Should I or should I not?

1 Corinthians 6:12

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Two questions that limit lawful things (things that are neither good or bad in and of themselves)

Is it beneficial?

It may be lawful, but if it is not beneficial to my Christian walk then I should refrain.

It may be lawful, but if it is not beneficial towards other Christians then I should refrain.

Does it dominate me?

It may be lawful, but if it controls me then I should refrain. When you are dominated by Christ then there is no room for any behavior or possession to dominate you.

Preferring one another

Looking forward to preaching on a principle in the Bible this morning, “in honour preferring one another” (Romans 12:10).

Preferring one another means treating others as more important than ourselves. Treating others as more valuable than ourselves.

Preferring one another means loving when we’re not loved, respecting when we’re not respecting, and honoring when we’re not honored. This love, respect, and honor must be without partiality because partiality is sin.

We all like to get what we like. Preferring one another means treating others as more worthy to get what they want.

Preferring one another means we’re happy when others receive attention even when we are neglected.

Preferring one another means that we will treat others how we would want to be treated; love your neighbor as yourself.

E.M. Bounds on Missions Giving

"Not a few of us have heard eloquent and earnest speeches stressing the imperative need of money for missions where we have heard one stressing the imperative need of prayer. All our plans and devices drive to the one end of raising money, not to quicken faith and promote prayer. The common idea among Church leaders is that if we get the money, prayer will come as a matter of course. The very reverse is the truth. If we get the Church at the business of praying, and thus secure the spirit of missions, money will more than likely come as a matter of course. Spiritual agencies and spiritual forces never come as a matter of course. Spiritual duties and spiritual factors, left to the “matter of course” law, will surely fall out and die. Only the things which are stressed live and rule in the spiritual realm. They who give, will not necessarily pray. Many in our churches are liberal givers who are noted for their prayerlessness. One of the evils of the present-day missionary movement lies just there. Giving is entirely removed from prayer. Prayer receives scant attention, while giving stands out prominently. They who truly pray will be moved to give. Praying creates the giving spirit. The praying ones will give liberally and self-denyingly. He who enters his closet to God, will also open his purse to God. But perfunctory, grudging, assessment-giving kills the very spirit of prayer. Emphasising the material to the neglect of the spiritual, by an inexorable law retires and discounts the spiritual."

E.M. Bounds The Essentials of Prayer, Chapter 13 "Prayer and Missions", P. 92

Discrimination

Do you discriminate based on ethnicity?
"And hath made of one blood all nations of men..." (Acts 17:26)

Do you discriminate based on socio-economic level?
"The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all." (Proverbs 22:2)

Do you discriminate based on gender?
Jesus appeared first to two women after He resurrected (Matthew 28:1 & 9-10)

Partiality is sin. James 2:1-9

Jesus Christ is life

I am at an interesting point in my life. I have now read the Bible through several times. Had you asked me a few years ago if I was learning a lot of new concepts as I read the Bible I would have exclaimed that most of it was new to me. Don’t misunderstand what I am about to say by thinking that I am saying the Bible has gotten old for me.

I am at a point where I am not really learning many new concepts as I read the Bible.  For the most part when I read I am reminded of and challenged by familiar truths. As I read I am making connections that I have never made before, but generally those connections are just deepening a truth I already know.

Tonight something wonderful happened! As I was digging in the Scriptures, I learned something I did not know. The most incredible thing was that it is something so glaringly obvious. I am excited to share this great spoil.

Jesus is life.

John 14:6 “I am…the life”

John 11:25 “I am…the life”

John 1:4 “In him was life”

John 5:26 “so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;”

John 6:35 “I am the bread of life”

Colossians 3:4 “Christ…is our life”

Acts 3:15 “the Prince of life”

Knowing that Jesus is life Himself has already brought wonderful light to two familiar passages. It has radically changed my concept of what eternal life is. Eternal life is not some substance or material that God delivers to us, but rather to have Christ is to have eternal life because He is life! Then, once I am in Christ, Christ is in me, and He who is life is my life and lives in me.

1 John 5:12

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Galatians 2:20

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

Lord's Supper

I'm thankful that there is liberty in this subject because much of it is preference and each church is autonomous; if you belong to a church that does things differently, please don't allow what I am about to say to cause problems. Here are some particulars I have about the Lord's Supper.


It should always be administered in the setting of the local church.
Only believers walking with God should participate (one way to make sure while not policing is only invite members of the church and have it on an off night when you don't normally have service).
The Bible never says that wine is one of the elements.
Jesus did it with His disciples the week of the Jewish Passover, so one way of doing it is once a year on the Tuesday night before Jesus was crucified and resurrected.
Since the Supper was instituted during the Jewish feasts of Unleavened Bread and Passover, the bread they used was unleavened; we too use unleavened bread which may better commemorate the sinless body of Christ.
It is the Lord's Supper, not breakfast, so we do it in the evening.
Jesus said to do it in memory of Him so it is vital to meditate on the blood He shed and His body that was broken for us when He sacrificed Himself on the cross.
It should be a somber moment of self-examination.
No Christian should ever be surprised that he is partaking of the Lord's Supper.
Lord's Supper is as important as baptism; if a Christian chooses to not participate in the Lord's Supper then there is a serious problem in their life, and church discipline may be in order. Choosing not to partake should be dealt with as a serious thing.
As with all things we do in our walk with God, the Lord's Supper should never become just some ritual.

A Possible Command

Twice in the Scriptures we see the Lord Jesus Christ telling people to “sin no more” (John 5:14 & John 8:11). According to my understanding, as long as we live our lives in this present flesh, this is an impossible command to obey. In John’s first epistle he write these words inspired by the Holy Ghost, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). So we know that no matter who we are, we will battle a life-long struggle with sin until the Lord returns and changes “our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21). This, therefore, is my understanding of the Lord’s command to “sin no more”: it is a command that we will never be able to completely obey, but we are to do our very best.

There is another command in Scripture that I used to believe was similar in the sense that we will never be able to completely obey it in this lifetime, but we were supposed to give our very best effort. Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” I thought, “Every creature? That’s impossible, but I’m going to try my best.”

I was wrong, though. It is not impossible.

1. Biblical example shows us it can be done.

In Paul’s ministry there was a time when he spent three years in Ephesus. There he labored and as a result every creature that dwelt in what was then called Asia heard the gospel. Acts 19:10 says, “And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.” An example of a group of believers that dwelt in Asia and who did not live in the place where Paul was would be the Colossians. They lived about 100 miles inland from Ephesus and the believers there had never seen Paul’s face (Colossians 2:1). Yet there was a church! Most likely Paul had reached Epaphras, who was himself a Colossian, trained him, and then he was sent to plant a church in Colossae (Colossians 1:7 & Colossians 4:12). The point here though is the fact that due to Paul’s ministry in Ephesus, every inhabitant of a specific region heard the gospel. Look at what it says happened during Paul’s first missionary journey with Barnabas in Acts 13:49, “And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.” How about the example of Philip the evangelist after he won and baptized the Ethiopian eunuch? It says in Acts 8:40, “But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.”

If these biblical examples are not enough to prove that getting the gospel to every creature is possible, then surely what we read in Paul’s letter to the Colossian believers seals the deal, “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;” (Colossians 1:23; see also Colossians 1:6)

2. History shows us it can be done.

Take the example of the great Missionary Charles Cowman in the orient. Charles Cowman left the comforts of home to preach the gospel to the Japanese over one hundred years ago. The heartcry of Cowman and every great missionary has been, “The evangelization of every creature in our generation.” At the time he left for Japan there were a total of 10,376,700 homes in that country. Having led a successful ministry in Tokyo, Cowman became increasingly burdened for the rural populations of Japan. He devised a plan that developed into what he called, “The Great Village Campaign”. The goal was to systematically take the gospel to every home in Japan. Their great team was successful in that they sent personal workers to every home in the country; these workers left a portion of Scripture and preached the gospel to everyone they met. One would think this daunting task must have taken a lifetime, but that is not true. Charles Cowman and his team of workers managed to get the gospel to over ten million homes in just six years. This man proved it can be done.

God did not mean for the great commission to be done little by little over 2,000 years so that by the time He comes back the gospel would have gotten to every part of the earth. The thrust of the great commission is individuals and it is something that must be actively accomplished during every generation. Each generation of believers is responsible for the evangelization of every creature during their generation. We can’t trust the generation before us because they had a generation of their own and now they are dead. We cannot trust the generation to come because they will have their own generation to reach and ours will have died. We have a window of opportunity during our short lives to get the gospel to every creature in our generation.

How can it be done?

Every church must have a ministry that constantly works to get the gospel to every creature in their region. That church also must consistently support missionaries who are doing the same work (getting the gospel to every creature in their region) through prayers and financial support. The philosophy of every missionary should be, “To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you” (2 Corinthians 10:16). Those missionaries in turn must go to the regions beyond and start churches that will continue the cycle of evangelizing and discipling while dedicating themselves to the evangelization of every creature in their region and supporting missionaries who are doing the work in regions beyond them.

Not only is “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” something that we can do, but it is something that we must do. We will do our part in our region, and we will support those in the regions beyond us; what will you do?

[This article was originally written by myself as a guest blogger on a friend's blog: http://pastorstrother.com/]

Finances

This is a great outline that I was taught by Pastor John Wilkerson, and now I have taught it personally. Yesterday I translated it to be able to teach it here in Chile. Here it is in both languages:

Finances

I. God is the source (Job 41:11, Psalm 24:1, Psalm 50:10 & 12)

II. Giving is a must (Proverbs 3:9-10, Malachi 3:8-10, Deuteronomy 14:22-23)

A. The offering

B. Alms

C. The tithe

1. It’s His- Malachi 3:8-10

2. It’s pre-law (Abraham & Jacob)

3. It’s one-tenth of all income

a. Genesis 28:22

b. Genesis 14:20

4. Where does it go?

a. Old Testament- house of God & His ministers (Tabernacle/Levites)

i. Malachi 3:10

ii. Numbers 18:21 & 24

b. New Testament- house of God & His ministers (Church/Pastors)

i. 1 Timothy 3:15

ii. 1 Timothy 5:17-18

3. Go to work (Proverbs 6:11, Proverbs 22:29, 2 Thessalonians 3:9)

4. Guard against debt (Proverbs 22:7, Matthew 6:24)

5. Gain contentment (Philippians 4:11, 1 Timothy 6:6-8, Hebrews 13:5)

6. Get on a budget (Luke 14:28-29)

7. Generosity (Luke 6:38)

If you are in trouble, get counseling (Proverbs 11:14)

Finanzas

I. Dios es la fuente (Job 41:11, Salmo 24:1, Salmo 50:10 & 12)

II. El dar es necesario (Proverbios 3:9-10, Malaquías 3:8-10, Deuteronomio 14:22-23)

A. La ofrenda

B. La limosna

C. El diezmo

1. Es Suyo (Malaquías 3:8-10)

2. Es pre-ley (Abraham & Jacob)

3. Es un décimo de todos los ingresos

a. Génesis 28:22

b. Génesis 14:20

4. ¿A dónde va?

a. El Antiguo Testamento: la casa de Dios y Sus ministros (Tabernáculo/Levíticos)

i. Malaquías 3:10

ii. Números 18:21 & 24

b. Nuevo Testamento: la casa de Dios y Sus ministros (Iglesia/Pastores)

i. 1 Timoteo 3:15

ii. 1 Timoteo 5:17-18

III. Trabaja (Proverbios 6:11, Proverbios 22:29, 2 Tesalonicenses 3:9)

IV. Evita la deuda (Proverbios 22:7, Mateo 6:24)

V. Ten contentamiento (Filipenses 4:11, 1 Timoteo 6:6-8, Hebreos 13:5)

VI. Usa un presupuesto mensual (Lucas 14:28-29)

VII. Se generoso (Lucas 6:38)

Si estás teniendo problemas, busca consejo (Proverbios 11:14)

The Dead Sea vs. the Sea of Galilee

In his book, The Challenge of Missions, J. Oswald Chambers said, "The Dead Sea takes in and takes in, but it never gives out; hence it is stagnant. The Sea of Galilee takes in but it also gives out; hence, it is filled with life; and its water is fresh."

Oh, Lord, help my life to be a funnel and not a bucket!


Luke 6:38
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. 

God will give through you what He will not give to you.

Do you know the way to heaven?

Do you know the way to heaven?

One day Jesus was telling His disciples about the wonderful place called Heaven. It sure is wonderful! Jesus told them they knew where He was going and that they knew the way there. Thomas, one of His disciples, said they didn’t know where He was going and they didn’t know the way. Look at Jesus’ response:

John 14

4  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

5  Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The way to heaven is not through some religion or system of good works. The way to heaven is through a person and His finished work of redemption. Jesus Christ is the way to heaven!

The bad news is that we have all sinned against God and the punishment is eternal separation from Him in the Lake of Fire.

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death…

Revelation 20:14

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

The good news is that God loves you and Jesus took the punishment for your sin on Himself when He died on the cross. The blood that He shed paid the price of your sin.

1 Corinthians 15

3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

God’s word says that anyone who believes this message, the gospel, will receive everlasting life.

This is why Jesus Christ is the way to heaven!

If you understand that you are a sinner, that you deserve to be punished for your sins, but that Jesus sacrificed Himself as your substitute, then right now you can turn to God and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved.

Acts 16:31

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…

How to read the Bible:

According to Psalm 119

A study prepared by Kyle Sheridan

1. Come to the Bible with a pure heart and a clean life

v. 1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

v. 7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.

v. 9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

v. 101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

2. Obey those things in God’s word that have already been revealed to you

v. 1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

v. 3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

v. 5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!

v. 8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.

v. 9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

v. 15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

v. 22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.

v. 44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.

v. 51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.

v. 55 I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.

v. 56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts.

v. 57 Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.

v. 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

v. 69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.

v. 87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.

v. 88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.

v. 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

v. 102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.

v. 110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.

v. 129 Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.

v. 157 Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.

v. 166 LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.

v. 167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.

v. 168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

3. Give it your whole heart

v. 2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

v. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

v. 34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

v. 58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.

v. 69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.

v. 112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.

v. 145 I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.

4. Before, during, and after you read, pray for:

(a) God’s help to obey His word

v. 5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!

v. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

v. 29 Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.

v. 35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

v. 36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

v. 32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

v. 37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

v. 133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

(b) God’s help to understand His word

v. 12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.

v. 18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

v. 26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.

v. 27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.

v. 33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

v. 34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

v. 64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

v. 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.

v. 68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.

v. 73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

v. 80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

v. 98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

v. 108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.

v. 124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.

v. 125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.

v. 135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.

v. 169 Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.

5. Value all of the Bible

v. 6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.

v. 13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.

v. 86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.

v. 128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.

v. 151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.

6. Come to the Scriptures with a heart of praise

v. 7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.

v. 48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

v. 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

v. 108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.

v. 164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.

v. 171 My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.

v. 175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.

7. Memorize the word of God

v. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

v. 98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

8. Tell others what you read

v. 13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.

v. 27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.

v. 46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.

v. 172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.

9. Meditate in the Scriptures

v. 15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

v. 23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.

v. 48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

v. 78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.

v. 95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.

v. 97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

v. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation

v. 148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.

10. Take pleasure in the Bible

v. 16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

v. 24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.

v. 35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

v. 47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.

v. 70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.

v. 72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

v. 77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.

v. 92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.

v. 97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

v. 111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

v. 113 I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.

v. 119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.

v. 127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.

v. 140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

v. 143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.

v. 159 Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.

v. 162 I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

v. 163 I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.

v. 167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.

v. 174 I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.

11. Remember what you read

v. 16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

v. 52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.

v. 61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

v. 83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.

v. 93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.

v. 109 My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.

v. 141 I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.

v. 153 Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.

v. 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

12. Hunger and thirst for the words of life

v. 20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.

v. 25 My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.

v. 28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.

v. 40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.

v. 45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.

v. 82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?

v. 94 I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.

v. 103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

v. 123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.

v. 131 I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.

13. Have resolve and diligence

v. 30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.

v. 31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.

v. 33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

v. 60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

v. 75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

v. 106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.

v. 112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.

v. 115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.

v. 139 My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.

v. 173 Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.

14. Believe, hope, and trust in His word

v. 42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.

v. 43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

v. 49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

v. 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.

v. 74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.

v. 81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.

v. 114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

v. 147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.

15. Go to the Bible when you are in distress

v. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

v. 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

v. 92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.

v. 107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.

v. 143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.

v. 147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.

16. Examine yourself in light of the Scriptures and repent of any unholy thing

v. 59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

v. 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

17. Go to the Bible for guidance

v. 24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.

v. 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

v. 130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

18. Approach the Bible seriously

v. 120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.

v. 161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.

19. Accept every word as absolute truth forever

v. 43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

v. 89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

v. 142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.

v. 151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.

v. 152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.

v. 160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

20. When you go to the Bible, cry to God for help in your life

v. 86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.

v. 94 I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.

v. 126 It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.

v. 146 I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.

v. 134 Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.

v. 153 Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.

v. 153 Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.

v. 170 Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.

Review

1. Come to the Bible with a pure heart and a clean life

2. Obey those things in God’s word that have already been revealed to you

3. Give it your whole heart

4. Before, during, and after you read, pray for:

(a) God’s help to obey His word

(b) God’s help to understand His word

5. Value all of the Bible

6. Come to the Scriptures with a heart of praise

7. Memorize the word of God

8. Tell others what you read

9. Meditate in the Scriptures

10. Take pleasure in the Bible

11. Remember what you read

12. Hunger and thirst for the words of life

13. Have resolve and diligence

14. Believe, hope, and trust in His word

15. Go to the Bible when you are in distress

16. Examine yourself in light of the Scriptures and repent of any unholy thing

17. Go to the Bible for guidance

18. Approach the Bible seriously

19. Accept every word as absolute truth forever

20. When you go to the Bible, cry to God for help in your life

What an amazing book!

· The Bible is a perfect book (Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.)

· The Bible is a preserved book (Psalm 12:6-7 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.)

· The Bible is a profitable book (2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:)

· The Bible is a prophetic book (2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.)

· The Bible is a pure book (Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.)

· The Bible is a powerful book (Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.)

A good name

What do you do when a mysterious hand appears during your party and starts writing on the wall something that you don’t understand? Call the guy with a good testimony. Daniel was known for some things: an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpretation of dreams, showing of hard sentences, dissolving of doubts, having the Holy Spirit in him, and having light in him. When Belshazzar made the worst choice of his reign by defiling the gold and silver vessels from the temple of God, God sent him a message of his definite destruction. The king despaired when none of Babylon’s wisest men could discern the message. Then his wife told him of Daniel. Belshazzar called for Daniel and said to him in Daniel 5:14, “I have even heard of thee…” and then again in verse 16, “I have heard of thee…” Daniel was a great man of God, and he was even known as such to the pagan world. He had a good testimony.

This calls for some self-reflection. It is required of a bishop that he “have a good report of them which are without” (1 Timothy 3:7). Deacons, “likewise” (1 Timothy 3:8), are to be “men of honest report” (Acts 6:3). So as a man in the ministry, yes, I must have a good testimony. But just as Christian, we all need to. Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” In Ecclesiastes 7:1 it says, “A good name is better than precious ointment…”

What are you known for?

The abominations we don’t talk about.

It is common as a Bible believer to hear a preacher comment on homosexuality. It is a subject quite pertinent to our times. The frequent commentary on the matter is, “It’s an abomination!” To which I say, “Amen!” Because the Scriptures do condemn the behavior as sinful and it is expressly called an abomination: Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9. However, I wonder to myself why we so often elevate this sin above other sins that God has called an abomination. For example, sometimes Christians will tell “white lies”, and we don’t consider them to be that big of a deal. If we had the Lord’s heart on the matter we would hate it when our tongue tells a lie or when someone else lies: Proverbs 6:16-17 “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him…a lying tongue…” Proverbs 12:22 “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD…” What about another abomination to the Lord, Proverbs 6:17 “A proud look…” Proverbs 16:5 “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD…” The Lord hates pride. He sure put Nebuchadnezzar through the ringer, and after He did, Nebuchadnezzar said, “…those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” Daniel 4:37.

Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”

May we fear the Lord and may God give us a holy hatred for evil in all its forms! Both in our own lives, and in the lives of others. And may we always remember, too, that we are to hate the sin, not the sinner.

”But by the grace of God I am what I am…” 1 Corinthians 15:10

Someone Must Address The Problem

A man went to a town that was on the river, and he went to a restaurant that was right on the river. As he walked up to the river, he looked out over the river and a guy was fishing. While he was fishing, an alligator came up and just chomped the guys arm right off. The man was absolutely shocked as anyone would be, and so he ran up and said, “Are you alright?! That Alligator just ate your arm!” The other guy said, “What? What are you talking about?” The man responded, “Your arm! Remember you were casting with it and reeling with it and now it isn’t there anymore?” He responded, “What are you talking about my arm? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” The man was disturbed and he looked across the way and saw a man that was missing part of his leg. He walked into the restaurant and saw people all over the place with parts missing out of their side, backside, limbs, and they were scarred all over the place. It was obvious that they had been attacked by alligators. As the man walks into the restaurant he says, “Hey, what’s going on? We’ve got to get rid of these alligators.” Then someone responded, “Wait a second, we don’t talk about alligators in our culture. We’re just not allowed to talk about them. We just don’t cross that bridge. We don’t go there.” But he said, “But they’re destroying people.” They said, “Listen, we just do not talk about alligators here. We let people figure it out all on their own.”

Unfortunately, this parable I heard from Pastor Chris Chadwick describes so well a mentality that exists in Christianity today. This is very much what it is like when it comes to the topic of sex in local New Testament churches. It feels like if you bring up sexuality in any sense, the response is, “we just don’t talk about that here!” If not there, then where do we talk about it? I must be honest, in regards to that subject I learned most of what I know in two places: the boys locker room, and the bench of my little league baseball team. Sadly, the first time I was introduced to pornography was at a friend’s house in 6^th grade. This is not an uncommon story. If something does not happen, sexual education will continue to be promoted only through sources like Hollywood, television, public schools, locker rooms, little league benches, dirty magazines/websites, and any other means you can think of that won’t teach what the Bible says. My friends, something must be done.

Pornography, adultery, fornication, and lust are destroying lives everywhere. Youth, adults, singles, couples, homes, and churches are being affected by immorality. The Bible has a lot to say about sex and sexuality. It is time to stand up and address it. I believe that a biblical understanding of sex, and teaching what the Bible has to say about it would solve and prevent many problems in the lives of Christians. If you would like to learn a little more about some ways that the Bible addresses sexual purity, please read the post titled “Purity” from Tuesday, July 21st, 2009.

Purity

Ephesians 5:1-4
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

In the last article that I wrote, I discussed holiness. It would be very good if you would read that article before reading this one; it would give you a good foundation to understand what I will discuss here.

We are to be followers of God. As his children, we are called to a life of holiness. I want to discuss the idea of sexual sin. Fornication has been defined by some as any sexual relation before marriage. Adultery has been defined by some as any sexual relation with anyone but your spouse after marriage. The Word of God makes it clear that God has a plan for sex, and, as all good gifts come from Him, we know that sex is a gift from Him. His plan for sex is between one man and one woman in a marriage relationship for life. Along with many other areas, man has corrupted this beautiful relationship that God created for man and woman. Fornication, adultery, and lust are perversions of God’s perfect plan for sex. God’s commandment is that we would not allow these sings to even “be once named among” us. Why? Because that is what God expects of His saints. A saint is a holy one. The word for saint and the word for holy in the Spanish language is “santo”. Christians are saints. These perversions of sex should not even be allowed to be named among the saints. One important area of holiness in the life of a Christian is sexual purity. That means that we should clean our lives of filth like pornography, immoral relationships, and lust. The opposite of living in these sins is living in purity. The Word of God gives much practical help for purity in the life of a Christian.

Before I try to give some practical help on being pure, I want to challenge you with five things.

1. Have a biblical understanding of holiness, and your calling to be holy.

2. Do not blur the lines of what is sin and what is not sin. Admit that pornography, lust, and all forms of sexual relations outside of God’s plan are wrong. They are an offense to Him

3. Sin has a way of deceiving us into thinking that if we are in the dark or if we are alone, then our sin will not affect anyone. Don’t be fooled, the end of sin is death. Know that you are not alone; the Word of God says that His eyes are in every place beholding the evil and the good.

4. Confess your sin and forsake it. The Bible says that the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

5. Commit to do what it takes to be pure, for the glory of God.

Here are some practical truths from the Word of God than can help the Christian with purity. I pray that they’ll be a blessing and a help to you.

A. Identify areas of struggle and eliminate them

Matthew 5:27-30
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

I am not suggesting that you pluck out your eye or cut off your hand, but I would suggest the following. If you know that you struggle when you are alone, then try not to be alone. If you know that you struggle with the internet, then stop using the internet. If you know that movies cause you to struggle, then stop watching movies. If a boyfriend or a girlfriend is someone that causes you to struggle, then end that relationship. Don’t continue a friendship at work if it may lead to sin. If the mall or the beach are places where you struggle, then don’t go to either of them. If night time is a difficult time then replace whatever you would normally do with time in the Word of God and prayer. Fill your time with the Bible, prayer, and evangelism. Don’t leave your calendar open. Rid yourself of problem areas!

B. Don’t try to do this alone

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

We are better together. God did not intend for His children to live this life alone. That is one reason why we have the local church. Christ purchased the church with His own blood; if He loved it that much, then we ought not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. May we highly esteem the local church!

The national Redwood forest in northern California is home to the Giant Sequoia trees. These trees have undergone some of the most tremendous conditions and have survived them all. You name it; storms, lightning, time, and other adviersities…the sequoias have survived them all. Why is this? It is because what you see of the sequoias is not the whole story. Underground their roots grow deep and strong. This is not their secret either…their secret is that the roots of these massive trees link with the roots of one another. Underground you have a system of roots interconnected. Much like the sequoias, God has given us the local New Testament church to be connected with other believers. We are stronger with these relationships.

Accountability. Choose a spiritually mature Christian brother or sister of your same gender and ask them to hold you accountable to living pure. Go to coffee once a week and be honest and upfront with one another. Pray for one another. Hold one another accountable. Be faithful in this friendship. If the internet is one area that you struggle with then I would recommend a program like safe eyes that filters inappropriate websites. I also recommend a program called x3watch. X3watch is a free program that records questionable websites that you visit and sends them to the email of an accountability partner of your choice. Both of those programs are available here: www.x3watch.com

C. Do not flirt with sin, but flee from it

1 Corinthians 6:18-20
18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

2 Timothy 2:20-22
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Notice that God’s Word does not say to “casually walk away from sin,” rather, it says to “FLEE” fornication and youthful lusts! That means that you are to turn and run from them! God gives us a tremendous example from the life of Joseph in His Word. When the temptation arose for Joseph to have an adulterous relationship with the wife of Potiphar (his master), here is what the Word of God says happened:

Genesis 39:12
And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

Joseph knew that to have sex with Potiphar’s wife would have been a grave sin, so when she tried to force him he ran! He got out of there! May we follow Joseph’s example and flee fornication and youthful lusts.

D. Make no provision for the flesh

Romans 13:13-14
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

This point is directly related to identifying areas of struggle and eliminating them. It is important that we understand our flesh and its propensity towards sin. Paul said, “Who shall deliver me from this body of death?” Our flesh is at enmity with God. It does not want to live for Him and according to His Word. Our flesh would rather indulge in carnal, or fleshly, pleasures. Sexual sins are examples of fleshly pleasures. Do not make provision in areas where your flesh will say, “I want that!” Because more times than not, in your weakness, you will give the flesh what it wants, even if you know it’s wrong. The Word of God commands us to walk in the Spirit, and it says that when we do we will not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.

It is not uncommon to hear a teen ask a question like this one, “How far can I go with my boyfriend/girlfriend and not sin?” Often times older Christians have a similar mentality. Do not ask how close you can get to sin, but rather try to live as far from it as possible! One man said, “Why do you want to see how close you can get to Hell without falling in?” Do not make any provision for your flesh.

There was a king in an ancient land who was dissatisfied with his chariot driver. He decided to have a contest to find the best charioteer in the land to be his new driver. The contest ended with three finalists. The king decided how to find which driver was the best. He explained to the drivers that each of them would have a chance to drive him personally in a chariot for the final test. The driver would go full speed towards the edge of a cliff and stop; the driver who stopped closest to the cliff would be the winner. The first driver took off at full speed and stopped within 10 feet of the cliff. The king was impressed. The second driver took off also at full speed and stopped within 5 feet of the cliff. The king was very impressed. The time came for the third driver to have his try and he said, “Your highness, I would not dare get near that cliff, your life is too precious and dear to our people to jeopardize it in any way.” The king was astonished at this man’s wisdom and chose him as his new chariot driver.

May we treasure our purity like that charioteer. Please understand that our mentality should not be to see how close we can get to sinning without actually sinning. May we stay far from any wickedness and live holy lives for our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

In conclusion, please think over these truths again. Have a biblical understanding of holiness and your calling to be holy. Do not blur the lines or what is or what is not sin. Know that the eyes of the Lord are in every place. Confess sin and forsake it. Make a whole-hearted commitment to be pure for the glory of God. Identify areas of struggle in your life and eliminate them. Do not try to live a pure life alone; depend on God and others. Don’t flirt with sin, but, rather, flee from it. Do not make provision for your flesh. Stay as far from sin as you can. May God help you and me to live pure lives for His honour and glory.

Holiness

1 Peter 1:13-16

13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

God has given us a glorious adoption in the Lord Jesus Christ. Before we were saved we were alienated from Him, but once we are born again, we are born into the family of God and we are His children. (To learn about how you can become a Christian, please read the post from 04-23-08 called “The Gospel”) The Word of God tells us to be obedient children. We should not live like we did formerly, like we lived before we were His children. Before we were God’s children we lived according to any and every lustful desire our flesh had. However, now we have a holy calling. We have been called by the Holy One of Israel. The Bible says,

Psalm 145:17

The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

Isaiah 6:3

…Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

Revelation 4:8

…Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

The Lord our God is holy. But what is holiness? To be holy means to be set apart or different. A holiday is a day that is set apart from other days as a special day. When you sanction a portion of something, you are setting apart a portion from the rest. When the Lord declared the Sabbath day as holy, He was setting it apart from the rest of the days of the week. When the Bible says that God is holy, it is saying that He is different, He is apart. He says in His Word,

Isaiah 55:8-9

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

It is not that God is like us, but just better. It is not that we are like God, but just worse. God says that as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways. He is holy. He is different. When we become God’s children, we are called to be like Him. That is why in 1 Peter 1:15-16 it says, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

Our lifestyle should be holy. Our conduct should be holy. Our delight should be in that which is holy. God says,

2 Corinthians 6:17-18

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

We are called to be separate. We are called to be set apart for God’s pleasure. We should not be like the world, but instead we should be different. In 1 Peter 2:9 the Bible says that Christians are to be “peculiar”. Here is an important passage that tells us how to live a holy life for God,

Romans 12:1-2

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

In understanding holiness there is an important word, and that is sanctification. Sanctification is a Bible doctrine that can be taught in three basic parts; positional, practical, and permanent sanctification. The word sanctify means “to make holy”. The word saint means “holy one”. This is seen clearly in Spanish, as the word for holy and the word for saint are both “santo”. So, sanctification is the process of making something or someone holy. With Christians, sanctification occurs in three ways:

Positional: When a person gets saved, he is positionally declared holy before God. In the eyes of God, he is without sin. This occurs at the moment of salvation and is called positional sanctification.

Progressive: Each child of God is in a constant process of becoming more like Jesus Christ. He is continually being made more holy. This process is called progressive sanctification.

Permanent: God has promised that though Christians struggle with sin now, there is coming a day when their bodies will be changed into one like Jesus’ body. When Christ comes again for us, we will receive an incorruptible body that is without sin and incapable of sinning. This is permanent sanctification.

The passage in 1 Peter 1 is a passage that is referring to practical, or progressive, sanctification. God is holy, and so we are called to be holy. Holiness should be chief in every area of our lives; areas like entertainment, relationships, thoughts, clothing, philosophy, sexuality, education, and all others.

God says, “Be ye holy; for I am holy.”