The Beatitudes

The Beatitudes

If we look at the Sermon on the Mount thematically, we see that Jesus is concerned about relationships—man’s relationship with God, man’s relationship with his fellow, and man’s relationship with himself.  The material in the first part of the Sermon on the Mount, commonly known as the beatitudes, concerns the last of these categories: man’s relationship with himself.  It is presented at the beginning of the sermon to emphasize the point that one cannot begin to deal with the other relationships until one has dealt with the inward man.

The word “beatitude” comes to us from Latin and means “blessed.”  It correlates with the Greek word “markarios” used at the beginning of each beatitude.  Sometimes the word is translated “happy,” but this is not the “happy” that is used to describe the common feeling of momentary delight upon eating an ice cream or one’s favorite snack.  Rather, the word refers to a deeper, abiding joy that one experiences as a result of making these attitudes one’s own.

The beatitudes take a special form.  A blessing is pronounced; the attitude is described; and a promised result follows.  The repetition of this form throughout the beatitudes emphasizes the need for their ongoing practice in the life of the spiritual person.  The beatitudes are not a “rinse once or twice if desired” solution, but require constant attention in application and maintenance.  At any given moment, our orientation towards others should reflect these inward ideals.

The beatitudes are somewhat paradoxical; they seem contradictory at first glance.  Nevertheless, as one contemplates the meaning of the statement, one realizes that such attitudes foster within the inward man a spirituality that cannot be contradicted.  The result that one might expect to occur looking at the beatitudes from a physical/naturalistic perspective does not follow because one is not cultivating one’s physical/natural self, but one’s spiritual person.  Consider the following chart that illustrates this thought.

Attitude Physical Expectation Spiritual Result
Poor in Spirit Poor, Without Possessions Possessors of the Kingdom of Heaven
Mourn Sadness, Depression Comfort
Meek Low, Humiliated, Degraded Heirs of the Earth
Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness Empty, Meaninglessness Filled
Merciful Taken Advantage of, Used, No Justice Obtain Mercy
Pure in Heart Unfulfilled, Not Authentic, No Physical Satisfaction See God
Peacemakers Lose in Battle, Will not Prevail Called the Children of God
Persecuted for Righteousness Sake Suffer Pain, Personal and Financial Loss, Die Possessors of the Kingdom of Heaven

Cultivating these inward attitudes best facilitates one’s relationship with God, and one’s fellow man, both of whom are ultimately spiritual beings.  They enable us, ultimately, to practice the golden rule consistently (Matthew 7:12).  It is in this final state, when one’s relationships with one’s fellow have been cultivated by spiritual truths, that one may find the joy the beatitudes promise to those seeking spirituality in their lives (Philippians 4:4).

This issue of the Christian Worker explores these beatitudes.  It is our hope that those who study it will come out with a deeper desire to cultivate the spiritual self by focusing on and developing these attitudes within one’s heart.  The heart of man is where the battle for truth lies; what we believe today will affect the actions we take tomorrow (Mark 7:21).  May we so cultivate our hearts so as to live lives that obtain beautiful consequences.

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Dating the Book of Revelation

Dating the Book of Revelation

There is considerable disagreement among students of Revelation as to when it was written.  This study is being researched and written in an effort to try and bring to light the evidence which is available to help in the dating of this book.

It is this Bible Student’s belief that Revelation was written by John after the destruction of Jerusalem, during the reign of Emperor Vespasian and that it refers chiefly to the great Roman persecution of the church which occurred after the destruction of Jerusalem.

Many well meaning people try to approach this subject with preconceived ideas and then attempt to force the visions of Revelation to fit within that mold.  For instance, there is the belief that John’s visions are pointing to the destruction of Jerusalem and the associated events leading up to that instead of the intense Christian persecution of the Roman Empire and her subsequent destruction.  In part, this teaching arises from the belief that all direct workings of the Holy Spirit ceased at the destruction of Jerusalem.  Consequently, all of the writings we have which comprise our New Testament would have to have been written prior to this date.  Well intentioned people then set out to force Revelation into a time frame which is not in conflict with their belief that all divine inspiration ceased with the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.

First we’ll deal conclusively with the belief that all divine inspiration ended in 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem.  To answer this we can look to the seventy weeks prophecy of Daniel as recorded in chapter 9, verses 25-27.  In particular verse 27 which reads, “Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering“. (NKJV) The covenant in Daniel’s vision here can be nothing but the new covenant.  The confirmation of that covenant was the role which the Holy Spirit of God engaged in during the infancy of the church (Mark 16:20, Romans 15:19).  The ending of sacrifice and offering cannot be anything but the ending of the old Levitical system of animal sacrifice which took place only at the temple in Jerusalem.  The seventieth “week” of Daniel’s vision represents the entire confirmation period of the new covenant which started on Pentecost and ended when the whole new covenant had been confirmed or authenticated by the Holy Spirit.  Notice carefully the text says that the “end to sacrifice and offering” occurred in the middle of the confirmation period.  This means the confirmation period must have extended beyond the ending of sacrifice in order to be true.  Inspiration specifically pointed out that the ending of this sacrifice happened in the middle of the confirmation period of the new covenant.  Thus we conclude that the workings of inspiration and miraculous signs and wonders of the Holy Spirit did not suddenly cease when Rome destroyed the temple in Jerusalem.

Next, we’ll examine the evidence which helps to determine whether the Revelation was written before or after 70 AD.

1.  John records Jesus addressing seven churches in Revelation 1 thru 3.  If Revelation were about the destruction of Jerusalem and was written prior to AD 70, then why did Jesus not address the Jerusalem church which was in existence up to the siege of Jerusalem immediately prior to its destruction?

2.  At the writing of the book of Revelation, Ephesus had left her first love.  Paul wrote his epistle to Ephesus about 58 to 60 AD.  Paul lived in Ephesus for 2 years (Acts 19:10) during which the church received direct personal apostolic direction at his hands.  Ephesus was where Paul was recorded to have wrought special miracles, some so significant that even a garment of clothing which Paul touched or wore would heal the sick.  The best evidence we have places Paul’s execution around 66 AD under the reign of Nero.  The city of Rome having been burned and Nero anxious to blame it on the Christians thus detracting the blame from himself had Paul unjustly beheaded.  Paul’s love and diligent instruction of the church in Ephesus is well documented in scripture.  In order for the book of Revelation to be written prior to 70 AD, the church at Ephesus would have to have lost her first love to the degree it did while Paul was alive or very shortly after his death.

3.  The church in Sardis was considered dead.

4.  Laodecia, which was destroyed by an earthquake during Nero’s reign is completely rebuilt and is boasting of her spiritual wealth (Revelation 3:17).

5.  John wrote of the doctrine of the Nicolaitans in chapters 2 and 3 which was an insipient form of Gnosticism and did not develop until quite some time after 70 AD.  At the time of John’s writing of Revelation, Gnosticism had worked its way into the church to the degree that it was mentioned in the addresses to multiple churches.

All of these things would have had to have developed in these churches in 4 years or less in order to maintain the 70 AD date.  While such a thing is not entirely impossible, it is highly unlikely.  It is exceedingly important in our consideration of this subject that we acknowledge that by 70 AD, the spiritual degradation, apostasy of the Gnostics and the persecution of the church in Asia Minor had not yet developed to the degree evidenced by the text.  We must remember to whom the Revelation was addressed and to consider the historical timeframe under which these churches realized the circumstances they were facing at the time.  Any dating of the book of Revelation must coincide with the dates of the current situations or circumstances relevant to those seven churches.

6.  The Revelation being addressed to the churches of Asia is not only understood to be directed toward them, but about them as well.  The dire circumstances depicted therein are going to apply directly to those to whom the letter is addressed and not to people living in another part of the world.  It does not make sense for John to address a letter to Christians living in Asia Minor that pertains to events to happen in Judah.  The Revelation was not just written to the churches of Asia, it was for the churches of Asia.  The events of the visions are going to relate directly to them and not just to Christians living in a whole different region of the earth.   It is not to say that the Revelation does not have application to Christians living in other places and/or other times.  Revelation most certainly does and did have a direct application to all Christians living in the Roman Empire, however we must acknowledge that an understanding which focuses the readers attention on a group of Christians other than the ones to whom it is addressed would be an inaccurate way of approaching the overall letter.

7.  John had been banished to Patmos, a very common form of punishment after AD 70 but not prior to that.

8.  The great antagonist of the church was identified in Revelation 17:6 as, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” and then in Revelation 17:18, she is further identified as “the great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth“.  Babylon, the mother of harlots is a reference back to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon who erected a giant golden statue of himself and forced his people to bow down and worship it, thus committing spiritual fornication in the form of idolatry.  With this practice, Babylon spawned, fostered and engendered spiritual harlotry and the abominations of the earth.  The Jews were not forcing anyone to worship idols or false gods.  They were persecuting the Christians for worshipping the same God they worshipped.  Levitical worship was never considered idolatry, even by those living under the new covenant.

There is the belief that the great harlot of Revelation 17 was actually Jerusalem and many advocates of the early date hold to this belief.  It is exceedingly important to the correct understanding of who this harlot was to consider all the evidence which characterizes her.  This “Babylon, the mother of harlots” is described in Revelation 18:17 as a maritime city which engaged in ship trade.  Revelation 17:1 previously described her as setting on many waters.  There is no way this could be Jerusalem which was located in the desert, forty miles from Joppa.

9. Emperor worship was being vigorously enforced by the Imperial Cult, also known as the “Concilia” (Revelation 13:11-17), and no emperor prior to 70 AD actually enforced emperor worship.  There was no organized, government supported, forced emperor worship before AD70 and in order for Revelation to point to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, such a level of forced emperor worship within the Roman Empire must be demonstrated.

10.  The persecutions of Nero were localized around Rome, while the persecution under later emperors such as Domitian extended beyond the boundaries of Rome to that of Asia Minor which was the location of the churches to which the book of Revelation was addressed (Revelation 1:4).

11.  The absence of any references to the Jerusalem church in Revelation cannot be overstated.  In fact the region in Asia Minor where the seven churches were located is roughly 500 miles if you want to cross the Mediterranean sea and roughly 700 if you went by way of dry land through the mountains of Turkey, keeping in mind the principle mode of transportation in that time was by foot or by beast of burden.  If the Revelation were intended to be a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem, it seems logical that the letter would have been addressed to churches located in or around Jerusalem, not in an area several months journey from there.

12.  There are three direct Internal references to Jerusalem in the Revelation.  Two of them are found in Revelation 3:12 and 21:2.  Both of these references refer to a “new Jerusalem” suggesting the old Jerusalem was no longer in existence.  Jerusalem is mentioned again in Revelation 21:10 in a figurative and prophetic sense representing heaven.

13.  Advocates of the early date who hold to the destruction of Jerusalem as the final outcome of Revelation often point to Revelation 11 as proof the temple was still in existence.  This conclusion cannot be reasonably known without any doubt and such must be the case in order to even suggest a pre 70 AD authorship of the Revelation.

14.  The early church was fairly unanimous in its belief that the book was written after 70 AD. This is seen in the writings of Irenaeus, Origen, Victorious, Hippolytus, Clement of Alexandria, Hegesippus, and Jerome.  It is a real stretch to suggest that all these writers are merely parroting Irenaeus, and that they had no independent reasons for making their claim.

The evidence in support of the authorship of Revelation after 70 AD is both compelling and significant.  Most of the Bible scholars adhere to an authorship of the book during the reign of Emperor Domitian which I question.  It is my conviction based on my own studies that the book of Revelation was written later in the reign of Emperor Vespasian who died in June of 79 AD.

To support this belief, we’ll consider the text of Revelation 17:9-11, “Here is the mind that hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth: and they are seven kings; the five are fallen, the one is, the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a little while. And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goeth into perdition“.

Paying particular attention to “and they are seven kings“.  Augustus was the first emperor of the Imperial Roman Empire constitutionally elected by the senate and approved by the military according to Roman law.

1 Augustus 26 BC – 13 AD “five are fallen”
2 Tiberius 14 AD – 37 AD
3 Caligula 37 AD – 41 AD
4 Claudius 41 AD – 64 AD
5 Nero 64 AD – 68 AD
6 Vespasian 69 AD – 79 AD “the one is”
7 Titus 79 AD 81 AD “the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a little while”
8 Domitian 81 AD – 96 AD the beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth

Five of the seven kings are fallen.  This would be Nero as the fifth.  The next one, the sixth presently reigning at the time was Vespasian.  The other after him is Titus, his son who only reigned as emperor for 2 years, (a little while).  The beast of Revelation is the eighth in line, Domitian.  He was the brother of Titus who was number 7 in succession thus qualifying him as being “of the seven“.

So Domitian, being the eight was the beast.  Five kings had fallen at the time of this prophecy and the sixth had not yet come.  Revelation was written during the reign of the 6th king; Vespasian, who died in 79 AD, 9 years after the destruction of Jerusalem.  A writing of the book of Revelation near the end of the reign of Vespasian would give ample time for copying and distribution to the churches in Asia Minor and beyond before Domitian, the beast, would come to power in 81 AD.  Domitian reigned as the eighth constitutionally elected emperor of Imperial Rome until his assassination in 96 AD.

We need to explain why Galba, Otho and Vitallius are not here listed.  The suicide of emperor Nero, in 68, was followed by a brief period of civil war.  Between June of 68 and December of 69, Rome witnessed the successive rise and fall of Galba, Otho and Vitellius until the final accession of Vespasian, first ruler of the Flavian Dynasty.  History records them as being in the imperial lineup however none of these men were ever emperors according to Roman constitutional law.  They were either rejected as emperors by the senate, the military or both.  All of this occurred in the year 69 AD during what is referred to in history as the year of the four emperors.  These three kings are mentioned by Daniel in reference to the 10 kings of the fourth kingdom which would rise up as recorded in Daniel 7.  These are the kings (horns) which were “plucked up” (Daniel 7:8).  Domitian was the eleventh one to “rise after” his fellows mentioned in Daniel 7:24.  Daniel’s vision had eleven kings and accounted for Galba, Otho and Vitallius, explaining that they were “plucked up” before becoming established and well rooted kings, while John’s vision took into account the fact they were never really emperors and excluded them from consideration altogether.  Both visions are historically accurate and complement each other in such a way that they can be used to verify each other’s authenticity.  More information is available on Daniel’s prophecy here:  Daniel’s Vision of the Four Kingdoms (Daniel Chapter 7)

The overwhelming majority of the scholars hold to a 95 AD writing of the Revelation.  If such were the case, there is no way to reconcile Domitian as the sixth emperor/king who “is” following the five who had fallen and preceding the one who must “continue a little while“, according to the lineage of the predecessors of the beast as given in Revelation 17:9-11.  If Domitian were the emperor/king that “is” then the emperor following him would be the one that only reigned for a short span of time being Emperor Nerva who reigned four years from 96 to 98 AD.  The beast would then be Trajan who was nowhere near as antagonistic an adversary of Christianity that Domitian was.

According to the internal evidence which specifically speaks to the current king as being the 6th on line of the 8 kings mentioned, Vespasian is the best historical fit.  This solves one major problem with the 95 date of writing for the Revelation.  With a date of 95 and the death of Domitian in 96, there is a inherent problem with getting the book off of Patmos, copied and then distributed to all the churches of Asia Minor in time to be of any benefit to the readership.  With Domitian being the personification of the beast, thus being the figurehead for the persecution which was to come, it poses a difficulty to explain why a prophetic book which contains words of encouragement and perseverance for the Christians living under the rule of this man would receive this letter at the end of this beast’s life.  This difficulty is entirely overcome when a dating of the book under the reign of the sixth emperor, Vespasian, is considered.

Thus, a dating of the book in Vespasian’s lifetime, according to the text of Revelation, and in accordance with historical evidence we have at hand is the most logical conclusion and best fits the overall historical circumstances.  Vespasian reigned before, during and after the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem.  Titus was acting under the will and direction of Vespasian in the overthrow of the Jerusalem at that time and led the forces which utimately conquered the city.  The dating of the Revelation in the latter years of Vespasian’s life gives ample time for the spiritual conditions of the churches to whom the Revelation was addressed to develop.  It also allows for the necessary time to get the letter into the hands of those to whom it was written in time for it to be of the most benefit.  For these reasons it is the firm conviction of this student of God’s word, that the Revelation was written around the end of Vespasian’s life, 76 to 79 AD.

There is additional information on the dating of the Revelation available in the study Guide for chapter 17

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The Will of the Lord

When the Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the church at Ephesus he issued this sober warning, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-17). The question that so many struggle with just what is “the will of the Lord?”

For many folks the will of the Lord is confused with their own will. They want God to grant their every request, from health to wealth, and when He does not meet their demands they blame Him and often turn from Him. God is not a “Genie in a Bottle” just waiting to grant our every wish. He is also not to blame when our prayers are not answered the way we want.

We like to think of God and His will as something that can be altered by prayer and we try to soften the blow to our disappointment by saying that God answers “Yes,” “No,” and sometimes “Not right now.” But it may be possible that we over-think the correlation between our prayers and God’s will.

Twice in the New Testament we are told specifically that folks prayer that the Lord’s will would be done (Acts 21:14; 1 Corinthians 4:19). And notice that in both of these passages the request was simply for the Lord’s will, nothing more and nothing less! Once we are told to leave our request at the feet of the Lord’s will (James 4:15).

So what exactly is the “will of the Lord?” Simply put God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). He proved that by sending His only begotten Son to die for our sins (John 3:16). He has given us “all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3). Our sole purpose then should be to fear Him and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13) and study to show ourselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15). He will bless those who seek Him and those who don’t will be cursed.

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Redefining Success

Redefining Success

Can you imagine being the son or daughter of Bill Gates? Consider for a moment being an heir to the wealthiest man in the United States. Few people could truly comprehend the life of luxury that his wealth could obtain—not to mention that you would never have to worry about repairing your computer if it crashed! But seriously, would it be a position to be envied? Contrast that with the son of a man currently living in Nicaragua—a boy who will never know anything but hunger and deep poverty. A boy whose life expectancy is shorter than average due to the physical hardships he will endure, but a boy whose father was baptized into the Church some five years ago during a mission campaign. Thanks to men and women willing to carry out the great commission, this boy is growing up in a Christian home. Who is really to be envied?

Oftentimes we limit our perspective of King David to a mighty warrior, a man “after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22), the man who wrote many of the Psalms, and the man who eventually took a “walk on the roof” and committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband Uriah killed in battle. But what lessons can we learn from David as a father?

You Can’t Parent if You Are Never Home

David’s battle conquests were numerous (e.g., 2 Samuel 8). His bravery was apparent from his youth, during which time he defeated a lion and bear (1 Samuel 17:34-35). He then went on to slay the giant Philistine Goliath (1 Samuel 17:45-51). Anyone even vaguely familiar with the accounts of David’s life will quickly recognize God had blessed his efforts on the battlefield. In fact, it happened that on one occasion when David was coming home that the women were celebrating and dancing with tambourines singing: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7). But all of his conquests were not without some compromise—David was rarely at home with his children.

Try as hard as you may, you cannot be two places at once. How many times have children suffered as the result of parents who are away from home too long? Even preachers oftentimes find themselves “saving the world” at the neglect of their own children. There is a reason why the inspired writer of Proverbs penned the words “the rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother” (Proverbs 29:15, emp. added). How many times have we seen this played out in today’s society?

As parents we must not follow in David’s footsteps when it comes to career. We must remember that our primary mission field must be our own family first. And if we are going to be successful in getting our children to Heaven, then we must be at home to mold and shape them in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6). Christian parents must stop using worldly parameters for measuring success. Remember, Jesus admonished, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15). Success is not confined to having a massive house, with late-model cars, and stylish clothes. True success is teaching our children the way to Heaven in such a manner that they stay on that path even into adulthood! Have we forgotten that the Son of God said, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost” (Luke 9:25)? I would add, “For what profit is it if a man gains the whole world by working himself all the time but loses his own children to the world?” Dads, how often do we truly consider our wife and children when we’re volunteering to work overtime?

The time has come for Christians in America to turn away from materialism and embrace lives of contentment. Part of being content is developing a family plan in which one parent is able to stay home to rear the children. Just prior to Paul admonishing Timothy to strive for contentment, he laid down a divine plan for young widowed females. He observed: “Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.” Notice the divinely laid down order: young women are to marry first, then bear children (a divine plan of which our society needs to be reminded), and then guide the house. How can mothers guide the house if they are never home? In this age where feminism has become rooted in American culture, the suggestion for women to be homemakers is not a popular topic—but God’s Word is not concerned with popularity contests. God’s Word is concerned with giving humankind a pattern to get to Heaven.

The inspired writer of Psalm 127 made this observation in verse 4: “Children are like arrows in the hand of a mighty man.” Sadly, King David spent too much time launching real arrows and not enough time launching his children. Friends, we are God’s archers! Our children are God’s arrows! Are you diligently, with forethought and planning, launching your children toward that bulls-eye that we call Heaven?

The High Price of Ignoring the Sins of Our Children

How many times have Christian parents witnessed their children conducting themselves wrongly, only to overlook it or pass it off as “just a phase?” We have forgotten that it is O.K. to tell our children “No.” Oftentimes, because it is our own children, we refuse to identify sin as what it is—sin. In 2 Samuel 13 we read of an incident between two of David’s offspring, an incident that David overlooked for which he paid dearly for failing to address properly.

David’s son Amnon became infatuated with his half-sister Tamar. Tamar was Absalom’s sister, and she was a virgin. Amnon and his friend Jonadab conceived of a plan in which Amnon feigned illness, in order that Tamar would come and prepare food in his sight. An unsuspecting David sent Tamar to Amnon’s house, where Amnon then forced himself on her (v. 14). Instead of then taking her as his wife or owning up to his sin, Amnon sent Tamar away. Tamar’s brother Absalom was furious. And the text indicates that when “King David heard all these things, he was very angry” (2 Samuel 13:21). But we never read of David addressing the sin of Amnon. Instead, he did what many parents do and simply stuck his head in the sand, hoping that everything would resolve itself. Instead of resolution, Absalom’s anger eventually resulted in the murder of Amnon. David’s refusal to deal with sin would eventually lead to Absalom’s rebellion and David’s exile. Consider how much better things would have been had David addressed Amnon’s sin. When your children sin are you more worried about what others think or how their sin has separated them from Almighty God?

Do You Know Who Your Children Are Hanging around?

Ask yourself this simple question: Do I have the courage—the backbone—to step in and put a stop to a relationship if it is hindering my child’s journey to Heaven? Do you know with whom your children spend their time? Who are they texting or emailing at night? In Samuel 13:3, we learn “But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Now Jonadab was a very crafty man.” It was the “crafty” Jonadab who helped Amnon devise the plot lure Tamar to his room. Paul’s words are as valid today as they were the day he wrote them, “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’” (1 Corinthians 15:33). I suspect every congregation of the Lord’s Church holds some gray-headed parents who wish they had given more heed to this verse when their own children were young. Do you really know your children’s friends?

David Was Not a One-woman Man

While the Bible records that David was a man after God’s own heart, it also records that David was the first king to introduce polygamy into the Israelite nation. We know that David came from Hebron to Jerusalem and took concubines and wives (2 Samuel 5:13). He married Michal (1 Samuel 18:27), Abigail (1 Samuel 25:42), and Ahinoam (1 Samuel 25:43). At Hebron he married Maacah (who became the mother of Absalom—2 Samuel 3:3), Haggith (1 Chronicles 3:2), Abital (1 Chronicles 3:3), and Eglah (1 Chronicles 3:30). Plus we read of David having 10 concubines (2 Samuel 15:16). David was not content with “the wife of his youth,” but rather he gave into his lust and passion. How many marriages have been destroyed by a simple “walk on the roof” that eventually led to adultery? Our children will pattern their relationships after what they see at home—and if they witness a mother or father who is unfaithful, they are more likely to follow in their shoes. One can’t help but wonder if David’s behavior at home ultimately did not lead to much of the heartache he suffered from his children’s behavior.

Conclusion

Many congregations have “vital statistic” boards mounted in the front of their auditorium that records attendance and contribution. I would suggest congregations add a new line: “Number of children who abandoned the Faith this year.” You want to talk about a vital statistic! That one remains the massive 2-ton elephant in the room that we don’t like to talk about. What would it feel like to look up and see we met our budget, but we have lost 23 precious souls to the world? I think it would be a wake-up call to parents and Bible teachers about the real definition of success. Think of how a congregation’s faith would grow knowing that year after year that line held the number zero. Friends, that’s true success! Are you like David—a success at the office, but a failure at home? Isn’t it time we rethink our definition of success?

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Benefits of Going to Hell or Heaven

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR GOING TO HELL?

1. There is no preaching or sermons in Hell.

a. There are no sermons about things that some do not want to hear.

b. There is no more exposing false teachers.

c. There no one who will tell you of your sins.

2. There are no more preachers to reveal God’s saving message (you won’t need it there).

3. There is no plan of salvation because you cannot be saved in Hell.

4. There is no church work in Hell because the church will be in Heaven.

5. There will be no more begging from church members to attend services.

6. There will be no interference with your lifestyle because you won’t have one.

7. There will be no more invitations in Hell to make your life right nor will you hear your husband or wife asking you to obey the will of God.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR GOING TO HEAVEN?

1. It is a place of beauty where the redeemed will be.

2. It is a place where we hear the breath of God.

3. It is a place where no one is criticized.

4. It is a place where God shows the rewards of the hope that he gave us.

5. It is a place where we will be in everlasting glory.

6. It is a place where we will be number one (the most popular–‐–‐God’s favorites)

7. It is a place where we can live forevermore in peace and love wrapped in all the glory of the heavenly home that God made us.

If we are to invest in our future physically, mentally, and financially; should we not also invest in our future SPIRITUALLY, which is most important? If we follow God, the return will be great. Although we may struggle from time to time as a Christian, the Lord said to, “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matt. 5:12)

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