Caught Up
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise
first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. -1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
In Acts 8, we read that after Philip led the Ethiopian man to Christ, "the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away" (verse 39). Philip wasn't caught up
to Heaven; he was removed to another place. With all the freeways in California, I wish God would repeat that miracle.
One day believers will be caught up to be with the Lord in the air. Then, when He comes back to the earth, we will return with Him. There is a difference
between the rapture of the church and the second coming of Christ. The Rapture introduces the Tribulation. The Tribulation period follows the rapture of the church and concludes with the Second Coming. At the Rapture, Jesus comes for His church. At the Second
Coming, He comes with His church. Colossians 3 says, "When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory" (verse 4).
Probably the most definitive verse on the Rapture, and the text from which we get the actual term rapture, is 1 Thessalonians 4, "For the Lord Himself
will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And
thus we shall always be with the Lord" (verses 16-17).
The Rapture will take place very quickly. In fact, the Bible says it will be "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" (1 Corinthians 15:52). The twinkling of
an eye is said to last about one thousandth of a second. That means we should live each moment of our lives in expectation of the Lord's return.
- By Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise
first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. -1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
In Acts 8, we read that after Philip led the Ethiopian man to Christ, "the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away" (verse 39). Philip wasn't caught up
to Heaven; he was removed to another place. With all the freeways in California, I wish God would repeat that miracle.
One day believers will be caught up to be with the Lord in the air. Then, when He comes back to the earth, we will return with Him. There is a difference
between the rapture of the church and the second coming of Christ. The Rapture introduces the Tribulation. The Tribulation period follows the rapture of the church and concludes with the Second Coming. At the Rapture, Jesus comes for His church. At the Second
Coming, He comes with His church. Colossians 3 says, "When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory" (verse 4).
Probably the most definitive verse on the Rapture, and the text from which we get the actual term rapture, is 1 Thessalonians 4, "For the Lord Himself
will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And
thus we shall always be with the Lord" (verses 16-17).
The Rapture will take place very quickly. In fact, the Bible says it will be "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" (1 Corinthians 15:52). The twinkling of
an eye is said to last about one thousandth of a second. That means we should live each moment of our lives in expectation of the Lord's return.
The Great Reconciler
www.harvest.org
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? -1 Thessalonians 2:19
Death is the great separator, but Jesus Christ is the great reconciler. Believers who have been separated by death will be brought back together by Jesus.
In the rapture of the church, not only will Christians meet the Lord in the air, but we will be reunited with friends and loved ones who have already gone on to be with the Lord. Isn't that wonderful to know?
If you have lost a loved one who was a believer, you will see him or her again. That is a great comfort for anyone who has ever lost someone they cherished
in life. One moment you could be going about your life on earth, and the next moment you could be hurtled into the presence of Jesus Christ Himself and your departed loved ones.
In the second chapter of 1 Thessalonians, the apostle Paul reveals that we not only will be reunited with our Christian loved ones and friends, but we
also will be reunited with the people who trusted in Jesus through our witness. He wrote, "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?" (1 Thessalonians 2:19).
From this it would appear that each of us would have grouped around us in Heaven those whom we helped to believe in Jesus. Understand, God gives the increase
in evangelism (see 1 Corinthians 3:7). By His grace, He allows us to participate in the wonderful process of seeing people come to faith. And when we get to Heaven, we'll be able to see what kind of impact our lives have had.
Doesn't that make you want to redouble your efforts in personal evangelism? Doesn't that make you want to do something for Him?
- By Greg Laurie -
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? -1 Thessalonians 2:19
Death is the great separator, but Jesus Christ is the great reconciler. Believers who have been separated by death will be brought back together by Jesus.
In the rapture of the church, not only will Christians meet the Lord in the air, but we will be reunited with friends and loved ones who have already gone on to be with the Lord. Isn't that wonderful to know?
If you have lost a loved one who was a believer, you will see him or her again. That is a great comfort for anyone who has ever lost someone they cherished
in life. One moment you could be going about your life on earth, and the next moment you could be hurtled into the presence of Jesus Christ Himself and your departed loved ones.
In the second chapter of 1 Thessalonians, the apostle Paul reveals that we not only will be reunited with our Christian loved ones and friends, but we
also will be reunited with the people who trusted in Jesus through our witness. He wrote, "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?" (1 Thessalonians 2:19).
From this it would appear that each of us would have grouped around us in Heaven those whom we helped to believe in Jesus. Understand, God gives the increase
in evangelism (see 1 Corinthians 3:7). By His grace, He allows us to participate in the wonderful process of seeing people come to faith. And when we get to Heaven, we'll be able to see what kind of impact our lives have had.
Doesn't that make you want to redouble your efforts in personal evangelism? Doesn't that make you want to do something for Him?
Formula for Personal Growth
James 1:22Growing in Christ involves far more than just attending church, tithing, and listening to a sermon. In fact, many believers do these yet remain stagnant in their walk. There are two elements necessary for us to become more like Jesus: instruction and involvement.
The first of these, learning truth, is vital to a healthy walk with God. Our Savior proved the importance of instruction by devoting much of His time on earth to it. The apostle Paul is another example, as he wrote letters to educate Christians about godliness.
So how can we gain knowledge and understanding? One of the most important and effective ways is to read the Word of God. Scripture instructs us that just as newborns crave milk, we are to desire His Word so that we might grow. I pray your spiritual thirst will become insatiable.
Yet simply listening to the truth does not mean that we've acquired it. I know many people who love attending Bible studies and expanding their knowledge base, but their lives remain unchanged. Just as today's passage teaches, we have to apply the Word to our lives. Even so, actual growth requires more than merely inputting information. It requires action. James 2:26 states, "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."
Are we careless hearers, deceived into thinking that we're growing? Or are we listening intently and abiding in the truth? If we're truly maturing, our lives will be increasingly Christlike, and our desires will align more closely with God's heart. Make sure that you are listening and responding to His truth.
Glorious Liberty
“Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” (Romans 8:21)
Be a Kinder Calvinistby Abraham Piper
My wife and I were fighting--the kind where after 30 seconds you forget what you're fighting about and you just end up being mean. It doesn't take long in an argument like this to feel hopeless.
I wanted to call someone to come over and mediate. Actually, I didn't want to, but I knew I needed to do something. Our close friends who live near by and our small group leaders were all out of town, so I called a pastor who lives in the neighborhood and asked him to come over right then. I think he could tell by the tone of my voice and the unusual request that we really did need help immediately. He cancelled his Saturday plans and came over.
Sitting at our kitchen table, he helped us figure each other out. Soon we were getting to the heart of the matter. Molly turned to me and said, "You never treat me like you appreciate me."
I looked at her. I looked at our pastor. And then I listed three ways that I'd shown appreciation for her that morning. As far as I was concerned, things were taken care of. She thought I didn't act appreciatively, but I just showed her (definitively, I might add) that I did.
As you can imagine, things were not taken care of. As a matter of fact, my list, for all its accuracy, was completely irrelevant to Molly. This was when our pastor pointed something out to me that has forever changed the way I interact with my wife, and with everybody, for that matter.
He told me that, sure, it may be wrong to say that I never show appreciation, but clearly she feels that way, and right now that's what needs to be dealt with. And not just dealt with but acknowledged, understood, respected. Her words may have included a factual error, but what she was saying was completely true.
There is a letter on Scot McKnight's blog from a pastor who is very frustrated with certain Calvinists in his church. It would be easy enough to disregard it, pointing out that not all Calvinists are like that or that his use of the word "hyper-Calvinist" doesn't match correct theological jargon. But that would be missing the point. And, ironically, that reaction would only lend credence to the frustration that motivated the letter in the first place.
So how should we read this letter in a way that acknowledges, understands, and respects the discouragement of its author?
First, we should note that it is simply indisputable that some people are exactly the way he describes. When you see mean extremists in another circle, it reminds you why you don't run with that crowd. But when you see mean extremists in your own circle, it's just plain embarrassing. Unfortunately, until we are perfected there will always be mean people of every theological strain. But fortunately, we are a part of the church not merely for the company, but for Christ.
The second way to understand the letter is to see it (along with the numerous comments that follow) as abundant evidence that, to many, Calvinists come across as self-righteous, condescending, arrogant, unfriendly, argumentative, and even stingy. The fact that we're not all that way is irrelevant in the same way that it didn't matter to Molly that I had done three things to show I appreciate her--she still felt unappreciated. Her frustration was true because, whether or not I was grateful to my wife, I was perceived as an ingrate. Similarly, the frustration in the letter is true because, whether or not the Calvinists in the letter-writer's church are good folks, they come off as proud and divisive jerks. Those Calvinists, as church members, and I, as a husband, should change based on this information, regardless of how "inaccurately" the frustration may be worded.
In my marriage, it doesn't matter whether I'm thankful if I don't seem like it. And in the church, it doesn't matter whether we have the fruits of the Spirit if no one can tell.
It won't be easy to change the pejorative stereotype that clings to Calvinism, but we can start by admitting that it is accurate far too often. Then we can make sure we are manifestly not self-righteous, condescending, arrogant, unfriendly, or argumentative. Also, you can count on us to buy dinner or coffee sometimes.
Paying attention to those who disagree with us and taking them seriously, even if we're pretty sure we'll still disagree, is part of what it means to be in the body of Christ. It's humbling; it sanctifies. It will make us better husbands and wives. It will make us better Christians, and maybe even better Calvinists.
A Clean HeartPsalms 119:9-11
Reaching our full potential begins with a clean heart--one that loves the Lord and desires to obey Him. However, each of us was born with a nature bent away from God. Jeremiah 17:9 describes the heart as deceitful and inclined towards wickedness. Pleasing self is man’s normal state.
Salvation changed our hearts and lives. Jesus’ death on the cross paid the penalty for our sin and broke its power over us. By receiving Christ as Savior, we each became a new creation--with a heart sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading and a mind that strongly desires to know the Father better. We also received the Spirit’s power to deny our selfish desires and obey God. With clean hearts, we can begin to realize the capabilities our loving Lord has given us.
The best way to maintain a clean heart is by meditating on Scripture. It acts like a mirror in which we see ourselves as God does. Through it, we discover the areas where we have been faithful and also the places where we’ve veered from His path. Expressing genuine repentance brings God’s forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9).
The heart represents the seat of our mind, will, and emotions. When we strive to keep it pure, we will more easily discern the Lord’s plan, submit our will to His, and follow Him obediently.
Becoming the person God planned for each of us to be requires an intimate relationship with Him and a desire to obey His Word. Apart from Jesus, we can’t achieve anything of lasting value (John 15:5). Cooperating with the Holy Spirit’s transforming work will help us keep our hearts clean.
Worshiping God
“And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.” (Genesis 22:5)
Most people think that John 11:35 (“Jesus wept”) is the shortest verse in the Bible, but our text is actually even shorter in the original Greek. In one sense, these two two-word verses complement each other—because Jesus wept, we can rejoice evermore. Christ died that we might live. He became poor so that we could be eternally rich. When Christ rose from the dead and met the women returning from the empty tomb, He greeted them with the words “All hail” (Matthew 28:9). The actual Greek was the same word as “rejoice,” and surely His victory over sin and death provided the greatest of all reasons for the world to rejoice.
The contrast between suffering and rejoicing is present throughout the New Testament, with the former typically preceding and bringing in the latter. Its first occurrence is in the closing verse of the beatitudes: “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you . . . for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:11-12). The final passage, when the sufferings of the saints are all past and Christ comes to reign, the multitude sings in heaven, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come” (Revelation 19:7). In that great day, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” (Revelation 21:4), and all the redeemed will, indeed, rejoice evermore.
Therefore, we can live our present lives in the light of our future lives, “as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things” (2 Corinthians 6:10). The apostle Paul exhorts us to “rejoice in the Lord alway” (Philippians 4:4), and Peter says that, loving Christ, we “rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8). HMM
Waiting on God
Psalms 37:1-9 Waiting on God is an important spiritual discipline in our walk of faith. King David’s life teaches us about the value of following the Lord’s plan and the danger in moving ahead of Him.
When David was a young shepherd boy, the prophet Samuel anointed him as Israel’s next king. Yet he did not become the ruler for many years. Waiting for the Lord to place him on the throne was made more difficult because the current king, Saul, turned against David and repeatedly tried to take his life. Despite the opportunity to take matters into his own hands and kill his enemy, David held back. He wouldn’t allow anyone else to attack Saul either (1 Sam. 24:1-7). He waited on God and was greatly blessed for his obedience.
King David also knew what it was like to move ahead without the Lord. One year he chose not to join his troops in battle, even though that was one of his duties (2 Sam. 11:1). During the time he stayed home, he noticed Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and he coveted her. Acting upon his desires, he conceived a child with her and then tried to cover up his sin. What a mess he made of his life. Instead of following the Lord’s plan and being blessed, he experienced divine chastisement and much heartache.
As believers, we want to obey the Lord, but there may be situations when intense desire propels us forward without waiting for His direction. Like David, we will experience the blessing of obedience or the heartache of disobedience. Be sure to seek out God’s plan before you act.
Called and Chosen
“But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14)
Note the order established by God in His great plan of salvation. God had chosen these Thessalonian believers to salvation even before they were born, for it was from the beginning. Then He called them, and they heard the gospel, believed the truth, and were sanctified (that is, “set apart”) by the Holy Spirit, eventually destined to be glorified in Christ.
To accomplish this, however, the Spirit used human messengers. He first, in a vision, directed Paul to go to Greece to preach the gospel (Acts 16:9), where he eventually reached Thessalonica and taught the truth to those he found in the synagogue. However, of the many who were “called” as Paul preached and taught, only “some of them believed” (17:4). Most of his listeners had not been “chosen,” so they resisted the “call” and refused to believe. As Jesus said, “Many be called, but few [are] chosen” (Matthew 20:16).
Such a truth may be difficult to understand with our finite minds, but (like Paul) “we are bound to give thanks” that we who believe today, like the Thessalonian believers then, have been both “chosen . . . in him before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4) and also “called . . . out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
This same mysterious but glorious truth is found throughout Scripture. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. . . . What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:28, 31). HMM
America needs an awakening, but the church needs a revival. We often use the words revival and awakening interchangeably, but there is a distinction.
An awakening is when a nation comes alive spiritually, sees its need for God, and turns to Him. A revival is when God's people come back to life again.
Revival simply means to bring back to life, to restore. To be revived is to wake up from a state of sleep. As C. S. Lewis pointed out, "A moderately bad
man knows he is not very good: a thoroughly bad man thinks he is all right. . . . You understand sleep when you are awake, not while you are sleeping." In other words, if you think you are a great person with no problems, then you are really more asleep than
you realize.
Revival is coming back. It is waking up. Revival is getting back to the Christian life as it was meant to be lived. Revival is being in the bloom of first
love for a lifetime, walking closely with the Lord. You can't always have those initial emotions you had as a new believer any more than you can have the same butterflies in your stomach you had when you first met your husband or wife to be. That is unrealistic.
But your love can grow deeper. Your love can grow stronger.
That is how we ought to be as followers of Jesus. We need the faith of the Christians of the first century, the faith that turned the world upside down.
Revival is nothing more or less than a new obedience to God. Then it is, to quote Nietzsche, a "long obedience in the same direction."
Only God can send an awakening to America. But revival can happen right here, right now.
Psalms 37:1-9 Waiting on God is an important spiritual discipline in our walk of faith. King David’s life teaches us about the value of following the Lord’s plan and the danger in moving ahead of Him.
When David was a young shepherd boy, the prophet Samuel anointed him as Israel’s next king. Yet he did not become the ruler for many years. Waiting for the Lord to place him on the throne was made more difficult because the current king, Saul, turned against David and repeatedly tried to take his life. Despite the opportunity to take matters into his own hands and kill his enemy, David held back. He wouldn’t allow anyone else to attack Saul either (1 Sam. 24:1-7). He waited on God and was greatly blessed for his obedience.
King David also knew what it was like to move ahead without the Lord. One year he chose not to join his troops in battle, even though that was one of his duties (2 Sam. 11:1). During the time he stayed home, he noticed Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and he coveted her. Acting upon his desires, he conceived a child with her and then tried to cover up his sin. What a mess he made of his life. Instead of following the Lord’s plan and being blessed, he experienced divine chastisement and much heartache.
As believers, we want to obey the Lord, but there may be situations when intense desire propels us forward without waiting for His direction. Like David, we will experience the blessing of obedience or the heartache of disobedience. Be sure to seek out God’s plan before you act.
Called and Chosen
“But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14)
Eagerly Waiting - By Greg Laurie -www.harvest.org
One night my wife and I were lying in bed discussing the Rapture. We were talking about how wonderful it will be when the Lord returns for us. As Cathe
was talking about how it could even happen when we're asleep, a devious thought crept through my mind. I quietly slipped off the bed and onto the floor, snickering a little. She said, "The Lord will come for us, and it's going to be great, isn't it, Greg?
. . . Greg?" She reached over, and I wasn't there. I was lying on the floor, laughing.
That's a humorous story, but tragically for many, it will be an actual scenario. One person will be taken, and the other will be left. Jesus said, "Two
men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. So you, too, must keep watch! For you don't know what day your Lord is coming" (Matthew 24:40-42).
What will happen to you? Are you ready for His return? Hebrews 9:28 tells us, "Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins
of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him."
Are you looking for His return? To look for Christ's return means to live your life in anticipation of that event. It means being ready to meet Him. It
also means you shouldn't be doing anything that could hinder your spiritual life.
If there is anything in your life that should be changed, anything in your life that is not right with God, I urge you to deal with it now.
"So you, too, must keep watch! For you don't know what day your Lord is coming."-Matthew 24:42
One night my wife and I were lying in bed discussing the Rapture. We were talking about how wonderful it will be when the Lord returns for us. As Cathe
was talking about how it could even happen when we're asleep, a devious thought crept through my mind. I quietly slipped off the bed and onto the floor, snickering a little. She said, "The Lord will come for us, and it's going to be great, isn't it, Greg?
. . . Greg?" She reached over, and I wasn't there. I was lying on the floor, laughing.
That's a humorous story, but tragically for many, it will be an actual scenario. One person will be taken, and the other will be left. Jesus said, "Two
men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. So you, too, must keep watch! For you don't know what day your Lord is coming" (Matthew 24:40-42).
What will happen to you? Are you ready for His return? Hebrews 9:28 tells us, "Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins
of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him."
Are you looking for His return? To look for Christ's return means to live your life in anticipation of that event. It means being ready to meet Him. It
also means you shouldn't be doing anything that could hinder your spiritual life.
If there is anything in your life that should be changed, anything in your life that is not right with God, I urge you to deal with it now.
Coming Back to Life
- By Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
"Then we will not turn back from You; revive us, and we will call upon Your name."-Psalm
80:18
80:18
America needs an awakening, but the church needs a revival. We often use the words revival and awakening interchangeably, but there is a distinction.
An awakening is when a nation comes alive spiritually, sees its need for God, and turns to Him. A revival is when God's people come back to life again.
Revival simply means to bring back to life, to restore. To be revived is to wake up from a state of sleep. As C. S. Lewis pointed out, "A moderately bad
man knows he is not very good: a thoroughly bad man thinks he is all right. . . . You understand sleep when you are awake, not while you are sleeping." In other words, if you think you are a great person with no problems, then you are really more asleep than
you realize.
Revival is coming back. It is waking up. Revival is getting back to the Christian life as it was meant to be lived. Revival is being in the bloom of first
love for a lifetime, walking closely with the Lord. You can't always have those initial emotions you had as a new believer any more than you can have the same butterflies in your stomach you had when you first met your husband or wife to be. That is unrealistic.
But your love can grow deeper. Your love can grow stronger.
That is how we ought to be as followers of Jesus. We need the faith of the Christians of the first century, the faith that turned the world upside down.
Revival is nothing more or less than a new obedience to God. Then it is, to quote Nietzsche, a "long obedience in the same direction."
Only God can send an awakening to America. But revival can happen right here, right now.
Not
So, Lord
�But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.� (Acts
10:14)
So, Lord
�But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.� (Acts
10:14)
This response of Peter to the Lord�s command is a self-contradiction. How could He be Peter�s Lord if Peter felt free to disobey His command?
The doctrine and practice of the Lordship of Christ have always been difficult and controversial. Many Christians who have called Him their Savior and Lord nevertheless often feel free to question or disregard His Word.
There may be legitimate discussion concerning interpretation of the Word, but there is never justification for questioning its authority, regardless of the pretenses of modern intellectuals or the pressures of public opinion. As the Lord Jesus Christ rebukingly
asked, �Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?� (Luke 6:46).
There may be legitimate discussion concerning interpretation of the Word, but there is never justification for questioning its authority, regardless of the pretenses of modern intellectuals or the pressures of public opinion. As the Lord Jesus Christ rebukingly
asked, �Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?� (Luke 6:46).
There was an earlier occasion when Peter revealed this same inconsistency. When Christ told of His imminent crucifixion, Peter �began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee� (Matthew
16:22). The Lord, therefore, had to rebuke Peter. It was not Peter�s prerogative, nor is it ours, to question the Word of the Lord, even when we don�t yet understand it.
16:22). The Lord, therefore, had to rebuke Peter. It was not Peter�s prerogative, nor is it ours, to question the Word of the Lord, even when we don�t yet understand it.
That kind of attitude can, under certain circumstances, have deadly and eternal consequences. Jesus warned those who would profess His Lordship without its reality: �Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord. . .
. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity� (Matthew 7:22-23).
. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity� (Matthew 7:22-23).
Peter learned this lesson and was soon able to confess unreservedly concerning Christ that �he is Lord of all� (Acts
10:36). We who �believe on the Lord Jesus Christ� for salvation (Acts 16:31) certainly should seek to believe and obey His Word in all things. HMM
10:36). We who �believe on the Lord Jesus Christ� for salvation (Acts 16:31) certainly should seek to believe and obey His Word in all things. HMM
Leaving a Lasting Impact
Matthew 5:13-16
On this Independence Day, consider the question, How do you use the gift of freedom? God gives all believers true liberty through His Son Jesus Christ. Do you squander that blessing or share it with others? The problem is, some people are so focused on their
own needs and desires that they fail to impact even their closest neighbor.
Think about the people you see every week. Do you know how many of your neighbors are sick? Are there people in your church who struggle to make it from day to day? Do you know if any of your coworkers are going through hardships? Most likely, there are
individuals all around you who could use assistance. But being self-focused limits our ability to notice those people, let alone reach out to them.
Jesus taught His disciples, �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� (Matt. 5:13). In order for salt to
remain useful, it must maintain its purity and potency. Likewise, we must endeavor to lead holy, humble, and loving lives, focusingon the Savior�s will rather than our own.
God has prepared the good works that we are to walk in (Eph. 2:10). Our job is to choose to do so.
Whether or not we affect our world positively depends on the focus of our heart. Do you look inward to consider how you can do more to get ahead and add to your lot in life? Or do you look outward and think about ways that you can do more to serve others?
Walk�Don�t Walk
�This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the
vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness
with greediness.� (Ephesians 4:17-19)
In verses 1-3, Paul encourages believers to �walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.� This
humble, patient, loving, peaceful walk contrasts sharply with the walk described in our text.
The walk of those outside Christ is characterized by �the vanity of their mind��empty, futile thinking. The same word for �vanity� is used elsewhere for those who deny the obvious evidence for creation, who �became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish
heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools� (Romans 1:21-22).
They are ignorant and blind, our text says, with darkened understanding and a blind heart. This has led them into a position of alienation from God, dead to any prompting they might receive from within or without. The result of such a mindset is a shameless,
reprobate lifestyle, full of lasciviousness, uncleanness, and greediness.
Thankfully, we �have not so learned Christ� (Ephesians 4:20). We are to be �renewed
in the spirit of [our] mind� (v. 23) and walk aright. �Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us� (5:2). �Walk as children of light� (5:8). �Walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise� (5:15), �filled with the Spirit� (5:18). Our Creator promises us an
inward �new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness� (4:24). JDM
The Pathway of Spiritual Growth
Romans 8:29
God predestined us to grow into His likeness, but this doesn't happen at the moment we are saved. While we are redeemed by the Savior's precious blood and immediately have a new heart, our transformation is a lifelong process.
The Holy Spirit enables this journey. Growth is impossible without Him, regardless of our efforts. Yet we can welcome or hinder His transforming hand.
One way we give God willing access to our lives is by obeying this mandate in Romans 12:2: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."
Everyone chooses either a biblical or worldly philosophy as his or her source of truth--and that choice shapes the mind and spirit. Therefore, the Lord tells us to immerse our mind in Scripture, allowing Him to mold us into His beautiful image.
The Bible story about the Israelites wandering in the wilderness illustrates this principle. After saving them from Pharaoh's abuse, God did not bring them immediately to the Promised Land. The Lord knew doing so would bring sinful ways with them. Instead,
He led them to the wilderness and gave the Ten Commandments. Only after they learned to obey and turn to almighty God were they ready for the next step.
The process of sanctification isn't always pleasant. In fact, it's often painful for us, just as it was for the Israelites. In God's amazing wisdom and love, however, He knows what we need to leave our old ways that lead to death. And He builds new character
in us--full of life and joy.
Careful Ephesus
�Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write;. . . I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience,
and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars.� (Revelation
2:1-2)
This church, founded by the apostle Paul, had grown in its doctrinal precision and careful attention to the words of Scripture. They were intensely focused on purity of leadership and were vigilant against any form of false teaching. Most of us would find
that kind of church a refreshing example to follow in these days of indifferent (and often heretical) theology.
They hated the �deeds of the Nicolaitanes,� which was a horrible practice that the Lord Himself hated (Revelation 2:6). Peter had warned against this
domineering attitude in his first general letter to the churches when he insisted that the elders of the churches should not be �lords over God�s heritage, but [be] ensamples to the flock� (1
Peter 5:3).
Ephesus was a �good� church, but the risen Lord Jesus had �somewhat against� them. Apparently, amid all of their careful attention to doctrine and to purity of leadership lifestyle, they had �left [their] first love� (Revelation
2:4). They had fallen from the deep bond of love they had demonstrated years earlier when Paul called the elders to Miletus to encourage and exhort them to remain faithful to �all the counsel of God� (Acts
20:27). They were so much in tune with Paul�s heart for the gospel that they �all wept sore, and fell on Paul�s neck, and kissed him� (Acts 20:37).
The drift away from that �first love� was so serious that the Lord warned Ephesus to repent or He would take away their �candlestick� (Revelation 2:5)�their
authority to represent Christ as one of His churches. Cold, precise doctrine must never take away our love for people or for the truth. HMM III
God is Doing What's Best for Us
God is at work in each of us whether we know it or not, whether we want it or not. Lamentations 3:33 says, �He takes no pleasure in making life hard, in throwing roadblocks in the way.� He doesn�t delight in our sufferings,
but He delights in our development. It�s what Paul pointed out in Philippians 1:6 when he wrote, �God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure He will continue until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.�
Don�t see your struggle as an interruption to life but as preparation for life. No one said the road would be easy or painless. But God will use this mess for something good. This trouble you are in isn�t punishment, it�s training. It is the normal experience
of children. God is doing what�s best for us, training us to live God�s holy best!
The Holy Spirit�s Dwelling Place
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Every time the news programs report a story about vandalism at a church, believers cringe. It�s hard for us to bear the thought of anyone spray-painting graffiti on sanctuary walls or damaging the stained glass windows, let alone setting fire to a place
of worship. It�s a desecration!
The church is a sacred place.
I�m saddened by the fact that many Christians don�t have the same qualms when it comes to harming the temple of the Holy Spirit--their own bodies. Some put junk into their stomachs, their veins, or their lungs. Others wear themselves down under a weight
of stress or exhaustion. Some folks justify these abuses as their right: It�s my body, I can do what I want. But that isn�t true.
First Corinthians 6 says that believers are the Lord�s possession (v. 19). He has fashioned these earthen vessels to serve Him and carry out the work He�s planned for us to accomplish. God created us with a mind, body, and spirit--of the three aspects, the
body is the one that allows
us to interact with our environment. People cannot reach their full potential while neglecting the proper care of their bodies. What good are education, talent, and gifts if we�re too tired or sick to complete tasks well?
Here in the world, we can do nothing apart from our physical body. Since it is the only one we�ll have in this life, we should do our best to keep it in good condition. Believersshould also recognize their responsibility to treat the earthly frame like the
sacred and special dwelling place that it is.
Matthew 5:13-16
On this Independence Day, consider the question, How do you use the gift of freedom? God gives all believers true liberty through His Son Jesus Christ. Do you squander that blessing or share it with others? The problem is, some people are so focused on their
own needs and desires that they fail to impact even their closest neighbor.
Think about the people you see every week. Do you know how many of your neighbors are sick? Are there people in your church who struggle to make it from day to day? Do you know if any of your coworkers are going through hardships? Most likely, there are
individuals all around you who could use assistance. But being self-focused limits our ability to notice those people, let alone reach out to them.
Jesus taught His disciples, �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� (Matt. 5:13). In order for salt to
remain useful, it must maintain its purity and potency. Likewise, we must endeavor to lead holy, humble, and loving lives, focusingon the Savior�s will rather than our own.
God has prepared the good works that we are to walk in (Eph. 2:10). Our job is to choose to do so.
Whether or not we affect our world positively depends on the focus of our heart. Do you look inward to consider how you can do more to get ahead and add to your lot in life? Or do you look outward and think about ways that you can do more to serve others?
| ||
Walk�Don�t Walk
�This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the
vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness
with greediness.� (Ephesians 4:17-19)
In verses 1-3, Paul encourages believers to �walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.� This
humble, patient, loving, peaceful walk contrasts sharply with the walk described in our text.
The walk of those outside Christ is characterized by �the vanity of their mind��empty, futile thinking. The same word for �vanity� is used elsewhere for those who deny the obvious evidence for creation, who �became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish
heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools� (Romans 1:21-22).
They are ignorant and blind, our text says, with darkened understanding and a blind heart. This has led them into a position of alienation from God, dead to any prompting they might receive from within or without. The result of such a mindset is a shameless,
reprobate lifestyle, full of lasciviousness, uncleanness, and greediness.
Thankfully, we �have not so learned Christ� (Ephesians 4:20). We are to be �renewed
in the spirit of [our] mind� (v. 23) and walk aright. �Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us� (5:2). �Walk as children of light� (5:8). �Walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise� (5:15), �filled with the Spirit� (5:18). Our Creator promises us an
inward �new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness� (4:24). JDM
The Believer's Purpose
Galatians 5:13
God has a purpose for your life. If that weren't true, He'd have taken you home to heaven at the moment of salvation. Do you ever wonder why He left you here?
The Lord intends to influence others through you. Our purpose is to be a vessel through which Christ overflows to others--touching those who hurt and desperately need a Savior. Once we are saved, Scripture teaches, our involvement is threefold.
First, we love others. Jesus clearly stated that this was one of the two greatest commandments (Matt. 22:38-39).
Second, we share the good news of salvation (Acts 1:8). Some travel across the world to spread the gospel, while others teach neighbors across the street. The Holy Spirit will direct us to the right people if we are willing
to obey.
Third, we serve in a variety of ways, like helping those in need, sharing our resources, and lifting others in prayer. Jesus is our perfect example of all three. His entire life was marked by caring for people--both those who loved Him and those who did
not. In fact, the Bible teaches that He humbled Himself and became like us, willing to give up His life for our redemption. There is no greater love; there is no greater act of service.
Scripture clearly defines the believer's purpose. Aligning ourselves with God's intentions for His children--loving others, witnessing, and serving-- bring us great satisfaction. In fact, we're still on earth not merely to hear more teaching but to act on
it and share with others what we learn.
Galatians 5:13
God has a purpose for your life. If that weren't true, He'd have taken you home to heaven at the moment of salvation. Do you ever wonder why He left you here?
The Lord intends to influence others through you. Our purpose is to be a vessel through which Christ overflows to others--touching those who hurt and desperately need a Savior. Once we are saved, Scripture teaches, our involvement is threefold.
First, we love others. Jesus clearly stated that this was one of the two greatest commandments (Matt. 22:38-39).
Second, we share the good news of salvation (Acts 1:8). Some travel across the world to spread the gospel, while others teach neighbors across the street. The Holy Spirit will direct us to the right people if we are willing
to obey.
Third, we serve in a variety of ways, like helping those in need, sharing our resources, and lifting others in prayer. Jesus is our perfect example of all three. His entire life was marked by caring for people--both those who loved Him and those who did
not. In fact, the Bible teaches that He humbled Himself and became like us, willing to give up His life for our redemption. There is no greater love; there is no greater act of service.
Scripture clearly defines the believer's purpose. Aligning ourselves with God's intentions for His children--loving others, witnessing, and serving-- bring us great satisfaction. In fact, we're still on earth not merely to hear more teaching but to act on
it and share with others what we learn.
The Pathway of Spiritual Growth
Romans 8:29
God predestined us to grow into His likeness, but this doesn't happen at the moment we are saved. While we are redeemed by the Savior's precious blood and immediately have a new heart, our transformation is a lifelong process.
The Holy Spirit enables this journey. Growth is impossible without Him, regardless of our efforts. Yet we can welcome or hinder His transforming hand.
One way we give God willing access to our lives is by obeying this mandate in Romans 12:2: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."
Everyone chooses either a biblical or worldly philosophy as his or her source of truth--and that choice shapes the mind and spirit. Therefore, the Lord tells us to immerse our mind in Scripture, allowing Him to mold us into His beautiful image.
The Bible story about the Israelites wandering in the wilderness illustrates this principle. After saving them from Pharaoh's abuse, God did not bring them immediately to the Promised Land. The Lord knew doing so would bring sinful ways with them. Instead,
He led them to the wilderness and gave the Ten Commandments. Only after they learned to obey and turn to almighty God were they ready for the next step.
The process of sanctification isn't always pleasant. In fact, it's often painful for us, just as it was for the Israelites. In God's amazing wisdom and love, however, He knows what we need to leave our old ways that lead to death. And He builds new character
in us--full of life and joy.
Careful Ephesus
�Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write;. . . I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience,
and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars.� (Revelation
2:1-2)
This church, founded by the apostle Paul, had grown in its doctrinal precision and careful attention to the words of Scripture. They were intensely focused on purity of leadership and were vigilant against any form of false teaching. Most of us would find
that kind of church a refreshing example to follow in these days of indifferent (and often heretical) theology.
They hated the �deeds of the Nicolaitanes,� which was a horrible practice that the Lord Himself hated (Revelation 2:6). Peter had warned against this
domineering attitude in his first general letter to the churches when he insisted that the elders of the churches should not be �lords over God�s heritage, but [be] ensamples to the flock� (1
Peter 5:3).
Ephesus was a �good� church, but the risen Lord Jesus had �somewhat against� them. Apparently, amid all of their careful attention to doctrine and to purity of leadership lifestyle, they had �left [their] first love� (Revelation
2:4). They had fallen from the deep bond of love they had demonstrated years earlier when Paul called the elders to Miletus to encourage and exhort them to remain faithful to �all the counsel of God� (Acts
20:27). They were so much in tune with Paul�s heart for the gospel that they �all wept sore, and fell on Paul�s neck, and kissed him� (Acts 20:37).
The drift away from that �first love� was so serious that the Lord warned Ephesus to repent or He would take away their �candlestick� (Revelation 2:5)�their
authority to represent Christ as one of His churches. Cold, precise doctrine must never take away our love for people or for the truth. HMM III
God is Doing What's Best for Us
God is at work in each of us whether we know it or not, whether we want it or not. Lamentations 3:33 says, �He takes no pleasure in making life hard, in throwing roadblocks in the way.� He doesn�t delight in our sufferings,
but He delights in our development. It�s what Paul pointed out in Philippians 1:6 when he wrote, �God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure He will continue until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.�
Don�t see your struggle as an interruption to life but as preparation for life. No one said the road would be easy or painless. But God will use this mess for something good. This trouble you are in isn�t punishment, it�s training. It is the normal experience
of children. God is doing what�s best for us, training us to live God�s holy best!
The Holy Spirit�s Dwelling Place
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Every time the news programs report a story about vandalism at a church, believers cringe. It�s hard for us to bear the thought of anyone spray-painting graffiti on sanctuary walls or damaging the stained glass windows, let alone setting fire to a place
of worship. It�s a desecration!
The church is a sacred place.
I�m saddened by the fact that many Christians don�t have the same qualms when it comes to harming the temple of the Holy Spirit--their own bodies. Some put junk into their stomachs, their veins, or their lungs. Others wear themselves down under a weight
of stress or exhaustion. Some folks justify these abuses as their right: It�s my body, I can do what I want. But that isn�t true.
First Corinthians 6 says that believers are the Lord�s possession (v. 19). He has fashioned these earthen vessels to serve Him and carry out the work He�s planned for us to accomplish. God created us with a mind, body, and spirit--of the three aspects, the
body is the one that allows
us to interact with our environment. People cannot reach their full potential while neglecting the proper care of their bodies. What good are education, talent, and gifts if we�re too tired or sick to complete tasks well?
Here in the world, we can do nothing apart from our physical body. Since it is the only one we�ll have in this life, we should do our best to keep it in good condition. Believersshould also recognize their responsibility to treat the earthly frame like the
sacred and special dwelling place that it is.
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