The Terrible Trio!

The Simple, The Scorner, and The Fool you will meet often throughout the book of Proverbs. In the twelve years that I have read through Proverbs I thought that these people were one in the same just called by different names. But, after reading a book commentary on Proverbs by Warren Wiersbe I realized that they are three separate categories of individuals. My thoughts then turned to “Why doesn’t the Bible talk about just the righteous?” and “Why does God teach us the ways of the ungodly?” Throughout most of Proverbs the ways of the righteous are compared to the ways of the wicked. God teaches us both characteristics, side by side, so we can make a comparison within our own lives. I like to think of them as”mirror” verses. Which part of the verse reflects who I am on the inside? Let’s look at the characteristics of these three types of ungodly people.

First, we meet the simple. The simple are naïve. They believe anything that is told to them. They don’t research the truth before acting upon it. They cannot discriminate between truth and lies. They "go where the wind blows them”. Because the simple do not take a stand for anything, they fall for everything. I like to think of them as gullible. “People everywhere enjoy believing things they know are not true. It spares them the ordeal of thinking for themselves and taking responsibility for what they know.” Brooks Atkinson. “A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thoughts to his step” (Proverbs 14: 15). According to the simple, whatever may make you “feel good” is truth for you. There is no absolute truth according to the simple. How sad because Proverbs 1:32 says “For the turning away (waywardness) of the simple shall slay them.”

Secondly, we meet the Scorner a.k.a the Mocker. Scorners are the “know-it –alls”. Scorners are puffed up with pride. “Proud and haughty scorners is his name” (Proverbs 21:24). “Scorners can’t find wisdom even if they seek for it (14:6) because learning God’s truth demands a humble mind and an obedient will.” Wiersbe. When you try to teach the scorner the ways of God they will not heed it. You are just wasting your time. It can be compared to throwing pearls before swine or as my friend likes to put it: “It’s like putting lipstick on a pig.” How true!

Thirdly, met meet the Fool. Throughout Proverbs three different Hebrew words are translated “fool”. They are 1)kesyl – the dull stupid fool who is stubborn, 2)ewiyl – a corrupt fool who is unreasonable and morally corrupt, and 3)nabal – fool who is like a stubborn animal and brutish. Fools will not learn from God’s Word (1:7). They also cannot control their speech. “The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness” (15: 2). Fools may do a lot of talking but never accomplish what they talk about. They spread lies and slander and do not bring honor to their parents or God. Fools do not control their temper (12:16). “A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back” (29:11). Fools are proud and self-reliant. Their confidence lies within themselves (28:26). They will meddle and argue with others about their own “rightness”. They tend to create problems and bring sorrows to others. They do not use their money wisely (21: 20); neither can they be given responsibilities (26:1). Fools do not learn from their mistakes but goes right back to the same old mess. They are likened to a dog going right back to its vomit (26: 11). Wise people learn from their mistakes but the fool does not.

These terrible trios will die at their appointed time just as the wise will also die, however, they will die without instruction. “The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools” (Proverbs 3:5). The only fools who are “wise fools” are those that have put their faith, hope and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Christians are considered “fools” to the world for Christ’s sake when they become born- again believers but that is the wisest decision anyone can make.  (1 Corinthians 4:10). When it is our time to die, whose fool will YOU be?

Memorize:
Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. (Proverbs 19:20)

Dear Father, It is my prayer this morning that you keep my feet on the path of the righteous. Lord I pray to I always listen to advice, to godly counsel. It is my prayer this morning to always accept and learn from your loving discipline because I know that You chastise those whom belong to You and whom You love. Teach me Lord so that I too may be counted among the wise.

Characteristics of the Wicked

“A troublemaker and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth, who winks maliciously with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers, who plots evil with deceit in his heart— he always stirs up conflict. Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy. There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community” Proverbs 6: 12-19.

This passage in Proverbs seems to sum up the characteristics that wicked people possess. The wicked is unproductive. The schemes of the wicked are detestable and evil in the sight of the Lord. Even the very anatomy of the wicked is doing wickedness by winking of the eyes, shuffling of the feet, feet that are swift to do evil and motioning of the fingers. The use of evil anatomy in movies is common in portraying the bad guy. You know right away who the bad guys are by the way they wink their eyes, their posture, and the fingers motioning evil schemes forward and so on. The message is clear. The plot of the wicked is about to unfold.

This passage also states seven characteristics of the wicked in which the Lord hates and is detestable to Him.

First of all, the Lord hates haughty eyes. Haughty means disdainfully proud or snobbish. Haughty also means scornfully arrogant. A person with haughty eyes is showing great pride in his/herself. They scorn others and hold them in contempt. Pride is usually the motivation for all other sin.

God also hates a lying tongue. When we lie, we are opening ourselves up to do the devil’s work. When we tell the truth, we are opening ourselves up to the Spirit so he can move through us. God also hates “hands that shed innocent blood”. Murder. God permits capital punishment to be exercised by governments to impart justice but nowhere in the Bible is murder allowed of innocent people.

Fourthly, God hates “a heart that devises wicked schemes”. God gives us our imaginations but he wants us to use it for good and not for evil. Our imaginations need to be kept pure and clean so God can work through us to do mighty things that bring glory and honor to Him instead of bring destruction and heartache upon people.

God also hates “feet that are quick to rush into evil”. The feet of the wicked are ugly, impure, unprepared to do service for God, and disobedient. The feet of the righteous are in sharp contrast to those of the wicked. The feet of the righteous are beautiful (Isaiah 52:7), pure (1 John 1:9, John 13:1-17), prepared (Ephesians 6:15), and obedient (Genesis 13:17).

A wicked person is also “a false witness who pours out lies”. This harms the innocent and can even be deadly to the person. Without truth, everything starts falling apart. God is truth and he detests lies.

Finally, God hates “a person who stirs up conflict in the community”. Sowing seeds of discord cause division. These seeds are pride, gossip, anger, hatred, a quarrelsome spirit and foolish questions. The wicked do not want there to be unity and pleasantness among God’s people. Those who stir up conflict hate unity and peace. Discord among church members is terrible and is contrary to the spirit of unity that Jesus prayed for. Proverbs 22:10 says “Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife, quarrels and insults are ended.” Troublemakers wreck unity among the church, the community and individual families. Drive them out to achieve peace and unity once again.

Throughout Proverbs God gives wisdom for us to use to recognize the people the righteous should not hang around with. “A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” (Proverbs 12:26). Over one hundred times in Proverbs the wicked is contrasted with the righteous. We must learn to recognize wickedness and wicked people so we are not led astray by them.

Memorize:
“A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” (Proverbs 12:26).

Dear Father in heaven help me to recognize my enemies so I can stay far from their paths. Help me to choose my friends carefully so I can keep being an open vessel in which would allow You to work through me. Help me to stay on the path that the righteous are on and please do not allow the devil to tempt me to sway to the right or the left but keep me on the straight and narrow path.

Raising Homemakers

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I can't wait to dive in! Hope everyone is blessed by the E-book!

Characteristics of the Wise

The entire book of Proverbs is a guide to attaining wisdom. But what good is all the wisdom in the world if you do not use it? Today I want to look at applying wisdom to your life. What are the important characteristics that wise people display according to God? How can we use this information and apply it to our own lives?

I must start off with what I believe to be the most important characteristic of a truly wise person. He is a born-again believer and disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. “My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”(Colossians 2:2-3). Jesus Christ is the Wisdom of God. One can have all the training and knowledge in the world but without Christ it is worthless. He may make a “good” living but apart from Christ he will never be able to succeed in making a good life that brings glory and honor to the Father. The wise put their trust and hope in Christ and live obediently to Him.

Wise people listen to wise instruction and gain knowledge constantly. “A wise man will hear and increase his learning” (Proverbs 1:5). “Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge” (19: 27). “Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding” (23:23). Wise people diligently seek God’s Word. Knowledge and wisdom is not something that is gained haphazardly. It is work, diligent work. In order for us to gain wisdom, we too must spend time in God’s Word soaking up wisdom and applying its commands to our lives.

The wise fear the Lord. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 1:7). They respect God, seek to obey His will and honor His name. The fear of the Lord is “a fountain of life” (14:27), leads to life (19:23), gives security (14:26), gives hope (23:17-18), and gives the promise of long life (10:27).

Wise people associate with other wise people. “He who walks with wise men, will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20). “A righteous man is cautious in friendships, but the way of the wicked leads them astray” (12:26).

The wise will preserve the knowledge they have gained and apply it to their lives. “Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction (Proverbs 10:14). “The lazy man does not roast his game, but the diligent man prizes his possessions” ( 12:27). A truly wise person will treasure up the knowledge and skills they have worked diligently for and use their wealth of knowledge to bring honor and glory to God instead of puffing themselves up. “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (16:18).

A wise person flees from sin instead of running head strong into it. “To fear the Lord is to hate evil” (Proverbs 8:13). “A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident” (14:16). The wise do not take unnecessary chances nor play in the devil’s playground. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7).

The wise discipline their speech. “A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction” (Proverbs 16:23). “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips are wise” (10:19).

Wise people are diligent in their work. “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth…” (Proverbs 10:4) Throughout Proverbs God tells us that lazy people are disgraceful. Wise people work hard, making the most of every opportunity God blesses them with.

Wise people influence other people. The wise person influences wayward people so they put their trust and hope in Christ also. “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). Wise Christians are “fishers of men” (Luke 5:10). Wisdom leads to righteousness, and righteousness produces fruit which entices others to partake in it. The wise want their words and actions to be an example for others to follow and lead them into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Christians should want to follow in the ways of the wise because this will bring glory and honor to Christ. Wisdom leads to an everlasting life with our Father in heaven. The wise person is promised to inherit glory (Proverbs 3:35), bring joy to others (10:1), bring help from God (12:18), never be in want (21:10), and have the strength to wage war in both the spiritual and physical realms (24:5-6). The wise has great power and strength that is coupled with the desire to bring glory to God and God alone.

Memorize:
“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning.” Proverbs 1:5.

Dear Father in heaven I seek today to gain more understanding from You. I diligently seek wisdom because it is like a precious stone more valuable to me than anything else in the world. Lord I want to seek Your ways and not my own for my ways are foolish. Lord open my ears so I can hear Your instructions. Open my eyes so I may see what Your perfect will for my life is. Open my heart so I can search for You and Your ways with all of my heart and apply it to the very depths of my soul.

The Crafty Harlot

Proverbs five, six and seven have much to say about the enticing ways of the harlot and how the Christian is supposed to deal with her; but it all boils down to this: RUN!

God invented sex and sex was intended to be fulfilling within the walls of marriage alone. “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” Hebrews 13:4.

Sexual sins have many consequences that you will not be able to escape. Sexual sins will ultimately lead to disappointments, destruction and death.

When God’s children disobey His commandments they will be heartily disappointed. It would be wise for us to look ahead and see where our disobedience will lead us but often too many times we are caught up in the moment and newness of the sin that we cannot see that far down the road. We have our blinders on, blinding us to the reality of our sin which leads to a stronger bondage between us and that sin. Satan’s temptations always look promising. The lie he crafts up about sin allows the sinner to bask in the false assurances that the sin will be a pleasant experience. But sin, no matter how great or small, has a price tag to it. That price is death (Romans 6:23). Sexual sins have that same price tag. Sexual improprieties leave the marriage bed defiled. Purity will give way to pollution.

Sexual sins are also highly destructive. They can destruct a person financially, physically, emotionally and spiritually. People who commit sexual sins will lose the Word of God, wealth, enjoyment, their good sense and their peace of mind. Numerous times adultery results in scandals, lawsuits, divorce, depression, sexually transmitted diseases and even death. Christians must not forget that they are not their own: “Ye are not your own: for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."(1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The presence of temptations and desires will never go away but we are under the authority and lordship of Christ. Therefore, whatever we do we should do as “unto the Lord” (Col. 3:23). Gratifying sinful sexual desires will be a Christian’s downfall and you can never undo the mistake you have made. The consequences of your sins will follow you for the rest of your life here on earth.

Sexual sins are ultimately deadly. Sin is a result of a heart problem. You have it and I have it:”For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Our hearts are not right with God. Sin separates us from God. God is holy. God is just. God cannot look upon sin. He must judge our sin. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life” (Romans 6:23). We deserve death for sinning against God. While our earthly consequences of being sexually defiled may lead to a physical death because of Aids or a murder from a jealousy enraged spouse, the spiritual consequences of our sins are far worse. We lose favor with God. We lose God’s blessing upon our life, but most importantly we lose fellowship with God.

So dear ones in Christ, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8). Just because our society smiles upon sexual sins does not make it right. Wrong is still wrong and it is a stench to God’s nostrils.

Memory verse:
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:7-8.

Dear Father, help me to keep my eyes focused on my spouse. Help me enjoy him and be infatuated with him as I was in the days of my youth. Help me to love my spouse unconditionally and to keep myself pure for him so our marriage bed stays undefiled.

Hear no evil, Love no evil, Speak no evil, See no evil

“Hear no evil; speak no evil; see no evil and love no evil” is not talking about a the Tendai-Buddist legend nor is it talking about the "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" [that] is commonly used to describe someone who doesn't want to be involved in a situation, or someone willfully turning a blind eye to the immorality of an act in which they are involved.” Wikipedia. Proverbs four lists four areas where the Christian needs to keep constant watch on.

First of all, the Christian should guard his ears (vs. 20). Whatever we hear directly influences our mind, our heart and ultimately our decisions. We should guard ourselves against mainstream media sources, ungodly counsel, unsound doctrine, obscenities, foolish talk, coarse joking and blasphemies against God lest we fall into sin. We should instead be able to hear God’s voice and obey His commands just as sheep follow their shepherds’ voice. (John 10:4).

Secondly, Christians should guard their hearts (vs.21). “Whatever the heart loves, the ears will hear and the eyes will see” Wiersbe, Be Skillful! If you love evil, you seek out evil things. If you love righteousness, you will seek out things that are righteous. “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (vs.23). We should not pollute our heart with worldly things but keep it clean before the Lord. Our prayer should be that we ask God to search our hearts and rid us of all unrighteousness.

Thirdly, Christians should guard their lips (vs. 24). Perverse and corrupt talk should never come out of our mouths. Whatever is in our heart comes out of our mouths. “For out of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45). Our speech should always be seasoned with the salt of the Gospel. Our words should always be pure and honest.

Finally, Christians should guard their eyes (vs.25). The statement that our outlook determines our outcome is very true. Our vision determines our values, our actions, and our plans. We should not allow our eyes to divert from the Lord but always be transfixed on Him. We should keep our eyes focused on Him so we do not divert from the path God has set before us.

Memorize:
“I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching” Proverbs 4:2.

Dear Father, though it may cost all that I have I will faithfully gain understanding. Lord I will exalt You with my eyes, my heart, my lips and my ears. I want my whole being to glorify You Lord. I will not forsake Your wisdom. I will protect the wisdom You have bestowed upon me by guarding myself from the evil schemes of the devil who wishes to snatch away my crowns of splendor and the garland of grace that you have placed upon me head. I will keep Your commands as long as I live.

Wisdom’s Blessings!

Proverbs 3 lists several blessings Christians will receive when we trust and obey our Father in heaven. The first of these blessings is the true wealth the believer will receive when following Wisdom (vs.13-18). The true wealth of the believer cannot be bought because it isn’t materialistic items. True wealth is having happiness, hope, pleasantness and peace. These things can be guaranteed to the person that follows after wisdom.

Another blessing is being in harmony with God’s creation (vs.19-20). No, this isn’t the “New Age” doctrine of being “one” with “Mother Earth”. This blessing comes to those that are good stewards of His creation and will use His gifts for His glory. “The person who walks according to God’s wisdom can sing, “This is My Father’s World”, and really mean it” Wiersbe, Be Skillful!

A third blessing is the Father’s providential care (vs.21-26). When God directs our path, He will also protect our path. When you surrender wholly and completely to God you will be protected by Him. He will help you keep your eyes from wandering (vs.21), your neck from turning (vs. 22), your feet on the right path (vs. 23, 26), and your sleep sweet (vs. 24). I have heard many people say that the sweetness of your sleep depends in how much you trust in the Lord!

A final blessing will be having a positive relationship with others (vs. 27-35). When Christians walk with the wisdom God offers us, we will have the tools necessary to walk in harmony with our neighbors. We will be able to be generous to them (vs. 27) and show hospitality to them (vs. 28). Our lights will shine upon our neighbors so that they can see God and His love for them. God will bless the “home of the righteous” (vs.33). We will be salt and light and make a world of difference within the lives of the unsaved and be a powerful witness to the lost.

Memorize:“Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding” Proverbs 3:13.

Lord, bless those who search for You out of the abundance of Your riches. Bless those for faithfully gain prudence and understanding. Lord, bless us as we search for Your holy and perfect ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Wisdom’s Wonderful Assurances

Within chapters two, three and four of Proverbs you will be able to spot three assurances that wisdom gives to those that search for her. Chapter two assures us that wisdom will protect our path, in chapter three, wisdom will direct our path, and in chapter four, wisdom perfects our path.

Chapter two through four all begin with a warning to listen to God’s Word and take them to heart. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3: 5-6). The first nine verses of chapter two list eight commands for us to follow:

1. Receive (accept) God’s Word

2. Hide God’s Word in our hearts and mind (store them up)

3. Incline our ears so we can hear godly instruction

4. Apply our heart to understanding

5. Cry after knowledge

6. Lift up our voices for understanding

7. Seek for wisdom

8. Search for wisdom

To truly gain wisdom, you must listen to God attentively, obey His commands with a servant’s heart, ask Him sincerely and seek Him with all your being. You cannot obtain spiritual wisdom be haphazardly seeking it. Wisdom increases over a lifetime of diligently seeking it by digging deep into the Scriptures and prayer. By following God’s commands found in chapter 2 verses one through nine, the believer will be able to stay protected from the schemes of evil men. “He holds victory in store for the upright; he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones” Proverbs 2: 7-8).

Wisdom will also direct our path. The first condition that must be met in order to receive God’s guidance is that we learn God’s truth (vs. 1-4). The will of God for our lives is revealed within the Word of God and we must diligently study it and obey it. “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverb 3:6). The word “trust” in verse before it means “to lie helpless, facedown”. If we don’t put our trust fully in Christ we will start to lean on our own understanding (the little we have) and will miss God’s perfect will for our lives. Yes, God gives us our brains and He intends for us to use it. However, God doesn’t want us to depend on our own wisdom and experiences of ourselves or others. He wants us to depend on Him. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Another condition that must be met is we must share the first fruits of our labor (vs.9-10). If we do not live faithfully nor give faithfully unto the Lord then we do not fully trust the Lord. Our tithes and offering show evidence of our faith and obedience not a payment to receive blessings from God. The Christian is also to submit to God’s chastisements. “Because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son” (Hebrews 12:6). God will only chastise us in love and never to hurt or harm us.

Finally, Wisdom will perfect our path. “But the path of the just is like the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (4:18). God has a purpose for each of His children. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). Our path may not always be an easy one. There will be various trials and tribulations that we must face along the path but choosing to follow the path God has set before us will always be fulfilling. God perfects our path by “knowing God’s Word” (4:1-9), “trusting in God’s providence” (4: 10-19), and “obeying God’s will (4:20-27).

Memorize:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3: 5-6.

Dear Father I put my trust in You Lord. I put my hope in You. You alone can direct my paths, perfect my paths and keep me from evil. I devote myself today to learning Your ways and I pray You bless me with Your wisdom. Lord I will trust in You with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding. In all my ways Lord I want to acknowledge You and only You.

Two roads; Which One Are You On?

I have been thinking recently about the movie “The Wizard of Oz”. Dorothy needs to go to Emerald City and meet with the wizard to find her way home. The munchkins break out in a chorus of “follow the yellow brick road.” The words “follow the yellow brick road” keep popping in my head. I can picture so perfectly Dorothy coming to the crossroads and both paths are paved with yellow bricks but the way she must travel isn’t marked and she must decide which path to follow. Many religions can be likened to these crossroads. They each claim to get you to heaven and they each mark out a different road to travel on. So which of these paths are right? Can they all do what they claim to do and give you your ticket into heaven?

“The only way to end up at the right destination is to choose the right road” Wiersbe, Be Skillful!

The Bible frequently pleads with us to choose the right path but our society says there are many paths. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6). Jesus made it clear that there are only two paths: the pathway of destruction or the pathway of life. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13-14).

Wisdom invites us to search for her and when we seek her we will find her. (Proverbs 2:3-5). We must seek the path of wisdom only for to do anything else would be foolish. In the KJV version “path” and “way” and their plurals are found over one hundred times. Wisdom is a path that leads to an everlasting life while Folly leads to destruction. While taking the narrow path that leads to life Wisdom will bless us with three wonderful assurances: 1) Wisdom will protect your path, 2) Wisdom will direct your path, and 3) Wisdom will perfect your path.

Every person in this world is on one of the two roads mentioned. Either he/she is on the narrow road that leads to life or he/she is on the wide road that leads to destruction. Other religions only offer a false hope. They cannot do what they claim to do. These other paths to ‘enlightenment” only steer people further and further into darkness. The people on these paths are headed to their destruction.

So I must ask now which road are you on? Examine your life; examine your heart. God said “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Memorize: “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13.

Dear Father in heaven I am eagerly searching for You. Open my eyes, my mind and my heart so I may truly see You for who You are and for who I am. I want to know You more. In your holy name I pray.

True Wealth!

Prosperity preaching is the trend nowadays. All over the television prosperity theology is being broadcast to viewers all over the world. The belief is poverty signifies some type of sin you have committed against God while wealth is an example of God’s blessing upon your life. Preachers beg for money and promise to ask God’s blessing on your life if you send in a certain amount of money. They also teach “"believers have a right to the blessings of health and wealth and that they can obtain these blessings through positive confessions of faith and the 'sowing of seeds' through the faithful payments of tithes and offerings." "A Statement on Prosperity Teaching". Christianity Today. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/article_print.html?id=86009.

True wealth, however, is not found in perishable riches. True wealth offered by God is blessings like prudence, knowledge and discretion. True wealth comes from fearing the Lord. It manifests itself as humility, godly speech, wise counsel, and understanding. True wealth guides the believer on life’s path with the strength to endure the journey. It is “running the race” in a pleasing way to God that honors and glorifies Him.

In Proverbs eight, Wisdom calls out to sinners offering them this true wealth. “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7-8).  That is my plea for anyone who is reading this.  Verses six through nine teach us that we can rely on Wisdom because her words are “trustworthy”, “right”, “true”, “just”, and “upright”.  “Wisdom’s word are plain, spoken clearly and openly so that there can be no confusion” Wiersbe, Be Skillful!

Wisdom doesn’t promise to put money in the bank but instead urges us to seek eternal wealth rather than gold and silver. What true wealth has to offer us, worldly riches cannot compare to.  True wealth stems from being wise in the things of the Lord. Wisdom’s riches cannot be bought, no matter how rich you are.

How can we obtain these riches from the Lord? First of all, there must be repentance. We must turn from our wicked ways and turn towards Christ. We must put our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Without faith one cannot have this life-changing experience and cannot obtain the riches from the Lord’s blessings upon our lives. We can then secure this godly wealth by hearing the Word of God (attending a Bible believing church grounded in sound doctrine), receiving instruction from Wisdom (vs.10) by opening our Bibles and letting the words penetrate our hearts, souls and mind, seeking God’s wisdom daily. We must love truth and wisdom and once we have discovered it we must do our best to be obedient to it. We obtain these riches by mediating on the Word of God, worshiping Him, praying always seeking His will for our lives. Doing these things will give us the true wealth that we so desperately need and desire.

Once you have heard the truth you must make a decision. Will you bow your will to God’s will? Will you make Him Lord over your life? How people respond to God’s message is a matter of life or death. (vs. 35- 36).  Those who repent will find life. They may die a physical death but their souls will live forever with God. Those who refuse God’s call to repentance will die twice. They will not only die a physical death but will also experience a spiritual death where they will forever be separated from the Lord. You have heard the truth. What is your decision?

Memory verse:

 “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” Hebrews 4:7-8.

Dear Jesus, My prayer is that those reading this will not harden their hearts to the message but be obedient to the call of repentance. Lord I want everyone to experience true wealth. I want everyone to know what true wealth can offer them and the peace that comes from obtaining it. It is my desire today Lord that this message would touch just one lost soul…

Are You Hearing Voices?

The problem many Christians have today is that they cannot discern the voice of God. There is so much noise in the mind of the believer that they cannot hear the things they need to hear. This noise includes distractions, world views, vain desires, false doctrine, and our confidence within us. We fail to discern when God speaks, how God speaks, and if he is truly speaking. When seeking God’s will for our lives we should talk less and listen more.

Proverbs 1: 8-33 records three “voices” that we should pay close attention to. The first one is the voice of a godly father. He is encouraging his son to heed Wisdom and obey what he hears (vs.8). Godly parents desire to teach their children in the ways of the Lord. When parents are actively seeking to teach godly doctrine and teach their children about God, they will be blessed. Wisdom will become an “ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about the neck” (vs.9). Teaching the Bible to your children will help them discern God’s will for their lives. They will have the wisdom they need to hear from God and know that it is He that is speaking and not be led astray which leads us to the next “voice” found in this passage; the voice of temptation.

The voice of temptation can be found in verses eleven through fourteen. The temptations that the world offers people today will lead them away from the One True God. Temptations will lead people to lust after the ways of the world and seek the lusts of the flesh. These temptations sound exciting but only lead to disaster and the inability to hear the Master’s voice.

The third voice is the voice of salvation found in verses twenty through twenty-three. How does Wisdom speak here? She cries out (vs.20). Where does Wisdom speak? Wisdom speaks in the streets and public places (vs.20, 21). Wisdom doesn’t speak in secret places but cries out for all to hear and come to repentance. To whom does Wisdom speak? Wisdom speaks to sinners: the simple ones, the scorners, and the fools (vs.22). What does Wisdom say? In verse 22 Wisdom asks how long will they stay in their dangerous spiritual condition. Wisdom then invites them to turn from their wicked ways (vs.23). This is a call to repentance and faith in God. He actively seeks sinners to return to Him.

It is important for the believer to learn discernment. Are we hearing from the tempter Satan or are we hearing the very voice of God? We must weigh what we hear with the Word of God. Does it align itself with God’s Word? Will it bring us closer to Him or cause God’s judgment to fall upon us? Does it cause us to hate knowledge or embrace it (vs.29). Does it petition us to “fear the Lord” or to mock the Lord?

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near” Isaiah 55:6. Christians should seek truth and knowledge always. We should “Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good." Rom 12:9. We do this by listening to the voice of Wisdom, the voice of God. We must mute out the voices of temptations and finely tune in to God’s voice so we may seek and do His perfect will for our lives.

Memory Verse:
“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found call ye upon him while he is near” Isaiah 55:6.

Dear Father, I seek you today with all of my heart, all of my mind, all of my soul and all of my strength. I pray that I will search out Your will and Your ways for my life always. I pray that I will not listen to the evil voices of this world but be able to hear only Your sweet voice speaking to me. I pray that others will seek out Your voice as well and listen to the voice of Truth.

Making a Life!

Christians need to make a life that will glorify Christ. It isn’t about how long we live but how we live. As God’s children, we need His loving counsel and He provides that loving counsel all throughout the book of Proverbs. In order to effectually live life, you must first, have life. Profound statement isn’t it? One must be a born-again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. You must honestly be able to claim God as your Father. He must be your “Abba”. Unless you are spiritually prepared, diligent, disciplined and obedient to what God says, you will not see much of a change in your life. Once you have been born again you are now ready to hear from the Lord and heed His words of wisdom.

“The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” Proverbs 1:1-7.

The key verse in this passage is verse seven: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Fear.

When I think of the word fear I think of someone who is afraid and scared. I think of things that I fear like snakes, spiders and insects. But the word fear here does not mean to be afraid. It means to reverence or have high regard for. There are at least eighteen references throughout the book of Proverbs to “fear the Lord”. When we acknowledge from our heart that He is Lord, He is Creator, He is the Father, and He is the Master, we are showing respect for God and who He is! The six verses preceding verse seven explains in detail why Proverbs were written: to give us wisdom, instructions, understanding, subtlety, knowledge, discretion, learning and counsel.

Wisdom and folly want to control our lives. We must choose which path to take. To take the correct path, we must be committed to God because no one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). Christians cannot straddle the fence. We must choose: faith or unbelief, obedience or disobedience, wisdom or folly.

We will find throughout this study that the proverbs listed are brief and pictorial so that they can be quickly memorized. Once these proverbs are committed to memory we will have at our disposal the wisdom we need in making the right decision. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says it best: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” We will find no less in the book of Proverbs.

My prayer is that you and I will grow spiritually and the Lord is glorified through the choices we make from day to day. I pray that we will grow in wisdom together and seek godly counsel always.

Memorize: Proverbs 1:7
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” Proverbs 1:7.

Dear Father, Help me to meditate and apply each principle in this wonderful magnificent book that You inspired King Solomon to write. Help me to hide Your words in my heart so I may not sin against you but glorify Your holy and precious name. Amen.

April’s Abundance!

Throughout the month of April we will be studying the book of Proverbs. I have titled this month: Abundance of Alleluias in April. I want to tap into God’s guidebook for personal fulfillment and have a thankful heart while doing so! I believe we as Christians do not always show our appreciation to the Creator for everything he has given us and I want that to stop because a grateful heart is a thankful heart!  I hope you too will join me in my quest for a fulfilled life as we study and apply what the book of Proverbs has in store for us!

The book of Proverbs is about godly wisdom; how to get it and how to use it. It’s about priorities and principles, practical skills and making a life for yourself so you can live an abundant, fulfilled life. I don’t know about you, but I want my life to be a success! Come and join me in this quest and keep your Bibles handy!

The Importance of Prayer

Prayer enables us to fight the battle successfully. We cannot fight the battle by our own power but only through the power and strength of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Prayer enables us to tap into God’s power. Prayer is the power for victory.

Paul teaches us how to pray if we are to defeat Satan and his demonic clan:

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” Ephesians 6:18-20.

First of all, we are to pray always. “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) essentially says “Always be in communion with God. When we are in constant communion with God our hearts are right and we are open vessels in which God can work. When we fall out of communion with God the devil is then able to attack and tempt us. Secondly, we are to pray with “all prayer and supplication”. Supplication is an appeal made to somebody in authority. It is a humble and sincere appeal to somebody who has the power and authority to grant a request. The only person that has such power is God himself. We are instructed in the Bible to pray: to the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit. It is through the Spirit’s power alone that we can pray for the will of God. Outside of praying for the will of God our motives are selfish and impure. We are to watch when we pray. The word watching means keeping alert. We are to always be on alert for any wickedness that tries to creep into our lives. We watch for the devils schemes lest we fall for them, but we also watch to see where God is working. We are to persevere in our prayer life. Just when we feel like giving up we mustn’t until we hear from God. We might not like his answers to our prayers but they are always the right answers. God may answer our prayers with a “Yes”, “No”, or even a “not now”, but God always answers us! Finally, we are to pray for all the saints. The Lord’s Prayer begins “Our Father” not “My Father”. We are to pray for each other so we can support one another in Christ Jesus and lift each of our burdens up before the Lord. A great example of this is when Aaron lifted Moses’ arms up during a battle because he was too weak do keep them up himself. (Exodus 17:12). We too are to lift one another up. We shouldn’t fight the good fight alone but with the help of all the saints, standing in battle together, battling the enemy together through prayer and petitions with thanksgiving making our request known to God (Philippians 4: 6-7).

Dear Father in heaven, May I never have to speak “Lord, I come into Thy presence” because I never want to leave Your presence. I want to commune with You always because I love you and I love to taste Your sweetness. I love fellowshipping with you and rejoice in Your wonderful, merciful works.

The Armor of God!

“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” Ephesians 6:11.

We are fighting enemies in the spiritual realm and need special equipment for both offense and defense. Only God can provide us with the “full armor” and we should wear each piece lest we fall to the devil’s schemes. Each piece of the armor is significant for the Christian’s victory.

There are six pieces to this armor. Today we will look at the significance of each piece in terms of battling the devil.

“13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” Ephesians 6: 13-17.

First we are to fasten the “belt of truth” around our waist. One of Satan’s tactics is lying. He wants to distort the Word of God. The devil is controlled by lies. To contrast that, the believer’s life should be only controlled by truth. The function of the belt is to hold all the other parts of the armor up. We are to uphold truth as well. The belt also holds the sword (sword of the Spirit). Unless Christians practice the truth we cannot have use of the Spirit.

Secondly, we are to have the “breastplate of righteousness in place”. Breastplates in battle protect the vital organs such as the heart, lungs, and most of the digestive system. Satan is an accuser but he cannot accuse the believer who is living right with God through the power of the Holy Spirit. Without the breastplate of righteousness in place, Satan will attack the very essence of our being- our heart, our lifeline. Righteousness must be practiced by Christians on a daily basis or we open ourselves up for an attack from Satan!

Our next piece of armor is our shoes. We are to put on the shoes of the “Gospel of peace”. The shoes have two meanings. First, shoes help us stand and give us a firm foundation to stand upon. Roman sandals had hobnails in the shoes to give them firm footing, similar to the bottom of cleats today. The Christian should always stand firmly against the devil. Secondly, we must be prepared daily to share the Gospel of peace with the lost. When we wear the shoes of the gospel we are told that we have beautiful feet (Isaiah 52:7). I have to sadly admit that here lately my feet are not looking so beautiful. Are yours?

The Christian should also “take up the shield of faith”. It protects the soldier of Christ from the “fiery darts” of the devil. In Roman battles the soldiers would line up with the shields in front of them and march towards the enemy. They represented a tough wall that the enemy would have trouble penetrating. This suggests that Christians are not to face the battle alone. The “faith” mentioned here is not saving faith but “living faith”. Christians should support each other in their walk with God. We must always walk by faith using our shield to protect us.

The next piece of armor is the “helmet of salvation”. The helmet protects our mind. The devil is always trying to attack our thoughts and belief system. Our minds should always be controlled by God. When God controls the mind, the devil cannot lead anyone astray. To have a God controlled mind we must subject ourselves and our will to reading the Bible, studying it and meditating on it. We must learn the foundational doctrines of our faith and be ready to give an answer about the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:15). The devil will poke and prod you trying to make you doubt your salvation. Knowing the fundamental beliefs of the Christian faith will give you the upper hand in defeating the devil.

The final piece of the armor of God is the “sword of the Spirit”. It’s the only offensive weapon listed. Material swords pierce only the body but God’s sword pierces straight to the heart of the inner man and conviction is the result. “The more you use a physical sword, the duller it become, but using God’s Word only makes it sharper in our lives” Wiersbe, Be Rich! The physical sword is used to wound and destroy but the “sword of the Spirit” us used to heal and give life! When the sword is used against Satan however, it will cripple him, defeat him and keep him from hindering God’s word. “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11.

Because we are never out of harm’s reach this side of heaven, we must always be on guard to the schemes of the devil. Each morning before we step even a toe to the ground we must put on the whole armor of God. To not do so will be detrimental to the believer because the devil and the principalities of darkness along with the rulers of this world seek to destroy us. There is a definite army of demonic creatures out there seeking to attack us. When we put on the full armor of God we are given the weapons necessary to make war not with “flesh and blood” but against the very enemies of God.

Battleground - Defending Your Territory

Throughout this month I have been focused on destroyed the enemy – my bad habits! After destroying the enemy I must replace it good habits lest the bad habits return. The Christian’s spiritual life is no different. Once we rid ourselves of our spiritual bad habits it is imperative that we replace them with good ones that bring glory and honor to the Father in heaven. The Christian life should not be thought of as a playground because to do so would only invite the enemy in to play. The Christian life should be seen instead as a battleground, the Christian – the soldier, and the Christian life - as a battle. Who is the enemy that we battle? Satan and his helpers. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and against powers, and against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” Ephesians 6:12.

God provides us with the equipment we need to do battle successfully. It is called the armor of God and we find the description of this armor in Ephesians 6: 14-18:

“14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

Christians are in a battle every day. We cannot rest or the enemy may move into our territory. We cannot let down our guard. We must always “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). We must deal with sin on a daily basis so we “do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:27). The Christian must also put on the armor of God each and every day. What type of soldier would march into battle without his gear? These are the ways we battle our enemy. These are the way we defend our Christian faith.

A word for Children, Fathers, Servants and Masters

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.” Ephesians 6:1-9.

A new heart and a new mind along with a new submission to Christ as Lord of your life will help bring about spiritual harmony. It begins in the lives of Christians who submit themselves to the Lordship of Christ. In this passage Paul instructs four groups of people: children, parents, servants and masters.

Paul begins with children (vs. 1-3). First of all they are Christians because they are “in the Lord”. This goes along with the theme of Ephesians: Walking in Unity. When we walk in unity, “in the Lord”, with one another we are being obedient. Secondly, obedience is right. When God ordained the world He put in an order of nature. This rightness is evidence of His Supreme authority over the earth. We were created too, to be obedient to our heavenly Father. “A modern translation of Ephesians 6:1 would be “Parents, obey your children, for this will keep them happy and bring peace to the home.” But this is contrary to God’s order in nature” Wiersbe, Be Rich! Obedience is commanded (vs.2) and is reinforced by quoting the Fifth Commandment. There is also a blessing for children who are obedient: “That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth” (vs.3). Disobedience to parents is a rebellion against God and the results can be seen in many homes around the world.

Paul then addresses the parents; fathers specifically because they are “head of the household” (Eph. 5:23). Paul gives father’s specific instructions on dealing with their children. First, he is not to provoke them. The opposite of provoke is encourage. Father’s should instead encourage their children and accept them for who they are in God’s eyes and not abuse them with their authority. Fathers must also be nurturers. I believe Paul was directly speaking to the Fathers at this time because mothers, by nature, are nurturers. It is not enough to physically nurture their children by providing food, shelter and clothing. Paul wanted fathers to nurture their children emotionally and spiritually as well. This allows for balanced and well nurtured growth intellectually, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Fathers must discipline and instruct their children while encouraging them in the Lord. Consistent, loving discipline gives assurance to children. Assurance so many children desperately seek. Children may not always agree with our counsel and disciplinary actions but that should not stop us as parents from our obligations to train them up in the Lord.

Paul proceeds to address Christian servants. Undoubtedly, Paul is talking about Christian slaves but this applies today to Christian employees. We are not to be obedient merely when the boss is watching but always because God is always watching and judging our actions. Christian employees should be first serving the Lord. The second thing they should be responsible for is doing a good job all the time because this is the will of God. A Christian should perform all their works as “unto the Lord”. We do not serve man but God! Employees walking in obedience to the Lord will receive a reward. It might not be on this side of heaven but a reward is coming to the faithful and obedient!

Finally, Paul addresses the masters or employers. Servant and master, employee and employer are serving the Lord so they may please Him. Employers must seek their employee’s welfare. He must also not threaten them (vs. 9). Instead, the employer should encourage his workers to do what is right and noble. Encouraging obedience is always better than threats of punishment and yields better results. The Christian employer is also subject to the Lord and should not play favorites just as God does not play favorites with His people. God is no respecter of persons and neither should the employer be. Just as God judges the employee and the employer so can the employer judge his employees work and reward accordingly as long as it is fair and just.

Submitting oneself to the Lordship of Christ will be sacrificial at times but also rewarding. Willingly obeying the Father and seeking His will in all things will bring those loving word from the Father in heaven: “Well done, thy good and faithful servant.”

“Therefore, having so vast a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, and throwing off everything that hinders us and especially the sin that so easily entangles us, let us keep running with endurance the race set before us, looking off to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of the faith, who, in view of the joy set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb. 12:1,2. May we always do the right thing because so many are watching us and they should always see the Father through us.

Joy, Thanksgiving, and Submission!

Three powerful words can be used to express characteristics of the believer found in Ephesians 5:19-21.

“ speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,  always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5:19-21.

In the Christian home one should find: joy, thanksgiving and submission.

Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit. It is not conditional to our circumstances around us but rather it determines how we react to them. The Christian can be joyful in the midst of trials and tribulations because our joy comes from the Lord and what He has done for us. A Christian that is controlled by the Spirit of God will experience deep joy and will not afraid to express the glory of God through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit. The Christian will “sing and make music from the heart to the Lord” (vs. 19).

A thankful heart promotes harmony on the home. Christians are instructed to “give thanks to God the Father for everything” (vs. 20). “A thankful heart is usually humble, a heart that gladly acknowledges God as the giver of “every good and perfect gift” Wiersbe, Be Rich! All Christians are grateful for some things but Paul instructs us to be thankful of all things, all the time. Since it is difficult to be thankful for our trials and tribulations it shows us another reason we must rely so heavily upon the Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit’s help we will find the strength we need to obey this commandment to be thankful in all things.

Because of our own sinful nature we want to promote ourselves and make ourselves important. However, Scripture says that we are to esteem others “more highly than ourselves” (Philippians 2:1-4, Romans 12:10). If Christian homes are to be seen as pictures of Christ’s relationship to His church, then each believer, as a member of Christ’s Body, must practice submission to each other: “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (vs. 21).

My prayer for my own home (and all Christian homes) is as others peer into our lives they will see a joyful heart, a thankful attitude and a submissive mindset. No, we won’t be perfect but I pray that they will see evidence of our love for Christ in the way our homes are ran and seek the same things for their own homes.

Dear Jesus, I pray that we seek each day finding ways to show love and thankfulness for one another. I pray that You put a new song in my heart each and every day. Lord, I humbly ask You to forgive me when I fall short of this awesome task and ask for the Holy Spirit’s strength and guidance each day to make joy, thankfulness and submission a part of our home each and every day.

Having a Spirit Led Home

“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” Ephesians 5:18.

“Be filled with the Spirit” is a command. The command is plural so it applies to all believers. The verb is in the present tense – it is an experience we should enjoy every day not just on special occasions. The verb is also passive. We do not try to fill ourselves with the Spirit but instead we allow the Holy Spirit to fill us. The word “filled” mean to be” controlled by”. We are to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. To be “filled with the Spirit” means that we allow the Holy Spirit to control our mind, emotions and our will.

If our homes are our sanctuaries, then to “Be filled with the Spirit” is a command from God that must be taken seriously. So many homes end up broken. The divorce rate in America is over 50% for first time marriages. That is a profound number and we must look into the cause of it. While there are many reasons that cause divorces today I believe there is only main one root cause. People today do not take seriously the command to “be filled with the Spirit”.

It is God’s will for us to walk in harmony with each other through the power of the Holy Spirit. God wishes to see not only husbands and wives in harmony with each other but also parents and children, sibling with sibling, employers and employees and most of all, God wishes for us to walk in harmony with Him. The only way for this to happen is to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit’s fullness is needed in our lives if we are going to have a Spirit led home. Once we deny ourselves and hand over the reins to the Holy Spirit, then and only then, will we see a change in our home and in our relationships with one another. We will be able to see the joy return to our homes and relationships. Thanksgivings will be on our lips for one another and praises to God will be sang (vs.19, 20). We will be submissive to one another putting the needs of others before ourselves (vs.21). This is what it looks like to have a Spirit led home.

Tomorrow I will dive into three evidences of the Spirit led home: joyfulness, thankfulness, and submissiveness as found in Ephesians 5: 19-33.

Dear Jesus, I hand over the reins to myself. I give You permission to fill me with the Holy Spirit today so I may walk in a way worthy to You. May my home always be a sanctuary. May my home always be filled with love for one another and love for You! In Jesus name, Amen.

Walk in Wisdom

March’s focus this month is getting rid of our bad habits and replacing them with good habits that are pleasing to the Lord and bring him glory and honor. What better way to do this than to seek His wisdom and His will for our lives?

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Ephesians 5:15-17.

There are several reasons why walking in wisdom is very important. First of all, God has a plan for our lives. He made us for a purpose. God reveals this plan through His Word (Col 1:9-10), the Holy Spirits work in our hearts and minds (Col 3:15), and through the circumstances that God allows us to go through (Romans 8:28).

Secondly, God has given us a mind and He intended for us to use it! Discovering God’s will for our lives is rewarding. It involves gathering facts, examining them, weighing the options and praying for wisdom. We discover His will as God starts transforming our minds and that transformation starts at conversion. The transformation continues as we study His Word, pray, meditate on Scripture, worship God and give Him thanks for everything. Our mind is transformed as we spend time getting to know the Savior!

Thirdly, the “days are evil” and our time on earth is short. It is foolish of us to waste our time away pursuing our own agendas when God’s has given us a greater agenda! How foolish of us to waste opportunities to lead the lost to Christ. We are not promised another day, another hour, or even another minute. We should remember the Latin saying “Carpe Diem!” It means “Seize the day!” We should live for the moment and enjoy the present as we search out His will for our lives so we may bring glory and honor to Him!

If we leave the Christian life to chance we are walking carelessly without proper guidance and forethought. Instead we should purposely seek His will with our whole being. To not do so would be like walking around as a vagabond wandering to and fro with no purpose or direction. May we seek His will for our lives and encourage one another in the Lord.

Dear Jesus, I am searching Your heart today. What specific tasks do you want me to accomplish for You today that will bring You glory and honor? Lord, I do not want to be as a vagabond wandering aimlessly through life but a soldier for Your army fulfilling Your purposes. Lord, here I am. Use me!

Walk in the Light!

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light” Ephesians 5:8.

All Christians were once partakers of darkness but now are partakers of light! It is impossible to be both at the same time. Light produces goodness, righteousness and truth (vs. 9). “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” John 3:20, 21.

Walking in light reveals God’s light in our daily lives. By our conduct we bring God’s light into a dark world. We carry the torch that exposes people’s sin and ungodliness. But we cannot stop there. We must produce fruit. What good is it to tell someone their house is on fire and not do anything to help them? Do we just tell them that the house is on fire and walk away leaving them to battle the fire on their own? No, we pitch in! First we get everyone to safety and then we call in help! Once the fire is out we pitch in to help clean up the mess. This same scenario should be true for the believer’s life. As children of the light we are exposing a child of darkness’ need for light. We reveal God’s true holiness to them and show the unbeliever their true condition without Christ. Simply put, we show them the fire. Then we get them to safety. We witness to them. We tell them of the safety of eternal security in Christ. They might not have a conversion experience at that time but the seed is planted. They have heard the Gospel message and it’s up to the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts. Next, we “pitch in and help clean up”! This is called discipleship. We do not go in and start wagging our fingers but instead we IN LOVE, teach them God’s truth. We help them begin their spiritual walk with the Father of Light!

Dear Jesus, I pray that my life reveals Your light to others. My sincere prayer is that I may witness to someone today and show them how wonderful and gracious You are Lord. I pray that I am a beacon of light in such a dark world. I pray that Your light shines through me to reach the lost and dying.

Walk in Love!

Walking in love is a fundamental factor in the Christian life. If we walk in love we are doing what pleases God and obeying the greatest commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-37). Paul mentions in Ephesians 5: 1-2 two reasons why walking in love is so important.

First of all, we are God’s child. Just as my children look up to my husband and I and try to imitate us, so are we to look to our heavenly Father and try to imitate Him. Everything God does for His children are wrapped in the confines of love because “God is love”. Secondly, Christ gave himself up as a sacrifice for us. We are not our own for we are bought with a price. The price of innocent blood was shed for us so we may have the opportunity to be reconciled with the Father. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13). Yet, we were once God’s enemies: “For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:10). Do you love others to the point where you are you willing to die for your enemies so that they may have eternal life? God did.

When we become born again we are born with a new nature. Our new nature should be loving, kind, generous and peaceful. We are to “walk in love” and we are able to do this because God puts this love in our hearts at conversion because the Holy Spirit dwells within us. Just as we have a loving relationship with the Father, we too should have a loving relationship with others. Examine your heart this morning. Do you “walk in love”? Are you imitating the Father? Can others see the Father through your love for them?

Dear Jesus, I pray that I walk daily in your steps. I pray that others may see Your love for them through my words and actions. I know I fail miserably because, let’s just face it, Your shoes are big to fill! But, I do not do anything by my own power and might. Anything I do that has any lasting impact is because of Your work through me by Your power and strength! Thank goodness I am not asked to do anything by my own strength but through the power of the Holy Spirit enabling me. Help me Lord to walk in love daily. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Put Away These Things!

“ 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:25-32.
Paul writes about five specific sins in this passage and follows up with why the Christian should do away with them. The five includes lying, anger, stealing, corrupt speech, and bitterness. All of these sins destroy the unity of the church body. Paul is calling us to walk in purity not only for our own sake but for the sake of the church as a whole. Satan wants a foothold in our lives and when we walk in sin, Satan will grab on tightly to try to destroy the church unity and fellowship.

Lying – A lie is a statement that is contrary to fact with the intent to deceive. As a believer we should only speak truthfully to people because, “we are all member of one body” (vs. 25). We are to build up Christ’s church in truth (4:15) and in love (4:16). Truth builds up but lies tear down.

Anger – Anger is an emotional arousal caused by something that displeases us. Paul did not write “never get angry” but he wrote “in you anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” (vs. 27). The reason is to not “give the devil a foothold”. “It is difficult for us to practice a true holy anger or righteous indignation because our emotions are tainted by sin, and we do not have the same knowledge that God has in all matters” Wiersbe, Be Rich! Christians should be angry at sin yet love the sinner. Psalm 97:10 states: “ Ye that love the Lord hate evil.” If we do become angry, we should settle the matter quickly and “do not let the sun go down while you are still angry”. I have heard many marriage counselors say that couples should “sleep on it” when couples get in a heated argument. It becomes a “blessed escape” from heated discussions. However, this is contrary to what the Bible says. The disagreement does not have to be “settled” but our anger should be. Anger erodes relationships, resides deep in a person’s soul, affects responses to the other person and outsiders, inhibits you to love the agape way, affect your physical health and gives the devil a foothold.

Stealing – Simply put, stealing is taking something that does not already belong to you. “Thou shalt not steal” is one of the Ten Commandments. I have not thought of myself as a “thief”. But I have used office supplies for my own personal use, the internet at work to send personal emails on company time. Taking the office pen home is the same as stealing a loaf of bread from the grocery store or even stealing a car. Sin is sin, and stealing is stealing. Paul teaches us in this package the better way: “Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.” (vs. 28). Laboring has been lifted to a higher level: “that they may have something to share with those in need”. We do not labor to keep everything for ourselves. We labor so we can give!

Corrupt Speech – Corrupt means that which is worthless, bad or rotten. Corrupt speech is filthy communication. Matthew 12:34 states it beautifully. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh”. What is in your heart? What is in mine? You can tell my examining your speech. To remedy corrupt speech, fill your heart with the things from above. Meditate on Scripture, lift up thanksgivings to the Lord, sing praises to God and always keep in mind that your words have power: power to heal or power to kill and destroy.

Bitterness – Bitterness refers to a settled hostility that poisons all the way down to the depths of the soul. Bitterness stems from unresolved anger that leads to wrath. It like a fire that smolders and is not put out. The coals are always warm and the fire of hatred and anger can burn again readily and easily when it is provoked by even the slightest thing.

After being told how not to behave, Paul teaches us what we should do instead. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (vs. 32). To do the things we ought to brings glory and honor to God, keeps us in fellowship with our Creator and brings unity to the body of Christ!

The three “A’s” of Ephesians 4: 17 - 32

1. Admonition
Paul begins with an earnest rebuke: “ 17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.” Ephesians 4: 17-19. Paul warns the believers to live not as the Gentiles live nor are they to think as the Gentiles think. As new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17), we are to have a different walk and mindset. Christians are not to imitate unsaved people for we are now “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1).

2. Argument
Paul thus begins to put forth the reason in support of his rebuke: “20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:20-24. The emphasis is on the mind and outlook of the believer. The early church made better disciples out of new converts than churches do today. Many churches today lack in discipleship growth and do not stir the inner man to be more Christ- like and to learn more God and His ways. Churches today have settled for mediocrity so they can please the masses instead of pleasing the Lord. Paul argues that since we have been born again we should put off our old self. We are reminded here, once again, that we are created to be like God (not to be God but to be like him). We are to grow in righteousness and holiness. We have believed the truth and received life; therefore, we should walk in a way pleasing to our Lord.

3. Application
Paul finally brings us to how we as Christians should carry ourselves in order to bring glory and honor to Him: “ 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4: 25-32.

Tomorrow I will focus more on the application part of this portion of Scripture. But today, my prayer is that we put off our old self, repent of our trespasses against God and others and prepare our hearts and minds for the change God wants to do in our lives!

Using Our Spiritual Gifts for God's Glory!

As this month keeps marching by (pun intended!) and I am stomping out my bad habits, I am trying to replace them with habits that bring glory to God. One of the ways I can bring glory to God is to exercise my God given gifts. I want both my natural abilities and my spiritual abilities that were appointed to me upon conversion, to be used for God’s glory.

First, I want to distinguish between the two. When I was born, God gave me certain natural talents. I am musically inclined and creative. I am not super athletic, but I tend to do ok in sports. I was born with the genetic makeup to be able to do these things and through learning and nurturing them I can succeed. When I became a Christian, God bestowed upon me spiritual gifts. Each believer has at least one gift and sometimes several gifts to utilize. A spiritual gift is given to bring glory and honor to God.

Just as Paul writes about believers being part of “one body”, the body has several parts. Each person functions in the body differently by doing his/her job according to their spiritual gifts making the body work completely and in unity.

“ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. “ Ephesians 4:16.

The Bible has three different passages that list spiritual gifts: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 27-31; Romans 12:3-8; and Ephesians 4:11. God equips his saints to do the work he has called them to do. I encourage you to read over these passages and pray about the spiritual gifts God has given you. Pray and ask God to reveal to you which gifts He gave you. You may already know and use them to bring glory to God or you may be as I was 13 years ago and stumbling around these gifts trying to figure out which one(s) God has given you. My pastor at the time gave his congregation a spiritual gifts test. It was such an eye opener. There are free spiritual gifts test you can take online or you may be so inclined as to take the written test. Either way I pray that you search for and develop your spiritual gifts in Christ to bring Him the glory, honor and praise He deserves!

Reverse

7 Basic Spiritual Realities that Unite all Believers

Just as Paul wrote about the seven graces that Christians must possess to help preserve Christian unity, there are also seven basic spiritual realities that make up the foundation of Christianity.

“4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:4-6. (Emphasis mine)

First, there is one body. This is the body of Christ. The fact that there is one body and Christians are members of the body does not excuse him from being part of the local church body. Christians should participate in the local church, grow in the Lord, participate in worship, and exercise their spiritual gifts.

There is one Spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells each believer and is important in our daily Christian walk with Christ. We also read in this passage the “one hope when you were called”. This is our hope in the return of our Lord Jesus Christ to gather the saints together with Him and take us to heaven.

Another basic spiritual truth is “one Lord”. He is the one who took our place on the cross. He died for our sins, conquered death and now sits on the right hand side of the Father in heaven. We have one faith. There are foundational truths in the Christian faith that all must agree on to be called Christian. We might have disagreements on minor matters of interpretation and church practices but the foundational truths must never be waivered on.

There is one baptism. Because Paul is discussing “one body”, he is referring to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We are baptized by the Spirit at conversion. We do not have to pray for it to come upon us or hope it will. When we are saved, we are filled with the Holy Spirit. But as far as the local body of believers goes, there are two baptisms: baptism of the Spirit and the baptism of water

Finally, there is “one God and Father of all”. God is of all, over all, works through all and in all. We are the children of one Father. We have different biological fathers but only one spiritual Father.

Believing in these seven spiritual truths does not automatically produce unity in believers. Many churches may have sound doctrine and yet are unsound in love (agape love) toward others. For this reason Paul couples this writing with “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4: 15). The first and greatest commandment is to love God with everything in you, and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself.

“Beloved, let us love one another. For loveth of God and everyone that loveth is born of God, knoweth God. He that loveth not, Knoweth not God for God is love. Beloved, let us love one another.” 1John 4:7, 8.

Reading: Slave by John MacAuthur

I'm only into the first chapter but this is an awesome book so far and I look forward to diving into it more tonight. Things I have learned thus far:

• "Servants are hired, slaves are owned. Servants have an element of freedom in choosing whom they work for and what they do. The idea of servant hood maintains some level of self-autonomy and personal rights. Slaves on the other hand, have no freedom, autonomy, or rights.In the Greco-Roman world, slaves were considered property, to the point that in the eyes of the law they were regarded as things rather than persons. To be someones slave was to be his possession, bound to obey his will without hesitation or argument."

• The word slave (doulas in Greek) appears 124 times in the original text. It is only correctly translated once in the King James. Most of our modern translations do only slightly better.

• " As one historian explained about the early martyrs, " They (would reply) to all questionings about them (with) the short but comprehensive answer, "I am Christian." Again and again they caused no little perplexity to their judges by the pertinacity with which they adhered to this brief profession of faith. The question was repeated, "Who are you?" and they replied, "I have already said that I am a Christian;and he who says that has thereby named his country, his family, his profession , and all things else beside."

Wow! I love that last statement! I cannot wait to read more of this book! Be encouraged and be fed! Open the book up for yourself!

Graces that Maketh Unity

Unity is not conformity. Unity comes from the graces God bestows upon us while conformity is the result of pressure from outside sources. Unity is a noun. It is not something you do but a concept of how something should be. As believers, we are to be unified with one another.

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;” Ephesians 4:1-4.



There are seven Christian graces mentioned in this text: lowliness (humility), meekness, longsuffering, forbearance, love, endeavoring, and peace. The body of Christ cannot experience unity unless He first does a work within us.



Humility is simply putting Christ and others before you. Humility is recognizing our true condition in such a way that we do not think more highly of ourselves then we ought to, nor less highly of ourselves then we ought to.



Meekness is not a sign of weakness but a sign to others that we have control over the power that has been given to us. Coupled with this grace of meekness is longsuffering. Literally, longsuffering means “long-tempered”. Christians should be able to experience discomfort without retaliating. Ouch!

The definition of forbearing is to hold back from especially with an effort. This effort of holding back is intertwined with love, agape love, which makes it possible to do so. If Christ does not first fill us with His love we would be trying to accomplish something through our own power instead of relying on the power of the Holy Spirit.



Endeavoring means “being eager to maintain, or guard” Our responsibility as Christians is to eagerly “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3). The final grace is peace. First and foremost we are to be at peace with God. If a believer cannot get along with God, he will not be able to get along with others. Peace stems from within ourselves after we have first been reconciled to God. Peace is broken through sin: unbelief, unconfessed sin, careless living, and worldliness in actions and attitude. When we repent of our sin, fellowship is restored and peace reigns in our hearts again. This builds unity.



Unity is not conformity. It is not for us to conform but instead for God to unify the body of Christ. Unity is a result of God’s work within our hearts. We must surrender to the work that God is doing in us if there is going to be unity in the body of Christ. Conformity is self made. Unity is God made.

Taking Hold of What's Yours in Christ!

Christians do not have to worry about having an inadequate supply of resources to help us in our walk in Christ.  Today, there is a plethora of ways to gain knowledge about God. There are good resources written in truth. We have many different Bible translations, commentaries, and devotionals.  We can tune into the television and watch preaching, hear singing about God, or watch a documentary on Creationism. We can turn on the radio and listen to preaching, Christian news, or music in the style we like to listen to. Man’s resources are vast but GOD’s resources are infinite!

No Christian ever has to worry about God’s resources to help us learn more about Him. We do not have to ever worry about His doctrine or theology! Through Christ, we have an infinite supply of resources at our disposal to meet the needs of life. When Christians pray for spiritual depth and spiritual strength, he will be able to apprehend all of God’s resources.

“May be able to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God” Ephesians 3:18-19. (Emphasis mine)

Comprehend means to mentally take hold of something for yourself. Paul wants us to really grasp the concept of Christ’s love. When we realize in full what Christ has done for us on the cross we will be able to truly bathe ourselves in Christ’s love.  It is only then that we in turn will make an impact on others and turn them towards the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What is the result of knowing and experiencing Christ’s love? Fullness. Paul wants us to be filled to the brim with the fullness of God! Positionally, we are complete in Christ but practically, we only experience and enjoy the grace that we apprehend by faith. Apprehend is different from comprehend as it suggests laying hold of something yourself. It is very possible to understand something but not make it your own. I did this before coming to a true knowledge of salvation. In my earlier years, I knew of God; I believed in God; I believed what the Bible said about what Christ did for me on the cross. But I did not make Him my own until sometime later. I did not truly take hold of what is mine and available to me in Christ Jesus. I’m so glad that I did! The resources are there once we accept Christ as our Savior. All we must do is accept them and enjoy them! God wants us to!

Dear Jesus, Thank You for saving me! Thank You for providing everything I will ever need. Thank You for Your grace and Your mercy. Thank You for loving me enough to die on the cross in my place and taking the punishment for my sins. What a merciful God You are!

Strength and Depth in Christ!

My Bible study has led me to spend time with Paul’s prayer to the saints found in Ephesians chapter three. Paul’s prayer does not ask God for physical healings or material items. Paul petitions God for the saint’s spiritual needs. I’m not saying that praying for our material and physical needs are not important. Too often, however, we only focus on these needs instead of focusing on the needs of our inner being.

“ 14For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3: 14-21.

To summarize the prayer, Paul prays for the saints to have inner strength which leads to a deeper walk with Christ enabling them to experience God’s love for them in a more profound way and be filled with Christ. Today, I am just going to focus on the strength and depth that Paul prayed for.

The strength Paul writes about is the strength that comes from the Holy Spirit. The presence of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life is evidence of salvation. The Spirit is the most important resource we have for Christian living. The Spirit gives us our gifts, convicts us, helps us remember Scripture, teaches us, and always works for God’s glory guiding us into all truth. It is important for believers to be strengthened with the power of the Holy Spirit so that in all we do; it will be for Christ’s glory.

Paul uses three verbs in this prayer to convey the depth Christians should have in Christ: dwell, rooted and grounded. Dwell means to be settled down and feel at home. Paul wants Christ to feel at home in the heart of the believer. Paul wants us to experience a deep fellowship with Christ. The verb rooted brings the image of a tree being strongly rooted in the ground. Strong deep roots bring water, nourishment and stability to the tree. Christians should have these same deep roots in Christ. Grounded is an architectural term that refers to the foundations in which one builds. An architect once said “If you don’t go deep, you can’t go high.” What a profound statement! If our relationship with Christ is not deep, how can we expect to do great and might things for Christ to bring him glory? The answer is we cannot. Our works will be made out of wood, hay and stubble and be consumed by the fire of judgment because our works would have been out of our own power. (1Cor. 3:12).

“If there is going to be power in the Christian life, then there must be depth. The roots must go deeper and deeper into the love of Christ. “ Wiersbe, Be Rich!

Paul’s prayer is that believers may experience a deeper relationship with Christ. Only a deep relationship will sustain the believer during severe trials and tribulations they experience in life. We must ask ourselves from where we draw our nourishment and stability. Do I have a deep relationship with Christ or just a surface relationship? If the Holy Spirit stopped working in my life would I even notice?

When we “bow the knee” is it for appearances or to satisfy our deep hunger for Christ? Are we yielding our inner man to the Holy Spirit or are we praying that God satisfy our materialistic and selfish wants? Are we feeding our inner man so we can grow in a deeper, heartfelt relationship with Christ?

Dear Jesus, I bow then knee today not for appearance sake but because I hunger for You Lord. I want a strong, deep relationship with You so when the trials of life come I will be able to stand firm and not be tossed around by the raging seas of turmoil and strife. Lord, I want You to work in my inner man so I may bring glory and honor to You. Amen.