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“If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.”

2 Chronicles 7:13–15

After Solomon dedicated the beautiful Temple in Jerusalem with a massive public ceremony that lasted three weeks, God appeared to him in a vision. God told Solomon that He had heard his prayers and that His favor and blessing would rest on the house of worship and prayer that had been constructed for His glory. At the same time, God issued a solemn warning—that if the people turned their back on Him, judgment would follow.

Even in that declaration of consequences for sin, however, we see the mercy and grace of God on display. He promised that if His people would repent and return to Him, He would forgive and restore them. Notice the requirement that is placed on this healing: before God’s people pray, and seek Him and repent, they must first humble themselves. The simple reality is that as long as pride lingers in our hearts, we will never take any of the necessary steps to return to God.

Though God’s judgment should lead us to quickly repent, that is often not the case. John described how men will respond to God’s chastening hand during the Tribulation: “And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory” (Revelation 16:9). Rather than clinging to pride, let us truly be humble.

“We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:”

Psalm 78:4–6

God’s plan is never just for today. Though He exists outside of time, He has a detailed plan for the future. Over and over in Scripture, we see God planning in the present day for what comes next. One of the most beautiful pictures of this foresight is seen in the life of Jeremiah. With the armies of Babylon camped outside Jerusalem preparing to defeat Israel and carry the people into captivity, God directed the prophet to buy a piece of land. Jeremiah was commanded to place the deed to the land in a kind of time capsule so that seven decades later, when the people returned, they would find evidence that it had been God’s plan all along and rejoice in His goodness.

As we get older, we have great opportunities to share God’s truth with those who are coming behind us. We can tell them the stories of how God has worked in our lives, and do our part to strengthen and build their faith. This is God’s plan for us. Moses told the children of Israel that the law God had given them to follow had a purpose beyond their own lives: “That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged” (Deuteronomy 6:2).

“And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”

Acts 27:22–25

When Paul was being transported to Rome to stand before Caesar, the ship was caught in a horrible storm. It was so severe that even the seasoned sailors gave up hope of survival. Yet in their moment of despair, Paul came out of his cabin where he had been praying, and told them that even though things looked hopeless, God had assured him that they would all survive—and they did. The ship was wrecked, but everyone on board safely reached land. We can always trust what God says to be true.

Charles Spurgeon said, “If anything be but in the Bible, I never for a single moment think of questioning it. Miracles? Strong historical statements? I believe them all; I can almost go as far as the old woman who said that she not only believed that the whale swallowed Jonah, but that, if the Bible had said that Jonah swallowed the whale, she would have believed it. It says nothing of the kind, but I would go even to that length if it were a clear, positive statement of the Scriptures.”

There are some people who claim to be operating in faith when they are doing things that God has not commanded, but true faith is based on the promises God has given us in His Word. When we believe the truth and act on it, we will never be disappointed or abandoned.

“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.”

Daniel 6:10–11

When Daniel’s enemies passed a law outlawing prayer to anyone except the king of Persia, their plan was to trap Daniel and have him killed. They knew he would never abandon his faith in God, and on the day that the decree became law, Daniel prayed just as he had always done. When he was thrown to the lions, God protected Daniel. In the end, those who had plotted against him were destroyed, and Daniel was protected. It is important to notice that Daniel’s response to the threat did not include ceasing to pray. He prayed just as he had done before.

Of course Daniel did not have the New Testament, but the principles he followed to overcome fear are exactly the ones laid out for us—the ones that will still work in our day. Paul wrote, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving are the expressions of our faith—and this is the faith that overcomes our fears. This is the faith that brings us the victory and allows us to have peace even in the middle of the worst storms of life. This is the faith that encourages us to do right no matter what everyone else is doing or what the consequences might be. This is the faith that empowers us to follow the Saviour wherever He leads.

“And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.”

Genesis 19:9–11

The story of Lot documents for us the process by which a Christian places himself (and often his family) on the road to ruin. Though the Bible does not describe for us much that is positive in Lot’s life, Peter tells us that he was part of God’s family. “And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)” (2 Peter 2:7–8). So how does a just man end up in such a bad place?

Often a fall begins because of complacency regarding sin. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were renowned for their wickedness, yet when Lot left Abraham, the Bible tells us: “Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom” (Genesis 13:12). Because Lot didn’t worry about the sinfulness of Sodom, he was able to rationalize moving into town, no doubt for the business opportunities it would present. Lot didn’t go intending to live there permanently. The men of the town said he came “to sojourn”—just to stay for a little while—but Sodom became his home. In the end Lot’s family was destroyed because he was comfortable with sin and over time tolerated it more and more.

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.”

Galatians 5:16–18

One of the temptations that comes up again and again is for us to work in our own strength to try to do good things for God. We see this temptation in the attacks Satan made against Jesus. He tried to get the Lord to do something that was not in itself sinful, changing stones into bread, but was apart from God’s plan. Satan wanted Jesus to act independently from God, and He refused. This kind of temptation works so often because it is so appealing to our pride. We like to view ourselves as being gifted, strong, and able to handle whatever comes. Yet if we attempt to do so, we quickly find ourselves overcome with the weight of a burden we are not meant to carry.

The Lord spoke to His people through the prophet Zechariah after they returned to the land of Israel from their years of captivity in Babylon. They were struggling to rebuild their lives and their nation, and finding the task beyond their ability. The Israelites were led by a man named Zerubbabel, and this is the message God sent him through Zechariah: “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). No matter how strong we are or think we are, we do not have the strength to do God’s work in ourselves. It can only come from His indwelling Holy Spirit in our lives.

“And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.”

Mark 14:37–40

In the early days of the Civil War, a young Union soldier named William Scott was assigned sentry duty near Washington, D.C. Scott, who had volunteered to take the place of another soldier the night before, was exhausted and was found asleep at his post on August 31, 1861. He was court martialed and sentenced to be executed. Many plead for the life of the young man, and President Lincoln intervened to ask General George McClellan to commute the sentence.

McClellan’s message of clemency said: “The President of the United States has expressed a wish that as this is the first condemnation to death in this army for this crime, mercy may be extended to the criminal. This act of clemency must not be understood as affording a precedent for any future case. The duty of a sentinel is of such a nature, that its neglect by sleeping upon or deserting his post may endanger the safety of a command, or even of the whole army, and all nations affix to the offence the penalty of death.”

Every Christian is engaged in spiritual warfare on a daily basis. The devil is looking for opportunities to attack, and the sad truth is that despite the warnings given to us in Scripture, Christians are often asleep when they should be on guard and praying. The careless way in which we treat Satan’s attacks explains why we often fall to his temptations. Stand guard, and watch and pray rather than sleeping.

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever.”

Hebrews 13:20–21

The early Christians who received copies of the letter we know as the Book of Hebrews were living in a hostile environment. Christians were a persecuted minority religious group, hated by pagans, Jews, and Romans alike. They faced great suffering on a regular basis. Yet, despite the persecution, the church continued to grow, and the gospel spread across the entire empire. How then, were Christians able to make such a wonderful impact in such difficult circumstances?

The early church had a very real sense of the resurrection’s power. Some of those Christians were among the hundreds who saw Jesus after He came out of the tomb, before He returned to Heaven. They knew the power of God had been able to overcome even death. While we know that Jesus is alive, we need a renewed sense of the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Romans 8:11).

When we have an awareness of God’s power, it allows us to face the trials of life with a level of confidence and peace that He will be with us no matter what happens. The truth of the resurrection is not just vital to our salvation and hope of eternal life, but as the greatest illustration of God’s power over Satan, it gives us confidence that He can overcome every obstacle we face.

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Psalm 1:1–3

We live in a society that is increasingly rootless. People move from place to place much more frequently than in the past. While there are benefits from the increased mobility and technology that makes life more convenient and improves our standard of living, there are drawbacks as well. One of those is that we do not develop the deep connections with family and church that provide strength and encouragement to Christians in their daily walk.

The key to stability, whether we live in one state our entire lives or move all over the country (or even the world), is found in the Word of God. It is when we love the Bible and read it, study it, memorize it, and meditate on it...and most importantly live by it, that we have true roots that can withstand the storms of life. God wants us to grow up and mature as Christians. Paul wrote, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14). The process of spiritual growth and maturity is only accomplished through God’s Word. Peter wrote, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2).

“To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”

Acts 1:3–5

Although John Milton was born into a Catholic home, a born again Christian tutor presented him with the gospel. His salvation led to him being disinherited by his father. Milton studied at Cambridge and became one of England’s most noted authors as well as a close friend of noted Baptist leader Roger Williams. His deep faith found expression in his writing, most notably in his retelling of the Fall of man in Paradise Lost. Milton lost his eyesight while still in his forties—a huge blow to a writer. Many of his best known works were dictated to his daughters.

In his sonnet On His Blindness, Milton laments the loss of his vision and the resulting decline in his ability to serve God. Yet, in the end, he notes that God is in control and only expects what we are able to provide. The poem concludes:

God doth not need
Either man’s work or his own gifts, who best
Bear his milde yoak, they serve him best, his State
Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed
And post o’re Land and Ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and waite.

Though there are many times when we must move forward and get to work, there are other times when we need to seek God’s face before we do anything else. The work of God can only be done in the power of God, and we must be willing to wait for it.

“And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.”

Acts 10:39–42

The first thing most of us think of when we hear about preaching is what a pastor does from a pulpit in a church service. And that is a vitally important part of the health of the church and the work of the Lord. But often when the Bible speaks of preaching it is not talking about speaking in a church service, but presenting the gospel to an individual. This kind of preaching is not limited to a few specially trained individuals in full time ministry, but is to be carried out by every believer. The Bible says, “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ” (Acts 5:42).

Just before Jesus returned to Heaven, He commanded His followers to go throughout the world preaching to the lost. This instruction was so important that we find it in all four Gospels and then again in the Book of Acts. We often call it the Great Commission, and it is the most important task for the church, and for each of us as individual Christians. Sharing the gospel with others is not optional, but rather it is a command that is meant to be obeyed. Each day we have opportunities to reach someone with the most important message in the world—and we should take them.

“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”

Acts 4:31–33

Growing up in a preacher’s home, I went to a lot of prayer meetings over the years. I have been in meetings with thousands of people calling out to God, and I have been in private settings with one or two believers as we poured out our hearts. I have seen God do amazing things that seemed to be impossible in response to those prayers. There are times when prayer is more of a formality or an exercise, and in those cases we should not be surprised when nothing happens. But when there is heart-felt passionate prayer, things happen. James wrote, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).

The disciples in Jerusalem were not casual in their praying—they could not afford to be. They were facing intense persecution and the threat of death. They needed God’s power. And when the church called out to Him, there was a powerful response. The church today needs that kind of fervency in our praying. We are facing growing pressure to abandon the truth to make our message more acceptable to a world that does not value God’s Word. The strength to stand firm in evil days does not come from our will power, but from our prayer power.

“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

Ephesians 4:14–16

Many of the buildings being put up in America today have at least some walls of either concrete blocks or bricks. If you just took a pile of those blocks or bricks and stacked them on top of each other, the structure wouldn’t stand long. In order for the walls to be stable and last, the various pieces have to be held together by something. Just as without mortar a wall will crumble, without something to hold together the various Christians that make up the church, it will fall apart.

There are a lot of different kinds of people in every church. Some come from very different economic classes. Some have very widely diverging educational backgrounds. Some have been saved for decades while others are new believers. Some have large families and some are single. There has to be a common element that joins their hearts and minds together for the church to function with the unity God desires and commands.

That common element, the mortar for the church, is Jesus Christ. Every Christian shares a common Saviour no matter what differences they may have. It is by drawing closer to Him and growing in His grace that we become united as a local body of believers. The strength of any church is found in the presence of the Lord in the hearts of His people.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

Colossians 3:16–17

The Bible speaks often of its importance in our lives. We are commanded to read, study, memorize, and meditate on the Word of God. Jesus made the central importance of the Scriptures very clear: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:5, 7).

As a practical matter, there are two parts to the process of dwelling in the Bible and having it dwell in us. First we must have the Word coming into our hearts. We need to read the Bible, hear the Bible preached and taught, commit the Bible to memory, and meditate on what it says. Someone who said that they ate when they were young so they don’t need to eat now would be the object of ridicule, yet sometimes Christians adopt the mindset that the Bible is mostly for little children, and for adults it is just something they carry to church on Sunday. That does not produce spiritual growth.

The second part of the process is actually doing what the Bible says. A man who knows the truth but doesn’t do it is actually worse off than a man who doesn’t know the truth. The Bible is not given to us for our information but for our transformation. God does not just want us to be educated, but to be obedient.

“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.”

Ephesians 5:8–10

In Paul’s final letter to his protégé Timothy, he warned that one of the characteristics of a culture’s decline would be when people’s great priority would be finding someone to tell them what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear. He wrote, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears” (2 Timothy 4:3). Truly we are living in that day. There are large churches and national ministries that are based solely on making people feel good rather than proclaiming the need for obedience and repentance.

Yet the truth is still the truth. The truth is not to be found in our hearts, for they have been corrupted by sin. The truth is not found by following our consciences, for they can be seared and hardened. The only sure and reliable guide to the truth is found in the Bible, as applied to our situation by the indwelling Holy Spirit. He will never lead us in a way that contradicts the Scriptures. The seventeenth century Puritan pastor Thomas Brooks said, “The Spirit never loosens where the Word binds; the Spirit never justifies where the Word condemns; the Spirit never approves where the Word disapproves; the Spirit never blesses where the Word curses.”

God expects us to be wise and discerning in choosing to whom we will listen. A steady diet of false doctrine is going to impact even the strongest faith. Instead, we need to be listening to and heeding those who tell us the truth in Holy Spirit power, even when we may not want to hear it.

“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

Acts 2:40–42

There are many resources today for a church that wants to know how to grow. Conferences, books, lecture series, college classes, and online learning options are easily accessible. Sadly, a great deal of what is being taught and believed is either completely disconnected from the Word of God, or worse, in direct opposition to what the Bible teaches. There is no way to do God’s work successfully (in terms of how God measures success) apart from the methods that Scripture prescribes.

The early church described in the Book of Acts experienced enormous growth as the disciples faithfully preached the gospel both in public and private settings. Despite intense opposition, persecution, and even the death of some of their members and leaders, the church continued to thrive. The churches grew because they functioned according to God’s order of priorities. When Luke recounts those days, notice that he puts the order this way: “doctrine and fellowship.”

The unity of Christians is vitally important both to their individual lives and to church growth, but it is not the highest priority. Doctrine—the teaching and preaching of the truth—must come before anything else. We have numerous programs at Lancaster Baptist Church. There are activities, meetings, gatherings, and fellowship going on pretty much every day. But every event is grounded in and guided by biblical principles. We never sacrifice what we believe for the sake of a program or increasing crowds. Doctrine first, and then everything else.

“For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”

Titus 1:7–9

The expression “hold on for dear life” has been around for hundreds of years. It expresses the idea of hanging on with every ounce of strength for the sake of saving something precious. This phrase is a wonderful description of the way Christians should treat the truth. Interestingly enough, one of the earliest recorded uses of the phrase “dear life” appears in an account of the battle for religious freedom in England against the state church. An anonymous pamphlet titled A Discourse on Government and Religion published in 1749 says, “The presbyterians themselves pray’d for dear life—and liberty to pray.”

In a day when some churches are trimming their beliefs and commitment to the truth in the foolish hope that it will appease the enemies of the gospel, our firm hold on the truth is more important than ever. When Paul was inspired to write these words to Titus, he knew that the young preacher was facing challenges from a hostile culture. And as Titus fulfilled the task of appointing leaders for the new churches being formed in Crete, one of the most important things to look for was someone who would be faithful to the truth no matter what.

The will not change no matter what court rulings are issued or what laws are passed. We must be faithful to the Lord rather than attempt to please men. The day that we release our firm hold on the truth is the day we begin our slide to destruction.

“I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.”

Psalm 30:1–4

Christians should be singing people. While not everyone is gifted musically, we should all have the spirit of joy that leads to singing in our hearts and lives. Throughout Scripture, both in the Old and New Testaments, God’s people sang praises to His name. In fact, there was music at the beginning of the creation as God told Job: “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:7).

It is important for us to remember that joy—the genuine joy that is the fruit of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives—transcends our circumstances. We find it easy to sing and praise God when things are going well, but it should be something that is a constant in our lives. No matter what is happening around us, we can keep our song. Elihu, one of the men who came to see Job after he lost everything said, “But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night” (Job 35:10).

A Christian who is not joyful is a Christian who is not focused on the countless blessings God has given him, most importantly his salvation. There is not a single good thing in my life that is not a gift of God’s grace. Finding a reason to sing is easy when we realize that truth.

“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.”

Revelation 3:1–2

According to some studies, there are as many as 350,000 churches in the United States. If all of those churches were actively preaching the gospel and their members were witnessing, it would not take long for our society to be transformed. That is not what is happening. Many of these churches are simply buildings where vaguely religious observances take place, rather than the kind of churches we see described in the pages of the Bible. Many of them have no interest in the commandments and precepts of God’s Word and feel free to substitute their own opinions and ideas for the truth.

But even some churches that once held true to the faith now have changed. They may still have the same name on the sign, and they may still be in the same building, and appear to be alive, but inwardly they are dead. There are a lot of problems in our world today—many serious moral and social ills that need to be addressed. God’s plan for the change that we need so much is not for the world to change, but for the church to change the people of God into the image of the Son of God so that they will change the world. Churches must come to life first, then society. Peter wrote, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17).

“Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.”

Hebrews 13:7–9

In our world, it sometimes seems like everything is up for grabs—that nothing is settled and secure. I recently saw a news story about a woman pastor of a United Church of Canada who had publicly declared from the pulpit that she is an atheist. According to her own account, she, “Preached a sermon in which I completely deconstructed the idea of a god named God.” The governing council of the church is trying to decide whether to revoke her ordination, and she is threatening legal action to keep her position.

For most of us the lines of truth that apply to that situation, and there are many that have been crossed, are clear, but the church body has appointed a group to study the case and report back to a board that will decide what to do. The craze for new doctrine has led to the acceptance of things that are blatantly false, but few people are willing to stand up and say that right is still right and wrong is still wrong because “thus saith the Lord.”

This quest to replace the old truth with new doctrines is ancient. Paul faced it in Athens. “(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)” (Acts 17:21). The solution for our day is the same one Paul used. We must fearlessly proclaim the truth of the gospel and hold firm to the things that never change.

“These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

1 Timothy 3:14–16

If you have had the opportunity to travel to Greece or Italy, or if you have seen pictures of the massive temples and public buildings that they built, you have probably been amazed at what was accomplished without any modern construction equipment. The Temple of Artemis (Diana) at Ephesus was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The massive structure measuring more than 400 feet long and 250 feet wide was supported by more than 120 huge marble columns rising 60 feet into the air to support its great weight. Without these columns, the building could not stand.

When Paul refers to the church as “the pillar” of the truth, he was inspired to use the Greek word for those columns. The responsibility of the church is to hold up the truth so that all can see it. In our day, truth is under attack from every side, but this is not new. It is the same challenge that the church faced in the first century. We should not be looking to the world for support for the truth, but rather the church should be supporting the truth found in God’s Word. Supporting the truth cannot be done passively. Our culture is both powerful and unstable—like the ocean tides. Unless we make a deliberate effort to go against the tide, we will be carried away. Staying with the truth demands standing for the truth.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”

2 Corinthians 4:7–10

God has promised us many things as His children, but He has not promised us an easy life. Christians experience the same sickness, economic difficulty, and natural disasters that those around them do. Yet in those days of trouble, we have something the world does not—the presence of the Holy Spirit who lives within, providing us the strength to not just fight but win the battles that we face. In our own strength, we have no hope of victory. But in God’s power and reliance on His promises, we have full assurance that no matter how bad circumstances get, He is in control. This is a knowledge that we must maintain when times are difficult.

There is an old Peanuts comic where Lucy and Linus are staring out the window, watching it rain. Lucy says, “Boy, look at it rain... What if it floods the whole world?” Linus answers, “It will never do that ... In the ninth chapter of Genesis, God promised Noah that would never happen again, and the sign of the promise is the rainbow.” Lucy smiles and says, “You’ve taken a great load off my mind.” Linus responds, “Sound theology has a way of doing that!” God’s truth does not change according to our situation, we can always rely on everything that He has promised He will do. This is our hope when things are difficult. And though we may be troubled, perplexed, persecuted, and cast down, we will be victorious.

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”

1 Peter 1:23–25

Every year thousands of new books are written. Most of them are quickly forgotten. Only a handful stand the test of time and are still being read years later. Many people find older books to be dull and boring, written for a different time with different interests and sensibilities. It can be a real struggle to try to understand the references and implications that authors were making so long ago.

Yet, there is a book that was written thousands of years ago that is still just as relevant and meaningful as it was when the Spirit of God moved the hearts and minds of men of God and gave them the very words that God wanted us to have in His Word. The Bible is not a dead book—it is alive. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

There is no Christian so mature in his faith that he no longer needs to read and hear the Bible. There is no Christian so young in his faith that he cannot benefit from the principles and precepts of Scripture. Every day we need to be abiding in the Word of God. The Bible equips us to resist the temptations of the enemy and prepares us to serve God effectively.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”

1 Peter 1:18–21

Of all the Jewish feasts that God instructed the people to observe, none were more prophetic in view of the coming Messiah than the Passover with the shedding of the blood of a lamb. When John the Baptist first saw Jesus at the beginning of His ministry, he identified Him with the Passover lamb. “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

When it came time for a lamb to be sacrificed on Passover, not just any lamb would do. The people were instructed to select their lamb early, then watch and inspect it for four days to insure that it was perfect. Jesus was only able to become our Saviour because He was perfect—literally God in the flesh. If Jesus had sinned, He would have had to pay the price of death for Himself and would not have been able to pay that debt for us.

The Bible tells us that Heaven will be filled with praise to Jesus, and in light of the amazing grace that offers us salvation, our lives should be daily filled with joy and gratitude. Only through the worthy sacrifice of the Lamb of God do we have the hope of Heaven.

“This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”

Acts 4:11–13

I believe in the value of education. We started West Coast Baptist College because of the need of the church for trained leaders and Christian workers. It is important for us to know how to speak and communicate properly so that our message is not hindered. Every student should strive to learn as much as he can, and every Christian is called to be a lifelong student. Peter wrote, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).

Simply acquiring knowledge alone, however, does not produce lasting change in a life. There are many people who know a great deal about what the Bible says, but who have no personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is only when the knowledge that we have is activated by the presence of His Spirit and we learn to love Him as we should that our lives are transformed, and we begin to make a positive impact on those around us.

The disciples spent three years with Jesus. They walked where He walked, listened as He taught and preached, and had the opportunity to ask Him questions in private so that they could understand His message. It revolutionized their lives. They did not have impressive credentials or diplomas, but they had been with Jesus, and that made all the difference. The same will be true for us.

“And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Ephesians 3:19–21

Our world has a distorted view of Jesus. Some people view Him as something like a hippie preaching a revolutionary message of peace and love. Others view Him as a deluded teacher who mistakenly thought that He was divine. Some view Jesus as weak, preaching a message that promoted compassion rather than courage. Some think of Him as little more than a curse word to intensify their expression of emotion.

If people saw Jesus for who He really is, they would not respond to Him as they do now. In fact when they do see Him, they will acknowledge Him for who He is. Paul wrote, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth” (Philippians 2:9–10).

The tragedy is that those who wait until the judgment to proclaim Jesus as Lord will have done so too late to receive Him as Saviour. It is our task to show the world Jesus is their only hope of salvation while there is still time for them to respond. Every believer and every church has a duty not only to God but to the world around us to show them the glory and majesty of Jesus Christ. We carry His name, and as a result our lives do a great deal to shape the view of those around us of Him—and we are responsible for the message we send.

“Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.”

Daniel 6:3–4

Charles Spurgeon told of a man who had gotten saved in his church who worked as a butler in the house of a noble English family. After his conversion he became much more diligent in his duties. He told Spurgeon that the lady of the house brought a group of guests into the butler’s pantry to see how clean his plates were. When one of them asked the reason for his hard work the new convert said, “It is because I love the Lord Jesus Christ that I have become a better servant to her ladyship than I used to be; I hope I am not careless now about any of my duties and I want my Saviour to have the credit of all I do.”

Every day we carry the name of Jesus Christ with us. Those who know we are Christians form their opinion of Christ from what they see in our lives. Even those who do not know us should be able to see that there is something distinctive about the way in which we work and interact with others. If being a Christian only makes a difference in how we act on Sunday mornings, it has not permeated our lives the way that it should. Spurgeon concluded his story by saying, “You can glorify Jesus Christ in cleaning a plate, or digging in a garden, or selling potatoes, or anything else that is right, so long as you do it unto Him and to His praise.”

“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:”

2 Corinthians 4:1–3

In New Testament times there was very little in the way of government protection for business transactions. Many people became wealthy by figuring out ways in which they could deceive customers. From passing off new goods as antiques by aging them, to selling wares in dimly lit spaces to hide their defects, businesspeople learned many deceptive skills to sell their wares. The old Latin phrase caveat emptor—let the buyer beware—meant that anyone doing business needed to be on guard. That phrase captures the spirit of their age...and in many ways of ours as well.

God calls us, however, to a different standard. The Christian should not scheme to find shortcuts or underhanded ways of doing business that result in a greater profit to the bottom line. Instead we are called as children of God to walk in His light. Every dealing that we have with others should be guided by the principles of Scripture rather than the ethics of the world around us. No one should be able to credibly accuse us of cheating them in a business transaction.

While we will never be perfect, we must strive to reflect the integrity of God in our dealings with the world. John wrote, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). The closer to God we are, the more upright we will be in our daily lives.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

2 Corinthians 6:14–16

Since the very beginning of Creation, God has been drawing distinctions. He separated light from dark, the waters above the earth from the waters on the earth, and the sea from the dry land. In Egypt He separated the Israelites from the Egyptians, and the last and most serious plagues did not strike the land of Goshen where the Israelites lived. Under the law, the Israelites were forbidden from doing things that broke down distinctions—even to the point of being forbidden to make clothing of two kinds of fabric or plowing with a cow and a donkey yoked together.

The point of those rules was not that those things were evil in and of themselves, but to serve as a visual reminder of the distinction God demanded between His people and the world. This same principle carries over into our era. God’s people do not have anything in common with the people of the world. We have different families, different destinations, and different motivations. And while we should reach out to the lost in love and compassion and give them the gospel, the distinctions should remain. The modern notion that we become like the world to reach the world is a fallacious one, and rather than facilitating our witness, it undermines it. If we are just like the lost, what do we have to offer them?

“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

Isaiah 43:1–2

God does not promise we will avoid difficulties and trials in life. In fact, while there are punishments for disobedience that we must endure, often it is following God’s path that positions us in a place of trouble. The important thing to remember in those moments is that God is still faithful. The presence of trouble is not a sign that He has abandoned us. Instead, it should be an incentive for us to trust Him more.

Sometimes we hold back from doing what we should because it will be hard. Faith sees the difficulty, but it also sees that God will be with us. F. B. Meyer wrote, “Never dread any consequence resulting from absolute obedience to His command. Never fear the rough waters ahead...Dare to trust Him! Dare to follow Him! Then discover that the forces that blocked your progress and threatened your life become at His command the very materials He uses to build your street of freedom.”

There is no growth without struggle. Trees that face strong winds put down deep roots so they can stand in the storms. The Christian life is not meant to be an easy one. “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). While trials may be hard, we are never alone. No Christian has ever endured a trial that did not first go through God’s hands.

“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

2 Timothy 2:1–4

As people look to the future, many prepare wills to determine how their possessions will be distributed after their death. Often they intersperse their final directives with words of advice and instruction. One wealthy businessman of the nineteenth century named Henry Budd left his two sons a sizable fortune with a very unique condition—that they never “sully their lip with a mustache.”

When Paul wrote to Timothy from Rome, he knew he was nearing the end of his life. In this final letter, he gave Timothy instructions about serving the Lord after Paul was gone. One of the most important principles Paul conveyed was that the faith we have received must be handed down to others. It is not enough for us to believe. We must train others, who can then in turn train those who will come after them in the faith.

This problem plagued the children of Israel. Moses trained Joshua to follow him, but Joshua failed to do the same. “And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim” (Judges 2:10-11). Our faith will die if we do not pass it on and train others to do the same.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

2 Corinthians 12:9–10

Grace is absolutely essential for our salvation—we have no hope without it. Yet grace goes far beyond the moment of our conversion. Grace is a daily necessity of the Christian life. We cannot live as God intends for us to live in our own strength and ability. Each day we need a new supply of grace, just as the children of Israel had to go out six mornings a week to gather manna in the wilderness. They could not save any for the next day except on Friday so that they would not work on the Sabbath. God could have given them a supply for months or even years, but instead He required them to rely on His provision day by day.

D. L. Moody said, “A man can no more take in a supply of grace for the future than he can eat enough for the next six months, or take sufficient air into his lungs at one time to sustain life for a week. We must draw upon God’s boundless store of grace from day to day as we need it.” The Lord wants us to remain dependent on Him rather than trust our own resources. This is the reason the model prayer Jesus gave us instructs us to ask for “our daily bread.” Could God immediately meet every need we will have for the rest of our lives? Of course. But if He were to do so, we would quickly forget His grace and goodness, as the Israelites did so many times.

“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

1 Corinthians 1:17–19

Everyone who preaches or teaches the Word of God should learn all that he can, polish his natural talents and abilities, and do the very best job that he can to convey the message from Heaven people need to hear. Yet all of the talents, training, and effort are utterly insufficient to the task. Power does not come from the speaker, but from the message! And the heart of the message that we have both for the lost and dying world as well as those who are already part of God’s family is the cross of Jesus Christ.

The message of the cross is not a going to be widely accepted, because the message of the cross is an exclusive message. The cross says that there is only one way to God, and that not all faith systems are valid. Our society wants to equate everything, not elevating the truth over lies. But, God demands a choice. Either people will deem the gospel message of salvation foolish and reject it, or they will turn to the cross in faith and accept the salvation Jesus provides.

When God sent poisonous snakes among the Israelites as punishment for their constant complaining, He also instructed Moses to make a brass serpent and place it on a pole in the center of the camp. The brass snake had the power to heal all the Israelites, but only those who looked to it in faith were saved.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

1 John 2:15–17

One of the most moving ceremonies that takes place in the United States is the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. The guards who stand sentinel in honor of the nation’s war dead make a serious commitment to take on the task. Everything about their appearance is meticulously regulated and inspected. Their devotion to their duty is so intense that they remain on duty even through hurricanes and blizzards.

The Sentinel’s Creed in part reads, “My dedication to this sacred duty is total and whole-hearted. In the responsibility bestowed on me never will I falter. And with dignity and perseverance my standard will remain perfection. Through the years of diligence and praise and the discomfort of the elements, I will walk my tour in humble reverence to the best of my ability.”

Those of us who are children of God owe Him a far higher level of commitment and devotion. The most important thing is our love for Him, because when that is what it should be, it will guide every choice and decision of life. Jesus said, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:30). When we are not committed to following God as we should, the root problem is our heart rather than our conduct.

“And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.”

Genesis 11:6–8

There is enormous power when people start to work together. The story of the effort to build the tower at Babel is a story of man’s rebellion against God. Though God had commanded the people to spread out and fill the earth following the Flood, they wanted to stay together in one place. To ensure their stability, they decided to build a great tower that would reach into the heavens so that even if another great flood came, they would not be washed away. Even though their purpose was not godly, their unity made them effective. If God had not confused their speech, they would have accomplished their goal.

Though this story tells of the misuse of unity, it still highlights for us the great things that can be accomplished when we work together for a good cause. The church in Jerusalem was powerful in large part because the people were united. Though disagreements sometimes arose, they were dealt with, and the people went forward together. When we are fractured and divided, it is difficult for us to accomplish all that God wants us to do. And a group of Christians that is in harmony is much more pleasant to be around than one that is not. David wrote, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1). Each one of us is responsible to do the work of maintaining unity within the church.

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

1 John 1:5–7

John knew personally what it was like to walk with Jesus. Out of all the disciples, he may have had the closest relationship with the Lord. Five times in the Gospel he penned he refers to himself as the “disciple Jesus loved.” In writing to Christians after the Lord returned to Heaven, John emphasized the importance of a personal, daily, intimate fellowship with the Lord. Though Jesus is not physically present with us, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit and the Bible. Thus, we have fellowship with the Lord. This fellowship shapes our behavior so that we become more and more like Him. This fellowship with Him changes our relationship with other believers into one of harmony. This fellowship drives us to quickly confess and forsake our sins.

George Müller was a man of great faith and power in his praying. “The primary business I must attend to every day is to fellowship with the Lord. The first concern is not how much I might serve the Lord, but how my inner man might be nourished. I may share the truth with the unconverted; I may try to encourage believers; I may relieve the distressed; or I may, in other ways, seek to behave as a child of God; yet, not being happy in the Lord and not being nourished and strengthened in my inner man day by day, may result in this work being done in a wrong spirit.”

“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

Proverbs 6:16–19

In the Upper Room on the night before the crucifixion, Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples. After they had eaten the meal, Jesus washed their feet and then sent Judas on his way, knowing he was headed to betray Him. Just before they left the room, Jesus prayed a prayer that summed up His life and work, and laid out His plan for the future. One of the things He highlighted in that prayer was the vital importance of unity among His followers. Jesus prayed, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:21).

Charles Spurgeon said, “Satan always hates Christian fellowship; it is his policy to keep Christians apart. Anything which can divide saints from one another he delights in. Since union is strength, he does his best to promote separation.” This is why God condemns those who divide His people—they are doing the devil’s work for him, and they are undermining the powerful message that unity sends to the world around us.

We live in a world that is riven by divisions. Conflicts arise between different ethnic groups, different nations, different religions, and different cultures. People allow their allegiances to various groups of beliefs to dictate their behavior, even when that creates strife and violence. The people of God are supposed to be different. In a divided world, we are meant to be a brightly shining light of unity and love toward each other.

“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.”

Ephesians 5:6–10

In the city, even on the darkest nights there is always light. It comes from houses and cars and streetlights, and illuminates the night. But if you are out in the country, the night can be very dark indeed. Perhaps on a camping trip or a family vacation you’ve had the experience of trying to make your way across unfamiliar ground at night. In the darkness, it is virtually impossible to walk without stumbling or bumping into something. Without a flashlight or a lantern or something to bring light to the darkness, any trip is hazardous.

The Christian life works the same way. We live in a dark world filled with sin and deception. But we are not meant to stumble around blindly in the darkness. God has given us His Holy Spirit to live within our hearts and His Word to guide our steps. Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

The problem is that too often we charge off into the darkness, confident in our own discernment and judgment, without taking time to look into the Bible for light for our decisions. Like a camper who has a flashlight but neglects to turn it on, it should come as no surprise when that approach leads us into trouble. The light only overcomes the darkness if we put it to use. We need to be daily in the Word if we are to walk in the light.

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.”

1 John 3:4–6

We do not get saved by reforming or stopping our sinning. We get saved by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ. He does all the saving; we just do the trusting.

Likewise, we do not stay saved by not sinning. Our continuing salvation is also a work of God’s grace, and the Bible clearly teaches that those who are saved can never be lost. Jesus said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). This is called the doctrine of eternal security.

Eternal security, however, is not a license for us to live however we please. It is said that a man who did not believe this doctrine said to Charles Spurgeon, “If I believed what you believe about eternal security, I would sin all that I want to.” Spurgeon replied, “I sin more than I want to.” A Christian, a child of God, a man or woman with the Holy Spirit living within should never want to sin. We will never be perfect, but we should not be habitually, continually living in sin.

If we are willing to continue living in sin and feel no remorse or correction from our Heavenly Father, it is a serious indication that something is wrong. While Christians can and do commit all kinds of sin, when sin is reigning in our hearts, it indicates that Jesus is not. Going to church regularly and being able to use all the right words about faith does not mean that we are truly saved. A Christian’s life is meant to give evidence of salvation in action. We don’t do right to become saved or to stay saved, but because we are saved.

“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:”

Colossians 1:10–12

I read about a preacher who went to visit a church member who had stopped attending regularly. It was a cold winter’s day, and the man had a fire burning in his fireplace. After listening for a while to his excuses and explanations as to why his church attendance wasn’t that important, the preacher thought for a moment. Then without saying a word, he went to the fireplace and took the tongs. He pulled one of the burning lumps of coal apart from the others and set it alone. In moments it stopped glowing. Then he put it back in the fire, and it quickly became red hot again. The man got the point, and was in church the following Sunday.

There are commands in Scripture which are addressed to individuals, but more often we see commands which are addressed to the church. While each of us has a responsibility for obedience, the idea is that there are many parts and responsibilities of the Christian life which are best done together. So many times a kind word, an offer of prayer, or even a card or a small gift can provide vitally needed encouragement to keep someone on the right track. God wants us to be concerned about more than just ourselves. We are meant to be helpers together within the body of Christ. Each of us can provide strength, encouragement, and counsel that others need—and receive the same from them when we need it. Only as we walk together can we truly grow together in the way God intended.

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”

John 15:5–8

God calls us—each believer individually—to be a witness of the gospel to others. Jesus told the disciples that there is a direct connection between our effectiveness in soulwinning and our abiding in Him. The more time that we spend in God’s Word and the more that we walk in God’s Spirit, the more powerful our witness will be. We cannot win souls through clever techniques, psychological tools, or a charming personality. Without God’s power, we can accomplish nothing for His kingdom.

The point of being a soulwinner is not so that our name will be publically recognized and people will be impressed, but that God will be glorified. The Bible tells us that even before we were born, God had a plan for our lives that involved us bringing glory to His name. Paul wrote, “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ” (Ephesians 1:12). Our Heavenly Father gets the glory when we are saved, for it is all by His grace, and He gets the glory when we bring others to Him. Since any effectiveness we may have in winning souls is the result of God’s power rather than our own, all of the praise and glory must go to Him.

“For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

2 Corinthians 5:13–15

People always have reasons and motives for the things they do. Some go to great lengths to seek victory in athletic competition. Some devote years of their lives to academic achievement. Some work ceaselessly to acquire wealth and power. Even people who are doing things wrong do so for a reason. One of America’s most prolific bank robbers, Willie Sutton, stole millions of dollars during the Great Depression. When asked why he robbed banks, Sutton supposedly said, “Because that’s where the money is!”

The thing that should drive every Christian is a realization of the incredible love Jesus showed to us—and our love for Him in return. John wrote, “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). The most important of all the commandments that God gave to us is that we love Him wholeheartedly. The world tries to pull our heart away from God and replace our love for Him with other pleasures.

When any Christian or any church loses the vibrant love for God, trouble will quickly follow. This is the warning that God issued to the church at Ephesus in Revelation. “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love” (Revelation 2:4). When we leave our love for God, our service for Him will be cold—a matter of going through the motions—rather than fervent. Behavior problems can usually be traced to a love problem, and the best way to fix them is to renew our love for God.

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:6–8

Frederick Lehman’s family moved to America from Germany when he was just four years old. Later in life he recounted the joy that followed his conversion: “One glad morning about eleven o’clock while walking up the country lane, skirted by a wild crab-apple grove on the right and an osage fence, with an old white-elm gate in a gap at the left, suddenly Heaven let a cornucopia of glory descend on the eleven-year old lad. The weight of conviction was gone.”

Many years later looking back on that wonderful day, Lehman took a break from his job in a California orchard. Sitting on an empty lemon crate, he wrote these words:

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;

The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.

Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.

The love of God for us is so wonderful because it is completely undeserved. God did not love us because we were lovely, but because He is love. And the love of God is not just general—it is specific. It is true that God loves the whole world, but it is also true that God loves me and He loves you. The God who created and runs the entire universe also knows each of us by name, and He loves us.

“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

2 Timothy 2:1–3

Anyone who visits Lancaster Baptist Church will quickly realize that we put a lot of emphasis on soulwinning. Every day our church members are sharing the gospel with others, visiting them in their homes and talking to them in public places. This is the way the first church operated in Jerusalem, and it is the pattern that churches should follow in our day. A lot of places are substituting all kinds of programs—often good programs—instead of actually going and telling others the gospel.

But winning someone to Jesus is only the beginning, not the end of the process. Jesus’ command is clear: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19–20). Witnessing is vital, but if that is all we are doing, we are only doing part of the job.

When someone is saved, they need training. We would not think of bringing a new baby home from the hospital and not feeding it, teaching it to walk and talk, and how to do right. Yet too often we fail in the process of passing on the faith because we miss the step of sharing what we have learned with others, and then teaching them to do the same. It is vital that we train new believers to win others and then train them as well.

“Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Romans 3:13–18

It is easy to see that we are living in a society that is openly and defiantly turning its back on God. Of course that says far more about people than it does about God. He is still holy, perfect, and just. The problem is that through a failure of the people of God to faithfully live and teach His Word over many years, most people no longer have a sense of a God who is not only loving but also holy and who hates sin. They no longer fear His judgment, and thus feel free to indulge whatever sinful appetites appeal to them.

Many years ago, Dr. John R. Rice said, “The worse thing wrong with America is that people are not afraid of God. They are not disturbed about Hell. They don’t believe in the wages of sin. Many think little about breaking the marriage vow. They think little about vandalism, stealing, chicanery, crookedness by which they get money they didn’t earn. I am just saying, no fear of God, no sense of honor and morality. God knows. That is a complaint about the whole human race. By nature we are sinners.”

The responsibility that we have as believers is to do more than just disapprove of the sinful behavior around us, but to tell and show the world who God really is. If our lives reflect a holy fear and awe of His power and hatred of sin, the lost will notice that we are different and be warned to flee the coming judgment.

“I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Romans 1:14–16

The Word of God has a power to transform the lives of people that nothing else does. When we substitute the opinions and philosophies of man for the gospel message, we lose the power that makes a difference in the lives of others. Our commitment must be to faithfully proclaim the truth, no matter how out of step with society it seems to be. The world in Paul’s day was certainly not welcoming of the gospel, but he preached it without hesitation and without shame.

Charles Spurgeon said, “Take a maxim of Socrates or of Plato, and inquire whether a nation or a tribe has ever been transformed by it from barbarism to culture. A maxim of a philosopher may have measurably influenced a man in some right direction; but who has ever heard of a man’s whole character being transformed by any observation of Confucius or Socrates? I confess I never have.
Human teachings are barren. But within the Gospel there is a divine life, and that life makes all the difference. The human can never rival the divine, for it lacks the life-fire.”

The devil tempts us to update the message and take out the parts that are offensive to the hearer. God calls us to be faithful to proclaim the truth. This is the only message that changes lives. It will not be well-received by all, but there will be those who hear and respond when the gospel is given.

“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.”

1 Corinthians 3:6–9

I heard a story about a hunter many years ago who organized an expedition to Africa, hoping to bring home a trophy elephant. After several days out in the bush, he found what he had been looking for and shot the elephant. The workers he had hired created a rig to drag the huge beast back to where it could be shipped home. As they labored through the jungle, they began to sing, “Look at our elephant.”

After a while, this began to irritate the hunter. He went to the leader of the crew and said, “That is my elephant. I organized this hunt. I paid all the expenses. I shot the elephant. I want them to start singing about my elephant—it is mine.” The leader looked at him and then said, “Then you carry it.” After a moment the hunter joined the song, “Look at our elephant.”

The work of God requires all of God’s people doing their part to be all that He means for them to be. Nobody’s role in the work is more important than anyone else’s. And in the final analysis, all that is accomplished is because of God, not because of us. That leaves no place for the pride that so often brings division between Christians and destroys teamwork. If we realize that our work is important, even if it is not noticed or praised, and that only God produces results, we will willingly play the role that God has given us and do our part.

“But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.”

Matthew 21:28–31

There are no substitutes for obedience in the Christian life. No matter what we may say with our words, it is our actions that reveal the true condition of our heart. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). The temptation we face is to profess love rather than to obey. It is much easier to say we love God than to show it. But it is impossible to separate our love from our obedience. If our love is deficient, our conduct soon will be.

Elisabeth Elliot said, “It is Christ who is to be exalted, not our feelings. We will know Him by obedience, not by emotions. Our love will be shown by obedience, not by how good we feel about God at a given moment. And love means following the commands of God. ‘Do you love Me?’ Jesus asked Peter. ‘Feed My lambs.’ He was not asking, ‘How do you feel about Me?’ for love is not a feeling. He was asking for action.”

We may be able to put on a front that convinces others, but God sees our hearts. Long before the results of a cold heart show up on the outside, He already knows that we are in need of a renewal of love. And inward indifference cannot be concealed forever, for it will influence our actions.

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all 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 fulness of God.”

Ephesians 3:17–19

Hydrangeas are large and beautiful flowers, and they grow well in many regions of the country. They also have a feature that is quite unusual—they change color depending on the condition of the soil in which they are planted. Many homeowners have planted what they thought would be pink hydrangeas, only to find out when they bloom that they are now blue because there is a high level of acid in the soil. The chemical reactions formed when the roots of the plant reach into the ground to pull out nutrients determine the color of the blooms on the hydrangea.

In the same way, the fruit that is manifested in the life of a Christian is determined by the roots of his thoughts and desires. When we are rooted firmly in the love of God through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit and the precepts of the Word of God, it will be visible in our outward lives. The roots of a plant—or a person—cannot normally be seen, but their condition and the condition of the ground into which they go will be evident from what is seen.

Many times our focus is on the outward conduct and behavior when we should instead be looking to the roots to find and fix the real problem. Making changes on the outside will never solve a problem if the heart is not right. The victorious Christian is not triumphant because of great strength of character (although character matters) but because of the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through his life.

“But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.”

Romans 14:10–13

Charles Spurgeon wrote, “At the great judgment we shall not be asked to give an account for others, neither will I ask any of you now to be thinking about the conduct of others. What if others are worse than you are, does that make you the better, or the less guilty? What if others are not all they seem to be, perhaps neither are you; at any rate, their hypocrisy shall not make your pretence to be true.”

Many of the problems that individual Christians as well as churches face come from having the wrong focus. Instead of evaluating our own heart condition, we find it much more enjoyable to judge and weigh others. This tendency is not new. Peter demonstrated it just after Jesus confronted him for his betrayal at the Sea of Galilee. When Jesus finished telling Peter how his life of service would end with martyrdom, Peter saw John standing nearby. “Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?” (John 21:21).

Instead of worrying about others, we need to focus on our own walk with the Lord, serve Him faithfully to the best of our ability, and leave the rest to Him. We can fully trust Him to properly evaluate all of His servants without taking on the task of evaluating others’ service for ourselves.