Month: April 2013

The Means to Discovering Wisdom

Proverbs 8:1-2
“Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.”

The greatest need in anyone’s life is the need of wisdom. The whole Book of Proverbs, God deals with the importance of wisdom. When you look at modern society, you see that most people lack wisdom. Our young people act out of foolishness sadly because they have learned foolishness from their parents. Leaders in high places seem to make foolish decisions that one wonders how they ever achieved their position with their lack of wisdom.

The verse above says that wisdom cries out. Several people have asked me how they can get wisdom in certain areas of their life. My answer is always that the Word of God has the wisdom they need. You will find in Proverbs 8 that we find where you can discover wisdom.

In verse 2, wisdom can be discovered through living right. You don’t gain wisdom by living in low places, but you gain wisdom by living in high places. You will never find wisdom in places of sin, but you always find wisdom by being in places where righteousness is present.

In verse 7, you find wisdom in truth. It’s sad how much truth has been avoided. Today’s society seems to think that truth is relevant, but it is not. Truth never changes! If you want to find wisdom, then look for truth.

In verse 10, you find wisdom through instruction. This would seem to be a given. One of the reasons you should listen to instruction is because you will find the wisdom you need in life through it. Whether the instruction is done at home, church or at work, you will always find wisdom through instruction given.

In verse 13, you find wisdom through the fear of God. When you respect what God’s power can do to you and for you, then you will find wisdom. It is amazing how the fear of God causes people to make wise decisions. They will make wise decisions because of a fear of what happens if their decision goes against God’s will.

These are just some of the areas where wisdom is found; however, I find there is a common denominator in discovering wisdom. Awareness is the key to discovering wisdom. When you’re aware of your lifestyle, in what you and others say, in the instruction given and through fearing God, you will see wisdom crying out in these areas. It really isn’t that hard to find wisdom if you will simply be aware in all that you do.

Let me encourage you to become aware in all that you do. Don’t go through life with your eyes closed, but have an awareness in everything you do. When someone is talking to you, be aware. When you’re reading God’s Word, be aware. When you’re serving the LORD, be aware. When you’re around instruction, be aware. Awake the awareness in your life and you will find wisdom is all around. The key to discovering wisdom is simply being aware in all that you do and in every place you go. If you live a life of awareness, you will find that God has provided you with the wisdom you need for your daily life.

What’s Your Music Preaching?

1 Chronicles 25:1
“Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:”

Music plays an important part in everyone’s life. Music is so important to God that He created one of the archangels who was to lead the music in Heaven. Of course, Lucifer was that angel. When he fell, he also knew how to pervert music so that he could destroy God’s people.

One of the reasons music is so important is because of the message it preaches. In the verse above, David set the sons of Asaph apart so they could “prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals:…” Isn’t it interesting that they were not prophesying with sermons that they preached or with words that they spake, but they prophesied with their music. This is very important to understand because music is a sermon, and every song preaches a sermon. Your music should preach a song that keeps your body, soul and spirit in harmony with God. Any music that preaches something that brings your body out of harmony with itself and God is wrong music.

Let me ask you, what is your music preaching? What are the words in the music you listen to preaching? The music you listen to should be music that has words that glorify God. The Scriptures commands us to give God glory in all that we do, and that would include your music. Music is not to glorify man, but it is to glorify God. There are some who say they don’t listen to the words, but only to the music. That mentality is wrong because those words are preaching a sermon. Whether or not you think you are listening to the words, those words are still going into your heart and soul. You should only listen to music that preaches the right words.

Let me ask you another question. What are the lives of those who sing the songs you listen to preaching? It is as important that you listen to the right people as it is the right words. Christian, the life of an individual will preach a louder sermon than the words they sing. There are many who sing songs that their life preaches something different than what you would live or believe. You should not listen to those whose lives conflict to the words they preach in music.

Furthermore, what is the melody of your music preaching. That is the sound that accompanies the words. Many people try to justify wrong music because the words are fine, but you must understand the music also preaches a sermon. To the lost world, a worldly melody preaches the wrong sermon. You want a melody that preaches holiness, purity and harmony. You want a melody that points someone to Jesus Christ. Let me ask you, if you took the words away from your music, would the world be able to tell that it’s Christian music? Your music preaches a sermon with its melody, and you are to be sure that it preaches the sermon that would glorify God and point people to Him.

Let me encourage you to go through your music and be sure that your music is preaching the right sermon. God said they were to “prophesy with harps…” In other words, your music prophecies your future. If your music has the wrong message, then your future will be dark. Always remember that your life will eventually become like the sermon your music preaches. With the music you listen to, what is it prophesying about your future?

The Strength of the Mighty

1 Chronicles 12:2
“They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul’s brethren of Benjamin.”

When you look at David’s mighty men, you wonder what caused them to be recognized as mighty. Each man had a unique battle that they fought, but I don’t believe that was the cause of their strength. Each man was close to David, but I don’t believe that was the cause of their strength. There were some things about these men that made them mighty, and these things that made them mighty can make you a mighty Christian as well. Let me show you what made these men mighty.

First, they were prepared. You will notice that these men were armed. In other words, they were ready for the battle. They didn’t go into battle half-prepared, but they went into battle prepared for whatever they faced. Preparation is very important to the believer. If you are not prepared, then you are sure to lose the battle. There are a couple of ways that you prepare for the battle. First, you study the Word of God. This will prepare you for the tactics of Satan. Second, you must prepare ahead for the LORD’s work. You will never be a mighty warrior in God’s army until you learn to prepare ahead. Too many people fly by the seat of their pants and are not prepared for the expected. If you will prepare for the expected, then you will be able to handle the unexpected when it comes.

Second, these men were balanced in their approach. They didn’t just develop their right hand, but they also developed their left hand. They knew there would be times in the battle when they would need to fight with both hands. If you are going to be a mighty Christian in the LORD’s battle, then you must become balanced in all that you do. Don’t be a person who can only do one thing very well, but be a person who can do all things well.

Third, they were able to see the enemy from afar. The bow was a long range weapon. They used the bow to fight the enemy from afar so that they wouldn’t get near them. A mighty Christian is one who sees the enemy afar off and fights them before they can get near and hurt the innocent. In other words, you need to have standards in your Christian life. Standards keep sin from getting close. The fewer personal standards you have, the less you are able to fight the enemy from afar. Standards are not there to keep you from enjoying life, but they are there so you won’t have to face the enemy in near proximity.

Fourth, they were able to fight the enemy in near proximity. When the battle got close, they knew how to use the sword. If you are going to be a mighty Christian, then you need to learn how to use the Word of God. You learn to use the Word of God by daily reading It and memorizing It’s words. You will never be a mighty Christian without God’s Word.

I want you to notice because of these characteristics, these men won spectacular battles. If you will apply these things to your life, you will find that great battles will be won. These are the things that make mighty Christians. You are going to face great battles in your lifetime, so I would advise that you make these characteristics a daily staple in your life so you can win these battles when they come.

Strength’s Weakness

2 Kings 20:12-13
“At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.”

There is no doubt that Hezekiah was a great king. The Scriptures say about Hezekiah in 2 Kings 18:5, “He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.” You will notice that Hezekiah’s strength was his trust in God. God said nobody before or after him trusted Him like Hezekiah. That is a strong endorsement of this man. Yet, in the verse above we see that Hezekiah failed in the area where he was strong. Instead of trusting God, he allowed the king of Babylon to come and see all his treasures. Hezekiah failed in the area of his strength. I believe that he felt that God would protect him even if he let this king see all his treasures.

It is a common thing for people to fail where they are strong. Satan knows that if he can get us to fail in the area of our strength then he can destroy our confidence. Many people in the Scriptures failed in the area of their strength. Abraham was a man of faith, yet he failed in that area when he told his wife to say that she was his sister. David was a man after God’s own heart, yet he failed in that area when he committed the great sin with Bathsheba. Paul was strong in his testimony for Christ, yet he failed in this area by taking the Jewish oath. Peter was strong in the area of standing strong for Jesus Christ, yet he failed when he denied Christ three times. The strength of these people became their weakness. Where they thought they would never fail they failed.

Christian, you must always be aware that your strength can be your weakness. For instance, stubbornness can be a strength, but you can be so stubborn that you won’t let anyone help you to better yourself in an area. Loyalty can be a strength, but it can become a weakness when you place that loyalty in man. Love for truth can be a strength, but it will weaken you if you don’t exercise grace with it. Some people have a strength for love, but that strength can become weak when they love a person so much that they will compromise what they believe so as not to hurt them. On and on we could go to show how strengths can become weaknesses.

Let me warn you to watch the area where you are strong. First, don’t become so confident in your strength that you don’t think you will ever fall in that area. That is exactly what Satan would want. Second, be sure to work on the opposite trait of your strength so that your strength doesn’t become your weakness. Always realize that if you’re strong in one area, then that strength will make you weak in another area. Learn to balance your life in such a manner that there is not one area where you are stronger than another. Make all areas of your life strong.

The way to make every area strong is to study the Scriptures and apply the truths you learn to your life. The purpose of the Scriptures is to make you “thoroughly furnished” in every area of your life. Be careful that you don’t become so confident in your strength that the Devil uses it against you. Always realize that your strength is in the LORD, and always rely on Him, even in the area of your strength.

Missed Opportunities

2 Kings 17:28
“Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.”

Two times in this chapter it says, “They feared the LORD, and…” You would think this would be great that God’s people finally began to fear the LORD. Yet, when you look at the verses, it says that they feared the LORD and served their own gods. It says they feared the LORD and made the lowest of the people priests.

When you look at these statements, you wonder how could they say they feared the LORD. These statements seem to contradict themselves until you back up to the verse above where it teaches us that there was one priest who “taught them how they should fear the LORD.” The problem was that the people were doing what they were taught by this priest. Whoever this priest was, he missed a great opportunity to teach these people truly how to fear God. He missed an opportunity to turn Israel around for God. His missed opportunity only led the people into worse sin and eventually caused them to face the wrath of God.

I wonder how many times we miss opportunities to help people do right. Throughout our lives we are faced with opportunities to help people, but we miss them because we are afraid of what someone will say. We miss opportunities because we are more concerned with running people off than we are with giving them the whole truth. We miss opportunities because we are so busy we let people pass us by.

Let me remind you that every opportunity should be treated as if it were the last opportunity. You are often faced with opportunities to teach people to do right or to show someone how to be saved, don’t miss your opportunity. You never know if that is the last opportunity that person will ever have. Years ago I witnessed to a man, and five hours after I led him to Christ he passed away. That was his last opportunity. What if I was too timid to present the Gospel? What if I was too embarrassed to follow through with the Gospel? That man would be in Hell right now if I hadn’t treated that opportunity as the last opportunity. Every opportunity you have to help someone get saved or do right, you should treat as the last opportunity they will have.

Furthermore, don’t treat your opportunities carelessly and do a halfway job. Whenever you are faced with an opportunity to help someone, tell them the whole truth. The priest in the verse above apparently held back the whole truth. You must not let what people think about you cause you to withhold yourself from teaching people the whole truth. Don’t be afraid of what they will think or do, but obey the voice of God and tell them the whole truth.

Finally, let me encourage you to ask God to help you to be aware of your daily opportunities. Say to God, “LORD, please help me to see every opportunity You send my way, and help me to treat it with the importance that You would want me to treat it.” This should be your daily prayer. Keep your eyes open and always be ready to treat every opportunity the LORD gives you with the utmost importance. Treat every opportunity God gives you to help someone as the last. If you will do this, you will find you will not have missed opportunities in life.

When Little is Much

2 Kings 5:2
“And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife.”

We don’t know her name. We don’t know her parents. We really don’t know her age. We’ve assumed that she was a young girl because she waited on Naaman’s wife, but we really don’t know her name. What we do know is that she was of little stature, but she did a great deed.

Her master was Naaman, a captain in the Syrian army. She was taken captive and served this man’s wife for several years. Though Naaman was a man of stature, his stature didn’t keep him from carrying the deadly disease of leprosy. This disease was a death sentence in these days. Yet, though this little maid could have wished Naaman had died, instead she gave the suggestion that he go see Elisha for she knew that God could heal him. This maid of little stature did a great deed.

There are many who think they are too little to make any impact on people and society. Yet, when I study the Scriptures and history, I often find that it is not the great people who do great things, rather, it is those who are little and have nothing to offer that end up doing the great things. This little maid took what she had and used it, and God did something great with what she offered. Let me show you some things from this story when little can become much.

First, a little kindness can do much good. This little maid didn’t have to do much to influence Naaman, she simply showed a little kindness. I have found that a little kindness will go a long way in influencing people. It doesn’t take much to be kind to people. Every day you should be kind to those with whom you come in contact. Giving people a friendly smile when you see them can do much good. Being friendly to everyone, including the grumpy person, can do much good for someone who is having a rough day. Helping someone with something when they seem overwhelmed can do much good in helping you be able to lead them to Christ, or in helping them through their problems. It only takes a little kindness to do much good.

Second, a little caring can do much good. This little maid had no reason to care about Naaman because he was her master. She could have wished he died, and she could have kept silent and he would have died, but a little caring on her behalf helped him see healing in his life. Every day you should care for people. You never know what a visit when someone is sick will do. You never know what giving someone a little money to help them will do for their situation. Every Christian should be a caring person. You may not be able to care for them in a great way, but you can care for people to the extent that they will let you. A little caring will do much for the sake of Christ.

Christian, you may only have little that you can offer, but if you will take the little that you have and give it, then God can make much from it. Don’t ever think that the little you have cannot make a difference. When everyone gives the little that they have, then much will be accomplished. You may not have much, but take whatever intelligence, effort, strength and knowledge you have to use it to the best of your ability. Decide today that you will start doing the best with the little that you have to offer and you will find that God will take it and do much good through it.

Hope in Dark Times

1 Kings 16:33
“And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.”

In the verse above, Israel faced some very dark days. It must have seemed that there would be no hope. The Scriptures say that “Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel…than all the kings of Israel that were before him.” For those who wanted to do right, this must have seemed as if they had no hope. Ahab destroyed the worship of God. He made Baal the national god knowing that Jehovah God would be angry with him. Yet, Ahab didn’t seem to care. Those who wanted to do right had certainly entered a dark era.

Do you sometimes feel that you are in dark days in your life? Do you look around and see society and wonder if there is any hope? Are there times when you go to work and see the wickedness from fellow employees? Do you hear the cursing and see the vileness protruding from the lives of those around you? Do you feel that you are all alone in your stance for truth? These feelings can certainly grip the heart of any Christian who desires to do right when you look at the affairs of this world.

Fortunately, God is still on the throne and is not going to sit idly by and let the heathen blaspheme His name. If you only read this chapter, you would think that there is no hope in dark days. Yet, the very next chapter starts out by saying, “And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” (1 Kings 17:1) In the darkest of times, God provided a man of God. In the worst years of Israel’s history to date, God gave them an Elijah. You see, there was hope in dark times. God came through when they thought it was all over.

Christian, let me encourage you that in the darkest of times, God always comes through. When it seems as if it can’t get any darker, I promise you there is still a light that can shine, for God is still on His throne. You may feel that all hope is gone, but it is not gone. God will come through for you just like He did for Israel.

I don’t know what you are facing today, but let me encourage you to not give up hope. You may see hopelessness all around, but you must keep doing right and believe that God will come through for you. You must realize that the light of God can shine brightest in the darkest of days. The darker things get the brighter God can shine through your life. His light can only shine if you allow Him to shine through you. Elijah lived during the same times as every other Israelite, but He yielded himself to God and allowed God to shine His light through His life. You can either let the dark days cause you to live a life of hopelessness, or you can yield yourself to God and let your life be the light that God shines through. If you will be the conduit for God’s light to shine, then you can be that beacon of hope that will lift the spirit of others when they believe all hope is gone.

Establishing Yourself in Life

1 Kings 2:1
“Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,”

As a young adult it is always a difficult thing to get established in life. I can remember when I was a young man starting in evangelism, it was very difficult to get people to respect me in the ministry into which God placed me. There were those who thought I was too young to be in evangelism. There were others who understood I should be in evangelism, but they did not want to give me the respect of an evangelist. Getting established was a difficult thing, but it was not an impossible thing.

In the verse above, David prepared Solomon to be king of Israel. In the verses that follow, he showed Solomon how to establish himself in life as a young man taking the throne of Israel. There were some in the nation of Israel who did not think Solomon should become king. There were some of his own family members who were jealous that he was the one whom David chose to be king of Israel. Yet, we find in the verses that follow several things that David told Solomon to do that can help every young person to establish themselves in life.

First, secure confidence in what you’re doing for the LORD. You will notice David said, “And keep the charge of the Lord by God,…” A young person must never let their age cause them to lack confidence. If God called you to do what you are doing, then you must realize you have God behind you. Paul reminded Timothy not to let people despise his youth. You cannot let your youth cause you to be insecure. Realize that God is the One Who called you into your line of work at a young age, so don’t be hesitant about what you were made to do.

Second make sure your way of life is the right way of life. Your way of life are your habits in life. Be sure that you get rid of your bad habits. Bad habits will destroy your life quicker than anything else. As a young person getting started in life, it is imperative to establish good habits and routines which you follow every day.

Third, be sure to obey the Word of God. Obedience to God’s Word will always give you the confidence you need in life. It will give you confidence because you are doing what you were supposed to do. Many young people have lost confidence in life because they were not doing what they knew they were supposed to be doing. Obeying God’s commandments will certainly establish your life in the right way. God’s commandments will establish your home life, your marriage, your business life, and your personal life.

Fourth, don’t change God’s methods to match your lifestyle. You will notice it says in the verse above, “…as it is written in the law of Moses,…” David reminded Solomon that the end does not justify the means. David wanted Solomon to understand that the methods will lead you to the desired results. You must be careful about falling for Satan’s trap of thinking that good results is all that matters. You must establish at a young age that you do things God’s way whether or not you get good results.

These four steps will help every young person establish themselves in life. These four steps will give them confidence to face whatever situation comes their way. No matter what your age, you must follow these four steps if you want God to establish your home, marriage, spiritual life, personal life and your business life.

A Blurred Focus

2 Samuel 18:11
“And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.”

Have you ever looked at a picture that just seemed a bit out of focus? When you first see the picture, you begin to rub your eyes and wonder if there is something wrong with your eyes. But, as you try to focus in on the picture, you realize that the focus was blurred. A blurred focus causes you not to see things as clearly as you could or should.

Joab seemed to have a blurred focus. Joab is interesting to me because of his change in position. At one time he had someone approach David about bringing Absalom back. He felt that David should show appreciation to his son for what he did to Amnon. Then, a few chapters later we see Joab scolded a young man for not killing Absalom when he had the opportunity. We then go to the verse above when Joab wanted to destroy a whole city for one man. You may wonder what all of these have in common. In each story his reaction was based upon how a person or situation affected David. It was not based upon right or wrong, it was based upon whether David was adversely affected by these situations.

Joab’s focus was blurred because he was focused upon a man an not upon God. In fact, you find that Joab became disloyal when Solomon became king. His loyalty was not to the truths which David defended. His loyalty was to David himself. If David did wrong, Joab followed. If people treated David right, then Joab treated them right. If people treated David in a wrong manner, then Joab wanted them out of the picture. His blurred focus upon man caused him not to see situations clearly. Instead of focusing upon David, Joab should have kept his focus on God, and that would have helped him to see clearly.

Christian, you must be careful about blurring your focus. What I mean by this is you cannot base your opinions and actions upon how a person you look up to is treated. You must base all your actions upon the truths of the Word of God. Men are not the issue of life. That does not mean we can’t learn from men, for there are many men whom God used in a great way from whom we can learn much. But, we must not have our eyes so focused upon man that it blurs our ability to see situations clearly.

The Word of God is a Book that is very black and white. God never blurs the picture for us. When you are done reading a passage of Scripture, you know very clearly what God intended. That is why you must keep your focus on God. He never changes. Man has a way of blurring the picture because man does change. Yes, you should honor those who hold position, and you can learn from great Christians from the past, but don’t ever let them cause you to take your focus off God. If you stay focused on God and His Word, then you will never find yourself looking at a blurred picture.

Can We Delete This Chapter

2 Samuel 11:1
“And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.”

One morning when I was reading the Scriptures I came to this chapter and really didn’t want to read it. This is the chapter where one of my heroes messed up. This is a chapter I would like to delete from David’s life. If there was only a way to delete this chapter I would do it. I want to remember the story of David and Goliath. I want to remember the friendship between David and Jonathan. I want to remember the victories David led as king. I don’t want to remember this mark in his history. As much as I didn’t want to read this chapter, I knew I had to for this was also a part of his life. As much as I wish I could delete it, I can’t.

If there were only a way to delete a chapter in David’s life, everything would be different. Think about this, if we could delete this chapter from David’s life there would be no story of Absalom. If we could delete this story from David’s life, there would be no story of Tamar being defiled by her brother. If we could delete this story from David’s life, there would be not story of David running for his life because of a son’s treasonous actions.

On the other hand, if we deleted this story from David’s life there would be no Solomon. If we deleted this story from David’s life there would be no temple. If we deleted this story from David’s life there would be no Proverbs, Ecclesiastes or Song of Solomon. Deleting a chapter from David’s life carries good and bad. Let me give you a few lessons from this thought.

When looking at the life of great men from the past, don’t forget to read the part that left a mark on them. I know this sounds bad, but that mark will teach you lessons. That mark not only produced bad, but it probably produced some good. If you ignore the bad chapter in someone’s life, you are ignoring many things that can help. The past has a way of making a person a villain or a hero in the minds of people. You need to be sure that you read the whole book on the life of those in the past. God never deleted any part of someone’s life in the Scriptures. He left the bad chapters of their life as lessons for those in the future.

Moreover, be careful about your actions so that you don’t have a bad chapter that someone will want to delete. All it takes is one action to start a bad chapter in your life. One wrong decision and the bad chapter of your life begins. Always remember that your children will have to read the bad chapter in your life. You don’t want them to have to carry that bad chapter because of your bad decisions. Likewise, you will carry the regret of that bad chapter for the remainder of your life. Live your life yielded and submitted to the Holy Spirit of God so that you don’t have a bad chapter that someone would want to delete.

Finally, always remember that good still comes from the bad chapters. So much good happened in David’s life after the bad chapter. If it was deleted it would change much good that was done. Let me remind you that just because someone has a bad chapter in their life doesn’t mean they can’t be used of God. God can still use those who have bad chapters in their life. Likewise, if you have a bad chapter that you would like to delete, always remember that God can still use you. Life is not over! There is much good God can do through you, so don’t let the Devil defeat you because of one bad chapter.

Yes, I wanted to delete this bad chapter, but after looking at the whole story I find that it is worthy of keeping. Don’t skip the bad chapter, but learn from it and make good come out of it.