Truth For Life Archives

Ready For A Spiritual Battle?

April 5, 2017 Gracie

Getting Ready

I was a Girl Scout a long, long time ago.

Let’s not talk about how long. 😉

Our motto was to: “Be Prepared.”

Does that phrase sound familiar?

The direction to “be prepared” is also in the Bible – God’s Word.

Are You Ready For A Spiritual Battle?

It’s certainly easier to respond, “no thanks,” and just live your life without a care.

Easier maybe, but that’s not the right answer.

The Bible tells us, and as Peter reveals in 1 Peter 3:15-17:

¹⁵but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. – 1 Peter 3:15-17, ESV.

Contending For Your Faith

Always be prepared with confidence and complete reverence for God.

No one said it would be easy, especially when an unbeliever or false teacher is coming at you with all sorts of accusations. It can hurt, especially when the accuser is someone you know.

Have you ever heard anyone verbally attack the Bible and the Sovereignty of God?

I sure have.

It seems like the confrontations are happening everywhere – on college campuses, in the workplace, and elsewhere.

The most disturbing examples I’ve seen are on the internet and in social media comments.

attacking comment threads

It’s so bad that I only scan the headlines now, and skip over the comment threads where people are so awful to each other. There’s name-calling, threats, and twisting words of Scripture.

Do these folks realize what they’re saying, in a public forum, no less?

I once had a job where a coworker told me that a client we both knew was a “nice” person and would go to Heaven simply for that reason alone.

Our fallen human nature wants to believe that lie, but as Christians, we know that “Congeniality” is not a free ticket to Heaven.

That may sound harsh, but it’s reality. We must turn to the Bible for the answer, not Hollywood movies, or false teachers who add to or delete words of Scripture.

By our faith, we know better.

We are in great need of a Savior and a repentant heart. If being nice was all that was required to get to Heaven, Jesus would not have had to die.

The Gate Is Narrow

A very convicting Bible verse and a key reason why we, as Christians, should share our faith, comes from Matthew.

¹³“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. ¹⁴For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. – Matthew 7:13-14, ESV.

The way to eternal life is narrow. (Chilling, right?)

A very loving thing we can do for a lost person is telling them about salvation through Jesus Christ. We can also pray for them and, for the Holy Spirit to give us the right words when an opportunity comes up. I pray for this all the time.

We can’t let an intimidating person get us to back down about our personal faith in Jesus Christ and salvation through Him.

Are you ready for a spiritual battle

Are You Prepared?

You have to know why you believe.

What do athletes do before the big game?

They practice.

Practice talking about your faith, not because your beliefs are weak, but because it helps. This process isn’t the same as writing a rehearsed script and sounding like a robot. We need to examine our lives, our secular motives before we came to Christ, and the eternal perspective we gained after.

We’re not beating anyone over the head with it or trying to start fights. I take to heart what Paul said in Philippians.

²⁷Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. ²⁹For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, ³⁰engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. – Philippians 1:27-30, ESV.

Expecting Opposition

Not everyone will appreciate your testimony. If someone gets overly ugly with you, you can opt to say you’ll pray for this person and leave. Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance.

Not a Bible expert? It’s okay. You’re sharing your faith because you love others and don’t want them to go to hell.

Here’s a useful resource, Got Questions.

In this two-minute video, John MacArthur explains why readiness is so important. Feel free to share this with others who need encouragement. God bless.

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*Begg, Alistair. “Declare Great Things.” Crosswalk.Com. 25 May 2016. Web Access 03 April 2017. Used with permission. http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/truth-for-life/truth-for-life-may-25-2016.html

Our Exceptional God

Trending Topics and God’s Reminders

October 26, 2016 Gracie

Trending Topics

God’s Reminders

How about some briefs that reflect something good for a change?

These are some of God’s reminders I like to think about and want to share with you. Take a look at these truths and remind the other believers in your life what we have to look forward to, no matter who wins the election. There’s an ending to all of this global junk and it’s a Good Ending. There’s no cliffhanger to keep us guessing. The Bible tells us how it ends.

In the meantime, when fear and doubts come, dear ones, please remember:

1. God does not abandon Us

He hasn’t gone anywhere. God will never break His triumphant promise. He never violates His Word. Regenerate believers – He’s right there with you. Talk to Him when the fears come.

God will listen I’ve done that myself. I’ve walked outside during a beautiful sunset and silently prayed to God about my concerns. I know He is listening. I feel a sense of peace I can’t even adequately describe and His peace eventually takes over any fearful thoughts. Try it sometime.

**Even so, the cross we carry is only for a little while at most, and then we shall receive the crown, the glory. Surely we should love the cross and, instead of shrinking from it, count it very dear, for it works out for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. – Alistair Begg, Christian Pastor.

2. God continues to bless us individually according to His Will

Christians have the blessing of eternal life. But, in addition to that beautiful assurance, God will also continue to pour out His blessings on us as individuals. Don’t miss those blessings.

Let’s start with this morning. You’re up and breathing, right? Have you thanked Him yet? God didn’t create you just to go through life, work yourself to the bone, retire someday, and then breathe your last breath. Poof! It’s all over. That’s a defeating premise for someone like you and me who God is holding in His grip.

God's reminders

God created you and me for so much more. We can’t waste our lives on the trivial stuff. If there’s something you can do to bring glory to Him, do it! Acknowledge Him. You may never know in this life whose lives you may have touched by doing so, but some day you will know. Your witness may help plant the seed that leads someone else to eternal life with Christ, and it’s all worth it.

3. There is one way to eternal life, and that is through the saving grace of Jesus Christ

One way. Not ten ways, not a thousand, not even a trillion. (How many zeroes is that?) There is one way, praise the Lord!

Why does the Bible refer to us like sheep? It’s not flattering. Sheep play “follow the leader” and will blindly follow the herd off a cliff.

*⁶All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

– Isaiah 53:6, ESV

Christ took the fall for all of yours and my sins and gave us His saving grace. Praise the Lord we have a Shepherd to guide us and protect us until He calls us home.

4. God gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is our Advocate. The Holy Spirit convicts us. Take the hint 🙂

Cherish the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. If you mess up, apologize sincerely to God, and He will forgive you.

5. Everything in life is working out according to His Will

Life may feel like it’s going to hell in a hand basket, but God’s Will is done every day, behind the scenes. His will is at work and we can’t fully understand it.

I’ve asked that question myself, “How can this be right for our country? How can that even be happening?”

Remember that sheep analogy earlier?

As sad and as tragic as events in this world will get (a fact of life), all circumstances are following God’s timeline.

God is all-knowing. Nothing surprises Him. And the good news is that His Light will always win out over darkness. The trials and sufferings we have experienced (and will experience) during our lifetimes are gone in a flash when Jesus returns for His Church. Remember, God’s timing is very different from our concept of time.

To God, a year or more is nothing

As an example, a year can seem like forever to us. To God, a year or more is nothing.

Everything that happens to us as believers is leading to a spectacular and very real event in our future.

6. Everyone who should be saved will be

It’s comforting for me to know that no true Christian will be left behind. That’s why we must take it to heart to share our stories of how our lives changed once we started following Him.

God doesn’t want anyone to perish. We must humble ourselves as a child, and seek His forgiveness. In the final chapter of our lives on this planet, earthly power, riches, success, and status mean nothing. The only thing with eternal meaning is our relationship with Him.

As I was leaving a morning Bible study recently, I had this song playing on my iPod. I always liked the melody, but intently listened to the lyrics this time and thought how foretelling they are. It’s a song by MercyMe called, “Finally Home.”

If you get a chance, please listen to the lyrics. Think about meeting God face to face. Imagine reflecting on your life with the One who gave you life. He loves you that much!

God bless!

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**Begg, Alistair, “Your Cross.” Crosswalk.com. 5 April 2017, Web Access 05 April 2017. Copyright Truth For Life. Used with Permission.

Our Exceptional God

Christians Quit Cursing on Social Media

January 19, 2015 Gracie

Let me start out this article by saying that we all know that no one is perfect, including me, you, and that person over there. Even so, Christians quit cursing on social media.

When the Bible says that we, as Christians, become a “new creation” – it means something very important and we should try to remember that. Why do people forget so easily? Is there evidence of a transformed life in us, or are we living as we did before?

From 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV):

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

I’m Guilty Too

I’m not saying I’ve never said a curse word. I slip sometimes. But, I admit it afterward and then confess it in my heart to God.

We all fall short.

What really concerns me though is this “who cares” attitude from Christians on social media who, for some reason, think it’s okay to curse on facebook or in their web posts.

Are they trying to appear “hip”? Current? Relevant?

What gives? Do they think it helps their Christian witness? It does not. Recently, I stopped by to read a post on a Christian friend’s facebook wall. Ughh. There was a comment from another person calling someone an ugly name I won’t repeat.

Seriously, people.

Cursing Is Not Cool

I read a blog from a well-known Christian musician awhile ago who dropped an F-Bomb and “B.S” a few times in his posts.

Thing is, this musician still has a lot of fans – young people who may see that language and think that’s okay Christian behavior.

Well, it’s not.

Our country is still free and that musician has the right to say or write whatever he wants on his own blog, but, he’s NOT doing anyone any favors in the mission to help lead people to Christ. Thing is, he probably doesn’t see anything wrong with using profanity.

I choose not to buy his CDs or follow him. I follow a lot of Christian musicians. A sad thing is that some churches lack discernment in their contemporary music choices. They play songs in church services while neglecting to actually “check out” and see what some of those artists are saying in social media.

I think that is a big problem with contemporary Christian churches today.

One more example: another Christian I know recently shared a link on his/her (shall remain nameless) social media that dropped the F-Bomb along with a snarky personal comment about a news story.

It made my skin crawl. This person is someone with a bunch of facebook friends and he/she doesn’t appear to care that some of his/her friends are young, impressionable people.

Enough With the Cursing

I don’t need to see F-bombs in my news feed. Thank you very much.

What is with people? Were they raised by wolves?

Shaking my head.

No, it’s not okay to curse on social media if you’re a Christian. In fact, it’s not okay to do it anywhere.

It’s also not okay to curse back at someone who is cursing you.

*Patient silence is the best reply to a world of cruel opposition. Calm endurance answers some questions infinitely more conclusively than the loftiest eloquence. The best apologists for Christianity in the early days were its martyrs. The anvil breaks a host of hammers by quietly bearing their blows. Did not the silent Lamb of God furnish us with a grand example of wisdom? Where every word was occasion for new blasphemy, it was the line of duty to provide no fuel for the flame of sin. The ambiguous and the false, the unworthy and mean will soon enough confound themselves, and therefore the true can afford to be quiet and find silence to be its wisdom. – Christian pastor, Alistair Begg.

We should all be mindful of our witness and I’m including myself in that reminder.

This is such a crazy and violent time in our society. Don’t these influential people realize they’re not going to plant seeds with the Holy Spirit and help reach people for Christ when their mouth utters or their fingers type such trash?

We would do well to remember Psalm 19:14 from God’s Word. It’s one of my scripture memory verses. When I slip up, I say this back to myself along with confessing my sin to God.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. –Psalm 19:14 ESV The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

God bless you! Stay strong.

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*Begg, Alistair, “Slow to Speak.” Crosswalk.com. 02 April 2017, Web Access 06 April 2017. Copyright Truth For Life. Used with Permission.

Our Exceptional God

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