Posts Tagged ‘christianity’

Spiritual Training 17 March 2014

Posted: March 17, 2014 in 1 Corinthians, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Paul Addresses Church Problems (1:1-6:20)

1 Corinthians 1:1-3

Through various sources, Paul had received reports of problems in the Corinthian church, including jealousy, divisiveness, sexual immorality, and failure to discipline members.  Churches today must also address the problems they face.  We can learn a great deal by observing how Paul handled these delicate situations.

(1) Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, Paul’s purpose for writing was to correct those problems and to answer questions church members had asked in a previous letter.  Paul was given a special calling from God to preach about Jesus Christ.  Each Christian has a job to do, a role to take, or a contribution to make.  One assignment may seem more spectacular than another, but all are necessary to carry out God’s greater plans for his church and for his world.

(2) To the Church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ-their Lord and ours:

A personal initiation makes a person feel wanted and welcome.  We are “called to be holy.” God personally invites us to be citizens of his eternal kingdom.  But Jesus Christ, God’s Son is the only one who can bring us into this glorious Kingdom because he is the only one who removes our sins. Sanctified means that we are chosen or set apart by Christ for his service.  We accept god’s invitation by accepting his Son, Jesus Christ and by trusting in the work he did on the cross to forgive our sins.

(3) Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace is God’s free gift of salvation given to us in Christ.  Receiving it brings us peace (see Romans 5:1). In a world of noise, confusion, and relentless pressures, people long for peace.  Many give up the search, thinking it impossible to find, but true peace of heart and mind is available to us through faith in Jesus Christ.

Lets Bring It Home:  Be available to God by placing your gifts at his service.  Then as you discover what he calls you to do, be ready to do it.

Spiritual Training 11 February 2014

Posted: February 11, 2014 in 2 Timothy, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

2nd Timothy 4:18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.  To him be glory for ever and ever.  Amen.

Here Paul was affirming his belief in eternal life after death.  Paul knew the end was near, and he was ready for it.  Paul was confident in God’s power even as he faced death

Lets Bring it Home: Anyone facing a life and death struggle can be comforted knowing that God will bring each believer safely through death to his heavenly kingdom.

What is Self-Righteousness?

Posted: September 16, 2013 in Self-Righteousness
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What is self-righteousness? It is confidence you are good, competent, intelligent, and capable. It is difficulty in saying you are wrong, foolish, stupid, proud, or rebellious. It enjoys finding or discussing the faults of others. It presumes to accuse others, when having its own set of sins. It always has opinions about others’ conduct without Scripture.

It is the defensiveness to resist and balk at correction. It is the presumption of making judgments and opinions against authority. It is the ease with which you can apply a sermon to most anyone else. It is the thought during a sermon that you do not really need change in that area. It is the response that you are comfortable with things as they are.

It is the lack of thankfulness for correction. It may cry defensively when reproved or warned about sin. It responds, “I am just a failure,” when criticized. It is the excuse, “I am not that bad – you just misunderstand me.” It remembers the sins of others when it is being corrected. It may scornfully mention the sins of the person correcting it.

What can you do? Humble yourself and admit you are at least as wicked in all your ways as the worst sinner you know (I Tim 1:15). Confess your self-righteousness as a putrid stench in the nostrils of a holy God (Luke 18:9-14). Admit your righteousnesses are as clean as used menstrual rags (Is 64:6). Beg the LORD to search and reveal your wicked thoughts to you (Job 34:32; Ps 26:2; 139:23-24). Ask for a clean heart (Ps 51:10).

Prove your clean spirit by letting God’s word correct and teach you (Is 66:2). Receive correction without rebelling (Ps 73:21-22). The blessed God never despises a broken and contrite heart (Ps 34:18; 51:17; Is 57:15). If you go down in humble contrition, He will lift you up (Jas 4:10; I Pet 5:6). Blessed are the poor in spirit (Matt 5:3).

You must not defer or minimize self-examination. It is the holy exercise of spiritual men, who rightly understand the deceitful wickedness of their own hearts (I Cor 11:28; II Cor 13:5). Every secret thing will soon be exposed before the holy tribunal of the Lord Jesus Christ. Cleanse your hands and purify your hearts from double-minded hypocrisy through critical and sober repentance (Jas 4:8-10). The Lord will lift you up!

Wise men will recognize that the evil within is more deceitful and dangerous to pleasing God than the evil without. While hatred of this world is a good and godly attitude toward the dangerous temptations there, it is the deceitful lusts in your own heart that are your greatest enemy. Constant vigilance with sincere humility before God will save your spirit. Keep your heart with all diligence to reject any lofty thoughts of self that arise (Pr 4:23).

Proverbs 16:02 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: September 16, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Proverbs 16, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 16:2 –All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD. 

All a man’s ways seem innocent to him.  People can rationalize anything if they have no standards for judging right and wrong.  We can always prove that we are right. Before putting any plan into action, ask yourself these three questions: (1) Is this plan in harmony with God’s truth? (2) Will it work under real-life conditions? (3) Is my attitude pleasing to God?

Do you know yourself? How can you? Your own heart lies to you worse and more than anyone else! “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer 17:9). David said, “Who can understand his [own] errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults” (Ps 19:12). No man truly knows himself! You do not know yourself!

Of course you think you are clean and right in all your ways. Your self-righteous heart justifies everything you think, say, and do. Your lying heart leads you to all sorts of folly and sin, and you hardly even know it (Pr 16:25; 30:12). But the LORD weighs your secret ambitions and motives, just as He weighed Belshazzar. And He will find you wanting. Then He will purify you in the fiery furnace of affliction.

Though you cannot know the deceitfulness of your heart, the LORD does. The blessed God says to man, “Who can know it?” Then He answers, “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings” (Jer 17:10). All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom you have to do, including the thoughts and intents of your heart (Heb 4:12-13).

You are being weighed now. The scales of holy justice are tipping. Examine yourself. Why are you reading this commentary? How are you reading it? Have you already decided it has nothing for you? Do you think you know your spirit? Is this warning for other sinners, those far worse than you? Do you resent this spiritual warning? Are you thankful to God you are not as wicked as other men? Are you too busy for this spiritual stuff? Are you irritated there is not something new and exciting to tickle your ears?

You foolish person. You deceive yourself. Confess your depravity. Repent of your arrogant self-righteousness. True humility is to fall naked and helpless before the holy God of heaven and confess sincerely, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). So important is this proverb, Solomon gave it to you twice (Pr 21:2).

It is easy to slide through spiritual instruction – to speed read or listen lazily to satisfy a deceitful conscience. It is easy to apply warnings to others – to identify motes at great distances, while missing your own beam. It is easy to despise others – to thank God you are not as disgusting as they are, while your spirit is weighed in heaven as worst of all!

There is nothing worse than self-righteousness. Consider it well. What is it? Thinking you are righteous and justifying yourself against conscience, correction, and conversion. Such a person has no clue they are full of sin, for they have allowed lofty thoughts of themselves to totally distort their judgment. They only use the mirror of God’s word for others, for they do not even see a need for examining their own faces (Jas 1:21-25).

How will you reason with such a person? You cannot point out their sin, for they cannot see it. Their arrogant self-confidence rejects your reasons (Pr 26:12,16; Gal 6:3). And these scorners will hate you for the effort (Pr 9:7-8). They crucified the Lord of glory for exposing their false and hypocritical religion. Every man is a Pharisee in his own spirit.

What is self-righteousness? It is confidence you are good, competent, intelligent, and capable. It is difficulty in saying you are wrong, foolish, stupid, proud, or rebellious. It enjoys finding or discussing the faults of others. It presumes to accuse others, when having its own set of sins. It always has opinions about others’ conduct without Scripture.

It is the defensiveness to resist and balk at correction. It is the presumption of making judgments and opinions against authority. It is the ease with which you can apply a sermon to most anyone else. It is the thought during a sermon that you do not really need change in that area. It is the response that you are comfortable with things as they are.

It is the lack of thankfulness for correction. It may cry defensively when reproved or warned about sin. It responds, “I am just a failure,” when criticized. It is the excuse, “I am not that bad – you just misunderstand me.” It remembers the sins of others when it is being corrected. It may scornfully mention the sins of the person correcting it.

What can you do? Humble yourself and admit you are at least as wicked in all your ways as the worst sinner you know (I Tim 1:15). Confess your self-righteousness as a putrid stench in the nostrils of a holy God (Luke 18:9-14). Admit your righteousnesses are as clean as used menstrual rags (Is 64:6). Beg the LORD to search and reveal your wicked thoughts to you (Job 34:32; Ps 26:2; 139:23-24). Ask for a clean heart (Ps 51:10).

Prove your clean spirit by letting God’s word correct and teach you (Is 66:2). Receive correction without rebelling (Ps 73:21-22). The blessed God never despises a broken and contrite heart (Ps 34:18; 51:17; Is 57:15). If you go down in humble contrition, He will lift you up (Jas 4:10; I Pet 5:6). Blessed are the poor in spirit (Matt 5:3).

You must not defer or minimize self-examination. It is the holy exercise of spiritual men, who rightly understand the deceitful wickedness of their own hearts (I Cor 11:28; II Cor 13:5). Every secret thing will soon be exposed before the holy tribunal of the Lord Jesus Christ. Cleanse your hands and purify your hearts from double-minded hypocrisy through critical and sober repentance (Jas 4:8-10). The Lord will lift you up!

Wise men will recognize that the evil within is more deceitful and dangerous to pleasing God than the evil without. While hatred of this world is a good and godly attitude toward the dangerous temptations there, it is the deceitful lusts in your own heart that are your greatest enemy. Constant vigilance with sincere humility before God will save your spirit. Keep your heart with all diligence to reject any lofty thoughts of self that arise (Pr 4:23).

Spiritual Training 27 August 2013

Posted: August 28, 2013 in 1 Timothy, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

1 Timothy 2:1-4 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 

 Although God is all-powerful and all knowing, he has chosen to let us help him change the world through our prayers.  How this works is a mystery to us because of our limited understanding, but it is a reality.  Paul based his instruction about prayer for everyone on his conviction that God’s invitation for salvation extends equally to all people.  The word everyone captures the nature of the gospel.  The world that God loves includes every person (John 3:16).  He loves us as individuals whom he knows intimately (Psalm 139:13-18).  Paul urges us to pray for everyone.  Our earnest prayers will have powerful results (James 5:16)

2:2 Says we should pray for those in authority around the world so that their societies will be conducive to the spread of the gospel.  Paul’s command to pray for kings is remarkable considering that Nero, a notoriously cruel ruler, was emperor at this time (A.D. 54-68).  When Paul wrote this letter, persecution was a growing threat to believers.  Later, when Nero needed a scapegoat for the great fire that destroyed much of Rome in A.D 64, he blamed the Roman Christians so as to take the focus off himself.  Then persecution erupted throughout the Roman Empire.  Not only were Christians denied certain privileges in society; some were even publicly butchered, burned, or fed to animals.

2:4 Both Peter and Paul said that God wants all to be saved (see 2 Peter 3:9).  This does not mean that all will be saved, because the Bible makes it clear that many reject Christ (Matthew 25:31-46: John 12:44-50; Hebrews 10:26-29).

Lets Bring it Home: The gospel message has a universal scope; it is not directed only to people of one race, one sex, or one national background.  God loves the whole world and sent his Son to save sinners.  No one is outside God’s mercy or beyond the reach of his offer of salvation.

Proverbs 20:12 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: August 20, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs 20, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 20:12 Ears that hear and eyes that see the Lord has made them both. 

Newborns are inspected to see if ears and eyes work. Believers thank God for a healthy child. Pagans thank Fate. Functional ears and eyes are very precious and useful. But they are God’s choice; He does not owe anything to anyone, including hearing and vision.

It is God’s sovereign and gracious choice that any hear or see. Hearing and seeing are not rights; they are blessed privileges. And the greatest gift of hearing and seeing is the ability and desire to discern and receive the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ and the words of wisdom and truth. It is the very rare ability to understand, repent, and obey the gospel.

A deaf or blind child is not an accident. It is not a result of fate. It cannot be overturned by science. It is the choice of the true God. He is perfect in all choices, and He makes thousands of such choices for each person. His power is unlimited and his authority absolute. As the Creator of a rebellious race, He has the right to do as He chooses.

You were not even consulted if you wanted to live, if you wanted existence. Consider his infinite authority and sovereignty over you. Once you were alive, you could not turn off your existence. Suicide only kills your body, after which your spirit must meet God as a guilty murderer! Your existence was the choice of Almighty God without your approval!

He chose your generation of birth, your height, nation of origin, sex, parents, temperament, siblings, intelligence, athletic ability, opportunities in life, and every other factor that influences your existence. He is the LORD! You are nothing! He is the Potter! You are the clay! His choices have drastically affected your life without your approval.

Humble yourself before this great and dreadful God. Crush your vain thoughts. Give Him praise and worship. Adore Him. Thank Him for all that you have and are. Offer Him all that you have and are. Beg Him for mercy for your sins. Dedicate your life to Him, today!

When the disciples saw a man born blind, they knew it had been God’s choice. Jesus told them it was for God’s glory (John 9:1-3). Would God blind a man for 30 years just for His own glory? Easily! Would God put a man out to pasture like an ox for His own glory? Definitely! Read Daniel 4 about Nebuchadnezzar. Do you love and fear this God?

Spiritual hearing and sight are much more important than physical. It is only by God’s free grace that any sinners are given spiritual ears and eyes to hear and see the things of God. Most men do not think about God in any meaningful way their entire lives (Ps 10:4). Spiritual senses are given when you are born again. You received natural hearing and vision at your first birth; you receive spiritual hearing and vision at your second birth.

Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). And also, “He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God” (John 8:47). Both sight and hearing are the gifts of God. Jesus Christ hid the truth from the Jews, but He revealed it to His disciples (Matt 11:25-27; 13:10-16)!

Why do most men not even consider God and truth? Why do most men think the gospel to be foolish? God has not opened their ears to hear it with understanding and conviction. Why do most see His glorious creation and ascribe their existence to evolution and fate? God has not opened their eyes to see Him or His truth. You depend on God’s choice.

The rich man in hell asked Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to warn his five brothers from joining him there. But Abraham’s sober answer was that without the grace of God to open their ears and eyes, even a man coming back from the dead would not convict or change their depraved and rebellious hearts (Luke 16:27-31). If they were not interested in Bible reading, they would not be interested in a man back from the dead!

Have you wondered why family and/or friends do not appreciate the things God has shown you in His word? Why are they not convicted like you about God and godliness? You know what would happen if you confronted classmates or colleagues about Jesus Christ, coming judgment, and living a holy life. They would reject your words and hate you. What is the explanation? You have hearing ears and seeing eyes – they do not.

Do not be frustrated by most people rejecting truth and wisdom, no matter how well you present it. Jesus and Paul met with the same response. The religious leaders of the Jews crucified Jesus, and they chased Paul around the Roman Empire until he was beheaded. Thank God for your hearing ears and seeing eyes, and pray for Him to lead you to others that have been born again. God can and will lead you to a Cornelius or a Lydia.

There are no human means to bring hearing to ears and sight to eyes. Only the LORD can do this great work. Manmade evangelistic efforts to sound the gospel to deaf ears or show the Saviour to blind eyes are foolish and vain. The gospel is only heard and seen by those already born again, men with hearing ears and seeing eyes (I Cor 1:18,24; 2:14-15).

Salvation is of the Lord! God has chosen some to eternal life (Eph 1:4). He sent Jesus Christ to die for their sins, and He will surely regenerate and glorify them (Rom 8:29-33). He gives them hearing ears and seeing eyes. Luke described those who believed Paul this way: “And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48).

How is a man born again with spiritual ears and eyes? Jesus the Son of God commands him to come to life and resurrects his soul from spiritual death (John 5:25-29). This glorious work is by the power and grace of God, without any human cooperation (John 1:13; 3:8; Rom 9:16; Eph 1:19-20; 2:1-10). The Lord Jesus Christ exercises the same creative power He used to bring forth light in the beginning (II Cor 4:3-6; Eph 2:10).

Only after that great event will you or can you hear and see the things of God. It is then that pagans like Cornelius begin fearing God, praying each day, and giving alms to the poor (Acts 10:1-4). And when the gospel is brought to such a man by the providence of God, he believes and obeys it as the glorious news that it is (Acts 10:33,44-48)!

If you can hear or see the things of God today, give Him thanks, and run in the direction of that conviction, today! If you fear you are not born again, your duty is the same. Run to the Lord Jesus Christ, own Him as your Sovereign and only Hope, and obey Him. This is the evidence of perfect hearing and vision (II Pet 1:5-10; I John 2:29; 3:7; 5:1-5).

Jesus Christ is waiting to show Himself to the universe, for He is the Blessed and Only Potentate, King of kings and Lord of lords (I Tim 6:14-15). He is coming with ten thousands of His angels to destroy His enemies (Jude 1:14; II Thess 1:7-9). Believe and obey Him today, for tomorrow may bring the curse of His coming (I Cor 16:22).

Spiritual Training 20 August 2013

Posted: August 20, 2013 in 1 Timothy, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

1 Timothy 1:12-13 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful appointing me to his service.  Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 

People can feel so guilt-ridden by their past that they think God could never forgive and accept them.  But consider Paul’s past.  He had scoffed at the teachings of Jesus (“a blasphemer”) and had hunted down and murdered God’s people  (“a persecutor and a violent man”) before coming to faith in Christ (Acts 9:1-19).  God forgave Paul and used Paul mightily for his kingdom.

Lets Bring it Home: No matter how shameful your past, God also can forgive and use you.

Proverbs 15:23 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: August 16, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs 15, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 15:23 A man finds joy in giving an apt reply-how good is a timely word!

Answering well is a precious ability, especially at the right time! Knowing how to answer others is a valuable skill of wise men. The wisdom to help with the right words at the right time makes a person profitable to others (Pr 12:14; 16:13; 23:16; 24:26; 25:12).

Solomon said a good answer is as beautiful as gold apples in a silver bowl (Pr 25:11). But the ability to give the right answer at the right time takes much understanding and wisdom, so he dedicated many of his proverbs to this skill for your success and profit.

The Lord Jesus taught that giving is more blessed than receiving (Acts 20:35). One of the best and easiest ways to give and support others is with a kind or wise word when they need it. There is righteous joy in helping someone with good counsel. But such ability only comes by careful preparation and knowledge before the opportunity presents itself.

Jesus Christ had this ability. “The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary” (Is 50:4). It is a duty and privilege to have this wise tongue, so you also can help others. You can learn how to answer every man and have pleasure doing it (Col 4:6; Gal 6:1-5; I Pet 3:15).

How? Listen very attentively and speak cautiously (Prov 18:13; 29:20; James 1:19).

How? Reduce your words to only valuable ones (Prov 10:19; 17:27-28; Eccl 5:3).

How? Spend time examining your speech by prayer (Psalms 19:12-14; 139:23-24).

How? Keep your heart and thoughts pure and wise (Prov 4:23; 22:11; Luke 6:45).

How? Always be gracious in your speech (Prov 11:16; 22:11; Eccl 10:12; Col 4:6).

How? Make the glory of God an object of your speech (Col 3:17; I Cor 10:31).

How? Study to make sure all your answers are correct (Prov 15:2,28; 16:23).

How? Make sure the words fit the occasion (Prov 10:32; 25:20; I Cor 13:5).

How? Choose words that build others up (Prov 12:18; Eph 4:29; I Cor 10:24).

How? Use gentle words when a person is angry (Prov 15:1; 25:15; Judges 8:1-3).

How? Give certain words of truth rather than opinions (Prov 22:17-22; I Pet 3:15).

How? Learn wisdom to solve dilemmas for others (Prov 10:21; 16:21; 27:9).

How? Be encouraging and uplifting to others (Prov 12:25; 16:24; I Sam 23:16).

How? Use pleasant rather than harsh words (Prov 16:24; Col 4:6; Luke 4:22).

How? Do not debate or dispute with fools (Prov 23:9; 26:4-5; II Tim 2:23).

How? Avoid complaining or negative speech (Prov 17:20; Phil 2:14; Col 3:17).

How? Reject pride and contention in speech (Prov 13:10; 18:6; I Cor 6:7).

How? Let negative words only season speech (Prov 26:5; Jas 3:9-12; Col 4:6).

How? Avoid hurtful words behind a person’s back (Prov 11:13; 20:19; 25:9,23).

How? Work thanksgiving into every conversation (Eph 5:4,20; I Thess 5:18).

If you want a happy life and good life, then learn how to rule your speech and use it for the profit of others (Ps 34:12-16; I Pet 3:10-12). Both men and women can rise in reputation by gracious words that build up others (Pr 11:16; 22:11; 31:26; Ec 10:12; Eph 4:29). This skill and wisdom will make your life productive for both God and men.

The true purpose of the church is the mutual help members give one another while waiting for the return of Jesus Christ (Heb 3:12-13; 10:23-25). But this great goal will only be realized where members learn to answer well at the right time. If godly speech is learned by all, a church can grow up to the full measure of Jesus Christ (Eph 4:13-16).

 

Spiritual Training 12 August 2013

Posted: August 12, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Romans:  15:30 I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 

To often we see prayer as a time for comfort, reflection or making requests to God.  But here Paul urges believers to join in his struggle by means of prayer.  Prayer is a weapon that all believers should use in interceding for others.  Many of us know believers who are living in difficult places in order to communicate the gospel.  Sending them funds is part of joining them in their struggles, but prayer is also a crucial way of being with them.  Missionaries strongly desire the prayers of those who have sent them out.

Lets Bring it home: Do your prayers reflect that struggle on their behalf?

Spiritual Training 09 August 2013

Posted: August 8, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Romans:  15:20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. 

 Paul says that he has “ambition.” Ambition can be a difficult topic for Christian’s because we see so many bad examples of ambitious people who claw their way to the top.  But certainly that isn’t the kind of ambition one sees in Paul.  Instead of looking out for himself and working hard for personal advancement, he was ambitious to serve God-for Paul that meant to “preach the gospel where Christ was not known.”

Lets Bring it home: Are we ambitious for God? Do we want, more than anything else, to please him and to do his will?  Ask God for “holy ambition.”

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