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"WHERE PRAYER AND PRAISE TAKE YOU INTO HIS PRESENCE"

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Love Without Hypocrisy



Romans 12:9 (KJV) Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.



Have you ever heard the words "I love you" from someone you really believed to be your friend, only to find out later that this same person talked behind your back, gossiped about you, and didn't treat you the way a real friend would? If you confronted that person about his actions, did he admit what he did and apologize for it? Or did he lie and try to cover up his deeds, even though you already knew the facts? Did it deeply disturb you to see him put on a fake face and pretend that he was your best friend and that none of the allegations were true, even though you knew he was lying?



If you have ever experienced a situation like this, you know how very hurtful it is when a "so-called" friend behaves this way. It shows a level of hypocrisy that is deeply disturbing. This type of behaviorshould never occur among believers, but unfortunately it does from time to time. To make sure you never fall into this kind of hypocrisy, the apostle Paul wrote and told you, "Let love be without dissimulation...." Before we get to the word "dissimulation," which is our primary theme today, we must first look at the word "love." It is the Greek word agape, a word that describes the highest, finest, and most noble kind of love. In the New Testament, it is the single word that is used to describe the love of God. The word agape is so filled with deep emotion and meaning that it is one of the most difficult words to translate in the New Testament.



Agape occurs when an individual sees, recognizes, understands, or appreciates the value of an object or a person, causing the viewer to behold this object or person in great esteem, awe, admiration, wonder, and sincereappreciation. Such great respect is awakened in the heart of the observer for the object or person he is beholding that he is compelled to love it. In fact, his love for that person or object is so strong that it is irresistible. In the New Testament, perhaps the best example of agape is found in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." In the phrase, "For God so loved the world," the word "love" is the word agape.



The human race was so precious to God and He loved man so deeply that His heart was stirred to reach out and do something to save him. In other words, God's love drove Him to action. You see, agape loves so profoundly that it knows no limits or boundaries in how far, wide, high, and deep it will go to show that love to its recipient. If necessary, agape love will even sacrifice itself for the sake of that object or person it so deeply cherishes. You can see from this description why agape is the highest, finest, and most noble form of love.



This is precisely the kind of love that should exist between believers. For instance, the apostle John wrote, "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:18). The word "love" in this verse is the word agape. The apostle John makes it very clear that real agape love is not merely a matter of speaking easy and empty words; rather, agape is accompanied by actions that are truthful. It is simply hypocritical to claim to possess such love while at the same time engaging in unfaithful behavior such as backbiting and gossiping.Agape would never behave in such a manner; rather, it is forgiving and helpful, willing even to sacrifice itself for the sake of someone else.



This is why Paul wrote, "Let love be without dissimulation...." The King James Version uses the old word "dissimulation," but the Greek word is anupokritos, and it describes something that is pretended, simulated, faked, feigned, or phony. It pictures a person who deliberately gives a certain impression, even though he knows the impression he is giving is untrue. In other words, this person is a phony.





So when the apostle Paul tells us to walk in love that is without dissimulation, he means this:



"If you are going to say you love someone, then make sure you really love them. Don't give an impression that isn't true. Don't say one thing and then do another. Your love should be without hypocrisy, so don't be phony when it comes to the subject of love."



Now let me ask you this question: Have you ever been two-faced with people who thought you were their friend? Did you say one thing to them but later talk behind their backs? Did you do exactly the same thing that someone else is doing to you right now? Is it possible that you are reaping what you have sown? Instead of getting bitter and hardhearted toward someone who has acted hypocritically in his friendship with you, learn fromthis experience.



Make a decision that you will not be phony or hypocritical in your relationships the way this person was to you. Meanwhile, make sure you forgive those who have wronged you. Let it go, and do your best to overlook their inconsistencies. The Lord will probably deal with them about their actions, so if they come to you in repentance, let them know they are forgiven. But most importantly, let this be a time when you decide that you will not be guilty of giving a false impression to a friend. Let your love be real. Don't be a phony.



MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I ask You to please forgive me for the times I've been an unfaithful friend. I know there have been times in my life when I gossiped and talked about people who were supposed to be my close friends. And I didn't stop there. Rather than confess what I did and ask for forgiveness, I tried to cover it up by acting like I hadn't done anything wrong. I am so sorry for what I have done. Please forgive me for lying. Please forgive me for being a phony in my relationships. I don't ever want to do this again, so I ask You to help me walk in truthfulness, integrity, and in genuine agape love. I pray this in Jesus' name!


MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I walk in the agape love of God. I am a sincere, truthful, and dedicated friend. When I say that I love, I genuinely love. I don't talk behind people's backs. I don't gossip. I don't betray the friends God has brought into my life. If I do accidentally say something that is out of order, I quickly go to my friend to confess it and to ask for forgiveness. This truthfulness causes my friends to trust me and to know that I am truly a friend indeed. I declare this by faith in Jesus' name!



QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

Can you recall a time in your life when a friend was dishonest with you?



How did it affect you when you discovered that this person had been two-faced?



Have you ever violated a relationship by being untruthful or by talking behind the back of another person?



What do you think the Lord would have you to do to make things right in that relationship?



What has Jesus taught you through that past experience of violating a friendship?


Why don't you get a notepad and write down the things you have learned from this experience that might later he

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Don't Pay Evil Back for Evil!

Romans 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.


Most all of us have thought at one time or another, Oh, how I want to get back at that person for what he did to me! If you have had that thought in the past, or if you've been thinking such thoughts recently, then what we're going to talk about today should be very helpful to you! In Romans 12:17, the apostle Paul told us, "Recompense to no man evil for evil...." The word "recompense" in this verse is the Greek word apodidomi, and it literally means to give back or to pay back. It carries the idea of returning something to someone. It is a compound of the words apo, which means back, as to return back, and the word didomi, which means to give. When compounded together, the new word gives the impression of someone who wishes to retaliate, to get even, or to take revenge. This person wants to pay someone back for what the other person did by doing the same thing to him; in other words, he wants to get even with the one who wronged him. In the Greek text, there is a negative in the verse, which means this action is strongly prohibited. Paul is ordering us not to do this!



Romans 12:17 goes on to say, "Recompense to no man evil for evil...." The word "evil" is the Greek word kakos. It describes an action that is harmful, hurtful, or injurious or something done with an evil intent. These are the actions of a person who intentionally acts to cause some kind of damage or ruin in someone else's life. But the Greek literally says kakon anti kakou, which means evil for evil. It is the idea of a person who thinks, You did wrong to me, so now I'm going to do wrong to you. I'm going to do to you exactly what you did to me. This is what the phrase "evil for evil" means in this verse.



A fuller interpretation of Romans 12:17 could read:

"Don't get even with people by retaliating and taking revenge. You should never get into the business of intentionally trying to hurt someone just because they hurt you." The flesh loves to retaliate against those who have wronged us, but this is not the way Jesus teaches us to behave. Instead of retaliating, we must seek to walk in peace and to have pure hearts before God. It is impossible for us to be pure before God while we are at the same time devising mischief for those who have wronged us. We have to stay out of the mischief business and leave our offenders in the hands of God.



During the holiday season, people frequently get their feelings hurt, misunderstand each other, or simply get their wires crossed because there are so many people to deal with and so much to do. Stress is definitely a factor during this season, often adversely affecting relationships and changing the way people perceive situations.


So if you get upset about something that happens, don't give in to your emotions and end up in a fight. Rather than letting yourself get all stirred up or allowing yourself to imagine how you can get even with the person who has wronged you, get alone with the Lord and let Him fill your heart with peace. Once His peace is ruling in your heart, you'll see the situation from an entirely different perspective. Even if someone really did wrong you, God's peace will enable you to have a positive attitude toward that person. Meanwhile, you'll be able to walk on in peace with a pure heart before God, free from all bitterness, anger, and strife!



MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I thank You for encouraging me to keep my heart free of strife during this extremely busy time of the year. There is so much to do, so many places I have to be, and so many people I need to see. I admit that the demands of this time of year put a lot of stress and strain on me. In the middle of all these activities, I don't want the devil to get the best of me, so I am asking You to fill me with Your peace. Let that divine peace rule me and my emotions so I don't let satan get the upper hand in any of my relationships during this special time of year. I pray this in Jesus' name!



MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am free of strain and stress. My heart is filled with the peace of God, and that wonderful peace is ruling my heart, my mind, and my emotions. I am not quickly angered or offended. I walk in patience and kindness, and I am quick to forgive and to overlook the inappropriate actions of other people. Because God's peace is ruling in my heart, I will remain calm, peaceful, and undisturbed by anything that happens around me during this very busy holiday season.

I declare this by faith in Jesus' name!



QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

By knowing what has happened in the past, are you now able to recognize the people or the circumstances that the devil uses to trigger your emotions and get you upset?



If your answer is yes, has the Holy Spirit shown you how to circumvent those moments so the devil can no longer ruffle your feathers and cause you to lose your peace?



If your answer is no, have you asked the Holy Spirit to teach you to recognize those moments so they won't be repeated in your life?



When you are tempted to be upset, what helps you the most to be filled with the peace of God? Is it reading the Word for a few minutes, praying, or listening to praise and worship music?



If you get upset about something that happens, don't give in to your emotions and end up in a fight. Rather than letting yourself get all stirred up or allowing yourself to imagine how you can get even with the person who has wronged you, get alone with the Lord and let Him fill your heart with peace.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

The Lance of Prayer and Supplication

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;



One of my favorite sections in museums is the one that displays armor used in the ancient world. I especially enjoy the section that displays the spears and lances that were used by the ancients. It is simply amazing to study the weaponry of the ancient soldier and discover how many different kinds of spears and lances were available to him. It becomes very evident that the spear and lance was one of the most important pieces of weaponry he possessed.



When Paul wrote his epistle to the Ephesians, he spoke extensively about the armor of God, urging believers to use their spiritual weaponry. However, as you study this full list of weaponry, it seems that the lance or spear, a key weapon, is missing. But although Paul didn't explicitly mention the lance, he did tell believers to take up the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11), implying a complete set of weaponry. We can therefore assume that Paul must have intended to include the lance or spear in this set of spiritual equipment.



The lance of our spiritual armor is found in Ephesians 6:18, where Paul says, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit...." I call this "the lance of prayer and supplication." Let's look more closely at this piece of weaponry so you can better understand why I say this. The lances used by the large and diverse Roman army varied greatly in size, shape, and length. These weapons were devised to be used to attack an enemy from a distance. They were thrown with great force and hurled tremendous distances to strike the enemy from afar. Because different lances were thrown at different distances, they came in all sizes and shapes. The particular lance chosen by a soldier depended on how it was to be used.



By revelation, Paul begins to compare these various lances to the various kinds of prayer God has made available to us. This is why hesaid, "Praying always, with all prayer and supplication...." You see, when a believer effectively uses prayer, it becomes a lance that can be thrust forth into the spirit realm against the malevolent works of the adversary. By forcibly hurling this divine instrument of prayer into the face of the enemy, a believer can exert great spiritual power, literally attacking the devil from a distance in order to stop major obstacles from developing up close in his personal life.



I want you to especially notice the phrase "with all prayer." It is taken from the Greek phrase dia pases proseuches and would be better translated "with all kinds of prayer." Do you understand the various forms of prayer that are available for you to use as you pray and wage spiritual warfare? Don't wrongly assume that all prayer is of the samekind. Just as Roman soldiers used all kinds of lances in battle, Paul lets you know that many forms of prayer are available for you to use in the fight of faith. For instance, there is the prayer of faith, the prayer of agreement, the prayer of intercession, the prayer of supplication, the prayer of petition, the prayer of consecration, the prayer of thanksgiving, united prayer, and so forth. Paul instructs us to use every form of prayer that has been made available to us as it is needed. No one kind of prayer is better than the others; each serves a different and necessary purpose in the life of faith.



Never forget that prayer is a vital piece of your spiritual weaponry. If you neglect this strategic piece of weaponry, you will find that the enemy keeps attacking you from up close. But as you learn to pray with authority, you will develop the ability to strike the enemy from a distance and therefore maintain a victorious position in your life. God has placed the lance of prayer at your disposal so you can be assured of absolute and total victory. As you use this lance of prayer and supplication in all its various forms, you will continually reinforce Jesus Christ's triumphant victory over Satan and gloriously demonstrate Satan's miserable defeat in every area of your life!



MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I thank You for entrusting me with all the weapons I need to keep the devil defeated in my life. Forgive me for not always taking advantage of the full weaponry You have provided. Prayer is powerful—yet I admit that I have neglected this piece of weaponry in my life. Forgive me for allowing myself to get too busy to make time for prayer. Instead of ignoring this vital piece of weaponry, I want to learn how to use every form of prayer that is available to me so I can stop the devil from making up-close attacks in my life. Thank You for this vital weapon of warfare. Please teach me to use it powerfully, forcefully, and effectively against the works of the devil.

I pray this in Jesus' name!



MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that prayer is a vital piece of my spiritual weaponry. Because I use this strategic piece of weaponry, I am able to stop the enemy from attacking me from up close. I pray with authority, and that authority gives me the ability to strike the enemy from a distance while maintaining a victorious position in my life. With the lance of prayer at my disposal, I can be sure of absolute and total victory. Although the devil tries to attack me, I overcome each of his attacks by striking him from a distance as I thrust the lance of prayer and supplication into the realm of the spirit. I commit myself to using the lance of prayer and supplication in all its various forms. As I do, I will continually reinforce Jesus Christ's triumphant victory over Satan and gloriously demonstrate Satan's miserable defeat in every area of my life!

I declare this by faith in Jesus' name!



QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

Can you think of a time when you felt alerted in your spirit that an attack was coming from the enemy, and you disabled that attack by using your God-given authority in prayer?



What was that occasion? How did your aggressive praying stop that attack in your life?

Looking back on your life, what do you think would have happened if you hadn't listened to the Spirit of God and hurled the lance of prayer and supplication into the spirit realm?

If that attack against you had been successful, in what way would it have negatively affected your life?



Have you taken the time to stop and thank God for alerting you to this potential spiritual attack?



Are you aware of the different kinds of prayer that are available for you to use?



What are you doing to learn more about prayer and how to use prayer more effectively in your life?

Monday, December 19, 2011

Are You Living Only for Today—Or Living Also for Eternity?

2 Peter 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

One day I was standing at the foot of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt with my wife and sons. We had spent that entire week floating down the Nile River, touring all the sites of ancient Egypt, many of which were more than 4,000 years old. We were amazed at how well the condition of these ancient locations had been preserved. Finally we stood at the foot of the ancient, massive Great Pyramid of Giza. It, too, was in marvelous condition, considering that it had been standing there for so many thousands of years. It was very evident that the Great Pyramid had been built solidly so it would stand as an eternal remembrance to the Egyptian king who built it.



As I stood there with my family, I told my sons, "Thispyramid has stood here for thousands of years, but a day is coming in the future when it will be completely dissolved. When the final Day of the Lordcomes, the Bible tells us that everything that exists on the earth will melt with fervent heat, and the earth and all its works will be burned up. Boys,that means a day is coming when none of these monuments will exist any longer. Everything built by man will vanish, including these monuments that have stood the test of time for thousands of years. The only thing that will last is what people have done for Jesus Christ."



The scripture I referred to as I talked to my sons was Second Peter 3:10. This verse says that when the Day of the Lord comes, "... the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are thereinshall be burned up." According to Peter, when the Day of the Lord comes at the very end of the age, everything we presently see and know will be changed. Even the heavens as we currently know them will pass away. The words "pass away" are from the Greek word parerchomai, which pictures something that is temporary and will soon be passing away. Peter says that the present heavens will pass away with a "great noise." The words "great noise" are from the Greek word hroidzedon. This word describes a sound so loud that it is nearly deafening to those who hear it. It further carries the idea of a tremendous hissing, sizzling, cracking sound that rushes all about or a noise so thunderous that no one can escape it.

When these events transpire, the heavens and all "the elements" shall melt with a fervent heat. The word "elements" is the Greek word stoicheion, and it refers to everything that exists— from the heavenly bodies in the sky overhead to the mountains, the earth, the buildings constructed by man, and even the smallest atomic particles. Absolutely nothing will survive the transforming, purifying fire that will melt everything.



The word "melt" in this verse is from the Greek word luo, which normally means to loose. But in this case, it pictures the dissolving of matter and the complete dissolution of the earth's elements. This melting of the elements will occur because of a "fervent heat" that will be manifested on the Day of the Lord. The words "fervent heat" come from the Greek word kausoomai, which depicts a fire so intense that nothing escapes its blaze. It was used by medical writers to convey the idea of a fever that consumed a victim. This is an intense, raging, blazing, blistering, burning fire that consumes and hence purges everything it touches. Absolutely nothing will survive this fire when Jesus purifies this present world and creates a new heaven and a new earth.



I spoke these words to my sons because I wanted them to know that the only thing to survive this life will be what we do for Jesus Christ. We tend to think that our houses, buildings, and the things we construct inlife will live forever. But the truth is, even the structures that are built to survive through the ages of time will eventually pass away. Since only thatwhich is done for eternity will outlast this world, we can see why Peter asked the question, "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?" (2 Peter 3:11).



A day is coming when all the material possessions you own and hold to be dear will be "dissolved." The word "dissolved" is from the Greek word luo, which is the same word mentioned above in Second Peter 3:10 to describe the complete dissolution of everything that presently exists. By using this word, Peter alerts us to the fact that nothing we presently own will last forever. In light of this truth, how should we view our material possessions, and how should we prioritize our lives?



Too often we devote the bulk of our time to our homes,gardens, cars, businesses, or other worldly affairs. Although we must give attention to the basic things that are necessary to life, we make a huge mistake if we focus on these temporal matters while neglecting the eternal spiritual issues that will pass from this life into the next. Only what is done for the Lord will last. Everything else will be left behind in a world thatwill one day be consumed with a fervent heat. Since everything will be dissolved, as Peter tells us, doesn't it make sense that we invest in our spiritual futures as well as in our present lives?



How should this knowledge affect the way you live? Peter asked, "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be...?" In other words, since the heavens and the earth and everything in them are temporary and will one day pass away, whatshould have your greatest attention and devotion?

Unsaved men in today's world live for the present. Often they do great philanthropic works because they want their names to be remembered in future generations. Their desire is to have people revere them, place their names on buildings, name streets after them, and so forth.



However, every building that bears a person's name will one day evaporate. The pyramids that have stood before us for centuries will one day be gone. Those who live only for the present or to impress men will be the greatest losers of all, for everything they have lived for will burn up andpass away, never to be remembered again. On the other hand, those who live for eternity, walk by faith, and obey what the Word of God tells them to do will make a name for themselves that will be remembered in Heaven for all of eternity. These are the biggest winners in life!


The message I conveyed to my sons that day in front of the pyramids is the same message I want to impress upon you today: Take the time to consider your priorities in life. Are you investing in eternity, or are youconsumed with natural things that won't survive that consuming fire, which will one day melt everything that exists? Since what you do for Jesus is the only thing that will survive, don't you think it would be wise to prayerfully consider your life to see if you are investing as much in eternity as you are investing in the present?



MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, please help me to live soberly and to invest not only in the present, but also in the eternity that is to come. I don't want to be among those who lived only for the present and therefore suffered loss because they forgot to invest in Heaven. Teach me how to manage and increase the material possessions You have given me so that I can use them to increase my wealth in Heaven. I am grateful for the things I own, but I am more thankful for the souls who are in Heaven because I used my resources to invest in eternity. Help me to use my life wisely and to live as I ought to live in light of eternity. I pray this in Jesus' name!



MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that I am living for eternity. Although I thank God for all the possessions He has given me, I realize that all of these are temporary blessings. The greatest investment I can make is in my spiritual future, so in addition to managing the physical blessings God has given me, I am a wise investor in my eternal destiny. I spend the bulk of my time, my money, my talents, and my energies on things that will further God's Kingdom and outlast this world!

I declare this by faith in Jesus' name!



QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER


In light of what you have read today, what changes do you need to make in your schedule and priorities in order to invest in things that will outlast this life?

Do you spend more time focusing on temporal matters that don't count for eternity, or do you spend a healthy amount of your time, money, talents, and energies on doing what God's Word tells you to do?

If Jesus were to speak to you directly today, do you think He would tell you that you are living primarily for today, or that you are also investing wisely in your eternal future?

Friday, December 16, 2011

The Annihilating Appearance Of Jesus Christ in Great Glory!



2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.




When Jesus comes at the end of the age, He will come in great power and glory In fact, when He comes, His glory will be so brilliant that it will totally annihilate the antichrist! This is why Paul told the Thessalonians, "And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming" (2 Thessalonians 2:8). After time runs out for the antichrist to do his work on the earth, Jesus will come. And Paul declares that when the Lord comes, He will "consume" this evil leader "with the spirit of his mouth." The Greek word translated "consume" is anairo, which means to kill, to murder, to slay, to slaughter, to do away with, or to abolish. The meaning here is clear: When the Lord comes, He will obliterate the antichrist. He will wipe him out and permanently do away with him.



How will the Lord do this? Paul says that "... the Lord shall consume [the antichrist] with the spirit of his mouth...." The word translated "spirit" is actually from the Greek word pneuma, which is normally translated spirit. Thus, the verse could be translated, "BY the spirit of his mouth." This means that even though Satan energizes the antichrist with all the power he possesses, this evil leader doesn't stand a chance in the Presence of Jesus. Paul lets us know that this demonized leader doesn't even have enough strength to withstand one puff from the mouth of the Lord! The Greek word stomos describes the mouth of the Lord from which this obliterating power will come. You see, on that day the Lord will open his mouth and speak—and when He does, so much power will be released that it will permanently remove the antichrist from the world scene.



In fact, Paul says this final encounter with the Lord will "destroy" this evil leader. The word "destroy" is the Greek word katargeo. Paul uses this word twenty-five times in his New Testament writings, so we know exactly what he intends by using it. This word means to bring to nothing; to reduce to waste; to render inactive; to abolish; or to put out of commission. There is no doubt that when Jesus Christ comes, He will permanently put the antichrist out of commission! The rule of evil will come to an abrupt end when Jesus returns at the end of the age. I want you to know what Paul is talking about when he uses the phrase "the brightness of his [Jesus'] coming." The word "brightness" is the Greek word epiphaneia. This word was used in classical Greece to describe the sudden and occasional surprise appearance of the Greek gods. When the fabled gods suddenly appeared, they were glorious and mighty in appearance. Now Paul reaches into classical literature and borrows a word that clearly means Jesus' coming will take many by surprise and will be accompanied by great splendor and glory.



The world, entrenched in evil, will think it has won the victory and is secure in its plans. But then the Lord will come and take them all by surprise! Before anyone realizes what is happening, God's glory will fill the sky, and Jesus will mightily appear in the sky overhead. His "coming" (from the word parousia, which describes the Lord's strong Presence) will take the world by surprise, overwhelming everyone as every evil system set in place by unregenerate man is suddenly obliterated!



An interpretive translation of Second Thessalonians 2:8 could read:

"When the Wicked One steps onto the stage and makes his presence known, it won't be too long afterward that the Lord will come. And when He comes, His coming will be so grand, so glorious, and so overwhelming that He will totally obliterate the Lawless One by the mere breath of His mouth. Just one puff from the Lord, and this evil person will be incinerated! The very Presence of the Lord will eradicate him, permanently putting him out of commission."



You see, when you serve Jesus Christ, you have joined the greatest Champion in the universe. There is no power that can equal or surpass His power. There is no might on planet earth to compare with His awesome might. And just think—when you become a child of God, you become a joint heir with Him! Everything He possesses—including His power and His victory—becomes yours! You should rejoice in the knowledge of what Jesus will do by His mighty power when He returns at the end of the age. However, don't overlook the fact that this same power is available to you today. Jesus has given you His power so you can use it in this life.



So if evil is resisting you in some area of your life right now, open your mouth and let the power of God be released to obliterate that attack! Shock the devil with a sudden manifestation of God's power that permanently immobilizes him in every area of your life!



MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I thank You for Your awesome power that You have chosen to share with Your children. I don't ever have to let the devil run freely in my life. By opening my mouth and speaking the Word of God to my situation, Your power can be released to obliterate the enemy's work in my life. Thank You for making me Your joint heir and for investing Your great power in my life!

I pray this in Jesus' name!



MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I boldly declare that God's power resides in me. There is enough power inside me to obliterate any attack the devil would attempt to bring against my life. Rather than sit in fear and fret about what is happening to me, I will open my mouth, speak the Word of truth, and watch the power of God attack, overwhelm, and overcome the strategies that the devil has tried to use against me! I declare this by faith in Jesus' name!



QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

What are the areas of your life that seem to be under
demonic assault right now?


What are you doing to resist these attacks?



Are you foolishly shutting your eyes and hoping they will go
away by themselves?


Or are you opening your mouth to speak the Word of God and to release the power of God into your situation?



What scriptures should you be speaking over your life right now to bring a permanent solution to these assaults?

Thursday, December 15, 2011

The Great Restrainer!

2 Thessalonians 2:6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.



If Satan has been waiting to introduce the antichrist to the world, what is stopping him from allowing this evil leader to step onto the platform of the world stage right now? Why is it taking so long for the devil to finally bring this man to public attention? Paul answered this question when he wrote Second Thessalonians 2:6-8. He said, "And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming."



Notice that Paul says, "And now ye know...." In the Greek, the sentence could be better translated, "Now, since I have already told you all these things, you ought to already know...." This is important, for it tells us that Paul had already informed the Thessalonian believers about events that would occur in the last days. Paul had only spent a mere matter of months with the Thessalonian church; we can therefore see from this passage of Scripture the importance he attached to their ability to understand end-time events. In the short time Paul was with the Thessalonian believers, he had instructed them so well on the events of the last days that he could now tell them, "Since I have already told you all these things, you ought to already know...."


Let me ask you this: If Paul used part of his brief stay with the Thessalonian church to teach them about the events that would occur in the last days, doesn't this tell us that our understanding of this subject should be a very high priority? We can't shut our eyes to these truths of Scripture. If Paul considered this theme so important that he would introduce it to a group of new believers, how much more do we who are seasoned believers need to grasp what the Bible teaches about the last days?


Paul told the Thessalonian believers that a Force "withholdeth" the antichrist from being revealed. Although the Greek doesn't specifically state the identity of the restraining Force in this verse, it seems to suggest that Paul is referring to the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. Think of it—what if the power of the Spirit of God was suddenly withdrawn or removed from the earth? It would be only a brief matter of time before the devil quickly consummated his dream of world domination. You see, the Holy Spirit is the Great Restrainer, and He is holding back this evil from coming to pass in the world today.


The King James Version uses the word "withholdeth" to describe this restraining work of the Spirit. In Greek, it is the word katecho and carries the idea of holding something down or suppressing something. It is clear that this is an evil so horrendous that it must be held down, held back, or suppressed lest it be loosed to release a wide range of wicked effects. The supernatural Force Paul refers to is stalling, delaying, and postponing the evil that is craving to be fully released and set into operation.


Peter tells us why the Spirit of God is stalling, delaying, and postponing this dreadful time at the end of the age. In Second Peter 3:9, he says that God is "... not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." God is holding back the ultimate day of evil to give unbelievers more time to come to Him in repentance. But a day is soon coming when the Great Restrainer will "... be taken out of the way" (2 Thessalonians 2:7). When this day comes, the hindering Power that has continuously delayed the worldwide domination of evil and lawlessness will be removed. It will be as though He is suddenly lifted out of the middle of everything. At that moment, the evil forces that have long been suppressed will suddenly be freed, and their wicked plans, purposes, and desires will be abruptly energized. When the supernatural hindering Force is removed, these events will quickly come to pass with no hesitation, for the Restrainer will be out of the picture.



Once the Restrainer is gone, the antichrist will "be revealed." The word "revealed" is the word apokalupto. The Greek word apo means away, and the word kalupto refers to something that is veiled, covered, concealed, or hidden. When these two words are compounded, they form the word apokalupto, which depicts a veil that has been removed, exposing what is behind the veil that was previously concealed or hidden from view. When the Holy Spirit's restraining power has been withdrawn, there will no longer be any force present to hold back the evil forces. Therefore, this evil leader who has been concealed and hidden from public view will suddenly "appear." In that moment, it will seem as if a stage curtain has been pulled out of the way so that he can make his grand appearance to the world.



Taking all these Greek words into consideration, an interpretive translation of Second Thessalonians 2:6-8 could read this way:



"Now in light of everything I've told you before, you ought to be well aware by now that there is a supernatural Force at work, preventing the materialization of this person and the disclosure of his identity.



"This restraining Force I'm referring to is so strong that it is currently putting on the brakes and holding back the unveiling of this wicked person, stalling and postponing his manifestation. But when the right moment comes, this evil one will no longer be withheld, and he will emerge on the world scene! The screen that has been hiding his true identity and guarding him from world view will suddenly be pulled back and evaporate—and he will step out on center stage to let everyone know who he is.


"These events have been covertly in the making for a long time, but the world doesn't realize that a secret plan is being executed right under their own noses. The only thing that has kept this plan from already being consummated is the supernatural Force that has been holding it all back until now.



"But one day this Force will be removed from the picture—and when that happens, these events will quickly transpire. The removal of this restraining Force will signal the moment when the Lawless One will finally make his grand appearance to the world...."


Can you image how quickly evil would take over the world if the Spirit of God stopped restraining the presence of evil? Because God is holding back this force of evil to give men more time to repent, we are still living in a period of grace when men can call on the name of the Lord and be saved. We are truly living in a season of grace that God is extending to the world just before the worst evil in human history is manifested on the earth.


If you haven't been spending much time in prayer for your unsaved friends and loved ones, why don't you start making it a high priority today to pray for their salvation? Right now God is holding back evil so that your friends—and all mankind—may have one last opportunity to come to Him in repentance before the end of the age is consummated and all the prophecies of the Bible are fulfilled.

Which of your friends need to be saved? How often do you pray for them? What are you doing to ensure that they have an opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ? If you possess the answers they need but don't share those answers with them, how do you think you will feel when you stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ?



If you do your best to introduce your loved ones to Jesus but they refuse to listen, at least your heart will be free of guilt on that day when you stand before Jesus. So why don't you begin to pray for them today? And while you're in that place of prayer, ask the Holy Spirit to give you another chance to share the Gospel with those whom you know and love!



MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I thank You for holding back the evil forces that want to manifest in the world today. It's hard to imagine what the world would be like if Your Spirit no longer suppressed the evil in the hearts of men. I thank You for working in the world today, and I thank You for giving my friends, family, associates, and acquaintances one last chance to come to You. Please help me recognize divinely appointed moments when I can present the Gospel to those who are near me. And I ask You to help me formulate my words so they can understand what I am communicating to them. Holy Spirit, as I speak to people, I ask You to do the work of conviction in their hearts so they will have a desire to believe and to repent. I pray this in Jesus' name!



MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am sensitive to opportunities that God gives me to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I don't have a spirit of fearabout witnessing. Because the power of the Holy Spirit lives inside me, I am brave, bold, and courageous when it comes to telling the Good News of Jesus Christ. People need the Gospel—and that means they need to hear what I have to tell them. When I speak, God's Spirit anoints me and people listen. As a result of my obedience, I am being used by God to bring many people to salvation in these last days! I declare this by faith in Jesus' name!



QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

Who are the unbelieving family members, friends, associates, or acquaintances you are most concerned about?



Have you ever put them on a prayer list to help remind you to pray for their salvation every day?



Before you were saved, did anyone pray regularly for your salvation? Who was that person?



After you came to the Lord, didn't it make you thankful that someone cared enough to pray for you?



Have you ever taken the time to thank that person for making your salvation a high priority in his or her prayer time?



Is there someone you are going to see today who might be open if you shared the Good News that Jesus died for him or her?



Who is that person?

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

The Appearance of the Antichrist

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.


From my early childhood, I heard about the antichrist. In the many years that I've been Christian, I've heard people speculate that this person or that person could potentially be the antichrist. However, although these individuals may have been forerunners to the antichrist, none of themturned out to be the long-anticipated Man of Lawlessness described in the Scriptures. The Bible teaches us that at some point in the future, an evil ruler called the antichrist is going to step onto the platform of the world stage and take the leading role for a short time in the affairs of mankind. Many predecessors of the antichrist have alreadycome and gone, but according to this scripture in Second Thessalonians 2, the real antichrist is still yet to be revealed in the last times.



Paul tells us about the supernatural appearance of theantichrist when he writes about the last days in Second Thessalonians 2:3, 4. Paul writes, "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."



Paul says that before the antichrist can be revealed, first there must be a "falling away" that takes place in the world. The phrase "falling away" is taken from the Greek word apostasia, which describes a falling away or a revolt. The writer Plutarch used this word todescribe a political revolt. The word apostasia is used to picture people who are turning away from the Lord. This word also occurs in the Septuagint version of Joshua 2:22, where it conveys the idea of rebellion against God. Thus, the word apostasia is a word that denotes rebellion, mutiny, and defiance.



Before the antichrist can be welcomed with wide-open arms by the world, a change in society's mentality must first take place. Paul usesthis word to predict a rebellion or mutiny against God that will occur in the last days. The text does not imply that this mutiny will occur within the Church; rather, it seems to point to a change in society's attitude toward God. Paul is describing a time when society's attitude toward God and holy things will become mutinous. Once this anti-God and anti-godliness mentality pervades society, the world will be primed andprepared to receive this man whom Paul calls "that man of sin."



The Greek word used here for "sin" is the word anomia. Translating the word anomia as "sin" is unfortunate, for the word anomia actually means without law and carries the idea of a lawless attitude. It has a definite article in Greek, which tells us emphatically that this individual is not just any person with a lawless attitude; rather, this is a reference to the man of lawlessness or the antichrist.



Paul points to a time when this evil leader will be "revealed." The word "revealed" is the Greek word apokalupto. It is a compound word, using the words apo and kalupto. The word apo means away, and the word kalupto is something that is veiled, covered, concealed, or hidden. When these two words are compounded, they form the word apokalupto, depicting a veil that has been removed, exposing what is behind the veil that was formerly concealed or hidden from view. Paul uses this word to inform us that a day is coming when the antichrist—who has been concealed and hidden from public view—will suddenly appear. In that moment when he suddenly emerges on the world scene, it will be as if a stage curtain has been pulled out of the way so that he can make his grand appearance.



Paul calls this wicked leader "the son of perdition." The word "perdition" is from the Greek word apoleia, which speaks of something that is doomed, rotten, ruinous, or decaying. Although this world leader may boast that he will lead the world to a higher and better day, what he will actually bring to the world is doom, destruction, ruin, rot, and decay. No redeeming value can be found in anything produced by the antichrist's rule. In the Greek text, Paul uses a definite article, loudly signaling that this evil world ruler is in a category like none other before him. He is not simply another evil person. He is THE Son of Doom and Destruction.



Next, Paul tells us that this wicked world leader will be one "who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewinghimself that he is God." The Greek word for "opposeth" is antikeimai, which means opposed to or against everything that is established. There is no doubt that this is a clear reference to the antichrist.

The word "antichrist" means against Christ. Thus, the Greek word used in this verse tells us that this evil leader will be against everything having to do with God. It is important to note that the Greek grammar used in this verse paints the picture of a continual, unending, and perpetual resistance against the things of God. This is not just a one-time resistance against the things of God; rather, this poisonous quality will be deeply ingrained in the character of the antichrist. Everything in this evil ruler will be opposed to God and all that He represents.



Paul also warns that the antichrist "... exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped...." The word "exalteth" is the Greek word huperairo, which means to exceedingly exalt oneself" or to be exalted highly. In this case, it is the idea of someone being exalted too highly. According to Paul, the antichrist will go to all lengths to exceedingly exalt himself in the eyes of the world. As we continue to study this verse, we discover that this wicked ruler will even attempt to sit in God's rightful place in the temple and elevate himself higher than God Himself!

Paul says that the antichrist will oppose and exalt himself above all "that is worshipped." The word for "worship" is the Greek word sebasma, which refers to anything that can be worshiped, including God. Here we see that the antichrist will attempt to stop the practice of worshiping God and demand that he become the primary focus of human attention and worship. Then Paul prophesies that the antichrist will sit in the very place of God in the temple. The word "temple" is the Greek word naos. It is sometimes used to refer to the innermost part of the temple and may be interpreted as the Holy of Holies. On the basis of this verse, many scholars assert that the antichrist will enter a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, where he will go into the Holy ofHolies and decree himself to be God incarnate.



Wasn't this exactly what Lucifer attempted to do when he declared that he would exalt himself above the very throne of God? Isaiah tells us of Lucifer in Isaiah 14:13, 14: "For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." Following the long-held desire of Satan, the antichrist will again attempt to take the very place of God in the temple. Paul tells us that the antichrist will commit the ultimate offense of "... shewing himself that he is God." The Greek word for "shew" is the word apodeiknumi, which actually means to vividly portray; to point out; to illustrate; to show off; or to make a vivid presentation. This is the picture of the antichrist using all possible means to demonstrate that he holds a rank that is even higher than God Himself.



In Second Thessalonians 2:9, Paul warns that the antichrist will even employ supernatural signs and wonders to try to prove that he is God. He says, "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders." The words "with all" are from the Greek words en pase, which emphatically declares that the antichrist will come with all power—implying that he will make his grand appearance with all kinds of power and supernatural displays. The Greek word for "power" is dunamis, which describes something that is explosive or dynamic. It is where we get the word dynamite. This means that when the antichrist appears, he will come with all kinds of powers that are truly extraordinary in the opinion of the lost world.



The Greek word for "sign" is semeion. This word denotes an act that points the viewer in a certain direction or an action performed to prove a point. It also means a beacon, a signal, or a sign. Just as a sign on the road gives directions to a driver, these supernatural feats are intended to point the attention and focus of the world to the antichrist. The word "wonder" is the Greek word teras, and it is often translated miracles. This refers to something that causes people to marvel or to be amazed. The same word is used in Matthew 24:24, where Jesus warns that false prophets will perform wonders in the last days to deceive and to draw people away after themselves. Here it is used to say that when Satan finally has the opportunity to introduce his antichrist to the world, the evil ruler will energetically attempt to take the very place of God—even using lying signs and wonders to show that he is God.



When you put all these Greek words together, you discover that Paul's words in Second Thessalonians 2:3, 4, 9 could be interpreted:



"In light of these things, I urge you to refuse to allow anyone to take advantage of you. For example, you won't need a letter to tell you when the day of the Lord has come. You ought to know by now that this day can't come until first a worldwide insurgency, rebellion, riot, and mutiny against God has come about in society.

"Once that occurs, the world will then be primed, prepared, and ready to embrace the Man of Lawlessness, the one who hates law and has rebellion running in his blood. This is the long-awaited and predicted Son of Doom and Destruction, the one who brings rot and ruin to everything he touches. When the time is just right, he will finally come out of hiding and go public!



"Do you understand whom I am talking about? I'm describing that person who will be so against God and everything connected with the worship of God that, if you can imagine it, he will even try to put himself on a pedestal above God Himself—sitting in God's rightful place in the temple and publicly proclaiming himself to be God!

"This evil one will be energized by Satan himself as he makes his arrival known to the world with all kinds of dynamic supernaturalpowers—powers that are truly extraordinary. These lying signs and wonders and supernatural feats have only one purpose: They are designed to draw attention to the Lawless One and to make the world stand in awe of him."



Any Christian who is sensitive to the Spirit of God iskeenly aware that we are living in a time when society's attitude toward God is radically changing. The world is being primed and prepared to throw open its arms and receive this world ruler who will oppose God and bring rot, ruin, and destruction to mankind. Unfortunately, the lost world doesn't realize that it is being slowly seduced and trained for this moment the devil has long awaited.



As believers, we have no need to be afraid, for none of this will affect those who know Jesus Christ. However, it will affect those who are lost and without God. They will fall under the supernatural hypnotism of this devil-anointed leader. And if they don't come to know Jesus Christ before all of this occurs, they will be ensnared in the trap that the entire world is about to fall into in the days to come.

Please realize what a critical time you are living in right now. Jesus is coming quickly. Those who know Him will escape many of these trials and temptations, but those who don't know Him will be caught in the delusion and devastation. It's good to rejoice that you will escape, but what about those you love? What are you going to do to ensure that they escape the evil days that are coming upon the earth?



In light of this clear teaching of Scripture, don't you think it's time for you to reach out to your unsaved friends and family members and speak to them about the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ? Ask the Holy Spirit to give you an opportunity to speak to them; then let Him fill your mouth with the right words as you earnestly plead with them to make Jesus Christ the Lord of their lives.



MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I ask You to give me the boldness I need to present the Gospel to my friends and family members who are unsaved. I know that ifthey don't receive Jesus, they will be lost in sin and caught in the delusion that is coming upon the world in the days to come. I don't want to stand before You knowing that they are lost because I was too afraid to open my mouth and tell them of Your saving blood. Holy Spirit, please give me the boldness I need and the right words to speak to those who are near and dear to my heart. When I stand before You, I want to be assured in my heart that I did everything I could to rescue those who are lost and perishing. Please help me to do this and to start today!

I pray this in Jesus' name!



MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am not afraid to testify of Jesus Christ to others. In fact, the love of God compels me to reach out to those who are lost. I know I will give account for those I could have reached but didn't, so I will do everything I can to speak to them, to reach them, and to make sure they have an opportunity to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. If they refuse to listen or to receive, I will be freed from my responsibility. My part is just to make sure they had a chance to hear and to believe. The Holy Spirit is empowering me to testify, so starting today, I will follow His leading and speak to unbelievers about Jesus as God provides opportunities for me to do so. I declare this by faith in Jesus' name!



QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

Do you have unsaved friends or relatives who need to know the Lord before all these terrible events begin to unfold on the world stage?



Who are these loved ones? Do you regularly pray for their salvation?



How long has it been since you have personally presented the Gospel to those loved ones who are still unsaved? Is the Holy Spirit tugging at your heart, trying to prompt you to share Christ with them at this time?



Have you asked the Holy Spirit to give you an opportunity to present the Gospel to your friends and loved ones? When the Holy Spirit gave you an opportunity in the past, did you take advantage of it, or did you let it pass you by?



If you let it pass you by, why don't you ask the Holy Spirit to give you another opportunity to present Jesus to those whom you love?

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Investing in Your Eternity

1 Timothy 6:19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.



When Russian Czar Peter the Great died, his daughter Elizabeta Petrovna came to the throne and became the Empress of Russia. She was perhaps the most flamboyant ruler ever to reign over Russia. The extravagance of her lifestyle was legendary. She owned more palaces than she could use, and the Cinderella-type carriages she owned were hand-carved and gold-leafed. In addition, the carriage doors and spikes of the wheels of each carriage werestudded with dazzling diamonds to match the solid gold crowns that were laden with emeralds and rubies and affixed to the top. The Empress Elizabeta also had an abnormal love of clothes. She completely changed her attire three times a day and never once wore the same article of clothing twice. This was no problem for her, given the fact that she owned 15,000 regal gowns, many of which were spun from pure silver and gold and encrusted with precious gems.



This ruler of Russia came to be known as the "party queen" because she threw hundreds of parties in her massive gold-gilded palaces. To make sure no royal woman ever wore the same gown to such an event twice, she established a new rule: Servants were to be stationed at all thedoors; then as each woman left the palace parties, the servants were to stamp the back of these fabulous gowns with a huge black ink stamp. The ink stampdeclared that the dress had already been worn to one party and could never be worn to another one. That stamp literally ruined the dress, ensuring that no one would ever dare attend one of the empress's celebrations in an already-used garment.



During the rule of Empress Elizabeta, she ordered the hundreds of massive columns and statues that adorned all her palaces to be covered with pure gold. However, when Catherine the Great came to power andbecame the Empress of Russia, she considered that much gold on the exterior of a palace to be garish and unfitting (although Catherine's lifestyle was actually no less ostentatious than Elizabeta's). Therefore, Catherine ordered her servants to scrape all the gold off the columns and statues and to throw it away, replacing it with white paint.



When the news of this disposal of gold reached the ears of the wealthy class in Saint Petersburg, a successful merchant came to Catherine the Great and asked if he could purchase the gold she was throwing away. Catherine sternly replied to him, "Excuse me, but who do you think I am? Do you think that I, the Empress of Russia, am so poor that I need to sell my rubbish?" With that, she ordered all the old, scraped-off gold to be thrownaway.



Once when I was visiting Saint Petersburg and touring some of these vast historical palaces, I pondered the way these wealthy rulers spent such massive fortunes on themselves. I thought, Today we visit the palaces of people who once lived luxuriously but whose bones now lie in their graves. Although these people lived in opulence during their lifetimes, what good does their wealth do for them now? Did they spend it all on themselves, only to spend an eternity in spiritual impoverishment? What is the eternal condition of these people?



If we are to live wisely, we must invest not only in temporary moments of pleasure, but also in the eternity that lies before all of us. Moments of pleasure in this life are enjoyable but fleeting; however, what we invest in eternity never fades. This is why Paul told the rich in Timothy's church that they were to be "laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life (1 Timothy 6:19). The same message applies to us today.



The words "laying up" are from the Greek word apothesauridzo. This Greek word is a compound of the word apo, which means away, and the word thesaurus, which is the Greek word for a treasure. The two words compounded together mean to store away treasure or to amass a fortune. The new word depicts people putting their investments in a safe place wherethey cannot be stolen, ruined, or diminished.

Most affluent and prosperous people work very hard to see that their money is invested in safe, profitable, money-making investments.This is why they put their money into stocks and bonds, property, art, or other investments that will eventually reap healthy dividends. They want to see their fortune grow. And if they are wise, they will not invest in ventures that are too risky because they don't want to see their fortunes stolen, ruined, or diminished. Likewise, God expects you to be wise with the finances He has entrusted to you. This is made clear in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, where Jesus commends the servants whocaused their resources to grow and rebuked the servant who did nothing to increase his financial capacity.



Based on Jesus' teaching in Matthew 25, we know that each of us should do everything possible to increase the size of our wealth. However, this financial increase isn't to be gained so we can hoard it or spend it on ourselves! Paul says that if we've been blessed with wealth, we need to also think very seriously about how to "lay it up" where it will never be diminished. In fact, he goes on to say that we should use our money to amass "... a good foundation against the time to come...."

The word "good" in the phrase "a good foundation" is the word kalos. The word kalos pictures something that is sound, healthy, fine, or excellent. The word "foundation" is the Greek word themelios. This word is most likely an early combination of the Greek word lithos, which means stone, and the wordtithimi, which means to place. It depicts that which is set in stone; a foundation that cannot be easily moved or shaken; or something so solid that it will endure the test of time. This is the reason it later came to be translated as the word foundation.



The words "time to come" are taken from the Greek word mello and describe events that are coming in the future. Later in the verse, Paul proceeds to talk about eternity, leaving no doubt that he is referring to eternity when he speaks of a "time to come." He wants to urge people to invest not only in the present, but also in the eternity that lies in all their futures.



You see, the money you spend on your own pleasures right now is gone once it is spent. It is normal for you to enjoy the finances you have worked so hard to attain. You should enjoy them. But to spend all of it on yourself here and invest none of it into your eternal future is simply stupidity. What you spend on yourself right now in this life is gone once you have died. On the other hand, what you sow into the Gospel reaches into thenext life as an investment that keeps growing for all of eternity—an investment that amasses for yourself an enduring, never-ending reward in the life to come!



If you are a wise investor, you are already aware that you must think long-term when you make your investments. Likewise, as you sow your seed into the Gospel and into those who take it to the ends of the earth, you must remember that you may not see the tangible fruit of your investment inthis life. But one day when you get to Heaven, you will at last see the phenomenal reward of your giving. Then you will reap the dividends of the finances you sowed into the Kingdom of God!

So don't spend all your money on your earthly existence and forget to lay up a good foundation for the eternity that lies in your future. Give now, and by faith prepare for yourself a wealthy existence in the eternity that lies before you!



MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, help me to always keep in mind that eternity lies before me. Too often I get so consumed in the affairs of this life that I forget to think about my eternal existence. I don't want to be so focused on making myself comfortable in this life that I forget to do what I must to make myself comfortable in the next life. Help me lay up a good foundation for the eternity that lies in my future. Holy Spirit, I ask You to teach me not only how to cause my personal wealth to grow here and now, but also how to sow financial seed into the Gospel that will benefit many and cause me to reap great rewards when I pass into the life yet to come!

I pray this in Jesus' name!



MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I boldly declare that I am investing in my future! All of eternity lies before me, so I am sowing seed into the Kingdom of God, believing that it will be multiplied back to me now as it is also laid up for me in my eternal future. I am a wise investor, so I sow regularly and faithfully into the work of God's Kingdom—and my faith investments are reaping for me a great harvest in the days to come!

I declare this by faith in Jesus' name!



QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

Are you sowing for eternity, or are you investing only for the dividends you can reap in this life right now?



What can you do to make sure you are not spending all your money on your present pleasures, forgetting to lay up a good foundation for the eternity that lies in your future?



When you evaluate what you sow into the Kingdom of God, can you conclude that you are serious about investing into eternity?



What changes do you need to make in your spending and investing habits in order to ensure that you will reap strong eternal dividends when you pass into eternity?



Why don't you make a list of the ministries and organizations where you sow your financial seed so you can reevaluate your giving and determine where you can give more?

If You're Financially Blessed, Don't Feel Guilty About It!

1 Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.



Many years ago, my wife and I knew a family who was extremely wealthy. When I use the word "extremely" to describe their wealth, even this word inadequately expresses the immense reserves of worldly possessions they had accumulated. Due to their great-great-grandfather's wise planning two generations earlier, their family money had been invested in such a way that it couldn't be touched and therefore wouldn't be spent. As a result, the family investments had kept growing and accumulating for two generations.



Although vast sums of money were in the bank and belonged to these family members, they were not allowed to touch one cent of it until the date that had been set by their great-great-grandfather. They were enormously wealthy; yet they struggled financially to make ends meet because the treasure they had in the bank wasn't at their disposal. When we first came to know this family, the time had finally arrived—their money became available for them to use and enjoy. But because they had lived for so long with so little, they didn't know how to enjoy the money. In fact, even though they could purchase anything they wished, they didn't. They felt guilty about owning so much money.



So instead of enjoying their wealth, these family members just let the money sit in the bank, where it continued to grow larger. Meanwhile, they lived like people who were financially strapped for cash. They wore old clothes; they balked at spending the money to purchase a new car; and they were very concerned about what people would think of them if word ever got out about how much money they had in the bank. When I saw these people, I'd try to encourage them to go buy some new clothes, but they didn't want to spend the money to do it. Even though they could purchase anything they wanted, they lived like poor people.



When Paul wrote to Timothy, he gave him instructions for the rich people who attended his church. He said, "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17). I want you to notice that God's blessings are to be enjoyed. The word "enjoy" in this verse is from the Greek word apolausis, which describes a person who gets the maximum benefit from something he owns. Rather than feel guilty about what he owns, he derives great pleasure, gratification, and enjoyment from what he possesses. This means if God has entrusted abundant resources to you, you shouldn't feel guilty about your wealth or feel badly about enjoying it. God wants you to enjoy the blessings and resources He has entrusted to you! Paul asked the Corinthians, "... Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?" (1 Corinthians 9:7). In other words, if you have worked hard to produce the success you are now experiencing, it is right and normal for you to personally enjoy a part of it!



Worldly wealth empowers you to get things done; it enables you to be a blessing to other people; and it gives you the ability to sow into the work and advancement of the Gospel. So stop feeling guilty if you are financially blessed. Stop feeling like it's wrong that you got a promotion when someone else didn't. You have worked hard for the harvest you are now reaping, and it's time to start enjoying what God has done for you! Why don't you change the way you are thinking? Learn to see yourself as one who has been specially empowered in order to be a blessing to others and to give for the advancement of the Gospel. And if you want to enjoy some of your wealth along the way, there's nothingwrong with that either! God has given you all things richly to enjoy!



MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I have asked You to bless me financially. So when increased finances begin to come, please help me have the grace both to enjoy them and to use them for the advancement of Your Kingdom. I don't want to flaunt the money I possess or to frivolously spend it. Instead, I want to use it to do something positive and eternal in this life. At the same time, please teach me how to enjoy the financial increase You have blessed me with and to know that it is all right for me to personally derive some benefit from it as well. Help me to truly understand that You give us ALL things richly to enjoy! I pray this in Jesus' name!



MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am blessed of the Lord. My personal finances are growing, and I am being positioned to become a source of huge financial blessing to other people. I have worked hard for the blessings that are coming my way, and I have every right to enjoy a part of them personally. The Holy Spirit is giving me wisdom to know how to administrate my finances—to whom I should give funds, as well as how I should spend and invest my money. I have the mind of Christ to deal appropriately with the financial blessings that God is sending into my life. I declare this by faith in Jesus' name!



QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

What would you do if a large sum of money was suddenlydropped into your hands today?



Are you sowing seed into the Gospel that will bring a harvest back into your life?

Where are you sowing that seed?



Why have you chosen to sow your seed into that particular ministry or organization?



Do you enjoy your possessions, or do you feel guilty about possessing them?

To fully enjoy what God has given you, what changes do you need to make in the way you think about material possessions?

Friday, December 9, 2011

A Message to the Rich

1 Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.



When the rule of communism began to dissipate in the Soviet Union, it left the economy in utter shambles. Nearly every basic commodity was unavailable, including basic items such as sugar, flour, cheese, milk, and eggs. There was a huge deficit of light bulbs, toilet paper, and most household products. Gasoline was so expensive that most people preferred to walk than to pay the kind of money needed to fill the gas tank.



This situation meant that whoever controlled the basicsupplies of life had the ability to acquire incredible wealth. Because it was a time of great political and economic confusion, nearly anything was possible. As a result, a large number of scoundrels, bandits, thieves, criminals, lawyers, politicians, and especially bright common people began to think ofways to turn this great disadvantage into their own personal advantage. Today's Russian society now includes a new class of super-rich. To say these people are fabulously wealthy is an understatement. They are what some might call filthy, stinking rich! It is difficult to imagine how this tiny part of Russia's population could have made this kind of money in such a brief period of time.



In this category are people who arrogantly drive their Rolls Royces, Bentleys, and Mercedes through the streets of Moscow, expecting thewhole world to move out of their way as they drive past. As is often true with people who make a lot of money in a short period of time, they are usually very rude. Their newly made wealth goes to their heads, causing them to strut through the stores, restaurants, and shopping centers as if they were the owners of planet earth. Their snobbery is on a world-class level. They are completely consumed with how to frivolously spend the riches they have amassed. However, most of them end up losing their money just as quickly as they made it.



This type of person who makes loads of money quickly and then distastefully flaunts his wealth can be found in every nation of the world. There were even such people in the Roman world of the first century.Paul wrote Timothy and told him to tell the rich, "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17).



It is a fact that a small minority of "rich" people came to Christ in the first century and were members of the Church. It was in regard to this group of individuals that Paul told Timothy, "Charge them that are rich in this world...." The word "charge" is the Greek word parangelo, which means to charge or to command. It is such a strong command that it should actually be received as a requirement—not a negotiable option. Thus, when Timothy deals with the wealthy in his church, he is to give them the strong exhortation that Paul is about to give him with such firmness that they receive it as an order from the Lord!



When Paul calls these people "rich," he uses the word plousios, a very old Greek word that describes someone who possesses incredible abundance, extreme wealth, and enormous affluence. This word would not describe someone who is moderately wealthy but rather someone who is extremely wealthy. Just as there are people of great influence and enormouswealth who come to Christ today and learn to faithfully attend church, apparently this was also the case in the first century.

It is right that we should pray for the wealth of this world to pass into the hands of the godly who would use it for eternal purposes. God wants His people to be blessed. He wants them to have enough to meet their own needs and to abundantly meet the needs of others. He wants Christians to have enough to finance the preaching of the Gospel to the ends of the earth.



But so often when large sums of money pass into the hands of people for the first time, their wealth goes to their heads and creates in them the "highminded" attitude I mentioned earlier and to which Paul now refers. This is not the attitude God wants from His people when money passes into their hands. What exactly does the Greek word for "highminded" mean? The word "highminded" in Greek is hupsilophroneo. The first part of this word comes from the Greek word hupslos, meaning exalted, elevated, high, or lofty. The second part of thisword is phroneo, which means to think, to consider, to deem, or to be of a certain opinion. When these two words are compounded together, the new wordmeans to think too highly of oneself. It refers

to the opinion one has when he thinks he is better than others.



Paul uses a negative in the Greek, which strongly alerts us that one shouldn't think of himself as better than others simply because he has more money than others. Even if a person is uncommonly financially blessed and operates in exceptional financial circles, he still shouldn't deem himself better than other people just because he has more money than they do. Paul tells the wealthy people in the Church that they are not to "... trust in uncertain riches...." The word "uncertain" is the word adelotes. This is the only time that this exact word appears in the New Testament. It means uncertain, inconsistent, or something so unstable that it can go as easily as it came. The word "trust" is the Greek word elpidzo, the most common word for hope in the New Testament. As used in this verse, it means not to place one's hope on one certain thing. The particular Greek tense used here carries the idea of one who places his hope in something and then keeps his hope there.



Paul says the rich are not to set their hope "in" riches. The word "in" is the Greek word epi, which would be better translated upon. A more accurate rendering of this entire phrase would be that the rich are "... not to fix their hope upon uncertain riches...." Riches are uncertain. Just ask those whothought they were financially set for life but then lost almost all their fortunes through a sudden change in the stock market. There are many people who wake up in the morning rich but go to bed that same night financially insolvent. Therefore, Paul tells the rich that instead of putting their hope in finances that are uncertain, they are to fix their hope "... in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy."



If your sense of security rests in your financial portfolio and then your portfolio diminishes or disappears, you could be thrown into an enormous identity crisis that results in great fear, anxiety, and insecurity. But when your trust is in the Lord, you are never shaken no matter what happens in the material realm. Why? Because your identity is not in what you possess but in who you are in Jesus Christ. If you know others who are being financially blessed, rejoice with them. Pray for such people to have the necessary wisdom to use their finances the way God wishes them to use it.

And if you are financially blessed yourself, praise God for it! However, be careful to keep separate who you are from what you own. Don't let your identity get all wrapped up in what you own so that your sense of security becomes deeply shaken by any material loss. Never forget that who you are is much more important than what you own, and your relationships in this life are much more important than your possessions.



Financial prosperity is a blessing from Heaven and a great honor from the Lord. But if God has trusted you with riches, remember to keep your head on straight. Don't ever think you are better than others just because you possess a lot of wealth. God blessed you so that you could be a blessing. Therefore, learn to see yourself as a servant of God whose job is to manage and distribute the funds you have amassed as He desires!



Today I urge you not to fall into the category of those who think too highly of themselves just because they have more money than others. God certainly didn't give you wealth so that you could develop a pride problem! Go to the Lord regularly and ask Him how He wants you to use those funds. As you keep your heart open to the Holy Spirit and stay willing to hear what He has to say, He will direct you on how to use the resources at your disposal. And if you ever get into pride, He will gently correct you and bring you back to the attitude He desires you to possess.



MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, thank You for the blessings You have given to myfamily and me. You have abundantly blessed me, and I am so grateful for everything You have done. I ask You to help me keep the right attitude toward others who have less than I do; to refrain from a false attitude of pride or haughtiness; and to see myself as the manager of divinely assigned funds. Iwant to trust in You, Lord—not in the things You have placed at my disposal. Possessions and material things are fleeting, but You are always the same. Therefore, I choose to fix my hope on You and not on the financial increasewith which You have blessed me.

I pray this in Jesus' name!



MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that because my trust is in the Lord, I am never shaken. My identity is not in what I own but in who I am in Jesus Christ! Even though I am financially blessed, I keep WHO I AM separate from WHAT I OWN. Who I am is much more important than what I own, and my relationships are much more important than the material things I possess! I will not let my prosperity go to my head and make me think that I am better than others. God has blessed me so I can be a blessing. Therefore, I see myself as the servant of God, called to manage and distribute the funds at my disposal as He desires! I declare this by faith in Jesus' name!



QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

What is the largest amount of money that God has ever entrusted to you?



How was your attitude about yourself and others affected by your possessing such a large amount of resources?



Have you ever known someone whose attitude about others changed when money came into their hands?



Did they flaunt their wealth and act so differently that it was obnoxious?



After seeing how they acted, did their behavior make you inwardly decide how you will or will not act when money comes into your hands?



If God has found you faithful and has placed a large amount of financial resources at your disposal, are you regularly asking Him how He wants you to use that money?



What is He telling you to do with that money right now?

Work Like a Farmer

2 Timothy 2:6 (NKJV) The hard-working farmer must be first to partake of the crops.




When Paul wrote to Timothy to encourage him to bravely face his battles, he first told Timothy to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Then Paul changed his illustration and exhorted Timothy to develop the mentality of a professional athlete. But suddenly the athletic talk stops, and Paul begins to instruct the younger minister to start thinking like a farmer! Second Timothy 2:6 says, "The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits."



Paul's abrupt changes in his illustrations must have left Timothy's mind whirling! Paul had already told him to endure and fight like a soldier, then to prepare and train like an athlete. But now he tells Timothy to work hard like a farmer!

It's almost as if Paul says, "Timothy, you need to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Or let me give you another example: You need to train and prepare with the same determination and commitment an athlete possesses. Or here's another illustration to help you understand: You need to be hardworking like a farmer. I KNOW! You need to be all three of these things! You must fight like a soldier, prepare and compete like an athlete, and work like a farmer! You must begin to view yourself as all three—a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer!"



When Paul writes Second Timothy 2:6, he uses words that convey images of farming life. For instance, the word "husbandman" is the Greek word georgos, the word for a farmer who tills the soil. Because Paul uses the word georgos ("husbandman"), there is no doubt that he has the varied activities of a farmer in his mind as he writes to Timothy.



As Paul begins to convey this idea to Timothy, he starts by talking about the hard work of a farmer. He says, "The husbandman that laboureth...." The word "laboureth" is the Greek word kopos, which always denotes the hardest, toughest kind of work. This presents the idea of a person who works to the end of his strength or to the point of physical exhaustion. This farmer is an individual who is giving every ounce of his strength to finish the task before him. Although he is weary, he keeps plodding on step after step, refusing to give up. Rejecting the temptation to throw in the towel, he keeps plowing the ground before him because the task must be done by someone.



The picture this word kopos suggests is of a farmer who labors in the heat of the afternoon sun during the hottest season of the year with sweat pouring down his face. Although the ground is like hard, dry clay and the work is strenuous, the farmer just keeps on plowing and sowing, plowing and sowing. After he finishes plowing one row of his garden, he turns at the end of the row and starts all over again on the next row. By the end of theday, the farmer is physically exhausted, mentally drained, drenched with perspiration, and covered with dirt. He has done a hard day's work!

By using this illustration, Paul tells us to face the facts: If you're going to reap a harvest, you have to get out in the field and do the job! If you will do your job faithfully like a hardworking farmer who wants to reap the benefits of a large crop, you will also reap an abundant crop of success and blessing.



Now we get to the rewarding part! The apostle Paul says, "The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits." This is God's personal promise to anyone who puts his hand to the plow and works hard—and it is His special promise to you!



Paul says that if you are faithful to work in His Kingdom, you "... must be first partaker of the fruits." The words "must be" in Greek is the word dei. It is always used to convey the idea of a necessity, an obligation, a requirement, a demand, or a rule to which there is absolutely no exception and that can never be broken. You could interpret the verse, "The husbandman that laboureth absolutely must be..." or "The husbandman that laboureth is obligated and under command...."



Paul tells what "must be" when he says, "The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits." In other words, God wants the committed, determined, hardworking believer to eat from the table of victory and to enjoy the sweet fruit of success before anyone else does!



When we look at the entire text of Second Timothy 2:3-6, we understand that God is telling us:



"If you will fight like a soldier; if you will prepareand compete like an athlete; and if you will put your heart and soul into working in your field the way a hardworking firmer does— here is what I will do for you. I am establishing a permanent rule—one that can never be changed, altered, or modified—and I am making it a top priority and a necessity that when your battle is over and you've proven yourself to be a good soldier; when your spiritual opponents are defeated and you've won your competition; whenyou've plowed your fields and your crops begin to grow and mature before your eyes—you WILL eat before anyone else eats!"



You see, God wants you to eat and enjoy the fruit of your labors, just as a hardworking farmer does after giving his life to see his crops grow in his field. Your part is to work your land and labor strenuously to see your dream come to pass; then God promises that you will eventually eat the fruit of your hard work! As you focus on doing your job well, you can expect to be blessed, recognized, rewarded, and remunerated for your efforts, for God says that anyone who works hard and sticks with his project to the end deserves to eat the fruit!



Warriors deserve rewards. Good athletes earn recognition. Farmers have every right to eat their crops. And if you are living and fighting by faith to see a certain victory in your life, you can claim God's promisethat a day is coming when you will eat the sweet fruit of victory!

This message must have been very encouraging for Timothy. At that moment, he was so immersed in the conflicts that swirled around him that his mind must have easily become swamped with fears and concerns about what washappening to his congregation. But Paul's encouraging message to Timothy is the same message God has for you today.



God is telling you, "If you will endure hardship as a good soldier; train and compete like a good athlete; plow your ground and work hard in the field where I have called you, no matter how hard or difficult it is—then I promise you that a day will come when things turn around. And on that day, you will be richly rewarded!"



MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I am so blessed to know that You want me to eat the sweet fruit of victory. That knowledge makes me want to work my ground evenharder to produce a great harvest for Your Kingdom. I know that in my own flesh, I will never be able to fulfill the dream You've given me. But by Your Spirit, I can do all things! So I ask You to fill me with so much strength and motivation that I'll never stop until I finally reap the harvest of my dreams! I pray this in Jesus' name!



MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I will never stop until I see the harvest of my dream. It's going to take hard work and some time, but I am going to keep plowing and cultivating my ground until I see my crops mature. A day is coming in my future when I will pull up to the table, take out my knife and fork, and dive into the sweet victory for which I've worked so hard! I declare this by faith in Jesus' name!



QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

What is the dream crop you've been working for and waiting
to reap in your life?


Are there changes you need to make in your work style if you are going to achieve the great, super-abundant dreams God has put in your heart?



If so, what are the changes you need to make to become a super-achiever?


Can you name five crops you've already reaped in life due to your hard work, consistency, and faithfulness

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Prepare and Compete Like an Athlete!

2 Timothy 2:5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.




After telling Timothy to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, Paul then switches to a new illustration so he can make another important point. The purpose of the discussion is still the same: Paul is explaining to Timothy how he should face the difficulties that lie before him at the moment. With that purpose in mind, Paul says, "And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully."



The word "strive" is from the Greek word athlesis, which always described a man involved in a tremendous athletic competition.This kind of athlete was serious about his sport and totally committed to the goal of climbing to the top in his profession. He was willing to undergo any hardship, any training, any regimen, and any kind of discipline in order toreach that goal of becoming the very best in his field of sports. The word athlesis describes this type of committed, full-time, professional, determined athlete. This is the picture Paul now uses when he speaks to Timothy about overcoming the challenges he is facing.



Remember that Paul has already told Timothy to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (v. 3). Now by changing his illustration to that of a professional athlete, Paul is asking Timothy (and us) a very potent question: "Are you willing to be as committed to winning your fight as athletes are to winning in their sport? How committed are you? Is a little pressure going to elbow you out of the race, or are you more committed than the inconveniences you are experiencing along the way? How badly do you want to win?"



We must honestly ask ourselves these questions if we want to determine the true level of our commitment. You see, it is wonderful to serve the Lord and be a part of the local church when we aren't facing any big problems in life. It's easy to tithe, give offerings, attend meetings, pray, and sing with other believers when our level of service basically costs us nothing. However, what are you going to do if things change and it starts to become more challenging to serve the Lord? What if it becomes difficult to hold fast to the vision He put in your heart or to the commitment you made to His call on your life? Will you still serve the Lord with joy? Will you still be faithful to your local church? Will you still give your tithes and offerings?



You see, it is the spiritual fights in life that always reveal the genuine level of our commitment. Look again at what Paul says inSecond Timothy 2:5: "And if a man also strive for masteries...." Particularly notice the word "man," because this is the Greek word tis. This word tis would be better translated anyone. The idea this word presents is anyone at all. This tells us two very important things. First, anyone can compete in the life of faith. This verse is for tis—for anyone. Second, it tells us that anyone who desires to be a successful competitor had better pay heed to the proper preparation and training required to make him a winner! Notice Paul says that a man will not be crowned "... except he strive lawfully."



The word "lawfully" doesn't refer to the rules of the game, but to the training and preparation that professional athletes went through before the game actually commenced. This tells us that we should never attempt to enter the real arenas of life until we have gone through the necessary preparation to win. If we enter an arena without preparation, we better be ready to spend some time recuperating, because we are headed for a beating!



Winners are those who have trained and prepared themselves. Then, as now, athletic "scouts" would go out into the communities to look over all the young athletes. After finding a promising athlete, the scout would issue him an invitation to the training camp. At camp, the athletes were introduced to bodybuilders, trainers, and others who were skilled at fighting and competition. The trainers would put the athletes through incredible routines to build both their bodies and their minds, for mental alertness was deemed to be equally important to physical fitness.

Timothy knew all about the manner in which professional athletes were trained. This was common knowledge during his day. Everyone was familiar with the strict, regimented training that athletes went through inorder to compete. Therefore, Paul's statement on "striving for the masteries" didn't require a lot of deep contemplation in order for Timothy to know exactly what the apostle was telling him.



Rather than moan and complain about how hard it had become to serve God, it was time for Timothy to change his way of thinking. If he was to be a professional and not an amateur in the Kingdom of God, he needed to see all his challenges as opportunities to use his faith, exercising himself under the most strenuous circumstances and thus developing himself to handle the greater tasks that were still ahead of him.



Although Timothy was facing real hardships in the present, he would still have to face additional hardships in the future. Therefore, rather than let his current circumstances pass without benefiting from them, he needed to view his present challenge as an opportunity to train and prepare for the future. If he could pass this test, he could pass any test!



What test are you facing today, friend? What has this time of hardship revealed about your own level of commitment? Are you as committed as you thought you were, or have you discovered that you are much softer spiritually than you realized? Rather than go forward in life in that soft condition, don't you think it would be a good idea for you to look at this time in your life as an opportunity to get tougher and to grow stronger in the Lord?



I guarantee you—Satan hates every believer who dares to shine the light of God's Word into places previously held hostage in darkness. If you decide to be one of those committed believers and to endeavor to do exactly what God has told you to do, Satan will be very alarmed by your obedience. He may try to stop you, throwing obstacles in your path that younever dreamed could happen to you. If you haven't mentally and spiritually prepared yourself to be strong, these attacks of the enemy may overwhelm you.



Don't you think it's time for you to decide whether you are a professional or an amateur in God's Kingdom? If you are a professional, it's time for you to change your mental outlook on life and then get busy training and preparing so you can win every one of your future competitions!



MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I want to be strong enough to overcome any situation I'll ever face in life. Forgive me for sitting around and wasting valuable time that I could have used to train and prepare myself to be spiritually fit. I'm sorry I've allowed myself to be lazy at times, and today I am making the decision to throw myself into spiritual preparation. I have decided to strive for the masteries and make my life count! Holy Spirit, please help me become everything Jesus intends for me to be and to make the changes in my mental outlook that are required for me to become a winner in life.

I pray this in Jesus' name!



MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am serious about staying fit spiritually. I refuse to let laziness be a part of my life. I reject any temptation to moan, groan, and complain about how hard life is. I choose instead to see every event in life as an opportunity to flex my spiritual muscles and to become stronger in the Lord! I declare this by faith in Jesus' name!



QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

What situations are you facing right now that you could use to flex your spiritual muscles and grow stronger in your walk with the Lord?



Rather than moan and complain about how hard things have become in your life, is it time for you to change the way you are thinking?



If you want to live like a professional and not an amateur in the Kingdom of God, isn't it time for you to see all your challenges as opportunities to exercise your faith?



Rather than let this present circumstance pass withoutproviding you any benefit in life, don't you agree that you need to view it as an opportunity to train and prepare for the future? Remember, if you can pass this test, you can pass any test!