Month: August 2013

Ephesians 4:30
“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

One of the sins against the Holy Spirit is the sin of grieving Him. Most certainly, if you grieve the Holy Spirit it will grieve your spirit. The Holy Spirit always has a direct impact on your spirit. This is why a person who is running from the LORD always has a hard time having a good attitude. This is why when you can stand and teach and preach the Word of God, you see people who are not right with God having a hard time with their spirit. They have grieved the Holy Spirit; thus, they have grieved their own spirit.

However, if the things in verse 31 will grieve the Holy Spirit, then the same things will grieve the spirit of your marriage or home. The things that affect the Holy Spirit of God will most definitely affect the spirit of man. I fear too often that we only look at this list and never apply it to the spirit in our home. We must be very careful that we don’t allow these same things in our home or marriage so that we don’t grieve the spirit of our spouse or family. Let me show you these things that will grieve your spirit.

First, bitterness will grieve the spirit in your home. Bitterness is a lack of sweetness. In other words, when we snip at each other, we are grieving the spirit of our home. Your home will never have the sweet spirit you desire when you snip back and forth at each other.

Second, wrath will grieve the spirit of your home. Wrath is extreme anger. I like to say that wrath is when we allow yelling in the home. Nothing will grieve the spirit of your home more than when parents and children are yelling at each other and when husband and wife yell at each other. There should be no place for wrath in the home. Wrath will destroy that sweet spirit in your home.

Third, clamour will grieve the spirit of your home. To clamour is to argue. I know you will have disagreements with each other, but you don’t have to argue. You must be careful that you don’t become argumentative and grieve your spouse or home. When you have a disagreement, discuss it, but don’t argue about it.

Fourth, evil speaking will grieve the spirit of your home. Christian, you must not allow your home to be filled with conversations about other people. When you talk about the bad that everyone does, it will grieve the spirit of your home. You must completely avoid evil speaking in your home if you want your home to have a good spirit.

Fifth, malice will grieve the spirit of your home. Malice is the act of getting revenge. Friend, if your life is filled with the intent to get revenge on others, your spouse or parents, you will find it will grieve the spirit of your home. Revenge is up to God. You must put away malice so that you can have a good spirit.

Let me ask you, are you grieving the spirit of your home? Do you find any of these actions or feelings being harbored in your life? If you are going to keep a good spirit in your marriage or home, then you must be careful not to allow these things in your life. As a parent, don’t allow them in your home. As a spouse, don’t allow them in your marriage. As a Christian, don’t allow them in your life. Keep a good spirit in these three areas by avoiding these five things.

2 Corinthians 1:4
“Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

Several years ago I was talking to a couple who were facing a very big trial. On the onset of their trial, I told the husband that he needed to make notes of every stage that they went through and how they made it through each stage. I told him that God could use their trial to help many others who face the same thing.

That is exactly what the verse above is teaching. Many times God sends us through trials so that we can learn how to help others when they face the same situation. It would be sad to go through the whole trial and miss the lesson God wanted us to learn. I have often said that we are God’s object lessons to others. God uses us an example for what others will have to face.

When I think of this truth, I think of Job. Job went through several different trials at one time. We often run to Job and study his life so that we know how to face our trials. Yes, Job’s trials were certainly sent his way to make him stronger, but they were also sent his way to show us how to go through our trials and come out victorious.

How many times have you read the Book of Psalms when going through trials? Do you realize that many of the Psalms were written in heartache? Why did God allow the psalmist to go through such heartache? He allowed it so that his heartache could be a comfort to us. He allowed it so that we would learn how to face our trials.

Inside of every trial you face is a lesson you can learn to help comfort someone else. God says, “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble,…” God allows people to face cancer so they can help others who face cancer. God allows a parent to lose their child so they can help other parents who lose their child. God allows a parent to have a handicapped child so they can help other parents with handicapped children. You name the trial, and every time God allows it so that you can help others who go through the same situation.

Don’t miss the lesson in your trials. I would hate to think that I wasted the lesson in the trial. I would hate to think that what God sent my way to help others was wasted because I didn’t take time to learn the lesson.

Christian, complaining will cause you to miss the lesson. Sulking will cause you to miss the lesson. Quitting on God will cause you to miss the lesson. Running from your heartaches will cause you to miss the lesson. Don’t miss the lesson because of your self-pity and self-centeredness.

Always remember that every trial you face is sent your way so you can help someone else. When you face trials, you are going to have to focus and learn each stage and how you got through it so you can help others. Let your trials be lessons to help others, and you will find that your trials can be turned into blessings.

1 Corinthians 1:4-5
“I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;”

Every day I take vitamins to help supplement my diet. The purpose of taking vitamins is not to replace meals, but rather to enhance the nutrition I receive. The vitamins by themselves are not a meal, but the vitamins with meals will enhance the daily nutrition I receive.

We often talk about the grace of God, but I believe we sometimes miss what God’s grace does for us. It says in the verse above that God’s grace enriches us “in every thing.” The word “enriched” means, “to improve or enhance in quality, to supplement, to complement or to elevate.” In other words, God’s grace makes life better in every way.

We often say that God’s Word has the answers for everything in life, and that you will never truly be successful without it. Yet, someone may look at those in the world who have been successful and argue that this is not true; however, what most don’t understand is that you may be successful without God or His Word, but the success could have been better had they included God and His Word. The reason their success would have been better is because God’s grace enriches us in all things. Let me show you some of the areas where God’s grace enriches or enhances us.

First, you will notice that God’s grace will enrich your ability to speak. Verse 5 says, “That in every thing ye are enriched by him in all utterance,…” God is able to take our speech and improve it’s quality. The Apostle Paul talked about being “rude in speech,” but God’s grace took that speech and made it much better. When a person spends time in God’s Word, He will take their speech and improve it. God’s grace will give the Christian words that they have not thought of before. There are many times when I am preaching when God gives me a thought to say something that I had not planned to say. That was God’s grace enriching my speech. Have you ever witnessed to someone and God gave you something that you had not thought of before? That was God’s grace. God’s grace will enrich your speech.

Second, God’s grace will enrich your knowledge. Verse 5 says, “and in all knowledge.” Friend, you may get a good education without God, but you will get a better education with God. God has a way of including common sense with education. Educated people often do some of the dumbest things that leave you scratching your head; but, you let the same person include God in that education and you will find they will include common sense with it. This is simply God’s grace that has enriched their education.

Third, God’s grace will enrich your gifts. Verse 7 says, “So that ye come behind in no gift;…” Everyone has a gift God has given them, but God’s grace will take that gift and make it better. Whatever God has gifted you with in life, you will find God’s grace will enhance or elevate that gift to help you help others in a greater way.

Friend, the quality of your life and what you do can be enriched by the grace of God. Before you start your day, you should ask God to give you the grace to say what you should say, think what you should think, and use your gift in the way He would want you to use it. When you yield to God, He will enrich these areas of your life so that your work with others is more fulfilling.

Five Characteristics of Underachievers

Proverbs 20:4

“The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.”

Every year in the world of sports, there is someone who is supposed to be a great player, and years later they never live up to the hype. They underachieved in the expectations that people had for them. Their underachievement wasn’t due to the lack of talent, it was due to a lack of character.

The same can be said for Christians. I have seen many people underachieve who seemed to have so much talent. Yet, those who don’t have much talent seem to be the ones who are the overachievers. Too often we base someone’s future on talent, when we ought to base the future on someone’s character. The overachievers are those who have character, and the underachievers are those who lack in character.

The sluggard is an underachiever. Five times in the Book of Proverbs God talks about the sluggard. In each case, you will see that the sluggard could have achieved something, but their lack of character caused them to underachieve. In reality, the sluggard is an underachiever. Let me show you five characteristics of the underachiever.

First, the underachiever sleeps when they should be fulfilling their responsibility. Proverbs 6:9 says, “How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?” One of the differences between the underachiever and the overachiever is that the overachiever is working while the underachiever is sleeping. I know, you’re tired. May I remind you that everybody gets tired. You will never reach your potential if you allow sleep to get in the way of your responsibility. An underachiever always justifies their need for sleep, and that is why they underachieve.

Second, the underachiever is not dependable with tasks given. Proverbs 10:26 shows us that the sluggard can’t be depended to perform their required tasks. The underachiever is one who never completes their tasks. For whatever reason, you will find the underachiever has started many tasks, but never finishes them. The overachiever will always finish what they start.

Third, the underachiever is entitlement happy. Proverbs 13:4 says, “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.” The underachiever has their hand out while the overachiever is working for what they get. You will find that the underachiever believes the world owes them everything. You will never reach your potential until you go after what you want.

Fourth, the underachiever always has an excuse. Proverbs 20:4 shows us that the sluggard gives excuses. The sad part about these excuses is that they are good excuses, but you will never reach your potential until you lay aside your excuses and get things done. The overachiever works through difficulties instead of giving excuses for why they can’t do something.

Fifth, the underachiever is unteachable. Proverbs 26:16 shows us the sluggard thinks they are always right. Nobody can ever teach the underachiever because they already know everything. Yet, the overachiever allows everyone to be their teacher.

You have a choice of whether to be an underachiever or an overachiever. Simply put, the overachiever outworks the underachiever. It has nothing to do with talent. It has everything to do with character. If you will develop your character, you will find that you will become known as an overachiever.

Acts 20:9
“And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.”

The story from the verse above is about a young man who went to hear the Apostle Paul preach. It’s interesting that this verse tells us that Paul preached a long sermon. During that lengthy sermon, this young man fell asleep. He didn’t just nod off, but he sunk down into his chair and was fast asleep. Somehow, while this young man slept, he fell off his chair and the balcony which caused him to be killed from the fall. Fortunately, Paul went over and raised the young man back to life.

Though this young man was part of a miracle, he will forever be remembered as the young man who fell asleep during Paul’s preaching. Sadly, his sleeping caused him to miss the whole sermon that Paul preached. His sleeping caused him to miss hearing Paul’s last sermon to that church. I would imagine that if he knew that Paul would never preach there again that he would have stayed awake. Yet, his sleeping ways caused him to miss much of what could have changed his life.

One of the things that always amazes me is how people sleep during church. I can understand every once in awhile dozing off to sleep because of a busy schedule, but there are some who tend to constantly fall asleep. There are some things I believe this verse shows us that may help you stay awake.

First, get as close as you can to the preaching. This young man was in the third loft. Certainly, it was much harder to stay awake in that loft than it was in the front of the auditorium. I have found I have an easier time staying awake in the preaching if I’m closer to the preacher. Though everybody can’t sit up front, if you would get to church early enough, you would find that you could get closer to the front.

Second, don’t slouch in your chair. This young man sunk down into his chair, and it resulted in him falling asleep. Don’t sit like you’re going to bed. Don’t lay your head back on the pew. Don’t lay your head on your parents or spouse. Don’t slouch down in your seat. Sit up and listen! You are bound to fall asleep if you slouch in your seat.

Third, realize the importance of each service. If this man knew that he would never hear Paul preach again, I imagine he would have stayed awake. Each service is the last time for something; therefore, each service should be treated with importance. It may be the last time you will hear a truth presented in that matter. It may be the last time you’ll hear that preacher. It may be the last time God will speak to your heart about doing something. Treat each sermon and service with importance. This will help you stay awake.

Finally, get rest before the service if you can. Take a short nap before the services if you are tired. You may not be a person who likes to take naps, but it’s better to get a little rest and stay awake in the preaching than to fall asleep and miss what God has for you.

Friend, every service is important. Everybody will be tired at some service during their lifetime. If you plan to stay awake by sitting up front, and sitting up in your chair, then you will have a better chance of avoiding falling asleep and you will get from that service what God intended for you to get.

Acts 2:37
“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

A proper response to conviction is vital to the outcome of your future. Many people have responded wrong to conviction only to find that it caused more problems. Dealing with conviction in the proper manner will help you find the right solutions needed.

In the verse above, the people who heard Peter preach were under conviction for their need of salvation. They had never heard that Christ was the only way to Heaven, so when they were convicted from the preaching, they asked, “…what shall we do?” This question and the following actions led them to get saved and be filled with the Holy Spirit of God.

If you are tender to the voice of the Holy Spirit, you will find that conviction is common. It is common because we are all sinners. If a person is never under conviction, then that means they are not listening to His whispering voice. Though the verse above deals with the need of salvation, it also shows us four steps on how we should deal with conviction.

First, acknowledge your problem. Notice, they asked, “…what shall we do?” This question was an acknowledgement that they had a problem. Let me be absolutely clear with you; when the Holy Spirit convicts a person, then they have a problem. For you to sit and ignore the conviction of the Holy Spirit to ignore your problem. You can’t fix your problem until you acknowledge it. You are only hurting yourself when you won’t acknowledge your problem. Acknowledging that you have a problem is the first step in changing any situation.

Second, you must humble yourself. Humility is found in the question they asked. They not only acknowledged they had a problem, but they humbled themselves enough to ask those who could help. I often find that pride keeps us from getting our problems fixed. Most of the time we can identify our problems, but we don’t humble ourselves and get help for our problems. You can’t fix your financial situation until you humble yourself and ask for help. You can’t fix your marital or family problems until you humble yourself and go ask someone to help you. This can be applied to any situation. Stop trying to handle it yourself, and humble yourself and get help.

Third, you must repent of your action. Repentance is simply turning from one thing and doing the opposite. Until you change what you’re doing, you will continue to get the same results. Yes, you can get help, but you must change your actions if you are going to change your results. There must be a turning away from what you are doing, and turning to what is right to do.

Fourth, you must identify the right crowd. Peter told them, “Repent, and be baptized…” Baptism is an identification with Christ. You can change your actions, but you will go back to what you were doing if you don’t change the crowd with whom you associate. Being with the right crowd will help you to do the right things.

The result of doing the right thing is you will find a good spirit. When you get saved, you will find that the Holy Spirit of God lives inside you. Likewise, when you do right, you will find your spirit will be set free.

You will never find the freedom in life you desire until you take these steps. When you’re convicted about something, instead of balling up and fighting it, follow these four steps. Conviction is a good thing, but how you respond to it will determine how conviction affects your outlook and future.

John 15:2
“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”

Life without hard times is not realistic, and life without hard times will be fruitless. Everything needs adversity. The plane needs the adversity of the headwind so it can fly. The ship needs the adversity of the wind so it can sail. The engine needs the adversity of the spark so it can run. The weight lifter needs the adversity of the weight so he can gain strength. Adversity is simply resistance, and resistance builds.

In the verse above, God shows us why we need adversity. He compares the Christian life to the grape vine. The grape vine must be purged if it is going to bear fruit. The whole purpose of planting the vine is so that the owner can have fruit. Yet, in this comparison, you can see several reasons why a Christian needs adversity.

First, you need adversity so you can see your weakness and His strength. Without adversity we will become filled with pride. Adversity tends to show us that we cannot make it without Him. Adversity reminds us that we are the vine and God is the husbandman. Adversity will help you to keep yourself in proper perspective.

Second, you need adversity so you can remove what is hindering your fruit bearing. The verse above shows us that God purges us. What is the purpose of the purging? The purpose is to remove those things that will rob us of our capacity to grow. I have found that every time I go through adversity God shows me something that is hindering my Christian life. Adversity often has a way of showing us a part of ourselves that we never saw before. When we see that ugly side of ourselves, we can then go to work on it and remove it so that we can be better Christians and bear fruit for God.

Third, you need adversity so you will abide in Him. You will never survive without abiding in Christ. I find that adversity pushes me back to the Scriptures and to my knees in prayer. This is good! You may not like the adversity, but you will certainly like the time you get to spend with the LORD. Adversity will push you to abide in Christ so you can find the answers you need.

Fourth, you need adversity so you can bear fruit. The reason adversity causes us to bear fruit is because we realize our weakness and need to remove those things that are hindering us, and it gets us to run to Christ for help; thus, the result is fruit. When you get these things working together, you will find that your life will produce fruit for Christ.

Fifth, you need adversity so you can bear more fruit. Here is the whole purpose of your adversity. God doesn’t just want fruit, but He wants more fruit. Once you start bearing fruit, God will send more adversity your way so you can bear more fruit in your life. In other words, God allows you to endure adversity so He can increase your potential. Every time you endure adversity, it allows you the opportunity to use that adversity to help others; thus, you start bearing more fruit in your Christian life.

Christian, I can certainly understand that you don’t enjoy the adversity you face, but that adversity is there to help you bear more fruit in your life. Your adversity is there to help you reach your greatest potential. Instead of fighting the adversity in your life, embrace it and find a way to use it so you can become more fruitful. When you see the fruit that comes from your adversity, then that will be the day when you will be thankful God sent adversity your way.