Category: God’s faithfulness

The Roller-Coaster of Life #5

Saturday, June 29, 2024

“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV).

In this roller coaster called “life,” who is truly “faithful?”

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5,6). “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1,2).

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:1-7).

Once, I gave a Christian some Bible verses to navigate his perplexing (!) struggles. His answer to those Scriptures was, “But my human mind cannot fathom that.” My swift answer was, “We are not using the human mind but God’s mind.” See, he inadvertently declared his fundamental problem by echoing the Corinthians (or the ancient Greek philosophers, lovers of human wisdom). His primary difficulty was unbelief… and, yet, he was a member of the Body of Christ. The roller-coaster of life had driven him to trust in his own resources, his own intellect, instead of the renewed mind the Holy Spirit offers us….

The Roller-Coaster of Life #4

Friday, June 28, 2024

“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV).

In this roller coaster called “life,” who is truly “faithful?”

Addressing the heathen Gentiles in central Turkey, Paul referred to how they worshipped “vanities” (worthless idols) because the God of Israel had “in times past suffered [permitted, allowed] all nations to walk in their own ways” (Acts 14:11-17). In Athens, the intellectual capital of the Roman Empire, Paul pointed out their pagan idolatry was “ignorance” (Acts 17:16,22-31). This was the spiritual darkness and blindness to which God had handed over the nations back at the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9.

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things” (Romans 1:20-23). Here was the origin of Greek philosophy—systems of thought founded on Satan worship.

Doubtless, the Corinthians were not faithful, reliable, dependable, trustworthy. God could not—and did not—expect them to live the Christian life. He knows the flesh is weak, though it certainly exerts great effort to try to manage or overcome sin. The secular pressure from nearby Athens was so tempting. Supposedly, every “wise” man in Corinth boasted he had the solutions to the world’s problems. Of course, this was human wisdom, not the wisdom of the God of the Bible. Yet, the Corinthian Christians had even adopted these faulty ideas, discarding the Holy Scriptures in favor of something “more rational” (appealing to the intellect). As long as it was the resources they had in and of themselves, they were totally void of God’s power and life—and, hence, their Christian life was not functioning properly.

The Corinthians were building their Christian life on a foundation of shifting sand….

The Roller-Coaster of Life #3

Thursday, June 27, 2024

“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV).

In this roller coaster called “life,” who is truly “faithful?”

Paul expressed gratitude to God for giving the Corinthians grace (unmerited favor through Calvary’s finished crosswork). We read chapter 1, the context of today’s Scripture: “[4] I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; [5] That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; [6] Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: [7] So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: [8] Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Father God had already furnished them in Christ with everything they needed for victorious Christian living, but they had not made any use of those resources by faith. Like millions of Christians and hundreds of millions of church members now, they were depending on philosophy—love of human wisdom—to guide their thoughts and lives. God’s wisdom, however, was uninteresting to them. What an understatement it is to say there was spiritual catastrophe in Corinth!

Still, as awful as spiritual conditions were in Corinth, the promise of verse 8 held true—and, while it may be difficult to believe, was permanent. Father God would “confirm [them] unto the end,” keep them safe and secure, strengthening and pronouncing them “blameless” in Christ because they would always have God’s righteousness in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). It was what God did that ultimately mattered—as opposed to what they did or were doing (thinking and acting like complete spiritual fools, frankly!).

Crosswinds (blowing from left and right) and headwinds (pushing from the front) were driving the Corinthians off course doctrinally. False teachers were swaying them in every which way but the right one, which rendered them “children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14). They were letting their situations and circumstances cause them to lose sight of their life and victory in Christ….















































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The Roller-Coaster of Life #2

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV).

In this roller coaster called “life,” who is truly “faithful?”

Using secular historical data, we can say Paul first arrived in Corinth circa A.D. 50–51. According to Roman records, that was Gallio’s brief term as deputy or governor of Achaia or southern Greece (see Acts 18:12). It was around this period of Acts chapter 18 that Paul wins the Corinthians to the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. He teaches them the Word of God for nearly two years (verses 11,18).

Eventually, he moves on to Ephesus (western Turkey) before concluding his second apostolic journey by returning to Antioch of Syria (verses 19-22). As he launches his third apostolic journey in verse 23, he re-visits Ephesus, wherein he resides for three years (all of chapter 19; see Acts 20:17,31). It would have been during the opening verse of Acts chapter 20, his final days in Ephesus, that he composed 1 Corinthians (see 1 Corinthians 16:8,9). In other words, when he wrote 1 Corinthians, as many as six years could have passed since he first preached the Gospel of Grace to them (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

Stated another way, the Corinthians have been members of the Church the Body of Christ for at least five years. Alas, as we study 1 Corinthians, it is apparent they have not grown and developed into mature Bible believers. Such prolonged exposure to sound doctrine should have brought their thoughts and lives much further than where they are currently situated. Observe chapter 3, verses 1-3: “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual [led by the Spirit of God], but as unto carnal [fleshly], even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” The Corinthians have not continued in the edification process, so they are malnourished, spiritual babies who still cannot tolerate solid spiritual food….















































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The Roller-Coaster of Life #1

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV).

In this roller coaster called “life,” who is truly “faithful?”

Once, I had an extremely pleasant day. Browsing in a store, I found exactly what items I had been seeking… and even some favorite products I never would have expected there. I quickly made those purchases, going on my way thankful and ecstatic. Also, I was able to keep an important appointment despite the other errands I was running. Things were still going according to plan! However, as the day wore on, my circumstances changed most drastically. I did not make contact with someone as I had desperately intended. By nighttime, inclement weather in my neighborhood led to a 12-hour power outage. Also, I began feeling quite ill.

As the next couple of weeks unfolded, life was really trying for me because of other problems. My illness continued, despite medication. Eventually, I had to deal with fixing some broken items, plus several other hassles, including a couple of incidents and accidents at home that resulted in me sustaining injuries (one of which could have caused my relocation to Heaven!). My work and ministry schedules were severely disrupted. It was chaos!

During my trials and tribulations, I had a phone conversation with a Christian friend whose loved one had just died. He was in absolute emotional turmoil. Also, he was aggravated due to major technical issues with his electronic devices. I informed him of my own struggles. Concerned about his initial remarks, I did strongly caution him not to let his emotions get the best of him. Nevertheless, he confessed to me that he was no longer thinking properly because of those revolting emotions. I was quite surprised he actually sounded like a lost person, an unbeliever, as I continued to listen to his incessant complaints. I simply could not fathom those blasphemous, heretical words I was hearing from his lips. He was maligning God! More recently, the dear brother is still spiraling downward emotionally and spiritually in the roller-coaster of life, just like the Corinthians.

Perhaps it is time we be instructed from today’s Scripture….















































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The Roller-Coaster of Life #1 “God is faithful, by whom ye were
called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord”
(1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV). In this roller coaster called “life,”
who is truly “faithful?” Once, I had an extremely pleasant day. Browsing
in a store, I found exactly what items I had been seeking… and even some favorite
products I never would have expected there. I quickly made those purchases, going
on my way thankful and ecstatic. Also, I was able to keep an important appointment
despite the other errands I was running. Things were still going according to
plan! However, as the day wore on, my circumstances changed most drastically. I
did not make contact with someone as I had desperately intended. By nighttime, inclement
weather in my neighborhood led to a 12-hour power outage. Also, I began feeling
quite ill. As the next couple of weeks unfolded,
life was really trying for me because of other problems. My illness continued,
despite medication. Eventually, I had to deal with fixing some broken items,
plus several other hassles, including a couple of incidents and accidents at
home that resulted in me sustaining injuries (one of which could have caused my
relocation to Heaven!). My work and ministry schedules were severely disrupted.
It was chaos! During my trials and tribulations, I had
a phone conversation with a Christian friend whose loved one had just died. He
was in absolute emotional turmoil. Also, he was aggravated due to major
technical issues with his electronic devices. I informed him of my own
struggles. Concerned about his initial remarks, I did strongly caution him not
to let his emotions get the best of him. Nevertheless, he confessed to me that
he was no longer thinking properly because of those revolting emotions. I was quite
surprised he actually sounded like a lost person, an unbeliever, as I continued
to listen to his incessant complaints. I simply could not fathom those
blasphemous, heretical words I was hearing from his lips. He was maligning God!
More recently, the dear brother is still spiraling downward emotionally and
spiritually in the roller-coaster of life, just like the Corinthians. Perhaps it is time we be instructed from
today’s Scripture….

Something in Which to Glory!

Thursday, February 15, 2024

“As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:12-14 KJV).

In what shall we glory? About what shall we boast? In what shall we find value?

Religion produces people who enjoy bragging all about their “dedication to God.” “Look what I did—the ceremonies in which I have participated, the many prayers I faithfully recited daily, how much I put in the collection plate, see how many pleasures I gave up to please God! Come, see how much I love Him!” Dear friends, the Apostle Paul found great value in something—but that something was not what he did. All that human flesh can accomplish pales in comparison to the work in today’s Scripture.

As Lent begins, the time when religionists temporarily (a mere 40 days) relinquish some pleasant food or activity, let us remember that our performance is often non-performance. Once we place ourselves on that treadmill of “do, do, do,” we are guaranteed to fail at some point. Human flesh is simply too weak to maintain 100 percent—that is sin! Even concerning one rule, we cannot keep it perfectly. We mess up eventually.

If ever we believe that our puny works are worth bragging about, let us remember the words of the Apostle Paul in today’s Scripture. While some boast in their religiosity (in the passage, the Judaizers applauding their rite of physical circumcision), and such denominationalists today urge us to obey their church’s instructions so they too may boast in our ability, let us eschew such foolishness. Being imperfect, all their works do not measure up to Christ’s finished crosswork. At Calvary, we find the only sacrifice that will ever please the God of the Bible. If we must boast, let us brag that He did what we could never, ever do!

See our archived Bible Q&A: “Should Christians observe Lent?”

Peter’s Preposterousness #10

Monday, January 15, 2024

“And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew” (Luke 22:59,60 KJV).

How was Peter the Apostle being preposterous?

Read Matthew 26:31-35 again: “Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.” You may also see the parallel in Mark 14:27-31.

It is quite clear the Lord Jesus Christ had no confidence in the flesh of His disciples. They were not perfect and He knew it well. Instead, He believed, or had faith in, the Scriptures. He was quite familiar with Zechariah 13:7: “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.” The “sheep”—the Little Flock, the disciples—would indeed be scattered, going their own way when their Shepherd headed to Calvary’s cruel cross.

Dear brethren, what lesson we can gain from this is simple. May we have confidence in God’s words to us, Romans through Philemon, His grace to us in Christ. Unlike miserable Paul in Romans chapter 7, struggling to live the Christian life in his own strength, we should read and believe Romans chapters 6 and 8. Here is where we have victory over sin, the weakness of our flesh. It is in these grace truths that we find God’s faithfulness, Christ’s faithfulness, always compensating for our unfaithfulness (our preposterousness)! 🙂

God’s Perfect Timing

Sunday, December 17, 2023

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:4,5 KJV).

As today’s Scripture indicates, the birth of Jesus Christ was no accident—God planned its exact moment from eternity past.

When God placed the first man, Adam, on earth, He purposed that man would “subdue [control] it,” to “have dominion” over it and everything on it (Genesis 1:28). Nevertheless, Adam sinned by joining Satan in his rebellion against God. Because of sin, man was now unable to accomplish on earth what God originally created him to do. God left the human race a promise, however, that there would come a Man, who would do what Adam failed to do. Instead of cooperating with God’s adversary like Adam had, this “seed of the woman” would “bruise [Satan’s] head” (Genesis 3:15).

Traveling up through the Scriptures, we see how God lays the groundwork for that seedline. In Genesis 12:1-3, or 2,000 years after Adam’s sin, we read God’s covenant with Abraham, that through Abraham a nation, Israel, will be born, and salvation and blessing will flow to the Gentiles through Israel. The seed of the woman becomes the seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:16).

In 2 Samuel 7:12-16, and 1,000 years after Abraham, we read of God’s covenant with King David, that “his seed” will inherit his throne and reign forever. The seed of the woman and of Abraham becomes the seed of David.

About 1,000 years after David, Matthew 1:1 speaks of Christ’s birth, and declares, “…Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” This is exactly what God had promised for thousands of years!

Jesus Christ’s birth was not some haphazard event of nature. God the Father had preplanned the exact moment of the incarnation of His Son, Jesus Christ (today’s Scripture). Over a period of some 4,000 years, the three members of the Godhead worked to bring about the birth of man’s Redeemer, a plan they had even before man was created! Amazing!

Joy to the World! #2

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

“Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity” (Psalm 98:5-9 KJV).

The second verse of the classic Christmas carol highlights today’s Scripture.

“Joy to the earth! the Saviour reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.”

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world, and death by sin (Romans 5:12), plunging creation into suffering. What God had intended to last forever was now languishing away and dying off! “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth together in pain until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit…” (Romans 8:22,23).

We humans, pinnacles of God’s creatures, are so ungrateful to our Creator. Even in such a fallen state, our universe is amazingly complex and it is a miracle it even functions at all with its abounding impediments! Rather than praising our Creator for giving us life, we complain about our “problems” and then write books, display billboards, and give lectures about His “non-existence.” We mock His name, laugh at His Bible, stick out our tongues at Him, and wag our fingers in His face. Newsflash—God will not tolerate that forever!

In His own time, Almighty God will make all things right. That means getting rid of that which (and who) is wrong/evil. As 1 Timothy 6:14,15 say: “…the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;” No matter what mankind does—cooperate with Him by faith, or protest by throwing a tantrum in unbelief—God has already determined what He is going to do. Jesus Christ, whether people like it or not, will be King over all creation!

God’s Profaned Name #10

Thursday, August 17, 2023

“And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes” (Ezekiel 36:23 KJV).

How was God’s great name “profaned among the heathen?” In what way will He “sanctify” it?

Today’s Scripture is definitely part of the prophetic program. It involves God’s purpose and plan for Israel and the Earth. The Holy Spirit comments on how the nation Israel in time past abandoned the identity that their Creator gave them. They were not reflections of the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Despite their infidelity, He, in the ages to come, will be faithful in bringing to pass His original promise to them. They are to be His vessels to reach the Gentiles when the Lord Jesus Christ comes back to reign.

What about us, the Church the Body of Christ? Can we profane God’s name? Yes, we can. If we are not careful to walk in our identity in Christ, as described in Romans to Philemon, we can misrepresent Him as Israel did long ago. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17).

If what we say and do is incompatible with all that the Lord Jesus would say and do (His “name”), then non-Christians will see and hear conflicting information. Our misconduct will become the scoffer’s principle: “I am not a Christian and never want to be a Christian because ‘Christians’ lead a worse life than I do as a non-Christian.” It will be similar to ancient Israel’s detractors: “For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written” (Romans 2:24). “If that nonsense is what it means to be a worshipper of JEHOVAH God, we will keep our idols and die as heathen!”

As we (the Body of Christ) seek to avoid Israel’s disasters, we bear in mind passages such as Philippians 1:9-11 and Philippians 2:13-16. “And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful” (Titus 3:14).