Who are you sleeping with? ~ Kay Arthur

Who are you sleeping with?

If you are sleeping with any human being other than the person that you are married to, then you are playing the harlot. And I can tell you that you do not really believe God is God. We‟ll talk about it today.

If you listened to yesterday‟s program, then you know why I started off the way I started off. Because what God is telling us, in His search for truth, for faithfulness, He‟s saying, “That‟s what I‟m looking for, but I‟m not finding it.

And I‟m not finding it because [here you are worshipping other gods, and then trooping to the house of the harlot and committing adultery there.”] (PARAPHRASE, Jeremiah 5:7) I‟m telling you, it sounds just like the majority of the people in the United States of America.

We are an immoral, or should I say amoral, nation. It‟s estimated that roughly 30 to 60 percent of all married individuals in the United States will engage in infidelity at some point during their marriage. And this is married, I mean this is not having a partner, living with the partner which is adultery, which is immorality, which invites the judgment of God. Jeremiah chapter 5 is where we left off, in verse 7.

“„Why should I pardon you…?‟” God says, “„…Your sons have forsaken Me and sworn by those who are not gods....‟” She‟d been in idolatry. “„…When I had fed them to the full, [when I gave them everything they needed] they committed adultery… [they] trooped to the harlot‟s house. They were well-fed lusty horses, each one neighing after his neighbor‟s wife.‟” And then He has a question. “„Shall I not punish…people [like this],‟ declares the LORD…on a nation such as this [on any nation that‟s like] this shall I not avenge Myself?‟” (Jeremiah 5:7-9)

You see God made us in His image. (See Genesis 1:26)

We have distorted that image. Remember I left you in Romans chapter 1? And that‟s where we want to go is Romans chapter 1, because it so relates to what we are saying. And it gives us great insight into what happens when we are not faithful to the knowledge of truth. He says in Romans chapter 1, “…I am not ashamed of the gospel [of God, because] it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and…to the Greek. For in it [in the Gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, „…THE [just] …SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.‟” (Romans 1:16-17)

It‟s received by faith. It is maintained and sustained by faith. So as we saw the word “E-m-u-n-a” translates into Habakkuk chapter 2, verse 4 which is what he‟s quoting here, “„…the righteous [one shall] live by…faith.‟” (Habakkuk 2:4)

They shall be faithful.

They shall be true to what God says, true to the Word of God. And then we saw how, “…the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against [all unrighteousness] all ungodliness…of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” (Romans 1:18) In other words, they may say one thing, but the way that they live contradicts it. And so then he goes on to tell what happens when men do not believe in God as God is revealed in the Word of God. And he says, this is what they do, in verse 21, “…even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God….” (Romans 1:21)

You say you know God. You say you believe in God. If you believe in God, then honor Him for who He is. Take God at His Word. This is the one Book in all the world that claims to be the Word of God and has the backup for it, because it shows you from beginning to end, it gives you truth. It gives you prophecies, 333 prophecies that were fulfilled in the first coming of Jesus Christ. So it says, “…even though they [know] God, they did not honor Him as God [they did not]…give thanks, but they became futile [vain, empty] in their speculations…their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, [they changed] the glory of [an] incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man…of birds [of] …four-footed [creatures] animals and crawling creatures.” (Romans 1:21-23)

So they go into idolatry; they don‟t believe God is God. But they‟re going to have a god of some sort, a god that they have made up, a god that they have conceived in their mind, a god that has been born out of their stories, out of their mythology. And so what does God do? “…God [gives] them over in the lust of their hearts to impurity...they exchanged…truth…for a lie, [they] worshiped and served the creature [other human beings more] than the Creator….” (Romans 1:24-25)

And He is the Creator. He is the one that made us. He‟s the one that made the world. You say, “I don‟t believe that. Science says something different.” Science does not say anything different.

Theories say different. Evolution is a theory. It‟s never been proved. It can‟t stand the test of science.

It says, “For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions….” So they go from immorality, impurity, to degrading passions. “…[the] women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural…the men abandoned the natural function of the woman [for men, they] burned in their [hearts with] desire [for other] men.” And it says, “…Just as [God] did not see fit to acknowledge [them] any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind [a depraved mind] ….” (Romans 1:26-28)

This is what you see in Jeremiah. It is a depraved mind. They are turning from one to the other, to the other, and so you and I have to see this. All right, now one other thing, let me describe what this depraved mind looks like. It says, “[They are filled with unrighteousness]….” They do the things which are not proper. “[They are] filled with…unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, [and they are] disobedient to [their] parents, [they are] without understanding, [they are] untrustworthy, [they are] unloving, [they are] unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God…[they] who practice such things [and know that they] are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but…[they] give hearty approval to those who [agree with] them.” (Romans 1: 29-32)

You will never be a man of faithfulness, you will never be a person whose God‟s eyes are seeking, unless you agree with God. And what God is saying is that what is going on is wrong. And He says, [in this shall I not punish these people?] (PARAPHRASE, Jeremiah 5:9)

Now listen, it starts there and then it moves more, and more, and more and it has a broader implication.

Do you realize that each year an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 men, women and children are trafficked across international borders? 70 percent of them are female, 50 percent of them are children. Every year it‟s estimated that 14,500 to 17,500 foreign nationals are trafficked into the United States of America. “Christianity Today” in January of 2007 had this also “Red-light Rescue: The „Business‟ of Saving Girls From a Life of Prostitution.” These are young, young girls! Why is all this happening? Well, it‟s because we have violated the commandments of God. Jesus said, [“A man should not look at a woman to commit adultery with her in his heart if he does he is guilty.”] (PARAPHRASE, Matthew 5:28)

Ted Bundy was one of the most notorious serial killers in American history. He was interviewed by James Dobson. On January the 23rd, 1989, James Dobson, at Ted Bundy‟s request, interviewed him. Why did James Dobson get an interview when all the mainstream media were seeking to interview Bundy on the eve of his death, or even before his death because they knew his execution was coming up?

He would not talk to the mainstream media, and this is why: because he felt that they wouldn‟t report the story as it really was. And he knew that Jim would, and Jim is a faithful man of integrity. And so what happened was Bundy said this, it wasn‟t actual pornography that caused him to be a serial killer. But it was pornography that led him to that point in his life where it became such an obsession.

This is now a quote from Ted Bundy, “„Pornography can reach out and snatch a kid out of any house today. It snatched me [in] my home 20 [to] 30 years ago…I‟ll tell you, there are lots of other kids playing in streets around the country who are going to be dead tomorrow and the next day and the next day and the next day and [the] next month because other young people are reading the kinds of things and seeing the kinds of things that are available in the media today.'” And Dobson pointed out that, “Pornography has been found in the possession of almost every killer where sex was the motivation, including two of the most notorious serial killers over the last decades.”

One of the most infamous sex criminals of all time, Ted Bundy, believed that his descent into the horrible pit of sexual assault and murder was fueled by an addiction to violent obscenity. I‟ll talk to you about it more in just a minute because pornography is an issue in this country, a destructive issue.

Welcome back, Beloved. This is a very important program because as we look at Jeremiah chapter 5, we see a principle, we see a precept and you need to understand it. And that is basically that idolatry leads to immorality. Immorality, as we saw in Romans chapter 1, [then leads to perversion, men with men, women with women, which leads to a depraved mind.] (PARAPHRASE, Romans 1:26-28)

So Bundy called Dobson and wanted to make sure that this message got out. And this is what, during this interview these are several points that he made. Number one, “[he] was not born a monster. [His life] began…as a normal person. „There was no physical abuse or fighting in my home…I led a normal life….‟”

Point number two, “obscenity is progressively addictive.” He says, “…You reach that jumping off point where you begin to wonder if maybe actually doing it will give you that which is beyond just reading it or looking at it….”

The third point that he made was this, that “there is a cause-and-effect relationship between using obscenity and criminal sexual behavior.” Bundy said quote, “…I‟ve met a lot of men who were motivated to commit violence just like me. And without exception, every one of them was deeply involved in pornography.”

Point number four, “Bundy was eventually driven by an evil supernatural force. …he never [called] demon possession,” but listen to what he said, “…having been possessed by something so awful and so alien…then the next morning to wake up from it, [and to] remember what happened….”

And this fifth point was this: that “despite the influences of obscenity and demonic forces, Bundy recognized his need to be accountable to society and God for his behavior. „I deserve, certainly the most extreme punishment society has and society deserves to be protected from me and from others like me, that‟s for sure.‟” Now that is a man that calls sin, sin. And yet, look at what we see here, they are not calling sin, sin. Listen to what God is saying, [“Shall I not avenge myself on a nation like this?”] (PARAPHRASE, Jeremiah 5:9)

Is God not going to avenge us in America?

Because honestly, pornography is gripping the hearts and the minds and the souls of so many people; why do you think we see so many atrocities committed against children and adults? Why are so many people missing? And where do they go? And what‟s being done to them? It would break your heart. I saw a special on TV about this doctor, he didn‟t know he was being filmed. But he was going to Cambodia. He was having sex with little children. It was so sad to see the faces of those little children. God says, “„Go up through [a] vine rows and destroy, but [don‟t] execute a complete destruction; strip away her branches, for they are not the LORD‟S.‟” (Jeremiah 5:10)

Listen, anyone that gets into that kind of behavior and never recognizes it as sin, never confesses it as sin, never says that, “This was sin. And I should not have done it,” not “I couldn‟t help it.” [Is not of the Lord.] (PARAPHRASE, Jeremiah 5:10) They are not speaking truth. He says, “„…They are not the LORD‟S. For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously with Me‟ [says] the LORD.” (Jeremiah 5:10-11)

And this is what they say. Now listen, this is key, “They have lied about the LORD and [they have] said, „Not He; misfortune will not come on us, and we will not see [the] sword or famine.‟” (Jeremiah 5:12) He‟s saying, “Listen, God‟s not going to judge us. It‟s all right.” They are lying about God. They are denying that God is a God of justice. God is holy, Precious One. And he says in Hebrews chapter 12, “[Pursue godliness, pursue] holiness without which no man [will] see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14, KJV)

He‟s a holy, holy God. And so they think that judgment will not come from God. They say, “„…misfortune will not come on us…we will not see sword or famine….‟” (Jeremiah 5:12)

But these were the false prophets. And he says in verse 31. And I‟m jumping to it “The prophets prophecy falsely…the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so! But what will you do [in] the end of it?” (Jeremiah 5:31)

These are people, Precious One, that are not upholding the Word of God. And they think that their authority is higher than God‟s. This is why what we are doing is so important, and I commend you. Back to verse 13, “„The prophets are as wind, and the word is not in them. Thus it will be done to them!‟ Therefore, thus says the LORD…God of hosts, „Because you have spoken this word….‟” Because you have said, “No, it‟s not the Lord. God won‟t do that. Misfortune won‟t happen.” He says, “„…Behold, I am making My words in your mouth…,‟” in Jeremiah‟s mouth, “„…and this people wood, and it will consume them.‟” (Jeremiah 5:14)

In other words, your words Jeremiah that are coming out of your mouth are fire, and these ungodly people are wood. And it will consume them. Listen, you‟re either going to be consumed by sin, or you‟re going to be consumed by the Word of God.

The choice is yours.

You need to be very, very, very careful about what‟s coming into your life. You need to really be careful what your eyes are seeing, what your mind is thinking, what your heart is following. It brings to mind to me what Jesus said in Matthew, and I want us to look at it. In Matthew chapter 15 this is what He‟s saying, He‟s saying, “„Do you not understand…,‟” in verse 17, “„that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated?‟” (Matthew 15:17)

In other words, they were all hung up on what people were eating, whether it was clean or unclean. And He‟s saying, “Look, it goes into the mouth. It goes into the stomach. It‟s passed.” You got the point don‟t you? But then He made an interesting observation, He said this, “„But [those] things that proceed [from] the mouth come from the heart, and [these] defile the man.‟” (Matthew 15:18)

Don‟t be so concerned about what they are taking in—listen carefully to what‟s coming out of their mouth. We need to listen to people, and see: what is the character of what they‟re saying, what are they talking about? What do they joke about? What are their innuendos? Do they want to talk about the Lord? Do they want to talk about good things, and holy things, or righteous things, or mean and ugly things? He says this, “„For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.‟” (Matthew 15:19-20)

They were concerned: You didn‟t wash your hands. And God‟s concern: You didn‟t wash your heart. Now the way that you wash your heart is you [guard your heart because out of the heart, out of the mind, come the issues of life.] (PARAPHRASE, Proverbs 4:23)

So as the song says, “Be careful little eyes what you see. Be careful little eyes what you see.” Why? Because what you take in, it goes to your heart; it‟s what‟s going to come out. And that‟s what we saw in today‟s lesson: Guard your heart, your mind, your eyes. Guard it!

Do you treat your rivals with honor? (88-2) ~ Barry Werner

Do you treat your rivals with honor? (88-2)

A leader’s humility is sometimes measured by the manner in which they handle loss. Humble leaders don’t point fingers. They accept that even their best effort sometimes isn’t enough. On other occasions a leader’s humility is measured by how well they handle real or potential victories. Humble leaders treat even rivals with honor. Read 1 Samuel 24.

If ever a leader had a reason to grasp victory and gloat, it was David. David had been loyal to God and to Saul. He had not tried to steal Saul’s throne even though he knew God had anointed him as Israel’s next king. David’s only “crime” that had angered Saul was his devotion to God and the courage to defeat the Philistine soldier Goliath which gave him instant fame among the people of Israel.


David had experienced tremendous loss in that he had been driven from Saul’s palace and away from his home, family and his dear friend Jonathan. King Saul and his army were pursuing David and his small band of supporters across the countryside with the intent to kill every last one of them. The threat was real and Saul’s intense jealousy blinded him to David’s love and loyalty to God and himself.

While David and his men were hiding from Saul’s army in a dark cave, David encountered an unexpected opportunity. Saul’s three-thousand man army waited outside the cave while King Saul, unaware of David’s presence, entered the cave to relieve himself. David’s warriors saw this as God delivering Saul to David and they urged David to kill Saul and take his rightful position as God’s anointed king of Israel.

David knew that killing Saul would not only solve his problem but the life-threatening situation to his men and family would be gone. He knew his actions were on trial before everyone who supported him and he was no stranger to killing the enemy. The temptation to kill Saul must have been very great. David also knew his character and faithfulness was on trial before God.

He chose to allow God to establish the timing of his ascension to the throne and clearly communicated that to his men. When David moved in next to Saul and cut off a piece of Saul’s robe, in humility before God, David was “conscience-stricken” and chose not to kill someone God had anointed. Minutes later David stood in the entrance to the cave and announced to Saul, “Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the Lord’s anointed’” (1 Samuel 24:10).

Great leaders are humble. And humble leaders treat even their enemies with honor and require their team to do the same.

When opportunities to take advantage of the moment appear in your leadership world, do you take a moment to consider how this fits into the principles of character and leadership established by God or do you see this as an opportunity serve your own best interests? Virtually everything we learn tells us to take advantage of the moment. This attitude is not new to the 21st century; David’s men would have celebrated had David killed Saul in the cave and seized the throne. Leaders with godly humility seek God first and then take action based on God’s leading.

• 

Tags: Honor

« Can you find joy in the success of another leader? (88-1)

How do you react when you don’t get rewarded for good work? (88-3)

We should pray (which is simply talking and listening to God) ~David McGee

Acts 12:5

"Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church."
NKJV

Life Lesson

We should pray (which is simply talking and listening to God).

I encourage you to begin 'walking in prayer'. Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to "pray without ceasing." At first glance, this seems impossible. In considering this further, we see that Paul is telling us to walk in prayer. A portion of my own prayer life is made up of simple short prayers as I commute to work, wait in line at a local store or on a walk alone.

This makes me much more aware of the presence of God in my life. Often when someone asks me to pray for them, I pray for them right then and there. I want the person to know I have prayed for them. Let me encourage you to begin walking in prayer today. You will discover what an amazing difference it will make in your life.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for the gift of prayer. Thank You for the gift of being able to talk to You and listen to You wherever I am, whoever I am with and whatever I am doing. I ask, Lord, that I would develop a life style of talking and listening to You. Help me to pray throughout my day and enjoy the time I get to spend with You. Also, God, help me to remember to pray for others. Thanks God for listening to me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

John Mark blew it badly, but came through ultimately ~ Jon Courson

Remember the story in Acts 12? Setting off on their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas take John Mark, Barnabas’ nephew, with them. Then somewhere in the early part of the journey, John Mark freaks out and runs home. At the outset of their second missionary trip, Barnabas says, ‘I’ll get John Mark, and we’ll be on our way.’

‘Hold on,’ Paul says. ‘John Mark flipped out and failed us last time. He’s not coming again.
‘Yes he is,’ said Barnabas, son of Comfort.
‘No way,’ said Paul. ‘There’s work to do. We can’t have this guy tag along with us. He just doesn’t have what it takes.’
‘I’m taking John Mark,’ said Barnabas.
‘Fine,’ said Paul. ‘Go your way. I’ll take Silas and we’ll go in a different direction.’

And they parted company.

Years later, we see that Barnabas’ work was successful with John Mark, for here in Colossians Paul salutes him.

So too, you who feel like you ‘missed the mark’, that God opened a door for you to do something, but you failed — take heart. I don’t care how badly you messed up, He’s not through with you.

You think you're a failure?

Consider this man. He had less than three years of formal education and failed in business in ‘31. He was defeated for State Legislature in ‘32, and failed again in business in ‘34. Finally elected to the State Legislature in ‘35, he ran for Speaker and lost in a landslide. He was defeated again for Elector in ‘40, and for Congress in ‘43. Elected in ‘46, he was tossed out of office two years later, defeated in a reelection attempt in ‘48. Failing in business once again, he ran for Senate, but was defeated in ‘55. He ran for Vice President in ‘56, was crushed, and was defeated for Senate another time in ‘58. And then in ‘60, 1860, Abraham Lincoln won — and went on to become perhaps the greatest political leader in American history.

Could it be that the wit, wisdom, and understanding of human nature which he exhibited so powerfully came as a result of the setbacks, failures, and defeats Lincoln had experienced previously?

Don’t despair, precious people. John Mark blew it badly, but came through ultimately. So can you.

Get a life? ~ Greg Laurie

Get a life?

We have all heard the expression, “You need to get a life!”
Well, Jesus would put it another way. He would, in effect say,

“You need to lose your life if you want to find it!”

I am talking about the topic of discipleship in my blog this week. So far, we’ve already seen that the disciple must love God more than anyone or anything else.
Here is the second requirement of being disciple.

2. The disciple must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Jesus.
Luke 14:27 says, “Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”
Elsewhere in Luke’s Gospel, He says, “If anyone desires to come after Me [that is, if anyone would be His disciple], let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it” (Luke 9:23-24).

God’s trade-in plan
I know this can sound pretty unappealing. You imagine yourself living in this miserable, sacrificial, unhappy condition.
But the fact of the matter is that nothing could be further from the truth. Note that Jesus says, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it!”
Think of it as ”God’s trade-in plan.”

I’m trying to find myself!
There are people today who say they are trying to find themselves. BTW, I cannot stand that expression.
One makes that statement usually before doing something really selfish, like walking out on a marriage.
They might say, “You are no longer meeting my needs. I am unhappy, so I am going to leave you because I need to find myself!”

Could anything be more cliché, and wrong?

In essence, Jesus says, “You want to find yourself? Then lose yourself.”
Do you want to find life, purpose, and personal happiness? Then say, “Lord, here is my life, my plans, my aspirations, my dreams, as well as my weaknesses, shortcomings, and sins. I believe that Your plans are better than mine in the long run.”

But what does it mean to “take up our cross and follow Him?” This is explained in Luke 13:33: “Whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

Literally, this means: “You must surrender your claim to, or say goodbye to.”
That does not mean that to live as a disciple of Jesus one has to take a vow of poverty and give every possession away. Jesus meant that we are to surrender our claim to our possessions. In other words, we are not to be possessed by possessions.

Our obsession
It’s fine to have clothes, a car, a house, and a career. It’s fine to have friends, hobbies, and interests.
But the true cisciple should not be obsessed with these things. The only obsession a disciple should have is for Jesus Christ. He must be the most important pursuit in our lives. He must be more important than our career or our personal happiness.

The fact is we will find the personal happiness we want not by seeking it, but by seeking Him. Why don’t you do that today?

Walking in humility is the pathway for living ~ Bob Hoekstra

Humility and the Fear of the Lord

By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life…with the humble is wisdom…The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs 22:4; 11:2; and 9:10)

Many of our previous meditations have clearly demonstrated that walking in humility is the pathway for living by the grace of God. "God…gives grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5). In our present verses, we see that humility and the fear of the Lord are related.

Humility and the fear of the Lord result in the same blessings. "By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life." The closing trio ("riches and honor and life") are an Old Testament description of a life that is fully blessed by God. The New Testament counterpart would be fullness of spiritual life. "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). Humility and the fear of the Lord also result in wisdom. "With the humble is wisdom… The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom."

Humility is the candid acknowledgment of our absolute need for the Lord to work thoroughly in our lives day by day. The fear of the Lord is respect and reverence toward our great God. It is not a fear involving terror or apprehension. Rather, it is based upon profound admiration and dependent devotion.

Those who humbly fear the Lord (by placing their admiration and devotion in Him) also embrace His perspectives and values. They develop a hatred for the things that He hates. "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate" (Proverbs 8:13). Correspondingly, those who have respect and reverence for the Lord develop a love for all that He loves. The Lord loves for His people to walk in righteousness and justice.

"The LORD loves the righteous…the LORD loves justice" (Psalm 146:8 and 37:28). The Lord loves Israel, His chosen nation. "The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples" (Deuteronomy 7:7). The Lord loves His church, the children of God. "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!" (1 John 3:1). The Lord loves the world, those who need to know Him. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Lord God Almighty, I humbly bow before You, acknowledging my absolute need for You to work thoroughly in my life day by day. I want to walk in the fear of the Lord, placing my admiration and devotion in You. I want to hate all that You hate and love all that You love, in Jesus' name, Amen.

Our confidence needs to be in the Lord ~ Raul Ries

Confidence in God

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Philippians 4:13 

In the Civil War, rear Admiral Samuel du Pont gave half a dozen excellent reasons why he had not taken his gunboats into Charleston Harbor. Admiral David Farragut listened intently to the recital, “But there was another reason that you have not mentioned,” he replied. “What is that?” questioned du Pont.

The answer came: “You did not believe you could do it.” That lack of confidence has been the secret of failures not only in warfare, but also in the Christian life.

Our confidence needs to be in the Lord, not in ourselves, our talents, our gifts, and our finances, or in other people. When our confidence is in God’s abilities and power, there is no need for failure.

Thought for the Day:
Where have you placed your confidence?

David showed real courage and faith ~ Charles Stanley

Confronting Goliaths
 

1 Samuel 17:1-53

David's short battle with Goliath was more than a fight between Israel and the Philistines. It was a defense of Jehovah's name against those who doubted His supremacy. As David pointed out, the only way a boy with a sling could defeat a giant warrior like Goliath was by the Lord's hand. And that's exactly what happened.


In confronting Goliath, David showed real courage and faith. But we see that what drove him to face the giant was righteous indignation: "For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?" (1 Sam. 17:26).David believed that someone had to wipe away from Israel the reproach caused by Goliath's insults. Since no one else would step forward, he volunteered to defend Yahweh's name.

Modern audiences often read this story merely as a battle scene wherein an inexperienced underdog toppled an ancient superhero. We comfort ourselves that we will probably never have to deal with such a scenario. But the real story is that David stood up for God. Given how our culture scoffs at both the Father and Jesus Christ, believers will certainly spend some time in David's sandals. The question is whether we will turn and run or stand and fight in God's name.

You don't need a theology degree to combat those who would mock God. Your "smooth stones" (v. 40) are the truths you have pulled from the Bible. No enemy can win an argument against Scripture. Whatever the outcome seems to be, the battle is the Lord's, and He gives victory to the faithful.

Abide in me as I abide in you ~ Mark Balmer

Based on “Under HIS Influence – Changed Lives” 

by Pastor Mark Balmer;

9/26-27/09, Message #MB390; Daily Devotional #2 - 

“Truly Transformed”

Preparing the Soil (Introduction):  “Jesus described how obedient, transformed behavior naturally flows from a life of abiding in the vine. ‘Abide in me as I abide in you’ (John 15:4, NRSV). That mutual indwelling provides us with the juices to bear fruit…Abiding in Christ’s love, however, creates obedience because deep devotion to Jesus gives us the desire to obey.” Jan Johnson, Invitation to the Jesus Life   “[There is] unspeakable danger of giving ourselves to work for God, and to bear fruit, with but little of the true abiding, the wholehearted losing of ourselves in Christ and His life.”  Andrew Murray

Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): Transformation. The word itself has energy. Television producers have picked up on most people’s innate desire to be transformed and consequently have developed a multitude of reality programs with the hope of transformation at their heart. Whether it’s losing weight or remodeling a house or finding the love of your life, hopeful participants eagerly endure sometimes humiliating conditions to get the ultimate payoff—a transformed life. In each of the scenarios external transformation does take place, but what happens the next morning when he or she wakes up with the new body or new house or new spouse? They are each still the same person on the inside who struggles with fear or unforgiveness or lack of self control.

Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response):  Unfortunately, in the body of Christ we sometimes get confused about how real transformation takes place. We think if we serve in the church or witness to the lost, surely we’ll experience an inward renovation… thinking ‘then I’ll have the peace I long for.’ However, we learn in the book of John that the opposite is true. Only when we abide or remain in Jesus do we put ourselves in a situation to truly be changed. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

  How do we “remain” in Him? Our time with God must become a priority instead of an afterthought. If we try to “fit it in” we all know it usually never happens. But even before making devotional time part of our schedule, we must ask ourselves, “Am I in love with Jesus?” If I am, the time I get to spend in His presence is something I long for and miss if it doesn’t happen. Loving God deeply grows out of knowing Who He really is (which we learn in His Word) and experiencing Him daily (which happens when we ask).

From this vibrant, devoted relationship, we find ourselves changing—not because of what we’ve done, but because of Who He is. We become like those with whom we spend time, and when we spend time with Jesus, abiding in His presence, we can’t help but fall in love with Him.

Cultivating (Additional Reading):  John 15; 2 Corinthians 5:17

Conflicts ~ Chuck Swindoll

Conflicts
by Charles R. Swindol 


Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6
 

Paul found himself between a rock and a hard place. He wanted to be in heaven but needed to be on earth. In a temporal sort of way, I share the same frustration. "But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and watch the Super Bowl . . . yet to remain in the pulpit is more necessary for your sake" (Phil. 1:23-24, Swindoll paraphrase).

Now don't get me wrong. I love to preach. It's one of the few things I'd rather do than eat---as my wife can testify. But I also love football. With only minor adjustments, both of these "loves" can be maintained without much difficulty . . . except for one Sunday a year. Super Bowl Sunday. On that particular day I freely admit, I have a conflict.

I've thought of all sorts of alternative plans:

Place a tiny TV on the pulpit shelf and bow in silent prayer several times (to check the score).
Put a Walkman in my suit coat and wear an earphone.
Ask an usher to signal the score periodically.

Conflicts are common. Unfortunately, they are seldom as lighthearted as this one. Some are, in fact, desperately serious.

What is a conflict? A conflict is an emotional collision. It is stress caused by incompatible desires or demands. It is what occurs when we have two or more impulses in competition with one another. The stronger the impulse, the greater the tension. The greater the tension, the louder the collision.

Conflicts come in many packages, such as when a mother wants to walk with God, raise her children to love the Lord and honor His name. But her husband is turned off to spiritual things. That woman has a conflict between her "mother impulses" and her "wife impulses." She lives with an emotional collision.

I have no quick, easy solutions to complex conflicts. But I know this much: Our Lord cares for His own. Knowing our limitations, He urges us to "cast all our anxieties on Him" (1 Pet. 5:7) and to replace worry with active, specific prayer (Phil. 4:6). Prayer may not stop the collision, but, like seat belts, it sure can protect us from serious damage.

Subtract the power of Christ, the wisdom of His Word, the calming presence of the Holy Spirit, and you have unbearable collisions that lead to unbelievable tragedies.

What kinds of conversations do you engage in? ~ Mike MacIntosh

Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?"

But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."
Mark 9:33-35

What kinds of conversations do you engage in? Jesus spent His lifetime teaching people about life and death issues (literally!), but for some reason, His own disciples would rather focus on who would be greatest. And unfortunately, most of us fall into this category as well. I mean, we talk to our co-workers, spouses, families, and friends about sporting events and playoffs, the weather, and the things that irritate us about others. But isn't it amazing that when it comes to life and death issues, we clam up?

We talk about everything except the real issues of life with people. What Jesus Christ has done for us is absolutely amazing, yet we can't even get the words out of our mouths. How easy is it to talk about political issues, yet we forget to share the love of Jesus to people who may be eternally separated from the King of kings and Lord of lords.

I wonder how many people we talk to really want to talk about their problems, and yet we hinder the work of the Holy Spirit because we'd rather talk about eternally-meaningless things. I bet if you engaged in a conversation about your faith, or the love of Jesus, that many people would start opening up their hearts and share with you their hurts and pains.

All it takes is willingness on your part. Allow the Holy Spirit to give you courage, as well as the simple words to express to your co-workers and friends the love of Jesus--let Him be the "greatest" in your conversations.

All thing work together for our good ~ Bob Coy

All thing work together for our good

Jacob exclaimed . . . "Everything is going against me!" Genesis 42:36 (NLT)

"Everything is going against me!" Ever been there? Have you ever found yourself in a position where it seems like absolutely everything is working in direct opposition to you? Jacob did.



As we learned over the past few days, it all started when he was told that his favored son, Joseph, had been attacked and killed. Then a severe famine hit, prompting him to send his remaining sons to Egypt for food. But his sons came back without Simeon, who had been detained on a trumped-up charge of theft. To make matters worse, they were commanded to return to Egypt and to bring their younger brother Benjamin with them.


Now imagine you're Jacob. "First I lose Joseph, then this famine pushes my family to the brink of starvation, then I lose Simeon, and now I'm about to lose Benjamin!" If it were us, we'd probably come to the same conclusion he did. "Everything is going against me!"


But neither Jacob nor we have the authority to make such a statement because we don't know everything, much less if it's going against us or not. Only God knows everything, and the great irony here is that God was actually working on Jacob's behalf. Joseph wasn't dead; he was alive and had become a powerful ruler in Egypt. The famine was a tool to reunite Joseph with Jacob. And Simeon and Benjamin would soon be reunited with their dad, as well.


Although he couldn't see it from where he was standing, everything was actually working for and not against Jacob. God loves us just as much as Jacob, and He promises to take the trials that seem so against us and make them work for us:


And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God . . . (Romans 8:28 NLT)

Discuss, Dig, Decide:

Discuss a season in your life that initially was chaotic, but in the end had circumstances that wound up working for your good. When you felt like everything was going against you, what made the difference?

Dig into Genesis 41:50–52. As Joseph names his first two children in Egypt, what insights can we gather about his perspective on trials compared to his father’s perspective?

Decide that each individual in your group will read the account of Joseph’s time in Egypt this week (Genesis 39–46). Come back next week prepared to discuss what led Joseph to have the outlook that God is sovereign and good, even through his trials.

The Final Journey to Jerusalem ~ WoW

The Final Journey to Jerusalem


Matthew 20:17-28; Luke 18:35-19:27; Psalm 107:31-32; Proverbs 19:20

Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again." Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.
And He said to her, "What do you wish?"

She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom."

But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"
They said to Him, "We are able."

So He said to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father."

And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave- just as the Son of Man did notcome to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, saying, "What do you want Me to do for you?"
He said, "Lord, that I may receive my sight."

Then Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner."

Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold."

And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. Therefore He said: "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.' But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We will not have this man to reign over us.'

"And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned ten minas.' And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.' And the second came, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned five minas.' Likewise he said to him, 'You also be over five cities.'

"Then another came, saying, 'Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.' And he said to him, 'Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?'

"And he said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.' (But they said to him, 'Master, he has ten minas.') 'For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.'"
Matthew 20:17-28; Luke 18:35-19:27

WORSHIPOh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people,
And praise Him in the company of the elders.
Psalm 107:31-32 
 
WISDOM
Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
That you may be wise in your latter days.
Proverbs 19:20

Do you know God's will for your life? ~ Dimitiri

Keys to Knowing the Will of God

So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." - Acts 9:6.

Do you know God's will for your life? Many Christians don't. However, for Saul of Tarsus there was no question. On the road to Damascus God clearly led him, saying: "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." Saul obeyed, and three days later a believer named Ananias came to lay hands on him and to reveal God's will to him. The Lord said to Ananias, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel" (Acts 9:15).

Within a few days of coming to faith in Christ, Saul clearly understood his calling and area of ministry.

In this passage in Acts, we have two important keys to finding God's will for our lives. The first has to do with Saul's question, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" He asked God to reveal his will to him. If you are uncertain of God's will for your life, go to prayer. Start today! Begin to earnestly seek Him by saying, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" God wants us to seek Him.

The second key is a willingness to do God's will. "If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know..." (John 7:17). This is an area where many Christians fall short, for they have never yielded their own wills to obey the will of God. Are you willing to do whatever God wants you to do? Saul was. When the Lord Jesus commanded him to go, he willingly obeyed (Acts 9:8).

As you seek the Lord's will for your life and ministry, be assured that God has a unique plan and purpose for your life as He did with Saul, who later became known as Paul the apostle. Ephesians 2:10 declares, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

A Note! ~ Dry Bones

Here are your Dry Bones blog updates

• A Note!
• More Recent Articles

---

A Note!

A Note!

I am off on a speaking tour in the States until October 25. I've done a set of cartoons for while I'm away, but there won't be any "Golden Oldies" 'til I return.

-Dry Bones- Israel's Political Comic Strip Since 1973

The enduring Gospel ~ Greg Laurie

But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.
--Acts 8:3

Even before Saul was a part of the kingdom of God, he was working for it unwittingly. By attacking Christians, he caused them to spread out geographically. If he had not done this, it is entirely possible that the believers would have remained in a holy huddle in Jerusalem. But Jesus had told them to "go and make disciples of all the nations" (Matthew 28:19). Then along came Saul to arrest Christians, so they dispersed to various areas, and the gospel spread.

Saul was living off hatred and threats, like a wild beast stalking its prey. He was on a search not for God, but for the followers of God. A raging fury obsessed him. And if someone would have said to him as was leaving Jerusalem, "Guess what, Saul? Before the day is over, you will be a follower of Jesus," he would have laughed out loud. But that is exactly what happened. And his conversion was so unexpected that many greeted it with skepticism and suspicion.

Saul's conversion was such an unlikely event that Baron George Lyttelton, a British agnostic of the 18th century, thought it would not be too difficult to disprove. In doing so, he reasoned, he could then show that the rest of the New Testament was unworthy of credibility. But after careful research on the life of Saul of Tarsus (later to become Paul), Lyttelton was convinced the story was true and became a Christian himself. He concluded, "I thought the Conversion and the Apostleship of St. Paul alone, duly considered, was of itself a demonstration sufficient to prove Christianity a Divine Revelation."

So when some people turn a deaf ear to the gospel, put us down, or attempt to shut us up, remember that the Word of God will not return void.

Love Man trust God ~ Joyce Meyer

But when He was in Jerusalem during the Passover Feast, many believed in His name [identified themselves with His party] after seeing His signs (wonders, miracles) which He was doing. But Jesus [for His part] did not trust Himself to them, because He knew all [men]; And He did not need anyone to bear witness concerning man [needed no evidence from anyone about men], for He Himself knew what was in human nature. [He could read men's hearts.]
—John 2:23-25

Jesus loved people, especially His disciples. He had great fellowship with them. He traveledwith them, ate with them, and taught them. But He did not put His trust in them, because He knew what was in human nature. That is the way we should be. We should love people, but trust God. I love my husband. He and I have a wonderful relationship together. I don't think I could find a better man to be married to than Dave Meyer. He is good to me. He respects me.
He treats me the way a husband should treat his wife. But, being human, he still sometimes says and does things that hurt me, just as I sometimes say and do things that hurt him.

Why does that happen even in the best of human relationships? It happens because we are not perfect. Only God can be counted on never to fail us, disappoint us, hurt us, or do us wrong. As much as we may love, honor, cherish, and respect others—especially our spouse or our family members—we must not place our trust in the weak arm of the flesh but only in thestrong arm of the Lord.

Walking in Truth ~ Bob Caldwell

Truth and Love are Inseparable 2:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. The central place the Apostle John gave to a person's relationship to truth is a vital benchmark for us all. Gaius, who had become a follower of Christ as a result of John's ministry, had such a pervasive commitment to truth that it left John with a deep sense of joy (v. 1-4). Their mutual love for each other was expressed through the shared truths that shaped each believer's life (v. 1). This relationship with truth was not only theoretical but practical. It was something that was easily observed by those who spent time with Gaius (v. 3). The specific example given here is the practical financial support that was given to servants of Christ. Both known brethren and strangers were treated with love in a way that was "worthy of God." This becomes a vital test of our own walk as Christians. Do we care for both the known and unknown who are in need in a way that God Himself would do if He were in our place? It is to our great shame that believers in wealthy nations often show little, if any, practical concern for fellow believers in different nations who suffer financially and politically because of their faith. While thinking of those in need, John gives special emphasis to all we must do to strengthen the hands of those who are laboring to extend the truth of Christ. Next, John turns to a second expression of practical truth that is Christ. He refers to how we should deal with those who are within the church but live contrary to the truth. Their actions must be openly and honestly exposed. The example John uses is the prideful and oppressive leadership of Diotrephes, something Gaius must address, and John will directly confront when he visits their church (v. 9-10). This, too, is love expressed to others because, if left unchecked, many will be hurt spiritually. Conversely, John strongly encourages recognition of men like Demetrius who was living proof of a life lead by truth (v. 11-12). In John, the apostle of love, we find that it is not love to let falsehoods go unchallenged when it comes to living out the truths of God. In fact, it is on the basis of honest expressions of truth that we are assured we really do "know" the truth. Love will always result in a love and obedience to truth. And truth will always result in truth being expressed in love. This powerful relationship between truth and love is the path on which we will find a legitimate faith in Christ.
3 John 1:1-14 Greeting to Gaius 1 The Elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Gaius Commended for Generosity 5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, 6 who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, 7 because they went forth for His name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth. Diotrephes and Demetrius 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. 11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true. Farewell Greeting 13 I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; 14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.
3 John 1:1-14 v. 1 The Elder – As in 2 John, John begins his letter by identifying himself to his readers as "the elder." This is a term used in New Testament to describe one of authority due to age and experience. This term is often used to identify an officer or leader of a group of people. the Beloved Gaius – Because Gaius was one of the most common names in the Roman Empire, it is difficult to identify precisely which Gaius this was. There were several distinct Gaiuses mentioned in the New Testament (Acts 19:19, 20:4; 1 Cor. 1:14; Rom. 16:23). What we know for sure is that this Gaius was a successful mentor of other Christian disciples and the Apostle John considered him "beloved." Love in truth – This is the same phrase John uses to begin 2 John. There is indeed a "love in truth" as there is also a "love in deceit." The love that springs forth from the Christian faith is based upon the truth of God's word as opposed to the false priorities of the world, the teachings of cults or the deceitful value system of the devil. v. 2 Beloved – John uses this Greek word, agapetos, three times in this short letter. This word "beloved" can also be translated esteemed, dear, favorite, worthy of love. This is certainly the way all Christians should view each other, especially since this is the way God views all Christians. that You May Prosper in All Things and Be in Health – Some today try to abuse this verse by using it as an argument for an across-the-board promise of divine health and wealth for every Christian. But notice that John "prays that." He doesn't "promise that" or even "claim that" prosperity and health will come. It is equivalent to saying to a dear friend, "I pray all goes well with you." The same Greek word used for prosper here is translated "prosperous journey" in Romans 1:10 in the KJV. In this particular context it is not speaking of wealth or worldly riches but rather success and God's blessing upon all that Gaius does. Financial prosperity is not always a blessing. As a matter of fact, if you search through the New Testament for the word "rich" or "riches" you will find many warnings of the dangers of riches. Riches can steal your heart away from the Lord's priorities for your life (Matt. 13:22, 19:23-24, 27:57). See also Proverbs 30:8-9 for the proper attitude toward material abundance. as your soul prospers – A blessed and successful spiritual life. This infers that John knew that Gaius' soul was already doing quite well, and John was praying that God would bless Gaius in all aspects in proportion to his spiritual growth. v. 3 Brethren – adelphos (Gk.) a fellow believer, united to another by the bond of affection Came and Testified of the Truth that is in You – This was the cause of John's great rejoicing, news that the truth of God is dwelling in another! John heard this news from reliable "brethren," fellow Christians. These fellow Christians "testified" or bore witness to the fact that the truth was in Gaius. This implies that one can recognize that "the truth is in" another and be confident by objective evidence of this fact. Walk in the Truth – When the Bible uses the phrase "walk in," it is referring to "lifestyle" or the "conduct" of one's life (John 8:12, 12:35; Rom. 4:12, 6:4, 8:1, 4, 13:13; 1Cor. 7:17). So walking in the truth signifies that a person knows the truth of God and is obediently living according to that truth by his actions and conduct. Walking in the truth is the next logical step after knowing the truth. v. 4 I No Greater Joy – This reveals the fact that the greatest joy is the joy of spiritual reproduction and fidelity. that My Children Walk in Truth – This statement suggests to us that Gaius was probably one of John's converts. v. 5 Beloved – agapetos (Gk.) dear, favorite, worthy of love. A word used to describe rich love and companionship. This word is used three times in this short 14-verse letter, demonstrating the firmly established attitude of love among the brethren. All true Christians are "beloved." They are greatly loved by God and greatly loved by their fellow believers. Love and truth are the foundations of all Christian fellowship. You Do Faithfully Whatever You Do – This is a commendation and not a command. John is praising Gaius for the way he faithfully treats others with the love of Christ. This could also be one reason John prays for Gaius' prosperity in verse two. Since Gaius is faithful to consistently use his prosperity and material possessions for the work of the Lord, the more Gaius is blessed financially, the more the work of the Lord will be furthered. Like parenting, it is proper that excellent Christian leaders not only give instruction, but praise when instruction is followed. For the Brethren and for Strangers – John commends Gaius for the hospitality he shows toward the Christians he knows, as well as those he does not know. Likewise, we should consider all Christians beloved. The Christian's love and hospitality should be extended to strangers as equally as to close friends. In the Christian faith, a stranger who belongs to Christ is just as much your family as a familiar and close Christian friend. v. 6 Borne Witness – martureo (Gk.) to be a witness, to bear witness, i.e. to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, or that he knows it because taught by divine revelation or inspiration Your Love Before the Church – It is apparent that many who have visited Gaius' home have given report of his faithful Christian love and hospitality. A good reputation is one of the most valuable things a person can possess (Prov. 22:1). In God's eyes a good reputation is not necessarily related to earthly accomplishments or personal giftedness, but rather to actions of love toward God and man. This puts everyone on an equal playing field, for not everyone is equally gifted or talented, but everyone can love. Gaius is not showing this kindness to others because he possesses some special spiritual gift that enables him to love. Gaius simply chose to love obediently because Christ commands all His followers to love and the Holy Spirit dwells in him. That same choice and power is ours. Manner Worthy of God – Or "in a manner that pleases God"(NLT). The scriptures make clear that God's people should treat, and be treated, in a way worthy of God, or in a way acceptable before God (Matt. 10:42, 25:40). It is apparent that John is encouraging Gaius to show hospitality to a specific group of missionaries who he has blessed in the past and are now journeying his way once more. Perhaps this letter was even carried by these missionaries from John to Gaius. Some suggest that Demetrius in verse 12 was among this group and maybe even their chief delegate. v. 7 for His Name's Sake – John is describing the motive of the true missionaries and ministers of God. These men of God do what they do "for His name's sake" or "for the Lord" (NLT) and not for personal motives. Taking Nothing from – These missionaries did not follow the usual pattern of the traveling con-men of their day—begging in the streets, or asking for donations from the nonbelievers. They relied entirely upon the grace of God and the hospitality of their Christian brethren. Gentiles – ethnos (Gk.) a multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus. In the OT, this word referred to foreign nations not worshiping the true God. This word was synonymous with the word, "pagans." v. 8 Receive – apolambano (Gk.) to hospitably welcome and care for someone. Since traveling Christian ministers were of such integrity in motive and method, John says, "We therefore ought to receive such." John is clearly instructing Gaius to receive and assist these itinerate Christian workers. That We May Become Fellow Workers – When you assist a worker in his labor you become a partaker in his work whether good or evil. Thus, when you help a teacher of truth or a preacher of righteousness in their work, it is credited to your account in heaven. You become a "fellow worker for the truth." This means that when you support a missionary in prayer or giving, you become a fellow worker with that missionary. the Truth – The truth and validity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. v. 9 the Church – ekklesia (Gk.) An assembly of Christians. The church is never mentioned in scripture as a building, but rather as a group or gathering of believers. Diotrephes – It is obvious from John's writing that Diotrephes considered himself an authoritative Christian leader and exercised power over the small groups of Christians that John was writing to. It is interesting that John mentions him by name in a negative or defaming way. There are times when it is necessary to "point fingers" and "name names." If a false teacher or false prophet rises up and infiltrates the body of believers, it is essential to identify him by name and expose his deception so that the body of believers would be safe from his evil work (Rom. 16:17-18). Loves to Have the Preeminence – Before giving a list of the evil deeds of Diotrephes, John reveals the motive at the heart of his problem. Diotrephes, like so many so-called "Christian leaders" throughout history, loved power and position. Pride is perhaps the most wicked of all sins. Pride is what transformed the exquisite angel Lucifer into the wicked devil, Satan (Is. 14:12-14). You cannot live for self and live for God at the same time (Luke 9:23-25). Preeminence – philoproteuo (Gk.) the ambition and desire to be first Does Not Receive Us – The ultimate outcome of loving preeminence is rejecting true authority from God's chosen apostles and leaders. Diotrephes rejected the authority of Christ's Apostles and offered John no reception or welcome hospitality. v. 10 I Will Call to Mind His Deeds – John will not be afraid to confront this arrogant rebel when the proper time comes. There are times when a godly leader must take his stand and confront error if there is to be a resolve to discord. Prating Against Us – The word prating means to maliciously make false and empty accusations. This is a common method of the devil to raise up proud men who will brazenly challenge God's chosen leaders and bring division in the church. Every good Christian must learn to recognize this tactic and be on guard to never be a part of this strategy. Malicious – poneros (Gk.) bad, evil, grievous, harm, lewd, malicious, wickedness Not Content With That, He… Forbids – This man Diotrephes does more to harm the work of God than just talk. Though words can do much damage, Diotrephes is not content to stop there, but pushes further to hinder the work of God by rejecting God's traveling missionary teachers. Then he even dares to forbid good Christians from showing hospitality to these godly travelers. Putting Them Out of the Church – it is apparent that Diotrephes did more than just threaten to excommunicate those who would show hospitality, he actually went so far as to refuse fellowship to those who showed this kindness to traveling missionary teachers from John's party. v. 11 Beloved – Though John was compelled to speak harshly against Diotrephes, he continually uses this enduring term for those he lovingly writes to (v. 1, 2). Imitate – mimeomai (Gk.) to "mimic" or follow as an example Evil – kakos (Gk.) of a bad nature; troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful Good – agathos (Gk.) pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy; of good constitution or nature Do Not Imitate What is Evil, but What is Good – John is informing his readers that they have a very important choice to make. They must not imitate the evil deeds of Diotrephes. They must do what is right even in the face of the threats of this evil man. He Who Does Good is of God, but He Who Does Evil has Not Seen God – A repeat of John's teachings in 1 John 3:6-10. v. 12 Demetrius Has a Good Testimony From All – We are not given much detail to identify who this Demetrius was. It is very possible that he was the messenger carrying this letter from John to the church. The only thing we know for sure is that Demetrius had a good reputation. All who knew him spoke highly of him. From the Truth Itself – It is possible for a man to have a good reputation because he has fooled everyone around him. But John declares that Demetrius' life and reputation lines up with truth. Truth – aletheia (Gk.) The truth in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man, opposing the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians. We Also Bear Witness… Our Testimony is True – By "we," John refers to himself and the rest of the apostles. When speaking of the truth of God, John reminds his readers that it is the apostles who have been personally sent out by Jesus to teach and establish God's truth throughout the entire world. v. 14 Peace – Thayer's Greek dictionary offers a very interesting definition for this word, "of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is." Friends – philos (Gk.) a beloved associate or companion Greet – aspazomai (Gk.) embrace, salute; to receive joyfully, welcome Greet the Friends by Name – All Christians are brothers. But not all are friends. John takes a moment to recognize that he has specific identifiable friends who are caught in the midst of this division caused by Diotrephes.
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. –3 John 1:4 There is little more that we can do to aid someone in life than to share the message of Jesus Christ with them. We can bind their wounds, we can give them food, clothing, and shelter. But if we do not share the truth of Christ with them, then we have given them a temporary gift. We pray for feet to walk boldly in Your name, Jesus.