Old Testament

How to Help Someone Repent pt 1 – VOTD.09.19.17

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. Proverbs 17:17

One of the challenges of being in any kind of Christian community (family, church, friendship, etc.) is finding ways to “Bear one another’s burdens” (Gal 6:2) in a way that truly helps rather than causes things to get even worse. Sometimes our intentions are good but how we live out helping our brothers and sisters is defective. And helping someone repent is an area where the Bible both calls us and cautions us, because it can be a real minefield.

To start with, there is no formula. What will be a game-changer for one person with one kind of issue they’re repenting from, will be useless or counter-productive for another. Secondly, the zeal for the repenter to pursue repentance can ebb and flow and if we’re out of rhythm with that we’ll be frustrated.

Fortunately, the Bible gives us forthright insights on how to actually help a person change or repent… and how not to help them, which is just as important. Today we’ll start looking at some passages on how to help someone repent.

Prayer changes things. (more…)

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In Search of a Repentant Heart pt 1 – VOTD.09.11.17

You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy from God. (Proverbs 28:13)

A study of forgiveness is never complete without looking at the other side of the coin: Those who sin and repent. Because “all have sinned” and “if we claim to be without sin, we lie” (Rom 3:23/1Jn 1:8), repentance in central in Christian life. Confessing and forsaking our sins, which is what ‘Repentance’ means, is foundational, not just for new believers, but for all believers.

The problem is there’s far more encouragement to repent than instruction how to repent. And many struggle with the question: How do I know if I’m truly repentant?

In the Bible, there are great passages on both true and false repentance. David truly repented of his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah. Saul put on a good show, but he didn’t have a genuinely repentant heart. Space limits me from going deep into these passages (2 Sam 12 / Ps 32, 51 /1 Sam 15), but it might be good to review them on your own.

Here’s some lessons we can learn from these two examples (and others) of true vs. false repentance: (more…)

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In Search of Joy in a Discouraged World Pt 2 – VOTD.08.29.17

You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with Joy in your presence. Psalms 16:11

Last time we saw that we can have a hard time living in the joy that Jesus wants us to live in and gave a few suggestions about what each of us can do about it as we continue to live in an unspeakably distressed world and is filled with negativity.

1. Joyful Christians have unshakable faith
2. Joyful Christians are grateful for what we have
3. Joyful Christians don’t settle for less
4. Joyful Christians are respectful and honor others
5. Joyful Christians surround themselves with joyful people

6. Joyful Christians aren’t afraid to make changes. A lot of Christians aren’t joyful because they are stuck in a deep rut…a pattern of living that doesn’t serve their calling or purpose in life and from which they can’t seem to get out. Joyful people, on the other hand, are dynamic without being out of control; confident without being arrogant. Often, it’s our fear of being different makes us bored (and boring). Joyful people are constantly trying new ways and practices that add spice to their life (and make them more interesting people). (more…)

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In Search of a Hungry Heart pt 1 – VOTD.08.14.17

As the deer pants for streams of water, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Psalms 42:1,2

It’s likely that all Christians struggle at times with their spiritual appetites. We know they aren’t what they once were, or what they might be, or we look at other believers who are hungering and thirsting for the presence of God and wonder what’s wrong with us.

Many have never experienced a hunger for God in any tangible way; some even teach that such a hunger doesn’t exist once we’re saved in the first place. “Once Jesus lives in you,” they teach, “you have all of Jesus there is to have.” While that is true in one sense, it doesn’t mean we live in an experience of all of Jesus that He wants to reveal to us.

Spiritual hunger is not something unusual that is reserved for only a few impassioned believers; the normal state of a Christian is to be thirsty and hungry for God. He “satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things” (Ps 107:9). All we need is to be thirsty and hungry.

Song of Songs presents a parable where Jesus lays a banquet of His presence before us. And if we’re not feasting out at that banquet it’s usually because either we’re sick—or we’ve been snacking on something else.

The most common spiritual “sicknesses” are unbelief and unforgiveness. “Without faith it is impossible to please (God), for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). Most of us believe that God exists, but if we don’t really believe that He will respond to our pursuit of Him with a greater experience of Himself, we are likely to be half-hearted seekers. (more…)

Continue ReadingIn Search of a Hungry Heart pt 1 – VOTD.08.14.17

Recreated in His Image – VOTD.08.01.17

Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.  Psalms 148:13

Last time we learned how Jesus is the dreaded Lion to those who run from Him, while He’s the tender Lamb to those who seek Him.

If we are seeking Jesus, we are already in the holy of holys, next to God’s heart (Eph 2:6). Veil after veil has been removed (2 Cor 3:16). This enables us to experience the intimacy with our Savior.

While the North American Church has led many into a salvation experience with Jesus, we’ve often not led them into the beauty of God or experiencing Him in our every-day lives.

I say this not to tear down those who come across as “super saints”, but to build up those who know they are simply ordinary saints, because in the end the super-saint is a mirage… there is nothing but ordinary saints out there. Some Christians are experiencing Him far more fully than others, but all believers have been recreated in His image and He loves us. (more…)

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Fountain of Life – VOTD.07.11.17

“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life” (Proverbs 10:11).

Our words will either be a fountain of life or a fountain of poison. Fountains of life are contented, people. Fountains of poison only come from uncontented hearts.

We conclude our brief look at some of the hundreds of verses related to our words as a “tongue-check”.

–Do We Try to Evade Responsibility for Our Words?
     “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks…. And I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment; for by your words you shall be justified and by your words you shall be condemned” (Matthew 12:34b, 36-37).
     “As a madman who casts firebrands and deadly arrows, so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, ‘I was only kidding'” (Proverbs 26:18-19). (more…)

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Why did I say that? (pt 4) – VOTD.07.10.17

Prayerful answers come from God-loyal people; the wicked are sewers of abusive words. Proverbs 15:28

The words we speak are a peek hole into our entire being. It’s not so much that some people are better at controlling their words than others. It’s that some people are content with God (“God-loyal”), and some aren’t… and our words show us how much we’ve allowed the Holy Spirit to transform us.

–Do we Talk Too Much?
     “In the multitude of words there is no lack of transgression, ” (Proverbs 10:19).
     “He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter” (Proverbs 11:13).
     “The lips of a Righteous person know the kind thing to say, but the wicked are always saying things that hurt.” (Proverbs 10:32
     “The heart of the righteous studies how to answer” (Proverbs 15:28). Allow others time to answer. Beware of people who want you to give them a quick answer.

–Do We Choose Our Words Cautiously and Fairly?
When we oversimplify, generalize and lump together the righteous and unrighteous we curse them both.
     “He who … condemns the righteous, … is an abomination to the Lord” (Proverbs 17:15).

–Do Our Words Abuse, Brow-beat, Amount to Humiliation or Mockery?
     “With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor” (Proverbs 11:9). Note: I have seen Christians destroy their neighbor by their SILENCE when they could have corrected a story they KNEW to be untrue.
     “But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you not be consumed of one another” (Galatians 5:15). (more…)

Continue ReadingWhy did I say that? (pt 4) – VOTD.07.10.17

Why did I say that? (pt 3) – VOTD.07.04.17

“She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue”  Proverbs 31:26

In the proverb describing an excellent wife, her character is summed up in what proceeds from her mouth. How do we open our mouths? With wisdom and kindness or with foolishness and unkindness?

We continue our checklist for our tongues.

–Do We Criticize People Before First Speaking with Them and Seeking Their Restoration?
     “And if your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone ” (Matthew 18:15). Going to anyone else with our criticism before going to the person we are criticizing directly is condemned here.
     “He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him…. The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him” (Proverbs 18:13, 17). Believing one who criticizes without going and getting the story from the other side is condemned here.
     “Debate your cause with your neighbor himself, and disclose not the secret of another, lest he who hears it correct thee and your shame will not turn away” (Proverbs 25:8-10). (more…)

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Why did I say that? (pt 2) – VOTD.07.03.17

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

Our words reveal our hearts. We can often put up a good front in the realm of behavior, but our words will sooner or later give away exactly what is happening in our hearts. That is why we need to invite the Holy Spirit, like the psalmist did. “Create in me a clean heart, O Lord”.

We are looking briefly at some of the hundreds of verses related to our words…asking some tough questions about our hearts, as revealed by our mouths:

–Are We Always Careful to Tell the Truth When We Speak?
     “A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow” (Proverbs 25:18).
     “For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts…false witness, railings: these are the things which defile the man” (Matthew 15:19-20).
     “There are six things which the Almighty hates, yes seven which are an abomination to Him: … a lying tongue…a false witness who utters lies” (Proverbs 6:16-19). (more…)

Continue ReadingWhy did I say that? (pt 2) – VOTD.07.03.17

On Navigating the Presence of God – VOTD.04.24.17

You make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8

Last time we asked the question: Why don’t more Christians experience God’s Presence? The first reason was that we don’t know or believe it’s available. Today we’ll look at the second reason: We don’t know how to get there.

Once we know and believe that the presence of God is something that is available to us, the obvious question is “How do I get there? How do we plug in and experience it for ourselves?

According to today’s verses, God, Himself makes that known to us. “You make known to me the path of life.” So what we’re really asking is how does God reveal Himself—How does He make Himself known? How can we position ourselves to receive the revelation God of Himself?

There are obvious answers like reading the Bible, Prayer, Fasting, etc. And there’s plenty of ‘formulas’. Often believers stumble into something that works for them; they latch onto it because it has greatly impacted their life. And they surround it with a Bible verse or two and begin to teach others.

Don’t misunderstand me…It is wonderful when any believer gets a revelation of the presence of God that changes their life—that opens up for them an entire new dimension of intimacy with Jesus. I totally rejoice for them and their experience. (more…)

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