Month: November 2013

Romans 12:8
“Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”

In Romans 12, Paul goes through a list of gifts that people have. These gifts which he discusses are prophecy, ministering, teaching, exhortation, ruling and mercy. It’s not that every person can’t do these things, it is simply that some are better at these than others because it is their gift.

When he talks about the gift of mercy, he commands that mercy should be shown “with cheerfulness.” In other words, mercy should never be given in a begrudging manner, but it should be given cheerfully. Why did he tell us to give mercy cheerfully? Because in order for mercy to be given, it implies that you have been wronged. Paul is saying that when you have been wronged, it should not pain you to have to show mercy. Let me give you some thoughts on how to show cheerful mercy.

First, realize that you are being a great example of Christ. Nobody exemplifies cheerful mercy better than Jesus Christ. Jesus was crucified because of our sins, yet He is cheerfully merciful towards us because He wants us in Heaven. I don’t know of a better way to represent Christ than to be cheerfully merciful towards people who have hurt you. This is the opposite of what the flesh desires to do. The flesh wants revenge. So, when a Christian shows mercy with cheerfulness, it shows those watching the power of Christ working in the one showing mercy.

Second, realize that cheerful mercy mends relationships. Again, let’s look at Christ. Why did Christ show mercy to us? Because He wanted to restore our relationship with Him. As much as we have hurt Christ, He understood that His mercy would restore our relationship with Him. Yes, Christ could have condemned us to Hell and never given us a chance to be saved, but He would rather have a relationship with us, so He showed us mercy.

Friend, if you ended a relationship every time someone hurt you, then you would have no relationships at all. Everybody will hurt you at some point. Don’t be quick to end relationships. Instead, realize that you could be gaining a lifelong relationship with someone if you show mercy. That thought should cause you to be cheerful about showing mercy.

Third, if you show cheerful mercy to those who have wronged you, then you will find cheerful mercy will be shown to you when you do wrong. The principle of sowing and reaping applies to mercy as well. “Give and it shall be given unto you…” applies to cheerful mercy. Simply remind yourself that by showing cheerful mercy it is like putting money in the bank for the day when you will need to withdraw cheerful mercy from your spiritual bank. You are going to need someone to cheerfully show mercy towards you at some point in your life, so make deposits into that account so you have a balance of mercy to withdraw when you need it.

Giving mercy cheerfully really should not be a hard thing to do. When you make your life about others, then it will not be difficult to have cheerful mercy towards them when they wrong you. Let me ask you, do you have a balance in your mercy account? Don’t make your life about revenge, but be cheerful that you can represent Christ by showing mercy to those who do you wrong.

Romans 2:21
“Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?”

I am not a fan eating leftovers. Since I was a child, I’ve always liked fresh meals. My wife is a great cook. I love eating what she has cooks for me; however, if all she did was serve me leftovers, I would not be in love with her cooking. It is the fresh meal she prepares that keeps me in love with her cooking.

Sadly, many preachers and teachers serve leftovers every time they teach and preach. Though there is nothing wrong with using something again that you taught in the past, a stale lesson or sermon is almost always perceived. The best lesson or sermon is always the lesson or sermon that God has freshly given to His servants.

Though Paul was talking about hypocritical leaders in the verse above, there is a great truth that every teacher and preacher can learn. The phrase, “teachest thou not thyself,” is something every person needs to learn. We should be a people who are constantly teaching ourselves, for when we teach ourselves then we have fresh content to teach others. We should never get caught into the trap of teaching others without teaching ourselves as well. Let me show you three areas of how you can teach yourself.

First, teach yourself through study. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  If you teach others, then you must have a personal time that you spend studying the Scriptures. The Scriptures are a treasure that can be extracted if a person will study them. There is nothing like discovering a truth from God’s Word and then giving it to those you teach. The freshness of that truth will be evident to the listener. Without a personal time to study the Scriptures, you cannot teach yourself.

Second, teach yourself by reading. Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:13, “Till I come, give attendance to reading,…” Someone who teaches others must constantly be reading so they can learn how truths are presented in another fashion. This is why it is important that you read books on a regular basis. A person who never reads is a person who is delivering stale lessons.

Third, teach yourself through experience. Ecclesiastes 1:16 says, “I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” Notice that experience gives wisdom and knowledge. Teachers who don’t practice what they teach give lifeless lessons. Experience gives illustrations to help the teacher bring a lesson to life. There is nothing like having personal illustrations that help a truth come alive to the listener.

Friend, every person is a teacher. Parents are teachers to their children. Of course, pastors and Sunday school teachers teach on a weekly basis. Even the youth is teaching someone who looks up to them. Don’t fall into the trap of having empty  and lifeless lessons. Don’t be one whose lessons are warmed over meals that have been warmed up many times over. Let your lessons be fresh because you have learned to teach yourself.

Acts 18:6
“And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.”

Paul’s greatest weakness was that he continued to let his burden hinder his calling. His calling is found in Acts 9:15, “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: to go to the Gentile.” You will notice that God set Paul apart to reach the Gentile world. Yet, you find Paul commonly going to the Jews before he went to the Gentiles. It was not that he shouldn’t try to reach a Jew if he came across their path, but his efforts were supposed to be focused on reaching the Gentile world. His burden for the Jews was so great that it actually caused him to foolishly take a Jewish vow which cost him his freedom and the ability to reach the Gentiles as he should.

Paul’s biggest problem was that he had a hard time recognizing his call was more important than his burden. Though there was nothing wrong with his burden, God called him to reach the Gentiles. He wasted much time that could have been spent on reaching the Gentiles. If Paul would have followed his call, he would not have been taken captive in Jerusalem. By following his burden, Paul found himself frustrated and waffling between his burden and his call. If he would have followed his calling, he would not have wasted valuable time.

You must always be careful about allowing your burden to overtake your calling. It’s not always easy to follow your call when you have a burden for other things. For instance, it is not hard for me to have a burden for the political world, but I know that God has not called me to be a politician. It would not be hard for me to have a burden for other countries, but I know that God has not called me to these other countries. God called me to be an evangelist to help the United States. If I’m not careful, I can easily let my burden for the lost in other nations pull me from my calling.

Burden’s come and go, but a calling never changes. Romans 11:29 says, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” You must always let your call be what directs you in your life. A burden can waste valuable time that could be spent on what God has called you to do.

Furthermore, a burden can pull you away from your calling if you are not careful. Many men who were called to pastor in a certain place have gone to the foreign field only to return and resign their church to be a missionary to that place. It wasn’t that being a missionary was bad, but God called them to pastor their church. Men who followed a burden found out that the burden left them when they got to the foreign field and faced hardships. When their burden left, it is always amazing how they then leave. You must always realize that you don’t follow a burdened heart; instead, you follow what God has called you to do.

Friend, don’t waste valuable time on following a burden. Though there may be nothing wrong with your burden, your call is what you are to follow. Find out what God has called you to do and do it. When a burden comes, pray for what God has burdened your heart about, but stay in your calling. It could be that God burdened your heart so you can help someone else reach that field. There is so little time to reach the lost for Christ. Don’t waste the time following your burden; instead, invest your time into your calling and let God use you in it to reach those whom He intends for you to reach.

Acts 15:39
“And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;”

Contention and disagreement are not new occurrences in our day. They go all the way back to the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve had a disagreement about who was to blame for their sin. To think that this generation is the only one that has contention and disagreement is absurd.

The verse above shows us that Paul and Barnabas had a disagreement that became so sharp that they decided to separate from each other. You will notice that their contention was not over doctrine, but rather it was over preference, personality and opinion. If it had been over doctrine, then there should have been no agreement, but because it was not over doctrine they settled the contention in a peaceful manner.

Contention over doctrine is something over which you should never compromise. I find there are many who demand that we should all get along when doctrine has been attacked. Let me make it clear that doctrine is never up for negotiation. We are to contend for the faith. One may ask, “What is doctrine?” Doctrine is anything that we find in the Scriptures. Doctrine is right and wrong. It has nothing to do with preference, personality and opinion. When doctrine is attacked, you should not shy away from the battle because you don’t like contention. Always stand strong for doctrine and never change your stance.

However, when it comes to contention being caused by preference, personality and opinion, that can be settled in a peaceful manner. One of the first things you should do is avoid being dogmatic about preference, personality and opinion. Remember, these are not based upon Scripture, but upon your likes and dislikes. These have nothing to do with right and wrong, but they are based upon what you would do. Always remember that you are not the authority. The only personality over whom we should fight is the person of Jesus Christ.

Moreover, try to avoid preferences, personalities and opinions that would cause contention between you and someone else. If you now someone does not like a personality that you admire, then avoid talking about them. If you know an action would cause someone to be upset because that is not how they prefer it, then avoid it. It is foolish to push someone’s red button and cause contention that could destroy a relationship.

Furthermore, allow yourself to be wrong. What I mean by this statement is that you could be wrong because the contention is over a personality, preference or opinion. Paul later acknowledged that he was wrong. Preferences and opinions are not based upon right and wrong, but how you prefer to do things. Your preferences and opinions could be wrong.

Finally, if you can’t get along because of personalities, preferences and opinions, then agree to disagree and move on. It might be that you simply have to separate from someone simply to keep the contention from causing you to act in the flesh.

Contention is a part of life. It doesn’t matter how hard you try to avoid it, you will always have to deal with it. Real life has differences of preference, opinions and favor of personalities. Don’t let these things destroy relationships and your joy in life. Yes, fight over doctrine, but don’t fight over personalities, preferences and opinions.

Acts 8:30
“And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?”

This is one of the best soul-winning stories you will find in the Scriptures. Philip was preaching a revival meeting when the Holy Spirit told him to leave and go to the desert. What a strange request when God was blessing in the revival. Philip obeyed, and while he was walking in the desert he came upon a man who was reading the Scriptures. Philip asked him if he understood what he read. The man responded by telling him he needed someone to explain the Scriptures to him. Philip explained the Scriptures and this man was saved. Wow! There is nothing like having someone ready to get saved. This soul-winning experience was a divine appointment.

God regularly gives me divine appointments in my travels. These divine appointments certainly happen during my scheduled soul-winning time, but most of them happen throughout the course of my daily life. It might be someone whom God placed right beside me on the airplane, or it could be someone whose path I cross throughout the day. These divine appointments are so clear because the person is nearly asking me to show them how to be saved; however, they only happen when I’m open to the Holy Spirit’s prodding.

There is no doubt in my mind that God has divine appointments for everyone on a daily basis; however, we will never see these appointments unless we listen to the Holy Spirit. If you are sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit, you will find that He will tell you to go talk to someone about their soul. What you do when you hear the voice of the Holy Spirit will determine whether you discover your divine appointment. If you are too busy to obey the Holy Spirit’s prodding, then you will miss your divine appointment.

Moreover, divine appointments happen in different places. Philip certainly did not expect to find someone reading the Scriptures in the desert, but that is what made it a divine appointment. When the Holy Spirit speaks, you must not let the place hinder you from obeying. I have come across divine appointments many times in a gas station or checking in at a hotel. Where people are supposed to be frequently coming, I have found the Holy Spirit will keep traffic away while I witness to the person to whom He caused my path to cross.

Furthermore, divine appointments will only happen if I look for them. Philip could have walked right past this man, but his eyes were as alert to the Holy Spirit’s guiding as were his ears. All around you are opportunities to find your divine appointment. You must be careful that you don’t let the stature of a person cause you to shy away from them. Always remember that everyone has a soul that needs to be saved. Most likely you will see your Divine appointment first, and then the Holy Spirit will tell you to go talk to that person.

Before you leave your house every morning, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to your divine appointment. Keep your eyes focused and look for that appointment, and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit when He tells you to speak to someone. Always remember that divine appointments will happen at the strangest places and in the strangest times. It won’t make sense, but God will lead you to that appointment if you will simply look, listen and obey.

John 12:2
“There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.”

If I told you that you could come and have a meal with Christ, would you come? Of course you would! What Christian wouldn’t want to sit down at the same table with Jesus and have a meal together? Feasting with Christ would be a dream.

You will find in John 12, that there were some who had the opportunity to feast with Christ. This supper was made in the house of Simon the leper. The disciples were there along with Lazarus, Mary and Martha. This was quite the feast. Yet, I notice that each person at the feast was doing something that is necessary for every Christian. You will find that you can feast with Christ if you will take the time daily to do what those who were present did.

First, you must take time to appreciate Christ on a daily basis. I find at this meal there were two men whom God healed. Simon the leper was healed of his leprosy, and Lazarus was raised from the dead. Simon allowed this feast to be made in his house as a token of appreciation for what Christ did for him.

Every Christian should take time daily to show appreciation to Christ for what He has done for them. Take time to thank Christ for your salvation. Take time to thank Christ for providing your needs the previous day. Feasting on Christ is done by daily stopping and thanking Him for His goodness to you.

Second, you must take time to listen to Christ on a daily basis. Lazarus was not talking, but he was sitting at the table with Jesus listening to Him talk. I believe it is very important that every Christian take the time to listen to Christ through His Word. It is the Word of Christ that will feed the Christian. Those who find themselves too busy to feed on the Word of God will find themselves too weak to fight the temptations of the flesh.

Third, you must take time to serve Christ on a daily basis. Martha was busy serving. Though some may criticize her, Christ did not. Every time you serve Christ through the soul-winning ministries of your church you are feasting with Christ. Nothing will excite the Saviour more than for His children to spread the Gospel to the lost and dying world. Friend, you don’t need to wait till the appointed soul-winning time of your church. You must feast with Christ daily and spread the Gospel to all those with whom you come in contact.

Fourth, you must take time to love on Christ. Mary took the ointment and anointed Jesus. This ointment was expensive. She was showing a labor of love by sacrificing her best for Him. Feasting with Christ takes personal sacrifice. If you have not given up anything for Christ, then you have not feasted with Him. Anyone whom God will use must be willing to love Christ through personal sacrifice.

Are you feasting with Christ? These four things must be present in your life if you are going to feast with Him. Though you may not personally be able to sit at the table with Christ, you can feast with Him in these four areas. I challenge you to make these four areas a regular part of your daily life. Make your life a feast with Christ.

John 8:34
“Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.”

I remember as a young man going to the local rescue mission once a month to hear my father preach. Every once in awhile he would have me preach to those dear men. I remember standing at the front door shaking the hands of these men who came in, not to hear the preaching, but to get a free meal and a cot to sleep on for the night. The smell on their bodies was bad. When the room was filled, you could smell the body odor and the stench of alcohol. Truly, it was something I’ll never forget.

I remember driving home with my father after the services and asking him why these men would live that way. He responded by telling me that these men lived this way because they were servants of alcohol. They lived their life to serve the desire to have one more drink of alcohol.

What was amazing were the backgrounds of these men. I met men who were once lawyers, doctors and businessmen. Many of these men were at one time contributors to their community, but they became a servant to sin. Sin caused them to lose everything. Sin caused them to leave their homes and live on the streets. Sin caused them to lose their jobs and income. No, they didn’t purposely leave their lifestyles, but sin’s command and their submission to that command is what caused them to eventually lose everything.

God says that “whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” He did not say that you had to commit the sin several times before you become its servant, but the very first time you commit any sin you become its servant. All sin tries to do is to get you to commit it the first time. These men in the rescue mission never saw themselves where they ended up the first time they had a drink of alcohol, but that first drink is what made them a servant to it. It’s not how many times you must commit sin to become its servant, but it’s the first time you commit it that you become its servant.

Moreover, you will find that sin, though you are its slave from the first time, will allow you to enjoy it for a season. Hebrews 11:25 shows us there is pleasure in sin. The only reason sin is allowing you to have pleasure is so that it may bind you in its grip. Proverbs 5:22 says, “His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.” Once sin binds you, then you no longer have the power to release yourself from its cords.

I don’t know what your sin is, but you do. The Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart at this moment and showing you your sin. It’s that sin that you feel you still control. It’s that sin that you keep on saying that you will quit. What has happened is that you have become its servant. You may never end up on “skid row” away from your family, but it will eventually destroy you.

So, you wonder how you can be delivered from sins cords? Paul wondered the same thing in Romans 7:24 when he said, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” The answer is found in the next verse when Paul says, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Friend, your only hope to being freed from the cords of sin is Jesus Christ. Daily you must yield yourself to Christ and ask Him to control your mind. I encourage you today to stop serving your sin, and yield to the Holy Spirit and let Him lead you into a life of freedom from sin’s grip.