The Lord is My Shepherd!

“The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:1-6

Psalm 23 was written during a very stressful time in David’s life. God had anointed him as king over Israel. Yet he had no kingdom. Saul continued to reign, but he had seen how the hand of God was with David in battle and became envious. Poisoned by jealousy, King Saul launched an attack against David, chasing him from city to city - region to region.

Hiding out it a dark lonely cave, David found little hope or comfort until he recalled God’s promises and past dealings in his life. Suddenly, strength and encouragement were reborn as David proclaimed: “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness...”

Nothing out of this psalm speaks of inactivity. Instead, there is power and rejoicing in God’s faithfulness. By faith, David claimed the abiding presence of God - reaffirming how God leads us and makes us lie down in spacious places of rest. He is our Shepherd. He watches over us continuously.

God knows when you are frightened and discouraged. Even though David was in constant peril, God was with him. Just rest your troubles with Him; He will speak to you.

Failing to Listen to God

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. Genesis 3:1-7

Jesus called Satan “a murderer...and the father of lies” (John 8:44). In the book, The Bondage Breaker, Neil T. Anderson writes: “One of the most common attitudes I have discovered in Christians...is a deep-seated sense of self-deprecation. I’ve heard them say, ‘...I’m no good.’ I’m amazed at how many Christians are paralyzed in their witness and productivity by thoughts and feelings of inferiority and worthlessness.

Next to temptation, perhaps the most frequent and insistent attack from Satan to which we are vulnerable is accusation. By faith we have entered into an eternal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ...Satan can do absolutely nothing to alter our position in Christ and our worth to God. But he can render us virtually inoperative if he can deceive us into listening to and believing his insidious lies and accusing us of being of little value to God and other people.”

There is a tremendous difference between Holy Spirit conviction and satanic condemnation, and we need to learn the difference! When God speaks, He always uses words of hope, encouragement, direction, and promise. Even in times of discipline, He is quick to restore and renew our fellowship. If the voice you hear within your heart is one of accusation, know it belongs to the deceiver. Therefore, take your stand against the enemy and ask God to fill your heart with His truth.

God’s Goal in Speaking, Part 2

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2

The poster showed a sleeping dog and cat while the sentence below read, “The trick to overcoming temptation is to play dead.” It was followed by the Scripture, “Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body...” Romans 6:11-12

Sin blocks us from hearing the voice of God. In Romans 12:1-2, Paul tells us to present our bodies as living and holy sacrifices to God. He continues admonishing: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Christians who toy with sin play a deadly game. Sin not only brings static into our communication with God, it divides and separates us from other believers, while dimming our view of God’s principles. This is why Paul wrote when temptation comes - flee from it! (2 Tim. 2:22)

God’s goal in speaking to you is to conform you spiritually, emotionally, and mentally into the image of His Son. However, Satan’s goal in tempting you to sin is to see that you never become all God wants you to be. The choice is yours, and you are free to make it now that you are “alive to God.”

God’s Goal in Speaking, Part 1

“For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.” Galatians 1:11-17

When God speaks to us, He has three goals in mind:

He wants us to understand His truth - God has written the Bible in such a way that we cannot read through it and think we know everything about Him. The more you read God’s Word, the more He reveals Himself to you. The more He reveals, the more you will understand His will for you life.

He seeks to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ - God wants us to take His truth and apply it to our lives. As we do, He molds us and conforms us into the likeness of His Son. Jesus is our example. In Him, we discover we are wonderfully accepted and loved.

He wants us to communicate His truth to others - As we grow in Christ, God empowers us to teach others about Him. He may not call you to be a pastor or a missionary, but He calls each of us to share His love with others. Our communication does not begin and end with words. It goes much deeper to our attitudes, values, convictions, and desires. What does your life say to others about Christ? Do they see a God who loves, forgives, and encourages all people?

“The LORD has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations, that all the ends of the earth may see the salvation of our God.” Isaiah 52:10

He Speaks to Us!

“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.” John 14:25-28

In the Old Testament, God spoke to His people through the prophets. Men like Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others exhorted Israel to return to purity and worship of the Lord. God gave these men the ability to see and proclaim truth.

God’s reason for speaking today is much as it was then; however, His method has changed drastically. In seeking to build an intimate relationship with us, God now speaks directly to the hearts of those who believe in Him through the Scriptures and the illuminating presence of the Holy Spirit. The birth of Jesus Christ turned an important page in history by opening the way for us to establish and enjoy a personal relationship with the heavenly Father.

While God still speaks through spiritual leaders, he delights in communicating with you - one on one. From the beginning of your life, He has sought your fellowship. Now it is your decision. God waits for you to come to Him. He has already come to you through the Person of Christ.

You may know Him as your Savior, but do you know Him as Lord and intimate Friend? Building a close relationship with God takes time. As you pray, ask Him to guide you into an even deeper relationship so you may know His ways and find eternal glory in His blessings.

The God Who Speaks

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.” Hebrews 1:1-4

The apostle John wrote: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). After reading this Scripture, A.W. Tozer wrote:

“An intelligent, plain man, untaught in the truths of Christianity, coming upon this text, would likely conclude that John meant to teach that it is the nature of God to speak, to communicate His thoughts to others. And he would be right. A word is a medium by which thoughts are expressed, and the application of the term to the eternal Son leads us to believe that self-expression is inherent in the Godhead, that God is forever seeking to speak Himself out to His creation. The whole Bible supports this idea. God is speaking. Not God spoke, but God is speaking. He is, by His nature, continuously articulate. He fills the world with His speaking voice.”

While God communicates primarily through His Word, He is not limited in His expression. He often uses pastors, friends, and others to bear witness to His will for our lives. Be sure the voice you hear is God’s by establishing a close, personal relationship with Him. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you through His Word. A person who focuses his thoughts on God will be lead by God and will gain the mind of Christ.

Needed: Husbands Who Understand

“You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:7-9

It is said there is nothing better a man can do for his children than to love his wife. The example of mutual affection and submission between husband and wife is the main ingredient for enduring family harmony and a living portrait of the relationship between Christ and His church. In a culture that frequently celebrates the macho male image and an evangelical community that stresses the authority of the husband, the apostle Peter, no milk toast himself, strikes the right balance.

Husband, understand your wife. She operates on a uniquely feminine wavelength that cannot be picked up by a man apart from a concerted effort to know what makes his mate tick. This is a lifelong process, but there are plenty of Christian books that can help the husband gain insight into his wife’s emotional makeup. Find out what makes her happy, what triggers her anger, what opens the tear ducts.

Realize she is a weaker vessel. Weak doesn’t mean inferior. What Peter implies is that the wife is not designed to carry the entire load - financial problems, disciplinary measures for the children, and other common family difficulties. The wife is the husband’s helpmate; and he is her ever-ready helper, willing to relieve emotional or physical overloads.

The Reward of Meditation

“O how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
For they are ever mine.
I have more insight than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged,
Because I have observed Your precepts.” Psalm 119:97-100

He won three gold medals in the 1994 Winter Olympics. Johann Olav Koss’ remarkable feat was the result of a minimum of six hours training per day, a devotion even his competitors admired. Koss captured the gold and the hearts of his countrymen because he knew that hard work paid dividends. The innumerable hours of solitary rigors would eventually be rewarded.

Meditation is a deficient discipline in most because they fail to see future benefits. It is viewed in a strangely passive light, though it calls for active engagement of mind and spirit. Meditation is the training ground for wisdom and insight. The progressive intake of Scripture, combined with sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, renews the mind, priming it for godly decisions in tough matters.

Meditation sifts the heart. Problem areas, sins that perhaps we didn’t even know lurked within, are surfaced through the work of the Holy Spirit. This may be painful; but when accompanied by true repentance, it liberates us to live holy, pure lives. Meditation accelerates obedience. God speaks quietly to our hearts so we can obey and reap the rewards.

Listen and let God cull the chaff. Wait patiently and obey His prompting. The rewards are bountiful.

Maximize Your Investment

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither.” Psalm 1:1-3

Any farmer or gardener prefers a soft, steady rain for thirsty crops or plants. Heavy downfalls may appear favorable; but much of the water is wasted, the ground unable to absorb the deluge. However, the soil and rain are synchronized when the precipitation falls at a steady rate. Meditation is akin to this analogy. Slowly, steadily and productively, the Word of God is distilled and digested. It is the process of patiently listening, hearing, and waiting upon God. However, meditation can be hindered for two significant reason:

Quiet time vs. Busy time. We are harried and hurried. Our pace is fast, even on a slow day. But meditation requires time, still time where the voices of duty and responsibility are deliberately muted.

Quality vs. Quantity. Many Christians have a reading schedule that takes them from Genesis to Revelation in a year. This is a profitable exercise, but its benefits can be negated if our hearts aren’t set on digesting meaningful portions. Reading shorter passages of Scripture can facilitate biblical meditation. And often, God will focus your attention on but one verse.

Customize your schedule to find an appropriate quiet time that allows your to maximize your investment.

My Dad Knows God!

“My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
Do not let them depart from your sight;
Keep them in the midst of your heart.
For they are life to those who find them
And health to all their body.
Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.
Put away from you a deceitful mouth
And put devious speech far from you.
Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
Watch the path of your feet
And all your ways will be established.” Proverbs 4:20-26

It was a typical scenario of young boys debating who’s father was the best. This discussion highlighted who their fathers knew. The first boy started the debate by claiming his father knew the mayor. He was soon topped by the second boy who said, “That’s nothing, my dad knows the governor.” The stakes were getting pretty high and the eavesdropping father wondered what his young son would say about him. The little boy shot back, “So What!? My dad knows God!”

Would your son say the same thing? May our children always be able to say, “My dad knows God!” Happy Father’s Day!!!

Are You Listening?

So the LORD called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy. And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:8-10

In a pointed exhortation, James captures the importance of listening and thinking before you speak. “But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak...” (James 1:19). James’ context is human relationships, but it is equally apropos in our fellowship with the Father. God wants us to express our needs, but He also desires that we listen to Him.

Often, our communion with God is one way. We present our requests, pray for others, and conclude. God’s plan gives ample room for such communication, but He also has much to say to us if we are willing to listen. “Oh, but it is such a strain to discern God’s voice,” you say. This is a common concern among most Christians, but it is one you can put aside. Simply tell God you want to hear from Him. He will not lead astray the man or woman who sincerely desires to know Him.

God speaks to you primarily through Scripture. When you open your Bible, you are not engaging in a mere reading exercise; you are ready to hear what God has to say. His Word is His voice. Listening to God changes your life. You will find guidance, comfort, encouragement, and correction for the day. Order will replace confusion; peace will supplant anxiety.

Praying for Others

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.” 1 Timothy 2:1-8

Prayer is a supernatural tool for developing a genuine compassion and burden for the needs of others. We are admonished to pray for all sorts of people -local, state, and national leaders (1 Tim. 2:2); the universal body of Christ, especially those under persecution (Eph. 6:18-20); laborers in God’s harvest fields (Matt. 9:38); our personal enemies (Matt. 5:44); all men - believers and unbelievers alike (1 Tim. 2:1). That is quite a list, isn’t it? If we are honest, most of our time spent in prayer is for personal requirements - sprinkled in with a pinch of worship and a neighborly request or two for others for good measure.

Laboring in prayer for the welfare of those mentioned just does not come naturally, does it? That is why - when we begin earnestly and systematically to intercede for others - we find a strange release from our selfish bent. Less time is spent on ourselves, but we spend significantly more time praying for the needs of others. In so doing, prayer becomes the spiritual scalpel that lifts off the stifling layers of self-preoccupation. We are freed to heed Jesus’ great command: “Love one another, just as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

“I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers.” Philemon 1:4

The Power of Your Prayer Life

It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.”

And He said to them, “When you pray, say:
‘Father, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.’” Luke 11:1-4

In his book The Believer’s Guidebook, Lawrence Richards writes this delightful synopsis on the privilege of coming before our loving Father in personal prayer:

“I’ve read many books on prayer. Too many of them approach prayer as if it were on obstacle course...prayer seems to become a tense, threatening chore. Our technique must be just right. God, the all-seeing Judge, gives points; and when we fail to clear the hurdles, He is quick to withhold the prize.

What bothers me about such interpretations is that they’re hardly honest to God. They distort the vision given in the Bible of a loving, welcoming God. To understand prayer, we simply need to look up at the character of God. We need to see the loving Father. We need to hear Him invite us to share every need and confess every sin. Prayer is nothing less than responding to the warm assurance of God’s love and accepting His invitation to come to our Father and to share.”

If you have received Christ as Savior, you can move freely into God’s presence. You are His child, and He wants to talk with you and show you His love.

“...let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace...” Hebrews 4:16

Go Forward

“As Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD. Then they said to Moses, ‘Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, “Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians”? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.’

But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent.’ Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land.’” Exodus 14:10-16

The wise man Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:1: “There is an appointed time for everything...” Though not included in the list of appropriate seasons that followed, this principle rings just as a true: “There is a time to wait - and a time to act.” How do we see the difference? When do we hover over the situation, and when do we launch out?

There are two conditions involved in determining the latter course. If we have done everything we know to discern God’s leadership - diligent in prayer, common-sense fact-gathering, searching the Word, obtaining good counsel, total submission to Jesus’ lordship - and if a decision must be made now, then it is time to thrust forward.

If we want to please God sincerely, we must not worry about the consequences of our decisions. If it is the wrong decision, then He will forgive us and steer us rightly. But when a course must be charted, our confidence, faith, and courage are fully cast on the God Who knows the future and has secured our relationship with Him. Wait on God when you can, but act boldly in faith when you must - entrusting yourself to a faithful God.

“Be strong and courageous!... for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Pray in the Will of God

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.” 1 John 5:13-15

Charles Finney was one of the foremost evangelists of the nineteenth century. The foundation of his ministry was preserving prayer. In his Principles of Prayer, Finney instructs the believer:

“There are three ways in which God’s will is revealed to men for their guidance in prayer.

1. By express promises of predictions in the Bible, that he will give or do certain things.

2. Sometimes God reveals His will by Providence. When He makes it clear that such and such events are about to take place, it is as much a revelation as if He had written it in His Word.

3. By His Spirit. When God’s people are at a lost (about) what to pray for, (but while also being) agreeable to His will, His Spirit often instructs them. When there is no particular revelation and Providence leaves it dark and we know not what to pray for as we ought, we are expressly told that the ‘Spirit also helpeth our infirmities’ and ‘the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.’”

The Word of God, the Providence of God, and the Spirit of God - all are supernatural aids to discerning the will of God in prayer.

“So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:17

The Anchor for Prayer

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” Luke 11:9-13

In the black-and-white 1950s, one of the most engaging shows on television was Father Knows Best. Despite the perils of raising a son and two daughters, the wise father always seemed to have a solution. In the realm of prayer, the principle is at work: God knows best.

When our petitions are mercifully granted - healing for our sick spouse, extra income for a pressing need, a promotion at work - we worship and thank our Heavenly Father for His goodness. When our requests don’t seem to be answered - our sick mate does not improve; the financial need remains unmet; we are passed over for that promotion - we still worship and thank our Heavenly Father for His goodness.

In the first instance that is easy. In the second that is extremely difficult: “Why doesn’t God come through? What is He trying to do to me? Doesn’t He care?” Our view of God is fogged by the confusion over prayer’s primary purpose. Prayer is trusting God to do what He knows is best for our lives not just in the short term but also in the long run.

The character of God is the anchor for prayer. He loves us. He always works for our best. You can always trust Him.

The Ultimate Victory!

“Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?’

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

It’s a cold winter day. The canvas awning under which you sit flaps roughly. The people behind you cry silently. Those gathered around the sides are red-eyed and somber. In front of you a preacher stands next to the casket of your loved one - the one with whom you ate, laughed, walked, and communed for all these years. A few long, minutes pass - it is over. Friends hug you; the preacher consoles you; and you return to your car for the lonely trip home.

In this setting of grim, undeniable reality lies the profound and majestic hope, comfort, and assurance of the Christian faith - forever set in the scriptural jewel of John 11:25: “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies.” Death is not the final act. It isn’t the ultimate farewell scene.

Because Jesus confronted death and emerged the Victor, we too, who believe in Him, will live - even though we die. Because of Christ’s resurrection, our forever is guaranteed. Our faith is valid; our hope is sure; our expectations are fulfilled. Christ, the Death-Slayer, has won the ultimate battle and invites all who believe in Him to experience the delightful fruit of His victory - eternal life.

“...but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 15:57

His Resurrection - Our Assurance

“...concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ...” Romans 1:3-6

You have just finished eating in a nice restaurant. Before exiting, you make sure your parking ticket is validated so that the parking attendant will allow you to leave without a charge. The validation is the key, verifying your visit. The dictionary defines validation as “to give legal force to; to legalize; authoritative; sustainable in law.”

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is binding validation, or proof, of Jesus’ deity. The bodily resurrection of Christ testifies beyond doubt that Christ was “the Son of God with power” (Rom. 1:4). He can no longer be thought of as a mere prophet, a deluded evangelist, a wise teacher, or just the son of Mary and Joseph.

His resurrection also validates the truthfulness of all that Jesus said. Throughout His ministry, Christ foretold His death and resurrection. The angel announced, “He has risen, just as He said” (Matt. 28:6). Jesus said He would conquer death and He did. Having fulfilled that bold claim, we can rely on every word He uttered and every deed He accomplished.

If you are looking for compelling evidence of Jesus’ deity and authority, the resurrection is sufficient.

Jesus Christ, The Sin-Bearer

“Then he shall slaughter the goat of the sin offering which is for the people, and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. He shall make atonement for the holy place, because of the impurities of the sons of Israel and because of their transgressions in regard to all their sins; and thus he shall do for the tent of meeting which abides with them in the midst of their impurities. When he goes in to make atonement in the holy place, no one shall be in the tent of meeting until he comes out, that he may make atonement for himself and for his household and for all the assembly of Israel.

Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and of the blood of the goat and put it on the horns of the altar on all sides. With his finger he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it seven times and cleanse it, and from the impurities of the sons of Israel consecrate it. When he finishes atoning for the holy place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall offer the live goat. Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins; and he shall lay them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who stands in readiness. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a solitary land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.” Leviticus 16:15-22

“...and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

Through repeated usage, the term scapegoat has become quite familiar to our secular culture. Its meaning - “an innocent party being blamed” - has its roots, however, in an ancient Hebrew ritual known as The Day of Atonement. This holy day took place once each year. Two male goats were taken by the High Priest as a sin offering for the iniquities of the people. One goat was slaughtered, and its blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat. The remaining goat was sent into the wilderness - after the High Priest has placed his hands on the goat’s head and confessed the sins of the nation over it. Through this “scapegoat” observance, God showed His mercy to the Israelites, allowing Him to continue His covenant relationship with them.

In much the same way, Jesus became the divine Scapegoat for the sins of the world. He was and is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) Our sins were placed on Him at Calvary. Indeed it was our sins that put Him there. Jesus took the blame so that we could live. Have you trusted in His atonement? Have you come to Him for the forgiveness of your sins? Have you been healed of your transgressions through His sacrifice?

“But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” Isaiah 53:6

False Teachers

“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Nowhere does false doctrine distort the truthfulness of the Bible more than in the manner in which God and man are portrayed. The portrait of God painted by false teachers is usually one in which the Creator is pictured as a loving, kind, and benevolent Friend with arms wide open to all men everywhere.

While God is full of grace and truth, extending His mercies to us, He is also holy. When men and women come to God on His terms - personal faith in the atoning work of Christ - only then can God shower His blessings of salvation and sanctification upon them. Occasionally God is presented in His perfect holiness by some - stern and demanding, without a hint of grace, leaving man in the hapless state of trying to pacify an angry God. He is shown to be less than He really is - either less holy or less loving than the Scriptures attest.

False teachers often depict man as moral and upright, needing only to live a blameless life to enjoy God’s favor. Certainly man is noble - made in the image of God - but sin has so devastated the likeness that it is impossible for man to please God with mere good deeds. He must come to the cross for the image to be restored. Man is made to be more than he really is - more righteous, just, and deserving of salvation than the Bible speaks of.

Let Him Be Accursed!

“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, let him be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be accursed!” Galatians 1:6-9

A visit to the circus usually isn’t complete without a stop by the so-called “circus mirrors.” Remember passing in front of these and watching yourself grow like Jack’s beanstalk or swelling like a wrestler? We all giggled at such weird reflections; but when such distortions arise on the spiritual plane, it becomes more than a laughing matter. When false doctrine twists and perverts the true message of the Gospel, its adherents are in great danger. That is why the Apostle Paul had such harsh words for its propagators, announcing twice: “...let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8-9). Strong words for a deadly poison.

How then can we identify teachings that warp the clear intention of the Scriptures? One noticeable clue is a concentration on a single subject. We are to measure everything against the whole counsel of God. For example, the Bible does talk about works a good deal, but it does not propose them as a means of salvation.

Another is the elevation of the false teacher himself. The teaching of Scripture is given so that man can honor, revere, and obey Jesus Christ. False teachers usually are motivated by pride and greed. They teach so that their hearers can follow them, not Christ.

Be Careful What You Pray For!

“They quickly forgot His works;
They did not wait for His counsel,
But craved intensely in the wilderness,
And tempted God in the desert.
So He gave them their request,
But sent a wasting disease among them.” Psalm 106:13-15

One noted evangelist put it this way: “You may get what you want, but you may not want what you get.” It is sometimes easy to want something so much that we channel all of our efforts to attain it.

That is what the Israelites did in the wilderness. They grew so weary of their manna diet that they grumbled loudly for good, old-fashioned meat. God gave them their request, but it brought death along with it because of their rebellious hearts. All of us can relate to that incident. After much toil, we finally receive our desire - only to discover that it brought a lot of heartache. How can we protect ourselves from seeking the wrong object?

First, by delighting ourselves in loving, worshiping, and serving God above all else. “Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). When we want to please and honor God more than we want anything or anyone else, our requests will be aligned with His will.

Second, be willing to lay down your request before the Lord. Whatever you want, give it completely to the Lord for its fulfillment. Let Him be the Judge as to whether He will grant us our petitions. Leave it in His hands. “Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it” (Psalm 37:5).

God’s Ultimate Intention

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:1-10

The attributes of God are many - love mercy, grace, forgiveness, kindness, goodness. Yet none of those marvelous qualities would be known to mankind without the following character trait - giving.

God, by His own choice, holds nothing to Himself. His love, mercy, and grace are generously bestowed upon man because He has sovereignly willed to share Himself and His bounty with us. We have life only because God has created us by an exercise of His will. We can receive salvation only because He wills to grant it.

The ultimate testimony to the Giver of all good things is, amazingly, the saints, the redeemed ones. “In order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:7

The Supreme Giver’s gift to men of salvation though Christ will resound throughout eternity. Believers will be the showcase, the tangible evidence of His evergiving heart. Thus, while we enjoy the eternal benefits of salvation, its fundamental root lies in the reality that our God is the preeminent Giver. It is that truth that all of the heavenly hosts will marvel at without end.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave...” John 3:16

The Sufficiency of Christ

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” John 15:7-11

His friend’s letter reached Hudson Taylor in Chinkiang on September 4, 1869. The Spirit of God moved powerfully in his heart as he read it at the mission station. Hudson Taylor recounted the dramatic change in his life in a letter to his sister in England:

“As to work, mine was never so plentiful, so responsible, or so difficult; but the weight and the strain are all gone. When my agony of soul was at its height, a sentence in a letter from dear McCarthy was used to remove the scales from my eyes...” That sentence read: “But how to get faith strengthened? Not by striving after faith, but by resting on the faithful One.”

Taylor continued in his letter: “as I read, I saw it all...I thought, ‘I have striven in vain to rest in Him. I’ll strive no more. For has He not promised to abide with me - never to leave me, never to fail me?’ As I thought of the vine and the branches...how great seemed my mistake in having wished to get the sap...I saw not only that Jesus would never leave me, but that I was a member of His body, of His flesh, and of his bones....

The sweetest part...is the rest which full identification with Christ brings. I am no longer anxious about anything as I realize this; for He I know is able to carry out His will...”

Abiding in Christ

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:1-5

While the Christian life is most certainly a fight of faith, it is not endless striving and straining. There is a monumental difference between abiding in Christ and striving; and understanding the discrepancy can make a major change in the joy, peace, and contentment we experience as we serve Christ.

J. Hudson Taylor, the founder of China Inland Mission, wrestled with the distinction until one day, at age thirty-seven, he saw the total sufficiency of Christ for every need. The catalyst for this liberating discovery was a personal letter from a missionary friend, John McCarthy, who wrote:

“To let my loving Savior work in me His will, my sanctification is what I would live for by His grace. Abiding, not striving nor struggling; looking off unto Him to subdue all inward corruption; resting in the love of an Almighty Savior...This is not new and yet ‘tis new to me. I feel as though the first dawning of a glorious day had risen upon me. I hail it with trembling and yet with trust. I seem to have got to the edge only, but of a sea which is boundless; to have sipped only, but of that which fully satisfies. Christ literally seems to me now the power, the only power of service; the only ground for unchanging joy.”

“I am the vine, you are the branches.” John 15:5

God’s Wisdom

“Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.” James 3:13-16

The two major New Testament Greek words from which we derive the English word wisdom offer compelling insight into the nature of God’s wisdom.

The first is sophia, or sophos, which, according to An Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words by W.E. Vine, refers to the “the insight into the true nature of things.” When viewed from the perspective of Scripture, prevailing philosophies - like humanism, Marxism, materialism, and secularism - are seen for what they really are: vain systems of ideology which are morally bankrupt because they are founded on ever-changing and eroding values. While they appeal to individuals, God’s wisdom penetrates the veneer and allows us to unveil their real, deceitful base.

The second word is phronesis, or phronimos, which has to do with the more practical aspect of wisdom. It is the same word which also is commonly translated as prudence which means “sensible or practically wise.”

Such wisdom means that daily we act in accordance with the truths of Scripture, ordering and aligning our lives with their commands. The more we obey, the wiser we become. God’s wisdom, thus, is both penetrating (unmasking superficial doctrines) and practical (working out our daily lives in submission to clear scriptural principles).

“A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increases power.” Proverbs 24:5