Thoughts

Our word this week was “purpose,” which we introduced on Monday. On Tuesday, we asked, “Are You Finding and Fulfilling God’s Purpose For Your Life?”

We close the week with Friday’s list offering 7 benefits and blessings of embracing God’s purpose for your life.

The Power of God’s Purpose

(1) God’s purpose gives meaning to life.
Purpose moves you from survival mode, past success, to significance.

(2) God’s purpose reduces frustration.
Purpose makes life more pleasant and pleasurable.

(3) God’s purpose increases our motivation.
Purpose produces hope. Inspires action. And encourages steadfast endurance.

(4) God’s purpose allows for greater concentration.
Purpose empowers us to stay mentally, emotionally, and spiritually alert.

(5) God’s purpose simplifies your life.
Purpose reduces confusion. And makes life less complex.

(6) God’s purpose keeps your eyes on the goal.
Purpose provides focus on what’s really important in life.

(7) God’s purpose reaps eternal rewards.
Purpose prepares you for eternity. And keeps the reward real.

The person without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

The Authority of Scripture

A Broadcast with Michael Reeves

The Bible contains all the truth we need for faith and godliness. There would have been no Reformation without this truth. Today, Michael Reeves contrasts the view of Scripture held by the Roman Catholic Church with that of the Protestant Reformers.

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Why Do Believers Still Sin?

Though we are saved eternally, the flesh has potential to sin until our lifelong sanctification is complete.

Romans 7:14-25 14 We know that the Law is right and good, but I am a person who does what is wrong and bad. I am not my own boss. Sin is my boss. 15 I do not understand myself. I want to do what is right but I do not do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. 16 When I do the thing I do not want to do, it shows me that the Law is right and good. 17 So I am not doing it. Sin living in me is doing it. 18 I know there is nothing good in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do good but I do not. 19 I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I am always doing the sinful things I do not want to do. 20 If I am always doing the very thing I do not want to do, it means I am no longer the one who does it. It is sin that lives in me. 21 This has become my way of life: When I want to do what is right, I always do what is wrong. 22 My mind and heart agree with the Law of God. 23 But there is a different law at work deep inside of me that fights with my mind. This law of sin holds me in its power because sin is still in me. 24 There is no happiness in me! Who can set me free from my sinful old self? 25 God’s Law has power over my mind, but sin still has power over my sinful old self. I thank God I can be free through Jesus Christ our Lord! Once we’re saved, it doesn’t take long to discover that we still sin. This can be confusing because 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away.” If that verse is true, why do we have the same old sin problem we had before following Christ? In today’s passage, the apostle Paul describes this struggle in his own life and at one point says, “If I do the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me” (Rom. 7:20). Although we truly have been made new in our spirit, we continue to live in a fallen world and have a disposition toward sin. What we must understand is that our redemption, which began at salvation, will not be completed until Jesus returns and transforms these sinful bodies to be glorious like His own. (20 But we are citizens of heaven. Christ, the One Who saves from the punishment of sin, will be coming down from heaven again. We are waiting for Him to return. 21 He will change these bodies of ours of the earth and make them new. He will make them like His body of shining-greatness. He has the power to do this because He can make all things obey Him. Phil. 3:20-21). At our conversion, we were set free from the penalty of sin, through justification. Now, through sanctification, we are being progressively delivered from the power of sin. But only when we are glorified will we be free from the presence of sin forever.

Our Final Redemption

While life after salvation still has challenges, the Holy Spirit gives believers direction, peace, and joy.

Romans 8:12-25 12 So then, Christian brothers, we are not to do what our sinful old selves want us to do. 13 If you do what your sinful old selves want you to do, you will die in sin. But if, through the power of the Holy Spirit, you destroy those actions to which the body can be led, you will have life. 14 All those who are led by the Holy Spirit are sons of God. 15 You should not act like people who are owned by someone. They are always afraid. Instead, the Holy Spirit makes us His sons, and we can call to Him, “My Father.” 16 For the Holy Spirit speaks to us and tells our spirit that we are children of God. 17 If we are children of God, we will receive everything He has promised us. We will share with Christ all the things God has given to Him. But we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory. 18 I am sure that our suffering now cannot be compared to the glory that He is going to give us. 19 Everything that has been made in the world is waiting for the day when God will make His sons known. 20 Everything that has been made in the world is weak. It is not that the world wanted it to be that way. God allowed it to be that way. Yet there is hope. 21 Everything that has been made in the world will be set free from the power that can destroy. These will become free just as the children of God become free. 22 We know that everything on the earth cries out with pain the same as a woman giving birth to a child. 23 We also cry inside ourselves, even we who have received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the first of God’s gifts to us. We are waiting to become His complete sons when our bodies are made free. 24 We were saved with this hope ahead of us. Now hope means we are waiting for something we do not have. How can a man hope for something he already has? 25 But if we hope for something we do not yet see, we must learn how to wait for it.   Have you discovered that your expectations do not match the realities of your existence? We sometimes have the mistaken idea that God is going to make life easier after salvation. In some ways, this certainly is true: As believers, we have the Holy Spirit, who transforms us into Christ’s likeness, enabling us to handle struggles with peace, contentment, and even joy. But being a Christian does not spare us from troubles and hardships. (I have told you these things so you may have peace in Me. In the world you will have much trouble. But take hope! I have power over the world!” John 16:33.) As Paul explains, our present sufferings cannot be compared to the glories we will one day know. So for now, we “groan within ourselves” (We also cry inside ourselves, even we who have received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the first of God’s gifts to us. We are waiting to become His complete sons when our bodies are made free. Rom. 8:23) while awaiting Christ’s coming kingdom and the redemption of our bodies. When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the price, redeemed us, and brought us into His kingdom. However, we are still in a fallen state—that’s why we continue to struggle with sin. Our full redemption will become reality upon Christ’s return, when our bodies will be resurrected into their glorified state. Do you groan within yourself for that day, knowing that the world is not your home—or have you allowed your affections and interests to be dominated by this earthly life?

When Life Goes Wrong, Embrace God’s Love

from The Preacher’s World

David DeWitt tells a funny story about Chippie the parakeet. He was simply minding his own business and singing his song one day when his owner decided to clean out his cage with the vacuum cleaner. The phone rang and the lady went to answer it and that was when things began to go horribly wrong for little Chippie.

Without the guidance of the woman, the business end of the vacuum cleaner sucked up the bird and sent him to the dust bag. Realizing what had happened the woman tore open the vacuum and ripped apart the bag to find Chippie, fearing the worst. However, Chippie was not dead but merely stunned and covered with dust.

The woman decided that he needed to be revived and ran to the bathroom sink. She turned the water on and stuck Chippie under the flow. Now Chippie is cold and wet from the sudden bath. So the owner decides to dry the bird off but not with a towel. She gets out her hairdryer and blows the bird off. Chippie goes from being sucked up, to being nearly drowned to being blown over.

The owner was asked by a friend a few weeks later about how Chippie was doing, she replied: “Chippie doesn’t sing much anymore, he just sits and stares.

Have you ever felt like Chippie? One moment you’re singing a happy tune, and then suddenly life sucks you up with some trouble, trial, or trauma. Outside forces and circumstances beyond our control can sap our spirit and suck the song out of our soul.

The debilitating effects of sin impact all of us. Either directly or indirectly. Crooked politicians. Greedy business people. Hypocritical church leaders. Fickle friends. All leave us feeling betrayed. Empty. And alone.

Read more: http://thepreachersword.com/2022/01/27/when-life-goes-wrong-embrace-gods-love/

Developing Convictions

Learning the Bible is essential for Christians, but so is being able to explain why we believe its doctrines.

Colossians 2:1-8  I want you to know how hard I have worked for you and for the Christians in the city of Laodicea and for those who have never seen me. 2 May their hearts be given comfort. May they be brought close together in Christian love. May they be rich in understanding and know God’s secret. It is Christ Himself. 3 In Christ are hidden all the riches of wisdom and understanding. 4 I tell you this so no one will try to change your mind with big sounding talk. 5 Even if I am far away from you in body, I am with you in spirit. I am happy to learn how well you are getting along. It is good to hear that your faith is so strong in Christ. 6 As you have put your trust in Christ Jesus the Lord to save you from the punishment of sin, now let Him lead you in every step. 7 Have your roots planted deep in Christ. Grow in Him. Get your strength from Him. Let Him make you strong in the faith as you have been taught. Your life should be full of thanks to Him. 8 Be careful that no one changes your mind and faith by much learning and big sounding ideas. Those things are what men dream up. They are always trying to make new religions. These leave out Christ.   A seedling needs nutrients and time to grow into a tall, sturdy tree. In the same way, our convictions develop gradually through committed Bible study and prayer. In order to be firmly planted in biblical truth, we can’t simply hold up the Bible and claim we believe every word. We need to know why we’re convinced that the basic doctrines of the faith are true. Here are some questions to help you get started: • Why do you consider the Bible to be true and trustworthy? • Why is Jesus Christ the only way to be saved? • What is the Holy Spirit’s role in the lives of believers and unbelievers? • What does the Bible say about stewardship of the earth? • How should you think and act with regard to issues of justice and oppression? It’s my hope that these questions will cause you to contemplate how your personal philosophies have developed. Study the Bible and make it the cornerstone of your thinking. Evaluate what God says rather than looking at an issue through the lens of personal preference.  Ground yourself in Scripture. Then whenever a new philosophy come

Ponder – Galatians 3:26-28

 

by ThePreachersWord

There’s an old story about a well-known, international preacher who was visiting some residents in a local nursing home in a city where he was conducting an evangelistic meeting.

As we went around greeting each one, they were all glad to meet him, expressing both surprise and appreciation for taking his time to visit them. At one point, he spoke to a lady, who didn’t seem to know who he was.

“Do you know who I am?” the preacher asked.

“No,” she said. “But if you go to the front desk, they can tell you.”

Well, the Bible tells you who you are in plain language that’s easy to understand. If you’re a sinner, lost, and doomed to destruction, the Bible doesn’t mince words. If you’re not living a righteous life, the Word will make your condition clear. Our text today, speaks of those who’ve become Christians and describes who they are.

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:26-28)

If you’re a Christian…

The Bible Project’s Animated Explanation of Philippians Gives a Glimpse into Paul’s Heart

https://churchleaders.com/pastors/videos-for-pastors/290972-bible-projects-animated-explanation-philippians-gives-glimpse-pauls-heart.html?utm_source=msv-nlJanuary%2024th,%202022&utm_medium=email&utm_content=text-link&utm_campaign=msv-nl&maropost_id=716263646&mpweb=256-9619410-716263646

Strategies

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11  Dictionaries define strategy as a plan of action intended to achieve a certain overall goal. And such a plan usually involves multiple progressive steps that build on the success of the previous step. Masters of the game of chess, for example, often take a long time before making a move because they are planning a strategy; they are thinking several moves ahead.

The Bible says that the devil uses strategies, or wiles (a malicious type of strategy), to accomplish his goal. And what is the devil’s goal? To move the child of God in the direction of doubting the goodness or truthfulness of Him. This has been evident from the beginning—the devil (“the serpent”) planted seeds of doubt in Eve’s mind about the truthfulness of God’s words. Eve succumbed to the temptation, followed by Adam, and disobeyed God’s instruction (Genesis 3:1-5). Like any good strategist, the devil is thinking several steps ahead of his targets. Be aware of your circumstances, thoughts, and choices. Who is behind them? What are the potential outcomes? What is your strategy for victory? Stand firm against the wiles of the devil. We cannot stand against the wiles of the devil by our wits. Oswald Chambers D Jeremiah

A Lesson in Pruning

It can be painful when God cuts fleshly habits and attitudes from our life, but that allows growth in Christlikeness.

John 15:1-5 “I am the true Vine. My Father is the One Who cares for the Vine. 2 He takes away any branch in Me that does not give fruit. Any branch that gives fruit, He cuts it back so it will give more fruit. 3 You are made clean by the words I have spoken to you. 4 Get your life from Me and I will live in you. No branch can give fruit by itself. It has to get life from the vine. You are able to give fruit only when you have life from Me. 5 I am the Vine and you are the branches. Get your life from Me. Then I will live in you and you will give much fruit. You can do nothing without Me. Years ago I lived in Fruitland, North Carolina. It was apple country, and several of my parishioners were growers. When I stopped by to visit one of them, I found him mercilessly cutting branches from one of the trees. He told me that to produce an abundant crop of the best fruit, he had to prune the branches. It might look as if the tree was going to die, but new growth would spring from the wounds. Our conversation helped me understand why the Lord sometimes acts as a pruning knife in our lives. To get a plentiful crop of spiritual fruit, He must remove anything that hinders us from becoming the person He designed us to be. The process is often painful as God cuts away fleshly habits and worldly attitudes, but His pruning results in us becoming a more accurate reflection of Jesus Christ. Being loved by God doesn’t mean being coddled. Our comfort is not His primary interest. Just as a grower prunes an apple tree to get a bountiful harvest, so God must sometimes cause us pain in order to bring forth greater spiritual growth, Christlike character, and abundance.