What God Can Do

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.

— Colossians 1:13

 

Our society doesn't really have answers for all the problems we are facing in our country today. Ironically, our society seems to do everything it can to undermine the only one who can help us, and that is Jesus Christ.

There are people caught in our legal system as repeat offenders. There are judges who make the wrong decisions. There is the breakdown of the family. And all of these elements combined produce a society that can do very little to change a person's heart, if anything at all. Rehabilitation efforts largely fail. In fact, the only real programs that seem to produce lasting change are faith-based, and more specifically, are being operated by Christians who are calling people to faith in Jesus Christ. Society doesn't have the answers.

A Certain Future

So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

— Colossians 2:10

 

After crossing the Sea of Galilee, Jesus and His disciples arrived in the region of the Gadarenes, where He was met by two pathetic, demented men who had come completely under the power of the devil.

In Luke's account of this story, he zeroes in on one of these men in particular, probably because he was the more extreme of the two. In fact, in Luke 8:27, he writes that this man didn't wear clothes and lived among the tombs. In addition, we know he would beat and bruise himself, as well as cut himself with sharp rocks. An attempt had been made to chain him up, but with superhuman strength, he was able to break the chains.

All the Power We Need

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

— 2 Peter 1:3

 

Human history has been all about power: using it, and sometimes exploiting it. First there was manpower. Then there was steam power. Now we have nuclear power. But what we seem to lack is willpower. Human beings are able to harness the powers of the universe, but we can't seem to control ourselves.

But the good news is that we serve a mighty God who will give us all the power we need to live the Christian life. Some people may say it is kind of difficult to be a Christian. But I would disagree. I don't think it is difficult to be a Christian; I think it is impossible—without the help and the power of the Holy Spirit, that is.

God's Gift to Us (Part 1)

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

— John 3:17

 

When you're a child, Christmas is all about receiving gifts. In December, your head is swimming with nothing but images of your favorite toys.

But the true message of Christmas is not the presents we give to one another. The true meaning is the gift that God gave to us, His Son Jesus Christ.

During the next two days, I want to point out to you three things about the gift God gave to us in that tiny manger in Bethlehem.

True Seekers

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."

— Matthew 2:1–2

 

The story of Christ's birth is one of the Bible's most famous and loved stories, probably one that most people who are not even familiar with Scripture have heard at one time or another. And certainly a story we hear repeated every Christmas is the account of the wise men being led by the star to the place where the King was to be born.

Matthew's Gospel tells us these wise men came from the East (see Matthew 2:1). Skilled in astronomy and astrology, these men were highly revered and respected in their culture and were especially noted for their ability to interpret dreams.

Why We Celebrate Christmas

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."

— Matthew 1:23

 

It really is an amazing thing to think about the mystery of the Incarnation—that mysterious moment when God became a man.

Jesus Christ—God the Son—was born in a manger. He went from the throne of heaven to a feeding trough. He went from the presence of angels to a cave filled with animals. He who is larger than the universe became an embryo. He who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young virgin.

Some people have a hard time believing in the Virgin Birth. If you believe the Bible, you need to believe in the Virgin Birth. The Bible teaches that God Almighty was supernaturally conceived in the womb of a virgin (see Matthew 1:23).

This makes sense if you think about it. If God had chosen to, He could have sent Jesus to this earth as a fully grown, yet sinless human being. A shaft of light could have come out from heaven with Jesus descending to the ground as an adult man.

No Room in the Inn

She brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

— Luke 2:7

 

In these days of modern technology, we never miss a thing with TiVo, voice mail, DVD recorders, and camera phones. But even though our toys keep us from missing a phone call, they can also cause us to miss the real reason for the holiday season.

You can watch Christmas disappear in front of your eyes, in a heap of shredded wrapping paper, and find yourself saying, "I was so busy shopping, so busy attending this, going to that, that I think I actually missed the point of Christmas."

What I Want for Christmas

I have always believed in the promise of Christmas. There has always been something special to me about this time of the year, going back to my earliest days of childhood.

What is it that we love about Christmas, once we get past the initial trappings?

I think it is the sense of wonder, beauty, and anticipation. It is the music, the look of surprise on a child's face, and the amazing food. It's the companionship of family and good friends. It is also the absence of strife and meanness (that is, with the exception of the crowds on "Black Friday").

Is He Your Captain?

But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net."

— Luke 5:5

 

We find a story in Luke's Gospel about a time when Jesus borrowed Peter's boat to preach to the multitudes. After He had finished speaking, He said to Peter, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch" (Luke 5:4).

Peter replied, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net" (verse 5). I think in all honesty, Peter was respectfully saying to Jesus, "Look, Jesus, you are the man. When it comes to theology, when it comes to telling us about God, you are the authority. We respect you. But you are kind of a landlubber, okay? You don't know the waters like us. We are seasoned fishermen. This is what we do. But at your word, we will do it." The result was they had so many fish that it caused their little boat to start to sink under the weight of them. Then Peter fell down before Jesus and said, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" (verse 8).

Through Rough Waters

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.

— Isaiah 43:2

 

When the disciples faced a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee, they cried out to Jesus, and He stopped it. But first He rebuked them. He asked, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" (Matthew 8:26). In other words, "Hey, guys, where is your faith? Haven't you learned anything?"

We find a little detail in Mark 4:35 that we don't have in Matthew's account of the story: "On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, 'Let us cross over to the other side.' " Jesus did not promise the disciples smooth sailing. But He did promise a safe arrival. They needed to know it would be rough. But Jesus did say, "Let us cross over to the other side." And that means they would get to the other side.

Protecting Storms

Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. . . . Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.

— Matthew 14:22, 24

 

The Gospel of John records the story of the Feeding of the Five Thousand, which was Jesus' most popular miracle. The people loved it so much that afterward, they came by force to make Jesus their king. But Jesus knew their hearts were wrong. He knew they didn't really want Him to be their Lord and Master; they just wanted a free lunch from that point on.

Perfecting Storms

For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

— 2 Corinthians 4:17–18

 

Probably the most common storms we face in life are perfecting storms. These storms come into our lives as a result of following Jesus. But God has a work He wants to do and a desired result that He wants to produce in these storms. As 2 Corinthians 4:17 reminds us, "For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!"

Storms will come, and in the midst of them, God is doing a work. Sometimes you can see the work, and sometimes you can't. Sometimes that work is simply to conform us into the image of Jesus Christ. Quite honestly, a lot of storms are inexplicable. And when you get to heaven, you will understand why God allowed that storm and why that particular difficulty lasted so long. We can't control our universe. (I have tried, and it doesn't work.) We can't say when a storm will start or when a storm will stop. All we can do is react to that storm.

The Scorpion and the Tortoise

Sometimes we wonder why we sin. This is especially hard if we think we are basically good and that "the answer is within."

The fact is, the problem is within. For all practical purposes, we have ourselves to thank when we give in to temptation. Jesus told us that from within, out of the heart of man, is what defiles a man (see Matthew 15:18).

That brings me to the fable of the scorpion and the tortoise.

One day, a scorpion who wanted to cross a pond. As you may know, scorpions can't really swim. He found a rather unsuspecting tortoise and asked if he would give him a lift. The tortoise exclaimed, "Are you joking? You'll sting me while I'm swimming and I'll drown."

Correcting Storms

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn't discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.

— Hebrews 12:7—8

When storms come into our lives, some of them can be considered correcting storms. After Jonah disobeyed God and tried to run the other way, a great storm arose, and God took hold of the reluctant prophet and put him back on course. That storm was the result of Jonah's own disobedience to God and the call on his life.

Many times we bring storms on ourselves when we do the wrong things and then experience the repercussions. And sometimes God will allow us to reap what we have sown so that we ultimately will change our ways.

But when we go astray and then face God's discipline, it is a reminder that we are His children. Hebrews 12:7–8 tells us, "As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn't discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all."

No Trials, No Triumphs

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

— Psalm 23:4

 

Maybe you are in one of life's storm right now and have cried out for it to stop, and it hasn't. In fact, it has gotten worse. You're asking why—why has God allowed this? There are no easy answers to that. But know this: where there are no trials in life, there will be no triumphs. It has been said, "The hammer shatters glass, but it forges steel." And often in the hardships of life, great things will come as a result.

The apostle Paul died and went to heaven, and he wrote a few lines about it. But then he was imprisoned under house arrest and wrote the epistles of 1 and 2 Timothy. Through his glorious triumph in heaven, he said very little. But through his difficulties and hardships, he said a lot.

Looking Up to Heaven

"He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him."

— Psalm 91:15

 

A hardened old sea captain who was quite vocal about his atheism was swept overboard one night during a storm. His men actually heard him crying out to God for help, so after they rescued him, they asked him about it.

The captain answered, "Well, if there isn't a God, there ought to be at times like this."

The good news is that even when we have messed things up, if we call out to God, He will hear us. How easily God could tell us, "That is your problem. You deal with it." But when people cry out to Him, He is always ready to answer. God says, "He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him" (Psalm 91:15).

Help in the Storm

"Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep."

— Psalm 121:4

 

The Bible talks about a literal storm that came into the lives of the disciples. It was so bad, in fact, they despaired of their lives. The disciples had been following Jesus. And they followed Him right into a storm.

Sometimes when hardships come into our lives, we may think it is because we are doing something wrong. But these disciples were in the will of God. The storm came because they obeyed the Lord, not because they disobeyed Him. So sometimes those calamities come because of our obedience, not our disobedience.

Facing the Storms

For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

— Matthew 5:45

 

Have you ever been caught an unexpected storm? When a big storm is approaching, the meteorologists usually will tell us about it. And if it is really building, if it is at hurricane strength, it might even be given a name because of its significance.

There are times when we know storms are brewing and building. And there are other times when they come out of nowhere. But one thing we need to know about life is that we will have storms—storms of hardship, tragedy, difficulty, and worst-case scenarios. Some of these storms can be life-altering: the death of someone you love, an illness, a disability, a conflict at home or work, being laid off, or even a rebellious child.

A Spiritual Checkup

Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.

— 2 Corinthians 13:5

 

I don't look forward to getting my physical. They do a lot of tests, and they always check my blood pressure. The last time I went, they told me, "You know, your blood pressure is a little high." I told them it was high because I knew they were going to take it.

So I told my doctor, "You walk into the room, and my blood pressure goes up. It is your fault. You need to sneak up sometime when I am not looking and then take it. I bet it will be lower." We kind of joke back and forth a little. But we know it is an exam. I fill out a questionnaire, and he asks a lot of questions: Are there any lumps? Are there any growths? Are there any things out of the ordinary? It is an exam to determine my physical state.

How to Win the Spiritual Battle

Like it or not, the moment you commit your life to Jesus Christ you are engaged in a spiritual battle. The believer may be known by his inward warfare as well as by his inward peace.

This battle is not with flesh and blood, but with a very real opponent called the devil.

We have looked at the various pieces of armor we are to wear as we face our opponent, including the utility belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and, of course, the gospel shoes.

Those are all primarily defensive weapons. In other words, you don't attack your enemy with your sandal, breastplate, or helmet. You need another weapon for that.

Paul calls the one piece of offensive weaponry that God has given us "the sword of the Spirit," or the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17).

Many believers have all their armor in place, but they never use their sword. They leave it in the sheath. They talk about it, and brag about how sharp it is, but they never actually utilize the sword in spiritual battle.

The devil knows all too well the power and authority of the Bible and he will try to keep you from it at all costs.

Lay the Right Foundation

"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock."

— Matthew 7:24–25

 

In 1173, the foundation was laid for one of Italy's most famous structures: a tower that would stand next to a cathedral. But during construction, they discovered the soil was softer than they had previously thought, and the tower began to sink. Today, the top of the tower is nearly 13 feet off center. People come from around the world to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and scientists travel to Pisa yearly to measure its slow descent. They calculate that with current movement, it will one day collapse.

When you are building anything, there is nothing more important time than laying the right foundation first. If you don't get that right, nothing else will matter. Of course, the fun part is deciding what color paint you will use and how you will decorate. But is there a good foundation? If you don't get that right, everything else is a problem.

Beware of "Miracles"

"For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."

— Matthew 24:24

Did you know that the devil can do so-called "miracles"? Of course, they are not the same kind of miracles that God does, but they resemble them. When Moses went into the court of Pharaoh and was performing certain signs to confirm that he was sent by God, Pharaoh's magicians were able to duplicate a number of them, including turning water into blood. But what is interesting is that Pharaoh's magicians were only able to duplicate some of the miracles of Moses, but certainly not all of them.

So if a miracle is done through an individual, it doesn't necessarily prove that he or she is a Christian. Sometimes God can work through flawed vessels. We know that King Saul prophesied, yet he was a wicked man who ultimately consulted with a medium and died in rebellion against God. Judas Iscariot was sent out with the disciples initially and was casting out demons along with them. Yet we know that he ultimately betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. So it could have been God's power working despite King Saul and Judas Iscariot. And sometimes God works despite who we are or what we are.

Posers

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."

— Matthew 7:21

 

Did you know it is possible to pray, be baptized, keep the Ten Commandments, go to church, and not necessarily be a Christian? A Christian should do those things, but doing them in and of themselves does not mean you are a Christian.

Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).

There are posers in the church. They sit next to us. They sing the same songs. They pray the same prayers. They know the Christian lingo. They come off like they are Christians, but they really are not.

Whenever something good comes along, you can be certain there will be imitations. And the devil is an imitator. Jesus told a story known as the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares about a farmer who planted a crop of wheat. During the night, his enemy came along and planted tares, or weeds, among the wheat. But it was not until the plants broke ground that it became apparent there were weeds among the wheat. Worse yet, the weeds actually uprooted the wheat.

Jesus said that is how it will be leading up to the time of His return. There will be the genuine next to the imitation. There will be the real next to the fake. A fake Christian is not a struggling Christian, because every Christian struggles. Every Christian has times when they fall short. A fake Christian is a poser, a pretender. It is someone who is putting on a performance. They conduct themselves one way sitting in church, but another way altogether in their day-to-day living.

If you are a real Christian, it will be demonstrated in the way that you live.

When to Stay Silent

"Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces."

— Matthew 7:6

 

Years ago, we went snorkeling in Hawaii with one of the local guys who knew the water really well. We were cruising along when we came to a net, and inside the net was a shark. The shark wasn't moving, so we all got really close to get a better look at it. Then our guide proceeded to pull out his knife and start cutting the net to let the shark out. All of a sudden, the shark came back to life. If people could have walked on water-better yet, run on water-we would have done it right there. The animal was turning on the very one who was saving him.

That is how some people are. You try to help them, and they turn on you. It the whole idea Jesus was speaking of when He said, "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces" (Matthew 7:6).

For He Is Good

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

— Hebrews 13:15

 

We can praise God in good times and we can praise God in bad times. And I don't know that we will fully understand what is good or bad for us on this side of heaven. When we are younger, we think certain things are good, such as success, while other things are bad, such as hardship.

But as we go through life, after awhile we look back and realize that success actually can be bad for some, while hardship actually can be good for others. So we begin to look at things differently. And sometimes the things we thought were really good things turn out to be bad things. On the other hand, the things we thought were bad things actually turn out to be really good things.

Be Narrow-Minded

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

— Matthew 7:13–14

 

If you are worried about fitting in and being cool and being culturally acceptable, you will have a hard time being a follower of Christ, because it means taking a narrow road. Jesus said, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).

There are two gates and two ways we can take in life: the narrow or the broad. And when we read, "Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life," it means we are to be-in a strict sense-narrow-minded.

Wear Your Helmet!

Paul tells us we are to take "the helmet of salvation" (Ephesians 6:17).

The two most sought-after and vulnerable targets on the ancient battlefield were the heart and the head. With our heart and other vital organs ably protected by the breastplate of righteousness, the enemy will try to strike the head. One well-placed blow to the head and the battle is over.

What does it mean to wear the helmet of salvation?

It would seem to me that the apostle is telling us to watch our thoughts in general. Most temptation comes through the gateway of the mind and imagination.

This is why Paul tells us, "But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3 NIV).

When those "flaming arrows" of ungodly thoughts come, we need to have our guard up.

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5–6:

Sacrificial Praise

Because Your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name

— Psalm 63:3–4

 

A hospital chaplain kept a record of 2,000 patients who were apparently in a dying condition and showed signs of repentance. But he noted that of those who were restored to health, only two showed a marked change in their spiritual lives after their recovery. In other words, when people thought they were dying, they remembered God, but when they recovered, they forgot about Him.

Maybe you have had a crisis recently, and it got your attention. Remember to call upon God. Remember to put your trust in Him. Far too often we ask God for help, but we don't give Him anything in return. What would you think of a person who was always asking for resources and favors, but never took time to thank you?

It is one thing to give thanks when things are going well. But we can also give thanks when things are not going well. Psalm 63, one of my favorite psalms, was written at a time when David was in exile in the wilderness, running from his son, Absalom, who wanted to take over his throne. David was an elderly man at this point. Yet in the midst of his anguish and personal pain, he wrote, "Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name" (verses 3–4).

Remember to Thank Him

So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?"

— Luke 17:17–18

 

Luke 17 tells the story of some men who had a lot to give thanks for. Prior to being miraculously touched by Jesus, they were complete outcasts—the very scourge of society. These ten men had the worst disease of the time, leprosy, for which there was no cure. They couldn't get any lower in that particular time in history with this incurable disease.

Those found to have leprosy could have no contact with others. They had to leave their house and their friends and live apart from them. These men were living an isolated, miserable life. Their clothing would have been ripped from perpetual mourning. Their skeletal heads would have been uncovered. They had to cry out, "Unclean! Unclean!" wherever they went, in keeping with the Law of Moses. But they had heard about Jesus. And seeing Him in the distance, they cried out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" (Luke 17:12–13).

Reasons to Be Thankful

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

— Psalm 107:1

It seems as though merchants really don't know what to do with Thanksgiving. They market Halloween and Christmas and make a lot of money off these holidays. But they don't really know what to do with Thanksgiving, which is really very spiritual in its origins. It was designated by President George Washington in 1789 as a national day for giving thanks to God.

In the midst of all our feasting, it is very easy to forget about the one we are celebrating. Sometimes we even forget to give thanks altogether. You might be thinking, Well, I don't have a lot to give thanks for. Maybe you are having financial troubles or health problems. Maybe there is conflict in your family. But we need to put things into perspective. As someone wrote,

Lead on…

Lead on…

Casting a vision and leading people are not easy to do.  Here are a few pointers when it comes to creating vision in the local church.

Don’t micromanage.  Create a program or system for management then simply allow others to do their job.  You may consider employing another person to do the managing.  This would be someone who is close to you and knows how to follow your orders.  Let them do the follow up, you cast the vision.

Admit mistakes.  Being the leader does not mean you are going to be right 100% of the time.  There are going to be times you make mistakes.  Admit them quickly and cast a new vision.  Allowing yourself to make mistakes will show your congregation that you are human and will enable them to feel that you are approachable. 

Lead without fear.  Fear will cripple your potential.  “We have not the spirit of fear.”  Seek your churches direction from the Lord.  While it is good to get other people’s opinion and counsel regarding the direction the church should be moving, God alone can give you Divine direction.  Seek God’s face for His will.  Once he gives you direction, move forward into it without fear of defeat or what others may think.

How to Build a Team of Leaders

How to Build a Team of Leaders

"In these days he went out to the mountain to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God.  And when it was day, he called his disciples, and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles;"  (Luke 6:12-13)

Whether the church you pastor is a big, thriving church or it is a growing church with twenty members it is very important to have a great team of leaders.  You may only have one other person on your team or maybe you have a hundred.  However many you may have, it's important to make sure you have the right people on board and that you are all going in the same direction.  Here are a few ways to choose the right people for your leadership team.  Remember when you start out to build your leadership team to build a team that is based on Biblical principles and characteristics.

Note:  The night before Jesus chose His twelve disciples, he continued in prayer all night.  When is the last time you prayed all night before you made a decision?

Choosing the right leadership team members.
You can accomplish anything in life, provided that you do not mind who gets the credit.                                             -Harry S. Truman
Begin choosing your team members by making a list of Character Traits from the Scriptures.

       1. Use the traits Paul gives for the office of Elders and Deacons. (1 Timothy 3, Titus 2)
      

       2. Use the list given in Galatians 5:22-23 as to the fruit of the Spirit.
               

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:"

Leadership: To Train Or Not To Train

Leadership: To Train Or Not To Train

Have you ever wondered why some churches achieve their goals and objectives much faster than others despite having less talent? Talent is important, but typically those who succeed have a plan for success. That plan always includes training and developing leaders.

A popular saying states, "A church that fails to plan is a church that plans to fail." I would like to rephrase that, "A church that fails to train its leaders is a church that trains its leaders to fail."

Since the pastor cannot do it all alone, training leaders is a must. It is imperative that every church have a plan to train existing and future leaders. Leaders are not born, they are developed through mentoring, training and hands on experience.

Leaders must have a clear mental and spiritual picture of their goals. The Bible calls this vision.
Prov 29:18
18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Without vision, people have no direction or focus and are easily confused and distracted. Without vision, ministries will fail and people will become discouraged and move on. Your leaders must know the vision, see the vision, understand the vision and believe in the vision. They must be trained in how to accomplish the vision. Then they must be consistently encouraged to fulfill the vision.

Restoration Is the Goal

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

— Galatians 6:1

 

Our desire should always be to restore, not condemn a person who is in sin. Galatians 6:1 says it perfectly: "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted."

The phrase, "overtaken in any trespass," implies it was not premeditated. This is not a picture of someone who went out intentionally to commit a sin. It is speaking of someone who went out and stumbled. They slipped. They fell. It wasn't intentional. They do have a responsibility, however. They did get trapped in the sin. We should take no delight in this, but should want to help and restore them.

First we need to help them come to their senses, because we can't restore someone who doesn't want restoration. We have to first help them see they have a sin, and then we want to help them set it straight. In fact, the word used for "restore" carries the meaning of setting a broken bone or putting a dislocated limb back in place. We do that very gently, lest we do more harm.

Check the Mirror

And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

— Matthew 7:3

 

Commentator Kent Hughes said, "We find it so easy to turn a microscope on another person's sin, but we look at ours through the wrong end of a telescope. We easily spot a speck of phoniness in another, because we have a logjam of it in our own lives. Wrath toward the speck in someone else's life may come from the suppressed guilt over the same massive sin in our own lives."

Jesus was using a little humor when He said, "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:3–4). The word "plank" speaks of a very large piece of wood, while the word "speck" speaks of a very small bit of wood, even as small as a little bit of sawdust. So to loosely paraphrase, "How can you get the sawdust out of your brother's eye if you have a telephone pole in yours?"

Is It Ever Okay to Judge?

Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

— 1 Corinthians 6:2

 

Is there a place for judging? Are we to judge one another, and if so, on what basis? Jesus said, "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you" (Matthew 7:1–2). The Greek word Jesus used for "judge" means, "to separate, choose, select, or determine." In context, we see that Jesus is dealing primarily with motives. You cannot judge my motives, nor can I judge yours. We may have an evaluation of someone, but we can't see his or her heart.

The better translation of this statement would be, "Condemn not, that you be not condemned." I am to make judgments and evaluations, but I am not to condemn. Some people are hypercritical. They are just looking for people to slip up. They are quick to jump to conclusions. As one of my favorite preachers, the late J. Vernon McGee, said, "The only exercise some Christians get is jumping to conclusions and running down others."

Sometimes we are quick to jump to conclusions and quick to believe the worst instead of the best about someone. Jesus is saying we should not do that. So if someone says to you, "Well, doesn't the Bible say, 'Judge not, that you be not judged'?" your response should be, "Yes, but I don't think you understand the meaning of that statement." The reality is that Christians are to make judgments. A judgment is an evaluation, and we make them every day.

We are not in a position to see a person's heart, and we are not in a position to bring final judgment on someone. Our objective is to never to condemn and put down; it is to help and restore.

Discerning, Not Condemning

“Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.”

— Ephesians 4:15

 

It seems as though every nonbeliever knows Matthew 7:1: "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged." Generally, it goes something like this: The Christian approaches a compromising Christian or a nonbeliever and talks about his or her need for Christ. At some point, the Christian will say that a certain thing is a sin. The other person will respond, "Who are you to judge me? Doesn't the Bible itself say, 'Judge not, lest you be judged'? "

So what does this verse mean? Is Jesus suggesting that we are never to speak truthfully to someone, even if what he or she is doing is wrong? Is that indeed judgmental? Does this mean that Christians are never to be critical or make an evaluation? What did Jesus mean when He said, "Judge not, that you be not judged"?

No Other Options

From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

— John 6:66–69

 

"Where else can we go?" Peter says. He had come to realize that no one else could save him from his sin. He understood what Jesus was saying. "We get it, Lord. We know what you are saying. You alone are the Savior. There are no other options."

For many it is repulsive, offensive, to think they are sinners in need of a Savior. They can live with religion. They can even live with the idea of having Jesus as an example to follow in life. But He is more than that. He died on the cross because you have sinned and you need to cry out to Him. Some might say, "I don't need to do that." Oh, yes, you do.

You don't realize how perilous your situation is. You don't realize how much you need a Savior. You might think you are a good person. But the fact of the matter is we have all sinned. We have all fallen short; we do not measure up to God's standard, which is perfection.

You're in need of Jesus Christ. He offers His forgiveness to you. What are you going to do? Come to Him.

The Best Antidote for Worry

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

— Philippians 4:6

It is not an issue of whether hardship will come into our lives; it is an issue of what we will do when it actually does. Our natural inclination is to freak out, to stress out, and to worry. But that doesn't help—it actually makes it worse. So what should we do instead? We need to pray.

We all have what could be described as a natural reflex. A natural reflex is just what we do. We don't have to teach a child a reflex. If a child touches something hot, he will recoil. He doesn't leave his hand there, but will pull it back. That is a natural reflex.

But then there is a conditioned reflex, and we learn this through time. We learn how to do certain things. When you learn to drive, for instance, it is not easy at first. You are conscious of everything you are doing. But after awhile, it gets easier. And before you know it, your driving has become a series of conditioned reflexes.

In the same way, we need to develop a conditioned reflex when it comes to hardship in our lives. In times of trouble, some turn to other people. There is a place for that, but ultimately, people cannot meet all our needs. No one will be able to do that for us. Others turn to alcohol. But that only creates new problems. Others tune out and pretend that bad things aren't really happening.

Guided Missiles

As we fight the spiritual battle, we need spiritual weaponry.

Let's consider our shield. The apostle Paul writes, "above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one" (Ephesians 6:16).

The words above all mean that faith is of paramount importance. The other armor won't function apart from faith.

The shields that Roman soldiers would use were made of wood and then covered with cloth and leather. They were large, rectangular objects about four feet high and two feet wide. By crouching behind it, the soldier could completely hide himself.

The term fiery darts that Paul uses refers to one of the most commonly-used enemy tactics of his day. Prior to a face-to-face engagement with the enemy, a warrior would often encounter a barrage of flaming arrows coming from all directions. Their sole purpose was to demoralize and confuse him.

Our modern equivalent might be guided missiles or rockets.

The Roman soldier had to hold up his shield to protect himself from those fiery arrows. Sometimes, he would dip his shield in water so the fire-tipped arrows would be extinguished when they struck the shield.

Satan has his "flaming arrows," or "guided missiles," which he shoots our way. They are swift and silent and we receive no advance warning of their arrival. You can wake up in the morning, and the enemy will hit you with a flaming arrow before your feet even hit the floor.

It might be an impure thought or a thought of complete despair. You may be gripped with intense fear and terror. "What if this happens, or if that happens?"

It might be a thought of hatred toward someone. It might even be a blasphemous thought or a thought of doubt.

When do these "flaming arrows" come? At strategic times—like when you decide to read the Bible.

Isn't it amazing that you can open the newspaper and maintain your full ability to concentrate with no distractions? You can get through the whole thing—the want ads, the comics, and all the advertisements—with no disruption whatsoever.

Or you may watch some mindless TV program and you'll get through it with no phone calls, no distractions, and no problems.

When We Put God First

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

— Matthew 6:33

 

When Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba, ascended to the throne after his father died, he was overwhelmed by the task at hand. So he prayed, and God appeared to him in a dream and told him, "Ask! What shall I give you?" (1 Kings 3:5).

If God appeared to you tonight and told you to ask for whatever you wanted, what would you pray for? Fortunately, Solomon asked for wisdom to rule God's people: "Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" (1 Kings 3:9).

Because he had not asked for a long life, riches, or even the death of his enemies, God told Solomon He would give him just what he requested and more: "And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days" (1 Kings 3:13).

Solomon had his priorities in order. He sought God's kingdom first, and all of those things were added to him.

And when we put God and His kingdom first, our lives will find the proper balance as well. When Jesus said, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you," what things was He speaking of? In context, these "things" are what you will wear, what you will drink, and what you will eat. But let me take it a step further. It is also where you will work, where you will live, and even whom you will marry.

The basic issues of life will be taken care of by God when we put Him first.

First Things First

"Your kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven."

— Matthew 6:10

 

A verse every Christian should commit to memory is Matthew 6:33: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

What does it mean to seek first the kingdom of God? God's kingdom is the rule and reign of Christ in our lives. Jesus taught us to pray, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). This is praying for a day when God will bring heaven to earth and will bring His rule on this planet. God still has a plan for planet Earth. He will rule and reign here, and as believers, we will rule and reign with Him. So that is in the future.

But when we pray, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven," we are also praying for the rule and reign of the kingdom of God in our lives. This is when Jesus is in charge. On one occasion Jesus said, "For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21), where He was speaking of himself. When you are under His lordship, and when He is in control of your life, that is the kingdom of God. It is not rules and regulations, but "righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).

Mastered by Your Circumstances?

"Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"

— Matthew 6:30

 

Martin Lloyd Jones said, "To be of little faith means we are mastered by our circumstances instead of mastering them." Worry is an indication of a lack of faith.

Jesus said, "Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" (Matthew 6:30). Jesus was not saying, "You have no faith." Rather, He was asking, "Why do you have so little faith?"

There are people today who believe that God will save their soul, but they have a hard time believing that God will provide for their needs or resolve their problems or answer their prayers. They believe in Jesus for salvation, but they have a hard time believing Him for other things. When a challenge or a test comes their way, they are bowled over by it.

Live Carefully and Prayerfully

“Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?”

— Matthew 6:27

 

Worry will not make your life longer; it will just make it more miserable. In fact, worry can shorten your life—or at least make it harder. In addition to being obsessed with the outward appearance, our culture is obsessed with trying to lengthen life. We exercise regularly. We eat the right foods. We supplement our diets with vitamins and minerals. We get our physical check-ups in the hope of extending our lives for a few more years.

I am not making light of this; I think it is really a good thing to take care of your body, because you want to live as long as you can, and be as healthy as you can. But Jesus said, 'Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?" (Matthew 6:27). The Greek word used here for 'stature" means 'length or duration of life." Effectively Jesus was saying, 'How many of you, through worry and anxiety, can extend the length of your life?" The answer is no one.

There is a place for taking care of ourselves physically. We don't want to neglect that. But you can put too much emphasis on the physical, neglecting the spiritual. You can also put so much emphasis on the spiritual that you completely neglect the physical. God has put your soul in a human body. So take care of it.

Even so, understand that you will live as long as God wants you to live. Not less or more. You don't determine your date of birth, and you don't determine the date of your death. You do, however, have a lot to say about that time in the middle. That is why Psalm 90:12 says, 'So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Live your life carefully and prayerfully, and recognize that anxiety and worry will not lengthen your life.

Focus on What Lasts

"And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are."

— Matthew 6:28–29

We live in a culture that is obsessed with appearance. We will be so concerned about what we are going to wear. Is this in style? Does this look good? Do I look fat in this? And we have taken this obsession to the point of changing our bodies with plastic surgery, spending billions of dollars on it each year.

Yet Jesus said, 'And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. . . . These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs" (Matthew 6:28–29, 32).

Flowers don't worry. Why should you? Even Solomon in his royal robes, surrounded by his lavish furniture encrusted in gold, was not as beautiful as a simple flower. The Bible is not saying we should not be attractive. But it is saying we should not be obsessed with our looks. Frankly, some people ought to think a little bit more about their looks. There is a place for that too. We can go too far either way.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to look good. But if that becomes more important to you than your spiritual life, if you spend all of your time on the outward and completely neglect the inward, then your life is out of balance.

One day, this body will be gone, but the soul will live forever. As Erma Bombeck once pointed out, 'Sooner or later, dust wins." Our souls—the real you and the real me—will live on forever. So if this greater thing is in God's control, then we can leave the lesser things to Him as well.

What Do You Have To Say?

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet.  He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help."  There were only a few coins in the hat.

A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words.

He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.

Soon the hat began to fill up.  A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.

That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were.  The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning?  What did you write?"

The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way." I wrote: "Today is a beautiful day but I cannot see it."

Both signs told people that the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people that they were so lucky that they were not blind.

Learn to:  Be thankful for what you have.  Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively. When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile.

Face your past without regret.  Handle your present with confidence.  Prepare for the future without fear.  Keep the faith and drop the fear.

The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling…  And it is even more beautiful to know that you are the reason behind it!!!

Focus on What Lasts

"And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are."

— Matthew 6:28–29

 

We live in a culture that is obsessed with appearance. We will be so concerned about what we are going to wear. Is this in style? Does this look good? Do I look fat in this? And we have taken this obsession to the point of changing our bodies with plastic surgery, spending billions of dollars on it each year.

Yet Jesus said, 'And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. . . . These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs" (Matthew 6:28–29, 32).

Flowers don't worry. Why should you? Even Solomon in his royal robes, surrounded by his lavish furniture encrusted in gold, was not as beautiful as a simple flower. The Bible is not saying we should not be attractive. But it is saying we should not be obsessed with our looks. Frankly, some people ought to think a little bit more about their looks. There is a place for that too. We can go too far either way.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to look good. But if that becomes more important to you than your spiritual life, if you spend all of your time on the outward and completely neglect the inward, then your life is out of balance.

Get Your Gospel Shoes On!

It is essential in the Christian life that we not only hold, but also gain ground. This is done with proper footwear, which was as important to a Roman soldier's armor as the shield and breastplate.

After telling us about the utility belt and breastplate, Paul says that you should have 'your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace" (Ephesians 6:15 KJV).

When we go look at shoes, we might put style at the top of the list. Hands down, my favorite shoe is the Converse Chuck Taylor. I pretty much live in them, despite the fact that they have little to no arch support.

But the shoes of the Roman soldier had to be functional. They would have three qualities:

• They had to have good grip, giving traction and solid footing.
• They also had to be tough to protect the foot from spikes or sharp rocks.
• Finally, they needed to be light, giving the soldier the mobility to cross 100 yards of open field in a minute.

But what exactly is this referring to, in the spiritual battle?

Look at the Birds

Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are?

— Matthew 6:26

 

During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave some illustrations as to why we should not worry, and one of the examples He chose to use was that of birds. Speaking outdoors near the Sea of Galilee, maybe Jesus even gestured toward a few birds flying by: 'Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are?" (Matthew 6:26).

Birds don't have the promises that we have. Birds aren't promised eternal life. Birds are not created in the image of God. Yet do birds ever look worried to you? Every morning, like clockwork, they are up at the break of dawn, singing away. Jesus was saying, 'You see, the birds are fine. You can be fine. If God takes care of birds, won't He take care of you?"

That doesn't mean the birds don't go out and get their food. Some eat vegetation. Others eat seeds. Some eat fish. The rest hang out at McDonalds and wait for you to drop your fries. Then there are those thieving birds, the sea gulls, which hang out at the beaches and wait for you to go into the water so they can fly off with your lunch. Birds take care of business, but they don't worry about it. As one poet wrote,

Said the robin to the sparrow, 'I would really like to know
why those anxious human beings rush around and worry so."
Said the sparrow to the robin, 'Friend, I think that it must be
that they have no Heavenly Father such as cares for you and me."

If God takes care of the birds, will He not take care of you as well?

Trusting God's Providence

It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.

— Psalm 127:2

 

Daniel was a man of integrity with no weak spots, no scandals, and no sins that his enemies could identify. And when King Darius came into power during Israel's 70-year captivity, he relied on Daniel's wise, insightful counsel. Yet there were others who didn't like this Hebrew prophet.

Because Daniel had a habit of praying openly every day, his enemies convinced King Darius to foolishly sign a law that would prohibit prayer to anyone except the king. The penalty for breaking this law was being thrown into a den of lions. Sure enough, Daniel prayed as he always had, and it was reported to Darius. The frustration for the king was that as powerful as he was, he couldn't change a law that he himself had set into motion. So Daniel was sent to die in a den of lions. Yet the Bible tells us that Daniel slept while the king was up all night. I find it interesting that the child of God in the den of lions slept peacefully, while the faithless man in the palace with all its luxuries was up and worried and stressed out. As Solomon wrote, "For God gives rest to his loved ones" (Psalm 127:2).

And so it is for the person who puts his or her trust in God. When we are worrying, we are really saying that God isn't in control, that God is not paying attention. When we worry, we are not trusting in the providence of God.

And what is the providence of God? It is the belief that God is in control of the universe. And specifically as Christians, it means we believe there are no accidents in our lives. Nothing touches us that has not first passed through His hands. So trust in the providence of God.

Hurried, Worried, Buried

"So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today."

— Matthew 6:34

 

The epitaph could be written on countless American gravestones: "Hurried, worried, buried." We spend our lives full of anxiety and frustration and worry.

Martha is a classic example of someone who was overly anxious. Jesus often visited the home of Martha, her sister Mary, and her brother Lazarus in Bethany. On one such occasion, Martha was slaving away in the kitchen when Mary decided it was a great opportunity to sit at the Lord's feet. Martha got frustrated because she thought Mary was being idle and lazy. So she said to Jesus, "Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me" (Luke 10:40).

Jesus told her, "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:41–42). In other words, there is a time for work and there is a time for worship.

No Worries!

"So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs."

— Matthew 6:31–32

 

A poll was taken in which Americans were asked what they worry about the most. The number-one response was, "My appearance." They may lose their house. They may lose their life savings. They may get wiped off the earth in a nuclear blast. But the real concern is, "How do I look in this outfit?" Things don't change much. Two thousand years ago, Jesus said, "So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs" (Matthew 6:31–32). Fast-forward to today, and the number-one concern is the outward.

What do you worry about the most? What causes you the greatest stress? In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us why we should not worry, and what we should do instead. Then He concludes with this statement: "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need" (Matthew 6:33).

God's Signature

And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone).

— John 1:42

 

When Andrew brought his brother Simon Peter to Jesus, He looked at him and gave him a new name. Jesus didn't do that with other people. He didn't give out names right off the bat. But Jesus looked at Simon Peter and gave him a new name, Rock (see John 1:42).

I wonder if the others thought, Rock? Is this a joke? What does He mean, "Rock?" When you think of the word "rock," you think of something that is solid and dependable and trustworthy. Peter was hotheaded and impulsive and too quick to speak.

Yet when the Bible tells us Jesus looked at Peter, it could be translated to read that Jesus looked right through him. Jesus knew what He was getting with Simon. He knew that Peter would one day let Him down. He knew that Peter would one day deny Him. But He also knew that one day Peter would grow into that new name. He knew that one day Peter would preach the gospel on the Day of Pentecost, and 3,000 people would believe.

Spiritual Body Language

We are engaged in a spiritual battle. There is no escaping it. The question is: do we want to win or lose on the battlefield of life?

Let's consider the breastplate of righteousness. If this piece of our spiritual body armor is missing, we will be cut down quickly in the spiritual war.

Paul speaks of the breastplate of righteousness in Ephesians 6:14: "Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness" (NKJV).

For the Roman soldier, the breastplate was essential. It was basically a tough piece of leather with animal horn or hoof pieces sewn into it.

The piece went from the neck to the abdomen, and it protected the vital organs, including the heart. One well-placed blow here or to the head and it's done—party's over—and you just became a casualty.

Our modern equivalent would be body armor or the bulletproof vest.

To wear the breastplate of righteousness is simply recognizing we have Christ's righteousness in our life. The Bible says, "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous" (Romans 5:19 NKJV).

Come and See

One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ).

— John 1:40–41

 

You would think the endorsement of Jesus by John the Baptist would be enough. But not for Andrew. Andrew was the cautious type. He didn't do something just because someone else did it. He had to know for himself.

I can almost see a comical situation when Andrew began following Jesus—literally. Maybe he was following a little too closely. Have you ever had someone walk so closely behind you they were almost breathing down your neck? There was Jesus, walking along with Andrew right behind him, along with another disciple of John's. Finally Jesus stopped, turned, and said to them, "What do you seek?" (John 1:38). Andrew didn't know what to say, so he asked Jesus where He lived. Jesus invited them to come and see.

Andrew went and saw, and from that time on, he never stopped following Jesus. The thing about Andrew is that once he knew something was true, he wanted to tell others. So he went and told his brother, Simon Peter.

We all will meet people like Andrew. You tell them about Jesus, and they will say, "I don't know."

So we will say, "Well, you need to know. You need to decide." But be patient with people. Don't try to rush the conversion process. The Bible says, "And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient" (2 Timothy 2:24). Sometimes we want to put the pressure on. We want to get a result. But if a person can be pressured into a decision, they can be pressured out. If they can be argued in, they can be argued out. Let God convert them. Let's just live the life and be the example. They will follow Jesus when it is time for them to follow.

We Have to Care

My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.

— Romans 9:2–3

 

Why is it that Christians don't share the gospel? Is it because we are afraid we may not have the right answers? Perhaps. Is it because we don't know where to start? Maybe. Is it because we think we may get shut down? It could be. But maybe we don't care enough.

I suggest that one of the reasons we don't share the gospel is because we don't necessarily care that much about lost people. Only one in 20 Christians have ever shared the gospel with another person, and only one in 10 think they should. A study by researcher George Barna found that only half of the people in American churches today can even articulate the gospel.

D. L. Moody, the great evangelist, once said, "Winners of souls must first be weepers of souls." Preacher and evangelist George Whitfield said, "Lord, give me souls or take away my soul." The idea is that we have to care.

After Jonah reluctantly preached to the people of Nineveh, he sat down outside the city and waited to see what would happen. He sat in the blazing sun, just hoping that God would still destroy Nineveh. God graciously provided a large, leafy plant to grow over Jonah, which provided him with some shade. But early the next morning, a worm came and ate the plant. Jonah was so upset about losing the plant that he wanted to die. But God told him, "You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?" (Jonah 4:10).

If we are ever going to be used by God to reach out to people, then we have to care.

Ready to Answer

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

— 1 Peter 3:15

 

As Christians, the Bible tells us we are to give an answer to every man who asks us: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15). That phrase "give an answer" is from the Greek word apologia, from which we get our English word "apologetics." It means a legal defense, as in a court of law.

But we are to keep in mind that as we make our case in the courtroom of public opinion with those we are speaking with, we are not there as prosecuting attorneys, but as witnesses. And witnesses simply testify to what they have seen.

Yet sometimes Christians, armed with all the information they can get, assault unbelievers with what they know and effectively blow them out of the water. They have won the argument but lost the soul, and that is not the objective. Even though we may know a great deal, we should present the information with love and humility. In 2 Timothy 2:24–25 we are reminded that "a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition. . . . "

When you are telling others about Christ, often you will be barraged with questions. Sometimes people ask questions they actually want the answers to. And sometimes these questions are intended to get you off track. They are intended to get you to go away. So when we are dealing with these questions, it is important to address what we are being asked, but also remember that our core message for the unbeliever is the gospel.

The True Gospel

 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel.

— Galatians 1:6

 

What is the gospel? I don't think most people know. Some people may think most Americans have heard the gospel, but I beg to differ. I don't think they have. I have heard a lot of preachers talk about the gospel and not give the gospel. We have to be very careful that we give an accurate presentation. Otherwise, it could have a disastrous effect. We don't want to edit God's Word. We don't need to try to make it more appealing by taking things out of it. Nor do we need to make it more complex by adding things to it. We just need to declare it for what it is and let God do His work.

As much as possible, we should seek to build a bridge and be tactful. Then, having established that, we need to share the truth of the good news of Jesus Christ. The Bible warns of a different gospel that people can believe. The apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians, "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel" (Galatians 1:6). Let's make sure we give out the true gospel.

Here is the problem: People are not going to fully appreciate the good news until they first know the bad news. The bad news is that we have all have sinned against God and have fallen short of His standards. And if we don't turn from that sin, the Bible says that we will spend eternity separated from God in hell.

Someone once asked C. H. Spurgeon to sum up the Christian faith in a few words. C. H. Spurgeon did it in four: "Jesus died for me." If you know that much, then you are ready to share the gospel.

The Man Who Forgot God

"This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?"

— Luke 12:20

 

Here is the story of a man whose date with death came unexpectedly. He wasn't prepared. He was the man who forgot God.

Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink and be merry." ' But God said to him, "Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?" So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:16–20)

There are many commendable things about this man. He apparently was a hard working farmer. Jesus does not criticize his success. This man got up early. He spent time watching his crops. He worked hard. And he made a good living. His mistake was not success.

His mistake was that he failed to plan ahead. He had all his bases covered but the most important one of all: he had not considered eternity. He had forgotten God. And he died a fool because he died unprepared. It's important to know that heaven is a prepared place for prepared people.

Are you prepared?

Make a Choice

Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

— James 4:4

 

Lot was the nephew of the only man identified in the Bible as the intimate friend of God, Abraham. Abraham essentially wanted to walk with God, but Lot did not. Abraham was a man who possessed a deep friendship with God. Lot was interested in a friendship with God, but he was also very interested in a friendship with the world. The Apostle James asked the question, "Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God" (James 4:4).

James is saying that if you are going to follow Jesus Christ, you can't be a friend of this world. And "the world" means this world system that is hostile to the truth of God. In case you haven't noticed it, this culture we are living in does not promote Christian values. In fact, if anything, this culture promotes the opposite. It seems at every turn there is hostility toward those of us who believe there is right and wrong, morality and immorality. In a day when anything goes, people don't like those who hold to a set of standards and are unshakeable in them. So if I want to be a friend to this world, if I want to go out there and do whatever my little heart desires, and engage in any pleasure that interests me, I cannot be the friend of God.

It's like having a foot on the dock and a foot in the rowboat that is beginning to drift away. You are going to have to make a choice. You can't live in two worlds. You need to walk with God, as Abraham did.

Suit Up for Battle

The day you believed in Jesus was the day that the real battle began. For just as surely as there is a God who loves you, there is also a devil who hates you.

It has been said, "Conversion has made our hearts a battlefield."

So we have a choice in this spiritual battle. We will either win or lose—gain ground or lose ground.

You can't be a "spiritual pacifist." To fight a spiritual battle, you need spiritual armor. It's time to "man up" (or "woman up") and put on the whole armor of God.

The apostle Paul lays out the components of our spiritual armor in Ephesians 6:13–18, using the various pieces of armor that a Roman soldier would wear to make his point. Having spent a lot of time being chained to them, he probably asked a lot of questions, and had an excellent working knowledge of ancient weaponry and warfare.

Each piece of the Roman soldier's armor is interconnected to the others; all of it must be used. In the same way, it is not for us to "pick and choose" what pieces of armor we want (or don't want) to wear.

First, you need to put on your "utility belt of truth." As Ephesians 6:14 says, "Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth."

When I was a little boy, I remember being amazed by Batman's utility belt. It had his Batarangs, Batcuffs, rebreather (for breathing underwater), night vision goggles, and much more—all the things that the "Caped Crusader" needed to fight crime.

Problem is, both it and he are not real, so let's consider the belt of real crime fighters: policemen.

Officers refer to this belt as their "Sam Browne." It consists of their radio, handcuffs, holster and gun, Taser, chemical spray, flashlight, holder for extra magazines, baton, etc.

The officer needs that belt when he is out and about, doing his duty, and the same was true for the Roman soldier.

The belt was essential. Why? Because the breastplate and the sword's sheath were attached to it. It also held up his tunic, giving him freedom of movement. If the Roman soldier's belt came off, his breastplate would fall off, along with his tunic.

So what does it mean to "gird your waist with truth," practically speaking? The utility belt of truth represents a life and mind that is pulled together and is ready to serve for the glory of God.

The utility belt of truth speaks of having integrity and truth in your "heart of hearts." David said, "Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts (Psalm 51:6 NKJV).

The opposite of integrity is duplicity. Duplicity is hypocrisy—trying to lead a double-life.

The person who tries to live this way is a "sitting duck." But a true soldier of Jesus Christ cannot live that way. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 2:4, "No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier."

I encourage you to put on your belt, and live truthfully.

Tell Your Story

"Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?" So the people came streaming from the village to see him.

— John 4:29–30

 

One of the most effective tools you have in your evangelistic toolbox is telling your story, your personal testimony about how you came to believe in Jesus.

After a conversation with Jesus at the well, the Samaritan woman—minutes old in the faith—immediately went out and told others. The Bible tells us that "many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, 'He told me everything I ever did!' " (John 4:39).

It is the power of a changed life. Use your story, because it is a way to preach to a person without preaching at a person. People don't like to be preached to. Your story is a bridge. You can say, "Let me tell you my story. I didn't always believe these things. Here is what I used to be. Here is the way I used to live. Here is what I used to think. But here is what I heard, and this is how it changed my life." They can argue with a sermon, but they can't argue with your story. They can't argue with what God has done for you. So use that story to build the bridge.

Telling your story is a powerful bridge for the gospel message. It is merely a bridge to tell His story. It is not about you; it is about Him. So when you tell your story, don't glorify or exaggerate your past. Sometimes I have heard people give their testimonies, and the story gets more dramatic with the telling. Sometimes Christians want to make their story more dramatic to be more impressive. Just tell the truth.

Don't boast about what you gave up for God, but about what God gave up for you. We gave up guilt. We gave up judgment. We gave up hell. And in their place, God gave us purpose and meaning and heaven. And remember, it is not about you. It is about Him.

Suit Up for Battle

The day you believed in Jesus was the day that the real battle began. For just as surely as there is a God who loves you, there is also a devil who hates you.

It has been said, "Conversion has made our hearts a battlefield."

So we have a choice in this spiritual battle. We will either win or lose—gain ground or lose ground.

You can't be a "spiritual pacifist." To fight a spiritual battle, you need spiritual armor. It's time to "man up" (or "woman up") and put on the whole armor of God.

The apostle Paul lays out the components of our spiritual armor in Ephesians 6:13–18, using the various pieces of armor that a Roman soldier would wear to make his point. Having spent a lot of time being chained to them, he probably asked a lot of questions, and had an excellent working knowledge of ancient weaponry and warfare.

Each piece of the Roman soldier's armor is interconnected to the others; all of it must be used. In the same way, it is not for us to "pick and choose" what pieces of armor we want (or don't want) to wear.

First, you need to put on your "utility belt of truth." As Ephesians 6:14 says, "Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth."

When I was a little boy, I remember being amazed by Batman's utility belt. It had his Batarangs, Batcuffs, rebreather (for breathing underwater), night vision goggles, and much more—all the things that the "Caped Crusader" needed to fight crime.

Problem is, both it and he are not real, so let's consider the belt of real crime fighters: policemen.

Officers refer to this belt as their "Sam Browne." It consists of their radio, handcuffs, holster and gun, Taser, chemical spray, flashlight, holder for extra magazines, baton, etc.

The officer needs that belt when he is out and about, doing his duty, and the same was true for the Roman soldier.

The belt was essential. Why? Because the breastplate and the sword's sheath were attached to it. It also held up his tunic, giving him freedom of movement. If the Roman soldier's belt came off, his breastplate would fall off, along with his tunic.

So what does it mean to "gird your waist with truth," practically speaking? The utility belt of truth represents a life and mind that is pulled together and is ready to serve for the glory of God.

The utility belt of truth speaks of having integrity and truth in your "heart of hearts." David said, "Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts (Psalm 51:6 NKJV).

The opposite of integrity is duplicity. Duplicity is hypocrisy—trying to lead a double-life.

The person who tries to live this way is a "sitting duck." But a true soldier of Jesus Christ cannot live that way. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 2:4, "No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier."

I encourage you to put on your belt, and live truthfully.