“What is truth?” Pilate asked his prisoner, and he was certainly asking the right person. The world’s greatest Teacher of truth—the very embodiment of God’s truth in the world—stood before him as the defendant. Truth was on trial, but the judge didn’t know what truth was.

Pilate’s famous inquiry is the same question that has perplexed the world from the fall of man all the way to the age of fake news. What is truth? Some people, like Pilate, ask it in contempt or disillusionment, while others are sincere truth seekers. In this post, we’re taking a look at five traits of people who put truth at the top of their priority list.

Know the Source of Truth vs. the Source of Lies

If you want to seek the truth, you have to know where to find it.

The Gospel of John records ten times that Jesus spoke about truth in His last few hours with His disciples, between the Passover supper and His betrayal and arrest. Perhaps most critically, He tells His followers where to find the source of truth: in Him, in the Father, in the Holy Spirit (the “Spirit of truth”), and in the Word of God (John 14-17).

In your search for truth, you also have to deal with “untruths”: lies, deception, and everything false. Jesus identified the source of falsehood when he confronted the corrupt Pharisees:

“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44, NASB

Satan was the source behind the lies of the Pharisees and is still the ultimate source of falsehood in our world today.

Study the Truth

If your third-grade teacher made you memorize the multiplication tables, then you know without thinking that 7 x 7 = 49. A truth seeker takes the same approach to the truth, studying until it is second nature, ingrained in the heart and mind.

The foundation of this study should always be the Word of God:

“The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.” Psalm 119:160, NKJV

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God…accurately handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15, NASB

“We keep asking God that you might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding— to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians 1:9b-10, TLV

Patrick Morley, author of The Man in the Mirror¹, asks, “How many of us have carefully chiseled our life view by a search for truth? Or, is our life view more the product of our environment and circumstances?”

A truth seeker will build on their biblical foundation by examining every fact and event in relation to Scripture. Over time, they develop a Christian “life view” that allows them to be discerning and act in accordance with God’s truth, even in areas that are not specifically addressed in the Bible.

For example, we can know something true about the existence of fossils or the structure of DNA. But what do these facts mean? Do they confirm the account of a global flood and show the genius of an intelligent Creator, or do they prove that we evolved from a primordial ooze over the course of billions of years? A true fact can point to a bigger truth or it can be manipulated to tell a complete lie, and that is why a truth seeker must remember that anything true will be consistent with God’s Word.

Know the Signs of the Times

The “end times” started in the first century AD. The apostles considered themselves to be living in the end times, which biblically means the period of the new covenant leading up to the second coming of Jesus. With the prophetic fulfillment of Israel once again becoming a nation and the Jewish people returning to their homeland, we are seeing signs that we are nearing the end of the end times. (Check out this article for a list of biblical signposts that can help us identify where we are on the biblical, prophetic roadmap.)

The Bible tells us the end times is an age of deception, where many false prophets and evil men arise and mislead many (Matt. 24:11 and 2 Tim. 3:13). We are called to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1) and be bold for the things of God. This is a time to be led by the Spirit of truth, who will “guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).

The Bible paints what appears to be a bleak picture for truth in the end times:

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:3-5, NKJV

That last sentence is the key for truth seekers. Though there are forces of evil at work, the bottom line is that we are called to fulfill our ministry. And how do we do that? Stay alert and be aware of the deceptions in the world, so that we will not get caught up in them.

Speak the Truth

Knowing the truth is important but it doesn’t do you any good unless you act on it. A person who is a truth seeker should also have the courage to be a truth speaker. Sometimes that is an incredibly difficult thing to do. The people that need to hear the truth the most are usually the people who want to hear it the least, but if we truly love our neighbor then we can do nothing less than speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:14-15).

Author and pastor Rick Warren has said, “Our culture has accepted two huge lies. The first is that if you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, you must fear or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You don’t have to compromise convictions to be compassionate.”

When speaking the truth, we must remember that we cannot control whether our neighbor believes the truth. We may be called to be a witness but the rest is between them and God.

Defend the Truth

Once you know, study, and are willing to speak the truth…you have to be ready to defend the truth. It says in 1 Peter 3:15, “…but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence…” (NASB).

This defense could entail sharing your faith with someone you don’t expect to be receptive. It could mean risking a friendship because you won’t go along with the crowd. It may even require you to risk your job because you won’t tolerate corruption. Whatever the situation, a truth seeker will obey God’s truth even when it costs them to do so.

When these types of situations arise, the Apostle Peter gives us this encouragement:

“Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled.” 1 Peter 3:13-14, NASB

The truth is that God’s children have nothing to fear, because His blessing is greater than any threat the world can devise. That truth opens the door to the kind of life that God intended for his people, a life of freedom. As Jesus proclaims, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” John 8:32, NKJV.

¹ The Man in the Mirror written by Patrick Morley and published by Zondervan in 1997, updated in 2014.

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Article originally published July 2019. Updated August 2024.

“For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Rev. 19:10

At the midpoint of the final seven years (Daniel’s 70th week), the Anti-Messiah will desecrate the temple in Jerusalem. This is the Abomination of Desolation, beginning the final 3.5 years called the Great Tribulation.  At the end of the Great Tribulation, we reach the day of which nearly every biblical prophet spoke, the Day of the Lord. One of the main causes of confusion in the book of Revelation is that it builds up to the Day of the Lord several times, and just before it tells you the good part, it interrupts the story with an aside or it jumps back in time to show another perspective on the events leading up to that day. In this article, we will work through several of these narrative jumps to highlight the clear chronological sequence of events, especially at the end of the Great Tribulation.

The Feast Days in the Great Tribulation

The Day of the Lord and return of Messiah is strongly correlated with the fall feast days: Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. Six months before these holy days, we have the spring feasts of Pesach (Passover) and Unleavened Bread. The Abomination of Desolation is likely to happen on Pesach, one of the holiest days of the year, 3.5 years before the return of the Lord. For more background on this idea, check out our video Prophetic Fulfillment of the Biblical Feasts.

From the time of the Abomination of Desolation, Jerusalem and the court of the Temple will be “given to the Gentiles, and they will trample over the holy city for forty-two months” (Rev. 11:2). The two prophets are witnessing in Jerusalem during this time. At the end of the Great Tribulation, they are killed, and after 3.5 days, they are resurrected and called up to Heaven. The flow of chronology from chapter 11 to chapter 14 suggests that this is not a special, stand-alone event, but rather the beginning of the global rapture/resurrection at the return of Messiah.

The End of the Great Tribulation

Chapter 11 ends with the 7th trumpet (11:15-19), which initiates a scene in Heaven. The angels and saints declare that the time has come for final judgement and the beginning of Messiah’s rule, which connects us back to these previous passages:

Sixth Seal:
“Then I watched as he broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, the sun turned black as sackcloth worn in mourning, and the moon became blood-red. The stars fell from heaven to earth just as a fig tree drops its figs when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. Then the earth’s kings, the rulers, the generals, the rich and the mighty — indeed, everyone, slave and free — hid himself in caves and among the rocks in the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us, and hide us from the face of the One sitting on the throne and from the fury of the Lamb! For the Great Day of their fury has come, and who can stand?’” Rev. 6:12-17

Seventh Trumpet:
“There will be no more delay; on the contrary, in the days of the sound from the seventh angel when he sounds his shofar, the hidden plan of God will be brought to completion, the Good News as he proclaimed it to his servants the prophets.” Rev. 10:6b-7

“The seventh angel sounded his shofar; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying,
‘The kingdom of the world
has become the Kingdom
of our Lord and his Messiah,
and he will rule forever and ever!’” Rev. 11:15

Chapter 11 ends with the Temple in Heaven opening to reveal the Ark of the Covenant (v.19). Chapters 12 and 13 are an aside to explain the origin of the beast (Anti-Messiah), and then chapter 14 resumes the scene in Heaven where we left it in chapter 11. When 14:1 says, “there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion; and with him were 144,000”, I see this as the heavenly Jerusalem (compare to Hebrews 12:22) from which Jesus and his saints are about to return. The 144,000 are the Messianic Jews mentioned in Revelation 7 and the “full number” of the martyrs mentioned in Revelation 6:11.

The Rapture/Resurrection

Chapter 14 proceeds with angels proclaiming three messages over the earth: the Gospel, the announcement of Mystery Babylon’s fall, and a warning not to worship the Anti-Messiah. These are the final chance for anyone to respond to God’s mercy, because Messiah is on His way to judge the earth and set up His kingdom.

Then the rapture/resurrection takes place:

“Then I looked, and there before me was a white cloud. Sitting on the cloud was someone like a Son of Man with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Another angel came out of the Temple and shouted to the one sitting on the cloud, ‘Start using your sickle to reap, because the time to reap has come — the earth’s harvest is ripe!’ The one sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.” Rev. 14:14-16

The end of chapter 14 (v.17-20) summarizes the bowl judgments as the treading of the winepress of God’s wrath, which chapters 15 and 16 describe in detail.

Setting aside chapters 12 and 13, Revelation 11:11 through 14:16 is all describing a continuous series of events on the same day. The end of chapter 14 (summarizing the bowl judgments) appears to happen over the course of several days, possibly between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur.

Armageddon and the Bowl Judgments

The events of the bowl judgments in chapters 15 and 16 coincide with the return of Jesus, the final battle (aka Armageddon), and His march to Jerusalem. Put another way, the bowl judgments are the means by which Jesus fights the final battle. Chapters 17 and 18 are another aside about Mystery Babylon, and then chapter 19 is a vision of Jesus that compliments chapters 14-16. He goes forth from the Temple in Heaven on a white horse accompanied by the armies of Heaven and He treads the winepress of God’s wrath (bowl judgments, final battle).

There is a great deal of curiosity about “the battle of Armageddon”, so we made an entire video about it.

Revelation moves through this time period swiftly and focuses on the cataclysmic plagues that accompany the Day of the Lord. Many other parts of the Bible provide details about what happens in the days immediately following the bowl judgments and the return of Messiah:

• The marriage supper of the Lamb
• Jesus judges the nations (think tribunal as opposed to the plagues of judgement)
• The resurrected saints join Jesus in ruling the earth (Rev. 20:4)
• There is a years-long process of cleanup and reconstruction (Ez. 39)
• All nations submit to Messiah’s authority and celebrate Sukkot in Jerusalem annually (Zech. 14:16)
• The Earth is restored to an Eden-like state

In Revelation 20, Satan is bound and Jesus begins His millennial reign. After 1,000 years, Satan is allowed one final rebellion, and then cast into the lake of fire forever. At this point, Jesus holds the Great White Throne Judgement, where all the living and the dead are judged — except those whose names are written in the Book of Life (Rev. 20:15).

The Book of Life

How do you get your name written in the Book of Life and escape the Great White Throne Judgement? This is perhaps the least mysterious part of Revelation: “Blessed and holy is anyone who has a part in the first resurrection; over him the second death has no power” (Rev. 20:6a). If you believe in Jesus now, before His return, you will be part of the first resurrection and you never have to fear judgement again. The Book of Life will also contain the names of those who survive the Great Tribulation and then turn to the Lord, and those who are born during the Millennium and serve Messiah faithfully, but they still must pass through that final judgment. We who live in the present age have the greatest and simplest opportunity for eternal security, because now is the time we can receive Him by faith. In the Day of the Lord, every eye will see Him and faith, at least in the manner and to the degree that we now depend on it, will no longer be possible. Don’t let that opportunity pass you by!

All Scripture taken from Complete Jewish Bible (CJB). Photo credit: Mission Media, Lightstock.com.

“You make me know the path of life…” Psalm 16:11

A strategic Christian follows God’s righteous path in the land of the living. The Bible tells us that the path of life is not an easy one, as we know all too well in today’s culture, but God promises “to smooth the path for the righteous” (Isaiah 26:7). Those who stay the course will be blessed!

A Christian’s Journey

John Bunyan’s classic allegory The Pilgrim’s Progress, first published in 1678, represents the Christian life quite well. It tells the story of a man’s journey from the city of Destruction to the Celestial City, through many trials and temptations. At the start of the pilgrimage, Evangelist tells the main character, Christian, to stick with the path that leads to the narrow gate and he will find everlasting life. Jesus describes two different gates in His “sermon on the mount”:

“Go in through the narrow gate; for the gate that leads to destruction is wide and the road broad, and many travel it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14, CJB)

In another passage, Jesus tells us that He alone is the gate that gives abundant life. “I am the gate; if someone enters through me, he will be safe…The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, life in its fullest measure” (John 10:9-10). In contrast to the thief (who is our adversary the Devil), our Savior is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6).

Staying On Course

Another character that Christian encounters in Bunyan’s story is Worldly Wiseman, who offers him a shorter and easier path that promises to be less burdensome. Christian learns a hard lesson when he sees that this wicked man almost led him to destruction. Thankfully, Evangelist intervenes and turns Christian back from the “forbidden paths”.

Likewise, we have a choice to make when life-stealing temptations of this world entice us. God’s wisdom, found in Proverbs 3:5-6, tells us to:

Trust in Adonai with all your heart; do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him; then He will level your paths.

God levels our paths for our own good but also for the sake of His name (see Psalm 23:1-4). And it is the Holy Spirit who guides us to level ground (Psalm 143:10). The psalmist David prayed, “Make me know Your ways, Adonai, teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth, and teach me; for you are the God who saves me, my hope is in you all day long” (Psalm 25:4-5).

The Holy Scriptures are “a light for our path” (Psalm 119:105) that always leads us to the way of truth. We are to carefully stay on course, neither deviating to the right or the left, which means obeying God’s instruction and keeping our feet from evil.

Therefore you are to be careful to do as Adonai your God has ordered you; you are not to deviate either to the right or the left. You are to follow the entire way which Adonai your God has ordered you; so that you will live, things will go well with you, and you will live long in the land you are about to possess. (Deuteronomy 5:29-30, CJB)

Similarly Proverbs 4:25-27 reads:

Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze on what lies in front of you. Level the path for your feet, let all your ways be properly prepared; then deviate neither right nor left; and keep your foot far from evil.

Rest for Our Souls

Until we reach our final eternal destination, we are like pilgrims on a journey in a foreign land. The character Christian reached the Celestial City with a fellow traveler and brother-in-Christ named Hopeful. At the gate of the heavenly city, there was written in gold letters, “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Bunyan, page 279). Other travelers, who did not follow God’s commands and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, were turned away at the gate.

We read in Jeremiah 6:16 that when we stand at the crossroads of various paths that life has to offer, we must chose the Good Way. When we take it, we “will find rest for our souls”. Now is the time to harken this message and chose the Path of Life!

All Scripture taken from the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB). Photo credit: Lightstock.com.

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When we study Scripture, we gain a better understanding of God’s heart in this matter. We see that God delights in love, justice, truth, and righteousness (Jeremiah 9:24). And because He alone knows the hearts and minds of mankind, He always judges rightly (1 Kings 8:39).

When we as humans take issue with God’s approach to justice, it usually means we need to gain a better understanding of three things: God’s standard, God’s timing, and God’s objective.

God’s Standard

Notice that the Bible always divides people into two groups, the righteous and the wicked, based on those who serve God and those who do not (Malachi 3:18 and Matthew 25:31-33). In regards to holiness, Jesus uses this metaphor of fruit trees to show the simplicity of His perspective.

“For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.” (Luke 6:43-45)

Most of us do not see ourselves or others in such black and white terms — partly because we do not have God’s insight into the true nature of each person’s heart and mind, but more importantly because we often do not understand righteousness.

God’s standard of righteousness is complete, absolute perfection, which no person can attain in their own power. Instead, it comes through faith, like Abraham who “believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). We believe in God’s free gift of salvation and it changes the way that we live our lives, and it is the Holy Spirit who enables us to produce good fruit. This allows God to maintain His standard of holiness without condemning every human to eternal punishment, and at the same time, it allows our actions on this earth to have a meaningful effect on eternity.

Each one of us will give an account to the Lord at the judgment seat of Christ, and we will be recompensed for the way we spent our lives while on earth (2 Corinthians 5:10). Revelation 2:23 tells us, “I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.” We also read in Jeremiah 32 that God is “great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds” (Jeremiah 32:19).

Those who have produced good fruit will be given a resurrection of eternal life, but those who have done evil and rebelled against the truth will be given a resurrection of judgment and wrath (John 5:28-29 and Romans 2:5-8).

So if God’s standard divides all humanity into the righteous and wicked categories, then why does He need the prophesied events of the end times to happen? Why not just stop the clock right now?

God’s Timing

The first thing that we need to understand about God’s timing is that God’s perspective on time is always longer than ours. He has existed from eternity past and He sees into eternity future, so it only makes sense that He does not see a year, decade, century, or even a millennium as a very long time. This can feel frustrating when we are waiting on God to act, but it actually works to our advantage. Psalm 103:8 tells us, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.”

The second thing we must realize is that God’s timing always follows the principle of sowing and reaping. The Bible describes righteousness and wickedness as two harvests, which will not be gathered until they have reached full maturity (Matthew 3:8-12 and Revelation 14:14-19). The longer a righteous person lives, the more time they have to produce good fruit. The longer a wicked person lives, the more thoroughly they earn their coming judgment. This is even more true on the global scale than it is on a personal scale.

When Jesus returns, He will utterly defeat the forces of evil at the height of their power, and pour out His wrath on the nations and peoples that do not know or worship Him (Jeremiah 10:25). If He returned before the appointed time, it would diminish the glory of His victory. Likewise, when Jesus returns, He will find His own people fully refined, purged, and purified by the fires of tribulation (Daniel 11:32-35), and if He rescued them early He would deprive them of the full measure of their reward.

In short, God has designed His story of redemption to reach a perfectly-timed righteous crescendo. If He dealt with every turn of events in a piecemeal fashion, the kingdom of Heaven would trickle in rather than arriving with a bang!

God’s Objective

God’s objective, in a single word, is salvation. I Timothy 2:4 says that God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Peter underscores the connection between God’s objective and His timing when he writes, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

As long as a wicked person is alive on earth, he still has the opportunity to repent. “‘Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,’ declares the Lord God, ‘rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?'” (Ezekiel 18:23, see also 33:11). God may intervene with discipline in a person’s life, “striking but healing; so they will return to the Lord” (Isaiah 19:22). Until that person’s last breath, God is extending the offer of eternal salvation while also allowing the free will to choose life or death.

Let’s return to our original question: Is God too permissive today, or too severe at the end of the age? In truth, He is neither. As pastor Charles Stanley says, “He tempers His justice with grace.”¹ Only God has the wisdom to balance His standard of righteousness with His desire to save. If that balance ever looks off from our point of view, we can rest assured that the error is in our human perspective. God’s ways are perfect, and trusting them will always be in our best interest.

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:33-36)

¹ The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Daily Bible, NASB, page 354.

“For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it,
and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.” Ezra 7:10

God gives believers spiritual gifts to strengthen the church, and for me personally He has given the spiritual gift of teaching.

I led my first Bible study when I was in high school, teaching a group of middle schoolers how to honor the Lord above all in a challenging culture. I also served as an AWANA leader at my local church, helping build the foundation of faith in the lives of young children. After that I discipled a homeschool group of young ladies to “be radiant in godliness, holiness, and testimony” using the BRIGHT Lights curriculum. Over the years, my husband Reed and I have also lead Bible studies in our home.

It’s no wonder that I earned my bachelor’s degree in elementary education, teaching in both public and private schools. These days I have transitioned from the classroom to serve special-needs family members from my home, but I can’t stop putting my spiritual gift to use so I write Bible studies and articles for this website.

Over the past twenty years of discipling and teaching, I have found these to be the keys for effectively teaching the Word of God:

1. Teachers must be found trustworthy stewards of the mysteries of God.
   
   We read in 1 Corinthians 4:1-7 that servants of Christ are also stewards of the mysteries of God. We must be found trustworthy before God in how we handle Scripture, especially in the motives of our hearts. “Learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant” (verse 6). And the next verse reminds us to stay humble because any knowledge that we may have was given to us by the Holy Spirit. Boastful and arrogant teachers are loving “the approval of men rather than the approval of God” (John 12:43). But Colossians 3:23 reminds us to do our work heartily as for the Lord rather than for men!
2. Our testimony shines brightest through love and as a living witness of the mighty deeds of God.
   
   In John 13:34-35, we are commanded to love one another as Christ loved the church, and that through this action “all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another”. A student must first receive love before they will accept words of wisdom.
   
   The apostle Paul taught in “holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God” as he coped with numerous afflictions while sharing the Good News. He was a living witness as he trusted in God and stood firm on the Word of God, teaching with godly character (see 2 Corinthians 1 and Acts 22:14-15).
3. Speak the Word boldly (even in weakness) through the power of the Holy Spirit.
   
   When the apostles began ministering in the book of Acts, they immediately faced threats and persecution. They prayed that God would grant them to speak His word with confidence and God answered their prayer. It says, “And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:29-31).
   
   We all have areas of human weakness so we must minister through the power of the Spirit. It is not in cleverness of speech or through worldly wisdom that we will have an impact for the kingdom, rather through God’s power lives are changed for eternity.
   
   His grace is sufficient, for power is perfected in weakness. Therefore, let us boast about our weaknesses, “so that the power of Christ may dwell in [us]” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
4. Teach the entire living and active Word of God.
   
   There is no greater book than the Holy Bible, so make it the center of each lesson plan. Don’t waste time and don’t water down the truth.
   
   When the apostles were imprisoned for their witness in Jerusalem, an angel freed them and said, “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.” It says the next day they went to the temple and “began to teach” (Acts 5:19-21).
   
   As teachers, we are held accountable for correctly handling the Word but also not leaving anything out. We are to teach exactly what God’s Word says and leave the consequences in His hands. Some topics may not be popular in today’s culture but we are to please God rather than man.
5. Don’t be ignorant of the devil’s schemes.
   
   Bible teachers who boldly teach the Word of God are very familiar with spiritual warfare. Jesus told us, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). We must first prepare for each lesson on our knees. We should then “put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:11-12).
   
   Satan is the father of lies and he attacks truth on many fronts. Don’t lose hope when ministry is a struggle. The greater the warfare, the greater the breakthrough!

Conclusion

“O God, You have taught me from my youth, and I still declare Your wondrous deeds.
And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come.” Psalm 71:17-18

Jesus was the greatest teacher of all time and we can learn a ton by studying His example in the Gospels. At the end of His earthly ministry, He declared to God the Father, “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do” (John 17:4).

If you don’t lose heart, you too can accomplish your spiritual calling during your short time on earth. But remember to glorify God in each lesson!


All Scripture taken from New American Standard Bible, 1995 version. Emphasis added by the author. Photo credit: Kinsco, Lightstock.com.

We serve a promise keeping God. His word is absolute truth and the plans that He establishes do not fail. We are told in Isaiah 46:

“I am God, and there is no one like Me,
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.” (Isaiah 46:9-11)

A substantial portion of Scripture is prophetic text, disclosing God’s predetermined plan of redemption in the first and second comings of the Messiah. It is our job to study His Word and share this prophetic plan with the world around us, because too many have never heard such good news!

The Mysteries of God

“…we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.” 1 Cor. 2:7

Without the Spirit of God, man cannot understand the “depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God” (Romans 11:33). God’s redemptive storyline appears as foolishness to the natural man until the Holy Spirit guides him to the Truth and that which can only be spiritually appraised (1 Cor. 2:10-14).

Before the beginning of time, God foreknew mankind would need a Savior and all throughout the Old Testament the way was prepared for the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world.

• After the resurrection Jesus declared, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44).
• And a few verses before that, while traveling on the road to Emmaus, Jesus “explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures” (Luke 24:27).
• Then in Acts, Peter tells the men of Israel, “But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away…” (Acts 3:18-19)

The proclamations of the prophets were fulfilled, “for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10). And the prophetic storyline continues…

Looking for the Blessed Hope

“…until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.” Acts 3:21

Since Scripture was fulfilled literally and precisely for Jesus’ first coming, we can rest assured that He will return to fulfill the remainder of the prophetic text regarding the period of restoration of all things in which the Righteous One punishes the world “for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity” (Isaiah 13:11). Jesus came the first time as the Lamb of God but He returns as the King of kings and Lord of lords ruling over all the nations.

The entire last book of the Bible describes the second coming in great detail, and is called “the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place…” (Rev. 1:1). It goes on to say that those who read and heed this prophetic text will be blessed, as we stand ready to keep the faith in times of great persecution. But again, we must rely on the Holy Spirit to “guide [us] into all the truth…and He will disclose to [us] what is to come” (John 16:12-15).

Quickly, here are a few verses to note:

• “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up…But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” 2 Peter 3:9-13
• “…because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” Acts 17:31
• “…because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled.” Luke 21:22

And as we wait for the King’s return, Scripture admonishes us to:

• “…live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus…” Titus 2:12b-13
• “Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things [day of the Lord], be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless, and blameless…” 2 Peter 3:14
• “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17
• “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4
• “These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling.” John 16:1
• “Do not tremble and do not be afraid;
  Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it?
  And you are My witnesses.” Isaiah 44:8

Hastening the Day of the Lord

“So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:19

For now, we only know in part all that God has in store for the climatic finale of this age (1 Cor. 13:9-12). It is not for us to know all the details “which the Father has fixed by His own authority” (Acts 1:7). But we know God’s prophetic text will not fail, at the appointed time it will certainly be fulfilled (Habakkuk 2:3). Like the prophetic word, we too are to shine God’s truth to a dark world, sharing the eternal hope of Jesus the Messiah!

All Scripture taken from New American Standard Bible, 1995 version. Emphasis added in bold by the author.

Famine was in the land of Samaria. It got so bad that the citizens started eating their children. It’s hard to even fathom such a desperate situation! One citizen cried out to the king for help but he replied, “If the Lord does not help you, where can I find help for you?” And again he said, “Surely this calamity is from the Lord.”

The historical account from II Kings 6:24-33 is very humbling to read. It appears to have started when the enemy besieged Samaria, cutting off the food supply, which lead to inflation, famine, and starving citizens. But in reality, the root cause had been going on for generations.

Abandoning the Lord

For decades, since the reign of King Solomon, the people of Israel had been slowly replacing worship of the One True God with pagan worship and sacrificing to false gods. They sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, even to the point of killing His prophets and performing child sacrifices. Finally, the Lord had declared disaster on the people. Viewing things from a human perspective, we might consider this a harsh punishment. However, God had warned the nation of Israel that He is a jealous God and would not tolerate false religions or other gods. He was now returning their evil on their own heads.

Around one hundred years before the famine hit Samaria, King Solomon dedicated the (first) Temple in Jerusalem unto Jehovah. We read the account in I Kings 8 and verses 31-40 are especially prophetic of the events to come for Israel:

“When anyone sins against his neighbor…then hear in heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked, bringing his way on his head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness. When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and when they turn back to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication to You in this temple, then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel…”

The next few verses list the consequences for sinning against the Lord, which include drought, famine, pestilence, enemy attack, plague, sickness, etc.

Applying this passage to modern-day events, one can understand why many Christians asked if the recent plague of Covid-19 was from the Lord. Of course, based on this passage, it could also apply for food shortages, inflation, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, political unrest, etc. Most definitely, God sends judgment when His people of covenant turn their hearts from Him.

God’s Consequences

In the very next chapter, we read the Lord’s reply to Solomon’s prayer. He confirms the consequences that follow when a nation that has been established by God forsakes the Lord.

“And the Lord said to him: ‘I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. Now if you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness…then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever…’” (I Kings 9:3-4)

“But if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight. Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples. And as for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and will hiss, and say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ Then they will answer, ‘Because they forsook the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore the Lord has brought all this calamity on them.’ ” (I Kings 9:6-9)

The Lord clearly laid out the requirements for blessing and the consequences of forsaking. It was up to the people to remain faithful and keep their hearts pure before the Lord.

The Power of Prayer

Another time when God’s hand was turned against His people, due to the sin of Solomon’s father towards the end of his reign, David cried out to the Lord for mercy.

“And David’s heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the Lord, ‘I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O Lord, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.'”

The story goes on to say, “So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord heeded the prayers for the land, and the plague was withdrawn from Israel.” (II Samuel 24)

Through prayer and repentance the plague was stopped. America would be wise to follow the example of King David’s humble repentance. Our nation must turn back to God and repent of our abandoning His ways. We were founded as “one nation under God” and our forefathers entered a covenant relationship with the Lord. Across this land we have forsaken the Lord, from the church pews to the government buildings. God is our only hope for salvation, both eternal and from the consequences of sin. Both require heartfelt repentance and a turning away from sin.

In the words of the prophet Elijah, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him…” (I Kings 18:21)

All Scripture passages taken from the New King James Version of the Bible.

“Thus says the Lord, ‘Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,’ declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24

Over the course of our lives, the Holy Spirit molds us to be more like Christ in our words, deeds, and intentions of the heart (our desires and our will). This process requires us to know God’s character, grow in our relationship with Him, and follow His commands. It takes humility of heart to allow God to mold us, because the experiences He uses to do this are often not the kind of things we would choose for ourselves. The achievements that we aspire to may be worthless in God’s eternal perspective, and the struggles and trials we want to avoid may be exactly the things we need to be conformed to His image. Humility enables us to lay down our own desires and accept this process of sanctification, becoming set apart and holy unto the Lord.

As we grow in spiritual maturity, God tests our hearts to know if we are truly committed to His ways and truths. We must diligently maintain our relationship with the Lord and guard our hearts.

“You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.”  Deuteronomy 8:2

“Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life…”   Deuteronomy 4:9

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”  Deuteronomy 6:5

Since we are born of the flesh, our sinful natures can get the best of us. Sometimes our spirits are willing but the flesh is weak. God’s Word tells us what it requires to walk humbly with God:

• The working of the Holy Spirit
  “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6
• Obedience to God’s Word
  “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes…”Deuteronomy 8:11
• Prayer and fasting
  “I humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer kept returning to my bosom.” Psalm 35:13
• Waiting humbly and patiently on the Lord
  “For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land… the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.” Psalm 37:9, 11
• Submit to and draw near to God
  “But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, ‘God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:6-8

The result of these heart attitudes is that we will be closer to God and in line with His will and His ways. We will find ourselves increasing in understanding, wisdom, discernment, and integrity, simply because we are in sync with Him. We will have God-given courage, knowing it is God who fights for us. We will develop greater faith in God rather than the fear of man. We will learn how to demonstrate servant leadership, like Jesus did. Once we have accepted God’s plan for our lives over our own, we will find that His plan is perfect after all.

God honors those with humility of heart, who seek to glorify Him above all else. Those who chose to walk daily in submission to God are promised great rewards.

“He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. He has brought down rulers from their thrones, and has exalted those who were humble.”  Luke 1:51-52

“Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”  James 4:10

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time…”  1 Peter 5:6

“The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life.”  Proverbs 22:4

We can achieve nothing in life for ourselves that will compare to the rewards that come from our heavenly Father. So take a moment today to think about how you can pursue humility and leave the rest to Him!

All Scripture passages taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1995 version.

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:7-8 (NASB)

There are two conflicting belief systems in this world, God’s ways and man’s ways. The way of the Spirit or the way of the flesh. Christianity versus secular humanism and false religion. The godly versus the worldly. There is no neutral ground.

God’s Word promises that those who sow godliness will reap bountiful blessings. However, it also says that the ungodly will reap consequences for their sins. Those can be natural consequences, such as losing someone’s trust if you lie to them. Or, God may intervene, as a loving heavenly Father, and stop you in your sins before they hurt you or others.

Those who bear good fruit are those who do the will of God, and they will reap eternal life. And those who do not bear good fruit, those who reject and rebel against the ways of God, are headed for eternal death.

“So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” Matthew 7:17-21

When you trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then a transformation of your heart and actions takes place. You turn from the deeds of your past and instead desire to please God in all your ways. With the help of the Holy Spirit, you are no longer in bondage to the desires of your flesh or the temptations of this world. You start to bear good fruit and, as a result, will see God’s favor on your life.

When Jesus Christ returns at the end of days, He will judge all the inhabitants of earth on account of the fruit of their deeds. The Righteous Judge, who examines our minds and hearts, will separate the righteous from the wicked — separating His children from those who never knew Him.

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man
according to what he has done.” Revelation 22:12

“For the day of the Lord draws near on all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you.
Your dealings will return on your own head.” Obadiah 1:15

You may feel like a “pretty good” person, but God’s standard is complete holiness. The Bible tells us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Truth be told…we have all sinned. But there is hope. Because the Bible goes on to say, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Those who sincerely give their life to God are promised eternal salvation. And when the days of divine retribution come, you will have nothing to fear, for Jesus paid the price for all your sins on the cross. Oh, what a gift of amazing grace! All you have to do is receive His gift of salvation. (You can learn more about God’s gift of salvation at this link.)

We are not promised tomorrow, so today is the day to make things right with God. Today is the day to chose eternal life. When you’re ready, pray this prayer to the Lord.

Oh Lord, I admit I am a sinner. I need Your forgiveness. I accept Your death on the cross as the penalty for my sin, and recognize that Your mercy and grace is a gift that You offer to me because of Your great love, not based on anything I have done. By faith I receive You into my life as my Lord and Savior. From this day on, help me to honor You in all things. Amen.

Now you have assurance in Christ Jesus. The Bible tells us, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” (Romans 8:1-2)

The next step is to live out your faith and bear good fruit. Go tell others about the best gift that you’ve ever received. When you live separate from the world, seeking after the things of God, it won’t be easy. But God will be there by your side as you fight the good fight of faith.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.” Matthew 16:24-27 (NASB)

In our video The Prophetic Fulfillment of the Biblical Feasts, we describe the seven appointed times that God gave His people: four in the spring that correspond perfectly with the first coming of Jesus, and three in the fall that foreshadow His second coming.

The biblical year is a pattern for the whole of human history. You have the period leading up to the springtime arrival of Jesus, then a summer of “working in the fields” to spread the Gospel, which is the time we’re in now, followed by His return in the fall to conclude the harvest and begin the Feast of Tabernacles — God dwelling with us.

Today, we’re going to look at an even earlier and more fundamental pattern of human history, which God established at the very beginning.

Creation Week

In God’s plan, all of history centers around the Messiah. From the book of Ephesians, we read:

“In all wisdom and insight, He made known to us the mystery of His will, in keeping with His good pleasure that He planned in Messiah. The plan of the fullness of times is to bring all things together in the Messiah—both things in heaven and things on earth, all in Him.” Ephesians 1:8-10 (TLV)

The timeline of history is made up of increments of time — days, weeks, months, years, millennia — and God has built some really interesting patterns in time that all point to the Messiah. Take creation week for example: we know that God created all things in six days and then rested on the 7th day.

“Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” Genesis 2:1-3 (NASB)

Paul tells us in Colossians 2:16-17 that the sabbath day is a mere shadow of what is to come, and “the substance belongs to Christ.”

So what is the “substance” that the weekly sabbath is a shadow of?

Maybe you’ve heard of the millennial reign of Messiah that is to come. It will be a 1,000-year period following His second coming, during which He will rule on earth as King of kings and Lord of lords.

It’s easy to see how Messiah’s millennial reign will be a sabbath age that fulfills the foreshadowing of the weekly day of rest. And if that 1,000-year period is equivalent to the seventh day of a week, what does that imply about the “days” preceding it?

When a Day is More Than a Day

There are other hints in Scripture that make the same implication. For example, we read in Hosea:

“After two days He will revive us. On the third day He will raise us up,
and we will live in His presence. So let us know, let us strive to know Adonai.”
Hosea 6:2-3 (TLV)

This prophecy indicates that God’s people will be raised up following the same pattern as the resurrection of Jesus himself, “On the third day.” But this obviously does not refer to literal 24-hour days. One interpretation is that the third day is the sabbath age, the millennial reign of Messiah, which we know will be the time when “we will live in His presence.” And if the third day is 1,000 years, it makes sense to see the two preceding days as two millennia.

By this time, you may be thinking of 2 Peter 3:8:

“But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.” 2 Peter 3:8 (NASB)

This verse is the biggest hint the Bible gives when it comes to understanding human history as a week of millennia. Based on this premise, and what we know of history so far, here is how the seven “days” add up:

• Messiah’s first coming was about 4,000 years after creation.
• It has been nearly 2,000 years since Messiah’s death and resurrection.
• Messiah’s millennial reign will be 1,000 years.

According to this timeline, we are very close to Messiah’s second coming — although on a scale of millennia, “very close” may still be many decades.

By the Numbers

In addition to the passages mentioned above, there are a couple more biblical patterns that correlate with this idea.

The number seven is prominent throughout Scripture as the number of perfection, completeness, and sufficiency. Seven days was just the right amount of time for God’s work of creation, including a day to enjoy its completion. Perhaps seven millennia is just the right amount of time for God’s work of redemption, including a millennia to enjoy its completion.

While seven is the number of perfection, six is just short of it—the number of imperfection. Man was created on the sixth day, and it is plausible that man may be given 6,000 years to rule imperfectly over God’s creation before Jesus returns to establish His perfect rule in the seventh millennium.

Conclusion

The idea we have presented in this article is not a matter of primary or even secondary doctrine. It cannot be proven from Scripture beyond a shadow of a doubt. It is only an interesting pattern, which time will confirm or disprove. But we thought this mental exercise was worth pondering together.

Whether or not this theory turns out to be accurate, the important thing is to keep our attention focused on our Lord and our hearts longing for His return. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, and God’s story starts and ends with Him.

“The plan of the fullness of times is to bring all things together in the Messiah—both things in heaven and things on earth, all in Him.” Ephesians 1:10 (TLV)

We are living in the End Times, but how close to the end of the end are we? If history is truly a week of millennia, then we don’t have to wait long to find out.

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We have been avid students of Bible prophecy for many years now, and it always amazes us that simple, clear, and concise information is so difficult to come by. We firmly believe that the overall outline of the End Times is simple enough for every Christian to understand without needing to become a “prophecy buff”.

In this 15-page ebook, we stick to the essentials and present a straightforward study of the end of the age based primarily on Jesus’ own words, covering the span of time from the present day to the return of the Lord, the millennium, and eternity.

As always, we want to give away the resources that we create for free, so we invite you to download a FREE copy of our latest eBook.

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As God’s children, it’s crucial to keep a strategic mindset and not lose hope. Again in Matthew 24, Jesus tells us in verse 6, “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.”

In these prophetic days, are you frightened and losing hope? Or are you staying strong in Christ Jesus? It’s either one or the other. It can’t be both.

Where Does Your Hope Come From

“For whatever was written before was written for our instruction,
so that through patience and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
Romans 15:4, TLV

One of our five keys to living a strategic life is living with a biblical framework. When we dwell in God’s Word on a daily basis, it fills our spirit with strength and hope for any trials that come our way. The Bible especially gives us direction, encouragement, and comfort in trying times.

For example, in Psalm 91 we are given numerous promises from God when we seek refuge in Him. These verses are sure to fill you with hope.

He who dwells in the shelter of Elyon, will abide in the shadow of Shaddai.
I will say of Adonai, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.
For He will rescue you from the hunter’s trap and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.
His faithfulness is body armor and shield.
You will not fear the terror by night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the plague that stalks in darkness, nor the scourge that lays waste at noon.
A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only look on with your eyes and see the wicked paid back.
For you have made Elyon your dwelling, even Adonai, who is my refuge,
so no evil will befall you nor any plague come near your tent.
For He will give His angels charge over you, to guard you in all your ways.
Upon their hands they will lift you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and cobra, trample the young lion and serpent.

“Because he has devoted his love to Me, I will deliver him.
I will set him securely on high, because he knows My Name.
When he calls on Me, I will answer him.
I will be with him in trouble, rescue him, and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.”

Psalm 91:1-16, Tree of Life Version

When we dwell in the shelter of the Most High, He rescues us from evil. He puts His guardian angels over us to keep us safe. We need not fear because the Lord will rescue us in times of trouble.

But first, we must put our trust in Adonai. We must find refuge in Him. We must devote our love to our Savior!

And when times of distress come our way, He will answer our call and be our salvation.

Eternal Hope

The last chapter of the Bible tells us that one day soon our Savior will return and establish His throne. There will be no more curse of sin on mankind. And His children will reign with Him forever and ever! (See Revelation 22:3-7)

Until that time, we need to fulfill our calling on this earth. We need to make the most of the short time we have left. We need to live strategically for kingdom purposes. As it says in Romans 12:11-12, “Keep serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, enduring in distress, persisting in prayer…”

May you abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit…until the return of Messiah!

There are numerous things in which our culture tells us we can find self worth, but notice they are all external.

• Status symbols – fashion, automobile, house, expensive vacation
• Relationships – being popular among peers, friend count on social media, sports team loyalty
• Accomplishments – epic life experiences, attending the right university, successful career, title and job position
• Personal – physical appearance, personality traits

The lists could go on and on. The point is the things of this world will never fulfill us. If we base our identity there, we will always come up empty. And we’ll never stop striving for more. We’ll never measure up.

We must find our identity in things that are spiritual and last forever. Look at what 1 John 2:14-17 says:

“I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” (NASB, emphasis added)

These verses connect with a passage in Luke 4. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by the devil. What types of things did Satan use to tempt Jesus?

• the lust of the flesh (Luke 4:1-4)
• the lust of the eyes (Luke 4:5-8)
• the boastful pride of life (Luke 4:9-12)

Satan used the things of this world and he also twisted truth to try and get Jesus to sin. However, Jesus used Scripture to combat the temptation and the lies. We can follow this example in our own lives.

Know the Truth

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast…”
Hebrews 6:19, NASB

The best place for a Christian to discover (or recover) their identity is in the Word of God. Check out these verses:

• “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you…” Jeremiah 1:5
• “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” 1 John 3:1-2
• “When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14
• “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” 1 Peter 2:9

Can you imagine the stability the world would find if they placed their faith in Jesus Christ? If they based their identity on the Savior that gives everlasting life? For God loves each of us so much that He gave His only Son, so the world might be saved through Him (John 3:16-17).

But, Satan wants us to think otherwise. John 10:10 says Satan is a thief that “comes to steal and kill and destroy” but that Jesus “came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

From Your Identity to Your Calling

Your identity not only describes who you are, but even more importantly, it also determines what you do.  Once we discover our identity in Christ, we can go on to fulfill the God-given calling that He has designed for our lives.

• “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
• “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

Has God put a calling on your life that always seems out of reach or too difficult to begin?  Take a moment to reflect on where you are finding your identity.  If it is not in Jesus Christ, start by letting go of everything that competes with Him to define who you are.  Once you find yourself in Him, like a branch firmly connected to the vine, it will be the most natural thing in the world to bear good fruit.

Isaiah’s prophesies can be found in the Old Testament books of 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and obviously Isaiah, and they are repeated throughout the New Testament. Jesus Christ even read from the book of Isaiah when attending the synagogue in Nazareth, fulfilling the passage that very day (see Luke 4:16-30).

Isaiah’s words were studied way back then and should continue to be explored by today’s Bible students. For in them, we find strategic insights for daily living, as well as keys to future events of the End Times.

Seven Strategic Insights from Isaiah

1. Adonai alone will be exalted.
   The book of Isaiah tells us that the people of Judah repeatedly provoked Adonai with their worship of idols, something they learned from neighboring pagan countries. Even in today’s age, humans can serve idols—like money, security, fame, and man-made religion. However, Christ-followers are only allowed to serve the One True God.
   • “Remember the former things of old: For I am God—there is no other. I am God, and there is none like Me—declaring the end from the beginning, from ancient time, what is yet to come, saying, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will accomplish all that I please.’ ” Isaiah 46:9-10
   • “The pride of man will be humbled, the arrogance of men abased, for Adonai alone will be exalted in that day. The idols will completely pass away.” Isaiah 2:17-18
   • “But Adonai-Tzva’ot will be exalted through justice, and the Holy God consecrated through righteousness.” Isaiah 5:16
   • “Thus says Adonai, Israel’s King and his Redeemer, Adonai-Tzva’ot: ‘I am the first, and the last, and there is no God beside Me.’ ” Isaiah 44:6
     

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2. Fear God, not man.
   There are many passages in Isaiah that speak of End Times events that can cause fear in the hearts of readers. But those who have placed their faith in the Messiah—Yeshua ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ), have nothing to fear. Our Savior has already conquered the enemy of this world, by His shed blood on the cross! When we encounter times of trials, both now and in the days to come, Christians will find perfect peace by fearing God alone and letting Him fight for us.
   • “You must not fear or tremble at what they fear. Adonai-Tzva’ot, Him will you sanctify, and let Him be your fear, trembling at Him.” Isaiah 8:12b-13
   • “Then you will know that I am Adonai—those hoping in Me will not be ashamed.” Isaiah 49:23b
   • “You keep in perfect peace one whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3
   • “No weapon formed against you will prosper and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of Adonai’s servants—their vindication is from Me.” Isaiah 54:17
     

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3. Return, be healed, and be saved.
   Isaiah proclaimed many things to the Jewish people about their coming Messiah—Yeshua ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Isaiah 53 is probably one of the most well-known messianic chapters in the entire book of Isaiah. Again and again, Adonai calls for His children to return to Him, turn from their sins, and be healed by the blood of Yeshua/Jesus. Only then will we be wiped clean and wrapped in righteousness.
   • “Rather let them rely on My strength. Let them make peace with Me—make peace with Me.” Isaiah 27:5
     
   • “Wash and make yourselves clean. Put away the evil of your deeds from before My eyes. Cease to do evil. Learn to do good, seek justice, relieve the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. Come now, let us reason together, says Adonai. Though your sins be like scarlet, they will be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they will become like wool. If you are willing and obey, you will eat the good of the land. But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured with the sword. For the mouth of Adonai has spoken.” Isaiah 1:16-20
   • “Have we not sinned against Him? In His ways they were unwilling to walk and His Torah they did not obey.” Isaiah 42:24b
   • “So Adonai will strike Egypt—striking yet healing—so they will return to Adonai, and He will respond to them and heal them.” Isaiah 19:22
   • “Rather you burdened Me with your sins, wearied Me with your iniquities. I, I am the One who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and will not remember your sins.” Isaiah 43:24b-25
   • “The Ruach of Adonai Elohim is on me, because Adonai has anointed me to proclaim Good News to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound, to proclaim the year of Adonai’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of Adonai, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:1-3
   • “But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities. The chastisement for our shalom was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5
     

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4. Seek understanding, knowledge, and wisdom.
   By the power of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), God gives wisdom, insight, knowledge, and understanding. These are necessary tools to discern God’s hand at work. We don’t want to rely on our flesh or human senses to follow where God is leading.
   • “They do not notice Adonai’s activity nor see the works of His hands. ‘Therefore My people are in captivity for lack of knowledge…’ ” Isaiah 5:12b-13a
   • “The Ruach of Adonai will rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and insight, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Adonai. His delight will be in the fear of Adonai. He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor decide by what His ears hear.” Isaiah 11:2-3
   • “…so they may see and know, consider and understand together, that the hand of Adonai has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.” Isaiah 41:20
     

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5. Watch for Adonai’s activity.
   Especially as the days get darker, as the End Times approaches, God’s people must follow hard after God and stay in His will. As we study His Word, we can stay in tune with how He is at work.
   • “They do not notice Adonai’s activity nor see the works of His hands. ‘Therefore My people are in captivity for lack of knowledge…’ ” Isaiah 5:12b-13a
   • “Do not remember former things, nor consider things of the past. Here I am, doing a new thing; now it is springing up—do you not know about it? I will surely make a way in the desert, rivers in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19
   • “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways. It is a declaration of Adonai. For as the heavens are higher than earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without having watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to sow and bread to eat, so My word will be that goes out from My mouth. It will not return to Me in vain, but will accomplish what I intend, and will succeed in what I sent it for.” Isaiah 55:8-11
     

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6. Wait for Adonai and renew your strength.
   The prophet Isaiah provides God’s children with so much encouragement for tough times. Isaiah reminds us that only God will satisfy our souls and only through Adonai can we truly renew our strength.
   • “Have you not known? Have you not heard? Adonai is the eternal God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not grow tired or weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives strength to the weary, and to one without vigor He adds might. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but they who wait for Adonai will renew their strength. They will soar up with wings as eagles. They will run, and not grow weary. They will walk, and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31
   • “Then Adonai will guide you continually, satisfy your soul in drought and strengthen your bones. You will be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters never fail.” Isaiah 58:11
   • “Say to those with anxious heart, ‘Be strong, have no fear!’ Behold, your God! Vengeance is coming! God’s recompense—it is coming! Then He will save you.” Isaiah 35:4
   • “Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Surely I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
     
   • “Even to your old age I will be the same, until you are gray I will carry you. I have done it; I will bear you; I will carry you; I will deliver you.” Isaiah 46:4
     

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7. All prophecy will come to pass.
   Isaiah contains numerous prophetic passages, both for ancient times and events yet to come. Adonai strategically declares the prophetic to His children so we will be His witnesses and know the works of His hands. Only the Lord can declare the end from the beginning!
   • “I foretold the former things long ago. They went forth from My mouth, and I caused them to be heard. Suddenly I acted, so they came about.” Isaiah 48:3
   • “Do not dread or be afraid. Have I not told you and declared it long ago? So you are My witnesses! Is there any God beside Me? Is there any other Rock? I know of none.” Isaiah 44:8
   • “Remember the former things of old: For I am God—there is no other. I am God, and there is none like Me—declaring the end from the beginning, from ancient time, what is yet to come, saying, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will accomplish all that I please.’ ” Isaiah 46:9-10
     

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The Example to Follow

“But on this one will I look, one humble and of a contrite spirit, who trembles at My word.” Isaiah 66:2, TLV

Isaiah was a man of obedience to God Almighty, faithfully declaring the word of the Lord to his generation. When trials came his way, Isaiah would cry out to the Lord (2 Chron. 32:20). He lived his life fully devoted to Adonai, and God used Isaiah to proclaim some of the most well-known passages in the Bible about the Savior of the World.

God can use us, too, for His divine purposes. But we must be careful to live as godly men and women, following Isaiah’s example. Today, let’s all apply these strategic insights from the book of Isaiah to our lives and see how God uses it.

All Scripture taken from the Tree of Life Version (TLV), copyright 2015 by the Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society. (Emphasis added to the verses by Living Strategically.)

In the Bible, Paul told the Galatians, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1) The concept of freedom and slavery is interwoven throughout the Bible. From the time of Moses leading the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, all the way through the New Testament where the apostles talk about freedom from spiritual slavery, this running theme is there to help us understand our spiritual condition and why we need the new life that God is calling us into.

Salvation

For example, have you ever considered how the deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt was a foreshadowing of the plan of salvation? Their captivity in Egypt was like a person who is lost, then they were called out of the land. And their deliverance from the curse of death was accomplished through the blood of a lamb on the doorposts of their homes, just like the blood of Messiah (our Passover lamb) delivers us from eternal death.

But then in the wilderness, which is like our life after salvation but before eternity, when the Israelites were free from captivity there was a constant temptation to return to slavery in Egypt. Being free was difficult in a way that was different from the hardship of slavery.  As slaves, their lives were predetermined for them. It may have been miserable, but it was familiar and predictable, and it didn’t require faith.

But God’s purpose for the Israelites required them to be free, which meant that they had to go out into an unpredictable world and have faith that God would provide. That pattern shows up again and again throughout Scripture.

Laying Aside Encumbrances

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1

We can identify two basic ways that Christians today try to leave their freedom and return to slavery. One is to be weighed down, distracted, and hindered by the cares of this world. And the other, to put it frankly, is bondage to sin. And how do we get past these obstacles? The second verse in Hebrews 12 gives the answer…by “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith”.

Here are some examples of encumbrances in our modern culture, that may not cross the line of sin, but can still keep you from living in freedom:

• the endless accumulation of possessions
• the pursuit of financial success and status
• financial debt
• being distracted with screen time and social media
• being too busy
• dysfunction in a family or a workplace
• tolerating toxic relationships

1 Corinthians 6:12 says, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” That’s the standard we have to apply to everything in our lives. Whenever you feel something weighing you down, or competing with the Holy Spirit for control of your life, that’s probably something that you need to prune back or remove entirely.

Another thing to keep in mind is that stress is a warning sign that there’s an issue that needs to be dealt with, in order to restore balance and health. Stress can serve a temporary purpose, but if stress has become a permanent thing in your life, that’s no longer living in freedom!

The Trap of Sin

“…through Him [Jesus Christ] forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.” Acts 13:38-39

In our modern Christian vocabulary, we talk about “being saved”. But the Bible also uses the phrase “to be freed” in the same way. That’s a powerful way of looking at salvation!  Sin is captivity. Salvation is freedom.

Ironically, sin usually masquerades as freedom. To the sinner, holiness can look very restrictive. But the test that shows that sin is really a form of captivity is when you try and put it down. If you can’t stop doing something that God calls sin, then that sin is controlling you. It’s slavery, not freedom.

The list of sins that Satan tries to use to entrap us could be limitless, but here are some examples:

• Emotional lives – pride and bitterness
• Social lives – gossip or any time we chose not to love our neighbor
• Physical lives – addictions or sexual sin, or neglecting our bodies which are the temple of the Holy Spirit
• Financial lives – we can become enslaved to debt, as the Bible says, “the borrower becomes the lender’s slave”. Also, there’s the temptation to allow money to become an idol.
• Spiritual lives – The spiritual aspect encompasses all of the above sins, but there’s also a hidden danger of embracing man-made religion, like the Pharisees, instead of the pure and liberating Gospel!

We need to realize that, like us, Satan also thinks strategically. He will focus most of his efforts on our areas of weakness, to lead us to sin, and the Bible tells us that sin leads to death. That death can be emotional, social, physical, financial, as well as spiritual. We should be extra cautious in any area that we know is a personal weakness.

Christians who stray into sin, to borrow the words of Paul, “pierce themselves with many griefs” (I Timothy 6:10). And there is a particular danger for Christians, because when you have been set free from something, and then go back to it, it is much harder to get free of it again! For example, the Israelites were set free from Egypt and they were an independent, sovereign nation for hundreds of years, but when they strayed and eventually went into captivity again, they remained the subjects of foreign powers for thousands of years.

The Israelites had sins that they kept tolerating, and we as Christians need to take that example and not just focus on symptoms. When we are struggling with sin in our lives, we need permanent solutions. We don’t need a Band-Aid fix that covers things temporarily. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we need to end that sin completely. We need complete restoration. Turning back to living a life of freedom!

Walking by the Spirit

We started this article with Galatians 5:1, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free…” And the entire chapter of Galatians 5 is like the handbook on freedom in the New Testament. Verse 16 gives us the secret weapon in the battle for freedom. It says, “…walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Walking by the Spirit is the key to staying out of the enemy’s traps and it’s also the key to right living. It’s how you stay out of dysfunction and toxic relationships. It’s how you set your priorities so you don’t drown in a schedule filled with fruitless tasks. The bottom line is when we walk by the Spirit, it keeps us on the straight and narrow, because we see sin for what it really is (captivity) and we see submission to God for what it really is (freedom).

Let’s close with 2 Corinthians 3:17, “…where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” When we pursue things that lead to freedom, we can set aside encumbrances and live a life unhindered!

Proverbs takes many different aspects of our financial lives and reveals the unifying thread:

In the long run, prosperity is inextricably linked to character.

In this post we have listed 39 passages from Proverbs that cover topics from tithing and generosity to greed and debt. Take a moment to see what these verses say about your approach to money and wealth!

Wealth & Riches

Proverbs highlights the fact that wealth is neither good nor bad on its own. It tends to be the natural result of diligence and integrity (albeit not necessarily right away). But we are cautioned that wealth is not always what it seems!

“The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life.” Proverbs 22:4, NASB

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty. The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.” Proverbs 21:5-6, NASB

“Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.” Proverbs 23:4-5, NASB

“Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds; for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.” Proverbs 27:23-24, NASB

“There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.” Proverbs 13:7, NASB

“A rich person’s wealth is a strong city or like a high wall—in his imagination.” Proverbs 18:11, TLV

“A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, favor is better than silver and gold. The rich and the poor have a common bond, the LORD is the maker of them all.” Proverbs 22:1-2, NASB

Hard Work

Even though Proverbs warns us more than once not to wear ourselves out in pursuit of riches, it also emphasizes the importance of a good work ethic. There is also a measure of “work smarter, not just harder” in these verses, encouraging us to work at the most opportune time and to improve our skillset.

“Prepare your work outside and make it ready for yourself in the field; afterwards, then, build your house.” Proverbs 24:27, NASB

“Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.” Proverbs 10:4-5, TLV

“He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who pursues worthless things lacks sense.” Proverbs 12:11, NASB

“Plans of the diligent surely lead to gain, but all who are hasty come only to loss.” Proverbs 21:5, TLV

“Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” Proverbs 22:29, NASB

Wisdom

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In a classic example of God’s economy, we are told to seek wisdom instead of wealth… and then we come to find that wisdom leads to success on many different levels, often including our finances.

“Receive my instruction instead of silver and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than jewels, nothing you desire compares with her.” Proverbs 8:10-11, TLV

“How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.” Proverbs 16:16, NASB

“Precious treasure and oil are in a wise person’s dwelling, but a foolish person devours all he has.” Proverbs 21:20, TLV

“Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the counsel of the LORD will stand.” Proverbs 19:21, NASB

“Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22, TLV

“Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory.” Proverbs 11:14, NASB

Righteousness

Looking for a good insurance policy? Try righteousness! Of course we know that the righteous do experience trials and tribulations, but the principle here is that godly living ultimately brings God’s blessing.

“The house of the righteous has great wealth, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.” Proverbs 15:6, TLV

“Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.” Proverbs 11:28, TLV

“The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.” Proverbs 3:33, NASB

Being Satisfied & Content

As an important corollary to the three verses above, Proverbs also explains that contentment is a more important ingredient in prosperity than the actual quantity of your riches.

“Two things I asked of You, do not refuse me before I die: Keep deception and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion, that I not be full and deny You and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God.” Proverbs 30:7-9, NASB

“By the fruit of his mouth a man will be satisfied with good. The work of a man’s hands will reward him.” Proverbs 12:14, TLV

“The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent is made fat.” Proverbs 13:4, NASB

“The fear of the LORD leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.” Proverbs 19:23, NASB

Tithing & Generosity

Giving is one of the healthiest financial actions we can take. It breaks the power of greed in our lives. It allows us to be God’s blessing to someone in need. But perhaps most importantly, it is how we walk out our belief that God is in control and that He can make more out of what we have left over than we could have made if we hoarded our money.

“Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; so your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10, NASB

“There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.” Proverbs 11:24-25, NASB

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.” Proverbs 3:27, NASB

“He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.” Proverbs 28:27, NASB

“One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed.” Proverbs 19:17, NASB

Greed

The thing about greed, Proverbs tells us, is that it generally results in the opposite of what it seeks. Greed is often a shortcut to poverty, and even when a greedy person succeeds in accumulating wealth, they will not find the fulfillment that they expected.

“Do not wear yourself out to get rich. Be wise enough to restrain yourself.” Proverbs 23:4, TLV

“A stingy man chases after riches, but does not know that poverty will overtake him.” Proverbs 28:22, TLV

“A faithful man will have many blessings, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.” Proverbs 28:20, TLV

“A greedy soul stirs up strife, but one who trusts in Adonai prospers.” Proverbs 28:25, TLV

“All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but the LORD weighs the motives.” Proverbs 16:2, NASB

Debt

Proverbs speaks bluntly about the danger of debt. It also has many verses that don’t mention debt directly, but which accurately describe modern, debt-fueled consumerism. Debt tends to be a shortcut that looks like a blessing at the time, but results in years of regret.

“The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.” Proverbs 22:7, NASB

“Do not be among those who give pledges, among those who become guarantors for debts. If you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take your bed from under you?” Proverbs 22:26-27, NASB

“He who loves pleasure will become a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not become rich.” Proverbs 21:17, NASB

“It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.” Proverbs 10:22, NASB

There are hundreds of names, titles, and descriptions given to God in the Bible, and in this article, we will look into ten key names that describe His innate qualities, His relationship to His people, and even hints of the Trinity.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.”
Proverbs 18:10

YHWH | Yahweh | Yehovah = Lord (all caps), I AM יְהֹוָה

Yahweh is the divine name that God uses to describe Himself in the Bible, and it is the most frequently used name for God in the Old Testament. Because it is so sacred, the Jewish people do not write or speak the name YHWH. Similarly in English translations, the name Lord is written in all caps to show reverence.

Yahweh described Himself to Moses as “I AM WHO I AM”, meaning He absolutely is. He has no beginning and no end. He is the Alpha and Omega. He is eternal and unchangeable. He is constant.

Throughout the Old Testament, the name Yahweh is used when a covenant is made between God and man. (See Genesis 12:1-7 and Exodus 6:7.)

Scripture using Yahweh:

• • “Declare and set forth your case; indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the Lord [Yahweh]? And there is no other God besides Me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none except Me. Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.” Isaiah 45:21-22
  • “Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the Lord [Yahweh], our God. They have bowed down and fallen, but we have risen and stood upright. Save, O Lord [Yahweh]; may the King answer us in the day we call.” Psalm 20:7-9
  • “O Lord [Yahweh], You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord [Yahweh], You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me.” Psalm 139:1-5

Adonai = Master, Lord God אֲדֹנָי

Adonai is a plural noun from the word “adon” which means lord or master and can also be used in reference to humans. When used as a name for God, we capitalize Lord. Its literal translation is “My Lords”, in reference to the Trinity.

Jesus told the people of Jerusalem that they would not see Him again until they declared that He is the true Messiah and their Adonai. We read in Luke 13:35 (TLV), “…for I tell you, you will never see Me until you say, ‘Baruch ha-ba b’shem Adonai [Master, Lord God]. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'”

As the Creator of the universe, the Lord God is master and ruler over all people. We are His creation and His possession.

Scripture using Adonai:

• • “For the Lord your God  is the God of gods and the Lord of lords [Adonai], the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.” Deuteronomy 10:17
  • “O Lord, our Lord [Adonai], how majestic is Your name in all the earth, who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!” Psalm 8:1
  • “Give thanks to the Lord of lords [Adonai], for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Psalm 136:3

El = God | Deity אֵל

El is a root word in Hebrew. It is used for deity and conveys the ideas of might, strength, and power. Let’s look at ways it is used in combination with other Hebrew words to create the names listed below.

Elohim = Father God, Mighty Creator אֱלֹהִים

Through this name God reveals His might, power, and sovereignty. Elohim is also used to describe God as creator of the universe, as seen in the very first verse of the Bible. All things are possible for Elohim!

Like Adonai, the word Elohim is plural, but it is used with singular verbs. Many scholars see this as an allusion to the Trinity. This name encompasses the three-in-one nature of God.

Scripture using Elohim:

• • “In the beginning God [Elohim] created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1
  • “Arise, O God [Elohim], judge the earth! For You possess all the nations.” Psalm 82:2, TLV
  • “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God [Elohim], the Lord is one!” Deuteronomy 6:4

El Shaddai = God Almighty אֵל שַׁדַּי

El Shaddai is used nine times in the Old Testament, describing our all-sufficient and all satisfying God. He is the One who sustains us and meets all our needs.

Scripture using El Shaddai:

• • “I am God Almighty [El Shaddai]; walk before Me, and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.” Genesis 17:1b-2
  • “So Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and charged him, and said to him…’May God Almighty [El Shaddai] bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples.’ ” Genesis 28:1-3
  • “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty [El Shaddai].” Psalm 91:1

El Elyon = God Most High אֵל עֶלְיוֹן

El Elyon is the sovereign ruler over all the universe. He is the most exalted God and the splendor of His majesty overshadows all of creation.

Scripture using El Elyon:

• • “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High [El Elyon]. He blessed him and said, ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High [El Elyon], possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High [El Elyon], Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ He gave him a tenth of all.” Genesis 14:18-20
  • “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High [El Elyon] will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1
  • “But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High [El Elyon] and praised and honored Him who lives forever; for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation.” Daniel 4:34
  • “I will cry to God Most High [El Elyon], to God who accomplishes all things for me.” Psalm 57:2

Jehovah Jireh | Yahweh Yireh = God Provides, The Lord Will Provide יְהֹוָה רָאָה

This special name only occurs one time in Scripture, when Abraham is offering up his son Isaac and God provides a ram instead. Many centuries later, God Himself did what He spared Abraham from doing. Jehovah Jireh provided for our deepest spiritual need by offering His one and only Son as a sin offering for us so that we can have eternal life.

Scripture using Jehovah Jireh:

• • “Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide [Jehovah Jireh], as it is said to this day, ‘In the mount of the Lord it will be provided.'” Genesis 22:13-14

Jehovah Rapha | Yahweh Rapha = The Lord That Heals and Restores יְהֹוָה רָפָא

The Bible tells us that Jehovah Rapha can heal our physical sickness, give us emotional healing, and restore those who have not been faithful. We also read that Jesus (or Yeshua) gave us complete healing through His shed blood on the cross at Calvary.

Scripture using Jehovah Rapha:

• • “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer [Jehovah Rapha].” Exodus 15:26
  • “‘For I [Jehovah Rapha] will restore health to you and will heal you of your wounds.’ It is a declaration of Adonai. ‘For they called you an outcast: “Zion—no one cares about her.” ‘ ” Jeremiah 30:17, TLV
  • “He forgives all your iniquity. He [Jehovah Rapha] heals all your diseases.” Psalm 103:3

Jehovah Shalom = The Lord is Peace יְהֹוָה שָׁלוֹם

Jehovah Shalom technically only has one occurrence in the Bible (see Judges 6:23-24 below), though there are many more verses that teach us that Jesus is our source for true peace.

Only Jesus Christ can make us complete and whole, and this kind of shalom is not dependent on our outward circumstances. It says in Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

And only through Jesus Christ are we made right with God. We read in Romans 5:1, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…”

Scripture using Jehovah Shalom:

• • “The Lord said to him, “Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die.” Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and named it The Lord is Peace [Jehovah Shalom]. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.” Judges 6:23-24

Abba = Daddy, Dearest Father אַבָּא

The intimate name Abba comes from an Aramaic term for father. It occurs three times in the Bible, with all three verses listed below.

Scripture using Abba:

• • “And He was saying, ‘Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.'” Mark 14:36
  • “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!‘” Romans 8:15
  • “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!‘” Galatians 4:6

Yeshua | Jesus = Salvation, Safety יֵשׁוּעַ

In English we know the Son of God by the name Jesus, but His name in Hebrew is Yeshua which means safety and salvation. Since Jesus was raised Jewish in the land of Israel, it seems appropriate to call Him by His Hebraic name…Yeshua. Either way, we are assured in the Scriptures that anyone who calls on His name will be saved!

Scripture using Yeshua:

• • “This Yeshua [Jesus] is ‘the stone—rejected by you, the builders—that has become the chief cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved!” Acts 4:11-12, TLV
  • “…so that at the name of Jesus [Yeshua] every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ [Yeshua the Messiah] is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11, NASB
  • For if you confess with your mouth that Yeshua [Jesus] is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart it is believed for righteousness, and with the mouth it is confessed for salvation.” Romans 10:9-10, TLV

Our Response

“Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast
in the name of the Lord, our God.” Psalm 20:7

Isn’t it incredible that the God we serve uses names to reveal His character to us? He is a relational God and wants to grow deeper in relationship with His children. Studying His names is a great way to improve your prayer life and worship. Now you can cry out to your Creator using specific names for the situations that you face. And you can praise Him for distinct attributes and character qualities.

And, isn’t it fun to learn His names in Hebrew? Along with Aramaic and Greek, Hebrew is one of the original languages of the Bible from which our English translations are derived. How fitting to speak the names of God in their original language.

“Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” Luke 24:45

The Bible is addictive. Once you get into a routine of reading it on a daily basis your spirit is very aware when you miss a day or two of it. You start to crave its spiritual nourishment, just as food gives physical nourishment (see Job 23:12). As Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth has said, “The more we eat spiritual food, the more hungry we become and the more we want to eat.”

One of the most important benefits of studying God’s Word is growing closer to Him and growing more like Christ. If you want to get to know someone, you spend time listening to them. This is just as true of our relationship with God as it is with our earthly relationships. As we spend more time with God and get to know Him better, an amazing thing happens: we become more like Him. Knowing God and imitating Christ go hand in hand. Take a look at these Scriptures:

• Jeremiah 24:7 a
• John 8:31‐32
• 1 Peter 2:21‐22
• 2 Corinthians 3:18

Another important benefit that Scripture study brings us is direction. Whether we are facing trials or simply making a major decision, God’s Word can illuminate our thinking and shine a light on our path. God promises when we follow His plan we will also have His peace (Ps. 119:165), but when we ignore His plan, both Scripture and experience teach us that there is no peace to be found. Take a look at these Scriptures:

• Joshua 1:8
• Psalm 19:8
• Psalm 119:50, 105
• Isaiah 58:11

Our Response

“If we want to know the glory of God, if we want to experience the beauty of God,
and if we want to be used by the hand of God, then we must live in the Word of God.”
~David Platt, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream

Ultimately we should respond to God’s Word with a passion, seeing it for the great treasure that it is (Ps. 119:72, 162). Studying God’s Word transforms our perspective and behavior, leading us on the road to spiritual maturity, resulting in sinning less and obeying more (Ps. 119:33‐34).

In her book Small Changes for a Better Life, Elizabeth George gives this unfortunate statistic: “Only about five percent of all Christians read through the Bible even once in their lives.” Don’t be part of the majority that doesn’t make studying the Bible a priority! God wants us to have an eagerness to study His Word so that we can benefit from the wealth of spiritual blessings it contains.

Check out these verses for more encouragement. They are a great warm‐up for your daily Bible study!

• 1 Peter 2:2‐3 – Crave the Word
• Acts 17:10‐11 – Study the Scriptures daily, with great eagerness
• Jeremiah 15:16, 29:13 – Take delight in God’s Word, with all of your heart
• Matthew 7:7‐8 – Seek and you will find
• Psalm 119:11, 133 – Study His Word in order to not sin
• Luke 24:45 – Pray that Christ will give you understanding of what you read in His Word

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In the garden of Eden, there was nothing to be afraid of. Adam and Eve lived in a perfect paradise where now‐dangerous animals were tame and there were no diseases known to man. Unfortunately, we now live in a world that has fallen to sin (Romans 5:12, 18). When sin entered the world, so did pain, suffering, and danger, and on their heals came anxiety and fear, stealing our peace.

The phrase “do not be afraid” is listed 48 times in the New King James version of the Bible. The word fear is listed over 400 times! God knew that we would need guidance and instruction on this topic and He provided it. Out of His love for us, He commands us not to fear, fret, or be anxious (1 Chron. 22:13b; Ps. 37:7; Philippians 4:6), and through His presence, He provides the means of resisting fear. God’s primary reassurance when His people are facing fear is that He is with us and in control (Isaiah 41:13). He doesn’t say the world is a safe place, or that we won’t experience pain, but rather, His presence is greater than the dangers of the world (1 John 4:4).

The question remains, will we hear and heed His Word? Will we trust in Him?

Faith vs. Fear

“Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.” Mark 5:36b, NASB 

“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.” Nahum 1:7, NIV

My wife and I recently watched a documentary that reported reasons why some states of the US support euthanasia. The top reasons did not have to do with a patient experiencing pain from a life-threatening illness, rather, a fear of experiencing pain at some point in the future. This puts into perspective how much of a stronghold fear can have on a person, even to the point of taking their own life.

God knows we have countless things in this world that we can be afraid of. That’s why He accompanies His commands of “do not be afraid” with promises of protection and provision.

Trusting in Him and His plan for your life is the only way to live confidently in this life (2 Timothy 1:7). Faith is the belief that God will take care of you. Fear is the belief that He won’t. When we choose to accept and embrace our fear, we’re basically telling God, “I don’t trust You.”

One of the great steps of faith taken by a disciple in the Gospels is when Peter leaves the boat to walk on water with Jesus. Peter was doing great on his “faith‐ometer” until he looked at the wind and “he became frightened” and began to sink (Matthew 14:30). After Jesus reached out and caught him, He remarked, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Jesus equated Peter’s fear with a lack of faith.

Our Response

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.
Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:27, NASB

Fear is a powerful emotion. If not dealt with properly, it can quickly grow until it becomes paralyzing. When this happens, it robs us of peace, cripples our judgment, and puts the enemy in control. Although the feeling of fear may come upon us through no fault of our own, we are accountable for how we respond to it. Every single day Christians must make the decision to either walk by faith or walk in fear. Ann Voskamp says in her book One Thousand Gifts that trust takes effort; it must be intentional and focused. “Sometimes, too often, I don’t want to muster the energy,” she says. “Stress and anxiety seem easier.” She goes on to say one must be trained to walk in certain assurance, keeping our “gaze fixed on God”.¹

The Bible has equipped us with many weapons in the fight against fear. If we are to win the battle, we must employ the tactics of our Commander.

• Trust – Chose to remember Who is in control (Proverbs 3:5‐6)
• Prayer – Pour out your heart before God (Philippians 4:6‐7; 1 Peter 5:7)
• Scripture – Hide God’s Word in your heart to recall in time of need (Jeremiah 15:16; Psalm 37:31; Psalm 119:11)
• Holy Spirit – Rest in the comfort He provides (John 14:16 in KJV; Acts 9:31; Psalm 23:4)

Digging Deeper

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10, NASB

Each one of us has different fears in life and different “giants” we have to fight. Here are some areas that you may be struggling with fear in your life. Look down the list and look up any verses that fit with your personal circumstance. You will discover some great promises from our Heavenly Father!

• General anxiety – Philippians 4:6‐7, Lamentations 3:22‐23; Joshua 1:9
• Lack of confidence/fear of failure – 2 Timothy 1:7; Psalm 27:3; Mark 10:27
• Being punished for doing the right thing – Galatians 6:9; 1 Peter 3:14; Psalm 56:1‐4
• Hearing bad news – Psalm 112:7‐8 (NIV); Proverbs 3:25‐26
• Facing an unexpected crisis – Proverbs 3:25‐26; Psalm 46:1‐5
• Facing impossible odds – 2 Chronicles 20:15; Luke 1:37; Mark 4:37‐40
• Fear of the future – Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 78:52‐53; Matthew 28:20
• Fear of death – Psalm 23:4; Hebrews 2:14‐15
• Battling the enemy – Deuteronomy 20:1, 4; Psalm 46:1; Psalm 27:3
• Sharing the Gospel – Acts 4:29‐31, Acts 18:9; 2 Timothy 1:8‐12
• Facing life‐threatening persecution – Luke 12:4‐5; Luke 21:12‐19; Romans 8:35‐39; Psalm 56:4

¹One Thousand Gifts written by Ann Voskamp and published by Zondervan in 2010.

Whenever we come across a passage that mentions the will of God for our lives, it warrants our full attention. In this instance, God’s Word uses the terms sanctification and holiness, which may sound like lofty theological terms, but essentially mean that we are to be set apart, living to please God.

A quick check at dictionary.com tells us that holiness means: dedicated or devoted to the service of God; consecrated. And looking up sanctification, it says: to make holy; set apart as sacred; consecrate. It can also mean: to purify or free from sin. We get the word sanctuary from the same root, meaning a sacred or holy place, a refuge. The two concepts of holiness and sanctification are closely related terms. Sanctification is simply the process of becoming holy. One unknown author said it is “the Christianizing of the Christian”.

A Life‐Long Journey

“And having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness…so now present your members
as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.” Romans 6:18, 19b, NASB

Once we become Christians, and are given the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13‐14), we are taken through a life‐long process in which God makes us holy, like Him. Being set apart to Him essentially means we are aiming to not sin (through the help of the Holy Spirit) and to live a life that is honoring to God. We make ourselves separated from sin and separated unto God.

In Leviticus, the Israelites were told multiple times to consecrate themselves and be holy because the Lord was their God and He is holy (Lev. 11:44‐45; 19:2; 20:7; 20:26). In 1 Peter, we’re told not to conform to our former ways, before we were redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, but as obedient children we are to be holy “in all your behavior”…”like the Holy One who called you”. Peter then quotes Leviticus 11 when he gives the basis of why we should live holy lives, “because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:14‐19, NASB).

Time and again the Bible calls Christians to holiness. Here are a few more reasons it gives for living our lives as set apart to Christ.

• We are to be imitators of God, as His beloved children (Eph. 5:1).
• We are called to “live a life worthy of the calling [we] have received” (Eph. 4:1, NIV).
• We are “made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work” when we cleanse ourselves from evil desires (2 Tim. 2:19‐22). In other words, God can then use us for the building of His kingdom.
• Through our behavior, we are witnesses to those around us, in hopes that they too will come to a saving knowledge of Christ (1 Peter 1:14‐16; 2:12, 2:15, 3:1‐2).

This process of sanctification continues until we reach Heaven and have glorified, perfect bodies which cannot sin. In Exodus 31:13b, we see that God is the One who sanctifies us. So what tools does God use to transform us while on this earth?

• • The atoning work of the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross (Hebrews 10:10).
  • The transforming ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Romans 15:16).
  • The Word of God which cleanses and instructs us (Ephesians 5:26‐27; John 17:17‐19).
  • The encouragement and accountability of fellow believers (1 Thess. 5:11; Hebrews 3:13; Proverbs 27:17).

Our Response

“…but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts…”
1 Peter 3:15a, NASB

God isn’t asking us to change our habits so we’ll be able to live holy lives. It goes beyond habits and it goes beyond anything we can accomplish in our own strength. Sanctification is an inward change that has an outward effect. It takes the Holy Spirit changing our hearts in order to change our habits. Even so, living a life that is at odds with the ways of the world can be a struggle. How do we stay committed, as “slaves of righteousness“?

• • Bible study & prayer (Matthew 4:4; Romans 15:4; Mark 14:38)
  • Confessing sins, keeping a good conscience (1 Peter 3:15‐16; Romans 6:22; Psalm 51:2, 7)
  • Renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1‐2)
  • Living out our faith daily (Titus 2:11‐14; Isaiah 1:16‐17)
  • By not losing heart in doing good (Galatians 6:9)

Are there any things in your life that are causing you to not be set apart to God? Any unconfessed sin in your life? Any habits that you need to break, through the help of the Holy Spirit?

Sanctification is a day‐by‐day process. Make the commitment today to rely on God’s grace to bring about change in your life. When you fail, don’t be discouraged but remember that God knows our weaknesses. He has declared that holiness in our lives is His will, and He will never give up on accomplishing His will (1 Thess. 5:23‐24).

Digging Deeper

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image from 
glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” 2 Cor. 3:18, NASB

To dig deeper, take a few moments and read Ephesians 4. As you’re reading this chapter, list the ways that we are to be imitators of Christ and the worldly desires we must abandon in order to be set apart for Christ.

We have a spiritual epidemic spreading in our nation. It is impacting thousands of churches, leaving them unhealthy and unsuccessful in their Christ‐given mission to reach the world. One of them could be your home church. The cause of the problem? Allowing a worldly mind‐set to filter into an institution called to be set apart and holy (James 1:27, Titus 2:14, and 2 Cor. 6:16‐7:1).

Chuck Swindoll wrote a great book in 2010 called The Church Awakening: An Urgent Call for Renewal ¹ . In it, Pastor Chuck describes the warning signs of erosion in a church and compares the signs of a worldly church and a godly church. (This chart lists these characteristics, with a few additions of my own.) As Chuck Swindoll says, erosion is “slow…silent…and subtle”. We are called to guard against it. We must stop the inner drifting away from Biblical foundations.

This is quite a list! No church will rate perfectly in “the blue”, so there is always room to work towards improvement. The key is not to ignore areas that need improvement (1 Peter 5:8). Denial is one of the most dangerous attacks of the enemy because it allows him to keep chipping away at our churches unchallenged. The first step to solving a problem is to admit that a problem exists (and then, of course, you must do something about it).

Another way we can fight against the epidemic of worldliness in our churches is looking at Acts 2:42, part of the foundation of a church, “teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer”. Pastor Chuck says these are to be essentials, part of a church’s core. If they are not, the church is susceptible to getting off course and carelessly losing Jesus as their main focus. To stay healthy, a church must pursue the good just as strongly as it opposes the bad.

The Business Mindset

“But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation
other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold,
silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident…”
1 Corinthians 3:10 b‐13 a

Has your church let growth and numbers, marketing gimmicks, or a flood of “filler” activities become its main focus? Or does it seek to be contagious for the right reasons? It may be time to reevaluate our approach before erosion takes its toll. It’s essential to reach the unchurched, but we are headed down a slippery slope if we merely imitate the tactics of the world as we do so. So how do we make sure that we are building on the right foundation? We must follow a Christ‐centered example.

Operating a church like a business is not the method Christ modeled. He was interested in the depth of spiritual maturity of His disciples, not in the size of the institution. He didn’t use manipulative tactics, yet His message was still contagious. His impact on the lives around Him was long‐term. He did this through love and He provided what each of us needs most: a way to have a personal relationship with the Father. Bill Gothard says, “The source of our lights is the face of Jesus shining in us and upon us,” and that is exactly right. The tactics of the corporate world have no place in the church.

Matthew 21:12‐13 shows us exactly how Jesus felt when He saw the temple being treated like a place of business. It says:

“And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers
and the seats of those who were selling doves. And He said to them, ‘It is written,
“My house shall be called a house of prayer”; but you are making it a robbers’ den.’ “

Our churches are to be houses of prayer, teaching, worship, and fellowship. Jesus is to be our main focus. It’s that simple! Too many are exchanging the simplicity of Christ’s model for worldly sophistication, and they are getting empty results in the end.

Our Response

“Churches merely reflect the lives and convictions of those individuals who make up the body of Christ.
We can stem the tide of erosion only one life at a time — beginning with our own.”
~Chuck Swindoll ¹

The best way to guard against erosion in your church and spiritual life is to stay in the Word and keep your spirit focused on the Lord. This is how you keep worldliness from contaminating your spirit. Do some self‐examination. Check for areas of neglect in your spiritual walk. Are you staying the course that God has set for you? Are you living proof that there is power in the Word of God? If you are, then your testimony will attract the lost more than any marketing gimmick ever could!

As Bill Gothard says, “May God give us discernment to attract people by the brilliant light of Christ rather than the clever manipulation of deceptive lures!” We need to be spreading Christ’s love, not drawing people into a shallow devotion that will soon grow cold. This starts with our own spiritual walk.

We can’t walk in worldly ways and shine for Jesus (see 1 Peter 2:9‐12). We must wear the armor of light, as it says in Romans 13:12‐14, laying aside the deeds of darkness. We need a deep focus that is, as John Piper puts it, realigned to “white‐hot devotion to Jesus Christ…and unremitting labor to rescue the perishing, perfect the saints, and glorify our sovereign Lord.”

Amen, and amen!

¹ The Church Awakening: An Urgent Call for Renewal written by Charles R. Swindoll and published by FaithWords in 2010.

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Favor Defined

Favor is a concept that comes up during the Christmas season when reading the biblical story of the birth of Christ. Mary, Jesus’ mother, was one who found favor with God (Luke 1:26‐30), thus she was chosen to bear God’s one and only Son. I can’t wait to meet her in Heaven and hear her account of the story from a first person point‐of‐view!

There were also many other people in the Bible who, due to their devotion to God, were greatly blessed by Him. Here’s a list of some of those that the Bible specifically mentions found favor with God:

• Noah (Gen. 6:8‐9)
• Abraham (Gen. 18:3‐5)
• Joseph (Gen. 39:21, Acts 7:9‐10)
• Moses (Ex. 33:12‐14)
• The Israelites (Ps. 44:1‐3)
• Gideon (Jdg. 6:16‐18)
• Samuel (I Sam. 2:26)
• David (I Sam. 16:22, Acts 7:46)
• Esther (Esther 2:9 and 2:15)
• Daniel (Daniel 1:9)
• Zacharias & Elizabeth—parents of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5‐6)
• Jesus (Luke 2:52)

These biblical recipients of God’s favor were shown exceptional kindness, blessed beyond measure, and shown grace (all definitions of the word “favor”) because God was pleased with their faith, humility, and obedience (even in times of trials!). Modeling their examples in our own lives is a great challenge, but does God have more to say about how to find favor in His sight?

Finding God’s Favor

“The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him,
but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him.”
Ezra 8:22b, NASB

As Christians, we should faithfully live our lives focused on things above (Col. 3:1‐3), things not of this earth, living day to day in ways that please Him. It’s all about our lifestyle, pursuits, and making good choices.

Use the following list to rate how you are doing in living a life that pleases God. Look up the verses for the ones you still have a ways to go on and then spend some time in prayer asking the Lord to help you improve in those areas.

• Know and seek God (Prov. 8:35, Ex. 33:12‐14, Ezra 8:22b)
• Fear God (Ps. 147:11)
• Seek His favor with all of your heart (Ps. 119:58)
• Keep His commandments (Prov. 3:1‐4, Luke 1:5‐6, Luke 1:38, Daniel 9:13‐14)
• Turn from iniquity/sin (Daniel 9:13‐14)
• Grow in wisdom (Luke 2:52, Prov. 8:35, 14:35)
• Pray (2 Cor. 1:11, Job 33:26)
• Seek good and be kind (Prov. 11:27, Titus 3:8, Prov. 12:2, Prov. 3:3‐4)
• Be truthful (Prov. 3:3‐4)
• Patiently bear unjust hardships for God (1 Peter 2:19‐20)
• Help the helpless (Ps. 41:1‐2, Ps. 112:9, Matt. 25:34‐36)
• Find a good spouse (Prov. 18:22)
  *Not a requirement for all (for example: Jesus and Samuel)
• Have Humility (Luke 1:38a)
• Have Faith (Hebrews 11:1‐2 and 11: 6)

That last one, have faith, is especially important. The Bible dedicates an entire chapter (Heb. 11, the biblical “Hall of Faith”) to role models who pleased God and “gained approval through their faith” (v. 1‐2, 39). In fact, Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

Rewarded by God

“For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men?
If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10, NASB

While we should keep our hearts in check in our search for God’s favor, making sure we are aiming to please Him and not ourselves or man, the Bible gives us many examples of how God may bless you in your journey to live a life focused on pleasing Him. Such amazing blessings from our Heavenly Father!

• Gift of salvation (Ps. 106:4)
  *This cannot be earned by works, but must be received though faith (Eph. 2:8‐9)
• Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4‐7)
• All of our needs being met (Philippians 4:18‐19)
  *Not necessarily our wants but definitely our needs
• Grace (Ps. 119:58, Malachi 1:9a)
• Peace (Num. 6:24‐26)
• Blessings (Ps. 5:12, Job 10:12, Ps. 23:5‐6, Ruth 2:10‐13, Eph. 1:3)
• Compassion (Is. 60:10, Daniel 1:9)
• Protection (Ps. 5:12, Ps. 41:1‐2, Ps. 41:10‐11, Ps. 30:7a, Daniel 9:13‐14)
• It lasts a lifetime (Ps. 30:5)
• He prospers us (Gen. 39:2‐4, Deut. 33:23
  *Not always materially
• Favor with others (Acts 2:46‐47, Ex. 3:21 and 11:3, Daniel 1:9)
• He establishes our work (Ps. 90:17)

It is important to remember that finding favor with God does not give us a free pass to an easy life. Go back to the list of Bible characters in the first portion of this lesson and think about how many trials those favored people endured. As one website puts it, “God sometimes takes those He loves through special trials. Job is the primary example but similar instances happen in the lives of many”. Moses also thought he had not found favor with God because of the burden he endured with the stubborn people of Israel (see Num. 11:11). When you have a heart after God’s own heart, He may choose to use you in ways that may be hard, yet significant in the eyes of eternity.

Our Response

“For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name.”
Luke 1:49, NASB

When God finds His children living their lives for Him and those around them, He usually grants them favor. Our response should be to praise Him and spread the news of His goodness and salvation with others.

• Mary exalted the Lord (Luke 1:46‐49)
• Zacharias praised God (Luke 1:64 and 1:68)
• Isaiah took the good news to the afflicted, brokenhearted, captives, and prisoners (Is. 61:1)
• The First Century church preached the good news with a focus on prayer and praise for God, and He added to their numbers daily (Acts 2:47)

Will our response be like the saints in Hebrews 11:7‐40? They were made strong from their weaknesses (v. 34) because of their faith; they found favor with God and were greatly blessed. But, it’s not only Bible characters that can receive God’s favor. May we all keep running “with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus” (Heb. 12:1‐2a)!

It’s been said that the first five books of the Bible, also known as the Pentateuch, form the theological foundation of the Bible.

In the past few months, I’ve been journeying through these books and have learned so much about God’s character and love for mankind, even when we least deserve it. If it has been a while since you last read the books of Genesis through Deuteronomy, hopefully this article will be an inspiration for you to rediscover this sometimes neglected part of God’s Word.

In The Beginning…

“So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer.
For the Lord your God is the God of gods
and the Lord of lords…” Deuteronomy 10:16-17a

God has a plan for His people. From the creation of the earth, God has been transforming messes into masterpieces. Reading through Genesis is a great reminder that God can use any person for His purposes. It also reminds me that navigating this life is so much easier when I follow God’s plan instead of letting my sin nature get in the way. Can you recall any characters from Genesis who learned this lesson the hard way?

• Adam & Eve (Gen 3)

  Forced to leave “Heaven on Earth” due to disobedience.

• Cain (Gen 4)

  Let jealousy get in the way and received a curse for killing his brother.

• Noah (Gen 6-9)

  His family were the only people that God saved from the flood, but they still weren’t perfect…check out what happened when Noah got drunk in Genesis 9!

• Tower of Babel (Gen 11)

  The descendants of Noah try to make a name for themselves and God has to intervene.

• Abram/Abraham (Gen 12 and 20)

  Had a lying problem, got in trouble for it, didn’t learn his lesson, and tells the lie again to someone else. (And eventually his son repeats the bad habit! See Genesis 26.)

• Sarai/Sarah (Gen 16)

  Fails to wait on God’s timing and plan for her life, a mistake that still impacts our world today!

• The townspeople of Sodom & Gomorrah (Gen 18-19)

  Destroyed for their “exceedingly grave” sins.

• Jacob (Gen 27)

  Deceives his dad, Isaac, and steals Esau’s blessing. (There’s that lying issue again!)

• Jacob’s household (Gen 35)

  Has to be cleansed of foreign gods.

• Joseph’s brothers (Gen 37)

  Hated their brother so much that some wanted to kill him, but they were persuaded to sell him into slavery.

• And, then there are all the sexual impurities! (Gen 16, 19, 34, 35:22, 38)

Blessed for Obedience

“Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always,
that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!”
Deuteronomy 5:29

Once past Genesis, we enter the part of the Pentateuch that details the journey of the people of Israel as they travel to the Promised Land. Two concepts stand out to me in this part of the Pentateuch. First, God’s love is so great for this extremely stubborn people. Second, God desires for His children to obey Him so that protection and blessings can follow.

I’ll admit that these four books were at times tiring to read. It seemed that the same themes kept repeating themselves…the children of Israel would rebel, be punished, humble themselves, only to rebel again. Also, there were so many rules given! In the end, I realized that this repetition demonstrates the love God was showing this stiff-necked people by giving them such grace, mercy, and protection.

1. God’s Love

Here are some of the passages that tugged at my heart, showing God’s great love and patience:

• • God hears the groaning of His children (Ex 2:23-25)
  • The Golden Calf (Ex 32:7-14)
  • The 10 Commandments are given a second time! (Ex 34:6-7)
  • Moses talks God out of destroying His rebellious people (Num 14:11-23)
  • The people are punished, and yet again rescued by God (Num 21:4-9)
  • Future rebellion is predicted and future restoration is promised (Deut. 30:1-6)
  • God knew these people would continue to rebel, and He would continue to show mercy and deliverance!

2. God Desires Obedience

Here is an overview of the correspondence between obedience and blessings or disobedience/unbelief and curses:

• • The Egyptians doubt God’s power and fail to worship the one true God (Ex 9:14-16, 29, 30)
  • God’s children are blessed by the Egyptians through God’s hand of provision (Ex 11:2-3)
  • The Lord fought for His children…again and again! (Exodus 14:13, 14, 25, 31 and Ex 33:2, Deut 3:22, Deut 9:3, Deut 20:1&4, Deut 31:3-6)
  • God promises to be their Healer, if His children follow His commands (Ex 15:26)
  • God promises compassion when His children rebelliously turn from their God (Deut 4:29-31, 40)

Digging Deeper

“The Lord has today declared you to be His people, a treasured possession,
as He promised you, and that you should keep all His commandments…
that you shall be a consecrated people to the Lord your God, as He has spoken.”
Deuteronomy 26:18, 19b

So, what if you and I were part of the journey that began with Abraham and ended with Moses on the border of the Promised Land, not able to enter due to previous sin? Would we have been a rebellious people, too? I’d like to think I would have been among the faithful, but when I see the sin nature of those great Biblical heroes of Genesis or the children of Israel, I know my own shortcomings don’t lie far from theirs.

We all have the choice to obey fully and follow after God with all our heart, soul, and might (Deut. 6:5). Sure, our sin nature will get in the way at times, but thankfully we have a Master Artist as a Heavenly Father, who can turn our messes into masterpieces! Will you follow His plan for your life today?

Take the time now to read two final passages from the Pentateuch: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Leviticus 26. As you do, check yourself. Now is the time to “circumcise” our hearts and follow a better path towards blessings.

As we interact with people throughout our week, sometimes it’s easy to notice a difference between those who have peace, security, hope, and joy flowing from their lives, and those who seem anxious, fearful, empty, and stressed out. Many times this disparity comes down to the simple matter of whether that person is operating their life in the will of God.

So what is the will of God and how do we make sure that we are living in it?

Defining God’s Will for Your Life

“Out of the will of God there is no such thing as success;
in the will of God there cannot be any failure.”
~Author Unknown

God has a specific plan for your life that will bring you the greatest blessing and fulfillment—in other words, God’s will for your life.

On the macro level, He has given all of us commands that, when obeyed, will keep our life on the right track (Eccl. 12:13‐14, James 4:17). On the micro level, the Bible doesn’t tell us who to marry, which job to take, or how much money to put into our savings account each month. So how do we survive the day‐to-day, specific decisions that life throws at us?

God has given us a powerful set of tools to help us discern the right path to take when we have a decision to make:

• The Holy Spirit, who guides us to the truth (John 16:13‐15, Psalm 143:10)
• The Holy Spirit also empowers you to break free from sin and its destructive consequences (Romans 8:1‐2, 12‐13)
• The Holy Bible, which gives us direction (Ps. 119:105, 2 Tim. 3:16‐17)
• “Prayer partners”, who can pray for you to be filled with the knowledge of His will in order to walk in His ways (Colossians 1:9‐10)
• Spiritual counselors, who help us recognize and follow His plans (Proverbs 15:22)

If you are wrestling with a big decision, you may find that you have more than one option that will bring God glory and fit with Biblical principles. How can it be possible for more than one alternative to be “in God’s will for my life”? Theologians call this the permissible will of God. In other words, God created you with free will and He expects you to exercise it within His boundaries.

The bottom line is that we need to be faithful in using the tools that God has given us, and He will lead us onto a path that brings Him glory.

Our Response

“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God;
let Your Spirit lead me on level ground.”
Psalm 143:10

To put a spin on Dave Ramsey’s famous saying at the end of his radio show each weekday: there’s ultimately only one way to live a life of peace, and that’s to walk daily with the Prince of Peace, Christ Jesus. This too is the first step to knowing God’s will for your life. If you are not focusing on God and making Him the top priority in your life (Matthew 22:37‐38, Proverbs 3:5‐6), then you won’t be tuned in with His Spirit when you need to know the next step to take in life. The most important step is earnestly seeking Him (through prayer and reading His Word) day by day.

Another thing to keep in mind is that we are on this earth for the sole purpose of bringing God glory (I Cor. 10:31). Knowing God’s will becomes a lot easier when you keep that in perspective. We have daily choices to make in life with, at times, an overwhelming number of options. It is helpful to merely seek out the choice that will bring Him the most glory and have an eternal impact, and then be willing to follow through in obedience.

The Sabbath is being observed less and less with the passing of each century in the United States. In colonial days, the colonists enacted the first “blue law”, which used the militia to enforce church attendance. (If you think that’s extreme, consider the Old Testament punishment for working on the Sabbath in Exodus 31:14‐15.) Many other “blue laws” followed over the next 400 years. These laws prohibited certain activities (especially retail sales) in an attempt to make people spend time in church and rest, rather than working on Sundays. According to Wikipedia, most of these laws have now been repealed. But why did our forefathers put such a special emphasis on Sunday in the first place?

In the 10 Commandments, we are commanded to “remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” and “in it you shall not do any work” (Exodus 20:8, 9). Many Christians live their lives at an unsustainable pace with nary an empty square on their calendars. God knows we all need down‐time in a world that constantly invites us to overcommit, so He gave us a great gift to refresh us, the Sabbath.

Balancing Life’s Demands

“‘You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you
throughout your generations…as a perpetual covenant.’
It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth,
but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.” Exodus 31:13b, 16b‐17

In a world that seems to necessitate not just hard work, but workaholism, meals‐on‐the‐go, and a constant flow of media, it can be difficult to realize when you’re stretched too thin. At some point, we need a break from the noise, a retreat to “recharge our batteries”. If we’re not careful, our emotional or physical health will throw us a warning sign that we need some boundaries, and the sooner the better! Also, our marriages and families need time together to reconnect. Thankfully God directed us to a better way of life, one that is not dictated by the priorities of our culture.

My wife recently read the book 10 Smart Things Women Can Do To Build A Better Life. The author, Donna Carter, says the Sabbath is “a commandment designed to make us more effective and available to the people around us and to help us build better lives.” It may seem illogical that taking a day off can make you more productive. You might be thinking, “I’ll just get more behind on _______ (fill in the blank) if I take a day off each week.” However, every step of obedience also requires a step of faith. We must believe that God, as our Creator, knows what is best for us. Carter also says, “We experience life like someone watching a parade. We see one event at a time with no idea of what is coming around the bend…[God] is in a much better position to judge what is best for you and for me.”

Our Response

“I just continue to believe that if God is able to make 90 percent of a tithing person’s
salary go further than 100 percent, He is able to make six days better than seven.”
~David Green, owner of Hobby Lobby (which closes on Sundays)

In Judaism, the Shabbat (Hebrew for rest, a.k.a. the Sabbath) is the last day of the week and the most important holy day on their calendar. Unfortunately they have overshadowed it with legalism, creating 39 categories of work that are forbidden on this holy day. As Believers, we have the blood of Christ covering our sins so the Law has been fulfilled (Matt. 5:17‐19) and we are no longer slaves to the Law. Observing the Lord’s day should not cause quarrels over what is or is not allowed (Rom. 14:1‐6). Rather, as with all of God’s commands, we should focus on obedience in our hearts, not only with our outward actions.

It is critical to understand why God gives us boundaries. God is love, which means He wants to protect us from harm. Once we make this connection, we will see the Sabbath as a blessing rather than a burden (1 John 5:3). It may take some time to readjust your priorities, but don’t get discouraged. In the end, the things that you give up to observe this day of rest may not seem so significant after all.

Digging Deeper

“Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always,
that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!” Deut. 5:29

From the time of Moses to the New Church, the Bible has many examples of people who observed the Sabbath and were blessed, or failed to keep the Sabbath and were punished.

Take some time to look up the following passages or do a search online to see what else Scripture says about the Lord’s day. What can you take away from these verses to apply in your own life?

• Genesis 2:1‐3
• Exodus 16:22‐30
• Deuteronomy 5:1, 12‐15, 29
• Nehemiah 13:1‐18
• Isaiah 58:13‐14

Misconceptions About Salvation

“He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does
not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the
name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
1 John 5:12‐13

The Bible describes salvation in very simple terms, yet there are still some common misconceptions.

Confusing the results with the cause. When a person comes to faith in Jesus, their life is bound to change. The Holy Spirit will begin making them more like Christ. They ought to obey the commands of Christ, such as being baptized as a sign of their faith. These things are the natural result of salvation, but they are not requirements in order to achieve salvation, which is “not as a result of works” (Ephesians 2:9).

Good deeds vs. bad deeds. Many people believe that you only get into Heaven if your good deeds outweigh your bad ones, despite the fact that this concept is nowhere in Scripture. This gives people the vague idea that they might be okay because they’ve lived a decent life. If you’re still holding on to this mentality, look up the Scripture references in Part 1 of this study. No one is good enough to make it on their own, and no one is bad enough that Jesus’ sacrifice cannot cover their sin.

The Old and New Testaments have conflicting versions of salvation. This myth stems from the idea that people in the Old Testament were saved by keeping the law. In truth, the law merely highlighted the need for salvation (Romans 3:19‐20); salvation has always come through faith (Hebrews 11). The only difference since the New Testament is that God has fully revealed His plan of redemption, which means that we are blessed with, and accountable for, a deeper knowledge of His grace.

Can I lose my salvation? People asking this question usually want to know if they can lose their salvation on accident by messing up really badly. The answer is no. God offered us forgiveness even though He knew about all our future sins, and those are also covered by the blood of Christ. Romans 8:38‐39 reassures us that nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus. (Also see John 10:28‐29.)

There are many roads to salvation. Scripture testifies that salvation is found in Christ alone (John 3:17‐18; Acts 4:12) and Jesus asserts that “no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). Even the Old Testament saints, though they didn’t have all the details, had faith in God’s mercy and grace for redemption. Now that God has revealed the full plan, we are all the more accountable.

The Redeemed Life

The most immediate facet of salvation is the part about being saved from judgement in Hell. That is certainly good news in and of itself, but that’s not where the Gospel ends. Salvation initiates a process of restoration to God’s original design. In that design, humans are meant to:

1. Have a close, worshipful, and loving relationship with their Creator (Gen. 3:8 implies that God literally walked with man before the fall. See also Galatians 4:4‐7; 1 Cor. 1:9.)
2. Interact with each other as members of a loving family (Mark 10:29‐30; John 13:34‐35)
3. Always do what is right and pleasing to God (Matt. 5:48; Romans 12:1; Col. 1:9‐10)
4. Undertake the challenging and rewarding work of managing the creation (Gen. 1:28; Eccl. 2:24)
5. Live abundantly and eternally (John 3:16, 10:10)

In a Christian’s earthly lifespan, all of those points will be accomplished partially, but none of them fully. This process of spiritual maturing is known as sanctification, and it includes all of the learning, growing, struggling, suffering, and healing that makes us more like Christ. Chuck Swindoll writes, “the conversion of the soul is the miracle of a moment, but the making of a saint is the task of a lifetime.”

So why doesn’t God make His followers perfect the instant they believe? For one thing, we get to experience a unique perspective on God’s grace. When we stumble, His mercy is magnified. When we are victorious—even in our current imperfect state—the power of the Holy Spirit is shown in us. He leaves us weak so that we can experience His strength.

Another reason for our delayed perfection is that we get the chance to work, struggle, and fight for the right things, now that we know what those things are. Jesus promises to reward those who suffer for Him (Matt. 5:11‐12) and do good works in His name (Matt. 10:42). Our remaining earthly lives allow us time to store up treasure in Heaven (Matt. 6:19‐21). Such rewards are separate from and in addition to salvation (1 Cor. 3:12 -15).

For now, God has delivered us from the power of sin, but not from it’s influence. He has given us new spiritual life, but He has not yet removed physical death from the equation. Ultimately, it is God’s place to decide when and how we are finally made complete, and He has chosen the method that He knows will make us most like His Son.

Eternity: The Big Picture

The aspect of salvation that I find most exciting is the part that most Christians think and talk about the least: eternity. This is where it all comes together, where all the mysteries are revealed and where all the wrongs are righted (Rev. 21:4). The five components of God’s original design listed above are brought to fulfillment and the whole scope of God’s plan of redemption finally comes into view. God does not merely save random individuals for eternal preservation in a heavenly lounge room with fluffy cloud sofas; He is redeeming all of creation (Romans 8:19‐23), starting at the top with man and continuing until the very foundations of the earth have been remade in the last days (Rev. 21:1). This will not be a trivial remodel; the formation of the New Earth will be a scene to rival the original acts of creation, and every Christian will be there to see it. God’s people will likewise be new creations, given bodies like that of the risen Jesus, no longer subject to sickness or death or even temptation (1 Cor. 15:42‐55). Heaven and earth will be one in the same. Jesus Himself will be the king who rules the earth, not just in a spiritual sense, but in a literal, physical sense (Rev. 21:22‐22:5). The world will be perfect. Forever. That is the ultimate conclusion of the Gospel.

Digging Deeper

The concept of eternity in the new Heaven‐on‐Earth is far beyond the scope of this lesson. Fortunately, Randy Alcorn has written a book called Heaven which presents a powerful, insightful, and exhaustive look at our eternal home. It is highly recommended reading for anyone who wants to get a better grasp on the final result of salvation.

This page contains affiliate link(s) from ChristianBook.com. If you choose to make a purchase, your price will not be affected and we receive a small commission. Thank you for your support!

Of all the doctrines of the Christian faith and all the truths contained in Scripture, perhaps the most essential—and the most amazing—is the gift of salvation. Unfortunately, this topic is often distorted with legalistic rules, or worse, it is watered down until it looses its true power and meaning. When I hear professing Christians say, “All we can do is hope we get to Heaven one day,” it shows there are some serious misunderstandings about what it means to be “saved.” The salvation taught by Jesus (and made possible through Him) is both simple enough for a child to understand and powerful enough to change the universe.

Back to the Basics

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance:
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners‐ of whom I am the worst.”
I Timothy 1:15

Before digging into the what and the how of salvation, let’s take a moment to consider the why. In this age of moral relativism, the concept of sin is denounced as unenlightened, and the idea that a loving God would punish “sinners” is considered impossible simply because it is unpopular. Yet the Bible makes it clear that all people, aside from Jesus Himself, have fallen short of God’s standard of righteousness—that is, we have all sinned (Romans 3:10‐12, 23), and all sin has fatal consequences (Genesis 2:16‐17; Romans 6:23). God, because He is perfectly holy and just, will not allow any sin to exist without the due penalty (Isaiah 13:9‐13).

If that was the end of the story, then every human being who ever lived would be condemned to death and eternal separation from God, and God’s original intentions for His creation would have been defeated. But God was not surprised by sin, nor were His purposes thwarted by it. From the very beginning (2 Timothy 1:9‐10), He had a plan to restore sinful people back into a relationship with Him:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Jesus came to earth, lived a sinless life, and suffered an execution designed for the worst of criminals. In doing so, He paid the penalty for the sins of all who would believe in Him (1 Peter 3:18). Then He rose from the dead, having earned what He already owned: authority over all things, including death.

Our Response

“Since no man is excluded from calling upon God the gate of salvation is
open to all. There is nothing else to hinder us from entering,
but our own unbelief.” ~John Calvin

Now that we’ve reviewed why every person needs salvation and what Jesus did to make it possible, how does it actually work? What must a person do to be saved? Many verses in the Bible answer this question, but my favorite is Romans 10:9 (see beginning of post). Let’s look at that verse step by step:

• “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord” – This means that you acknowledge Jesus’ authority over you and you are willing to be identified with Him (Matthew 10:32‐33).
• “believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead” – You have faith that Jesus really did die and rise again, and that His sacrifice paid the penalty for your sins so that you can be forgiven. This faith only comes from a repentant heart—you can’t truly accept forgiveness if you are not sorry for the wrongs you have done (Mark 1:14‐15).
• “you will be saved” – Your sins are forgiven, you are guaranteed eternal life in the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:50‐54), and you are counted as a child of God and a co‐heir of Jesus (Galations 4:4‐7). In other words, you’re in.

Notice that there are no physical actions or special words required in the process. Salvation is truly a matter of faith. The Apostle Paul writes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8‐9). God has done all the work; we merely receive the gift through faith.

Digging Deeper

Next week, we’ll dig further into salvation, exploring some common misconceptions and taking a look at what a redeemed life looks like, both now and in eternity.

If you are reading this blog post and you have never put your faith in Jesus Christ (that is, you have not repented of your sin, accepted His forgiveness, and acknowledged Him as Lord), but you want to take that step, I encourage you to watch this short video with pastor Greg Laurie. He will lead you in a prayer that can help you express that decision of faith.

(If you’re not comfortable praying with a YouTube video, you can simply talk to God on your own, right where you are. If you want a real person to pray with you, then find your way to any Christian church and the people there will be absolutely thrilled to help you.)

As a child, I was blessed to attend the AWANA program at my church (an international church‐club for kids) that challenged me to hide God’s Word in my heart. I can still quote some of these scriptures today.

Unfortunately, like so many adults, I have not consistently continued the spiritual discipline of memorizing Scripture. This blog post is a challenge to me, you, and all the Christians out there who know they should be memorizing Scripture but just aren’t practicing the habit.

It’s time for a spiritual work‐out!

What the Bible says…

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither;
and in whatever he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:2‐3, NASB

When reading the New Testament, one thing that should jump off the page and challenge us all to start memorizing Scripture is the amount of Scripture that Jesus and the leaders of the early church knew and used in their ministries. In Acts 7, Stephen gave an amazing summary of part of the Old Testament, from Abraham to Solomon, quoting sections of God’s Word from Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, and even Amos! Paul knew the Scriptures so well that God used him to reason, explain, and prove that Jesus was the Messiah to unbelievers across the Roman Empire (see Acts 13 & 17 and Romans 9 &10). Peter also quotes many references from the Old Testament in the book of 1 Peter and remembers the words of Christ in a time of need (Acts 11:16‐18). If we are to be used by God with maximum effectiveness, we must know His Word.

We are in fact commanded to memorize Scripture. God knew we needed the Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) to win the battle against the enemy of this world. God tells us to “stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (Eph. 6:11) by having the Sword (and other armor of God) ready at all times. Check out these verses that tell us to have Scriptures ready to use:

• Deuteronomy 6:6‐7 and 11:18‐21 – Commanded to memorize and teach the Word to our children
• Joshua 1:7‐8 – Meditate on the Word day and night “so that you may have success wherever you go”
• Ephesians 6:10‐17 – Armor of God
• 2 Timothy 2:15 – Be diligent, ready to accurately handle the Word of Truth

Once you grow in your knowledge of God’s Word, having studied it and hid it in “your heart” (Deut. 6:6, Job 22:22, Ps. 37:31, Ps. 119:11), you will be amazed at how many opportunities you have to use it for the benefit of others and yourself. God promises that His Word will not return to Him empty, but it will accomplish what He desires (Isaiah 55:10‐12, NASB). Here are some of the ways that memorizing Scripture will be useful in your life:

• Psalm 119:9‐11 – It keeps us from sinning (which enables us to have a closer relationship with God). It is our most powerful tool in the battle against sin!
• Hebrews 4:12 – Judges our “thoughts and intentions of the heart”
• Jeremiah 15:16 – Gives us joy
• John 15:7 – Guides and empowers our prayer life
• Psalm 119:105 – Guides our decision making
• Psalm 19:7‐8 – Restores, gives wisdom, and gives joy
• Colossians 3:16 – Helps us comfort and counsel friends and family
• 1 Peter 3:15 – Sharing the Gospel

Our Response

“But He answered and said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live on bread alone,
but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” ‘ ”
Matthew 4:4, NASB

Chuck Swindoll has said, “No other single exercise [than memorizing Scripture] pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified.”

The way to get these kinds of dividends is to memorize one verse at a time. It’s like the old proverb of how to eat an elephant, take it one bite at a time. Simply pick one verse and master it. After that, pick another. Keep reviewing the first one as you learn the second, so you don’t forget it, and keep this pattern going as often as you can.

During the times of my life where I have consistently practiced this routine, I found the further I went the easier it was to keep memorizing. Not only did it get easier, I started seeing daily life applications and having conversations where I began to use the verses that I had just memorized. Once you have the Word of God in your heart, you’ll wonder how you ever did without it!

Our Target is Obedience

God does not take disobedience lightly. Jesus taught that to love God is to obey His commands, but to disobey is the equivalent of not loving Him (John 14:15, 23‐24). Unfortunately, because of our sin nature, we try to justify doing what we shouldn’t—or not doing what we ought to. Sometimes we don’t even know God’s Word thoroughly enough to recognize the difference.

Just as a loving parent sets up boundaries in their home for the safety and well being of their
children (physically, emotionally, and spiritually), God has given us commands out of His love
for us. God promises blessings for His children who hear His Word and observe what it says (Luke 11:28 and James 1:25).

God’s blessings for our obedience include:

• having peace and joy (Ps. 119:111, 165; John 15:10‐11; Isaiah 48:17‐18 NIV)
• knowing the right path to take in life (Ps. 119:105, 128, 133)
• living a long life and having future generations come to know the Lord (Deut. 6:1‐2 NASB)
• being equipped for doing ministry (2 Tim. 3:16‐17)
• or simply avoiding the consequences of disobedience (Deut. 11:26‐28)

The most important part of being obedient to God is that it shows Him love (2 John 1:6) and brings Him glory (Exodus 19:5 and 1 Peter 2:11‐12).

God’s Commands

“But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty,
and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer
but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.”
James 1:25, NASB

The Bible is full of commands and teachings to guide our lives. Reflect on this partial list and
honestly ask yourself, “Are there any areas where I’m not being fully obedient?”

• Repent and trust in Jesus for salvation (1 John 1:9, Romans 10:9)
• Be imitators of God and make Him your highest priority (Eph. 5:1, 8 and Matt. 6:33)
• Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deut. 6:4‐6, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27)
• Be rooted in Him (Colossians 2:6‐7, Psalm 1:1‐3)
• Aim for moral excellence (2 Peter 1:5, 1 Peter 2:11‐12, Philippians 4:8, Ephesians 5:3‐8)
• Abstain from every form of evil (1 Thess. 5:22)
• Obey the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:1‐18)
• Practice the Fruit of the Spirit, not their fleshly opposites (Galatians 5:19‐26, Eph. 5:9)
• Tell others about Jesus and make disciples (Matt. 28:19‐20, Acts 1:8)
• Care for the poor, orphans, and widows (Deut. 15:11, Isaiah 1:17, James 1:27, 1 John 3:17‐18)
• Rejoice always (I Thess. 5:16, Philippians 4:4)
• Pray without ceasing (I Thess. 5:17, Philippians 4:6, Ephesians 6:18)
• Give thanks in everything (I Thess. 5:18, Philippians 4:6, Ephesians 5:20)
• Let peace rule in your heart (Colossians 3:15, Philippians 4:7)
• Cast all your anxiety on Him (1 Peter 5:7, Matt. 6:26‐34, Philippians 4:6)
• Do everything without grumbling or disputing (Philippians 2:14‐15)
• Don’t be lazy (Proverbs 10:4‐5, 6:6‐11)
• Serve each other in humility and brotherly kindness (Philippians 2:3‐11, 5:21 and 2 Peter 1:7)
• Treat others as you want to be treated (Matt. 7:12, Luke 10:27b)
• Deal with others in love and forgiveness (John 15:9‐14, Colossians 3:12‐14, Mark 11:25‐26)
• Practice love and respect in your marriage (Eph. 5:22‐23, Colossians 3:18‐19)
• Don’t exasperate your children (Colossians 3:21, Eph. 6:4)

If you are abiding in Christ, then doing what is right will be the fruit that naturally comes from your life (John 15:1‐8). Otherwise it can be intimidating, and even discouraging, to look at a list of commands and try to accomplish them in your own strength. Remember, obedience is about expressing love to God, and love is a matter of the heart. When your heart changes, your outward actions are sure to follow.

Our Response

“You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him;
and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice,
serve Him, and cling to Him.” Deuteronomy 13:4, NASB

For Christians who have developed the discipline of studying the Bible, it is important to not just seek knowledge. The Pharisees showed us what happens to a person who has religious knowledge, without spiritual transformation and heart‐felt obedience. We must not only study and hear the Word of God, we must also do what it says. James says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22, NIV 1984)

Obedience isn’t always easy, but we have been given a Helper who will enable us to do what is right, and we will reap blessings for our obedience (Luke 11:28, James 1:25, Psalm 112:1)!

Digging Deeper

“Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.
My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.”
Psalm 119:111‐112, NIV 1984

The Bible is overflowing with verses about obedience (and the blessings that follow for God’s
children). Spend some time right now soaking up what it truly means to live according to His
Word.

• I John 5:3
• Psalm 119
• I Samuel 15:22‐23
• Job 23:10‐12
• Psalm 19:7‐11
• James 1:22‐25

“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.” Matthew 28:19‐20, NASB

It seems that the Holy Spirit (also known as the Holy Ghost) is the least talked about and most misunderstood part of the Trinity. How would you explain the attributes of the Holy Spirit if asked by a co‐worker who is honestly seeking to know more about Him? As a starting point of explaining the full potential Christians have in living by the Spirit, here’s the basics you need to know about the Trinity.

• We worship one God (Deut. 6:4, 1 Tim. 2:5, and John 10:30), who reveals Himself as three distinct persons (Matt. 3:16‐17). Thus He is called a Triune God.
• The three identities of God are (see Matt. 28:19 and 2 Cor. 13:14): God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
• One of the simplest ways to explain the complex theology of the Trinity is to think of the different roles you play as one person. A woman may be a wife, mother, sister, and daughter, each with uniquely different roles yet she is still just one being. (Though this is still a flawed illustration, hopefully it helps.)

The Holy Spirit’s Attributes

“Then he said to me, ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying,
“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts.’” Zechariah 4:6, NASB

So how do we get the Holy Spirit and what does He do? Before Jesus was glorified (raised from the dead and ascended to Heaven), the Holy Spirit is only seen in Scripture working through the lives of certain faithful Believers. Starting on the day of Pentecost (John 7:38‐39 and Acts 2:1‐4), the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Church on an unprecedented scale. The Helper had come, just as Jesus promised (John 14:16‐17), and now all Believers receive the Holy Spirit when they get saved (Acts 2:38).

These are the roles the Holy Spirit plays in a Believer’s life:

• He gives liberty/freedom from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1‐2, Rom. 8:15‐16, 2 Cor. 3:17‐18, and Titus 3:5)
• He seals our salvation (Eph. 1:13 and 4:30; John 3:5; Romans 8:9 and 15‐16; and 2 Cor. 1:21‐22)
• He dwells in Believers; we are a temple of God (I Cor. 3:16 and 6:19‐20)
• He is omnipresent/always with you (Ps. 139:7, Joshua 1:9, Haggai 2:5, and John 14:17)
• Our Comforter (Acts 9:31, John 14:16 in KJV)
• Our Guide (John 16:13, Ps. 143:10, and Rom. 8:14)
• Our Helper (John 14:16‐17, 14:26, 15:26, and 16:7)
• Our Teacher, instructs us and reminds us of the teachings of Christ (John 14:26, 1 Cor. 2:10‐16, Nehemiah 9:20, and Ezekiel 36:27)
• Spirit of Truth, guides us into truth (John 14:17, 15:26, and 16:13)
• Spirit of Wisdom (Isaiah 11:2, Eph. 1:17, Mark 13:11, and 1 Cor. 12:8)
• Spirit of Power (Acts 1:8)
• Spirit of Grace (Heb. 10:29 and Zech. 12:10)
• He gives us rest (Isaiah 63:14)
• He gives us joy (I Thess. 1:6, Luke 10:21, and Acts 13:52)
• He gives us hope (Romans 15:13)
• He gives us life and peace (Romans 8:6, 2 Cor. 3:6, and John 6:63)
• He gives spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:8‐11, 28; Romans 12:6‐8; Eph. 4:11‐12; and 1 Peter 4:10)
• He intercedes for us in prayer (Romans 8:26‐27)
• He admonishes us and convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment (Neh. 9:30 and John 16:7‐11)

The first thing that probably comes to mind when considering the Holy Spirit working in Believers’ lives is the fruit (character traits) that flows from them when they are “living by the Spirit”. Remember those? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self‐control (Galatians 5: 22‐23). Travis Agnew states, “If you desire to see the fruit of the Spirit in your life, then release control of every area. Allow the Spirit of God to guide your steps, thoughts, habits, and actions, and you will begin to see His fruit.” ¹

Examples in the Bible

We see many examples in God’s Word of lives being impacted by the Holy Spirit. God’s people were given extra protection, they prophesied, did signs and wonders, and were delivered in ways that no man could ever accomplish in his own strength.

As David Platt says in his book Radical, “God delights in using ordinary Christians who come to the end of themselves and choose to trust in His extraordinary provision. He stands ready to allocate His power to all who are radically dependent on Him and radically devoted to making much of Him”. ²

Let’s look back at some of those who were touched by God’s Spirit:

• Bezalel, in order to do craftsmanship for God’s tabernacle (Ex. 31:1‐5)
• 70 elders, who prophesied to the people of Israel (Numbers 11:25)
• Joshua, in succeeding Moses as leader of Israel (Numbers 27:18)
• Gideon, in preparation to deliver Israel (Judges 6:34)
• Jephthah, given protection in time of war (Judges 11:29)
• Samson, who delivered Israel from the Philistines (Judges 13:25 and 14:19)
• Saul, at various times before and after becoming king of Israel (1 Samuel 10:10, 11:6, and 16:14)
• David, anointed as king of Israel (1 Sam. 16:13)
• Mary, in her conception of Jesus (Matt. 1:19‐20)
• Zacharias, prophesized about his son John (Luke 1:67‐79)
• John the Baptist, to prepare the people for the Lord’s coming (Luke 1:15‐17)
• Simeon, in prophesying to Jesus’ earthly parents (Luke 2:25‐33)
• Saul, missionary of the Gospel (Acts 9:17‐18 and 13:2)
• The Early Church, doing signs, wonders, and miracles (Heb. 2:4)
• Writers of the Bible, moved/inspired to write the words of God (2 Peter 1:20‐21 and Acts 1:16, 20/Ps. 109:8)
• And, most importantly, Jesus Christ (Luke 3:21‐23, Luke 4:1, Matthew 3:16‐17, Matthew 4:1, and Isaiah 11:2)

Our Response: Being Filled with the Spirit

“…we were created for a purpose much greater than ourselves, the kind of purpose
that can only be accomplished in the power of His Spirit.” ~David Platt ²

As in the lives of the Bible characters above, we too can live an abundant life, when filled with the Spirit. When Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit in John 7:37‐39, He says Believers will have “rivers of living water” flowing from within them. It’s not enough to just get saved and receive the Holy Spirit, there should be evidence that we are daily walking in, living by, and being led by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16, 25 and Romans 8:14). Travis Agnew explains, “In reality, Spirit‐led people are not those who have more of the Spirit, the Spirit simply has more of them.” ¹

This means that we are to allow the Spirit to take control of every area of our life and to present our bodies as living and holy sacrifices, in order to please God (Romans 12:1). And what are the things that please God? Resisting temptation, obeying His commands, helping those in need, sharing the Gospel, and many other things that characterize the Christian life. The Holy Spirit is the Helper that enables us to do these things. Even though our society praises self‐sufficiency, we cannot accomplish these things on our own.

Here are a few more things that the Spirit enables us to do:

• Walk in the statutes of the Lord and observe His ordinances (Ezekiel 36:26‐27 and John 14:15‐16)
• Have “thoughts and intentions of the heart” that are pleasing to God (Heb. 4:12)
• Live without fear (Haggai 2:5)
• Glorify God in our bodies (1 Cor. 6:19‐20 and Romans 8:12‐14)
• Abstain from every form of evil and fleshly desire, if we don’t quench/resist the Spirit’s leading (1 Thess. 5:19‐22, Acts 7:51‐53, Eph. 4:17‐32, Heb. 4:7, and Gal. 5:16‐26)
• Boldly share the Gospel with others (Isaiah 61:1‐2, Acts 1:8, and Acts 4:31)
• Serve others with our spiritual gifts (I Peter 4:10‐11 and 1 Cor. 12:8‐11, 28)
• Endure persecution (Luke 12:11‐12 and I Thess. 1:6)
• Make the most of our time here on earth (Eph. 5:15‐18)

Will you keep your “mind set on the Spirit” (Rom. 8:5‐6) and the things of God today? David Platt gives us this challenge, “His power is so superior to ours. Why do we not desperately seek it?” ²

Spend some time in prayer, asking God for a heart that desires and desperately seeks to do His will and for the Spirit to help you glorify God in all that you do. May we all be known by the fruit that others see flowing out from our lives (Matt. 7:16‐20)!

Digging Deeper

If you want to learn more about the Holy Spirit, reading chapter three of the book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream by David Platt ², is a great start. It discusses the importance of relying on the Holy Spirit in a powerful and insightful way.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13, NIV 1984

¹ An emailed devotional written by Travis Agnew, distributed by LifeWay in 2010.

² Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream, written by David Platt and published by Multnomah Books.