In contrast to our burgeoning physical waistlines, we are spiritually wasting away. Spiritually, we need to have a balanced diet as well; we need less spiritual sugar and fat; we need more spiritually healthy choices. It isn't easy to give up a diet of sugar and fat, after all, they taste so good! Similarly, it isn't easy to divorce ourselves from spiritual sugar and fat (i.e. the "feel good" approach to spirituality). So, how can we improve our spiritual diet?
We must keep our aim on heaven because heaven is a 1) Prepared Place, 2) Perfect Place, 3) Pure Place, and 4) Prized Place. I want to encourage everyone to continue to be faithful so that they may attain heaven one day.
James does not say HOW God gives wisdom. He just states the fact of it. Perhaps some expect God to just miraculously insert wisdom into their psyche like King Solomon. (Where are these geniuses?) That’s not going to happen. Even Jesus grew in wisdom (Luke 2:52). It’s a process, like our prayers for patience. Wisdom comes from thoughts; thoughts come from words; words come from experience; experience comes from practice.
Each listener will study five lessons on unity from Galatians 2:1-10. This lesson is designed to show that godly unity entails scriptural conditions.
Putting confidence in God is also wise. It is a shift away from confidence in self. The tension between God and self is the ultimate test of faith because each person is always there with himself to challenge whether he will trust in God.
The goal is to teach the things which the obedient tongue will utter before God – namely, it will be a tongue that 1) speaks truth, 2) utters praise, 3) reflects good judgment, and 4) edifies and to help all realize the importance of a word fitly spoken.
The very act of praying for wisdom produces instant wisdom because it is wise to open oneself up to the possibility of receiving wisdom. The act of doubting that God will give wisdom is itself unwise because one closes oneself off to the possibility of receiving wisdom, which, in and of itself, is not wise. It is wise to desire wisdom.
A Christian is a person who 1) Believes Christ, 2) Obeys Christ, 3) Is Faithful to Christ. Each person should understand that it isn’t enough to claim to be a Christian, one must live that way.
The beauty of Jesus can be seen in my devotion when I have His peace in my life. He said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
To think on things that are noble is to think on things that are 1) Generous, 2) Respectable, 3) Reverent. Each person should know how to think “noble” thoughts. To help each person control their thoughts as a Christian.
All worship (public or private) demands full attention. How could it be any other way? Does the Ruler of the Cosmos, the Almighty God who created the heavens, the earth, and all that is in them, deserve anything less than one’s full attention? God is worthy to be praised (Psalm 22:4)!
Emotions also move us one way or the other to take action. Happiness, sadness, love, hate, anxiety, contentment: these are all emotions that we may experience and there are many more. Emotions are so powerful that many confuse them with God’s acting in their life. God can certainly use our emotions, but feelings come from our own bodies and are the result of the beliefs that we hold in our hearts, the actions we take, and the responses of others.
Authentic Christianity changes those who 1) Listen, 2) Repent, 3) Obey, 4) Stay Faithful. Each person will understand how Paul changed as a result of becoming a Christian.
We need that voice when we are studying for an exam or trying to get a certification for a job. God also appeals to our reason (Isaiah 1:8) when trying to convince us of our need for repentance and salvation. We must use our reason to study God’s word and evaluate our own lives in relationship to it (2 Timothy 2:15).
What can I do to evangelize? What can I do to promote the gospel of Jesus Christ? This week, you can invite your friends and neighbors to our gospel meeting. Brother Jeff Whatley will be preaching on the topic “Living by Faith.” Jeff is a wonderful person and gospel preacher. We will do well to invite our friends and family to come hear him.
Answered prayer brings the blessing of 1) Healing 2) Joy 3) Humility 4) Meaning, 5) Worship. Each person will learn the many ways God blesses us in answering prayer.
We should seek to hear counsel and receive instruction for those that imitate Christ. This is spoken by Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:1 "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." We seek the advice he gives in his epistles, which are inspired by God and delivered to man through the Holy Spirit. We should also apply instructions seen in the proper examples shown by godly people.
Heaven is beautiful because 1) The Pure Live There, 2) God’s Light is There, 3) The River of Life is There, 4) Rest for the Weary is There. Each listener should be able to explain how and why heaven is beautiful.
Everyone enjoys praise! But the price of praise is preparation and performance. Praise is usually associated with a good reputation. This for most people is important and is attained with proper life choices and a pleasurable attitude. A good reputation also requires effort and discipline. We strive to achieve a good reputation to be accepted by others.
To have authentic Christianity, we must not change the gospel. Each person will understand that while some want to change the gospel, if we want to please God, we must not change the gospel.