Contending for the Faith in Love

Coral Ridge Ministries

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Contending for the Faith in Love

Ephesians 4:15

March 27, 2024

“But, speaking the truth in love, we may grow up in all things

into Him, who is the head, Christ Himself.”

— Ephesians 4:15

God has called us to walk in the truth and not in error. But the minute you begin to discern truth from error, immediately there are those who spring up to denounce you, while they declare the only Bible verse they seem to know: “Do not judge or you will be judged.”

The Epistle of Jude says that we are to contend for the faith that was given to the saints. We are told that we are to contend earnestly for the faith, and yet somehow or other we are to do it without being contentious.

To contend in love is the secret, and it is always a difficult one. We tend either to lose sight of love and compassion and just hack people to little pieces with our theological axes. Or we become so loving and so compassionate that we let Christian doctrine just sort of melt into a marshmallow type of thing it can be shaped however anyone wants it. But we are to contend, though non-contentiously, for the faith once for all delivered unto the saints.

There is a faith once and for all delivered to the saints. Faith here means not the subjective activity of our exercise of faith, but it means the objective body of doctrine which has been given to us, the Gospel of Jesus Christ that has been given to us.

God of truth, help us to see clearly by Your Spirit. Give us the right balance between truth and mercy, so that we may speak the truth in love…

BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN BE CONTENDERS FOR THE FAITH.

Biblically Based Dreaming

March 31, 2024

“The slothful man says, ‘There is a lion without! I will be slain in the streets!’” — Proverbs 22:13 One problem in life is that too many people stop dreaming when they become an adult. Children have many marvelous dreams, but too many times we abandon those dreams by the time we become adults. I think of a young boy who was but seven years old when Sputnik circled the earth. He became enamored with space. This was in Costa Rica, and he was very poor. But eventually, through hard work, he became the first Hispanic astronaut. He had a dream and would not let it go. We must work at our dreams. Many people think this is some sort of magic wand. They erroneously imagine that it is some sort of a genie in a bottle. Not so. One of the reasons some people do not dream large dreams is because they are too lazy to even think about putting feet under them. The very thought of it makes them tired. Sometimes we can invent supposedly “Christian” excuses for what is really just laziness. “I can’t go into politics because it’s all a dirty business.” “I can’t work on a movie because Hollywood is just corrupt.” “I can’t tell my neighbor about Jesus because he doesn’t want to hear it—besides, it would be unchristian for me to be so pushy.” An excuse is an excuse is an excuse, no matter how we tend to mask it. May God grant us the discernment to see the difference between legitimate obstacles and just plain excuses. God, help us to see clearly the dream You have planted in our heart as opposed to that which is there from selfish ambition and give us the wisdom to know the difference… BY GOD’S STRENGTH, GODLY DREAMS CAN BECOME REALITY.

Are Your Dreams Consonant With the Bible?

March 30, 2024

“Therefore, when I have completed this and have given this blessing to them, I shall come by way of you to Spain…” — Romans 15:28 Throughout history, those who have accomplished great things or made a great impact have always had great dreams. Alexander the Great had a great dream. He had a dream of overcoming the centuries’ old animosity between the western cultures of Greece and Macedonia and the eastern culture of the Persian Empire through military conquest. However, his dream was not built upon the purposes of God, and it crumbled at his death. Napoleon’s dream was to make one great European nation out of France and Germany and Italy. But his dream was shattered at Waterloo. It was not based upon the Word of God. Karl Marx had a dream of a classless society—a dream that does not conform with the nature of man nor the teachings of God’s Word, and it is in retreat. The Apostle Paul had a dream based upon the truth of God. He saw men and women out of every nation, tongue, and tribe loving and worshiping the living God and coming to know the forgiveness and peace of Christ. He put feet under that dream and it is still being carried out. Do you have any dreams? Or did they end with your childhood? How big are your dreams, my friend? Are they consonant with the teachings of the Scriptures? If so, you must then trust in Christ for their fulfillment. Lord, You are a God of great and mighty things. Grant us great dreams for the sake of Your kingdom and the strength to live them out… BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN DREAM BIG DREAMS.

Fear Not

March 29, 2024

“But Jesus came and touched them and said, ‘Rise, and do not be afraid.’” — Matthew 17:7 Do you realize that all of life is a school? Through all the difficult circumstances in life, the Master is trying to teach us a few key lessons over and over, mainly to trust Him. This is why over and over again the Bible says, “Fear not.” “Be anxious for nothing.” “Be not afraid.” Why? Because Jesus said, “It is I.” But in the Greek, it means “I am.” It was the great tetragrammaton, the four letter name of God, Jehovah, in the Old Testament. When Jesus said that same word to the soldiers in the Garden of Gethsemane, they fell on their backs. “I AM.” The great “I AM,” is here. “Fear not.” “Do not be not afraid.” Are you afraid? Honestly? Is there something you fear? Is there something you are concerned about? Is there something you are anxious about? God doesn’t want us to be afraid. He doesn’t want us to be fearful. In fact, fear and faith cannot exist in the same person about the same thing at the same time, any more than water and air can exist in the same glass at the same time. One displaces the other. So, if you are fearful, it is because you are not trusting Jesus Christ for whatever it is you are fearful about. So, trust Him. Again we come back to the basic class, the basic lesson in all of the classes in the school of life: “Fear not, it is I.” My God, help me to know that nothing comes into my life except through Your loving hand. When I am afraid, I will trust in You. Life can be terrifying, but You are mighty and You have me in the palm of Your hand… BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN OVERCOME OUR FEARS.