Preaching the Word

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness.” 2 Timothy 2:15-16

Some Christians equate Spirit-anointed preaching with the fire of emotion. Others define such preaching to the stirring of the intellect and awakening of inner man to God’s revelatory truths. These experiences may accompany the heralding of the gospel, but they are not the wellspring. Spirit-anointed preaching is characterized by its focus on the greatness and adequacy of God.

The Spirit’s ministry in preaching the gospel is to bring attention to the personhood of God. The more a preacher points to the holiness, mercy kindness, discipline, goodness, and power of God, the greater the magnet to attract people to the Savior.

Spirit-anointed preaching is characterized also by its concentration on the Word of God. The Holy Spirit is the supernatural author of Scripture. Any preaching that relies on story-telling or clever outlines more than the Scriptures is bereft of life-changing power.

The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to convict, encourage, rebuke, exhort, and instruct us in the ways of God. We are in bondage and darkness apart from its divine light. These are the marks of Spirit-anointed preaching, the results of which are transformed people enlightened and energized by God Himself.

“...the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15

The Challenge of the Ministry

“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

Whether your ministry is to a household of four, a workplace of fifty, or a church of one thousand, the challenge for Christ-honoring service is the same. The most important challenge of ministry is maintaining a fresh, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Our service for Christ is clumsy and frustrating if divorced from the adventure of intimately knowing God.

Your relationship with Jesus is fuel and food for the journey. If you neglect your relationship in order to concentrate on your task, you will be ill at ease in your spirit and fatigued in your work. Jesus calls you to Himself first and then sends you out.

The next important challenge of the ministry is to be faithful, not successful. We can do much in the energy of the flesh that looks successful to others. God is interested in men and women who obey Him in the small as well as the great matters.

Let nothing distract you from personal devotion to Jesus Christ. He is your Master and you are in His employ. If you faithfully follow His principles and obey His voice, you will meet the challenges of ministry with confidence and trust in the wisdom and power of your Lord. There is no other way.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...” Matthew 28:19

A Call to the Ministry

“Say to Archippus, ‘Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.’” Colossians 4:17

When Christians use the expression, “called to the ministry,” it is invariably associated with a pastoral, church, or parachurch position. Indeed, God - not man - does call certain people to preach, teach, and advance the gospel through an ecclesiastical office. That call is personal, preserving, and satisfied only through surrender to the will of God.

However, it is a fallacy to think that some men and women are called while others remain sidelined. That is not the teaching of the Bible. There is no such thing as a part-time Christian ministry. Once you receive Christ as your Savior, you are called to a life of commitment and consecration to Christ. The Greek word for ministry is in the same linguistic family as servant. A minister who preaches the gospel is a servant of Christ. A housewife or accountant is a servant of Christ also.

Whoever you are, whatever you do, you have a ministry from God. You are a saint called into fellowship with Christ to do good works for God (Rom. 1:6-7; 1 Cor. 1:9). You are called to the ministry of knowing and serving Christ, bringing His fragrance and presence into your world and sharing it with others. It is a high and worthy calling.

“...do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5

Your Salt and Light

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 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 5:13-16

Spiritual corruption and pollution blacken the American soul. The blight of godlessness strikes big and small towns alike; infects both farms and factories; and sweeps across lower, middle, and upper classes.

One response is anger. God’s people should be aroused by injustice and unrighteousness but should not be surprised by it. A glance of history exposes the relentless press of evil. We must be careful that our actions are not discolored by our anger. We can do the right thing with the wrong motivation and in the process lose our sense of God’s purpose and presence.

Another reaction is indifference. “What can I do?” is the cry of a common man. Apathy and self-absorption are bedfellows of this train of thought, both sternly rebuked in the Scriptures. You can do what the apostle Paul prescribed in his epistle to the Romans: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21).

Christians should not fight fire with fire, but seek to bring God’s warmth and light through the good works He equips us for. Do you see a situation that after prayer and counsel you feel compelled to address? Then ask God how you may go about doing good in Christ’s name. In so doing, you will overcome evil with God’s good.

“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” -Edmund Burke

The Authoritative Word of God

“Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap Him in what He said. And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any. Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?’ But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, ‘Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.’ And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, ‘Whose likeness and inscription is this?’ They said to Him, ‘Caesar’s.’ Then He said to them, ‘Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.’ And hearing this, they were amazed, and leaving Him, they went away.” Matthew 22:15-22

Reading God’s Word is the cornerstone for a godly life and witness when approached with the following guidelines.

God’s Word is authoritative. You cannot rationalize, justify, or cleverly manipulate what God says through the Scriptures. God cannot lie and the Bible is His inspired and inerrant revelation to mankind. You may not understand all it says, but you must accept the Bible as unalterable truth.

God’s Word is authoritative truth for you. The Bible was penned by the Holy Spirit through chosen men to speak to your heart. The Scriptures are God’s personal revelation of Himself and His ways to your heart, mind, and soul. Each day you can pick it up and eagerly anticipate what the Father will share with you.

God’s Word is authoritative truth for you to obey. Read, believe, and obey. Obedience is the doorway to true spiritual adventure, making the Christian life exciting. Obey whether or not you understand all the implications. Do what God says and you can expect to receive His best.

Draw on God’s boundless grace expressed in His Word and you will never lack for strength, courage, or wisdom while facing any circumstances.

“If we are not governed by God, we will be ruled by tyrants.” -William Penn

Do You Read The Book?

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

Presidents such as Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, and Woodrow Wilson were lifelong readers of the Bible. Today the Bible’s influence in our culture is in vivid contrast to the chronicles of early America. Legal rulings have attempted to coerce Christianity from the marketplace, greatly diminishing the Bible’s impact on society. However, we should not lay the entire blame on the bureaucratic shoulders of government or law. The Bible no longer dominates our culture because its convictions no longer form the moral foundation for our people.

Back in the early 90's, a USA Today poll stated that only eleven percent of Americans read the Bible daily. More than half read it less than once a month or not at all. The Barna Research Group showed that only eighteen percent of evangelical Christians read the Scriptures daily and that almost one in four professing Christians never read God’s Word.

Do you regularly digest Scripture? If not, remember that it is food for your soul and you will have little influence for Christ apart from its consistent intake.

The Cross is Our Victory

“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.” Romans 7:18-25

Although Jesus has conquered Satan and his hosts, they still push the battle. They are defeated but not yet confined to their final destiny - the lake of fire.

In his book, The Cross of Christ, author John R. W. Stott explains the tension in this manner: “For though the devil has been defeated, he has not yet conceded defeat. Although he has been overthrown, he has not yet be eliminated. In fact, he continues to wield great power....On the one hand we are alive, seated and reigning with Christ...with even the principalities and powers of evil placed by God under His (and therefore our) feet; on the other hand we are warned that these same spiritual forces have set themselves in opposition to us so that we have no hope of standing against them unless we are strong in the Lord’s strength and clad in his armour....The tension is part of the Christian dilemma between the ‘already’ and the ‘not yet.’ Already the kingdom of God has been inaugurated and is advancing; not yet has it been consummated.”

The victory over the devil was won at the cross. The battle still rages but the Victor lives in you. Place your faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross and you will always be led in His triumph.

Stand in Christ

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-7

Dr. A.W. Tozer stressed the need for the proper perspective on spiritual warfare in his book, Born After Midnight:

“The scriptural way to see things is to set the Lord always before us, put Christ in the center of our vision, and if Satan is lurking around, he will appear on the margin and only be seen as but a shadow on the edge of the brightness. It is always wrong to reverse this - to set Satan in the focus of our vision and push God out to the margin. Nothing but tragedy can come of such inversion.

The best way to keep the enemy out is to keep Christ in. The sheep need not be terrified by the wolf; they have but to stay close to the shepherd. It is not the praying sheep Satan fears, but the presence of the shepherd. The instructed Christian whose faculties have been developed by the Word and the Spirit will not fear the devil. When necessary he will stand against the powers of darkness and overcome them by the blood of the Lamb and the word of his testimony.”

Fill your heart and mind with the power and awe of the God who has the keys to life and death. Fear God and you need never be terrified again by the roar of the devilish lion, for the Lion of Judah is with you.

“The great emphasis of the Word of God is upon the accomplished victory which is ours to claim.” -Mark Bubeck

Resisting the Devil

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9

Some Christians are afraid to talk about Satan or think about spiritual warfare. While we should be careful not to underestimate his destructive arsenal (Jude 9), we should never fear the devil. Although he is still active by God’s permission, the devil has been soundly defeated. He is a rebellious angelic creature on the losing end of a cosmic struggle with Creator God. He knows his fate is the lake of fire from where he will never escape (Rev. 20:7-10).

The instrument of defeat and our guaranteed victory over his power is the Cross of Christ. When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the price for our sins and conquered the power of Satan. “...He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Heb. 2:14).

At the cross, Jesus “disarmed the rulers and authorities [Satan and his demons]” and “made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him” (Col. 2:15). Jesus defeated the devil at the cross by delivering us from sin’s penalty - death. Satan is a vanquished foe, and he knows it. You are no longer under his dominion but under the rule and reign of Christ.

“On the cross was the purchase made, and on the cross was the victory gained.” -John Eadie

The Schemes of the Devil

“But one whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.” 2 Corinthians 2:10-11

There are many words used to describe our arch enemy, the devil. He has been called “evil one,” “tempter,” “prince of this world,” “god of this age,” “prince of the power of the air,” and “accuser of the brethren.” He is represented as a serpent, dragon, and angel of light. Whatever his title, we know he craftily works to deceive both men and nations into believing his lies and doubting the truth of God’s Word.

He deceives the unbeliever by blinding their minds to the truth. Such statements as “The Bible really isn’t inspired,” or, “How can the death of one man thousands of years ago affect my life today?” are but two of his distortions. For the Christian, he deceives us by working in our minds to cause us to doubt or ignore the truth which is God’s Word. The mind is the battlefield and deception is his primary weapon.

Jesus resisted the devil with God’s Word. When you are tempted, the truth of the Bible is still your best defense. If you are under Satan’s assault, find the scriptures that pertain to your battle. Memorize them, meditate upon them, and use them against the devil. The truth of God defuses the lie of Satan every time.

The mind of man is Satan’s battlefield.

Spiritual Warfare

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” Ephesians 6:10-13

One of the surest wake-up calls in the Christian life is when a person realizes he is in spiritual warfare. The avenues of Satan’s assaults vary but be assured that he will launch spiritual attacks against the mind, emotions, and will of the Christian. The apostle Peter tells the believer that he should “be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).

Before a person receives Christ as Savior, he is a captive of sin and Satan, whether or not he is aware of this bondage. Paul instructed Timothy not to quarrel with unbelievers but hope that God would help them “come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will” (2 Tim. 2:26).

We lived, in Paul’s words, “according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air [the devil and his angels]...” (Eph. 2:2). However, as a Christian you have been delivered from “darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God...” (Acts 26:18).

You are no longer under the devil’s dominion or authority. Praise God for your mighty deliverance, but be ready for conflict.

“The serpent said to the woman, ‘You surely will not die!’” Genesis 3:4

Ask Big

“I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought word back to him as it was in my heart. Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt with fear; but I followed the Lord my God fully. So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden will be an inheritance to you and to your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God fully.’ Now behold, the Lord has let me live, just as He spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, when Israel walked in the wilderness; and now behold, I am eighty-five years old today. I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so my strength is now, for war and for going out and coming in. Now then, give me this hill country about which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the Lord will be with me, and I will drive them out as the Lord has spoken. So Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.” Joshua 14:7-13

It had been forty-five since Caleb stood on the rocky slope overlooking Hebron. Never once in those years did he forget the sight nor the smell of the land. Throughout the time spent in the wilderness, Caleb held tightly to God’s promise. One day he would return, and the land would be his.

There was an air of victory surrounding him the morning he approached Joshua. With shoulders straightened and eyes fused with excitement, Caleb sounded more like a man half his age: “I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so my strength is now, for war and for going out and coming in. Now then, give me this hill country about which the Lord spoke on that day...” (Josh. 14:11-12).

Caleb’s request was a big one. But God had sealed it forty-five years before. Many times people are afraid to make big requests of God. They feel unworthy and plagued by a lack of faith. The only way we are worthy to receive God’s promise is through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And that is where faith begins - at the side of Jesus.

God tells us that He rewards those who seek Him. Never hesitate to seek Him for your biggest requests. He is our God of promise. Whatever you accomplish in life, you will have to accomplish on your knees.

Ask and Believe

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” John 14:12-14

The primary requirement of prayer is faith. Without faith any request made of God will wane helplessly. James tells us that we always should “ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6). The book of Hebrews says: “...he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). In order for us to make big requests of God, we must first believe that God is who He says He is.

The people of Jesus’ day wanted to believe that He healed people simply to end their suffering. Their focus was not on Christ as the Messiah but, instead, on the miracles He preformed. Everything Christ did was done for one purpose, and that was to glorify the heavenly Father. That is the motivation of God’s heart in answering your requests. He always seeks ways to glorify Himself while building a closer relationship with you.

How do we make big requests of God? First, by checking the motivation of our hearts. Are we focused on Jesus Christ or our own desires? Second, by separating ourselves from any known sin. And finally, we must commit ourselves to seeking His will, not ours, through prayer. Remember - “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7).

“...He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

Pray Specifically

“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. The Incomparable Christ For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:9-14

There are many characteristics of God. He is omnipresent, omniscient, all-powerful, loving, kind, faithful, considerate, fair, and just in dealing with His creation. However, we often overlook the fact that He is a God of specifics. He specifically spoke our world into being. And He is specifically interested in every area of your life. In looking over the prayers recorded in the Bible, we find God’s people were very exact in their requests.

We especially see this in the prayers of the apostle Paul. We never read where he prayed for God to “just bless” a particular group of people. Instead, he made individual requests for individual people based on individual needs.

God lifts the level of our prayers as we learn to trust Him to meet the specific needs in our lives and the lives of others. If you are not sure how to pray for an individual, ask God to lead you in prayer through the power of the Holy Spirit.

When we pray in specifics, we learn to pray according to God’s purpose and not our own. He always accomplishes His will through specific means. Pray specifically for the needs of those around you. Make a list as you pray, and watch God answer your prayers.

Our prayers emphasize the power available to us.

Childlike Faith

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:14-21

A pastor tells the story of preaching a weekend revival at a country church. The subject he chose for his sermon was faith through prayer. During the revival he was overcome by a depleting headache. He prayed for God’s healing, but the situation only grew worse. Finally he sought solace in the home of the church hostess who had a curious six-year-old son.

Ignoring the mother’s orders, the young boy cracked open the door to the guestroom and eased up to the edge of the bed. From there he could see the pain of the visiting pastor. “Don’t worry,” said the boy, “God will help you.” The pastor winced at the child’s faith as he wondered where his own had gone. “Son, will you pray for me?”

The boy immediately dropped to his knees, “Lord, please heal my friend. Thank you. Amen.” With that, the youngster left the room. Later that evening the pastor, now pain free, delivered a stirring message, “The Faith of a Child.” What had made the difference? The young boy trusted God in simple prayer.

Paul’s prayers to the Ephesians may have appeared simple; but from God’s point of view, they overflowed with wondrous faith. When you pray, are you believing God in childlike trust?

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father.” Ephesians 3:14

The Power of Prayer

“For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:15-23

The New Testament city of Ephesus was a hotbed of action. Trade and commerce flourished as did different forms of religious activity. It was considered a cultural center where temples dedicated to every imaginable god were erected. Idols formed in these godlike images adorned shops and most homes.

Christians who were saved out of this type of environment knew the value of prayer and worship. At one time they had offered much of themselves to these vain and hollow images. Now they worshiped the one true God. The power of their testimony and prayers was witnessed throughout the region. They were freedom fighters. For by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, they were set free to live above the sin of their city.

When Paul first picked up his stylus to write to them, he repeatedly praised God for their faith through prayer. It was his prayers that dramatically changed the Ephesians’ spiritual outlook. In faith, he asked God to open their eyes so they might know the “hope of His calling” (Eph. 1:18).

When you pray, do you expect God to show you His hope for your life? God is always eager to make known the mystery of His will to everyone who asks.

“...pray at all times in the Spirit...” Ephesians 6:18

A Right View of Repentance

“And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. 3 But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each person according to his deeds.” Romans 2:2-6

Not only does repentance include physically turning away from sin; it also includes a mental or intellectual change in the way we view sin. When we repent of a certain sin, we agree with God that what we did was wrong. Therefore, we willfully choose to step away from sin.

Repentance is not an emotional act. However, it does involve our emotional well-being. True repentance surfaces feelings of both remorse and regret over the obvious breach we have allowed to invade our lives. Sin separates us from fellowship with God, while repentance restores our intimacy with Him.

Forgiveness for sin was provided once and for all by Jesus Christ at Calvary. When God views us, He acknowledges the atoning death of His Son as payment for our sins. Our acknowledgment of those same sins allows us to personally receive and enjoy His complete forgiveness.

Some Christians think they can enjoy the security of being saved by God’s grace while living life with a sinful vengeance. But true salvation denotes a humble spirit and a repentant heart. There is no way to live a victorious Christian life while coveting sin. Ask God to help you come to grips with any sin in your life. His restoration is always available through repentance.

“He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” Acts 5:31

The Destruction of Immorality

Nathan then said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. I also gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! Why have you despised the word of the Lord by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’” 2 Samuel 12:7-10

One of the saddest stories in the Bible begins this way: “Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem” (2 Samuel 11:1). King David was in the spring of his life. The solace of summer stood before him. At his back where the memories of victories won in God’s strength, of nights spent wrapped in Yahweh’s protection, and of a fulfilled promise - one he could have never imagines would come true.

We know the ending to the story. Yet each time we read it, there is something within that wants to cry out, “David! No! Don’t do it. Give it up. It will never satisfy you.” But David opened the door to temptation. Immorality gathered its weapons of war - lust, greed, and murder. One followed the other until the man God called “A man after My own heart” lay helpless in his guilt and sorrow.

David stumbled in his complacency. He should have been off doing kingly things, but pride told him there was no need. Have you relaxed your guard against temptation? None of us are ever out of sin’s reach; so be sure you guard your mind with the truth of God’s Word.

Immorality is never satisfied.

The Seduction of Immorality

“Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.” Colossians 3:5-8

A recent study revealed a dramatic increase in sexual activity among teenagers. An early morning news reporter referred to the findings as “alarming.” Teenage suicide is also on the increase. Never before has our society faced such internal trauma.

Unchecked immorality has one final goal - destruction to the human heart, to the human spirit, and even physical death. When we don’t deal strongly with immorality, excusing its presence and winking at its temptations, we set ourselves up for a monumental fall. As adults, many have done nothing to stop the influx of immorality into society. Now our children are reaping the harvest of the seeds we have sown.

Throughout his epistles, Paul warns believers to put to death the deeds of impurity. Life lived outside God’s moral code always bears grave consequences. Paul knew if we failed to slay immorality, it would slay us.

Don’t be deceived by subtle immorality. It may begin with a so-called harmless glance, but it ends in destruction. If you embrace immorality, you will lower your moral standards. But if you place immorality in subjection to Jesus Christ, you will walk as God intended for you to walk - free of guilt and shame.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8

The Way of Pride

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” Philippians 2:5-7

The way to test if pride is alive and kicking is to allow God to perform a maintenance check on your emotions. Here is how it works. Your boss walks in and tells you that your building design is worth considering. However, a co-worker has interjected several ideas that will help make it more marketable.

If you are working to please men and not God, pride will snap to attention. You may appear cool on the outside; but on the inside, pride is busy stoking the fire in the boiler room of your emotions. It assures you that your plan is perfect and in need of no extra input.

As pride paces the floor of your emotions, God’s perseverance and peace is overshadowed by bitterness, indignation, and resentment. God calls you to step away from yourself long enough to see His overall plan, but you refuse. Pride has bound your heart. You are hurt; and in your hurt, you usually end up hurting others.

The reason God hates pride is because it keeps you from being all that he has planned for you to be. Marvelously, God has a throne room waiting for His heirs - those who seek Him and refuse the pence of pride. Do you have a prideful heart? If so, give it to the Savior and accept His love and restoration.

“For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” Galatians 6:3

The Price of a Prideful Heart

“You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.” 1 Peter 5:5-6

All sin has its root in pride. We can trace it back to the Garden of Eden where Eve, desiring to know as much as God, accepted a prideful token from Satan. Not only did she disobey God, she urged her husband to follow in close pursuit.

The sinfulness of pride weaves a tangled web of lust, greed, and deception on throughout history. Valiant warriors are brought to their knees. Pride of self-strength derails kings and their kingdoms. Men of God forsake the purity of worship while opting for the pride of keeping the letter of the law. Mankind appears bent on proving to God that He is wrong and we, in our human intelligence, are right.

Sometimes we buy into the lie that we are an exception to God’s moral code. That is where the craftiness of Satan’s deception does its best work. Very rarely does the voice of pride shout its intentions. Instead, it whispers stroking comments that ease the instability of our self-esteem. It tells us we are wonderful, exciting, handsome, bright, witty, and popular. It tells us that God would be nothing without us. How deceptive is pride? So much so that it prays along with the pharisee in Luke 18:11: “God, I thank You that I am not like [these] other people...”

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.” Proverbs 16:18

The Kind of Mother Every Child Needs

“She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
‘Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.’
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.”
Proverbs 31:27-30

The virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 can seem to be a divine supermom portrait at first glance. She works hard. She rises early. She plans. She takes excellent care of her family. She makes her husband proud. She juggles numerous tasks with an amazing efficiency. Don’t be discouraged if you do not measure up in each area. There is no perfect mother. Each mom has a unique set of strengths and weaknesses.

The key is to learn dependency upon the Lord in all areas of your life. You will grow in some areas of your spiritual life quicker than others. You will be more closely conformed to the image of Christ in certain areas than others. This occurs over a lifetime, but not over night.

But you have the everyday, sure help of the Holy Spirit to equip you, strengthen you, and help you become the mother you desire to be. Be grateful for your blessings, admit your weaknesses, and ask for His all-sufficient help. The cornerstone for the Proverbs 31 woman is she is “a woman who fears the Lord...” (Prov. 31:30).

Make it your ambition to respect, honor, and seek the Lord on a consistent basis. Lean on His greatness and adequacy to sustain you and work His character within your heart.

“Her children rise up and bless her...” Proverbs 31:28

What a Christian Home Is

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:1-7

Author Bly continues in his book, How To Be A Good Dad, what does constitute a spiritual household:

“First, a spiritual home encourages personal salvation....Christian parents can’t force their children to believe. However, they can let them know how to become a Christian and help them understand they must make their own decision to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of their life....A caring, loving home can help nurture their desire to follow Christ.

Second, a spiritual home recognizes the Bible’s authority...Caring dads take the lead in establishing the Bible as the family’s authority. Dad further demonstrates his belief by regular study and open obedience to its principles. Every family member is encouraged to read, study, memorize, and discuss Bible passages.

Third, a spiritual home develops a spiritual mind-set....Spiritual homes can talk about world events, fall fashions, the latest toy fads, baseball games, and the cutest boy in the whole world that just moved in next door and asked Missy to go bike riding with him. But whatever the main topic of discussion, talk about the Lord flows freely in and out, without awkwardness or embarrassment.”

“And that from childhood you have known the sacred writings...that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:15

What a Christian Home is Not

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:1-4

Christian homes have great expectations. Sometimes those expectations generate more frustration than necessary, as if we feel every home should be an Americana/Puritan mixture of the Cleavers, the Griffiths, and the Billy Grahams. Pastor and author Stephen Bly in his book, How To Be A Good Dad, describes what a spiritual home is not:

“A home is not a place:

Where the most often repeated phrase heard from the children is, ‘Yes, Mother, I’d be happy to help out.’

Where every family member sits still during the prayer before meals, at times, even begging Dad to pray longer.

Where there are no unmade beds, dirty clothes tossed in closets, petrified spaghetti noodles in the pan in the sink, or half-eaten Christmas candy cane under the couch cushion.

Where Missy spends every spare moment after junior high classes knitting socks for needy children overseas.

Where Junior jumps to turn of the TV when the cartoon show presents an unbiblical view of good and evil.

Where the kids often invite their friends to come hear Dad’s weekly morality lecture.”

What it can and should be, will continue tomorrow....

“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established.” Proverbs 24:3

Be Genuine

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:1-4

There is a divine tension between a child’s obedience to his parents and the parents’ treatment of their child. The same Scriptures that say, “Children, obey your parents...” (Eph. 6:1) also say, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger...” (Eph. 6:4).

It is easy for Christian parents to try and instruct their children in God’s ways without walking in His ways themselves. When a parent’s life is an example of authentic Christianity, children are much more apt to obey. They understand honesty and rebel against what they perceive as hypocrisy.

Does that mean you have to be perfect? No parent is. But when we ask our children to forgive us for unwarranted outbursts of anger, we demonstrate a godly role model they will learn to value and one day emulate.

If you are a Christian parent, think of how gracious, patient, and kind your heavenly Father is to you. Think of how He lovingly disciplines you for restoration, not punishment. The more you meditate on the fatherhood of God, the better parent you will become. And, by God’s grace, your children will increasingly submit to your correction and guidance.

“Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.” Psalm 103:13

Is Your Love a Witness?

“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.

Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.” Colossians 3:16-21

Someone said that if Christianity does not work at home, “don’t export it.” We chuckle a bit outwardly while inwardly realizing there is not a more difficult challenge than seeing Christianity work in family relationships.

Studies by individuals such as Josh McDowell and others indicate little difference between children raises in Christian homes and non-Christian homes. Divorce and marital conflict strike the believer’s household with as much intensity, if not frequency, as the unbeliever’s.

We need to depend on the power and counsel of the Holy Spirit, shedding our pride and ego in the process. It is the Holy Spirit who makes the spiritual superstructure of the home work - father as servant/leader; wife as respectful and equal helper; mom and dad as firm but loving parents; and children as creative, unique, obedient offspring.

Perhaps you are now in a seemingly hopeless situation. Everyone is angry. Tempers flare. Voices rise. The children are disobedient. Here’s hope - the Holy Spirit is in you to help you endure and change. He can help love the unlovely, control the temper, submit to authority, and express the life of Christ through you.

“...be filled with the Spirit,” Ephesians 5:18