Summary of Programs
EXPRESSING AND DEALING WITH ANGER
Most psychologists agree that unresolved anger is at the top of the list of most of our problems in our life. Many marriages are weakened and broken by not discussing angry feelings. Like a normal sex drive, anger is a human passion and should not be denied. Many people are afraid to get angry or even express this God-given emotion. At times we fear our anger will get out of control. When we suppress our anger we become our own victims. We feel if we can’t control our anger it must be wrong. But we must learn to vent our anger in a constructive way, releasing our feelings at the moment of agitation.
We must start with our children, and teach them at an early age how to deal with their feelings of anger. Some parents will not allow their children to express their anger. In school the child is told by his teacher, “I will not tolerate anger!” Even in Sunday school his Bible teacher might say, “Boys and girls we should never get angry—we must love everyone.” By these examples, we are teaching a child to deny part of his human personality. As the child grows he has learned that expressing his anger is wrong and begins to repress his feelings and become frustrated.
We cannot hide our anger. The passion of anger was given to us by God to protect us from people or situations that threaten our safety. Anger is a form of self-protection. Anger can help us to correct an injustice in our lives and our world.
God’s profound wisdom teaches us, “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” (See Ephesians 4:26) God is teaching us to deal with our anger at the agitation level. We now know that anger has three stages. Agitation is the first stage when we are aware of our anger but don’t know what to do with it. Sometimes we say, “I can handle it!” But we don’t. This stage lasts between 12-24 hours. The second stage of anger is hostility. This stage usually lasts up to two weeks. Someone has wronged us. We want to strike out at them in some way. The feelings may go away then come back again. This stage is the tension building stage where angry feelings are reinforced. Rage is the final stage of anger and the most dangerous. The angry feelings that have been stacked and not dealt with are now expressed through violent behavior. In this stage the thought of taking someone’s life is not uncommon. Mass killings have taken place at this stage of anger.
When we suppress our anger is not unusual for us to wake up one morning and feel depressed and not know why. Not dealing with our angry feelings in our marriage may cause us to fall out of love with our spouse. By stacking our angry feelings, they may cause us to break out in a major outburst over something that’s really not that important. Anger cannot be stuffed away. When we attempt to hide or mask our anger it may surface when we least expect it.
Jesus is a good example for us on how to deal with our anger at the moment of agitation. Jesus did not hide his anger, but expressed it when His Father’s house was violated. Jesus entered the temple and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and those selling doves. (See Matthew 21:12-13) Jesus didn’t go to the apostles and say, “See what these people are doing?” Rather, He dealt with the people who angered Him at the moment.
When we suppress our anger it turns into hate. And hate is the exact opposite of love. Because Jesus was able to express His anger on the agitation level He was able to love everyone. Jesus is teaching us how to have a more understanding and loving relationship with the people we encounter in our lives. When we express our anger in the normal course of action, healing takes place in our lives. We can no longer experience the angry feelings. We have expressed our anger. We have uprooted the angry feelings and they have been removed from our consciousness. If we have expressed our anger to the person we are angry with at the moment, these feelings of anger cannot surface again. Because we have vented our anger at the agitation stage, we are no longer victims of unresolved or unexpressed anger.
DEALING WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL GUILT
Guilt feelings are common to all people. If we say we don’t experience guilt or have any guilt feelings we deny a God-given passion. God has given us the ability to feel guilty so that we can recognize our sin problems and make changes in our lives. Just as we must deal with our anger we must process and deal with our guilt feelings God’s way. Though we live in a liberated culture we are not released from our guilt, unless we take care of the problem of guilt.
In our democratic society and in our spiritual life, we are taught and follow a value system. When these values are violated we experience guilt or should experience guilt. When we deny guilt we justify ourselves and might say, “It’s not wrong. I didn’t do anything or say anything I shouldn’t.” Though we learned positive values growing up, we begin to unteach ourselves concerning our guilt. As God said to the people in the Old Testament, “Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush.’ (See Jeremiah 6:15) The scriptures remind us and convict us of our guilt. We must learn to “face up” to our guilt, recognizing the feelings and taking them to our Father.
When guilt is disallowed, we fool ourselves and set up possible dangerous circumstances in our lives. All feelings must be dealt with or we find ourselves running away from our realities. We must be honest with ourselves and learn that healing therapy begins when we accept our reality. One of the danger signs of denying guilt is an increasing low self-esteem. We know we should feel guilty about certain things, but cannot recognize the signs of guilt. Again, we have untaught ourselves a real feeling. Our self-concept drops to a new low. At this point we don’t even know who we have become or what we believe in.
Jesus can help us reclaim our identity, when we acknowledge Him. To find our true life we need to know our loving Savior. (See John 1:10) As children of God, our Father desires that we confess our sins to Him. He then forgives us and we are released from the guilt of our sins. With God’s help we must first recognize our sins. (See I Thessalonians 5:21-22, Hebrews 2:1) Once we understand how we sinned we must repent. (See II Corinthians 7:10, Psalm 51:4, Proverbs 28:13) Part of repenting is rebuking our sin. (See Ephesians 6:12, II Corinthians 10:3-6) As part of mental therapy in dealing with our sin of guilt, we replace negative thoughts with the healing words of scripture. (See Colossians 3:2, Philippians 4:8)
On our own we can do nothing to rid ourselves of guilt. All the insights we gain concerning our guilt problems will not help us to eliminate our sense of guilt. The guilt will not go away on its own.
When offering God as a solution to someone else concerning their guilt, we must be certain they are ready to receive this counsel. We must remember that as Christians we are walking in the Light of Christ. But people in the world are still in darkness. Though we are not perfect, God can and does release us from our guilt. God does not want us to be burdened with the load of guilt. When we put off the weight of guilt, we can better run the Christian race. (See Hebrews 12:2-3)
Forgiven and released from our guilt, we can celebrate peace in our lives. (See Philippians 4:6-7) Through our faith in God we learn to trust Him, knowing He can do all things to help us live a better life. Through the power of prayer we can learn how to transfer our intellect and speech to our heavenly Father so that He can touch and heal our damaged emotions. If we don’t believe God can do what He says, we might have a serious faith problem. Perhaps, we feel we are not worthy of His forgiveness and healing. Again, our lack of faith and low self-concept may be due to attempting to handle things on our own. We must believe by faith that God can help us with our guilt, and we must be ready to thank Him and glorify Him at all times.
Sustained guilt feelings can lead to hopelessness and possible depression and the worst possible scenario, suicide. When we are plagued by the same sin problem over and over again we may wonder if there is any forgiveness left for us. But the scriptures teach us to forgive one another unlimited amount of times. So we can be assured that if we are taught in the scriptures to forgive one another, how much more will our heavenly Father forgive us. Thanks be to God that we are under His grace. (See Romans 3:21-24) By keeping our eyes on the cross we will be able to recognize our sin of denying guilt. (See Ephesians 2:1-5) God loves us so much that He allowed His Son Jesus to die for our sins. (See John 3:16) With that kind of love we know our God cares very much for us. If we continue to sin and deny our guilty feelings, we will waste away. “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me, my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledge my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord” –and you forgave the guilt of my sin.” (See Psalm 32:3-5)
PUTTING GOD FIRST IN OUR LIVES
As Christians we need to strive for a balanced life. By putting God first in our lives we become in perfect harmony with our Creator. As we draw closer to God, He is able to carry out His divine will for our lives. If we make a conscious decision to put God first, we are less likely to get caught up in the ways of the world. Our focus should always be on God. When we take our eyes off God we get into trouble.
As they re-entered the promised land of Canaan, Joshua reminded the Israelites, “Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. (See Joshua 24:14) Joshua also made a promise to serve the Lord himself in spite of the godliness of his own people. Joshua was reminding the Israelites that God protected and fed them when they worshipped Him. In order to make the right choices in life, God must be in the center of our thinking and actions. Though the God of the universe is unseen, we must never lose sight of His awesome power displayed in creation and in His Son Jesus, who saves us.
Studying God’s word will bring us in a right relationship with our Creator. Searching the scriptures daily we will come to know God as He really is. God is our friend and He desires for us to know Him better. Through the power of prayer we can talk to the creator of the universe and know Him personally. God wants us to talk with Him through prayer. By reading His inspired word and praying, God reveals Himself to us. Committing our lives in the study of God should be our focus. As in any process, getting to know God better is an on going commitment. Our relationship with God may be compared to a marriage. In a marriage we begin with courtship, and develop a deeper bond through lifetime commitment.
God desires to be worshipped. Our commitment to worship God allows us to know Him one day at a time. As New Testament Christians, our daily praise of our Creator becomes our sacrifice. As we honor God through praise, God is pleased. By praising God we acknowledge his presence and summit to His will. By remaining in God’s presence, His blessings help us to cope with life’s pressures. Alone, we can do nothing to live a Godly life. As we surrender our will to God, He lifts up our weak minds and bodies and strengthens our walk with Him. He is with us in the valleys as well as our mountaintops. When we get to know God in the valleys, we get to know ourselves through His intervention. Because God created us, He understands our most personal needs.
God is always there for us. But, we must put our full trust in Him in order for Him to rule our life. God is our Rock. He is faithful and never leaves us. As a faithful God, He is committed in the forgiveness of our sins. Turning to God for forgiveness of sins, we are cleansed over and over again with the blood of Christ. God cannot overlook evil. When we sin we separate ourselves from God. A bridge must be built to get back to God. That bridge is Christ! Through faith in Christ, God helps us to deal with our sins and we appear before God once again. Forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ must become a humbling experience for us. Christ did for us, what we could not do for ourselves.
Humbling ourselves and submitting to God’s will we experience an unconditional love. God’s love gives joy beyond our imagination. Living under God’s love we experience His peace as well. (See Philippians 4:4-7) God is always looking to help us and take care of us. When we live a Christ like life, we turn our worries and stress over to God. God wants us to be happy, but more than that He wants us to depend on Him, for He loves us in spite of who we are or what we have done. As a loving God, God takes care of his children. (See Matthew 5:1-12) Putting God first means, fearing Him, obeying His commands and loving Him more than anything else. God is life, and God has given us life through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins. We should not ask God for all things that we may enjoy life; rather we must remember God gave us life that we might enjoy all things.
God’s plan for families is first of all to love and obey Him and to love one another. (See I Corinthians 13:1-13) However, the love of many has grown cold. In spite of God’s command to love one another, the world’s divorce rate is still very high. Wives have orders of protection from their husbands. Children of broken homes are often raised without the nurturing and guidance of both parents. God’s plan for marriage and family has been violated.
God is very clear on how important is his Word and encourages us to remember His commands. (See Deuteronomy 6:6-9) Today however, many people still don’t know God or His teachings. Because of our lack of Godly wisdom many families are in ruin. For example, over time we have come to believe a fractured family is one kind of family. Unbelievers of God’s word have redefined the true definition of family. Many families are in despair, confused, and have lost their way. However, in God’s eyes a marriage between a Christian man and woman is still the highest spiritual state on earth. We strive to understand earthly relationships in God’s plan. It was God’s intention from the beginning for a man and a woman to be married and remain so until death. (See Genesis 1:27, 2:21-24)
In the bond of marriage both the man and woman must submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (See Ephesians 5:21-30) Submission is not a very popular word in our culture. By submitting our will to God we demonstrate our trust and love for our Creator. In order to have a Christ-like marriage, husbands and wives must remain obedient to God’s laws. God has blessed us with the love of His Son Jesus. As partners in marriage, a man and a woman must learn and experience unconditional love. God loves us with an “Agape love”. As God reveals His love to us, we must share and pass on His love to our families.
Now however, with new family pressures and blatant temptations in the world, families are torn and dwell on the ways of this world rather than spiritual insights. In many ways we have separated ourselves from God and isolated our families from the love that was placed in our hearts when we became Christians. This is not what God intended. As part of God’s plan, in time, natural death will separate us. But the love of God will never leave us as long as we remain faithful while on this earth. God is our friend. As a good friend, God will never leave His children unattended.
In order to strengthen our earthly relationships in a family, we must learn to be a friend to each other. Being a friend like God, we must learn and practice forgiveness. Forgiveness is central in the teachings of Jesus. Being human we are going to make mistakes with family members. As we forgive one another and confess our sins to God and to one another, the blood of Christ covers our sins and strengthens our earthly relationships.
Our families should never be taken for granted. Rather, families should grow in love and understanding and be united with one another and Christ. After all, while we live on this planet, families are forever.
The Bible teaches us that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. (See Psalm 111:10) As God’s creatures in His creation, we have learned to fear His awesome power. But our fear is one of respect for our Creator. The fear we share for our God is not the same as the fear we have for a person, place or thing. Our fear of the Almighty is demonstrated in our attitude towards God. This kind of fear (spiritual fear) is a healthy fear. We might call our fear of God a “positive fear”, as well. There is another type of fear that is not positive.
“Negative fear” as we will call it, debilitates us when we allow it to get out of control. For example, when we are very sick, we fear even the “thought” of dying. Many people fear snakes and spiders and even have nightmares of being attacked. Children and some adults fear being in the dark and alone. Howard Hughes had the fear of catching germs. Though the above fears are natural to humans, they are unhealthy and these types of fears cause us to punish ourselves. When these fears overcome us it should be a sign to us that we lack something internal that could help us to override our natural fears. As Winston Churchill once said, “There is nothing to fear but fear itself.” Sometimes our fear of certain people is so great we go out of our way to avoid them completely.
The scriptures instruct us not to fear any man, though we can be harmed. There is one greater to fear! (See Matthew 10:28) Fear nothing but God. God has taken our fears away. His love can cast out our fears if we allow Him to. (See I John 4:18) With God’s help we can overcome our negative fears. By His awesome power, we gain “His power” by becoming children of God. Perhaps, we need to remain optimistic in all situations when we know God rules our lives, even with our worst fear as mentioned above, our fear of dying .If we are not Christians, we should fear death, since we are out of Christ and our future “spiritual life” will not be spent in heaven. This should be a real fear to all of us!
Christ nailed our fear of death to the cross. (See II Corinthians 5:14) As Christians we have been set free from our fears. (See Romans 8:1-2) Through Christ Jesus, we have become conquerors of our greatest fears. (See Romans 8:37) God showed his love for us through the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus. (See I Corinthians 13:13) God is love! The love of our Savior empowers us to look and live in the future. Again, there are many things to fear in this life, but we are not to focus on the present (physical life.) As we look toward heaven we envision our future home, a perfect home.
But, as we live now on this planet, it would be encouraging to us to dwell on God’s power in the present. For we know that God strengthens us to deal with every circumstance that might come our way. And we must believe that strength includes overcoming our fears. (See Philippians 4:13) When we accept that we are under God’s control, He gives us assurance that He is with us, and His protection is certain.
When my father was dying with cancer, I would go to the hospital each night and read the 23rd Psalm to him. My Dad was a Christian but like many of us, he didn’t want to let his life go. Each night I would say to him, “God is waiting for you. Pop, God can give you peace.” Finally, one night through his parched vocal chords (due to excessive radiation) he raised his arms and with a strained voice uttered, “I want peace, I want peace.” He died the next night. Most people, who are not Christians, have heard or read the 23rd Psalm. This psalm is the most quoted scripture from the Old Testament. The psalm’s last verse is perhaps the most powerful, “Surely, goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (See Psalm 23)
When we depend on God’s love and care, our unhealthy fears are removed and we are able to live life up to our full potential. With God at our side no only can we accomplish great things when we give our fears to Him, but we live our lives as He designed, in perfect peace. Without God there is no peace, only fear!
Our common enemy in the world is Satan. Satan is a schemer and takes on many forms to disguise himself. We should never underestimate his wicked power and influence, especially when we are in a weak state of mind. Satan’s work is to undermine the work of God in our lives and to deceive us. He roams the earth like a roaring lion to see whom he can devour. (See I Peter 5:8) Since all his work begins in darkness, he can hide himself and then manifest his evil deeds in different ways to fool us.
Satan desires to have our souls with him in his dark domain. The entire world is his. But, he is not satisfied with just the people of the world. Satan wants those souls back that he has lost. He wants Christians to fall back into his hidden traps. Satan will pull us away from God if we allow him to. Since Satan knows all of our weaknesses, we must be on guard at all times and not place ourselves in tempting situations. He is also called the great deceiver. When we give in to our weaknesses and sin, Satan is there to convict us. He throws our failures in our face and pours on tremendous guilt.
The Devil as he is also known is a robber of truth. He will attempt to convince us of a lie, so that we worship him. He will lead us to believe we are unable to do God’s work. He will try to persuade us that we are lost and not forgiven for our sins. The Devil will beat us down day and night to submit to him. If we allow him to, he will try his best to convince us we have no hope and are condemned people and must dwell with him. His goal is to drag us further and further from the loving arms and protection of our God.
Thanks be to God that He prepared a body for His Son Jesus who came down to earth and died for our sins. Jesus defeated the Devil at the cross. Death no longer has a grip on the children of God. For Christians there is hope and the promise of eternal life. As we grow closer to God, He is near us. (See Hebrews 10:22-23) Through our faith in God, His loving power and cleansing keep us pure and safe from the evil ways of Satan. In order to defeat the evil one in our life, we must learn to trust God and obey His word.
God’s word is powerful and is life itself. Our life is one of battle. We are in a spiritual battle everyday. Christ has won the war for us by defeating Satan. Yet, the battle goes on. With the sword of the word we must continue to fight as we arm ourselves with the full armor of God. (See Ephesians 6:11-17) Satan’s battle lines are drawn in the streets as well as in the hearts of men. Satan never gives up. He will attempt over and over again to worm his way back to win us over.
Many times, the Evil one will cloud our thinking as he whispers his diabolical plans in the secret regions of our minds. But, we have a choice. We can listen to Satan’s evil radio waves or stay tuned to God’s frequency. We need to remind ourselves that God’s “Word” is more powerful than Satan’s speech. God’s word not only protects us from the Evil one, but also encourages us to pray in all circumstances.
Prayer is our direct line of communication with our Creator. By living a prayerful life, God sustains us through His awesome strength that moves throughout the universe. Though Satan is a real threat, we must remember he is powerless when we live a Christ-like life and resist his evil deeds. If we live our lives as “Children of God”, Satan is no match for our Holy God. Perhaps, we can compare Satan to a vicious Lion caged up. As long as we obey the sign to keep away from the Lion’s cage there is no danger. The Lion cannot hurt us. However, if we get too close to his cage he may bring his jaws down on our hand and pull us into his den and devour us.
KEYS TO MARITAL INTIMACY
The bond between man and woman in marriage was established in (Genesis 2:23-25) God created man and woman to be together in marriage for life. Yet, for as many people who take their vows before God in marriage, there is almost the same number who divorce their spouse each year. God created man and woman to be attracted to each other physically. However, as we appreciate the beauty in the opposite sex our love for that person should move from attraction to dedication of our hearts, minds and body to each other. An emotional closeness and mutual trust should develop in our relationship as we grow to love one another with agape love. This agape love is the highest form of love, the love that God has for us. Agape love is unconditional.
As the marriage bond is strengthened further, the man and the woman are blessed with children. Now the couple are carrying out God’s command to contribute to His creation through His blessings. Under God’s blessings the couple rejoices and the bond of marriage is strengthened even further. The love that is shared between the husband and wife reflect the love God has for each one of us. A definition of God’s love and the love we should have for each other is commanded in scripture. (I Corinthians 13:1-13)
This level of love will help keep the married couple together as they share the meaning of God’s word with each other. The marriage will remain clean and unbroken as the husband and wife obey what God has taught them. Practicing God’s love in our marriage will hinder any barriers or separations from occurring. Both the man and the woman will remain true to their vows as long as they remain close to their Creator. When we move away from God’s teachings in marriage, there is a danger that either the man or woman will step out of the bond of marriage and commit sin through adultery.
To help keep our marriages strong and committed before God, we must remain in God’s word daily and give Him the glory for our spouses. We must learn that our wife or husband is very special and must be willing to give our lives to them—even to die for them if the Lord wills us to do so! Jesus revealed the depth of His love by dying on the cross for us. This is the type of loves that holds a Christ like marriage together. (John 15:13) if we are willing to die for our spouse, then we should be willing to live for them and love them as God loves each one of us.
Loving one another with the love of Christ means forgiving one another as the Lord has forgiven us. The agape love spoken about earlier is the hallmark of New Testament Christianity. Loving each other means forgiving one another when we hurt or sin against our spouse. There are times when we might get angry with one another. The Lord teaches us to deal with our anger before the sun goes down. (Ephesians 4:26 ) We don’t want to give Satan a foothold in our marriage; therefore we must talk with each other and confess our sins to each other.
A strong healthy marriage is one filled with compassion and understanding. A healthy marriage also, is one that is guided by the Holy Scriptures. A holy marriage is one that adheres to holy living. (Colossians 3:1-10) When we live our lives in marriage as God commands us, our marriage will continue to experience blessing upon blessing. Husbands should love their wives, for example, like Christ loves His church. Wives out of love for Christ and their husbands, should submit to their spouse. Scriptural instructions are given to both the husband and wife on how to live their lives in marriage. (Ephesians 5:22-23) God is very clear how He feels about marriage and it is evident from His word how He wants us to feel about our commitment we have made before him on our wedding day. Let’s continue to love our spouses and keep the bond of marriage strong, till death parts us! May God bless your marriage!
HOW TO ENCOURAGE YOUR HUSBAND
Wives were created to encourage their husbands. Wives need to be helpmates and compliment their husbands. The woman was created for man, not the other way around. Man was created in the image of God. Man was created first. God created the woman out of man. In fact the word woman means “out of man”. A wife is not to be subservient to her husband but submissive. Everyone has to submit to someone in life, on the job, in school, etc.
Though the wife maintains a submissive attitude towards her husband, they are equal. They just have different roles. Women must reflect the love of God, so husbands see Christ in them. Wives help husbands to renew and refresh themselves. They provide friendship and companionship to their mate. In a Christian marriage women listen to their husbands since he is the leader in the family.
Outside of the Christian marriage all the above must sound awful to the women of the world who feel totally liberated from their husbands. But, this is God’s plan for a Christian family. Women in a Christian marriage must learn their role and manifest discernment in that role. A wise woman builds her house upon the Lord. See (Proverbs 14:1).
As the leader of his family, the husband must provide for and protect his wife and family. His responsibility to his wife is an awesome task. The Christian woman is relieved of many of the responsibilities of the family since the man is the head of the house. Christian women appreciate this about their husband’s role. Yet, the man and woman are equal in God’s eyes. The woman is to put God first in her life, then her husband and then the children.
If each person in this relationship does not follow their respective place in God’s plan or follow their proper role, the marriage will become unsatisfactory to both the man and woman. A woman could learn to pray more for her husband as he makes decisions that affect the entire family. A wife should do her best to go the extra mile to look attractive for her husband and not take his presence for granted. A wife could wake up when her husband rises and prepare his favorite breakfast. Sending your husband off with a kiss is a good start of his day. And the greeting at the end of the day should be one of joy and gladness at his return.
A man’s soul needs much encouragement and the woman in her God likeness can provide what is needed. A wife needs to stay in God’s word in order to understand her submissive role. Her needs are met by the Lord’s instruction so that she can carry out her role in the marriage. See (Philippians 4:19). Only when the woman puts her faith and trust in God can she successfully do God’s will in the marriage.
A man should observe his wife studying God’s word; for this is a great encouragement to the man and is a great way to begin the day and to begin conversation. When God is at the center of the marriage, the relationship is stronger. God teaches the woman to admire her husband. Wives need wisdom to provide for their husband’s physical, sexual and special needs of his soul. Because these teachings are sometimes difficult for newlyweds, the younger women should plan to spend time in prayer with the older women. Through role modeling, the younger women can learn the ways of a Christian wife from more mature Christian women. Perhaps, the ultimate test God has presented to married women is in the Old Testament. See (Proverbs 31:10-31).
BECOMING A SPIRITUAL MAN
Before we can become a spiritual man we must have a good concept of being spiritual. Our lives should reflect God’s teachings. See (Galatians 5:22-23). As Christians, we always want to do the right thing. And, our spiritual life must become personal to us in order to grow. Through trust in God our Christianity becomes real to us. Remembering that Jesus died for us helps us to appreciate and enjoy our life with Christ.
God is working on us to perfect us and He will complete His work so that we become more spiritual. God has blessed us with His Spirit of love and in love there is no fear. Fear is only punishment. Focusing on fear will stunt our Christian growth. Rather we need to use fear to project us out and do God’s work. By doing God’s will, we honor God and show that we trust Him.
Becoming a spiritual man also means praying without ceasing. Prayer should be our first resource and not our last resort! Going to God with an honest heart and expressing our weaknesses is what God desires for us so that He can lift us up. Confess, “Lord this is who and what I am.” We need to open ourselves up to God in everyway. God can work through us as long as we maintain an honest heart. We might ask ourselves what is a good prayer life? First, we must have an attitude that drives us closer to God through prayer. Secondly, our prayers and their goals should reflect a desire to be more Christ-like. And lastly, we must feel comfortable talking to God. Talking to God should become natural to us since He is not only our savior but a friend as well.
Sometimes our pride stands in the say of spiritual life and growth. We need to humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord. Humble Christians are people who are drawn closer to God. As Christians living on earth, we must strive to be a Christ-like example to the people of the world. To become more spiritual is to become more childlike and dependent on God. Our age has nothing to do with our spirituality. Abraham was still a spiritual man in his old age. David was a spiritual person in his childhood. What matters to God is that our light shine and that we always remain faithful to the Lord of our lives. Becoming a spiritual man is God’s plan. And “When God is for us who can be against us?”
THE ULTIMATE JOURNEY
Every person is born into this world and lives till death. For the Christian person however, he lives forever through a “new birth” in Christ. The term “born again” sounds strange to people in the world but not to Christians who understand the meaning of life after death. See (John 3:5-8). In order to enter the kingdom of heaven, we must be born again through the water and the spirit.
This miraculous change takes place when we confess our sins, repent of our sinful life, confess Jesus as the Son of God and are buried with Christ in full submersion water baptism. In baptism our mortal bodies are cleansed of our sins and God’s Holy Spirit takes up residence in our hearts. Our body now becomes the kingdom of God, prepared for a prepared place in heaven. Now we have risen to new life and begin our ultimate journey as a Christian.
Now, as a spiritual person we begin to undergo changes in our emotional state, psychological state and most important our spiritual self. God is a trinity, consisting of God the father, Jesus His only Son, and the Holy Spirit. In one sense, man is also a trinity, composed of a mind, body and spirit. In order for our multi-level self to experience the miraculous changes discussed above, we must be guided and live our life by the Holy Scriptures, which controls our lives. When we develop a passion for Christian living our Christ likeness helps us to overcome negative feelings like hate, envy, and jealousy. Our redeemed soul now reflects the love of Christ. And we will live with Christ in peace in the heavenly realm.
When we hurt emotionally, we must depend on God’s love to heal our wounds. Through prayer and meditation on God’s word we will get through the difficult times in our lives. When we seek outside counseling, we need to remind ourselves that the very nature of psychology is rooted in the Bible, and that the definition of psychology means the “study of the soul”. The understanding of our intellect and emotions must come from a daily study of God’s word. Through the understanding of self, we are better able to understand other people in our life.
As born again Christians we develop the mindset of Christ. And, though we live in a physical world we live our lives as spiritual beings. The guilt of our sins and the punishment thereof, has been removed, as we grow in Christ daily. As we develop a spiritual focus, there is nothing we cannot do in Christ. See (Philippians 4:13). Trials and temptations will still come our way but with the Lord Jesus guiding our lives, in everything we do, we will not fail. The only thing that could stand in our path would be our own prideful spirit. In that too, God will make us see the error of our ways.
When we demonstrate our ability to live our lives according to God’s word, life becomes a joyful experience, in spite of the trials and temptations we might be going through. In this mortal life, our dependence must be fully on our Creator so that growth can take place as we continue on our ultimate journey. With our faith in God and guided by His Spirit our humanity is continually undergoing a transition from self to becoming a fully spiritual person.
The gift of a spiritual life should be envied by the people of the world. As Christians living in Christ, we need to think and pray for those outside the church. The love we enjoy through Christ needs to be shared with lost souls. Along our ultimate journey there will be many people left behind as we reach our final destination. We need to reach out to others now before it is too late for them. Christ’s love should be reflected in our actions here on earth. As Christians sojourning along our ultimate journey, we become transformed in the newness of our mind and are no longer victims but victors. And through Christ’s power over death, we live a life free of guilt and worry and receive God’s promise of eternal life. In heaven, our ultimate journey takes on a whole new meaning.
WHY WE BELIEVE IN HELL
In our world, and among the world’s people Hell is not a popular subject. Scriptures teach us that Hell is a reality. The Bible teaches us that God is love, but God is also a God of wrath. The subject of Hell is bad news and scares us, and it should! We know that death is a reality and we must be prepared to join God in Heaven. Some people deny Hell and the thought of such a place upsets them, but those of us who lead life outside of Christ are doomed to Hell. Not believing in Hell is to deny the truth of God.
By not believing in Hell, is to take God for granted. God’s love is real, so is His justice. If we don’t repent of our sinful life we will perish. And perish really means living in Hell for eternity. God placed Adam and Eve in paradise and yet they denied God’s commands and disobeyed His warnings. The wrath of God came down on Adam and Eve and punishment became a way of life for them. In Genesis we read about Noah and how he preached to the people for 120 years about God. They did not listen. But God gave them time to repent through His loving patience. Still, they did not listen. Their punishment was catastrophic.
Sodom and Gomorrah is another example in the Old Testament of how the people of those cities disobeyed God’s warning and perished. In the New Testament, Jesus is very vocal and clear about the subject of Hell. See (Matthew 10:28). We are not to fear man, but we are commanded to fear God. When we deny the reality of Hell, in a sense we deny the love of God. Because He loves us, God has placed many roadblocks in our lives so we will avoid going to Hell. Because His love is greater than anything else, He seeks to keep us out of Hell. We have to remind ourselves that Hell was not created for us but for the Devil and his fallen angels.
Hell is the place for people who reject God’s son Jesus! Hell is a place for people who are indifferent to the needs of others. Hell is a place where people go who decided to do their will and not God’s. Perhaps these three examples will help us put Hell into proper perspective. First, Earth is a place where God’s will is debated. Secondly, Hell is a place where God’s will is rejected and thirdly, Heaven is a place where God’s will is done. If we consciously deny God, God’s wrath is being stored up for us and used in the Day of Judgment against us. See (Romans 2:5). God is a fair God and He will only punish those who have rejected Him and caused trouble for us who believe in Him. See (II Thessalonians 1:5-9). God is very clear in His word concerning what will happen to those who reject Him. See (Revelation 20:11-15). God grieves for those who reject Him, because He is a loving God not wanting any to perish. Our sins will condemn us before God. Without the forgiveness of sins through Christ, there is no hope for us: only damnation and destruction of life. See (Hebrews 10:26-27).
Note that anytime Hell is mentioned in the Bible the connotation is always negative. Also note the terms that are used to describe Hell—damnation, destruction, raging fire, etc. Hell is a place of eternal judgment that destroys life and hope. In reality, those who are sent to Hell have no hope in Christ, since they rejected God’s offer of eternal salvation and life. For those who are sent to Hell there is no return. The end has come to those who decided for themselves that their will be done and not God’s. Hell is also described as a place of eternal darkness. God’s light does not shine on those who choose Hell. In Hell, darkness and gloom prevail.
Those who choose to go to Hell hate the light of God and have renounced His glory. See (John 3:16-21). God provides a way for us to escape Hell through His son Jesus. God is clear in His word: what He says, we must do or perish. See (Mark 16:15-16).
THE STING OF GOSSIP
Gossip is a problem for Christians and people of the world. Gossip is often used to actively destroy a person’s character. A person who plans to gossip has developed destructive and hateful feelings towards another. Gossipers will often say—“I’m only telling the truth!” In reality, gossipers many times do not know the truth. Gossipers tend to satisfy themselves with foolish lies. God’s truths are the only truth! And God’s truth says that gossiping is a sin.
Gossip causes major damage to the victim of gossip. Lies are spread behind a person’s back. A person who gossips is a coward at best. When Christians have a problem with gossiping they should seek the word of God. See (James 3:5-12). Instead of tearing people apart behind their backs perhaps, we should focus on the positive virtues in a person’s life. And if we have anything to say to a brother or sister in Christ, we should ask them face-to-face. A sample question might be: “Is what I’m hearing about you true?”
We must learn to love and appreciate one another more. To build rather than tear down a person when they are in trouble. However, there may come a time in our Christian life where we might have to confront a person who we are in doubt of. In a situation like this perhaps we should seek the wisdom of the Bible. Listen to Paul as he writes to the Corinthians—“I always thank God for you because of His grace given to you in Christ Jesus.” Notice that before Paul confronts the Corinthians, he builds them up in Christ and demonstrates the love both he and Christ have for them. See (I Corinthians 1:1-9).
Let’s look at some motivating factors as to why people gossip. Sometimes we have negative thoughts or ideas about a person, due to envy or jealousy and our imaginations just run wild. In other situations we may want to deliberately “hurt” this person because we don’t like them. We can talk ourselves into believing our negative thoughts about a person and use these as an attack by constructing lies that could destroy that person’s reputation. Other examples of why we gossip might be we are just looking for a scapegoat so that we can vent our own unresolved anger and dislike for the other person. In (Proverbs 16:27) we read: “ A scoundrel plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.” Like the wild forest fires we hear about on the news, gossip spreads out of control.
To confirm a truth or a lie when told to us, perhaps we should ask ourselves four questions. One, is there valid evidence behind what is being said? Secondly, we must ask, what is the source? And thirdly, has the speaker, in the past, had any problems with the other person he’s talking about? Lastly, is this person a loving person with only Christ like motives? And to help us further as the communicator, we can learn to test our words before we use them. For example, we can ask ourselves: What I am about to say is it true? Is it kind? And is it necessary?
Most importantly, we must become better listeners. See (James 1:19-21). By listening to each other on an “active level” we will have less problems with misunderstandings and false information. Gossip should not be part of our communication with others. Perhaps, we should remind ourselves that our words must be seasoned with salt--because someday we may have to eat them! Our conversations must be in love in order to be truthful. And all our words must be chosen carefully before we attempt to utter them. See (Colossians 4:6).
PREPARING YOUNG WOMEN FOR MARRIAGE
Marriage should be an exciting time for young couples. A growing marriage is one where a variety of things bring joy to the man and woman. Marriage should never be viewed as a boring institution. But, rather as a loving bond between a man and woman. Experience tells us many young women are not prepared for marriage. Many women and men as well, are focusing on their careers and making money.
In preparing for marriage, a young woman must have training to become a good wife. Modeling a relationship after studying successful marriages will help young women to prepare for marriage. A strong friendship can lead a couple into a stable relationship in marriage. Mothers can set positive examples for their daughters to follow when they seek to marry.
Sex is too open today and many young people are having sex before marriage. Some young people also live together before marriage. But research shows that living with someone before marriage does not mean that the partners will have a good marriage. Sharing a house with a man offers no security and is against God’s will. We must learn to please God in all that we do. A premarital situation can lead to destruction of a friendship. Partners have no commitment to each other and therefore premarital partners are not giving people. Married people work harder staying together because marriage is a gift from God.
When young women marry they make a commitment to God and put Him first and their husbands second. The focus is on the marriage and not careers and money. Entering a marriage, a young woman has special needs, which must be met by her husband. But at the same time she must be prepared to meet her husband’s needs. Her husband must meet her family before marriage and become a part of her family. Older women in the woman’s family should serve as role models for the younger women to follow.
Selecting the right man to marry is something a woman should pray about while dating. Many women choose the wrong man to marry because they are unable to recognize a growing relationship. A good marriage is one that is growing in spite of everyday hardships. A good marriage is one that is sustained with prayer and hard work. Some young people are lazy about relationships. Relationships need cultivating constantly and this takes time, love and patience. Relationship building is hard work! But if God is at the center of the marriage the marriage has a strong foundation.
Young women must realize that marriage is a two way street and both partners need to put 100% into their relationship. Women need to realize that men are not as sensitive as they are. Men are driven by goals and women are led by love and sensitivity. It has been said that women are like butterflies and men are more like buffaloes. Before entering the marriage bond, a young woman should know her man almost as much as she knows herself. In reality, this knowledge of your future husband is just a beginning, since a marriage must be a growing situation. As the married years go by we can expect that the partners in marriage will grow in love and become one.
Companionship is vital in a marriage. Couples must do things together and enjoy each other whatever and wherever life’s road leads.
CHRISTIANS NEED TO LEAD THE WAY IN OVERCOMING HATE
We must learn and understand that God created each one of us to be one with Him and each other. God has given each of us life in Him to be the light of the world. There should be no division between the people God has created. We are all one. See (Isaiah 42:5-6). We are God’s servants and love instruments in the world. And yet, hate exists in the world today, it takes many forms and destroys lives; lives that God created.
People of different races do not understand each other’s differences, which leads to mistrust and fear. We need to seek the will of God in our lives. And, God wants us to love everyone as we love ourselves. To love as God commands means unconditionally. All people, whatever their race are our neighbors. But not only are we to love our neighbors, but our enemies as well. To most of us this might be a hard teaching. But, we must remember that God created all people to live in harmony, through Christ.
We are all related through Adam and Eve, thus we have many cousins all over the world. God is love. And His love is manifest in our hearts and lives. We need to love as God loves. We need to understand and appreciate our differences. We need to humble ourselves like little children and love like little children. The love of God is in the child and a child does not hate but loves. Children hate when people teach them to hate and not love. We are all created in the image of God and God does not hate, but loves.
When the Christian church was established in the book of Acts, God drew people who were very much unlike and brought them together through the common bond of Christ. Just as Christ accepts each one of us, we must accept each other. See (Romans 15:7). When we die to Christ, our conversion gives us a Christ-like mindset that commands us to be one as He is one. We learn to value and appreciate one another as Christ values and appreciates us. We must change our wicked ways and be reconciled to God and people.
Sweet fellowship with others can only be accomplished when we follow God’s teachings on loving one another. See (John 2:7-11). If we hate our brother, we live in darkness. If we love as God loves, we walk in the light of God. God’s word should be our standard for living and loving. Hatred is negative energy. We need to turn our hateful feelings around into positive thoughts and actions towards people who we fear and are not like us. We don’t want to repeat what Jonah did in the Old Testament. He refused to accept people God had already decided to have mercy on. If we follow the ways of the world and continue to hate, we will become very bitter people and stop loving. Christ’s blood was shed on the cross not just for you and me, but also for all the world. Christ died so that we could be free of hate and injustice. As free men, we are no longer slaves to the sin of hate. But, are free men who strive to overcome hate and are slaves to righteousness only. See (Revelation 5:9).
A CHRISTIAN’S VIEW OF DEATH
Out of the three worst fears in western culture death, snakes and public speaking, the fear of death is on the top of the list. Death for Christians and people of the world is inevitable. We must learn to face death and not be afraid. For the Christian, physical death brings hope for a better future. See (Psalms 116:15) For the Christian also, death should be viewed as a positive change from the physical to the spiritual. Death for the Christian should be a wonderful experience. In death, we join our Heavenly Father who we have longed for since creation. See (I Corinthians 2:9).
As Jesus reveals to us in the Gospels- His Father has prepared a place for us and our room is reserved and waiting. Though we know we are going to a better place, still our loved ones left on Earth remain sad at our departure. But for the Christian who leaves this world, his pain and suffering are left behind as well. Now, he has crossed over from death to life. He has fought the food fight and can rest at last in God’s peace. He has run the race and won the crown of life.
Each of us must face our own death when God calls us home. Our time will come and we must be prepared to meet our Creator. Let us not forget that Jesus is waiting for us on the other side of the river. Unlike people of the world, we must not be apprehensive concerning our death. Rather, we must be confident in God’s promises. But, like a child in the womb expecting to be born, we can only wonder what life is going to be when we truly arrive. Our transition to new life in Heaven should provide hope and peace for us now. Remembering the words of the apostle Paul, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” See (Philippians 1:21). Even though we may be hard pressed on every side, God’s promises still stand.
Living in the physical world now, we should develop a zeal for the coming day of our death, knowing we will be with our Lord. Our ultimate journey takes us from physical life to physical death to spiritual life and eternity. As Christians, we already have a residence established for us, as our names are written in Heaven. See (Luke 10:20). In this we can rejoice! Jesus defeated death for us, so that we may have life to the fullest. Christians have been delivered form the fear of death. We must remember also, that this life is only a shadow of the reality. The best is yet to come! Christ died for our sins so that when we die we are able to join Christ through our own resurrection. See (Romans 6:1-10).
God wants us to live eternally. And, God desires that all His children join Him in Heaven. Understanding Hell is a reality: that’s what we should fear. Heaven should be on our minds now as our final destination. Though Heaven should be our focus, many Christians are eager to be with the Lord, but don’t want to die to get there. Perhaps, we need to remind ourselves that we are aliens on this planet, and this Earth is not our home.
Remembering that Jesus is far greater than anything in this world, should give us the motivation to not fear death and welcome its coming. Death has been swallowed up in victory through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christians have been redeemed through the blood of Christ. And as Jesus was resurrected, we too will be resurrected to new life. See (I Corinthians 15:12-28).
Since our citizenship is in Heaven, we will enjoy a new body unlike the body we now occupy. Our present body is perishable. In Heaven we will be adorned with an imperishable body. Through our death we have immortality. See God’s promise of our resurrection and life eternal (I Corinthians 15:35-58).
SCIENCE AND THE
BIBLE
(ORIGIN OF THE RACES)
Racial disturbances exist all over the world even though the Bible teaches that all men descended from one man, Noah and his three sons and prior to Noah, Adam. According to the Bible, we are descendants of Adam and Eve, our parents who lived East of Eden. Having been created, we were made in the image of God. Evolutionary thought places us in an evolving form and a descendant of a lower form of animal. In reality, we are not animals at all but human beings who are able to discern our origin through the wisdom of God’s word.
As humans, created by a super natural being, we are commanded to subdue the earth and populate its surface with our kind. However, within the human species we see various skin colors which causes us to wonder about our true origin. The pigment melanin is present in our genes and recorded by God before creation in our DNA. The amount of melanin in our genes determines the color of our skin. For example, an albino person has no melanin and a Caucasian person has some, but a black person has the greatest amount of melanin. Melanin reacts to sunlight. For example a light skin person will sunburn easier than a dark skin person.
Getting back to our discussion on DNA. In simple terms our DNA may be defined as a long chemical chain with enormous amounts of information intact. Our DNA is like a computer program, but unlike a computer program, our DNA is written by God. In creating our DNA, God programmed certain changes to take place at a certain time in our bodies. Every detail was planned out during creation and was manifested in us while we were still in our mother’s womb. Whatever happens in our lives does not happen by chance or accident. For example, at the time before the Tower of Babel, all people on earth had one language and a common speech. As these people moved eastward they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.
The sins of these people were great and they believed they would be scattered over the earth. Having one language and common speech, in their pride, they planned to build a city and a tower to reach the heavens. God was angry with these people so He came down to earth to frustrate their plans. God confused the language of the people and scattered them over the face of the earth. (Genesis 11:1-9) Forced to leave Shinar, the people settled in every part of the earth, taking their gene pool with them. Living in different environments and climates, the people began to develop different skin colors and unique languages and speech.
God is the Creator of the origin of man. And Adam being created by God probably had the best set of genes. The human race was created to rule over the earth. And, all people on earth regardless of skin color are equal in God’s eyes.
THE SEARCH FOR PERSONAL PEACE
The one real thing the world desires and does not have is peace. The apostle Paul, writing to the church at Rome, reminds his readers that it is only through our faith in Jesus Christ that we experience real peace. (Romans 5:1) Only when we are obedient to our Lord do we enjoy His peace. In our world sin prevails, therefore there is no peace. Sin separates man from God, and that wonderful peace that transcends all understanding. (Philippians 4:6-7) Jesus paid the price of our sins with His death so that through Him we might live and experience His peace.
Where there is sin, there is no peace. When sin is absent from our lives, we experience peace even in the midst of trouble and sufferings. Sin is responsible for the lack of peace in the hearts of people still caught up in the ways of the world. Our culture is filled with drugs, violence and all kinds of immorality from a people who don’t know God. What the world calls social problems are really sin problems of the heart. Sin cannot be masked by fancy terms. Sin is still sin! The results of sin are a mind filled with guilt and a spirit guilty of sin.
In order to achieve peace in our lives we must deal with sin God’s way. Only through the blood of Christ can our sins be taken away. Then, with the cleansing of baptism can we now enjoy the fruits of peace. Our lives have been purchased through Christ’s actions on the cross. We can’t purchase our peace in the world, because the world does not know the real peace we desire. By committing adultery and murder, King David separated himself from God through his sins. David eventually experienced guilt feelings and depression. His sinful condition affected him not only spiritually but physically as well. Through his sinful actions, David robbed himself of the Lord’s gift of peace. However, once David confessed his sins to the Lord, the peace of God returned to him.
God’s peace is a by-product of our faith in Christ Jesus. We have been justified. God’s plan for man was that all mankind accept his peace and that through His peace we would experience His joy! God’s peace is a precious gift which is long lasting. God’s peace comes to us through His forgiveness as we are reconciled to Him and suffer no more from the guilt of our sins. Our relationship to God is one of peace—His peace! Many people today in the secular realm find peace in psychological counseling. While this therapy is a help to some, we must remember this kind of peace is only temporary and depends on the emotional strength of the patient. God’s peace is not psychological, but spiritual and does not depend on a person’s place in life but on the person’s place in Christ. The peace spoken of here can only be found through a right relationship with the Creator of the universe.
As we trust our lives to Christ we experience a subjective peace, unlike the world could ever offer or know. The Bible teaches that in this world we will experience trouble and that Satan will attempt to rob us of our peace. The Bible also teaches that we are not to be anxious about anything or worry for these things are the devil’s schemes to separate us from God and steal our peace. Over the centuries, people from all parts of the world have come to the United States to find peace in a democratic society like ours. But, even the type of peace America offers its citizens cannot protect its people from going to hell! Only the peace that comes from our Creator can guard our hearts, mind, soul and body as we seek a closer relationship with the author of our lives!
THE PURPOSE OF LIFE
What is your purpose in life? Have you ever asked yourself if your purpose in life is aligned with God’s purpose for you? In order to find our true purpose in life we must consult the wisdom of God’s word. When we attempt to seek our own purpose for life without God’s spiritual insights, we face the danger of falling into a “default” direction. Not knowing our true purpose for our lives, we select a path that is the most obvious, seemingly easiest and yet unknown and dangerous.
Reflecting on our life and its direction perhaps we should ask ourselves: Are we truly happy and content? Is our perception of happiness an accurate one? Unfortunately many people today are living their lives according to worldly standards and following a path of least resistance. People traveling down this road find their journey many times leads to a dead end. God desires that we find our way in life with His purpose in mind. God wants us to experience “real joy” in life through His son Jesus Christ. In this life God has provided the necessary things in life both physical and spiritual to help us enjoy our lives and be fulfilled in all that we do.
God wants us to be successful in this life and has blessed us with various gifts and talents to help us support our families and meet their needs. But, at the same time He warns us not to focus on material blessings. If we live for God and His purpose, we will be blessed with eternal life. But, many people in the world have not accepted God’s promises and have been fooled by the world’s strong influence in riches and material things. Jesus warns us in (Luke 12:15) where our focus in life should not be. In the parable of the rich young ruler (Luke 12:13-21) God reveals that anyone who puts his trust in material possessions and is not rich towards God and His teachings will lose his life and all he had accumulated.
The rich ruler focused on himself and his own purpose for living without consulting the wisdom of God. When we place our lives totally in God’s hands, our true purpose in life is revealed to us through the Holy Spirit. On God’s path, we can be assured that all things will work out for the good (Romans 8:28). When we become conscious of God’s purpose for our lives, we live life to the fullest and are blessed in many ways. (Matthew 6:33) By seeking and finding the kingdom of God, God’s ways become our ways, His purpose our purpose. As we draw closer to God our true purpose in life is made known to us—to glorify God.
As we learn to trust in God and not in self, the desires of our hearts are given to us, according to God’s will. (Psalm 37:3-6) As King Solomon was blessed with Godly wisdom, so too are we when we accept God’s commandments and His purpose. (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Without God in our lives, everything is meaningless. God knows us better than ourselves, since God made us. Our purpose for life was laid out before creation. (Ephesians 1:4-6) As Christians, we are living examples of God’s grace and love. If we come to God on His terms, our lives become transformed and our purpose for living becomes real.
As we demonstrate our love for God, and worship Him,
we find our love for others as well and feel comfortable reaching out to them.
God has not called us to be good people, but to be holy as He is holy! Serving
our God, means serving His people as well, by putting others first. And if
called, be willing to die for others. When Christ lives in us through His
Spirit, we die to self and live for God. By putting our bodies on the cross
daily, we learn to live a life that our Lord died for. This then is our true
purpose—to live a life worthy of our calling!
RENEWAL THROUGH BIBLE STUDY
Reading and studying God’s word strengthens our faith and enriches our spiritual growth. The Bible is God’s inspired word to man. As we read and meditate on His word, God’s plan for our lives is placed on our hearts and minds. God's word is “empowered” by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is our owner’s manual and teaches us how to follow the pattern God has laid out for us before creation. See (John 12:48-50). Jesus teaches us how we should listen and obey the commands of God leading to eternal life. In the Old Testament book of Joshua we are taught the importance of meditating on God’s word daily. See (Joshua 1:8).
To succeed and be prosperous in our faith, we must delight in God’s commands and focus on their importance for holy living. Like a willow planted by a running stream, we are refreshed and grow to maturity when we study God’s word on a daily basis. The Bible encourages us to listen to its teachings and not follow the rules of man. When we approach God’s word with a humble frame of mind, we are exalted by the power of its wisdom. By living our lives according to God’s will, we live a blessed life.
The Bible is the all time best selling book on the market. Most homes have at least one copy of God’s word. Yet, many times the Bible is left on a shelf to collect dust. Though it is a best seller, sadly it is also the least read book. Today there are many translations of the Bible available. Some are written in conversational style for ease of reading and understanding. In selecting a translation, choose one that is an accurate translation and contains the vocabulary level you comprehend and relate to. Remember also, the physical pages of the Bible are not holy; rather it is the content of God’s word that makes the Bible holy! Before reading the Bible, it is suggested that you spend time in prayer, asking God for wisdom and understanding, as the scriptures are unfolded to you
Throughout the Bible, God reveals the “mystery” of His word through revelation. See example (Ephesians 3:1-6). Though God’s word the Bible, is not a history book; it portrays the history of the world within its inspired writings. The Bible also reveals the future and how the world will end. When reading the Bible for the first time many Bible scholars recommend you begin with the Gospel of Luke. The inspired writer of the Gospel Luke is “Luke the physician”. Luke was a first century doctor and writes from an historical approach., illustrated with many details about people and places. It is suggested you read the Gospel of Luke in its entirety before going on perhaps to the Ephesian letter or the writings of James the Lord’s brother.
As your Bible reading progresses, a complete reading of the Bible should be undertaken from Genesis to Revelation. Perhaps, a yearly reading Bible program would be helpful. The Bible is a living book. The Bible is alive with fresh insights on how to resolve everyday problems in our lives. By the spiritual wisdom of God’s word, we are also judged. See (Hebrews 4:12). In order to be renewed through Bible study, we need to approach God’s word with no preconceived ideas or convictions. Our minds and hearts should be completely open to the “truth” and allow the Bible to interpret us rather than the other way around. As we read the Bible we quickly realize God’s word is countercultural and against our previous thoughts on life.
We need to strive to conform our lives with the teachings of the scriptures. The Bible is everyone’s book, and has something for every reader. Whatever the need, the Bible prescribes scriptural answers to all our problems. For example, if we desire real peace in our lives the Bible reveals how to find the peace that “transcends all understanding”. See (Philippians 4:6-9). There are also commands for husbands, wives, single women, and children that tell us how to live a more prudent and joyful life.
Perhaps the most read scriptures in the Bible are (Psalm 23), read at most funerals to comfort those who are grieving and (I Corinthians 13:1-13) the love chapter, read at many wedding ceremonies today. Learning to live our lives around God’s word will introduce us to the “instrument of life”, Jesus the Christ. God’s word is truth. And, the truth will set us free. See (John 8:31-32). The New Testament is God’s personal love letter to all His people who desire a relationship with His son, Jesus. God’s word has the power through baptism to find us and bestow life to our souls.
OUR STRUGGLE WITH PURITY
When we fear God and obey His commands we are able to live a pure life. See (I Peter 1: 13-16). As Christians, if we stray from God’s word we become spiritually weak and are in danger of falling into the ways of the world. Perhaps, we should remind ourselves everyday, that although we are in the world we are not of it. The world has no firm standards to live by.
The world’s standards are subject to change by the “Prevailing winds” of culture. God’s standards never change! We cannot live a pure life in this world without God’s help. Like military discipline, God’s word (the Bible) gives us directions in the form of commands on how to live our lives in purity. When we live a Godly life our Father bestows His peace on His children. See (Philippians 4:4-9). The world does not know this “peace that transcends all understanding”.
The Bible teaches us that we are aliens on this planet—we don’t belong here. As Christians, since we are very different than the people of the world we must obey the commands of God and not live our lives according to man’s traditions. Because of our unique personhood we are at spiritual war with the ways of the world. As Christians, we must remember our attempt to live a pure life will always be challenged. We constantly need God’s counsel to remain faithful and pure. Jesus lived on this earth for thirty-three years and remained faithful to the teachings of His Father. Jesus is our example for “pure living”. Today, Christians have the Holy Spirit to encourage purity in our lives.
As we strive to live a pure life, we are fully prepared to carry our commission—to spread the Gospel to a lost world. The Bible is our sword to fight and defend God’s commands. If we listen to the counsel of the Spirit, God’s word equips us to live in the world with all it’s corruption and yet remain unstained. The challenge to live a Godly life is set before us every waking hour. We must accept the challenge and survive! Though sin is always crouching at our door, living a pure life on this planet with God’s help is possible. We have been prepared to “fight the good fight ”.
Living a sinful life is the opposite of purity. When we were saved through baptism we were forgiven for all our sins. We were cleansed by the blood of Christ, through immersion and received the promised Holy Spirit. See (Acts 2:38). Walking in the light of Christ gives us strength and hope, as we pass through this dark world and look forward to the eternal light of heaven. Sin separates us from God and creates a “sick condition” in our hearts and minds. Jesus came into this world to heal the “sinfully sick”.
When we are physically sick we call a doctor. When we are “sinfully sick” we need to call upon Jesus the Christ the “great physician”. Only Christ can heal our sinfulness through His awesome grace, which leads us to purity. In Christ we are dirty no more! Though our sins were the color of Christ’s blood, shed on the cross, they are now as white as snow through the grace of God. Only through salvation through Christ is real purity possible. In this life with Christ we strive even harder to live a pure life. With the comfort and encouragement of brothers and sisters in Christ and the power of prayer we are able to live and remain pure.
EXAMINE THE WORD
In thinking about and examining God’s word we strive to understand the mind of God. God is a loving God and we are the most important element in His creation. His commands are written for our personal safety and freedom. God desires that all His children read His word on a daily basis. The word of God is “Truth” for our lives. When we approach the Bible as a student willing to learn, we have an opportunity to glean God’s wisdom. When we learn God’s ways, we have positive direction for our future.
Studying God’s word also teaches us how to live our lives day by day and prepares us to recognize the evils of the world. See (I John 4:1-4) (II Peter 2:1-3). God’s word is important in our lives because it also will judge us at the end of time. See (John 12:48). We must be careful and not attempt to interpret God’s word, but allow God’s word to interpret us through His Spirit. See (II Peter 1:20-21). By allowing the Spirit of God to interpret our lives through the living word our search for truth will always be fruitful.
When we examine the word, we don’t just read it, rather we meditate on its meaning for our lives and live out its commands. Since God’s word is unchangeable, we can never go wrong following it faithfully. We can be certain our walk on Earth is close to God’s when we keep His commands. God’s word is “inspired” and was laid down at creation. The Bible gives us instructions on how to live life and reveals the will of God. See (II Timothy 3: 16-17). Being inspired, the words we read in the Bible are the actual words of God. When we listen and obey the word, we can obtain wisdom that leads to eternal life. However, the beginning of wisdom is the fear of God.
In order to live a blessed life of freedom in Christ, we must do what the word tells us. See (James 1:22). In approaching the study of God’s word we need to develop a mind and heart of humility. Daily reading of the Bible will encourage understanding and help us to develop a stronger faith. The mysteries of God’s plan for His people are revealed within the pages of His word. See (Ephesians 3:1-6). We need to be in the word daily to understand God’s awesome commands.
Jesus, as the only Son of God, is the central focus of God’s word. Jesus was with God at the beginning. And the teachings of Jesus bring us into creation’s light. See (John 1:1-5). He is the living word. God’s word teaches us many truths through vivid illustrations, commandments to live by and inferences. God attempts to reach us by any means of instruction so that the learning of His word can take place. Like any good mystery, God’s word is written in a style that invites the reader to probe deeper to reach the conclusion. When words in the scriptures are repeated over and over, perhaps God is telling us to look at them more carefully and determine their special meaning. Also, like any good writing the Bible verses each contain a subject and verb. We should strive to understand their relationship to determine the full context of the verse.
The total content of God’s word represents what He has said and is saying to us today. What He has said is truth, whether we believe it’s true or not. As believers, we conform to God’s message and put aside our human beliefs. See (John 17:20). To examine the word means we take a life long journey through the Bible everyday and eventually discover the light of life.
FORGIVENESS LEADS TO A HEALTHY LIFE
We are born into a cursed life and world. We all need God’s mercy and His wonderful grace to forgive our sins. God's forgiveness on His people is the foundation of His awesome grace. God’s grace is our “gift of life”.
In the Old Testament God’s grace was extended to His people through a promise that life on earth would not end again through a flood. God placed a rainbow in the clouds as a sign between man and Himself to seal the covenant. God has also placed His word on our hearts and minds through His Holy Spirit. The spirit is our counselor and reminds us to do right! But, sometimes we don’t listen! God’s forgiveness is necessary in our lives. His forgiveness is unconditional and immediate and extends to all His people who have obeyed the gospel through baptism.
In order to fully understand the power of God’s forgiveness, we must learn to accept this awesome gift and believe the promise ourselves. To accomplish God’s work of forgiveness, we must surrender our lives to Christ and surrender our will as well. Part of the surrender is putting our trust in God that forgiveness has taken place for our sins. By doing so God can remove our feelings of guilt. The Apostle Paul reminds us in (Philippians 3:13)…”But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead”… Just as God has forgiven our sins, we need to forgive others when they sin against us. Only when our relationship with God is right, are we able to forgive others. If we are unable to forgive, we focus on the “poison of life” and lose our sense of spiritual wellness!
Perhaps we need to become more Christ like and focus on our love for others by living a more positive life and developing a sense of goodness through our thinking and actions. Paul’s inspired words in (Philippians 4:6-9) will help us to create a Christ like mindset. As Christians we need to love as Christ loved us, and maintain a “spirit of forgiveness.”
Forgiveness leads to a healthy life because God bestows His blessings on those who are forgiven and those who forgive. Spiritual, emotional, and physical healing are some of the benefits of forgiveness. Jesus teaches us that if we don’t forgive others, then our sins will not be forgiven. Without forgiveness we experience a “crushed spirit”. Sin separates us from God and brothers and sisters in Christ. Sin drives us away from God. We need God’s forgiveness in our lives, to bring us back in the arms of our savior. In (Psalms 51:1-15) we read about King David and his pain and suffering because of his sins.
Like David, our sins bring about consequences in our lives. As we read in the writings of David, we might relate to his physical, emotional and spiritual pain he experienced: see (Psalms 38:1-14). David also had the prophet Nathan to remind him of his sins when David did not face up to his sinful life. See (IISamuel 12: 9-14). As we live with consequences of our sins through suffering, we may feel that God has not forgiven us. But, focusing on our feelings is wrong and not justified. Many times our feelings lead us astray. Rather than focusing on our feelings, we must focus on God and his promise of forgiveness.
When we confess our sins to God, He forgives us and remembers our sins no more. In God’s mind our sins are washed away, now our mind set must conform to God’s and trust his promise.
HEALING DEPRESSION THROUGH THE BIBLE
Depression is a serious illness and is a major health problem in our society today. Depression destroys families and daily performance. There are different forms of depression. Depression can be caused by unresolved anger or guilt of past sins. David the Psalmist, a man of God, sinned. He suffered from guilt due to his sins but knew God was his real strength and hope. (Psalms 73:26). Job also experienced loneliness and separation from God and friends. He was made to realize he could not live his life without depending on God.
When we have a belief system that is dysfunctional there is no peace in our lives. Jesus died on the cross for our sins that we might have the peace that transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7) Through Christ there is hope. We are to live life to the fullest as Christians. When we feel we are not important, God can lift up our spirit. The stress of worry and apprehension so prevalent in our world today is removed through time spent in prayer. Depression allowed to flourish robs us of daily energy. We may find ourselves practicing negative self-talk and making illogical statements about our present and future.
An example from the New Testament might be the crippled man by the pool. Did he have the will to be healed? Could he have lowered himself down into the pool? Jesus asked, “Do you want to get well?” (John 5:1-9). As Christians we must remind ourselves daily, the truth has set us free. In a chronic state of depression our joy is removed and it appears there is no hope. God has given us standards to live by and has great expectations for us.
God has given us instructions on how to live life and remain positive so His will might be accomplished through us (Philippians 4:8-9). When we experience peace in our lives, God’s expectations for us become a reality for daily living. Through the encouragement of church family we receive the comfort needed for this life through fellowship and prayer. Our lives are empowered; we develop an “I can do attitude.” (Philippians 4:19).
With the Holy Spirit indwelling in us, we are lifted spiritually and isolation and loneliness of depression gives way to refreshment. When our joy is complete, our will to live through Christ is magnified. We now have a desire to reach out to others and share our joy. Through Christ, we are now able to get out of self. And through the refreshment of others we are refreshed (Proverbs 11:25).
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
This program teaches that a person receives the Holy Spirit after rising from the waters of baptism. Now a Christian, he is empowered with God’s Spirit and is given the fruit of the Spirit as written in (Galations 5:22). “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Having the Holy Spirit living in our mortal bodies, we now experience God’s son, Jesus. As we communicate with other Christians, we will see the Spirit of God in them, as well. With the Holy Spirit indwelling in us, we are spiritual beings and no longer physical beings. We have been transformed. As baptized Christians we are now a child of God with the counsel of the Holy Spirit. We are able to discern the works of the spirit from the works of the flesh.
Because God’s love is unconditional, (agape love) He allowed His son to die on the cross for our sins. Continuing to live the Christian life as taught in the scriptures, we enjoy the free gift of salvation, and the joys of God’s love. Faith in God fills us with hope, knowing well that we will join Jesus in heaven and live eternally with God. For now, however, as Christians, with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, we have the knowledge that happiness is only fleeting, but the joy of knowing God through His Spirit is eternal.
COPING WITH STRESS
Stress and coping with stress is a universal problem. Stress can be brought on by a negative event in our lives or a happy occasion. For example, we can experience anticipation beyond our control, when we are preparing for a new job or marriage. The place where we live, a large city for example, can induce high stress levels. Congestion, high noise levels, competition, worry and lack of self-control can all bring on increased stress.
We can experience stress in families and other relationships when we take our focus off God. Worrying about our physical or social needs being met can also lead us into a stressful condition. Very important things in our lives cause us to worry about their outcome. At times like this it is important that we realize that we must learn to reach outside ourselves and seek advice from good friends and be in faithful prayer to God.
Emotional upsets can lead to communication breakdown and cause people to become violent, use drugs or alcohol. Stress can also lead (when out of control) to child abuse or even taking our own lives. In addition to emotional problems, stress can also cause physical ailments. In the medical profession it is well documented how stress induces heart attacks and elevates blood pressure, causes digestive problems, headaches and more. When we experience life and take everything personal, (such as comments from others) we may be setting ourselves up for stressful conditions, which can affect both our body and mind.
Perhaps we need to focus on our “spiritual therapy”, Reading God’s word on a daily basis, being in prayer several times a day and meditating on what God has done for us. And praise Him, for his goodness. Listening to Christian hymns can fill our minds with positive thoughts and actions and eliminate our negative mental tapes we play over and over again in our heads. In order to survive in this life we need God’s help and guidance through His spirit. We need both physical and spiritual strength to accomplish His plan for our lives. An example from the Old Testament is Elijah when he was being pursued by Jezebel. God instructed Elijah through an angel of the Lord, to rest and eat before he continued on his journey. (I Kings 19:1-9).
Knowing we are not in control of our lives reduces anxious feelings as we give control of our life to God where it belongs. (See Psalms 51:1-12) Knowing that our sinful ways cause us problems and that stress from these sins brings heartache and strife, we need a place to turn. God is always there for us. Anxious moments should be given over to God for His love and resolution. “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (I Peter 5:7). God should be our source of strength to bring us through the valleys and also appreciate the mountaintops when He lifts up our spirits.
Alone, we cannot survive the stress this world introduces. Through His Holy Spirit, God provides us with His prescription for stress in our lives. (Read Galatians 5:22-26). When we live a Christian life, we experience a positive direction, which takes us through the storms of life reducing stressful moments. (See Psalms 46:1-3, Luke 8:22-25). With God in our lives we can face life and its troubles knowing God will see us through anything this world could present to us. Through all, we need to remain positive, not from our own doing, but remain focused on God to lead us. Our thinking should be more like the mind of God. Only then, can we truly be positive in thought and action. (See Philippians 4:4-9).
We can rejoice knowing God is the most important person in our lives. Placing our stress in the hands of the “Living God” can bring about the peace that truly “transcends all understanding.” As we praise Him, for what he has already accomplished in our lives, we are blessed! We now realize God is bigger than our problems. He is the author of life and He determines the course of history and events in our lives. God does not want us to worry. Worrying is a sin. When we worry we are showing God we do not trust Him and are displaying weak faith. (See Matthew 6:25-34).
The apostle Paul suffered much in the hands of nonbelievers but his faith did not waiver. Like Paul we need to remember if God is for us who can be against us? With God’s strength we can withstand the stress of this world, and accomplish great things. (See Philippians 4:13).
A CHRISTIAN APPROACH TO CONFLICT
In relationships conflicts are going to take place. Some conflicts are caused by greed. Jesus gave us an example of greed in (Luke Chapter 12:13-16.) Two brothers were arguing over their share of an inheritance. In (2 Timothy 3:1-4) the apostle Paul reveals conflict in a family setting, where individuals became self-centered and loved the things of the world and despised the things of God.
In this life we are going to have trouble and trouble breeds conflict. “Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.” (Job 14:1) Jesus and His apostles presented a message that was contrary then and now to worldview. The gospel is opposed to the philosophy of this world. Therefore, the message of the cross for those who don’t accept its teachings will bring conflict. (Matthew10:34-36)
A conflict can start from a small problem which allowed to fester can grow into a major situation. Unlike interests in a relationship or self-centeredness can rise to a conflict. Unresolved anger can lead to resentfulness and a “get even attitude.” The Bible teaches: “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” (Ephesians 4:26-27)
Resolution of conflicts can help us to grow in a relationship, knowing our bond with the other person is strong and can withstand the storms of life. Conflict can be positive, can bring about change for the better. When we are angry with our brother or sister in Christ, God is displeased with us. However, there is a way to remedy the situation. (See Matthew 5:21-24) Learning to guard our tongue and to think before we speak will help us to avoid conflict. Our speech needs to be seasoned with salt. We must learn to love and display a gentle attitude in our conversations with others. (Proverbs 15:1) We need to learn how to diffuse a volatile situation before it starts. To learn how to resolve a conflict with a brother or sister in Christ see (Matthew 18:15-17).
Remember, it takes two for a conflict to begin and two to resolve the conflict. Each person in a conflict must take personal responsibility for his or her actions and strive to develop a humble attitude of reconciliation. Conflict that is unresolved can put undue strain on a relationship causing eventual separation. Many times we believe there is a conflict with another because our needs were not met by the other person. Our perceptions may be wrong if we base our observations purely on feelings. (See Proverbs 3:30) If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18)
The Bible teaches us to love our enemies and not to take revenge. Love is a tool we can use to win over our enemies. Agape love is the highest form of love: it is unconditional. God has this kind of love for us. Jesus displayed this level of love to Judas Iscariot when he washed his feet along with the other eleven apostles. Jesus taught us to love our enemies through agape love. (See Matthew 5:43-44) The resolution of conflict can reduce the tension that so quickly rises in a heated argument. Step back, take time out, ask questions, paraphrase your understanding of a situation and most important develop better listening habits. Listen to trustworthy people. Don’t be a: “know it all”. (See Proverbs 26:12) Learn to give mercy and forgive, release the other person of guilt and wrongdoing. When we take the initiative and forgive, we are asking for a response from the other person and a positive response from another will bring about the needed resolution to the conflict. (See Ephesians 4:32)
BAPTISM THE ESSENTIAL DECISION
Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation circulating concerning baptism. Baptism is the essential decision a person must make in order to be a “saved” person. It is our prayer that this program and these writings based on the Holy Scriptures, will convince our viewers/readers the true importance of this act of faith known as baptism.
Baptism is not an option but rather it is a command from God (Acts2:38). Through etymology, (the study and development of a word) we can study the word baptism and its original definition as defined in the Greek language. In the Greek language, the word baptizo, a verb, is a word of action meaning to immerse, or to surround or cover. As an act of obedience to the Gospel we make our decision to be baptized. The baptism consists of immersing a person in a pool of water. However, the importance of the rite of baptism is that we are washed with the blood of Christ when we are “washed” with the water by the word and Jesus is the Word!
Through baptism our whole body is washed as we are submerged or put under the water. As we leave the depths of the water, our sins remain of the bottom of the pool. Jesus paid the price of our sins through His blood shed on the cross. Baptism and the salvation that comes through Christ, is a free gift that we receive only by making a conscious decision and commitment to follow Christ. Once baptized, we receive the promised counselor, God’s Holy Spirit.
As Jesus died on the cross for our sins, once baptized, we die to our sin through death, burial and resurrection to new life through Christ. (Romans 6:1-14) We are born again. (See John 3:1-6) Baptism is necessary because sin destroys or separates us from a relationship with God’s son, Jesus. Once sin invaded God’s creation in Genesis chapter three, a savior was needed to forgive sins from those who call upon the Name of the Lord. God became flesh in the form of Jesus, the man of God and became a living sacrifice for the sins of the world. Only by the grace of God are we saved. Baptism is a symbol of our obedience through faith; knowing God by His love will fulfill His promises of forgiveness and eternal life with Him in heaven. Through baptism, we are bonded with Christ and become one in mind and Spirit. Our old life is passed; our new life with Christ begins. (Ephesians 2:1-5) As true followers of Christ, we are now called Christians.
Morality and God focuses on people’s thoughts and feelings today, about God, and how we live our lives in modern times. Various polls were taken over the last few years to determine people’s understanding of good and evil, present moral climate, guilt, sin and moral standards in America today. These polls showed most people believe there is a God but these same people don’t believe in the standards God has laid down for us. When we have a faith in something existing, we must live by the standard set forth by the origin of that faith. The two cannot be separated. Our standard of behavior reflects our faith and the trust we have in that faith.
We might conclude from the surveys that God and His standards are misunderstood by our culture. It appears from the moral climate of America today most people do not believe in a unified standard. The standard set forth by God reflects His love for His people. Throughout history God has displayed His love for us. He sent His son to die on the cross for our sins. God desperately wants a loving relationship with each one of His children. God’s morality grows out of His awesome love for us, and God’ commands are standards for all His creation to believe in and follow.
However, it is common today to hear people say they cannot follow God’s plan because they don’t want to give up anything good. But God is not asking us to give up something that is good. He is asking us to give up the things He knows that are bad for us. And God created everything and only He knows what is best for His creation. God knows our past, present, and even our future. He and only He can reveal to us (if we allow) the things that can hurt and destroy us. God can tell us how the story ends. God’s standards grow out of His love for His creation.
Like ancient Rome, which defied the standards of God, America is in danger of falling into the same false sense of self and all-knowing mindset through blatant sinful behavior. God created man in His own image, so when we violate God’s laws we sin and break our bond with our creator. Violation of God’s commands lead to hostility, violence and death. Today in America, we see so much hate and violent behavior even in our children. Immoral behavior also breeds selfishness and greed and discord between people.
God’s son Jesus wants us to take up our cross and follow Him. Following God’s direction we will have the knowledge to make the right decisions as we get out of self, and turn our lives over to the one who created us. We have to deny self. When we live for self, we deny God and His love for us. Living for self, we begin to justify our behavior as right and just. Perhaps, then, we are guilty or creating our own sense of morality. America has always prided itself on being an individualistic society and doing things “our way”. Living for ourselves we forget others and only live for today. Perhaps, we need to focus on our moral behavior today, and be mindful of and think about others who will follow us on this earth and carry on God’s creation. A guide for living a moral life and how to treat others can be found in (Matthew: Chapters 5,6, and 7.)
Since the fall of man in the garden, mankind has disobeyed God’s laws and God has revealed in His word how He has dealt with ancient peoples who chose to worship the creation rather than the creator. Does the same fate await us today? (See Romans Chapter 1:18-32). We cannot deny God since He made us and He is part of us and we are
Part of Him. God’s fingerprints are all around us in His creation: the smile in a child’s eye, the beauty of the four seasons, and the gifts and talents we possess. When we forget God and His standards, we become gods in our own eyes. We measure our actions and deeds by the standards we create and “if it feels good do it”. There are no absolutes and truth is what we define it as. We measure ourselves by ourselves. Therefore we cannot do any wrong. Our thinking and actions become our “truths” and our standard of morality. Somewhere along the way we lost the real truth. God! Our truths are based on lies we have come to believe. God cannot lie. His truths are eternal. If we continue to follow our own ways we will become victims of our own destiny. In the Bible, sin is always compared to living in darkness. God is a loving God but it hurts Him when we disobey His commandments. God hates sin. (See Habakkuk 1:13). As a culture that prides itself on individualism perhaps we can ask ourselves, “Are we doomed to fail because we don’t recognize the standards God set before us?”
BECOMING A SPIRITUAL WIFE AND MOTHER
Becoming a spiritual wife and mother is a personal story featuring Rene Casto, married to Tim Casto and mother of two children. Rene and Tim Casto worked as house parents for Timothy Hill Children’s Ranch in Riverhead, Long Island for several years. Rene admits that life is a learning experience and many times she has had to stretch herself to meet the needs of her husband Tim, their two children and the ten teen boys in their care. She admits that sometimes it is hard to keep her focus on her real priorities.
However, through her personal Bible Study, worship with believers and her prayer time with the Lord, she gets back on track. Rene shares how important it is to realize our true focus in life, to love the Lord first. She knows as a Christian wife she must work constantly to cultivate a relationship with her husband and together meet the needs of their two children. She explains the importance of quality time spent with her family and discusses how difficult at times life can be with all our daily responsibilities.
Some of the boys she and Tim take care of have never witnessed a working marriage. At one point, when the boys were discussing among themselves how to “keep their woman in line’, they asked Rene “Has Tim ever hit you?” Rene replied, ”No.” Then they asked Tim the same question, whose reply was the same as Rene’s. The boys did not believe either Tim or Rene, at first. Weeks later after closely observing Tim and Rene’s relationship, one of the boys replied: “Now I know why Tim has never hit you. It’s because he loves you!’’
During her early years, after studying the Bible with a friend, Rene gave her life to Christ. As a Christian, she not only serves her husband and children but her Lord who always comes first in her life. She has learned much about becoming a spiritual wife and mother by observing older women who lived spiritual lives. She has read many books besides the Bible on spirituality but admits most of her spiritual influence comes from watching and listening to women that were special to her. Rene adds “Following Christ commits me to my marriage and my children.” She realizes that pain and suffering are something she must deal with in this world. But she also realizes her life is filled with joy knowing Jesus on a personal level.
Rene understands her real enemy is Satan and that being idle is her downfall. Like many of us Rene sometimes gets into self and can easily fall behind in her Christian walk. To help her stay focused on God and her responsibilities as a spiritual wife and mother, she goes back to the Bible and to the book and verses shown her by one of the spiritual women in her life. Rene reads (Proverbs 31:10-31) and finds that she is reminded by God how she should live her life as a spiritual wife and mother. Rene feels she must remind herself what she should be doing and God’s word is her help.
When Rene first came to New York prior to her work as a House parent, she believed she wanted to be an actress. She had formal training in acting, but God had different plans for Rene. She admits today: “I love what I’m doing now. I wouldn’t change it for the world!” Through her work with the boys she has learned the importance of refreshing others. (See Proverbs 11:25) Rene knows the way she lives her life will affect how Tim and their children respond to Christian examples she displays. Rene gains her strength knowing God directs her life and that she can do all things through Christ who strengthens her. (See Philippians 4:13)
She knows there is a time for everything and she reminds us to become better listeners. Rene practices better listening by looking in the eyes of her own children and giving them time and attention. She realizes her children have souls and she wants to be a Christ-like example to them as well as her husband, Tim. Lastly, Rene reminds us “This world is not our home. Our hope is in heaven.”
COUNSELING PEOPLE WITH SEXUAL SIN
The subject of sexual sins is a very important concern for the Christian. Sexual sins are very sensitive areas and difficult to talk about. For the Christian, sexual sin is a sin against God’s Holy temple, our bodies. Christians who struggle with this type of sin feel a strong sense of guilt and a feeling of helplessness at times. Some Christians have confessed in counseling, that their faith was shaken and they wanted to give up on God. Many people, when young, were taught that sex is bad and dirty and violates God’s sacred commands. But in the proper context as in marriage between a man and a woman sex is beautiful and bonds the two in flesh.
A man or woman, who has been abused sexually as a child, might withdraw from sexual contact or become very promiscuous as an adult. Teens growing up in a dysfunctional home where separation and divorce have taken place may develop very poor sexual habits and find it difficult to develop a monogamous relationship later on in life. Children who are victims of incest might become frigid and unable to be sexually active in marriage. Victims of incest must realize they are not to blame and must release their guilt in order to be a survivor of incest.
Today “sexual freedom” is a very popular buzzword among teens and young adults. Society has placed undue pressure on young people in believing sex before marriage is all right. God says it is sin and calls sex before marriage fornication. Many worldly people are experiencing a sense of guilt as they enter into the marriage bond having been with “lovers” before their husband or wife to be. As Christians, it is not up to us to judge the fornicators, but listen to them in love and encourage them to repent of their sins. The person involved in fornication must realize his or her wrongdoing and experience Godly sorrow. "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." (2 Corinthians 7:10)
Whether the sexual sin is adultery, fornication, prostitution, homosexuality or other unnatural relationships, we must learn to accept the sinful person, love t