Posts tagged Marriage and Family

Being A Godly Man Part 2

May04
2012 Written by Warner Smith

Satan’s modus operandi (a distinct pattern of operation that indicates or suggests the work of a single criminal in more than one crime) is to divide and conquer.  He seeks to destroy the affection that husbands have for their wife and the affection which a wife has for her husband.  As a Christian man it is prudent that I understand Satan’s method of attack and also that I become aware that my marriage is going to be a target of his attack.  Too many Christians are blissfully ignorant that Satan would attack their marriage.  To each and every married Christian I carefully and boldly declare; WATCH OUT!

You have an enemy in this world and it is not your spouse, it is Satan.

8 Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 9 Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brothers in the world. 1 Peter 5:8–9 (HCSB)

The chief means for resisting Satan as a godly man is to obey Christ.  In particular every married Christian man needs to obey the command to love your wife as Christ loved the Church.

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Ephesians 5:22–33 (ESV)

Did you get that? You are to love your wife and the pattern for your love of her is Christ’s love for His church.  Wow!  Does Christ ever quit loving His bride the church?  No!  So I am to keep loving my bride.  I am to love her as I love myself.  If you do not love yourself then you are also disobeying the second part of the second commandment.

36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important commandment. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36–40 (HCSB)

Unfortunately many men whose life does not turn out as they had planned become bitter.  This bitterness will sometime turn inward and develop into self loathing.  Other times this bitterness is directed outward and poisons all other relationships.  Men in particular need to know that they are much more than the sum of their 401k or of the things they have accumulated.  True success is measured by submitting to God’s will for your life.

If you are married, you can rest assured that one part of God’s perfect and permissive will for you life is that you love your wife.  Love is a choice.  You can choose to be in love or out of love.  Satan wants you to believe the lie that people fall in and out of love and that there is nothing you can do about it.  That is asinine (extremely stupid or foolish)!  You chose, courted and proposed to your wife.  During the course of your courtship you loved her.  Any negative changes to your feelings are within your and her power to alter. Your feelings are certainly under God’s authority.  If you find yourself feeling less love for your wife than you once did, then confess.  Ask God to increase your love for your wife.  Ask God to protect your marriage from Satan’s attack.

As a Christian man you need to understand that by loving and supporting your wife you are giving your children a godly example. Satan knows this and he is fighting you, and will to continue to fight you on the home front.  He always seeks to divide then conquer.  If he can keep you preferring to be away working, because you think providing things for your family is how you love them, then he wins.  Please understand that your wife and kids need less stuff and more of you!  There is no substitute for quality time and you can never know when quality time will occur, you cannot schedule it.  Therefore give your wife and children quantity time and the quality time will take care of itself.

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We Learn About Life After Death From Jesus Appearing to His Disciples

Apr09
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Warner Smith

Jesus’ appearances to His disciples following His resurrection, provide us with the greatest window in human history into what our lives will be like after death. Christians should use the days following Easter to remind ourselves about life after death when our bodies are resurrected. While the Gospel accounts were not designed to communicate only these truths, they do provide us with some insight into the characteristics of Jesus’ resurrected body nonetheless.

According to the Apostle John’s account after His resurrection Jesus was capable of walking through locked doors. This means that Jesus’ resurrected body was able to pass through matter. While it is possible and probable that, as the Son of God, Jesus will have much greater power in heaven than any other resurrected person, it is also entirely possible that those whom He raises will share in some of His abilities at the very least.

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘‘Peace be with you!”…26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘‘Peace be with you!” John 20:19;26

This passage teaches me that in our resurrected bodies you and I may very well have the ability to also pass through matter, as well.

Also, according to the Apostle John’s account after His resurrection Jesus had flesh that could be touched and handled, and He got hungry and ate food.

37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.  38 He said to them, ‘‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?  39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.  41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, ‘‘Do you have anything here to eat?”  42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,  43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. Luke 24:37-43

The fact that Jesus has a physical body which can be touched, and is visible, is important because we like Thomas may need to have our doubts settled so that we will not doubt the reality of His resurrection. In addition to proving that He is not a ghost, the fact that Jesus could eat food should not surprise us, because He taught us that in heaven there will be a great wedding feast (Revelation 19:9).

Probably the greatest evidence about life after death for Christians which John records is that there remained continuity between Jesus’ life before His death and Jesus’ life after His death. This is one area where I believe our experience of life after death will differ from Jesus’ at least to some degree. As fallen sinners it would be impossible for our lives on earth to have perfect continuity with our lives in heaven.

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” John 20:19–23 (ESV)

The reason I make this point is to clarify what some mistakenly believe, Too many think that heaven will be exactly like life on earth, only better. Heaven is not a place where each of us will continue our earthly passions as we please, but is rather the place where God dwells. In heaven we will enjoy God personally and eternally. If you do not currently enjoy and strive to live in God’s presence, then heaven would be hell for you.

Many today believe that in heaven fishermen will fish, the hunter will hunt, the ballplayer will play ball, the golfer will golf, and the baker will bake and each in perfection throughout eternity. Such views of heaven forget an extremely important point. Heaven is God’s house, and those who go to heaven are God’s children, whose desire and experience in heaven is to please their heavenly Father.

In Heaven there is no war, therefore there will be no need for warriors. While I do believe that in heaven we will have tasks and pleasures it is impossible for you or I in our fallen condition, living in a fallen world, to fully and completely comprehend all that heaven will be. Jesus reminds His disciples of the gulf between human knowledge and desire, and His will, when He appeared to them following His resurrection.

25 He said to them, ‘‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”  27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Luke 24:25-27

The greatest difference between our experience of life now and our experience of life after death will be that when we receive our resurrected and glorified bodies this veil and misunderstanding will be no more. One of my professors used to tell me that “in heaven all of us will have our theology corrected.” Sin will be banished and then we will be able to fully comprehend the true length and breadth of what Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection mean to us throughout all of eternity.

Only in heaven will Paul’s prayer, for those who comprised the Ephesian church as well as you and I, be fully and properly answered for every Christian.

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:14–21 (ESV)

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40 Days of Preperation Easter Sunday

Apr08
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Warner Smith

Today is Easter Sunday. The highest and holiest day in the Christian religion. Without the resurrection of Jesus from the dead Christianity is useless. There have always been those who have denied Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. There is no evidence, however, that any of the disciples, or New Testament witnesses ever wavered concerning the truth of Christ’s resurrection from the dead, even when tested with laying down their own lives.

People do not die for beliefs which they know to be false! That the disciples and early Christians died willingly is evidence that;

  1. They knew Jesus was who He said He was
  2. That Jesus in fact truly has been raised from the dead.

The Apostle Paul made his argument for the reality and importance of Jesus’ resurrection to the Church at Corinth. Paul wrote:

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 (ESV)

Notice that Paul teaches that if the resurrection of Christ were ever to be disproved then Christianity would also be disproved. If Jesus’ power is not sufficient to conquer death then neither can He overcome the power of sin. Fortunately for those of us who believe, we know that Jesus did in fact rise from the dead, because we have the witness of the Holy Spirit testifying to the reality of His resurrection within our souls.

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:20-21 (ESV)

Jesus’ resurrection is not only the lynch pen concerning the reality of the claims of the Gospel writers, but it is also a fact of history, witnessed by over 500 individuals.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 1 Corinthians 15:3–8 (ESV)

The facts of Jesus’ resurrection are presented in the Gospels in a rather matter of fact fashion.

1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” 11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day. Matthew 28:1–15 (ESV)

The fact that Jesus was resurrected is only helpful to us if we believe that He also is God’s Son, and died in our place for our individual sins. Easter is genuinely a celebration only for those who believe and know with absolute certainty that Jesus is who He claimed to be, was capable of accomplishing the work His Father assigned Him, and is currently interceding at the right hand of the Father on our behalf.

Easter is not about eggs, baskets, bonnets, or new clothes.  Each of these things are fine in their place, but none of these have any place in a genuine celebration of the resurrection of Christ. A more proper and authentic celebration of Easter would involve thanking God for His grace, praising God for His provision of a sacrifice capable of removing the penalty of sin from us, to worship Him and desire to live in His presence, while doing everything we can to tell others about the Good News that is found through following Jesus Christ.

Will you celebrate Easter? If so, how? Will you choose to commemorate this act that gives hope to Christians that there is forgiveness of sin and eternal life for all those who believe, or will you gather like Easter is just another excuse to celebrate without giving God His due? Remember Jesus’ teaching:

15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:15–21 (ESV)

Please make it your only ambition to be “rich toward God.” Happy Easter!!!

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40 Days of Preparation Day 40

Apr04
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Warner Smith

Today, Wednesday April 4, 2012, is the fortieth day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to “put off” anger and “put on”self control. When I speak of putting off anger I do not mean that you and I will never have anger or show anger again but that what causes us to become angry and how we behave when angered will change from our pre-Christian lives.

Jesus shows us the distinction between righteous indignation and selfish anger when He cleansed the Temple in Jerusalem.

13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18 Then the Jews demanded of him, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” 20 The Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. John 2:13–22 (NIV)

Zeal for God’s house ignited Jesus’ anger and not His own sense of being personally wronged. When you or I become angry it is for our own self interests. It is this form of selfish anger that I am suggesting you and I need to “put off.” It is selfish anger to which the writer of Proverbs refers when he writes:

22 An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins. Proverbs 29:22 (NIV)

Whenever we become converted the fruits of the Spirit begin to manifest themselves in us. As we mature in Christ these fruits grow and become manifest more and more. If you are a Christian you need to compare your spiritual maturity by the presence of the fruits of the Spirit in your own personal life.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22 – 23

It is by putting on self control that you and I are able to allow God the Holy Spirit to control our natural flesh’s tendency to lash out when wronged or when we perceive we have been wronged. The practical reason why you and I need to “put off” anger and “put on” self control is that to fail to do so causes us to live our lives preoccupied by defending our own honor and being offended whenever our defenses prove unsuccessful. If, however, we are able to “put off” anger and “put on” self control we will live our lives for God’s glory and count it all joy whenever we are offended for His great names sake, and the sake of His gospel. I believe the world needs more mature Christians who have “put off” anger and “put on” self control! Do you agree or disagree?

 

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40 Days of Preparation Day 38

Apr02
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Warner Smith

Today, Monday April 2, 2012, is the thirty-eighth day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to “put off” the love of money and “put on” love of God. The American and world economy are increasingly causes for concern and prayer among Christians. Many people today are concerned about their 401k, decreasing home values, increasing gas prices and a whole host of other financial concerns. The Bible has much practical wisdom from which each of us will profit if we simply read, learn and obey.

The first principle we need learn regarding finances is that we do gain as much security as we think from having money in the bank.  True security, security now and security throughout eternity comes not from having money in the bank but from knowing and trusting God on His throne.  Some have perverted the golden rule which Jesus taught, from “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31) to “he who has the gold makes the rules.” Were this perverted golden rule correct, God would still be in charge, because in heaven gold is so plentiful He uses it for pavement.

21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. Revelation 21:21 (NIV)

The desire to be rich is a sin which ensnares many people preventing them from loving and serving God. Remember that in Jesus’ parable of “The Sower” the seed which is sown among the thorns is choked and becomes unfruitful because “the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth” (Matthew 13:22). Paul gave his understanding of how the desire for riches negatively impact many in Timothy.

9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:9–10 (NASB)

Have you ever known anyone who felt that they were worth more dead than alive? Such feelings reveal that someone has fallen into this snare. Whenever we measure a persons worth by their bank balance we have wandered away from the faith. When an individual measures their own worth by their bank balance or net worth they are setting themselves up to pierced by many griefs.

This miscalculation of the value of one’s life has led many to commit suicide. I have lost family members and friends due to this faulty and foolish belief that began simply by someone trying to get ahead in this life resulting in their failing to comprehend the true purpose of life. I hope you understand that you are of much more worth to God, your family, and your friends than the balance in your bank account on any given day. You and I need today to “put off” the love of money and “put on” love of God.

The remedy for this malady of desiring riches is to instead desire God. Jesus taught us to;

33 “. . . seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33 (NASB)

Desiring God’s kingdom and His righteousness is the desire which God’s Spirit gives to the seed which is sown on good soil.  This is how the psalmist could say that God would give us the desires of our hearts.

4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 (NIV)

When we are converted God changes our worldly desires into the desire to delight in Him. One of the best barometers for this change is our desire for riches and how we spend the money we do have.  When I spend everything on myself and my family I am acting from selfishness. When I spend my resources on others, especially on the things necessary to advance God’s kingdom I am doing so from my selfless desire to see His will done upon the earth as it is done in heaven. This lifestyle, know as being a good steward, results in their being treasure stored up for me in heaven.

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Matthew 6:19–21;24 (NASB)

The problem with most of American Christianity today is that we are trying to do what Jesus said was impossible, serve two masters. It is time that we recognize the impossibility of our situation and take the steps to rid the garden of our heart from the thorns which are choking out the power of God’s word in our lives. The first step in this process of reclamation is  to “put off” the love of money and “put on” love of God.

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