Give a Grace Gift

“And a man who had been lame from his mother's womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, ‘Look at us!’ And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, ‘I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!’ And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.” Acts 3:2-8

As we looked yesterday, there are different kinds of gifts that people can give - one is a ‘grace’ gift. That is the kind of gift that is un-repayable. God gave us His Son - you can’t repay, you can only receive. Here in our text we see a man healed who had been lame from his mother’s womb. A miracle, a gift of grace from God.

People often ask, how do you give a grace gift?
Simply put ...
1. From the heart
2. It is impossible, therefore, to measure the cost.

In my life there have been many grace gifts given to me. For instance:
- A lady who made me peanut-brittle every Christmas for over twenty years.
- A woman who every December would schedule a thirty minute appointment with me and cancel it on the day of the appointment, and give me 30 minutes to do what I wanted.
- A brother who had a set of golf clubs and gave them to me.
- A family who bought us luggage, because they saw the need.
- A couple who gave us their time share for a week.
- A couple who let us use their condo in Mammoth every summer for a family vacation.
- A couple who take us every year to see USC football games.
And on and on....

You see - we buy gifts, but what could we give? We’re missing the blessings of Christmas. What are some grace gifts you could give?
Being together - Time.
Doing a service - People who fix things for you; who run tapes for you; who landscape for you.

The greatest gifts you receive are not always the ones with the price tags, but are the ones that come from the heart.

A Gift Worth Giving

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.’ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: “AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.”’ Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.’ After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.” Matthew 2:1-12

There is no time like Christmas! The beauty of Christmas is that it is a profound message, simply given. Christmas is about giving - “...for God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son...”

Here in our text we see the wise men coming from the east, with gifts for the Christ child. Notice two things -
1. They were personally given.
These were wealthy people - could have sent them, but they took them personally.

2. They were properly given.
It was more than a gift - not just gold, frankincense and myrrh.

These were gifts that were given with glory, adoration, honor, and with the worship of Jesus in mind.
- Gold is a gift for a king.
- Frankincense carries with it the idea of purity.
- Myrrh is what you use when someone was to be buried.

In these three gifts you see God giving us insight into the life of His Son.

John Maxwell reminds us that there are three kinds of gifts that we give at Christmas.
1. Gifts for a gift - gift.
We receive a gift and we give a gift for the gift. We look, we value, we reciprocate.
We keep the stores busy at Christmas just giving gifts for the gifts we were given.

2. A gift for a favor -gift.
We give a gift expecting not a gift back from you, but a favor down the line.
Employee - Employer.

3. A grace gift - gift.
A gift that is un-repayable.
Christ gave His life for us. You can never repay Him for it. You can only receive it, and thank Him for it.

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” II Cor 9:15

Eternal Life Now!

“When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:11-13

Paul writes, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.” One day we will see Jesus and all that we have suffered and enjoyed will pale in comparison to the truth and reality of His presence.

Often the reason we don’t maximize the life we have is because we don’t really know the One who gives life. We may have an idea or mental image of God, but the reality of His presence is not something we incorporate into our lives on a daily basis. If we did, we would stop trying to solve our own problems and give Him the burdens of our hearts. We would not place emphasis on acquiring material possessions but trust Him to meet all our needs. We would be more interested in abiding in Him and allowing His presence to be evident through our actions.

Living with an eternal perspective begins by asking Jesus to saturate every area of your life with Himself. You don’t have to wait until eternity to experience the intimate fellowship of God. Open your life up to Him, fully and completely, and He will give you a blessed taste of eternity now.

“Our Heavenly Father would have us do real business with Him in our praying.” -C.H. Spurgeon

You Have Been Set Free

“This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son. The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. 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.” 1 John 5:6-13

He decided to take the promotion his company had offered. It meant a raise, new position, and better retirement benefits. However, the manager he presently worked for became incensed and complained that this move would affect his department. The employee immediately became confused. He knew the job was God’s best for his life. Yet his boss’s guilt-laden words made the decision difficult.

John, the apostle, wrote to a group of people who, like us, struggled with insecurities and fears. Their environment was unstable and the future unclear. Accusations and threats often brought up thoughts of violence and death. Their only hope was found in the truth given to them by God’s Son. John wrote: “If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater” (1 John 5:9). There is conflict in our world. But God’s presence and peace are greater. No one has to yield to false guilt or pressure from others.

Jesus has set you free. His Word is your eternal hope. He gave you His truth so you might experience freedom from bondage of guilt, fear, and insecurity. By applying Scripture to your life, you refuse to settle for anything less. Listen to God’s voice, and you will have wisdom for every decision.

“For the Christian, power lies in the truth.” - Neil Anderson

Remember the Lord

“O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;
let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
For the LORD is a great God
and a great King above all gods,
in whose hand are the depths of the earth,
the peaks of the mountains are His also.
The sea is His, for it was He who made it,
and His hands formed the dry land.
Come, let us worship and bow down,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
For He is our God,
and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand...”
Psalm 95:1-7

“Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Sing to the LORD, bless His name;
proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before Him,
strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory of His name;
bring an offering and come into His courts.
Worship the LORD in holy attire;
tremble before Him, all the earth.
Say among the nations, ‘The LORD reigns;
indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved;
He will judge the peoples with equity.’
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all it contains;
let the field exult, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy
before the LORD, for He is coming,
for He is coming to judge the earth
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in His faithfulness.” Psalm 96

Happy Thanksgiving!

Are You Content?

“But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:10-13

When he was younger, he dreamed of success; but as life progressed, he became bitter and withdrawn. A series of unfortunate incidents led to disillusionment - a college scholarship he could not complete; a marriage that, at best, was shaky; and children he longed to love but did not know how. These were only signs of a deeper problem - a lack of true contentment and peace with God. Now when most people are approaching retirement, he is forced to work a job he hates so bills can be paid. He always thought contentment was something he could buy and own, but he was wrong.

Even author and philosopher C.S. Lewis sought the solace of contentment, which he labeled “joy.” He had hoped to find it in a place or a state of mind, but instead he “found it to be a Person [Jesus Christ].” Contentment comes to those who seek the things of God above the things of the world. It is the result of laying down earthly desires while cultivating a friendship with Christ.

As you think through your life, are you content? If nothing were to change from this point - could you be satisfied with what God has given you? Remember, contentment abides where Jesus Christ is Lord of all.

“True contentment is need oriented not want oriented.”
-Andy Stanley

No Turning Back

“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.” Romans 12:1

In Paul’s day, people offered themselves to all kinds of sinful behavior. Prostitution and other forms of idolatry were common practices in pagan temples. In an attempt to raise the spiritual consciousness of the Roman church, Paul insisted that believers retain a high standard of purity. They had received new life through Jesus Christ, but now they needed to practice and live out this new life on a daily basis.

The church probably wondered, “How do we do this? Everywhere we turn, our eyes are met with forms of degradation.” Sound familiar? The only way we can maintain our purity is by an act of our wills, whereby we become living spiritual sacrifices to God.

Warren Wiersbe writes, “God transforms our minds and makes us spiritually minded by using His Word. As you spend time meditating on God’s Word, memorizing it, and making it a part of your inner man, God will gradually make your mind more spiritual.”

When we desire God’s will over the desires of the flesh, we deny self. We acknowledge that we have been crucified with Christ and we no longer live, but Jesus Christ now live to the glory of God in us (Galatians 2:20).

“O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more.” - A.W. Tozer

The Way to a Renewed Mind

“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

What we think and what really is, sometimes are not in sync - we want to think God is in control, but the truth is, we are really running the show. In her book, Beyond Ourselves, Catherine Marshall writes of spiritual renewal:

“One morning I was particularly discouraged. I was caught between all my blessings - a wonderful husband, three lovely children at home and a fourth in and out, a big new house, and my daily writing. I was quite frankly, exhausted. So once more we took the situation to God....‘Lord, we’ve tried everything we can think of. Every road has seemed a dead end....Tell us what it is -.’”

God showed her that she was “dictating the terms” of her life. “A thought stabbed me. What if - for this period of my life - I was supposed to give up the writing? Immediately this possibility brought tears. Why should I have to relinquish something which I had from the beginning dedicated to God - and something from which I also got such intense satisfaction?”

Resolutely, she submitted her desires to God. “Though my emotions were in stark rebellion, I knew that sooner or later they would fall into line. When the relinquishment was complete, the breakthrough occurred.”

The way to a renewed mind is the way of submission. When we submit our desires to Christ, He transforms our will and prepares us for a great blessing. To renew our mind means we adopt a changed attitude and see things from God’s perspective.

A Powerful Transformation

“Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.’” Acts 9:1-6

“So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, ‘Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?’ But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.” Acts 9:17-22

The apostle Paul encountered Jesus Christ on the Damascus Road. Blinded and prostrate before God, Paul realized nothing he had learned could rival what Christ had revealed. Nor did he have a grasp of the immediate change that would take place in his life.

Some people have shared how God removed certain sinful desires at the point of salvation. Others tell how old habitats disappeared gradually. However, neither of these statements explains the depth to which God’s salvation reaches. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17-18: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God...”

When you accept Christ as your Savior, God immediately transfers your name from the book of sin and death to the book of eternal life. He purifies your life and no longer views you according to your sin, but deals with you according to the testimony of His Son. Don’t harbor the memory of the past failures and sins. Once you come to know Jesus, the past failures and sins. Once you come to know Jesus, the past is eternally behind you and the new - holy and pure - is forever in front of you.

All things are made new in Christ!

The New You

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:12-17

Jesus told the people: “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Following this theme, Paul wrote: “Those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness...” (Colossians 3:12).

The “good works” we do in Christ never consist of worldly honors and material gains. On our own, we can never achieve the level of spirituality Christ spoke of. But thanks to His presence in us, this is attainable. We honor God by allowing the Holy Spirit to reflect Christ’s life in us. The light of your life should be Jesus Christ. A heart of compassion, a look of kindness and true humility, or a gentle spirit cannot be forced. It is an overflow of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the life of a believer.

Can we block His activity? Yes. Sin, legalism, complacency, and lack of repentance block God’s work in and through us. When God sees you, He sees the very core of your being. Allow Him to work through you to reveal His nature so when people see you, they will see Jesus and lives will be changed.

“The Christian life must be lived in the will, not in the emotions.” -Catherine Marshall

Conviction vs. Preference

“But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.” Daniel 1:8

“Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.’” Daniel 3:16-18

When Daniel refused to defile himself by eating the king’s food, he held fast to a conviction he deemed worthy enough for death. Convictions always challenge our level of commitment. Daniel viewed his relationship with God as far more important than satisfying the king’s whims. Once he took his stand, God provided a solution to the situation, and Daniel was allowed to eat that which was in keeping with God’s commandments.

Pleasing God - not men - was the most important issue to Daniel. Loving the Lord and keeping His commandments were his utmost desires. It wasn’t a matter of preference but a matter of godly conviction. Preferences are based on feelings. They change erratically and are often abandoned for the sake of immediate gratification. However, a conviction is based on God’s principles and deals with life from an eternal perspective.

Satan’s ultimate goal is to move you from a point of conviction to a point of preference. Once he has done this, he changes your view from God’s best to that which satisfies the flesh. Be wary of compromising your convictions, for you belong to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

When God tells you to do something, you should do it based on who is doing the talking.

The Price of Prayer

“Now again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, ‘Go, number Israel and Judah.’”
2 Samuel 24:1

“Now David's heart troubled him after he had numbered the people So David said to the LORD, ‘I have sinned greatly in what I have done But now, O LORD, please take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.’” 2 Samuel 24:10

“So Gad came to David that day and said to him, ‘Go up, erect an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.’ David went up according to the word of Gad, just as the LORD had commanded. Araunah looked down and saw the king and his servants crossing over toward him; and Araunah went out and bowed his face to the ground before the king. Then Araunah said, ‘Why has my lord the king come to his servant?’ And David said, ‘To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the LORD, that the plague may be held back from the people.’ Araunah said to David, ‘Let my lord the king take and offer up what is good in his sight. Look, the oxen for the burnt offering, the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood. Everything, O king, Araunah gives to the king.’ And Araunah said to the king, ‘May the LORD your God accept you.’ However, the king said to Araunah, ‘No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing.’ So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. David built there an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Thus the LORD was moved by prayer for the land, and the plague was held back from Israel.”
2 Samuel 24:18-25

In numbering the people of Israel, David shifted his trust from faith in God’s ability to human resources. And in His anger, God sent a pestilence that killed 70,000 men. “When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented....And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was striking down the people, and said, ‘Behold, it is I who have sinned, and it is I who have done wrong; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let Your hand be against me...’”
(2 Samuel 24:16-17).

When David realized his sin, he went to God in prayer (verse 10). And when God withdrew His anger, David prayed once again. He purchased the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite so he could offer sacrifices and said: “I will surely buy it [the threshing floor] from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing” (verse 24).

When your back is against the wall and every avenue closed up before you, do you say a quick prayer to gain relief, or do you offer prayer that costs you something? David humbled his heart before God, and the Lord heard his cry.

Through prayer we recognize our dependence on God.

The Priority of Prayer

“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Once Paul entered Macedonia, he immediately established a church in Philippi and then turned his attention to the port city of Thessalonica. Over 200,000 people lived and worked there. The city was a melting pot of cultural differences. It was also an area where immorality and crime thrived. Therefore, most believers saved under Paul’s ministry came from pagan backgrounds.

The apostle worked quickly to help new believers understand their spiritual foundation. One of the ways this was accomplished was through prayer. Paul admonished the church to “pray without ceasing,” which means to maintain an attitude of constant prayer. Much more than constant mumblings, unceasing prayer means to live life in conscious awareness of God’s personal love and availability.

Paul’s strategy was simple: when temptation comes - pray. When fear approaches - pray. When someone falsely accuses you - pray. When you are happy or sad - pray. No matter what you’re facing, pray because God answers prayer! The way you get to know your heavenly Father is through prayer. You can come to Him with anything, at any time or day or night.

The power of God is found in spending time with Him.

The Erosion of Our Life, Part 2

“Then Saul said, ‘I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again because my life was precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have committed a serious error.’ David replied, ‘Behold the spear of the king! Now let one of the young men come over and take it. The LORD will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I refused to stretch out my hand against the LORD'S anointed. Now behold, as your life was highly valued in my sight this day, so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the LORD, and may He deliver me from all distress.’ Then Saul said to David, ‘Blessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and surely prevail.’ So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.” 1 Samuel 26:21-25

The erosion of Saul’s life began quite subtly. The enemy never announces his plans to lure us away from our devotion to Christ. Instead, he uses small and seemingly harmless tactics to draw us into deception and compromise.

One careless event changed the course of Saul’s life and eventually led to his denunciation by God and death. Although the believer is kept by God’s grace, sin has its consequences; and many times it is our relationship with God that suffers. Make sure your life is free of spiritual erosion by asking God to give you a deep love for Himself and His Word.

Amy Carmichael once wrote: “The story of Mary breaking her pot of ointment made me think of some among us who love their Savior and yet have not broken theirs (vessel of oil). Something is held back, and so there is no outpouring of love, no fragrance in the house. It is shut up, not given. The days are passing so quickly. Soon it will be too late to pour all we have on His feet. How sorry Mary would have been if she had missed her opportunity that evening - an opportunity that would never come again: ‘But you do not always have Me.’ Soon He was among His foes. She could not have reached Him then.”

“If we are anywhere but in the love of God, we drift apart.”
-Amy Carmichael

The Erosion of Our Life

“Thereafter Samuel called the people together to the LORD at Mizpah.” 1 Samuel 10:17

“Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and he became very angry. He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, ‘Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen.’ Then the dread of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out as one man. He numbered them in Bezek; and the sons of Israel were 300,000, and the men of Judah 30,000. They said to the messengers who had come, ‘Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, “Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will have deliverance.”’ So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. Then the men of Jabesh said, ‘Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.’ The next morning Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp at the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.”
1 Samuel 11:6-11

There is a tendency to think of King Saul’s life as being sinister and foreboding. But Saul didn’t begin his reign as a baneful terrorist. The Bible says: “...he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. Samuel said..., ‘Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen? Surely there is no one like him among all the people.’ So all the people shouted and said, ‘Long live the king!’”
1 Samuel 10:23-24

Saul bore God’s anointing along with the love and respect of the people. The first obvious sign of erosion came in 1 Samuel 15 when Saul willfully disobeyed God and offered a sacrifice only Samuel was commanded to make. Pride and jealousy, combined with insecurity, led to even deeper erosion of his spiritual values. In the end, Saul’s life was void of all that was godly.

Most of us think there’s no way we would yield to such spiritual decline. Before you adopt this view, recall the life of Saul. He was a humble man when he first became king. But by the end of his life, disobedience and pride were his captors. Ask God to surface an area of erosion in your life. Then pray He would give you wisdom and the ability to make the necessary course corrections.

All sin begins with a spirit of pride.

Standing on the Facts

“So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, ‘Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner.’ He then answered, ‘Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.’ So they said to him, ‘What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?’ He answered them, ‘I told you already and you did not listen; why do you want to hear it again? You do not want to become His disciples too, do you?’ They reviled him and said, ‘You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from.’

The man answered and said to them, ‘Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.’” John 9:24-33

The blind beggar would not be dissuaded. Even when the rich and influential Pharisees harassed him, trying to make him go back on his story, he refused to give in. He had been blind; now he could see! And he knew Jesus Christ was the One who had healed him. Nothing the Pharisees did made him say otherwise. Few things are more compelling than an eyewitness account. An eyewitness knows the truth. He does not depend upon someone else’s interpretation of events because he was there himself.

Like the blind beggar, the apostle John had an eyewitness, life-changing encounter with Jesus. John knew from one-on-one personal experience that Jesus is the Messiah. John was there when Jesus healed this beggar. He stood at the foot of the cross when Jesus hung there in agony. John staked his life, his very being, on the truth that Jesus is God’s Son. Eventually, the hostile Roman Emperor Domitian left John on the Isle of Patmos to die because he wouldn’t recant.

Through the Gospels, you also meet Jesus face-to-face. Have you staked your life on the truth of God’s Word? As you obey, you become an eyewitness to the reliability and power of Scripture.

Our faith is based on the sound evidence of God’s truth, not blind belief!

Growing Up in Christ

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:11-16

Some things are easy to measure - how tall you are, what size clothes you wear, how much you weigh. But how do you measure spiritual growth? How can you determine how far you’ve come in your walk with the Lord? God works in the lives of His children in different ways at different times. But as you pray, study the Bible, and worship regularly with other Christians, you should notice several changes.

Quick and genuine repentance - When the Holy Spirit convicts you of specific sin, you go immediately to Jesus to confess and turn away from it.

Rejoicing in trials - Spiritual battles become more intense, but you want to thank God for them.

Increasing desire to obey - Sin becomes less attractive; you find delight in following His commands.

Eagerness to share - As you discover His lovingkindness, you can’t keep the joy to yourself. You tell others what He is doing in your life.

Are you becoming more like Jesus each day? No matter where you are in your relationship with Him, you can cling to this promise: “...He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

“...and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God...” Ephesians 4:24

Move Beyond the Milk!

“Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.” 1 Peter 2:1-3

As any parent knows, a new baby has a limited menu. They drink milk or a gentle formula that’s just right for their small digestive systems. As they grow, they move up to soft foods that have been specially mixed for easy swallowing. But it’s only when babies cut their teeth that the real joy of eating begins.

God designed the believer’s “appetite” for His Word to work in much the same way. As a young believer, you begin the nourishment process with the milk of Scripture, the elementary principles that lay the groundwork for deeper truths to come. Then as you mature in your relationship with Christ, you’re ready to learn more.

A baby that doesn’t progress to more substantial foods doesn’t keep growing. Something is wrong. It would be unnatural and unhealthy for the baby to drink only milk for an extended period of time. If you don’t move beyond the basics of faith, you soon become spiritually malnourished and cease to develop as God planned.

Are you growing in the Lord? Commit yourself to feeding on God’s Word each day, trusting Him to work His principles into your heart as you obey His direction. The more of His truth you absorb, the more you’ll grow to be like Christ.

Salvation is only the beginning of God’s plan for you!

Amazing Love

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:14-18

He has a wife and three children whom he adores. He spends time with them whenever he can, going fun places and listening to their hurts and needs. His business ethics are unimpeachable; he is known by all as a fair man who goes the extra mile when nobody asks him to. And his charity work for the local hospital helped build a much needed burn treatment center.

Would you ever guess that this man has a rebellious heart? He does. It’s not easy to see by judging from external appearances. Even though he outwardly obeys the law and is concerned for the well-being of others, he is dead in his spirit to the things of God and doesn’t care what God says about his life.

Every person is born with a spirit that is disobedient to God. It is literally “bent away” from the Lord and set on its own course. Ephesians 2:1 says: “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins.” People who continue to go their own way, ignoring the way to God through Jesus Christ, will perish and be lost forever.

Are you camouflaging a rebellious heart? Have you asked Jesus to correct your sinful condition? Jesus is the only One who can make your heart right, inside and out.

“Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?” -Charles Wesley

Seeking the Lost

“Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’ So He told them this parable, saying, ‘What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!” I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.’” Luke 15:1-7

The Pharisees were appalled that Jesus associated with sinners. They grumbled about Jesus’ action publicly to show their disgust for what they called loose, disreputable behavior. Sometimes He even ate meals with these sinners and social outcasts.

Jesus responded immediately. He wanted them to understand that His real mission is to save lost mankind - all who recognize that they are separated from God by their sin and believe that He pays the price for them. Jesus wanted these Pharisees and scribes to know how much each lost soul means to Him, how much He is willing to do to restore the person to fellowship with God.

Jesus, the true Shepherd, compared His love for sinners to a shepherd boy searching for one lost sheep. This shepherd boy left his other ninety-nine sheep safe in the fold to seek the missing one. The shepherd was personally responsible for each sheep in his care. If something happened to one of them, he had to give an account to the owner of the flock. Imagine this boy’s relief and joy when he finally carried the wandering one home.

Jesus has this same love for you. He wants you to know your infinite value, to come to Him and rest in His care.

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

The Exact Truth!

“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.” Luke 1:1-4

Why should we be informed about our faith? Why should we seek to know the facts behind what we believe? We’ve heard people say, “God said it; I believe it,” and abandon any attempts at apologetics - explaining their beliefs to others. Sometimes such a statement evades a perplexing question or attempts to cover up an embarrassing lack of information.

Luke knew how vital it is to be prepared with the facts, details like how, where, when, and why. Luke stressed that he had “investigated everything carefully from the beginning.” He made sure that his information was correct, right down to time and place. Why? He had a single mission in mind: demonstrating to his friend Theophilus, and to all who would read his gospel that Jesus is the one true, living God.

You have the same reason to study and learn all you can about Bible history and doctrine. 1 Peter 3:15 urges believers to “always [be] ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you...” Your reasonable, solid answers may be just what an unbeliever needs to hear.

“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Dealing with Sin

“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:15-23

You accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, recognizing that He paid the penalty for your sins on the cross. You know that you’re forgiven, cleansed, and righteous in God’s eyes. But still, a particular sin plagues you. You think it’s gone and the faith is over, but the temptation comes back. You cave in again at a moment of weakness or a time when your guard I down. Maybe you even wonder how God can still love you.

You’re not alone. Paul expressed the same sentiment of frustration and exasperation. He said: “For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want” (Romans 7:19). Paul knew that even though he was saved, the power of sin was still there, doing daily battle with his new nature.

What is the solution? First, you must see your sin, including recurring sin, for what it is - an offense against a holy God that can only be removed by the blood of Jesus. Confess the specific sin to Him and refuse to become entangled by false guilt. You’re forgiven freely. Remember that you belong to Him completely; nothing else has the power to hold you captive. Turn to the One who frees you from sin when temptation strikes, and you will win ever time.

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:32

Caution Against Complacency

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.’” Revelation 3:14-19

If living for God with total commitment is hot water, and living for self or personal convenience is cold water, what would your temperature reading be? Almost cold? Boiling hot? Somewhere in the middle?

If it’s somewhere in the middle, that’s what God calls lukewarm water, meaning those who have lost their fervent love for Him and are consumed by other concerns. These believers do not care if they mature in the Lord, learning more about Him and His Word. They are content to enjoy the blessings He has already given and do not strive to share them with others. Loving the approval of their peers more than God’s approval, they seek ways to accommodate the world, not wanting to “rock the boat” on moral issues.

At the bottom line, a lukewarm, middle-of-the-road attitude is compromise. If taking the easy way is more important to you than seeking God’s way, you may be caught in the downward slide of complacency. God is interested in one thing - absolute faith and obedience - and He wants to rid you of the confusion of competing priorities. Ask the Lord to examine your heart and reveal your true values. He will set your heart on fire with a passion to know Him more.

Complacency is caring more about God’s blessings than you do about God.

Christ is the Cornerstone

“And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not mere men? What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 3:1-11

It was 1866 in England, and pastor Samuel J. Stone’s congregation was in an uproar. In fact, the entire Church of England was in a state of upheaval. A certain bishop had just written a book concerning the authenticity of the first five books of the Bible.

In his “intellectual” examination of these books, the bishop called their accuracy into question.. Liberals in the church sided with the bishop, while the conservative group continues to assert the inerrancy of all Scripture. The debate raged. Samuel Stone was concerned for the health and stability of his congregations. Such controversy was tearing them apart, and surely severe consequences would follow.

To combat this growing division, Stone composed a series of hymns that focused on church unity. With stirring words he celebrated Christ’s eternal position as Head of the church in his most famous hymn, “The Church’s One Foundation.”

Seeing Christ as the Cornerstone of the body of believers puts peripheral church issues into perspective. You are not swayed by every wind of philosophy and every controversy because you measure them by the Lord (James 1:6-7). On Christ’s steadfast ground, you stand prepared for every issue.

“For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11

The Foundation of Your Faith

“And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

The people of Corinth were proud intellectuals. They loved to debate, philosophize, and speculate, depending on their human reasoning to work through problems and understand their world. It wasn’t long before this cultural emphasis carried over into the church.

Paul didn’t waste any time using the human arguments they were used to hearing. Instead, he says: “I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom...For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (verses 1-2). Jesus is the basis of faith. He is the one Foundation. It is through Jesus alone we are cleansed from sin, reconciled to and adopted by God.

Have you been sidetracked by side issues? Is your relationship with Jesus your top priority? Faith that relies solely on Christ makes you stable, secure, discerning. Ground yourself in Him, and He will steer you away from error, confusion, and self-reliance.

Intimacy with God

“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. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” John 15:10-15

The book of Hosea is a compelling love story of God’s unfailing, steadfast care for His people despite their unfaithfulness, ingratitude, and repeated rebellion. Foreseeing their eventual restoration, Jehovah God makes this endearing statement to a stiff-necked people: “‘It will come about in that day,’ declares the Lord, ‘that you will call Me Ishi and will no longer call Me Baali.’” Hosea 2:16

“Ishi” is a Hebrew word meaning “husband” while “Baali” is a Hebrew word meaning “owner.” This is not a mere play on words. It expresses the deepest desire of God’s heart for us - that we would know Him intimately as a wife knows her mate.

Jesus expresses the same sense of endearment when He tells his disciples and us that we are not simply His servants but His “friends” with whom He desires to fellowship on the deepest, most compassionate level. If you view God as your heavenly father who longs to embrace you, sustain you, and lift you up on wings of divine love, your walk of faith can soar.

Jesus is your close, concerned Friend as well as your Master. You can weep with Him, grieve with Him, laugh with Him, even complain to Him. His love for you will never fail, never wane, never subside.

The Christian should never complain of his hard fortune while he knows that Christ is his Friend.