GOD AMID THE STORM

"Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, 'From where have you come?' Satan answered the LORD and said, 'From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.' 8 And the LORD said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?' 9 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, 'Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.' 12 And the LORD said to Satan, 'Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.' So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.'"

Job 1:6-12

Suffering is the universal experience of man. How do you deal with the dark days? If we don't understand what is going on in the larger picture, it is easy to fall into depression and despair. The Scriptures are a gift of our Creator who truly understands. God gives us enough information to face adversity in the best possible way, even though He does not explain everything. If we listen to the heavenly Father, we will find faith to strengthen us and hope to help us endure to the end. The following study is my attempt to explain the treasures of God's wisdom on these matters, beginning with the wisdom of Job.

I have been reading the book of Job.  In its pages, I observe how Job remembers the good times (his prior blessings) before his trials struck.  The first chapter ends with success. Job proves His faithfulness to God, expecting nothing in return.  His faithfulness to God was not because of the many blessings God had bestowed on him. Despite Job losing his children, possessions, and wealth, he never sins, charging God with wrong (Job 1:22).  Satan (the accuser) had suggested that God had put a protective hedge around Job to assure his righteous behavior. Satan attempted to cheapen God’s righteousness and blessings.  While it is true that some do act righteously, not out of love, to receive God’s blessings or gain benefits, some will still serve God even when those physical blessings are removed. By the end of the book, we hope that God’s discussion with Satan is over, but unfortunately, it is not the case.


I.  HOLDING ON TO FAITH AMID SUFFERING:

• God and  Satan:

"Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, 'From where have you come?' Satan answered the Lord and said, 'From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.' 3 And the Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.'"  (Job 2:1-3)

The first two verses of chapter 2 are almost identical to chapter one, verses six, seven, and eight.

"Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, 'From where have you come?' Satan answered the LORD and said, 'From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.' 8 And the LORD said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?'"  (Job 1:6-8)

The apparent reason for this repetition is to show us that Satan was responsible for Job’s afflictions.  God gave permission to the adversary of men to afflict Job. The only difference between chapter two and chapter one is that this time God affirms Job's integrity before Satan.  Satan was proven wrong, and God was vindicated.  Once again, God remains blameless because He is not responsible for these temptations.

"Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one"' (James 1:13).

The first three verses of chapter 2 start with the sons of God presenting themselves before Him. But Satan is doing all in his power, going to and fro through the earth. He is a roaring lion seeking to devour anyone. He still does that to God’s righteous children today.

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8). 

As we saw in chapter 1, God is showing us the motive and purpose of Satan. God draws Satan’s attention to Job again. Job is blameless, upright, fears God, and turns away from evil. In verse 3, only one new statement is made in this discussion.

“He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.”

God declared that Job was a man of integrity. He had remained blameless and did not curse God as Satan said he would do. Job did not have false motives. He was not hypocritical. He remained faithful to God despite his terrible circumstances, losing his children and possessions. But Satan is not more powerful than God. He needed permission to do what he did to Job.  Not only this, but God also constrained Satan.

"And the LORD said to Satan, 'Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.' So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.'" (Job 1:12) 

What Job had to endure did not happen without God’s knowledge or agreement. God took responsibility for what happened in Job 2:3.

"And the Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.'"

God never said that Satan did it (though he did). Rather, He said that He did it Himself.

 "You incited me against him to destroy him without reason.'"  

But notice that this is not the only time that God did this.

“Then all his brothers and all his sisters and all who had known him before, came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversities that the LORD had brought on him.” (Job 42:11)

• Dark Despair:

Suffering is not God’s fault.  He is not responsible. Satan is the one afflicting Job (1:12; 2:3; 42:11).  Nothing that happened to Job was because he sinned. God did not punish Job for his sins, receiving what he deserved.  His suffering is undeserved.  Suffering is part of our Christian life. No Christian is exempt from suffering (Job 1).  Even the most righteous will suffer.  We are not exempt from experiencing suffering and difficulties just because we are Christians.  Often, it is the godly and the righteous who receive worse treatment than the world. We deceive ourselves thinking that we will be free of pain and suffering because we are righteous and faithful.  The righteous must accept that suffering is part of their path here on earth.  Job’s righteousness did not insulate him from undergoing the most traumatic of trials.

We can learn endurance that builds our faith through suffering, acknowledging that everything we have belongs to God. It is not ours.  God gives and takes away.  He does not have to give at all.  We are not in control if we have a miserable life from start to finish.  It is naive to think that God must be compelled to meet our life expectations just because we are faithful and righteous.  Instead, we must continue being faithful to God, even if we have to lose everything in life. So we must be willing to praise God no matter our suffering.

Endurance is submission to God even when we lose everything we have.  Job lost so much! He lost all of his possessions, and his children died. His body was afflicted with sores from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet. He sat in the ashes, grieving and mourning while scraping the sores on his body with a broken piece of pottery. His three friends did not even recognize him.  His suffering continued for many months. In his pain, shock, and grief, Job opens his mouth and breaks, saying,

“Shall we receive good from God and shall we not receive adversity” (2:10). 

“The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (1:21).

Job’s circumstances were dark, for there was no light or hope.  All his happiness and joy had vaporized. It disappeared.  He was in so much despair and pain that he cursed the day he was born. He did not curse God. Job did not speak to anyone, not to his friends or even to God.  He just expressed his pain.

"After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 2 And Job said:  3 'Let the day perish on which I was born, and the night that said, ‘A man is conceived.’  4 Let that day be darkness! May God above not seek it, nor light shine upon it.  5 Let gloom and deep darkness claim it.  Let clouds dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.  6 That night—let thick darkness seize it!  Let it not rejoice among the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the months.  7 Behold, let that night be barren; let no joyful cry enter it.  8 Let those curse it who curse the day, who are ready to rouse up Leviathan.  9 Let the stars of its dawn be dark; let it hope for light, but have none, nor see the eyelids of the morning, 10 because it did not shut the doors of my mother's womb,  nor hide trouble from my eyes.'"  (Job 3:1-10).

Job’s lamentation (3:11-19) parallels Jeremiah 20:14–18 and Lamentations 3:1–18.

“Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire?  12 Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?  13 For then I would have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept; then I would have been at rest, 14 with kings and counselors of the earth who rebuilt ruins for themselves, 15 or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.  16 Or why was I not as a hidden stillborn child, as infants who never see the light?  17 There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest.  18 There the prisoners are at ease together;  they hear not the voice of the taskmaster.  19 The small and the great are there, and the slave is free from his master."  (Job 3:11-19)

Job is hopeless amid the darkness of his pain. Death seems to be the only solution to his suffering. He wanted peace from his suffering and pain.  Because of all that he was enduring, Job thought he had lost his relationship or friendship with God.  He felt like God was not with him. So he grappled with tough questions:

1. Is it worth holding on to faith when God would allow such things to happen?
2. Is it possible to continue to believe in a good and righteous God in a world where righteousness is no longer rewarded?  

Job was at a loss and wanted peace from so much turmoil internally and externally. In verses 13-19, Job declared that it does not matter who we are or what status we enjoy in life, for death will bring rest to us.

• So What is The Message For us Today?  

• First, faith is not two-dimensional: 

We are not supposed to look at Job and conclude that he suffered and trusted God. When we are suffering, there is despair and darkness.  One of the most extraordinary things we learn from Job is that faith, suffering, and hopelessness are not incompatible. And though we may have faith in God, we can still feel the crushing weight of our trials and the pain that cause us to feel broken. Walking the narrow way of Christ is not sunshine and rainbows!

Our walk of faith is not  “put a smile on your face” and pretend you have no pain. Stoicism is not a godly response to suffering.  Often, many deceive themselves thinking that the way to handle suffering is to pretend that there is no pain.   It is a fact that trials hurt us. They can hurt us so deeply that we are not able to see the light but only darkness.

Faith and despair are not incompatible. We can suffer and feel despair and still have full faith in God. There is nothing wrong with us when we feel darkness.  David expressed this beautifully in Psalm 23.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” 

Friends, we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death sometimes. Pain and darkness are unavoidable in our lives. But the question is, what will we do when we enter the darkest valley? What will our response be?

• Second, we serve a God who allows such unfiltered questions and laments amid our despair:   

God will let us cry out our pain and feelings when things are painful and difficult.  God can handle it, for He does not limit our feelings or expressions of pain. Consider how many Psalms express this kind of hurt, pain, suffering, and questioning!  The Psalms are wonderful to read and meditate on when we are in pain and suffering.  Listen to what God wants us to do.

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)

We have Jesus as our faithful friend who can sympathize with our weaknesses, for He endured temptations and trials just like we do. Jesus was deeply distressed and troubled.

"And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled" (Mark 14:33). 

So let us draw near to the throne of grace, receive mercy, and find grace to help in our time of need. Pain is not incompatible with faith.  Let us not sit in the darkness of our trials, hiding our pain and pretending that we do not hurt. We all must enter the darkest valley. But what will be your response? God wants us to come to Him through His beloved Son Jesus, who is our sympathetic High Priest.  He hears our cries and pain.  He will give us mercy and grace.  Where could we go but to our Lord?!


II.  WHAT TO DO WHEN LIFE TURNS INTO LOSS:

Job’s most significant pain was believing he had lost his relationship with God when he was God’s friend.

"And Job again took up his discourse, and said:  2 'Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me, 3 when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness, 4 as I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was upon my tent, 5 when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were all around me, 6 when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!'"  (Job 29:1-6). 

He remembers  God’s presence and His blessings in his life and how God was with him through life’s darkness (29:3-6).  Job contrasts his present circumstances as he recalls his prior blessings and joy.  Chapter 30 ends with Job’s expressing his hopelessness.

"Yet does not one in a heap of ruins stretch out his hand, and in his disaster cry for help? 25 Did not I weep for him whose day was hard? Was not my soul grieved for the needy? 26 But when I hoped for good, evil came, and when I waited for light, darkness came.  27 My inward parts are in turmoil and never still; days of affliction come to meet me.  28 I go about darkened, but not by the sun; I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.  29 I am a brother of jackals and a companion of ostriches.  30 My skin turns black and falls from me, and my bones burn with heat.  31 My lyre is turned to mourning, and my pipe to the voice of those who weep."  (Job 30:24-31)

Job’s final words are an appeal to his righteousness.

• He is morally pure (31:1-4):

"I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?  2 What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high?  3 Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?  4 Does not he see my ways and number all my steps?"

• He has lived in integrity (31:5-8):

"If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit; 6 (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!) 7 if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands, 8 then let me sow, and another eat,  and let what grows for me be rooted out."

• He has been faithful in his marriage (31:9-12):

"If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door, 10 then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her.  11 For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges; 12 for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase."

• He has shown no partiality (31:13-15):

"If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me, 14 what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him? 15 Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?" 

• He has been charitable (31:16-23)

"If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, 17 or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it 18 (for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow), 19 if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering, 20 if his body has not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep, 21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate, 22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.  23 For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty."

• He has been humble (31:24-28):

"If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence, 25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much, 26 if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, 27 and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand, 28 this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above."

• He has shown hospitality (31:29-34):

"If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him30 (I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse), 31 if the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?’ 32 (the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler), 33 if I have concealed my transgressions as others do by hiding my iniquity in my heart, 34 because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors— "

• Job's final cry to God (31:35-40):

"Oh, that I had one to hear me!  (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary! 36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown; 37 I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him.  38 “If my land has cried out against me and its furrows have wept together, 39 if I have eaten its yield without payment and made its owners breathe their last, 40 let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley."

Job calls on God to tell him the charges He has against him (31:40).

1. So what must we learn from Job’s experiences?  
2. What must we do when life falls apart? 
3. What must we do when life explodes? 

Indeed, we can learn many lessons in Job’s final speech.  Consider at least nine foundational facts that help us in our times of trial.

• We can remain faithful and righteous while suffering immensely. 

We see this portrayed throughout the book of Job. Like Job, we have Jesus as the ultimate example of righteousness who was made to suffer.

• We must continue to glorify God amid our suffering (Job 26). 

The apostle Paul shared these same sentiments.

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans 5:3-5)

• The righteous hope in God for future justice (Job 27).

"For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly." (1 Peter 2:19–23)

• The wisdom we need while suffering must be based on fearing the Lord (Job 28).

Even when it seems like the righteous and the wicked’s fate is the same, we must know that wisdom still belongs to God. When we are suffering, we need God more, not less. So we must draw closer to God, not move further from Him.

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." (James 1:2-5)

• Suffering does not mean we have lost our relationship with God (Job 29). 

And though Job felt like his suffering meant he was God’s enemy and that God had forsaken him, this is not the case, for God has given us wonderful promises.

"Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5-6)

• We must enjoy what we have now because it can be gone tomorrow (Job 30). 

We must not deceive ourselves, thinking that things will always be the same today and tomorrow, for everything can change in the blink of an eye. Job, a righteous man, woke up one day and saw that everything he had was taken from him.  All he had left was God. The writer of Ecclesiastes repeatedly warns us that life is just a vapor and that our circumstances are unpredictable, for they can change at one moment and then change the next.  So we must learn to appreciate and enjoy what we have today!

• Even while suffering, we must remain pure and holy (Job 27:3-5; 31). 

Nothing would make Satan happier than turning to sin and forsaking God. After all of this suffering, imagine if Job had turned to sin and rebelled against God’s laws! It would have proved that Job only served God for the good he received. Will we only serve God when life is good and smiling at us? Or will we serve God and love God faithfully, no matter our experiences in life?  

We will never get any answers to why we are suffering. It is one of the big messages of the book. And though we might think we have the answers to our whys, they are just guesses and nothing else. We will never know the why of our suffering. When Jesus’ disciples found the blind man in John 9, they thought there were only two options: his parents sinned, or he sinned. Jesus said that neither of those options was correct. To say that we know the whys of our suffering is to presume that we know God’s mind and intentions.  We do not know God’s intentions and reasons!

• Faith can grow through our trials (Job 3-31): 

Job’s faith increased from his early cries.  In Job 3, we can see that as his faith grew, he defended God.  So we must consider the growth of our faith and rule our tongue through our trials and sufferings.

Thus we must trust God to help us handle our sufferings to glorify Him. We need God to help us through trials (Job 6:14-30).  We must remember that God is with us amid our trials and suffering.  He loves us and will never push us beyond the strength that He supplies for us (1 Corinthians 10:13). God’s intent is not to destroy us but to save us. God allows trials to refine our faith and make us what He wants us to be.  God wants us to be His children and enjoy eternal life with Him. Let us hold firm to Him through our trials and continue to trust in Him.


III.   SUFFERING IS INSTRUCTIVE:

God uses suffering instructively.  God’s discipline is His Grace to save us. He is merciful and desires to deliver us from going into the pit.  He uses suffering to direct our steps so that we may not be destroyed.

"My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights." (Proverbs 3:11-12)

"And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? 'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.' It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.'"  (Hebrews 12:5-11)

God allows discipline and instruction in our lives through suffering for our good, to make us what He wants us to be.  So we must rejoice in our sufferings, for God’s instruction and wisdom are found in them.

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans 5:3-5)

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)

Suffering is an expression of God’s grace and mercy. Suffering is good for us, for pain is instructive and will help us not fall into the pit and harm our souls eternally.  We must acknowledge that God is not punishing through our suffering, but rather He is teaching us. God allows suffering in our lives to teach us to consider our ways and keep our eyes focused on Him alone.  He allows suffering to refine us, make us wiser, and not lose our souls.  He wants us to draw closer to Him amid our suffering.


IV.   LET US NOT ALLOW OUR SUFFERING AND TRIALS TO GO TO WASTE:

In Philippians 1:12-26, Paul shows us how to take advantage of hardships and suffering so that what he suffered would have purpose and meaning and not be wasted. Suffering is a great challenge to the faith of our walk with God. In the book of Job, we learn that Satan uses suffering to tempt us to forfeit our faith and turn away from the Lord. No one is immune from suffering, for everyone will experience suffering, difficulties, and trials in life. Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians while he was in prison.  We read about his imprisonment at the end of the book of Acts. Here we see the great apostle Paul, imprisoned for over two years in Caesarea. After a horrible journey to Rome that included a shipwreck, he is imprisoned in Rome, awaiting his trial before Caesar. Listen to what he has to say about his circumstances.  

"I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.  15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.  Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again."  (Philippians 1:12-26)

Paul’s imprisonment turned out for good, for his suffering helped to advance the Gospel. The Gospel has advanced among unbelievers. The whole imperial guard knew that Paul was imprisoned for the cause of Christ. The Gospel was spread in the city of Rome through Paul’s suffering and imprisonment.  Not only this, the apostle Paul declared in verse 14 that Christians were confident in proclaiming the Gospel due to his imprisonment. Other Christians have become bolder to speak because of Paul’s boldness that led to his imprisonment. Paul’s suffering has encouraged others to suffer, as well.  Isn’t it remarkable!

Paul was not angry, bitter, and wallowing in self-pity about his imprisonment and his circumstances. It was not the end of the world and the worst thing that had ever happened to him.  He did not shake his fist at God for his imprisonment, for he was happy to be proclaiming the Gospel.  Paul was able to see the positive in his circumstances. Not only this, but Paul also declared that some were preaching Christ out of envy and rivalry (Philippians 1:15-18).  Even though they were teaching from wrong motives, desiring to harm him, Paul still rejoices since Christ is proclaimed. Paul turned the negative into a positive worthy of rejoicing because Christ is proclaimed. 

Paul’s joy is that the Gospel is being proclaimed, and the message of Jesus is spread.  Thus, we must examine our lives through the lens of the Gospel’s progress, not by our comfort. Joy is rooted in the Gospel’s proclamation, not personal circumstances, as we so often evaluate our lives. We can have joy in suffering because Christ and the Gospel are benefiting through our turmoil. As Christians, our aspirations must not be rooted in wealth, marriage, children, travel, career, retirement, or anything else that is not the Gospel’s advancement. Our trials and suffering must be used for the advancing of the Gospel.

The apostle Paul seems to be quoting Job 13:16.

“Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face. This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him.” 

When Job declared these words, he was also speaking about his spiritual salvation, not physical.  This makes the thrust of what Paul was saying more powerful. Paul’s faith will be vindicated, no matter how his trials turn out. He knew that all would be for his spiritual salvation through the prayers of Christians and the strength from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Paul’s point is the same point the whole New Testament makes about our trials and suffering, refining our faith, molding us into what God wants us to be to remain faithful to the Lord till we die. Listen to Peter’s words.

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)

No matter our suffering, Christ must be honored. No matter what happens to us, Christ must be honored. If that means living or dying, Christ must continue to be honored.  Our purpose in suffering is to make Christ look excellent, honored, and worthy. How do we make Christ look worthy and honored? By trading everything, even life, to gain Christ. Christ must be greater in life or death!  

So, we must pursue Jesus regardless of the cost, for all that matters in this life is that Christ is glorified, and honored, whatever our circumstances.  The value of gaining Christ is worth the loss of all things, even life itself. This is what it means to live for Christ and to die to be gain. It is how we treasure Christ in our lives. Paul saw death as the fulfillment of all his labors in life and the glorious possession of Christ. Our lives must bear fruit for Christ, even amid our pain and suffering.  We must be willing to serve and honor Christ regardless of our circumstances!  When we suffer, sacrifice, and die to self, we would not waste our suffering and trials.

Therefore, let us not waste our suffering and trials. 

1. Let us use our trials and suffering to honor Christ and to advance the Gospel. 
2. Let us use our difficulties to encourage other Christians to be courageous in the Lord. 
3. Let us use our pain to grow our faith toward the salvation of our souls. 
4. Whatever our circumstances, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 
5. Let us honor Jesus in all things before the world.  
6. Let us allow Christ to be the center of our relationships, aspirations, desires, and self-denial.  

Thus, let us rejoice even amid our pain.  When we approach our pain with strength, it is easier to spread that strength to others and strengthen their faith.   Our experiences and trials can strengthen others! The apostle Paul didn’t suffer in prison alone, for he allowed others to share in his suffering. He did not keep his “thorn in the flesh” quiet. He taught the Corinthians what he learned from it.  We must be open about our suffering to give and receive encouragement through our healing process!


CONCLUSION:

God puts limitations on what Satan can do to us. God is in control through Job’s trials. In Job 1:12, God tells Satan.

“Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.”

God tells Satan what he can and cannot do. Satan can do anything with what Job has, but nothing can be done against his body.

“Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.” (Job 2:6)

Satan is not God and does not operate independently of God’s power. God’s children need to grasp well the problem of suffering. God is in full control of Satan. Whatever Satan does is within God’s constraints and rule.  This knowledge gives us hope. God is in control of the circumstances.  He is ruling over our trials, and nothing will happen outside His knowledge. Since God is ruling over our trials, we can be hopeful amid our difficulties.  God loves us.  He sent His Son to save us, not to destroy us through our trials and sufferings.  So we must look at the cross and acknowledge His amazing and sacrificial love!  Although God puts limitations on what can happen to us, our faith must be tested.

“Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, 'The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.' 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. 10 And do not complain as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. 13 No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.”  (1 Corinthians 10:6-13)

After speaking about these tests that Israel experienced in the wilderness and failed, the apostle Paul tells us that these tests that Israel experienced in the wilderness and failed serve as an example for us not to fall and fail God like they did (1 Cor. 10:11-12).  In verse 13, we have a promise that gives us hope.

“No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.”

Many translations read this as “no temptation has overtaken you,” but there are others like the NRSV and NET that read “no testing” or “no trial.” The word that is translated “temptation” or “trial” here simply means “to put to the test or prove.” So we must read this text as a promise regarding our trials and temptations. God is sovereign over these events in our life.  God puts limits so that our testing will not press us beyond our strength. God is faithful. He will not let us be tested beyond our strength! Satan is limited. Satan needs permission. Satan cannot act beyond God’s power and knowledge.

If Job overcame his trial, we may rest assured we can overcome ours.  God is faithful, and He is with us amid our darkest storms.  With God’s help, we can endure what has been given!

“As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”  (James 5:10-11)

Often when suffering strikes us, we stop praying, praising, reading our Bibles, and meeting for worship with our brethren. A Christ-honoring attitude must compel us to pray, praise, study, and have fellowship with those of the like precious faith to help us in our suffering.  We must stop thinking from a fleshly perspective, serving self, but a heavenly perspective focused on honoring Christ!  Instead of complaining, saying, “How can I get out of this trial?” Why not think from a heavenly perspective,  “How can the Lord use this trial for His glory?”  Let us not miss the point of our suffering.  Christ allows suffering and persecution for a reason.  When we suffer with hope and praise, we honor Christ, proving that He is the solid Rock.

Paul and the apostles are our best examples of rejoicing during massive trials, persecution, empty stomachs, and imminent death.  Godly joy is rooted in something other than physical circumstances.  In Philippians 1:17-19, Paul rejoices because Christ is proclaimed, Christ will be honored in his body, he and the Philippians may soon die for Christ. 

In Acts 5:41, Peter and the apostles rejoiced after being beaten, for they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ. And though each of these circumstances was full of pain, the apostles still rejoiced. They did not rejoice because of their physical circumstances, but instead, they rejoiced because the Lord’s purposes were being accomplished. True life and perspective change joy for us!

“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ…”  (Philippians 3:8)

Suffering the loss of material possessions, academic knowledge, and even family has no worth in comparison to the joy found in knowing Christ. I would rather lose everything and gain Christ and still count it as joy.  We must determine to stop placing our hope in this world!  Our happiness must not be based on our economic situation, a successful day at work, healthy bodies, or our family and friends’ happiness.  Trusting in all these earthly things to give us joy or happiness will lead us to a miserable life, for they will fail us at some point in our lives.  There is no lasting joy when our primary focus is on these physical things to fill us.

Our priorities must be in the right places:  honoring Christ and the furthering of His Gospel. When our hope is in the firm foundation of the Lord, our joy will be full.  And though we may experience pain, sickness, and even death, we still can rejoice because of our hope.   In John 4:32-34, Jesus said,

“I have food to eat that you do not know about… My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”

May the Lord’s will be accomplished through our suffering.  May we rejoice amid our suffering to complete the work of the Lord.

Luci

"THERE IS A HABITATION"

"And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."

Revelation 21:10-14

The song, "There Is A Habitation," is such a beautiful and moving song.  This song helped me so much when my mother died, and it continues to help me with the recent loss of my father, mother-in-law, and cousin.  It gives us so much hope amid our troubled times and sufferings.  The Bible defines hope as the sure anchor of the soul.  Human hope is insignificant in comparison to the hope of the Bible.  This lovely song describes the great city, the New Jerusalem, where the glory of God dwells.  This precious city is filled with majesty, splendor, and glory.  This majestic and glorious city is filled with all precious stones, the 24 pillars, or foundations that are the 12 apostles and the 12 tribes of Israel.  In this majestic city, there is no temple, but our Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple and we, His church, are God's building, the holy Tabernacle as described in Ephesians 2:18-22.

"For through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,  in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit."

I.  HEAVEN IS A HABITATION BUILT BY THE LIVING GOD:   
 
Our song describes the glories of heaven poetically.  A "habitation" is a dwelling place.  The church, as described in Ephesians 2:18-22, is God's habitation or dwelling place here on earth.  In the kingdom parables of Jesus, as recorded in Matthew chapters 13, 18, 22, and 25, the church is called the kingdom of heaven.  The church is the heavenly city. It had no need of the sun or moon to shine on it because God’s glory was enough to enlighten it, having our Lamb, Jesus as the central lamp.  This lamp would make all peoples walk in His light, bringing glory to it.  Its gates will not be closed because they will be there to bring the nations’ glory and honor into it. 

God also has built for us, His children, an eternal habitation or dwelling in heaven.  A city whose only foundation is God, for He is the principal Designer and Builder.  This "habitation" is the abode for all people "from every tribe and language and people and nation."  It is a kingdom of priests to God, reigning on the earth!  

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God."  (Heb. 11:8-10)

"And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."'  (Rev. 5:8-10)

II.   HEAVEN IS A CITY WITH FOUNDATIONS:

This heavenly city has foundations where there will be no wars.  As I mentioned earlier in my introduction, this heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, has twelve foundations: the twelve apostles of the Lamb (Revelation 21:14). These foundations are as firm and strong as God's throne.  Nothing abominable or unclean will be there but God's throne and His Lamb. There will be no wars, nor desolations, for everything that is not clean, causing wars, will be excluded.

"And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."  (Revelation 21:14)

"But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life."  (Revelation  21:27)

III.  THERE WILL BE NO SORROW, DEATH, OR DECAY IN HEAVEN:

There will be no night, sorrow, death, or decay in that glorious heavenly city, no yesterday or tomorrow, for there will be eternal life.

"And its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there."  (Rev. 21:25)

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."'  (Rev. 21:3-4) 

"And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life."  (1 John 2:25)

IV.   IN HEAVEN, BOTH ANGELS AND GLORIFIED IMMORTALS WILL SING PRAISES TO THEIR KING:

In the glorious heavenly city, its "portals" are gates that have twelve gates within its high wall.  At the gates, there are twelve angels, and the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.  Within these portals or gates, angelic armies sing,

"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!"  (Revelation 5:11-12)

In this heavenly city, the angels will join the glorified immortals, the redeemed of all ages.

"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."  (Heb. 12:22-24)

CONCLUSION:

Although life on earth is tough for God's children, there always is heaven’s hope, our "habitation."  This hope strengthens us and helps us to endure when the trials are difficult and painful.  Thus whatever may come our way, we know that our reward, our prize, is waiting for us in heaven if only we will remain steadfast ‘till the end.  Heaven is worth it all!

The faithful of God have the hope of eternal life in heaven, a habitation.  We Christians hope for a beautiful place called heaven, our habitation.  We look forward to eternal life within its gates.  We anticipate with joy entering the gates of the heavenly city, our eternal home, or habitation.  This hope gives us joy and quenches our sorrows here on earth. 

God’s Word often speaks of heaven as God’s “habitation” where He dwells (Isa. 57:15; 1 King 8:30).  Heaven is also the dwelling of God's throne, where He rules in majesty over His entire creation (Ps. 103:19).  Not only is heaven God’s habitation, but it is also the place where His faithful saints will dwell forever. They can rightly call heaven their eternal home, the glorious heavenly city!  O Zion, Zion, I long thy gates to see; O Zion, Zion, when shall I dwell in thee? I commend this lovely song to your thoughts.

There is a habitation,

Built by the living God,

For all of every nation

Who seek that grand abode.

A city with foundations,

Firm as th’ eternal throne

Nor wars nor desolations

Shall ever move a stone.

No night is there, no sorrow,

No death, and no decay,

No yesterday, no morrow–

But one eternal day.

Within its pearly portals,

Angelic armies sing,

With glorified immortals,

The praises of its King.

The chorus 

O Zion, Zion,

I long thy gates to see;

O Zion, Zion,

When shall I dwell in thee?

Luci

IT IS TIME FOR THE RIGHTEOUS TO TAKE A STAND:

"I am set for the defense of the gospel."

Philippians 1:17

We live in times of turmoil and chaos. These times are the product of a culture of violence and lawlessness. This problem affects every aspect of our present world: ethnic and racial matters, social and educational matters, even things economic and religious. The violence and lawlessness are caused by a great variety of ideologies, and it spreads from place to place and from group to group. Indeed, these are troubling times! Just take a look around you and see how immorality and lawlessness have become the norm in our culture. Immoral lifestyles such as abortion, homosexuality, fornication, and many other such flawed and sinful customs that once brought universal shame are now lived openly without any shame or guilt whatsoever.  Let us consider what we must do in times like these.


I.   STANDING FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS IN A LAWLESS SOCIETY:

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34) 

This passage is profound, for it speaks of God’s wisdom. Although these words were written for the people of Israel and their neighbors, it is certainly true with all generations, nations, and times until the Lord returns to judge the world in righteousness. It applies to our nation and to us also. It would be wise to understand this message and live by it. Righteous living lifts us up. Those who live righteously are elevated because of the righteous and noble standard they strive to live. Those who live in the world of the righteous are blessed by their example. You see, the more our people live by God’s elevated principles of righteousness, the more a nation is elevated or exalted. A nation whose norm is corruption, degradation, depravity, immorality, and lawlessness can never stand strong.

When the righteous of God live in a lawless society of people who reject God and His principles of righteousness, if they take an open stand for righteousness and morality against wickedness, lawlessness, that is, if they especially point out their immorality, they will be verbally harassed and accused of being narrow-minded, ignorant, tyrannical, stupid, and bigoted. In fact, many have an in-your-face way of insulting and scorching us with profanity and name-calling because of our stand for righteousness.  You see, our people no longer know the difference between right and wrong, immorality, and morality. In many cases, it goes unnoticed. Alas, our morals and principles of righteousness have been absolutely turned upside down!!

No one can deny that these are troubling times. Most marriages are falling apart. Our homes are disintegrating and crumbling down. The sad reality is that homes must be the basic unit of any society where children can be raised and prepared to take their place in their society as adults. The fewer the homes that effectively teach their children the principles of righteousness as taught by God in His Sacred Book, the less they will become productive adults. So society suffers these consequences. This downward spiral is more dysfunctional homes raising children to become dysfunctional adults. Thus there are fewer godly and good homes raising productive adults.

Indeed, our society is in critical danger! So what is the answer to all this chaos and lawlessness? The Gospel, the Truth of God. The Gospel can change people’s lives and our society as well. As more people turn from their wickedness and their sins and turn to God for guidance, purpose, and direction, there will be peace in their lives. God gave us the Bible, His Truth, so that we might believe (develop faith) in Him. Without the Truth, we will be lost and without hope. So we must keep teaching God’s Word, the Gospel of the kingdom of God, for faith is developed by hearing God’s Word (Romans 10:17). The Gospel offers men vital information about forgiveness, salvation, eternal life, assurance, hope, and peace. But we must teach and heed the Gospel’s teachings to reap its benefits!

Sadly, many will not listen to God’s instructions and teachings communicated in His Word. It is the most important and the most valuable information ever made available to mankind! Many shut their eyes and close their ears to the riches found in God’s Word, even though it can transform their lives and bring peace. They reject the blessing of seeing their lives transformed or changed for the better. What a terrible tragedy it is to refuse to listen to God’s Word!

"This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: 'You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.'  15 For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.'  16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.'"  (Matt. 13:13-17)

When a society no longer cares about righteousness but prefers to live in unrighteousness and lawlessness, rebelling against their Creator, doing whatever they please, they are deceiving themselves, thinking that they can escape the consequences. In fact, they’re in big trouble and on their way to decadence. Why? Because sin becomes their way of life, their frequent mindset, and character.

When sin rules and righteousness is the exception in any society, sin takes over that society and becomes a reproach, disgrace, and shame. A society that ignores the reproach of sin and lawlessness is a society that has disgraced itself, for it brings shame upon itself whether they realize it or not. When our lawmakers have to lie publicly to cover their lawlessness, when adultery is excused as normal, when one is portrayed as the villain for exposing the fruits of darkness and that which is wrong or lawless, then we must take a hard look at what we are becoming as a society or nation. I must stress that such things cannot be changed by voting for the right politician!!  It has everything to do with the power of God’s Truth and His principles of righteousness and morality that change the hearts of men.

So it is time for the righteous among us to take a stand for righteousness’ sake and glorify our Father in heaven! Let us give a defense and confirmation of the Gospel of Truth, fighting together for the faith of the Gospel, teaching those who are lost in sin the Truth of God that they might turn away from their sins to be saved. The Gospel deserves nothing less than a clear and confident declaration. The Word of God in all of its power is worthy of our courageous defense and advocacy. Therefore, let us share that same Word and confront all evil with the same valor or courage we read about in the apostles.


II.   SOCIETY'S ETHICS AND GOD'S ABSOLUTE STANDARDS:

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

The greatest danger for a society whose ethics and morals are confused and mixed is that it may allow its culture to establish the standards of normal and acceptable activity. That is exactly what is happening in our modern culture! Why? Because when a society rejects God’s ethics, morals, and standards of righteousness, their standards become relativistic and changing. That which is the norm is acknowledged as that which is absolute. All absolute standards are then destroyed by such a culture. Thus relativism triumphs over that which must be absolute. Alas, this is where our modern culture is today! 

• Moral  Decay and The Hope of The Gospel:

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”  (Isaiah 5:20)

Our society’s moral decay is accelerating quickly.  We are painfully aware of how our people call evil good and good evil.  Bible-speaking people are silenced because of the truth they speak and their stand for righteousness.  As our pagan culture accepts and embraces all forms of lawlessness, bigger and catastrophic things will confront us.  While we Christians look at the world, believing that evil is defeated when we do good, the world is deceived, thinking that evil is defeated through their acts of “social” justice.  Indeed, they are two distinct worldviews.  Unless we realize that true justice is the righteous Gospel Message and that personal vengeance is not justice, we will never succeed at teaching Jesus Christ to the world.  Nothing in the daily news is as powerful and informative as the "Good News" of the Gospel! (Rom. 1:16; 10:16-17)

Our pagan culture screams at the top of their lungs that “rules don’t matter at all, for there are no rules, and no one has the right to make them.” Where has this mindset taken us today?!  Our godless culture claims that "individual feelings" are the most important thing and that each man is a law unto himself. This is known as humanism.  In other words, there is no Almighty God who says what is right or wrong.  But the truth is, there IS right AND wrong according to God’s revealed Word.  It is a terrible thing to see the blind leading the blind!  In every generation, God's Word has determined what is right, wrong, good, and evil and that which is excellent (Phil. 1:10).

Sadly, our culture demands the right to determine what is right and wrong, the norm for human behavior through statistical studies: behaviors that the Bible condemns, such as adultery, homosexuality, abortion, pornography, fornication, and many dark sins such as these. According to this way of thinking or worldview, since everyone is widely practicing a certain behavior, then it becomes society’s norm and ethical standard. So as a tragic result, ethics becomes a relative, floating set of patterns that dictate our duty and obligation. Sadly, nothing is absolute, and nothing is forever. But God will have none of this, for He exists and has revealed Himself. He lives in the Bible! That revelation is verbal and propositional and is found in His Word. It contains God’s absolute standards rooted in His divine nature and will.

God knows what is best for us because He has created us in His image and has given us a way of redemption through His Son. Therefore, His verbal revelation contains all the absolute standards by which we must live our lives (in the home, the church, and the state). God’s ethics are a set of absolutes rather than a set of fluid standards, for they reflect His character and define our duties and obligations to God and mankind. God has the right to command us to “be holy for I am holy.” And since He is the only Creator, He has the right to set His standards or principles of righteousness by which we must measure all behavior.

Consider abortion, where our culture no longer focuses on the rights of the baby (no mercy toward the weak) but instead focuses on the rights of the woman to eliminate the baby’s rights (survival of the fittest, the strong over the weak). The same is true with the issue of euthanasia, which focuses on the right of the person to “die with dignity” (to murder himself). Today, doctor-assisted suicide is sanctioned in some states, abusing “the right of privacy” to justify the person who helps another commit suicide. But we Christians must understand these raging ethical issues in our culture and use the Word of God to attack them. Christians must learn to think from God’s point of view, a Biblical worldview, about any ethical matter.

The Bible is God’s revealed Word and can equip us for every good work, for it is beneficial for correction, for reproof, and for training in righteousness (2 Timothy. 3:16-17). Diligent study of the Word of God is vital to ethical decision-making, for God’s Word gives us God’s view of life and His absolute standards. We cannot discern God’s mind on any issue and defend His Truth without Bible study and knowledge. The Bible is not irrelevant to ethics; instead, it is the foundation for ethics. The Bible defines ethics as absolute standards for mankind. Alas, today, the philosophy of relativism is pervasive! Why? Because God is rejected, and so is the Christian faith, the Gospel. All absolute Truth is being renounced.

Our pluralistic society avoids the concept of right and wrong (ethics). One evidence of this is our deteriorating judicial system that seems to be having trouble punishing criminals. Our judges cannot even support the public rejection of same-sex marriage, abortion, and so on. We also see this in our entertainment media, which continues to push their immoral and indecent agenda. Another example is our schools, which zealously indoctrinate our people and our children with "evolution" and "social tolerance" of corrupt behavior.

Moreover, this plague of moral relativism encourages the acceptance of homosexuality, pornography, voyeurism, fornication, adultery, and a host of other pervasive "sins" enormously.  Sins that were once generally regarded as wrong are now being accepted and promoted by large segments of our people. It is becoming so pervasive that if one speaks out against such moral relativism and its "anything goes" philosophy, he is labeled an "intolerant bigot." This, of course, is hypocritical of those who profess that all points of view are true, and yet reject those who profess absolutes in morality. To them, all points of view are true EXCEPT for all those views that teach moral absolutes, an absolute God, or absolute of right and wrong (ethics). (“Nothing is absolutely wrong except the teaching that the laws of God are absolutely right.” “The only behavior that must not be tolerated is intolerance.”)

Thus we must carry the Gospel, the transforming power of Christ, and teach it to our lawless culture, for there is no other hope of escape from the bondage of sin for our godless culture than the transforming power of the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel is the only hope for changing our culture and transforming our neighbors into the image of Christ.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith."' (Romans 1:16-17)

"Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace." (Eph. 6:14-15)

We must continue teaching God's holiness and righteousness to a profane and godless culture.  God’s children must unsheathe the Sword of the Spirit, moving forward to fight against our society's moral decay.  We must cry aloud, lifting our voices like a trumpet, showing all people their transgressions and sins.  Remember that the battle is the Lord's, and God is among us to help us fight against all evil!

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"  (Romans 8:31)

Jesus' doctrine is our only standard of moral authority, where all moral rightness is found.  His teachings will be our final judge on that last day.  The Bible addresses every aspect of life and conduct.  Anyone who accepts God’s inspired Word will be able to hold the same ethical conduct and morals: the perfect standard.  The Word of God is our only source of Truth for discerning right and wrong, good and evil.  There must be a complete surrender to His will to understand and honor His authority.  We must test all doctrines and practices against that Divine Word.  But when we rebel against that Word, we begin to sin and thus find ourselves condemned.   In His infinite love for us, our God has revealed His plan of salvation.  And yes, we can know with certainty who is right and wrong, good and evil!  God has given us His absolute, perfect laws intended to be used by all men at all times.  It is foolish to disobey them.  His laws are the foundation of the Law of Christ.  We must use them to govern our societies and ourselves lest we perish!  Let us listen to them! (2 Timothy 3:16-17).


CONCLUSION:

We must obey God rather than men!

"And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, 'We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.' 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, 'We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. 33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them."'  (Acts 5:27-33)

Though the world might rebel at God's Word, divine authority, principles of righteousness, calling evil good and good evil; changing darkness for light and light for darkness, and being wise and clever in their own eyes, God’s Word and divine principles of righteousness will be settled forever in heaven. No matter who our opponents might be, though they readily reject God’s Message that saves all men, we must resolve to strengthen our efforts to speak the Truth in love (Eph. 4:15).

Therefore, let us not compromise our faith and conviction. Let us continue being lights that shine brightly in word and deed, doing all things in the name of the Lord by His authority (Col. 3:17). Remember that only the Gospel can make men free from sin (John 8:32; 4:23-24). So we must continue to take the Sword of the Spirit out of the sheath and move forward to fight against our society’s moral decay. We must keep crying aloud the Message of the Gospel to them and not hold it back! We must lift up our voices like a trumpet, declaring to all people their sins and transgressions that they might come to know God's goodness and grace and repent that He might save sinners from their sins and folly (2 Peter 1:2-4).

Our Father's kingdom shall never be destroyed. He will triumph in the end, even when wrong and wickedness seem so strong. God is still sitting and ruling on His eternal throne, a throne that does not tremble before the threats and darkness of this world. Thus we, His faithful, must fight tooth and nail the good fight of our faith until the end, for the battle is not done, and we must confess Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords through His Gospel.  We must continue proclaiming and living out His Gospel Message even amid a crooked and perverse generation. And though God's world rejects God's sovereignty and righteousness and fails to submit to His rule, He is still Lord and King ruling from His mighty throne.

Satan cannot thwart God's victory of righteousness, even though he intends to destroy mankind with deceit and lawlessness. So we must continue being soldiers of the cross to defeat the evil one and his lawlessness with the Sword of God, the Gospel. As long as we continue living on this earth as faithful followers of Christ, our battle is not done, for the righteous must keep fighting the good fight of faith until our last breath. We understand and accept that we have a spiritual war that we must fight with the whole armor of God to be victorious. And though our fight seems to be difficult, we must still proclaim the Gospel Truth in love no matter how much resistance we face. Our faith must not waver! We must trust in God to help us fight the good fight of faith, no matter how vigorously we are attacked or persecuted.

We Christians must not compromise our faith and convictions because of pressure and persecution (such as the first century Christians suffered) or out of a desire to conform to this world (Rom. 12:1-2). Jesus warned His disciples, saying,

"For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels" (Luke 9:26). 

We must stand up for the Truth of God's divine Word even if that involves persecution, being scorned and ridiculed, even put to death. We must keep teaching sinners the Gospel even if Satan shuts our mouths. We must not deny our Lord His Lordship and fail to defend the Gospel Message! We cannot afford to be silent about the riches of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. God will not allow us to have a silent faith. We must have a speaking faith!

May the Lord help us to discern right from wrong and good from evil according to His Sacred Word.  May our Lord help us to never be ashamed of His Testimonies, Precepts, and Statutes, which are life to the dying soul. May we proclaim faithfully and boldly the riches of His Gospel, which is His power unto salvation for everyone who believes in Him. To Him be the glory!


Luci

"DOES JESUS CARE?"

"Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." 

1 Peter 5:7

The past two months have been challenging and painful for us.  This is the year of the tear.  In less than two months, we have painfully come face to face with the loss of three loved ones, my father, my mother-in-law, and my cousin, who was like a brother to me.  The song "Does Jesus Care" hits home because it expresses our Lord’s care for us during our times of pain, heavy burdens, and cares.

"For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too."  (2 Corinthians 1:5)

In times of sadness, heartache, darkness, and the loss of loved ones, we can rest in the assurance that our Lord Jesus cares for us.  He loves and cares for us His children and asks us to cast our burdens on Him.

 "Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved."  (Psa. 55:22)  

He has promised us that He will give us rest from the cares of this life, and we must believe and trust Him (Matt. 11:28-30).  When our hearts are filled with pain, we can confidently look to God for comfort (2 Cor. 1:5).  Thus the question is, Does Jesus care?

Our Lord Jesus also manifests His care toward us during our times of dread and fear.  And though we may walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we have nothing to fear because He is with us (Psa. 23:4).  God has given us the spirit of power, not of fear ( 2 Tim. 1:7).  We need not live in fear, for perfect love casts out fear ( 1 Jn. 4:18).

 "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."  (2 Tim. 1:7)

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."  (1 John 4:18)

Our Lord and Savior also cares for us amid our times of temptation and grief. Although no one can say we have no sin, we indeed fail at times to resist some temptation strong.

"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."  (1 John 1:8)

Nevertheless, we must have a tender heart and be compelled to grieve or mourn for our sins.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."  (Matt. 5:4)  

We must weep with godly sorrow every time we fail our Lord and sin against Him.  Our sin must cause our tears to flow all night long.

"O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath.  2 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.  3 My soul also is greatly troubled.  But you, O LORD—how long?  4 Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love.  5 For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise?  6 I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping."  (Psalm 6:1-6)

Since our Lord Jesus experienced sadness at the loss of a dear and beloved friend, He understands and cares for us during those dark times (John 11:32-35).  His words found in the Scriptures can comfort and encourage us in such circumstances.

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words."  (1 Thes. 4:13-18)  

Since He suffered death, He is able to be our merciful and faithful High Priest to help us be free from the fear of death, bringing the comfort of hope into our lives.

"Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." (Heb. 2:14-18)

CONCLUSION: 

Our Lord cares during our times of pain, burdens, cares, dread and fear, temptation and grief, sadness, heartache, and the loss of loved ones.

 "O yes, He cares, I know He cares; His heart is touched with my grief;

When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares."

Jesus not only demonstrated that He cares for us through His death but also that He continues to care for us.  Thus, in times of darkness and sorrow, we can rest in the confident assurance that He cares and is willing to help us. 

When life's storms besiege our soul, God is always near us to prove that He cares for us.  He is our Anchor.  Our faith in God can help us bear the fiery furnace of our trials, keeping us from being burned. Our Lord gives us quiet and sweet rest when we are weary because of persecution, affliction, suffering, difficulties, adversities, and Satan’s buffeting. In Christ, we have such an abundance of precious promises that all things shall work together for good, in blessedness.  He is our great Rock that shelters and sweetly refreshes us in our time of need.

Indeed, our most in-depth spiritual lessons come from trials, pain, and suffering.  The deep waters, the hot fire, and the dark valleys teach us to walk the faith path.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."  (Isaiah 43:2)  

God walks with us through our darkest valleys, troubled waters, and hot fires.  He never breaks His promises. Every time that we walk through the deep waters of difficulty and suffering, He is there with us to provide refuge and rest.   And no matter how many fierce storms, challenges, and suffering come our way, God will be our refuge and the solid and sure anchor that we can hold on to.  He is our source of protection or shield and rest during life’s storms.  But we must learn to hide ourselves in Him alone.

"You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Your word."  (Psalm 119:114)

"For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock."  (Psalm 27:5)

"Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; I take refuge in You."  (Psalm 143:9)

He is our place of shelter and safety.  He will carry us with loving and tender care in our times of fear and sorrow.

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.  4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.  5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.  6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.  7 The LORD of hosts is with us;  the God of Jacob is our fortress.  8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth.  9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;  he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.  10 'Be still, and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!'  11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."' (Psalm 46)  

Our God shelters us like the wings of care and protection of a protective mother bird.  In our times of trouble and sorrow, our merciful and loving God spreads His wings to guard His children so that no harm will overtake them.

"Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by."  (Psalm 57:1)

"He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler."  (Psalm 91:4)

"No evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent."  (Psalm 91:10)

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" (Matthew 23:37)

May we all come to our place of refuge, strength, and defense, in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. May we find rest and quiet solitude in His arms where we can just drown out this world’s cares. May we find hope and healing in Him alone amid our burdens and distress, for He cares and is touched by our sorrows and trials.

I hope the words of this lovely song stir your soul the way they do mine.

“Does Jesus Care?”

"Does Jesus care when my heart is pained Too deeply for mirth and song,

As the burdens press, and the cares distress, And the way grows weary and long?"

"Does Jesus care when the way is dark With a nameless dread and fear?

As the daylight fades into deep night shades, Does He care enough to be near?"

"Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed To resist some temptation strong,

When for my deep grief I find no relief, Though my tears flow all the night long?"

Does Jesus care when I’ve said ‘good-by’ To the dearest on earth to me,

And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks–Is it aught to Him, does He see?

Chorus,

 "O yes, He cares, I know He cares; His heart is touched with my grief; When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares."  

Luci

LET US SAVE OUR CHILDREN!

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

Deuteronomy 6:5-9

One of God’s most critical commandments addresses the relationship between the child and the parent. The Gospel teaches us how we must walk in a manner worthy of our calling in Christ and especially in our home. God is very concerned about life in the home. All Christians are commanded to submit to Christ and His rule and to one another as husbands, wives, and children. The home will be affected when we refuse to obey that command.  Please join me as we face the great need to save our children from a dying world.


I.   TEACHING OUR CHILDREN THE FEAR OF GOD:

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."  (Ephesians 6:4)

Christ modeled for us the beauty of submission when He gave himself for us as a sacrifice on the cross, doing His Father’s will (John 12:12-26). We must not exclude Christ and His principles of righteousness from our homes!  The break down of the home has deeply impacted the Lord's church. Strong and godly homes have a tremendous power to raise strong and faithful children who, in the long run, can become strong, faithful Christians when they become adults. As faithful adults, they build strong and godly Christian homes whose Builder is Jesus, He whose kingdom is righteousness. A home that is built by God's wisdom can produce godly, strong, and faithful Christians. Such godly souls are a blessing to the Lord's church! They strengthen the church. These are the type of homes that produce leaders who will serve in many vital roles in the church. The saddest thing is that the Lord's church is suffering immensely because of the breakdown of the home. Instead of overcoming the world by our saltiness and devotion to Christ and His kingdom (being godly examples), we are overcome by the world and its lawlessness and darkness. We must take responsibility at once for things that are turning our homes upside down!

The most important teaching parents can do for their children is found in God's instructions, teaching our children the fear of God. When parents follow God's instructions, they will teach them to love God above everything, obey Him, fear Him, and worship Him joyfully. But words and actions are necessary to be successful. Christian parents play a foundational role in teaching their children daily the fear of God. Unfortunately, many Christian parents don't serve God faithfully and end up raising children who, as adults, don't serve God either. Their children grow up and are lost. That is very sad! Other reasons could be cultural influences combined with a lack of proper Bible teaching. The power of cultural influences is stronger than ever with the rise of media and the many technological devices (TV, movies, video games, music, social media, internet, texting, etc.). Most of these influences are ungodly. Even those children who were brought up in a Christian and godly home spend most of their time with other children who are not being raised to fear and love God and His Word.

All Christian parents must fight tooth and claw all negative cultural influences. They must instill principles of righteousness and God's Word in the lives of their children. It is not enough to take our children to church weekly. It is not enough to feed and clothe them well without teaching them the fear of God and obedience to His Word. Attendance alone (when we gather together to worship God) is not enough, and the central pillar of life without proper Biblical teaching or instruction. It is how we live our lives, and our actions, that will teach our children to do what is right as genuine children of God. Our children can indeed see where our priorities are. Parents are given the ultimate responsibility for the training of their children.  So we must train our children to fear God and to save them spiritually.

God has put us, parents, in charge of our home, and we must lead appropriately according to the will of God. Our lives must be ordered and determined by God's kingdom and God's righteousness if we are indeed faithful followers of Christ. In doing this, you may rest assured you will be equipped to teach your children the fear of God and defeat all negative cultural influences that exist. We must be earnest about the souls of our children and learn from the wisdom of God written a long time ago (Deut. 10:12-13). We, as Christian and god-fearing parents, must walk worthy of the Gospel if we want our children to obey God and be saved.  It is a foundational truth in saving our children! 

We cannot expect our children to be faithful to God if we are partially committed to Christ. When both parents fear God and are devoted, dedicated, and zealous to the Lord and His work, their children most likely will follow their parents' lead successfully. The church cannot save our children. Parents are the only ones who can save them with the Lord's help and instruction found in His revealed Word. No Bible classes and sermons at a church building weekly will influence our children's lives and save them. Parents must walk the path of righteousness and practice what they teach their children so that they may see the way to heaven. The power of godly example from both parents is vital for them to be saved and go to heaven (Deuteronomy 6:5-9).


II.   THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST THE ILLS OF THE WORLD:

The great message of God’s Grace in the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that sinners can and must be forgiven and reconciled or restored to God’s favor. Jesus and His disciples cried out that all men everywhere must repent, and they taught the world the new life, the new way of living that God requires, that which pleases our Savior and Lord. We must be restored to the ideals of righteous living. One of the most beautiful fruits of that life is seen in the home as designed by God: a home where the Bible, the Master’s will, is taught and sought, a home where fathers, mothers, and children behave in the beautiful ways that bring peace and joy to our lives and glory to our Creator. Is this an impossible dream? Without a clear understanding of God's intent for marriage and design for the home, dysfunction, moral anarchy, and chaos reign.

You see, God had a design in mind when He created the family. And when we follow His divine pattern for the home, we bear much fruit to His glory. The family is the hub around which all of life should be organized. The preeminent responsibility of every parent is to teach the Gospel to their children so that they may be saved from the wrath of God. Our primary goal must be to point our children to Christ always, in word and deed. Our labor is a labor of love, not just to provide for their physical needs but also to nurture their souls for eternity.  A parent’s highest ambition is to see their children walking in the Light, in Truth and righteousness. Are we making the Bible to be loved in our homes? Do we have long-lasting structures to enshrine God’s Word in our homes?

So, who rules the cradle in our culture today? The public schools, government, caretakers, strangers, and such, but not the parents. Sadly, there are fewer and fewer women and men today who accept the importance of their role in helping to bring up godly children to beautify God's kingdom. Godly parenting is shepherding the hearts of our children in the ways of God's wisdom. As we shepherd the hearts or souls of our children by teaching them to delight in the Word of God, God's Word will be the power that saves their lives, instead of whatever other formula society offers that might produce children who merely believe. God's Word is powerful! If we teach our children the wisdom of God's Word and its power, our children will be able to withstand all of the threats to their FAITH, come what may.

The world is in desperate need of homes where God is recognized as the Head; His Word as the only guiding light; and His glory as the only motivating power. Apart from these Biblical principles of righteousness to govern the home, our home and family system is in danger of collapsing altogether. This is leading us to a blatant ignorance of authority, like the ignorance that flourishes in decadent societies. God calls for faithful parents to guide, nurture, and train their children in His ways as His perfect arrangement (Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4; I Timothy 5:14). The godly home is our last line of defense against the ills that overtake the world. It is commonly said, "As goes the home, so goes the nation and the church." God give us Christian Homes!


CONCLUSION:

Deuteronomy 6:5-9 is full of practical wisdom about the godly home that does not forget God. When one loves God, he will also love His Word. When it comes to child-rearing, parents must practice what they preach. There must be a personal example and spiritual teaching and training. Bible study with our children is a priceless opportunity! 

• Parents must teach their children to love, respect, and obey God supremely. 
• They must teach them love for their neighbor. How to respect and submit to all authority. 
• They must teach them to humble themselves, exercise self-disciple, and do hard work. 
• They must learn how to be gracious and merciful to all. 
• They must be reminded that God is watching and that they will reap what they sow. 
• And that they must keep learning and growing in the fear of God. 

These are fundamental and priceless truths that will save our children. Remember that our primary goal is to teach our children how to walk with God as we ourselves are endeavoring to walk. Leading by example is not enough sometimes since we must also invest time to teach them properly (Eph. 6:4). Without Bible knowledge, the wisdom of God, and the path of righteousness in their lives, our children are most likely to be lost in this world of darkness (the culture around them). Remember, our job as parents is first to bring up godly children even while we prepare them to make a living.

Are you aware that one of the biggest problems the church and our society are facing today is that we are raising up a generation of spoiled, rebellious, and unrestrained children?! Just look around you! Our badly behaved children (because they didn't receive enough discipline and instruction at home) are the ones that are leading our nation and the church now and in the future. What do you see? Nothing but sin, lawlessness, and apostasy everywhere! Indeed, the future of our nation and society as a whole doesn't look too promising or bright! Why? Simply because parents have failed to apply God's wisdom and instruction (the fear of God) in their home. So, as a result of this, there is nothing but sin, chaos, violence, and lawlessness. Parents, wake up and smell the coffee before it is forever too late, for God will judge you for withholding correction and instruction as ordained by His Word!!

“May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace.  Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD.”  (Psalm 144:12, 15)

Consider the following poem I composed about the home that does not forget God.

"The Lovely Home"

Oh, how blessed is the home whose builders are fathers and mothers

And where sons and daughters are trained by real teachers,

Who, by their examples, show the true adornment of the heart.

Oh sweet home where the heart of the child is molded

With sweetness and love.

Oh that God would give each parent a vision of the glory and splendor

Of nurturing and training the hearts of their children for eternity.

It is a divine work.

If only they could see that there is no other work so noble and sacred,

Worthy and holy, as the training and building of little hearts.

There is no inheritance that a parent can pass on to a child

That can compare to the influence and blessing of a true godly home.

Oh, what splendor is found in the home,

Where the love of God reigns

And His wisdom directs everyone's footsteps in righteousness.

Oh, how happy is the home where hearts are pure and holy.

For no calamity, no great sorrow, no power of evil, no earthly loss,

Can ever rob them of the holy influences and memories of a home that is built by God.

Oh, what a blessing is the sacred home,

For it is a sanctuary, where men and women

Can be free from the world's perils and dismay.

Oh sweet home where the weary and faint

Can retreat and rest to gather new strength

For tomorrow's battles and toils.

Oh how magnificent is the home

Where love learns discipline and strength,

And where love forms character.

No career is more worthy

Than the making of a godly and beautiful home, “home-making.”

For he who builds a sanctuary for God,

Opens a bountiful fountain of blessing for all men.

Oh godly home that dwells with beauty and strength

Where hearts are inspired and trained

For noble and victorious living,

Equipped for life's battles and temptations.

Oh, that we might heed God's sacred calling

To train the little corners of our kingdom

Called home with strength and purity

To make them, brave and loyal,

Worthy of our Almighty God.

May we never allow this world's constant distractions to squander these precious opportunities to teach our precious children what really matters, the fear of God, love for His Word, and obedience to all of His commands (Deut. 6:8-9). May we never abandon our God-given duty but make an effort to teach our children the riches found in God's Word, that they might bear abundant fruit for His glory.


Luci