Preparing for Tomorrow

Got any exciting dreams for the future? Learn a lesson from Joshua 3.

The Hebrews dreamed of a better future for their families. They longed for a land that flowed with milk and honey. But before they could experience God's blessings they had to do something.

Joshua told them, "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you (Josh. 3:5)." Notice the sequence.

Just as surely as today comes before tomorrow, sanctification comes before miracles.

Today is the foundation for tomorrow. If you want God's blessings tomorrow, live holy today.

The Right Way to Listen to a Sermon

There is, in fact, a right and wrong way to listen to a sermon. James 1:21-25 describes two groups of people: the blessed and the deceived.

A deceived church-goer is the one who hears the scripture, but never acts on it. They are a hearer, but not a doer of the word. Consequently, they receive no blessing. 

The blessed church-goer is the one takes God's word seriously, not casually. Here are seven imperatives for being blessed by your pastor's sermon.

1. You must be clean. "Lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness."

2. You need to be teachable. When it comes to God's word, "receive [it] with meekness." The idea of meekness in the first-century was used to describe powerful horses brought under the control of their master. In other words, don't argue with God's word, yield to it.

3. You should receive God's word deeply into your heart. James describes it as "the implanted word." Think of seeds placed in the earth, not sprinkled on top of the ground. Thus, we are to receive God's word deep into our heart, our mind, our memory, our conscience, into the very essence of our soul.

4. You must stop and investigate God's word. James says he who is blessed by God's word "looks into [it]." This is the same Greek word used in Luke 24:12 to describe Peter coming to the empty tomb, "stooping and looking in." In the same way friend, if you want to truly be blessed by God's word, slow down, quit speed-reading the Bible. Take a deep inquistive look at what God says in his word. 

5. You need to live in God's word. James says the blessed one "continues in it." Stay in the word, go back to it often. Read it daily. Persevere in it.

6. You must remember God's teachings. Don't be a "forgetful hearer." Take some notes, put something in your journal. Memorize key verses. Meditate on what God says.

7. You need to obey God's word. When it says God's word is able to save your soul think sanctification, not just justification. God's word lived out will help you overcome sin on a daily basis. You will walk in victory. James says, "[the obedient] one will be blessed in what he does."

Take it seriously when your pastor shares God's word. Use the above imperatives from James and be a blessed hearer.

After Faith Has Come

Four results of faith in Christ, based on Galatians 3:24-27:

1. We are free from the law (Gal. 3:24-25). The function of the law is to show us our sin and need for a Savior. Once a person comes to Christ through faith, the law is no longer necessary.
2. We are adopted into God's family (Gal. 3:26). Christians are sons, not slaves, and thus have a sense of belonging and access to all of God's incredible riches (Gal. 4:6-7).
3. We identify wtih Christ (Gal. 3:27). The believer is placed into Christ and enjoys the benefits of Christ's accomplishments and privileges.
4. We are made righteousness (Gal. 3:24). The repentant sinner who places their faith in Christ is justified. This means being declared legally righteous in the eyes of God.

Trials, Temptations, Tests, and Troubles

"Man's days are few and full of trouble." But what is going on when we experience life's trials? Here is a little distinction that may help.

• Tests are when God allows us to go through a trial for the purpose of bringing the best out in us. Abram was tested when God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abram passed the test. He came out stronger and better.
• Temptations occur when we face a trial and Satan wants to bring the worst out in us. Eve was tempted when the serpent led her to disobey God. Eve yielded to temptation and suffered for it.

Sometimes a test and a temptation occur simultaneously. Study the examples of Job and Jesus. So too, we must be alert when trouble comes. We can either cooperate with God and make it into a growing experience (James 1:3); or, we can yield to Satan's temptations which will of course make a bad situation worse when we suffer the consequences of sin. Thankfully, in every situation God gives us freedom to chose: Will we trust God, or not?

A Pure Heart

Being double-minded is not good because such a person is mixed up inside. Sometimes they are spiritual, othertimes they are carnal. Sometimes they trust, othertimes they doubt. Instead of being double-minded the committed Christian should desire a pure heart. A person with a pure heart is totally in love with God. And because they are full of love for the Lord, there is no room within them for fear, doubt, or disobedience. Jesus promised, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8)."  

Watch out for the symptoms of double-mindedness. Seek to have a pure heart fully devoted to the Lord.  

The Cure for Double-Mindedness

In his one and only epistle, the Apostle James discusses double-mindedness. In Chapter One he shares the symptoms and in Chapter Four he reveals the cure. How does one overcome double-mindedness? See James 4:7.

1. "Submit to God." Literally this means to stand under. Like a soldier we are to obey our commanding officer Jesus Christ. God's way is the best way. 
2. "Resist the devil." Literally this means to stand against. We must oppose and withstand the advances of the wicked one.

Overcoming double-mindedness involves growing faith and eliminating doubt. Thus, it is important to know who will help us and who will hurt us. God inspires faith and Satan creates doubt. So, stand under God and stand against the devil.

Symptoms of a Double-Minded Person

James, the half-brother of our Lord Jesus, twice used the expression "double-minded." What is the meaning of this term? And more importantly, how do you know if you've got this condition? Here are two symptoms of double-mindedness.

The first symptom is unanswered prayer. James bluntly states, "let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord (James 1:7)."

Instability is the second symptom. James says the double-minded person is "unstable in all his ways (James 1:8)." He "is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind (James 1:6)." 

What do you do if you suffer from double-mindedness? Tomorrow, we will look at the cure for double-mindedness.

The Definition of Double-Minded

Perhaps the clearest example of a double-minded person is found at the base of the Mount of Transfiguration when Jesus met the father with a demon-possessed son. The distraught man admitted, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief (Mark 9:24)." Double-minded refers to a condition in which an individual literally has two souls. Part of them believes God, and part of them doesn't. Sometimes they walk by faith, and other times they walk by sight. The double-minded fluctuate between godliness and worldliness. 

A simple test will indicate whether you suffer from double-mindedness. Be sure and check back tomorrow as we look at those symptoms. 

A House of Worship

Recently my wife and I visited New Song Baptist Church in Memphis (see picture below). I spoke to about 15 people who met in the front room. My wife played the piano for them.

Can a church meet in a house?

Here are two biblical perspectives.

First, no where in the New Testament was there a formal church building erected solely for the purpose of Christian worship. Yes, there was the temple, but that was for Judaism, not Christianity. There were synagogues, but they too were for Judaism, not Christianity. In Ephesus Paul met in a rented building, but it was not constructed for worship, it was a school. 

Second, the New Testament contains numerous references to Christians meeting in homes. 

• Romans 16:15, 1 Corinthians 16:19, "Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house."
• Colossians 4:15, "Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house."
• Philemon 2, "To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer . . . and to the church in your house."
• Acts 16:15 & 40 suggest that Lydia the seller of purple opened her house for the young church in Philippi.
• Acts 20:20 says Paul taught "from house to house."

There are probably other references in the New Testament that tell of believers gathering in houses for worship, but these verses give you the gist. During the rise and rapid expansion of the first century church there were no formal church buildings, only people's homes. 

I am not saying that formal church buildings are wrong. I am saying that worshipping in houses is perfectly legitimate, as my wife and I can attest to from our wonderful worship experience with the beautiful believers who call themselves New Song. 

Courage and Wisdom

Young people tend to have courage. Older people should have greater wisdom. Put them together and you create a powerful team.

Isn't it sad though that there is so much segregation in the church? The young people do their thing while the senior adults go their way. I don't believe this is the way God intends.

If you want to grow as a Christian seek out someone from another generation. Team up with someone outside your demographic. You will enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship that will enable both of you to do more for the Lord. As the Africans say, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." 

This pattern of older and younger is seen in scripture.

• Moses and Joshua
• Elijah and Elisha
• Paul and Timothy

If you agree, go make a new friend today and discover what amazing things the Lord will do through your new partnership!