True Treasure

Matthew 5 and 6 records Jesus’ “sermon on the mount.” The theme of the sermon on the mount is treasure not material treasures upon earth but instead treasure spiritual treasures in heaven. Treasures on this earth will corrode and pass away but the eternal spiritual treasures in heaven will last into eternity. The question is, What do you value most? Earthly wisdom says to hoard earthly treasures because they have a short shelf life. Everything we own wears out and loses its value. However, God commands us to treasure treasures in heaven that will last forever. According to Corinthians, the things that are seen are temporal but the unseen things of the spirit are eternal. Therefore treasure treasures in heaven for where your treasure is there will your heart be also. Men will follow their hearts into eternity. The treasures of this earth are dust to dust and ashes to ashes. That which is of this earth will be shaken and burned. However treasuring treasures of the spirit of life in Christ in us will last forever.

The greatest treasure is acquired by the power of prayer. Prayer is where the Christian life is lived. Ravenhill said we should learn to pray in “concentration camps.” For thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee. It’s far easier to rest without an answer until we learn to believe God according to the power of prayer. Prayer is to believe God for the scriptures say, “whatsoever you ask in prayer, believing you shall receive.”

Worldly wisdom teaches us to believe and act on things of the world that we don’t understand. We routinely use our electronic devices to send and receive information without understanding the intricacies of e mail and data communications. Likewise, God doesn’t ask us to understand how prayer works, he simply requires that we act on prayer by believing action according to his Word.

Acts 6:24 says “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” You can’t serve both the material things of this world and the spiritual things of life in Christ. Ye are servants to whom you obey.

The beatitudes beginning in Matthew 5:3 give the requirements for those blessed of God. These blessed attitudes are cultivated by maintaining communication with God in prayer. Prayer connects our heart with God’s heart. Prayer is aligning our heart with our Father’s heart. Prayer is “delighting ourselves in the Lord.” When our delight is His delight, then he will give us the desires of our heart.

James says that ye have not when you pray because you ask amiss, that you might consume it upon your lust. Lust means “over desire.” Lust is anything that you treasure above God. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Prayer is communication with our Father. Communication is co-Union when we unify his purpose with our purpose, his value with our value, and his heart with our heart. Therefore pray in secret so that God can hear your heart’s desire for a relationship in proximity with him. “Perfect prayer” is the manifestation of the spirit of Christ in us. For the spirit beareth witness with our spirit that we are sons of God. For in our flesh we know not what we should pray for as we ought. But the spirt makes intercession for us with groanings that we cannot express in the language of our own human frailty.

Jesus didn’t teach his disciples how to preach. He taught them how to pray. The “Lord’s Prayer” is part of Jesus’ “sermon on the mount” in Matthew 6:9-13. Most people think that prayer is asking God to bless us. However the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples emphasizes that we should bless God: “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed (holy, sanctified, set apart for your purpose) be thy name.” The first of the Ten Commandments literally says, “thou shalt have no other gods between your face and my face.” Therefore, treasure treasures in heaven. Our true treasure is our Heavenly Father himself.

From the lyrics of “Be Thou my Vision,” may our prayer be:

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art Thou my best Thought, by day or by night Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord Thou my great Father, I Thy true son Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise Thou mine Inheritance, now and always Thou and Thou only, first in my heart High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

Amen.

May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Give And It Shall Be Given

Matthew 6:19 is about treasures. The common translation says don’t lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, but instead lay up for your selves treasures in heaven. In the Greek text, this verse reads, treasure not treasures upon earth but instead treasure treasures in heaven. The word treasure is used both as a verb and a noun. What is it that you value most? For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. To determine where a man keeps his treasures, look at his calendar and his checkbook. These are records of our time and money…. two of the most precious resources that God has entrusted to our stewardship. Jesus said, you’ll know my disciples by their fruit. If you were accused of being a follower of Christ, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

Some Christians ask, “how little can I do and have people still think I’m a Christian? How much can I get away with and still survive?” However, it’s not about what we can get away with, but rather how we can serve our Lord Jesus Christ from a heart of love. God has called us to his mission. When we accept his calling our co-mission is to lovingly serve our Lord Jesus Christ and those to whom he has called us to minister. What is it that you value? The things of this earth will take wings and fly away. The worth of one soul won for Christ is more valuable than all the material treasures of this world. Jesus said, “what shall it profit a man if ye gains the whole world but loses his soul?”

There’s a difference between believing in God and trusting in God. The scripture says, even the demons believe and tremble. When we come to the end of ourselves, when we can no longer trust in the things of this world, we have nothing to trust in except God himself. As Mother Theresa said, “God works best with nothing.” As Paul said, Thy strength is made perfect in my weakness…thy grace is sufficient for me.

Our next paycheck can be either that which we value upon earth or it can be an investment into eternity for the kingdom of Heaven. The gospels say, give and it shall be given unto you…pressed down shaken together and running over shall men give unto your blossom. For with the same measure that you give it shall be measured unto you again. According to Malachi, bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse and prove ye now herewith saith the Lord of hosts and see if I shall not pour you out a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. The blessings may not be in the material realm, for the things of this world are here today and gone tomorrow. The blessing is in the pure act of giving… For a cheerful giver loves God. That we may give our lives to the praise of the glory of His grace who has made us acceptable in the beloved.

May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

I Shall Not Be Moved

The Apostle Paul wrote in Acts 20:24 “I shall not be moved.” According to Hebrews 12, the things of this world which can be shaken will be shaken. That which is shaken loose will be burned, for our God is a consuming fire. However the things of heaven, the things of the spirit of God in Christ in us shall not be moved…they shall last into eternity.

Acts 20:18-24 is Paul’s farewell address to his beloved fellow believers in Ephesus: “And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 19. Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
20. And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, 21. Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
23. Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
24. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

Verse 24 in the Spanish translation says, “These things are of no value to me.” There is no moving value of the things of this earth. I shall not be moved from the course my Father has set before me. This is heart of the man of God…to value the things of the spirit of life in Christ. Our hearts are not tethered to the things of this world. Rather, our hearts are tethered to heaven. What is it that you treasure? What do you value most? Treasure not treasures upon earth but rather treasure treasures in heaven.

Death is the veil between life on this earth and God according to Isaiah. When Christ returns, he will tear down the veil of death. What a day of rejoicing that will be… When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory!

Jesus, prior to his ascension said to his disciples, “you shall be baptized with Holy Spirit and with fire not many days hence.” For our God is a consuming fire. The things of this world will be burned up and come to naught. The things of this earth are ashes to ashes and dust to dust. However, that which is of the spirit of God in Christ in us is eternal.

Jesus said, Take heed and beware of covetousness for a man’s life consists not in the abundance of things which he possesses. According to Proverbs, everything that is of this world is vanity. Material things are a vapor lasting but for a moment.

The question is, do we value the things of the spirit of life in Christ above the things of this world? Through prayer, God calls us to dedicate the things of this earth to him…the things which God has entrusted to our keeping.

As Christians we can’t “make a deal with God.” The question for some Christians is, “how little can I do, what can I get away with and still be considered a Christian?” However, the prayer of a man of God is “Lord help me give my all to your honor and glory.” No one can out-give God. He is my sufficiency…he is our portion and our all in all. God is a God of abundance but the abundance of a man’s life consists not in the abundance of things which he possesses. According to Malachi, God said, “Bring ye all the tithes and offerings into the storehouse and prove me now herewith saith the Lord of hosts and see if I will not pour ye out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” The blessings go far beyond material things. Therefore treasure not treasures upon earth. They are here today and gone tomorrow. They shall take wings and fly away. Rather, treasuring treasures in heaven is an investment in eternity.

What is of lasting value? The things of earth shall grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. As Paul said, “I shall not be moved…. For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that (Holy Spirit) which he’s committed unto me against that day of righteous judgement.”

May we forever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Treasure Hunt

As Christians, we often ask ourselves, “What’s going on in our world?” The answer is in where the world places its treasures. What is it that you value most? What is the basis of your value system? What’s your definition of success? Popular preachers preach about the “prosperity gospel” and material blessings of the “more abundant life.” However, the Apostle Paul, when he was in the midst of trials and tribulations said, “none of these things move me.” After being shipwrecked and beaten on the island of Malta, he said “we had a prosperous journey.” This is the essence of the true “prosperity gospel.” The prosperity is that “thy strength is made perfect in my weakness, thy grace is sufficient for me.” According to Mark 8:36, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

According to Matthew 6:19-21, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Verse 19 has an unusual construction in the Greek text. The word “treasure” is used both as a verb and a noun. It literally reads, “Treasure not treasures upon earth…instead, treasure treasures in heaven…for where your treasure is there will your heart be also.

What is it that you value? Where is your heart? Will your heart be destroyed with the things of earth that you love, or will your value system treasure treasures in heaven? Treasures in heaven have an eternal weight of glory.

2 Corinthians 4:7 says, “But we have this treasure (the spirit of God in Christ in us) in earthen vessels (our natural body and soul nature,) that the excellency of the power (of the Holy Spirit) may be of God and not of us.”

The power of the spirit reconciles us back to God so that we can have the peace of God which passes worldly understanding. The power of the spirit reminds us that in my flesh dwelleth no good thing….but that there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit.

The adversary has turned the hearts and minds of our nation away from the truth of the Word of God. Americans values different things today than in years gone by, when America identified itself as a Christian nation… as one nation under God. Today, so-called Christianity has been watered down with the doctrines of this world. According to Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 says, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Only two things from this earthly life will last: our eternal spirit of life in Christ and the lives of those who have been born again of God’s holy spirit by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. The material things of this world will come to naught. They are here today and gone tomorrow…they will take wings and fly away.

Hebrews 12:25 and following says, “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
26. Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear (awe, respect, reverence and love.) 29. For our God is a consuming fire.”

The treasures of this world are the things that can be shaken. That which is shaken loose shall be burned. That which cannot be shaken are treasures in heaven.

Men of this world want to see the mighty works of God, but they don’t understand the holiness of God. Holiness means to be set apart for the purpose that God intended. Those who are ready to turn from the treasures of earth and instead treasure treasures in heaven, are those whom God will save according to the truth of His word of salvation.

It’s not the wrath of God that calls men to salvation. Rather, the goodness and love of God woos men to turn away from the things of this world and unto the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one who loved me and gave himself for me. The mercy, grace and love of God calls men to repentance. This is the good news of the gospel of grace that God has committed to us. As ambassadors for Christ, we pray you in Christ’s stead be ye reconciled to God. This is our mission and our co-mission. In other words, Give ’em heaven!

May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace, Your brother in Christ, Michael

Treasure the Right Treasures

Brent Bailey has been preparing for a mission trip to Nepal. He trained to do a concise presentation of the gospel message of salvation to the people of Nepal. Brent has been called to this mission and to this message which has been changing lives all over the world. The outline of this presentation is in an App called Life on Mission.

God originally created the world perfectly. He created the Angels as part of his perfect creation. One of his angels rose up with pride. Pride caused the angel Lucifer to attempt to usurp the throne of God. Lucifer fell and took one third of the Angels with him when he lifted himself with pride.

Lucifer was cast to earth as the Devil, the adversary of the one true God. The devil, the deceiver, approached Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and tempted them to disobey God’s only commandment. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command by eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they died spiritually that day. Man has been separated from God ever since. Since the fall of man, the sin nature that we inherited from Adam has separated mankind from the spiritual nature of God.

However, God had a plan to redeem mankind and restore a spiritual connection. The plan was through his son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. When we confess Jesus as Lord and believe that God has raised him from the dead, we shall be saved, redeemed and made righteous. Salvation means that we have been born again of God’s spirt. When we were born the first time, we inherited Adam’s fallen nature of body and soul. When we were born again of God’s spirit, we inherited God’s spiritual nature of the Holy Spirit.

We who have been born again now have two natures: the nature of the flesh, the natural man of body and soul that we inherited from Adam, and the nature of the Holy Spirit of life in Christ.

The devil will indoctrinate the “natural” man of body and soul: those who are without God and without hope. They do not have the spirit of life in Christ and are blind to the truth in a world of spiritual darkness. In our broken world, lying is encouraged if the outcome is advantageous. The natural man says, “what’s in it for me?” Rebellion is required for worldly acceptance. Doctrines of this world have also infiltrated the church. For example, what the word of God says is “sexual sin” is now accepted in many church congregations. These biblical sins are “welcomed and affirmed” not only for the congregation but also for the pastors. Sin is inevitable when condoned by those who are supposed to be living a holy life. When the church is no longer a beacon of light, Sin becomes commonplace as the cultural norm for acceptable behavior. In America, churches used to stand against sin and those who practiced sin were considered shameful. However sin is now is welcomed, affirmed, and openly celebrated by our culture.

How do you mend the brokenness of our culture? As Christians and Men of God, the question is, “What do you value most?” According to Matthew 6:19-21, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Verse 19 has a unique construction in the Greek language. The word “treasure” is used both as a verb and a noun. This verse says, “treasure not for yourselves treasures upon the earth.” Treasure signifies value. People and cultures use that which they consider valuable to fix that which is broken. However, earthly valuables cannot repair a world that is spiritually broken. Earthly treasures are only temporary…they will come to naught… they will take wings and fly away. That which is of earthly value cannot reconcile our hearts to the true treasures. True and lasting treasure is treasure in heaven. According to verses 19 and 20, Therefore, treasure treasures in heaven for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Either you treasure that which is of the world or that which is in heaven. You cannot treasure both. You cannot serve two masters.

2 Corinthians 4:7 says, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of ourselves.” The treasure is the Holy Spirit of life in Christ.

According to verses 16-18: “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man (our earthen vessels) perish, yet the inward man (the Holy Spirit of Christ in us) is renewed day by day.
17. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Valuing the things of the earth results in the wisdom of the world. According to James, the wisdom of this world is earthly, sensual, and devilish. However, when we treasure treasures in heaven, the wisdom that is from above is first peaceable, easy to be in treated, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

Hebrews 12:25 says, “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:”
“Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.”
“And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
For our God is a consuming fire.”

What is it that you value most? That which can be shaken will be shaken. That which is shaken loose will be burned. That which cannot be shaken shall remain. Therefore let us treasure treasures in heaven where there is no corruption… where Christ sitteth on the right hand of the throne of God.

May we ever live to the praise of the glory of his grace, Your brother in Christ, Michael

When Human “Rights” = Godly Wrongs

Critics of the church say that it’s the only army that shoots its wounded. We’re here to refute that charge. Jesus Christ is the one who reconciles. To reconcile with our brothers and sisters in the Lord, we must meet each other at the foot of the cross. For there is one God and one mediator between man and God the man Christ Jesus. We have been given the gift of salvation by grace.

In America, we value our “inalienable rights.” Americans esteem the “pursuit of happiness and the self-made man.” The world’s man-code says, “it’s all about me.” However, the scripture says that pride goeth before a fall. Jesus said, that unless you “hate” your mother and father and your brother and sister you cannot follow me. Jesus said, love not the things of this world. The first of the Ten Commandments says, Thou shalt have no other gods between your face and God’s face.

We inherited our selfish prideful nature from Adam. The sin nature says “what’s in it for me.” To approach the throne of grace, we must forsake our pride. We must give up our self and acknowledge that “in my flesh dwelleth no good thing.” For if we walk in the light as he is in the light, the blood of Christ will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Abiding with Christ in the holy spirit produces the fruit of the spirit.

According to 2 Timothy 2:22-26, we’re reminded about the divisions, factions, and contentions of this world. When the culture says that selfishness is a virtue, there is no reconciliation. The devil’s tactic is to divide and conquer. Political factions as well as marriages are divided by “irreconcilable differences.” Nations rise up against nations and there will be wars and rumors of wars. These are signs of the last days when the devil runs rampant and controls the pride of men.

A disciple is a disciplined follower of the Lord Jesus Christ who walks according to the spirit of life in Christ. To oppose the devil’s doctrines of this world world, 2 Timothy 2:22-26 says: “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”

The challenge is to live according to the standards that God gave us in Christ. This is a gentle and a loving power.

Pete recalls when Suzan visited Pete before they were engaged. She told him about her new love Armando. Pete’s reaction wasn’t what she expected. She expected Pete to erupt in a jealous rage. However Pete had changed his heart while she was abroad in Mexico. He had prayed, “Lord, I know I’m not the man that you called me to be. God, please make me that man.” Pete’s response to Suzan was, “I’ll pray for you.” Suzan was taken aback by Pete’s response. She knew that she could love the new man that he had become. After four days she decided, “I’d better marry him before he changes his mind.”

The Lord’s bond servant must not be quarrelsome but gentle to all men, apt to teach and patient. Jesus had said bless them that persecute you, go the second mile, and turn the other cheek. Pursue the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Blessed are they when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, for great is your reward in heaven.

The devil will appeal to our pride. He will provoke our so-called righteous indignation when we believe our “rights” are violated. However human rights are often godly wrongs. The antidote to pride is the love of God. Love covers a multitude of sins.

Couples must love each other according to the love of God when the devil attempts to separate their hearts. God calls his men to instruct with meekness those who oppose themselves. Meekness acknowledges that God is in control, not me. Repentance means to turn from our selfish pride and to acknowledge the truth of the Word of God. The knowledge of the word will recover them from the snare of the devil.

The devil will tempt us to look at others with judgement and condemnation. However, our calling is to love with the love of God. The love of God thinks no evil. It keeps no record of wrongs done. The love of God bears all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things and endureth all things. Love never fails.

Jesus himself, humbled himself under the mighty hand of God. He took upon himself the form of a servant and became obedient unto death upon the cross. He for the joy that was set before him endured the cross and is set upon the right hand of the throne of God…. That we may know him and the fellowship of his suffering… For I was crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life that I now live I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

We may not understand the trials of life, but we know that he’s in control and not me. For his thoughts are higher than our thoughts and his ways than our ways. As the apostle Paul said, “thy strength is made perfect in my weakness, thy grace is sufficient for me.” Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more. God works all things for good…he’s a good, good father.

May we live our lives to the praise of the glory of His grace, Your brother in Christ, Michael

Targeting Pride

The world’s man-code is rooted in pride. Egotism says that individual self interest is the right motive for every action. However according to Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” What are the characteristics of a prideful heart? One indication is that when there’s an opportunity to help others, a prideful man will ask himself, “what’s in it for me?” Egotism says, “It’s all about me.” Pride will not allow confession of sin. If the gospel message starts with acknowledging that I’m a sinner in need of a savior, a narcissist thinks, “that doesn’t apply to me.” A selfish person has a stubborn insistence on having his own way. The question is, “would you rather be right than loving?” Pride produces a heart motivated by fear that my rights will be violated. Oswald Chambers said, “any fool can claim his rights and any demon will make sure he gets them.”

Pride rationalizes behavior without sorrow for committing wrong. Pride and fear produces a mentality that says, “I must be in control.” When you’re task-control oriented, you lose your ability to live to serve others from a heart of love.

How do you prioritize loving and serving? If you say that you love your Lord Jesus Christ and don’t love your wife or your brother in Christ, how can you say that you love Christ? 2 Timothy 2:22 says, “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity (the love of God), peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

Youthful lusts say, “it’s all about me. I want what I want and I want it now.” The devil will divide and conquer. The devil uses factions and differences to turn God’s people against themselves. Instead of youthful lusts follow after righteousness. The solution for overcoming pride is in the next three verses:
23. “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
24. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26. And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”

According to verse 23, Refuse foolish and ignorant speculations. In an argument someone is upset, but neither party ever has all the facts. Pride blinds us from seeing the other side of the issue. The devil is the accuser and the deceiver. In the midst of a dispute, the devil will have his way us if we consider “foolish and unlearned questions.”

If you believe the other person’s accusations, you’ll be acutely sensitive and offended. However, the scripture says to refuse ignorant and foolish speculations. Jesus would not give himself to his accusers because he “knew what was in the heart of man.”

Sometimes our prayer should be, “God, please send someone into my life to rebuke me.” According to Hebrews 12:5-6, “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” Like a loving Father, God will correct us when we stray. To correct is to restore to an upright position.

Our Heavenly Father knows that we are but dust. He knows that we will not always live up to the vows that we have taken. God says, “my strength is made perfect in thy weakness, my grace is sufficient for thee.” The love of God is patient when wronged. Our father is a God of grace and mercy. The way to heaven is paved with grace. If you don’t know the grace of God, then you can’t give grace to others.

Some people make others happy when they come to see them. Some people make others happy when they leave. What kind of person are you? Proverbs 3 says, “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.”

Reconciliation means that I must confess my sin. This will build and reconcile the relationship. 1 John 1:9 says, “if we confess our sin, he is faithful and just forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The context of this verse says, “If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we will have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse us from all sin.”

Those in our sphere of influence will escape the snare of the devil when we instruct in meekness those who oppose themselves. It’s not the wrath of God that calls them to repentance but rather the loving kindness, grace, and mercy of our loving Heavenly Father.

May we ever live to the praise of the glory of his grace, Your brother in Christ, Michael