Ultimate Acts of Faith (Genesis 22)

It ought not to take long to realize by reading the Bible that Abraham was a man of faith... a man of God. He trusted God completely... this Genesis 15:6 says "He believed in the LORD, and He counted it unto him for righteousness.

The Bible also teaches that Isaac was the one through whom the promises to Abraham would be kept. In Genesis 17:5-7, God promised:

Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. (6) And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. (7) And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

In Genesis 12:3, God promised, "in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." And then the promise through Isaac was made in Genesis 21:12, "In Isaac shall thy seed be called."

Abraham received and believed these promises from God.

The story takes a turn, however, in Genesis 22. In this passage, God tells Abraham to sacrifice Isaac... to offer up the one through whom all of God's promises would come. Abraham's faith wasn't shaken, though. He had received promises from God, and knew God was not a liar, so he trusted God to keep His promises by sparing, reviving or resurrecting Isaac.

Abraham's faith was such that he trusted God to keep His promises, and why not? Abraham had already seen God perform the impossible. He and Sarah couldn't have children during their childbearing years, and now they were beyond childbearing age, yet God promised them a son. It was in that context that Genesis 15:6 says "He believed in the LORD, and He counted it to him for righteousness."

God delivered on that promise in Genesis 21, so why not trust God to keep Isaac, his promised son safe? Abraham had a couple of theories on how God would do this. The first appears in Genesis 22:7-8:

And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? (8) And Abraham said, My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering. So they went both of them together.

Abraham expected God would provide the sacrificial lamb at the last moment, and if He didn't, Hebrews 11:17-19 says:

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, (18) of whom it was said, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called: (19) Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from whence he also received him up in a figure.

So, Abraham believed God would either supply an offering, or resurrect Isaac. Either way, he trusted God enough that he expected to return home with Isaac. (Genesis 22:5). How could Abraham trust God in this situation? Abraham knew he could trust God because (a) God does not lie, (b) God keeps His promises and (c) God can do the impossible. Luke 1:37 says "For with God all things are possible."

Abraham wasn't the only one showing faith, though. Isaac showed faith. Contrary to popular belief, Isaac was not a baby in Genesis 22. He turned five at his weaning ceremony in Genesis 21, and many days had passed since then (Genesis 21:34), and Isaac was big enough to carry the wood. So, he was big enough that he didn't have to go along with this if he didn't want to. He could have fought off, or ran away from Abraham, but he didn't. Why? Because Isaac had faith in God, and Abraham.

Isaac showed faith in God and Abraham by submitting to Abraham. Abraham told Isaac that God would provide a lamb for sacrifice, and Isaac trusted him. Isaac not only trusted Abraham, but also God for the sacrifice.

Isaac depended on the Lord for deliverance. People today should depend on the Lord for deliverance, whether it be from sin, or problems in their lives. They should trust God to work things out for them. Isaac's life teaches us that we can please God simply by following God and making Godly decisions as we live our lives.

God responded to Abraham's faith, and provided a sacrifice. Abraham said as much in Genesis 22:8, "My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering." Abraham trusted God to provide a sacrifice, and God did in Genesis 22:13, "And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son." God provided a sacrifice.

This is a foreshadowing of what Christ did for us when He died on the cross. He was God's sacrifice for our sin. Isaiah 53:5-6 states:

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed. (6) All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:6 says we have all gone astray, turned from God and to our own ways, but the sin and iniquity we committed in the process were placed on Christ, and paid for when He died on the cross. Hence, He was bruised and wounded for our sins (transgressions) and iniquities. The chastisement that brought us peace with God was put on Christ. With His stripes, His crucifixion and sufferings, we are healed from sin.

John 1:29 says "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." In the days of John the Baptist, the Jews would sacrifice a lamb to cover their sins for a year. John referred to Jesus as the Lamb of God in John 1:29, which would take away the sins of he world for good. He would be the ultimate sacrifice.

Romans 3:24-25 says "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.)

God set Jesus forth to be a propitiation, a sacrifice for ins. God, once again, provided a sacrifice. Therefore, we are justified freely by His grace, because Christ redeemed us on the cross. But, you have to believe (John 3:16).

And then there's 1 John 2:2, "And He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours' only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

Repent, and believe in God's sacrifice. In John 5:24, Jesus said "He that heareth My words, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life." If you believe on Christ, you are saved and will live eternally in His Kingdom. If you reject Him, you'll be condemned to Hell. Accept Jesus as your Savior.

One final thought...

In James 2, James used the occasion of Abraham offering up Isaac to demonstrate perfect, or complete faith (James 2:21-22). A key verse is James 2:18, which says "Yea, a man may say, thou hast faith, and I have works: Shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works."

You you believe in the Lord? Does your life prove that you believe? May God bless you in a special way today.

Genesis 21 - Turning Sorrow into Laughter

For their entire marriage, Abraham and Sarah were unable to have children. Sarah was barren, and thus unable to have children. This was a source of sorrow for Sarah, because her desire (like most women in that day) was to bare a son for her husband, Abraham.

God promised Abraham and Sarah a son, and years passed before He followed through on that promise. Nevertheless, Abraham and Sarah continued to believe the Lord, and they continued to serve Him. This continued until Genesis 21, where Sarah finally had a son. God kept His promise.

Abraham and Sarah named their son, Isaac, which means "laughter." Sarah said the Lord had made her to laugh. From her experience, we learn that God turns our sorrow into laughter.

In verses 1-2, the Bible says "And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him."

God kept His promise to Abraham. Even though years had passed, God kept his promise in His time. God delivered the promised son to Abraham and Sarah. This teaches us that God keeps all His promises, in His time. He kept His promise to Abraham, and He keeps His promise to us.

The Lord has promised us that He will return to earth and establish His Kingdom, and He will wipe away our  tears. Those promises will be kept, in His time. 2 Peter 3:9 says "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." Christians have been looking forward to the return of Christ for nearly 2,000 years. Though a long time has passed, we can still trust Christ to follow through on His promise to return and set up His Kingdom.

Genesis 21:6 says "And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me." By fulfilling His promise of a son to Abraham and Sarah, God had caused them to laugh with joy. He had turned their sorrow into laughter. The Bible teaches that God will one day turn our sorrow into laughter as well.

In John 16:20, Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world will rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned to joy." Jesus told His disciples that the day was coming when He would no longer be with them in body, and the world would celebrate and persecute them. Nevertheless, the day would come when their sorrow would be turned to joy. Jesus would welcome them into Heaven.

In John 16:22, Jesus continued, "And ye now therefore have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." When Jesus returns, our sorrow will be turned to joy, and that joy will be everlasting. No more will we mourn the loss of loved ones, fear the wrath of the creditors, or face ridicule for our beliefs. Our sorrow will be turned to everlasting joy.

So, keep living your faith, knowing that one day, your sorrow will be turned to joy. God will keep His promise.

God gives comfort. After the birth of Isaac in Genesis 21, we have an incident. Isaac was being weaned (which happened at the age of 5), and Abraham threw a feast to celebrate Isaac's weaning. Ishmael (who would have been an older teenager by this point) mocked Isaac, which infuriated Sarah. So, Sarah told Abraham to kick Ishmael and Hagar out. In verse 11, the Bible says the whole situation was very grievous to Abraham.

However, God comforted Abraham. In verses 12-13, God says "Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed." God comforted Abraham by reminding him of His plan for Isaac, and by promising to take care of Ishmael and Hagar. God comforts us today in similar ways. He reminds us of His plan, and He reminds us to trust Him with the things beyond our control. He speaks to us through His scriptures.

God also comforted Ishmael and Hagar. In verses 17-18, the Bible says "And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of Heaven, and said unto her, what aileth thee, Hagar? Fear not, for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, and lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand, for I will make him a great nation."

God comforted Hagar by reminding her that He hears. He heard the lad's (Ishmael's) cries. He knew their hearts. He hears our cries, and our prayers. He also reminds Hagar of His promises to her concerning her son, Ishmael. God still gives us these comforts today. Pray to Him in faith, knowing that He hears your prayers... and trust Him to answer your prayers.

God provides. In verse 19, "God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water, and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad to drink." God provided their needs by leading her to a well. He supplies our needs as well.

Then, in verse 20, "God was with the lad, and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer." God was with Ishmael, blessed his efforts, and grew his talents. God is with us today. He blesses our efforts and blesses us with talents and gifts.

We serve an awesome and wonderful God... one Who loves us, comforts us, turns our sorrow to laughter, and supplies our needs. He is more than worthy of our worship. Do you worship Him? Do you trust Him? Do you believe in Him?

May God bless you today.

Genesis 20: In League with God

At the end of Genesis 16, Abraham had to be feeling low. He had followed Sarah's advice to father a child with Hagar, which led to problems between Sarah and Hagar, and Sarah and Abraham. In Genesis 17, God spoke with Abraham, and reconfirmed His covenant to give Abraham a son, through whom all the promises would come. The lesson we learn from that is that God forgives sin, He incorporates the effects of our sin into His plan, and He confirms His covenant with us. He keeps us in His plan.

God reiterated His plan for Abraham in Genesis 18, once again promising a son. Abraham prayed that God would deliver Lot from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and we see the spirituality of Abraham was once again on the rise.

However, in Genesis 20, Abraham fell again, committing one of the oldest sins of which he was prone. Fearing his life, he told the people of Gerar that Sarah was his sister. This led to a repeat of the situation that happened with Pharoah in earlier chapters. Sarah was taken from Abraham and given to Abimelech to be his wife, but God intervened, and Sarah was given back to Abraham.

The more you study the life of Abraham, the more you learn that Abraham was far from perfect. His faith wavered. On two separate occasions, he said Sarah was his sister instead of his wife. He did that because he feared for his life. He was afraid that the people would kill him and take Sarah. He also violated God's plan for marriage by fathering a son with Hagar (Genesis 16) and fathering children with concubines (Genesis 25:6). Despite his failures, God still forgave him, and continued to work in his life. God kept His promises to Abraham.

When we fail, God forgives us and re-establishes His covenant, His plan with us. He calls us to repent, and calls us out of the sin we in which we trapped ourselves, but He restores us all the same.

God is with us, even when we fail. Abraham failed. He told the people of Gerar that Sarah was his sister. He also compelled Sarah to lie and say she was his sister. While this was actually half-true (verse 12), the aim was to deceive, thus it was a lie and a spiritual failure.

That failure came from a lack of faith. Even though God made promises to Abraham about his future and heritage, Abraham still feared the people of Gerar would kill him to take Sarah as their wife. (Sarah was nearly 90 years old at this time, which was still old back in that day. She must have been a looker.) The result is that Sarah was taken from Abraham and given to the king, Abimelech, as a wife. (They didn't know they took Abraham's wife, they thought they took his sister.)

Nevertheless, God was still with Abraham. He protected Sarah from Abimelech (verse 6), He confronted Abimelech, and He told Abimelech to return Sarah to Abraham. Abimelech obeyed.

If you know Jesus Christ as your savior, you are in league with God. He stays with you, even when you make the wrong decision. He'll discipline you, but He'll stay with you. He will also restore you from that bad decision, if you know Him as Savior. He will get you back on track. God does not cast you aside, withdraw from you, revoke your salvation, or throw you away. He will lovingly discipline you, and get you back on track. If God can not get the wayward Christian to repent, He calls them home.

God calls heathens to repentance. Abimelech was a pagan king. He had multiple wives, but was basically a good ole boy. However, he didn't fear the LORD. God used the occasion of Abraham's failure to reveal Himself to Abimelech. He warned Abimelech to return Sarah, and promised healing and life for obedience. God gave Abimelech space to repent. Abimelech responded by obeying God.

God calls the lost to repentance. He confronts them for their sin, calls them to repent and believe, and gives them time to repent. Have you repented and believed in Christ? Will you, if you haven't?

God wants us to be a blessing. At the end of the chapter, Abraham prayed for Abimelech, and God healed Abimelech and his people. God identified Abraham as a prophet, which means that Abraham spoke for God. Abraham was God's representative. God's will for Abraham was for him to pray for Abimelech. Abraham did. God healed Abimelech, and God revealed His power. By praying, Abraham was a blessing.

God wants us to be a blessing. We are God's ambassadors on Earth. Represent God well. Present God to the lost, evangelize, and pray for the lost. Be a blessing.

If you are a child of God, that is, if you know Christ as your savior, you are in league with God. God will work through your life. He will work around your shortcomings (possibly incorporating them into His plan), and forgive your sin. Whatever happens, God is still with you. His hand is still on you.

May God bless you in a special way today.

Genesis 17: The Covenant

By the time we get to Genesis 17, Abraham has endured a long, hard road. He's 99 years old and still hasn't received the son God promised. There has been a lot of silence in the 13 years between Genesis 16 (the Hagar debacle) and Chapter 17. Abraham is aging, and time is taking its toll.

But in this chapter, God speaks to Abraham, and reminds him of the covenant. God also encouraged Abraham, and spells out the conditions of the covenant. God also promised quick action on the covenant.

Genesis 17 reminds us how God doesn't give up on us, that He has a covenant with us, and that we want our friends to be in that covenant.

God does not give up on us. Whenever a believer strays, God calls him back. Verse 1 says "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the almighty God, walk before me and be thou perfect." To "walk" means to live a certain way, or to adopt a certain lifestyle. God was calling Abraham to live for Him. Abraham had already lived a life of faith, but God was calling him to get back on track. Often, we become distracted in our day to day lives and lose sight of the big picture. When that happens, God calls us to get back on track.

"Perfect" means complete, the real deal. God called Abraham to be perfect, complete, the real deal. God calls us to be perfect, complete, the real deal. To be "perfect" means that you are a Christian who is the same on the inside as you present to others on the outside. You don't have a Jekyll and Hyde mentality, you are the same person no matter where you are. You are complete, you are a true Christian. You achieve this by reading the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

God also reminds us that He has a covenant with us. Verse 2 says "And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and, will multiply thee exceedingly." God had already made that covenant with Abraham. Here, He's reminding Abraham of the covenant. God was also encouraging Abraham to continue to live by faith.

God keeps his promises. When God saves you, He keeps you, and no one can pluck you from His hand, or separate you from His love (John 10:28-29). He never gives up on you, He sticks with you through the good times and the bad (Hebrews 13:5), but, He calls you to repentance. He also encourages us to Godly living.

God had a covenant with Abraham, and He has a covenant with us. Verse 7 says "And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee."

God established a covenant with Abraham, to give him a son, a seed, to make him a father of many nations, and to raise up a Godly nation from his descendants. Those who know Jesus as their savior will receive the blessings promised to Abraham's seed. God will be our God, and He'll establish His kingdom for us. (Verse 8).

Have you accepted God's covenant? Have you repented of your sin and trusted Jesus Christ as your savior? Do you live by your faith in the Lord? Do you look forward to His kingdom? If so, don't you want your friends and family to be a part of that covenant, and to be in God's kingdom?

In verses 24-27, Abraham circumcised Ishmael, and the men of his household, and his male servants, thus bringing them into the covenant. Today, I am glad that all we have to do is share the Gospel with our friends and family. If you share the Gospel with those around you, and live as an example to them, you will impact their lives. Are you willing to disciple and teach them?

The bottom line is that God made a covenant with Abraham, and God kept that covenant, despite Abraham's shortcomings of saying Sarah's his sister and fathering a child with Hagar. God has a covenant with you, if you know Christ as your savior, and He will keep that covenant with you despite your shortcomings. Trust the Lord, and spread the word of salvation.

Genesis 16:1-13 - When Good Christian People Attack

You don't have to look very far to see someone express anger at Christians for doing something wrong, hurting their feelings, or betraying them in some way. Some days, all you have to do is log on to Facebook.

Some of this anger toward Christians is unwarranted. Sometimes, people are angry at what Christians stand for, and thus express that anger toward them. Some feel convicted of their sin, and justify it by saying the Christian is "judging them," or being "legalistic" or "hypocritical." But we'd be naive to think that Christians never sin, and Christians never hurt people.

In Genesis 16:1-13, we read about a woman named Hagar, who wound up in a world of hurt because of the actions of Abraham and Sarah.

God promised Abraham and Sarah a son, but they were old, and beyond childbearing years. So, Sarah devises a plan to have her children through her servant, Hagar. Back in those days, it was a custom that a woman could use her handmaid as a surrogate... to have children by having the handmaid have children with her husband. Hagar, a handmaid, has no say in this.

This situation causes problems. Sarah's plan, in spite of the custom of the day, was still sin. Customs and cultures do not excuse sin. This sin leads to problems between Sarah and Hagar, and it leads to hardships for Hagar.

Through reading Genesis 16, we see that even God's people mess up. Abraham and Sarah were Godly people. They lived their lives following God. They are listed in the Hebrews Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11. Some theologians have even suggested that their actions with Hagar were acts of faith. (Sarah was trying to deliver the promised son). However, what they did to Hagar was still sin. It violated God's plan for marriage (one man-one woman), and Hagar wasn't even given the option.

Now look at the level of Hagar's victimization. She's a slave. She has nothing. She has no rights. She is an Egyptian, which means she is in a foreign country serving foreign owners. Now, she even loses control of her body. Once she does have a son, he will be taken away and given to Sarah (or at least, that was the plan). When things go south, Hagar is treated harshly (Genesis 16:6)

Sometimes, Godly people hurt you. They might have good intentions, but they still hurt you. (Sometimes the intentions weren't good, but it still hurts.)

Sin always causes problems. Genesis 16:4 says "And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes." Hagar conceived a child by Abraham, and despised Sarah for it. Her anger toward Sarah led to disrespect toward Sarah, which led to problems in Abraham and Sarah's relationship, and led to Sarah dealing harshly with Hagar... to the point that Hagar had to flee.

Sin destroys peace, relationships, and lives. It creates chaos, discord and conflict.

When people hurt you, even when Godly people hurt you, God sees it. Hagar fled from Sarah, and the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water. The LORD told Hagar to go back to Sarah, and submit to her, and make amends. He then tells her that He has heard her affliction, and made promises concerning her son.

Genesis 16:11 says "And the angel of the LORD said unto her, behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shall call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction." God's message to Hagar was that He heard her affliction, and He was going to work it out for her. That's why God wanted her to go back, so He could work it out for her.

God hears our afflictions. He knows what we struggle with, what hurts us, who hurts us, and He will work those things out for us. We need to allow Him to work. We need to trust Him to work.

In Genesis 16:13, Hagar responds by saying "Thou God seest me... have I also here looked after Him that seeth me?" Hagar realizes that God sees her, and that gives her reason to trust and obey Him. God is watching, God will protect, God will avenge, God will care for you.

God is real, He's living, He interacts with us. That is why we should trust Him. That is why we should obey Him.

Healing begins with forgiveness, and forgiveness begins when we take the first steps. Forgiveness simply means that you will no longer hold the person who hurt you accountable. Forgiveness is an act of faith, because you are trusting God to take care of you, to protect you, and to deal with the one who hurt you. Trust God to do that.

Hagar returned home to Sarah, and life sort of went back to normal for a while, before Abraham and Sarah had their own son. After that, an incident involving Ishmael and Isaac would lead to Hagar and Ishmael getting kicked out. Even after that, God provided for Hagar, and Abraham even continued to visit and care for her and Ishmael.

A bad experience doesn't have to end in a dark hole. It can end in a light of faith in the Lord, forgiveness and healing. Which path will you choose?

Genesis 15:1-6 - Abraham's Faith is Rewarded, But Not How Many Think

In Genesis 14, Abraham rescued Lot after he was kidnapped by foreign invaders. Again, this all happened because Lot set his sights on earthly things, and allowed the pleasures of this world to lure him away from Abraham, and God's influence, into the unGodly city of Sodom.

Anyway, Abraham returned to the area with the rescued captives and all the goods and valuables stolen by the enemy raiders. The king of Sodom offered to reward Abraham by giving him all the goods and valuables he repossessed from the invading army, but Abraham refused, wanting God to get the glory for Abraham's prosperity, not the king of Sodom.

It is on this occasion that the conversation between God and Abraham took place in Genesis 15. God told Abraham that He was his shield and reward. Verse 1 says "After these things, the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying fear not, Abram. I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."

God had made many promises to Abraham. He had promised the land of Canaan as an inheritance... and not only the land of Canaan, but just about the entire fertile crescent. God promised Abraham a son, a seed, through whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed. He also promised that Abraham would be the father of many nations.

However, Abraham's reward was not all those things God promised. Abraham's reward was God Himself.

The LORD said "I am thy shield." God was Abraham's protection, and God fought Abraham's battles for him. How is it that Abram took 318 of his trained servants, and defeated a foreign military power? God must have been fighting his battle for him.

God also said, "(I am) thy exceeding great reward." All the stuff God promised to Abraham was not Abraham's reward for faith. Those things promised were things with which God would bless Abraham, which would be used to fulfill God's plans. The land would become home to the nation of Israel. The son would father Jacob, who would go on to become known as "Israel." Israelites, also referred to as the children of Israel, are descendents of Jacob. One of those descendents would be the seed through Whom the nations of the earth would be blessed. That Seed is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Abraham's reward was the LORD... having the Lord defend him, provide for him, and having an eternal relationship with the LORD. Abraham had faith in the LORD, and having the LORD as his reward was his heart's desire.

Hebrews 11:10 says "For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." Abraham was not as interested in the earthly blessings God promised as much as he was interested in the eternal blessings... entering that city to be with God... and entering into God's kingdom. Hebrews 11:16 backs this up by saying Abraham and Sarah "Desire a better country, that is, an heavenly, wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He hath prepared for them a city."

Notice how this is in stark contrast to Lot's values in life. Lot looked at the plain of Jordan and decided it was a place he could prosper. He looked at the wicked city of Sodom, and saw a place he could rise in prestige. He was looking at earthly things. Abraham, on the other hand, is fired up about heavenly things. He trusts God, and looks forward to the day he enters God's city.

God's people should get excited about having the Lord as their reward, and quit being so distracted by the things of this world. Preaching faith for prosperity is a multi-million dollar business, with many people paying money to prove they have the faith it takes for God to bless them on this earth. God never intented to reward His people in this life. The blessings of this life are temporary.

The rewards God offers His people are eternal. His reward is eternity with Him in His Kingdom. The golden streets and pearly gates of Heaven aren't even the point. The point is that one day, we'll sit at the table and commune with our Lord. Our relationship with Him will be like Adam's relationship with Him in Genesis 2, before man sinned. The sad truth about spirituality in America today is that it is next to impossible to get people fired up about this fact. You can motivate people with promises of earthly riches. You can motivate people with promises of golden mansions in Heaven. But motivating people with promises of sitting down and talking with Jesus is increasingly difficult as our culture grows more secular.

After God defines Abraham's reward and makes more promises concerning Abraham's son, Abraham defined faith by believing God.

In Genesis 15, Abraham was an old man. He was beyond the age when men fathered children, and he was beyond child-rearing years. His wife, Sarah, was beyond child-bearing years. Even in her prime years, Sarah was unable to have children. Yet, the LORD promised Abraham a son.

Verse 4 says "And behold, the word of the LORD came unto him saying, This shall not be thine heir, but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir." Here, God is promising the impossible, but Abraham believes God.

Verse 6 says "And he believed in the LORD, and He counted it unto him for righteousness." Verse 6 was used in Romans 4 to prove salvation by grace through faith apart from works... and the Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, rightly applied that verse. What is important to remember is that verse 6 describes Abraham's faith in the context of being promised the impossible. God promised something impossible, and Abraham believed Him. Abraham trusted Him. God was pleased with Abraham's faith.

Having faith means trusting God. Trusting God means taking Him at His word. Do you take God at His word? Do you believe His plan of salvation by grace through faith apart from works because Christ died on the cross for your sin? Do you trust Him to save you? Do you trust His word for child-rearing? Marriage? and the principle of sowing and reaping?

The Bible is not an archaic book of a dead religion that is no longer relevant. It is God's word, and its truth still holds up in modern society. Do you trust the Bible? Do you trust God's word?

In Genesis 15, God promises Abraham the impossible, and Abraham believes Him. In Luke 1, God promises a priest by the name of Zacharias the impossible, the birth of a son named "John the Baptist." Zacharias didn't believe, and was disciplined. Who would you rather be? Abraham? Or Zacharias?

Take God at His word. Believe the Bible. May God bless you and guide you on your journey of life.

Genesis 13-14, 18-19: Lot's Downfall

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the great state of California.Whether you like beaches, farmlands, mountains or forests, California has something for you. During my week-long stay in California, I crossed the Mojave Desert, visited the giant sequoia trees in the Sequoia National Park, enjoyed California's picturesque beaches at Monterrey Bay, bought fruit and cheese from family farms in the San Joaquin Valley, and took in the sights along Highway 101. Travelling through California showed me why people would want to live there, in spite of the state's high cost of living and tax rates.

If I were to drop what I am doing here, and move to California, I would be stepping out of God's will for my life, as I know His will is for me to minister here in Brownwood, Texas. The results of such a move would be disastrous. So, I remain committed to my life and church family here in Brownwood.

For Lot, however, the lure of the Jordan river plain and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were too much to resist. In Genesis 13, Lot finds himself in conflict with his uncle, Abraham, because their herdsmen could not get along. The herdsmen were at odds with each other because Lot and Abraham had gained so much livestock that the land could no longer bear both herds. So, Abraham suggested they part ways.

In Genesis 13:9, Abraham says "Is not the whole land before thee? Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: If thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right. or if thou depart to the right hand, I will go to the left."

When Abraham suggested that he and Lot separate, he wasn't thinking of the plain of Jordan. Think about it, would Abraham, a man of God, seriously consider living in a place like Sodom? And would he suggest that Lot move to Sodom? Highly unlikely. Abraham was likely suggesting that Lot go north or south, and then Abraham would travel the opposite direction.

Lot had other ideas, however. Genesis 13:10-11 says "Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan."

Lot looked down on Jordan's plain, and saw a wonderland of fertile land, well watered, that would easily support and prosper his livestock, and I suspect the cities excited him, too. So, he moved to the plain of Jordan, lived in the city of Sodom, and began to blend in.

That decision cost Lot dearly. He wound up being kidnapped by enemy troops, only to be rescued by Abraham. The raid in which Lot was kidnapped was limited to Sodom and Gomorrah. Had Lot not been living there, he would not have become a victim. He would up losing everything when God executed his wrath on Sodom and Gomorrah... he lost his wife, self-respect, and wound up being homeless.

There are lessons to be learned from Lot's downfall. The first is not to let conflicts go unresolved. Had the conflict between Lot's herdsmen and Abraham's herdsmen been resolved sooner, Lot and Abraham might not have had to split up. Prolonged conflict always leads to broken relationships.

The second lesson we learn is that the desire for earthly pleasures leads to destruction. Lot looked down on the plain of Jordan and the city of Sodom, and he liked what he saw. He saw fast riches, and a city where people were living it up, and were uninhibited. But, the Bible says Sodom was a wicked city. Often, Christians are attracted to the wrong things. We can be attracted to earthly wealth, living the high life, and pursuing personal pleasures. When Christians give in to personal pleasure, and turn their back on God, destruction follows.

The third lesson is what the destruction of a Christian life looks like. Motivated by his own selfish desires, Lot moved to Sodom, where he was kidnapped, lost everything, including his home and wife, and saw his witness ruined. Lot's legacy in scripture is not a good one.

If you leave God's will, not only will you see destruction in your life, you will also see your witness ruined as well.

So, let's put this into practice. Don't be ruled by greed, trust God for who He is, and look forward to His Kingdom. Don't be distracted by the temporary things of this world. Maintain a strong relationship with God.

Genesis 12-13: The Beginnings of Abraham

In Genesis 12, we meet a man named Abram, who will go on to become Abraham, a hero of the faith. Abraham is mentioned many times in the New Testament to illustrate salvation by grace apart from works, as well as the fact that if you have faith, works will result.

As great a man as Abraham was, he started small. He was called by God to go into a foreign land, he followed God, but his faith faltered on a few occasions... one of those occasions is in Genesis 12.

Abram, or Abraham, followed God. Genesis 12:1 says "Now the Lord had said unto Abram, get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee." God called Abraham to leave home and go to a place where the LORD would lead. So, at this point, Abram has no idea where he is headed. He still follows God, though, because he has faith. In following God, we don't always have to know how things will turn out, or where the road will lead. We should follow God without having all the answers, because we have faith.

In Genesis 12:8, Abraham, or Abram, arrives. "And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD."

Abram followed God until he landed at a place called "Bethel," which literally means "House of God." There, he built and altar, worshiped God, and called upon His name. If you follow God, it will lead to His house... the church. God does not lead people out of His house, or His church, He leads them into it. There, believers are to worship, pray, and encourage each other.

Sometimes, though, our faith falters. In Genesis 12:10, "There was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land." There was a famine in the land. Food was hard to come by, Abram's ability to feed himself and his wife, and to keep his livestock was threatened. So, He went down into Egypt.

The problem with this is that Egypt symbolizes sin in scripture. People always "Go down into Egypt." They never "travel over to Egypt." They "go down" there. Then, they "come up out of" Egypt. They don't "travel from," rather, they "come out of" Egypt.

Tempted by famine and the possibility of losing everything, Abram went down into Egypt. He went down into sin. Often, God's people go down into sin when they are tempted and tried by hardships and tribulations. There, the destruction continues. Abram, in an attempt to save his own life, lied about who Sarai, his wife, was. He said she was his sister. The result is that Pharoah took Sarai to be his wife. So, Abram has gone down into Egypt, lied, and thus has lost his wife. Going down into sin leads to more sin, which results in lost blessings. But, there is time to repent.

God protected Sarai by placing a plague on the men of Egypt. Pharoah returned Sarai to Abram, and they left Egypt. They came out of Egypt.

Genesis 13:1 says "Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south."

They came out of Egypt, they came out of "sin." There comes a time in a prodigal believer's life when he has to repent and return to the Lord... notice where that repentance leads...

Genesis 13:3-4 "And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; (4) Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first, and there Abram called on the name of the LORD."

Abram returned to Bethel, the house of God, and there he worshiped and prayed. The repentant believer's path returns to the house of God, and there he should pray and worship.

Are you stuck in sin, are you stuck in Egypt? Has Egypt, or sin, robbed you of your blessings? Come out of that today, and return to the house of the Lord.

Genesis 10-11 The Rise of Nimrod and Babel

In the midst of the genealogies in Genesis 10, we meet a man named Nimrod, whom the scripture describes as a mighty man, a mighty hunter before the Lord, who founded the kingdom of Babel. In Chapter 11, we learn how Babel grew, and the people decided to build a tower that drew the ire of God.

Nimrod was a mighty man. He was a mighty military leader, a mighty hunter (Genesis 10:9), and he founded a mighty kingdom. Nimrod's kingdom began at Babel (Genesis 10:10-12), and expanded to Erech, Accad, and Calneh. Then, they built Nineveh, which would become a prominent location in the book of Jonah.

Nimrod's kingdom of Babel took control of much of the fertile crescent, which produced most of the world's food supply at the time. Controlling the most valuable land in the world made the kingdom of Babel a world superpower.

As the people built the city of Babel, they decided to build a tower that would reach into Heaven, so that they could make a name for themselves, and so they wouldn't be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth (Genesis 11:4). The problem with this is that they were challenging God's domain, they were lifting themselves up against Him, and they were ignoring His command to replenish the earth by staying in one place. So, God confounded their language, thus forcing them to scatter.

The lessons we learn? God hates pride and rebellion, and He always deals with it.

Genesis 9 - Life in the Post-Flood World

In Genesis 9, Noah and his family step off the ark to a world that has been totally changed by the flood of Genesis 7. At that time, God instructed Noah on how to live in the post-flood world. While giving Noah instructions, God told Noah that He would provide and protect him, that there would never again be a judgment by flood, and God extended his grace and forgiveness to Noah, even when he fell.

God gives protection to man. In verse 2, God said, "The fear of you, and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea, into your hand are they delivered."

In the post-flood world, food would be scarce for a while. Animals who were desperate for food would become more vicious in their search for sustenance, and man could be prey to some. So, to protect man, He gave animals an instinctive fear of man. So, God protected man.

Not only did God protect man from animal attacks, He protected man from starvation. In verse 3, "God said "Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you, even as the green herb have I given you all things." Fruits, vegetables and grain, which had been man's food supply, would be in short supply in the months following the flood. So, God expanded man's food supply to include meat.

God then set protections for man from other man. In verse 6, God said "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: For in the image of God made He man." When one man kills another, He commits violence against the image of God, and God takes that seriously. So, God's penalty for murder is execution.

God then promised that He would never destroy the world in a flood again. In verse 11, God said "I will establish My covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood, neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth."

God promised to never again destroy the world with a flood. In fact, He won't destroy the world again until His judgment in the end time.

Then, in verse 13, God said "I do set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth." This is, of course, the rainbow. When you see the rainbow in the sky following a rain, you have a reminder that God promised that He won't destroy the world with a flood again. You also have a reminder that God is delaying His judgment upon the earth, giving men plenty of time to repent. 2 Peter 3:9 says "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men county slackness, but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

And finally, God is gracious, even when His people fall. Verses 18-29 record how Noah got drunk and passed out naked in his tent, and the fall-out this caused in his family. From this, we learn that alcohol abuse is sinful, and it destroys lives, families and testimonies. But, we also learn how forgiving God is. Despite this sin Noah committed, God still held him in high regard. God loves us, and forgives our sin, but we have to repent and turn back to Him.

God has given us many blessings. He has met our needs for shelter and food, He comforts us after the storm by providing the rainbow, and He forgives our failures. Have you appreciated His blessings today?

Gospel Glory, the Entire Series

New Sermon Series at Grace Pointe

The new sermon series based on Hebrews 11 begins June 3 at Grace Pointe Missionary Baptist Church in Brownwood, TX. For more information on Grace Pointe, log on to www.GraceforBrownwood.com.

The Journey: Genesis 8 - God Remembered Noah

In Genesis 6, we studied how the world was evil, so evil that every imagination of the thoughts of man's heart were only evil continually. So, God judged the world with a flood. Noah escaped God's judgment by grace through faith. The Bible says Noah found grace in the eyes of God (Genesis 6:8) and that Noah's faith motivated him to follow God's command to build the ark (Hebrews 11:7). Noah was saved by grace through faith... by God's grace through his faith.

The ark symbolized Jesus in scripture. We enter into Christ by grace through faith, and He shields us from God's wrath, much like the ark shielded Noah from the flood.

Genesis 8:1 says "And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged;"

When the Bible says God remembered Noah, it means that He had continual concern for Noah. God had a continual concern for Noah before, during and after the flood. God has that same concern for us too.

God remembers us in His plans. God planned on judging the world with a flood, but Noah found grace in His eyes. So, God instructed Noah to build the ark, and God didn't flood the earth until the ark was built, and Noah and his family were safe inside.

God remembered Noah in his plans, and He remembers us in His plans as well. God's plans include our salvation. God will not allow anyone to die until they have had the opportunity to accept Christ as Savior, and He will not allow someone whom He knows will be saved to die before they make their profession of faith (Romans 8:28-30).

Furthermore, He will not send Christ to return to the earth to establish His kingdom and judge the world until all who will be saved have been saved. II Peter 3:9 says "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

God's plans also include our well-being (Romans 8:28). Anything that happens in our life will work to make us better, stronger and more faithful. God's people do not suffer pointlessly.

God remembers us, He has ongoing concern for us.

God will remember us when He pours His wrath out on the earth. During the flood, God kept Noah safely inside the ark (Genesis 7:16 - The LORD shut him in.) Noah and his family was safely inside the ark. Inside the ark, they had all they needed. When God executes His wrath upon the earth again, this time by fire, He will remove us from the earth, and we will be safely by the Lord's side. Why? Because God remembers us.

God will remember us in His kingdom. Verses 20-21 speak to how Noah sacrificed when he came off the ark. This was how Noah worshipped. Upon being delivered from the wrath of God, Noah worshipped the LORD. When we enter into eternity with the Lord, we will also worship Him, like we have never worshipped Him before.

Noah was invited into the ark because he was God's man... He trusted and followed the Lord. He was saved. If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, God will not shield you from His wrath. Repent of your sins and trust Jesus Christ as your personal Savior today.

The Journey: Genesis 7

In Genesis 7, God was getting ready to judge the world because of the evil in it. God is getting ready to do the same thing today. The evil in the world has grown to the point that God is getting ready to end everything, judge the quick and the dead, and establish His kingdom on earth.

The thing to remember about the judgement of God is that He spares His people from His wrath. He spared Noah from the flood by commanding him to build the ark. The ark, by the way, is a symbol of Christ.

1 Peter 3:20-21 says "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. (21) The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus."

Some misinterpret this passage to mean that baptism saves people. That is not what this passage is saying. First of all, in the days of Noah, water didn't save people, it killed them. Secondly, the baptism isn't water baptism, rather it is being baptized (immersed) into Christ. Noah and his family went into the ark, and was saved from God's wrath.. God wants people today to be in Christ, so they'll be safe from His wrath. Those who are in Christ are those who have accepted Him as savior.

There are important lessons from Genesis 7. There is the call to salvation, obedience, and the security of salvation.

First, there's the call to salvation. Verse 1 says "And the LORD said unto Noah, come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation."

There is the invitation, "Come thou, and all thy house into the ark." God was inviting Noah and His family into the ark to be saved from His wrath. The ark represents Christ. God wants us to be in Christ, which means He wants us to repent of our sin and believe in Christ for salvation. He wants us to live for Him to avoid destruction.

And let's not forget there was a reason God invited Noah into the ark. God invited Noah into the ark to save his life. The reason God wants you to accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior is that He wants to save your from the destruction of His wrath when He judges the world. So, repent of your sins and trust Jesus Christ as your personal savior.

In Revelation 18:4-5, the Lord says "Come out of her My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, that ye receive not of her plagues. (5) For her sins have reached out unto Heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities."

In Revelation 18, God told His people to come out of Babylon. He told them to come out of that city. Don't partake of her sins or plagues. Today, He is telling us to come out of the worldly lifestyle. Don't partake in the world's sin. Come out of sinful lifestyles and turn to Christ. Do not be conformed to this world.

Christians, God has called us to be separate from the world, and to be joined to Christ. Don't adopt the world's mentality. Our outlook is different. We are different. We are not of the world, we are of Christ.

In Genesis 7, we also learn of obedience. In verse 5, the Bible says "Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him." God warned Noah of the coming flood, the judgment. Noah believed God, so Noah moved quickly to do the things God told him to do, namely building the ark. Or, as Hebrews 11:7 says, "By faith, Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of righteousness which is by faith." Noah's obedience was motivated by his faith. His faith was what saved him, and his obedience was an expression of his faith.

James 2:18 says "Yea, a man may say, thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works."

The premise of the book of James is that if you have faith, you'll have works to show for it. Faith results in works. Noah believed God, (i.e. had faith), therefore he obeyed God and built the ark.

Jesus said in John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep My commandments." If you love Christ, keep His commandments. Moreover, if you love Christ, you will keep His commandments.

Then, we learn about the security of salvation. Verse 16 says "And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in."

Remember, the ark is symbolic of Christ. Noah went into the ark. God shut him in. God sealed Noah in the ark. The door was shut and Noah wasn't coming out. When you trust in Christ as your Savior, you enter into Christ. God shuts you in, and you are not coming out.

Jesus said in John 10:27-29 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. (29) My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand."

Christ gives us eternal life, which, by definition, can't be ended. He promises we shall never perish. He assures us that no man can pluck us from His hand, nor can they pluck us out of God's hand. If that doesn't settle the fact that those who are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ are saved forever, then I don't know what does. If you truly have faith in Jesus Christ, you'll never let it go. More importantly, He'll never let you go.

Answer God's call to salvation and Christian living. God bless you.

The Journey: Genesis 6

If you remember our study from Genesis 4:17-24, Cain founded a super-society. His society was influencial in agriculture, industry and entertainment. Not only that, but Genesis 6:2 said they had beautiful daughters.

Over time, the sons of God (That's the descendants of Seth) saw that the daughters of men (the descendants of Cain) were beautiful, so they took them as wives. As the sons of God married the daughters of men, they began adopting their lifestyles and values, and before you knew it, you couldn't tell the sons of God from the sons of men.

This is why the Bible teaches that Christians are not to marry non-Christians. The Christian will often compromise his/her values and convictions to get along with the non-Christian spouse. Often, the consequences of this are not completely realized until the children and grandchildren come of age.

The flood and Noah's deliverance are crucial passages of scripture. The condition of Noah's world mirrors our world condition. The imminence of God's judgment on Noah's world is similar to the imminence of God's judgment on ours. God saved Noah by grace, He saves us by grace too.

THE WORLD CONDITION

In Noah's day, you couldn't tell the sons of God (Seth's lineage) from the sons of men (Cain's lineage). Genesis 6:2 says "that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and took them wives of all which they chose." In choosing wives, these sons of God were following the lusts of their flesh, and basing marriages on sexual attraction, rather than what would honor God. In doing so, they began to adopt unGodly traditions and customs, which often seems to happen when believers marry unbelievers. Then, they began having children.

Genesis 6:4 says "There were giants in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came into the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men, which were of old, men of renown." So, the children and grandchildren of these sons of God and daughters of men became mighty and intelligent, but they became unGodly. They were living the Cainian lifestyle, and violence filled the earth (Genesis 6:11).

There was now no difference between the Godly lineage, and the unGodly lineage. The world was violent, and every imagination of the thoughts of man's heart was only evil continually (Genesis 6:5). All he thought about was evil, and then he did evil. Everything was evil.

In today's time, you can't tell most Christians apart from the rest of the world. (Admittedly, this is because many people claim to be Christian who really aren't). The divorce rate among Christians is no different than non-Christians, and many Christians have adopted worldly attitudes concerning alcohol and drugs, politics, habits and lifestyles.

Violence also fills the earth. We have wars and violence overseas, we have violent crime, and an all-round anger in our society.

Everything man thinks today is evil. From the evil fantasies that grow out of the abundant availability of pornography to the covetousness of a generation that thinks they deserve what others have.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:37 "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be." The days preceding the return of Christ will be like the days of Noah. I believe we are close.

THE IMMINENCE OF GOD'S JUDGMENT.

In Noah's time, God said "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth." (Genesis 6:7). Why? Because "The earth is filled with violence through them: and behold, I will destroy them with the earth." (Genesis 6:13). How? "Behold I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and everything that is in the earth shall die. (Genesis 6:17)"

God was warning Noah of imminent judgment. In our day, He is doing the same. 

Matthew 24:42-44 "Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. (43) But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. (44) Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh."

1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (3) For when they shall say peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape."

Revelation 22:20 "Surely I come quickly."

Seeing that the return of the Lord is near, as is God's judgment on the world, shouldn't we be preparing?

Luke 21:34 says "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares." Don't get too caught up in enjoying this life, and don't get too caught up in the day-to-day business of this life, that the day of the Lord blindsides you. Luke 21:36 says "Watch ye therefore and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH.

Genesis 6:8 says "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." Grace is favor that you do not deserve. While Noah was different than the other men in his generation (verse 9), he still didn't deserve God's favor, because the Bible says even our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.

God looks down on us with a love that we don't deserve. John 3:16 says "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The world didn't deserve His love, but He still loved the world.

Romans 5:8 says "God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." God loves us, and we don't deserve it.

God extended His grace toward Noah, but Noah was still different. Genesis 6:9 says "These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a just man and perfect in His generations, and Noah walked with God.."

Noah walked with God. That means Noah had an active prayer life, and he communed with God and learned from God. He was just - meaning equitable and fair. He was an honest man. Noah was also perfect in his generations. He was a complete man of God, the real deal. All this came out of Noah's faith in God. The building of the ark was just an expression of that faith.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: It is the gift of God.: (9) not of works lest any man should boast."

We can't save ourselves. God saves us. He sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Then He reached out to us. That's grace. He saves us when we place our faith in Jesus Christ.

AND NOW A FINAL THOUGHT...

Noah stood out in his generation. Do we stand out in ours?

Daily Devotional Time: Psalm 4

King David was amazing, in that, while he was running for his life, he was writing praises to God. Many people believe Psalm 3 and Psalm 4 were written at about the same time... when King David was being pursued by Absalom, his son.

What brought David comfort and peace during this tumultuous time was remembering what God had done for him. Psalm 4:1 says, "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

David's call to "hear my prayer" was not so much a demand as it was an expression of faith, knowing that God would hear his prayer. Why would David believe God would hear his prayer? Because God had heard his prayers before, and answered them. God had a track record of coming through for David. He enlarged him while he was in distress.

He also had a track record of coming through for Israel, and had to remind them often of the ways He had delivered and blessed them. May we never be guilty of forgetting what God has done for us. May God never have to remind us of all that He has done for us.

Despite God having His hand on David, however, people still turned against him and sought his demise. Psalm 4:2 says "O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah."

God is our glory. He is our Salvation. Yet, people will ridicule us and oppose us, even judge us, because of our faith in Him. They will turn our glory into our shame. Why do people do this? Because they love the temporary things of this earth (vanity) and believe lies (seek after leasing) rather than the truth of God's word. Increasingly, the world is becoming anti-Chrisian, but that is another topic for another day.

We can take comfort in knowing that God has set us apart, and thus will hear our prayers. (Verse 3.) We are different from the rest of the world, and we enjoy a special position of fellowship with God. He hears our prayers, He teaches us, and He works out the problems in our lives.

He stands in the gap for us. He provides for us. He gives us hope in hopeless situations, and He gives us a peace that surpasses all understanding.(Psalm 4:6 says He lifts up our heads. Psalm 4:7 says He fills our hearts with gladness, more gladness than the lost world has when their finances are booming.)

But this special position we believers have with God should not puff us up with pride. Psalm 4:4-5 says:

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD

We are to commune in our own hearts. That means we are to examine ourselves... introspect... check our true intentions and what is in our hearts. We are to offer the sacrifices of righteousness, which for us today means that we are to adopt the lifestyle of a Christian, and trust the LORD.

David closes out Psalm 4 with verse 8, "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety."

David is on the run, fleeing Absalom, who seeks to kill him for the throne. David needs to be on guard, watch for any attackers, and be vigilant lest his enemies catch him napping. What does he do? He goes to bed. Why? Because David knows that he is only as safe as the Lord keeps him.

There is a verse in Psalm 127 that says "except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." If God is not in your efforts, your efforts will fail.

I am reminded of a Chrysler commercial which said good things come to those who work, who stay up later, who work harder, who pay more attention to detail. While hard work yields rewards, we need to remember that it is God Who blesses our efforts.

So, if you are living in God's will, you can rest. The Bible teaches that God gives His beloved rest. So often, we feel that we have to do everything, provide everything and earn everything. David said only the LORD makes him to dwell in safety. For us, only God can meet all our needs. It's time we trust Him.

King David was amazing. In the worst of times, he trusted God and praised Him. We should do no less. May God bless you.

Daily Devotional Time: Psalm 3

God still performs miracles. I'm not talking about televangelist miraculous showmanship miracles, I'm talking about God stepping in and intervening on behalf of His children.

Having spent my entire childhood and part of my young adulthood as a lost person, and struggling in my faith during my 20s, I came to adopt a creed of "lift up your requests to God, but don't be too disappointed if He doesn't answer." It was the faithless viewpoint of one who had never fully observed God move.

However, since moving to Brownwood, I have seen God answer prayers in mighty ways... and I have seen Him step in miraculously at the right time. There were times when there should have been no hope, but God responded to our prayers and saved the day.

There are times when trouble seems to pile up at the door. Psalm 3:1-2 says:

Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. 2Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

Sometimes it seems that the whole world is against you... and your enemies might even believe that God won't help you. You might even think you are beyond God's reach. But the good news is that you are never out of God's reach, and the situation is never out of his control. Psalm 3:3-4 says:

But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. 4I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

God is our shield. He stands between us and those who wish to harm us. He stands in the gap for us. Not only that, He is our glory. Everything good about us, everything that we can glory in, comes from God. God is also the lifter up of our heads. He is our comforter, healer and encourager.

But the most powerful part of Psalm 3 to me is verse 4, that says "I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of His holy hill." God, the creator of the universe, the all-powerful, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God hears our prayers. He hears my prayers, and He hears your prayers if you know Him. When you pray, you can pray confidently knowing that He hears your prayers... and He will intervene on your behalf... even it if wasn't quite what you were thinking.

King David totally trusted God. When He wrote these words in Psalm 3, he had been betrayed by everyone close to him, and was running from Absalom, who wanted to kill him. (Admittedly, he brought it on himself, but that's another story for another day.)

So when David wrote in Psalm 3:5 that "I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me," he wasn't praising a beautiful morning. He was thanking God for protecting him while he slept. God protects us when we are at our most vulnerable moments.

God protects His people, and never lets them suffer unless there is a greater purpose at stake. Or, as Psalm 3:8 says, "Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people."

Salvation belongs to God, and our salvation is tied up in Him. Trust Jesus Christ as your personal savior, then trust God to guide you through life, and protect you along the way. God bless you.

Daily Devotional Time: Psalm 2

So, I am sitting at a car wash in Colorado Springs, you know, the hometown of Focus on the Family, Dr. James Dobson, the National Association of Evangelicals, and some 86 other para-church organizations, and I am reading a column in the Colorado Springs Gazette. The columnist was the leader of an organization that seeks to aid people who were victims of religious harassment, which is defined as any effort to evangelize or disciple. If I knocked on your door to witness to you, or to invite you to church, I would have religiously harassed you, according to this column.

The column was an indication of where our society is headed. Our society is becoming increasingly anti-Christian. This shouldn't come as a suprise, however, as scripture speaks of those who oppose God in Psalm 2:1-5:

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

In the psalmist's day, there were foreign kings and nations seeking to wipe out Israel, God's chosen people. Such a concept seemed insane to the psalmist, who was well acquainted with God's omnipotent power.

In our day, there are people who have identified God as the enemy, and they battle God by harassing, opposing, fighting and even persecuting His people. They may win victories in this life, but when they stand before God in the judgment, it will be a different story.

Meanwhile, things are different for those who know Jesus Christ as their personal savior. Psalm 2:6-9 says:

Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

We are different, because we have repented from our sin and turned our heart toward the Lord, or as the psalmist put it, we "have set our king upon our holy hill of Zion." We worship the Lord, and we openly profess that He is our Savior. The psalmist said, "I will declare the decree." What decree? "The Lord hath said unto me, 'thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.'"

In addition to being a Messianic passage, this verse also teaches us that if you know the Lord as your savior, you have been born again, and are now a child of God.

God loves His children, and gives them an inheritance, which the Bible teaches will be in God's Kingdom when He establishes it on this earth. We will have victory over those who persecute us, and spend eternity in God's presence.

The psalmist leaves a final warning for those who would fight against God in verses 10-12:

Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

God's grace is incomparable. He will save and extend His grace to those who once fought against Him. Today, you may be in a situation where you are fighting against God. Perhaps you are angry with God over a situation in your life. Perhaps someone claiming to act on God's behalf hurt you in a bad way. Or, perhaps you have been taught the lie that all wars and problems in the world come from Christianity.

Whatever the reason for your personal battle against God, He will spare you from His wrath and welcome you into His heaven if you turn from your sin and trust Jesus Christ as your personal savior. I can testify to this personally, because there was a time when I personally was at war against God. However, God confronted me about my sin. I repented, placed my faith in Jesus Christ, and He saved me and called me into His ministry.

You can do the same. Turn from your sin, and place your faith in Jesus Christ. What I mean by that is that if you trust that Jesus paid for your sin on the cross, and are willing to live for Him, He will save you.

Romans 5:8-10 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

May God Bless You.

Daily Devotional Time: Psalm 1

Psalm 1 is a passage that offers comfort and encouragement for believers:

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. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.3 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. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

A sure-fire way to live a blessed life is to follow the guidance of verses 1-2. The man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the ungodly, stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful is blessed. So many Christians forfeit this blessedness, though, because they walk in the counsel of the unGodly. Instead of turning to the Word of God for guidance and encouragement, they turn to their lost friends, who then give them worldly advice.

Christians also forfeit this blessedness by standing in the way of sinners... that is by adopting some of the practice of sinners. It begins with following their advice, the next thing you know, you are living their lifestyle. Sin carries consequences, and robs the Christian of fellowship with God.

Blessings are further forfeited by sitting in the seat of the scornful. Anger and hatred eat at the heart and the soul, and the flesh tends to latch on to those emotions easily. The Christian that turns away from those emotions and refuses to sit in the seat of the scornful will be blessed.

Now, if you go through life with a checklist of things that you shouldn't do, you'll find yourself getting frustrated and discouraged. Instead of looking at what you shouldn't do, focus on what you should do. Verse 2 says "But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."

The way you avoid walking in the counsel of the unGodly, standing in the way of sinners and sitting in the seat of the scornful is by delighting in God's word, the Bible, and meditating in it day and night. The man who spends his time in God's word has a certain stability and peace about him that the psalmist compares to a tree planted by the rivers of water... or as Charles Spurgeon put it, "A Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn't."

So what are the blessings that go along with a Bible-centered life? Verse 3 says, "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."

1. There is the stability that the psalmist compares to a tree planted by the rivers of water. The roots run deep, nourish the tree, and prevent the tree from being uprooted. Trees planted in moist areas have vast and extensive root systems that extend the life of the tree. Such is the case with the man who spends his time in God's word. He is well-nourished (Spiritually speaking), and his faith is deep and vast like that tree's root system. This creates a well-rounded, stable person.

2. He brings forth fruit in his season, and his leaf shall not wither. The man who is well-grounded in His faith as a result of a Bible-centered lifestyle is productive in his service to the Lord. A popular saying is that you "should not be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good." In actuality, the opposite of that saying is true. The most heavenly minded are the most earthly good. The difference is that the things they accomplish are of an eternal value.

3. Whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. This doesn't mean that you get rich, or that you are automatically successful at everything. What it does mean is that the man who is Biblically centered will follow God's will, and in doing so will succeed because God will prosper him. Nehemiah followed God's leadership, and thus was able to confidently say, "Our God will prosper us." It is okay to expect God to bless your efforts, if you are Bible-centered and following His will.

Life is not always easy for a believer, even a Bible-centered believer... but it is never pointless. So, go ahead, pick up your Bible. Read it, and meditate on what you read daily.

Daily Devotional Time: Hebrews 10:26-29

The prison chaplain stood in the execution chamber looking at the condemned killer. His crime was horrible, but in the 12 years since he arrived on death row, the chaplain observed something within that inmate that made him think... the chaplain considered the wasted potential of that inmate, and the fact that given another chance, the condemned criminal could possibly do something great.

It was a heart-wrenching decision... the State demanded justice for this man's crime, yet the chaplain desired mercy. So, in an unprecedented move, the chaplain surrendered his own son to be executed in the criminal's place. It was a move that no one could understand... why would a man give his only son to die for a slimeball like this condemned killer? It was indescribable.

There the killer lay strapped to the execution table, and the chaplain approached him...

"Son, come to my house. Let me take you in, let me provide for you, and help you get back on your feet," the chaplain said.

"I dunno chaplain," the killer said. "Going home with you might cut into my newly-found freedom."

Angered by this flippant rejection of his grace, the chaplain threw the switch, and the killer is no more.

We can not understand why anyone would give their only son, or any of their children, up for someone else... but we can understand the rage this chaplain felt that his sacrifice was disregarded.

God gave His only begotten Son, who died on the cross that we might be free... that we might be saved from death and Hell if we repent and believe in Him. Sadly, many flippantly blow off the sacrifice God made for us, just as that killer blew off the chaplain's good grace. There are some strong words concerning this in Hebrews 10:26-29:

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

God gave all that He had for us when He sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. For us to avoid placing our faith in Him because we fear the "loss of freedom," if we take the decision lightly, or if we blow it off completely, we spit in the face of the One Who truly loves us. And, if we blow off the decision to repent of our sins and trust Christ as our Savior, we deserve the wrath and judgment that is coming our way.

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior? If so, cherish the free gift of salvation, and don't trample on it with a lifestyle of unrepented sin.

However, if you haven't accepted Christ as your savior, every moment you delay, you are heaping wrath and judgment on yourself. Repent of your sin and trust Jesus Christ as your savior today.

The Journey: Genesis 5:21-24 (Walking with God)

The Bible says in Genesis 5:21-24 that Enoch walked with God for 300 years.

And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: 24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

The word for "walk" in Genesis 5 literally means "to walk," but figuratively, it means to converse with, to commune with, to get to know. Think of two people who exercise together by walking together in a city park on a daily basis. No doubt, they spend a lot of time talking to each other, sharing each other's concerns, and getting to know each other. That's the type of relationship Enoch had with God.

Enoch walked with God for 300 years, which resulted in him becoming a spiritual giant. The book of Jude referenced Enoch's writings some 2,000 years after he was gone, and Hebrews 11:5 referenced Enoch's faith and testimony that he pleased God. Thousands of years after he was gone, people were still talking about his faith, his testimony, and the fact he was a super-Godly man.

If we walk with God, we will also see significant spiritual growth. So, the question becomes, "How do you walk with God?"

Walking with God involves conversation with God. It involves speaking with God in prayer. Philippians 4:6 says Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. We shouldn't stress out, or worry about things beyond our control. We should trust God to handle those things, all the while we tell Him about our concerns and request that He resolve those issues for us. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says Pray without ceasing. We should spend significant amounts of time each day in prayer.

Conversations, however, are two way streets. If we expect to be able to converse with God, we need to also be willing to listen to Him. We listen to God by studying His word. That is, we read and meditate on the Bible, His scriptures. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

The Bible is scripture, breathed by God. God uses his word to teach us (profitable for doctrine), to point out that which is wrong in our lives (for reproof), to teach us how to correct our sin and errors (for correction) and how to live a life that pleases Him (instruction in righteousness.)

Why does God do that? So we'll be perfect... which means we'll be complete, the real deal, a Christian that is the same on the inside as the outside. God will teach us to be the people He wants us to be, if we'll listen... and we listen by studying His word.

My personal approach to this is to literally walk with God. I walk a mile a day, spending that time in prayer. This usually lasts for 20-25 minutes. I spend that entire time in prayer, then I read a scripture and meditate on its meaning and application. It has made a difference in my life.

Which brings us to the benefits of walking with God...

The first benefit of walking with God is a stronger faith. Hebrews 11:5-6 says:

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Enoch had faith, which led to his pleasing God, so God translated Him. Faith is necessary to please God. So, in order to grow our faith, we have to walk with God. That larger faith will result in God being more pleased with us, which always leads to a blessing.

The second benefit to walking with God is that He hears our prayers.

Finally, we need people to walk with God. Enoch walked with God for 300 years, and had a testimony that lasted thousands of years. We need people to walk with God, leaving a testimony that inspires and encourages others. We need spiritual leaders, and those spiritual leaders must be the type that walk with God.

So, walk with God today. Spend time in prayer with Him, and spend time in His word, the Bible. May God bless you.

Daily Devotional Time: Hebrews 10:23-25

Once upon a time, a long long time ago, families gathered around a television, which was tuned to one of three networks. ABC aired the Disney Sunday Movie on Sunday evenings, and we always watched it after church on Sunday evenings. The Disney Sunday Movie was always introduced by Michael Eisner, who often incorporated the moral to the story. One week, Eisner and Donald Duck introduced a movie by learning to "Be Yourself."

"Be Yourself." That slogan might seem like the antithesis of being a Christian. After all, isn't Christianity about reforming your life and getting back on the straight-and-narrow? It is unfortunate that so many Christian leaders have led their flocks astray by promoting a works system.

Being yourself is a Christian concept, but unlike Eisner and Duck's rendition of the slogan, it matters who you are!

Hebrews 10:23-25 says:

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

In verse 23, Hebrews says "hold fast the profession of our faith." To hold fast means to cling tightly. The profession of your faith is your moment of salvation. It is the moment you repent of your sin and trust Jesus Christ as your personal savior. What Hebrews 10:23 says is to cling tightly to your salvation experience. Keep remembering it, keep going back to it, keep letting it form who you are. Let it be your blessed assurance that you are heaven bound.

While you hold fast to the profession of your faith, verse 24 teaches that you are to gather with other believers and consider one another. To consider one another means to fully get to know each other. Spend time together. Share life experiences together.

What amazes me is how lost people love to spend time together. They go out for nights on the town, have a great time together, take silly pictures and post pictures on Facebook. They lean on each other for comfort, look to each other for entertainment, and encourage each other in their hi-jinks. Yet, many Christians don't like to get together with other Christians. Rarely do they fellowship outside of church.

However, scripture directs us to get together and fellowship together. Verse 24 says we are to provoke, or incite, or encourage each other unto love. We are to encourage each other unto an agape love... a love that places each other in high regard. We are to love each other, encourage each other, lift each other up, entertain each other, and enjoy a great time.

Not only are we to get to know each other and provoke each other unto love, but also good works. We are to encourage each other to do great things.

These are things that we are naturally prone to do if we hold fast the profession of our faith. If we hold fast to the profession of our faith, we will get to know each other fully, and encourage each other, and if we are doing all that, we won't forsake the assembling of ourselves together. We'll be getting together more often... and we won't be doing it because we're supposed to, we'll be doing it because that's who we are.

When you get to that point, gathering with the church and fellowshipping with other Christians will be something that comes naturally to you. You'll do those things, and all you'll be doing is "being yourself."

So, hold fast to the profession of your faith. Remember your moment of salvation. Keep that memory close to you. As you do, you'll notice some changes in your life... not changes you've had to force, but rather changes that grow out of your identity as a child of God. That is called fruit.

May God bless you.

Daily Devotion Time: James 2:18

Back in college, my wife and I were part of a youth group that travelled to different churches and performed skits that illustrated certain Biblical concepts. In one of those skits, my wife portrayed a lady who was on trial for being a Christian. In the skit, her case was dismissed for lack of evidence.

James 2:18 says "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." (Italics added for emphasis).

The Bible is very clear that salvation is by God's grace through our faith apart from any works. Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16, and Romans 3 all speak to this, as well as many other verses of scripture. You are saved by grace through faith, without works.

However, when it comes to works, many people get uneasy. If you preach that saved people ought to have works to show for their salvation, some will turn away, quoting Ephesians 2:8-9, and saying that you ought not preach works.

Works do not save, but saved people have works. It is a Biblical concept. You don't work to get saved, you work because you are saved. Jesus said you would know men, and specifically false prophets, by their fruits. Their fruits are their works. (Matthew 7:16)

Hebrews 11 is full of people who were saved by grace through faith, but their faith motivated them to action. The entire book of James was written to demonstrate that if you really have faith, your actions will show it.

Even our favorite verses in Ephesians 2:8-9 have a followup. We all know that Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For it is by grace through faith that ye are saved, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast." How many people know Ephesians 2:10, which says "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

Your faith should be shown in your actions... but does that mean you have to work to show your faith? Not so much. If you have faith, you know Christ as your savior, and you live the spirit-led life, your works will be an expression of who you are... not efforts made to show how good you are.

Basically, what is in your heart will be shown in how you act. Trust the Lord, invite Him into your heart. Then let your life just be an expression of who you are. May God bless you.