In Walked Jesus

Category: BibleTalk

  • Enduring Obstacles

    Enduring Obstacles

    Granted, some of life’s obstacles are easier to climb over than others, but no matter how large or small, none are particularly enjoyable and many cause us undue stress. When a trial or tribulation presents, I think to myself, “Ok … here we go … adapt and overcome.” Although always easier said than done, this has been my motto for many years.

    Despite knowing nothing of God’s providence until 5 years ago, I was cognizant of the fact that somehow I’d come through every single unfortunate circumstance much better off in some way than before. The Apostle Paul tells us in his epistle to the Romans, ” … we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope … (Romans 5:3-4).

    Glory in tribulations?! In hindsight, perhaps, but while traversing an obstacle, that is difficult to do. After questioning every decision I have ever made (typically my first, albeit unwise, reaction), I make every effort to learn and grow from the situation, reminding myself of how I’ve overreacted to so many trials in the past that in retrospect turned out to be just what I needed. It is important to take a deep breath and remind ourselves of the many promises in the Bible (Deuteronomy 31:8, John 16:33, Romans 8:28 and countless others).

    Honestly, I do not start out under this effort. After assessing the present trial I am faced with and doing all I could for the time being to handle it, I spent much of yesterday seemingly paralyzed and unable to do much of anything but sit on my duff and gaze at my ‘puter screen. I knew deep down I was simply unwilling, not unable, and I was in no way pleasing God with my state of mind. This morning I woke up and thought, “Hmmm, I feel better today,” and was reminded of this verse from the Book of Lamentations, comforting words from prophet Jeremiah, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

    Today will be a better day because I will practice what I’m preaching. Don’t be surprised if you hear me belting out, albeit totally out of tune, “‘Cause I’ve got confidence, God is gonna see me through, No matter what the case may be, I know He’s gonna fix it for me!” While we may not be able to uphold every single word in this song, let us fake it ’til we make it and praise God over and over for all of His mercies. Sometimes ya just gotta sing while counting it all joy (James 1:2-4)!!!

  • Solid Rock or Sinking Sand?

    Solid Rock or Sinking Sand?

    Nothing in the Bible is there without extremely good purpose, and every single word must be taken to heart. The eternal importance of examining ourselves regularly, which the Apostle Paul implores us to do in his second recorded letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 13:5), cannot be understated.

    A beautiful hymn authored by Edward Mote in the 19th century begins, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” Can you say that with absolute conviction? Do you stand on Christ the solid rock, or are you staggering on sinking sand? If you are a true believer, you will welcome examination and will desperately desire to be cleansed of any dross. (Isaiah 1:25).

    • Is Jesus Christ not only your Savior but also your Lord and Master to whom you strive for complete obedience? (Deuteronomy 28:1-2, Luke 11:28, John 14:15)
    • Does your heart harden when you fall into sin, or does your heart break into pieces? You ought to despise, lament, and seek earnestly to mortify all sin. (Psalm 97:10, Romans 12:9, Hebrews 3:7-8)
    • Do you repent because you are ashamed of your sin, or do you repent, stricken with grief, under the conviction that sin is an abhorrent offense to our holy God? (Psalm 51:1-4, 2 Corinthians 7:10)

    Where we stand, on solid rock or sinking sand, can be indicative of whether or not we have undergone spiritual rebirth (John 3:3-9), having experienced regeneration and been genuinely converted to Christ. Per Jonathan Edwards, “The devil has not lost his religion. He believes and trembles, yet he remains a devil still. The question, therefore, is not whether you have religion, but whether you have regeneration.”

    False faith flourishes when self-examination fades.

  • On Saving Faith

    On Saving Faith

    Alistair Begg defines it this way: “Saving faith is essentially the entrustment of our lives to Jesus as Lord and Savior. It is not the belief that we have been saved, nor it it even the belief that Christ died for us, but it is the commitment of ourselves to Christ as unsaved, lost, helpless, and undone in order that we may be saved.” Furthermore, dying to self is a necessary component of saving faith.

    David Brainerd, an altogether selfless American missionary to 18th century American Indians, wrote this in his diary just a few months before his death at the tender, young age of 29: “Especially, I discoursed repeatedly on the nature and necessity of that humiliation, self-emptiness, or full conviction of a person’s being utterly undone in himself, which is necessary in order to a saving faith, and the extreme difficulty of being brought to this; and the great danger there is of persons taking up with some self-righteous appearances of it. The danger of this I especially dwelt upon, being persuaded that multitudes perish in this hidden way; and because so little is said from most pulpits to discover any danger here; so that persons being never effectually brought to die in themselves are never truly united to Christ, and so perish (copied from The Life and Diary of David Brainerd by Philip E. Howard, Jr.).

    In Jesus’ own words, ” … Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it” (Mark 8:34-35). This not conjecture; this is absolute truth.

  • By Their Fruits

    By Their Fruits

    In Matthew’s gospel, chapter 7, Jesus makes very clear that false prophets and false Christians will be recognizable. “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20).

    What fruits? Well, the Apostle Paul makes this abundantly evident in his epistle to the Galatians. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23). In the verses preceding these, he warns us of works that are of the flesh thus are not, therefore, fruits of the Spirit — “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: … ” (Galatians 5:19-21).

    In John’s Gospel, the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 13:23, John 19:26), records Jesus’s words as, “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned” (John 15:6). According to Oxford, abide means accept or act in accordance with (a rule, decision, or recommendation). The commentary in The Reformation Study Bible on this verse states, “Those that do not remain (i.e. abide in Christ) show that they never had a saving relationship with Christ, although they may have been members of the visible church for a time.”

    The remainder of Galatians 5:21 (not typed above) emphasizes, ” … Of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (emphasis mine). This is not just alarming but extremely serious and incredibly frightening and calls for frequent, strict self-examination that we who profess to be in Christ remain in abidance of Christ.

    Are you abiding in Christ, and if not, why not?

  • In the Word

    In the Word

    “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).

    No relationship any of us has is near as vital as our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, ” … the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). A relationship with Jesus is life altering, life giving and life sustaining and must be the first priority in those who profess to be faithful followers of our Lord and Savior.

    As with all relationships, one’s relationship with Christ must be fostered in order to grow. It is imperative that we visit, read, and meditate upon His word daily. Proverbs 3:5-6 state, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” This direction is provided through His word, the Bible, so if one is not in the Word regularly, he or she will not receive the guidance so graciously given.

    A rather corny but somewhat apropos acronym for BIBLE is Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. This can apply to some portions of the Word, but the Apostle Paul’s detailed description of the basis of holy scripture is much more captivating and true, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

    If you are not in God’s Word daily, why not?

  • Sinful Thoughts

    Sinful Thoughts

    In Romans 3:23, the Apostle Paul makes it clear that all of us, believers and unbelievers alike, are sinful. Admittedly, I sometimes dare think that I have conquered my worst sins, the ones I consider the real heavy hitters such as alcohol addiction, fornication and the like. In those times, I quickly jolt back to reality and remind myself to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Spiritual warfare is real, and Satan knows his time is short.

    My sinful ideations are intrusive and most often quite disturbing, and they seem to be ramping up of late. I recall something that happened years ago before my regeneration or rebirth. I was impatiently enduring a church service when suddenly a great urge came upon me to scream out, “AM I THE ONLY ONE HERE WHO WANTS A DRINK RIGHT NOW?!” Ugh … but to be expected from one living an incredibly sinful existence.

    What I did not expect are the recent thoughts that have been creeping up in me, a now saved but God-fearing sinner. In all honesty, the thoughts are jarring, some quite vile, and I think, “Where in the flippity-flop did those thoughts come from?! I must not indulge them any longer!” I mentioned this in a text to a sister in Christ, and she replied, “That is the sanctification process and Satan wants to stop that. That’s why we must always be on our guard.” Awareness of all of Satan’s devices, including employing sinful thoughts, is key in defeating him and remaining in God’s good graces.

    Within this lengthy sermon by Charles H. Spurgeon, I found quite a jewel:

    “Beware, then, of all thoughts of sin. If you show a thief all the locks, and bolts, and bars in your house—and tell him how the cellar window could be opened, or the backdoor lock be made to give way—do not be surprised if one of these nights you should find all your goods stolen. If you do this and introduce these evil things into your habitation, you cannot wonder at the consequence, however startled your friends may be at the detection.“

    Do not entertain sinful thoughts just as you would not entertain a thief!!!

  • What is Faith?

    What is Faith?

    Those of us familiar with the Word of God know that the Bible answers this question quite succinctly in the Book of Hebrews, where the brilliant yet unknown author states, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). When I was blind to the Bible and had not the least interest in reading it, a friend who happened to be a pastor described an example of faith to me: When you are driving up a hill and cannot see the road on the other side of the top, faith is confidently continuing up and over the hill, trusting wholeheartedly that the road does, indeed, continue on.

    Now that’s a pretty concrete (or asphalt) description of faith, but how does one apply that to faith in our almighty God? It’s important to note that faith is a gift from Him. The Apostle Paul explains, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Faith is a bit like exercise — the more you exercise your body, the stronger your body becomes, and the stronger your body becomes, the more exercise you can endure. Likewise, the more you trust God and embrace His gift by letting go of worry and exhibiting faith in small matters, the more you will abandon hopelessness and cling to faith in larger matters. Faith builds upon itself and strengthens as we endure trials.

    Consistent prayer is essential to building faith. Answered prayer instills confidence in the Lord and inspires us to pray in all things, big and small. Lose your keys?! Don’t get frustrated but take a moment to stop and ask God to help you find them. Drive into a ditch?! Don’t panic but ask Him for guidance on what to do next and perhaps ask for some divine assistance, which may come in the way of a passerby. Family member severely ill?! Again, pray. In many cases it might be best to ask our Lord what He wants you to learn from the suffering of others as well as your reaction to it. Most importantly, believe your prayers will be answered.

    It is too easy to doubt. Even the Apostle Thomas (aka Doubting Thomas), who witnessed many miracles performed by our Savior, doubted the resurrection of Jesus and pronounced, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:24-28).

    Praise God, my faith in Him continues to build daily. He has rewarded me greatly time and time again for my faith. I don’t expect you to trust my experiences, but I do pray that you will trust the One who knows all things from beginning to end (Isaiah 46:9-10). And remember what Jesus told the dubious one after seeing and touching the resurrected Lord, calling Him his Lord and his God, “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed (John 20:29).

    Hebrews 11:6 states: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Be a blessed believer, overflowing with faith; the road does continue on!!! Walk by faith, not by sight.

  • Walking by Faith

    Walking by Faith

    I’ve always believed in a divine creator of the universe, but I certainly did not live like it until my regeneration and conversion to Christ. It was never lost on me that everything, good or bad, seemed to happen for a reason. I would often try to comfort myself with that thought with the caveat, in mild frustration, that “I may never learn the reason(s).”

    I’ve since learned about God’s providence and strongly rely on His powerful promise: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).” Granted, I do sometimes cry out, “Why, God?!” with my heart thumping in anguish. I then take a few deep breaths and bring back to mind that nothing happens by accident and that, by design, God is carrying out His sovereign plan. I don’t need to know His reasons; the verses of Proverbs 3:5-6 come to mind. It calms my heart knowing that with each passing occasion, whether trial or triumph, my faith, confidence, and trust in our Lord grow exponentially. As a result, walking by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7) comes quite naturally to me and never fails to fill me with immense joy.

    To some folks, walking solely by faith and not in dependence of what he or she believes is his or her good sense, might seem daunting, perhaps even terrifying. The Lord took care of me before my conversion; how much more does He now that I have determined to live purposefully according to His will? Much more, I assure you. I do things by His will that causes others, believers and unbelievers alike, to question my sanity. Take this post, for example. It all comes down to a deep faith in and an unwavering obedience to our Lord and Savior.

  • This Truth Hurts

    This Truth Hurts

    The Bible is chock full of wonderful truths, many of which bring genuine Christians joy beyond imagination. There is, however, a very difficult truth, especially for those who are convinced they are in Christ and on their way to Heaven but, in fact, are not. In John 3:3 Jesus said to the Pharisee Nicodemus, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

    Despite what many false teachers will have you believe, one is not saved by reciting a prayer or by going up to the front of the church during an alter call, or by baptism, or even by having been raised in Christian household, attending church faithfully every week. You are incredibly and woefully deceived if you believe you are going to Heaven but have not undergone a palpable metamorphosis as does the caterpillar when it turns into a beautiful butterfly, although the Christian’s change is spiritual, not physical. As the Lord described to prophet Ezekiel, “A new heart will I also give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).

    Charles Haddon Spurgeon in The Triumph of Faith in a Believer’s Life wrote, “To be born again is to undergo a change so mysterious that human words cannot speak of it. As we cannot describe our first birth, so it is impossible for us to describe the second (John 3:8). But while it is so mysterious, it is a change that is known and felt.

    Take heed of the frightening truth that R.C. Sproul warns of in the video above and seriously consider what Jesus said and what I have written. Have you truly been born again?

  • Our Invisible God

    Our Invisible God

    Just because we cannot see God does not mean He is not present. He is, in spirit, all around us. For a year now, I’ve walked past this abandoned dwelling daily and never noticed it til recently. I didn’t see it, but it existed. This is not exactly a perfect analogy, but it’s what gave me the idea for this post so I’m running with it.

    Also, my daily reading today included Deuteronomy 5:22-33. In the commentary of The Reformation Study Bible, editor R.C. Sproul brought to light Exodus 20:18-19, where the Israelites heard and saw several theophanies — visible and audible manifestations of God — which, he commented, frightened them such that they “asked that God speak no more to them directly but to address them only through Moses,” as mediator.

    We later learn in Exodus 33:18, after Moses begged God to see His glory, that God warned him, ” … you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” (Exodus 33:20) We need a mediator as God provided in Moses. Even before Moses’ time, Job longed for a mediator between him and God by lamenting, “There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both. Let him take his rod away from me, and let not dread of him terrify me.” (Job 9:33-34)

    The book of Job is is just one of many examples in the Old Testament that points to the ultimate mediator between God and us, our Lord Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul pointed back to Jesus, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.” (Colossians 1:15-16)

    Imagine being there when Jesus walked the earth. Wow. He is no longer visible to the human eye, just as the dwelling in the photo above is not visible in the summertime, but He still exists. He’s sitting at the right hand of God pleading our cases as our mediator. Praise God!