Saved To Serve

A few months ago, we looked at how to develop a relationship with God.  We learned that only the obedient know Him (1 John 2:4); love Him (John 14:23-24); are His friends (John 15:14); and of His family (Matthew 12:50).  We looked at the importance of obedience to God as it relates to our relationship with Him and we saw that there is much more to having a relationship with God than just feeling it or thinking it in our hearts.  A relationship with God is a long term commitment and dependant upon obedience to His will.  Christians are therefore saved to serve God.

To introduce this lesson, let us consider that enjoying and fulfilling our Christian relationship with God involves accepting the responsibilities inherent in that relationship.

1. Every right implies a responsibility.

2. Every opportunity implies an obligation.

3. Every possession implies a duty.

A relationship with God without duty is like a tree without roots.  It cannot grow and it will wither and die.   And duty with no service is like a tree with no fruit.  It cannot provide sustenance and will not spread out.  It is through the fruit that a tree makes its seeds.  No fruit means no seeds and no seeds means no growth and no more truth to sow.

A Christian is a person called to God’s service.  1 Thessalonians 1:9, “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God“.

Christians have an obligation to fulfill their individual service.  Paul wrote in Colossians 4:17, “And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.”  Paul commanded the church in Colossi to to tell Archippus to fulfill the ministry he had been given.  This teaches individual, personal service.  All Christians are to view their service on a personal level.  What can I do to serve God?  Where do I fit in?  How can I help?  Certainly the body of Christ engages in organized group efforts, but each group consists of individuals working together in fulfillment of a specific role towards a common goal.  Each individual in a group has a specific responsibility.  As Bobby has been teaching, we need to personalize things and we are going to expand that idea to include our Christian service.

The spiritual kingdom which we are members of is a realm of activity.  we can see this evident in the various terms used to describe Christians.

We are described as being branches by Christ in John 15:1-8.  Looking particularly at verses 5-6 we see that Jesus teaches us in this context that “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.  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.”  Christians described as branches are expected to bear fruit.  Jesus says those who do not will be burned.

Christians are illustrated as farmers.  2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.  Farmers who expect to be successful are not idle.  They, like Christians have to work at it.  Hard working Christians like farmers will sow and reap bountifully.

Christians are described as soldiers, 2Timothy 2:3, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”  Soldiers have duties, they are expected to protect, defend and to serve.

Christians are described as athletes, 1 Corinthians 9:24, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”  This is an illustration of dedication and perseverance.

Christians are described as workers, 1 Thessalonians 1:3, “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father”  Biblical faith is not passive.  True faith is a work.  Paul instructed Timothy to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”  2 Timothy 2:15.  Paul told timothy to study so that he would be a good workman for the lord.  Christians are workers for Christ.

Christians are to be Laborers. Matthew 9:37, “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few” John 6:27 “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.”

All of these terms used to describe Christians represent action.  Faithful Christian service is much more than just saying Lord Lord.  An examination of these terms used to describe members of the kingdom of Christ shows that we are expected to be fruitful and to be productive branches, we are to be like farmers who sow many seeds, we are to protect and defend the truth like good soldiers and we are to strive for the goal with patience and perseverance like the athlete, working and laboring in the service of Christ.

As Christians we are expected to be fruitful, Colossians 1:10, “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God“.

We are to be fit for God’s use in His kingdom, 2 Timothy 2:20-21, “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet [fit] for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

We are expected to be profitable, 2 Timothy 4:11, “Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.”  Paul wanted Timothy to bring Mark with him because he was profitable.  Mark was someone Paul knew he could depend on to work. In all this we should see that Christians are a part of a kingdom of service.  Christians are saved to serve.

What does a Christian’s activity consist of?  1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”  Paul is telling the Christians at Corinth to abound, or be plentiful, in the work of the Lord.  What is the work of the Lord?  We are saved to serve, so what must we do?

The three basic works of the church or the body of Christ is:

1)  Acts of benevolence.  Galatians 6:9-10, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”  We are supposed to be generous and do good things for all men, both sinners and Christians alike.  When we see a Christian in need, we are obligated all the more to help them.  Jesus went into more detail in Matthew 25.  Specifically in V35-36 “For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.”  We are to engage in acts of kindness, generosity and concern for those who are old, sick, or afflicted.

2)  Edification; We are to work to edify the body of Christ.  This means we are supposed to instruct ourselves and build each other up in the knowledge of God.   Ephesians 4:14-16, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

3)  Evangelism; Going along with Bobby’s lessons the past few weeks, we are to engage in works of evangelism.  There are many ways to achieve this.  We are to teach 2 Timothy 2:24, “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient”  Apt means willing and able.

We are to preach, 2 Timothy 4:2, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”  we are to preach only the word.  We are to do it in or out of season, meaning whenever we get the opportunity.  We are to reprove, rebuke and exhort, which means to convince, correct and encourage.  How do we do this?  With all longsuffering or patience and kindness.  And our guide for this is the doctrine or teaching of Christ.

This means telling others about Christ whenever we have the opportunity.  It means looking for opportunities and acting on them when we find them.   People outside the body of Christ see us doing good, living right, serving others, living to a higher standard.  They see our joy and hope evident in our behavior and actions and they want to be a part of that.  They see that we are family and they want to join in.  There are lots and lots of ways to evangelize.  It may be as simple as handing someone a card, or a tract, or asking them if they would like to come to services.  It might be that others see your dedication and devotion and want to know more.

Christians are called to serve.  we serve God by doing good to others, building ourselves up in the faith and evangelizing or spreading the good news of salvation.   Christianity is not a passive system of faith.  It is a system of action.  And it is upon this action or service that the existence of the body of Christ depends.  If we as members of the church of Christ in this community do not fulfill our obligations of service, this congregation will cease to exist.  We are assembled here today because someone many decades ago did their job.  If this congregation is going to be here 20 years from now, we have to do our jobs today.

What is the correct attitude we should have about our service?  We need to develop certain attitudes concerning our Christian work:

First of all, we are to be grateful for the opportunity to serve.  Paul expressed his gratitude to Timothy is 1Timiothy 1:12, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry“.  Paul suffered great persecution for his Christian service, yet we see here that he was grateful for it.  Our attitude about our service should be no less.  Our opportunity to serve is a privilege and Paul received that privilege because God saw that he could trust him.  When we are given the opportunity to serve, we should have it in our minds that God trusts us and we should be grateful for that trust and work to demonstrate that the trust God has in us is well founded.

We should be willing to take the initiative and serve without being prodded or pushed into it.  Paul urged Timothy to “be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).  Paul told Timothy to step up and live as an example, and show others how to live, not just preaching to them.

Paul taught the Christians in Philippi to “Do all things without murmurings and disputings” (Philippians 2:14).  We are to have a positive and upbeat attitude about our service to Christ.

We are to show enthusiasm and be zealous and eager, Titus 2:14, “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

We are to be persistent in our service, Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”  Patience and persistence are vital if we are to be successful.  We cannot expect everyone we encounter to just drop everything and embrace God with open arms and total commitment.  And we are not to give up on them when they don’t.  We must have the attitude of preparing for the long haul.  Sometimes the seed of truth takes time to sprout and grow.

There are many ways a Christian can serve in the kingdom of Christ.  There are many jobs to do and many things that can be done.  When considering our service we need to ask ourselves questions concerning our abilities and opportunities.

Concerning our abilities we need to ask:

1) In what ways am I especially blessed by God?

2) What do I posses that might be useful in the Lord’s work?

3) What do I derive fulfillment from doing?

4) What do I enjoy doing?

5) What comes naturally for me?

6) What might I learn to do?

Obviously we are more comfortable with doing things that fit in with abilities that come naturally for us.  So we need to watch for opportunities that fit within our abilities.  But it does not stop with just that.  What might we learn to do?  What other abilities may we be able to develop that would aid i our service to Christ?

Concerning our opportunities we need to ask:

1) What needs to be done in the Lord’s work?

2) What scriptural restrictions govern the work?

3) What other factors may limit my opportunity?

4) What is now being done inadequately?

5) What problems exist that need to be solved?

6) What are others doing that I need or can help with?

All of these things need to be examined and if there is a need, then we should be working to try and fill that need.  If there is a need we can’t fill, then we should be working to develop the ability to do so.  And we need to be encouraging to others who are trying to do these things.  The inability to do something does not necessarily excuse us of doing it.

And finally let’s take a look at some of the various terms used for where we are serve as Christians.

Christ frequently referred to the world as a vineyard.  He spoke of vinedressers and laborers in His teachings.  The imagery of a vineyard suggests a place where work is performed.  When one thinks of a vineyard and they know what a vineyard is like, then they know it not a place of rest and relaxation.  A vineyard is a place where work is done.

Another term that Jesus used to describe the world was the harvest.  Other related terms in association with is sowers, reapers and laborers.  All of these terms portray the imagery of action.  Notice Jesus usage of these terms in Matthew 9:37-38, “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”

All of these terms suggest Christ’s kingdom as being a place where members are active and busy.  Christians are saved to serve in God’s vineyard.  Christians are saved to serve in God’s harvest.  Christians are saved to serve Christ.  Jesus Christ made it plain in Matthew 25 that when we serve others, we serve Christ and when we fail to serve others we fail to serve to Christ.

We saw earlier that a big part of our Christian service is out in the world.  The world is God’s vineyard.  The world is God’s harvest.  Jesus said in Mark 16:16, “…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”  We are to saved to serve and and world is a big part of where we are expected to serve.  Jesus did not say ‘set ye in the pews’.  He said “go ye into all the world”.   The world starts just outside the doors at the front of the building.  That is where Jesus told us to go.  That is the vineyard we are expected to work in.  That is the harvest we are expected to reap.

The need is there, the harvest is plenty.  We are living in the mission field.  Bobby has given us some practical advice these past few weeks on how to accomplish it.  Let’s work together, let’s get a plan, let’s serve God the best we can.  We are Christians and we are saved to serve.  So let’s examine ourselves and examine the need.  As long as there is one single soul lost in the world, we are obligated to try and shine the light of God’s truth on his path.  There is more to do.  Can we do it?  There is more need, can we fill it.  There is opportunity can we take advantage of it?  What can we do to better serve?  These are questions we must always ask ourselves.  we just never let ourselves become complacent.  We must ever strive to grow and get stronger and get better.

Hebrews 12:1-4 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds…”


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Dealing with the Past

Do you have something in your past that hinders you from doing the right thing in the present?

Have you ever, in the past, done something for which you are now ashamed? I have! I am also pretty sure that anyone who is reading this article has, in all probability, done things in their past that they now regret having done. It is human nature to look back upon the past. Some things we recall with fondness; other things with shame or embarrassment. The past often has a way of catching up with us. Our past sins, if unrepented of, must still one day be reckoned with – “be sure your sin will find you out…” (Deuteronomy 32:23). Nevertheless, even past sins for which we have been forgiven, have a way of haunting us in the present. Sometimes the consequences of our past sins are still felt many years after repentance and forgiveness. In my case, my conscience still bothers me about some of the things I have done in the past. Even though I realize that God has forgiven me of those things, I sometimes have a hard time forgiving myself.

The apostle Paul had things in his past that could have hindered him from doing the right thing. He had plenty of cause to be remorseful. He had persecuted the church in Jerusalem and other places, “…Beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it…” (Galatians 1:13); “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison…” (Acts 8:3); “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:1-2). He was even an accessory to murder at one point in his life! Remember when Stephen was stoned to death by an angry mob, that it was a young man named Saul who held the cloaks of Stephen’s assailants. “And cast him [Stephen] out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul… And Saul was consenting unto his death…”(Acts 7:58; 8:1).

Even before Paul’s conversion, Ananias was apprehensive towards him when the Lord commanded him to go to Paul and teach him what he needed to do in order to be saved. He said, “I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name…” (Acts 9:13-14). After Paul’s conversion, the consequences of his past sins were still felt. Some years after his conversion, the Christians at Jerusalem were still wary and mistrustful of him, “And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.” (Acts 9:26).

Paul had reason to regret his past. First, because of the way his conscience must have bothered him for the things he had done, and second, because of what some others thought about his sincerity. How did Paul deal with this adversity? How did he put his past behind him? Did he run away and hide? Did he forsake God? NO! In his own words, he said, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14). Paul’s answer to his regretted past was to forget it, to get over it and to reach for the things that were before him. He did not waste time on “what might have been,” but instead he strove for “what may be.” He pressed towards the mark!

Baseball coaches say that one of the most important attributes of a good pitcher is a short memory. If he throws out a pitch and it is knocked out of the ballpark, he must forget about it and move on. If he is still feeling timid after the last pitch was hit for a homerun, he has a problem. His next pitch is liable to leave the ballpark as well. The same goes with us in our religious life. If our past keeps haunting us, or if we let the feelings or attitudes that others have toward us affect our Christian walk, then we have a problem. We need to let go of the past and ignore what others may think of us, and press on in our Christian life. If we would continue to walk after the way of Christ, in the face of adversity, we will be richly blessed. It is said, “Time heals all wounds.” If we faithfully follow our Savior, in time, the guilt we feel or the negative feelings of others will fade. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33). Strive towards the mark of salvation! Do not let your past, or other people’s attitudes towards it, hinder you from doing what is right! If you do these things, you shall never be ashamed and everything else will just fall into place.

 

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Disputable Matters

Image with me for a moment if you will, exactly what it would be like, trying to play professional sports in the wrong venue or arena. Let’s say for instance that two Major League Baseball teams were forced to try to compete against each other… on an Olympic Alpine Ski Mountain course. How would that work? There would be no foul lines, no bases, and parameters…

Or, what if two NFL teams were told they had to play on a baseball diamond… with no alterations? Let’s see, that would mean that one team’s end zone would be only as big as the width of home plate, while the other’s was from foul pole to foul pole (which end would you want?) and there would be no goal posts so no one could score a touchdown anyway. So, how would that work? Or what if the two NFL teams had to play in the ice hockey rink arena? That’d be a hoot wouldn’t it?

Or let’s see; what other absolute and complete absurdities in the form of sports analogies can we come up with? What if NASCAR was told they had to have their drivers compete, cars and all, in a college wrestling ring? Or what if Olympic divers were told that their diving competition at the next summer Olympic games were going to be held in the same arena and on the same court where the basketball games take place – a dive into a hardwood floor from the top of the rafters let’s say?

And now let’s add one final element to the above absurdities and insanities… the losers of any of these competitions will be put to death…

It is blatantly and painfully obvious to anyone whatsoever, that all of the above scenarios are completely impossible. The reason why is because the rules and boundaries which comprise and control the competitions in each of these cases simply cannot be applied when these competitions are taken to the wrong arena. Nothing but complete chaos would arise as a result. And yet… that is exactly the insanity that many Christians allow themselves to be forced into on a daily basis… and why nothing but complete confusion occurs as a result.

For example, I was recently reminded of this once again when I was asked to review a nine page excuse sheet, quoting the same, old, tired and worn out excuses that have been biblically refuted by the faithful of our brotherhood for the past thousand years or so, when it comes to the bane of unauthorized and biblically unacceptable instrumental music in our praise to God as N.T. Christians. Near the bottom of the first page it said something along the lines of (so similar to what I’ve seen and heard so many times before from those with absolutely no biblical case whatsoever for the implementation of their desired will-worship): “Please understand that we are not attacking you or your perspective because we know that you are sincere as well and we would not want you to violate your conscience. But this is certainly a disputable matter and…” (emphasis added – DED). STOP RIGHT THERE! Reading the rest of the paper just became an exercise in complete futility. Did you see what they just did? Did you notice what they just attempted? They just sought, in no uncertain terms, to drag this discussion into an absolutely inappropriate and absurd couple of other arenas, within which this discussion has no business whatsoever of occurring under any circumstances! A couple of arenas wherein the biblical rules of interpretation and application cannot be appropriately applied (anymore than the complete absence of foul lines on an Alpine Ski mountain would make MLB play there anything other than absolutely impossible), and where the outcome cannot therefore be anything other than politically-correct, everyone’s right, wrath of God demanding disobedience!

The two arenas they sought to take this discussion into? The two arenas of “your conscience,” and “disputable matters” (See Romans 14). And this is where many Christians fail – not because of their biblical understanding and reasoning in the end at all, but because they allow themselves to be manipulated into the wrong arena to begin with!

The kind of worship music God has demanded and requires of His N.T. children here on earth is not a disputable matter (or “matter of opinion”) whatsoever. Whether or not a Christian can play cards or board games, what time services will be scheduled to be held on Sunday by each congregation, what color the carpets or songbooks are going to be – these are the discussions to be held in the arenas and under the auspices of matters of conscience, opinion, or disputable matters. Why? Because God has not specifically addressed them one way or the other, but left them pretty much up to us. Anything that God has said absolutely nothing about, pro or con, for or against, positive or negative, or addressed in any way whatsoever within the pages of sacred Scripture, THESE we can discuss in THOSE two arenas.

However, anything that God has addressed one way or the other, either for or against, even if He only addressed it ONCE, is NOT a matter of opinion, but of Revelation – and the faithful child of God must never allow himself and His defense of the truth to be dragged into any other arena other than the “thus saith the Lord” one when it comes to any such thing. It is not a “matter of conscience” but of obedience or disobedience as soon as God says anything about it! And God clearly, concisely, and consistently showed His N.T. earthly children not once, not twice, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven, but a grand total of eight times in the N.T, EXACTLY what kind of music He wanted, desired, and demanded of them to give to Him – EIGHT times total (Matt. 26:30; Acts 16:25; Romans 15:9; I Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:18-19; Col. 3:16; Hebs. 2:12; and Jms. 5:13).

This “appropriate arena response” reminds me of the denominational lady who recently said to me when she had exhausted every other reason in her unbiblical arsenal that she could unleash in defense of the indefensible and unauthorized addition of instrumental music into our singing praise to God, “Well, I just don’t think God would condemn people to hell for having a piano in the building.” Whoa! Wrong arena! To begin with, any sentence beginning with the words “I think,” I don’t think,” “I feel,” “I don’t feel,” “I believe,” or “I don’t believe” instead of a book, chapter, and verse, “thus saith the Lord” approach is hugely suspect from the start (Isaiah 55:8-9). And secondly, the correct arena for this discussion is not whether or not God would condemn anyone for having a piano in the building, but whether or not He would condemn anyone for substituting or supplementing their own desired elements, either for, or into, what He has clearly commanded and required. And anyone who knows anything about Scripture could only answer that He definitely would – and will (Matthew 7:21-27).

The lines of this arena, and in which this discussion must exclusively take place, are the “Book, chapter, and verse” truths of Scripture. Without them, in the areas and arenas of opinion, conscience and disputable matters, lies more chaos, confusion, and condemnation than the pain and suffering of trying to have an Olympic Diving Competition on a basketball court. And this is far more than just a mere matter of life and death; it is a matter of eternal life and death. Make sure yours is decided in the proper arena when it comes to the discussion and rules of engagement on instrumental music: The “book, chapter, and verse” arena of indisputable, biblical, “thus saith the Lord” truth.

And if you need additional help staying in that arena, please see: www.clevelandcoc.com/?page_id=161, or go to www.clevelandcoc.com, click on “Bible Studies,” and download a copy of: Instrumental Music in Christian Worship/Gatherings Is a Direct Violation of the Word and Will of God.

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Hardened Heart and Calloused Conscience

One of the greatest dangers of Christians today is the development of a hardened heart and a calloused conscience. Indeed, Paul warned us: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Tim. 4:1-2, emp. SW). When we think about the danger of developing a hardened heart, certainly Pharaoh, ruler of Egypt, comes to mind in Exodus 7-9 (as a matter of fact, we could look at many of the Egyptians themselves in the same situation—Ex. 14:17-18). Yet, when we see the context of such, and know that Pharaoh declined to know the God of Joseph (cf. Ex. 1:8), then we truly see that he and others who follow his example are without excuse (cf. Rom. 1:18-32). How serious of a problem do we really have? Am I simply being an alarmist? How may one be in danger of developing such?

One may develop a hardened heart and a calloused conscience when he knows to do something, but resists in doing so. Every preacher struggles with the conclusion of every sermon, wherein he offers an invitation. Every preacher knows that there are often individuals in the assembly who need to respond to the divine invitation but resist doing what they know they ought to do. James said it succinctly, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). Every single time I resist doing what I know I ought to do, my heart becomes a bit more hardened, and my conscience becomes a bit more seared. Then, every successive time I resist doing what I know I ought to do, I feel a little less guilt. Such is the great temptation to every Christian! In speaking concerning the Jews, Paul exhorted,

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. [Rom. 2:4-5]

In other words, instead of repenting, which was the intended response of the goodness, forbearance and longsuffering of God (cf. 2 Pet. 3:9), they refused to do what they should and thus developed hardened hearts.

One may develop a hardened heart and a calloused conscience when he knows not to do something, but persists in doing it. By its very nature, sin is addicting (cf. John 8:34), and oftentimes, Christians get caught up in sins that they know are wicked and unrighteous, but the light of the word does not shine through to motivate them to quit as it should (cf. Psa. 119:11). Thus, with each and every occasion, as long as the person fails to quit, the feelings of guilt will diminish with every occurrence, and the heart begins to harden and the conscience becomes more calloused. Thus, God wants soft and tender hearts and consciences that respond appropriately. This is the major difference between King Saul and David—Saul repetitively sinned through rebellion against God (his apologies never meant anything), but David sincerely stopped when presented with guilt (cf. 2 Sam. 11-12; Psa. 51). We all sin (1 John 1:7-9), but will we repent, confess and change our lives? If not, then our persistence to sin will be detrimental to our souls!

One may develop a hardened heart and a calloused conscience when he lives hypocritically. One cannot read the accounts of the gospel of Jesus Christ without seeing the hardened hearts and calloused consciences of the Jewish leaders of His day. Yet, one of the primary reasons for such was their hypocrisy, which Jesus infamously took to task in Matthew 23. Anytime we become hypocritical—saying one thing but living differently—we only continue the process of hardening the heart and searing the conscience with callouses. Parents who think that they can rear their children with the attitude, “Do as I say, but not as I do,” will have a rude awakening should their children become adults. Hypocrisy quickly leads to hardened hearts and calloused consciences.
One may develop a hardened heart and a calloused conscience when he judges hypercritically. Jesus addresses this in Matthew 7:1-5:

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

Anytime one attempts to correct the faults of others through hypercriticism, extracting a speck with a beam of his own protruding forth, he is showing his own neglect for his own life, and his heart will harden and he will sear his own conscience. His attention is only on the faults of others and not himself. David is a great example of this in his condemnation of a fictitious rich man from Nathan’s story (2 Sam. 12), in that he failed to see the exact fault of which Nathan was addressing by God in his own life, but was quick to judge so in others!

Rather than developing hardened hearts and calloused consciences, may we all seek to mold tender hearts and consciences (cf. 2 Kings 22:19; 2 Chron. 34:27) by allowing the word of God to become active in our lives—we will do what God says and we will refuse to do what God says not to do; we will not live hypocritically, neither will we judge hypercritically. In this way, we will all draw closer to God!

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Pray for Me

Brethren, Pray For Me

Paul was a man who fully understood the importance of prayer in the life of a Christian. He began so many of his epistles with an affirmation that he was praying for those addressed. He believed in the importance of prayer. He told this to the Romans, the Corinthians, the Ephesians, the Philippians, the Colossians, the Thessalonians and Timothy. Paul really believed in prayer.

There is a remarkable request he made to the church in Thessalonica. After urging them to pray without ceasing, he then said, “Brethren, pray for us” (1 Thess. 5:17, 25). He believed that the prayers of brethren on his behalf would make a difference in what happened in his life. Because of this, I ask of you, “Brethren, pray for me.”

I believe with all my heart that God has blessed me because of those who have told me over all of these years that they are praying for me. I am thankful that many, especially widows in the church, have prayed for me, and their prayers have changed the events in my life. Some are now deceased, like Evelyn and Ludell, but they prayed for me until the end of their lives. I think of Willette, who, at age 99, still prays for me every day as she has for the past forty years. There are others who pray for me, and I owe each of them a debt. “Brethren, pray for me.”

In Colossians chapter four, Paul urged those brothers to continue in prayer and then mentions some specific things which he wanted them to include in that prayer. “I ask you, my brethren, to include these in your prayers for me.” He specifically asked them to petition God, “That God would open unto us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ.” Think of it! Paul believed that if the church in Colosse would pray that there would be opportunities for him to teach others, it would happen. “Brethren, pray for me.”

He added to this another request. “That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak” (Col. 4:4). Truth is absolute and eternal. Yet, for it to change the lives of those who hear preaching, it must be manifested to them. It must be presented in such a way that it can be understood. Without this, preaching ceases to be preaching. “Brethren, pray for me.”

I want each of you to know that in private prayers I am praying for you. Some are mentioned specifically by name, for I know of special needs you have. I so often pray that God bless the brotherhood and that He would work in the lives of my brethren around the world.

Now if Paul, the great apostle, believed so firmly that the prayers of brethren helped (see 2 Cor. 1:11) and asked others to pray for him, then, from the depths of my heart I ask, “Brethren, pray for me.”

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