Weeds

Are there too many weeds in your yard? Mine too; and we need to get rid of them.

It will take effort and may cause some discomfort. However, when it is done, we will be grateful and blessed by the Lord.

That’s right, we are talking about “those weeds.” The ones that choke out the word. The ones Jesus talked about in the Parable of the Sower. In Mark 4:18, 19, He explained the seed that fell among the thorns. It sprouted and grew for a while, but “the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

We can become so easily distracted and entangled in the weeds of life that our service and devotion to the Lord suffers. Eventually, these things can completely kill our commitment to God. It takes time and effort, and a steadfast determination, to get rid of the weeds and produce fruit.

To see how bad things might actually be, think about this…maybe even write these things down on a piece of paper to truly see how many weeds are in your yard.

How much time do you spend going to Bible class and worship services compared to watching television?

How much time do you spend in school or recreational activities (band, football, basketball, scouts) compared to reading your Bible and praying?

Are these fair comparisons? You be the judge. You also need to be honest with yourself. Are you spending enough time in spiritual pursuits or are the cares of this world choking you to death…and you like it?

Ephesians 3:1-7, is a hope-filled passage.

First, that which was once a mystery was revealed to the apostles and prophets (3:5). God’s plan of saving both Jew and Gentile in the Son was made known about 2,000 years ago and we have that plan before us in the Bible even today.

Second, we can know what Paul knew. We can understand as Paul understood. Reread Ephesians 3:3, 4; this is exactly what the apostle is saying. The apostles and prophets did not have miraculous understanding of God’s will. They had to meditate on it and think about it. The revelation was miraculous, the understanding was not. Take Peter on the Day of Pentecost. He preached that all men would receive the promise (Acts 2:39). However, it was not until a series of events in Acts 10 that he came to understand what that meant.

Paul understood and lived by God’s will – fighting the good fight…and was confident about a home in heaven (2 Tim. 4:6-8). I can be too when I do what he did.

The upshot of Ephesians 2:11-22, is unity in the body of Christ. Both Jew and Gentile are part of the church, which is His body (Eph. 1:22, 23). Whereas Gentiles were once outside Israel, they are now part of it in Christ. This is possible because the Israel of God is now spiritual, not physical. The old relationship God had with physical Israel is no longer. Now He recognizes the spiritual kingdom, the church, the body, the kingdom of Christ.

Notice, Jew and Gentile are reconciled in one body through the cross. We are reconciled by Christ in one body, the church, through one cross. If we can have the body, church, of our choice, may we have the cross of our choice? There were three crosses and deaths the day Jesus was crucified; two thieves and the Lord. We can no more take the cross of our choice and go to heaven then we can take the body of our choice and go to heaven.

Sin In The Home
Stay-At-Home Dads

Society is anti-God. There is no question about it, the world is under the sway of the wicked one (1 Jn. 5:19). Its values are contrary to what the Bible teaches, including on matters of the home. Specifically, society tells us that a stay-at-home dad is a wonderful thing.

The feminist movement in the United States came on strong in the 1960s and 70s. Its fruits are being borne today. Women are taught to be career-minded; go to school, get a degree, find a job, climb the ladder, make something of themselves. A woman’s worth is tied to her job.

Along with the feminist ideas of women, is the notion that men are no different. A woman can and should do anything a man can do. And, a man can and should do anything a woman can do. If the woman has a good-paying job, better than her husband (if they are married), and children come along, the man should stay at home. After all, the wife makes the most money and she should not take a back seat to the husband, sacrificing her career and their material well being just because she has ovaries.

It is sad that some Christians have bought into this humanist philosophy.

God ordains that men are the provider for the home (1 Tim. 5:8). It is the man’s duty to get a job or have a line of work that supports his family. If he decides to become a homemaker while his wife goes to work, it is sin. If not, why not?

The Bible teaches that a woman’s primary role is to be a homemaker (Titus 2:4, 5). Does the fact that her job pays more than the husband’s give her the authority to ignore this duty?

Let’s get something straight: a man can do work around the house, including taking care of the children; and a woman can do work outside the home (Prov. 31:10-31). However, this does not mean a man is the primary homemaker and the woman the primary breadwinner. When a husband and wife reverse roles as given by God they are in sin.

Some think it old fashioned to follow the “traditional” roles of husband and wife. The world sees it as down-right backward. What is backward and old fashioned is actually biblical and godly (cf. Lk. 16:15). The reason these roles are traditional is because people used to have a greater respect for the Bible. Let us make sure we do not allow the anti-Christ world delude us into living an ungodly life.

Why Did David Use Instruments?

In discussions with denominational folks about instrumental music, they will sometimes claim that David’s use of them justifies their use today. Is this true?

First, let us establish that David is not our Savior. He is not the authority in Christianity, Jesus is (Col. 3:17; Matt. 28:18). David was a prophet; he was the sweet psalmist of Israel, guided by the Spirit of God. Still, the New Testament reveals that we are not to follow and heed the Law or prophets, but the Son of God (Matt. 17:1-5).

Second, David used the instruments because God commanded him to (2 Chron. 29:25). It is not as though David presumptuously changed the worship of God. Many today believe they can. Without a commandment from God, they alter what the New Testament says about worship. They add instrumental music, social activities, even outright entertainment. All such activities are without divine authority and render the worship vain (Matt. 15:7-9).

Third, there are many things David did that we cannot do. David offered and commended animal sacrifices (Psa. 51:19). He had many wives (2 Sam. 3:2-5; 5:13; 12:8). Who will argue that we should offer bulls and goats or that a man can practice polygamy because David did? Honesty demands that none of these things are permissible because of David’s practices; not sacrifices, not polygamy, not instrumental music in worship.

The bottom line is, David used instruments because that is what God commanded him to do. In our worship we must sing, because this is what God commands us to do (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). Let us be like David, people after God’s own heart, by submitting to the Lord’s will, not living by ours.

Ephesians 2:1-10 gives us a clear picture of what a man is before he is in Christ and what he becomes afterward. Before becoming a Christian, a person is dead in sin; separated from God because of the sins he has committed. In this previous state the devil is his master as he follows his own sinful, selfish lusts. Thankfully, God had mercy and sent His Son to remedy this problem.

In Christ a person is raised up in a new life (see Romans 6:3, 4). This is due to the grace of God based on our faith. Those who try to say it is all man are wrong; just as those who say it is all God. God has done His part and man must do his. God provided the perfect sacrifice and revealed His plan of saving man – the gospel. It is up to man to accept it, obey it, live it. In our submission to God’s commands we are not earning our salvation. Rather, we are simply humbly obeying our Master.

Children of God are created for a specific purpose: for good works. Again, there are many who say that a Christian cannot work or else he is trying to earn God’s favor, nullifying His grace. That is true if one is doing the works of men. However, doing the works of God – working in the kingdom and cause of Christ by following His will – is not putting God in our debt. It is showing God our appreciation. If we do not do them, we will lose our soul because we are not doing what the new creation is divinely created to do.

Paul’s basic prayer in Ephesians 1:15-23, is that the saints in Ephesus will know the resurrection. God raised Christ from the dead and will raise us too.

If we can firmly plant the reality of the resurrection in our hearts and minds, we will live righteously and be filled with hope and happiness. The resurrection is coming, which means the judgment is coming. Those who are faithful will be rewarded; those who are not will be damned to hell. Keep this at the forefront of your mind and you will be compelled to live for the Lord.

Ephesians 1:1-14 is a list of spiritual blessings Christians enjoy in Christ.

Chosen, 4
Adopted, 5
Accepted, 6
Redemption & forgiveness, 7
Inheritance/heritage, 11
Sealed, 13

These blessings are found nowhere else.

In Christ we have the fullness of riches beyond anything this world has to offer. This being so, we must conduct ourselves in a worthy manner, showing gratitude for the blessings we enjoy.

Note: the sealed of Ephesians 1:13 is like that of John 6:27. It is a seal of approval not a seal that eternally secures us with no possibility to falling away (cf. Gal. 5:1-4; 2 Pet. 2:18-22).

Psalm 3 was written when David ran from Absalom’s rebellion. It was a time of deep distress and sorrow. Instead of falling to pieces, David turned to God who had been his steadfast defender. He did not abandon God, nor did he blame Him for what happened.

In Psalm 3:3, David said, “But You, O Lord, are a shield for me.” The NKJV has a footnote on the “for,” which it says is literally “around.” So, the Lord is a shield around me. He completely covers me; protects me in all directions. Since this is so, we can be like David, lay down to sleep and not be afraid of 10,000s of people who are against us.

Psalm 2 is a Messianic psalm. The image is the nations fighting against the Father and Son. Their plot is vain because there is no way they can win. The world believes it can overpower God and be free to live however it wants without consequences. It is not so. The only thing that results is God’s displeasure and wrath.

In verses 7 to 9 the picture of Christ taking up His rule is given. He did this when He was raised from the dead and returned to heaven (Acts 13:33).

The admonition is given to rulers, kings, to submit to God or face His wrath. Oh that the rulers of the nations today would heed this warning. What will we suffer as we are humbled? May we each put our faith in God no matter what our nation might do.