Praying Pint

 

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4

In his first epistle, the apostle John had a lot of say about the devil. He wrote to his churches, telling them they had overcome the wicked one (2:13). The devil, he said, has “sinned from the beginning” and tempts others to do the same, but Jesus came to “destroy the works of the devil” (3:8).

John wrote, “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (5:19). The One in us—Jesus Christ—is greater than he who dominates the world.

Satan may be a prince, a ruler, and the god of this world, but his power is limited, and his abilities can never match God’s omnipotence. Through Christ, we have overcome the devil, we are of God, and we belong to Him who is greater than Satan by far.

Let’s live like overcomers—unafraid, unintimidated, victorious. Be thankful Satan has limitations and our infinite God knows how to protect us from all evil.

God would not throw us into the conflict if He did not also give us the resources needed to stand against the enemy.

 

 

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4

In his first epistle, the apostle John had a lot of say about the devil. He wrote to his churches, telling them they had overcome the wicked one (2:13). The devil, he said, has “sinned from the beginning” and tempts others to do the same, but Jesus came to “destroy the works of the devil” (3:8).

John wrote, “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (5:19). The One in us—Jesus Christ—is greater than he who dominates the world.

Satan may be a prince, a ruler, and the god of this world, but his power is limited, and his abilities can never match God’s omnipotence. Through Christ, we have overcome the devil, we are of God, and we belong to Him who is greater than Satan by far.

Let’s live like overcomers—unafraid, unintimidated, victorious. Be thankful Satan has limitations and our infinite God knows how to protect us from all evil.

God would not throw us into the conflict if He did not also give us the resources needed to stand against the enemy.

 

 

Lam 3:19-27  Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.  It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

Life is hard. As much as we want to avoid the pain of loss, health struggles, family dysfunction and more, the reality is that we live in a fallen and broken world. Even as we call upon Jesus as Savior, we are not immune to sorrow.

Sometimes, we bring pain upon ourselves through our own actions and choices, bearing the consequences of our sin. Other times, we suffer the scars of somebody else’s bad decisions, struggling through life due to something that was out of our control. And then, there is the pain that we endure simply as a byproduct of living in broken vessels during our time on earth.

If you are currently struggling, perhaps you can find some solace and strength in the prophet Jeremiah’s descriptions of God in the book of Lamentations. A little backstory: Due to the sin of the Israelites, God had used Babylon to bring His judgment on the land. Pain, sorrow and desperation were everywhere. Jerusalem lay in desolate ruins.

With this in mind, Jeremiah cried out to God, revealing a few truths about God’s nature.

First, God is faithful concerning His judgment (Lamentations 3:19-20). The people of God had sinned and they refused to repent, and God’s righteousness would not allow that to continue. God is a righteous judge—He must punish sin. Therefore, God sent the Babylonians to destroy Jerusalem, which brought great affliction.

Today, we live in a culture that celebrates sin, even within the church (in some cases). We pretend that sin doesn’t matter.

We should never think that we can escape God’s judgment, however. It may seem like we’re getting away with something for a time, but God is faithful concerning His judgment.

Second, God is faithful concerning His mercy (Lamentations 3:21-24). In these verses, Jeremiah focuses on three of the attributes of the Lord. Jeremiah says that God is:

• Merciful. This is also translated lovingkindness, great love and steadfast love.
• Compassionate. This is the same word used for the womb; just as a mother shows compassion to her own children, the Lord shows compassion to His children.
• Faithful. He is unchanging, as in a rock. The storms may come, but the rock is firm, strong and unmovable.

As Jeremiah focused on these attributes of the Lord, he responded by saying, “The Lord is my portion.” This phrase refers back to Numbers 18:20 when the Lord told Aaron that he would not have any land as an inheritance because the Lord would be his portion.

And now, as Jeremiah looked out over the destruction of Jerusalem, there was nothing left. There was only the Lord, the One who remained permanent in the midst of change.

Finally, God is faithful in His goodness (Lamentations 3:25-27). The Lord is good to those who wait upon Him and hope in Him, recognizing that the problems of the world will not last forever and that nothing can pervert or change God’s purposes. The Lord is good to those who humble themselves before Him, realizing that He is ultimately in control of our lives and destiny (and we are not).

Jeremiah recognized these things, which made it possible for him to see the bigger picture of why his present suffering was taking place. It gave him a faith-filled hope moving forward.

My friends, we live in a world that is constantly changing and full of sorrow. Many of you are probably struggling with something even now.

As you travel through the dark valley of grief and pain, I pray that you will take Jeremiah’s words to heart. Focus on the full view of God’s judgment, mercy and goodness, recognizing that He is in control and He is faithful. Cling to the promise and find peace in understanding that “the Lord is my portion.”

 

Col 1:21  And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,

There is no good news unless you understand the bad news. (Sin) What you believe about sin determines what you believe about salvation. And Paul didn’t mince words. He wrote, “You were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds” (v. 21). You cannot fully appreciate what Jesus has done for you until you understand the desperate condition we are all in apart from Christ.

We don’t normally look at our own sin. We usually turn a blind eye to it. We look at ourselves as doing good or for good reasons. We justify our thoughts, words, and actions and don’t give a second thought about whether they are in line with God’s Word or if they honor and glorify Jesus Christ.

If we are a believer we hear much about the GOOD NEWS of and through Jesus Christ. Redemption, Salvation, Forgiveness, and Eternal Life. And we should not only hear this but proclaim it. The problem arises in that we don’t think or talk about “SIN” in the believer.

We are justified by and through faith in the sacrifice, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sins. However, there is also the gift of the Holy Spirit to indwell us. The Holy Spirit will lead, guide, encourage, convict, and grow and mature us. This growing and maturing is called sanctification. It begins the minute we become believers, “born again”.

We grow and mature as we are in His Word with a heart that seeks and desires to know more and more of what pleases God so that in all thoughts, words, and actions we will honor and glorify Jesus Christ.

Neglecting God’s Word will not grow or mature us. We will remain a baby in not only God’s Word but in the things of God too.

Our sinful nature can only be understood through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit opening our hearts and minds to the wonder of it. It will expose sin if we seek to know the condition of our hearts and minds.

 

 

If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

–1 Timothy 5:8

Work, making a living, and providing for one’s immediate family and extended family is commanded by God. It is out of our Love of God that sacrificial support is given. In this love God is honored and glorified. In this love not only are we blessed but others others are blessed too. 

Wisdom is needed in all giving. 

If you have a family member, extended family member, or member of your congregation who is able to work but chooses not to, it is not wise to support them in this laziness. In this case, we can offer a job or help them find a job, but not give them money.

If a family member is living outside their means and is spending money foolishly without regard for tomorrow, it is not wise to support them in this foolishness. We can counsel and give advice on how to live within means, but not give them money.

If a family member is spending money to support an addiction, it is not wise to support the addiction in any form other than rehabilitation. 

It is easy to see laziness and addiction support are foolish for a person to consider. Yet, I think too often the worldly view of “Needs” and what it deems as worthwhile cloud the judgments and spending habits of far too many people. We live in a time when “credit score” means I can borrow more money because I am a good risk for paying it back. I don’t know how all of this “credit score” stuff came about but it is driving people to spend borrowed money in ways that are we are not intended to live for. What drives this spending other than “you can borrow money” to buy something you cannot afford by saving for it? Instead of saving for it and then purchasing what we can afford, we are enticed to buy “Now” and pay back later. We have a good credit score.  You can get a credit card or multiple cards because you have a good credit score. You can buy now and pay back later, you’re a good risk.  Don’t get me wrong, there are times when something comes up that requires us to find a way to pay for a repair or medical procedure or something along those lines. However, spending because I can borrow is being driven by those who make money off of convincing you to spend now and pay back later. 

The world says this is the way to live and enjoy worldly pleasures now rather than not. Search engines and pop-up adds and the easy way to purchase on-line have made spending so easy and foolish. First, they say you need it, it is easy to get it, and just point and click your way to satisfaction and it will be delivered to your door. You did not even know you wanted it but they have convinced you of not only the need but you really need to buy it to be satisfied. You are worth it after all. 

How many people can come up with $500 to $1,000 per month for 5 years to buy a car but cannot discipline themselves to save the money first and then buy it? It looks a lot different when you pull $50,000 out of your bank account in one lump sum to buy a car than $500 to $1,000 per month.  What kind of car would you buy if you had to pay cash? How much would you truly buy if it were not for the internet enticing, convincing, and stimulating you to buy? 

What kind of example are we as “Christians” being when we, like the rest of the world, are living like this? How much help can we be to those in need when we are spending money from the future to support our whims now? How much looking will I do those in need when I strap myself to debt? How can I help family members in need when I have consumed all I make on myself? What kind of love is it that thinks of self first? What kind of love is it that limits their ability to give because of self-worthy spending? How is God honored in self-spending? How is God glorified in being indebted to others? The world sees nothing wrong with this because it is consumed with self-interest, self-worthiness, and giving no thought to honoring or glorifying God. 

There is much that could be said about self-spending, budgeting, and living within means, but let us leave it at this – God expects us to be cheerful givers, provide for our families, and be generous with what He has blessed us with.  When our blessings are being used only for self, how is God honored or glorified? Do we think that a new boat, new car, new home, new kitchen, new furniture, exciting vacation, latest fashion clothes, etc…. gets us closer to serving those in need or becoming more and more generous? 

Take a look at how your money is being spent.

The world wants you to spend and think of self.

God wants you to give and be prepared to give with a generous heart and mind. 

 

 

 

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
2 Corinthians 10:3

As of 2023, there were approximately 12,500 nuclear weapons in the world with 90 percent belonging to Russia (5,889) and the United States (5,244).¹ Those huge numbers are a holdover from the Cold War between Russia and the U.S. when the arms race was a way to intimidate each country’s main enemy. That has always been the way of the world: accumulate more and better material weapons.

The apostle Paul wrote that “we do not war according to the [ways of the world].” Paul doesn’t explain what war is. He assumes his readers know that we are in a spiritual war, and he wants them to understand the difference in the weapons we use. He goes on to say in 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 that our primary weapon is truth—“mighty in God for pulling down strongholds” of the enemy. His words remind us of God’s message to Zerubbabel: “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).

If you find yourself in a spiritual battle, don’t fight like the world. Turn to God and His truth, empowered by the Spirit, to find victory (Matthew 4:1-11).___________________________________________

It is understandable to prepare for either a pending battle or one that has the potential to happen. We see it throughout history. High walls, watch towers, weapons, training, guards, advance scouts, and in more recent times; spy planes, drones, satellites, advanced listening devices, data collection and search centers. The Army, Navy, Airforce, and special forces within each of them train continually and develop weapons all with the intent of “Preparing for Battle”.  We don’t know half of what is being used or developed for future battles.  Some will say we should all live in peace and stop spending and preparing for wars. Others will say we should not only prepare but that we should use what we have to bring about peace.

Whether we want to acknowledge it or not we are in a battle – “a spiritual war” between us and the wily stealth attacks from Satan. Paul specifically tells us to gear up for this battle: Belt of Truth, Breastplate of Righteousness, Shield of Faith, Helmet of Salvation, and Word of the Spirit.

Do we recognize we are in a battle? We should be able to see the wily and crafty attacks of Satan. If we do not more than likely we are just babies in our Faith and understanding and knowledge of God’s Word.

How can we live honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ in all of our thoughts, words, and actions if we do not know the temptations we give into all the time, thinking that we are just passively living for Jesus?  Far too often our lives are lukewarm, weak, and willingly void of God’s Word and things of God. There is no discernment, or understanding of what is pure, right, and holy. Little commitment to studying God’s Word will not develop our training for the spiritual battle that encompasses us. How will we know truth, and righteousness, or hear the Holy Spirit speak into our lives, or how will our faith grow without continual desire to know and understand more and more from God’s Word about things of God?

Jesus said He would send the Holy Spirit upon all who believe and that the Holy Spirit would and does lead us in all truth and righteousness. How many people neglect God’s Word and deafen their ears to the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirit’s leading? Just because we are complacent and neglectful and blind and deaf does not mean there is not a spiritual battle going on for our hearts, minds, and souls. If we are not aware of temptations and attacks I would think our commitment to honor and glorify Jesus Christ is weak at best and non-existent at worst. Satan does not even need to tempt us or attack us – we are babies tossed around by what this world deems right. We are weak and unable to discern right from wrong or know what is godly living.

On this side of eternity, there will be no peace, and yet we can have peace in knowing our savior is in control, watches over us, and will have victory over all that is unholy. There will be Spiritual wars, worldly wars, hate, divisions, greed, pride, boastfulness, etc…… until the return of Jesus Christ. We do well to be continually in a state of readiness for what ever spiritual battle comes.

 

 

 

 

By Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities.

–Colossians 1:16

Someone has said about Jesus, “He is the Star of astronomy; the Rock of geology; the Lion and Lamb of zoology; the Harmonizer of all discords and the healer of all diseases. Great men have come and gone, yet He lives on. Herod could not kill Him; Satan could not seduce Him; death could not destroy Him; the grave could not hold Him.”

What a magnificent description of the Lord Jesus Christ! Yet it pales in comparison to Paul’s description of Jesus in Colossians 1. The first fourteen verses of his letter are introductory. Paul expressed his excitement for what was happening in the Colossian church. Then he prayed for the Colossians what you and I ought to be praying for the people we care about: that they would know God’s will, obey God’s commands, and experience God’s power. Now, in verse 15, we come to the very heart of this letter.

Remember, the Colossian Christians were being tempted to embrace other doctrines and belief systems. They weren’t trying to discard Christianity but to add to Christianity. They were being told, “Jesus Christ is important, but you also need something else. You need Jesus Christ plus this philosophy or that experience.” Even today, people try to add to what Jesus did for us. They say in order to be saved, you need Jesus Christ plus good works, or Jesus Christ plus baptism, or Jesus Christ plus some other philosophy.

The apostle Paul said no. Jesus Christ is sufficient. He has sufficiently saved you, sufficiently secured you, and sufficiently empowered you to live a victorious life. You need nothing and no one other than Jesus Christ.

But how do you know that Jesus is sufficient for your salvation? How do you know that Jesus is sufficient to carry you through whatever trial you’re experiencing right now? Paul answered those questions by demonstrating that Jesus Christ is central in three important realms of this universe: He is central in creation, He is central in the church, and He is central in salvation. When you understand the centrality of Jesus in the universe, you’ll understand why He is sufficient for all your needs.