Titus 1:15-16- “To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. ¹⁶ They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.“

Following God is always a matter of the heart.  2 Corinthians 4:6 – “⁶ For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”  

When someone sins against God it is always rooted in unbelief.  We sin because we do not trust that God is our ultimate satisfaction, and that in His presence there is a fullness of joy.  That is where we must go in our fight for faith – beyond simple facts, to see and treasure God Himself.

People focus on atonement, that Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, and that is gospel, good news – it is true and completely necessary for our to be reconciled to Him.  But knowledge of salvation from sin doesn’t make someone a Christian.  There are many many people who know a lot about God, but don’t actually treasure Him.  They don’t mourn sin because it defames Him.  They don’t seek to enjoy Him.  What does your heart say about the glory of God?  Do you know Him?  Do you Treasure Him?  Do you see God, our Creator, Our Father, Our Savior in Jesus, as all satisfying?  Do you see your eternity with Him in a fullness of joy?

Christian, lets battle together not to be those who are deceived, but those who praise God who has broken the chains of the sinful inclinations of our heart, that we see that sin will only ever accomplish separation from the peace and joy that is already ours and secure in Jesus.  My encouragement for today is to take a look at your life – does it reflect the love of God?  What areas are you seeking satisfaction apart from God?  How can you pursue more joy in God and the gospel of Jesus?

If you struggle with any of the above, that is good news.  It is impossible for you to do, which is why we call upon the God of all grace daily to work in us salvation.  1 John 3:2-3 – “ Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. ³ And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

In Christ, we are brothers and sisters, and you are loved and prayed for.

Grace and Peace,

Adam

2 Timothy 3:1-5 – “but understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. ² For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,³ heartless, irreconcilable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, ⁴ treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.”  

Brothers and sisters, God’s word for us today is timely.  Paul, the author of 2 Timothy is prone to long, run-on type sentences, that sometimes makes understanding difficult.  He opens up here saying that there will be for us (who are living in the last days – the days between Christ’s resurrection and His second coming) difficult.  The ground for why we will encounter difficulty is sin.  Every space where sin enters brings with it, difficulty.  In context Paul is writing from Prison, and soon to be beheaded.  Paul is not simply writing about sin among non-believers, but also believers.

Paul lists off the many ways a heart can deny God in a variety of “sins”.  None of us gets out of this list clean.  We all can see our own heart in the midst of this list, likely in more than one place.  Paul then pivots and says that these people can have the appearance of godliness, but deny its power.  Yesterday, amidst some personal difficulty, I was reminded that our sin is not simply what is seen outwardly, but it is the sin of our hearts.  There is a way that Christians can get good and modifying behavior, yet deny the power of the Holy Spirit in us to not simply change our behavior, but change our hearts.  If I am able to bridle my tongue not to speak in anger, that is good, and will spare me some earthly consequences.  It does not deal with the face though that my heart wanted to say something in anger – only God has the power to change our hearts into the image of Christ.  So we – all of us, cry out daily for the grace and mercy of God through Jesus to do that very thing.

Let’s not be labeled as those who simply have an appearance of Godliness, but let’s be the people of God, who walk in Truth from the inner person.  Let our love be genuine, from a heart changed by the gospel – knowing the One who loved us unto death to free us from not just the outward manifestations of sin, but the bondage of the heart.  Our hearts are free.  As we stumble forward in life, lets resolve together to be those who never deny the power of God, or His purpose to conform our hearts into the image of Christ.  Remain steadfast, knowing that the mercies of God are new each morning.

Grace and Peace,

Adam

2 Timothy 4:5-7 – “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.  For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Brothers and Sisters, I’m eager to continue to walk through the New Testament with you today.  Today’s message is an important one that I think is missed by many in today’s Church.  Faith that is alive is a faith that is working.  James 2:17 says it this way – “faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead” and again in James 2:26 – “as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”  

Paul is writing to Timothy, his disciple, encouraging Him with assurance of a true faith that dwells in Him.  Paul even explains the route God used to instill faith in Timothy through His grandmother, to his mother, and then on to Timothy.  (This is a great encouragement to preach the gospel in our homes often, but that’s another message for another day).  I’ve known some of you for 7-8 years, even longer for some, and even if I don’t see you all the time, or even if I never see you, I am encouraged by all of you.  It’s a great thing to participate in the people of God, to see God at work in people over time, through good times and bad times, and how God is drawing us all ultimately to Him.   That’s me getting sappy for a moment, but it’s true – every one of you is a gift of God, and your faith is an encouragement to other believers, and not meant to be kept private.

Paul encourages Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God that was given to Him.  Each of you is unique.  One of the beautiful things about being involved in a small group at Church, is you get to see how God has uniquely gifted different people.  I’m not artistic at all, but others are, and I can see God glorified in their exercising those gifts.  Some people are just great encouragers – I see them reach people who are suffering and depressed even in a powerful way that can only be described as God speaking through them to touch the heart and soul of another.  Some are gifted with hospitality – eager to invite others into their home, welcoming them, manifesting the love of Christ in that way.  That is powerful, because many people do not believe God will accept them, and those with this gift manifest that – “Yes, God wants all of you.”  I could go on about those who are generous, those who serve in great ways, those who speak with authority from God’s word, those who teach, those great comforters among us, etc.

Here is my point.  God does not intend for you to have faith only to “believe”, but God has uniquely created and gifted you for works.  Your works should flow from your belief.  You are gifted at something, and God intends to use that gifting to declare the gospel to the Church first, and also to those outside.  Do you know how you are gifted?  If not, maybe ask one or two of your friends what they think.  If you do know, how are you using those gifts to serve those within the church and without?  It is by exercising the gifts that God will create a fire in you that will sustain your faith.  Do not be afraid to step out in new ways with your giftings, but remember that you have the power of Christ in you, and He is with you as you work.  In all things exercise self-control and work as an overflow of the love of Christ that has been extended to you.  In so doing you will both bless those around you, and guard your own faith.

Grace and Peace,

Adam

There are some common cultural sayings that have so infiltrated American minds, that they have even taken hold within the Church.  “Faith is private.”  “God helps those who help themselves.” “Pick yourself up by the bootstraps.”  None of these sayings are in the Bible.  The Bible actually says the exact opposite of these things.  Throughout God’s Word we are told again and again that we cannot pursue Him in our own power, we are daily dependent upon the grace and mercy of God.  Likewise we are told that just as God exists in community (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) and we are made in His image, we are meant to live and flourish among a community of believers.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 – “ Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. ¹⁰ For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! ¹¹ Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? ¹² And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Christian, there will be times in life when you fall.  How long and how hard will depend largely on those around you.  Who are your closest friends?  Do they just call themselves Christians, or do you see a passionate pursuit of God in their life?  Do they submit themselves to God’s Word and point you to Him?  If they do, praise God, that is God’s blessing to you – His provision to you to sustain your faith if you receive it.  Likewise, you are God’s blessing to your Christian friends.

Let me give an example.  Let’s say you’re a doctor, and you’re vacationing on a private island with two of your friends.  You’re not going to be picked up for a week.  You fall and break your leg, and one of your friends has to set the bone for you.  One of your friends is an accountant, and your other friend is a fellow doctor.  When you’re in agony and the future of your leg is on the line, which of your friends will you trust?  What if both of your friends were accountants?  Christians are meant to be in community with other Christians who are pursuing God together.  We are meant to turn to God’s Church, pastors and strong Christian believers for counsel.

“What about my other friends?  I can’t just ditch them.  Jesus hung out with non-believers all the time.”  Two things – Jesus always approached people on His own terms, and never entered into sin in order to be around them.  So should you with your friends.  Be wise in who you surround yourself with – “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” – Proverbs 18:24 Likewise, you do not neglect your friends who are apart from Christ, but you get coffee with them, eat with them, bring them over to your house, pray for them, preach the gospel to them when you can, and hope for them.  But guard yourself in against two things – temptation, and worldly counsel rather than the full counsel of God from His Word.  Worldly counsel can have an appearance of wisdom, but in the end, God’s Word will prove true – We will be conformed to who we listen to, either man apart from God, or Christ in us, the Living Word of God.  If your friends are not giving you counsel that is rooted in the love of Christ from His Word, however it may sound – their counsel is leading you away from Him.   1 Corinthians 15:33 – “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals”  

My encouragement is to pursue regular community with Christians.  Join a church, get involved, and let God surround you with those who will be a “friend that is closer than than a brother” Just as Jesus was among the world, but traveled with twelve disciples and even within the disciples had a closer three of Peter, James, and John – make sure that your closest two or three are strong brothers and sisters in Christ, that you will have help and true encouragement in life as we fight the daily fight for faith.   “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Grace and Peace,

Adam

I’ve had this conversation with a few people over the years, and I believe it more today than ever.  If someone asks  me how I know I’m saved, one of the first things I’ll tell them is that I know I’m saved because every time I tried to run away from God He wouldn’t let me go.

There are two times when people are generally tempted to walk away from their faith, sin and suffering.  Christians are called be vigilant against sin, calling upon God in their need daily, and pursuing holiness, evidencing their faith and trust in God.  When we do not do this, ongoing sin, usually leads to more and more sin, hiding sin, guilt/shame from sin to the point where if God did not intervene, someone would likely destroy their life and their faith.  Now, sometimes God may restore a Christian gently through other believers or a gentle word from the Bible, but more often than not, the mercy and love of God for a sinning Christian involves pain.  God disciplines those He loves, and He reminds us of the end result of sin, by allowing us to feel the effects of it, and so uses the pain associated with that sin to turn us back to Himself in faith.

In suffering, many people question why God allowed something to happen.  Maybe its cancer, maybe it’s the death of a loved one, maybe it’s someone else sinning greatly against us, or maybe it’s the loss of a job or home.  In these times, a range of emotions are rising and falling within us, but amidst the turmoil of our soul, God speaks.  All things are but a shadow of what is to come, and the glory that is to be revealed to us.  God puts a song into our heart, “I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.  You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.  Whom have I in heaven but you?  And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”  (Psalm 73:23-26)

This is real Christianity – not the Facebook, “everything is perfect” type of Christianity.  The Church and Christians that make it up are messy.  Life is messy.  Christians are broken.  We are sinners, saved by the grace of God through Jesus.  We will have troubles in this life, and our comfort is not found in this world, or the counsel of non-Christians, but in the God who loves us, and never lets go even when we try.

My encouragement today, is to consider your life – are there areas where you are trying to run away from God?  Stop and consider – when has that ever worked out well for you?  If you can run away from God, and God doesn’t intervene, I’m just going to say this – that probably means you’re not a Christian, because God disciplines His children in love (Heb 12:6).  God is loving to bring pain into the lives of Christians to restore us to Himself, but instead, let us return and remain with God now, for our own good and greater joy in God.

Hosea 6:1-3 – “Come, let us return to the Lord;
    for he has torn us, that he may heal us;
    he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.
² After two days he will revive us;
    on the third day he will raise us up,
    that we may live before him.
³ Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;
    his going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us as the showers,
    as the spring rains that water the earth.”

Grace and Peace,

Adam

Many people see Christianity as just a bunch of rules.  Those outside of Christianity, do not understand that for believers in Jesus, the law is not for us it is for them.  Non-Christians see the laws in the Bible as being restrictive.  Believers see the laws of God as pointing to the righteousness of Jesus.  Rules cannot make anyone perfect, all rules can do is show you where you fail.  For those who do not know, and are not trusting in the love of Christ through the gospel, the rules of the Bible only serve to show them their sinfulness and condemnation.  That is the point – in the hopes that in the despair of seeing sin rightly, people would look for salvation.  Christians, through faith, have already been given the perfect righteousness of Christ, described in the law – so for us it has no power of condemnation, only encouragement to continue to participate in the fellowship of righteousness with our Savior.

1 Timothy 1:8-11 – “Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully,⁹ understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,¹⁰ the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, ¹¹ in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.”

How do you view the rules of God?  Do you see them as restrictive, or do you see them as descriptive of the righteousness of God that is already yours in Jesus?  Know this, that as Christians, yesterday, today, tomorrow, and all your days into eternity you will be clothed, not with your own righteousness but the perfect righteousness of Christ.  We walk in obedience not out of compulsion, but in faith, that in Christ that is simply who we are.  We are no longer our former selves, but we are adopted sons and daughters of the Living God.  We have been “found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.”  Philippians 3:9

Stay encouraged in your faith today.  If we slip, let us be quick to call out to God who loves us.  If we lack faith, let us ask God who gives generously.  If we need comfort, let us run to the One who graciously gives us all things.  I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.  (Phil 1:6)

Grace and Peace,

Adam

We’re continuing on in the New Testament today in 1 Timothy.  We’re looking at what is the goal, the end result that is hoped for by reading God’s Word?  To the best of my ability, I try to proclaim Truth from the Bible.  Why?  Ultimately the goal is salvation for all who hear the gospel, but what is the progressive heart change that is hoped for, as it relates to daily living?

1 Timothy 1:5 – “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

The goal is love.  This love is a specific type of love though, it is a love that comes forth from three things:  1) a pure heart 2) a good conscience and 3) a sincere faith

A pure heart is meant to be a heart that is single-minded in devotion to God.  Each of us is tempted in many ways on a daily basis.  Each of us has many opportunities to just do what we want to do or what seems good to us, without even considering God.  As Christians, we want to keep pressing God’s truth into our heart so that we will trust Him, and submit our lives to Him in all things – having a pure heart.

A good conscience is simply the conscience of someone who has repented of their sin, their self-will against God, and is walking in joyful obedience to God’s will.  Joyful because God is our eternal treasure, and source of lasting joy.  As we walk with Him, we will see more and more of Him for us to draw joy from.

A sincere faith, is a steadfast faith rooted in the Truth of God from His Word and the gospel of Jesus.  A faith that is now swayed, but immovable, just as God Himself is immovable and unchanging.

The end result of all Bible teaching should be love for God and love for others that flows from these things.  My questions for us all today would be 1)  Are we walking with a pure heart?  A good conscience?  A sincere faith?  If not, what do we need to confess and turn over to God today.  2)  How is God’s teaching rooting the love of Christ in your heart?  3)  How are you loving God and others with the love that God has revealed in your heart through the gospel of Jesus?

Grace and Peace,

Adam

“God has chosen you from beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.  And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” – 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

Herein lies our hope brothers and sisters.  Where the glory of the Lord is, there is a fullness of joy.  We have been called through the gospel of Jesus, for eternal joy.  God has chosen us from the beginning – when all of our life and failures were ahead of us and known to God, He chose us, and purposed us for salvation and sanctification for our joy in Him.  All of the pleasures of the world are but a shadow of Christ.

We were chosen for salvation through sanctification.  That as we follow Christ, submit our lives to Him, the Holy Spirit of God is the one at work in us.  Consider this, Christian, that nothing in our flesh would ever desire to submit to God.  Nothing in our flesh would have us deny lesser pleasures to pursue a relationship with God.  If we trust the Truth of God today and submit to Him, take comfort that it is God at work in you.  God gives us faith in the truth, and we hold onto it, knowing that what waits for us is nothing less than God Himself.

Stay encouraged, and press into the Lord today.  He is for you.

Grace and Peace,

Adam

A few thoughts have been building in me for some time.  Rooting the love of God from the gospel, the good news of salvation through Jesus, into our hearts.  Understanding how the love of God compels us, controls us, to look at others in sin with compassion, forgiving as we have been forgiven, and becoming ministers of reconciliation in this broken world.  Lastly, that all of this, is not in any way done under our power, but it is the grace and mercy of God, God’s Spirit at work in us.

In light of all of that, I want to share what is perhaps the most hope-saturated, heart filling, comfort-giving verse in all of the Bible, that was pressed into my heart last night as a covering for everything else.  Romans 8:32 – “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”  The context of this verse is that there is suffering in this world, we will be afflicted, enduring trials and tribulations – yet all these things do no compare to the glory of God, and our enjoyment of Him in His perfections for eternity.  

The argument of Romans 8:32 is a “a maiore ad minus” logical argument from the greater to the lesser.  If someone is rich enough to purchase a yacht, certainly they are rich enough to buy coffee.  If a building is large enough to store a jumbo jet, it is large enough to store a mini cooper.  God the Father loves the Son Jesus with a love indescribable, infinite, eternal.  God looked down on Creation through time and had to choose between redeeming sinful man through the death of Jesus, or to condemn man justly in their sin and spare His Son.  In a real sense, the Jews did not kill Jesus, our sin did not kill Jesus, God the Father killed Jesus.  Isaiah 53:10 – “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief”  Now, if God would do this, that we might be reconciled to Him, what won’t He do now that the greatest possible work has already been accomplished?  If God is willing to send His Son to die for us to bring us to Him for eternity, what good thing would he hold back from us now?  

If you suffer, know that as a Christian, redeemed by God, God is working in the suffering good for you.  If you are lonely, know that as a Christian, God is working in your loneliness good for you.  If you are sick, know that as a Christian, God is working in your sickness good for you.  All of this is only possible if you understand the weight of what it means for God to die for you.  We give ourselves to something greater in this life, to our God who has redeemed us from temporary things, to enjoy eternal ones.  We are reconciled to the living God in whom there is a fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore.  Brothers and Sisters, stay encouraged.  Pray for the weight of God’s love in Christ through His death to press heavily on your heart, so that you will be able to see God at work in all things for your joy.  No one likes hard times, but we rejoice because hard times do not last forever, our forever is secure in Jesus, and He loves us more than we can fathom.

Grace and Peace,

Adam

As a Christian, we live in a reality where we are not sinners, yet we have sin.  When God looks at us, He sees only the perfect righteousness of Jesus because we are in Christ by faith.  At the same time, although the bondage to our sin nature has been broken, we still carry sin with us, being called to continually put it to death.  So at any point in time we are being controlled, either by Christ which puts to death sin and brings lasting joy, or by our sin, which pushes us further from God and leads to brokenness, guilt, shame, and destruction.

The Lord is above (Psalm 113:4).  In Him we have victory over all sin (1 Cor 15:57).  In Him there is a fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11).  We are called to self-control, but the self-control is not the type of self-control where we are white-knuckling obedience.  We are called to exercise control by remembering the promises of God – that all the promises of God find their Yes in Jesus (2 Cor 1:20), and so we choose joy over sin.  God, are you my comforter? Yes.  God, do you love me?  Yes.  God, will you always be with me and for me?  Yes.  God, will you sustain me?  Yes.  God, do you affirm me fully?  Yes.  God, do you accept me now and always?  Yes.  Every Yes of God to us is found in Jesus, and so we are controlled by the love of God to pursue God in love.  We are controlled by the love of God to love others, rather than using them to try to meet some emotional or felt need within us.  We love people towards Jesus, because in Him true life and fulfillment is found, and in so doing we remind ourselves of all that Jesus is towards us.

With that in mind, God has a word for us from Thessalonians 4 today.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 – “Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. ² For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. ³ For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;⁴ that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, ⁵ not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; ⁶ that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. ⁷ For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. ⁸ Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.”

For most, this call above is one of the more difficult callings of God on Christians.  I believe that’s why God uses it as an example as often as He does.  It gets to our hearts in a way that we cannot escape – we have to do business with God as His children.  Will we love Him, and trust Him, or not?  My encouragement as you consider the application of the above scripture in your own life is three fold 1) Do not beat yourself up over the past.  God has dealt with past sin, He is after your heart now.  What does your heart say now about God’s promises over sins promises?  2)  When you sin in this way, you are not only sinning against God but another person, and often persons.  Sin always leads to destruction in the long run, and it creates barriers to your relationship with God.  The same destruction would be true of the person on the other side.  In this way, not only are you failing to love God, but you’re also failing to love others.  3)  We are not to fight this battle, we are to entrust ourselves to God who fights for us.  That may seem counter-intuitive, but ultimately, the only way you will conquer sin is with a changed heart by the Truth dwelling inside us.  The Truth that God is all glorious, all powerful, the source of eternal, infinite, joy, and He is with you and for you.  This is what the Holy Spirit of God in us will remind us of as we walk day in and day out this life.  We have God in us – there is nothing we cannot accomplish through Him.

Stay encouraged.  We are all in this daily walk of faith together, and God is faithful to continue His work in us wherever we are today.  God has grace for you today, and grace for the rest of your days.  He loves you, and is for you, and for your fullness of joy in Him.

Grace and Peace,

Adam