ADORN THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS

 “But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound Doctrine.  Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.  Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior… teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.  Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.  Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative... but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the Doctrine of God our Savior in every respect."

Titus 2:1-10

Some of the most beautiful prose written is found in Matthew 5-7.  It is the well-known Sermon on the Mount, the first doctrinal treatise taught by Jesus of Nazareth. Its doctrines have changed the world as it has changed the individual sinners who dared to put them into practice. They adorn the teachings of Him whom they adore.

For many, God’s Doctrine is not attractive, especially to those who insist on living in sin.  They find the Bible and its doctrines repulsive, claiming that Doctrine is not essential.  Doctrine is not just important. It is essential, vital to our salvation. We cannot be saved unless we obey the complete plan of salvation, which includes obedience to all of our Lord's commands for the rest of our lives. We cannot separate Doctrine from the Gospel. We obey Him because we love Him, and there is no way to please Him without loving Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Anything less than that is FALSE Doctrine! (Acts 2:38; I John 4:1-6; 2 John 9; II Thessalonians 1:8; I Timothy 4:16; Acts 20:26-27). 

The whole counsel of God is Doctrine. All the teachings of Christ are Doctrine.  All children of Light must conform their lives to sound, healthy Doctrine to beautify the Word of God (His Doctrine), making the Gospel Message more attractive to unbelievers. It is impossible to convert profane people to Christ if we Christians are not walking in Truth and Spirit. That is, we must adorn the Doctrine of Christ (the Gospel) to be effective in drawing unbelievers to Christ.  Our daily life communicates our faith to a watching world.  It will be difficult for them to listen to us if we don't reflect the Truth in our manner of thinking, speaking, and living.  It will be impossible to teach others the Gospel of Christ if we, ourselves, are not imitators of Christ (I Cor. 11:1).  So we must show the beauty of the teachings of God.  God is always opening doors for us to show the beauty and value of following His Doctrine.  We must “speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine"  (Titus 2:1).

Sadly, few read their Bible and meditate on the Word.  They are not able to defend sound Doctrine and let their light shine, making the Gospel of Christ look more appealing!  Why?  Because we must live in such a way as to let others see the beauty of Christ living in us (Galatians 2:20).  We must also sanctify Christ in our hearts that others may know the hope that is in us.  When they ask about our hope, we must be ready to make a defense (give an answer, 1 Peter 3:15).  Only mature Christians (those who have grown in the Doctrine of God, sound in faith) can do this.  It is in adorning the Doctrine of God, our Savior, that the church can carry out His work and fulfill its purposes in everything to glorify Him.  It is Grace that teaches us how to adorn the Doctrine of our Savior (Titus 2:10-11).  We must be compelled to adorn it!  (Titus 2:13). 

The word “adorn” means to decorate, to make beautiful, to embellish, to display the excellence of something, to exalt, to honor as well as Grace.  In fact, the word “adorn” is similar to the word “cosmos,” which makes reference to the beautifully created order of the universe.  In Psalm 19:1, the Psalmist exclaims, “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows his handiwork.” Not only is the universe functional and exact, but it is beautiful.  Our God has adorned the universe majestically with its sunrises and sunsets, beautiful mountains and valleys, and awe-inspiring panorama.  Indeed, by His mighty power, He spoke into existence order and complexity in our universe!  Our God is majestic and amazing!  

So, how do we adorn the Doctrine of Christ, our Savior?

I.    BY ALLOWING THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST TO ADORN OUR “INNER MAN” 

  

The imperishable adornment that is renewed according to the image of God is described in Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:24-32; and Colossians 3:10-12.  These words describe in detail the imperishable adornment of the inner man. Notice that all these Scriptures talk about putting on the new self.  They speak of the character traits or qualities (fruits of the Spirit) of someone created in the likeness of God, renewed and regenerated in the knowledge of God with all righteousness and holiness.  In Christ, we have all we need to be complete because “Christ is all, and in all.”  

Since we have all we need in Christ and our lives are hidden in both Him and the Father, we must put to death all lawlessness and set our minds on those things that are above where Jesus is.  Our job is to make sure that our “new self” is well adorned and beautified so that we may make it look more appealing or attractive to a world that is living in darkness and sin.  We become a magnet that attracts others to imitate Christ as well, have what He has and be like Him.  There is no better way to present the glorious Gospel of Grace to the unsaved!  

As those who profess and have confessed to being followers of Jesus Christ, we must put on this attractive garment or “uniform” and adorn it well as those who “have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Col. 3:10).  If we are not willing to put on the new garments of righteousness and holiness, imitating the character of Christ in us, showing others that Christ lives in us and that we now walk in His steps doing His will, how then can we teach others the Gospel of Grace and “convert” others to Christ?  Let this sink deeply into your hearts!

The key to adorning the Doctrine of Christ is righteous and holy living, being a good example “in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (I Tim. 4:12).  In Titus 2, Paul is challenging older men, older women, young women, young men and bondservants to live in righteousness, in all integrity, respect, sound in speech, with purity in Doctrine, “showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.”

Non-believers seldom read the Bible but are reading the lives of all Christians as open letters of recommendation every day.  Therefore, we, as God’s chosen, must “put on” the Gospel of Christ in a way that is well presented (adorned) as possible without contradicting the message.  How is this possible? 

• By “denying ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:12).  
• By presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, and not being “conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2). 
• By being "crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me" (Galatians 2:20).

So, we must repent if we have not been wearing the garments of righteousness and holiness. We must start removing the dirty garments, the sinful practices, and habits of the “old self,” “dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:1-13).  Since “for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27).

II.   WE ADORN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST BY OUR GOOD WORKS AND OUR FAITH:  (Titus 2:1-10).

• Teaching the “whole Truth and nothing but the Truth,” with the right spirit and attitude (2 Tim. 2:23-25).   Sadly, those who defend the Truth many times don’t present the Doctrine of Christ in a good light.  Although “doctrinally sound,” many show an attitude of one who has “lost his first love,” therefore, they need “to repent” (Rev. 2:5).  We must understand clearly that we must not only “contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 3) but that we defend the Truth in a manner that is not contentious.  Indeed, we must love the Truth with conviction (Proverbs 23:23), but we must teach it following the golden rule of love (I Cor. 13:4-8).  
• In I Thess. 1:8, Paul says that “the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.”  The church must sound forth the Gospel but must do it with the attitude of the faithful bond-servant.  The bond-servant must be “well-pleasing, not argumentative… but showing all good faith” (Titus 2:10).  It is then that the church adorns the Doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things.  Christians ought to be prepared to defend the Doctrine of Christ with meekness, yet boldly.
• Today many religious teachers leave the impression that the Word of God cannot be understood and applied to faithful living.  They say that the doctrines of the Bible are contradictory and conflicting. My question is:  If that is true, then how can the Bible be the book of Truth?  They ignore what Jesus said, “Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17).  If it appears not to be accurate, does the fault lie with the Word of God or with our teaching?  What do you think?  “May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, 'THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED"'  (Romans 3:4).  
• Therefore, let the Word of God be true and man a liar.  “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace”  (I Cor. 14:33).  Pay attention! God’s Word does not support division but demands unity on God's terms rather than unity in error. Unity is only possible when men give up their creeds, false doctrines, private interpretations, personal preferences, and the “think so’s” written by men.  We must let the Bible speak for itself and nothing else.  Period!  It is only then that we can adorn the Doctrine of God, our Savior.  Are you willing to do it?
• When we make our claim to follow the Truth and nothing but the Truth but then take away the clear teaching of the Bible, we are blaspheming the will of God before the world that is in darkness with our inconsistency.  Why?  Simply because we must teach all the counsel of God on issues of fornication, adultery, gossip, drunkenness, immodesty, submission to authority, divorce and remarriage, pornography, homosexuality, abortion, responsibility in the home (parents, children), racism and so on and at the same time we must show ourselves as good examples, the kind of people our God demands that we be.  Consistency with the will of God is what adorns His Doctrine and nothing else.  It is then that the Gospel will impact the world around us.  Our barrenness and leanness of soul will absolutely hinder our reaching out to them.  Take heed to the words of Jesus in John 7:38, 

“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water.”

• So adorning the Doctrine of Christ, our Savior is the opposite of causing God’s Word to be blasphemed by our ungodly and worldly conduct (Titus 2:5; Romans 2:23-24).  When God’s people put into practice His principles of righteousness, whether it be older men, older women, younger women, younger men, bond-servants, they adorn the Doctrine of Christ.
• Likewise, when we are ashamed of the Doctrine of Christ, we do not adorn it because deep down in our hearts, we do not like it. We despise it.  In Mark 8:38 Jesus said, 

“For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man also shall be ashamed of him, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Again in Romans 1:16, Paul said,

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

• Our Light must shine before ALL men if we are to adorn the Doctrine.  Our lives must be lights that shine as good examples of good works before all men that they may glorify our God in heaven (Matt. 5:16).  
• We must hold fast to the Word of God without complaining and protesting but rather shining our lights in this world of darkness.  Only then do we adorn the doctrine “so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain” (Phil. 2:14-16).
• We adorn the Doctrine when we walk in love as “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish”  (Eph. 5:25-27).
• The Doctrine is adorned by the righteous deeds of the saints.  “Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah!  For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.  Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints” (Rev. 19:8).

CONCLUSION:

The only way that we are going to adorn the Doctrine of Christ, our Savior, is by allowing His Doctrine to adorn our spirit (our inner man).  Likewise, when we walk in a manner worthy of our calling, in our conduct and showing good works, we will adorn it as well.  There is no other way!

Hypocrites cannot adorn the Doctrine of Christ. That is what we are if we do not put into practice what we preach or teach.  By the same token, if we are not sanctifying the Truth of God but rather finding fault with the Word of God, relying on our own creeds, doctrines, our own private interpretations, and reasoning, it will be impossible to adorn it.  And if we fail to let the Bible alone speak for itself, then we are blaspheming the Doctrine of Christ.  

Moreover, if we minimize the Doctrine of Christ, we become inconsistent and appear to blaspheme the will of God before outsiders.  Therefore, we must make Christ’s Doctrine attractive to the unsaved.  Grace demands that we adorn it!  (Titus 2:12).  Let us then make the Doctrine of Christ, our Savior, very attractive to others, especially the unsaved, by our godly and holy lives.  Remember, the time is short, and the Lord is at hand!

Thus, to adorn or beautify the Doctrine of God our Savior, we must first believe it; engrave it in our hearts; study it with all diligence to present ourselves approved to God; obey it (being doers of the Word and not just hearers); defend it (we must be prepared to answer with meekness and boldness); live it (in integrity, respect, purity, etc.); and finally proclaim it.

“Let the redeemed of the LORD say so” (Psalm 107:2).

“With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth” (Psalm 119:3).

May we adorn the Doctrine of God our Savior so that we might be partakers of His divine nature. May we be transformed into the image of Christ to adorn His Doctrine. May we be good examples and handle the Truth rightly that we might adorn the Doctrine of God, our Savior.

Luci

WHAT IS TRUTH?

"The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 1:7

How much do you know at this point in your life?  I am sure you have learned many things, but are these true?  And how do you know?  Do you trust everything everybody tells you? Have you considered that what you see and hear might be fooling you?  Let us answer these questions using God's Word.

Before we try to answer these questions, we must understand that every answer to these questions must come from God's Word.  We must fear God to gain knowledge, wisdom, and instruction.  We must reverence God and His Truth. Unfortunately, many fall for lies and thus deny God's wisdom. Fearing God is very important since it is the beginning of wisdom.  If you already fear God, you are at a safe starting point.  You already have a good foundation for God's Truth.

Watch out for liars! Many out there want to keep you away from the Truth, and they are willing to lie to accomplish that. At the same time, others love the Truth. Sadly, the Enemy uses many devices to deceive them. There are books, for example, that we must be careful with. This is very critical!


I.   THE FIRST THING YOU NEED TO KNOW

In Psalm 14, we learn,

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works; There is none that doeth good."  

It takes a fool to tell a big lie, and the biggest lie is:  "There is no God."  You must stay away from these people and be careful not to believe everything you hear.  My question is, "How do you know who is right when someone is making these arguments?"  One argues that there IS a God, while another claims that there IS NO God.  Well, we must start first with Truth because the Truth affects the issues of right and wrong, as well as all issues of government, family, and church.

Let us begin with a simple but essential question:  What is True?  What happens when you believe a lie?  Wouldn't you like to know the Truth before you make the wrong assumption?  It could be very dangerous for you to believe a lie.  The Truth is essential.  But whom are you going to believe?  Those who tell you lies or those who tell you the Truth?  It is sad to say, but many who speak and teach lies do not even know they are repeating lies.  There are so many lies out there. So, who are you going to believe?  There is only one true answer to this question: we cannot trust men, but we can rely on and completely trust in God.  But we must believe there is a God before discussing anything else.  Lest we forget, God is our only source of Truth.   If there is no God, then we cannot rely on or be sure of Truth.    Many men glory in their ignorance of the Truth.  They tell lies that contradict one another and the validity of the truth in the Bible.  Now, do you see how vital it is to believe in God and His everlasting Truth?

"And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."  Genesis 2:7

Now, this leads me to the following question:  Who Is God?  From Scripture, we all know that God created man and everything else.  God has spoken to us in His Word so that we may know He made us. This all happened with the first man, Adam, at the beginning of Creation.  How did Adam know there was a God?  And how did he know he had a relationship with His God, His Creator?  Well, God spoke to him, Adam.  He gave him some instructions.  

"And Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."  Genesis 2:16-17

Even though many years have passed since then, we still need God's Word, the Truth.  Adam knew he needed to hear and obey God in the garden.  We, His creatures, must listen to Him because He is still the only One who can give us the Truth.

Over four thousand years ago, God spoke to His people.  Among these people were men who were inspired by God.  They wrote down the things God spoke.  We know God spoke to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, John the Baptist, and Jesus’ disciples.    All these writings were gathered and put into a Book called "The Holy Bible."  This is where we can find God's everlasting Truth.

"Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness.  That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work."  2 Timothy 2:16-17

Today, many people prefer to ignore the Bible and say that God speaks to them personally.  This is dangerous!  Why is it dangerous?  Because they prefer their own opinion, pretending and deceiving others with error, saying something that God never said to them privately.  These are merely the opinions and lies of men.  If we sincerely want to find the Truth, we must go to the collection of God's Words, the Bible.  These Holy Words have stood the test of time!  This Holy Book always tells the Truth.  We must remember that when it comes to questions of Truth, our words and discussions must always focus on the Bible and nothing else.  We must go back to that Holy Book, the Bible, in our search for Truth.  It is the ONLY WAY.

Sadly, many Christians treat the Bible as a book that they use to worship God only once a week on Sundays.  They neglect reading and using it for the rest of the days of the week.  They neglect to use it as their guide for teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness to be equipped for every good work.  Did you know that this Holy Book, the Bible, can help us decide on every issue we confront when we are engaged in life?  It is the perfect guide in family matters. It even can help us cast the best vote on election day.  The list of situations that the Bible helps us with is exhausting.  We must use this Book to guide our footsteps in our walk here. If we don't treasure God's inspired Word and use it in our everyday lives, we will be rendered useless, helpless, and hopeless.

The Bible's primary purpose is to prepare the man of God for every good work.  It is TRUSTWORTHY!  It speaks to you and me with authority.

My purpose in doing this study with you is to explain the basics of a "Biblical Worldview."  We must allow the Bible to give us the best lens through which to see the world.  It will provide us with a "Biblical Worldview."  So my question is, "How can you know if someone has a "Biblical Worldview?" If someone has a real Biblical Worldview, he will approach everything related to life, asking, "What does the Bible say about that?”  He will always start with the Bible alone before he thinks about anything else.

Not many accept a "Biblical Worldview."  They wear the wrong glasses as they look at the world around them.  Sadly, they disagree with God.  They refuse to believe in God's Truth.  They do not think God's Word is Truth.  They would rather trust their human opinions rather than rely on their Creator to guide and teach them what is True.

When you believe other non-biblical worldviews, you keep yourself from knowing the beginning of true knowledge, which is the fear of God, Prov. 1:7.  When you believe such false worldviews, you automatically trust in a lie.  When you trust in a lie, you drown in the waters of ignorance without any hope of being rescued or saved.  My question is, “What happens to those who believe in the wrong worldview?”  The Bible, the Word of God, is very clear about those who trust in a lying worldview,

"But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death."  Revelation 21:8  

It is a very serious matter!

What about those “ordained” by their peers as “scientists”?  Today, we have many "smart scientists" who deceive us, saying that the first man came from an "ape" through a process called "evolution."  Such men tell us that our great-great-great-great-grandfather, long ago, was an animal similar to an ape.  How would you respond to these men from a Biblical Worldview?  First, you must ask, What Does the Bible Say About That?  Here is a good verse from the Bible about the Creation and origin of man.  

"And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."  Genesis 2:7

Furthermore, some scientists tell us that man made his descent from monkeys for millions of years. But the truth is (as stated in the divinely inspired Word) that God created man out of the dust while he was creating the world in six days.  Who are you going to believe - God or men?

"For what if some were without faith? Shall their want of faith make of none effect the faithfulness of God?  God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment."  Romans 3:3-4

Scientists claim they have sufficient "evidence."  They sit on their thrones of confidence, claiming to be very smart, smarter than God, their Creator. Such men pretend that they cannot make a mistake when they are studying their "evidence" about apes turning into men. Could they have made mistakes? In fact, many of these scientists disagree with those who think that man came from an ape over millions of years.


CONCLUSION:

Therefore, it is wise and safe to start with what God says.  Men should be careful when making big and brave claims about what happened millions of years ago as they are examining fossils in the rocks.  There is only one way to be safely certain about what really happened at the Creation of the world.  When someone insists on defending this ridiculous theory that rejects God's Word, ask them, Where were you when the worlds were formed?  Were you there?  Were the “scientists” there?  Who was there at the beginning of the world?  Of course, God was there!  Why not ask Him?

"For in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Jehovah blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it."  Exodus 20:11

May the Lord help us to keep our eyes open to His revealed Truth.


Luci

TRAINING OUR CHILDREN FOR HEAVEN, NOT HARVARD

“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.”  

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

To successfully raise the next generation of faithful and devoted Christians, we parents must start shifting the priorities and goals we demand of our children.  We Christian parents must stop pushing our children to pursue worldly or earthly goals and ambitions but rather motivate them to pursue those goals that are heavenly and righteous.  I must stress that I’m not against children going to college, getting a degree, and prospering.  But is that what the Lord has called us, parents and children, to do? 

Too often, we fail to seek those things that are heavenly and instill them in our children.  We fail our God and our children when our view is more worldly in the way we set our priorities, falling into a secular worldview whose main goal in life is to get a college degree, get a high paying job, prestige and honor, buy a home or that late model car and many other such things that are thrown our way to make us stumble.  And though all of these are amazing things, many of us have made this terrible mistake!  Take heed!

We fail as parents, and as true disciples of Christ when our focus is primarily on our children succeeding in this life, without God in the picture, without preparing them for the next life, eternity with God in heaven.  You see, our primary goal must be heaven, and we must teach that as well to our children. Our priority must not be Harvard or some other prestigious university! And no matter how many wonderful doctors of the body we might have, we still need more doctors that will bring the remedy that heals the soul. That is, we need more faithful and devoted Christians, devoted to Christ and His cause.

Our God-given command as parents is to teach our children the fear of God and a steadfast faith that will withstand all the negative influences of this world.  We must teach our children God’s commandments and be their spiritual champion in the development of their faith and character, both in their words and deeds (Deuteronomy 6: 6-7). To do this, we must start teaching our children the whole counsel of God, improve their daily prayer, and take hold of our children’s education.  Why trust our children to “Caesar” who will indoctrinate them against the will of God?  Think for a moment of the hours that our children focus on a secular education instead of spiritual pursuits.  Our children spend at least 8 hrs a day on their secular education.  By the time they turn 18, our children have spent at least 17, 280 hours preparing them for college.  Now compare that to a mere 1,872 hours of similarly-focused hours on spiritual instruction at home and church from the age of 0-18 (which is actually 5 years more than traditional education).

Obviously, this spiritual instruction must be based on Jesus and His principles of righteousness.  How many of our children can successfully maneuver algebra equations by the end of high school versus how many of our children can successfully share the Gospel Message with their peers and live it out?  My guess?  Very few!

Higher education has many drawbacks. Not only is college a huge expense, but it is the #1 destroyer of a person’s Christian faith. Seventy percent of college students leave the church while in college.  Sadly, about ⅔ of those children never return to their faith and church (the sheep returning to the flock!).  A sheep returning to the flock is a cause for celebration! But a sheep who spends too much time in the wilderness of the world usually does not come out unharmed. The worldly influences on their faith, convictions, spiritual maturity, and the big baggage of sinful behavior will haunt them. The  Body of Christ is also affected for years to come.  That is sad and alarming!!

In Matthew 6:21, the Lord says that wherever your treasure is, that is where your heart will also be. So what is more important, our money or our hearts?  Sadly, many are more focused on their student loan debt than on the things of God, the heavenly ones.  Consider the following.

As of 2015, more than 42 million student loan borrowers have student loan debt of $100,000 or less. More than 2 million student loan borrowers have student loan debt greater than $100,000, with 415,000 of that total holding student loan debt greater than $200,000. The largest concentration of student loan debt is $10,000 – $25,000, which accounts for 12.4 million student loan borrowers. (Source: Forbes)


CONCLUSION:

Therefore, we must start teaching our children to set higher priorities and give them the necessary tools to defend their faith and go to heaven.  We must teach them to revere the Lord, His Word, His church, and His worship.  In our speech and demeanor, we must show our convictions and steadfast faith.  Thus we must change our parental focus because the spiritual future of our children depends on it and the world as well.  We must stress to our children the need to be faithful to God, His Word, and His church, teaching them that the work they do for Him is paramount, greater than any earthly pursuit, even getting a Degree at Harvard or some other university.  Imagine a world where our lawyers are God-fearing, focusing on Christ over their own agendas!  Filmmakers who fear God and strive to advance the Message of the Gospel in whatever they do.  I assure you that as faithful and devoted parents, devoted to Christ and His cause, we can raise up the next generation for Christ and His Gospel Message!

We Christian parents must shift our focus from raising simply “good” kids to raising kids faithful to God, who would free prisoners of their sin, heal those wounded by sin, and raise those dead in sin, for there is power in the Gospel Message.

May the Lord help us and give us wisdom to teach our children the fear of God and keep the whole counsel of Christ, to fight tooth and claw against the threats to their faith.

Luci

TREASURE IN JARS OF CLAY

"Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.'"

2 Corinthians 4:1-7

In 2 Corinthians 4:1-7, the apostle Paul pictures for us a wonderful image of what it is to be a faithful disciple of Christ.  He describes them as those who behold the Light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18; 4:4; 4:6). Sadly, those who are perishing cannot see the glory of the Gospel, for their eyes are veiled to the Truth (2 Cor. 4:3).  Today, we hold in our hands the Gospel Message that was proclaimed and written by Paul and the apostles.  It is the Message that shines God’s Light in our hearts so that others may see the glory of God.  This Gospel Message did not allow Paul to lose heart, for God’s mercy and grace had given him this glorious ministry (2Cor. 4:1). So how can beholding the Light of the Gospel of the glory of God change our hearts and our manner of living? 


I.   TREASURE IN CLAY JARS:

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us"  (2 Corinthians 4:7).

All Christians carry this treasure, for the Gospel Message of Jesus is a treasure.  In Jesus’ parables, He spoke of this treasure.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matthew 13:44).  

Paul describes this treasure as the Light of the knowledge of God’s glory.  God’s Word is our precious treasure, for the Gospel reveals the glory of God. We have this treasure in clay jars.

“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:27-28).  

In ancient times, clay jars were unimportant and of no value. They were low in value and quality, unimportant, temporary, and expendable. When a clay jar broke, it was not worth fixing.  It was discarded and replaced. This treasure is not kept in golden treasure boxes. The priceless Gospel Message is kept in clay jars. Paul describes himself as a clay jar, not a golden box.  We must consider ourselves in the same way as not worthy of carrying such a treasure as is the Gospel.  We are clay jars carrying a precious and treasured message, the Gospel! 

In the beginning, God formed man from the dust of the earth and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils. When any man opens his mouth and teaches the Gospel, the life of God comes from that clay body and expresses the treasured wisdom of God.

In 2 Corinthians 4:7, Paul explains God’s purpose: "to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”  The power is in God’s message, the Gospel, not the clay jar.  God placed this treasure in human containers like Paul and the apostles with a purpose in mind.  God wanted to show us that the treasure of the Gospel has nothing to do with the clay jar.  In ancient writings (such as found in the caves of Qumran), the figure of clay jars was used metaphorically to show man’s weaknesses.  Our flaws show how flawless the Gospel is.  Since we are clay jars, we cannot steal the glory of God and His glorious Gospel away from Him.  So we must embrace our weaknesses so that the power of God can be made seen in our lives. God’s power can transform a weak, selfish, and broken heart into a loving, believing, and strong heart that can stand firm in the strength that God provides.  Our worth is not in us but in God’s power (the Gospel), for we are just clay jars.  Those who boast about themselves as more than clay jars, steal away the glory of God.  They are drawing attention to themselves, not God, and the glorious Gospel of His Son!  

• In What Way Are We Like Clay Jars?  

"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed"  (2 Cor. 4:8-9).

Clay jars carry weaknesses. Paul and the apostles were afflicted in every way, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. But they were not crushed, driven to despair, but not forsaken or destroyed because they carried the treasure.  Although they were knocked down, they were never knocked out. Their strength came from God’s sustaining power.  They understood God’s purpose for them.  It is the same for us today, for our strength does not come from ourselves since we are jars of clay.   Because Paul carried the treasure, which is of so much value and glory, he was not destroyed or crushed.  Though he was knocked down, he did not stop and give up. Though he was stoned and left for dead in Lystra when he went there to preach, his strength was in the Gospel, not in himself.  God’s ministry did not allow him to sit down.  Because of the hope we have in the Gospel, the Message that we must proclaim to those lost in sin, God will sustain us through our hardships.  We must tell others of the glory that we behold!  We must behold the treasure and its glory and tell others of that glory!  

• Always Carrying in the Body the Death of Jesus:

"Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you"  (2 Cor. 4:10-12).

In verse 10, the apostle Paul describes his work.  He states,

"Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies."

Why did they do all that? Paul and the apostles were willing to lose their lives so that Christ might be manifested. They embraced their weaknesses so that others might see Jesus. So that the surpassing power of God might be shown, not their own power or glory.  And as they died to themselves, so must we die to ourselves so that the life of Jesus may be seen. Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 15:31, “I die every day!” To the Romans, he said,  “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered” (Romans 8:36). To the Philippians, he said that he was being “poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith” (Philippians 2:17). To Timothy, he wrote, "Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him"  (2 Timothy 2:10-11).

They were mistreated, beaten, and dragged to death’s door to give others life.  So like them, we Christians must sacrifice and die to self daily so that others might live. The apostles were not the only ones that were called to sacrifice everything. We are called to do the same today.  Why do you suppose Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians?  It was written to them and to us for our upbuilding (2 Corinthians 12:19).  It means that we must take up our cross and follow Jesus. It is the same message Paul gave the Colossians.

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory”  (Colossians 3:1-4).

Since we have this glorious Gospel treasure, our lives must be hidden with Christ so that He might be manifested in us. Since we have died with Christ, He must be our life!   Thus, we must die to ourselves that others may live. We deny, sacrifice, and die to ourselves and our desires so that others can see the treasure of the Gospel and find life. We behold the Light of the glory of the Lord, and we must share it. Although we might be knocked down, we are never knocked out!

• We Have The Same Spirit of Faith:

"Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God"  (2 Cor. 4:13-15).

We must look at Psalm 116 to see Paul’s point.

I love the Lord, because he has heard

    my voice and my pleas for mercy.

2 Because he inclined his ear to me,

    therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The snares of death encompassed me;

    the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;

    I suffered distress and anguish.

4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:

    “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”

5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;

    our God is merciful.

6 The Lord preserves the simple;

    when I was brought low, he saved me.

7 Return, O my soul, to your rest;

    for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

8 For you have delivered my soul from death,

    my eyes from tears,

    my feet from stumbling;

9 I will walk before the Lord

    in the land of the living.

10 I believed, even when I spoke:

    “I am greatly afflicted”;

11 I said in my alarm,

    “All mankind are liars.”

12 What shall I render to the Lord

    for all his benefits to me?

13 I will lift up the cup of salvation

    and call on the name of the Lord,

14 I will pay my vows to the Lord

    in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord

    is the death of his saints.

16 O Lord, I am your servant;

    I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.

    You have loosed my bonds.

17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving

    and call on the name of the Lord.

18 I will pay my vows to the Lord

    in the presence of all his people,

19 in the courts of the house of the Lord,

    in your midst, O Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord!

The Psalmist begins this psalm declaring his love for the Lord, for He had heard his pleas for mercy (verses 1-2).  Verse 3 describes how the  Psalmist found himself surrounded by the snares of death, distress, and anguish (verses 4-9).  But he was suddenly rescued.  The apostle Paul quoted from verse 10 of this psalm.  In the context, the psalmist was greatly afflicted but had faith. Though he was surrounded by distress and anguish, he believed (he had faith). When death encompassed him, he had faith. So he will call on the name of the Lord (verse 13), and pay his vows to Him (verse 14), offer sacrifice of thanksgiving (verse 17), and praise the Lord (verse 19).

Even when we are surrounded by death, we still must believe and speak.  Even when distress and anguish overwhelm us, we must still have faith and speak for the Lord about the riches found in His Word. For even in our death, we are precious to God.  So that is why Paul says,

“Since we have the same spirit of faith…we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence” (2 Cor. 4:13-14).

We have the same faith!  And though we might be killed for preaching, we must still have faith in God and keep speaking, for we know how precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. Also, because we know that the power that raised Jesus from the dead will also raise us and bring us into the Lord’s presence. The hope of the resurrection changes the way we think about our bodies because of the Gospel.  Although we might be killed, we know that our reward awaits us, our resurrection.  This is why we must not lose heart and give up (2 Cor. 4:16).   So we must keep speaking, for we have faith!  Whatever may come our way, we must continue “so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God” (2 Cor. 4:15). Paul never sought to be comfortable.  He never worried about receiving honor, reputation, or popularity.   He was more concerned about giving thanks and praises to God.  He lived so that others would glorify the treasure (the Gospel), not the jar of clay.


CONCLUSION:

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal"  (2 Cor. 4:16-18).

Since we behold the treasure of the Gospel, we must cause others to see this treasure that we carry, not the jar. The clay jar is just us.  We must not draw attention to ourselves but to the Gospel.  We must glorify God and never ourselves.  We must protect the treasure, not the jar of clay.  The clay is not important or of any value. We are clay jars that must protect the treasure and show it!  If we fail in protecting and showing the treasure, we have failed God, who gave us this work to do. Since we have died, and our lives are hidden in Christ, others must see Christ, not us. As clay jars, we must allow ourselves to be broken and be laid in the dust so that others might see the glory of the treasure.  We believe, and so we must speak, for we believe in the resurrection of Jesus! Believing in Jesus’ resurrection implies that we also believe in our own resurrection. So we must protect the treasure and share it with others. We must surrender all to the Lord so that one day we might be with Him in heaven.  We must walk by faith, not by sight. The unseen things are eternal. Our afflictions are just momentary.  They are preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison!  God sustains us through our hardships because of the hope we have in the Gospel and the work that He wants us to proclaim, His Gospel, so that others might be saved from His wrath.

May we declare the Gospel Message to all men, that treasure that we hold in our hands today.  May we shine God’s Light so that others may see His glory. May we never lose heart but behold the Light of the Gospel of the glory of God to change our hearts into what God wants us to be to His glory.

Luci

DEGRADED CHRISTIANITY

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Matthew 7:21-23

Much of what is called Christianity today is cheap and worldly, a degraded form that offends nobody, demands no sacrifice, and costs very little. For that reason, it has little value or influence because it has so little of the power of the Gospel that was preached by the apostles of Christ. We must be aware of and on guard against what is called Christianity in modern times. It accepts some forms of sin, refuses to conform to the divine pattern, demands limited obedience, and does not want to offend and correct the one who sins.

Often, I hear Christians complain about the one who is doing the correcting. They say he is not loving and accepting enough. When the fact is he does love them, but not their sin. Let's never forget that our Lord Jesus died to redeem us from eternal punishment. This is how He has shown His love for us. Let's be very careful not to invent another God, an idol of our own. One that is just merciful, but not just!

Lest we forget, it is our God who dictates how we ought to conduct our lives, even though it might offend. Lest we forget, materialism and earthly treasures are not what ought to motivate us, even though it might offend us to hear it. Lest we forget, it is the love of Christ that ought to drive us, even though it might offend us. Lest we forget, we must teach our children the Word of God, even though it might offend them. We, as godly parents, desire to see them walking in His pathways and not the pathways of Satan. Lest we forget, one must be faithfully committed to his family, loving his spouse and the children that God has trusted him to love and protect, even though it might offend them. Lest we forget, we must condemn sin and love righteousness, even though it might offend.

Thus, we must carefully determine what it is that we take in and what we shut out of our lives. We must carefully examine what we participate in and what we will not. We can say yes or no to all the lust and the pleasures of this life. We must choose to be holy and hate sin! Lest we forget, one must walk the path of righteousness, the path less traveled, the unpopular path, even though it might offend.


CONCLUSION:

With all this in mind, let us not be concerned about "offending" this world. Remember that the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!” (2 Peter 3:10-12). 

Let us never forget that being a faithful follower of Christ is going to bring us ridicule, scorn, opposition, and persecution. Unfortunately, this is the reward that faithful Christians get from the world.

Therefore, let us search our hearts and meditate on Jesus' words and let us not be shamed by Him on that final day of judgment.

"Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven...And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:21-23). 

Our primary goal must be that of being worthy to be called "good and faithful servant" by our Master.

"His Lord said unto him, well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord" (Matthew 25:21).

May our Lord help us to be good and faithful servants who would be worthy to enter into His joy.


Luci

HOW DO WE FIND GOD?

"Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. ´For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. 'For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.'" 

Isaiah 55:6-11

Our God teaches us something about the nature of His Word by using an illustration of how the rain brings a good harvest.  Farmers know very well that their crops need the nourishing rain if they are going to survive and thrive. With this illustration, God is showing us the need to listen to His Word that we may grow and bear good fruit. God wants us to thirst for the living water, which is His Word that makes us bear righteous fruit.  Let us explore what this figure implies about the Word of God.

His Word sanctifies us and makes us pure. As essential as light is for abundant life, so is the Word of God in our lives. Our God wants us to walk in the light of His Word. "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). This is why He sent His only begotten Son so that He might bring light and new life to us. God provides everything that we need through His everlasting Word to feed us with righteousness, but we must allow His righteous Word to speak to us and guide us.  When we humbly seek Him and surrender to His will, we will find favor in His sight. God is Holy and demands that we be holy. God's ways and thoughts are not like ours. Thus we must learn to be like Him to be partakers of His divine nature.  

So my question is, how can we find God?  By simply seeking God's invitation diligently without resisting it and by wanting to know God and do His will.

Let us consider some thoughts about God's pardon and favor toward us when we are seeking Him:

1. God offers us salvation by inviting us to come and partake of His gift at no cost to us since His Son has already paid the ransom for us.  This free gift is called Grace.  Jesus already purchased us by His blood.  Jesus said, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:44).  Notice that this invitation of pardon that the Father is offering to us is through His everlasting Word.  The only way His Grace can reach us is if we accept His invitation, His free gift, which is offered to us through the Gospel. 
2. God's pardon, Grace, carries conditions that we must meet. These conditions are vital to obtaining such Grace or pardon.  Consider these conditions:

• Hear the Gospel, Acts 11:14; James 1:21;I Cor. 1:18-21; 15:2; 2 Timothy 3:15; 2 Peter 2:20
• Believe the Gospel, Romans 1:16; Mark 16:15-16; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9
• Repent of sins, Acts 5:31; 2 Cor. 7:10
• Confess Jesus as Lord, Romans 10:9-10
• Be baptized for the forgiveness of sins, Mark 16:15,16; I Peter 3:21; Romans 6:3 and Acts 2:38
• Live a faithful life unto death, Matthew 10:22; Acts 2:47; Eph.1:13; 5:23,25; 2 Thess. 2:10,13; Heb. 10:39; I Cor. 1:21; 15:2ff; I Tim. 4:16; Tit. 3:5; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24; 8:11-12; Romans 2:5-8; Rev. 2:10; 21:7, 8; 22:12.

His Grace will be secured when we meet all of His conditions or requirements.  Thanks be to God for His indescribable Grace!

God calls us through His everlasting Word to a cleansing of our mind and heart.  What that means is that we must be willing to put away all sin, turning our hearts to Him.   His Word is alive and can penetrate the soul and the spirit, changing our way of thinking and the intentions of our hearts into righteousness.  The Word can cleanse the hearts of all men, bringing them into newness of life, but man must humbly accept the remedy for the illness of the heart called sin.

God's ways and thoughts are not like ours, although we are made in His image.  If we have been forgiven and have received pardon and Grace, our hope must be to become like Him, holy.  To know Him and be like Him, we must allow the Word to restore our souls to its rightful state.  God's Word endlessly transforms us.  God's everlasting Word does not return to Him void.  His Word regenerates us according to the character of God.  Our transformation or the renewing of our mind and soul is like a metamorphosis.  His Word gives us excellence.  And this excellency of His Holy Word is seen in us as we abide in it and obey it.

The Word of God offers us many benefits such a peace, freedom, trust, purity, love, joy, and hope. But we must love it and let it bear good fruit in our hearts.  If we use God's Word, according to His will, it can prosper us and make us rich.  God's Word will not return to Him void.


CONCLUSION:

Let us show a heart that diligently seeks after God.  God is near to those who are seeking Him from their heart.  He will not let them down.  Let us take advantage of God's invitation and take freely from the river of the water of life.  Let us eat freely of the tree of life which is offered to those who want to wash their robes and enter the gates of the city, the heavenly Jerusalem, His church.  

"Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever."  Revelation 22:1-5

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.  Revelation 22:17

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.  He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son."  Revelation 21:6-7

May the Lord help us to faithfully present His Holy Word to this lost and dying world that they may know the peace and freedom that we have come to know through that Everlasting Word.

Luci