May 2024

All Things New

May 19, 2024

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” — Philippians 4:4 I remember the words of the classic song, “Old Man River”: “I gets weary an’ sick of tryin’, I’m tired of livin’ An’skeered of dyin’.” Tragically, that is the picture of so many people. But Paul the Apostle is a great model to us on how to live and how to die. He had become the possessor of a new life through Jesus Christ, who makes all things new. He tells us: “Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away. Look, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Even though he sat in a Roman prison waiting to face a possible death sentence, he still rejoiced, and again he said, “I will rejoice.” He said for me to live is Christ. There is the secret of the fullness of life: Me, live, Christ. Someone said it is like an arc lamp. When the two components of the self and Christ are put together, they glow with a brilliant incandescence. But if you replace Christ with anything else—with fame, or fortune, or wealth or success or whatever—then you have the smoldering dim smoky lamp that is produced by anything other than Christ. When the love of Christ takes over the life of a soul, it produces the power of a life which can have a magnetic attraction even for the most scandalous and can change even the hardest of hearts. Whatever happens in life, we can choose to complain or we can choose to rejoice, through it all. Paul chose to rejoice, and, therefore, they couldn’t keep him down. Dear Father, give me strength for today to rejoice even when I don’t feel like it. Help me to remember that in You all things work out for the best for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose… BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN REJOICE IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.

A Contrasting View of Life

May 17, 2024

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? — Romans 8:32 There is a big difference between a Christian view of life and a pagan one. For example, the prince of atheists, the Frenchman Voltaire, once said: “I think we human beings are indeed contemptible creatures. I exhort you to enjoy as much as you can life, which isn’t much.” Of course Shakespeare’s Macbeth said: Life’s but a walking shadow A poor player That struts and frets His hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. But the Christian view says that God has made us in His image. He has made us a little lower than the angels. The Scriptures say that God cares for us so much that Christ left the glories of heaven and became man in order to suffer a horrible but atoning death on our behalf. We are a part of His bride, which He has bought with His own precious blood. We are looking forward to the beginning of eternity with Him by attending the marriage feast of the lamb. Thus, life to the Christian is of infinite worth and value. Lord, give me strength for today to live life to the full for Your glory and others’ good. Thank You for letting us bear Your image and making us “just a little lower than the angels.” We are so grateful for all the gifts You give us so freely… BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN SEE HIS LOVING HEART.

What is Life?

May 16, 2024

“What is your life? It is just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” — James 4:14 I am convinced that the vast majority of people on this earth live and die without ever having the slightest idea of what life is all about. Now that is a sweeping judgment. I make it, however, in compassion and love. It is tragic beyond words. I have given my whole life in an effort to try to solve that problem. Many live as if it will all end after their life “vanishes away.” May I call to witness a few people who should, because of their education and their genius, understand what life is all about. One of the most applauded authors of the twentieth century, no doubt, was Somerset Maugham. He said this: “When I look back on my life, it seems to me strangely lacking in reality. It may be that my heart, having found rest nowhere, had some deep ancestral craving for God and immortality, which my reason [his fallen reason] would have no truck with.” Or consider the British author—another skeptic—Thomas Hobbes, who gave us that concept of government as “leviathan.” He said this: “The life of man is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” Not a very high view of life. For such unbelievers, there was no future, there was no hope, there was no meaning for life. What a contrast we have with a Christian view of life where we are eternal beings created to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Too bad so many will miss out on that which human beings were created to enjoy. Lord of life, thank You for giving me life abundantly. You came to give us this rich and full and purposeful life, and You gave Your own Son to make it all possible… BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE LIVE FULL AND PURPOSEFUL LIVES.

Something To Really Look Forward To

May 15, 2024

“But as it is written, ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’” — 1 Corinthians 2:9 For the Christian, death is not an enemy. It will lead us to the great blessing as we come to meet Him face to face and experience that joy of which this world has never conceived. Of course, we should do nothing to hasten our death. That is in God’s hands. There have been many reports of people who have “died” and found themselves in heaven. Then they come back. I have known some personally who told me their stories. All such reports must first and foremost be tested by the Word of God. If for you to live is Christ, then for you to die is unspeakable gain. You will be rejoined to all in Christ whom you have loved, and restored to all you have lost. You will walk through the meadows of flowers that never fade; alongside of rivers whose waters forever sparkle; near fountains whose spray is crystal diamonds; through bowers whose leaves are never seared; through gardens whose fragrance never surfeits. You will then know what it means to be among the immortals. Your body will be filled with an energy that never flags, with a power that you have never known. Your mind will enlarge and dilate with electric thoughts, noble ideals, and vast expansions. Above all, you will see Jesus face to face and spend time with Him. He is the one who opened up heaven to us in the first place by His death on the cross. Heavenly Father, thank You that You have made us for eternity. Thank You for preparing a place for us and for the total restoration that awaits our souls, bodies, minds, and spirits… BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN ENTER HEAVEN.

God and Predestination

May 14, 2024

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one should boast.” — Ephesians 2:8-9 The Bible teaches that God is the sovereign Lord and controls all things. And in His sovereignty, He allows men to do what they wish. Now when He allows a person to sin, it is the person who is acting according to his own evil nature that does it. Now this is where people say, “Well, is not predestination simply allowing people to act according to their own will and to receive Christ?” But it won’t work that way because the whole world is a fallen race. We are all totally depraved. We are dead in trespasses and sin. We are blind to the Gospel; we cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God. Therefore, if we are left to our own natural inclinations we will one and all decide to continue in our sin to the very end. For anyone to be saved, God has to come down into this stream, this mass of humanity, which is pressing ever downward in more and more ungodliness and sin, and He has to come and pluck people out of it, bring them unto Himself, and turn them around. He then steers them upstream and gives them empowering to go the other way. That is why when we get to heaven all of the praise goes to God. He did it all. There is none that seeks after God, no not one. That is why we should be most humble about salvation. It is accomplished by the Savior. Beautiful Savior, thank You for choosing me to be Yours forever. I thank You for Your work in my life and the grace that You have so freely given… BY GOD’S STRENGTH AND POWER, WE CAN KNOW HIM.

God’s Guarantee of Success

May 13, 2024

“This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth. Meditate on it day and night so that you may act carefully according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way successful, and you will be wise.” — Joshua 1:8 “It’s guaranteed,” the sign says. “Double your money back,” the label declares. Many a product has been sold with such a promise only to have the purchaser discover later that it contained a slight flaw. The person who made the guarantee, as you often see on TV, is counting on the fact that you won’t bother to pack it up and ship it back; or if you try to get your money back, find that the salesman has skipped town and left you with a very faulty product. Today, I would like to talk about a guarantee that can never fail; a wonderful guarantee that is backed by the bank of heaven. In the promise of the above text, we have the guarantee of success. Theologians have a Greek phrase, hapax logomenon—the only occurrence of the word. Sometimes in the Bible there is only one instance of something. That is the case in Joshua 1:8 with the word success. God, who can never lie and who will never go out of business, has set forth a divine guarantee of success. Let us consider what the conditions to this guarantee are. The conditions are predicated upon meditating on and obeying God’s book. In Joshua’s time there existed only the first five books (the Pentateuch) given through Moses by God. Today, we have the completed volume, the Book of God, and what a wonderful book it is. Meditate on His Word, and you will succeed in life. Almighty God, Your Word is precious to us. It is our inheritance. Lord, give us strength for today to live by it and pass it on to others. Thank You for the wisdom it gives us… BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN BE KEEPERS OF THE WORD.

Mother’s Day

May 12, 2024

“…remembering the genuine faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and that I am persuaded lives in you also.” — 2 Timothy 1:5 On Mother’s Day, we need to remember that there is no gift that we could give them that compares to the gift that they have given us—the gift of life. In fact, the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world, for without the moral law of God taught them by their godly mothers, men find it extremely difficult to govern rightly. This has been echoed by innumerable great men of history. Abraham Lincoln said, “All that I am and all that I hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” Sometime ago a lady in this church told me she had been at a large social occasion, a dinner I believe it was, and before they sat down the people were milling around the room getting acquainted. One man walked up to her, introduced himself, and said to her, “And what do you do?” She replied, “Oh, I’m a wife and a mother.” He gave a small smile and turned to a woman standing nearby and said, “And what do you do?” She said she was deeply hurt. “And what do you do?” What should she say? Well, I told her what I am going to tell you moms and housewives when you are asked that question, and you frequently are. “And what do you do?” “Oh, I . . . well sir, I rule the world.” And then walk away. Mothers play a pivotal role in God’s design for our world. I thank You, Lord, for my mother today. Help me to honor and love her (or her memory) and be a good child of hers all the days of my life… BY HIS STRENGTH, WE CAN PASS ON THE FAITH TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

Beware of Those Who Pervert the Gospel

May 11, 2024

“…not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us…and these things I want you constantly to affirm, so that those who have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.” — Titus 3:5, 8 Paul tells us that we are saved not by our works. But once we are saved, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit that in order that we might endeavor to keep God’s law to show our love and gratitude to Him. That is the biblical doctrine. But there are some perverters of the faith who are turning the grace of God into lasciviousness. This antinomianism (anti-law) error sprang up early in the church. We have this idea today, too; it is rampant everywhere. I could probably produce 100 books that have been written in the last five years that are popular even in evangelical circles which teach antinomianism; i.e., that now that we are Christians we don’t have to obey the law. We have professing Christians engaged in all sorts of sexual perversions, and they act as if it’s okay because we are under grace. But they are following the very example of Sodom and Gomorrah, having the absolute audacity to form themselves into churches of the Lord Jesus Christ, practicing the same perversions that brought Sodom and Gomorrah beneath the fierce wrath of God. True Christianity always results in true transformation of the human heart. Many people may profess salvation, but not everyone who does so possesses salvation. Dear God, I know grace is not cheap. It cost You dearly, and I want to praise and thank You for my salvation. Lord, give me strength for today to live in obedience to Your commandments… BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN STRIVE TO LIVE ACCORDING TO HIS LAWS.

The Problem of Antinomianism

May 10, 2024

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, so that we should walk in them.” — Ephesians 2:10 Nomos is a Greek word for law. “Anti-nomianism” would describe the position of those who are against the law. They do not realize that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in order that we may serve God, and that we can only serve God by obeying His commandments. There is nothing that anyone of us can do that is pleasing to God except to obey His commandments, even as Jesus humbled Himself and showed his humility by becoming obedient, and He always pleased His father by keeping His commandments. So also, since we have been saved by the grace of God, we are saved unto good works. Ephesians 2:8-9 says that we are saved by grace through faith. The next verse is the text above. This does not mean we are saved by faith plus good works. No. We are saved by faith alone, but that faith is never alone. If it is genuine, it results in good works. Paul says in Titus that it is not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy that He saved us. Antinomianism is the spirit of the age. Some have perverted the Gospel to mean that we can live like we want and not have to worry about a holy God because He has already forgiven us. This is cheap grace. Salvation actually is by good works—the good works of Jesus Christ who died on the cross on our behalf. My Savior and Lord, thank You for Your work on my behalf. Thank You for living in perfect obedience and for always pleasing Your Father. Lord, give me strength for today to do with joy the works You have laid before… BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN LIVE LIVES PLEASING TO HIM.

The Problem of Legalism

May 9, 2024

“For by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” — Galatians 2:16 Some professing Christians think they can keep God’s law and thereby get to heaven. I have often asked such people to name the Ten Commandments, and usually they can name only three at the most. A legalist is a person who says that we are not saved by grace alone through faith alone, but rather, we are saved by faith plus obedience to the law. This is the doctrine of some of the more traditional churches, the doctrine of most all of your cults, and it is the doctrine of vast numbers of other people who may belong to one or another organization. But it would add to the grace of God and the finished work of Christ some effort, some works, some doings of ourselves. The Apostle Paul makes it very plain, however, that as soon as we place ourselves under the law as a means, either in whole or in part, to get us into heaven that immediately we become debtors to do the whole law. Salvation is either of grace or it is of law. And it is not a combination of both. If we choose to put ourselves under law, then if we offend in any point we would, therefore, become guilty and would be culpable and could be punished. God’s law points us to the need for Christ. While we can’t fulfill it perfectly, after we get saved, it provides some of the standards we strive to live by to show our love for Christ. Lord Jesus, help me to see clearly that You have saved me purely by Your grace. Now that You have saved me, give me strength for today to walk in obedience to Your commandments, unto good works. Let me in gratitude keep Your law… BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN LIVE IN OBEDIENCE.

Freedom to Obey

May 8, 2024

“For freedom Christ freed us. Stand fast therefore and do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” — Galatians 5:1 We must avoid two heresies: either turning the Gospel of liberty into licentiousness or into legalism. The Gospel gives us freedom. But some encourage us to pervert that freedom into a freedom to sin freely. That is license, not liberty. Jude describes it this way: “For there are some men who secretly crept in, who were marked long ago for this condemnation. They are ungodly men, who pervert the grace of our God into immorality and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ” (verse 4). Paul warns against such abuse of liberty: “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? God forbid!” (Romans 6:15). But the other extreme is trading liberty for legalism. In Galatians, we have one overall thrust of this book, which is God’s antidote against legalism. You will recall in Galatians we are to stand fast in the liberty Christ has given us. Galatians opposes legalism. Legalism essentially says that by obeying some set of laws or rules, one may in some way make oneself acceptable to the Almighty. Martin Luther said, “The most damnable and pernicious idea which has ever plagued the minds of men is the idea that poor, sinful, fallen, depraved man could ever make himself good enough to live in the presence of an all-holy and sin-hating God.” May God give us the grace to walk in the liberty Christ has made available to us. It is freedom to obey His commands out of love. Lord, give me strength for today that I might glory in the freedom You have given us without misusing it. Thank You for setting us free from all bondage and strivings to make ourselves acceptable to You… BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN WALK IN FREEDOM.

Defending the Word of God

May 7, 2024

“Always be ready to give an answer to every man who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you…” — 1 Peter 3:15 Today we live in a day when it is necessary to contend for the faith. Peter said that we should always be able to provide a defense for the faith. We are called upon to proclaim the Word. I remember I used to hear in seminary all the time men who would give sermons on how there was no need to defend the Word of God. It is like my having a trained, powerfully strong dog on a chain, and I have to go out and defend my dog? Of course, there is a certain element of truth in there, but we are called upon to defend the teachings of the Gospel. God has been pleased to commit the Gospel into the hands of men, who can twist it or distort it, deny it, or whatever, and so we are called upon to defend it. We are to contend for this faith lest it should be perverted, as it has been so many times in the past. Thank God for the Reformers and men who were able to see the need of purifying the Word and bringing us back to the true meaning of it. Years ago I saw a painting which I have never forgotten. It was a painting of a large anvil. Around the anvil on the floor lay scattered scores of shattered, smashed hammers and, underneath, the words of the text: “The word of the Lord endureth forever.” The attacks on the Bible break, but God’s Word stands strong. Father God, we thank You for Your Word, and we ask that You give us strength for today that we might be true defenders of the pure doctrine You have revealed and not let it be perverted and twisted… BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN EMBRACE TRUE DOCTRINE.

Are You a Saint?

May 6, 2024

“To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints…” — Romans 1:7 I am always amazed when I go up to someone and I say, “How are you today, Saint Sue?” or Saint Mike. Many times people will say, “Well, I’m not a saint.” Well, you better be. There is not going to be anybody but saints who are going to go to heaven. Now, of course, many people have sort of a Roman Catholic concept of that—a saint is somebody who has won sort of the prize of the year for being exemplary. The first thing you need to do to become a saint according to the Roman church is be dead a long time, and then they will look the thing over very carefully and decide if you are a saint. But it is a very interesting thing to me that Paul and the other apostles wrote their epistles to saints. And, of course, the saints receiving these letters were very much alive. A saint is someone who has been sanctified and is being sanctified, which means essentially that person is set aside unto God. So to be called a saint is at once an honor, it is also an exhortation. It is an honor that we are called those that are sanctified, set aside unto God. It is an exhortation that we should live as saints and that we have a high calling to live as those who are separated from sin and cleansed and godly. Holy Father, give us strength for today to live holy lives. Thank You that we are already Your saints. Help us to grow in holiness and always live a life worthy of belonging to You… BY GOD’S STRENGTH AND POWER, WE ARE SAINTS.

Distinguishing Justification and Sanctification

May 5, 2024

“And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.” — Ezekiel 36:26 The term “salvation” in Scripture is a broad term that includes within its compass all of the acts and processes of God whereby we are saved. Initially, these include justification and regeneration. We are quickened by God, brought to life, which is regeneration, and we are granted faith and repentance on the basis of which we are then justified. These are both acts of God and they are instantaneous. Then, however, there is the process of sanctification, which is a long process that is never completed in this life. Our sanctification takes place slowly. It has its ups and downs. There may be great spurts. There may be times of great backsliding, but this process continues on as God continues to sanctify us. When we are in Christ and growing in Him, we are being sanctified by God, the Spirit. God is working in our hearts to cleanse us and to separate us from sin. The interesting thing about sanctification is that the more you have of it, the less you are aware of it. It is like a man who is both filthy dirty and totally blind having two operations performed on him at once. He is slowly and progressively being cleansed and slowly and progressively being given his eyesight, so with his increased acuity of vision, he is able to see more and more sin or dirt as it were on himself than he was able to see before. Justification is a one-time act, but Scripturally speaking, sanctification is more of a process. Lord, You who sanctifies me, give me strength for today to grow in holiness. As I do, forgive me for my sin, which I see more clearly. Let this process ever go forward in my life, until You bring me safely home and then glorify me… BY GOD’S STRENGTH AND HOLY SPIRIT, WE ARE SET APART FOR GOD.

Money and the Ministry

May 4, 2024

“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind…” — 1 Peter 5:2 KJV How often do we hear accusations against ministers or ministries, “Oh, they’re just in it for the money”? The Bible tells us that those who work should be paid, including ministers. But no one should pursue the “ministry” for greed’s sake. Yet tragically some do. I receive a great many invitations to speak, and I turn down well over 99 percent of them. Very frequently I am asked ,”How much do you charge to speak? What honorarium do you require?” And there are ministers who have set honorariums, sometimes running into thousands of dollars. I have always replied that that is their problem (as to how much to pay me) and I leave it with them. We are not to minister for money. We are not to feed the flock of God “for filthy lucre,” and I would say to those going into the ministry that I think this is a very vital thing and we need to trust in God for our provision and not trust in men. I am not in the ministry for money, nor should anyone be. I have been absolutely convinced that God was going to provide for all of my needs and, therefore, that was just not something that was an issue. I can say that God has certainly provided abundantly for all of my needs over the years. Lord, give us strength for today that we never do a good deed for money or recognition or any gain, but let us always serve You out of love. Thank You, Jehovah-Jireh, for Your provision… BY HIS STRENGTH, WE CAN BE FREED FROM GREED.