Gossip

2 Do not be quick with your mouth,

    do not be hasty in your heart

    to utter anything before God.

God is in heaven

    and you are on earth,

    so let your words be few.

3 A dream comes when there are many cares,

    and many words mark the speech of a fool.  Ecclesiastes 5

I've made a point to really study one chapter a week, and I read the chapter every day and every day it seems that something else pops up for me to write about.  When I first read those two verses, I thought, "Don't make a vow to God that you can't keep." Which falls in line with the later verses.  Then I think later in the week, "Ah, it's a think before you speak thing.  Don't speak in haste to your fellow man and say something you may regret."  Just yesterday, I attended the first session of a new Bible study at my church.  We were talking about other scripture and the topic of gossip came up and a few people said something I had never considered before, which also relates to the verses above.

I hear the word gossip (and probably most of you as well) and think of talking about friends and family behind their backs in a negative manner.  Yes, I'm guilty of this, but I'm really working harder to make a point to not do this.  What I had never thought of, was that a lot of us are guilty of gossiping about people we don't know personally.  People who live their lives publicly and are seen sometimes as "larger than life."  Think of our government, our leaders, our celebrities.  

Example A: Hey! Did you hear about Justin Bieber getting a DUI?  It's crazy what he's doing in his life!  He's on such a downward spiral, I can't believe he's still got people that like him.

Example B: Hey! Did you hear about <friend, coworker, family member> getting a DUI? It's crazy what they're doing in their life! They're on such a downward spiral, I can't believe there are still people that like them.

Do you see a difference here?  I had never thought about it, but there isn't any difference.  It's all gossip, and it's all uttered before God, because, well, everything is uttered before God!

If we hear about a friend in trouble, a lot of us will pray for that friend.  What about praying for those that you don't know personally?  We're called in the Bible to pray for those in government and leadership.  It doesn't say only to pray if you agree with what they're doing.  We should always be doing this.  Pray that they are being led by God, and that they are doing his will.  I challenge you this week to start paying attention to your gossip, whether it be to those you know personally or those that you know through the media.  Pay attention, and pray about it when you do that.

Giving and Receiving Comfort

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.  2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Yesterday near the end of the day, I was mentally spent.  I had given all I had to meetings and discussions, and with a couple of things still left on the plate, I had nothing left.  Then, someone sent an email that served as great encouragement to me.  It was enough to help me finish the day strong.  Funny thing is I had sent them an email earlier to encourage them.

This reminded me how we are to encourage each other as people in Christ for we are together much stronger building each other up than trying to climb up above each other.  God intended for us to comfort each other.  We often look to God for comfort, and that is sound thinking for He is always there for us.  However while God is there, His spirit that dwells within us serves as a catalyst for us to comfort others as well.  To go one step further, having a circle of friends in Christ will usually allow for you to comfort as well as be comforted in times where you might not even realize a need for it.  God is all knowing, and will at times send a friend or colleague to provide us with comfort even when they might not realize what is going on.

God’s comfort is a source of strength for all of His people.  While it is dangerous for us to choose comfort that does not lead to spiritual growth, it is good to receive it after we have as Paul said, “Fought the good fight.” (2 Timothy 4:7a).  Through providing comfort to others, it reassures both us and them of God’s love and care.  Who do you know is in need of comfort?  How can you be appreciative of those who comfort you?  My prayer is that we learn to both give and receive the comfort provided for us through Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Tues Devo - Make the dead happy?...

Colossians 3:1-4 “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” (NASB)

Hello,

As a believer in Christ you become aware of the battle that is going on. The enemy loves to try and distract us away from the battle. He does everything he can to get our attention on ourselves. If Satan can get us seeking after things for ourselves, temporary happiness, he knows that we will be busy for a while. You see, we cannot truly be happy by seeking things for ourselves – so Satan has us keep trying, knowing we will never succeed but keeping us from being spiritually effective.

How can we battle this? The answer is with truth. We must remember that we have died to ourselves as believers, and our true life if in Christ. We are living now for the future. This should deeply impact our decision process, and ultimately our choices we make in this life.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill

Are You Truly Redeemed? (Part 1 of 6)

Hello Friends!

As a Christian, have you ever wondered if you are truly redeemed – saved from your sins? That is, if your life has truly been transformed by Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit?

In this six part series of Biblical lessons we are going to consider 10 valid proofs from the book of 1 John so that we may examine our own personal faith and evaluate whether or not that we have eternal life based on the Word of God. It is my hope that these “10 tests” will give you the confident assurance that you do indeed know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and are committed to follow Him wholeheartedly all the days of your life…

Are You Truly Redeemed? (Part 1 of 6)

As Christians walk through life, there are many uncertainties in which we face. However, one thing is for certain – we can absolutely know for sure that we have eternal life!

The apostle John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, revealed this glorious promise from his Epistle with these words:

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God – 1 John 5:13 ”

This verse parallels John's purpose for writing his Gospel:

These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name – John 20:31

Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, John wrote his Gospel so that people would believe and be saved. He wrote his first epistle so that those who believe would know they are saved.

If you truly are a Christian, you do not have to be uncertain as to where you will spend eternity. The Apostle John comes to the end of his letter and he essentially says, “Look, all the things I have written in this epistle, I have written to you who believe Jesus Christ is God, and I have written this letter that you might know for certain you have eternal life.”

The word know that is used here is not saying “I hope so.” It does not even mean a growing understanding of your salvation. Rather, it is a word which indicates an absolute guarantee that you can know for sure you have eternal life. There is no need for any doubt!

So then, how can one know for sure they have eternal life? By the valid tests John has given.

Sadly, by ignoring these certain and sure promises of God, over half of professing Christians today believe they can lose their salvation. They believe eternal life is only conditional, based on what they continue to do instead of what Jesus Christ has already done. They claim to believe in Jesus Christ but they do not believe what He promises. Jesus said:

I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, he has crossed over from death to life – John 5:24

Those who are depending on their own self-righteousness, performing good works or adhering to a religious system, can never be assured of salvation. They will never know if they have ever done enough. There is no true joy when people put their faith in what they do instead of what God has done in Jesus Christ!

When salvation depends completely on God, there is no possibility for failure! Whenever man is involved in attaining and preserving salvation there can be no assurance – only a false hope. 

True believers have assurance through God the Father. Jesus said:

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish... My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand – John 10:28-29

The life Jesus Christ gives is everlasting, not temporal or perishable. True believers also have assurance through God the Son. Jesus said:

This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day – John 6:39-40

 Born-again Christians also have assurance through God the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul declared:

You also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation; having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance – Ephesians 1:13-14

The words "everlasting" and "eternal” describe not only the life believers have in Jesus Christ, but also the punishment that awaits those who die without Jesus Christ.

At the very moment anyone understands and believes the Gospel, they are sealed by the Holy Spirit, who guarantees they will be co-heirs with Jesus Christ:

…and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together – Romans 8:17

Assurance is based on God's power and promises:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time – 1 Peter 1:3-5

The gift of eternal life is eternally secure because God's gifts are "irrevocable:"

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable – Romans 11:29

Eternal life can only be received as a gift of God's grace. Anyone who attempts to earn or merit this gift of their own abilities nullifies God's grace:

And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work – Romans 11:6

By self examination, the Apostle Paul also instructs us to test ourselves: “

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified – 2 Corinthians 13:5

Professing Christians who want to be certain of their salvation must believe the promises of the Gospel and repent of any teaching; religious experience or feeling that opposes the Word of God. Only then will they become certain of their eternal life in heaven...

Please join us next week as we continue to further investigate this promise of eternal assurance from the Word of God – Are You Truly Redeemed?

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love, mercy and grace!

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

Blessings!

Shane <><