl who would soon be my wife. If this nosy woman were right, I’d be dead in seven years. On our seventh anniversary, I stayed awake until midnight just to be sure that the voice she had been listening to was not God’s.

God’s Voice Vs. the Voices of Others

God’s voice is not the only voice that speaks. Self and Satan can both wreak havoc in the lives of Christians who are unable to distinguish among the three.

Have you ever wondered why there are so few prophets in the Bible?

God asked Hosea 1, “Do you want to hear me speak?”
“I’d love to be your prophet.”
“Then, go marry a prostitute.”

God asked Jeremiah, “Do you want to hear me speak?”
“God, I’m too young to be a prophet; but, I’d love to hear you speak.”

So God spoke to Jeremiah 1. But the price of hearing God’s message was high. The people cursed him, mocked him, tossed him in jail, and bound him in chains. They threw him in cisterns and beat him senseless. They humiliated him in stocks in the marketplaces. Worst of all, the people never believed a single word he said.

One day God commanded Isaiah 1, “Take off your clothes.”
“Why?”
“Don’t ask me why. Just take them off.”
“Well, for how long?”
“Until I tell you to put them on again.”

So Isaiah stripped off his clothes. Imagine the scene as he walked naked down the streets of Jerusalem. “Hey, Isaiah,” mocked the people, “where are your clothes?”

“I took them off.”
“Why?”

Can you imagine the looks when he said, “Well, I heard this voice…”?

Finally, three years later, God spoke: “Isaiah, put on your clothes and declare this word from Me: ‘As I have bared your buttocks, so I will bare the buttocks of Egypt and let the Assyrians spank them.'” Can you imagine that for three years he walked around bare-bottomed and the message wasn’t even for Israel (Isaiah 20)?

Hearing God speak carries a high price tag. In Exodus 20:18-19 the Israelites refused Moses’ invitation to come to the mountain and hear God speak: “When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, ‘Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But, do not have God speak to us or we will die.’”

When we hear the voice of God nothing is ever the same again. Hearing from God produces a dramatic long-term calling that may well alter our choices, lives, values, focuses, and behaviors.

This is a paradox. While hearing from God might cost us our lives, the voice of God opens the floodgates so that the Living Water of the Holy Spirit might flow from our innermost beings (John 7:37-39) and open the door to abundant life (John 10:10). Full love and intimacy with Jesus can occur only when we hear Him speak.

Ways We Can Hear God Speak

When is the last time you heard God speak? Some of us say, “Recently.” Others might say, “It’s been a long time.” Tragically, others say, “I am not certain that I have ever heard God speak.”

In a day when the secular world is crying for answers, too many Christians are stuttering.

I count at least nineteen different ways in the Bible that God speaks into the lives of His people. You may think of some more. If we have ears to hear, we can’t miss what He has to say.

The Bible (Psalms 119:105)
Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-3)
Sign and Wonders (Acts 3:6-7)
Tests (Judges 6:36-38)
Godly People (Proverbs 8:32-34)

Children at Bedtime (1 Samuel 3:8-9)
The Creation (Romans 1:20)
Preachers and Prophets (Acts 11:27-28)
Donkeys (Numbers 22:30)
Bushes (Exodus 3:1-4)

Angels (Luke 1:26-28)
The Angel of the Lord (Genesis 22:10-11)
God’s Glory (Exodus 33:18-19)
Circumstances (Acts 16:6-8)
Reasons (Isaiah 1:18)

Dreams (Joel 2:28)
Visions (Joel 2:28)
Failures (Matthew 26:75)
Holy Spirit to Human Spirit (Jeremiah 29:12-13)

Discerning What God’s Voice Sounds Like

The voice on the phone was familiar. I’d spoken with her before. She announced that she had a message for me from God. Without pausing, she launched into a detailed pronouncement that my wife Julie and I would soon suffer a divorce. I had neglected my wife, she said, and failed to build the kind of marriage that God intended for pastors; and thus, the penalty would be the forfeiture of my marriage.

I knew enough not to laugh out loud or tell her what she could do with her message. Later, I considered the implications of her words. What if she were right? After all, the pages of Scripture are filled with stories of unusual people who did strange things as God led them to pronounce, “Thus saith the Lord, (fill in the blank)!”

After all, there was some truth in what she said. What pastor ever spends enough time with his family? Was God upset and getting personally involved? Surely not?

I called one of my spiritual advisors. “Jack,” I said, “I need your advice. I’m ninety-nine percent sure that her message was not from God. Just help me verify for certain.”

He responded, “Did the warning give any hope for reconciling the marriage and avoiding the divorce?”
“No.”

“When God warned of doom in the Bible, He usually provided a means for avoiding the consequences—often by repentance and/or restitution. Did the message provide any hope for averting the divorce?”
“No.”

“Then the message was not from God.”
“Thanks.”

Over the years, I’ve developed a biblical checklist of what I think God’s voice sounds like. The list is in broad generalizations and is certainly not complete, nor foolproof. No one point is sufficient to prove or disprove the voice of God. Nevertheless, I believe that these principles are helpful when they line up in a sensible, godly fashion.

God speaks in my innermost human spirit. Self or Satan speaks in my Soul (Hebrews 4:12).

God tends to speak with gentle leadings in contrast to what I often perceive to be the compulsive, clamoring, loud demands of Self or Satan (1 Kings 19:11-13).

God’s voice produces freedom. Self’s or Satan’s voice often produces bondage (Matthew 11:28-30).

God tends to speak when we are consciously seeking Him. Self or Satan tend to speak with sudden intrusions of thoughts into the mind (Jeremiah 29:12-13).

When God speaks there is a definite sense that everything is under control. When Self or Satan speaks there is an inner sense that something is out of control (Psalms 37:4).

God gives clear-cut, specific directions. Self or Satan often communicates in confused, uncertain wonderings.

God convicts of specific sins. Self and Satan often accuse in broad generalities that leave a lingering sense of haunting and unfocused guilt (John 16:8).

God speaks with 100 percent truth that can be tested by the Word of God. Self and Satan often traffic in lies, deceit, and half-truths (John 14:6).

God’s voice always leads to a deep, abiding sense of peace. Self or Satan often do not (Philippians 4:7).

God’s voice is testable and confirmed by the wisdom of many counselors (Proverbs 11:14; Deuteronomy 19:15; and Matthew 18:16).

Communicating Holy Spirit to Human Spirit

We were considering the relocation of our church operations. Full parking lots and six weekend worship services had maxed out our site. Standing in front of the bathroom mirror one Saturday I almost dropped my razor at the thought that flashed into my mind. Instead of going to all the trouble and expense of relocating, why not purchase the eight houses surrounding our property? We could build a new worship center and expand our parking lots to make room for new growth. I thanked God for revealing this new course of action.

I told our church leaders what God told me and led the church to make plans to purchase the adjoining houses. The surrounding subdivision deed restrictions required that a majority of the one-hundred fifty-six nearby homeowners agree with the required rezoning and sale. Six months, numerous unpleasant neighborhood association meetings, and well over one hundred irate neighbors later, we called off the deal.

I was still licking my wounds when a wise saint said to me privately, “You ignored the Tenth Commandment: ‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.’”

The most precious times I have with God are when we are communicating Holy spirit to human spirit. I often refer to my human spirit as my “knower.” Like, have you ever had those times when you just knew deep inside that God was talking to you? Most Christians tell me yes.

The preacher was preaching on Jesus searching for lost sheep. All of a sudden, deep in my “knower,” I heard the voice of God: “Roger, you’re a lost sheep.” I was only seven, but the voice seemed so real. I said to Mom and Dad that night after church, “I’m a lost sheep, aren’t I?” Over the next several days my parents explained about lost and found sheep. I gave my heart to Jesus as my Savior and Shepherd, and was lost no longer.

Two weeks later it was like the preacher stopped preaching and God was speaking to me. Deep in my “knower” He told me that one day I would be a preacher, too. And become one I did.

I am careful in listening for the voice of God. His is not the only voice that speaks. I don’t want to be misled by my own imaginings, and I certainly do not care to be fooled by Satan’s temptations, accusations, or deceits. Neither do I want to be led astray by human ignorance, stupidity, or misguided spirituality.

Following the guidelines of Hebrews 4:12, I quiet my mind and allow the Word of God to “divide between soul and spirit.” As I listen, I try to discern whether what I hear emanates from my soul (my mind), or from my deep, inner, human spirit where the Holy Spirit lives. The soul is the inner part of me which is my own mind or self. The soul is my organ for intellect, will, and emotions (Hebrews 4:12). My human spirit is the center of my worship and communication with Jesus.

As we mature spiritually, our increasing spiritual experience and discernment allow us to distinguish between soul and spirit. The ability to distinguish between them is critical because God indwells and speaks in our human spirit while Self and Satan have access only to our soul. When we discern that the internal voice is coming from our spirit we know that God is speaking. When we discern that the internal voice is coming from our soul, we know that Self, or possibly even Satan, is speaking.

When properly cultivated, our human spirit is most dependable and useful in hearing God speak. God speaks to us in the Bible and we speak to Him in prayer. This is described as praying in the mind. The Holy Spirit also speaks to us in our innermost human spirit. We speak back from out of our innermost human spirit to the Holy Spirit. This what Paul calls praying in the spirit.

Whenever I sense what may be a word from God, I refuse to accept it until I carefully consider whether I am hearing from God, Myself, Satan, or hard-of-hearing, misguided humans. When people say, “God told me…” I often respond, “How are you certain the words were from God?” If they can’t give a definitive answer then I seldom consider the message they are delivering. I don’t want to make a mistake and follow the wrong voice.

Well. Tom, I hope this helps!

Sincerely,

Roger

 

 

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Articles

Is It Okay To Be the “Fun” Parent?

by Russell Moore
written by Russell Moore

A young teenage boy died in a hotel room after an overdose of drugs. The partiers around him didn’t even know he was in trouble until it was too late. Sadly, that story is all too common. This story is different, though, because the partiers weren’t peers or friends. They were his mother and grandmother. This man’s mother, who didn’t have full custody, told police she had provided them with drugs because she wanted to be the “fun weekend mom.”

I have to admit that my first instinct is to judge this woman. After all, what kind of person would be this selfish to give her child what would destroy him, just so that he would view her the way he would his buddies? At the root here, though, is a temptation that every parent faces, though usually not to the extreme of dealing illicit drugs. We want our children to love us, and to like us, and many of us do this by asking what our children want and seeking to conform to that.

At one level, the desire to be a “fun” parent is to be commended. We are, after all, to model the Fatherhood of God in our own parenting. His household is not dour and withholding, but full of joy. Some parents interact with their children so much in rebuke and correction that they mimic the older brother of Jesus’ parable—not the joy-filled father who plans a party for his returning son (Lk. 15:11-32). Some families believe they are holy, when they instead are signaling to their children that the kingdom of Christ is a tedious seminar of Pharisees, not a household of those who bask in the favor and liberation of their God (Lk. 4:18-19). If laughter and joy aren’t part of your family, something is wrong.

That said, the overriding desire to be a “fun parent” is overwhelmingly selfish and counter-gospel. Contemporary popular culture prizes youth as the source of wisdom and authenticity, but the Bible sees the matter differently. Parents are to cultivate the kind of wisdom that sees what a child will need, long before the child himself sees the relevance of these things. The Proverbs are filled then with instruction from a father to a child. The Apostle Paul speaks similarly to his son in the ministry, directing him away from youthful lusts toward maturity (2 Tim. 2:22).

This is because that’s what the Fatherhood of God is like. God disciplines and trains us up for life in the future he has waiting for us. This isn’t a sign that we are out of his favor, but a sign that he loves us and has a plan for our lives (Heb. 12:3-11). God does not give us everything we want in our immaturity. That’s not because he is hostile to us, though it may seem so at the time. It’s because God is training us up to be heirs (Gal. 4:1-7). He knows what is best for us, and he prepares us for the Wedding Feast, not for the kind of Esau-meal we clamor for at the moment but will regret later (Heb. 12:16-17).

As parents, we will never get this completely right. Unlike the Father, we are not all-holy, and we are not all-knowing. We will stumble in many ways, and we will not see often what is long-term best for our children. But that should be our goal.

The desire to be a “fun parent” is not only wrong-headed but short-sighted. You might be able to keep your children from rebelling against you momentarily, as long as your concede to their desires or to what everyone else is doing. Your children, though, will soon recognize that you don’t have a longer term view for them than they have for themselves. If you train them to see you as a means to the end of indulging their appetites, they will ultimately choose their appetites over you. See the sad example of the priest Eli, whose sons took from the fat of the offerings (1 Sam. 2:12-21). Fully matured, their rebellion was their father’s great grief (1 Sam. 4:16-18).

Disciplining our children is not just about correcting misbehavior, but about training them in what’s to be loved and prioritized. That means disciplining ourselves to care about our children’s best interest more than our own. And it means seeing our children not just in terms of how they view us in the moment, but how they will view us as elders on their own deathbeds, and, beyond that, as subjects before the Judgment Seat of Christ. That sort of self-sacrificial parenting requires wisdom, patience, and a willingness to be unpopular. That sort of parenting will often be joyous but it will often be far less than “fun.”

www.russellmoore.com. Used by permission.

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Articles

Is It Biblical to Bind Satan?

by Tom Terry
written by Tom Terry

Have you ever heard someone pray, “Satan, I bind you?” Or perhaps you may have uttered such a thing yourself? I’ve heard many people use phrases like this in their prayers, and while I don’t want to belittle a person’s heartfelt cry to God against evil, I can’t help but dig into this phrase a little and ask the question, “Is this a biblical way to pray?” Can we really bind Satan or demons or is this a flaw in our theology?

To put it plainly, there is no passage of scripture which tells us that we can bind Satan or a demon from doing harm. Demons can be cast out of a person, but is this the same as binding? What does it mean to bind Satan?

When the various words in the Bible that are translated into bind, bound, or chained(252 instances) are used there is only one instance when it is used about the devil. It is found in Revelation 20:2, which says that an angel, “Seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.” This is a specific reference to a period following the Great Tribulation as the millennial reign of Christ begins. Satan is bound for a thousand years so that he may do no harm during the millennial reign of Christ. But his binding is only temporary.

What is interesting, however, about how the Bible uses the language of binding about who does the binding. Take a brief look at these examples:

Biblical Examples

Satan bound a woman for 18 years with a debilitating medical condition (Luke 13:16). In other words, Satan did the binding. Then she was set free by Jesus. But nowhere was Satan bound as part of the response to her healing.

Remember the demon possessed man in the tombs? The scripture says that people tried to bind him with chains, but he just broke them off (Mark 5:1-4). In this case the binding was physical, but it’s interesting to note that the demons he was possessed with gave him the strength to break his chains.

There is a reference in the Bible to God binding demons to prevent them from harming people. It’s found in II Peter 2:4 and Jude 1:6. These demons are bound by God, being held for the day of judgment. In Revelation 9:14-15, however, there are spirits bound to a specific location for a long duration of time until—and get this—God releases them so that they may kill one third of the people on earth.

What is even more startling is not that we cannot bind Satan or his demons. Rather, it is the fact that God intentionally used evil spirits to accomplish his designs. Consider that God intentionally used Satan to test and try Job, David, Zechariah, and Jesus, among others. Satan was never bound from harming them. Rather, he was let loose upon them!

Common Sense

Let’s consider some practical common sense about prayers to bind Satan. If it were possible for us to command Satan to be bound, then why would we need the armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-20? The armor of God is given to us so that we may face demons directly and see them defeated. Remember what James said about resisting the enemy, “Submit therefore to God: resist the Devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Note that Satan is not bound, but rather flees.

Considering how often Christians around the world pray everyday to bind Satan, if such a thing were possible, then Satan would be continually bound and unable to do anything. Yet we can see from the state of the world and even our own trials that this is not the case. The scripture also tells us this in I John 5:19, “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”

What Did Jesus Do?

Consider also how Jesus dealt with Satan. Did you know that Jesus NEVER bound Satan during his earthly ministry? During his temptation in Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus never bound Satan. Satan withdrew. When Satan possessed Judas so that Jesus would be betrayed, even though he knew what Satan was doing to him, Jesus never bound him. In fact, he actually told Judas (and thus, Satan) to get the job done quickly (John 13:26-28).

How about when Jesus prayed for Peter? Note in this passage that Jesus didn’t bind Satan from harming Peter. Rather, he let him. “Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again…” (Luke 22:31-32). Did you catch that? Jesus didn’t bind Satan from Peter, he actually let him at him. Jesus was more concerned with Peter overcoming Satan during a period of testing than he was in protecting him.

What We CAN Do

If we want to do some binding that will have a truly spiritual impact in our lives and strengthen us for our trials, then this is the kind of binding we should engage in, “My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching. Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck” (Proverbs 6:20-21). “Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:3-4). Speaking of the scripture, God instructed the Israelites to, “Lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes” (Deuteronomy 11:18).

True spiritual warfare is not about binding Satan. From the scripture we can see that we are not given such power. But we can endure, remain steadfast in faith, and count God faithful no matter what befalls us. Then we will see victory and the enemy retreat.

guywithabible.com Used by permission.

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Ask Roger

What Is My Spiritual Gift and How Can I Use It?

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

Dear Roger,

I am a new Christian. I attend a weekly Bible study with men who have been Christians a long time. Someone mentioned about spiritual gifts but did not stop to explain it. I’d like to know what spiritual gifts are and how they work. I’d like to know if I have one. Please help me.

Sincerely, Harry

 

Dear Harry,

 

I think the best way to answer your request is to use a question-answer format.

 

1. WHAT IS A SPIRITUAL GIFT?

 

A spiritual gift is a God-given ability, distributed to individual Christians by the Holy Spirit that allows him/or her to work through their lives to help the church execute its mission on earth.

 

2. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND NATURAL TALENTS?

 

Natural talents are physical abilities to do special things. Some natural talents might be musical ability, carpentry, mechanical aptitude, and artistic skills.

 

Spiritual gifts are spiritual abilities to do certain things.

 

Natural talents are often the vehicle through which spiritual gifts can be used. For example, a Christian vocalist may have the spiritual gift of evangelism being expressed through the vehicle of musical talent.

 

3. ARE SPIRITUAL GIFTS THE BEST SIGN OF SPIRITUALITY?

 

No! Christ-like maturity is primarily indicated by the manifestation of the Fruit Of The Spirit, not by the presence of spiritual gifts (Galatians 5:22-23).

 

God may choose to shine forth in a spiritually immature baby Christian. However, that does not make the baby spiritual. A spiritual child may say excitedly, “I got the gift of tongues last night and now I’m spiritual!”

But, Jesus said: “For by their fruit you shall know them” (Matthew 7:16).

 

Satan can imitate and counterfeit spiritual gifts, but he is baffled in trying to imitate the fruit of the Spirit.

 

4. DOES EVERY BELIEVER HAVE A GIFT?

 

Yes! Every believer has at least one gift (1 Corinthians 12:6-7, 11). All believers are to evaluate themselves in terms of their God-given gifts (Romans 12:3)

 

5. HOW MANY GIFTS ARE THERE? WHAT ARE THEY?

 

According to 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-29; Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:11; and 1 Corinthians 7:7, there are at least twenty-two spiritual gifts. They are as follows: Apostles; Prophets; Pastor-Teachers; Evangelists; Prophecy; Teaching; Wisdom; Knowledge; Faith; Miraculous Powers; Healing; Distinguishing Between Spirits; Speaking in Tongues; Interpretation Of Tongues; Helps; Service; Administration; Encouragement; Giving; Leadership; Mercy and Celibacy.

 

6. WHEN DOES THE BELIEVER RECEIVE HIS/HER GIFT?

 

There is no clear-cut Biblical teaching as to when the believer receives his/her gift. However, it seems that the gift comes with the Giver and is bestowed at conversion (2 Timothy 1:6).

 

7. CAN A BELIEVER HAVE ANY GIFT HE OR SHE WANTS?

 

No! (1 Corinthians 12:29-31). The Holy Spirit gives out gifts as he sees fit (1 Corinthians 12:7, 8-9, 11).

 

This is why there is no prescribed way to get a gift.

 

However, if we are faithful with the gift, or gifts, that the Holy Spirit has already given us, he invites us to pray for another (1 Corinthians 12:29-31).

 

8. DO SPIRITUAL GIFTS COME READY TO OPERATE?

 

No! It often takes time for gifts to mature and develop into their full effectiveness. Spiritual gifts come “in the rough”.

 

Every believer is obligated to mature his/her gift.

 

Each Christian should have an opportunity to use his/her gifts interdependently with others (Romans 12:4-6).

 

9. IF A PERSON DOESN’T HAVE THE GIFT OF EVANGELISM, IS HE/SHE EXCUSED FROM TRYING TO WIN PEOPLE TO CHRIST?

 

Of course not! The absence of gifts does not take precedence over clear-cut Biblical demands.

 

For example, we are all commanded to be liberal in our giving. Just because a Believer does not have the gift of giving does not mean that he/she can say, “Never pass me the offering plate again. I don’t need to tithe. I don’t have the gift of giving.”

We are all commanded to share the gospel with others whether we have the gift of evangelism are not.

 

10. CAN SPIRITUAL GIFTS BE LOST?

 

Yes! Gifts which are not used or developed can apparently be lost (like the appendix in the human body).

 

Jesus’ parable of the talents illustrates the danger of neglecting the gift that the Holy Spirit has bestowed. To do so means censorship and rebuke by the Master Himself (Matthew 25:14-30).

 

11. ARE SOME GIFTS MORE IMPORTANT THAN OTHERS?

 

Yes! Prophecy is the most important. Speaking in tongues is the least. All the others fall somewhere in between (1 Corinthians 12:31).

 

The relative value of spiritual gifts is to be tested by their usefulness to the church as a whole.

 

Paul’s wrote that due to the interdependent nature of all of the gifts, there should be no spiritual pride associated with any of these gifts.

 

12. CAN SPIRITUAL GIFTS BE MISUSED?

 

Yes! For example, Paul described the use and misuse of the gift of tongues in the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 14). For example, Paul taught that speaking in tongues without someone in attendance with the gift of interpretation will only bring confusion to the church family and ridicule from unbelievers.

 

Accordingly, when I was pastoring, in order to curtail the misuse of the gift of tongues in our church worship services, we encouraged people to use the gifts of tongues and interpreting towns only in private settings. To use them in a worship service when most of the folks have no idea what’s going on is to invite great misunderstanding and confusion.

 

When we were laying down the guidelines for the use of the gift of tongues in our worship services our Christian education pastor said, “I’ve got a great idea. If some woman stands up in the midst of a worship service and begins speaking in tongues, I’ll wait until she’s finished. Then, I will say to the crowd, ‘I have the gift of interpreting tongues and this sweet lady has just donated her house to the building fund.’” (Of course, you know that this was a joke.

 

13. ONE THING VIVIDLY STANDS OUT. SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE TO WORK TOGETHER IN UNITY FOR THE “COMMON GOOD OF THE CHURCH (1 CORINTHIANS 12:7).

 

Harry, I hope that I’ve given you some insights into spiritual gifts that will be helpful for you as you grow in Christ and utilize well your own spiritual gift (s).

 

Sincerely, Roger

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Ask Roger

Money Stream: Where Does Your Money Go?

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

Dear Roger,

 

In our Bible study group last Thursday night, one of our ladies brought up the shrinking middle class in America. “It’s just not fair that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer,” she said. We talked in circles, but we didn’t reach any conclusions. Is there a biblical perspective on this? 

Sincerely, Ginger

 

Dear Ginger,

 

Yes, the Bible does speak to this issue. In fact, it explains exactly why money flows to some people and away from others.

 

Mark 4:24-25 records one of Jesus’ profound statements regarding money and finances:

“Consider carefully what you hear. Then with the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”

 

In its most basic terms, I understand this Bible verse to mean, “The person who has something will receive more, and the person who doesn’t have anything will lose the little he or she already has.”

 

Those words are contrary to how most people think.

 

If you assigned the average person to rewrite this section of the Bible, the results might read something like this: “The person who has something shouldn’t get any more, because he already has enough. The person who doesn’t have anything should get something because that’s fair.”

 

This revised approach sounds like a deal that everyone would like!

But the biblical truth of Mark 4:25 plays out in our finances every time. We are either in a position where money flows to us, or we are in a position where money flows away from us.

 

In 2 Corinthians 9:6, Paul teaches the same principle, saying, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”

 

However, just because money flows in is no sign that God is blessing some people over others. Psalm 49 is the Psalm about the rich materialist. This Psalm parallels what we see happening all around the world. People of all ages are lusting for material things as they fall simultaneously into spiritual poverty. In eternity the materialist will lose it all and have nothing left! Not even his/her own soul!

 

“Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; for they will take nothing with them when they die” (Psalm 49:16-20).

 

What causes money to flow either toward us or away from us?

 

The prophet Haggai explained that one of the reasons money flows away from us is because we have a money bag with a hole in it.

 

“Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it’” (Haggai 1:5-6).

 

Our wallets and pocketbooks today are the same as money bags in Haggai’s time. When we ask God for financial blessing, our focus is typically on God pouring more in the top. “If I just had $150 more a month, everything would be so much better.”

 

What if God looked in our money bag and saw a hole. Would it make sense for Him to keep shoveling more in the top?

 

I have had occasion to counsel with individuals who earn relatively high incomes. In spite of their substantial cash flow, they were having financial difficulty. The remarks they made were familiar: “I don’t know where it all went”; “I don’t have much to show for it”; etc. They often had a debt problem as well. Such stories illustrate that money can flow from us, even if the income is large.

 

Our response to the biblical principles places us in a position where money either flows powerfully to us or powerfully from us.

 

Woven throughout the Proverbs are some 20 to 25 verses that show cause-and-effect relationships regarding our actions and our income: “If you do this, you will lose money” or, “if this action repeats itself in your life, money will go from you to a stranger” or “If such-and-such an impulse is out of control in your life, it will lead you in the direction of poverty.”

 

Solomon’s wisdom covers virtually all the possible financial mistakes a person can make.

 

Consider the following verses as you reflect on any “holes” in your personal finances:

 

Spiritual and Moral Habits and Actions

 

Ignoring the poor: “Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered” (Proverbs 21:13). Unfortunately, researchers demonstrate that the richer we are, the less we give to charities and to people in need.

 

Not being generous with the Lord and others: “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty” (Proverbs 11:24). Generosity is a blessing to those who receive as well as to those who give.

 

Immorality: “Keep a path far from her [immorality]… lest strangers feed on your wealth and your toil enrich in the house of another” (Proverbs 5:10, see also 29:3). If someone becomes immoral or perverse such as by engaging in adultery or fornication or addiction to pornography, this text says clearly that “strangers [will] obtain your wealth.” Consider the impact of child support, alimony, and financial slavery to pornography.

 

Loving pleasure or wine: “Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.” (Proverbs 21:17). This passage is not just about wine. Illicit drugs, cigarettes, and hard liquor are also in play.

 

Overeating: “For drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags” (Proverbs 23:21). Is there any doubt that drunkards and gluttons are the fattest and most out of shape people in the world?

 

Refusing corrections: “Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored” (Proverbs 13:18). Once upon a time we had a country where morals, values and ethics meant something. All of that changed when the Supreme Court took the 10 Commandments out of public schools and replaced them with nothing.

 

Abuse, stress or pain on your family: “Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.” (Proverbs 11:29). The American divorce rate is now over 50 percent. Seventy-eight percent of second marriages end in divorce.

 

Financial Habits and Actions

 

Unwise use of debt: “The borrower is slave to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). Arguably, not all debt is created equal. The most crushing is the uncollateralized kind that brings in no income and ends up on credit cards. Paying 15 to 20 percent interest is like having a siphon hose in our back pockets. Resolve to stop immediately accumulating this kind of debt.

 

Not having and holding to a budget: “Any enterprise that is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts” (Proverbs 24:3, author’s paraphrase). Christians need to study money management. We must learn to budget as well as make wise purchases. As the adage goes, “When my outgo exceeds my income, then my upkeep becomes my downfall.”

 

Co-signing a note: “Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.” (Proverbs 11:15). Can Solomon make it any clearer than this?

 

Unwise use of credit: “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down” (Proverbs 14:1). An incentive to being debt-free is to think about what could be done (both giving and increasing) with that money if it wasn’t servicing all that debt.

 

Giving to the rich: “One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.” (Proverbs 22:16) Think socialism. While this political system claims to make everyone financially equal; the truth is that the average person gets poorer while those at the top get richer.

 

Charging inordinate interest (usury): “Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor” (Proverbs 28:8). Is it any wonder that credit card companies charter in the state of Delaware where they are allowed to charge as much as 19 percent interest?

 

Get-rich-quick schemes: “The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them.” (Proverbs 28:22). Playing the Lottery is like driving through the Circle K parking lot and throwing money out the window.

 

Lack of sales resistance: “The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.” (Proverbs 14:15)! When is the last time you dealt with a used car salesperson and felt good about it?

 

Work Habits and Actions

 

Sleeping too much: “How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man” (Proverbs 6:9-11). Many would call this welfare!

 

Not being diligent: “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth”(Proverbs 10:4). Paul says, “Take care of your family. Go get a job.”

 

Talking too much: “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty” (Proverb 14:23). Dreamers make big plans but never follow through.

 

Chasing fantasies: “Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty” (Proverbs 28:19). Solomon is talking about get rich quick schemes.

 

Holes Can Be Caused by Attitudes and Motives

 

Greed: “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:3). The Book of James was written to Christians who desired material things. They asked God but did not receive. Why? They were greedy.

 

Making decisions based on money alone: “You cannot serve both God and man”(Matthew 6:24). Jesus was addressing motives with His disciples. He is in no way excluding His followers from having money. Rather, He was warning against making decisions based on our pocketbooks.

 

How to Close the Holes in Our Finances

 

The wisdom of God tells the believer to find out what created the hole. The next step is to find out what is necessary to repair it.

 

Closing the holes begins with following God’s plan of biblical economics.

 

Trust in God’s provision: “Don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children”(Genesis 50:21).

 

Tithe 10 percent of our income to the Lord: “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone” (Luke 11:42).

 

Pay taxes according to the law: “Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor”(Romans 13:7).

 

Meet our family’s needs: “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”(1 Timothy 5:8)

 

Stay out of debt on depreciating items: “The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously” (Psalm 37:21).

 

Maintain a positive cash flow: “The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down” (Proverbs 21:20).

 

Save a portion of income for future needs: “Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer” (Proverbs 30:25).

 

Respond to the needs of others: “At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need” (2 Corinthians 8:14).

 

Focus on the Bottom of the Bag

 

It is always easier to ask God to pour more into the top of our “money bag” when we know in our hearts that we have repaired the hole in the bottom. It all comes down to attitudes, motives, and making wise decisions.

 

Proverbs 22:4 states: “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.” Humility is an attitude; the fear of the Lord is a motive. This verse implies that if the right attitudes and motives find a place in our hearts, then instead of riches, honor, and life flowing from me, they can flow toward me.

We can quickly evaluate our motives by measuring them against Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” 

 

“Seeking first the Kingdom” means having God’s interests at heart. Whatever is important to Him must be important to us.

 

Jesus wraps up the results in Luke 6:38, when He says, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

 

Sincerely, Roger

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12 “Don’ts” to Protect Your Faith

by Neil Anderson
written by Neil Anderson

STOP: Trying to make it happen and get it done. “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” Ps. 37:7.

 

STOP: Focusing on yourself, your issues, your needs, your problems, your sin and “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith”. Heb. 12:2

 

STOP: Trying to do right and not do wrong and not sin and “Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus”. Rom. 6:11

 

STOP: Being anxious about your circumstance and your situation and “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”. 1 Pet. 5:7

 

STOP: Trying to be good, act like a good Christian and do good works for “Those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labors as God did from his”. Heb. 4:10

 

STOP: Trying to improve yourself and be a better person and know that “In Him you have been made complete”. Col. 2:10

 

STOP: Trying to get ahead, do more and advance yourself and “Do not concern yourself with great matters or things too wonderful”. Ps. 131:1

 

STOP: Worrying, agitating and being troubled about anything or anyone and “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”. Phil. 4:6

 

STOP: Criticizing and judging others and trying to change them and “Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment”. Rom. 14:1

 

STOP: Trying to overcome your sin or addiction and know that “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God”. Rom. 13:14

 

STOP: Fantasizing about what you would like to have that you don’t and let “Christ take control of you, and don’t think of ways to indulge your evil desires”. Rom. 13:14

 

STOP: Striving, straining and struggling to live the Christian life and know “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”. Gal.2:20

 

Whatever you are doing to try to live the Christian life and trust “Christ, who is your life”. Col. 3:4

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Come to Church Desperate for God

by John Piper
written by John Piper

It is beautifully fitting that Christians gather for corporate worship every week.

When we do, we give united expression to our truth-rooted knowledge of the triune God and our treasure-rooted affections for all God is for us in Jesus. We have seen with the eyes of our hearts the supreme beauty of God and his ways (Ephesians 1:18). And we have come to cherish the supreme worth of this treasure (Matthew 13:44; Philippians 3:8).

And when we have completed our corporate exaltation of the glories of God, we continue that worship in a thousand daily tasks where the supreme worth of Christ governs our lives. This is what it means to be a Christian.

Come to Get

But it is not as though Christians experience steady-state fullness that is ready every Lord’s Day to brim over in joyful praise as we gather for worship. God is glorified in worship not only by those who come full, but also by those who come desperately needy and pinning all their hopes on meeting God. The same heart of worship that says, “Thank you” and “Praise you,” when full, also says, “I need you, I long for you, I thirst for you,” when empty. It is the same savoring, the same treasuring.

“God is glorified in worship not only by those who come full, but also by those who come desperately needy.”

 

Corporate worship is not a gathering only for overflow. The full may overflow. That is worship. The languishing come to drink at the fountain of God’s life-giving word. That too is worship. It magnifies the necessity and desirableness of God. The soul-hungry come to eat at the banquet that is spread from the rich stores of Scripture. This also is worship.

Woe to the pastor who chastises his people for “coming to get” and not to give. If what the hungry people are coming to get is God, their hunger magnifies the worth of God’s soul-satisfying beauty. If they are returning week after week for entertainment, the pastor had better look in the mirror for the cause, not in the people.

Depleted Disciples

When David says, “He restores my soul” (Psalm 23:3), he implies that the soul often needs restoring. Hence, we call out, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:12). “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!” (Psalm 80:3). “Restore us again, O God of our salvation” (Psalm 85:4).

This experience is universal among Christians. It is partly owing to our being sinners. Our old nature wars against the soul and tries to bring it to ruin (Galatians 5:17; Colossians 3:5; 1 Peter 2:11). Part of that warfare is depletion.

Another part of our need for refreshing input is owing to our being creatures. We will always be creatures and therefore will always be in need of God’s grace. Even perfected and glorified saints will still benefit from the ministry of other saints in the age to come, where there will be no sin. Otherwise, meaningful relationships would be nonexistent. Therefore, whether we think of ourselves as sinners or as creatures, we need help in maintaining a heart of worship.

In view of this normal neediness of real Christians, God has designed us to depend on other humans to awaken and sustain and strengthen our worship — our knowing and treasuring God. This is clear from many considerations in the New Testament.

Hearts Sustained Through Humans

“The same heart of worship that says, ‘Thank you’ and, ‘Praise you’ also says, ‘I need you.’”

 

First, God has appointed that there be pastors and teachers in the church (Ephesians 4:11). He has required that they be “able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2). This means that God designs for us to be helped by other human ministers of the word, not just by our own private reading and praying.

Second, it is clear that we need other ministers from the example Paul set in strengthening the churches he started:

They returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:21–22)

God did not design Christians to be strong in faith and fervent in worship without other Christian ministers strengthening their souls.

Third, it is clear that our perseverance in joyful, faithful holiness and worship depends on other Christians exhorting us again and again with the truth of God’s word:

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:12–13)

Escaping hardness of heart and persevering in joyful, sin-mortifying faith depend on the exhortations of other believers. We are not designed to survive without the ministry of the word from others.

Not a Defect

Fourth, it is clear that we stand in need of others who minister to us, because God designed the body of Christ this way and Paul said we need each other:

God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” (1 Corinthians 12:18–21)

It is clear from Paul’s use of the word need in 1 Corinthians 12:21 that he does not see the Christian’s dependence on other Christians as a defect in our dependence on God. Total dependence on God’s grace does not mean no dependence on God’s means of grace. If God wills that our dependence on him sometimes be direct and unmediated, and sometimes be indirect and mediated, then we are no less totally dependent on God in either case.

“Come to church desperate for more of God, and expect that he will meet you through his people.”

 

Our physical lives depend on God and on food that he gives. Our emotional resources for patience depend on the Spirit and on the refreshing sleep that he gives. Our spiritual strength depends on God’s word and on the ministers whom he sends to us.

Fifth, it is plain from Scripture that we need the ministry of the word from other Christians, because Paul commanded Timothy, “Preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2). That is not a pointless command. Preaching is commanded because preaching is needed.

Among all the other ways in which the people of God help each other persevere in faith and lead lives of joyful worship, preaching is uniquely designed for its essential role in corporate worship. As people gather to give united expression to their knowledge of God and their love for God, preaching is distinctly designed by God to model this love by its exultation, and to serve both the knowledge and the love by its exposition. Its content and its demeanor are suited, by God’s design, to restore and enlarge our knowledge of God, and to restore and enlarge our passion for God.

Today’s Mercies

Ordinary Christian living is depleting. We are not designed to live on yesterday’s mercies.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
     his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
     great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22–23)

Every day has its depleting trouble (Matthew 6:34), and every day has its restoring mercies (Lamentations 3:23). The corporate gathering, therefore, is not only for Christians who come to church overflowing with faith and love, but also for those who come languishing, dry, and desperate for new mercies. And God has so arranged the body that these mercies often come through the ministry of fellow Christians.

So, come to church desperate for more of God, and expect that he will meet you through his people.

www.desiringgod.org. 

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Why the Search for a Church to Meet Your Needs is Wasted Time

by Carey Nieuwhof
written by Carey Nieuwhof

Any church leader who’s been in ministry for more than a few months has heard different variations of it:

 

“I’m looking for a church that meets my needs.”

“What are you going to do to better meet my needs?”

“I’m leaving this church to find one that better suits my needs.” 

The longer a Christian has been in church, the more likely it is that they’ve uttered a phrase or two like this from time to time.

I’m not against changing churches. I think everyone has one or maybe two church changes in them. Leaders change. The effectiveness of churches can vary in different seasons. And occasionally a church is downright toxic. I get that.

One or two church changes (when living in the same community) is understandable. And it’s completely different from serial church shopping, which for reasons I outline in this post, is a colossally bad phenomenon.

The problem is deeper, though, than changing churches (as big a decision as that is). It’s about the purpose of the quest. Should the criteria of a church meeting your needs be the reason you change churches? Well, what if the church was never intended to meet your needs? What if the furthest thing from God’s mind when he created the church was to meet your needs?

Here are 5 reasons why I believe trying to find a church that meets your needs is futile.

1. A Church That Meets All Your Needs Is Probably Off-Mission

If a church ever meets all your needs as a Christian, it’s probably off-mission. Because the church was never designed to meet all your needs. It was designed for glorifying God and showing his love to the world.

A church that is only about meeting your needs is a church that’s focused on insiders while the world is quite literally going to hell.

The attitude that the church exists to meet the needs of members is one more remnant of consumer-Christianity, which is a strand of Western Christianity that continues to die.

A church that meets all your needs is probably a church that’s off-mission.

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2. You’ll Uproot All Your Non-Christian Friends

If you’re drifting from church to church to satisfy your needs, what happens to all the non-Christian friends you’re building into? Oh wait… that almost never comes up in conversations with Christians who demand their needs be met. Because they usually have zero non-Christian friends. Their idea of church isn’t about the mission. It’s about them.

Think about it. If you’re living out your faith and sincerely praying for friends who aren’t in a relationship with Christ, theoretically there are at least a handful of non-Christians who will be impacted by your move.

But usually, that’s not even on the radar screen of Christians who move to satisfy their needs. Because there are zero non-Christians involved.

Far too many Christians have zero non-Christian friends.

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3. Christianity Was Never About Satisfying Yourself

The heart of the Christian faith isn’t about satisfying yourself, it’s about dying to yourself. If Christians stopped indulging their preferences and starting focusing on Christ and on helping others, the church would be so much healthier.

It’s strange, but the happiest and healthiest people aren’t those who are focused on meeting their own needs. Harvard Business School studies relate that there is a demonstrated correlation between giving away time and money and experiencing a feeling of happiness.

Perhaps it’s because that’s exactly how God designed us. Because when we give, we get.

The heart of the Christian faith isn’t about satisfying yourself, it’s dying to yourself.

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4. Your “Needs “Aren’t Usually Needs

To be fair, we all have a few basic needs. A church should be biblically faithful. It should be reasonably healthy. And it should focus on the true mission of the church, which is to make disciples (not just be disciples but make disciples, which means reaching out).

When someone says that a church doesn’t meet their needs, what they usually mean is a church doesn’t suit their preferences.

When you drill down, ‘needs’ often means:

Is this my kind of music?

Did the people notice me?

Do I like this place?

A lot of Christians these days ask, “Did I like it?” And the moment they don’t, they’re done. When no church meets your needs, maybe you should check your ‘needs.’

When no church meets your needs, maybe you should check your needs.

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If you really boil it down, because of the rise of consumer Christianity, too many church members think their mission is to criticize. A church member’s mission isn’t to criticize. It’s to contribute. Criticizing has never been the Gospel. And that’s never the best contribution we can make.

A church member’s mission isn’t to criticize. It’s to contribute.

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5. Your Needs Are Never Satisfied

Needs are like appetites. They grow when you feed them. You probably already know this, but if you’re always trying to satisfy your needs, you’ll never be satisfied.

We all roll our eyes at the guy who ‘needs’ a new car, or a new computer, or a vacation, or a new phone when he pretty much has the latest (okay…confession…I can be that guy when it comes to tech….).

The truth? Those aren’t needs. But that’s the problem with what we call needs. They’re never completely satisfied.

If you’re always trying to satisfy your needs, you’ll never be satisfied.

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So What Should You Do?

So what should you do if you feel your current church doesn’t ‘meet your needs’? Maybe the best thing you can do is focus on the mission God has given you. Which happens to look an awful lot like the mission God gave all of us: to love the world for which he died.

Chances are there’s a pastor who loves that mission, and maybe some other Christians in your church who are committed to that mission too.

And if you give your life to it, you’ll discover your needs don’t matter nearly as much as they once did. In fact, you might even find them satisfied.

If you take your eyes off what you want and begin to see what other people truly need, it will change how you live.

 

 

 

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3 Reasons to Wait on God

by Jan Shrader
written by Jan Shrader

Abraham’s faith is inspiring.  Chasing the grasslands of Canaan as a nomadic shepherd Abraham was free to survey the Promised Land his family would one day possess.  Catching each vista must have built his faith and his anticipation.  How did others in his entourage experience the endless treks through Canaan’s hills and valleys?  How did Sarah handle being uprooted at 65 and being invited on a lifelong camping trip?  Abraham is the one who first heard God’s voice.  When she was fatigued from packing up the tent or dousing the cook fires one more time did she grow discouraged?  The scriptures are silent about most of her emotions, but the desire to give Abraham a child made her desperate and bone weary.

 

Abraham’s life is a fascinating study because he often takes two steps forward, only to take one step backward.  He is making spiritual progress, but do you think he got discouraged and forgot where he started.  Maybe he was tempted to focus on his latest misstep.  Do you do that?  Instead of seeing how far you have come with God, do you become impatient with how long it is taking you to receive all of God’s promises?

 

Romans 15:4 says, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”                                                                                 ESV

 

One of those passages where you can find the importance of endurance is Genesis 16.  It is an incredibly sad story that occurs one chapter before Abraham and Sarah have their names changed by God.  This episode is difficult because of the destructive power of polygamy and what it does to men, women and their children.  It is also tragic because it is the two believers in this story who create the pain.  So, take a moment, look at Genesis 16:1-6 and refresh your memory with this sorrowful tale.

 

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children.  She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar.  And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children.  Go into my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.”  And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.  So after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife.  And he went into Hagar and she conceived.  And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.  And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you!  I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt.  May the Lord judge between you and me!  But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.”  Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.                                                           ESV

 

Not every spiritual lesson has to be learned first hand.  If you are observant you can pick up extremely useful information from other people’s blunders.   Abraham and Sarah’s missteps are a perfect example of the many personal applications you can make from their awful mistakes.

 

1)   When waiting on God, it is important to realize impatience makes everything worse.

 

By this account Abraham and Sarah had already waited 10 years in the Promised Land for God to provide them with the promised heir.  Many people would believe that waiting ten years was a valiant effort, but what does their impatience produce?  They harm and use a servant girl named Hagar, they produce a rival heir to God’s promised son Isaac, they carelessly drive a wedge into their marriage’s intimacy, and they bring political conflict on the entire world.  Without God’s divine intervention the descendants of Isaac, the Jews, and the descendants of Ishmael, the Arabs, will fight until the end of time.  This is a lot of suffering they have unleashed not only in their lifetime, but the reverberations of their impatience are still being felt today. When you are tempted to take things into your own hands, remember that impatience will only make everything worse.

 

Take a moment and reflect.  How might impatience add to your suffering?

 

2)   When waiting on God, it is important to realize God values the fruit that grows in us while we wait.

 

What did waiting on God produce in Abraham?  Wait time gave Abraham a deeper understanding of God’s goodness and his unconditional love.  At first Abraham only knew God was powerful, but after experiencing God’s faithfulness numerous times he clearly understood the God of creation was on his side.  Amazingly, after Isaac’s birth Abraham will even have the grace to surrender to God the child of the promise on Mt. Moriah (Gen. 22:1-19, Heb. 11:17-19).

 

God was also permanently reshaping Abraham’s view of his wife.  Before God’s revelation Abraham saw Sarah and her beauty as a liability when they traveled, not someone precious he should protect.  At least two times while they were on the road Abraham lied and told people Sarah was his sister.  He could have trusted God for his physical protection, but instead he practiced deception as a form of protection.  Can you imagine how frightened Sarah must have felt when she was placed in a harem not once, but twice?  (Gen. 12:10-20, 20:1-18).  During the extended time they both waited for Isaac’s birth, Abraham witnessed God elevating Sarah.  (Gen. 17:15-21).  Abraham will father more sons as his story continues (Gen. 25:1-2), but only Sarah’s son will be called the child of the promise.  Traditionally, Jewish status has been passed through the mother, not the father, largely because of the importance of Sarah’s faith journey.  In this drawn out timetable, God was challenging the value Abraham had given Sarah.

 

What does waiting on God produce in you?  If you are teachable the fruit of waiting will be trust in God.  God has a wonderful plan to bless you, but part of that plan is to also transform you.  Through a lengthy waiting period you learn God truly is good.  As you grow and make spiritual progress you will put your confidence in God sooner, more often and with greater abandonment.  When you have grown weary of anticipating when God will answer your prayers, consider what God desires?  Work with God and not against him.  Not every lesson you learn has to be taught in the school of hard knocks.  As you actively pause ask him to empower and strengthen you in your wait time.   I promise you, you will like the transformation in your personal life as much or more than God does.  When you have been delivered of your fears, pettiness or whatever else God desires to change, you are going to love the new, freer you.

 

What is God building in you during your wait time?

 

3)   When waiting on God, it is important to realize God does not need your help to keep his promises.

 

Sarah thought God needed her help to keep his promise to Abraham.  This is an incredibly small view of God.  Cannot the God of the universe who created the stars and asked Abraham to try and number them get Sarah pregnant?  Ultimately, God was more interested in Sarah coming to know who he is, than in her immediate motherhood.  Sarah mistakenly believed that God would want to bless Abraham, but not her.  This is not how a loving God treats a married couple.  Growing Sarah’s faith was just as critical to God as Abraham’s faith development.  God never intended to leave her out of his equation of blessing.  Eventually, through Sarah’s lineage Israel will give birth to the Messiah and the Savior of the world.

 

Abraham and Sarah knew it was God’s will to give them an heir.  But, they could not have guessed how important the twenty-five year, extended wait time would be in their lives, in the future of their descendants and even today.

 

How could God’s current delay in your life have a purpose?

 

 

Close out your study time by thanking God for days of intentional waiting and fresh revelations of how vast is his love for you.

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Ask Roger

How to Get Disciplined by God and Like ItHow to Get Disciplined by God and Like ItHow to Get Disciplined by God and Like It

by Roger Barrier
written by Roger Barrier

Dear Roger,

 

My friend and I got into a discussion about whether or not God would actually hurt or punish a Christian. I said, “No. He loves us too much.” He said, “Yes. He loves us too much not to!”

 

What do you think?

 

Sincerely, Alex

 

Dear Alex,

 

Your friend wins!

 

I think that most everyone agrees that children who experience little or no discipline often grow up to be stubborn, unmanageable, misguided, rebellious teenagers and adults.

 

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that because we are His spiritual children, our Father in heaven has every intention of disciplining us so that we will grow up to be effective, strong spiritual mothers and fathers.

 

I watch a lot of families when Julie and I go out to eat. Whenever I see well-behaved children sitting with mom or dad or both, I always walk over and say, “Excuse me, you must be great parents. Your children are so well behaved.” Mom and dad grin from ear to ear. It’s quite clear that these children have been carefully disciplined and will grow up well.

 

So let’s consider a few things.

 

FIRST: DISCIPLINE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR CHRIST FOLLOWERS.

 

The Lord disciplines the ones he loves,

and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son. Hebrews 12:6

 

When you choose to trust Jesus Christ as Savior, you will soon discover that some of our teachers are named “Pain” and “Suffering.” We have all experienced heartache, broken relationships, broken homes, disease, loss of a child, being misunderstood, financial difficulties, wayward teenagers, and on and on.

 

In our sin-filled, imperfect world, life hurts. And when God chooses to allow us to experience pain as discipline, we can respond in two ways: embrace and overcome the pain with His help or fall into a spirit of bitterness and anger. Your choice.

 

It was the Sunday night before Christmas and I was finishing my class on principles of spiritual growth. The main theme of the thirteen week class was how God uses difficulties to mature us to look like Jesus.

 

“Any more questions before we go,” I asked? One obviously pregnant woman said,” if I pray to be a spiritual woman at any price, would God might take my baby to help mature me in Christ.”

 

“What a question! I know that God uses difficulties to mature us to look like Jesus. However, I doubt that God has anything in mind for you like that.”

 

On January 5, I received a call. She said, “I just want you to know that I gave birth to my baby and my baby passed away. Could you come see me?”

 

With great consternation I walked up her sidewalk wondering, “What in the world can I say to her?”

 

When I arrived, her husband ushered me to one of their lounge chairs across from her in the room.

 

“I just wanted you know that I have no idea if God had anything to do with what happened; but, I do know this, God will use this experience to grow me to look more like Jesus.”

 

I walked a mile with Pleasure,

She chatted all the way,

And left me none the wiser,

For all she had to say.

 

I walked a mile with Sorrow,

And ne’re a word said she,

But Oh the things I learned that day,

When Sorrow walked with me.

 

SECOND: DISCIPLINE PROVES THAT THE FATHER LOVES US.

 

And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

 

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:5-6

 

When troubles set in and trials arrive most of us react first by wondering,

 

“Am I really saved? If I were really saved, why am I having all these problems? Has God forsaken me? I’m a Christian; I’m not supposed to have so many problems. If God really loved me, He wouldn’t let these things happen to me.”

 

Certainly he would! The troubles prove that He loves us.

 

C. S. Lewis observed, “We want not so much a father in heaven as a grandfather in heaven whose plan for the universe is such that it might be said at the end of each day, ‘and a good time was had by all.’”

 

It takes a lot of love to carry out consistent discipline for a child. Pity the poor child whose parents don’t love him enough to discipline him or her consistently.

 

THIRD: DISCIPLINE PROVES THAT WE BELONG TO GOD.

 

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? Hebrews 12:7

 

Think about this: God does not punish nor discipline unsaved people in this life. They are not his children. He saves their judgment for the Great White Throne Judgment when their sins will be exposed and all will be cast into the lake of fire.  Revelation 20:11-13.

 

Unsaved people are Satan’s children, and he wreaks havoc upon them.

 

If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Hebrews 12:8

 

Simply stated, a person with no problems is illegitimate and not a Christian. Discipline is not brought to us in spite of our following Christ; it is because we are following Christ.

 

Dr. Harry Ironside had a student ask to pray for him to have more patience. Ironside begin to pray,

 

“Dear Lord, would you please give this young man some problems.

 

Knowing that Ironside was going deaf the student shook him and said, “No, No, not problems. I want patience.

 

Ironside prayed again, “Lord, would you please send this man some problems.” The student shook Ironside again.

 

The student said, “I want patience, not problems.”

 

Then Ironside replied, “Don’t you know that it is troubles and problems which produce patience?”

 

FOURTH: THOUGH PAINFUL, DISCIPLINE IS ULTIMATELY VALUABLE.

 

Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!  They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.

 

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.  Hebrews 12:9-11

 

Never, ever did one of my children look at me after disciplining her and say, “Boy that was a great delight, Dad. Thanks so much. Let’s do it again soon!”

 

No child likes discipline; but as parents, we must never lose sight of the goal. Discipline produces a “harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

 

One of my favorite Chinese proverbs perfectly illustrates the painful things that God is doing in your life…

 

“Once upon a time, far off in the heart of the Western Kingdom, the master came to walk day by day. In the midst of the garden, there was the most beautiful bamboo tree that ever grew in all the earth. The master would come by and look at his plants; but he had a special affinity for that old bamboo tree. He watched it as it grew. He nurtured it complete maturity.

 

One day, as the great master was walking through his garden, he came to that bamboo tree, and on impulse that bamboo tree bowed down in loving adoration of his master. The master said, “Bamboo, most beautiful of all the trees in my garden, I think that you’re just about ready to become useful to me.”

 

Bamboo said, “Oh, great master, if I can do anything for you, I will. Just take me. Use me.”

The great master said, “Bamboo, Bamboo, most beautiful of all the trees in my garden, if I’m going to use you I have to cut you down.” The wind stopped blowing, and the birds stopped singing and all the butterflies were still.

 

Then Bamboo said, “Well, master, I’m yours. But, you yourself said that I’m the most beautiful of all the trees in the garden, must you cut me down?”

 

“I must, if you’re going to be useful to me.” The sounds of the garden were hushed in silence as that great bamboo bent his neck, and the master cut him down.

 

Then the master said, “Bamboo, you’re still not useful to me. If you’re going to be useful to me, I must cut off all your branches.”

 

Bamboo pleaded, “Oh, master, not that. You’ve already cut me down. Isn’t that enough? Please don’t cut off my branches.”

 

But, the great master said, “No, I must cut off your branches.” Once more the garden was silenced, and all the plants looked on with rapt attention as the great master snipped off branch after branch, and bared that great bamboo.

 

Then the master said, “Bamboo, you’re not useful to me yet. There’s one more thing. If you’re going to be useful to me, then I must split you open and cut your heart out.”

 

Bamboo wept, “Oh, master, not that! “You’ve already taken away my beauty. There’s nothing left now—just me. Must you scrape my heart out?”

 

“I must if you’re to be useful to me.’” Once more the garden was hushed as the great master took that bamboo, split him down the middle and scraped his heart out.

 

Then the great master took that bamboo shoot, now hollowed out and scraped clean, and walked over to a spring that was bubbling with water. He laid one end of that hollowed-out bamboo shoot in the stream. He placed the other end of that bamboo shoot in the irrigation ditch that watered his garden.

 

Then the waters began to flow; and the fields began to grow. The wind began to blow again. The birds began to sing. The rice was planted and the harvest came. And that bamboo who—standing all alone in the garden was the most beautiful of all the master’s plants—that bamboo—which meant so much to the master—when that bamboo was stripped bare and hollowed out, then and only then could he be useful in the great master’s garden.

 

Well Alex, I hope my thoughts are helpful in giving you a little more material for you and your friend to discuss.

 

May God grant you and your friend many good years ahead.

 

Sincerely, Roger

 

 

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Articles

Defeating Satan’s Footholds and Strongholds

by Neil Anderson
written by Neil Anderson

We overcome Satan’s schemes when we understand how he oppresses us and how we must defeat him. Here are some clear ways to recognize demonic oppression in your life and find victory!

The Evil One and his demons seize opportunities to cunningly influence our thinking in many different ways and to varying degrees. If his schemes remain hidden from our conscience thought, they can form a foothold or establish a stronghold in our souls from which evil spirits can operate unimpeded.

Footholds:

The most common use of the word foothold today is as a place or thing that will support a climber’s foot or as a secure starting position from which further advance can be made. In biblical Greek it can refer to a spot, place, location, room, home, position, tract, occasion, opportunity, locality, region, or condition.

Paul gives us insight into how Satan might establish a foothold in our thinking from which further advancement can be made. He says,

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. (Ephesians 4:26-27)

 

In these verses Paul warns us to quickly forgive an offense so that retained anger does not turn into bitterness, because bitterness (long-held unforgiveness) gives Satan a “foot up” in our thought life. It can give him a platform that will support further incursions into our thought life.

 

Let me illustrate. When I am offended or emotionally wounded, becoming angry or embittered, I may think things such as:

1. If I forgive the person who offended me, he/she will just hurt me again.
 2. By holding onto my anger, I can punish the one who offended me.
3. This offense is so egregious, I cannot forgive.

 

There is no truth in any of these thinking patterns. The behavior that typically follows these kinds of deception is sinful disobedience of Christ’s instruction and example of forgiveness. Through unwillingness to forgive, the evil one gains a foothold—gains ground, a place, or a spot from which to make further advances into his target’s thought processes and actions.

 

STRONGHOLDS:

 

Another of Satan’s deceptive schemes is to establish strongholds in our mind. Look at what the Apostle Paul has to say about this:

 

“…though we live in the world we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

 

The Greek word for stronghold is used in the Greek Old Testament several times where it always carries the literal meaning of a fortress. The above passage is the only occurrence of the word stronghold in the New Testament and it is used figuratively to refer to the “strength of false arguments.” The words rendered arguments and pretension in the Greek tell us that the stronghold—the strong false argument—is established by a proud adversary for evil purposes. Look at the way Today’s English Version expresses it:

“The weapons we use in our fight are not the world’s weapons but God’s powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strongholds. We destroy false arguments; we pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5, TEV)

 

Author Mark Bubeck defines stronghold, saying:  “a stronghold is an idea, belief, fear, feeling, desire, or anything else (arguments, pretensions against the knowledge of God) that has a strong hold, or a firm grip on, our mind, spirit,  body, or heart—enslaving us—motivating us to act out against God’s will through repeated sinful behavior. A stronghold is a believed lie we have allowed to become reality to us and hold us in bondage to sin. It’s a lie that has darkened our minds to the truth of Christ.”

 

The differences between footholds and strongholds are subtle. But we can make this distinction. A foothold is based upon lies one believes that lead him/her into sin for which he/she remains unrepentant.  Continuing to function in that sin gives Satan a place from which to advance against us—to gain more ground in our lives. A stronghold seems to be directly connected to a proudly held strong argument or belief that weakens a person’s faith in God or leads the person away from God. Such false beliefs may stem from apostasy, habitual sin, or from misinterpretations of traumatic events in a person’s life. The false belief is so deeply ensconced in the person’s thinking that Satan can safely operate in the person’s life as if he were protected within the walls of a strong fortress.

 

Now let’s look at some ways we can give evil spirits an opportunity to establish footholds and/or strongholds in our lives—ways in which we can become vulnerable to demonic attack.

 

BECOMING VULNERABLE

 

The door for spiritual attack in our life is opened both by the sins we commit and the sins committed against us.  A review of writings of the “experts” in the field of spiritual warfare reveals that there are numerous areas of sin through which the enemy gains ground in our lives so that he can harass, oppress, and oppress believers. These include involvement in the occult (false religions), deception, bitterness, rebellion, pride, habitual sin, and generational sin.

 

OCCULT INVOLVEMENT:

 

Replacing the worship of God with the worship of Satan is the core characteristic of involvement in the occult. The worship of Satan is often hidden in the activities and beliefs of occult groups (occult means “hidden”). Just as Satan in his Temptations of Christ openly offered Jesus ruling power (Matt. 4: 8-9), the occult is seductive and deceptive as it offers power to the seeker. (Deuteronomy 18:9-13).

 

BITTERNESS:

 

Bitterness (unforgiveness) is one of the primary areas of vulnerability for many Christians. Some people struggle with bitterness because they have misconceptions about what it means to forgive. Forgiveness assaults the bitter person’s sense of justice. For these, forgiving someone for an offense means to let the offender off the hook. This smacks of weakness and codependency. The opposite, of course, is true.

 

Forgiveness takes great courage and it reflects the grace and mercy of Christ.

Some do not want to forgive because they want vengeance. And they are dedicated to extracting that vengeance. Some do it with cruel and direct retaliation. Others are more covert. They get their vengeance through gossip, manipulation of relationships, and other passive-aggressive behaviors. Some just enjoy hating the offender.

 

Hanging onto bitterness is self-destructive and poisons the soul (Heb. 12:15; Eph. 4:30- 32). It is a violation of love (1 Cor. 13:5); it is rebellion against Jesus’ instruction to His followers (Matt. 6:12, 14-15).

 

1. Forgiveness is not forgetting.

2. Forgiveness is letting go of resentment; we forgive in order to heal.

3. Forgiveness is not seeking revenge (overtly or covertly).

4. Forgiveness is something you do for your sake; it is between you and God.

5. Forgiveness is agreeing to live with the consequences of another’s sin. We pay the price for the evil we forgive, just as Christ did.

6. Forgiveness is a crisis of the soul; it is an act of the will—a choice we make even if we do not feel like it.

7. Forgiveness sets the offended one free to heal and grow beyond the pain of the offense.

 

DECEPTION:

 

Jesus described the evil one as a liar and the father or progenitor of lies. “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44) Satan and his army of demons seek to impact our thinking process primarily through deception or lies. The evil one is described as a deceiver and a liar.

 

We also can be indirectly impacted by the evil one’s deception of others. Paul warned Timothy about deceiving spirits operating in men for the purpose of seducing them away from the truth: “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. (1 Timothy 4:1-2)

 

Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 that we can be deceived by the world—led by cultural messages, behaviors, and customs into false beliefs. Scripture also teaches that we can deceive ourselves (1 Cor. 3:18). In summary, we can say that Satan seeks to capture our mind, emotions and will through deception. We know that we need to be alert to several sources of deception.

 

1. Satan and his demons can directly deceive people (1 Tim. 4:1).

2. Other people can deceive us (Matt. 24:4-11).

3. We can be deceived by the culture in which we live (Rom. 12:2).

4. We can deceive ourselves (1 Cor. 3:18).

 

Although it often is difficult to pinpoint a direct cause-effect relationship between a lie that we believe and the source of the lie, we know that Satan’s power is always in the lie, because he is the father of lies.

 

REBELLION:

 

Rebellion is failing to submit to the authority of God and to the authorities that He has placed over us in the structures He has ordained. The essence of rebellion is rooted in this question: Who is in control? When we rebel against those God has placed in authority over us we are taking control away from God and claiming it for ourselves. The Bible says this about rebellion: Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness [insubordination] is as bad as worshiping idols. (1 Samuel 15:23, NLT) Witchcraft and idolatry are both on God’s list of “detestable ways.” That makes rebellion and stubbornness [insubordination] detestable to God. How sobering! The Word gives us specific information about those to whom we are to submit—those not to rebel against.

 

PRIDE:

 

When we behave arrogantly or harbor prideful attitudes, we are emulating Satan rather than being an image-bearer of Christ. Remember that Satan was removed from the presence of God and cast to the earth because of his pride. Notice the connection between pride and spiritual warfare in the following verses:

He gives us more and more strength to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble. So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.” (James 4:6-8, NLT) Pride often manifests itself in self-reliance, selfishness, and self-condemnation.

 

HABITUAL SIN:

 

The habitual practice of a specific sin can lead to bondage to “the god of

this age.” In the previous lesson we learned that Paul, using the sin of bitterness

and unforgiveness as the example, clearly identifies this principle.  “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. (Ephesians 4:26-27)  If we habitually remain unforgiving, holding onto anger, we create an opportunity for Satan to establish a foothold or beachhead in our life from which he may advance.  This principle works because it is based on the nature of sin. Sin is rebellion against God and rebellion is at the core of who Satan is. He was the first rebel against God and has continued to work his plans against God by tempting man to join with him in his rebellion by committing sin. Demonization can take place when we join Satan in his rebellion by our habitual sin, giving him a place to build a stronghold. Of course, unforgiveness is not the only habitual sin that can give evil spirits entrance into our mind and will. A habitual gossip, liar, thief, etc., can open himself or herself to demonization as well. This principle is at work in the lives of many addicts, too. Drug addiction, sexual addiction, and alcoholism are all forms of habitual sin that open people up to demonization.

 

GENERATIONAL SIN:

 

People can be spiritually influenced in a negative way by the idolatrous sins of four generations of their ancestors. Look at these passages:  “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments….” (Exodus 20:4-6) It is easy to connect the sins of the fathers in a social context. A person who has been physically abused by his father is likely to abuse his own children. Addiction has a genetic component and is easily tracked from one generation to the next. Sexual sin can be observed generation to generation.

Obviously, the grace of God can change any pattern with Divine Power.

 

SYMPTOMS OF OPPRESSION:

 

Disinterest in or inability to read Scripture, comprehend the teaching of the Word, or participate in worship and prayer

 

Possession of items used in Pagan, New Age, Eastern, or Native American worship rituals or in Freemasonry ceremonies

 

Fearful, bizarre dreams and/or night experiences related to sexual perversion, occultic symbolism, or violence; evil presences, visitations, or impressions of demonic faces

 

Conscious invitation extended to Satan and/or demons to become involved in one’s life

 

Systematic patterns of personal sinfulness, i.e., lying, dishonesty, and resentment toward others; sexual acting out; and racial hatred

 

Personality disturbance, i.e., paranoia, vengefulness, abuse of others (physical, emotional, sexual, or spiritual), self-mutilation, suicide attempts, depression, rebellion, and bizarre, violent, blasphemous thoughts

 

Addictions to alcohol, drugs, sex, work, food, exercise, internet, or television

 

Experiencing no relief from medical treatments (including prescribed drugs), personal prayer, or psychological counseling

 

A family history of demonic influence coming from witchcraft or satanic worship; Native American, New Age, or Eastern religious practices; Freemasonry

 

HERE IS A POWERFUL PROTECTION PRAYER:

 

Holy Spirit, the Word of God declares that you are the Spirit of Truth who has come to guide me into all truth. I submit myself to You and ask that You reveal to my mind—or confirm to me—truth concerning these indicators that may reveal where I have made myself vulnerable to demonic oppression (John 16:13). It is the desire of my heart to recognize and destroy footholds and strongholds that evil spirits may have established in order to influence my thoughts and actions (Psalm 21:2; Eph. 4:26-27; 2 Cor. 10:3-5).

 

I thank You in the Name and Authority of Jesus, the Christ. Amen.

 

 

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Articles

Hate Speech? The Price of True Faith

by Francis Chan
written by Francis Chan

I believe that one day, my preaching of God’s Word will be called a hate crime. That day may come sooner than later. Look around. The way the U.S. is going the things we teach and will be called hate speech. We may not be able to speak at all.

 

We had communist revolutions in China and Russia. The political leaders wanted to kill the church. Everything was built around the Orthodox Church in Russia. Once the government took away the buildings and the priests in Russia, the people didn’t know where to go. Most lost their spiritual moorings. In China the same thing happened. Under Mao Tse Tung, the Chinese government took away the churches, but there was a different result. In China there was a difference.

 

Chinese churches had empowered ordinary Christians to survive and thrive. When the churches closed, the Chinese people continued to share their faith and the church grew from about two million to approximately eighty million. Which camp would you fall into?

 

Could be God preparing us for the future, so that we are ready to share our faith in a post-Christian culture, under persecution?


Or are we so complacent that we are consumer Christians, spoon-fed by our favorite preachers, paying someone else to lead others to Christ and disciple them?

 

Whenever you are confused, and are seeking direction, just go back to the basics.


When the church has made mistakes in the past, it’s where the church has failed to elevate the core issues. Jesus made it simple. In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus was asked which was the great commandment. He replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind…and a second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and all of the Prophets.”

 

Don’t let anything become more important to you. If your family were to say to you, “We will never pray again, we will never read the Bible again,” where would you stand? I love Jesus so much. I know I will stand before God alone. I couldn’t bear to hear Him say, “Depart from me, I never knew you.”

 

Did you know that my Dad was a pastor? I didn’t want to tell anyone. I didn’t want to tell anyone because I didn’t want them to think my faith was inherited. My faith is so personal to me.

 

We gather together to spur one another on to love and good works. Give courage to other people. One of the guys, a theologian who loved me, saw me and he’s decided to tell me his story.

 

He was a long-haired hippie in the sixties smoking a joint and someone cared enough to look beyond his exterior and share Christ with him. The older saint, the famous theologian, began to weep. His salvation experience was so real to him, even after all these years, he still wept at God’s grace. I want to be that person. Gracious, loving, when people see me, they see Jesus.

That’s what God does for us. We are never to become callous to the Holy Spirit. Remembering God’s grace to save us should make us weep.

 

I am on an adventure. I have faith that God will use my life. I want to be a lover of God.

Taken from a sermon by Francis Chan, www.crazylove.org. Used by permission.

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Articles

Learn to Live in the Power of the Spirit

by Louie Giglio
written by Louie Giglio

The church is God’s plan to change the world. The government is not the plan. Philanthropy isn’t. The church is. The church is God’s idea of how the Kingdom of God will come to earth. The world is waiting for the Kingdom of God to come to earth. Jesus sent His disciples out with power. We are to announce the Kingdom of God is here… not, “we have a cool, innovative church!”

 

He is sending us out as sheep amongst wolves. That’s why we have to be as smart as we can be and be as innocent as possible. The kingdom of God comes at a great price –there is a clear and present danger – but it’s a force that will not stop. Our generation’s dissatisfaction with the church needs to move to focus on how God is inspiring us to move the church the forward.

The church is everywhere and wherever the church is, the kingdom of God is. The truth is, the church is doing pretty good. God is advancing! Jesus said He would build His church and nothing would stop it. Each and every one of us has the power, through the Holy Spirit, to proclaim that the kingdom of God is near.

What God is calling us to is a dangerous thing and it requires dangerous people. We need to get back to our radical beginning (Acts). The church should be the least safest place on earth. We are charged with something with incredible purpose that will charge us right into the face of dangerous things.

The first generation church saw the miracles, heard Jesus, and saw Him crucified, resurrected and experienced the power of God coming down with shaking power that transformed their beings into the likeness of Christ. That was the beginning of our movement! They were told to take that message to the world. It’s a challenging cause they embodied and they went for it with God. It’s not safe, it’s not comfortable and it doesn’t seem to make sense.

There is so much Jesus that needs to get in our conversations. We need to go for it. God is doing something phenomenal. Who cares if you fall or make mistakes? Its OK. Try something else. We live under such pressure to be perfect, but its OK if we aren’t because we have a God in Heaven who loves us.

There is an idea that’s bigger than us. That’s what the early church was about. It wasn’t about “us” or “them”, it was about the Kingdom of God. Lift up the name of Jesus everywhere you go and in everything you do. So many of us get stuck on trying to focus on who we are trying to reach and what our ‘target audience’ is, when we should be focusing on who we are trying to produce, what do we want them to look like, and how will we know when they are there.

We want to produce…

1 – God-lovers
People are moved by an intimate connection with the creator of the universe. That’s the beginning. Vision and strategy are great, but love carries people through the journey. 2 Corinthians 5 – if we are out of our minds, it’s because we met Jesus! If we are in our minds, it’s for your sake.

We have to translate the love of God to people who don’t get it – we need to get in their worlds for God. For Christ’s love compels us. What really is compelling you to build the church you are building? What’s driving you from the inside out? Is it building something cool to be seen, or is it out of our love for God?

The love God is doing something in us that compels us – our world desires for accomplishment, but in Christ our estate called “me” went under when Jesus gave it all for us. When He said, we said. When He died, we died that those of us who live will not live for ourselves, but for Him who gave it all.

God lovers come from people who God-loved and know it.

We need less gatherings and more goings…We need to be innocent and pure, shining the light as you go forth into the world. We want to be culture-shapers, we need to unleash people.

There is something in you that is a God-wired passion and you need to go for it with all you have. There’s no distinction between sacred and spiritual when you are a child of God. Do what you do in the name of Jesus for the glory of God. We need to stop insulating and stop isolating. The Kingdom of God is near.

The danger we tell people to go for it and do something great for God and then things fall apart, but that’s not a good enough reason not to do anything. The church needs to equip people to propel them into the darkest places on earth.

We need to ask if our people are healthy and whole, equipped and inspired.

Do the best you can do at what you do.

2 – Hell-raisers
Shake the gates of hell with the power of the Holy Spirit.
We don’t need slick, business-minded leaders. We need hell raisers. The first generation church was so full of the Holy Spirit that Hell shook when they went anywhere. The church is a spiritual mission – a place that empowers normal people to do supernatural things.

3 – Inside traders
Take the Word to those who need to hear God’s message.
Inside trade happens when you have information before someone else does. You get a tip. Buzz happens. Those of us who have met Jesus have in “in” that He is going to determine what matters in eternity. Heaven is on the way. We need proclaim it!

Notes from www.timschraeder.com. Catalyst Conference. Permissions from Catalyst Conference.

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Articles

How to Know If You’re Still Grieving: Help and Hope

by Larry Barber
written by Larry Barber

A journey through grief is complex and confusing.  One way to gauge how well you are dealing with the loss, your grief and your grief emotions is to take an inventory of all the emotions and experiences that are a part of your grief journey.

Below is a whole list of things you might think or feel (or have thought or felt) when someone has died.  Read through the list as quickly as you can and check the thoughts and feelings that come close to describing the same thoughts and feelings you have experienced (no matter how short or long you experienced them).  Don’t think too much about each one; just go through the checklist as quickly as you can!

____1. Sometimes I feel left out; people forget to ask about me and how I am doing.

____2. Sometimes I get angry with the person for dying.

____3. Sometimes I feel sad and hurt when I think about it.

____4. Sometimes I feel guilty.

____5. It really feels weird to be around other people who knew the person that died.

____6. I wonder about death and dying

____7. Sometimes I feel guilty cause I don’t want to want to be sad all the time.

____8. Sometimes I get jealous because other people don’t have these feelings.

____9. Sometimes this all feels like a dream that will go away when I wake up.

____10. Sometimes I feel real confused and out-of-sorts!

____11. I feel helpless, like there isn’t anything I could do to stop it or to help.

____12. I wonder if the same thing could happen to someone else in my family.

____13. Anything can hit you the wrong way and bring up all kinds of feelings.

____14. Not crying means that I am strong and I can hold it together.

____15. I wonder if I should of acted differently towards the person that died.

____16. Sometimes I find myself getting angry at the person that died.

____17. Sometimes I find myself mad at God for letting this happen.

____18. I wonder about what would have happened if they did not die.

____19. I need a break from thinking about all this cause I still need to have fun.

____20. I know I’m just a normal person in an abnormal situation.

____21. Sometimes I start thinking that the person really isn’t dead.

____22. People are always trying to get me to be happy when I need to feel sad.

____23. Sometimes my family isn’t very helpful and I have to talk to friends.

____24. Sometimes my friends aren’t very helpful and I rely on my family for support.

____25. I find myself being more cautious or careful these days.

____26. I feel like the sadness will never go away.

____27. Sometimes I feel like I’m the only person who feels the way I do about all this.

____28. I get mad because this is so unfair!!!

____29. I get confused sometimes, and it’s hard to concentrate and remember things.

____30. Sometimes I get scared, even for no reason.

____31. I feel like I am a different person now that this has happened to me.

____32. Sometimes I pretend it hasn’t happened.

____33. Life goes on–and I get mad because it’s not happening to anyone else’s family, it’s

happened to mine!

____34. I can still be happy even though this is happening to me.

____35. Sometimes when I think about it, I don’t feel anything at all.

____36. I’d like to erase this all from my brain!

____37. Sometimes I don’t want to think about it or talk about it because it’s too much!

____38. I just can’t help worrying about other people in my family.

____39. Sometimes I have dreams and even nightmares about the person who died.

____40. Sometimes I cry for no reason.

____41. I get afraid sometimes to be alone

____42. I get worried or feel anxious more than I used to (for no particular reason).

____43. Nighttime can be the hardest time—that’s when I can’t stop thinking about it!

____44. Sometimes I think I’ll never get use to this.

____45. Sometimes I feel guilty because I did or said something mean to the person who’s

died–but I was just mad.

____46. Sometimes I can’t remember what it was like before the person died.

____47. I know what has happened but don’t understand why!

____48. I wonder if the person who died knows that I love him/her.

____49. Nobody asked me what I think or how I feel.

____50. I know no matter what happens, I am going to be okay.

 

Whew! That’s quite a list!  So how many thoughts and feelings did you check?  Maybe you recognized ten or twenty, or maybe even all fifty!  Some of these things are hard to feel and some are hard to admit that you feel.  Remember that taking an inventory of how the loss has impacted you equips you to better face your grief journey.

Remember, the thing about thoughts and feelings is that they are not right or wrong, and they are not good or bad.  They just are, and you can’t help thinking or feeling the way you do about anything!  It is what you do to take care of your thoughts and feelings that matter. 

Some of these feelings feel good, and some feel not so good. All these thoughts and feelings are normal!  Everyone who experiences grief can think and feel these ways.  And, many persons, big and little, find it helpful to share these with others.  Find someone with whom you feel safe to share your grief thoughts and feelings with.

Here is my grief survival guide “Love Never Dies: Embracing Grief with Hope and Promise”  available online at Amazon 

Larry is the director of GriefWorks, a free grief support program for children and their families in Dallas TX http://grief-works.org.

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Articles

What is Satan’s Throne in Revelation?

by Eli Lyzorkin-Eyzenberg
written by Eli Lyzorkin-Eyzenberg

Why does Jesus call Pergamum’s church the place where Satan’s throne is? 

Revelation 3:12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is.

 

Pergamum was a city that prided itself on several temples dedicated to the Roman Imperial cult.


In the Roman period, the city of Pergamum, a former administrative capital of Asia Minor that later was moved to Ephesus, became a flag ship for Roman patriotism expressed in religious devotion. As with most major Greek cities, Pergamum boasted a theater, stadium, library and a healing center of Asclepius among the other buildings that were part of normal life in the Greco-Roman world.

 

Pergamum’s citizens were zealous, wealthy and well-educated. They were not to be trifled with.


Satan appears as an angel of light. He rules the world, according to Luke 4. His presence in Pergamum reflected His seductive, dangerous influence.

 

The healing center (Asclepion) in Pergamum, was the headquarters for a very large network of healing centers throughout the Roman Empire. For many years Galen, the most well-known physician in the Roman Empire and personal physician of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, worked there. The Pergamum library was considered second only to the world-famous library in Alexandra. The Pergamum library boasted, according to Plutarch, more than 200,000 volumes. Another account states that Marc Anthony, a Roman military commander, bequeathed the collection to Cleopatra as a reimbursement for the total destruction of the library of Alexandria’s by Julius Caesar.

 

Pergamum held the high honor of hosting and maintaining a temple to Zeus – Father of all gods and man and the ruler of Olympians on Mt. Olympia in accordance with ancient Greek beliefs. Zeus was closely associated with the Roman deity Jupiter whose name means the sky or literally the “heavenly father” god. The altar to Zeus was one of the most impressive structures in Pergamum. The altar’s stairs, columns, and sculptured sides once stood forty feet (12 meters) high. Today, only the steps around the altar’s base can be seen in the Pergamum museum in Berlin. The sides of the altar were ornamented with marble panels depicting a mythical battle between Greek gods and rebellious giants who were the sons of Mother Earth.

 

Many have suggested that this altar to Zeus is what is meant by the throne of Satan in vs. 13.

 

But there exist a number of other possibilities – such as the Asclepius cult headquarters or a concentration of the Imperial and Roman cult in that city. 

 

In Roman antiquity, the image of a sword and especially a double-edged sword was highly symbolic. So, in this city, it can truly be said that it hosted the throne of Satan, the symbol of Roman Imperial authority and rule.

Christ introduced himself to the assembly of the follows of Israel’s God in Christ as “the one who has the sharp two-edged sword.” If the above identification of the throne of Satan as Roman imperial cult is correct than it would make a perfect sense for Christ here to be presented as someone with the authority of the double-edged sword.

 

“Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.”

 

Christian tradition holds that Antipas was ordained as the bishop of Pergamum by the Apostle John, just as was Polycarp in the city of Smyrna. The tradition also holds that he was boiled alive in a bronze kettle that resembled a bull.

By the end of the first century, when the letter of Revelation was being written, the martyrdom of Antipas already took place. It was still a fresh memory in the minds of the Christ-followers of Pergamum. No doubt, Antipas met his destiny, embracing death because he was not willing to honor and sacrifice to pagan gods. Only one God can be worshiped and adored.

 

“14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.”

 

Nicolaitans, dubbed Nokhal, which in Hebrew means “We will eat,” refers to meat that was sacrificed to Greco-Roman Gods.

 

Nicolaitans of vs. 15 are connected with the evil Balaam and Balak. Their strategy to undermine Israel was the same. They wanted Israelites to worship Baal Peor. Balaam began as a good prophet who compromised his integrity by being lured to money and fame. The main attraction was the sexual orgies that accompanied such worship. We read in Num. 25:1-5:

“While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. 2 For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel joined themselves to Baal Peor, and the Lord was angry against Israel. 4 The Lord said to Moses, ‘Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the Lord, so that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.’ 5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, ‘Each of you slay his men who have joined themselves to Baal of Peor.’”

Christ called the assembly in Pergamum that tolerated in its mix those who both professed Christ and ate meat sacrificed to Roman gods, to repent. Christ the King threatened them with his soon-approaching judgment, calling them to finally make a choice between the God of Israel and the gods of the Roman Empire.

 

The lesson: Satan wants to sit on the throne of your life. He demands worship and allegiance. Don’t mix the worship of Yahweh with idolatry. That is the very essence of Satanic worship.

www.eteacherbiblical.com. Used by permission.

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Articles

Victory Verses to Defeat Satanic Thoughts

by Neil Anderson
written by Neil Anderson

Here are scriptures to address Satan’s attacks on your mind.

 

Blasphemous Thoughts –2 Cor10:4-5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

 

Condemning Thoughts – Rom 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

 

Confusing Thoughts – 1 Cor.14:33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

 

Fearful Thoughts – 2 Tim 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. NKJV Rom 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ” Abba! Father!”

 

Haughty (prideful) Thoughts – Phil 2:3-4 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

 

Lying Thoughts – Eph 4:25-26 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. John 8:44-45 ” You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

 

Obsessive Thoughts – Phil 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension (need to figure it out), will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

Negative Thoughts – Rom 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

 

Jealous Thoughts – James 3:14-16 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

 

Thoughts of Guilt and Shame – Gal 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us–for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”—Heb 12:1-2 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

Suicidal Thoughts – John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. Luke 9:56 for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”]

 

Fantasy Thoughts – Acts 17:24-27 The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation.

 

Ps 139:1-6 O LORD, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. 3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all. 5 You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it.

 

Perfectionistic/Legalistic Thoughts – 2 Cor3:5-6 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

 

Unprotected Thoughts – 2 Thess3:1-3 Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; 2 and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

 

Religious Thoughts – Gal 1:6-10 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! 10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. Thoughts of Regret – Jer 29:11-12 ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

 

Distracting Thoughts – 1 Peter 1:13-14 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

 

Defensive Thoughts – 1 Peter 5:6-8 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

 

Angry Thoughts – Eph 4:31-32 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

 

People Pleasing – Gal 1:10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

 

Thoughts of loneliness – Rom 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

FICM.ORG. Used by permission.

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Articles

Our Resurrected Bodies: Will They Have New Abilities?

by Randy Alcorn
written by Randy Alcorn

The disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! —John 20:19

Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! —Luke 24:31

He was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. —Acts 1:9

He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. —Philippians 3:21

Christ’s resurrection body had an ability to appear suddenly, apparently coming through a locked door to the apostles. And “He disappeared” from the sight of the two disciples at Emmaus. When Christ left the earth, He defied gravity and ascended into the air. It’s possible that the risen Christ, who is man yet God, has certain physical abilities we won’t have. Appearing and disappearing could be a limited expression of His omnipresence, and His ascension might be something our bodies couldn’t imitate.

On the one hand, because we’re told in multiple passages that our resurrection bodies will be like Christ’s, it may be possible at times for us to transcend the present laws of physics and/or travel in some way we’re not now capable of. On the other hand, it’s our God-given human nature to be embodied creatures existing in space and time. So it’s likely that the same laws of physics that governed Adam and Eve will govern us. We can’t be sure, but either way it will be wonderful.

Our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. —1 Corinthians 15:53

Our resurrection bodies will never fail us. They’ll work in perfect concert with our resurrected minds. We won’t get sick, grow old, or die from either an accident or natural causes.

www.epm.org. Used by permission.

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Sermons

Identity Part Three: A Holy Nation

by Glenn Barteau
written by Glenn Barteau

When Jesus was crucified, the curtain in the temple dividing the Holy of Holies from everything else, was ripped from top to bottom. God said, “That which divided us is gone. You don’t have to live in a system trying to reach God on your own anymore.” What will you do when you realize the unreachable God has reached you and has healed your sinful soul completely?

Preached at Casas Church. Used by permission.

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Sermons

What is God’s Will for My Life?

by Dave Stone
written by Dave Stone

This is one of the most common and most important questions people ask about God. The answer is bigger than we sometimes think, and, while it is not always easy, the way to find the answer is simpler than we sometimes think. Be like Jesus. Be with Jesus. Read God’s Word. Listen to God’s people.

WATCH SERMON VIDEO HERE.

 

Preached at Southeast Christian Church. Used by permission.

 

 

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Articles

The People Who Missed Christmas: Rome and Nazareth

by John MacArthur
written by John MacArthur

An entire nation missed Christmas. All of Rome could have shared in the Savior’s birth, but they missed it. That first Christmas was set in a Roman scene. Herod, for example, was the ruler appointed by Rome. And it was a decree by Caesar Augustus that set everything in motion (Luke 2:1).

Who was Caesar Augustus? He’s mentioned only once in Scripture, but he occupies an important place in the history of the Roman Empire. He was the grand-nephew of Julius Caesar. His name was Octavian; “Augustus” was a title meaning “venerable.” He ruled Rome from 27 B.C. to A.D. 14.

Octavian was for the most part a benevolent ruler. He was responsible for the Pax Romana, the era of peace between all the different parts of the Roman Empire. He instituted numerous reforms designed to do away with the worst forms of corruption and keep peace throughout the empire. But Octavian took the title of Pontifex Maximus, which means “highest priest.” He also deified both Julius Caesar and himself, and had temples built for Caesar worship.

Octavian had come to power when Julius Caesar was assassinated. In his will, Julius Caesar left all his possessions, including the throne, to his grand-nephew. In the middle of his reign, Octavian ordered a worldwide census. That was the decree spoken of in Luke 2:1.

And so Jesus was born in the heyday of the Roman Empire. Yet nearly all of Rome missed Christmas. Roman soldiers must have been everywhere in Bethlehem and the surrounding area, overseeing the census, registering people, and keeping order. Yet they missed Jesus’ birth. Why? Idolatry. They had their own gods—they were even willing to let their emperor pretend to be God. Christ did not fit into their pantheon. No mythological god could coexist with Him. So the Romans totally ignored His birth. This newborn baby became just one more number in their census.

Paganism has a strong a grip on our world today, and millions miss Christmas because of it. I’m not talking only about the dark paganism of distant lands, where Christ is unknown and unheard of, and where Christmas is unheard of. Obviously, those people miss Christmas. But there is another, subtler form of idolatry even in our society. And millions miss Christmas because of it. Most people in North America don’t worship carved idols or follow demonic superstition like the Romans did, but they nevertheless worship false gods. Some people worship money. Others worship sex. I know people who worship cars, boats, houses, power, prestige, popularity, and fame. Those things represent the pagan gods of the 21st century: selfishness and materialism. If that is what you worship, you’ll miss Christmas.

Finally, and perhaps saddest of all, Nazareth missed Christmas. Nazareth was a crude, uncultured town, quite a distance from Bethlehem. The people of that region had a reputation for violence. Nathanael expressed the prevailing opinion of that little town: “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46).

Yet Nazareth was the home of Mary and Joseph, and the boyhood home of Jesus. Although he was born in Bethlehem, He grew up in Nazareth and lived His perfect life before all the people there. Yet they completely overlooked Him. Luke 4 describes the most important Sabbath day Nazareth ever had:

And He [Jesus] came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke4:16-21)

After years of living among those people, Jesus was revealing to the Nazarenes who He was. For the first time ever, He was telling them publicly that He was the Messiah. And what was their reaction?

And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” And He said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’” And He said, “Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown. But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, He went His way. (Luke4:22-30)

The people who knew Jesus best—those with whom He had grown up and among whom He had lived—tried to kill Him! That’s what I call missing Christmas. “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him,” John 1:11 says. The people of Nazareth, who knew Him better than anyone, had no idea who He really was. Mark 6:6 says even Jesus wondered at their unbelief.

What was their problem? Familiarity. They knew Him too well. They knew Him so well they couldn’t believe He was anyone special. Familiarity mixed with unbelief is a deadly thing. Whenever people tell me they grew up in Christianity but have rejected it, I cringe. Familiarity strangles conviction. Perhaps the most tragic sin of all is the unbelief of a person who has heard all the sermons, sat through all the Bible lessons, knows all the Christmas stories, but rejects Christ. There is no gospel, no good news, for such a person, because he already knows and rejects the only truth that can set him free. What a sad way to miss Christmas!

No one has to miss Christmas. Ignorant preoccupation, jealous fear, prideful indifference, religious ritual, false gods, and even contemptuous familiarity are only expressions of the one real reason people miss Christmas: unbelief.

If you truly love the Lord, you cannot allow those expressions of unbelief to take root in your heart. Don’t waste another year letting worldly materialism and selfish pursuits steal your affection. Discipline your heart and train your focus on the sacrifice Christ made on your behalf. Don’t lose sight of what and Whom you’re celebrating in the days ahead.

On the other hand, perhaps you’ve been missing Christmas altogether. You may get presents and eat a big dinner and decorate a tree, but you know in your heart that you are no different from the innkeeper, Herod, the religious leaders, the people of Jerusalem, the Romans, or the citizens of Nazareth. You are missing the reality of Christmas.

You don’t have to miss another one. Turn from your sin and unbelief and receive Christ as Lord and God. He will forgive your sin, change your life, and give you the greatest Christmas gift anyone can receive: “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:11-12).

Don’t miss Christmas this year!

“This article originally appeared here at Grace to You.” Used by permission.

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Empty Promises

by Angelique Angell
written by Angelique Angell

I had been wearing a promise ring for a few days that meant eventually we’d be together forever. We had dated on and off for five and a half years. I wanted God’s permission. I wanted His blessing on our relationship. I left the ring at home, went to a Christian Conference to put the relationship in God’s hands. If he didn’t want us together, then we’d break up. I didn’t mean it.  

 

At the conference I worshipped with old friends and made new ones. I felt thrilled that as a sophomore in college I had my life all figured out. I loved God. I loved my cute boyfriend. Things could not get any better. I was not expecting God to speak so clearly to me that weekend, but he did. When it happened, I was not even in that second asking him a question, but worshipping on the second day of the conference. God basically said to me, “What are you doing?” I was taken back! There are few times in my life that I KNOW that I’ve heard from the Lord. The voice in my heart was quiet, firm, yet seemed to be shouting. He continued, “This is not my will.” I knew He was talking about my boyfriend, and I knew He was right.

 

Oh, I had been praying throughout the conference for our relationship but my prayers were for blessing. They were not the prayers that I swore I was going to make. I really was not going to put it all on the line. I was not going to let God have control. I did not trust Him. How could I? If I gave Him that, he could take my boyfriend away. This boyfriend was my security blanket. If I didn’t have my boyfriend, what could I rely on?

 

I can remember going to the mall with some friend a few days after the breakup. I was sitting at Starbucks over the Christmas break watching ice skaters swirl around and laugh with their heads back in sheer joy. I will never be happy again, I thought. I really knew that I would never be the same. I had given everything over to God and was set to be miserable forever.

 

I cried. I cried for the loss. I cried for the choice I had to make but didn’t want to. I cried out in anguish at a God that would take it all away. I just kept crying. I cried for months and months. I would wake up fine. I’d get all ready to go to school, I’d put my hand on the doorknob and start sobbing. I would literally crumble to the floor, face in the carpet, telling myself that I would not call my ex today. I could not comprehend not ever calling him again, so I would ask God to give my strength to not call him that day. That is how empty I was. I thought I had finally, miserably given everything over to God, finally, but I was wrong again.

 

One night, my roommates came in to try to cheer me up. “Don’t you know that God has an amazing Christian man for you?” Andrea cooed as she put her arm around my shoulder.

 

“I know He does, but that man is going to be so ugly! Oh, he’ll love God, but I’m not going to ever want to kiss him on the lips!” I screamed. All my roommates got really quiet and then burst out laughing… and so did I. I’d never voiced my true fear, but that was it. I was not afraid that I would never get married, but I feared that if I followed God’s plan, it would be severely lacking! I thought I had finally started trusting the Lord, but I didn’t trust Him completely.

 

“Why do you think that God would show you gold and give you silver?” Andrea softly asked. I was speechless. I can not tell you how many times that question had gone through my head over the years. She was right. It is biblical. God’s plans always trump the weak promises of the world. His plans are golden.

 

God proclaims through the prophet Isaiah:

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters;
and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good and you will delight in the richest of fare”

(Isaiah 55).

 

I was spending my energy trying to get God-sized satisfaction from a man. I was so thirsty, yet I was not getting life-giving water. Notice God does not just offer water, he gives wine and milk. It is beyond expectations. It is beyond need. It is what we truly want. It is the best. It is gold, not silver.

 

I had to learn to lean on Christ alone, not Christ and a man. I had set up this little safety net for myself that God had to take away. My ex-boyfriend was a great guy but we were not good for each other. I abused that relationship over and over because I used him to feel good about myself. We were completely, pathetically codependent.  Later, I went back and apologized to him.

 

It was almost exactly five and a half years later that I got engaged to my husband Jared. God likes timing, doesn’t he? I think I needed lots of time and that God sought to redeem the five and a half years when I did it my way. I had to meekly, slowly learn to do it His way. I had to find meaning and purpose in my life apart from a relationship with a man. I had to learn to trust. There are times when I feel the pull once again, sometimes I feel it daily-to rely on the weak promises of the world. However, I’m not going for silver, I’m going for gold.

 

 

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“Adultolescence?” A Church-Based Help for Almost-Grownups

by John Piper
written by John Piper

Christian Smith, professor of sociology at Notre Dame, wrote in the most recent Books and Culture a review of six books that deal with the new phenomenon of “adultolescence”—that is, the postponement of adulthood into the thirties. I want to relate this phenomenon to the church. But first here is a summary from Smith’s article of what it is and how it came about.

What Is Adultolescence?

Smith writes,

“Teenager” and “adolescence” as representing a distinct stage of life were very much 20th-century inventions, brought into being by changes in mass education, child labor laws, urbanization and suburbanization, mass consumerism, and the media. Similarly, a new, distinct, and important stage in life, situated between the teenage years and full-fledged adulthood, has emerged in our culture in recent decades—reshaping the meaning of self, youth, relationships, and life commitments as well as a variety of behaviors and dispositions among the young.

What has emerged from this new situation has been variously labeled “extended adolescence,” “youthhood,” “adultolescence,” “young adulthood,” the “twenty-somethings,” and “emerging adulthood.”

One way of describing this group is to highlight the tendency to delay adulthood or stay in the youth mindset longer than we used to. Smith suggests the following causes for this delay in arriving at mature, responsible adulthood.

First is the growth of higher education. The GI Bill, changes in the American economy, and government subsidizing of community colleges and state universities led in the second half of the last century to a dramatic rise in the number of high school graduates going on to college and university. More recently, many feel pressured—in pursuit of the American dream—to add years of graduate school education on top of their bachelor’s degree. As a result, a huge proportion of American youth are no longer stopping school and beginning stable careers at age 18 but are extending their formal schooling well into their twenties. And those who are aiming to join America’s professional and knowledge classes—those who most powerfully shape our culture and society—are continuing in graduate and professional school programs often up until their thirties.

A second and related social change crucial to the rise of emerging adulthood is the delay of marriage by American youth over the last decades. Between 1950 and 2000, the median age of first marriage for women rose from 20 to 25 years old. For men during that same time the median age rose from 22 to 27 years old. The sharpest increase for both took place after 1970. Half a century ago, many young people were anxious to get out of high school, marry, settle down, have children, and start a long-term career. But many youth today, especially but not exclusively men, face almost a decade between high school graduation and marriage to spend exploring life’s many options in unprecedented freedom.

A third major social transformation contributing to the rise of emerging adulthood as a distinct life phase concerns changes in the American and global economy that undermine stable, lifelong careers and replace them instead with careers of lower security, more frequent job changes, and an ongoing need for new training and education. Most young people today know they need to approach their careers with a variety of skills, maximal flexibility, and readiness to re tool as needed. That itself pushes youth toward extended schooling, delay of marriage, and, arguably, a general psychological orientation of maximizing options and postponing commitments.

Finally, and in part as a response to all of the above, parents of today’s youth, aware of the resources often required to succeed, seem increasingly willing to extend financial and other support to their children, well into their twenties and even into their early thirties.

The characteristics of the 18-30 year-olds that these four factors produce include:

(1) identity exploration, (2) instability, (3) focus on self, (4) feeling in limbo, in transition, in-between, and (5) sense of possibilities, opportunities, and unparalleled hope. These, of course, are also often accompanied by big doses of transience, confusion, anxiety, self-obsession, melodrama, conflict, and disappointment.

How Should the Church Respond?

How might the church respond to this phenomenon in our culture? Here are my suggestions.

1. The church will encourage maturity, not the opposite. “Do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature” (1 Corinthians 14:20).

2. The church will press the fact that maturity is not a function of being out of school but is possible to develop while in school.

3. While celebrating the call to life long singleness, the church will not encourage those who don’t have the call to wait till late in their twenties or thirties to marry, even if it means marrying while in school.

4. The church will foster flexibility in life through living by faith and resist the notion that learning to be professionally flexible must happen through a decade of experimentation.

5. The church will help parents prepare their youth for independent financial living by age 22 or sooner, where disabilities do not prevent.

6. The church will provide a stability and steadiness in life for young adults who find a significant identity there.

7. The church will provide inspiring, worldview-forming teaching week in and week out that will deepen the mature mind.

8. The church will provide a web of serious, maturing relationships.

9. The church will be a corporate communion of believers with God in his word and his ordinances that provide a regular experience of universal significance.

10. The church will be a beacon of truth that helps young adults keep their bearings in the uncertainties of cultural fog and riptides.

11. The church will regularly sound the trumpet for young adults that Christ is Lord of their lives and that they are not dependent on mom and dad for ultimate guidance.

12. The church will provide leadership and service roles that call for the responsibility of maturity in the young adults who fill them.

13. The church will continually clarify and encourage a God-centered perspective on college and grad school and career development.

14. The church will lift up the incentives and values of chaste and holy singleness, as well as faithful and holy marriage.

15. The church will relentlessly extol the maturing and strengthening effects of the only infallible life charter for young adults, the Bible.

In these ways, I pray that the Lord Jesus, through his church, will nurture a provocative and compelling cultural alternative among our “emerging adults.” This counter-cultural band will have more stability, clearer identity, deeper wisdom, Christ-dependent flexibility, an orientation on the good of others not just themselves, a readiness to bear responsibility and not just demand rights, an expectation that they will suffer without returning evil for evil, an awareness that life is short and after that comes judgment, and a bent to defer gratification till heaven if necessary so as to do maximum good and not forfeit final joy in God.

Seeking to serve the next generation,

Pastor John www.desiringgod.org.

By John Piper. ©2013 Desiring God Foundation. Website: desiringGod.org. Used by permission.

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