The Way Of The Wise (Believer)

Posted on December 6, 2025 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

Proverbs 24:23-25 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. 24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: 25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

The Wise – The Children of God –
Judge Based On God’s Standard

The “WISE” (Hebrew ḥāḵām) are those whom “God has FILLED with the SPIRIT of WISDOM” (Exodus 28:3). God is the Giver of Wisdom. The Bible says:

Proverbs 2:6 (LSB) YAHWEH GIVES WISDOM; From His mouth [come] knowledge and discernment.

Job 12:13 (LSB) WITH {GOD} ARE WISDOM AND MIGHT; To Him belong counsel and discernment.

There are few “WISE” people in our world today. Since the time of Adam and Eve, we have been eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and considering ourselves gods. We are not gods. God is God, and we are not. God tells us:

Proverbs 24:23 It is not good to have RESPECT OF PERSONS in judgment

Our God has a standard, and His standard is revealed in the Bible, the Word of God. God judges by His standard, and wants us to do the same.

God does not use one standard for one person, and another standard for another person. When Peter was led to the Gentile Cornelius’ home, and shared the Gospel with him, he said:

Acts 10:34-35 (LSB) I most truly comprehend [now] that GOD IS NOT ONE TO SHOW PARTIALITY, but in every nation the one who fears Him and does righteousness is welcome to Him.

The Apostle Paul gave a stern warning in:

Romans 2:4-11 (NKJV) … do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are TREASURING UP FOR YOURSELF WRATH in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will RENDER TO EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness–indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For THERE IS NO PARTIALITY WITH GOD.

The Wicked Must Be Corrected
By God’s Standard

Proverbs 24:24 He that saith UNTO THE WICKED, THOU ART RIGHTEOUS; him shall the people CURSE {nāqaḇ}, NATIONS {lᵊ’ōm} Shall ABHOR {zāʿam} HIM

Some have tried perverting justice, being politically correct so as to please the people, but have discovered that this backfired on them. My commentary notes:

“Pilate, Felix, and Festus were all judges who perverted justice to please their Jewish subjects (Matt. 27; Acts 24; 25). Ironically, the Jews hated them all.”

Though it was the will of the people that these judges condemn the innocent, their error did not bless the Jews for long. The people “CURSE”, the Hebrew nāqaḇ which means “to mark or brand another, much like a cow”. Such a person is belittled as the property of the people, and not as if they were respected judges. They are mocked. C.S. Lewis said in his book “The Abolition of Man”,

“We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise”.

Those who twist righteous judgment, the nations ABHOR him, that is, he is “denounced angrily”. It is God’s design that government restrain evil, not promote it. When leaders are corrupt, both God as well as people notice it. In America today we are closer to Sodom and Gomorrah than we have ever been.

Illustrate: In my news feed this morning I came across two strange reports. First, there is a Catholic Church in Massachusetts whose “Father” or “Pastor” set up a nativity scene. Rather than celebrate Christ in the manger, this fellow set up a Nativity Scene where the Baby Jesus was missing, and a sign “I.C.E. Was Here” was put in the manger. Rather than rebuke the professing priest, the Catholic Church endorsed it. Second, a “pastor” from a Methodist Church in Rochester, New York rather than preaching the Gospel, “came out” as transgender during the Sunday service. His words were: “So I get to announce with joy that I’m transitioning. I’m affirming to all of you that I am transgender. The best way to put this is that I’m not becoming a woman, I’m giving up pretending to be a man. This is a process, and it may be shocking for some as to what this all means.”

The world does not rebuke evil, but celebrates it. Though both professing “churches” affirmed what their leadership is doing, there is ultimately no blessing in casting the Word of God away in order to please the darkness. The Scripture says:

Proverbs 24:25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

Those who depart from the truth should be “REBUKED” {yāḵaḥ} when they depart from God’s clear standard. The wise are not to “sit in the gate of Sodom” as Lot did (Genesis 19:1), compromising with the darkness. There is no reward by going along with evil. Lot had become so accustomed to compromising with evil, that when the Sodomites came to rape the Angels whom God sent to the city, he said:

Genesis 19:8 (NKJV) I have two daughters who have not KNOWN A MAN; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may DO TO THEM AS YOU WISH; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.

What a curse Lot brought on his own life! Compromising with the darkness to be “politically correct”, Lot would end up losing his home, his business, and ultimately his daughters. Had Lot spent his time in Sodom standing in the wisdom of God PUBLICLY, he would not have PUBLICLY shamed his daughters when the mob came. When you compromise with evil, you bring a curse upon yourself.

Proverbs 24:26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a RIGHT {nāḵōaḥ} answer.

Word Study: The word “RIGHT” is the Hebrew nāḵōaḥ, which means “the correct or straightforward answer”. The Christian is called to be “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). The respecter of persons, i.e. the person who shows partiality, is eventually marked by the general populace as crooked. But the person who consistently speaks the truth in love, and who gives a proper Biblical response, that person will be respected. It is an act of love (KISSING THE LIPS) to clearly “GIVE A RIGHT ANSWER”.

Order Your Life With Wisdom

Proverbs 24:27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

In the ancient world, most people farmed or were farmers. There were no “grocery stores” or markets except in the largest of cities, so people had to make sure they prepared the soil and planted food first. This proverb could be paraphrased as “First things first”. If you are going to build a house, a dynasty, and raise a family, you have to plan ahead. It would be foolish to move to a land and build a house before you made sure the land could be used to produce food. Once the fields are planted, and the crops have sprung up, then you can prepare the foundation of the house.

Our Lord Jesus tied the Christian way of life to being prepared. Jesus did not sugarcoat what being a Christ follower would entail. He asked each person to carefully consider the cost to salvation. THERE IS A COST.

Luke 14:26-33 (NKJV) 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and HIS LIFE ALSO, HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE. 27 And whoever does not BEAR HIS CROSS AND COME AFTER ME Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and COUNT THE COST, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and CONSIDER WHETHER HE IS ABLE with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not FORSAKE ALL THAT HE HAS CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE.

Salvation does not come to a person without REPENTANCE, that is, turning your life over to Jesus. There are many who PROFESS to be saved. They came to Jesus, and said “YES” to Jesus because He promises Heaven, or because He healed them or blessed them in some way. But salvation is a surrender to God, an unconditional surrender. Some say, “You can be saved, but NOT be a disciple”. This is not what Jesus taught, and cannot be substantiated by the Scripture. The Great Commission plainly states:

Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV) Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to OBSERVE ALL THINGS THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

The ground must be prepared before the house can be built. Jesus compared the preaching of the Gospel to a Sower sowing seeds (Matthew 13). Where the ground was not prepared, where the Gospel seed …

… fell by the wayside (Matthew 13:4)
… fell on stony places (Matthew 13:5)
… fell among thorns (Matthew 13:7)

… where the ground was not prepared, the “House of Christ” (Hebrews 3:6) could not be built. But where the seed fell on good ground it yielded a crop (Matthew 13:8). Why? Because the field was prepared, the seed sown. The House could be built.

Illustrate: I walked into a Sunday School class one week years ago where the subject of discussion was “Can you join the Church and not be baptized?” Some thought that you could. I told the men that, no, you CANNOT be a part of the Church if you had not been baptized as our Lord Jesus directed. Why? The life surrendered to Christ will obey the things that Christ has directed. Jesus directs baptism by immersion. If the ground is not receptive to the Gospel seed, if there is no tilling of the life via REPENTANCE, then there can be no salvation. Period. God must be first!

The Bible tells us that King Solomon spent seven years building the Temple – and after the Temple was built he then built his own house (1 Kings 6:37-38; 7:1). We, like Solomon, are to put the House of Christ FIRST, not last.

The Wise (Believers) Always Return Good For Evil

Proverbs 24:28-29 Be not a witness against thy neighbor WITHOUT CAUSE; and deceive not with thy lips. 29 Say not, I WILL DO SO TO HIM AS HE HATH DONE TO ME: I will render to the man according to his work.

Under the Old Covenant God established the lex talionis or the “Law of Retaliation”. The word “LEX” means “Law”, and “TALIONIS” means “of the same kind”. God set forth the Law in several texts:

Exodus 21:23-25 (LSB) … you shall pay life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound.

Leviticus 24:19-20 (LSB) If a man injures his neighbor, just as he has done, so it shall be done to him: 20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted on him.

Deuteronomy 19:21 (LSB) Thus your eye shall not show pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

We started out talking about not being impartial in judgment, but to render equal judgment to all regardless of person.

The lex talionis was not about promoting vengeance, it was about proportional justice. It was a legal guideline not for believers, but for judges. No judge was supposed to impose a heavier penalty on the accused than what the person was found guilty of.

The lex talionis – unlike the pagan laws like the Babylonian Code of Hammurabi – required that offenses be equally penalized, regardless as to who committed the offense. Under Hammurabi, if you injured a nobleman, you suffered the same exact injury. But if you injured a commoner or a slave, in many cases only a fire was levied. The Bible views each person as made in the image of God, regardless of color or caste. Thus each person bore an equal punishment to what their offense was – which is fair.

Sadly believers under the Old Covenant took the Lex Talionis and turned it into something God never meant it to be. They began to use it for vengeance, contrary to the Holy Scripture. God has said,

Romans 12:19-21 (NKJV) Beloved, DO NOT AVENGE YOURSELVES, but [rather] give place to wrath; for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD.

Jesus addressed the false view of the lex talionis in His “Sermon on the Mount”. Jesus said:

Matthew 5:38-41 (NKJV) You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 “But I tell you NOT TO RESIST AN EVIL PERSON. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 “If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have [your] cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

Jesus was not erasing the lex talionis, but He was putting it back in its place. Believers are called to “See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all” (1 Thessalonians 5:15). We are called to pursue the good, not the evil.

Believers Learn From The Lazy, But Are Not Lazy

Proverbs 24:30-32 I went by the FIELD OF THE SLOTHFUL, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. 32 Then I saw, and CONSIDERED IT WELL: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

The fruit of the lazy person is thorns, nettles, and broken walls. The lazy person does not plant the thorns and nettles, nor did the lazy person deliberately break down the stone wall. But by being lazy, his actions aided the natural decay that is in this Adamic world. Solomon watched the lazy person and the fruit of the lazy life. He meditated on how that person lived, and saw the results of his laziness – and “RECEIVED INSTRUCTION”.

Illustrate: Recent changes in SNAP Benefits (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) have many liberal people up in arms. Under current guidelines if you are between 16-64 and are able to work, you must put in at least 80 hours a month labor. At present there are around 42 million people on SNAP, many of whom are able to work but will not. 42% of SNAP participants are 18-59 years old. People should work if they are able. Certainly if people need assistance, and are working but earning low wages, they should receive assistance. But the Bible tells us “If anyone is NOW WILLING TO WORK, LET HIM NOT EAT” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). God created us to work. Adam worked in Paradise – how much more should we work in this fallen world?The lazy person justifies their behavior. They say things like …

Proverbs 24:33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

“A LITTLE SLEEP”. The lazy person justifies their laziness by “we all need a little sleep. What’s wrong with slumber? Why shouldn’t we take it easy?” The truth is, a sleeping lamp cannot emit light – but by doing nothing contributes to the darkness. When Jesus spoke the Parable of the Kingdom of Heaven, He said:

Matthew 13:24-25 The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, HIS ENEMY CAME AND SOWED TARES among the wheat and went his way.

The Farmer has His workers plant good seed in good ground. But while the Farmer’s men slept the enemy – Satan – crept in and sowed TARES. Tares look like wheat, but are poisonous, and can foul the harvest when they grow up among the true wheat. The Farmer – the Lord God – will one day separate the Wheat (the believer) from the Tares (the pretend believer), and only the Wheat will be gathered into His barn (the Kingdom of Heaven).

Proverbs 24:34 So shall thy poverty come as one that TRAVELLETH {hālaḵ}; and thy want as an armed man.

Word Study: The word “TRAVELLETH” is the Hebrew hālaḵ, which means “to wander about, to go to and fro”. The picture is of a wandering robber who seeks who he may destroy. Those who are lazy and will not work will find themselves robbed of the pleasures of life. I have seen young men and women on the Internet posting tantrums because their benefits were stalled or removed. Some justified receiving SNAP and other welfare assistance because “I’ve been receiving this for 10 years now”. Those who are able to work should work. This is how God designed us. We do not steal, but work and share with those truly in need. We are told in

Ephesians 4:28 (LSB) He who steals must steal no longer, but RATHER HE MUST LABOR, performing with his own hands WHAT IS GOOD, so that he will have [something] TO SHARE WITH ONE WHO HAS NEED.

We who are Children of God by faith in Christ “WORK HEARTILY, as for the lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23-24). The Apostle said “If anyone does not provide for his relatives… he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8). From Old to New Testament, those who are God’s people are to work, both spiritually and physically.

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The Mind Of Christ

Posted on December 3, 2025 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Tijs van Leur on Unsplash

Philippians 2:1-5 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus

What Is The Church?

I remember when I was pastoring in North Carolina, an older woman was talking about a previous Pastor their church had. She told me, “The Pastor really loved Jesus, but he didn’t love us”. That made no sense to me at the time. How is it possible for a Pastor to love Jesus, but not love the Church? If you love the Lord, you will love the Church. What became evident to me as I pastored this flock that the people of that Church defined “love” as the world defines “love”, a selfish, self serving thing. Many of the “members” there wanted to do whatever they wanted to do, regardless of what the Bible said. Many wanted the Pastor to endorse their desires and man made traditions as if they were Scriptural. That is something Aaron would do. You remember Aaron, the High Priest of Israel? We read about it in Exodus 32.

The people whom God saved out of Egypt came to Aaron and demanded, “Arise, make us ĕlōhîm Who will lead us”. Aaron made them an idol representing the triune god. Aaron did not love the people. He should have pointed them to Christ.

Ĕlōhîm, by the way, is the Triune Name of God, the first use of the word “God” in our Bible. The very first verse of the Scripture says:

“In the beginning GOD {Ĕlōhîm} created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1, LSB).

Israel demanded not God, but a replica of God. God made man “in His own image” (Genesis 1:27), and now at Sinai man returned the favor. Man made God “in his own image”. This is what had been going on in North Carolina. This is what is going on all over America. The people demanded that the Pastor take their gold and valuables, and fashion a god to lead them. If he wants to stay on the “payroll”, he’ll do it.

A false god didn’t work at Sinai, and won’t work now.

Paul is not a “hireling”, but a man who loves the Church. So he PLEADS with them.

Paul pleads with the Church not to trade the glory of God’s Gospel, the leadership of the Scripture and the Spirit of the living God for a golden calf.

IF there be therefore any CONSOLATION
{paraklēsis} in Christ

Word Study: The word “CONSOLATION” is the Greek paraklēsis, which means “to come alongside and comfort”. Every person who has been saved has called on Jesus, and felt Him come alongside us and comfort us. A golden calf cannot comfort you. The proof that Jesus is the Christ, God in the flesh, the Messiah, is that He comforts His people. The Christ is “the COMFORTER of Israel” (Luke 2:25). When you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, He sends the COMFORTER to us. Jesus promised:

John 14:16-18 (KJV) And I will pray the Father, and HE SHALL GIVE YOU ANOTHER COMFORTER, that HE MAY ABIDEWITH YOU FOREVER; 17 [Even] THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU COMFORTLESS: I WILL COME TO YOU.

A Church is not filled with perfect people. A Church is filled with people who have been and will be comforted by the Presence of Christ. We share a common contact with Him. The early Church grew not because it had big crowds, but the Bible says:

Acts 9:31 (NKJV) Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the COMFORT {paraklēsis} of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

The Church was built up because the people shared in “FEAR OF THE LORD”, a common respect for the command of Christ, and in the unifying “COMFORT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT”.

The Church Is Encouraged By God’s Word

if any COMFORT {paramythion} of love

Word Study: The Greek paramythion means to console or encourage, an encouraging word. The Christian shares the comfort of God’s Word with other Christians.

The comfort of the Word of God only comes to those indwelt and open to the Comforter of God, the Holy Spirit (John 14:26).

The godless are at war with the Word of God. But the Christian understands that:

Proverbs 30:5 (ESV) EVERY WORD OF GOD PROVES TRUE; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

We are soothed, consoled by it, encouraged by God’s Word.The lost person gains no comfort from the Word of God, but the Saint in Christ is blessed by it.

if any FELLOWSHIP of the Spirit

The reason the Christian is comforted by the Word of God and the unbeliever is not, is because the unbeliever does not have the Spirit of Christ. “Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him” (Romans 8:9). The Scripture is clear,

1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV) The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are FOLLY TO HIM, and he is NOT ABLE TO UNDERSTAND them because they are SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED.

If there is no FELLOWSHIP of the Holy Spirit, there can be no understanding of the HOLY SPIRIT writings, the Bible. The Christian Post notes:

“With Millennials and Generation Z leading the way, particularly among men, Bible reading among U.S. adults in 2025 is at its highest level in the last 15 years, according to new data from the “State of the Church” initiative. … Despite more Americans reporting regular Bible reading, fewer maintain that the Bible is 100% accurate. Only 36% of Americans now hold that the Bible is 100% accurate.”

The only thing a lost person can understand is the Gospel, and only then if God Himself opens their eyes. Recently the Comedian Jon Stewart was asked if he had faith or religion, to which he said “I wish I could get there. I’m the guy who asks, ‘but if He’s all powerful, why do children die?’” It is not until the Holy Spirit comes to a person and does His work of regeneration and indwelling that a person will find confidence and comfort in the Holy Scriptures.

if any BOWELS and MERCIES

In Greek thought “BOWELS” referred to deep or heartfelt emotions. “MERCIES” is a reference to outward acts of good that benefit those in need. The Christian is not self focused, but has been deeply effected by the New Birth, and is indeed a New Creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). What drives the believer is not selfishness, but selflessness. If you were to put this into modern English, it would be “If there is any deep, heartfelt love and merciful giving among you”.

That which makes a Church is a (1) shared Gospel experience, the comfort of Christ, (2) a shared joy in hearing the Word of God as it ministers to us through His Spirit, (3) a shared Indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and (4) a shared heartfelt love that reaches out to help those in need.

Paul addresses the Church as the Church, IF they are the Church. He says:

The Church Must Seek To Have The Mind Of Christ,
Not The Mind Of The Lost World

Philippians 2:2-4 Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be LIKE MINDED, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let NOTHING be done through strife or vainglory; but in LOWLINESS OF MIND let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man ALSO ON THE THINGS OF OTHERS.

Paul is saying to the Church “if you have these four qualities, be on guard against the worldly mindset”. The worldly mindset is “life revolves around me and MY agenda”. You see the worldly mindset in the recent Mayoral elections in New York City, where an avowed Communist Zohran Mamdani was elected in November 2025 and will take office on January 1, 2026. Communism and Socialism has repeatedly failed and caused economic ruin because – though its intention is to give to all freely – it does not account for the sin nature in man.

Communism/ Socialism says “man is good, so let’s live to the betterment of mankind”. But it fails because man is NOT inherently good, but evil. Man without God, without Christ, is adrift in sin. But those saved by Christ are to have the mind of Christ, to give to the glory of God.

Paul calls the Church to be “LIKE MINDED”. Every believer is to have the mind of Christ. What does the mind of Christ look like?

Let NOTHING be done through strife or vainglory

The world wars against itself. Everything is a fight, everything is to be self serving, to be puffed up. God calls His Church to “SUBMIT TO ONE ANOTHER out of REVERENCE FOR CHRIST” (Ephesians 5:21, ESV). We are told:

Galatians 5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Illustrate: The only Person Who knows everything is GOD. We are all woefully broken, and subject to failure. In 1903 Samuel Langley attempted the first manned flight with his “Aerodrome” project. Langley’s Aerodrome cost approximately $70,000 to $75,000 (the modern equivalent of $2.74 million). Langley was the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institute. He received funding for his project from the U.S. War Department (Army) and the Smithsonian. When the Aerodrome flight failed, the New York Times wrote an editorial on October 9, 1903 entitled “Flying Machines Which Do Not Fly”. The article went on to say:

“To build a flying machine would require the combined and continuous efforts of mathematicians and mechanics for one million to 10 million years.”

Lord Kelvin, the British Physicist and President of the Royal Society said in 1895, just 8 years earlier, “Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible”. No one thought that airplanes would ever exist. But 69 days after the New York Times editorial, on December 17, 1903 the Wright brothers (Wilbur and Orville) launched the first airplane from Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Whereas Langley’s Aerodrome was government funded $75,000 the Wright brothers was personally funded at $1200 (modern equivalent $44,000 today). Langley worked from a government site. The Wright brothers worked from their own Bicycle Shop. This goes to show you that humans are frequently wrong.

in LOWLINESS OF MIND let each esteem other
BETTER than themselves

We are not to puff up ourselves, but we are to live so as to serve others. We are to be nobodies, nothings, zilch.

Look not every man on his own things, but every man
ALSO on the things of others

Those who are Christ’s should be like Christ. It is okay to be concerned about yourself – but not to the exclusion of others. I have watched with interest how some of our members have helped me reach out to the homeless and the less than in our community. This is what Christ desires we do. The reason we come together as a Church is to feed on the Word of God, and to tune our minds to be like Christ’s mind.

Let Us Look To Jesus

Philippians 2:5-8 LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU, which WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ was with the Father and the Holy Spirit at the beginning of Creation. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was WITH GOD, and the Word WAS GOD” (John 1:1-3). Jesus became Man and dwelt among us, but Jesus is BOTH GOD AND MAN. The Bible says “the WORD BECAME FLESH and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). When Jesus equated Himself to God, and He often did so (“I and My Father are ONE”, John 10:30), the Bible says:

The Jews, the Pharisees TOOK UP STONES TO STONE HIM.
John 10:31

They did this because, they said, “Jesus, YOU are BUT A MAN, and MAKE YOURSELF to be GOD” (John 10:33). They thought Jesus was robbing God of His glory by making Himself God. But Jesus went on to tell them:

John 10:37-38 (ESV) If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the FATHER IS IN ME, AND I AM IN THE FATHER.

Jesus Christ is eternal and everlasting God. But we are told:

made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF

Eternal God, but He lowered Himself to be born in a manger. Glorious God, but He put aside His Heavenly Throne to walk among us broken people. Made like us, Jesus was sinless and perfect. He showed us what God is like. The phrase “made Himself OF NO REPUTATION” is very interesting. This is the Greek kenoō, which means “to empty or void yourself, to make as if nothing”. Jesus is God, but He laid aside the privileges of God. He poured out Who He was, so that He could reach us. The Bible says that He …

became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Jesus died for you. Jesus died for me. Jesus emptied Himself so that He could fill us up, so He could fix our deficiencies. Jesus put Himself LAST, so He could save us FIRST.

This is what God calls the Christian to. We are to pour ourselves out, so that others might be blessed. This is not so that you can be saved. It is so that others might be saved. We are called to live outside of the selfishness bubble, to live as ambassadors of Christ so that others might come to Him and be saved. We are not saved so we can be selfish and self serving. We are saved so that we might lead others to His Kingdom, for His glory.

Amen.

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With Fear And Trembling

Posted on December 3, 2025 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash

Philippians 2:12-13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

Why Is This Happening To Me?

One of the most common questions I am asked as a Pastor/ Overseer is “Why is this happening to me?”. The “this” that people are usually referring to is some trial of life. Everyone is tried. Everyone goes through mountains and valleys. The valleys can be quite dark at times. The valley could be disease, loss of income, personal conflict, persecution, the death of a loved one, persistent pain or one’s own impending death. It is not sinful to question why a trial is occurring. As long as we do not “curse God and die” (Job 2:9) as Job’s silly unbelieving wife suggested, questioning the trial is not sinful. The Prophet said:

Joel 3:14 (KJV) Multitudes, multitudes in the VALLEY OF DECISION: for the day of the LORD [is] near in the valley of decision.

God allows trials into our lives to bring us into the “VALLEY OF DECISION”, to cause us to examine our lives in the light of eternity. The big question in all of eternity is,

Am I Saved? Am I A Child Of God?

If you are a Child of God by faith in Christ, then trials come to grow our faith. Man has long known how to make pottery from clay. Years ago I tried my hand at pottery. When the clay is formed, you push any imperfections out of it before putting it on the pottery wheel. Once you’ve designed the vessel, it must be thoroughly air dried. But the pot is not ready for actual use until, it is kiln fired at high temperatures for a long period of time. It’s not a flash fire. The kiln or oven that the pottery is baked in is 1830-1940 degrees Fahrenheit. What you are firing must be in the kiln 8-12 hours, and cooled around 24 hours. It takes time. Once out of the kiln, the pot is hardened, but still needs to be glazed. Once glazed, it needs to be fired again, and cooled again. It is a process of tempering. The Bible says:

Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father; WE ARE THE CLAY, and Thou our Potter; and WE ALL ARE THE WORK OF THY HAND.

IF you are saved by God, by the Grace of Jesus Christ, THEN God has determined that you WILL be like Jesus. The Bible tells us:

Romans 8:29 For whom He did foreknow, He also did PREDESTINATE TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, that He might be the Firstborn among many brethren.

God has predestinated or predetermined that each and every Christian will be conformed to the image of His Son. It is God’s intent that you be like Jesus. We are promised “as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly” (1 Corinthians 15:49).

God originally made man in His own image (Genesis 1:26), but Adam fell, marring that image. Those who have been redeemed from the fall by the precious Blood of Christ the Lord has purposed they will be made into His image, the image of Him Who saved us. God, like a master Potter, is taking each one of us and, working in our lives, is slowly shaping us till we become like Him. This is to our benefit, not our detriment. The Bible says:

James 1:2-4 (LSB) Consider it all joy, my brothers, WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER VARIOUS TRIALS, 3 knowing that the TESTING OF YOUR FAITH BRINGS ABOUT PERSEVERANCE. 4 And let perseverance have [its] perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

The Lord PERSONALLY works in the life of each Christian. He uses the PROCESS of prayer and the Scripture to shape us into His image. When PROBLEMS and PAIN come our way, the Lord uses these circumstances to mold and make us as He would have us be. He loves us. He proved that love at Calvary, and proves it even now. The trials – the Valley of Decision – makes you examine yourself whether you are saved or not. If you are saved, it is because God saved you. If you are saved, it is because you were lead to REPENTANCE, and following REPENTANCE you RECEIVED the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior.

Philippians 2:12-13 Wherefore, MY BELOVED, as ye have always obeyed, NOT AS IN MY PRESENCE ONLY, but now much more in my absence, WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION with fear and trembling.

As Paul addresses the Church, he is not doubting the salvation of those at Philippi. He calls the Church “MY BELOVED”. God the Father called Jesus “My BELOVED Son, in Whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). When we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Bible says “God has made us ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED” (Ephesians 1:6). We are “brothers and sisters, BELOVED BY THE LORD” (Ephesians 5:1). Of those who are saved the Bible says “May the beloved of Yahweh dwell in security by Him, Who shields him all the day, And he dwells between His shoulders.” (Deuteronomy 33:12). God carries those who love Him, His Beloved. Paul is not doubting the salvation of anyone in Philippi. But he goes on to say “as ye have always obeyed, NOT AS IN MY PRESENCE ONLY, but now much more in my absence”.

The genuine Christian behaves like a son of God not just in the assembly of the Church, but also outside that assembly. The genuine Christian knows that he is not impressing the preacher, but he works for God!

We who are saved by Grace in Christ do not work our way to Heaven. But once saved, we must work for God.

The Saved “Work OUT”

WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION
with fear and trembling

Let’s look at the first part of that command. It does not say “work FOR your own salvation”, but “work OUT your own salvation”. You do not have to work FOR your salvation. Jesus Christ did all the work that was necessary to earn your salvation. There is nothing within the fallen creation that is worthy of salvation. Like Jacob of old all we can do is cry out to God, saying:

Genesis 49:18 I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.

Salvation is a gracious gift from God. We ask God for salvation. We stand still and see His salvation:

Exodus 14:13 … stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD …

We praise our Lord, we glorify His Name, we work for Him once saved – but He alone must clothe us in salvation:

Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh Himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

We cannot clothe ourselves. We can call upon the Name of Jesus and ask Him for salvation – but He is the Savior (Lamentations 3:26). We work out or exercise the salvation that God has given us, but we do not work for our salvation. God has decreed that no flesh should glory in His presence. (1 Corinthians 1:29) Salvation is all of God, all of what He has mercifully given us.

1 Corinthians 1:29-31 That NO FLESH SHOULD GLORY IN HIS PRESENCE. {30} But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: {31} That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him GLORY IN THE LORD.

None of us are saved by our own hand, or by our own assumed “goodness”. Our Lord Jesus said “There is NONE GOOD, BUT GOD” (Matthew 19:17). We do not work FOR our salvation. But once saved, we will work OUT our salvation.

WORK OUT your OWN salvation
with FEAR AND TREMBLING

Are you saved? Only YOU can answer that. “Work out YOUR OWN salvation”. Have you come to Jesus for salvation? Have you cast your life and hope upon Him? The Bible says:

Ephesians 2:8-9 (LSB) For BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH, and this NOT OF YOURSELVES, [it is] the gift of God; 9 not of works, so that no one may boast.

You cannot work your way into salvation. But once saved, you WILL WORK THE WORKS OF THE SAVED. The Scripture goes on to say:

Ephesians 2:10 (LSB) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus FOR GOOD WORKS, which God prepared beforehand so that WE WOULD WALK IN THEM.

We are to “work OUT your OWN salvation with FEAR AND TREMBLING”. Jeffrey Smith is a Christian Cartoonist who does the “Prayer Pups” cartoons I often put in our bulletins. I recently came across this cartoon, and it expresses what the text is telling us.

When You Work For God, Is There FEAR AND TREMBLING? Or Are You Flippant?

Some who profess to be Christ never do anything for God. To them, God is a Big Buddy in the sky, a Santa Claus figure. The Bible says,

Psalm 2:11 (KJV) SERVE the LORD with FEAR, and rejoice with TREMBLING.

A person who is flippant in their relationship with God, has little knowledge of Who God is. When the Apostle visited the Church at Corinth, he said:

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (KJV) And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, DECLARING UNTO YOU THE TESTIMONY OF GOD. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 And I was with you IN WEAKNESS, and IN FEAR, and in MUCH TREMBLING. 4 And my speech and my preaching [was] not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Beloved, when you serve God, you are serving the Ultimate Master, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. There should be FEAR AND TREMBLING. We are told:

Philippians 2:13 For it is GOD WHICH WORKETH IN YOU both to will and to do OF HIS GOOD PLEASURE.

We serve at the pleasure of God. Once saved, God works in us and through us. We should humble ourselves before God. We must stay dependent upon God, and trust in His Word. There is a seriousness in serving God – and a serious consequence if we are NOT WILLING to serve Him. The Apostle said in another place:

1 Corinthians 15:10 (KJV) But BY THE GRACE OF GOD I AM WHAT I AM: and His grace which [was bestowed] upon me was NOT IN VAIN; but I LABORED MORE ABUNDANTLY than they all: yet NOT I, but THE GRACE OF GOD WHICH WAS WITH ME.

When Grace is experienced, we are bound to God. Once saved, God works IN us, and we work OUT our salvation. We are to be working for the glory of God, for “HIS GOOD PLEASURE”, not for ours. Our works for the Lord are to be:

Philippians 2:14 Do all things without MURMURINGS and DISPUTINGS

MURMURINGS and DISPUTINGS are the opposite of FEAR and TREMBLING. The latter will bring blessing to the work we do for God. The former will bring cursing and destruction.

Adrian Rogers once said:

“I’ll tell you, folks, there are a lot of things that I don’t want in life. I’ll tell you, number one on the list, I believe, is a church full of murmuring people. Don’t murmur: the Bible forbids it. You know what murmuring is? It’s half-concealed, half-uttered complaints. And the Bible teaches that is it a form of disobedience. “Do all things without murmurings.” Why? Because murmuring leads to disputing. No murmuring and no misunderstanding: that’s the spirit of obedience. Never, never murmur about what God lays on your heart to do. You see, the example is this: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5) And then it says that He laid down His life. (Philippians 2:8) He never murmured. He never disobeyed. And that’s the Christ that works in us: no murmuring, no misunderstanding. Jesus did not murmur, and the one who murmurs never really understands Calvary.”

Someone once said “If we do not humble ourselves before God and live for His glory, He will use circumstances and situations around us to humble us”. God allows trials to come to us to temper our faith. But if we do not work to glorify God, if we do not manifest good that blesses others, then God will humble us. Do you not remember Israel wandering 40 years in the desert, the Promised Land in sight most of the time. They wandered until they all died – and those of faith went into the Promised Land.

Illustrate: Adrian Rogers told a story about a farmer who made his sons work in the cornfields while their friends spent the afternoon at the swimming hole. Someone scolded the father saying, “Why do you make those boys work so hard? You don’t need all that corn.” The wise father replied, “Sir, I’m not raising corn. I’m raising men.” God the Father calls His children to work in the fields of the Lord for HIS pleasure, not ours. The farmer’s sons worked for their father because he was their father. We work for the Lord because He is our Father. As the Psalmist wrote:

Psalm 100:2-3 (LSB) Serve Yahweh with gladness; Come before Him with joyful songs. 3 Know that Yahweh, He is God; It is He WHO MADE US, AND NOT WE OURSELVES; [We are] His people and the sheep of His pasture.

We serve our Heavenly Father because we love Him. We love Him, because “He first LOVED US” (1 John 4:19). The Apostle goes on to say:

Philippians 2:15 That YE MAY BE blameless and harmless, THE SONS OF GOD, without rebuke, in the midst of a CROOKED AND PERVERSE NATION, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Word Study: I ask the question, “Are you saved?” Many of you answer, “Yes, I’m a member at such and such a Church”. I didn’t ask whether you were a member of a Church. I asked “Are you saved?”. Your works for Christ, your works for God’s Kingdom, prove your salvation. The words “That YE MAY BE” is the Greek ginomai, which means “be proved or proven, to be exposed as”. The Christian is NOT like the “CROOKED AND PERVERSE NATION”. We are not like the darkness around us. Those who have “FEAR AND TREMBLING” are “BLAMELESS AND HARMLESS”. We seek to do good in the midst of this present darkness, to the glory of God our Savior.

Philippians 2:16 Holding forth THE WORD OF LIFE; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.

What is “THE WORD OF LIFE”? The Apostle John used the same phrase that Paul uses when he wrote:

1 John 1:1 (KJV) That which was from the beginning, which we have HEARD, which we have SEEN WITH OUR EYES, which we have LOOKED UPON, and our HANDS HAVE HANDLED, of THE WORD OF LIFE;

The WORD OF LIFE is Jesus. We tell others what Jesus did for us. We HEARD Jesus when He called us to salvation, and responded with our repentance and faith. John and the other Apostles walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, ministered with Jesus, and touched Jesus. We who are saved have experienced Jesus and His gracious salvation. This is what we tell others. It’s all about Jesus!

Pastor Bruce Goettsche wrote:

“ Our personal belief system ALWAYS affects what we do. This is especially true of Christianity. The Christian faith is meant to be intensely practical. It is meant to impact the way we live. Salvation is extended by a free act of God’s grace. We did not and cannot do anything to earn it. But . . . once we are saved, the new life that Christ plants in us should result in a new way of living. We have said it many times before. The unchanged Christian is a contradiction in terms. If a person is unchanged they are not a Christian. If they are a Christian they are in the process of changing.”

Are you saved? If you are, you are kept by God. You belong to God. You work for God. If you are saved, there is a visibility to your salvation seen through the good that you do for Christ. Trials will come your way, dear Christian. We do not live on the Mountain. When Moses received the Law from the Father on Mount Sinai, he had to come down the mountain into the valley to serve the Lord. Moses failed God in the valley – But God buried him, and raised him up to see Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration.

Christian, your salvation is secure – though you may fail at times. But as a son of God, YOU MUST CONTINUE TO SERVE HIM! The Apostle Peter wrote:

1 Peter 1:3-9 (LSB) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to [obtain] an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, having been kept in heaven for you, 5 who are PROTECTED BY THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH FAITH for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been GRIEVED BY VARIOUS TRIALS, 7 so that THE PROOF OF YOUR FAITH, [being] more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 And though you have not seen Him, YOU LOVE HIM, and though you do not see Him now, but BELIEVE IN HIM, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving as the OUTCOME OF YOUR FAITH THE SALVATION OF YOUR SOULS.

If you are saved, prove it by continuing to work for the One you love. Do so with fear and trembling. Do so because God is working in you. For if you will not work for the Kingdom … then you might not be saved at all. Think about it. Your salvation is secure, dear Christian, IF you are indeed saved. And if you are saved, it will show in your good works for God. Amen.

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What Makes The Church Right?

Posted on December 3, 2025 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Land O’Lakes, Inc. on Unsplash

Ephesians 4:9-12 (Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, THAT HE MIGHT FILL ALL THINGS.) 11 And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Jesus Christ Fills All Things

The Bible tells us that our Lord Jesus died on the Cross. He “descended first into the lower parts of the earth”. He came from glory, from Heaven, and was made like us. We are told in the Scripture that Jesus lowered Himself for our salvation:

Philippians 2:7-8 {Jesus}made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Jesus came for the lowest and the least. He was often found sitting and eating with the dregs of human society. Jesus frequented with sinners, with tax collectors, with lepers, with crippled and broken people. The Bible says “you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich”. (2 Corinthians 8:9). Our Lord Jesus suffered. The Bible says “though He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered” (Hebrews 5:8). Jesus died among thieves, and was buried in a borrowed tomb.

Jesus Christ descended to the lowest parts of the earth so that He could DEFEAT sin, DISEMPOWER death, and DETHRONE Satan and his forces.

Hebrews 2:14-15 (NKJV) Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that THROUGH DEATH HE MIGHT DESTROY HIM WHO HAD THE POWER OF DEATH, THAT IS, THE DEVIL, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Three days and three nights after Jesus completed His mission on earth, He rose from the grave. Jesus walked and talked among us for forty days (Acts 1:3), being seen of many, before He “ascended up far above all heavens”. Why did our Lord ascend to Heaven, to the Heaven of heavens? The Bible says that Jesus fulfilled all Bible prophecy. Our Lord Jesus taught the disciples while He was with them that He and He alone is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. Following His resurrection Jesus told disciples on the Road of Emmaus:

Luke 24:25-27 (NKJV) “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 OUGHT NOT THE CHRIST TO HAVE SUFFERED THESE THINGS AND TO ENTER INTO HIS GLORY?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, HE EXPOUNDED TO THEM IN ALL THE SCRIPTURES THE THINGS CONCERNING HIMSELF.

When Jesus appeared to His disciples in Jerusalem, He appeared quite suddenly, frightening them. The Bible says:

Luke 24:36-39 (NKJV) Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

The disciples still did not understand. But Jesus, after proving He was not a “ghost” (not even the Holy Ghost), reminded them what He had taught them prior to His crucifixion:

Luke 24:44-49 (NKJV) “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that ALL THINGS MUST BE FULFILLED WHICH WERE WRITTEN in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might COMPREHEND THE SCRIPTURES. 46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus IT WAS NECESSARY FOR THE CHRIST TO SUFFER AND TO RISE FROM THE DEAD THE THIRD DAY, 47 and that REPENTANCE AND REMISSION OF SINS SHOULD BE PREACHED IN HIS NAME to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Jesus’ descending to the lowest parts of the earth was necessary. Jesus’ death was necessary. Jesus’ defeat of death and resurrection was necessary. And Jesus’ ascension into the Heaven of heavens was necessary. Jesus left His Church on this earth to preach “REPENTANCE AND REMISSION OF SINS IN HIS NAME”. There are none other that can bring salvation and light to this world. There is “no other name under Heaven given among men, WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED” (Acts 4:12).

The Church Is A Key Part Of Christ’s
Fulfillment Of All Things

No one can be saved without Christ. No one can be redeemed from the devil, death, and damnation without Christ. To this end the Lord Jesus left His Kingdom on this earth. The Church is not a building of brick and mortar. The Church is a body of believers sharing the same Savior and Lord.

Ephesians 4:11 AND He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

The text begins with “AND”. This “AND” ties this verse with the verse we have been talking about, with the Descension and Ascension of Christ. Jesus left His Church on this earth with the mission of “fulfilling all things” as empowered by Jesus. We are not assistants to Jesus. We are servants to Jesus.

Jesus GAVE the Church APOSTLES and PROPHETS. The Apostles were hand picked by Jesus. They walked and talked with Him, and set at His feet as He taught. The Prophets, like the Apostles, were hand picked, called out by God our Savior. The offices of Apostle and Prophet were the first two set out by Jesus. We previously learned that these are foundational callings:

1 Corinthians 12:28 (NKJV) God has appointed these in the Church: first APOSTLES, second PROPHETS, third TEACHERS …

Ephesians 2:19-20 (NKJV) Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone

The Apostles and Prophets did not create the Word of God. They SPOKE the Word of God as God gave it to them. The Apostles and Prophets wrote the Word of God into this Book we call The Bible, the Sacred Scripture. The Bible, the teachings properly applied of the Scripture is the foundation of the Church. When the Church was formed on the Day of Pentecost, the Bible says “And they {the Church} continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship” (Acts 2:42). The Apostles traveled from city to city sharing the Gospel of Salvation, preaching repentance and remission of sins through faith in Christ Jesus.

Jesus GAVE the Church EVANGELISTS. Evangelists are listed before Pastors, and after Apostles and Prophets for a reason. The word “EVANGELIST” is the Greek euangelistēs, which means “a bringer of good tidings, one who intentionally shares the Gospel”. I find it interesting when the Apostles set out the Office of the Deacon/ Servant in Acts 6, that two of the seven chosen to be deacons were:

Acts 6:5 (KJV) … STEPHEN, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and PHILIP

These men, though called to minister to the physical needs of the Body of Christ, were also Evangelists. Though Stephen was not specifically called an Evangelist in the Scripture, the Bible says:

Acts 6:8-10 (NKJV) STEPHEN, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were NOT ABLE TO RESIST THE WISDOM AND THE SPIRIT BY WHICH HE SPOKE.

The second Deacon chosen, Philip, was specifically named as an Evangelist in the Scripture:

Acts 8:5-6 (NKJV) PHILIP went down to the city of Samaria and PREACHED CHRIST TO THEM. 6 And the multitudes with one accord HEEDED THE THINGS SPOKEN BY PHILIP, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

Acts 21:8 (NKJV) … we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of PHILIP THE EVANGELIST, WHO WAS ONE OF THE SEVEN {Deacons}, and stayed with him.

Before a Pastor can lead a Church, there must be a Church. Unless the Evangelist preaches the Gospel, and people are born again by faith in that Gospel message, then there can be no Church. The Evangelist comes before the Pastor. But …

Jesus GAVE the Church PASTORS and TEACHERS. Pastors, also called Elders, are Overseers called to share the Word of God to the Church. The Bible commands:

1 Peter 5:1-4 (NKJV) The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 SHEPHERD THE FLOCK OF GOD WHICH IS AMONG YOU, SERVING AS OVERSEERS, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 NOR AS BEING LORDS OVER THOSE ENTRUSTED TO YOU, but BEING EXAMPLES TO THE FLOCK; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Pastors are SHEPHERDS. They watch over the Church, insuring that it attends to the Word of God, the Bible. Paul told the Pastors at the Church in Ephesus just before he departed there:

Acts 20:26-31 (NKJV) Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you THE WHOLE COUNCIL OF GOD. 28 Therefore TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES and TO ALL THE FLOCK AMONG WHICH THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS MADE YOU OVERSEERS, to SHEPHERD THE CHURCH OF GOD which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure SAVAGE WOLVES will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from AMONG YOURSELVES MEN WILL RISE UP, SPEAKING PERVERSE THINGS, to DRAW AWAY THE DISCIPLES AFTER THEMSELVES. 31 Therefore WATCH, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

The Pastors, along with the TEACHERS, are to preach the “WHOLE COUNCIL OF GOD”. Paul knew that some Pastors would rise up and depart from this, “SPEAKING PERVERSE THINGS, to DRAW AWAY THE DISCIPLES AFTER THEMSELVES”. You don’t have to go very far to find this, whether on the Internet or on the Television. There are many “SAVAGE WOLVES” who pretend to be Pastors and Bible Teachers, but like wolves they do not want to bless the flock of God, but to EAT IT or as the Apostle Peter warned:

2 Peter 2:1-3 (LSB) But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be FALSE TEACHERS AMONG YOU, who will SECRETLY INTRODUCE DESTRUCTIVE HERESIES, even DENYING THE MASTER who BOUGHT THEM, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 And many will FOLLOW THEIR SENSUALITY, and because of them the WAY OF THE TRUTH WILL BE MALIGNED. 3 And in [their] GREED THEY WILL EXPLOIT YOU WITH FALSE WORDS, their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Whether Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor or Teacher, each gift that Jesus gave the Church were given to promote the Word of God, the Bible – not the culture or the darkness.

The Offices Given The Church Has Three Goals

Ephesians 4:12-13 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

The offices of Apostle and Prophet, being foundational to the Church, are not with us anymore other than through this Bible. But the Offices of Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher are still with the Church. They are ongoing. Evangelists are primarily concerned with the message of the Gospel to the lost. Pastors oversee the flock of God, sharing the Word of God and its proper application. Teachers ensure that the whole Word of God – without human perversion – is taught. Let’s break down these verses:

Ephesians 4:12 For the PERFECTING of the saints

Word Study: The word “PERFECTING” is the Greek katartismos, which means “to completely furnish or equip”. Every person who is born again of the Spirit of God, blood bought by the Son of God, every person is a “saint”, someone set apart by God. I want to talk to you about what Theologians call “The Doctrine of Sanctification”, or the making of Saints. Sanctification has three phases:

1 The day you were saved by faith in Christ, the day you were “born again of the Spirit of God”, you were POSITIONALLY SANCTIFIED. What does this mean? Before your salvation God viewed you as a condemned person, a sinner, someone due eternal damnation because you fall short of God’s glory. A sinner without Christ is separated from God (Isaiah 59:2). A sinner without Christ is under the adverse judgment of God. “Whoever does not believe in the Son SHALL NOT SEE LIFE, BUT THE WRATH OF GOD REMAINS ON HIM” (John 3:36). A sinner without Christ is spiritually dead, and out of touch with God Himself. “The god of this world – Satan – has blinded the minds of the unbeliever” (2 Corinthians 4:4). The lost are in the POSITION of being in the darkness, far from the light of God. But once you are saved, your POSITION changes. The Bible says:

1 Corinthians 1:2 (LSB) To the CHURCH OF GOD which is at Corinth, to those who HAVE BEEN SANCTIFIED in Christ Jesus, CALLED AS SAINTS, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours:

Because you are POSITIONALLY Sanctified, in God’s eyes you are SAINTS not sinners, SONS OF GOD not sons of Satan, CHILDREN OF LIGHT not children of darkness. Your status is changed … FOREVER! We are told that “We are SANCTIFIED through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL” (Hebrews 10:10).

2 However, once saved and POSITIONALLY Sanctified, God begins to work in you, making you more like Jesus each day. This is called PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION. I preached this text this morning:

Philippians 2:12-13 (LSB) So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING; 13 for IT IS GOD WHO IS AT WORK IN YOU, both to will and to work for [His] good pleasure.

If someone says that they are “saved”, then there should be some ongoing evidence of the hand of God in their life. God saves us by Grace, by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But once saved, He possesses us. He indwells us. He draws us to Him through His Word. The Prince of Preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, stated:

“The mere profession of religion will never save a man; faith without works is dead… Try yourselves by the Word; see whether you have a new heart, new loves, and a new spirit. Without these, your claim to salvation is vain. … A man’s conversion is nothing. His believing is nothing. His profession is nothing unless he is made a new creature in Christ Jesus.”

Though a Christian is POSITIONALLY Sanctified, God wants to work in him to make him more like Christ. We do this in cooperation with the Holy Spirit and the application of the Word of God, the Scripture. We are told in:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (LSB) All SCRIPTURE is GOD-BREATHED and PROFITABLE for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, 17 so that the man of God MAY BE EQUIPPED, having been thoroughly EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK.

3 When the genuine Christian reaches eternity, we will experience ULTIMATE SANCTIFICATION. We will be like Jesus! We are told:

1 John 3:2 (NKJV) Beloved, NOW WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM, for we shall see Him as He is.

Philippians 3:20-21 (NKJV) For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who WILL TRANSFORM OUR LOWLY BODY that it may be CONFORMED TO HIS GLORIOUS BODY, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

We will one day be like Jesus. Cleansed from sin, holy and complete. Praise His holy Name!

Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the WORK OF THE MINISTRY

The offices that Jesus gave to His Church are NOT the only ones to do the “WORK OF THE MINISTRY”. The Church – that is, every saved member in the local Church – does the “WORK OF THE MINISTRY”. A Church that does not work is NOT a Church. Jesus said to His Church:

John 9:5 (NKJV) As long as I AM IN THE WORLD, I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV) YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN, that they may SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS and GLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.

The Church does not work to glorify itself, but Jesus. We represent the hands and feet of Christ on the earth. We are light in the midst of darkness. We stand separate from the culture, being the Kingdom of God on this present earth.

Ephesians 4:12-13 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the EDIFYING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST: 13 Till we all come in THE UNITY OF THE FAITH, and of the KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF GOD, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the FULLNESS OF CHRIST:

The offices Jesus gave to the Church are there to INCREASE THE LIGHT of Christ in the world. The Church is not “EDIFIED” or built up through selfishness, but through selflessness. We live so that others may find fullness in Christ. We are not defined by the culture, but by the proper application of the Holy Scripture through the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:14-15 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; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

The world is constantly being tossed to and fro with silliness and darkness, with strange teachings taught by shady people. The Church stands firmly on what the Bible has said. I was listening to a young black woman today talking about the LGBTQ crowd. She said,

“My skin is brown … Let me let y’all in on something. The founder of Chick-Fil-A was a Southern Baptist up until he passed away. That means he followed the Bible. The Bible specifically told him no gay sin. So the founder said, okay, we’re not putting up no Pride Parade flags. We’re not supporting the Pride Community. Y’all can’t get mad! It literally says in the Bible … if you want to be mad at Somebody, go be mad at God. He can handle it. But you getting mad at people for following the Bible is ridiculous. Yes, there are other sins. But you don’t see murderers, thieves, tax collectors, prostitutes … you don’t see none of them people having parades around town. You don’t see none of them people putting flags up. You don’t see none of them other sins doing that.”

I don’t know if this woman’s a Christian or not – but she’s absolutely right! The Bible is very clear on sexual sins (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 18-20; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5; Leviticus 18:22; Galatians 5:19-21; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Timothy 1:9-10), that such things are to be repented of and not done by a professing Christian. The Church must stop being tossed around by the culture, taking the low road so that we can keep our tax exempt status, so that we can drift through life in the darkness. The Church is designed by Jesus Christ to promote Jesus Christ to the world.

The Gospel is not fire insurance. It is a life changing message, backed by the very power of God.

The Church that is right will be led by leaders that are Biblical, unashamedly Scriptural. It will not compromise, no, not one little bit. Before one of my favorite Pastors, Adrian Rogers, went to be with the Lord Jesus, he said:

“I’m willing to compromise about many things, but not the Word of God. So far as getting together is concerned, we don’t have to get together. The Southern Baptist Convention — as it is — does not have to survive. I don’t have to be the pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church. I don’t have to be loved; I don’t even have to live. But I will not compromise the Word of God.”

Adrian went on to say “It is better to be divided by truth than united in error”. This is where I’m at in my walk with Jesus. I invite you to walk with me, with Jesus and His Word. May Christ draw you daily to His Word – IF you are saved!

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The Righteous Fall But Rise

Posted on November 21, 2025 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by insung yoon on Unsplash

Proverbs 24:15-16 Lay not wait, O WICKED {rāšāʿ} man, against the dwelling of the RIGHTEOUS {ṣadîq}; spoil {šāḏaḏ} not his resting place: 16 For a JUST {ṣadîq} man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the WICKED {rāšāʿ} shall fall into mischief.

Word Study: God addresses the wicked here with a warning. The warning is that God Himself looks after the RIGHTEOUS or the JUST person, but the WICKED will fall and stay fallen. Let’s look at a few of these words in their original text. Let’s start with the words RIGHTEOUS and JUST. This is the same word in the Hebrew, the word ṣadîq (pro. tsad-deek’) which means “the lawful or right walking, the one justified and vindicated by God”.

The Righteous or Just Are Declared So By God Based On Faith In Christ

When a person repents and receives God as Lord and Savior, as Abraham did, the Bible says:

Genesis 15:6 {Abraham} believed in the LORD; and He COUNTED IT {ḥāšaḇ} to him FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

This scripture is quoted numerous times throughout the Bible. In

Romans 4:3-8 (NKJV) For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work but BELIEVES ON HIM WHO JUSTIFIES THE UNGODLY, HIS FAITH IS ACCOUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom GOD IMPUTES RIGHTEOUSNESS apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 BLESSED IS THE MAN TO WHOM THE LORD SHALL NOT IMPUTE SIN.”

The RIGHTEOUS person is the one who has believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who has unconditionally surrendered to God and have placed themselves fully in His hands. God IMPUTES RIGHTEOUSNESS, that is, He considers we are a righteous because we have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The person who says “I am good enough for God’s presence” is usurping the authority of God. Only God can impute righteousness. Only God can declare us right in His eyes.

It is presumptuous and impetuous to say “this is what God likes or endorses”. God sets the standards. God declares the right and the wrong. No one can BE righteous in their own power. We must trust in Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote as an ex-Pharisee with impeccable credentials:

Philippians 3:4-9 (LSB) although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I FAR MORE: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. 7 But whatever things were gain to me, THOSE THINGS I HAVE COUNTED AS LOSS FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss because of the surpassing VALUE OF KNOWING CHRIST JESUS MY LORD, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, NOT HAVING A RIGHTEOUSNESS OF MY OWN which is from [the] Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS FROM GOD UPON FAITH

A person is RIGHTEOUS because that person came to God BROKEN, REPENTED, and cast themselves on the Gospel of salvation. A person is righteous because they do as God says, and trust in Jesus, committing their lives to Him. A person is righteous when they realize that “there is salvation in no one else: for there is NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN TO US WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED” (Acts 4:12). When you “call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus (Genesis 4:26; Romans 10:13) then you SHALL BE SAVED”.

The “WICKED” (Hebrew rāšāʿ, pro. raw-shaw’) is the person who has rejected repentance and faith in the Lord. This person is hostile to God and the Gospel, and stands condemned before God. Though Lot had compromised with the city of Sodom, Lot was still considered “righteous” and the Sodomites “wicked” (Genesis 18:23; 2 Peter 2:7-8).

What is the characteristic of the RIGHTEOUS
Or JUST person?

a JUST {ṣadîq} [man] falleth seven times, and riseth up again

First, the JUST person (the word “man” is not in the original text) will fall at times. The Bible does not say that person “may” fall, but “FALLETH”. No Christian is perfect while in this life. Search the Scriptures, and you will see many examples of believers who fell:

Noah was just (Genesis 6:9) but became drunken (Genesis 9:20-21)
Abraham was just (Romans 4:3) but lied (Genesis 12:10-20)
and went in to Hagar (Genesis 16)
Elijah withstood a mob of false prophets at Mount Carmel, then
fell into depression and suicidal thought (1 Kings 19:4)
David was just (Acts 13:22) but committed adultery
& murder (2 Samuel 11)
Solomon was just (2 Samuel 12:24) but fell into idolatry (1 Kings 11:1-10)
Jonah was just but ran from God’s call (Jonah 1:1-3)
Hezekiah was just (2 Kings 18:5) but became proud (2 Kings 20:12-19)

Our God is all knowing (omniscient). When He calls a person to salvation, and that person repents and receives Him as Lord and Savior, God knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:9-10; Psalm 147:5). He knows that His child by faith is not perfect, and knows that we will misstep.

a JUST {ṣadîq} [man] falleth SEVEN TIMES

Explain “Seven”: This doesn’t mean we will fall JUST 7 times. The number “SEVEN” is the number of God. Our God created all things, then rested on the SEVENTH day. God is in the making of the just or righteous person. It is God the Holy Spirit Who causes us to be regenerated or born again (John 3:3, 5-7; 1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18; Titus 3:5). Once saved, the Holy Spirit indwells the believer (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; John 14:16-17; Ephesians 1:13). The righteous person is PURCHASED of God, POSSESSED of God, PURGED of God, and PROMISED of God. The righteous person, saved by faith Christ, will fall. But that person …

riseth up again

The righteous person is the Child of God, the Son of Light. The Prophet said:

Micah 7:8-9 (NKJV) Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; WHEN I FALL, I WILL ARISE; When I sit in darkness, The LORD WILL BE A LIGHT TO ME. 9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD, Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case And executes justice for me. HE WILL BRING ME FORTH TO THE LIGHT; I WILL SEE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

The Righteous is God’s prized possession. Though we fall, we WILL rise. Again the Scripture says:

Psalm 37:23-24 Though he FALL, he SHALL NOT BE UTTERLY CAST DOWN: for the LORD UPHOLDETH HIM WITH HIS HAND.

Psalm 145:14 The LORD UPHOLDETH ALL THAT FALL, and RAISETH UP all those that be bowed down.

The Wicked Fall, But Do Not Rise.
They Sink To Deeper Evil.

But what of the wicked, those who do not believe on the Lord Jesus? We are told:

Proverbs 24:16 … but the WICKED {rāšāʿ} SHALL FALL into MISCHIEF {raʿ}.

Word Study: The word rendered “MISCHIEF” is the Hebrew raʿ, which means “something malignant, bad, injurious, distressful, evil, wrong”. The righteous will fall, but God will lift them up afterwards. The wicked will fall into a pit and stay there. They have no power to rise out of the darkness, for they have rejected the very Source of Light, the Lord Jesus.

Proverbs 24:8-9 He that DEVISETH {ḥāšaḇ, to account or impute} TO DO EVIL shall be called a mischievous person. 9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

Word Study: The word “DEVISETH” is a very interesting word. It is the same word we saw a little while ago when talking about Abraham’s righteousness:

Genesis 15:6 Abraham believed in the LORD; and GOD COUNTED IT {ḥāšaḇ} to him for righteousness.

When we trust in the Lord and give our lives to Him, He COUNTS IT or RECKONS IT as righteousness. But the wicked, rejecting God, instead seek out ways to ATTRIBUTE EVIL to others. They plot. They plan. They sneak about, seeking to cast down the Kingdom of God. You see this in the mass gatherings of the lost, seeking to bring others into the darkness. You see this in “Gay Pride” parades. You see this in “mostly peaceful protests” that burn down businesses.

God looks at our faith in Him and gives us righteousness. The unbeliever looks at our faith in God and tries to impute evil to us, to upend the Kingdom of God.

The devil and the darkness will tempt us to evil rather than the good. They plant “thoughts of foolishness” which is sin. The devil and his agents are continually seeking to destroy Christ’s Kingdom and Christ’s Church. These people mock the Way of Christ. “THE SCORNER IS AN ABOMINATION TO MEN”. They lead the other lost farther away from salvation.

Proverbs 24:10 If thou FAINT IN THE DAY OF ADVERSITY, thy strength is small.

The righteous are to remember that we will be attacked – even in the midst of the congregation of the righteous. Yet when we fall, we do not FAINT. We keep our eyes on the Lord Who saved us. Those who FAINT, Who want to quit when adversity comes, are relying not on God but on themselves. We who are righteous by faith in Christ should be fully resting in our God. The Psalmist said:

Psalm 86:7 In the day of my trouble I CALL UPON YOU, for You answer me.

Our faith is not in ourselves, but in God Who saved us. Jesus said:

John 16:33 (ESV) I have said these things to you, that IN ME YOU MAY HAVE PEACE. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.

My commentary notes:

“Everyone, including believers, encounters adversity. Adversity is a normal part of life. For the Christian, adversity can be a good thing. James writes, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds” (James 1:2). His words were addressed to Hebrew Christians who were experiencing intense persecution. But why should adversity cause Christians to rejoice? James also gives the answer: “for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:3). Further, steadfastness can make believers spiritually mature and “complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:4). The apostle Peter also wrote to persecuted Hebrew Christians about the value of adversity. He said trials prove the genuineness of one’s faith (1 Peter 1:3–9). Believers under pressure of adversity are encouraged to steel themselves and trust in Christ’s power (Hebrews 12:12–13)…

God Expects The Righteous To Stay Gospel Focused,
To Keep On Telling Others Of Jesus

Proverbs 24:11-12 If thou forbear to deliver them that are DRAWN UNTO DEATH, and those that are READY TO BE SLAIN; 12 If thou sayest, Behold, WE KNEW IT NOT; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he RENDER TO EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS?

The unbeliever is someone who is “DRAWN UNTO DEATH”. The Bible says:

Romans 6:23 (NKJV) For THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, but the gift of God [is] eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It is so sad that many who profess to be “believers” and the “righteous” refuse to reach out to the lost and tell them of the Savior. There are opportunities that God gives us to witness to the lost. We have experienced loved ones in the hospital. Have you asked that loved on about their relationship to Jesus? Have you prayed for them in Jesus’ name? Some professors of Christ say “WE KNEW IT NOT”, that is, “We really didn’t know if they were saved or not. We turned a blind eye to their need”. But God is the One Who ponders the heart. God is the One Who watches over our souls. He knows what we did, and did not, do. God will “RENDER TO EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS”. To those who have received Christ as Lord and Savior, God will give them life – eternal life – and reward for living for Him. But to those who reject Christ, they also will receive according to their works. The Scripture says:

Romans 2:6-11 (NKJV) who “will render to each one ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient CONTINUANCE IN DOING GOOD SEEK FOR GLORY, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are SELF SEEKING AND DO NOT OBEY THE TRUTH, but OBEY UNRIGHTEOUSNESS – INDIGNATION AND WRATH, 9 TRIBULATION AND ANGUISH, on every soul of man WHO DOES EVIL, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who WORKS WHAT IS GOOD, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For THERE IS NO PARTIALITY WITH GOD.

The righteous will fall, but will rise again. The unrighteous will fall, and will not rise. They will stay in sin, and one day gain the fruit of their godless labor in the eternal judgment of God.

The Righteous Love The Word Of God
(Even On Wednesday)

Proverbs 24:13-14 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: 14 So shall the KNOWLEDGE OF WISDOM be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then THERE SHALL BE A REWARD, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

As honey is good because it is sweet, and honeycomb even better, so is the Word of God. God has provided us with pleasurable things, like honey and honeycomb. God wants the righteous to have good things. When God took Israel to the Promised Land, He said:

Exodus 3:8 (ESV) I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

God gives us good things, and gives us trials. The greatest thing God gives us is His Word, the Holy Bible. The righteous cherish the Word of God.

It is the Word of God that saves us, and promises us that, though we fall, God will raise us up. The Christ follower is not to be as the wicked. We are told:

Proverbs 24:17-18 REJOICE NOT when thine ENEMY FALLETH, and LET NOT THINE HEART BE GLAD WHEN HE STUMBLETH: 18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

There is a psychological term for gloating and celebrating the fall of an enemy – schadenfreude. The word means “to take pleasure in another person’s misfortune, to be glad, amused, or satisfied when another person falls”. God rebuked the Edomites for gloating over Judah’s suffering:

Obadiah 1:12 Thou shouldest not have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction…

The Lord wants us who are righteous by faith to lead others to Christ, to be light in the midst of darkness. Our response when an enemy attacks needs to be like that of the Apostle Paul who wrote:

2 Timothy 4:14-15 (NKJV) Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. MAY THE LORD REPAY HIM ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.

When our enemies fall, we should not rejoice, but redouble our efforts to lead them to Christ. Paul went on to say:

2 Timothy 4:17-18 (NKJV) But the LORD STOOD WITH ME AND STRENGTHENED ME, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and [that] all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And THE LORD WILL DELIVER ME FROM EVERY EVIL WORK AND PRESERVE ME for His heavenly kingdom. To Him [be] glory forever and ever. Amen!

There is a payday coming someday – but we who are righteous want to see no one go to eternal damnation. We should not rejoice when an enemy falls, but continue to serve the Lord with all our hearts.

Proverbs 24:19-20 FRET NOT thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked: 20 For there shall be NO REWARD TO THE EVIL MAN; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

Do not FRET because of the wicked. Do not be ENVIOUS of those who do wrong. In the end, those who live wickedly will be punished. They may be rich temporally, but damned eternally. Their CANDLE, that is, their strange fire WILL BE PUT OUT in time. But let us cling to the Gospel, to continue to tell others about the faithfulness of God. The Apostle wrote:

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 (ESV) Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, WHICH YOU RECEIVED, IN WHICH YOU STAND, and by which YOU ARE BEING SAVED, IF YOU HOLD FAST TO THE WORD I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

Those who reject the Gospel and the Word of God will find their candle blown out. That fleeting light they cling to shall be put out by their very breath. But those who have trusted in Christ will continue onward forever. That’s where I want to be – with Jesus. Not just in eternity, but now on this earth.

Amen.

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Walking Worthy To Glorify God

Posted on November 19, 2025 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Thibault Mokuenko on Unsplash

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye WALK WORTHY OF THE VOCATION WHEREWITH YE ARE CALLED

Only Those Who Are “Born Again” Can Walk Worthy

“WALK WORTHY OF THE VOCATION WHEREWITH YE ARE CALLED”. This is a command that the Apostle issues to the Church, the Body of believers who are “born again of the Holy Spirit” (John 3:3-5). Why must you be “born again”? Because in your first birth, your physical birth, you were born enslaved to sin. You walked according to your desires and to darkness. The theological term for this is TOTAL DEPRAVITY:

The Bible says that “ALL HAVE SINNED, and have fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The Apostle summarized this when he wrote:

Romans 3:10-12 (NKJV) As it is written: “There is NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE; [11] There is none who understands; There is NONE WHO SEEKS AFTER GOD. [12] They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is NONE WHO DOES GOOD, NO, NOT ONE.”

Pastor John MacArthur called this “The most hated Christian doctrine”. We are born into this life separated from God. God must work a supernatural work in us – He must cause us to be born ….. AGAIN. How are we “born again”? The Bible says:

1 Peter 1:23 (LSB) … for YOU HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN not of corruptible seed but INCORRUPTIBLE, [that is], THROUGH THE LIVING AND ENDURING WORD OF GOD.

You believed the Gospel of salvation that is in this grand old Book we call the Bible. You heard that “Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). That Jesus gave Himself for whosoever will come to Him. That Jesus died for us, though we were unworthy. Being born again, God justifies us, makes us right with Him. The Good News of the Scripture is that:

Romans 5:8-10 (LSB) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US. 9 Much more then, having now BEEN JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, WE SHALL BE SAVED FROM THE WRATH OF GOD THROUGH HIM. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, WE SHALL BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE.

When a person realizes that they are lost and headed toward eternal damnation and separation from God – when that person realizes that there is NOTHING they can do to avoid hell and a hellish life – and that person REPENTS and RECEIVES Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, God the Holy Spirit causes that person to be “born again” into the Family of God.

The Bible describes this as a WASHING of the soul that makes it into a new creature:

Titus 3:5-7 (LSB) {God} saved us, not by works which we did in righteousness, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs according to [the] hope of eternal life.

An unbeliever cannot “Walk Worthy” in God’s eyes, but a believer MUST “Walk Worthy”. Once in God’s Family, you are to walk following Jesus. This is walking worthy.

To “Walk” Means To Live Your Life
Following Something

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye WALK {peripateō} WORTHY OF THE VOCATION WHEREWITH YE ARE CALLED

Word Study: The Bible uses the word “walk” in two ways. One way it means what we commonly mean, “to advance or travel on foot”. But the other meaning of “walk” (peripateō) means “to live or conduct yourself”. Every person “walks” one way or the other. People either “walk in the flesh”, that is, they do what suits them, acting as their own gods. Or they “walk in the Spirit”, that is, they suppress their own desires and follow the directives of God. There are two types of people in the world: the lost and the saved. Or you may say those who ARE born again, and those who ARE NOT born again. The Bible says:

Romans 8:5 (LSB) For those who are ACCORDING TO THE FLESH set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT, the things of the Spirit.

The lost – those who need to be born again – are fleshly, self seeking, focused on their own satisfaction. They care nothing for the glory of God. Their glory is in their own desires. But “those who are Christ’s have CRUCIFIED THE FLESH with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24)

The saved walk following God and His Word. A great picture of this is found in the Exodus from Egypt. Israel was enslaved in Egypt. They were not guests – they were objects, things kept for the pleasure of the lost. But God raised up Moses, and sent Moses to Pharaoh with the demand that Egypt:

Exodus 5:1 (NKJV) Let My people go, that THEY MAY HOLD A FEAST TO ME in the wilderness.

Exodus 7:16 (NKJV) Let My people go, that THEY MAY SERVE ME in the wilderness …

God wanted His people released so that they could glorify Him in the wilderness. You know the story. Pharaoh refused to release Israel. Then God told His people to take a sacrificial Lamb …

Exodus 12:5-7 (NKJV) Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take [it] from the sheep or from the goats. 6 ‘Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. 7 ‘And they shall take [some] of the blood and put [it] on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it.

The Lamb is a picture of Jesus Christ dying on the Cross for His people. Jesus is the “Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29, NKJV). The Exodus Lamb was a picture of the Messiah slain. It was the Blood of the Lamb that “redeemed enslaved Israel, and redeemed us who were enslaved to sin and this world” (1 Peter 1:18-19). God told Israel that the Destroyer would pass over Egypt that night. If the Destroyer saw the Blood of the Lamb, he would pass over that home, and death would not enter it. But if the Destroyer saw NO BLOOD, then death would come into that home (Exodus 12:23).

That night, it happened just as God said. Where the Blood of the Lamb was NOT, death came. But where the Blood of the Lamb was, there was life and peace. Because the Israelite obeyed the Word of God and did as He said, they were freed from Egypt.

Psalm 17:4 (NKJV) Concerning the works of men, BY THE WORD OF YOUR LIPS, I HAVE KEPT AWAY FROM THE PATHS OF THE DESTROYER.

That morning Israel was freed from Egypt. Israel WALKED AWAY from Egypt, and followed God. This is a picture of salvation. If you are saved, you WALK AWAY from Egypt. If you are saved, you WALK following God. You do not walk in darkness, but in Light, because God is Light. You walk following Him daily, hourly, moment by moment.

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, THE PRISONER OF THE LORD, beseech you that ye WALK {peripateō} WORTHY {axiōs} OF THE VOCATION {klēsis} WHEREWITH YE ARE CALLED {kaleō}

The Christian WALKS following God, even when it is difficult. Paul calls himself “THE PRISONER OF THE LORD”. When Paul was imprisoned for preaching about Jesus, the Bible says:

Acts 16:22-24 (NKJV) Then the multitude rose up together against {Paul and Silas}; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and COMMANDED THEM TO BE BEATEN WITH RODS. 23 And when they had LAID MANY STRIPES ON THEM, they THREW [them] into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, HE PUT THEM INTO THE INNER PRISON AND FASTENED THEIR FEET IN THE STOCKS.

Though Paul and Silas were unable to walk (for their feet were in stocks), they still “walked worthy”. They sang and prayed and glorified God, even in prison. Though God sent an earthquake to break their prison open, Paul and Silas stayed where they were, and glorified the Lord Who saved them.

When God called Israel out of Egypt, He called them out of slavery. God called them into His Family. God called them to follow Him, to glorify Him by being obedient to His Word. The Christian is not an Egyptian. The Christian is not a worldling. The Christian is a Child of God, adopted into the Kingdom of God. We are not of the world, but are above the world. Our calling is HOLY:

2 Timothy 1:8-10 (ESV) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, NOR OF ME, HIS PRISONER, but SHARE IN SUFFERING FOR THE GOSPEL by the power of God, 9 who saved us and CALLED US TO A HOLY CALLING, not because of our works but BECAUSE OF HIS OWN PURPOSE AND GRACE, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel

When Israel came out of Egypt, they walked following the Lord. Yet they did not walk worthy. They continued to murmur, to complain, and refused to glorify God. Israel made a golden calf while Moses was on Mount Sinai, receiving the Law. We read:

Exodus 32:9-10 (NKJV) And the LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it [is] a stiff-necked people! 10 “Now therefore, LET ME ALONE, THAT MY WRATH MAY BURN HOT AGAINST THEM AND I MAY CONSUME THEM. And I WILL MAKE OF YOU A GREAT NATION.”

Israel was not glorifying God. Israel was walking not worthy, not following the Lord Who saved them, but their own fleshly desires. So God told Moses “Don’t pray for them, or intervene for them. I’ll destroy that nation entirely, and make another nation FROM YOUR LOINS Moses”.

Wow! That was a powerful statement. These people had harassed Moses, mocked Moses, made light of Moses almost from the first when they left Egypt.

The people MURMURED against Moses (Exodus 15:24)
The whole congregation MURMURED against Moses (Exodus 16:2)
The people MURMURED against Moses (Exodus 17:3)
The children of Israel MURMURED against Moses (Numbers 14:2)

Paul and Silas were beaten with rods, thrown into prison, and walking worthy stayed where they were to glorify God. What would Moses do?

God said what He said to show us a “worthy walk” through His servant Moses. Moses cared more for God’s glory than for himself.

Exodus 32:11-14 (NKJV) Then Moses pleaded with the LORD his God, and said: “LORD, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 “WHY SHOULD THE EGYPTIANS SPEAK, and say, ‘He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people. 13 “Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants, and they shall inherit [it] forever.’ ” 14 So THE LORD RELENTED FROM THE HARM WHICH HE SAID HE WOULD DO TO HIS PEOPLE.

Moses walked worthy of the Lord. He wanted God to be glorified, no matter what might come. These Israelites will NOT go into the Promised Land, for they have not learned to walk worthy of their calling. Beloved – hear me:

The unbeliever cannot walk worthy in God’s eyes. The believer is commanded to walk worthy, to live so as to glorify God in the life He has given you. And no body of believers, Israel or the Church, will be blessed of God if those believers will not walk worthy, glorifying God.

What Glorifies God Is When We Imitate Christ:
The Three Virtues Of Walking Worthy

Ephesians 4:1-2 (KJV) I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all LOWLINESS and MEEKNESS, with LONGSUFFERING, forbearing one another in love;

God is not calling us to be effeminate. I am fed up with sissy, prissy, tolerant preaching and posturing in order to please the dark fantasies of this present world. The three virtues that God is calling us to are not effeminacy, for the Bible says:

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (LSB) Or do you not know that the UNRIGHTEOUS WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD? Do not be deceived; neither [the] sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor EFFEMINATE {malakos}, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor [the] greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Word Study: The word “EFFEMINATE” is the Greek malakos, which means “a soft male”. The dictionary defines “effeminate” as “a man or boy having traits, habits, etc traditionally considered feminine, as softness or delicacy”. To walk worthy of your calling is to “be followers of God, as dear children; and WALK IN LOVE, as Christ has loved us, and gave Himself as a sacrificial offering to God” (Ephesians 5:1-2). To walk worthy as believers is to FOLLOW CHRIST:

Luke 9:23 (KJV) {Jesus} said to them all, IF ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, and TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY, and FOLLOW ME.

“LOWLINESS and MEEKNESS, with LONGSUFFERING” are all marks of Jesus Christ – but our Lord was never effeminate. Christianity is not effeminate. God made men to be men, and women to be women. God made us in our roles, and equipped us with distinct characteristics.

Moses stood up for the glory of God, though he was attacked by Israel. Paul and Silas were beaten with rods – yet continued on so that God’s glorious Gospel could go forth. Whipped, Peter and the Apostles declared “we will obey God rather than man”. And Jesus was no effeminate wimp. Jesus cast the money changers out of the Temple – TWICE. Jesus stood up to crowd of Pharisees who declared He was a blasphemer.

And yet – Jesus and the men of the Bible were LOWLY. Jesus and the men of the Bible were MEEK. Jesus said:

Matthew 11:28–29 (KJV) “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I AM MEEK AND LOWLY IN HEART: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

Word Study: The word “LOWLINESS” is the Greek tapeinophrosynē, which means “to have humility of mind”. The Bible says for the Christian:

Philippians 2:5-11 (KJV) LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU, WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF, and BECAME OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; 11 And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

To be LOWLY means to realize that God is above you, and that His will is greater than your will. Though Jesus is God – God in the flesh – Perfect Man born of a virgin – Jesus LOWERED HIMSELF so that others might be blessed. To be LOWLY is to stop putting yourself first, and TO PUT GOD FIRST. God’s Way is always the best way.

In a world of lost people who want to set the standard, the Christ follower adheres to God’s standard. We lower ourselves and elevate Him and His Gospel. If none go with us, we stand firm unto the death. We will glorify God!

Word Study: The word “MEEKNESS” is the Greek praotēs, which means “Christlike gentleness”. Meekness is not weakness. Meekness is strength under control. Meek people trust God to defend them – they do not fight for their own way. The Bible says of Moses:

Numbers 12:3 Now the man Moses was VERY MEEK, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.

He wasn’t WEAK, he was MEEK. He lived a life surrendered to God. When Jesus was attacked, beaten, nailed to a Cross for us, the Bible says:

1 Peter 2:23 When he was reviled, he reviled not again… but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.”

Meekness trusts God, yields to His Word and His will, and treats others as Christ would have them treated regardless as to what they do to us.

Meekness does good to the enemy, without justifying the sin of the enemy. When Stephen was being stoned to death, he cried out “Lord, do not lay this sin to their charge” (Acts 7:59-60). When Jesus hung dying on the Cross, He cried out “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do”. Meekness never justifies sin, but does not return sin for sin. Jesus said:

Matthew 5:5 (KJV) Blessed are the MEEK: for THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH.

LONGSUFFERING {makrothymia},
forbearing one another in love

Word Study: The word “LONGSUFFERING” means to put up with something that makes you uncomfortable. This is the Greek makrothymia, which means “to patiently endure, to persevere, to be slow in avenging wrongs done against you”. Longsuffering in the Church is tied to the love we are to have for one another. Jesus said:

John 13:34-35 (KJV) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye LOVE ONE ANOTHER; as I HAVE LOVED YOU, that ye also love one another. 35 BY THIS shall ALL MEN KNOW that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.

The mark of a worthy walk is that there be “LOWLINESS and MEEKNESS, with LONGSUFFERING, forbearing one another in love”.

Ephesians 4:3 (KJV) Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The Family of God is not about getting your way. It is not about getting my way. It is about getting GOD’S way, glorifying Him in all we do.

It is about glorifying the Father Who planned our salvation. It is about honoring the Son Who gave His life for our salvation. It is about not quenching the Holy Spirit Who supernaturally made us into children of God.

The first generation of Israel kept ignoring the worthy walk, and ended up losing the blessings that God had reserved for them. Frankly, I want God’s best for my life. How about you?

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To Live Is Christ

Posted on November 19, 2025 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is CHRIST, and to die is GAIN.

I’d like to take our scripture today, and take out two words: “CHRIST” and the word “GAIN”. The text would read this way:

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is __________, and to die is _____________.

What you put in that first blank will determine what goes in the second blank.

Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 7:1, “A good name is BETTER than PRECIOUS OINTMENT; and the day of DEATH than the day of ONE’S BIRTH”.

To have a good name – a good reputation – is better according to God than the most expensive perfumes. I am told that the most expensive perfume in the world – Clive Christian No. 1 Imperial Majesty – is around $12,721.89 per ounce. But a good reputation is better than that. How many people name their children Judas or Adolf? The Bible goes on to say that the day you die is better than the day you were born. Why would it say that?

Beloved, that’s not true for everyone. Going back to our fill in the blanks Scripture, most people – even professing Christians – put the wrong word in that first blank. Most people fill in the blanks like:

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is _for myself_, and to die is _____________.

If you are living for yourself, when you die then it is certainly not gain, but loss. When you die, then it is the ultimate loss of self. When you die, if you have lived your life for YOU, then you will go to a horrid place called HELL where you can be you forever. God is not in hell. Our Lord Jesus did not live for Himself, but for the salvation of whosoever would believe in Him. As Jesus prepared to go to Jerusalem during the Last Passover, the Bible says:

Matthew 16:21-23 (LSB) From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that HE MUST GO TO JERUSALEM, and SUFFER MANY THINGS from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and BE KILLED, and BE RAISED UP ON THE THIRD DAY. 22 And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” 23 But He turned and said to Peter, “GET THEE BEHIND ME, SATAN! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are NOT SETTING YOUR MIND ON GOD’S INTERESTS, BUT MAN’S”

The devil wanted Jesus to put Himself in that first blank. “To live is Jesus”. The Apostle doesn’t write “To live is JESUS, to die is gain”. No! He says “To live is CHRIST, to die is gain”. Had Jesus put Himself first, then He could not have fulfilled His ministry. Peter said earlier about Jesus:

Matthew 16:16 (LSB) You are the CHRIST, the Son of the living God.

Had Jesus put Himself first, then His death would not have been gain, but loss. The proof that Jesus is the CHRIST, the Son of the Living God is that He laid down His life for us, He laid down His life as Messiah, He was, as JESUS, in that first blank. We’re told in the next chapter:

Philippians 2:6-8 (LSB) {Jesus}, although existing in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a slave, by being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF BY BECOMING OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF DEATH, EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS.

Jesus did not put His humanity, His will and desire in that first blank. Our Lord Jesus said,

John 10:17–18 (KJV) “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I LAY DOWN MY LIFE, that I might take it again. NO MAN TAKETH IT FROM ME, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”

Jesus did not put Himself in that first blank. Jesus laid His life down. For Jesus,

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is _CHRIST_, and to die is __GAIN__.

When Jesus laid down His life as Christ, as Messiah, He brought gain to every sinner who will believe. Not only this, “God also highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW” (Philippians 2:9-10). Jesus Christ is Lord of all, and Lord of the saved. Had Jesus lived for Himself, and not laid His life down as the Christ, then His death would not have been gain, but infinite loss.

As Jesus is, so are we to be. We cannot put ourselves in that first blank.

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is _for ME_, and to die is __LOSS__.

The Apostle wrote “If you LIVE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, you WILL DIE” (Romans 8:13). Our Lord Jesus taught us that to live for yourself is to suffer ULTIMATE LOSS. We read:

Matthew 16:24-27 (LSB) Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone WISHESTO COME AFTER ME, let him DENY HIMSELF, and TAKE UP HIS CROSS and FOLLOW ME. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he GAINS THE WHOLE WORLD AND FORFEITS HIS SOUL? Or what will a man GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS SOUL? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay each one according to his deeds.

If you live this life putting yourself in that first blank, then death is a loss, not a gain.

Christians Will Experience Bondage And Hatred

Paul started out this chapter calling himself and Timothy “the SERVANTS of JESUS CHRIST”. This was where his identity was. He and Timothy lived to serve Christ, the Kingdom of God. When Paul was imprisoned for preaching the Gospel, he wrote:

Philippians 1:12-14 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the THINGS WHICH HAPPENED UNTO ME have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13 So that MY BONDS IN CHRIST are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

When Paul was imprisoned, he could have put himself in that first blank. He could have said:

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is _for ME_

The suffering of the prison would have been magnified, as there is nothing worse that suffering without good cause. But Paul knew that He was God’s own possession. Paul wrote that:

Galatians 2:20 (LSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but CHRIST LIVES IN ME. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR ME.

Christ lived in him, just as Christ lives in each Christian through the indwelling Spirit of God. “If anyone DOES NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, he DOES NOT BELONG TO HIM” (Romans 8:9). Paul knew that Christ lived in him. Paul imprisoned was not defeated, not discouraged, not downtrodden, not in despair.

Paul regarded his present body as an earthen vessel, something that can be broken, but something that held a treasure. Paul wrote:

2 Corinthians 4:7-11 (LSB) But WE HAVE THIS TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 in every way afflicted, BUT NOT CRUSHED; perplexed, BUT NOT DESPAIRING; 9 persecuted, BUT NOT FORSAKEN; struck down, BUT NOT DESTROYED; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh

For Paul, to live was CHRIST. He knew that he could die at any moment, but living for CHRIST, not for himself, he knew that the next chapter would be GAIN. As Paul gladly wore his chains for the glory of Christ, others were encouraged to step forward and step up to live for His glory. He said, “many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear”. The great Evangelist Billy Graham said:

“Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened”.

And author C.S. Lewis said, “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point”. When you live for Christ, for His glory and gain, for God’s Kingdom, then evil is defeated.

Live For Christ, Not For Fame Or Praise

Philippians 1:15-18 Some indeed preach Christ even of ENVY {phthonos}AND STRIFE {eris}; and some also of good will: 16 The one preach Christ of CONTENTION, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17 But the other of LOVE, knowing that I am set for the DEFENSE OF THE GOSPEL. 18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, CHRIST IS PREACHED; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

Paul was called to preach the Gospel. He wrote:

2 Timothy 1:10-11 (NKJV) … our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light THROUGH THE GOSPEL, 11 to which I WAS APPOINTED A PREACHER, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

Paul considered his calling to preach to be an even greater calling than that of Apostle, for he listed Apostle as second. He did the same thing in 1 Timothy 2:7, and even told the Corinthian Church “Christ SENT ME NOT TO BAPTIZE, BUT TO PREACH THE GOSPEL” (1 Corinthians 1:17). Paul loved preaching the Gospel. But here’s the thing:

Preachers can be so very human!

Paul founded the Church at Corinth during his second missionary journey. He PLANTED the Church (1 Corinthians 3:6), and he LAID THE FOUNDATION (1 Corinthians 3:10) over an 18 month period of his life (Acts 18:1-11). And yet the Corinthians compared Paul to other preachers like Apollos and found him wanting.

Many who preached at the same time Paul preached preached from good hearts. These preachers preached the Gospel, and did so “of LOVE, knowing that I am set for the DEFENSE OF THE GOSPEL”. They did not try and tear down Paul’s ministry. But there were other preachers who preached “Christ even of ENVY {phthonos}AND STRIFE {eris}”. These preachers were preaching insincerely. Behind their preaching they were trying to tear down Paul’s ministry. They desired the blessings that God had given Paul, and set about in a very human way to take those blessings from him. They were contentious, mocking of Paul’s ministry. Paul said that these preachers were “supposing to add affliction to my bonds”, to make things harder for him. They perhaps were saying things like, “Yes Paul is imprisoned – it is a judgment for God for the horrible job he is doing as an Apostle. I should have been an Apostle, not Paul”.

When W.A. Criswell resigned from First Baptist Church, Dallas Texas, a 29,000 member Church at that time, the Church called Joel C. Gregory to be his replacement in 1990. In September 1992 Gregory quit abruptly in the middle of a sermon. He claimed there were power struggles in the Church between him and Criswell, and with Criswell’s wife. Gregory’s wife left him, and he remarried. Leaving the ministry, a man once the Pastor of one of the largest Churches in the United States began a career selling cemetery plots door to door in Forth Worth, Texas. God redeemed him, and blessed him, and Gregory is today a professor of Preaching at Baylor University. But he lost his Pastorate, one that O.S. Hawkins went on to fill from 1993-1997.

We lose God’s best for our lives when we put anything but CHRIST in that first blank!

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is CHRIST, and to die is gain.

Though others attacked Paul and his ministry, he praised God that even the attackers were preaching Christ. Paul wrote:

Philippians 1:18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, CHRIST IS PREACHED; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and WILL REJOICE.

Are You “Heaven Ready”?

Paul knew that, as a prisoner of Rome, that his days were numbered. But he was not frightened at the prospect. He wrote:

Philippians 1:22-24 But if I LIVE IN THE FLESH, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a DESIRE TO DEPART, and TO BE WITH CHRIST; which is far better: 24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

Every year we take a couple of weeks “vacation”. In preparation my dear wife will make lists, pack bags, and do everything she can to make our trip joyful. We all do that when preparing for a trip. Beloved, one day we are all going to take a trip. For those who love Jesus, the trip will take us to where Christ is. For those who love themselves, the trip may not be where you want to be.

Paul wanted to stay on this earth as long as “to LIVE is CHRIST”, as long as the Lord wanted him to be here. But Paul was ready. His bags were packed. He wanted “TO DEPART, and TO BE WITH CHRIST; which is far better”. Paul knew a lot about Heaven. At one point in his earthly life, the Bible says that:

2 Corinthians 12:4-5 (LSB) … was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which A MAN IS NOT PERMITTED TO SPEAK. 5 On behalf of such a man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in weaknesses.

Paul didn’t brag about the things he saw in Heaven. When Christ let him go to Heaven, he saw things that the Lord told him “keep it between us”. We get little glimpses of Heaven in the Bible. Adrian Rogers said:

“God showed {Paul} some sacred secrets about heaven, and God said to Paul, “Don’t you tell anyone.” There are a lot of things I don’t know about heaven. Even the Apostle John in 1 John chapter 3 and verse 2 said, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2) John said, “There are some things we can’t be dogmatic about. We don’t know what we’re going to be like. But,” he said, “there are some things we can be bull-dogmatic about. We’ll be like Jesus.”

Before the great preacher Dr. Robert G. Lee passed into glory, Billy Graham and Adrian Rogers went to see him. He was thought to be in a coma at the time, and was not responsive when they first got to his home. These preachers stood around his bed and sang:

My latest sun is sinking fast,
my race is nearly run;
my strongest trials now are past,
my triumph is begun.
O come, angel band,
come and around me stand;
O bear me away on your snowy wings
to my immortal home.
O bear me away on your snowy wings
to my immortal home.
I’ve almost reached my heav’nly home,
my spirit loudly sings;
your holy ones, behold, they come!
I hear the noise of wings.
O bear my longing heart to him
who bled and died for me;
whose love now covers all my sin,
and gives me victory.
O come, angel band,
come and around me stand;
O bear me away on your snowy wings
to my immortal home.
O bear me away on your snowy wings
to my immortal home.

After singing this, Dr. Lee opened his eyes, reached out, and hugged Billy Graham. Adrian Rogers wrote:

“Dr. Lee didn’t die right then; he lingered for a while. I went back to see him, and {his daughter} Hildred said to me, “Do you know what happened?” I said, “What?” “Papa told me—he’d had a vision of heaven.” I said, “Tell me about it.” “Well,” she said, “that’s what I told him: ‘Tell me about it.’” {Dr Lee} told her, “Hildred, I didn’t do it justice in my sermon—I didn’t do it justice.” And she said, “Well, tell me.” He said, “I can’t tell you. I don’t have the words to tell you.”

Word Study: Because Paul put the right thing in that first blank, he wasn’t afraid of dying. He wrote that he had “a DESIRE TO DEPART, and TO BE WITH CHRIST”. If you are living for Christ NOW, when it is time to depart this earth you will not see this as a loss, but a great gain. The word “DEPART”is the Greek analyō. This word was used by sailors when a ship left port. It was released from the dock so it could set sail – but it had a destination. The word was also used as a military term when soldiers pulled up the stakes of their tents to move on. While on this earth we fight for our Lord – not against flesh and blood, but against forces of darkness. The battle one day will be over for you, dear Christian. Don’t put your tent stakes down too deep in this earth – for this is not our home!

Too often I have preached funerals for professing Christians where they grieved as hopelessly as any lost person. The question is – WHY? The answer is quite simple.

Either that person was never born again, never a child of God by faith in Christ, or that person lived their lives with the wrong thing in the first blank.

The Bible tells us in

Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV) IF then YOU HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH CHRIST, SEEK THE THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 SET YOUR MINDS ON THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS THAT ARE ON EARTH. 3 For you have died, and YOUR LIFE IS HIDDEN WITH CHRIST in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

What awaits the Christian is indescribable. I heard the story of a little girl who was born blind. The surgeons studied her case, and by the Grace of God were able to perform surgery on her eyes. They hoped it would be successful. When the doctors unwound the gauze from her head, this little girl opened her eyes and saw for the first time. She saw the doctors, saw her mother. She went to the window and looked out. For the first time she saw the green grass, the blue sky. She saw birds in the trees, and saw a cloud pass by, and the wincing shine of the sun. The little girl said, “Mommy, why didn’t you tell me it was so beautiful?”. Her mother said, “Honey, I tried to tell you. But you had to see for yourself.”

The Bible says:

1 Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV) Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.

A glorious place waits for those who live for Christ. Beloved, let us not live for self. Let us not live for sin. Let us not live in darkness. Let us live to the glory of God, so that we too can say:

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

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Building A House That Stands

Posted on November 14, 2025 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Josh Olalde on Unsplash

Proverbs 24:1-2 Be not thou ENVIOUS against evil men, neither desire to be with them. 2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

Guide Your Hearts From Envy Of The Rich

Understand Envy vs Jealousy: We need to be careful who we associate with. Close friendship and close relationships with those who are ungodly can lead us into a trap, destroying our lives. There are two heart – emotions that we need to understand, jealousy and envy. Jealousy is when you are possessive about that which is rightfully yours. Jealousy is not necessarily a sin. God Himself is jealous:

Exodus 34:14 (NKJV) (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is JEALOUS {qannā’}, is a JEALOUS {qannā’} God),

Deuteronomy 4:24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a JEALOUS {qannā’} God.

Jealousy means to be “zealous, protective of what is rightfully yours”. God our Father made us. God the Holy Spirit caused us to be born into His Family, His House. God the Son shed His Blood on Calvary for us. Therefore, those who are His Children by faith in Christ Jesus, (Galatians 3:26) those who are “born again” (John 3:3-7; 1 Peter 1:23), are God’s possessions, God’s children. The Scripture says:

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (KJV) What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN? For YE ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, WHICH ARE GOD’S.

The Christian is a member of the House of Christ, the Kingdom of God. We are God’s family – and He has every right to be jealous over us, for we are His.

Envy, on the other hand, is a negative and ungodly emotion. Whereas jealousy is to be protective of what is rightfully yours, envy is a desire to take what is rightfully someone else’s’ and make it yours.

Proverbs 24:1 Be not thou ENVIOUS {qānā’} against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

Word Study: The root of the word qānā’ means to see something and, through desire, to pursue it so as to gain ownership of it. The focus of the word is possession of something not rightfully yours. Evil people – the lost driven by desire and self – will lead the righteous person away from God and toward greedy fulfillment.

Proverbs 24:2 For their heart STUDIETH DESTRUCTION, and their LIPS TALK OF MISCHIEF.

Word Study: Such people are always looking for a way to take over something not theirs. They “STUDY DESTRUCTION” {hāḡâ šōḏ}, literally “devise violence”. They look for ways they can defeat the owner of what they want in order to acquire what is his. We cannot completely avoid wicked people while in this world, for the Apostle wrote:

1 Corinthians 5:9-10 (ESV) I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people — 10 NOT AT ALL MEANING THE SEXUALLY IMMORAL OF THIS WORLD, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, SINCE THEN YOU WOULD NEED TO GO OUT OF THE WORLD.

We are going to come across bad people, evil people. But we should never envy what the bad people have, nor seek friendships with them because such people are constantly seeking that which will take away from others.

Illustrate Ai: When Joshua led Israel into the Promised Land he sent spies into the city of Ai. There were very few people there, so the spies told Joshua “Do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few.” (Joshua 7:3). So that’s what they did. Three thousand soldiers went up against Ai – and were chased away by the smaller army of Israel. This was shocking to Joshua, as they had just come from defeating Jericho (Joshua 6). Joshua fell down before the Ark of the Lord in prayer, saying:

Joshua 7:7-9 (NKJV) Alas, Lord GOD, why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all–to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turns its back before its enemies? 9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear [it], and surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?”

God answered Joshua,

Joshua 7:10-12 (NKJV) Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? 11 “Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put [it] among their own stuff. 12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, [but] turned [their] backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you.

The Bible tells us that Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah saw accursed things when Jericho was overthrown, things like gold and silver idols in the rubble of Jericho. God had told Israel:

Joshua 6:18-19 (NKJV) And you, by all means abstain from the ACCURSED THINGS, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, [are] consecrated to the LORD; they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.

God owned the city of Jericho. The gold and silver were to be dedicated to God’s treasury. But Achan began to envy that which was not his but was God’s – and took it, and hid it in the floor of his tent.

What was sad about Achan was that he was blessed of God, fed of God, and protected as a child of God. But he stole from God out of envy, stole from idolaters, and ended up dying for it.

God tells us who are His to not envy the wicked, nor envy their stuff.

Hebrews 13:5-6 (NKJV) [Let your] conduct [be] without covetousness; BE CONTENT WITH SUCH THINGS AS YOU HAVE. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: The LORD [is] my Helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NKJV) Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And HAVING FOOD AND CLOTHING, WITH THESE WE SHALL BE CONTENT. 9 But those who DESIRE TO BE RICH FALL into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and harmful lusts which DROWN MEN in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all [kinds of] evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and PIERCED THEMSELVES THROUGH with many sorrows.

Rather Than Seek Earthly Riches,
Live For The House Of Christ

Proverbs 24:3-4 Through WISDOM IS AN HOUSE BUILDED; and by UNDERSTANDING IT IS ESTABLISHED: 4 And BY KNOWLEDGE shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Rather than chase after the rich and the ungodly, seeking to build your bank account, look to build a “House” partnered with God. The evil who pursue riches are not building a “House” that will stand. The evil build their “House” based on covetousness and greed. The Bible says:

Proverbs 12:7 (NKJV) The wicked are overthrown and [are] no more, But THE HOUSE OF THE RIGHTEOUS WILL STAND.

God and His people will ultimately triumph. The House built on God’s Word (Wisdom) and the understanding and application of His Word will stand when all other things fail. The Prophet wrote very poetically:

Job 8:11-15 (LSB) Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the rushes grow without water? 12 While it is still green [and] not cut down, Yet it dries up before any [other] plant. 13 SO ARE THE PATHS OF ALL WHO FORGET GOD; And the hope of the godless will perish, 14 Whose confidence is fragile, And whose trust a spider’s web. 15 HE RELIES ON HIS HOUSE, BUT IT DOES NOT STAND; He holds fast to it, but IT IS NOT ESTABLISHED.

The Church is called the Bride of Christ, but it is also called “The House of Christ”.

Hebrews 3:4-6 (LSB) For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. 5 Now MOSES WAS FAITHFUL IN ALL HIS HOUSE AS A SERVANT, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later, 6 but CHRIST WAS FAITHFUL AS A SON OVER HIS HOUSE – WHOSE HOUSE WE ARE, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope.

The House that stands through all the storms is the House built on WISDOM, on the Word of God. The House built on God’s Word and the knowledge of His Word is promised “chambers be filled with all PRECIOUS and PLEASANT RICHES”. I don’t believe this is talking about money – but about joy of life, and peace no matter what you are going through.

Proverbs 24:5 A WISE MAN IS STRONG {ʿōz}; yea, a MAN OF KNOWLEDGE increaseth strength.

Word Study: The evil man may seem to have power, but only the “WISE MAN IS STRONG”. The word translated “STRONG” (ʿōz) does not refer to physical strength, but to INNER STRENGTH and SPIRITUAL STABILITY. Though the Bible teaches that the Judge Samson was blessed by God (Judges 13:24), and that Samson had great physical strength, he was never called ʿōz or “Strong” because he was NOT a wise man. Samson was a womanizer who demanded that his parents get him a bride from among the Philistines. Samson was narcissitic, prone to anger and rage. Though God used Samson in many ways to punish the pagan Philistines, killing a thousand enemies in a day. And yet the House of Samson ended in ruin. Blinded, tied to pillars in the godless temple of the Philistines, Samson pulled the pillars down and killed many Philistines – but also destroyed himself.

Samson was not a wise man.
He was powerful, but not strong.

But King David – with all his flaws – was called strong. When the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Jerusalem the Bible says:

2 Samuel 6:14-15 (NKJV) Then David danced before the LORD with all [his] MIGHT {ʿōz}; and David [was] wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

David later wrote in the Psalms:

Psalm 28:6-7 (NKJV) Blessed [be] the LORD, Because He has heard the voice of my supplications! 7 The LORD [is] MY STRENGTH {ʿōz} and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.

The House of Samson – though he was a physically powerful man – ended up dying with the enemy. But the House of David, built on the Word and Will of God, still stands today. God made a promise to David that His Son would sit on His Throne:

2 Samuel 7:12–16 (NIV) When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, YOUR OWN FLESH AND BLOOD, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I WILL ESTABLISH THE THRONE OF HIS KINGDOM FOREVER. I will be his Father, and He will be My Son… Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before Me; your Throne will be established forever.

Because David built his Houseon the Word and Will of God, his House lives forever (Psalm 89:3-4, 29, 36-37). When God sent His Son to this earth, the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, He came as the fulfillment of what God promised David. The Bible says:

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NKJV) For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, UPON THE THRONE OF DAVID AND OVER HIS KINGDOM, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

God told Mary:

Luke 1:31-33 (NKJV) And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and THE LORD GOD WILL GIVE HIM THE THRONE OF HIS FATHER DAVID. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and OF HIS KINGDOM THERE WILL BE NO END

Those who build their House on God’s Word – His Wisdom – will be blessed.

We Win The Battles When We Heed The Wisdom Of God’s Word

Proverbs 24:6-7 For BY WISE COUNSEL THOU SHALT MAKE THY WAR: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety. 7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

A wise person will not seek out evil people, in envy wanting their riches. A wise person will seek out other wise people, others who love the Word of God. The Bible says “BY WISE COUNSEL THOU SHALT MAKE THY WAR”. You cannot have a successful battle against those things that seek to destroy you without wise counsel. Everyone suffers in this life. Everyone struggles. My commentary notes:

“The Christian life is full of battles as spiritual warfare rages. We learn from Ephesians 6:12 that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” First Peter 5:8 tells us to “be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Fortunately, no Christian is alone in this warfare. Christ, the “Wonderful Counselor” (Isaiah 9:6) is always with each believer, and the Holy Spirit, “another Helper,” is alongside (John 14:16). Furthermore, the Lord has placed in the church teaching pastors to help build us up in the faith (Ephesians 4:11–12). He has also given His Word as a sword to use in battling the devil (Ephesians 6:17). With all this available counsel victory is certain.”

We cannot build a successful House without a multitude of WISE counselors. We do not need to listen to the godless, the foolish. We need to heed God’s Word.

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The Word Was Made Flesh And Dwelt Amongst Us

Posted on November 11, 2025 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by NASA on Unsplash

Every year we come to December 25th, a time and a celebration we call “Christmas”. We talk about the Wise Men who came from the east to see the Baby Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12). Or we turn to the Book of Luke, and read how Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to have the Baby Jesus in a manger (Luke 2:1-7). We talk about the Shepherds watching their flocks by night (Luke 2:8-17) who were told by the angel of the Lord:

Luke 2:10-12 (KJV) .. Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

We celebrate Jesus and His birth at Christmas. But why is His birth so very important? There is a verse in the Gospel of John that is rarely mentioned at Christmas time. That verse is:

John 1:14 (KJV) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only Begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Who Is “The Word”?

The Bible tells us that “The Word” was in the beginning with God, and is, in fact, God. We read:

John 1:1-4 (KJV) In the beginning was THE WORD, and THE WORD was with God, and THE WORD was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

We are told that THE WORD is both WITH God, and WAS God. The Bible tells us that the WORD was “in the beginning with God”. The WORD was with God the Father making mankind, making the sun, the moon, and the stars.

It was the WORD that was involved in each day of creation WITH GOD.

We are told in John 1:3 that “All things were made by HIM; and without HIM was not any thing made that was made”. The WORD is a HIM. It’s not a separate thing from God. The WORD is God. It was the WORD Who made Heaven and earth. It was the WORD Who made Adam, and put him in the Garden of Eden. The WORD was with God when He told Adam:

Genesis 2:15-17 (KJV) And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

The Bible tells us that Adam heard and understood the command that God gave him. Yet Adam disobeyed. When he disobeyed, the Bible says:

Romans 5:12 (KJV) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

“By ONE MAN sin entered the world, and DEATH by sin”. Adam’s sin brought sin and death to all of humanity. Adam should have listened to God – but he didn’t. The Bible says:

Psalm 33:6-7 (KJV) By the WORD of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

God spoke all things into existence. When God spoke to Adam, He spoke truth, and spoke out of love. God could have destroyed creation when Adam sinned. But God knows all things. He made Adam perfect, but God knew that Adam would fail.

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit created man perfect. The Trinity of God knows all things, so Adam’s failure was not a surprise.

After Adam’s fall, God made a promise to that old Serpent Satan (Revelation 12:9). He told the devil:

Genesis 3:15 (NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.

God promised the devil Satan that the “Seed of the woman” would one day stomp on his head, but that it would bruise His heel. We know that – in creation – women do not have “seed”. Women carry the egg, and men the “seed”. So when God said “The SEED OF THE WOMAN will bruise your head, Satan”, what was God talking about?

God was telling Adam and us that He planned on coming to this earth in a unique way, a way that we had never before seen. The One Who would defeat Satan and Sin would be “The SEED OF THE WOMAN”.

As a woman doesn’t have “Seed” but the egg, God was promising something that only He could do. In the Old Testament God began to speak by the Prophets, telling how the Messiah would come to save humanity from Satan and Sin. God spoke through the Prophets, foretelling God’s coming Savior.

Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV) For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The Messiah, the Savior would be born into this world. But the Messiah would be a “Son” who would be God. When the Prophet said “the government will be upon His shoulder”, it means that He would be Lord of Lords and King of Kings. This coming Messiah would be known as “Mighty God”. When the Messiah came, when you saw Him you would see the “Everlasting Father”. And His reason for coming would be to defeat Satan and Sin, and offer humanity peace with God. This is why He is called the “Prince of Peace”.

If the “Child” was going to be born, but this Child would be “Mighty God”, then this tells us that when Savior promised in Genesis chapter 3 came, He would be GOD IN THE FLESH. God would become Man.

But if God became Man, He could not come through the same way that we all came into this world. You see, all people after Adam came into this world as SINNERS. The Bible says:

Romans 3:23 (NKJV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

If a sinful man were to mate with a sinful woman, the offspring would be a sinner just like we all are. A sinner cannot be a Savior. But this is where that promise that God made the devil comes in. (Genesis 3:15) “I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and HER SEED; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel”. The woman doesn’t have “SEED”, so God was going to enter humanity in a unique way. The Prophet said:

Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV) Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

The Word Is Jesus, Supernaturally Born Of A Virgin

God would come into humanity through “A VIRGIN”. God would supernaturally move on the egg of an untouched woman, and cause her to have a Child, a sinless Child. The name “Immanuel” means “God with us”. The

Eternal God the Son, Jesus Christ, would enter this world through a virgin.

That’s what Christmas is. That’s what we celebrate. We celebrate God keeping His promise to offer mankind salvation. God entered humanity through two unknown and relatively poor people named Mary and Joseph. God sent the Archangel Gabriel to Mary first, and told her:

Luke 1:30-35 (NKJV) the angel {Gabriel} said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 “And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 35 And the angel answered and said to her, “[The] Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

The birth of Jesus Christ, eternal God become perfect Man, was a supernatural event. God entered His own creation in order to offer us salvation from Satan and Sin. When Joseph, Mary’s fiance discovered that she was pregnant (and he was not the father), he decided to “put her away” or divorce her quietly. But God sent Gabriel to Joseph while he slept, and spoke to him in his dreams, saying:

Matthew 1:20-23 (NKJV) “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is
translated, “God with us.”

Jesus Christ, God’s Eternal Son, came to this earth. He left the Throne of Heaven, and lowered Himself to be born in our midst.

Jesus Is The Greatest Gift Of All!

God gave us the greatest Gift He could give us when He gave us Jesus. Because of Adam, we are born sinners. But Jesus Christ came to die for our sins, and to rise again for our salvation. Adam made us born sinners. Through Jesus, God offers us a new birth in Him. When we receive Jesus Christ as He is, as Lord and Savior, we have the promise of God:

Matthew 1:21 … He shall save His people FROM THEIR SINS

Jesus left Heaven, lowered Himself, and came to earth. He was born into humanity through a Virgin, in a manger in Bethlehem. Immediately the devil tried to kill Him. Herod killed all the babies in Bethlehem in his attempt to kill Jesus. The Pharisees tried to kill Jesus because He told them,

John 6:46-47 (NKJV) Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.

Jesus was with the Father from eternity. God the Father sent Jesus to this earth to offer whosoever salvation, eternal life.

What a Gift! Jesus Christ is “The GIFT OF GOD” (John 4:10) to us. When you believe on Him, repenting of your sin and casting your life on Him, Jesus gives us the “GIFT of the HOLY SPIRIT” (Acts 2:38). The Gift of God, salvation through Jesus, cannot be earned or deserved. We cannot purchase it with money (Acts 8:20).

Many people believe Jesus is a great Teacher, a historic figure, a great Man. Jesus once asked His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” (Matthew16:13). The disciples said people had a lot of opinions on Who Jesus Christ is. But Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do YOU say that I am?”. The Apostle Peter spoke up, saying:

“You are THE Christ, THE Son of the living God!” (Matthew 16:16)

That’s Who Jesus is. Christmas commemorates the supernatural birth of God into His creation, for His creation. Adam gave us the gift of sin. Jesus Christ offers us the Gift of Salvation from sin and Satan.

Romans 5:15-18 (NKJV) But the free gift [is] not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift [is] not like [that which came] through the one who sinned. For the judgment [which came] from one [offense resulted] in condemnation, but the free gift [which came] from many offenses [resulted] in justification. 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense [judgment came] to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act [the free gift came] to all men, resulting in justification of life.

Romans 6:23 (NKJV) For the wages of sin [is] death, but the gift of God [is] eternal life in
11 Christ Jesus our Lord.

Every Christmas, we give gifts to one another. Christmas is not about Santa Claus, nor is it about the temporal gifts we give one another. Christmas is about the greatest Gift humans have ever been offered.

Christmas is about Jesus.

I pray that you realize what a special time this is, and pray that you will receive the Gift that God has offered you – the Gift of eternal life. Jesus Christ came to this earth to die for our sins, and to rise again to lead us into eternity. I close with these wonderful words:

Romans 10:9-13 (NKJV) …. that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

Merry Christmas!

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Fear God/ Fear Sin

Posted on November 11, 2025 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by M.T ElGassier on Unsplash

Proverbs 23:10-11 Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the FIELDS OF THE FATHERLESS: 11 For THEIR Redeemer is mighty; He shall plead their cause with thee.

Do Not Lie To Take What Is Not Yours

Before we left the last chapter, Solomon wrote:

Proverbs 22:28 (KJV) Remove not the ANCIENT LANDMARK, which thy fathers have set.

Ancient boundaries were based on distinct landmarks. Some landmarks were valleys or mountains, rivers or streams. But where there was no distinct boundary, people would set boundaries of pillars and rocks. This is what happened between Laban and Jacob:

Genesis31:51-52 (ESV) Then Laban said to Jacob, “See this heap and the pillar, which I have set between you and me. 52 This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, to do harm.

In this case, Laban and Jacob made a pact that one would stay on one side of the boundary, and the other on the opposing side. The other reason for landmarks was to set property boundaries. People could steal land by moving the landmark (especially if it was a man made landmark). God tells His people:

Deuteronomy 19:14 (ESV) You shall NOT MOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR’S LANDMARK, which the men of old have set, in the inheritance that you will hold in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.

God’s people are forbidden to move landmarks, or to feed your livestock on another person’s property. God despises sin, but particularly despises covetousness and theft. The Tenth Commandment says:

Exodus 20:17 (ESV) You SHALL NOT COVET your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, OR ANYTHING that is your neighbor’s.

God does not allow theft of an inheritance – moving the ancient landmark – from anyone. He said of the rulers of Israel:

Hosea 5:10 (ESV) The princes of Judah have become LIKE THOSE WHO MOVE THE LANDMARK; upon them I will pour out my wrath like water.

Moving the landmark was like rustling. You took your brand, and pressed it over the lawful owner’s brand. That’s theft!

Before Israel went into the Promised Land, God told His people “you are CURSED if you move your neighbor’s landmark” (Deuteronomy 27:17). Some would be particularly crooked. They would wait until someone’s father passed away, then they would move the landmark and steal land from those in mourning. Without a father to bring such a person before a priest for judgment, there would be no one to prove the landmark had been moved. God warned those who would move the landmark:

Proverbs 23:11 For THEIR Redeemer is mighty; He shall plead THEIR CAUSE with thee.

God is the REDEEMER (Isaiah 43:14; 47:4). He says not “YOUR” Redeemer is mighty, but “THEIR” Redeemer is mighty. Those who would move the ancient landmarks in order to steal from a neighbor are those who are NOT redeemed from sin. They walk in darkness. The Bible says that Jesus Christ died for us,

Titus 2:14 … gave Himself for us to REDEEM US FROM ALL LAWLESSNESS and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are ZEALOUS FOR GOOD WORKS

Those who steal what is not theirs by subterfuge are not children of God saved by Grace, but lost people walking in darkness. God will fight against those who move the landmarks!

Application For Us: The Apostle Paul warned Christians against twisting and modifying the Word of God. We must be particularly careful to maintain the “ancient landmark” of the Gospel. When Pharisees enter the Gentile Church at Galatia and began to teach that Gentiles must be circumcised, just as the Jews were, the Apostle wrote:

Galatians 1:8-9 (LSB) But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to the gospel we have proclaimed to you, LET HIM BE ACCURSED! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is proclaiming to you A GOSPEL CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU RECEIVED, let him be accursed!

The word “ACCURSED” (Greek anathema) means to “be cursed from the presence of God, to be doomed to destruction”. Those without Christ are INDEED FATHERLESS – they are separated from the glory of God’s Kingdom by sin and Satan. They need to hear the GOSPEL, not our opinions.

God’s Word – clearly presented – is an ancient landmark that must not be moved. The Bible says “EVERY WORD OF GOD IS PURE” (Proverbs 30:5-6). When God sent Israel into the Promised Land, He told His people:

Deuteronomy 4:1-2 (LSB) So now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to do, so that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 2 YOU SHALL NOT ADD TO THE WORD WHICH I AM COMMANDING YOU, NOR TAKE AWAY FROM IT, that you may keep the commandments of Yahweh your God which I am commanding you.

And as God ended the Bible, He wrote:

Revelation 22:18-19 (LSB) I bear witness to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: IF ANYONE ADDS TO THEM, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book. 19 And IF ANYONE TAKES AWAY FROM THE WORDS OF THE BOOK of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

We do not help the cause of Christ – nor ourselves – when we move the ancient landmark of the Scripture to suit ourselves (2 Peter 3:16).

Learn From God, And Teach Your Children

Proverbs 23:12-14 Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. 13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. 14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

In order to benefit from God’s Word, there must be meditative listening and application. Many people “learn” the Word of God, knowing what it says. But learning without application is absolutely useless. Our Lord Jesus said:

Matthew 7:24-27 (NKJV) Therefore whoever HEARS these sayings of Mine, and DOES them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who HEARS these sayings of Mine, and DOES NOT DO THEM, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.

It is good to HEAR the Word of God. But to HEAR it, then walk away, profits nothing. If you want to have a rock solid faith and a blessed life, you must both HEAR and DO. There are many times when the doing of God’s Word is extremely difficult. The Bible tells us about a rich young man who – under conviction – came to seek eternal life from Jesus. We read:

Mark 10:17-18 (LSB) as He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and began asking Him, “GOOD {agathos} Teacher, WHAT SHALL I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? NO ONE IS GOOD EXCEPT GOD ALONE.

Let’s look at this for a moment. Jesus refused the title “GOOD” {Greek agathos} because the young man called Jesus a “TEACHER” {Greek didaskalos}. A lot of people see Jesus as just a “Teacher”, even a “Good Teacher”. But Jesus is more than a mortal teacher. Jesus is God in the flesh. This young man is coming to Jesus and asking Him “How do I INHERIT {klēronomeō, receive as a child of God} eternal life”? Jesus is the Source of Eternal Life (John 3:15; John 5:39; John 6:54, 66). He is more than a human teacher. He is God among us! Jesus went on to say:

Mark 10:19-20 (LSB) You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.”

Jesus made it very clear: the saved, those who will “INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE” are obedient to God and His Word. The things that God commands are not optional – EVER. The young man kept the commandments, it’s obvious, for Jesus does not correct him (and Jesus is God Incarnate).

Now Jesus Christ as God Incarnate gives this young man who claims to be saved another command: WILL YOU OBEY JESUS? That’s where the proof of salvation is, whether you will obey Jesus or not.

Mark 10:21-22 (LSB) And looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “One thing you lack: GO AND SELL ALL YOU POSSESS AND GIVE TO THE POOR, and YOU WILL HAVE TREASURE IN HEAVEN; and COME, FOLLOW ME” But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for HE WAS ONE WHO OWNED MUCH PROPERTY. And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!”

To enter the Kingdom of God, the salvation you claim to possess must be marked with obedience to God.

Salvation without repentance will not save a dandelion. Repentance means that the hearer STOP doing life HIS way, and start doing it GOD’S way. It was not the young man’s bank account that kept him from having treasure in Heaven. It was that the young man worshiped the things he owned MORE than he worshiped Jesus.

There is a dearth (that’s a King James word that means “a scarcity or a lack of something”) of obedience in our world today, a precursor to another Sodom and Gomorrah on America. Christianity properly understood is to FOLLOW JESUS. To hear the Word of God and not DO it, applying it to your heart, is an exercise in futility. The Stepbrother of Jesus, James wrote:

James 1:22 be DOERS OF THE WORD, and not hearers only, DECEIVING YOURSELVES

And the Apostle John said “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). Throughout the Bible the Lord tells us over and over again that, “to OBEY GOD is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22).

Good Parents Raise Obedient Children

How can we raise a generation of children who understand the importance of obedience? By effective parenting.

Proverbs 23:13-14 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. 14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt DELIVER HIS SOUL from HELL.

Word Study: Loving discipline trains a child, teaching that child to avoid evil. The word translated “HELL” is the Hebrew šᵊ’ôl, which means “the grave, the pit, the place where the dead souls are held unto Judgment Day”. Solomon tells us that to punish the child corporally, though it may cause the child temporary suffering, such punishment may keep the child from a greater hurt.

Children who are not disciplined grow up to be adults who have no respect for authority. These undisciplined adults haunt the court system, bring confusion and anarchy to civil order, and many die deaths at an early age from rebelling against order.

Though children may become adults and wander from God, the Bible tells us that “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). The Bible says of God our Father that:

Hebrews 12:6 (ESV) … the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives

My commentary notes, “Loving, sincere parents may protest that they “love” their children too much to discipline them. Yet this only trains the child to expect a world without consequences—a world which does not exist. A parent who genuinely loves the child should recognize the need for reasonable discipline and apply it accordingly”.

It Pleases Our Heavenly Father When We Guide Our Hearts To Follow His Word

Proverbs 23:15-18 My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. 16 Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when THY LIPS SPEAK RIGHT THINGS. 17 LET NOT thine heart envy sinners: but BE THOU IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD all the day long. 18 For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

The world teaches that we are to be “guided by our hearts”. This is contrary to the teaching of Scripture. We are to guide our hearts by the Word of God.

The Christian is not to live following the flesh, nor the ways of the world. The Bible says that “those who are IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD” (Romans 8:8). We are not to desire the things that sinners have, but we who are saved by Grace are to love God and His Word. We fear to do that which shames our Lord. God wants to hear our “LIPS SPEAK RIGHT THINGS”. We are to say what God has said. We are not to compromise with the world, but to be light in the midst of darkness. The Bible commands us to:

Ephesians 4:15 (ESV) Rather, SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE, we are to grow up in every way INTO HIM who is the Head, into Christ,

The goal of the believer is to be like Christ. We facilitate this by not compromising with the false teachings of the world. Though Noah lived in a time when “the wickedness of humanity was great on the earth, and every intention of the thoughts of man was continually evil” (Genesis 6:5), Noah kept speaking God’s Word. Noah was “a herald of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5).

When we as children of God speak the Word of God, though despised and rejected by the world, we bring intense joy to our Heavenly Father.

There will come a day when we will meet our Maker face to face. A payday is coming, and a time of reward will be ours if we have honored our Lord on this earth.

1Peter 1:3-5 (ESV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, HE HAS CAUSED US TO BE BORN AGAIN TO A LIVING HOPE through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 TO AN INHERITANCE IMPERISHABLE, undefiled, and unfading, KEPT IN HEAVEN FOR YOU, 5 who by God ‘s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Though the worldly may take your possessions, though the godless may move the ancient landmarks, God has a place for His children, “KEPT IN HEAVEN FOR YOU”.

Avoid Gluttony And Drunkenness

Proverbs 23:19-21 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. 20 Be not among WINE BIBBERS; among RIOTOUS EATERS OF FLESH: 21 For THE DRUNKARD AND THE GLUTTON shall come to poverty: and DROWSINESS shall clothe a man with rags.

Word Study: The word translated “WINEBIBBERS” is the Hebrew sāḇā’, which means “those who drink heavily or largely, who imbibe to excess”. The word “GLUTTON” as well as the words “RIOTOUS EATERS OF FLESH” is the Hebrew zālal, which means “those who squander or are lavish with, those who shake or flow down”. This is a reference to those who “party hardy”, who chase after excess of food and drink, who live catering to the flesh.

When Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos was married to Lauren Sanchez, the wedding and following celebration cost between 46.5 – 55.6 MILLION dollars. The dress the bride wore was custom made, and cost over $300,000.00. As Bezos is worth 254$ billion many say that this is nothing. But what good came from it? Nothing.

Seneca, the Stoic (4 BC to 65 AD) wrote about the ancient Roman Empire, “They vomit so they may eat, and eat so that they may vomit.” What destroyed Rome, and many other cultures, was excess without restrain. Another good example is found in the Book of Daniel. King Belshazzar, the last King of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, loved wild drinking and eating parties. On the night that Babylon fell Belshazzar took the holy vessels that his father Nebuchadnezzar took from the Temple in Jerusalem, and used them in his feast. As he and his guest drank to drunkenness and ate, they mocked God by worshiping the false gods, toasting them. The Bible says that God caused a

Daniel 5:5 (ESV) … the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, opposite the lamp stand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote.

Belshazzar could not understand the words written on the walls, so he called for Daniel. Daniel chastised Belshazzar for his greed, and his ingratitude – and attributed all that he had to God. Daniel told Belshazzar:

Daniel 5:26-28 (ESV) This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; 27 Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; 28 Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

Belshazzar did not repent. He did not humble himself before God, and seek His grace. Instead Belshazzar proclaimed Daniel to be the third ruler in the Babylonian Empire …

then he was killed that night (Daniel 5:20).

Babylon died that night because of wild partying, and Darius the Mede received the Kingdom. The wild lifestyle is self destructive. But in the end, Daniel was blessed. God looks after those who love Him and His Word.

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