John Piper Returns to Pulpit
December 21, 2010
By Lillian KwonChristian Post Reporter Well-known evangelical theologian and pastor John Piper is scheduled to return to the pulpit in January. Kenny Stokes, interim pastor for preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, made the announcement this past weekend.
“His first weekend back, God willing, in the Bethlehem pulpit will be January 8 and 9,” Stokes said.
Piper has been on an eight-month leave of absence. Since May, he has stepped back from virtually all public commitments to deal with his “character flaws” and focus on his marriage.
It was his first-ever leave of absence in his 30-year ministry career.
With the exception of a few speaking engagements – including a conference in the Dominican Republic and the Third Lausanne Congress in South Africa – the respected pastor withdrew from all other preaching, writing and blogging.
When he announced to Bethlehem Baptist Church that he would be leaving for a period of time, he explained that he was seeing “several species of pride” within himself and that his soul needed a reality check from the Holy Spirit.
While he noted that the character flaws did not rise to the level of disqualifying him for ministry, he said they were grieving him and were affecting his relationship with his wife, Noel, and others.
“I’ll say it now, and no doubt will say it again, I’m sorry. Since I don’t have just one deed to point to, I simply ask for a spirit of forgiveness; and I give you as much assurance as I can that I am not making peace, but war, with my own sins,” he said in a letter to the congregation in March.
As planned, Piper will return to the church and his ministry, Desiring God, in January. He is scheduled to speak at Passion 2011 in Atlanta, which takes place Jan. 1-4, and to preach at Bethlehem that weekend.
It is not yet clear what his post-leave ministry will look like or whether he’ll keep up the same pace he did for the past three decades. He did, however, mention in March that he wanted to go five more years in the pulpit.
More details, including his schedule for the next year, are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
Meeting With God
November 3, 2010
by John ImlerJohn is an RVchurchesUSA Ambassador and author of It’s Never Too Late As we go through this life we have many opportunities to meet our Creator. He sees to that!
Just like He did with Adam and Eve, He seeks us out (Genesis 2:9). He searches us out from our busy lives because He desires to meet with each of us individually. He desires that we become acquainted and walk together through our days on this earth.
God has designed within each of us a special place where He can abide—our hearts, souls and minds—and He beckons us to love Him with all of those (Matt.22:37).
As we read the Bible we find stories revealing His seeking out and meeting with various men and women since the beginning of time. He met with some early in life and with others later in life. Some walked with Him after their meeting; others chose to serve another god.
Since the beginning of time, individuals have reflected those same choices in their lives. Some heard His voice calling them to meet with Him and respond from the hustle and bustle of their lives; others ignore all His calls. How about you?
Let me assure you that you cannot escape God’s call for a meeting with you. Today He offers you acceptance as stated in John 3:16-21, just as He did to Cain in Genesis 4:6. The choice is yours (John 6:24)!
God calls for you now—today. No matter how long you have postponed your meeting, He waits for you. No matter what type of life you have lived, He invites you to meet with Him (Romans 10:13:9-10).
Yes, you have a scheduled meeting with God your Creator. Hebrews 9:27 declares “man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” Yes, you will meet with God! Will you be ready because you have met with Him before that and walked with Him? Will you be able to say, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (I Cor. 15:55)
John welcomes your comments either below or email him directly at john@faithrescued.com
Billy Graham’s Suit
November 3, 2010
Billy Graham is now 91-years-old with Parkinson’s disease. In January 2000, leaders in Charlotte,
North Carolina, invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a luncheon in his honor.
Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with Parkinson’s disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, ‘We don’t expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you.’ So he agreed.
After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, “I’m reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century.
Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn’t find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn’t there. He looked in his briefcase but couldn’t find it. Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn’t find it.
“The conductor said, ‘Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry about it.’”Einstein nodded appreciatively.
The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket. “The conductor rushed back and said, ‘Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don’t worry, I know who you are; no problem. You don’t need a ticket. I’m sure you bought one.’
Einstein looked at him and said, ‘Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going.”
Having said that Billy Graham continued, “See the suit I’m wearing? It’s a brand new suit. My children, and my grandchildren are telling me I’ve gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion. You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I’ll be buried. But when you hear I’m dead, I don’t want you to immediately remember the suit I’m wearing.”
“I want you to remember this: I not only know who I am. I also know where I’m going.” May your troubles be less, your blessings more, and may nothing but happiness, come through your door. “Life without God is like an un-sharpened pencil – it has no point.”
Lest We Forget
October 11, 2010
by John ImlerJohn is an RVchurchesUSA Ambassador and author of It’s Never Too Late Forget what, you might ask me. This phrase is often used to encourage us to remember the
various challenges our country has gone through and the accompanying resiliency that has resulted in its citizens. That is certainly a good thing to remember; however, it is not what I have in mind.
As believers in God there are several other things the Bible admonishes us not to forget. Of course, we should never forget about God, His Word, and His commandments (Deut. 4:9, 23).
In Psalms 78:4 we read “we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.”
I recall a story of an individual being shown around heaven. In one room he saw people as far as he could see who were working as fast as they could to handle prayer requests. In another room he saw one individual reading a book with their feet up on a desk. When he asked what this person was doing, the angel indicated this was where all thanks for answered prayers were received.
As I read through the Old Testament, I notice that the Children of Israel were derelict in their duty to do as the Psalms promised. They were quick to complain at every new circumstance failing to recall God’s faithfulness in delivering them (answering their prayers) when they turned to Him and failing to remember or thank Him for those past “praiseworthy deeds.”
It occurred to me that I am so often guilty of the same sin. When I receive an answer to my prayers, too often I say a quick Thank You and then go on my merry way. We may start our prayers with a short summary of things we are thankful for, but often we do not hold all of His “praiseworthy deeds” in our memory for long.
When I turned my back and walked away from God (www.faithrescued.com ), it was because I doubted His promises and forgot the many reasons I had to trust Him and to remember His “praiseworthy deeds.” While shortness of memory is often attributed to aging, it is one of Satan’s schemes that we are warned about in 2 Cor. 2:11.
As believers we are asked to walk by faith. That faith is not only based on God’s promises to us but also on His faithfulness in keeping those promises “to answer us when we call upon Him” (Jer. 33: 2-3).
So, let us not forget to be believers who are “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:20). Perhaps starting a journal of answers to prayer might be helpful.
John welcomes your comments either below or email him directly at john@faithrescued.com
The Christian Vote
October 11, 2010
by Dountonia S. Slack as appeared on BellaOnline
a contributing author on RVchurchesUSA
Christian. Therefore, we are apart of a different culture; called to be salt and light in the world (Matthew 5:13-16); and, value what Christ values as it is spelled out in the Word of God.
However, when it comes to exercising good citizenship, while we sojourn on this earth, we have a tendency to make decisions based upon standards other than the biblical standard we claim allegiance. In the voting booth, especially, we exercise our “rights,” follow familial voting patterns, or make our selections based upon media sound bytes without taking the time to research who the candidates are and what they represent.
Because almost every aspect of human life has found its way onto the governmental agenda, those we choose to govern over us – their personalities and beliefs, their virtues and vices – will affect what they do to and for us. “Now, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature. . . . [I]f the next centennial does not find us a great nation . . . it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces,” (President James A. Garfield, 1876).
While we understand that only God is in control and no matter what happens at the polls, there are no mistakes and everything happens according to God’s purpose (Romans 13:1-7). Yet, when we have a sound theological basis for the campaigns/issues that we support, we send a clear message to the world that our faith, values, and beliefs will not be compromised. We will lift our voices in unison to say that the Christian culture is more important than my socio-economic status, ethnic group, or gender expectations. Now, this does not mean that we would politicize the church or impose our religion upon others, but this does mean that we have a responsibility to live godly and faithful lives using the Word of God as our guide in order to be the conscience of the nation and a witness of Christ no matter what the political climate is.
But the bottom line is that our vote should reflect what we believe. Sending mixed signals by being Christian but not Biblical confuses everyone and devalues the significance of making choices based upon a biblical worldview. Christ followers die to self daily, are becoming less concerned with self proclaimed rights, and seek to do the will of the Father – just like Jesus. Jesus was not concerned about political/religious/cultural agendas; He gave His life for the Kingdom Agenda so that you and I might have life. We live in a post-modern world where everything is subjective – the definition of life, the distinction between a male and a female, the difference between religion and worship – our Christian walk should not be one of them. We have a duty to cast a biblically educated ballot that leaves no question as to who and what we stand for – Christ.
Dountonia is BellaOnline’s Baptist Editor
Feeling All Alone? (2)
August 30, 2010
by John ImlerJohn is an RVchurchesUSA Ambassador and author of It’s Never Too Late As I read through the Psalms, I see that I am not
the first or the last to have that depressing all alone feeling. David felt alone many times often crying out of his self imposed cave. In Psalms 43:2 he says “You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?”
The Bible is full of accounts of those who knew that all alone feeling. Jonah knew it as he rode in the belly of the whale (Jonah 1:17); Job knew it (Job 19); Naomi experienced it when she was alone in a strange land after the death of her husband and two son (Ruth 1:3-5); Sampson knew it after Delilah had his head shaved (Judges 16:20).
However, the most incomprehensible of all was that of a lonely Man hanging on a cross with His body bruised and bleeding when He cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:45).
This was not the first time Jesus felt this loneliness. He had experience it when He was first seized. In Matthew 26:56 we read, “Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.” He felt it when Peter denied Him and when the disciples chose to sleep rather than watch and pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Why did Jesus endure all of this? It was that we might take shelter and comfort in His promises, knowing that He experienced a feeling of all aloneness far greater than we will ever be called to endure. His promises are true to those who believe. We can take courage in the words of Hebrews 4:15: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in everyway, just as we are – yet without sin.”
So, if you are feeling all alone, look out of your cave and dare to look into the sunlight of God’s love and promises. No matter how fiercely the storm clouds are rolling, He has promised “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalms 23:4).
Join John next time when we seek to locate your “cave”.
John welcomes your comments either below or email him directly at john@faithrescued.com
Feeling All Alone? (1)
August 28, 2010
by John ImlerJohn is an RVchurchesUSA Ambassador and author of It’s Never Too Late In I Kings 19:14 we read of Prophet Elijah’s conversation
with God about his plight. This was even after Elijah had performed several miracles at God’s instruction and after he had been fed by ravens in the desert.
Elijah tells God that he is the only righteous one left in all of Israel and charges God with trying to kill him. He was feeling alone and forsaken by God. What a pity party it must have been.
Have you ever felt that way? I have. I have experienced that ‘me against the world’ loneliness. I’ve been hiding in my own cave, and it has taken me a while to hear God say, as He said to Elijah, “Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel–all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him” (1 Kings 19:18).
And where did I hear God’s voice to me? It was in a book shared by a friend entitled Hope Rising (crystalpeaksyouthranch.org). She did not know of my need but God did.
My cave was dark and cold. The storms were howling in my world. However, Hope Rising was the opening God provided so I could see the opening of the cave. I caught a glimpse of just a few of those “who had not bowed a knee to Baal.” It was enough—just as the raven’s food had been enough to sustain Elijah.
So when you are tucked away in a cave of your own making—having a private pity party, feeling all alone in a lonely uncaring world, and perhaps feeling that even God has forsaken you—remember to look out from your cave into God’s promises which proclaim “surely I am with your always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).
Join John next week for part 2 of this series, when we will discover still others who felt all alone.
John welcomes your comments either below or email him directly at john@faithrescued.com
How Does the Bible Define “Justice”?
August 26, 2010
by Andyblogger for Cospel.com Justice has been on my mind this morning since
I read about the conviction of Khmer Rouge torturer/executioner, Kaing Guek Eav.
Is a 19-year prison sentence “just”? Does the extent of his crimes merit a harsher sentence, or should his regret and guilty plea earn him a lighter one?
Those are questions that will be much discussed in Cambodia over the next few months, you can be sure. But today’s Words of Hope devotional, about the Christian understanding of justice, seems timely. What does justice look like through the Bible’s eyes, and should a Christian’s definition of justice differ from a non-Christian’s?
There is a great debate in legal and philosophical circles about the nature of justice. The ancients defined justice as giving others their due. Modern theories of justice often talk about fairness and equality.
In Micah 6:8, God calls us to be agents of his justice on earth. But doing this requires deep, prayerful humility. Christian justice has no place for vengeance, self-righteousness, or “getting even.” Instead, justice requires us to seek the good of others, even those who have wronged us. And though that may still require us to take legal action against wrong-doing, we are called to do it in a spirit of love and mercy.
Read the full devotional at Words of Hope.
This quiet and humble approach is a far cry from the “justice” regularly presented in our popular entertainment and in the day-to-day news cycle. What do you think? Does your Christian concept of justice ever conflict with your instincts, and if so, how do you resolve that tension?
Originally published at Gospel.com. Reprinted with permission
Doctrine of The Trinity? (1)
August 22, 2010
By Matt Perman The doctrine of the Trinity is foundational to the Christian faith. It is
crucial for properly understanding what God is like, how He relates to us, and how we should relate to Him. But it also raises many difficult questions. How can God be both one and three? Is the Trinity a contradiction? If Jesus is God, why do the Gospels record instances where He prayed to God?
While we cannot fully understand everything about the Trinity (or anything else), it is possible to answer questions like these and come to a solid grasp of what it means for God to be three in one.
What Does it Mean That God is a Trinity?
The doctrine of the Trinity means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons–the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Stated differently, God is one in essence and three in person. These definitions express three crucial truths: (1) The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons, (2) each Person is fully God, (3) there is only one God.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons. The Bible speaks of the Father as God (Phil. 1:2), Jesus as God (Titus 2:13), and the Holy Spirit as God (Acts 5:3-4). Are these just three different ways of looking at God, or simply ways of referring to three different roles that God plays?
The answer must be no, because the Bible also indicates that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons. For example, since the Father sent the Son into the world (John 3:16), He cannot be the same person as the Son. Likewise, after the Son returned to the Father (John 16:10), the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit into the world (John 14:26; Acts 2:33). Therefore, the Holy Spirit must be distinct from the Father and the Son.
In the baptism of Jesus, we see the Father speaking from heaven and the Spirit descending from heaven in the form of a dove as Jesus comes out of the water (Mark 1:10-11). In John 1:1 it is affirmed that Jesus is God and, at the same time, that He was “with God”-thereby indicating that Jesus is a distinct Person from God the Father (cf. also 1:18). And in John 16:13-15 we see that although there is a close unity between them all, the Holy Spirit is also distinct from the Father and the Son.
The fact that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons means, in other words, that the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is not the Father. Jesus is God, but He is not the Father or the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God, but He is not the Son or the Father. They are different Persons, not three different ways of looking at God.
The personhood of each member of the Trinity means that each Person has a distinct center of consciousness. Thus, they relate to each other personally–the Father regards Himself as “I,” while He regards the Son and Holy Spirit as “You.” Likewise the Son regards Himself as “I,” but the Father and the Holy Spirit as “You.”
Often it is objected that “If Jesus is God, then he must have prayed to himself while he was on earth.” But the answer to this objection lies in simply applying what we have already seen. While Jesus and the Father are both God, they are different Persons. Thus, Jesus prayed to God the Father without praying to Himself. In fact, it is precisely the continuing dialog between the Father and the Son (Matthew 3:17; 17:5; John 5:19; 11:41-42; 17:1ff) which furnishes the best evidence that they are distinct Persons with distinct centers of consciousness.
Sometimes the Personhood of the Father and Son is appreciated, but the Personhood of the Holy Spirit is neglected. Sometimes the Spirit is treated more like a “force” than a Person. But the Holy Spirit is not an it, but a He (see John 14:26; 16:7-15; Acts 8:16). The fact that the Holy Spirit is a Person, not an impersonal force (like gravity), is also shown by the fact that He speaks (Hebrews 3:7), reasons (Acts 15:28), thinks and understands (1 Corinthians 2:10-11), wills (1 Corinthians 12:11), feels (Ephesians 4:30), and gives personal fellowship (2 Corinthians 13:14). These are all qualities of personhood. In addition to these texts, the others we mentioned above make clear that the Personhood of the Holy Spirit is distinct from the Personhood of the Son and the Father. They are three real persons, not three roles God plays.
Another serious error people have made is to think that the Father became the Son, who then became the Holy Spirit. Contrary to this, the passages we have seen imply that God always was and always will be three Persons. There was never a time when one of the Persons of the Godhead did not exist. They are all eternal.
While the three members of the Trinity are distinct, this does not mean that any is inferior to the other. Instead, they are all identical in attributes. They are equal in power, love, mercy, justice, holiness, knowledge, and all other qualities.
Each Person is fully God. If God is three Persons, does this mean that each Person is “one-third” of God? Does the Trinity mean that God is divided into three parts?
The Trinity does not divide God into three parts. The Bible is clear that all three Persons are each one hundred percent God. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God. For example, it says of Christ that “in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9). We should not think of God as like a “pie” cut into three pieces, each piece representing a Person. This would make each Person less than fully God and thus not God at all. Rather, “the being of each Person is equal to the whole being of God.”[1] The divine essence is not something that is divided between the three persons, but is fully in all three persons without being divided into “parts.”
Thus, the Son is not one-third of the being of God, He is all of the being of God. The Father is not one-third of the being of God, He is all of the being of God. And likewise with the Holy Spirit. Thus, as Wayne Grudem writes, “When we speak of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together we are not speaking of any greater being than when we speak of the Father alone, the Son alone, or the Holy Spirit alone.”[2]
There is only one God. If each Person of the Trinity is distinct and yet fully God, then should we conclude that there is more than one God? Obviously we cannot, for Scripture is clear that there is only one God: “There is no other God besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me. Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:21-22; see also 44:6-8; Exodus 15:11; Deuteronomy 4:35; 6:4-5; 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:2; 1 Kings 8:60).
Having seen that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are distinct Persons, that they are each fully God, and that there is nonetheless only one God, we must conclude that all three Persons are the same God. In other words, there is one God who exists as three distinct Persons.
If there is one passage which most clearly brings all of this together, it is Matthew 28:19: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” First, notice that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinguished as distinct Persons. We baptize into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Second, notice that each Person must be deity because they are all placed on the same level. In fact, would Jesus have us baptize in the name of a mere creature? Surely not. Therefore each of the Persons into whose name we are to be baptized must be deity. Third, notice that although the three divine Persons are distinct, we are baptized into their name (singular), not names (plural). The three Persons are distinct, yet only constitute one name. This can only be if they share one essence.
…. read more in Part 2 of this series
John Piper. © Desiring God. www.desiringGod.org
Life is Soooo Daily!
August 18, 2010
by John Imler
John is an RVchurchesUSA Ambassador and author of It’s Never Too Late
been saying it often since she heard it. In fact, I got tired of hearing it and asked her to stop saying it. However, the more I think of it, the truer I realize it is. While we tend to think of our lives in terms of years, each year is lived day by day. Not only that, but I think God designed our lives to be lived daily.
The Scriptures are full of admonitions for us to do just that—to live in the now, to live today rather than tomorrow. Proverbs 27:1 says, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” Jesus himself admonished us not to be concerned about our tomorrows in Matthew 6 25. James adds to this in James 4:13-14.
Jesus gave His disciples some basic principles of prayer in Luke 11:2-4. It is most interesting to note that His instructions were to ask for our “daily bread” not tomorrow’s bread. Just as the Israelites had to trust God for their daily “manna” (Ex. 16:13-19), He has asked us to do the same.
I might add that Jesus’ instruction started with “When you pray” and included with “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us” (Lk.11:4). God’s forgiveness is linked to our own forgiveness of others (Matt. 6:14-15).
Yes, life is so daily, and the challenge is for us to live it that way. The older I get the more I realize the truth of a acronym by the great football coach Lou Holtz: the key to winning is deciding What’s Important Now.
To use the WIN principle, it seems logical that in our daily now we concentrate on seeking first the kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33) and laying up treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:20). In so doing, we will have less time to be concerned about our tomorrows or to worry about them, and we can trust fully in Romans 8:28.
John welcomes your comments either below or email him directly at john@faithrescued.com
Is It A sin To Swear or Cuss?
July 21, 2010
by Chrisblogger for Cospel.com The English language’s collection of four letter words are extraordinarily popular. They’re
peppered throughout our media and can be overheard just about anywhere you have someone upset or angry.
But is it alright for Christians to cuss or swear?
I’ve heard passionate appeals from Christians on either side of the issue (and heard from others who think we’re wasting our time making it an issue). What about you? Do you think that swearing is sinning?
Here’s a perspective on cussing/swearing from GotQuestions.org:
Question: “Is it a sin to cuss / swear / curse?”
It is definitely a sin to swear (curse, cuss, etc.). The Bible makes this abundantly clear. Ephesians 4:29 tells us, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” First Peter 3:10 declares, “For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.” James 3:9-12 summarizes the issue: “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”
James makes it clear that the lives of Christians—the “brothers”—should not be characterized by evil speech. By making the analogy of both salt water and fresh water coming from the same spring (which is uncharacteristic of springs), he makes the point that it is uncharacteristic for a believer to have both praise and cursing come from his/her mouth. Nor is it characteristic for us to praise God on one hand and curse our brothers on the other. This, too, is uncharacteristic of a true believer.
Jesus explained that what comes out of our mouths is that which fills our hearts. Sooner or later, the evil in the heart comes out through the mouth in curses and swearing. But when our hearts are filled with the goodness of God, praise for Him and love for others will pour forth. Our speech will always indicate what is in our hearts. “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).
Why is it a sin to cuss / swear / curse? Sin is a condition of the heart, the mind, and “the inner man” (Romans 7:22), which is manifested in our thoughts, actions and words. When we swear and curse, we are giving evidence of the polluting sin in our hearts that must be confessed and repented of. Thankfully, our great God is “faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). When this happens, we receive a new nature from God (2 Corinthians 5:17), our hearts are transformed, and our speech reflects the new nature God has created within us.
Originally published at Gospel.com. Reprinted with permission
Yes God Loves Me – BUT
July 19, 2010
by John ImlerJohn is an RVchurchesUSA Ambassador and author of It’s Never Too Late Yes, I would trust Him for my salvation, but the storms of life
are raging all around me. I like Peter had reached out my hand to receive His gift of eternal life and was striving to follow Him. However, now the sea of life was raging with a tempest I had not known before.
I had been forced to close my business and with little other income been forced to go through bankruptcy. This was not what I had expected when I came back to my faith. I owned nothing, as it was all in the hands of the trustee.
My lovely wife Ruth was being drug along on this journey with me. It was highly probable that we would lose our home that she treasured so much. Where would we go? We had learned we could not rent an apartment until all this was over, some 18 months from now. She did not deserve this after 57 years together. I was embarrassed and humiliated. I was full of doubt, unbelief and stress.
Then I cried out, “Lord, if you are in this with us, save us.” I seemed to hear His words, “You of little faith, why have you doubted my words?” (Matt. 14: 22-32). As I reached out my hand, He took it and led me to the green pastures of His Word.
There I was reminded that I still had more than He ever had (Matt. 8:20); that what He had given me was of more value than any earthly possession (Matt. 6:19-21); that He would continue to supply my needs (Matt. 6: 25-34); and that I could take none of this stuff that now seemed so important with me upon leaving this world (I Tim. 6:7).
However, I must really believe Him rather than just read these words. Yes, He was willing to go with us through this storm if we invited Him to do so. He had promised “surely I am with you always” (Matt. 28: 20).
Finally, I called our mortgage company directly to discuss our dilemma. Now Jesus was in our boat and the storm was about to subside (Matt. 14:32). Although they would not send a statement or take the payment from our bank account, if we would mail the payments they would accept them and we could keep our house.
If you are in the middle of a storm in your life, I encourage you to take the hand of Jesus. Invite Him to go with you through your storm, climb into your boat, and calm the waves.
John welcomes your comments either below or email him directly at john@faithrescued.com
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