Parents who wanted their children to have what they were deprived of often discover it growing among the toys and privileges.

Christians who help the poor sometimes see it in the scowls at the same time the hand is extended.

Friends who share the amazing gift of God’s grace with their loved ones see it in the face of those who find salvation a small thing.

Ingratitude.

It comes in many shapes and forms.

• The quality of devaluing the preciousness of a gift.
• The trait of despising the love that shares freely.
• The attitude that sees privileges as rights.
• The selfishness never content with what it has.
• The hardness that nothing is ever good enough for me.

And wherever it raises its head in my life, it deserves a solid stomp. For it’s a last-days sin. Though there’s nothing in the law books about it, God’s list of horrendous crimes against divinity includes it.

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For me will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these” (2 Timothy 3:1-5, NASV).

The ingrate says, “Can’t you do better than that? I deserve that and much more! Why did you take so long? I want something different.”

Or he yawns, “Yeah, okay. Set it right over there, with the other trash.”

The ingrates pockets are full, and his heart is empty.

How does a person put away ingratitude to learn to be thankful? The best way is by standing at the foot of the cross. And by sitting around the table of the Lord. Eating the bread of Christ and drinking the blood of the covenant among a grateful people of God.

If that doesn’t move me into the grateful category, nothing will.

“Generous God of heaven, I don’t deserve a single thing. But you keep on giving and blessing. Let my lips speak praise and thanksgiving. Let my eyes see your goodness. Let my heart be touched at every turn by your grace. I know Jesus is the greatest, most wonderful gift of all. Amen.”

A. A. Neale

The word “hallelujah” is pronounced almost the same exact way in languages such as Slovakian, Italian, Spanish, Bulgarian, Chinese, Czech, French, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Khmer, Russian, Swedish, Welsh, and Swahili. I first noticed this while I was in Cambodia. During worship, they were singing in Khmer with English words projected on the screen for us Americans. At one particular point in the song, both the English and Khmer lined up perfectly for us to communally sing, “hallelujah.”

The word has its roots in the ancient languages of the biblical text, and is a transliteration of “praise Yahweh.” The phrase gets condensed into one word and is then pronounced “Hallelujah.” It is merely a reverent way for the soul to remember God’s worthiness to be praised. Exclamations of hallelujah come only when one recognizes the Almighty’s power,  and can be seen in the book of Revelation.

In Revelation 19, “hallelujah” is used four times. Each of them are aimed directly at God for His salvation, glory, power, and reign. In both, the heavenly realm and  the earthly realm, God’s creation can’t help but praise Him for who He is, what He does, and how He does it. Not only does the word “hallelujah” exceed the border of countries and languages, but it even goes beyond the physical realm, on into the spiritual world.

This simple fact has triggered a number of thoughts in my mind, but there is one that stands out more than the rest. Am I living a life of Hallelujah? Because no matter where I go in the world, people can understand it. Hallelujah has become the universal way of praising God in almost any part of the globe. Therefore, my intentionality in praising God should not just be seen in Sunday worship, but everywhere I go. “Hallelujah” is an opportunity to reach a commonality between man and spirit.

Tyler King

We have all read a book, watched a TV show or a movie when someone is severely injured. The crowd is gathered around, and someone will call 911 and say the ambulance is on the way.

Then somebody leans down and checks for a pulse, checks to see if the victim is breathing, and then someone will put a coat over them to keep them warm.

Many in the crowd know what to do to check to see if the person is still alive. Then comes the good news, “we have a pulse.” Then everyone knows the person has not died.

When the ambulance arrives, everyone is excited and waiting to hear the official pronouncement. Then after checking all the vital signs, comes the official announcement, yes he is going to make it. And he does. The paramedics know just what to look for, had all the right equipment, and could provide on the spot emergency treatment.

As we live the Christian life, I sometimes think wouldn’t it be great if we had an instrument that we could use to check our spiritual condition. You could hook yourself up and get a reading and know in an instant how God sees you according to His standard.

Oh, that’s right we can know where we stand in God’s sight. Of course, I can see the outward side of your relationship with God. I can read the scriptures and see how things are going for you day-by-day. And my responsibility as outlined Galatians 6:1, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself so that you too will not be tempted.”

Even in something as simple as being faithful in attendance, it is clear that a person should be at the service. Hebrews 10:24-25, words it this way, “and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

Just as there are external signs that indicate a person’s physical health, so there are external signs that indicate a person’s spiritual health. Now our internal health that is another matter. I really can’t see into your heart, just like the people standing around at the scene of an accident can’t see internal injuries.

But you know when something isn’t right, so you seek treatment. And we will go to any length to be in the best possible health. With our spiritual health, we know too, and so does our Father in Heaven.

Note II Cor. 5:8-9, “we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. Is that your goal?

Or again, in I Thess. 4:11-12, “and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.”

Looking at your internal spiritual nature, only you know your true condition. But here is the good news. You can go from the poorest of spiritual health to perfect spiritual health in an instant.

As a child of God, repent and ask Him for the forgiveness you need to be in that perfect spiritual health.

We have all read a book, watched a TV show or a movie when someone is severely injured. The crowd is gathered around, and someone will call 911 and say the ambulance is on the way.

Then somebody leans down and checks for a pulse, checks to see if the victim is breathing, and then someone will put a coat over them to keep them warm.

Many in the crowd know what to do to check to see if the person is still alive. Then comes the good news, “we have a pulse.” Then everyone knows the person has not died.

When the ambulance arrives, everyone is excited and waiting to hear the official pronouncement. Then after checking all the vital signs, comes the official announcement, yes he is going to make it. And he does. The paramedics know just what to look for, had all the right equipment, and could provide on the spot emergency treatment.

As we live the Christian life, I sometimes think wouldn’t it be great if we had an instrument that we could use to check our spiritual condition. You could hook yourself up and get a reading and know in an instant how God sees you according to His standard.

Oh, that’s right we can know where we stand in God’s sight. Of course, I can see the outward side of your relationship with God. I can read the scriptures and see how things are going for you day-by-day. And my responsibility as outlined Galatians 6:1, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself so that you too will not be tempted.”

Even in something as simple as being faithful in attendance, it is clear that a person should be at the service. Hebrews 10:24-25, words it this way, “and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

Just as there are external signs that indicate a person’s physical health, so there are external signs that indicate a person’s spiritual health. Now our internal health that is another matter. I really can’t see into your heart, just like the people standing around at the scene of an accident can’t see internal injuries.

But you know when something isn’t right, so you seek treatment. And we will go to any length to be in the best possible health. With our spiritual health, we know too, and so does our Father in Heaven.

Note II Cor. 5:8-9, “we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. Is that your goal?

Or again, in I Thess. 4:11-12, “and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.”

Looking at your internal spiritual nature, only you know your true condition. But here is the good news. You can go from the poorest of spiritual health to perfect spiritual health in an instant.

As a child of God, repent and ask Him for the forgiveness you need to be in that perfect spiritual health.

Dick Brant

When traveling long distance by vehicle, there are several types of riders. There is the navigator who knows all the shortcuts and ways to beat traffic. There is the entertainer who believes his job to be changing the radio station to the correct song. There is the detector who hears every rattle, feels ever shimmy, and thinks he must diagnose the mechanical problems.

We travel quite a bit, primarily between our home in Denver and our native land of Northwest Tennessee. It is about an eighteen-hour drive (one way) that we have made back and forth several times. In our truck, there are typically two types of travelers. There is the driver (me) and the sleepers (Melody and the boys). The rest safe and secure sleeping the miles away. My job is to get us there and back safely.

As we journeyed home yesterday, we had three near-accidents. At just the right time, I was able to notice, swerve, brake, or accelerate to deliver us from potential harm. After avoiding the near-mishaps, I would look over at Melody and up to the rear-view mirror to look at the boys. They all were still soundly asleep. I pridefully thought, “They rest easy, not even knowing how I have delivered them safely.” The more I thought about it, the more I realized how thankful I should be to the Lord that we had been delivered from near accidents. This led to the final thought (and the better one). How many times does the Lord watch over, protect, and keep me when I never am aware? How many times have I been asking “how long” in regard to a matter, never realizing how often He has delivered us at just the right time!

Many scholars believe the Thirteenth Psalm was written by David while being chased by Saul. Tremper Longman said this psalm is “a cry to God from a soul who has nowhere to turn but to God.” Spurgeon called it the “How Long Psalm.” David recognized that even though his enemy made his Heart lament, he could still rejoice in the Lord because of the way He cares for His people.

DAVID’S COMPLAINT (1-2).
The observant student will note that David asks, “How Long?” four times.

• Will you forget me forever?
• Will you hide your face from me?
• Shall I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart?
• Will my enemy be exalted over me?

The psalmist feels as if everyone is against him. In his mind, this could only happen if the Lord had abandoned him.

DAVID’S CALL (3-4).
He asks the Lord to consider (or notice him) and answer. He gives three reasons why the Lord should.

• He might die.
• The enemies might believe they have won.
• The enemy might have greater joy that the Lord’s servant.

VV. 5-6 – THE COMFORT.
He prays with full confidence the Lord will deliver him in due time. The Lord has proven his love and His desire to save David in the past. David says he will sing praises to the Lord because he recognizes the Almighty will again take care of His anointed.

We may not always know when or how, but we can always trust the Lord will take care of us! It may not be in this life, but we can keep putting our faith and confidence in Him knowing He cares for us. He has proven it time and again. So, may we not fear, but rest easy knowing He is in control and in due time, He will deliver!

Corey Sawyers

The right direction is always essential. Starting in Denver, you will never arrive in California by traveling “north,” nor can you arrive in California by going “south.”

Now the shortest distance to LA is about 1000 miles if you are traveling west. But you can also get to LA by going east. Oh, it would be a more extended trip by about 24,000 miles, but you would get there, just take a lot longer. So the old adage is still true. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

Here is another point, if you travel north or south from Denver, you will never arrive in LA. You may start out going north from Denver, and in time you will be going south. Then of course later without making a conscious course change, you will be going north again.   Life can be like that, when you have no set direction; you keep going round and round.

The thing about traveling east or west is that unless you make a conscious course change, you will keep going in the same direction. If you start your trip to LA by going east, you will get there in time, it will be a more extended trip, but you will get there.

In Psalm 103:12 when God tells us, “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” So, as long as we keep moving away from our sins and not turn back, they remain completely removed. If the text had said, as far as the north is from the south, you would keep coming back to your sins. Stated as east and west, you must decide to turn back to your sins.

In II Peter 2:21-22 our turning back is expressed this way, “For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”  Again, it is a decision you must make to turn back.

In Philippians 3:13-14 Paul notes this for us, “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” That must also be our thought; always pressing forward, no turning back.

Will there be difficulties along the way? Of course, there will. Just as Paul stated in Romans 7:19 “For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.”

The good news, there is always forgiveness. But you have to make that a priority, you are the only one that can “keep” yourself on the right path, still moving in the right direction. While there are many along the way that will help us keep going in the right direction, it remains your choice.

At the time of your baptism, all of your past sins were washed away. Indeed a new beginning, a fresh start. At the same time, God knew we would sin again and made a plan for our forgiveness day-by-day.

Now, just as it was your decision to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins; so it is your decision to seek His forgiveness day-by-day. Note with me, I John 1:6-9, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Once again, it is your choice.

Yes, keep moving in the right direction and seek His forgiveness day-by-day.

Dick Brant

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it – lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’” (Luke 14:28-30 NKJV).

A congregation in the U.S. made a commitment to help a church in Asia with a building in which to meet for worship. It has been a little while since I was involved in constructing a church building there and costs have increased considerably during that period. I was very concerned, therefore, with developing a plan which could be finished with the fixed amount of funds that were available. I did considerable shopping and consulting before the final plans were drawn and construction began. The last thing I wanted was to run out of money, leaving a partially finished but still unusable building to deteriorate in bad weather.

Jesus used that exact situation as an illustration for those who were thinking about becoming his disciples (Luke 14:25-33). His lesson was preceded by an announcement – following Jesus is neither free of cost nor is it easy. If one is unwilling to sacrifice, he cannot hope to be successful (verse 26). Christianity is not designed to be convenient.

This observation was seconded by Paul who said, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Another apostle, Peter, also testified,

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when his glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12-13).

Salvation in Jesus is a great prize given by God’s grace. It cannot be earned by human effort or merit (Ephesians 2:8-10). But though it is not earned, it nevertheless requires effort on the part of those who receive it. As innocent, forgiven recipients of grace, we are “His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (verse 10). Salvation is free, but the saved become workers of God from love and gratitude.

This is easily illustrated and understood. A student was given a car by his grandfather. The car was free. Yet in order to receive any benefit from the gift, the car must be licensed, insured, filled with oil and gas, and maintained. Those were the student’s responsibilities. In no way did he pay for or earn the gift, yet he was still required to pay a cost.

As individual lives are much different, even in the same time and place, so the cost to be paid will vary. Some will be persecuted. Others will leave homes and families to spread the gospel to other people. Some will give generously, even sacrificially, to do the work for which Christ built his church. But the nature of our calling is that everyone must pay a price. If we have not fully understood the cost involved we must do so now, and commit ourselves to do whatever is necessary so that our previous efforts will not have been wasted and come to nothing.

Michael Brooks

studies on First Corinthians at Lord Let Me Grow.

Money wins — or does it?

Money wins elections, they say. Whoever spends the most takes the seat.

Some men say money wins women, too. The English language has names for women who attach themselves to rich guys.

Even Proverbs recognizes that money wins influence. “A person’s gift makes room for him, and leads him before important people” Proverbs 18.16.

It would almost seem that money wins in religion as well.

Recently, I visited the grounds of a huge religious center in a beautiful rural setting, with posh buildings, three pools, a recreation room, and multiple meeting areas. The director said it was all due to the prayers of many people. He’s a good man whom I’ve known for many years. But neither he nor his organization teach the truth about salvation and the church.

Man accomplishes so much on his own. He may even attribute it to God. But Mammon is its own god, and accomplishes what many consider to be good.

Money wins many over to its worship. The love of money is the ruin of many. It causes great evils. It destroys lives and leaves its lover in eternal separation from God.

Seeing the evils caused by worshipers of money, one writer claimed that money is inherently evil. If that were true, however, Jesus would never have said to his disciples,

“I tell you, use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves so that when it’s gone, you will be welcomed into the eternal homes” Luke 16.9 CEB.

Whenever something is inherently evil, our only instruction in Scripture is to stay away from it, to flee, to refrain from participating in it.

Rather, money is a blessing of God to do his work. Jesus himself was supported by people in order that he and his disciples might do the Father’s work.

The church in the New Testament was generous with its money to care for its own and to proclaim the Good News. The examples are numerous.

I have been supported in Brazil for decades by generous brethren, my work made possible by “worldly money” whose use is sanctified by honest employment and spiritual ends.

Money does win — when it becomes a righteous tool in the hands of godly saints, when it promotes the gospel of Christ, when it serves the Kingdom of God and his righteousness.

J. Randal Matheny

No, this week’s article is not about Bugs Bunny!  As is the case with most preachers, I suppose, my ministry has been full of opportunities to sit with, cry with, encourage and minister to families suffering through the hospitalization of loved ones, frightening diagnoses and heartbreaking prognoses.  And, like every other person on the planet, I’ve had to deal with the same things in my own family.  Sickness and death are a part of life in this world and we have to deal with it, but sometimes it gets really, really hard to know how.  Unfortunately, there is no magical incantation that I mutter that takes all the pain and anxiety away.  I do, however, have some encouragement that will make the pain and anxiety somewhat easier to bear, I think.

One of the truest statements I ever personally heard was what a nurse said to my family and me when my mother was in the hospital for heart surgery.  He said that the next few hours were going to be a lot harder on us than on my mother. Boy, was he ever right!  Even though the operating room staff called us every hour or so to give us an update (and every report was good and encouraging) those hours of that surgery were pure agony.  We sat around and talked and joked and did everything we could do to do what none of us expected to do; take our minds off what was happening in the other room.  And we prayed.  We prayed as a group out loud and we prayed as individuals silently; and we prayed throughout the whole surgery.  I do not hesitate to say that the Lord heard our prayers that day and gave us a favorable answer.

But sometimes it doesn’t happen that way, does it?  Sometimes an elderly loved one is stricken with an illness and even though the family and the church pray continually, death is the outcome.  Sometimes it’s not an elderly loved one, but one struck down “in the prime of life” by an accident or an illness and again, though heaven be flooded with prayers, a life is ended.  What then?  Some react angrily, blaming God and giving up on the notion of prayer.  What do you do when you pray and pray and the answer comes back, “No!”?  You keep praying, that’s what!!!

When someone you love is on his or her deathbed, you pray “without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  When the doctor comes in with the test results and says someone you love only has a few more months to live, you pray without ceasing.  When that terrible phone call comes in the middle of the night and one of your children has been in an accident, you pray without ceasing.  And when the last enemy we will face in this life (death) wins a battle and a loved one dies, you pray even more because you need it even more.

The apostle Paul said that death is an enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26) and I would never dispute someone inspired by the Holy Spirit, but death is not the only enemy at work in situations like these.  Our true enemy is Satan and when tragedy strikes or threatens, he’s at work trying his best to convince you that God will not take care of you.  And many, many people fall into the trap of thinking he’s right!  They blame God.  They give up on prayer because “it doesn’t work, or Mom would not have died!”  And they fail the test and they lose the battle.

Let me end this week’s word of encouragement with this bit of advice:  when you find yourself suffering through what every family of man has suffered through and will continue to suffer through until the Lord returns, take the necessary steps to give yourself the best chance of enduring with a sound faith.  Pray! Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), pray believing that you will receive what you ask (Mark 11:24), pray in faith without doubting (James 1:6).  And tell your concerns and fears to your brothers and sisters in Christ and get them to praying, too.  Know the truth and the power of James 5:16:  The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.  It’s always made sense to me that if that verse is true, imagine what can be accomplished by a whole room full (or church full) of righteous people praying!  And when those times come (and they will come), times when all the prayers that are offered cannot avoid what is appointed for every person, pray all the more that God will help you through the death of a loved one.

One of the most powerful examples in all of Scripture on this subject is the story of King David and the little baby conceived in sin with Bathsheba.  For a whole week David, the distraught father, fasted and prayed.  His servants couldn’t make him eat or take care of himself.  Finally, after seven days the child died, and David’s servants were afraid to tell him.  If he acted this way while the child lived, how would he react when he heard his son was dead?  David acted like we should all act.  You know his heart was breaking, but in faith he said, “But now he has died…Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23). David resolved to live his life in such a way that he would see his son again in heaven.  That’s how God wants us to respond to the tragedies of this life.  My word of encouragement to you this week is that through the most difficult times, don’t give up on God because He hasn’t given up on you.  He loves you and so do I.  Have a great week!

Donnie Bates

1 John 1:8-10

Self-deception is one of the greatest dangers we face in our Christian walk.  Once we successfully deceive ourselves then finding our way back to the truth is arduous and even those who seem mighty often fail to find their way back.  Take Saul for example.  He lied to himself so convincingly that he declared he was following God’s command even though he had blatantly violated it (1 Samuel 15:20).  We are given cautionary accounts about self deception throughout Scripture because when combined with one of our chief weaknesses, pride, the deception becomes nearly inescapable.  If we are lying to ourselves and believing those lies then how do we break the cycle?

First, we need to check the mirror we are using to reflect on our lives.  We need to be using the mirror of Scripture  (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and the example of Christ (1 Peter 2:21).  Only by holding our lives and actions up to this perfect mirror will be able to see the blemishes in our lives.  Once we can see the blemishes it becomes much easier to break the cycle of self-deception.

Second, in the context of Christ being our example in 1 Peter 2 and continuing in chapter 3 is an entreaty to be submissive with one another.  Humility is the other guard we have against self-deception.  When we think more highly of others than ourselves then it is easier to see the fault in our own lives rather than focusing on the problems they may have.

If we use the mirror of Scripture and keep our pride in check, then we can avoid the trap of self-deception.

Thom Vaught

What is religious unity? Many would say that the essence of “religious unity” is “agreeing to disagree,” or getting along despite your differences. Well, God is certainly a proponent of “getting along” despite differences (cf. Rom. 12:18); but He is NOT a proponent of “agreeing to disagree” in matters of religion.
Look closely to what Paul had to say in 1 Corinthians 1:10:

“Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all SPEAK THE SAME THING, and that there be NO DIVISIONS among you; but that you be PERFECTED TOGETHER in the SAME MIND and in the SAME JUDGMENT.”

Here, then, is God’s five-point checklist for religious unity:

1. ALL SPEAK THE SAME THING
2. NO DIVISIONS
3. PERFECTED TOGETHER
4. SAME MIND
5. SAME JUDGMENT

In short, true religious unity is not “getting along” despite differences in doctrine; the single most important element of true religious unity is doctrinal unity. Aye, that dirty old “four letter word”—“doctrine.” Where there is not doctrinal unity, there can be no religious unity—nor should there be! The same apostle that commands Christians to have absolute doctrinal unity also commands Christians to “withdraw from” and have “no company with” any “Christian” who is NOT in conformity with the doctrine of the NT (2 Thess. 3:6,14)—i.e., those who do not “continue steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching…” (cf. Acts 2:42)!

No one has ever, nor will anyone ever be, accepted by God in spite of his doctrine; for God—through the teaching of His Son and His apostles (Matt. 28:18; Heb. 1:1,2; John 17:20)—has given us HIS doctrine, and only those who “continue steadfastly” in HIS doctrine are pleasing and acceptable to Him (2 John 9). Read it; study it; know it—for by it we will all be judged (John 12:48; cf. 1 Cor. 14:37).

By Seth Myers

Welcome to Bastøy Prison Island. A lush, one square mile isle comprised of pine trees, beautiful coastlines, and serene ocean sunset views. 115 prisoners are fortunate enough to stay at this so-called “prison.”  The inmates enjoy amenities such as a sauna, tennis courts, horseback riding, prime fishing spots, and a beach for sunbathing. There is even a “prison blues band.” They stay in wood cottages painted cherry red, of which they hold their own keys. They are also allowed to have TVs in their rooms and wear whatever clothing they want.

While on the island, the prisoners work weekday jobs such as gardening, farming, ground maintenance, and gathering firewood. They can have meals prepared by a chef or they can choose to buy their own food from the local shop and cook it themselves. The chef-prepared meals include everything from chicken con carne to salmon. So, what types of criminals are kept on this island? There are murderers, rapists, and drug traffickers to just name a few. As you might imagine, this prison has received plenty of criticism for its methods. Whether we agree with their “punishment” or not, there is no doubt the Bastøy Prison is a lavishly comfortable prison.

Interestingly, there is another prison in existence that rivals the Bastøy Prison. This prison doesn’t even feel like a prison. In this prison, many of the inmates don’t even realize they are incarcerated! What prison is this? Paul gives us the answer: “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” (Romans 7:21-23).

The prison Paul is referring to is the prison of our own sinful desires. When we give in to our fleshly lusts, we become prisoners of our sinful cravings. This is a prison that every accountable person has stepped into (Romans 3:23). This is a prison many people are ignorantly happy to stay in (John 3:19-20). This is a prison where the majority of the inmates will remain their entire lives, with few obtaining freedom (Matthew 7:13-14). This is a jail where the prisoners can engage in the sins they choose (Romans 1:21-32 provides terrible examples). This is a prison where there may not necessarily receive immediate punishment, but those who remain in this prison will be transferred to a permanent prison of horrible torture (Luke 16:19-31; Matthew 13:40-43, 49-50). The most tragic part about this prison is, people can be freed at any moment they choose. The price? They must become slaves to the Lord instead (Romans 6:16-18). Only Christ can provide escape (Romans 7:25).

Are you living in the prison of your desires?  It may seem good now, but it’s only temporary. Freedom is available (Romans 6:3-7).  Have you been freed (Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21)?

Brett Petrillo

There’s a certain sight that has hung with me since my first trip to Tanzania. My friend and I were walking into a woman’s mud hut to study the bible with her. She had just gotten back from the market so the moment was a little flustered. We heard some children around the corner, and eventually saw them as they came to greet their mom. There was a sense of absolute joy that completely consumed her as she gave the groceries to her children. She was beyond thankful that she had the means to feed her kids, even though the groceries only consisted of a small portion of beans and rice.

There ought to be a great sense of thankfulness for the food we eat. The ability to enjoy food to the degree we do (some people even claiming the title of being “foodies”), is not something that is necessary for salvation. Therefore, God could have created lumps of gray material without flavor or appeal, and we wouldn’t have known the difference. But He didn’t. He made food to be colorful, delicious, and with tons of variety. So much variety, that it overwhelms us when someone’s asks the age-old debate of “where would you like to eat?”

So the question remains; do we have to pray before we eat? Some think it’s just merely tradition while others think it is a divine obligation. Perhaps some examples from the New Testament can shed some light on the subject:

• The Feeding of Five Thousand (Matt. 14:19) “taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing“
• The Feeding of Four Thousand (Matt. 15:36) “He took the seven loaves and the fish and having given thanks, He broke them and gave them to the disciples”
• Paul’s Storm-Driven Journey to Rome (Acts 27:35) “he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, he broke it and began to eat” *Mind you, this was in the midst of absolute devastation and chaos.
• Paul’s Instruction to Timothy (1 Tim. 4:4) “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving” (Check prior context about food).

Whether it was Jesus feeding the multitudes, breaking bread at the Last Supper, or Paul as he nears his death in Rome, we have example after example of praying before eating food. Why? Because (1) God has provided the means for you to eat and (2) God has blessed you with the ability to enjoy and benefit from something like food. Part of what made that Tanzanian woman so overjoyed was the children’s reaction. A brief word of thanks to God is our opportunity to show God how grateful we are that He provides so abundantly.

Tyler King

A husband and his wife were riding along together in a car. They had been quarreling and hadn’t spoken for a long time. Finally, they passed a mule in a pasture. The man pointed to the mule and asked his wife, “A relative of yours?” Without a moment’s hesitation, she responded, “Yes, by marriage.”

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It is inevitable in relationships that we have conflict. If we are not careful, we allow our negative feelings to cause that conflict to escalate into a downward spiral and we say things which are very harmful to the person we should love most in this world.
Can you imagine Christ and His church carrying on a conversation like that above?

The apostle Paul tells husbands in Ephesians 5:25-28,  “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, ²⁶  that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷  that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. ²⁸  So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.”

He then concluded the section by admonishing the wives to respect their husbands. – Ephesians 5:33  Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Paul told the Roman Christians in Romans 13:10, “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

Guess what?  Your husband or your wife is your neighbor. Every command that we have on how to treat our fellow man or fellow Christian, also applies to how we treat our mate also.

Sometimes we find ourselves treating our mate in ways that we would never treat a stranger on the street.. How sad that is.
We are one flesh. We have a relationship in marriage like no other on earth. That’s why Paul said, “He who loves his wife, loves himself.” Eph. 5:28. He implies that, “She who respects her husband respects herself..” We are one flesh. When we harm (physically or emotionally) our mate, we are harming our self.

The husband/wife relationship should be a place of peace and comfort, a place where we can come together and renew and recharge from the ravages of life.

Living joyfully with our wife is God’s gift to us, but it’s up to us to keep it joyful. Ecclesiastes 9:9  Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.

Someone said marriages may be made in heaven but the maintenance work is done here on earth.

May we strive to make our marriage what God intended for it to be.

– Larry Pasley

I like brown shoes and wear them most of the time. However, if you insist upon wearing black shoes, I will not argue the point.  Go right ahead! I’m a very tolerant man with respect to shoes.

But some of my friends tell me I am intolerant in religious matters. They just can’t understand why a kindhearted, tolerant fellow like me would say that they must obey God’s commands and practice in religion only that which God has authorized. (Well, maybe that is the way they put it.) Sometimes they find it difficult to tolerate my intolerance.

Some intolerance is born of egotism – the product of self-centered individuals who think they are the center of the universe, and that their ways must be accepted by all. This is very bad (Jas. 4:11-12).

And there is an intolerance of sort, which is born of love. I love my granddaughter and insist that she not eat the shoe polish (the brown, that is). I can’t bring myself to be unconcerned about this matter.

And there is an intolerance born of respect for authority and deep concern for those who fail to respect the divine will. Paul contended with the Israelites frequently because (a) he loved them, and (b) he knew they could not be saved while they followed their own erroneous ways. Paul’s convictions, and his concern for men, made him seem intolerant (Rom. 10:1ff).

People who really believe something – strongly enough to work for it, teach it, and practice it – are often called “narrow” or “bigoted.” Meanwhile, the shallow-thinking, crowd-following, spineless fellow is likely to mistake his own lack of conviction for broadmindedness and congratulate himself for being such a wonderful person.

It is well and good to be tolerant in matters of indifference – where the rights of men are equal. But to tolerate sin and transgression of God’s law is to assume the right to judge that law (Jas. 2:9ff), or to relegate divine matters to the category of black and brown shoes.

In the final analysis, tolerance is often a disguise for the lack of conviction and concern. In their liberal attitude toward shoe colors, men forget to prepare for a robe arid a crown.

– by Robert F. Turner

Deception by Nuance
The Purpose of Baptism

    Let me remind you of three passages of Scripture which you know by heart: 

    Matthew 28:18-20 – “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

    If you are not deceived by Satan or his mouthpieces, that passage is easy to understand.

    In English (NASV), there are two commands and two participles, which are verbs ending in “-ing,” which indicate something that occurs at the same time as the leading verb:

    Command: “Go” – Technically, this is an aorist (past tense) participle, but its force is attached to the main verb: “make disciples.” 

    Command: “Make disciples.”

    How? The two participles answer that question:

        “Baptizing” – Present active participle

        “Teaching” – Present active participle 

    So Jesus makes it clear that one is not a “disciple” or a “Christian” until he or she is baptized. 

    Passage number two – Mark 16:15-16:

    “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”

    Again, there are two commands (in NASV):

    “Go” – Which, again, is an aorist participle which carries the force of the main verb:

    “Preach” (the only imperative in Greek)

    Then Jesus gives two conditions that are necessary for one “to be saved:”

    Believe
Be baptized. Both these actions are aorist participles which happen at the same time, or before, the main verb. In this case, the main verb of the sentence is “shall be saved.” Therefore, the “believing” and “being baptized” must come before or at the same time as the main verb.

    Passage number three – Acts 2:38:

    “Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

    You don’t need me to point out the Greek to you; the evidence of the text is easy enough to understand in the English. There are two commands in this verse: “Repent” and “let be baptized.” The purpose of baptism is equally clear: “for the forgiveness of sins.”

    The expression “for the forgiveness of sins” is used times:

    Mark 1:4

    Luke 3:3 – both related to the purpose of John’s baptism

    Matthew 26:28 – Christ’s blood was shed for forgiveness of sins (εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν  in Greek; compare it to the same phrase below from Acts 2:38)

    Luke 24:47 – repentance is for forgiveness of sins 

    Acts 2:38 – baptism is for forgiveness of sins (εἰς ἄφεσιν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ὑμῶν)

    There is not a single verse in the NT that discusses the theology of baptism that does not connect it to salvation. Whether the metaphor is circumcision (Col. 2:11-12) or clothing (Gal. 3:26-27) or washing (Acts 22:16). Baptism in water for the forgiveness of sins is intimately tied into the Gospel message. There is one verse which ties baptism to the church: 1 Cor. 12:13. 

    Now, here’s the “deception by nuance” that I’ve been building up to…

    Because Protestants are influenced by their Protestantism more than the Bible (because they see Acts 16:31 as the standard “paradigm” for salvation), here’s how Satan is deceiving people through the mouths and pens of his spokesmen, and I’m going to give you a few examples next time…

    Protestants are glad, all day long, to say baptism is a symbol and baptism is an “initiatory rite” into the church and baptism is a “pledge,” but they adamantly deny it has anything to do with salvation or with being washed by the blood of Christ. That’s where you have to read or listen with discernment. As long as Protestants talk about baptism into the church, Satan is laughing in hell. Because he has motivated / influenced people to twist the Scriptures by nuance. He just doesn’t want anyone to understand that baptism is what puts you into Christ.

    Here is the “plan of salvation” which Satan preaches through the mouths of his deceivers:

    “He that believes (and is sincere) shall be saved and immediately must be baptized” (Mark 16:15).

    Can someone be saved who twists the words of Jesus Christ? Is that not a perversion of the words of Jesus Christ? (2 Peter 3:16)

    Then again, Satan twists the words of the inspired apostle Peter from Acts 2:38 to read:

    “Repent for the forgiveness of sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and immediately be baptized.”

    Let me ask my original question again from several weeks ago: Can you be saved by obeying man?

Paul Holland

THE LIVING CHRIST:  The heart of the first chapter of Revelation, as of the entire book, is the exaltation of the resurrected, living Christ, from the Christ of human history to the Christ of Eternity.  It was the Living Christ, that John saw in the vision on Patmos (1:17-18).  The Christ who gave Himself for the church (Eph. 5:5:25), is no mere incident of passing   significance in history, but He is the TURNING point in history.

They needed the One who continues to live and to intimately relate Himself to the life of each individual child of God (Gal. 2:20; Col 3:3,4: I John 5:12).  The church of Christ still needs the power and presence of the Living Christ.  Too many times we present Him only as the man of Nazareth, but have failed to present Him as our contemporary.  We must have the historic Christ….and more.  We have the Christ who is The Sacrificer of our single lives. He is The Reader of hearts, The Helper of our most private straits, and The Inspirer of our most deep and sacred confessions.

AS A CONTEMORARY to them and to us, He incites us to give reverent consideration to the special message He is soon to  present them, by calling their attention to what He means to us. “Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us  from our sins by his blood,”  (Rev. 1:5b).  Let us notice:

HE LOVES US:  It is the love for Christ that motivates Christians to obey His will (John 14:23).  It is the response that we make to the love He has for us.  “We love because he first loved us.”  (I John 4:19)  HE LOVES US!  As this subline assurance was to throb in the heart of the members of the Seven churches of Asia, so also it is meant to throb in the hearts of Christians today.

CONSIDER THE EVER-PRESENT, TIMELESS LOVE OF CHRIST!  The text was written over a half century   after Jesus was buried.  Written to    Asiatic Christians, Greeks and foreigners,  none of whom had probably ever seen Him in this world.  To these people John did not proclaim a PAST LOVE.  A Christ who loved long ago….but a Christ who loved them then, at the time the book was written.  This is what we need to realize today.  Not just that Christ loved us….BUT THAT CHRIST LOVES US!  LOVES US TODAY! 

      HE LOOSED US FROM SIN!  This is the greatest expression of Christ’s love for His followers.  He shed His blood for us (Rev. 1:5).  In doing this He “made us to be a kingdom, to be priests unto his God and Father,” (Rev. 1:6).  This is the exalted position that we    occupy before our Father —  Heavenly citizenship and a Priestly office.  A Christian to be faithful to the Lord must never forget what he is.  He is not of the world-But called out of the world to serve the Living God.

HE COMETH AGAIN:  Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him,” (Rev. 1:7).  The Living One, who has been made both Lord and Christ, who now sits on the Throne of His Kingdom, will someday come again. (Acts 2:29-39; I Cor. 15:23-25).  Nothing is more plainly taught and more highly   featured in the New Testament than the Second Coming of the Christ.  When we realize that Christ is Living, is Reigning, is Coming Again, we will be encouraged to better living.  The Living Christ is coming again….ARE YOU READY?

By Frank Briscoe

Have you ever been engaged in some other activity when a sermon thought struck you, and you had to grab a napkin or used envelope and frantically scribble it down while it was still fresh on your mind?

I was sitting in a worship assembly joining with my brethren in singing praises to God, when some phrase in the hymn suggested a sermon idea.  In fact, it suggested a whole, seven-part sermon series!

1. DREAD: His whole ministry was overshadowed by the Cross – Jesus lived every day in anticipation of the agony at the end of the road (Matt 16:21, Mark 10:45, etc.). Thought Exercise: If you could choose to know the future, would you want to know the day of your death? What if a horrible end awaited you? How would that foreknowledge change your life in the present?
2. FORBODING: Jesus was not only focused on his own future suffering, but he also carried the weight of knowing the impending doom of his own people, of the terrible judgement that would soon fall on Israel because of their unbelief. Even as he staggered to the Cross, this was on his mind (Luke 19:44, 23:27-31, etc.).
3. ABANDONMENT: In his time of need, Jesus’ closest friends let him down (Matt 26:36-46). Judas betrayed him – Simon denied him – they scattered into the darkness like frightened rabbits (Mark 14:50-52).
4. PHYSICAL SUFFERING: The pain of a crucifixion was “excruciating” – a word derived from the Latin crux, which means “a cross.”

https://www.khouse.org/articles/1998/113/

http://www1.cbn.com/medical-view-of-the-crucifixion-of-jesus-christ

5. HUMILIATION: Jesus died a shameful death (Hebrews 12:2, Galatians 3:13) in front of mother (John 19:26), which caused her to experience a parent’s worst nightmare (see Luke 2:34-35).
6. SEPARATION: One of the heartbreaking aspects of the crucifixion is the anguished cry of Jesus – “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34/Psalm 22:1), as “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
7. DEATH (Hebrews 2:9,14-18).

Series Conclusion: “The joy set before him, endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2-3).

Dan Williams

When I was in third grade, I had two boys threaten to beat me up after school one day.  They were the Ciccarelli twins – tough guys (it still sends a cold chill down my spine even when I type their name!)  I couldn’t understand it.  Why did these boys want to beat up a charming, precious little third-grader (according to my mother)?  It didn’t make sense to me; I barely knew them.  But one thing I knew was that they were going to be waiting for me after school.

And sure enough, after school there they stood waiting.  However, I had all day to think about their threat and I took action.  I rounded up all my friends, and we all walked home from school together.  In fact, we walked right past the Ciccarelli brothers, and they didn’t say a word.

Now, to the point of this story.  Why is it that a third-grader may know how to deal with bullying and opposition better than grown Christians?  What do I mean?  Well, when the Devil begins to pick on some Christians, and make their lives difficult, what’s one of the first things that some Christians do?  They stop attending church services.  They withdraw from everyone.  Instead of drawing on the strength of their brothers and sisters in Christ, they choose to face their enemy all alone.

As a third-grader, I knew that I was going to get “beat up” if I was found all by myself.  So I surrounded myself with friends, and avoided the beating.  Seems there’s a lesson in there for us.

– Steve Higginbotham

Sid and Barney headed out for their usual 9 holes.  Sid said, “Let’s make the time worth the while, at least for one of us, and bet $5 on the lowest score for the day.”  Barney agreed and they enjoyed a great game. After the 8th hole, Barney was ahead by one stroke, but he hit his ball into the rough on the 9th.

“Help me find my ball, you look over there,” he said to Sid.  After five minutes, neither had any luck, and since a lost ball carries a four-stroke penalty, Barney quietly pulled a ball from his pocket and tossed it to the ground. “I’ve found my ball!” he announced triumphantly.

Sid looked at him forlornly, “After all the years we’ve been friends, you’d cheat me in golf for a measly five bucks?!?”

“What do you mean cheat?  I found my ball sitting right here!”

“And a liar, too!!!”  Sid said with amazement.  “I’ll have you know I’ve been standing on your ball for the last five minutes!”

It’s so easy to point the finger at others when we’re guilty of sin ourselves!  That was the problem with the Pharisees.  It wasn’t just that they judged others (because some judgment is appropriate and necessary).  The problem was the kind of judgment, their anxiousness to find fault in others while taking no time to examine their own lives.

“And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”  (Matthew 7:3-4)

Father, help me not to focus so much on the shortcomings of others that I fail to maintain my own relationship with you.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

“This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger, for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20)

Can you imagine better advice for getting along with others?  How often we hear it said that the problem in a family, a plant, an office, a school, or even a church is a breakdown of communication. Obedience to this verse would change all of that.

“Be quick to hear.” Listen! Try to understand where the one who is talking “is coming from” and what he or she really means. See if you can repeat what was said so accurately that the one who said it will agree that you have stated the position accurately.

Now, make sure a reply is needed. We do not have to correct every mistake we hear.  Some are not serious enough to require attention. Others, though serious, may have to wait for a more suitable time to be corrected.

Even if a reply is needed, take your time. “Be slow to speak.”  Think of what you are saying.  Think how it will sound to the one hearing it and how it will sound if it is repeated to someone else. Ask yourself if what you are about to say will do good or do harm. Ask God to help you to say only what needs to be said. Nehemiah was asked a question by the king and managed a prayer before he answered (Neh. 2:4-5).  Remember that once you have spoken, you cannot recall your words.

Above all, “be slow to anger.”  Anger almost always breaks down communication; shouting matches seldom end in a better understanding of each other.  And, besides jeopardizing human relationships, they endanger our relation with God.  We may fancy that our anger is “righteous indignation,” but the Holy Spirit says: “The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”

Are you thinking, “That’s not much of a way to win an argument”?  RIGHT!  But it is a pretty good way to stop one.  How would you like to by to argue with someone who is “quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger”?

– by Sewell Hall