datethewordtest

Blog

  • New Ownership

    1 Corinthians 6:19 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”

    The subject of sexual purity is a common theme for the Apostle Paul as in almost every letter he writes he addresses the necessity of abstaining from immorality. As the Apostle Paul makes the case for living sexually pure here in 1 Corinthians 6 (v18 says “flee sexual immorality”) he brings up a major reminder that our bodies are now to be regarded as a temple.  This temple is the residence of the Holy Spirit.  It is the home of the Holy Spirit. When you got saved the Holy Spirit moved into your body.  In verse 13 he wrote, “Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.” 

    With the Christian’s body being a temple and not just any temple but the temple of the Holy Spirit then the believer is not to defile the temple! Sexual immorality defiles the temple of the Holy Spirit. 

    In a world where there are no boundaries for morality, the Christian does live by God’s boundaries.  Becoming a Christian and living out the Christian life means without question the Christian lives differently. We are a new person and now we have new standards. One of the most defining new standards is our view of and our behavior regarding morality. Living a life of sexual purity is a mark of the believer. In Acts 15:29 the apostles sent word to the new Gentile believers about how they were to live and one of the standards was to abstain from sexual immorality. 

    A few questions:
    Are you aware, as a believer, that you have a new resident in your life?
    Are you aware, as a believer, that the Holy Spirit of God lives in you?
    Are you aware, as a believer that your body no longer belongs to you? 
    As you define your convictions on purity 1 Cor. 6:19 is a verse to have for why you practice purity.

    Continue Strong Keeping the Temple of God Pure.
    And remember to DATE The Word

  • Action Items For The Rich

    1 Timothy 6:18 “Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,”

    The Apostle Paul has several very pointed and direct words for the rich. His very direct instructions come in the context of his teaching on true contentment. Knowing there is a restlessness to always be getting more as we are prone to believe money brings satisfaction and status, even security, Paul confronts this thinking by telling several essential messages to the rich and those who want to be rich.

    He tells the rich not to be in love with money as it is the root of all kinds of evil.  (1 Tim. 6:10)

    He tells the rich to stay humble.  (1 Timothy 6:17a)

    He tells the rich to forget about trusting in money as it is very unstable.  (1 Timothy 6:17b

    As he continues to instruct, he now tells the rich to do good and to have a mindset of giving to others and sharing with others at a moment’s notice.  The rich are to be ready to give.  As one acquires the means to take care of oneself they also look to see how to help others on their journey. 

    You make a living by what you get.  You make a life by what you give.  Winston Churchill 

    Do you have a good grip on your money or does money have a grip, maybe a strong, tight grip on you?  Are you more prone to generosity or to being greedy?  Are you prone to be stingy (holding tight for yourself) or to be a sower of your money (sharing with others as an investment)? 

    In the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10), we have those who were takers, keepers, and then a giver. The hero of the story is the one who said what is mine is mine but I am going to share it. 

    So, getting personal, are you using your money for good? Are you looking for opportunities to invest in others?  Are you ready to share?  Do you live to give?
    From a good friend – “I have never missed anything that I gave away!”

    Continue Strong Blessing Others As You Have Been Blessed,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Lord, Please Open Our Eyes To See!

    2 Kings 6:17 “And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

    Elisha’s young helper shook in fear.  What he saw brought pure fear. As he looked at the surrounding mountains what he saw was the Syrian army surrounding them leading to him crying out “What shall we do (v15).  In response Elisha calmly tells him to calm down as “there is more with us than there are of them.” (v16). However, he knew this young helper needed proof.  Elisha now prays for the Lord to open his eyes so he can see that he truly was surrounded, surrounded by the Lord’s army.

    I love how the next sentence says then — then, in response to the prayer the LORD opened the eyes…and he saw! And he saw – he saw a new army surrounding them. You can almost see him sighing a sigh of relief!!!

    Friends, here we have two individuals in which one is walking by faith and the other by sight. Maybe today you are more like the young man, and you are walking by sight and undoubtedly there is fear. You see problems rather than possibilities.  You see obstacles rather than opportunities.

    Today you very well may need to pray for yourself for God to open your eyes to see what He sees. You may be a leader who is working with a team that is more prone to seeing the earthly surroundings rather than the eternal surroundings. 2 Kings 6:17 is a great prayer to pray.  Ask God to open their eyes to see what He is doing!! Point them to see past the present problems to see His promises!

    Remind them that when they think they are surrounded they are!!!!

    O Lord, open my eyes and the eyes of my friends to see what You see!!!

    Continue Strong Knowing You Are Surrounded, Surrounded By God.
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Deploy Your Faith Against All The Devil’s Attacks 

    Ephesians 6:16 “Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”

    Our awesome God has provided – shall we say equipped us with the exact equipment needed for any encounter with our ferocious enemy (the evil one – the devil) who is seeking to devour us.  This equipment is called the Armor of God.  In Ephesians 6:10, 11, and 13 we are instructed to stand strong and withstand the devil’s attacks by putting on the whole Armor of God.  This means putting on the belt of truth (Truth holds everything together), the breastplate of righteousness, and the shoes of peace, along with taking up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.

    In verse 16 of Ephesians 6 Paul tells us to take up the shield of faith.  It will be our faith that will overcome the ways of the world that we are tempted to participate in and conform to.  Recall 1 John 5:4 as it says, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.”

    Let us be clear that our walk with God involves warfare. The enemy will attack with temptations. The image here is when a fiery arrow is being shot the soldier holds up/stays behind their shield. The shied will then quench – not just stop – but quench the fiery arrow.  

    As a temptation is shot, we activate faith.  We should know the devil’s ways are to deceive and cause doubt.  His temptations come with the question, “Has God said.” To handle the temptation calls for faith.  Faith is believing God is right.  Faith is believing the truth that God has said!  As faith is activated, obedience follows. Obedience is the devil’s “kryptonite.”  He absolutely cannot stay around an obedient believer.  Recall James 4:7 as it says, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil (submit and resist speak of obedience) and he will flee from you.” Obedience to God causes the devil to run and hide from you!

    Faith quenches the lie – the deception – of the devil.

    We do have a great example of this from Jesus.  As He was tempted He did not just quote Scripture to the devil.  As He quoted Scripture back to the devil He was combatting the devil with truth and with faith.  He was saying that He knew what God had said and He believed what God said over what the devil was saying!

    The victories you will experience over temptations will come as you know the truth and believe the truth and obey the truth or simply put, you take up the shield of faith!

    Dressing for spiritual success means shields up!! Activate faith!!

    How are you growing your faith so you can activate your faith?

    Continue Strong by Faith,
    And remember to DATE The Word

  • Correcting Wrong Thinking About Grace

    Romans 6:15 “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Certainly not!”

    The Christian life is not guided by rules or rights, but by a relationship, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  As we enjoy the relationship with Christ by grace through faith, we should never think that it is okay to sin as we are “under grace.” This is the 2nd time Paul has called out believers in chapter 6 for this thinking. He started the chapter with “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” He then answers in verse 2 with “Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”

    As a believer, we have been changed by justification (a positional change) and now we are being changed by sanctification (a process change). The penalty of sin is paid for in full and the power of sin is broken. With the power of sin broken we seek to live sanctified lives – holy lives. Sanctified and holy lives are lives set apart from sin. The apostle Peter makes it clear that with Christ coming into our lives we are to live changed lives. 1 Peter 1:14-16 says, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15  but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16  since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 

    As believers we now seek to please the One who has saved us, living worthy of His calling. Remember that Jesus Himself said, “If you love me, keep My commandments!” John 14:15 

    So, if you are thinking you have a gracious, forgiving Savior (and you do!) yet think you can then sin because He will forgive, you are thinking wrong. Your thinking needs to change.

    Continue Strong By Living A Holy Life,
    And remember to DATE The Word

  • Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing

    Galatians 6:14 “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

    In keeping the main thing the main thing, the Apostle Paul reminds us that our focus is Jesus Christ and the work He did at the cross. We are to focus on the message of the cross because it is the only message that doubly changes lives! What do I mean by that?  It means that Jesus Christ changes a person’s eternal destination, and it changes a person’s earthly desires.  No other message can do that. No wonder the Apostle Paul said he would only boast in the cross of Christ!

    When the gospel is accepted it changes a person’s eternal destination, and it changes a person’s earthly desires.

    This is not the only place that the Apostle Paul conveyed to his readers the priority of the cross of Jesus Christ.  To go along with Galatians 6:14 the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians that he had “determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”  (1 Corinthians 2:2) Earlier he had written, “But we preach Christ crucified, .. (1 Cor. 1:23)  As he moves toward a conclusion with the Corinthians he writes,  “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2  by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. 3  For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,  4  and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,”  

    The only message that is going to change lives is the gospel.  The sinner becomes a saint.  The unrighteous receive the righteousness of Christ.  The alien becomes adopted.  What a salvation we have from Jesus Christ.

    So, what are you boasting about?  I hope like the apostle Paul you are boasting about Jesus!

    Continue Strong with First Things Always Being First
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Dressing for Spiritual Success

    Ephesians 6:13  “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”Ephesians 6:13  “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

    As believers, we should know there is spiritual warfare going on around us all the time, and many times we are the prime target of the evil one.  As Paul wraps up his letter to the Ephesians, he tells them (Ephesians 6:10-12) to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

    As believers, we are in a battle with a ferocious ENEMY who is seeking to devour us (cf. I Peter 5:8).  Yet we must know that God has supplied the believer with various pieces of EQUIPMENT called the Armor of God to handle whatever the enemy may bring.   Thus, it is vitally important to be EDUCATED about what each piece of the armor of God is and know what each one does. (**Can you name them and give a short description?) 

    Getting properly EDUCATED on each piece of EQUIPMENT EQUIPS us for ENCOUNTERS with the ENEMY. 

    Practically, to withstand the onslaught of the enemy and STAND, the believer needs to start each new day dressing for spiritual warfare, yes, dressing for spiritual success.  As you start your day visualize the different pieces of the armor of God being put on.  You will have your waist girded with the belt of truth.  You will have your chest covered with the breastplate of righteousness.  You will have on your feet shoes representing the preparation of the gospel of peace.  Eph. 6:16 says, above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation (for your head), and the sword of the Spirit,(in your hand) which is the Word of God;

    Getting personal:  Do you recognize the reality of daily spiritual warfare in your personal life?  Do you know how much the enemy wants to steal from you, destroy you, and devour you?  

    BOTTOMLINE: Are you getting educated on each piece of equipment so that you are equipped with God’s supernatural equipment for encounters with the enemy

    Do not give your enemy the edge by failing to be properly prepared for his attacks.  

    Continue Strong, dressed for spiritual success,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • God’s Greatest and Best Promise 

    Judges 6:12 “And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!”

    The story of Gideon is a very compelling story to consider as God will take the ordinary and do extraordinary things with him. If we probe into the early life of Gideon, we might even say that God took a person who was less than ordinary and did the extraordinary.  We know that Gideon did not think he had what it took to be used by God and that his family and friends did not see much in him.  But God did see something in Gideon, seeing more than Gideon saw in himself and more than others saw in him.  While Gideon, nor friends, nor family, nor any leaders, would have picked Gideon for a top assignment, God picked him. And God used him, using him to a level in which Gideon lived up to the name God gave him, a mighty man of valor!

    Maybe you are like Gideon as you look at yourself and evaluate yourself, comparing yourself to others and you don’t see how you can truly make a difference for the Lord. Maybe you hear the voices in the back of your head of statements made by others that cause you to believe you will never amount to anything.  And then it seems out of nowhere God comes in and calls you to do what seems impossible.  What will you do with His call?  Do you listen to yourself?  Do you listen to others
    Or do you listen to God and what He is saying?

    Over the years of my ministry, I have had to opportunity to work with so many who immediately said “I can’t” to God’s calling.  As I hear their “I can’t” I point them to the story of Gideon and give them Judges 6:12. In this verse two life-changing statements are made to Gideon.  It is in this verse that God defines Gideon.  Gideon is in the sight of God a mighty man of valor.  

    God has always seen more in a person than the person sees in themselves!

    Not only does God call Gideon, He gives Gideon the greatest and best promise Gideon would need as He tells Gideon “I am with you.”  God promised Gideon His presence.  

    When we speak of God’s promises, I believe the promise of his presence  to be the greatest and best promise ever.

    Pause to ponder how those two statements impacted Gideon.

    Ponder hearing “The Lord is with you!”  

    What do you think that meant to Gideon?

    Ponder hearing an evaluation of being called a mighty man of valor!  

    What do you think that meant to Gideon?

    How does the statement from God “I am with you” impact your life and what God has called you to do?

    Continue Strong standing on the promise of promises from God,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Run Away From the Wrong Things and Run After the Right Things

    1 Timothy 6:11  “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.”

    As we live out our new life in Christ, living as a Christian should live, there are things to RUN AWAY FROM (FLEE these things) and things to RUN AFTER (PURSUE these things).  Unfortunately, we often find ourselves RUNNING AFTER what we should be RUNNING AWAY from AND we RUN AWAY FROM what we should be pursuing or RUNNING AFTER. From our verse to consider let us make sure we are RUNNING AWAY FROM THE WRONG THINGS and RUNNING AFTER THE RIGHT THINGS. 

    Here in 1 Timothy 6:11, the Apostle Paul tells Timothy to “FLEE these things.” A great way to understand the word “FLEE” is to think of being a FUGITIVE.  “These things” that he is to be fleeing, being a fugitive, are greed and the love of money (See v 10). 

    Rather than living to GET ALL ONE CAN GET, the believer is to be PURSUING becoming ALL THEY CAN BE.

    The Apostle Paul liked to call believers to live out key character traits. (See the bonus section) He wants to see the believer living RIGHTEOUSLY or living right. Can someone say you are RIGHTEOUS in your actions and activities? He wants the believer to be GODLY. Are you a godly person? He wants the believer to be living by FAITH.  Do you walk by sight or walk by faith? Is your daily trust in God evident to others? He wants the believer to be a person who LOVES, loving others. Do you love others?  He wants the believer to be a person of PATIENCE or ENDURANCE. In other words, you stay in the game no matter how hard it is.  There is no quit in you.  And he wants the believer to be a person of GENTLENESS or meekness. This means you handle people with care.  These are the things to be RUNNING AFTER!

    This list of things to pursue is not new for Paul or Timothy.  Earlier in this first letter to Timothy, Paul wrote for him to be an example. I Timothy 4:12 says, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”  For Timothy to be the example, he must determine what he will run away from and what he will run after.

    What are you running away from? What are you seeking to avoid?  What are you staying clear of?  What are you FLEEING? 

    What are you running after? What are you PURSUING? 

    The answer to these two questions in so many ways will determine your future destiny. Choose wisely!!

    Here are a few other LISTS to consider regarding what to RUN AWAY FROM and to RUN AFTER:
    2 Timothy 2:22  Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

    2 Timothy 3:10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11  persecutions, afflictions,

    Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentlenesses, self-control. Against such, there is no law.

    2 Peter 1:5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6  to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7  to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8  For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    Continue Strong Running After the Right Things and Running Away From the Wrong Things,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • In God, Not Gold, We Love And Trust

    1 Timothy 6:10 “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.”

    Knowing that the human heart is tempted to be greedy and so greedy to the level one will be in love with money, the Apostle Paul here in 1 Timothy 6 addresses the topic of money and in 1 Timothy 6:10 issues one of the strongest warnings regarding the love of money. He tells us that the love of money creates (is the root of) the start of all kinds of evil as one is prone to compromise one’s integrity for gain.  He tells just how dangerous this desire of money is as one will even compromise one’s FAITH as greediness takes such a stronghold on a person.  

    If we are not careful work and wealth will take priority over worship to the point we worship our wealth.  

    The greediness for gold slowly but surely will bring about the exclusion of God.

    The mission of making money can cause one to miss the mission of the Master.

    The apostle then tells how it gets even worse as the priority for profit brings untold pain.  The pain starts coming as one finds they are never satisfied. There is no this is enough.   The priority to pursue more money pushes aside the pursuit of godliness. One’s health can be compromised as one goes for more wealth.  Family and friendships take a back seat to the next acquisition.   

    While gaining valuables one can lose what is most valuable. 

    Let us be clear that money itself is not evil – but the love of money can turn one to doing sinful practices. As you make money from working, from investments, from inheritances received, you are to manage your money faithfully, correctly, and wisely.  Above managing your money though is mastering money.  You are to be the master of your money and not the other way around.  Think of it like fire. A fire in a fire pit or a fireplace is nice.  It is even needed on cold days. But a fire outside its boundaries can be so disastrous, even deadly.  Money mishandled and unmastered is disastrous!   

    If you need a little help (maybe a lot of help) in breaking the grip of money I suggest two things:

    1st, be clearly reminded of Jesus’ teaching on money from Luke 12:15 as Jesus said, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses?”  

    **How are you doing with this teaching?  It definitely challenges conventional and popular thinking!

    2nd, look at your money.  It has a sermon on it. It says in God we trust.   It does not say in this god we trust!!!

    Now and then it is good to read 1 Timothy 6:6-11 to prioritize our pursuits

    Continue Strong Loving and Trusting God, not Gold,
    And remember to DATE the Word