In order to get our prayers answered, take the first step and get clean before God. None of us want to live in filth physically. The smells, the feel, the oily look, the . . .well you get the picture. Several years ago I joined a group on a trip to Honduras, and came back with a hanging bag that had to be put down because it had absorbed some kind of a bad, stinky odor! We had a little puppy, or should I say "poopy", when I was very young who would decorate the carpet with multi-colored droppings. Needless to say, this is not the way to live long and prosper in the Sauvageot household. Most of us have a level of tolerance when it comes to cleaning. At a certain point an internal alarm goes off and we MUST CLEAN. Then again, you can visit some places and wonder where the alarm level is for those people.
Wouldn't it be great if our spiritual sensitivity was so acute that ANY SIN set off a loud spiritual cleaning alarm? God will not hear our prayers when we "regard iniquity in our heart". He has the power and desire to clean us up, but we must first come to Him for cleansing. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to forgive us form all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
We can either be sin "coverers" or sin "confessors". Sin "coverers', like Achan, will not prosper. However, when we come clean with God and agree with Him regarding our particular sins, He will clean us up. 1 John 3:22 carries a powerful promise: "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight."
It is time to clean up! I don't know about you, but I must have instant and full access to the heavenly throneroom. My budget requires it. My ministry requires it. My friendships require it. Every part of my life necessitates that God brings His power and His help. Like preacher Harold Clayton from over in Texas, I wake up in the mornings and pray, "Lord, HELP!" How about you? Do you also have a need of daily and moment-by-moment heavenly intervention? If you do, then come to the fountain for salvation's cleansing, and then have your feet washed daily so that you gain access in prayer.
GOD BLESS YOU TODAY!!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Principles of Giving
A little girl was given a dollar bill and a quarter with the instructions to put whichever one she wanted to in the offering at church. When the family got home, her mother asked her which one she had given. "Mamma, I was going to give the dollar, but the preacher said that the Lord loves a cheerful giver, and giving the quarter would make me more cheerful. So I gave the quarter."
1 Corinthians 16's first few verses provide some powerful principles of giving.
1. Giving is God's program. God Himself is the Giver. He is the source of every good and every perfect gift. He gave the very best, when He gave His only begotten Son to die for your sins and for mine. He has ordained that His children should also be givers. Offerings to care for the needs of widows, to care for the needs of preachers, and to assist struggling congregations can be discovered in the book of Acts and the Epistles. Before we begin the next bake-sale or garage sale, let's first ask ourselves, "Am I doing my part in God's program?"
2. Giving is a Priority. These believers were told that they should give on the first day of the week, as an act of worship. Throughout the Bible giving and worship are tied together. We really do not worship unless we are giving something to God. Romans 12:1-2 show us that our reasonable service, our act of true worship, is to present ourselves to God totally. This includes our wealth. Abraham returned from the battle with the kings and presented tithes to the King of Salem in an act of worship. The OT Law called for sacrfices, bulls, goats, sheep, turtledoves, and meal so that people could come to God in worship. The first day of the week became the Christian sabbath as believers began to gather and worship in celebration of the resurrection. It was on this day of the week that Paul instructed the Corinthians to bring their offerings in worship.
3. Give Personally. "Every one of you." Nobody can beg to be excused from this one. Young and old, rich and poor, new convert and ripened saints are all included. "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Every heart should unite in worship of our Lord, and our giving indicates our heart-focus.
4. Give Proportionally. This passage says, "as God hath prospered". Financially, God has prospered some more than others. With this blessing, God also adds the responsibility of giving more. One Biblical truth to be mentioned in this idea of proportional giving is the tithe: or tenth. This principle is first observed in the life of Abraham and the other patriarchs. Worship, submission, protection, and blessing are all related to this truth. Malachi 3 clarifies some of these truths regarding the tithe. Jesus sat by the temple one day and watched the people give their offerings, and he made a startling statement concerning one poor widow woman. He declared that she had given more than all of the others, though she only gave two mites. . .a very small amount. Reason? She gave ALL.
5. God protects the gifts. Instructions are given here to select faithful individuals to safe-guard the offering while it is intransit. This speaks of good stewardship and accountability. God watches over His own. He expects us to also take care of the offerings being given. By the way, God not only protects the offerings that are given, He also protects the church from those who would give with deceitful hearts and motives. Ananias and Sapphira show this to be true!
We live in times of financial crisis. Even in these times, God expects us to be faithful in our giving. Remember, He is our Source. I thought of a widow woman picking up sticks so that she could feed her son one last time and then sit down and die of starvation. While she was picking up the sticks, a preacher gave her instructions to cook him a little cake first. She told him her story, but obeyed anyway. God took care of her and her son throughout the time of drouth. We serve the same God today. One preacher said. "He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, the hills, and the taters under those hills!" Amen! Let us trust and obey Him.
1 Corinthians 16's first few verses provide some powerful principles of giving.
1. Giving is God's program. God Himself is the Giver. He is the source of every good and every perfect gift. He gave the very best, when He gave His only begotten Son to die for your sins and for mine. He has ordained that His children should also be givers. Offerings to care for the needs of widows, to care for the needs of preachers, and to assist struggling congregations can be discovered in the book of Acts and the Epistles. Before we begin the next bake-sale or garage sale, let's first ask ourselves, "Am I doing my part in God's program?"
2. Giving is a Priority. These believers were told that they should give on the first day of the week, as an act of worship. Throughout the Bible giving and worship are tied together. We really do not worship unless we are giving something to God. Romans 12:1-2 show us that our reasonable service, our act of true worship, is to present ourselves to God totally. This includes our wealth. Abraham returned from the battle with the kings and presented tithes to the King of Salem in an act of worship. The OT Law called for sacrfices, bulls, goats, sheep, turtledoves, and meal so that people could come to God in worship. The first day of the week became the Christian sabbath as believers began to gather and worship in celebration of the resurrection. It was on this day of the week that Paul instructed the Corinthians to bring their offerings in worship.
3. Give Personally. "Every one of you." Nobody can beg to be excused from this one. Young and old, rich and poor, new convert and ripened saints are all included. "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Every heart should unite in worship of our Lord, and our giving indicates our heart-focus.
4. Give Proportionally. This passage says, "as God hath prospered". Financially, God has prospered some more than others. With this blessing, God also adds the responsibility of giving more. One Biblical truth to be mentioned in this idea of proportional giving is the tithe: or tenth. This principle is first observed in the life of Abraham and the other patriarchs. Worship, submission, protection, and blessing are all related to this truth. Malachi 3 clarifies some of these truths regarding the tithe. Jesus sat by the temple one day and watched the people give their offerings, and he made a startling statement concerning one poor widow woman. He declared that she had given more than all of the others, though she only gave two mites. . .a very small amount. Reason? She gave ALL.
5. God protects the gifts. Instructions are given here to select faithful individuals to safe-guard the offering while it is intransit. This speaks of good stewardship and accountability. God watches over His own. He expects us to also take care of the offerings being given. By the way, God not only protects the offerings that are given, He also protects the church from those who would give with deceitful hearts and motives. Ananias and Sapphira show this to be true!
We live in times of financial crisis. Even in these times, God expects us to be faithful in our giving. Remember, He is our Source. I thought of a widow woman picking up sticks so that she could feed her son one last time and then sit down and die of starvation. While she was picking up the sticks, a preacher gave her instructions to cook him a little cake first. She told him her story, but obeyed anyway. God took care of her and her son throughout the time of drouth. We serve the same God today. One preacher said. "He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, the hills, and the taters under those hills!" Amen! Let us trust and obey Him.
Monday, April 13, 2009
He Lives!
We serve a wonderful Savior. Not only was He willing to come to earth, live in poverty, endure all kinds of opposition, and die on the rugged cross, He also was able to rise from the dead. Romans 1:4 "And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection. . ." 1 Corinthians 15:57 shows that we have victory through Jesus Christ, "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
He gives us victory by fulfilling the Law. The Law was given so that we might know ourselves GUILTY before God. Romans 10:4 shows us that the Law could not save us because it had an natural weakness, our flesh. We could not keep the Law! Jesus did. He satisfied the righteous demands of the Law of God. Not only that, Colossians 2 shows us that He took the handwriting of ordinances that was against us and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. That means that in Jesus the Law no longer has any accusations that will stick!
He gives victory by defeating sin. Jesus defeated sin in His birth. Instead of being born to a human father and inheriting the sinful nature of Adam's race, Jesus was born of supernatural means. Luke 1:35 tells how this happened. It was by the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus was born of a virgin birth, and it is important that we believe this. Without the virgin birth, we have no perfect Savior able to redeem us. Jesus was born of perfect birth. Jesus also lived a perfect life. Instead of being "pretty good", or some "prophet", Jesus lived and died without sin. Only on the cross did Jesus taste the bitter cup of sin and sin's penalty when he was made sin for us. But remember the next phrase of htis verse from 2 Corinthians 5:21, ". . .who knew no sin. . ." Jesus lived a perfect life. He knew no sin. Even His enemies could find no fault in Him at all. Certainly Jesus was tempted. Satan tempted Him in the wilderness. The book of Hebrews states that He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. Though severely tempted, Jesus lived a sinless life. Then He died a sinless death, a vicarious death, for you and for me. In the Old Testament, the Jews were instructed to take a lamb for their family and set it aside for a period of time. This was done in order to examine that lamb. Blemishes or deformities would disqualify the lamb. The lamb had to be without blemish and without spot in order to become the Passover sacrifice. Jesus is our Passover Lamb. He is without blemish and without spot. He has defeated sin.
Not only has Jesus fulfilled the Law and defeated sin, He has also removed the sting of death. Walk through history's graveyard and you will find that the brightest and best have met and succumbed to the last enemy, death. Caesar and Alexander, Lenin and Mao, Socrates and Aristotle, and the list is endless, all are in the grave. Great religious leaders, Mohammed, Buddah, Confucius, Smith ALL IN THE GRAVE! But, especially at this time of the year, we walk through a garden spot, look for a wounded body seeking to bring our belated gifts only to find that He is not here! He is risen as He said! He has removed the sting of death! Death now is but the foyer to eternal life for those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. So the question becomes more important: WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH JESUS WHICH IS CALLED CHRIST? He is the Son of God. He is the soon coming King. He has fulfilled the Law, defeated sin, and removed death's sting. Will you trust Him today for your salvation. He alone can take away your sin.
He gives us victory by fulfilling the Law. The Law was given so that we might know ourselves GUILTY before God. Romans 10:4 shows us that the Law could not save us because it had an natural weakness, our flesh. We could not keep the Law! Jesus did. He satisfied the righteous demands of the Law of God. Not only that, Colossians 2 shows us that He took the handwriting of ordinances that was against us and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. That means that in Jesus the Law no longer has any accusations that will stick!
He gives victory by defeating sin. Jesus defeated sin in His birth. Instead of being born to a human father and inheriting the sinful nature of Adam's race, Jesus was born of supernatural means. Luke 1:35 tells how this happened. It was by the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus was born of a virgin birth, and it is important that we believe this. Without the virgin birth, we have no perfect Savior able to redeem us. Jesus was born of perfect birth. Jesus also lived a perfect life. Instead of being "pretty good", or some "prophet", Jesus lived and died without sin. Only on the cross did Jesus taste the bitter cup of sin and sin's penalty when he was made sin for us. But remember the next phrase of htis verse from 2 Corinthians 5:21, ". . .who knew no sin. . ." Jesus lived a perfect life. He knew no sin. Even His enemies could find no fault in Him at all. Certainly Jesus was tempted. Satan tempted Him in the wilderness. The book of Hebrews states that He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. Though severely tempted, Jesus lived a sinless life. Then He died a sinless death, a vicarious death, for you and for me. In the Old Testament, the Jews were instructed to take a lamb for their family and set it aside for a period of time. This was done in order to examine that lamb. Blemishes or deformities would disqualify the lamb. The lamb had to be without blemish and without spot in order to become the Passover sacrifice. Jesus is our Passover Lamb. He is without blemish and without spot. He has defeated sin.
Not only has Jesus fulfilled the Law and defeated sin, He has also removed the sting of death. Walk through history's graveyard and you will find that the brightest and best have met and succumbed to the last enemy, death. Caesar and Alexander, Lenin and Mao, Socrates and Aristotle, and the list is endless, all are in the grave. Great religious leaders, Mohammed, Buddah, Confucius, Smith ALL IN THE GRAVE! But, especially at this time of the year, we walk through a garden spot, look for a wounded body seeking to bring our belated gifts only to find that He is not here! He is risen as He said! He has removed the sting of death! Death now is but the foyer to eternal life for those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. So the question becomes more important: WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH JESUS WHICH IS CALLED CHRIST? He is the Son of God. He is the soon coming King. He has fulfilled the Law, defeated sin, and removed death's sting. Will you trust Him today for your salvation. He alone can take away your sin.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
1 Corinthians 13
A More Excellent Way – 1 Corinthians 13
Introduction:
A Good Teacher and a Great Teacher
"Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go" (Mat_8:19).
A number of years ago a Johns Hopkins University professor asked his graduate students to locate 200 boys, ages 12-16 and research their family backgrounds. The assignment was then to predict their future. The students were sent to the slum area of the city to find the boys. The conclusion reached by the graduate students was that 90 percent of those researched would spend time in jail. The final chapter of this study would not completed until 25 years later.
When the 200 original students were sought after, some 25 years later, John Hopkins sent the researchers into the slum area again. Some of the group still remained in the slums, others had moved away, a few had died. In all they were able to locate 180 of the original 200. What they found amazed them. Only four had ever been to jail (remember the prediction had been 90 percent of 200)!
What caused this figure to be so low when all indications pointed to a larger number? When the researchers began to ask this question they found that they were getting the same answer, "Well, there was this teacher...." Pressed further, the researchers found that the teacher in all cases was one and the same. The boys had all been influenced by the same teacher.
The graduate students traced down the teacher, now living in a retirement home, and inquired about her remarkable influence over a group of boys who were headed for a life of crime. She really could not think of any reason why she would have this kind of influence. She did mention that "I truly loved my students."
1. The Power of Charity
- w/o charity our words are empty
- w/o charity our preaching is powerless
- w/o charity our faith is of no benefit
- w/o charity our giving profits nothing
They Killed My Brother
I vividly remember an incident that took place at our Greek Keswick in Macedonia one year. The Lord had just opened the door for a special ministry among the Turks. After I announced it, a devout Christian woman came up to me, placed some Greek currency in my hand, and said, "I want this used to win Turks to Christ. They killed my brother, but I want to be the first to contribute to their cause." There will be a special reward for that woman at the day of judgment for believers.
- w/o charity our supreme sacrifice is 0
But with charity, our words are made health and healing, our preaching reaches down and touches the hearts of our fellow men, our faith touches the lives of those who will come behind us, our gifts mean so much more than just money, and our supreme sacrifice of ourselves is transformed into something glorious.
2. The Personality of Charity
- Charity is long-suffering; James 5:7
- Charity is kind (gentle in Behavior)
- Charity does not envy (from – BOIL)
- Charity vaunteth not itself (braggart)
- Charity is not puffed up; 1 Cor. 4:6, like bellows. . .
- Charity does not behave unseemly; is not indecent. . .1 Cor. 7:36 “uncomely”
- Charity seeks not her own; 1 Cor 10:24,33; not after personal interests
Christian Love
That great blind preacher, George Matheson, adequately grasped the idea of Paul when he wrote: "Christian love is the only kind of love in which there is no rivalry, no jealousy. There is jealousy among the lovers of art; there is jealousy among the lovers of song; there is jealousy among the lovers of beauty. The glory of natural love is its monopoly, its power to say, 'It is mine.' But the glory of Christian love is its refusal of monopoly. The spiritual artist-the man who paints Christ in his soul-wants no solitary niche in the temple of fame. He would not like to hear anyone say, 'He is the first of his profession; there is not one that can hold a candle to him.' He would be very sad to be thus distinguished in his profession of Christ, marked out as a solitary figure. The gladdest moment to him will always be the moment when the cry is heard, 'Thy brother is coming up the ladder also; thy brother will share the inheritance with thee.' "
- Charity is not provoked; can be good Acts 17:16, or bad Acts 15:39
- Charity thinketh no evil; does not make a list of the wrongs done, like a ledger.
- Charity rejoices not in iniquity; Romans 1:32. . .be careful of your entertainment.
- Charity rejoices in the truth – truth personified as opposed to unrighteousness.
- Charity beareth all things – the idea is of a roof, a protection or covering – 1 Peter 4:8
- Charity believeth all things; not gullible, but having faith in people. . .
- Charity hopeth all things; seeing the bright side, not despairing.
- Charity endueth all things; perseveres as a stout-hearted soldier; Jim Vineyard’s green beret experience in Vietnam walking out with broken bone in his leg.
3. The Perfection of Charity
- Perfect in its endurance, “never faileth”
- Perfect in its expression, the Book
- Perfect in its experience, seeing Him
Introduction:
A Good Teacher and a Great Teacher
"Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go" (Mat_8:19).
A number of years ago a Johns Hopkins University professor asked his graduate students to locate 200 boys, ages 12-16 and research their family backgrounds. The assignment was then to predict their future. The students were sent to the slum area of the city to find the boys. The conclusion reached by the graduate students was that 90 percent of those researched would spend time in jail. The final chapter of this study would not completed until 25 years later.
When the 200 original students were sought after, some 25 years later, John Hopkins sent the researchers into the slum area again. Some of the group still remained in the slums, others had moved away, a few had died. In all they were able to locate 180 of the original 200. What they found amazed them. Only four had ever been to jail (remember the prediction had been 90 percent of 200)!
What caused this figure to be so low when all indications pointed to a larger number? When the researchers began to ask this question they found that they were getting the same answer, "Well, there was this teacher...." Pressed further, the researchers found that the teacher in all cases was one and the same. The boys had all been influenced by the same teacher.
The graduate students traced down the teacher, now living in a retirement home, and inquired about her remarkable influence over a group of boys who were headed for a life of crime. She really could not think of any reason why she would have this kind of influence. She did mention that "I truly loved my students."
1. The Power of Charity
- w/o charity our words are empty
- w/o charity our preaching is powerless
- w/o charity our faith is of no benefit
- w/o charity our giving profits nothing
They Killed My Brother
I vividly remember an incident that took place at our Greek Keswick in Macedonia one year. The Lord had just opened the door for a special ministry among the Turks. After I announced it, a devout Christian woman came up to me, placed some Greek currency in my hand, and said, "I want this used to win Turks to Christ. They killed my brother, but I want to be the first to contribute to their cause." There will be a special reward for that woman at the day of judgment for believers.
- w/o charity our supreme sacrifice is 0
But with charity, our words are made health and healing, our preaching reaches down and touches the hearts of our fellow men, our faith touches the lives of those who will come behind us, our gifts mean so much more than just money, and our supreme sacrifice of ourselves is transformed into something glorious.
2. The Personality of Charity
- Charity is long-suffering; James 5:7
- Charity is kind (gentle in Behavior)
- Charity does not envy (from – BOIL)
- Charity vaunteth not itself (braggart)
- Charity is not puffed up; 1 Cor. 4:6, like bellows. . .
- Charity does not behave unseemly; is not indecent. . .1 Cor. 7:36 “uncomely”
- Charity seeks not her own; 1 Cor 10:24,33; not after personal interests
Christian Love
That great blind preacher, George Matheson, adequately grasped the idea of Paul when he wrote: "Christian love is the only kind of love in which there is no rivalry, no jealousy. There is jealousy among the lovers of art; there is jealousy among the lovers of song; there is jealousy among the lovers of beauty. The glory of natural love is its monopoly, its power to say, 'It is mine.' But the glory of Christian love is its refusal of monopoly. The spiritual artist-the man who paints Christ in his soul-wants no solitary niche in the temple of fame. He would not like to hear anyone say, 'He is the first of his profession; there is not one that can hold a candle to him.' He would be very sad to be thus distinguished in his profession of Christ, marked out as a solitary figure. The gladdest moment to him will always be the moment when the cry is heard, 'Thy brother is coming up the ladder also; thy brother will share the inheritance with thee.' "
- Charity is not provoked; can be good Acts 17:16, or bad Acts 15:39
- Charity thinketh no evil; does not make a list of the wrongs done, like a ledger.
- Charity rejoices not in iniquity; Romans 1:32. . .be careful of your entertainment.
- Charity rejoices in the truth – truth personified as opposed to unrighteousness.
- Charity beareth all things – the idea is of a roof, a protection or covering – 1 Peter 4:8
- Charity believeth all things; not gullible, but having faith in people. . .
- Charity hopeth all things; seeing the bright side, not despairing.
- Charity endueth all things; perseveres as a stout-hearted soldier; Jim Vineyard’s green beret experience in Vietnam walking out with broken bone in his leg.
3. The Perfection of Charity
- Perfect in its endurance, “never faileth”
- Perfect in its expression, the Book
- Perfect in its experience, seeing Him
Friday, January 30, 2009
How to Know What not to Wear
Bible doctrine should apply to our lives. Making these applications is the duty of the Bible expositor and the mother with the little ones she is training on a daily basis. A verse from 1 Corinthians chapter eleven jumps out at me. Here is a great doctrinal truth: But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Awesome verse of Scripture speaking of the plan of Scriptural responsibility. This verse has been misunderstood. It does not mean that men are better than women, but it does remind us that God has an order of responsibility. When we follow this, God-given order, He receives glory in our homes, in our churches, and in our nation.
This great doctrine of the Scriptures is applied to something that seems to be very mundane, very ordinary, our dress standards. Now a lot of people just get mad when they hear that the preacher is going to be speaking on that subject. Sometimes people have left churches after just such a sermon. That is certainly not my intention, to run someone away from a church that loves them and where the Word of God is preached. Listen, there are some places that you can go where nobody says anything about how Christians ought to or ought not to dress. The Bible talks about it, why should we avoid it? Some have ridden their personal hobby horses over and over this subject ad infinitum, ad nauseum. This not all of the Bible, but it is important. Especially in our day of loose morals and exposure, we need the truths of God's Word to help us stay on track and be better witnesses for our Savior.
1. Your dress should distinguish your sex. Ladies should be recognizable as ladies and not wear a man's apparel. In some cultures this would mean that the ladies would wear billowy, baggy things that look like trousers. Men would wear a skirt or flowing robe in some cultures that would oppose a woman wearing such "manly" attire! Men, in our culture, must not be cross-dressers! Let's obey the Deuteronomy 22:5 injunction and guard our wardrobe. Men dress like men. Ladies, dress with femininity and godly grace. Away with the unisex fads and fashions.
2. Your dress should not hinder your testimony for Jesus Christ. Dressing in some modern styles does more harm to our testimony for Christ than it does good. Matthew 5:14-16 tells us that we are the salt and the light in our culture, and therefore, we should act and dress in such a way that God is seen. Sometimes we know better what would not be pleasing to the Lord in regards to our dress standards. Something that is too revealing, too form-fitting, too low, or too high is easily spotted as not being a good witness for the Lord. I thank the Lord for standards. It is good to know what is expected at our places of work, and a higher standard is better. How much more should we as believers lift up the standard in our personal grooming as well as our personal behavior.
3. Your dress should not cause some fellow-believer to stumble. In most of our cities, there are certain districts in which you will find women standing on the corners, just like is mentioned in Proverbs 7, and "selling their wares". How do these women, who need to find real freedom and forgiveness in Christ, dress? Sadly, there are church-ladies whose dress does not seem much different. Of course there is no excuse for Christian men yielding to fleshly temptations to illicit affairs, and there is not excuse for women (supposedly Christian women) dressing like a street-walker! Let's be on our guard. Men, you too should dress and deport yourself in such a way as to honor the Lord. Wouldn't it be a shame for the preacher to show up at a wedding with his swimming trunks on? There is a time for the trunks, but it is not in the place of worship. Let the common sense that God has given you, the Word of God, and a genuine desire for your brothers and sisters in Christ to live honorable and pure lives govern your dress code. Raise the bar!
4. Your dress ought to remind you of what Jesus has done for you. There is a reason that God provided clothing of skins for Adam and Eve. Clothing is designed to conceal, not to reveal. Standing naked before God, Adam and Eve knew that they had sinned and deserved the righteous punishment of a holy God. God knew all about their rebellion and sinful behavior. They were caught. Aprons of fig leaves would not suffice for a covering, and point to man's best efforts in religion to cover the guilt of an unregenerate race. God will never be appeased or pleased with religion. More is needed! An acceptable covering must be found. Blood must be shed for a covering to be provided. God Himself will do the deed. What a picture of Calvary and the covering God has provided for our sins! Rejoice, there is a sacrifice that atones, covers, all of our sins! "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house." Acts 16:31. Will you receive Him and be clothed in His righteousness today? If this is your desire, please contact me today.
This great doctrine of the Scriptures is applied to something that seems to be very mundane, very ordinary, our dress standards. Now a lot of people just get mad when they hear that the preacher is going to be speaking on that subject. Sometimes people have left churches after just such a sermon. That is certainly not my intention, to run someone away from a church that loves them and where the Word of God is preached. Listen, there are some places that you can go where nobody says anything about how Christians ought to or ought not to dress. The Bible talks about it, why should we avoid it? Some have ridden their personal hobby horses over and over this subject ad infinitum, ad nauseum. This not all of the Bible, but it is important. Especially in our day of loose morals and exposure, we need the truths of God's Word to help us stay on track and be better witnesses for our Savior.
1. Your dress should distinguish your sex. Ladies should be recognizable as ladies and not wear a man's apparel. In some cultures this would mean that the ladies would wear billowy, baggy things that look like trousers. Men would wear a skirt or flowing robe in some cultures that would oppose a woman wearing such "manly" attire! Men, in our culture, must not be cross-dressers! Let's obey the Deuteronomy 22:5 injunction and guard our wardrobe. Men dress like men. Ladies, dress with femininity and godly grace. Away with the unisex fads and fashions.
2. Your dress should not hinder your testimony for Jesus Christ. Dressing in some modern styles does more harm to our testimony for Christ than it does good. Matthew 5:14-16 tells us that we are the salt and the light in our culture, and therefore, we should act and dress in such a way that God is seen. Sometimes we know better what would not be pleasing to the Lord in regards to our dress standards. Something that is too revealing, too form-fitting, too low, or too high is easily spotted as not being a good witness for the Lord. I thank the Lord for standards. It is good to know what is expected at our places of work, and a higher standard is better. How much more should we as believers lift up the standard in our personal grooming as well as our personal behavior.
3. Your dress should not cause some fellow-believer to stumble. In most of our cities, there are certain districts in which you will find women standing on the corners, just like is mentioned in Proverbs 7, and "selling their wares". How do these women, who need to find real freedom and forgiveness in Christ, dress? Sadly, there are church-ladies whose dress does not seem much different. Of course there is no excuse for Christian men yielding to fleshly temptations to illicit affairs, and there is not excuse for women (supposedly Christian women) dressing like a street-walker! Let's be on our guard. Men, you too should dress and deport yourself in such a way as to honor the Lord. Wouldn't it be a shame for the preacher to show up at a wedding with his swimming trunks on? There is a time for the trunks, but it is not in the place of worship. Let the common sense that God has given you, the Word of God, and a genuine desire for your brothers and sisters in Christ to live honorable and pure lives govern your dress code. Raise the bar!
4. Your dress ought to remind you of what Jesus has done for you. There is a reason that God provided clothing of skins for Adam and Eve. Clothing is designed to conceal, not to reveal. Standing naked before God, Adam and Eve knew that they had sinned and deserved the righteous punishment of a holy God. God knew all about their rebellion and sinful behavior. They were caught. Aprons of fig leaves would not suffice for a covering, and point to man's best efforts in religion to cover the guilt of an unregenerate race. God will never be appeased or pleased with religion. More is needed! An acceptable covering must be found. Blood must be shed for a covering to be provided. God Himself will do the deed. What a picture of Calvary and the covering God has provided for our sins! Rejoice, there is a sacrifice that atones, covers, all of our sins! "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house." Acts 16:31. Will you receive Him and be clothed in His righteousness today? If this is your desire, please contact me today.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Taming Temptation
Everybody faces temptations. The Bible talks about the sin that so easily besets us in Hebrews 12, while speaking to believers. Getting saved does not mean you will no longer be tempted. In fact, you become a target when you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. However, the Lord also gives His children power to overcome temptation. Not that we will become perfect and sinless. . .because as long as we are in these old bodies of ours, sin will be too present among us. When we are tempted, let's use these three avenues of escape.
1. FLEE when you are tempted in your flesh.
The works of the flesh are mentioned in Galatians 5 right after the fruit of the Spirit. Our flesh, the old sinful nature that we still have, takes natural desires and incites us to fulfill these desires in an ungodly way. Sexual sins, gluttony, laziness, and other sins would be called sins of the flesh.
Joseph illustrates the way to avoid sin when tempted in your flesh. . .HE RAN AWAY! Sometimes we simply put ourselves in bad situations. Stay out of the places that you know will cause you to be tempted. Don't go down to the bar. Don't wander the streets at night. Then there are times when a fleshly temptation comes into our lives and the only recourse we have is to get out of the area. There is nothing wrong with running away. You don't have to stay and try to fight the thing. Get out of there! Joseph ended up in jail by false accusation, but God had been honored and would continue to honor him.
2. Faith overcomes the world.
The world tempts us to get "stuff", to keep up with the Jones', to treasure the things that will not last for eternity. In the Bible the world often refers to a system of thinking and of acting that is contrary to the Lord. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. . ." 1 John 2:15 says. James 4 warns us that friendship with the world makes us enemies of God.
Be aware. This world is no friend of God!
In order to overcome the world, strengthen your faith. Get into the Word of God and allow it to get into you. Faith overcomes the world. Faith looks at life from God's point of view. Faith sees an eternal perspective that the world avoids. So strengthen your faith. Read, study, memorize, and personalize the Scriptures. Gain a place of faithfulness to church attendance. Away with this hit and miss stuff, your faith will never grow when you are not faithful to God's house. Begin to put the commands of God into practice in your life. Associate with those whose faith is strong. Other Christians can help you see things from God's perspective. Above all, do not neglect your personal Bible time.
3. FIGHT the devil.
The devil is not a figment of your imagination. He is real, and he is your enemy, Christian. How can we ever hope to defeat this master-mind enemy? "Be sober, be vigilant, for your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you," James says. Ephesians 6 lists our armor as Christians as we fight against the unseen world of spiritual darkness. Our Christianity is also a warfare. "Onward Christian soldiers marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before."
Fight the devil by getting as close to God as you can. "Draw nigh to God. . .resist the devil." When we were small children and were frightened or threatened, our answer was to run to daddy or to mom. That was a place we considered safe. When storms come, we often seek out a place of safety. . . a storm cellar or basement. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Let us learn to get closer to Him.
We draw near through the blood of Jesus, and we overcome the devil through the blood of Jesus. We draw nigh to God as we praise Him, and we overcome the enemy through the word of our testimony (praise). We draw near to God as we offer Him sacrifices of selfless worship, yielding ourselves as living sacrifices to Him, and we overcome the devil as we love not our lives even to the death. Revelation 12:11 speaks of the overcomers.
God wants you to be an overcomer. You do not have to sin every time you are tempted. God makes a way of escape according to 1 Corinthians 10:13. Let us not get the idea that we have arrived and cannot fall to temptation, because when you think you can stand, you will certainly fall. Rely upon the Lord's avenues of escape and tame temptation in your life.
1. FLEE when you are tempted in your flesh.
The works of the flesh are mentioned in Galatians 5 right after the fruit of the Spirit. Our flesh, the old sinful nature that we still have, takes natural desires and incites us to fulfill these desires in an ungodly way. Sexual sins, gluttony, laziness, and other sins would be called sins of the flesh.
Joseph illustrates the way to avoid sin when tempted in your flesh. . .HE RAN AWAY! Sometimes we simply put ourselves in bad situations. Stay out of the places that you know will cause you to be tempted. Don't go down to the bar. Don't wander the streets at night. Then there are times when a fleshly temptation comes into our lives and the only recourse we have is to get out of the area. There is nothing wrong with running away. You don't have to stay and try to fight the thing. Get out of there! Joseph ended up in jail by false accusation, but God had been honored and would continue to honor him.
2. Faith overcomes the world.
The world tempts us to get "stuff", to keep up with the Jones', to treasure the things that will not last for eternity. In the Bible the world often refers to a system of thinking and of acting that is contrary to the Lord. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. . ." 1 John 2:15 says. James 4 warns us that friendship with the world makes us enemies of God.
Be aware. This world is no friend of God!
In order to overcome the world, strengthen your faith. Get into the Word of God and allow it to get into you. Faith overcomes the world. Faith looks at life from God's point of view. Faith sees an eternal perspective that the world avoids. So strengthen your faith. Read, study, memorize, and personalize the Scriptures. Gain a place of faithfulness to church attendance. Away with this hit and miss stuff, your faith will never grow when you are not faithful to God's house. Begin to put the commands of God into practice in your life. Associate with those whose faith is strong. Other Christians can help you see things from God's perspective. Above all, do not neglect your personal Bible time.
3. FIGHT the devil.
The devil is not a figment of your imagination. He is real, and he is your enemy, Christian. How can we ever hope to defeat this master-mind enemy? "Be sober, be vigilant, for your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you," James says. Ephesians 6 lists our armor as Christians as we fight against the unseen world of spiritual darkness. Our Christianity is also a warfare. "Onward Christian soldiers marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before."
Fight the devil by getting as close to God as you can. "Draw nigh to God. . .resist the devil." When we were small children and were frightened or threatened, our answer was to run to daddy or to mom. That was a place we considered safe. When storms come, we often seek out a place of safety. . . a storm cellar or basement. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Let us learn to get closer to Him.
We draw near through the blood of Jesus, and we overcome the devil through the blood of Jesus. We draw nigh to God as we praise Him, and we overcome the enemy through the word of our testimony (praise). We draw near to God as we offer Him sacrifices of selfless worship, yielding ourselves as living sacrifices to Him, and we overcome the devil as we love not our lives even to the death. Revelation 12:11 speaks of the overcomers.
God wants you to be an overcomer. You do not have to sin every time you are tempted. God makes a way of escape according to 1 Corinthians 10:13. Let us not get the idea that we have arrived and cannot fall to temptation, because when you think you can stand, you will certainly fall. Rely upon the Lord's avenues of escape and tame temptation in your life.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Middle of January
The frog says, "Time's fun when you're having flies!" Well, time is flying for us all. May we have grace to "Redeem the time". The family is doing well, praise the Lord. We are seeing the Lord work in our lives through submission to His plan. Sometimes, He has us in a place where all we can do is yield. That is the very place He can bless us.
This week's outlines is a topical outline preached in series from 1 Corinthians. From chapter 10, "Christ Our Rock"
1. He is My Rock of Redemption; 2 Samuel 22:47 gives praise to the Lord for being the rock of my salvation.
- We know that Jesus is the door to salvation; John 10:9
- He is the only way to be saved; Acts 4:12; John 14:6
- He saves us and makes us new; 2 Corinthians 5:17. George Beverly Shea was asked one time what he knew, to which he replied, "Not much but I do know Who has changed my life."
- Jesus suffered outside the gate, so that we might be saved and changed; Hebrews 13:12
Our redemption is past, present, and future: Saved from the penalty of sin, from the power of sin, and, soon, from the very presence of sin. 1 John 1:7b ". . .and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleasneth us from all sin."
2. He is the Rock of Refreshment and Restoration; Psalm 23:3 says, "He restoreth my soul." Christian, do you find yourself needing this refreshing from the Lord? Remember. . .
- He protects us; Psalm 32:7 says, "Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance." Too often we forget to stop and listen to the music. He is our shelter amidst the storms of life. He makes even the most tenuous position a stronghold. How is it that Saul, the king of Israel, cannot find David as he searches desperately? David is hidden by God. How is it that for three and a half years Ahab cannot locate a very noticeable character named Elijah? God is his refuge and hiding place. He protects us as well.
- He also gives us rest sometimes from the storms, but often in the storms. Psalm 37:7; There is healing and help in our time alone with the Father. Spencer Tracy was asked what he looked for in a script and he said, "Days off." Jesus is the One Who leads us "apart" for seasons of rest and refreshment in the Word and in talking to the Lord.
- He restores my strength. . .Psalm 103:5 makes it clear that our youth can be renewed as we are satisfied in Him. He restoreth my soul. He revives my old, cold heart. He may use a preacher, but He can use a lot of things to do this wonderful heart-softening work.
3. He is the Rock of Resolution; Psalm 40:2 "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings." He saved me and gave me a purpose. Sometimes Christians are undependable, up and down, but the Lord wants us to be established, to be steadfast, to have a purpose in life. 1 Peter 5:10; Romans 12:1-2; Proverbs 3:5-6. Winston Churchill felt that he was 'walking with destiny' as he took the mantle of premiership in WW2. How much more should we feel this same way as we follow our Lord, as we walk with Him. He is better than an indefinite destiny. He gives fulfillment that so many are looking for at this time. Jeremiah 1:5 shows that God has a purpose for our lives even before we are born. Let's discover His purpose. He wants you to be saved, to be sanctified or set apart to serve Him, and He wants you to be thanking Him for all things. . .thus revealing your trust in Him.
4. He is my Rock of Rejoicing; Isaiah 42:11 ". . .Let the inhabitants of the rock sing." Don't mar your testimony with a long face all the time. I am not one for cheesy grins, but there should be the light of joyin your eye and a ready smile on your lips as you remember who you are in Christ and what you have in Him. Your worst day as a believer is better than a lost person's best day! Have you forgotten to "Delight thyself also in the Lord"? (Psalm 37:4) Colossians 3:2 says "Set your affectoin on things above, not on things on the earth. . ." If we have found this joy of salvation here on earth, we have more than this transitory life to enjoy. One day, and it could be today, the trumpet will sound, the dead in Christ shall arise, and we shall join the ransomed throng at the the throne in Heaven to rejoice in Him forever. Who will be there? The blood-washed ones. Are you one of those who have been washed? If not, you can be. "Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." What an invitation! Will you answer?
God bless you today and throughout this week. Set your affection on things above. Pass the love of Christ along to everybody around you.
This week's outlines is a topical outline preached in series from 1 Corinthians. From chapter 10, "Christ Our Rock"
1. He is My Rock of Redemption; 2 Samuel 22:47 gives praise to the Lord for being the rock of my salvation.
- We know that Jesus is the door to salvation; John 10:9
- He is the only way to be saved; Acts 4:12; John 14:6
- He saves us and makes us new; 2 Corinthians 5:17. George Beverly Shea was asked one time what he knew, to which he replied, "Not much but I do know Who has changed my life."
- Jesus suffered outside the gate, so that we might be saved and changed; Hebrews 13:12
Our redemption is past, present, and future: Saved from the penalty of sin, from the power of sin, and, soon, from the very presence of sin. 1 John 1:7b ". . .and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleasneth us from all sin."
2. He is the Rock of Refreshment and Restoration; Psalm 23:3 says, "He restoreth my soul." Christian, do you find yourself needing this refreshing from the Lord? Remember. . .
- He protects us; Psalm 32:7 says, "Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance." Too often we forget to stop and listen to the music. He is our shelter amidst the storms of life. He makes even the most tenuous position a stronghold. How is it that Saul, the king of Israel, cannot find David as he searches desperately? David is hidden by God. How is it that for three and a half years Ahab cannot locate a very noticeable character named Elijah? God is his refuge and hiding place. He protects us as well.
- He also gives us rest sometimes from the storms, but often in the storms. Psalm 37:7; There is healing and help in our time alone with the Father. Spencer Tracy was asked what he looked for in a script and he said, "Days off." Jesus is the One Who leads us "apart" for seasons of rest and refreshment in the Word and in talking to the Lord.
- He restores my strength. . .Psalm 103:5 makes it clear that our youth can be renewed as we are satisfied in Him. He restoreth my soul. He revives my old, cold heart. He may use a preacher, but He can use a lot of things to do this wonderful heart-softening work.
3. He is the Rock of Resolution; Psalm 40:2 "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings." He saved me and gave me a purpose. Sometimes Christians are undependable, up and down, but the Lord wants us to be established, to be steadfast, to have a purpose in life. 1 Peter 5:10; Romans 12:1-2; Proverbs 3:5-6. Winston Churchill felt that he was 'walking with destiny' as he took the mantle of premiership in WW2. How much more should we feel this same way as we follow our Lord, as we walk with Him. He is better than an indefinite destiny. He gives fulfillment that so many are looking for at this time. Jeremiah 1:5 shows that God has a purpose for our lives even before we are born. Let's discover His purpose. He wants you to be saved, to be sanctified or set apart to serve Him, and He wants you to be thanking Him for all things. . .thus revealing your trust in Him.
4. He is my Rock of Rejoicing; Isaiah 42:11 ". . .Let the inhabitants of the rock sing." Don't mar your testimony with a long face all the time. I am not one for cheesy grins, but there should be the light of joyin your eye and a ready smile on your lips as you remember who you are in Christ and what you have in Him. Your worst day as a believer is better than a lost person's best day! Have you forgotten to "Delight thyself also in the Lord"? (Psalm 37:4) Colossians 3:2 says "Set your affectoin on things above, not on things on the earth. . ." If we have found this joy of salvation here on earth, we have more than this transitory life to enjoy. One day, and it could be today, the trumpet will sound, the dead in Christ shall arise, and we shall join the ransomed throng at the the throne in Heaven to rejoice in Him forever. Who will be there? The blood-washed ones. Are you one of those who have been washed? If not, you can be. "Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." What an invitation! Will you answer?
God bless you today and throughout this week. Set your affection on things above. Pass the love of Christ along to everybody around you.
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